A localisation checklist
Revised 31 January 2006. Lots of small edits throughout the list, based on the second round of comments. More feedback welcome!
I’m compiling a list of terms in US, UK, Canadian, Australian and Indian English and I need some native speakers of each variety of English to check the list and see if I’ve got it right. It’s quite possible that other variations, such as South African or New Zealand English, might have some different terms that would worth adding to the list too.
The list concentrates on things a technical or scientific editor might come across, rather than social language or slang (as do most other lists I’ve seen). This means I’ve included an odd collection of terms for automobiles, finance, construction and a few other topics as well as obviously “technical” stuff. I’m sure I’ve also left out some important terms, simply because they haven’t popped into my mind.
Please send comments to jean -at- jeanweber -dot- com. Thanks!
I’ve compiled the list out of a combination of my own experience (as an Australian born and raised in the USA), plus some lists I’ve found on the Web, some of which I think are a bit suspect, being more oriented towards everyday terms than more formal language. Some of the terms really need annotation to convey the subtleties of when a particular word might be used. Special thanks to Gurudutt Kamath for the list in the column labelled “India”, and to numerous members of the Copyediting-L list for their insight and a stack of fascinating usage notes that I hope to be able to incorporate in the list when I find time to do so.
Of course, there are regional differences in usage within each country, but few of us are likely to attempt to localise our documents to that level of detail. For example, Geoff Hart, who has kindly reviewed the Canadian list, wrote: “Note that so many U.S. terms drift across the border that it’s pretty much inevitable that some creep into common use. And you’ll see regional differences between where I live (French influence) and places like Victoria, which retain a heavy British influence.”
I had some other information about word lists for localisation, including links to some online resources, in Issue 69, 16 February 2003 of my newsletter. These links may or may not still be valid; I haven’t checked them recently.
| US | UK | Canada | Australia | India |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| antenna (TV) | aerial | aerial, antenna | aerial, antenna | aerial, antenna |
| appetizer | entree, starters | appetizer | entree | appetizer, starters |
| appraiser | valuer | appraiser | valuer | appraiser, valuer |
| back up (car) | reverse | back up, reverse | reverse | reverse |
| ballpoint pen | biro | ballpoint pen | ballpoint pen, biro | ballpoint pen |
| bandaid | plaster | bandaid | bandaid | bandaid |
| baseboard | skirting board | baseboard | skirting board | (not used) |
| bathroom, restroom (public) | lavatory, toilet | washroom, bathroom | toilet | toilet, lavatory, bathroom |
| battery | accumulator | battery | battery | battery |
| bell pepper | capsicum | bell pepper | capsicum | capsicum |
| bill (money) | note | bill | note | note |
| bulletin board | notice board | bulletin board, message board | notice board | notice board |
| braces { } | curly brackets | braces, curly brackets | curly brackets | curly brackets |
| brackets [ ] | brackets, square brackets | brackets | brackets, square brackets | brackets, square brackets |
| bus (long-distance) | coach | bus | coach | coach |
| busy (phone) | engaged | busy | busy, engaged | engaged |
| calendar (appointment) | diary | diary, planner, calendar | diary, planner | diary |
| call (on telephone) | ring | call | ring, call | |
| can | tin, can | tin, can | tin, can | can, tin |
| carpet pad | underlay | carpet pad | underlay | (not used) |
| cart (shopping) | trolley | cart | trolley | trolley, cart |
| cash register | till | cash register | till, cash register | cash register |
| cater to | cater for | cater for, cater to | cater for | cater to, cater for |
| cell phone | mobile phone | cell phone | mobile phone | mobile phone |
| check (mark) | tick | check | tick | tick |
| check (money) | cheque | cheque | cheque | cheque |
| checking account | current account | cheque account | cheque account | current account |
| closet | cupboard | closet, cupboard | cupboard | cupboard |
