Language localization is the process used to adapt the language used in a product or service in one country to fit the language and culture of another country so that it feels natural, as if it was made in and for that country. If you are bringing your product or service to the US and are from an English-speaking country, you are already one step ahead. English is the language of most business done in the United States. But there are still some things you’ll need to consider when you are localizing the language for your products or services. Don’t just assume that the English spoken in another country is the same as that spoken in the United States, or you could be undermining your success.
And if you are coming from a country where English isn’t the primary language, you will also want to learn more about preparing to enter the US market.
Differences in English between countries and US regions
Even though it may all be English, there are still identifiable differences to be aware of if you are localizing for the English language.
American English is not the same as British English
There are many common words that are spelled or used differently in American English versus British English. As mundane as it sounds, people notice when words are not what they are expecting. There is a noticeable difference between, “Get out your chequebook! Aeroplane tickets are on sale for your summer holidays!” and, “Grab your checkbook! Plane tickets are on sale for your vacation!” Stilted conversation aside, unless you are trying to capitalize on not being local, use the American spelling and word choices in your online content and written communications.
To help you think about what words to be on the lookout for, here’s a guide with some common differences between British and American English. You can easily find lists of words that differ between the two languages to help you review your copy, but definitely do a review and get local help in the form of experts or even trusted friends, at a minimum, to make sure that you have properly localized the language you are using ( Wikipedia).
Localizing for food words
Once again, though the US and UK are both English-speaking countries, there are different words for commonly eaten foods. For instance, chips and french fries. French fries is to the US what chips are to the British. And chips to the British conjure up images of potato chips to us, except for ‘fish and chips’, which we’ve adopted rather than using ‘fish and fries’, at least when meaning what we all think of as the very British meal.
Another difference is cookie versus biscuit. What Americans call a cookie is called a biscuit in the UK, and Americans think of a biscuit as something entirely different again. If you are writing about food and have any doubts, enlist the help of a local to make sure you are using the correct terms.
Regional language differences in the United States
Now that we’ve discussed the fact that American and British English are not the same, it’s time to acknowledge the regional differences in word choice and accents. For instance, the Midwest calls carbonated drinks “pop”, while it’s called “soda” in the Northeast and West, and the South calls it “coke”. To refer to a group of people, the northern regions generally say “you guys”, whereas the South says “y’all” or “you all”. Are exercise shoes called “tennis shoes” or “sneakers”? It depends on the part of the country. And the last meal of the day could be “dinner” or “supper”.
Accents also vary by region, some of which are quite distinct and recognizable. Spoken American regional accents can be used to intentionally represent a specific section of the country, or could be chosen to reflect all people—or none in particular.
Depending on what region of the country you are targeting, be sure to get local assistance to make sure the words and accent you are using reflect the regional preference—or help you find a version that is generally accepted everywhere.
Ways to localize your site for language
Here are some steps you can take to localize your site, app, product, or service for language in general and specifically for the USA.
Identify and Remove all Slang before Translating
If you are going to use a language other than your own on your website, app, or marketing materials, it’s often not enough to use free translation tools to translate your site or app. Context and meaning don’t necessarily directly translate very well. If you are on a tight budget, you can use a free translation tool such as Google Translate. There are steps you should take to improve the accuracy and likelihood that your app isn’t complete gibberish, and it’s a good idea to get a local to review the translation to verify that it makes sense.
Example: A German phrase meaning, “I don’t have any interest in that” translated by Google Translate can end up confusing or nonsensical in English.
Use a Translation Service
As you can see from this Google Translate example, a direct translation doesn’t always work, even when there isn’t slang. A more sophisticated approach is often called for.
If you have a budget, by paying a couple of hundred dollars you will have a much more accurate translation using one of the new translation services that are either all human translation by locals such as VerbalizeIt , or combined machine and human translation such as Localize JS and Gengo . These offer much higher quality translations at a reasonable price.
Some things should not be translated – they should be updated or removed
Before you start translating your content, think about those things that actually shouldn’t be translated—they should be updated for the local market. For instance, contact names, addresses, and phone numbers fall into this category. If you are selling a limited product or service line in this market, remove those from your site or if you can’t remove them, be clear that they are sold in limited markets.
Sites with Multiple Language Versions or with Mixed Languages
Even if English is the primary language of your site, you may want the flexibility to offer other languages as well. For example, Google.com.sg, the most visited site in Singapore, gives users the option to toggle between 4 different languages.
Hardwarezone.com has five different country versions, three in English and two in other languages. Depending on which country is selected in the footer, English or another language will be presented.
Stick to One Language per Page
Google does not read the language coding on pages and will try to work the language out by itself. Therefore, it recommends that you use just one language per page. Since your SEO strategy is tied to the words on your page, increase your success by minimizing how much you use more than one language on any page. Instead, develop pages for each language that you use.
Code for Multiple Languages
You can code for language and it’s a good idea if you have the resources. There are many aspects to multi-language sites that can be improved through coding. For example:
- Defining the language in your code when multiple languages appear on one page
- Adjusting font size depending on which language is being displayed (English font sizes are smaller than some other languages)
- Layout changes for right-to-left languages
- Justification of content for different reading directions
- Accounting for different word lengths when designing UI elements
Localize for language!
You are probably getting the idea that it’s not a good solution to just use American terms and spellings without giving it some thought. Just as with the people of any other country, Americans notice the subtle (or not so subtle) differences in language.
To fully localize for language in the United States, it’s best to get some local advice for language localization and translation using experts in the market. That can be local agencies or even people you trust to help you review your content. You can find a number of localization experts in the Globig Marketplace who can help you get things just right.