What’s the Difference Between Translation Agency, Localization Services and LSP?

We all have encountered or read about terms such as translation agency or translation company, as well as localization company, as well as language service providers (LSP). Many people who are not familiar with localization and translation are often lost in the language. This article can aid in identifying the confusion caused by the frequently used phrases “translation” and “localization” and other terms that are associated with the field of translation. Although both terms are two different terms, the term “localization” has become popular and is often utilized in lieu of translation.
Translation Agency, Localization Company, or Language Services Provider?

Technically speaking, all the words in the above heading could refer to the same entity. Language Services Provider (LSP) is increasingly used in conferences due to the fact that the word is broader and refers to a full-service business that does more than just translating. When it comes to usage, the term “translation agency” refers to an old, less conventional term, while Language Service Provider (LSP) is a more contemporary common term used to describe an organization or partner that offers a variety of linguistic or translation services.

Common Translation Industry Terminology

Translation Agency: A translation agency that provides translation services. The term is commonly used in conjunction with translation companies or localization agencies. Translation agencies provide services for translation and also manage projects related to translation for clients. Certain translation agencies also offer interpreters and multiple-language desktop publishing (DTP) as well as other related services to languages like a translation of websites and software translation. (Also known as a Localization Agency, Language Service Provider, or Globalization Services Provider.)

Translation: The act of translating the meaning of a language into another. Translated in another way, it is the communication about the significance of a source-language text through an equivalent text from the target language. The translation is done by a translator or a translation team.

Transcreation or copywriting, while trans creators try to copy write into the target language, the primary responsibility of the translator’s job is accurately translating original content into a target language. In order to remain in line with the original content, this could result in more literal translations. Multilingual projects that require the use of persuasive or marketing texts will often require authentic copywriting or, more commonly, “transcreation.” In most cases, the translated text needs to be modified to ensure that the message is persuasive and precise, and culturally appropriate. In certain situations, the destination language might be so different from the source that a complete overhaul of the source text for marketing is necessary.

Localization (L10n) Localization (L10n): The Localization Industry Standards Association (LISA) defines localization in the following manner: “Localization involves taking a product and making it linguistically and culturally appropriate to the target locale (country/region and language) where it will be used and sold.” Localization has to take the locale into account, for example, Brazil for Portuguese as opposed to. Portugal.

Internationalization (I18n) Internationalization (I18n) is a method of generalizing an application (or website) to ensure that a redesign will not be required to allow it to support different languages and conventions. Internationalization occurs at the start of the design and development of documentation. The separation of text from software source code is a critical aspect of internationalization. Translatable text (the text easily visible for the users) separated resource files stops translators from altering or breaking program code.

Globalization (G11n) Globalization (G11n): The Localization Industry Standards Association (LISA) defines globalization as follows “Globalization addresses the business issues associated with taking a product globally. In the globalization of high-tech products, this involves integrating localization throughout a company, after proper internationalization and product design, as well as marketing, sales, and support in the world market.” Globalization is a combination of localization and internationalization. Globalization is often used as the context of marketing or sales, which defines the moment when a company expands beyond domestic markets and also globalizes eCommerce sites to attract customers and sales in specific locations.

Website Translation: Website translation is also referred to by the term “Website Globalization.” To indeed “translate” a website into other languages, you may require two services: Internationalization (I18n) or Localization (L10n) services.

Internationalization (I18n) + Localization (L10n) = Website Globalization.

Internationalization (I18n) is the process of creating the backend, or CMS (CMS) on a site to work with various characters, languages, currency, submit forms, search features, and more… also knowing which databases and content management system you’re using to write and store and publish the content on your website. A lot of the latest versions of databases and content management systems (CMS) have been made available to work with other languages. Localization (L10n) is the process of translating and localizing your front-end and interface for your website’s users to different languages, ensuring that every piece of content (text, web graphics, and scripts) are translated in a reliable and culturally acceptable way.

Software Translation Software Translation is called “Software Globalization.” In order to fully “translate” software into other languages, you may require two services: Internationalization (I18n) as well as Localization (L10n) services.

Internationalization (I18n) + Localization (L10n) = Software Globalization.

Internationalization (I18n) is the process of making the codebase of the application to be compatible with various characters, languages, as well as time, date, and numerical formats… in addition, it requires understanding the development platform and the process. Language and localization (L10n) involve translating and localizing your application’s User Interface (display menus dialog boxes, errors messages), Online Help, User Manuals in different languages to ensure that the content (text and images) are translated a reliable and culturally accurate way.

Locale: A locale is a regional language and has a variety of additional issues, like support for character sets, formatting dates and times, forms of payment sorting of data or products, phone/address formatting, and many more. Locales are linked to different languages of the target; for instance, Brazil, as well as Portugal, are two locales that have a connection to that Portuguese language.

Translation Memory Translation Memory (TM) technology allows translators to conserve and reuse sources and target language content to complete any type of project. GPI’s translators use tools for translation memory for the purpose of creating as well as maintaining glossaries in multilingual languages as well as Translation memories to our customers. These glossaries and memory are the exclusive belonging to our clients. They are available to clients as part of any project’s deliverables. The use of tools is based on the needs of the client. GPI works with any of the commercially accessible TM technologies.

The term “translation memory” isn’t the same as machine translation (MT). Translation memory’s benefits include:

Consistency in translations of larger projects, in which groups of translators may be needed.
Improvements in accuracy and productivity.
Reduced cost of translations through providing leveraged pricing for repeats and fuzzy matches.
Projects for revision can be completed efficiently and cost-effectively. Efficient manner.
Machine Translation Machine translation (MT) is a program that produces highly raw draft translations in a controlled manner. Machine translation software needs an extensive glossary creation upfront as well as strict compliance to the controlled authoring of source languages and qualified translators who post-edit the translations as they are generated to ensure that the translations are of an acceptable level of quality. I use human translators and editing teams that work with tools for translating, not machine translation.

GILT: An acronym for “Globalization, Internationalization, Localization, and Translation.” The term is often used to refer to professional organizations and associations in our field.

CJKV is an acronym that can be used to refer to a mix that combines Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese.

FIGS: An acronym used to refer to French, Italian, German and Spanish, four of the more commonly used western European language targets for English sources.

BRIC is An acronym that is newer that stands for Brazil, Russia, India, and China. These four countries comprise four of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, and a few Indian dialects are becoming more sought-after as languages of choice for localization, content translation, and globalization of websites.

Useful Translation Industry Resources

There are numerous organizations and websites that offer helpful information and regular updates via blogs and articles. Here is a list of websites that I suggest:

Multilingual Computing MultiLingual is the most renowned industry publication for website globalization, international development of software, and technology for language.
Common Sense AdvisoryThis firm focuses on assisting clients in operationalizing, benchmark, optimizing, and innovate industry best practices in translation, localization, interpreting, globalization, and internationalization.
GALA (Globalization and Localization Association) GALA (Globalization and Localization Association) Globalization and Localization Association (GALA) is an international non-profit organization whose members are experts in language services, translation, and technology for language.
Byte Level Research From the year 2000, Byte Level Research has been devoted to the science and art of globalization of the web.
ClientSide News CSN is a client-focused organization that leverages intelligence to drive Globalization, Internationalization, Localization, and Translation (GILT) industry solutions.