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Introduction: Think You're Bilingual? Think Again.

Many of us dream of mastering two languages with the same ease and confidence. It’s a common assumption: if you speak two languages, you’re bilingual… right? But peel back the layers, and you’ll find a much more complex reality. From hidden accents to uneven vocabularies, bilingualism isn’t always what it seems. And if you think being bilingual means you’d make a great translator… well, that’s another myth worth exploring.

1. What Does It Really Mean to Be Bilingual?

In some countries, the term “bilingual” is used loosely, in other words, anyone who speaks two languages qualifies. However, in more linguistically demanding environments, such as Spain, bilingualism implies native-like proficiency in both languages across all domains: speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension.

Take accent as a revealing example: a person may sound fluent, but subtle mispronunciations, unusual intonation, or a telltale rhythm can betray a dominant language. Research confirms that early exposure plays a crucial role in acquiring native-like pronunciation. Children in immigrant families, for instance, may speak both languages from an early age but still fall short of true bilingual balance, especially in more specialized contexts.

2. The Myth of the Perfectly Balanced Bilingual

True, symmetrical bilingualism, where a speaker has equal fluency in both languages across all contexts, is exceedingly rare. This is because language use is almost always context-specific.

Imagine someone raised in a Spanish-speaking home but educated in English in the UK. They might discuss daily life with ease in Spanish but struggle with technical terms or academic vocabulary. Flip the scenario: someone who studied Spanish in university may write excellent essays but stumble when ordering tapas in Madrid or decoding local slang.

This is known as language dominance, where one language is stronger than the other depending on the domain. As linguist François Grosjean points out, bilinguals aren’t two monolinguals in one person, they have unique, fluid language repertoires shaped by real-life usage.

Scientific Reference:
François Grosjean, Bilingual: Life and Reality (Harvard University Press, 2010)
Key Insight: Bilingual individuals adapt their language use to their environment and rarely have equal control across all areas of both languages.

3. Why Being Bilingual Doesn’t Make You a Translator

A common misconception is that bilinguals make natural translators. After all, they “know both languages,” right? However, translation is not just about knowing words, it’s about knowing how to use them. It requires:

• Deep cultural awareness (e.g. idioms, tone, humour),
• Subject-matter knowledge (especially in legal, medical, or technical fields), and
• Mastery of writing conventions in both languages.

A bilingual person may understand a conversation in both languages perfectly, yet still lack the precision, nuance, or consistency needed to translate complex material. In fact, many professional translators specialise in just one direction (typically into their native language) to ensure the highest quality.

Quick Example:
Knowing how to say “data breach” in Spanish isn’t enough. A translator must know how it's framed in GDPR regulations, which legal terminology applies and how to render it accurately in the target legal system. That’s far beyond casual fluency.

While bilingualism is a great starting point to become a translator, it’s only one piece of the puzzle.

4. What Really Matters: Functional Bilingualism

Rather than aiming for the mythical “perfect bilingual,” a more realistic and useful concept is functional bilingualism. This means being able to use both languages effectively in the situations that matter most, be it at work, in family life, or in academia.

Real-world bilingualism is messy and dynamic. It shifts with age, environment and professional demands. And that’s okay. Even limited bilingualism opens up tremendous opportunities for cross-cultural understanding, brain flexibility, and global connection.

Conclusion

Bilingualism isn’t a badge of linguistic perfection; it’s a practical tool shaped by experience. Whether you’re fluent in two languages or just navigating your way through both, remember: being bilingual is valuable, but it’s not a magic door into the world of translation. And if you’re considering becoming a translator? Get ready to dive much deeper.

The world of translation is not limited to words; it also encompasses cultures, histories and traditions. One question that often puzzles our clients is why some languages are read from left to right and others from right to left. In this article, we explore this fascinating question by delving into the historical, practical and cultural roots of these differences.

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The historical roots and practicality of writing devices

To understand why certain languages are read differently, we must first go back to the earliest forms of writing. Egyptian hieroglyphs and cuneiform scripts, among the oldest, were often written vertically or from right to left. The Phoenician alphabet, one of the oldest alphabetic writing systems, was also written from right to left. This alphabet has influenced many modern scripts, including Hebrew and Arabic.

