Exploratory survey of localization and translation in Zimbabwe's agricultural and pharmaceutical industries in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to explore the elements of localization and translation for the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries in Zimbabwe to ensure that the localization of pharmaceutical and agricultural products is made available.
 Research methodology: This study applied an exploratory research approach to answer the key questions that emerge from the deficit of research and application of localization in Zimbabwe.
 Results: The time has come for language specialists and others in the areas of medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, and information communication technology (ICT) to work together to ensure that product packaging, instructions of use, and other related product information for both locally produced and imported products are in the languages spoken by local communities in which these products are used.
 Limitations: Localization and translation are still in their infancy in Africa in general and Zimbabwe in particular. As such, research and literature about this emerging area of applied language studies are still scarce. While the researchers would have liked to engage literature on the subject in greater detail, the paucity of literature on the subject only afforded the researchers an exploratory kind of study. The current study was conducted with the hope of stimulating further research on this promising area of research.
 Contribution: By answering the above questions, this exploratory study hopes to contribute to localization and translation as language industries to ensure that pharmaceutical and agricultural products are localized for the benefit of end-users.