Language localisation[1] (from the English term "locale" and abbreviated in the numeronym "L10N", the 10 being a way of replacing the middle 10 letters of the word) can be defined as the second phase of a larger process (Internationalisation) of product translation and cultural adaptation (for specific countries, regions, groups) to account for differences in distinct markets. Thus, it is important not to reduce it to a mere translation activity because it involves a comprehensive study of the target culture in order to correctly adapt the product.
The localisation process is most generally related to cultural adaptation and translation of software, video games and websites, and less frequently to any written translation (although these also involve cultural adaptation processes). The process of localising can be done for regions or countries where people speak different languages, or where the same language is spoken. Just recall the language differences in countries where Spanish is natively spoken (for instance in South America), or where English is the official language (e.g. in the United States, the United Kingdom and the Philippines).