The evolution of writing media has also played a crucial role. With the introduction of papyrus and later parchment, writing habits changed. The Greeks, influenced by the Phoenicians, first wrote from right to left, then in a boustrophedon fashion (alternating directions from line to line without interruption). Eventually, they settled on a left-to-right script. This transition could be explained by the natural writing style of right-handers, who thus avoided smudging the fresh ink. This adoption by the Greeks had a lasting influence, as the Greek alphabet gave rise to the Latin alphabet. With the expansion of the Roman Empire, the Latin alphabet spread across Europe, establishing the left-to-right standard in European languages.

Cultural dissemination and maintaining traditions

The Roman Empire and Western culture widely disseminated this style of writing. European languages, influenced by Latin, have retained this left-to-right direction. Semitic languages, on the other hand, have maintained their right-to-left script, largely because of their attachment to religious texts and traditions.

Cultural and religious traditions play an essential role in the preservation of writing directions. Hebrew and Arabic, for example, have ancient religious texts that are read and written from right to left. These sacred texts have profound cultural and religious significance, which explains why these languages have retained this writing style throughout the centuries.

Linguistic and cognitive factors

There are theories that the structure of words and sentences in certain languages may have influenced writing direction. For example, Semitic languages have a consonant structure that may have favoured right-to-left writing. However, there is no universal consensus on this explanation.

Impact on translation and business

For a professional translation agency, understanding these differences is crucial. When it comes to translating documents, it's not just a question of converting words from one language to another, but also of respecting the writing direction. This can affect the layout, graphic design and readability of translated documents.

In B2B, this understanding is even more essential. Companies doing business internationally need to be aware of these differences to ensure that their communication is effective and respectful of local cultures. A translation that does not take into account the writing direction may appear clumsy or inappropriate, damaging the company's image.

Conclusion

The diversity of writing styles is a fascinating testimony to the richness of human cultures. As a translation company, our mission is to navigate these differences with expertise and sensitivity, ensuring that your messages cross linguistic and cultural barriers smoothly and respectfully. Whether left to right, right to left or even top to bottom, our translation services are here to help you communicate effectively around the world.

Language is much more than a simple communication tool. It reflects human cultures, experiences and emotions from around the world. Each language has its own unique nuances and expressions, some of which are so deeply rooted in culture that they are virtually impossible to translate directly into other languages. In this article, we explore some fascinating examples of words that are untranslatable or difficult to translate into other languages, illustrating the linguistic wealth found across the globe.

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1. Waldeinsamkeit (German)

The first word on our list is "waldeinsamkeit", a German term that evokes a deep sense of solitude, peace and communion with nature experienced during a solitary walk in the forest. Although it is possible to translate this word into English with a nominal phrase "the feeling of solitude in the woods", it is difficult to fully convey the wealth of the emotional experience associated with the term. This is a perfect example of how language can encapsulate complex and intimate feelings that can be universally understood but not easily translated.

2. Komorebi (Japanese)

Next, we have the Japanese word "komorebi", which describes the sunlight that filters through the leaves of trees. It is a poetic image that captures the beauty of nature, but has no direct equivalent in many other languages, and is a perfect example of how some languages have words for sensory experiences or natural phenomena that may be difficult to describe accurately in other languages.

3. Sisu (Finnish)

In Finnish, we can find the word "sisu". The word embodies the idea of perseverance, courage and strength of character in the face of adversity. Although we can try to translate it with words like "determination" or "tenacity", the cultural and emotional depth of "sisu" is difficult to fully grasp in other languages. It is a word that resonates deeply with the Finnish mentality and captures an important aspect of their national identity.

4. Tsundoku (Japanese)

Let's go back to Japanese with the word "tsundoku", which describes the act of accumulating books without reading them, leaving piles of unread books to accumulate at home. This concept is familiar to many avid readers, but there is no equivalent word in many other languages. "Tsundoku" illustrates how language can reflect specific cultural behaviours or habits that may be unique to a given society.

5. Mamihlapinatapai (Yaghan)

A fascinating example comes from the Yaghan language with the word "mamihlapinatapai", which refers to a look exchanged between two people, each waiting for the other to take the initiative to do something they both want to do but neither dares to start. It is a complex concept that perfectly captures the tension and reticence that can exist in certain social situations, but which has no direct equivalent in many other languages.

6. Tartle (Scottish)

In Scotland, the word "tartle" is used to describe hesitation to introduce someone when you have forgotten their name. This is a fun example of a word that captures a specific social experience and illustrates how language can reflect aspects of everyday life that may be universally recognisable but difficult to translate accurately.