| coffee break | tea break, coffee break | coffee break | tea break, coffee break | tea break |
| condo | unit | condo | unit, home unit | flat |
| cookie | biscuit | cookie | biscuit | biscuit |
| corn starch | corn flour | corn starch | corn flour | corn flour |
| cot | camp bed | cot, folding bed | camp bed | cot |
| counterclockwise | anticlockwise | counterclockwise | anticlockwise | anticlockwise |
| cream | single cream | light cream | light cream | single cream |
| cream (whipping) | double cream | whipping cream | whipping cream | double cream |
| crib | cot | crib | cot | crib |
| day care, nursery, child care | nursery, creche, day care | day care, nursery | child care, creche, day care | nursery, creche |
| daylight saving time | summer time | daylight saving time | daylight saving time | (not used) |
| defroster (on car) | demister | defroster | demister | (not used) |
| diaper | nappy | diaper | nappy | diaper, nappy |
| dinner, supper | tea, supper, dinner | dinner, supper | tea, dinner | dinner |
| district attorney | public or crown prosecutor | prosecutor (crown, federal, provincial) | prosecutor | public prosecutor |
| doctor’s office | (doctor’s) surgery | doctor’s office | (doctor’s) surgery | clinic |
| dumpster | skip | dumpster | skip | (not used) |
| elementary school, grade school | primary school | elementary school, grade school | primary school | primary school |
| entree, main course | main course | entree, main course | main course | main course |
| fall, autumn | autumn | fall, autumn | autumn | (not used) |
| faucet, tap | tap | tap, faucet | tap | tap |
| fender (car) | mudguard, wing | fender | mudguard | mudguard |
| field day (school) | fete, sports day | field day | sports day | sports day |
| fired (from a job) | sacked | fired, laid off | sacked | fired, sacked |
| first grade, second grade (school) | year one, year two | grade one, grade two, first grade, second grade | grade one, grade two | class one, class two, first standard, second standard |
| fiscal year | financial year | fiscal year | financial year | financial year |
| flashlight | torch | flashlight | torch | torch |
| freeway, expressway, interstate | motorway | highway, expressway | motorway | national highway, highway, expressway |
| fries, French fries (but "fish and chips") | chips | fries, French fries (but "fish and chips") | chips | fries, French fries, chips |
| garbage, trash | rubbish | garbage, trash | rubbish | garbage |
| gas pump | petrol bowser | gas pump | petrol bowser | petrol pump |
| gas, gasoline | petrol | gas, gasoline | petrol | petrol |
| ground beef | mince | ground beef | mince | mince, kheema |
| running shoes | trainers | running shoes | running shoes | running shoes |
| high school | secondary school | high school, secondary school | secondary school, high school | high school, secondary school |
| hood (of car) | bonnet | hood | bonnet | bonnet |
| inseam | inside leg | inseam | inside leg | (not used) |
| installment plan | hire purchase | installment plan | hire purchase | installment plan, hire purchase |
| intermission | interval | intermission | interval, intermission | interval |
| internship | work experience | internship | work experience | internship |
| (labor) union | trade union | union | trade union | trade union, labour union |
| laid off | (made) redundant | laid off | (made) redundant | laid off, relieved from duty |
| lawyer, attorney | solicitor, barrister | lawyer | solicitor, barrister, lawyer | lawyer, solicitor, barrister |
| license (noun) | licence | licence | licence | licence |
| license (verb) | license | license | license | license |
| license plate (car) | number plate | license plate | number plate | number plate |
| long-distance call (telephone) | trunk call | long-distance call | trunk call | trunk call |
| line up (v.) | queue | line up | queue | queue, line up |
| liquor | spirits | liquor | spirits | liquor |
| living room | lounge room | living room | lounge room | living room |
| mutual fund | unit trust | mutual fund | unit trust | mutual fund |
| nearsighted (myopic) | short-sighted | nearsighted | short-sighted | short-sighted |
| nipple (on baby bottle) | teat | nipple | teat | nipple |
| oatmeal | porridge | oatmeal, porridge | porridge, oatmeal | oatmeal |
| outlet, socket (power) | power point, socket | outlet, socket | power point | point |
| pacifier (for babies) | dummy | pacifier, soother | dummy | (not used) |
