Top 5 Countries That Definitely Need Interpreting Services

There are 196 countries in the world, but how many languages are there? Although some might say 100 and others around 200, these guesses are far off from the actual number. According to Ethnologue, there are currently 7,151 languages spoken around the world. However, the number is not fixed, as languages evolve and change to adapt to new societies and situations worldwide. Some languages have even become extinct. Here are five countries where interpreting services are absolutely necessary.

 

Papua New Guinea Needs Interpreting Services

Papua New Guinea is an Oceanian country with the highest amount of linguistic diversity. Papua New Guinea has the most languages in the world, with 740, more than double the number of languages spoken in Europe. Over 200,000 people speak the popular language despite a few hundred people only speaking some. Tok, Hiri Mtu, English, and sign language are the official languages of Papua New Guinea. As a result, international development translation services are a necessity for NGOs and non-profits operating in the region.

 

Indonesia Needs Interpreting Services

Indonesia is a Southeast Asian and Oceanian country with 715 languages spoken. Indonesian is the official language of the country. The majority of the languages spoken here are Austronesian. Javanese, Sundanese, Minangkabau, and Musi.

 

Nigeria Needs Interpreting Services

Nigeria is a country in West Africa and a multinational state inhabited by more than 250 ethnic groups speaking 527 distinct languages. Although the official language in Nigeria is English, regional languages include Hausa, Igbo, and sign language.

 

India

India has 456 official languages, with English and Hindi being the most widely spoken. The Hindi language is widely spoken and is the fourth most commonly spoken language in the world. Other Indian languages include Bengali, Telugu, and Odia, among others. With 22 official languages, India has the most of any country. Therefore, translation services are required at all stages of government in order to reach all of the language groups in the country.

 

USA

English is the most widely spoken of the 337 languages in the United States. Immigrants from other nations have significantly impacted demographic patterns in the United States. Amazingly, there is no official language.

 

Languages And The Help Of A Translation Service

It is incredible to know there are 7,151 languages spoken worldwide, although less than 100,000 people speak 90% of these languages. Language translation services, including localization services, form a bridge between different ethics and different countries. With the help of language professionals, we can easily communicate with people in several of the most common languages in the world.

 

 

How Ecommerce Translation Services Can Boost Your Business

Coronavirus devastated the world economy. Physical markets and shops were closed, and employees were sent home for safety purposes. However, the ecommerce industry flourished during the pandemic. Thanks to the Internet, it became easy to buy products from around the world with a simple click of the mouse. Here’s how ecommerce translation services can help your business thrive in today’s global economy.

 

The Important of Ecommerce Translation Services

According to a recent evaluation of the ecommerce market , China has the largest ecommerce market size at $672 billion, far above the US’s $340 billion.

As this industry continues to rise, ecommerce translation has become essential to successful selling products and services as well as building your brand. 75% of customers reported they prefer to purchase products on an ecommerce website if it is in their native language. Therefore, investing in professional translation and localization services to ensure your website is properly translated into the languages of your target markets can promote trust in your brand and improve the user experience.

 

Top Online Shopping Sites Need Ecommerce Translation Services

The business potential of online shopping is vast, and there are several well-known online shopping sites.

 

Amazon

Amazon is one of the most popular online marketplaces used by individuals and businesses. Over 2.5 billion shoppers visit monthly, and you’ll get access to its huge customer base once you join Amazon. The company’s size ensures that marketplaces are available in the majority of countries in the world.

 

Shopify

Shopify is one of the best ecommerce platforms. Unlike Amazon, Shopify lets you get your own space to set up and run a business. It powers over 1 million businesses in approximately 175 countries through its platform.

 

eBay

eBay is an online shopping site best known for its auctions and consumer-to-consumer sales. eBay is also available in many countries. The main feature of eBay is that consumers can search for products available nationally or internationally. Millions of transactions go through every single day.

 

Most ecommerce platforms support cross-country operations. In order to scale your business and gain more market share, it is necessary to translate your products or services into different languages.

 

Ecommerce Translation Services: Machine vs. Human

Translation is an essential tool for communication between international ecommerce businesses.

An auto-translation program such as Google Translate is the most accessible and economical way to get a translation done. But online translation services may copy the same grammatical structure and do literal word-for-word translations. Certain words or terms take on very different meanings when translated in this manner,..

In contrast, business translation services can precisely translate a text’s tone, slang, cultural and contextual references, and idioms. They can also provide accurate localization services. You can get a professional translation service through a translation agency or a freelance translator, however hiring a dedicated language service provider with experience working the space is preferable.