7. Gigil (Tagalog)

Tagalog, a language of the Philippines, has the word "gigil", which describes an intense feeling of tenderness or desire to pinch or squeeze something cute or adorable, such as a baby or pet. It is a charming example of a word that expresses a complex emotion, but also has no direct equivalent in many other languages.

8. Hygge (Danish)

The Danish word "hygge" evokes a feeling of comfort, well-being and intimacy. It is associated with the creation of a warm and friendly atmosphere, often shared with loved ones in simple moments of happiness, such as settling down with a cup of tea in front of the fireplace on a cold winter's day.

9. Fernweh (German)

Let's finish with another German word, "fernweh", which represents the intense desire to travel and explore the world, often associated with a certain nostalgia for places we have never visited. It is the opposite of the word "heimweh" (homesick) and is a perfect example of how language can reflect deep aspirations or feelings that are universally shared but can be difficult to describe accurately in other languages.

Conclusion

In conclusion, these fascinating examples of words that are untranslatable or difficult to translate into other languages illustrate the linguistic wealth found across the globe and underline the importance of cultural sensitivity and a deep understanding of words and their meanings when seeking to translate texts and communicate across linguistic boundaries. 

In the current global context, where intercultural exchanges have become commonplace, translation agencies play an essential role. Thanks to their expertise, they can accurately convey the subtleties and nuances of these untranslatable words, preserving the very essence of the original language. 

The next time you come across an untranslatable word, take a moment to appreciate its unique depth and meaning, because they are a testament to the beauty of linguistic diversity!

Desktop publishing or DTP is a process that allows us to create documents with high quality graphics, text and images. The use of digital printing technology has also enabled us to produce high quality printed materials in a cost-effective manner. This technology is used by both businesses and individuals to produce professional-looking documents. It can also be used to create personalised items such as business cards or promotional materials. In today's digital age, DTP still plays an important role in the creation of professional-looking printed documents and materials. With the right software and good digital printing technology, it is easier than ever for businesses and individuals alike to produce quality results at a low cost.

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What is the relationship between DTP and translation?

The natural way to create a DTP project is by using our mother tongue, which in this case would be English. If we have a small business or a company that intends to launch its services internationally, it is necessary to rely on a translation agency to prepare our contents in languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or German.

This is where the first temptation comes in, which should be avoided, the use of online translators. As we have said on many occasions, this is a rookie mistake. Firstly, because the translations they provide often do not take the context into account. This is never a convincing solution, and everything you invest in creating good quality and presentable DTP work can be ruined by poorly translated texts. This may portray a bad image to our potential customers abroad. A bad translation is nothing but a bad business card. Therefore, entrusting a translation company with the translation of the text from one language to another is the main starting point. Such companies have the right professionals to achieve good results. At the end of the day, there will always be an excellent return on investment.

Of course, good translation work takes time, but there is nothing like a human being when it comes to making sense of a text from one language to another. At the moment, different types of translation software, even those employing artificial intelligence, are not sufficiently developed to provide reliable translations. This makes even more sense when the target language has certain characteristics of complexity. Think of oriental languages, with which great care must be taken when translating. Who can guarantee a job well done? There is no doubt about it, a reliable and professional translation company that separates the essence of the text and transforms it into any language.

Any translated text becomes meaningful when it is properly proofread, the terminology used is carefully considered and the context is correct. When creating DTP work our purpose is to achieve a good communicative impact, using different techniques to achieve this. However, they all have to strike a balance in order for the final product to be convincing. After all, the vocation of DTP is clearly commercial and communicative. If we leave out the language part, we are dealing with a task that is nothing more than pure aesthetics.

The creation of professional quality printed documents is an important skill for any company. Whether you are creating a brochure, a newsletter or even a book, DTP can help you create visually appealing and professional-looking documents. But always bear in mind that the quality of the text must originate at the source, and must continue when it is translated into a foreign language. Only in this way can DTP be performed correctly, generating impact and, above all, being understandable for people who are not familiar with the source language.

Translation is one of the sectors with the highest wage equality and job quality. Moreover, in this sector, the number of female professionals exceeds the number of male professionals.

Professional translation is one of the few sectors where figures show that there are more women in this profession than men. These figures have been achieved over the last few decades, but the root of this feminisation of translation may have much to do with the fact that it has always been a task in which it has been common for women to be involved.