| parentheses ( ) | brackets | parentheses, brackets | brackets | brackets |
| parking lot | car park | parking lot | car park | car parking |
| pass (a car, going in the same direction) | overtake | pass | overtake | overtake |
| pavement, asphalt, blacktop | bitumen, macadam | pavement, asphalt | bitumen | tar road |
| period (punctuation mark) | full stop | period | full stop | full stop |
| pharmacy, drugstore | chemist | pharmacy, drugstore | chemist, pharmacy | chemist |
| pickup (truck) | pickup (truck) | ute | pickup (truck) | |
| plexiglass | perspex | plexiglass | perspex | plexiglass, perspex |
| powdered sugar, confectioner’s sugar | icing sugar | icing sugar, powdered sugar, confectioner’s sugar | icing sugar | icing sugar |
| prenatal | antenatal | prenatal | antenatal | prenatal, antenatal |
| private school | public school, private school | private school | private school | private school |
| property taxes | rates | property taxes | rates | property taxes |
| public housing | council housing | public housing, social housing | council housing | public housing |
| public school | state school | public school | state school | public school |
| rest area (road) | lay-by | pull-off, turn-out | rest area, rest stop | |
| railroad tie | sleeper | railroad tie, railway tie | sleeper | sleeper |
| ranch | farm (no direct equivalent) | ranch, farm | station | (no equivalent) |
| rappel | abseil | rappel | abseil | rappel |
| realtor | estate agent | real estate agent | estate agent | (real) estate agent |
| rent (a car), v. | hire | rent | hire | rent |
| rent (property), v. | let, let out | rent | let, rent | rent |
| reservation | booking | reservation, booking | booking, reservation | reservation |
| reverse charges (telephone call) | call collect | reverse charges | reverse charges, call collect | call collect |
| rubber band | elastic band | elastic band, rubber band | elastic band, rubber band | rubber band |
| salesperson (in a shop) | shop assistant | salesperson | shop assistant | salesperson, shopping assistant |
| scotch tape | sticky tape | scotch tape, adhesive tape | sticky tape | cellotape |
| shot (vaccination) | injection | shot, injection, needle | injection, vaccination | injection |
| shoulder (of road) | verge | shoulder | shoulder, verge | (not used) |
| sidewalk | pavement | sidewalk | footpath | footpath |
| slaughterhouse | abattoir | slaughterhouse | abattoir | abattoir, slaughterhouse |
| store (retail outlet) | shop | store, shop | shop | shop, store |
| stove | cooker | stove | stove, cooker | stove |
| streetcar, trolley | tram | streetcar | tram | tram |
| stroller (baby) | pushchair | stroller, pram, buggy | pram, stroller | pram |
| stub (check) | counterfoil | stub | stub, butt | counterfoil |
| study (for a test) | revise | study | study, revise | study, revise |
| styrofoam | polystyrene | styrofoam | polystyrene, styrofoam | styrofoam |
| subway | tube | subway, metro in Montreal | underground | metro |
| SUV | 4×4 | SUV | Four-wheel-drive (4WD), 4×4 | SUV |
| sweatsuit | tracksuit | sweatsuit, jogging outfit | tracksuit | tracksuit |
| tailpipe | exhaust pipe | exhaust pipe, tailpipe | exhaust pipe | exhaust pipe |
| thread (sewing) | cotton | thread | cotton | thread |
| thumbtacks | drawing pins | thumbtacks, tacks, push-pins | drawing pins | thumbtacks |
| trailer (camping, mobile home) | caravan | trailer | caravan | trailer |
| trailer (goods) | trailer | trailer | trailer | trailer |
| trailer (horse) | horsebox | horse trailer | float | trailer |
| truck stop | rest stop | truck stop | roadhouse | (no equivalent) |
| trunk (of car) | boot | trunk | boot | dicky |
| turn signal (car) | indicator | turn signal, indicator | indicator, turn signal | indicator |
| two weeks | fortnight | two weeks | fortnight | fortnight |
| underpass | subway | underpass | underpass | subway |
| undershirt | vest | undershirt | singlet | banian, vest |
| vacation | holiday | vacation, holiday | holiday, leave | holiday, vacation |
| wallboard, drywall, sheetrock, gypsum | plasterboard | wallboard, drywall, sheetrock | plasterboard | (not used) |
| wax paper | grease-proof paper | wax(ed) paper | grease-proof paper | wax paper |
| windshield (car) | windscreen | windshield, windscreen | windscreen | windshield |
| wrench | spanner | wrench | spanner | spanner |
| yield (street sign) | give way | yield | give way | (no equivalent) |
Last updated 31 January 2006