Location vs. Locale — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 28, 2024
Location refers to a specific place or position, often described in terms of geographical coordinates, while locale involves the cultural or social setting of a place, impacting language, customs, and practices.
Difference Between Location and Locale
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Location is primarily about the physical place or position, identifiable by coordinates like latitude and longitude. It's objective and can be pinpointed on a map. On the other hand, locale encompasses the cultural and social aspects of a place, which influence the language, customs, and norms of the people living there. This term is more subjective and reflects the characteristics that make a place unique beyond its geographical position.
Location is used in various contexts, including geography, real estate, and technology, where precise positioning is crucial. It helps in identifying, navigating, and planning. Whereas, locale is significant in anthropology, sociology, and linguistics, providing insights into the cultural and social fabric of a place, which might influence behavior, language usage, and societal norms.
While location can be determined through technological means like GPS, emphasizing its quantitative nature, locale requires qualitative analysis and understanding of cultural dimensions, highlighting its qualitative nature. Locale gives depth to the understanding of a place, adding layers of meaning that location alone cannot provide.
In technology, location often refers to the physical address or coordinates of a device or place, useful in applications like mapping and tracking. On the other hand, locale settings in software affect how dates, times, numbers, and currencies are displayed, according to cultural norms.
Location and locale, though distinct, interact in ways that shape experiences. A location’s geographical aspects can influence the cultural characteristics of its locale, and vice versa, the cultural elements of a locale can affect perceptions and uses of a location.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A specific place or position on Earth.
A place's cultural or social setting.
Focus
Geographical coordinates or physical aspects.
Cultural, linguistic, and social aspects.
Significance
Important for navigation, planning, and identification.
Important for understanding cultural and social dynamics.
Determination
Through technological means like GPS.
Through qualitative analysis of cultural and social elements.
Application in Tech
Used in mapping, real estate, and tracking.
Affects software’s cultural and language settings.
Compare with Definitions
Location
A determination of the location of something;
He got a good fix on the target
Locale
A place where something specific happens.
The beach was the locale for the annual sandcastle competition.
Location
A place where something happens or is set.
The movie was shot on location in New Zealand.
Locale
In linguistics, the influence of place on language use.
The locale affected the dialect spoken by the characters in the story.
Location
A specific place within a larger area.
Please send the package to my office location.
Locale
The regional setting used to differentiate cultural or language settings in software.
Changing the locale in your device settings can alter date formats.
Location
In technology, a virtual or physical place where something is situated.
The app uses your GPS location to suggest nearby restaurants.
Locale
The setting or environment of something.
The locale of the novel is a small, rural village.
Location
A particular place or position.
The restaurant's location is ideal for those who love waterfront dining.
Locale
A place within a cultural context.
The festival's locale influences its music and food offerings.
Location
In geography, location or place are used to denote a region (point, line, or area) on Earth’s surface or elsewhere. The term location generally implies a higher degree of certainty than place, the latter often indicating an entity with an ambiguous boundary, relying more on human or social attributes of place identity and sense of place than on geometry.
Locale
A place where something happens or is set, or that has particular events associated with it
Her summers were spent in a variety of exotic locales
Location
A particular place or position
The property is set in a convenient location
Locale
A place, especially with reference to a particular event
The locale of a crime.
Location
An area where black South Africans were obliged by apartheid laws to live, usually on the outskirts of a town or city. The term was later replaced by township.
Locale
The scene or setting, as of a novel.
Location
The act or process of locating
Location of the lost hikers took two days.
Locale
The place where something happens.
Being near running water and good shade, the explorers decided it was a good locale for setting up camp.
Location
A place where something is or could be located; a site.
Locale
(computing) The set of settings related to the language and region in which a computer program executes. Examples are language, currency and time formats, character encoding etc.
Location
A site away from a studio at which part or all of a movie is shot
Filming a Western on location in the Mexican desert.
Locale
(mathematics) A partially ordered set with the following additional axiomatic properties: any finite subset of it has a meet, any arbitrary subset of it has a join, and distributivity, which states that a binary meet distributes with respect to an arbitrary join. (Note: locales are just like frames except that the category of locales is opposite to the category of frames.)
Location
A tract of land that has been surveyed and marked off.
Locale
A place, spot, or location.
Location
A particular point or place in physical space.
Locale
A principle, practice, form of speech, or other thing of local use, or limited to a locality.
Location
An act of locating.
Locale
The scene of any event or action (especially the place of a meeting)
Location
(South Africa) An apartheid-era urban area populated by non-white people; township.
Location
(legal) A leasing on rent.
Location
A contract for the use of a thing, or service of a person, for hire.
Location
The marking out of the boundaries, or identifying the place or site of, a piece of land, according to the description given in an entry, plan, map, etc
Location
(Kenya) An administrative region in Kenya, below counties and subcounties, and further divided into sublocations.
Location
The act or process of locating.
Location
Situation; place; locality.
Location
That which is located; a tract of land designated in place.
Location
A leasing on rent.
Location
A point or extent in space
Location
The act of putting something in a certain place or location
Common Curiosities
What is the main difference between location and locale?
Location refers to a specific place or position, often in geographical terms, while locale refers to the cultural or social setting of a place.
Can a place’s location affect its locale?
Yes, a place's geographical location can influence its cultural and social characteristics, thereby affecting its locale.
How do I change my device’s locale settings?
To change your device’s locale settings, you typically go to the settings menu, select language & region, and then choose your desired locale from the options provided.
Why is location important in real estate?
Location is crucial in real estate because it determines accessibility, desirability, and the value of a property.
How does the concept of locale apply in linguistics?
In linguistics, locale refers to how the place or setting influences language usage, dialects, and linguistic practices.
What role does location play in navigation?
Location plays a fundamental role in navigation by providing precise positioning, essential for mapping and directional guidance.
How does locale affect software applications?
Locale settings in software affect how dates, times, numbers, and currencies are displayed, catering to cultural norms.
Is GPS used for determining locale?
GPS technology is used for determining location, not locale, as locale involves cultural and social aspects.
What information is needed to identify a location?
Identifying a location typically requires geographical coordinates or a physical address.
What is a digital location?
A digital location refers to a virtual or physical place's presence in digital space, such as a website’s URL or a device's IP address.
Can two places have the same location but different locales?
Two places cannot have the exact same geographical location, but nearby locations can have distinct locales due to cultural differences.
Why is understanding locale important in globalization?
Understanding locale is crucial in globalization to ensure cultural sensitivity, effective communication, and the successful adaptation of products and services to different cultural contexts.
How can understanding locale benefit travelers?
Understanding a place’s locale can enhance travelers' experiences by providing insights into the local culture, customs, and social practices.
Are location and locale interdependent?
While location and locale are distinct concepts, they can influence each other, with geographical aspects affecting cultural characteristics and vice versa.
Does locale change over time?
Yes, the cultural and social aspects of a place can evolve, leading to changes in its locale.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