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1. Women translators throughout history

Although the role of women has been relegated for millennia to tasks related to child-rearing, household and care, translation has been one of the few occupations in which their presence was somewhat more common.

It may well be that proficiency in certain languages was a skill in high demand in some contexts and a scarce resource, so refusing to take advantage of translators' work was not considered as a very wise decision.

Perhaps those who benefited most from these translators were religious organisations that needed to translate their sacred textsinto as many languages as possible, in order to make their teachings more easily accessible to their faithful.

Latin, the language in which most of them were written, was a language that only those closest to the clergy and with better access to education knew. When the time came to translate these texts into Spanish, English, Portuguese, Italian or Portuguese, among many others, many religious women were entrusted with this task.

Other very important female figures in the world of translation were some noble women who had the education and time to translate some of the most important literary works of their time.

2. Women translators today

As we mentioned, translation companies today are one of the best examples of gender pay equity, and this is one of the few sectors where women outnumber men.

However, to put a stop to a situation that can always be improved, the visibility of female translators and the recognition of their work, compared to their male counterparts, is still an unfinished business that we cannot ignore.

With the aim of making the work of female professionals in this sector more visible, you will find below a list of some of the most important women translators in England.

3. English women translators you should know

Our country has great examples of women who have made important advances and projects in the field of translation.

3.1 Anne Bacon

Anne Bacon was an English scholar and a translator from Latin and Italian to English. Her translation helped support the religious policies implemented by Queen Elizabeth I of England. She was responsible for making the works of Bernardino and John Jewel more accessible to the English public.

3.2 Margaret Tyler

Margaret Tyler was a translator from Spanish to English. She was the first English woman to translate into English a Spanish romance. In her “Letter to the reader”, she argued that both women and men should be treated as equal rational beings.

3.3 Dorothy L. Sayers

Dorothy L. Sayers was a translator from French to English. She is well known for her work as an English crime writer. However, many may not yet know that she is also responsible for having translated into English several important workswhose language of origin was French such as “The Song of Roland”.

4. Much to tell and translate

As we can see, what we have told you here is only the tip of the iceberg. In addition to these three great women, there have been, are and will be countless other great professionals who contribute every day to making translation an example of the fact that gender is not a barrier when it comes to successfully carrying out great intellectual projects such as translation.

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1. What is a sworn translation?

The demand for sworn translation services has increased due to our globalised market, increasing immigration , the expansion of international tourism. This is because the translation of any official document (used for almost every official procedure) depends on the country-specific laws and regultation. The translation of legal or administrative documents involves a special process in which it must be endorsed by the signature and stamp of a sworn translator.

2. What are sworn translators?

In countries such as Spain, Sworn Translators are formally authorised by a Foreign Affairs office, giving them official status for the translation of documents. To take on this responsibility, a sworn translator needs to have profound knowledge of linguistics and legal terminology to be able to produce a proper equivalent of the original source. Normally, a sworn translator must take an oath before a court in his or her country stating that he or she will carry out all his or her translations accurately.

The most common documents that usually require sworn translations are:

• Civil acts
• Wills
• Contracts
• Official, legal or administrative documents
• School diplomas and certificates, etc.

3. Which countries do not require sworn translations?

In order to find a sworn translator who meets your requirements, the most common way to find a sworn translator is to look for local court lists or a translation agency. However, it is important to remember that not all countries require a sworn translation. In other words, the translation requirements of each country often depend on its legal framework.

Depending on the legal framework of each country, it usually falls into one of two categories:

• Common law: which is based on legal precedent and is more flexible, as it leaves room for interpretations. Common law applies to countries such as the UK, the US and the UK. The US and Australia do not have an official translation system. In these cases, it depends on the authority’s specific requirements. Usually the document needs to include the translator’s statement certifying that it is a true and accurate translation of the original. In case of a choosing AbroadLink, the same statement, name of the translator as well as contact details.
• Civil law: based on well-established law, this means there is no room for interpretations. This applies to countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Romania, which have well-established translation systems. In these countries, there are sworn translators who are appointed and accredited by the government or regional/local courts.

4. What does this mean?

This means that if, for example, you are from India and want to apply for a visa in the United States, you will not need the service of a sworn translator to translate your documents from Hindi into English, as this system is not part of US law. You will only require the service of a professional translator to certify your documents and, if necessary, notarise them.

