What is the difference between a translation agency, localization services and LSP?

We have all heard or read terms like translation agency, translation company, localization agency, and language service provider (LSP). Many people new to translation and localization sometimes get confused by jargon. This article will help clear up the confusion with the often interchangeable terms.”translation“and”location” as well as other terminology associated with the translation industry. Although translation and localization have different meanings, the term localization has gained popularity and is sometimes used in place of translation.

Translation agency, localization company or language service provider?

Technically, all of the terms in the heading above could be describing the same organization. Language Service Provider (LSP) has become increasingly popular in conference presentations, because the term is more general and describes a full-service organization that can do more than just translation. In common usage terms, translation agency is an older and more traditional term, while Language Service Provider (LSP) is a more current and commonly used term for a company or partner that provides a wide range of language or language services. translation.

Common terminology of the translation industry

Translation agency: A translation agency provides translation services. This term is often used interchangeably with translation company or localization agency. A translation agency provides translation services and manages translation projects for clients. Some translation agencies may also provide interpreters, multilingual desktop publishing (DTP), and other language-related services such as website translation and software translation. (Also called Localization Agency, Language Service Provider, Globalization Service Provider)

Translation: The act of translating meaning from one language to another. In other words, translation is the communication of the meaning of a text in the source language by means of an equivalent text in the target language. The translation is done by a translator or a translation team.

Copy of writing or transcreation: While transcreators strive to copy and write in a target language, a translator’s primary responsibility is to accurately translate source content into a target language. To stay true to the original content, this may result in more literal translations. Multilingual projects involving marketing or persuasive text can often require true copywriting or what is known as “transcreation.” In many cases, the translated text must be rewritten to make the message persuasive, accurate, and culturally appropriate. In some cases, the locale of the target language may be so different that a complete rewrite of the source marketing text is required.

Location (L10n): The Localization Industry Standards Association (LISA) defines localization as follows: “Localization involves taking a product and making it linguistically and culturally appropriate for the destination (country/region and language) where it will be used and sold.” Localization should take locale into account, eg Brazil for Portuguese vs. Portugal.

Internationalization (I18n): Internationalization is a process that generalizes a software product (or website) so that it does not need to be redesigned to allow it to handle multiple languages ​​and cultural conventions. Internationalization occurs at the beginning of the development process of the program design and documentation. The separation of text from software source code is a critical aspect of internationalization. Moving translatable text (text that is visible to the user) to separate resource files prevents translators from changing or breaking program code.

Globalization (G11n): The Localization Industry Standards Association (LISA) defines globalization as: “Globalization addresses the business issues associated with internationalizing a product. In high-tech product globalization, this involves integrating localization throughout the enterprise.” , after proper internationalization and product design, as well as marketing, sales and support in the world market”. Globalization implies both internationalization and localization. The concept of globalization is frequently used in a sales or marketing concept, defining when a business moves beyond home/domestic markets and globalizes e-commerce websites to target consumers and sales in specific locations.

Website Translation:Website translation is also known as “Website Globalization”. To actually “translate” a website into other languages, you may need the internationalization (I18n) and localization (L10n) services.

Internationalization (I18n) + Localization (L10n) = Globalization of the website.

Internationalization (I18n) involves enabling a website’s backend or content management system (CMS) to handle different languages, character sets, currencies, submission form data, site search capabilities, etc. and it involves understanding what databases and content management systems you are using to create, store and publish your website content. Many recent versions of databases and content management solutions (CMS) are already enabled for other languages. Localization (L10n) involves translating and localizing your website’s front-end and user interface into different languages, ensuring that all content (text, scripts, and web graphics) is translated accurately and culturally correct.

Software translation: Software translation is also known as “Software Globalization”. To actually “translate” the software into other languages, you may need the internationalization (I18n) and localization (L10n) services.

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

Internationalization (I18n) involves allowing an application’s codebase to support different languages, character sets, time, date, and number formats, etc. and it involves understanding the platform and the development process of your application. Localization (L10n) involves translating and localizing your software’s user interface (display, menus, dialogs, error messages), online help, and user manuals into different languages, ensuring that all content (text and graphics) is translated accurately and culturally correct. manner.

Local: A locale includes the region’s language, as well as many other topics, such as character set support, date/time format, payment methods, product/data classification, phone/address format, and more. Locales are associated with target languages; for example, Brazil and Portugal are places associated with the Portuguese language.

Translation memory: Translation memory (TM) technology enables translation teams to store and reuse source and target language content for any translation project. GPI’s translation teams use translation memory tools to create and maintain multilingual glossaries and translation memories for our clients. These glossaries and reports are the exclusive property of our clients and can be provided to you as part of the deliverables of any project. The use of the tool depends on the client and GPI can work with all MT technologies available on the market.

Translation memory is not machine translation (MT). Translation memory benefits include:

1. Consistency in translations of larger projects, where teams of translators are required.

2. Improvements in productivity and accuracy.

3. Reduce translation costs by offering leveraged pricing on duplicate and fuzzy match text.

4. Overhaul projects can be handled in the most cost-effective and time-efficient manner.

Automatic translation: Machine translation (MT) is software that produces very crude translation drafts automatically. Machine translation software requires extensive glossary development up front, strict adherence to controlled authorship of the source language, and qualified translators to edit the raw translations that are produced to achieve acceptable quality. I use human translation and editing teams that work with translation memory tools, NOT machine translation.

GOLDEN: Acronym for “Globalization, Internationalization, Localization and Translation”. This term is sometimes used to describe professional societies and associations in our industry.

CJKV: Acronym sometimes used to describe a combination of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese.

FIGS: A common acronym for French, Italian, German, and Spanish, four of the most common Western European target languages ​​for English-language source materials.

BRICS: A newer acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, and China. These countries make up 4 of the fastest growing global economies. Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, and some Indian dialects are becoming increasingly popular as target languages ​​for website translation, localization, and globalization.

Helpful resources from the translation industry

There are a number of organizations and websites that provide helpful materials and regular updates through blogs and articles. The following is a list that I recommend:

• Multilingual Computing MultiLingual is the leading industry magazine for website globalization, international software development, and language technology.
• Common Sense Advisory This firm focuses on helping clients operationalize, benchmark, optimize, and innovate industry best practices in translation, localization, interpreting, globalization, and internationalization.
• GALA (Globalization and Localization Association) The Globalization and Localization Association (GALA) is an international non-profit association whose member companies specialize in language services, translation services, and language technology.
• Byte Level Research Since 2000, Byte Level Research has been dedicated to the art and science of web globalization.
• ClientSide News CSN is a client-centric organization leveraging intelligence to drive globalization, internationalization, localization and translation (GILT) industry solutions.