You’ve probably used the word translation when you really meant localization—or even interpretation. And that’s OK. We’ll forgive it. You may have even heard someone use the word localization and wonder if they meant to say translation. We’ll give you the benefit of the doubt here—you’re right, they’re wrong.
Given the similarities in the terms, they’re often used interchangeably but there are important ways in which translation and localization differ. Here’s our translation vs. localization primer to help you keep them straight:
Translation
Translation is the process of converting written text or spoken words into another language. The completed translation should be the most accurate rendition possible of the source material—a “mirror-image” of the material that has been translated, except in a different language. However, this does not mean literal, word-for-word translation. An accurate translation requires changes in word order or sentence structure, and it requires choosing