On the other hand, if you want to apply for a visa in Spain or Italy, these governments will expect a sworn translator to translate all the required documents into Spanish or Italian. The same applies to official translations into German, French or Portuguese, as these countries also fall under the legal framework of civil law.

5. How does a sworn translator work?

A sworn translator will first request a copy of the documents to be translated (original). Sometimes there are also special requirements for the paper for the translation, like in Spain. It must be legally registered stamped-paper. Also signature and the translator’s personal stamp and number need to be included. In case the documents are required by a country operating under Common Law, an apostille can also be reuqired. The translations do not require any additional legalisation, as they were carried out by an authorised sworn translator.

If your translation is to be submitted to an authority within a civil law country, you will most likely be asked for a sworn translation and not a certified translation. At AbroadLink we can provide this type of service for a wide range of countries, so please do not hesitate to contact us.

The profession of translator is an ancient one, dating back to the earliest efforts of humans to understand each other.

Although it's little known, translation requires great capacity for understanding and adaptation, diplomacy and even artistic talent. All this is needed to produce accurate translations which respect the original without distortions.

Prejudices about professional translation are very common. Here are 4 common and inaccurate preconceptions about translators.

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1. Machine translation will replace translators

This is the first misconception that might seem logical. Machine translation, which is constantly progressing, is certainly capable of translating everyday texts more or less correctly.

There have been enormous efforts in the field of artificial intelligence. However, no technology is yet capable of producing truly professional translations without human intervention.

Translators benefit from new computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools and other powerful instruments, such as translation memories. Those tools allow them to work faster and to automate certain tasks.

But we will always need human translators who know the cultures of the source and target languages. It is important to be able to adapt content, for it to be valid in other cultures. Translators always work with specific language pairs and always translate into their native language. This way we can ensure that the translated texts are correct. 

2. Translating is a safe and always well-paid profession

Many people employed in translation are paid on a freelance and word count basis. This means that many casual workers in this field who try to produce quality translations in increasingly less time.

There is also a lot of competition for the more common languages. That's why translations in these languages are paid less than rather rare and less demanded language combinations. A few examples of these kind of languages would be English, Spanish, French, German or Italian.

According to the website statista.com, the average anual salary of a translator in the EU is 25.000 Euros.

3. Translators are able to translate in every field

Contrary to what one might assume, many translators did not necessarily study translation in the first place.

Many translators are specialised in specific fields in which they have previously been trained. For example, medicine for medical translations or law firms for official and sworn translations. It makes sense that a person who has studied advertising, will be an expert for marketing translations, etc.

The translation profession requires an even higher level of specialisation and knowledge of the relevant terminology, to provide professional language services.

4. Translating is easy work

Nothing could be further away from the truth than this statement about the translation profession. Translation work requires a lot of time. Translators have to understand the context, grasp all the linguistic nuances expressed in the originals, to achieve highest quality results.

Therefore, producing good professional translations requires a high level of experience and knowledge of both languages. This can only be achieved by working hard and reading a lot: Not as easy as it seems!

These four examples of misconceptions about translation show a somewhat less idealised reality of the translation profession. Our translation agency, AbroadLink Translations, employs people who have made translation their vocation over everything. We provide professional translation services and high quality outcomes.

A less common but true idea is that translating is a fascinating job.

Have you ever considered translating your documents or web content into German? Well, first of all, you'll be interested to know that there are several varieties of German. As with other languages, such as English, which shows linguistic differences between the various English-speaking countries such as the USA and United Kingdom, German also has varieties among the German-speaking countries. We will not use the same German if we decide to translate our documents for the German public, which, for example, if we want to address the Swiss market.

After reading this article you will have an idea of what the differences in German are and will be able to assess their importance, so that you can apply the variety that best suits your needs.

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1. Several European countries have German as their official language

When we think of German, Germany comes straight to mind, its Oktoberfest, its famous curry sausages and its Glühwein. However, there are a total of six countries in Europe where German is an official state language: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg. Moreover, in other countries such as Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic or Hungary, German also plays a major role.

Indeed, German is more present than we think. It is estimated that it is the mother tongue of 100 million people and 80 million practice it as a second language. Approximately 16% of Europeans speak German and it is one of the official languages used in the institutions of the European Union, ranking among the 10 most spoken languages in the world.