 

7 Hilarious Machine Translation Mistakes 

There are more than 7,000 languages worldwide, of which English is the most popular. So, how do people who speak different languages communicate? A convenient way for people from two different language regions to communicate is to use English. Although it is common to use a machine translation program to translate content into different languages, many times these programs are not that smart. Below are some funny examples of machine translation fails that demonstrate the importance of hiring human translation services.

 

Machine Translation Failure #1: “Get Fat”

One crucial strategy for companies entering new markets is to respect local cultures Without understanding the applications and uses of language and culture, companies are unlikely to connect with global audiences

Nike released a new shoe design known as the Special Edition Air Force 1 to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The shoes were customized to display two Chinese characters. On one shoe is the character “fa,” which means getting rich, and on the other shoe, the character “fu,” which means luck in traditional Chinese. However, when the two characters are combined, a different message is shown: “get fat.” It seems that Nike did not get the key to Chinese translation.

 

 

 

Machine Translation Failure #2: Paul Is Dead

An Arabic hotel was trying to advertise a new dish. In Arabic, the characters were supposed to translate to “meatballs”. However, it became mistranslated to a funny little sign declaring “Paul is dead”, demonstrating the importance of investing in professional business translation services. Hope there is no Paul at the table to enjoy his meal.

 

 

Machine Translation Failure #3: “To Arrival Hole”

Here is an Arabic road sign. It may confuse English-speaking guests and lead them to a hole…

 

 

Machine Translation Failure #4: “Panic Carefully”

Interesting door sign! The Japanese sign is meant to indicate the “Evacuation Ladder”. However, it was mistranslated into “Panic Carefully”.

 

Machine Translation Failure #5: “Do Not Cry”

In English, the Spanish phrase, “No Gritar”, means “Do Not Yell”. However, it was mistranslated into “Do Not Cry.”

 

 

Machine Translation Failure #6: No Smoking Signs

The no smoking sign is common in public places. However, it is often mistranslated in funny ways.

“No smoking Aloud”? So, may I smoke quietly?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poor Moose… Does it smoke?

 

 

 

 

 

 

“No SMOCKing”!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Than Q”for understanding!

 

 

Translation Failure #7: Translate Server Error

Have you ever used Google Translate? Usually, you can get find you’re looking for. But sometimes, you end up with something completely wrong.

The two Chinese characters mean dining hall. However, translation server error happened…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While machine translation is sometimes helpful, it needs to be properly reviewed by skilled linguists. To avoid these mistakes, choose a professional translation service! We provide Chinese translation services, Arabic translation services, Japanese translation services, and more!

 

3 Fields That Require Life Science Translation Services

The life science industry has become increasingly consolidated and global. This new reality requires investment in  accurate life science translation services

The life science industry has three significant sectors: pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and medical devices. Developments in these fields rely on good language translation services, as scientific information can be more easily be passed between scientists from different language groups when translated.

Additionally, without the help of translation services, life science companies cannot launch pharmaceutical products in other countries, provide medical treatment using a patient’s own language, or sell medical devices globally.

 

Life Science Translation and Pharmaceuticals

Before pharmaceutical companies can expand internationally, they need to conduct scientific clinical trials and market drugs in other countries. Conducting clinical trials requires careful attention to different types of documents. As a result, many life science companies need to translate documents such as signed agreements, study protocols and amendments, regulatory authority documents, and informed consent forms.

Considering that the pharmaceutical industry is heavily regulated, accuracy is paramount. Pharmaceutical companies need properly-translated terminology in order to ensure compliance with local laws and regulations. In order to adhere to strict quality standards, translators must have experience working in the life science industry.  As a result, professional legal translation and clinical research translation services providers are needed for pharmaceutical development.

 

Life Science Translation and Healthcare

The United States is a country of great linguistic diversity. Between 350 and 430 languages are spoken in the U.S., and about one-fifth of U.S. residents speak another language at home.

When patients receive critical health information, it needs to be relayed to them in a language they can understand. In the healthcare industry, there are a number of documents that need to be well-translated, including informed consent forms, medical records, patient questionnaires, lab test results, hospital release forms, and aftercare patient instructions.

Miscommunication can have dangerous consequences. Document translation services are crucial to avoiding this by fostering communication in the healthcare industry.

 

Medical Device Translation

Medical device companies need to invest in medical device translation services provided by professional translation agencies in order to market medical devices and avoid costly inaccuracies.

