Translation In a Globalized Market
To understand the role and importance of the process of translation with respect to a globalized world with free market economy in most of the countries in the world, it is important that we understand translation along with its subsidiary processes, like interpretation and language localisation. What exactly is translation and how does it help build bridges between markets from different parts of the world?
Translation is the process by which the meaning and significance of a source text is communicated to a target text by means of an equivalent medium. For example, if the meaning of a text written in French, is conveyed in another language, say for instance Spanish, with very little error or without any discrepancy, then it is an example of a good translation where the intended meaning remained significantly unchanged and unchallenged despite the difference in the language and the culture that is an intrinsic part of the language itself.
When translation is oral, that is when the meaning is orally communicated from one language to the other, then it is called interpretation. The third aspect of a complete translation is language localization. This is a process by which a product which has been translated into many languages is adapted to a specific geographical area or region. Localization involves a thorough study of the targeted culture, so that the product can be correctly adapted into another language.
Where exactly can we place translation in a free market globalized world? Translation has a unique role to play in a globalized world. With the market being made free, in most capitalist states of the world after the second world war, globalization started to pace up. With the new tendency and zeal to transfer goods, services and products across political boundaries freely, it became increasingly necessary that the cultural barriers be diminished. This diminishing of cultural boundaries was achieved through translation and its subsidiary processes.
If a product is being made in Japan and it is to be sold in Spain or may be somewhere Latin America, it should not only translate its meaning but also localize it to adapt to the target culture. This ensures the Japanese products a strong position in the European market along with the local products of Spain or Latin America. Here, translation from the primary language, which is Japanese in this case, to the target language, Spanish is very necessary.
Spanish being the second most spoken language in the world, is the gateway for companies from all over the globe to the markets in the Spanish speaking countries in the world. Hence, it is equally necessary that the process of translation along with its subsidiary processes are conducted with efficiency.