2. In Latin America or Africa they also speak German

The presence of German in Europe is obvious, but did you know that it is also spoken in other continents such as Africa or South America? Indeed, an estimated 25,000 people speak German in Namibia, a country in southwest Africa that was a colony of the German Empire until 1900. The same is true for some regions of South Africa or countries such as Cameroon and Tanzania where there are several German-speaking communities. The use of German in these exotic places is once again due to colonialism. After the First World War, these countries, which were German colonies, became part of France and the United Kingdom through the Treaty of Versailles. Even so, the German heritage has been preserved all these years.

In South America we also find numerous German-speaking communities in countries such as Chile, Argentina or Brazil, as many German families decided to emigrate after the Second World War in order to take refuge from the judicial reprisals resulting from the birth, such as the Nuremberg trials. By the way, a curious fact: it was at these trials that simultaneous interpretation was first used, which until then had always been done consecutively.

3. German: language of knowledge

Although English has been losing ground in recent years, German has always been considered the language of science. In fact, today, it still ranks second in the world in terms of the number of scientific publications.

From physicists and mathematicians like Johannes Kepler, who put forward the theory that the planets move around the sun, or Einstein with his famous Theory of Spatial Relativity, to Wilhelm Röntgen, inventor of X-rays; all of them are internationally known for their contributions to the field of science. German was the way to spread all this knowledge. A curious fact about W. Röntgen is that in German his invention, the X-ray, bears his name Röntgenstrahlen (Röntgen radiation). A little tribute from the language to the inventor.

4. German: language of philosophy

But the contribution of German to world culture does not end here. Philosophers such as Friedrich Nietzsche, Karl Marx and Immanuel Kant, all German, put forward the main philosophical theories of the 20th century, which were crucial for the history of philosophy. Many linguists point out that German, despite its complexity, is an ideal language for the world of knowledge because it allows the expression of an infinite number of ideas and numerous combinations thanks to the ease of creating compound words.

Goethe, Martin Luther, Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Schopenhauer, Strauss, the list of German-speaking intellectuals and artists is endless. Looking at all these historical figures, we have no doubt that the German language has made great contributions to science and the humanities.

5. Is German relevant to the business sector?

The answer is clear: yes. The business importance of German-speaking countries is paramount. Germany leads the automobile sector with giants like BMW or Volkswagen, which, by the way, means in English "people's car", originally promoted by Hitler during the time of the Nazi era. Germany is also a leader in household appliances with internationally known companies such as Siemens or Bosch. Switzerland, on the other hand, controls the pharmaceutical sector with companies such as Novartis or Hoffmann La Roche, not to mention its crown jewel: Nestle. Although it is more unnoticed, Austria is also an important business hub with companies such as the Swarovski Group or Red Bull.

As we can see, German has a lot of economic potential and can be a way for us to open up our business horizons and access such strong markets as Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

6. A language of dialects

German is indeed a complex language, not only because of the difficulty of its syntactic structure (declinations, cases, verb conjugations, word genres), which is a headache for those who study it, but also because of the tremendous amount of dialects it has.
These dialects are classified into High German and Low German. While High German has about 16 dialects, Low German has two varieties: Low Saxon and Low French. Today's standard German is almost entirely derived from Low German. In addition to this complexity, there are also local dialect varieties such as the Hessian dialect spoken in the Frankfurt area or the Bavarian dialect characteristic of the Bavarian region.
We leave aside the immense variety of dialects spoken in the different regions to focus on the three standardised varieties of German. The Duden German dictionary defines a standard language as: "a generally binding language that is above dialects, local colloquial languages and the languages of a particular group. They are spoken and written manifestations of the standard language. Although they are neighbouring countries, there are differences between the more international Standard German (Hochdeutsch), the Swiss Standard German (Schweizer Hochdeutsch) and the Austrian Standard German (Österreich Hochdeutsch). Let's go see them!

6.1. Swiss Standard German

Before we start, I would like to make a distinction that causes a lot of confusion when it comes to understanding this variety of German. On the one hand, we have Swiss Standard German (Schweizer Hochdeutsch), a standardized and official variant used in politics, education and the media in Switzerland, with its own linguistic rules. However, once again, there are local varieties. The inhabitants of Basel do not speak the same language as those of Zurich, or those of Zurich and the canton of Valais. For me, who come from the canton of Solothurn, a dialect close to that of Bern, it is sometimes impossible to understand someone from the canton of Valais at first.