Just like the documents needed in the pharmaceutical industry, medical device companies also need high-quality document translation services.

For medical device companies, companies often need to translate documents such as patents, maintenance and installation manuals, contracts, and legal certifications and statements.

In addition, many companies are moving their medical device manufacturing to Asia-Pacific to reduce costs in the highly competitive market. Thus, many international businesses require correct translation as a bridge of communication.

 

How A Chinese Translation Service Can Transform Your Business

Did you know that Chinese is the third most spoken language in the U.S.? China has the largest population in the world at around 1.4 billion people. The Chinese diaspora exists on almost every continent; in the U.S., 3.5 million households speak Mandarin or Cantonese at home. Considering the fact that China is an emerging and competitive market, hiring professional language translation services can help your business expand into the Chinese market.

 

A Chinese Translation Service Can Navigate the Complex Language

The evolution of Chinese characters was a long progress that began with the earliest Chinese hieroglyphs and have culminated in today’s simple characters. Today, simple Chinese characters are the most commonly used language in mainland China.

While other regions of China, such as Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, have created their own distinct dialects and written forms, in these regions, they prefer to use traditional Chinese characters instead.

These variations make Chinese a unique challenge for translators and providers of interpreting services. For example, if your company has contracts with both the Shanghai branch and the Hong Kong branch of a Chinese company, a professional agency can ensure that the language contained in both contracts is precise, thus avoiding potential legal problems.

 

A Chinese Translation Service Provides Industry Knowledge

In the 1990s, China’s industrial development entered the world stage. During the first ten years of the 21st century, China’s industrial development has become a crucial to the world’s industrial development and comprises a significant part of the world economy. For instance, the Chinese economy can be separated into 41 major industrial categories, 191 medium categories, and 525 subcategories, making it the only country with all industrial categories according to the United Nations Industrial Classification.

At present, China is laying out the world’s cutting-edge high-tech strategic emerging industries, including cloud computing, big data, health, mobile Internet, robotics, 3D printing, new advanced materials, autonomous driving, new energy vehicles, renewable energy, aerospace, genomics, and other industries and technologies.

No matter what industry you are in, there are always many opportunities to deal with Chinese companies, whether your suppliers, customers, or even employees. Professional Chinese translation services can help you conduct business effectively should you decide to expand into this growing market.

 

A Chinese Translation Service Can Attract More Clients

There are numerous Chinese companies globally. You can find the “Made in China” label on most of the products you buy from the mall. If you want to work with a Chinese company or find potential business partners, communicating with your potential clients in Chinese needs to be clear and efficient. However, it becomes complicated to put the documents into other languages rather than in Chinese most of the time.

Thus, for those who want to cooperate with Chinese companies, it is necessary to invest in document translation services, legal translation services, and other translation services for business. With the help of Chinese language translation services, you could quickly get to work with the different brands in the China market.

 

 

4 Reasons Why Translation For Immigration Matters

The US immigration process can be confusing and difficult, even for someone who speaks English. The process is even more arduous for those immigrating to the US who don’t speak English. Translation for immigration can help non-English speakers navigate the complex immigration process. There are many translation services that are available to help those going through the immigration process. The following are four reasons why translation for immigration is important for non-English speakers going through the immigration process.

 

1. Translation For Immigration And Document Translation

Immigration is inherently a bureaucratic affair. Immigrants need to submit endless amounts of paperwork, which can be extremely overwhelming, especially if the immigrant doesn’t speak English. Since all documents submitted to immigration authorities must be in English, including foreign documents, prospective immigrants need immigration documents translation to comply with immigration law. Many of these documents need special legal translation as well. The entire immigration process can be derailed if these documents are not submitted correctly.

 

2. Translation For Immigration And Interpreting Services

Part of the suite of immigration translation services that are so vital for non-English speaking immigrants is interpreting services. Immigrants have to go through multiple interviews with immigration officials. These meetings can decide the fate of prospective immigrants, so it is imperative that they fully comprehend the authorities’ questions and responses. Professional interpreting can help prospective immigrants clear up any misunderstandings, in addition to making sure that the authorities understand the immigrants clearly as well.

 

3. Translation For Immigration Helps Maintain Equality Of Opportunity For All

Immigrants to the US who speak English have a significant advantage compared to non-English speaking immigrants. English speakers don’t have issues of comprehension with immigration authorities and don’t need to worry about not being able to read official documents. Translation for immigration gives non-English speakers the ability to go through the immigration process on an equal footing with those who already speak English.

