Transliteration is the process of converting text from one writing system into another while preserving the original sounds. Unlike translation, which focuses on meaning, transliteration aims to represent the phonetics of the source language. For example, the name Mikhail Gorbachev in Russian can be transliterated into the Latin alphabet as "Mikhail Gorbachev." This method is commonly used for names, technical terms, and specific phrases, especially when there is no direct equivalent in the target language. Transliteration helps maintain the original pronunciation, making it easier for speakers of different languages to read and pronounce foreign words accurately.