That is why, on the other hand, we have Swiss German (Schweizer Deutsch), which must be understood as a concept, since it encompasses all the existing local dialects, although each one uses its own. It is used in everyday life, informally and never in written form (unless we do it in a familiar way). In fact, there are no rules for writing Schweizer Deutsch, so if we want to write to a relative using our dialect, we will do so according to how it sounds. A whole mess!

6.1.1 Influences from other languages

The fact that the Schweizer Hochdeutsch is used for education makes it possible for the Swiss to understand the Germans perfectly, since the differences with the Hochdeutsch are mainly at the lexical level. The Germans will be able to understand us when we use the Schweizer Hochdeutsch, but not if we use the Schweizer Deutsch. In fact, when the Swiss, myself included, have a conversation with a German, we automatically switch to the standard variety and forget about our dialect, otherwise there would be no way of understanding each other! It's almost a reflex action. Thus, instead of pronouncing the "ch" as a "g" as is done in Switzerland, we will pronounce it as an "ss".

Compared to Hochdeutsch, Swiss Standard German has many influences from English, French and Italian, which are known as helvetisms. A clear example, we find it in the courtesy formulas. In Switzerland, we greet with Gruezi, Hoi or Guete morge and say goodbye with a Ciao or Adee, from the Frenchman Adieu. Also, we apologize by using the English word Sorry, pronounced as Sory. 
I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that in Switzerland it is customary to shake hands to greet someone, unless we are addressing someone we know. In that case, we'll give three kisses, not two. And if you're doing mountain trails, don't forget to say hello to the hikers! Not doing so is almost an offence to them.

6.1.2 Lexical differences

As we were saying, the Swiss lexicon varies quite a bit from that of standard German. Below is a table with several examples of different nature (verbs, nouns, adjectives):

6.1.3 Typographical differences

The spelling "β" is not used in Swiss standard German, but is replaced by "ss". So, if you correspond regularly with Swiss clients, you will see that they say goodbye like this: With freundlichen Grüssen. In addition, they are not used to using a punctuation mark after the greeting and usually start with a capital letter, while German customers will use punctuation marks and usually start with a lowercase letter. For example:

Another difference in terms of typography is that in Switzerland the dot is used to mark the time (10.45), while in Germany the two dots are used (10:45). It may seem irrelevant, but let's remember that in the world of translation the smallest detail makes all the difference. Moreover, I am sure that when it comes to potential Swiss and German customers, they will appreciate this precision.

6.1.4 Grammatical differences

Actually, there are not many differences in terms of grammar, but there are some details I would like to discuss with you. In Switzerland, the perfect past tense of the verbs setzen (to sit or to put), stellen (to put) and legen (to put), is done with the auxiliary sein, while in Germany they use haben. For example, sitting on a bench:

But this is not the worst, there are also differences between the gender of the articles. For me personally, this makes a big deal out of it, because depending on the variety we're talking about, the article may change. Isn't it difficult enough to have to study the genres by heart to have them changed depending on the variety? You see, nobody said it was easy! Let's look at some examples:

6.2. Austrian Standard German

Let's go now to Austria, cradle of classical music and art par excellence, and to the Austrian variety. In Austria, something similar to what happens in Switzerland is happening. Austrian Standard German (Österreich Hochdeutsch ) is the language in which all administrative and official tasks are performed, while Austrian (Österreicher) refers to the set of dialects that exist, specifically we count nine. In most dialects we observe an influence of the Bavarian dialect and some venture to say that of the three variants, it is the most beautiful sounding. This is shocking because we know full well that German is not exactly known as a "beautiful" language.

The main difference here from the Swiss is that the Germans will generally understand the Austrians (as long as the dialect is not too strong), especially those from the south and east. While in the previous point we have treated the helvetisms, next we enter the known ones like austrianisms (Austriazismen).

6.2.1 Lexical differences

Despite the geographical proximity, there are several differences in terms of vocabulary and expressions used. Many Austrians have a sense of pride and independence from Germany, so the use of these formulas makes special sense to them:

Many of the words will be easier for you to understand in standard Austrian than in standard German. This is because many of these words come from Latin or English. However, other words may come as a surprise, as may be the case with Trafik (see table).

6.2.2 Grammatical differences

One of the main grammatical differences can be found in word composition. In Austrian Standard German, the so-called "s" of union is added (this means that the first word will complement the second, i.e. the first word only qualifies) also after the consonants "g", "k", "ch". Let's look at the following examples:

In the composition of the diminutive, we also found differences. While in standard German this is done by adding the morphemes -chen and -lein, in Austrian German the diminutive is formed by adding the morpheme -erl. For example, if we want to say mouse in Germany we will say Mäuschen, while in Austria we will say Mauserl.