 

4. Translation For Immigration Eases Stress For Immigrants

Anybody who has gone through the immigration process can attest to the fact that it is a grueling and stressful process. For prospective immigrants who don’t speak English, the process is even more stressful. By using the services of a professional translation service company, new immigrants can rest easy knowing that all of their translation needs will be taken care of. All translated documents will be submitted with a certification of accuracy to prevent any issues with the authorities. In addition, translation service companies prioritize confidentiality; prospective immigrants do not need to be worried about their private information being stolen and sold by untrustworthy actors.

 

3 Ways Government Translation Initiatives Are Shaping The World

Language can play an important role in politics, especially in multicultural systems that are composed of varying language minorities. The national government’s approach to language in these systems can have a serious impact on the affected populations. Three recent cases from the UK, Canada, and India highlight the importance of language and how government translation services and initiatives can affect the body politic of their nations.

 

Minority Language Recognition in the UK and Government Translation

In the next few weeks, the Identity and Language bill will be presented in Westminster. It will grant Irish official status in Northern Ireland, allowing the Irish language to be used in courts and making legal translation easier and more streamlined. In addition, two commissioners will be appointed representing the Irish and Ulster-Scots languages respectively. The job of these commissioners will be to oversee the newly created Office of Identity and Cultural Expression, which aims to protect the two languages and cultures. By granting official status to both Irish and Ulster-Scots, the British government hopes to improve cooperation and mutual understanding between the Ulster British and Irish populations of Northern Ireland. In a region of the world that has previously been racked with violence, language initiatives like this one can help maintain the peace that was implemented in the Belfast Agreement.

 

Government Translation in Quebec

On the other side of the Atlantic, in Quebec, another piece of legislation is generating great interest. Bill 96 passed in Quebec’s National Assembly. The bill makes serious changes to the status of the two official languages in Quebec, French, and English. Because of Quebec’s strong francophone tradition, the provincial government is seeking to expand the influence of the French language. New immigrants to Quebec must now interact with the provincial government entirely in French after six months. Opponents of the bill take issue with this part of the bill, arguing that there will be greater costs associated with immigration translation and immigration translation services. The legally mandated number of bilingual judges will now be decided by the justice minister, who happens to be responsible for French-language issues. The bill also includes many changes to academic translation and the education system vis-a-vis the influence of French and English. The bill is controversial, with supporters claiming it will protect the French language in Canada, while detractors argue that the bill is a case of government overreach.

 

Government-Sponsored AI And Tech Solutions To Language Barriers In India

Language plays a huge role in the governance of India; the country has 22 officially recognized languages and hundreds of dialects/languages spoken across the country. In an effort to break down language barriers, the Indian government has sponsored a platform called “bashini” which will provide startups and tech companies with access to AI and natural language processing technologies. By creating an open-source forum for language technologies, the Indian government is hoping that its vibrant tech sector will create new solutions in the language translation service industry. In particular, better language translation and interpreting services could help bring Indians together and break down the language barriers that exist in an extraordinarily multilingual nation.

 

Top 3 Amazing Recent International Translation Developments

Some of the most interesting new trends in international translation are developing as a result of the intersection of technology and translation services. AI, machine learning, and augmented/virtual reality technologies are becoming more advanced every year, and the possibilities of their application to the language service field are truly exciting. The following three stories highlight the synergy of language and technology.

 

Google, Glasses, And International Translation

At the recent Google I/O conference, the company unveiled a new “Google Glass” type device that has the ability to translate spoken dialogue in real-time. The speaker’s words are translated and displayed as text to the wearer of the as-of-yet unnamed device. Eventually, the glasses would be able to translate text as well as speech. One could travel to a foreign country and effectively experience no language barrier as text and speech would be instantly translated, providing a type of “subtitles for life” as one Google director of product management put it. This exciting new development has the potential of putting the power of global translations into the hands of the general public and forever changing the technology translation industry.

 

Machine Learning And International Translation

As AI and machine learning develop and become more advanced, their application to language and language training grows as well. A new research study at North Arizona University is attempting to apply machine learning algorithms to language learning, specifically with accents and pronunciations. The study’s first step is to create a measure of objective speech intelligibly for language learning through the development of an automated system. The language learning process could be greatly expedited by developing a system in which feedback on speech intelligibility can be given to language learners. If this system is perfected at scale, language mastery could be taken to new heights, which could greatly improve the quality of future interpreting services and translating services.

