Language localization is the process of adapting a product's translation to a specific country or region. It is the second phase of a larger process of product translation and cultural adaptation for specific countries, regions, cultures, or groups to account for differences in distinct markets. This process is known as internationalization and localization. Language localization differs from translation because it involves a comprehensive study of the target culture to correctly adapt the product to local needs. Localization can be referred to as L10N, which stands for "L" followed by the number 10 and then "N".
The localization process is generally associated with the cultural adaptation and translation of software, video games, websites, and technical communication. It also includes audio/voiceover, video, or other multimedia content, and less commonly, written translation, which may involve cultural adaptation processes. Localization can be applied to regions or countries where people speak different languages or to regions where the same language is spoken. For example, different dialects of German, each with its own idioms, are spoken in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Belgium.
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Unveiling the Importance of Language Codes in Localization
Language codes play a crucial role in the localization process as they indicate the specific locales involved in translating and adapting a product. These codes are utilized in various contexts, such as informal usage in documents published by the European Union or inclusion within HTML elements using the lang attribute.
In the case of the European Union style guide, language codes are based on the ISO 639-1 alpha-2 code. On the other hand, within HTML, language tags are typically defined in accordance with the Best Current Practice (BCP) outlined by the Internet Engineering Task Force.
The choice of using a particular type of code or tag depends on the nature of the project and any specific requirements set by the localization specialist. By understanding and correctly implementing language codes, the localization process can be streamlined and ensure accurate and effective communication with the target audience.
Most commonly, language codes consist of a primary sub-code that identifies the language (e.g., "en"), accompanied by an optional sub-code in capital letters that specifies the national variety (e.g., "GB" or "US" based on ISO 3166-1 alpha-2). These sub-codes are typically connected with a hyphen, although in certain contexts, an underscore may be used as a substitute.
There exist multiple language tag systems for codifying languages. For instance, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has established both two-letter and three-letter codes in ISO 639-1 and ISO 639-2 standards, respectively, to represent languages.
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