7. The need to localize the translation

After this reflection you will have a better idea of what characterizes each German language variety. Although they are neighbouring countries and share many aspects, there are clear differences that make them unique. As a translation agency we know that these differences should not be overlooked, as they will be key to a good translation or to the fulfilment of our business expectations in the target country. It is not only a matter of taking into account the different linguistic aspects that make the differences, but also of understanding the culture of each country. While the Austrians are more open, flexible and friendly, the Swiss have a more reserved and rigorous reputation in the business world, as do the Germans, who are considered highly productive and demanding. In marketing translation, for example, this makes particular sense and should be taken into account.

In 2015, the language learning application Babbel surveyed nearly 14,000 users to find out which languages were considered the "hottest". The result was that Latin languages lead the ranking, with French being the undisputed winner.

This is not a surprising result since French has long had the reputation of being THE language of love at an international level. Okay, but why is French perceived that way?

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French culture

The richness of the French language , so appreciated throughout the world, is largely linked to the richness of its culture. And it turns out that French culture is full of romantic references.

The most eloquent example can be found in French literature, which has a large number of writers known worldwide for their romantic works, such as George Sand, Victor Hugo or even Alfred de Musset.
French music is also well known for its famous love songs, with artists of international stature such as Édith Piaf or Jacques Brel.

Gastronomy

Thanks to its worldwide reputation for quality and refinement, French gastronomy reinforces the romantic image of France abroad.

Is there anything more romantic than tasting a refined dish accompanied by a good wine in a dimly lit restaurant or eating a candy apple at a local fair?

With world-renowned chefs, restaurants that cultivate a romantic atmosphere and high-quality cuisine, French candlelight dinners still have a bright future ahead of them.

Paris

What may seem like a cliché to a Frenchman, is a deeply rooted reality at the international level: Paris is considered the world capital of love, ahead even of other equally emblematic cities such as Venice or Rome.

Monuments such as the Eiffel Tower from which to admire the capital from the heights or places as typical of love as the Pont des Arts where lovers seal their love with padlocks, make Paris has long been and remains one of the most visited capitals by lovers.

The French accent

Even those French people who have a great facility for languages and are even considered bilingualwill certainly have a more or less pronounced French accent. And it is often a positive aspect seen from outside France.

In fact, according to Babbel, the French accent is at the top of the list of the most sensual accents with 34.7% of the votes, ahead of the Italian, Spanish and English. Again, not a surprising result.

When culture, gastronomy and even history evoke romanticism, the language and the accent that accompanies it will result in sensual and romantic inertia.

So, from culture to gastronomy to geography, in France we find romantic references absolutely everywhere. Voilà the reasons why French is now considered worldwide to be the most romantic language and the one most suited to LOVE, in capital letters.

Basque is a language that has been and continues to be a great mystery to scholars of comparative linguistics and philolinguistics. This authenticity of the Basque language has given rise to various theories in search of an explanation of its birth and evolution.

One of these theories would relate Basque to Berber, a language of North Africa, although the revision of the assumptions on which that theory was based, as well as phylogenetic studies of the Basque and Berber populations, have refuted the veracity of this theory.

These comparative studies have been done mainly looking for the existence of cognates, that is to say, of words whose phonetics has a similar sound and a related meaning. In this line of work, some authors have wanted to relate Euskera with Caucasian languages, but most of the cognates proposed by different authors have not managed to survive the criticisms of a more exhaustive analysis, found that these cognates are explainable because they are pure coincidences and that they fail to find regularity in phonetic correspondences. In addition, it would be difficult to maintain this relationship considering that the proto-Basque has a very reduced phonetic inventory with many limitations while the Caucasian languages have neat consonant inventories.

Perhaps the theory that has received the least criticism is the local evolution of the language from 16,000 B.C. with a mixture of the native hunter-gatherer population with the arrival of migrations of farmers, starting then the relative isolation that gave the Basque population its current genetic configuration.

Various phylogenetic studies have found some particular genetic characteristics in part of the Basque population which seems to prove this relative isolation and which explains its reflection in the evolution of the language.
Be that as it may, although we cannot explain clearly what the origin of Basque is and although we cannot relate it clearly to any of the existing languages, which is evident that Basque is a very special language and a mystery for lovers of language.