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The Importance of the German
Market
The influence of the German language in the world is often
underestimated.
Consider
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German is the native language of
approximately 100 million people around the world.
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German is the official language of
Germany and Austria and one of the official languages of
Switzerland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein.
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After Russian, German is the most
frequently spoken language in Europe and is the sixth most commonly
spoken language in the world.
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German will continue to gain
importance as a bridge language to Eastern Europe.
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German is a leading language in
business, science, technology, engineering, diplomacy, history,
theology, philosophy, psychology, art, music, and literature.
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In scientific publications, German
is second only to English. 18% of books published worldwide are in
German.
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Germany is arguably the most
influential country in the European Community; and German has
established itself as the language of commerce within the EC.
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Most international institutions
recognize German as one of their official languages.
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Next to English, French, and Spanish as world languages,
German is and will continue to be among the main languages of the
world.
Many Germans Speak English;
Do We Really Need to Translate our Documents?
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Internet- German is the second
most widely used language on the web. A total of forty-two million
German-speaking people are online worldwide.
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Trade- Germany is America's
largest trading partner in Europe and its third largest worldwide.
More than 1,100 companies from German-speaking countries have
subsidiaries in the U.S., as do more than 750 U.S. companies in
Germany.
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Exports- Germany is the
destination of a significant share of U.S. exports to Europe.
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Trade Shows- Germany holds the
most trade shows in the world, offering an excellent opportunity for
selling products and services.
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Medical Industry- A significant number of all pharmaceuticals
in the U.S. come from Germany and Switzerland; and substantial
medical research is conducted in Germany.
Are There Different
Dialects of German?
The huge linguistic diversity of the German language has an
estimated fifty to two hundred fifty German dialects, depending on
how one defines a dialect. These can be further broken down into
sub-dialects, including variants of Austrian German and
"Schwyzerdütsch", or Swiss German. In fact, regional
variants of German can differ so greatly that communication becomes
not only difficult across country borders, but even between German
speakers in neighboring regions.
Luckily, High German serves
as a standard in German communications. Contrary to common belief,
the term does not imply any superiority to other dialects, but is a
geographical term that evolved, in part, because of the invention of
the printing press and the centuries' old efforts to develop and
maintain a national language among German speakers. High German was
spoken in the Northern regions of the German kingdoms and became the
standard for the written language that later developed into today's
Standard German. Because High German is taught in schools, all German
speakers understand it. Most speak it, albeit often colored by a
particular dialect.
Should you Localize your
Translated Text?
High German is both the written and spoken standard with which you
will be able to reach any German-speaking audience. The German
translator's challenge is to render a culturally neutral and
universally understood text aimed at a target audience.
In
some cases, a translation client may ask to reach a specific market
or audience, a procedure called "localization". For
example, the term for "bread roll" can be "Brötchen",
"Schrippe", or "Semmel", etc., depending on where
you happen to be. In Austria, whipped cream is "Schlagobers",
in Germany "Schlagsahne", and in Switzerland, "Schlagrahm".
Probably unimportant if you need to translate a technical document,
but preparing a marketing piece for a particular country or region
might require local flavor.
The German Spelling Reform
and its Relevancy in Translating into German
Standard German has undergone a recent spelling reform meant to
simplify spelling rules. Despite the controversy generated, on August
1st, 1998, the new rules went in to force for all schools and
government offices in all German-speaking countries. Today, old
spellings are considered outdated, but not incorrect. The
transitional period ending in 2005 allows for the coexistence of both
spelling rules. Since August 1, 1999, most German-language media
sources use the new spelling rules while most German speakers
continue to write their native language as they always have.
Translations, especially those of official documents, require use of
the new spelling rules. For example, to translate a résumé
in German, you are better off using the new rules to make a good
impression. Discuss this with your translator.
Understanding the work
of an English to German translator
Good translations are almost never literal. No single translation
is the only correct translation. There is no such a thing as a
perfect translation. The German translator's aim is to render text
that shows no signs of being translated at all. This means producing
a translation that is thoroughly correct in content, adheres to
stylist norms, evokes the same images and ideas as the source text,
and flows fluently in the target language.
How can I as a German
Translation Service Buyer Achieve the Best Translation Possible?
The translation process begins with interpretation of the source
text. As a German translation consumer, you may be in a position to
simplify the process by checking the source text for ambiguities
before submitting it for translation. Clear and concise writing is
easier to translate. Eliminating ambiguities and inconsistencies in
the source text from the beginning saves both you money and your
translator a considerable amount of time.
Why is Choosing the Right German Translator so Important?
A competent, qualified translation can render your
English content into a German text that readily will be understood by
all German speakers and will also come across as authentic.
Legal Considerations:
Whatever the purpose of your translation, familiarize yourself
with the legal requirements that may affect your translation project.
For example, submission of an official or legal document to a federal
or public authority requires a certified translation. In terms of
marketing, labeling, and packaging, you should also be aware of the
standards and regulations of the particular country. German law
contains many marketing restrictions; and labeling requirements also
are heavily regulated. Generally, products are subject to European
law in all EU countries, however, national law covers issues for
which there is no EU directive. Products marketed in Switzerland and
Liechtenstein are subject to different laws than are those in Germany
and Austria, not EU members. |
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