The language into which content is translated or localized.
The target language is the specific language that a source text is translated into during the localization and translation process. It is the end language intended for the audience that will consume the translated content. Hiring native experts in the respective larger language(s) you’ve chosen for your target market is what makes a difference in the quality of your translations.
It’s worth mentioning that a target language and target market are not the same thing. The market you are targeting could contain multiple languages but you can’t localize the content into all of them at once: you have to choose. The choice of the target language may depend on various factors, including the demographic of the audience, regional dialects, and specific cultural references that need to be addressed.
The target language is often paired with a source language, which is the original language of the content. Understanding the cultural nuances, idiomatic expressions, and other peculiarities of both languages helps achieving high-quality translations.
For more information on related topics, you can explore our content on translations.