As stated previously, in order to successfully demonstrate localization, globalization must also be simultaneously achieved. In order to achieve globalization, developers must also consider the community in which they hope to reach. They can do this by implementing "community strategy" which seeks to improve localization by strategizing to acquire a kind of relationship with the community the developer is trying to reach. As Shivers-McNair(2017) states, "Community strategy emphasizes the localized nature of outcomes and the importance of tailoring both the nature of the engagement and the measure of that engagement’s success to the community, rather than imposing a set of goals or assumptions" (p. 99). To put this in simpler terms, community strategy works best as a support system to localization when cultural customs such as a deep understanding of a language is implemented within the content.
As technology has developed throughout the years, user-localization has been a useful tool for improving the understanding of localization as a whole. User-localization is different from "developer localization" in the way that it centers around the specific user's activities and strategies to adapt on their own to suit their own cultural needs in order to communicate through technology. This has more to do with the user developing practices than the developer creating an obvious place specifically suited to the users needs.
An example of User-localization that can be used by developers to better understand and improve localization is translation. Translation is commonly thought of as replacing one word in a language with another in a different language but with the same meaning. However, when it comes to localization, more than words must be translated to properly convey the true meaning between cultures. As it is when learning a different language, the aspects of the entire language must be learned to appropriately communicate, not just individual words hastily put in the order of the users primary language.
As Gonzales and Zantjer(2015) point out, "analyzing the translation practices of our participants helped us understand how translation work extends beyond the written and verbal; technical communicators creating content for international audiences could in turn continue making use of visuals and other semiotic resources to transform content across languages" (p. 282). It is by using information about user-localization and translation in this method that a developer can improve the localization of a product by learning to understand the basis of the user's cultural needs.
Localization can be used in a broad range of fields and content, but when it comes to culture, making sure that the information being communicated suits the culture to which it is being communicated is important. This can be in a myriad of ways, not just translating a language well, though that in itself is vey important. Germain-McDaniel(2010) created a study specifically to discover what types of localization strategies worked best to positively impact the healthcare system and found several methods that stood out including textual style, graphics, symbols, and more. This study focused on "Executive Order 13166: Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency", issued in 2000 by Bill Clinton. This order served to support an existing act as well as diminish discriminatory practices with concerns to individuals who were seen as "limited english proficient"(p. 253). While most obviously this could be presumed to mean translation in medical settings, as mentioned above in Community strategy, the study found that localization could be improved when thorough research was conducted on specific cultures.
An example of this lies in textual style. Though a document created initially english can be translated word for word to Spanish to better suit the need of hispanic patients, this does not mean that the document succeeds in properly communicating the information as if it was initially created in a medical facility in South America. For instance, according to Germain-McDaniel (2010), cultural texts can be categorized as high-context or low context. Low context, which is descriptive of a preference of english speakers residing in the United States, calls for an excess of organization, directness, and strong guidance through the text in linear order. Comparatively, high context, a preference of some Spanish-speaking audiences, calls for more complex and situational descriptions, with information organized in a question-answer method. This is a way that the field of technical communication in itself must develop for localization, as in theory, technical communication practices more linear and organized approaches to editing.
Each of these strategies emphasize the importance of communicating appropriately and properly across cultures, and how this can only be accomplished if cultural differences are understood and accommodated. The Covid-19 pandemic sweeping the globe is truly testing the effectiveness of localization practices as nations and communities are required to communicate over guidelines, new information, and medical practices. Healthcare has become more present and important than ever, with new aspects such as constant tracing, exposure, symptom checking, and more. In order to successfully accomplish these new practices, every one of these strategies must be used.
Translation must be used for the influx of medical documents, advisories, guidelines, and more. When going up to a testing site for example, talking is minimal due to the lack of close contact. Therefore, instructions must be adequately communicated prior to the Covid-19 test, and as many of these instructions are given in either document or phone call format, translation must be easily understood in a medical context instead of word for word.
Documents are often given after testing visits, to inform the patient of their next steps as they begin quarantine. These instructions are crucial as they are distributed to many potential positive cases. Textual style must adhere to the individuals culture so that the essentiality of safety guidelines are properly conveyed. This could mean documentation taking on a chronological organization for english speakers and a question-answer format for Spanish speakers.
Overall, localization on the scale of globalization in a time such as this one needs to be supported by the understanding and modification to suit the needs of individuals across cultures. Without strategies such as these, important and crucial information such as pertains to a global heath crisis, cannot be accurately transmitted to everyone.