India is the world’s most populated country, with about 1441.72 million people. Digital adoption is rising in India, with more than 600 million people using smartphones. Nowadays, there’s a mobile application for everything, from ordering food and clothes to making payments and buying tickets. So, it only makes sense that businesses in India focus on capturing the online audience with a functional and user-friendly mobile application.
However, there’s a catch. With every business focusing on creating functional mobile apps, how do you ensure your application stands out? The silver lining is mobile app translation. Language translation for apps allows you to customise your message according to the region you are targeting. Your business can gain traction and expand its customer base by connecting with the local audience in their preferred language. Through this guide, we aim to equip you with the best practices for effective mobile app translation.
Best Practices for Mobile App Translation
In the last two decades India has established itself as one of the frontrunners in innovations and adopting the latest technology. Millions of Indians engage with mobile apps, and the number of users will only increase. So, capitalising on this trend can be a game changer for your business. Here are some of the best practices that you can follow to translate app content and engage local audiences in India.
1. Plan a Clear Translation Strategy
Not having a proper structure or plan in place can cause hindrance in your mobile app translation process at later stages. But what does this planning involve?
- Research on your target market, audience, and the language they prefer. For example, if your business operates in Karnataka or wants to expand into the state, then translating app content into Kannada can help you connect with the local audiences at a deeper level, making them feel valued and respected.
- While acquiring new customers is always a target for businesses, do not ignore the untapped potential of engaging with your existing user base. Maybe, you can find opportunities to target a region in the same state before expanding to new regions.
- Once you’re done with the last two tips, consider shortlisting the regions or markets you want to target first. Marking the potential size of your market at the beginning can help you plan your approach efficiently.
- You should also consider keeping in account mobile app localisation from the beginning of your framework design. Localisation goes beyond simple translation, involving taking care of cultural nuances and idioms. It ensures that the imagery, content tone, and phrasing of sentences align with the local culture.
Creating a mobile app translation plan or strategy in advance can help you save time and resources while ensuring a smooth and efficient process. But can you do everything on your own while maintaining accuracy, relevancy, and cultural appropriateness? It can be challenging to execute every step while maintaining consistent quality. So, what do you do? Take assistance from professional translation service providers.
2. Take the Help of Professional Translation Services
You might think that machine translations have come a long way, and are more accurate than before. While that’s true, machine translations still struggle with cultural and contextual understanding. That level of understanding and accuracy requires human expertise.
Professional translation platforms such as Reverie’s Anuvadak can help you ensure that the tone, intent, and user experience of your app stay consistent throughout, making mobile app localisation and translation process seamless. The assistance from professionals can help you foresee and handle any potential problems such as regional idioms or languages that consist of gender-neutral terms.
You can look for professionals who have expertise in Indian languages, as they understand the complexities associated with the language and its idiomatic expressions. They also take care of the length of words or the direction of the sentences. For instance, Urdu is written from right to left.
3. Use Relevant Visuals for Your App
Culturalisation is key to building a strong connection with your target audience. India is a diverse country with multiple languages and cultural references. Even the colours, symbols, and images can have different meanings in different parts of the country.
Let’s take the colour red for example. It can be a symbol of celebration, especially for occasions like weddings and festivals. But, the same colour can also be used to show danger or caution. When using visual elements, you have to make sure you avoid any cultural insensitivity. Translation may also increase the text lengths, so it’s advisable to design UI components keeping the length of translated phrases in mind.
4. Create a Glossary with Extra Logic
Whether you’re managing your mobile app translation process internally or taking help from professionals, making a glossary and a style guide to follow becomes necessary. It helps in maintaining consistency in translations and terminology throughout your app. If you want to include brand-specific language in your app, you can share a glossary with the translation agency that’s helping you with the translations.
There can be grammatical differences between the original texts and the translated language. Including extra logic can help in handling language-specific rules, such as the direction of the texts and gender-specific terms. Creating a glossary and extra logic helps make sure that the mobile app translation is done right.
Mobile App Translation: Build Connections With Customers
Personalising customer experience can go a long way. Translating your content into the language your users prefer can help you enhance customer experience. Language should be a means of communication, it should not create understanding gaps between businesses and their customers.
Follow the best practices for mobile app localisation and translation and ensure that you reach your audience the right way. Reverie’s Anuvadak facilitates seamless website and mobile app localisation. To learn more about Reverie’s and how they can assist you, book a free demo now!
Faqs
What is mobile app localisation?
Mobile app localisation is a process in which an app’s content, visual, and functionality is adapted to match the language and culture of a specific region.
Why is mobile app translation important for India?
More than 600 million Indians use smartphones, and most of the users prefer using mobile apps in their native languages. Translating app content makes the app more accessible to the users, increasing audience engagement.
How do I ensure my translations are accurate?
Using professional translation services and tools like Anuvadak ensures accuracy while maintaining cultural relevance in your app’s content.
What is the role of a glossary in mobile app translation?
A glossary maintains consistency in terminology, ensuring that users have a clear and cohesive experience throughout the app.
