Due to the increase of the Internet's popularity, the World Wide Web has become the biggest business marketplace. Most companies have websites which are visited by millions of people and, in order to provide a competitive service, their localization is a necessary investment that can bring many benefits. About 40% of Internet users are non-native English speakers, therefore websites have to be readable and accessible to the varied web community. Website localization is the clear evidence of a multi-cultural business concept.
Website localization is the process of translating and modifying an existing website to make it usable, accessible and culturally suitable to a specific target audience. It is a multi-layered process needing both programming experts and professional translators. If either is missing, the result will be poor and useless. Only qualified computer programmers and language professionals can provide a suitable service which gives a website the right way of speaking of a particular country. With regards to language it is impossible translating literally from English to French for example as there are many idioms, sayings and metaphors that completely change. Professional translators have to consider all the language characteristics of a particular country when they are working on legal, business, marketing or technical translation in order to get the proper impact on a target audience. Those linguists often work for translation agencies that, among their varied services, offer website localization as well and belong to sector of English, French, Italian, Spanish and German translation. Obviously they also come from many more countries all over the world.
Localization can bring benefits to both parties: to a company and to the translation agency who did the job. It is a big investment, but it is necessary if you want your business to be up-to-date and truly international. Through a well done business, legal, marketing and technical translation a company shows interest and respect towards different countries. Most users appreciate it and feel more comfortable if they can read news or details in their own language. This makes a website even more interesting and appealing. Website localization is not as simple as it may appear: it involves the hard work of many people from qualified computer experts to professional translators and translation agencies as, if the job is well done, it can show credibility and above all it can increase revenues. By undergoing the website localization process a company is able to access potentially millions of new customers and its impact on culture is huge. It makes people really feel part of a wide business community.
Professional translators are one of the key to website localization success. If their job is accurate and careful, the result is really amazing, then firms apply to a qualified translation service that can manage very well worldwide business, legal, marketing and technical language . Most business companies have understood that, providing an international image, they can reach millions of people as the Internet has become part of everyday life. This means a very positive income which is good advertisement for both a website and the translation company in charge of its localization.
About the Author:
Armando Riquier is a freelance expert translator and writer working in collaboration with the Tectrad group, a professional services agency specialized in translations and website localizations in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch etc.
