How translation and localisation connect with books and readers everywhere

On Book Day today, it's important to remember that literary translations act as a vehicle for cultural exchange, enabling us to share and understand ideas, values, and perspectives from around the world. For this reason, often one of the tools which translators rely on to capture the essence of the text is "localisation”.

As defined by LISA (Localisation Industry Standards Association), Localisation, involves adapting a product - often software applications or equipment components - to meet the linguistic, cultural, and other requirements of a specific target environment or market (referred to as "locale" in English).

In the use of localisation in translation, other terms such as adaptation to the local environment, naturalisation, and the like should be considered. A literal translation may not fully convey the intended meaning of a term or text. Therefore, it requires the use of specific tools unique to the field of localisation.?

Nowadays, in a world where most apps, software, and screens include many terms not yet found in dictionaries or reliable terminological sources, anglicisms abound. Translators often face a dilemma between preserving linguistic purity and the terminological invasion that comes with gradually incorporating these terms into our language due to their widespread use, convenience, and the potential artificiality of certain translations.

The main differences between translation and localisation are:

• Translating involves converting text from one language to another, while localisation extends beyond text to include content, imagery, style, or concepts for specific audiences or markets.
• When translating, the goal is to use language that is universally understood within a particular language community, whereas localisation targets a narrower audience, such as a specific country, region, or demographic group.
• Translation always occurs between different languages, but localisation can be applied within markets sharing the same language.
• Translation aims for fidelity to the original text, while localisation focuses on modifying or adapting the original to suit the specific preferences of a market.
• Translation ensures the clarity of a text, while localisation ensures its relevance and familiarity.

A good example of localisation can be found in "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. In the German version of the series, expressions, and cultural references were adapted to be more relevant to German readers. For instance, the foods and dishes mentioned in the story were changed to reflect German gastronomy and culinary preferences.

In the Japanese version of the series, adjustments were made to the description of the environment and setting to align with Japan's geography and landscape. For example, descriptions of nature and landscapes were adapted to reflect characteristic elements of the Japanese environment, such as cherry blossoms or traditional temples.

In the Spanish version, the word “foxface” was translated as “comadreja”, the literal translation would be “cara de zorro”, but this has a negative connotation in Spanish when used in the feminine form. Therefore, the translator decided to find an example with the same characteristics but that wouldn't lead to misunderstanding.

Therefore, we should recognise the significance of the translator's role and the extensive effort invested in bringing a book to life. On this Book Day, let's appreciate the invaluable contributions they make and the profound impact they have on conveying messages across cultures.?

Bibliography

ATTESOR. (2020, May 4).Traducción vs. Localización: encuentra las 5 diferencias. ATTESOR. Retrieved from https://attesor.com/traduccion-localizacion/

Bergua, J. (2000, January). El lugar de la traducción en el campo literario. Revistas UMA.Retrieved from https://revistas.uma.es/index.php/trans/article/view/2928/10626

García-Saavedra Valle, M. T. (n.d.). ?Traduces o localizas? La localización, futuro y presente de la traducción. Centro Virtual Cervantes. Retrieved from https://cvc.cervantes.es/lengua/esletra/pdf/01/029_garcia.pdf

Bernardo Gil, E. & Bermejo, Reyes. (n.d.). Los Juegos del hambre. La Linterna del Traductor. Retrieved from https://www.lalinternadeltraductor.org/n8/juegos-del-hambre.html