Software Globalization And Localization, In Terms Of Reciprocity
First, let us name what we will label as the triggering phenomenon for the current situation. Certainly, we are not the first to appreciate that economic globalization builds the substructure for any other aspect of globalization permeating the circulation of the contemporary, prevailing trends in the organization of a society running with the general high standards of the rest of the world. In other words, keeping pace with the general rhythm of the world has become one of the necessary approaches for the survival in the present-day order of things. Starting with the event of economic globalization, several other globalization-related phenomena panned out. For the sake of exemplification, such phenomena are the development of global communications, the emergence of notions such as global village or global travel, the boost known by Internet-facilitated means of business conducting and interaction, the appearance of global partnerships (legal entities), and last, but not least, e-business turned global.
In other words, globalization is turning more and more obvious. It is an active principle at the level of successfully conducted businesses. However, the key issue with successful business run at a global level is managing to satisfy global expectations. This is certainly no piece of cake, unless you have found a means of securing efficient international communication. Efficient international communication presupposes the use of language. Let us look at the situation going on just several years ago. Everywhere we looked, we would come across the necessity of understanding and speaking English. Nevertheless, things have changed a bit in the past few years. English is no longer mandatory at worldwide level, although it is still the dominant language. This happened because, along with phenomena such as e-business and Internet marketing, the focal point of such enterprises became mobile and no longer concerned strictly the US. On the contrary, it started gaining truly global views and got interested in what other markets might need and, as a result, might generate in terms of profit.
Otherwise stated, we are now talking about a global market. Where does software globalization belong in this ample picture? Concisely, a global market needs global-tailored software to function properly. This means that an approach such as software globalization will make it possible for software output / brands to reach and circulate practically anywhere. An auspicious impression on foreign markets would otherwise become an improbable project. On the contrary, an approach such as software globalization is the guarantee that any software application will work consistently with the demands and expectations of any market, regardless of the language and culture to which the potential customer belongs. This means that any software product should provide the potential user with the possibilities of selecting between the English design and the design that includes any other of the languages securing the circulation of the product on the global market.
With the involvement of the language dimension – which is, in fact, the one triggering the entire approach in the globalization of software characteristics – another issue arises. Could one globalize without localizing? Is there a globalized product that could work on a certain market, unless its vendors / producers took care of adapting it to the local needs of that specific market? This is the point where the reciprocity we were alluding to in the title of this article interferes. Concisely, the answer to the two questions above is no. In order to secure successful globalization of software products, one also needs to consider software localization. A specific market area will demand products turned specific to its characteristics. Software localization involves the handling of the language on a specific, local market in all of its aspects. Prior to reaching the localization stage, such a product will go through an internationalization stage. This means that the blueprint and code of any product approach the whole situation in such a manner that they turn out completely unconstrained by any pre-established “kit” of language, culture or coded characters. After the internationalization phase, we can confidently gain on the issue of software localization, by adjusting the internationalized version of the software product to the language, coded character and culture set of the specific region.
In other words, with both globalization and localization of software products, we are going beyond the borders of translation. The issue is far more complex than mere translation. While we may maintain similar semantics, it often happens for the product to have an adjusted syntax. This is necessary because it is common for the product buyer to use not just the language, but local “codes” of language as well. This is where the advantage of a spellchecker is obvious. However, other issues are of concern here, such as the handling of currency, punctuation and format for specific, local market expectations. In the end, software products able to sustain different languages and local codes of usage are turning imperative for the proper functioning within an economic globalization environment.
Software globalization and software localization are two approaches that go hand in hand for the satisfaction of the expectations on the global market. With us, you have the guarantee that your applications will meet every requirement of this global market.
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