Understanding the Nuances
Let's understand it with a simple scenario. Imagine an app or website, originally in English that wants to win over users across India.
• Translation would focus on changing the original language of the entire app's text – menus, buttons, and notifications – into accurate Indian languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, and more. So, translation changes the existing content on the app for accurate sentences in another language.
• Localization is a more specific. It includes adapting your content and app for consumption to a specific regional preference within India. This might include:
• Changing the content & other elements according to the user’s cultural preferences in their regional language.
• Changing the tone of content & certain expression.
• Integrating popular payment methods used in each region.
• Considering cultural sensitivities, religious dietary restrictions, and local customs within the app's content and imagery.
In essence, translation ensures users understand the words, while localization makes the entire experience resonate with them on a deeper level.