ABSTRACT
To discuss the politics of localization, we first need to define both politics and localization. As Miguel Jiménez-Crespo and Debbie Folaron, among others, have argued, the definition of localization is contentious because various parties, including localizers, translators, translation scholars, researchers, and industry experts have different perspectives about what concepts are encompassed by the term. A key concept related to localization is locale, which refers to the combination of three elements: a language, a specific region, and character encoding. Thus, a localization project will target specific locales, such as French-France, French-Canada, French-Belgium and French-Cameroon, rather than specific languages. Politics can be studied in a narrow sense that is restricted to the discourse of politicians, states and political institutions – that is, the study of political texts such as parliamentary debates, manifestos, constitutions, and treaties. Politics can also be studied in a wider sense in which it encompasses issues such as power and ideology.