 

Real Madrid Joins Augmented Reality

The extraordinarily popular soccer team, Real Madrid, is wholeheartedly adopting the “metaverse” philosophy. The team has recently partnered with a virtual/augmented reality company, Astosch, to create an app that virtually recreates the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Once inside this augmented reality, anybody can watch live-streamed games as if they were physically in the stadium. The app also contains built-in translation tools that act as a global translation service so fans from all over the world can interact with each other through their favorite soccer team. Through this technology people around the world can come together and bond through their shared love of Real Madrid.

 

3 Ways French Translation Services Can Aid Your Organization

Have you ever noticed that a lot of products in the U.S. always have a French translation on them? Whether you have or not, a lot of industries invest in French translation services. Spanish translation might be a more logical choice. However, the reasons for French translation are not necessarily practical but rather serve a marketing purpose. The French language is often associated with sophistication and luxury. Purchasing French translation services from a professional translation company could help your organization seem more high-end and trendy. This is perhaps best exemplified by luxury brands like Dior, Chanel or Yves Saint-Laurent. In order to tap into the French market, you might want to invest in translation services. Hiring a professional translator can create more effective marketing and foster more influential partnerships.

To illustrate this idea better, we determined three ways that French translation services can help your organization succeed:

 

1. French Translation Services Can Clean Up Your Organization’s Image

Since the French language is linked to elegance and sophistication, French translation services can enhance your organization’s image. For example, almost all labels for cosmetic products are in French, mainly because the most popular brands are French. However, this is not always the case. If you go grocery shopping you might also notice that some products are translated in French only, not Spanish in order to create a sense of luxury. Another reason might be the U.S.’s proximity. Because one of Canada’s official languages is French, maintaining the same French labels allows providers to distribute the same products in the U.S. and Canada without having to change the packaging.

 

2. French Translation Services Will Attract Bigger Clients

You might be wondering what the size of the clients have to do with French but it goes hand and hand with the fact that some of the biggest brands in the world are French. For instance, if you purchase French translation services, you could get to work with the big brands that dominate the French market. If you work for a government organization, investing in government translation services can even foster better economic relations between foreign and French-speaking nations.

 

3. Translation Increases Your Audience

Obviously translating important materials into French can increase your organization’s audience. Establishing your organization as a globally-conscious brand is essential in our interconnected world. Therefore, making sure all marketing materials are translated professionally is critical to business success. French translation could also involve getting patent translation for legal purposes and even an interpreter for meetings to meet with clients and make things go smoothly.

 

Top 3 Biggest Developments in the Software Localization Industry

The demand for software localization has been growing consistently every year. Increasingly, software localization services are becoming more integral to the broader localization process. Whether the product is a website, video game, or mobile app, chances are it will require some sort of software localization. The technology and methods involved with software localization are continuously evolving. The following are three examples of some of the latest and most exciting developments in the software localization and website translation services spaces.

 

1. Meta’s Approach To Mobile Software Localization

Facebook is used by millions of people all over the world. By some reports, as much as 98% of users prefer to access Facebook on their mobile devices. Providing localization and translation services for all of the different languages of Facebook’s users is not a simple task. However, the engineering team at Meta has come up with a clever solution: language packs. Meta constructs a specific language pack for every single supported language. These language packs are automatically updated with new translations every time a new version of the mobile app is released. The key to this system is that the app only downloads the specific pack that the user needs. This saves time and space as the app concerns itself with only the languages the user needs.

 

2. The Use Of APIs For Software Localization

The software-as-a-service model has revolutionized the tech industry. This change in the business model of tech companies means that tech products have to be constantly updated as new services are provided and new users join the platform. Software localization and technology translation play an important role in this continuous development process. Localization companies have to be constantly involved, instead of simply performing a one-time localization service. To do this, translation and localization companies often build their own APIs to be able to integrate their localization tools with their client’s platform. This allows new translations and adaptations to be quickly integrated into the product, increasing the efficiency of the localization process. With so many apps connected with cloud technology, the use of APIs in the localization process contributes to a faster and more dynamic service.

 

3. Localization and AI

In addition to using APIs and interfacing with cloud-based technologies, software localization service companies are using cutting edge computer aided transcription systems. These systems use AI and machine learning to help make the translation and localization process more efficient and accurate. These AI and machine learning systems are constantly being improved. The speed, accuracy, and efficiency of localization and translation services will continuously grow as the technical abilities of these AI systems improve.