Elisa Alonso interviews Miguel A. Jiménez-Crespo on translation and localisation [video]

Abstract

This interview, conducted by Elisa Alonso for JoSTrans, features Professor Miguel Ángel Jiménez Crespo on the occasion of the publication of his 2024 book Localization in Translation. The discussion focuses on the growing relevance of localization within translation studies and contemporary digital society.

Jiménez Crespo explains that localization remains central due to the increasing importance of digital environments in everyday life. Since the publication of his influential 2013 book Translation and Web Localization, digital communication has expanded significantly, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, accelerating global reliance on websites, mobile applications, user interfaces, video games, and online platforms. As people worldwide constantly interact with digital content in multiple languages, localization enables access and usability across linguistic and cultural contexts.

A key idea highlighted in the interview is the “invisibility” of localization processes. Users frequently engage with translated or adapted digital products without being aware of the complex linguistic and technological work behind them. Localization functions as a bridge that connects global users to digital ecosystems seamlessly.

The conversation also situates localization within broader developments in translation technologies, including machine translation and automated multilingual interfaces integrated into websites and social media platforms. Overall, the interview emphasizes localization as a fundamental discipline shaping communication, accessibility, and globalization in the digital age.