Do you need localization of the application?
As the statistics of developers show, applications gain recognition precisely after they are launched to different markets. Localization helps to promote successful promotion. Besides, manufacturers understand that launching a unique application in only one language can result in the risk that competitors will take advantage of the idea and be the first to implement it in other markets.
Therefore, experienced software developers, even at the first stages of developing the application, provide for the possibility of its localizing. This approach makes for various coding for different languages, taking into account the peculiarities of metric systems and other cultural nuances.
What languages should the application be translated into?
On the one hand, you can build upon the number of native speakers, but it is worth considering a number of nuances:
- Only half of the inhabitants of the planet have access to the Internet. For example, there are fewer Chinese-speaking users than the Chinese-speaking population.
- Different rations of the use of mobile OS, Android and iOS, in the regions of the world.
- The level of application sales in different countries.
- Target audience. For example, if the target audience is teenagers, the users will prefer the native language version.
Knowing all these features may help the developers to choose the right target languages. It is important that the application reaches its user, regardless of its topic and direction. These can be games, business assistants, aggregators, tutorials, etc.
Most Popular Languages for Translating Apps
Experts take into account dozens of factors: from the rate of development of countries to the ability of the population to pay. Despite the fact that English is a second language for many inhabitants of the planet, localization into national languages is still popular.
So, the top 10:
- English – one of the most widespread languages in the world; it is also included in the 5 main Internet languages;
- Chinese – despite the large number of Chinese, there are about as many Chinese users as there are English speakers; the language is often used in a business environment;
- Japanese – another language with writing based on a system of hieroglyphs. Japan is one of the countries with developed economies, so the inhabitants of the country make extensive use of applications;
- Portuguese – hit the top due to the high rates of Brazilian economy development;
- French – there are over 150 million this language speakers;
- German – high rates of economy, wide use of the language as a state language in a number of European countries;
- Arabic – another popular language of the eastern world, a rather promising market;
- Russian – this language is known by the majority of residents of post-Soviet countries;
- Spanish – another of the most widely spoken European languages around the world.
- Korean – the economy and culture of this country continues to gain momentum, so the language enters our top.
When choosing languages for translation, it is worth starting from the expected market coverage. If you have ambitious plans, be ready for localization in 40 languages. If you are interested in less than 80% of the market, it is enough to cover the top 10. In other cases, it is enough to select several languages, depending on the intended distribution markets.
Where can I localize the application?
To translate any text materials, buttons, menus and other information, it is not enough just to know the language as a foreign one. After all, you can make mistakes that will catch the eyes of native speakers.
In order to successfully promote the application in other markets, we recommend that you delegate its translation to specialists. Pereklad translation agency will localize your app to both popular languages from the top 10 and other less common ones, regarding the specificity of the subject matter, the country of distribution and other cultural characteristics of the target audience.
