targetlanguage

The target language is the language into which content is translated or localized, as distinct from the source language. It is a central concept in translation, localization, and language technology.

In human translation workflows, selecting the target language depends on audience, market strategy, and product requirements. Each target language is identified by standardized codes, such as ISO 639-1 two-letter codes (en, es, fr). Projects may specify multiple target languages and regional variants to address different locales and audiences.

Localization extends beyond translation to adapt dates, numbers, formats, and terminology to local conventions. In software and websites, localization also includes user interface layout, terminology consistency, and accommodating locale-specific features such as date formats and currency.

In machine translation, the target language is the output language produced from a given source. MT can be configured for formality, domain, and style; many workflows include post-editing by human translators to ensure quality and naturalness.

Challenges include linguistic differences, idioms, cultural references, and legal or regulatory constraints. Technical issues such as script direction (right-to-left), character encoding, pluralization rules, and terminology management require careful handling in localization and quality assurance.

Standards and tools include ISO 639 language codes, ISO 17100 for translation services, and localization platforms that manage terminology, translation memories, glossaries, and style guides. The target language is a key dimension of multilingual content strategy and global communication.