What is English Localisation?
Localisation is the process of adapting content to the culture, customs and preferences of a specific country or region. The process involves making the relevant content feel native to the target audience. Fundamentally, the aim is to enhance user understanding and engagement. Many different types of content can be localised, including:
• Websites, apps and software
• Video content, subtitles and voiceover
• Marketing material
• eLearning and training
• Regulatory and legal compliance
• Gaming
• Mobile apps
• Medical and pharmaceutical documentation
In addition to linguistic and cultural nuances, localisation also involves adapting products and services to meet regulatory and legal requirements specific to a particular country or region. For example, a software product developed in one country may need to comply with data protection laws, currency exchange rates and tax regulations in another country.
At Business Language Services, we work with some of the world’s largest companies to adapt their literature for potential customers worldwide, optimising their copy for all markets. We most commonly adapt English written in the US for a British audience, but we’re also able to provide this service for many other English variants, e.g. English for Australia.
Whatever the subject matter or variant of English, Business Language Services has the experience and expertise to help. Get in touch to let us know your requirements and our friendly team will be able to advise.
Each English-Speaking Market Has a Distinct Culture and Set of Values
Why Choose BLS for Your English Localisation Needs?
- We can ensure that your content is suitable in the context of your target market
- In-house staff with extensive experience of English localisation for a variety of global multinationals
- Track record of localising around 300,000 words per month
- Native in-country speakers of each English variant
How Does it Work?
During the localisation process, a professional linguist proficient in both the source and target cultures and languages will review the content. Grammatical modifications and changes to culture-specific references will be made so that the content can be understood by the intended audience.
Localisation, when done right, is often a complex and time-consuming process, which requires expertise and subject matter knowledge. It is, therefore, crucial for businesses to work with experienced and reliable localisation service providers, such as Business Language Services, who can deliver high-quality results, on time and within budget.
English Localisation FAQs
Localisation is a crucial component of any global business strategy. It enables businesses to communicate effectively with their target audience, build brand awareness and loyalty, and expand their market share.
Potential customers are much more likely to engage with a product or service if they feel as if the content has been tailored to them and they can trust the literature promoting it. By investing in skilled resources to adapt products and services to meet the needs of local markets, businesses can increase their reach, engagement and revenue.
Yes! Translating your website content to the language used in another country is one step towards building a market there, but thorough localisation by an expert is required to gain a competitive edge and make your brand stand out. If you can demonstrate that your brand respects local culture and norms, it’s much easier to build customer trust and convert website visits into sales or engagement.
The time needed to localise your content will depend on several factors, including the type of content, word count, complexity of the subject matter, the specific English-speaking market you’re targeting and any particular customisation requirements that you may have. Generally, a qualified linguist can normally localise between 5,000 and 8,000 words a day, and capacity can be scaled up to involve multiple linguists if required.
The cost to localise your content will vary depending on the type and complexity of the subject matter, word count, the specific English-speaking target market and any additional services required. As a rough guide, to localise 1,000 words of US English to suit a UK audience, you would be considering a price in the region of £50–£75+VAT. Please contact us and we will be happy to give you a more accurate quote.