Localisation

Localisation is the process of adapting a product, service, or content for a specific locale or market. It encompasses translation of text and the cultural, technical, and regulatory adjustments needed to reflect language, customs, and user expectations. Localisation is part of a broader framework that includes internationalization (designing products to be easily adapted) and globalization (the strategic objective of reaching multiple markets).

It covers software, websites, games, multimedia, documentation, and marketing materials. Core activities include linguistic translation, terminology management, and user interface adaptation, as well as engineering tasks such as localizable strings, locale-aware formatting, and right-to-left or bidirectional layout support. Multimedia localisation may involve dubbing or subtitling, and content may require culturally appropriate imagery and examples. Formatting for dates, numbers, addresses, and currencies must align with local conventions.

Quality in localisation relies on human review, glossaries, translation memories, and sometimes machine translation with post-editing. Localisation testing checks linguistic quality and technical compatibility within the target environment, including software builds, fonts, and accessibility. Project workflows often involve a localisation kit, version control, and collaboration across linguistic, engineering, and product teams.

Common challenges include addressing cultural nuance, maintaining brand voice across locales, keeping terminology consistent, and managing ongoing updates. Legal and accessibility requirements vary by jurisdiction and may affect content, formatting, and media rights. Effective localisation enables a better user experience and expands reach in global markets.