Knowledge to go
Who (and Where) Speaks German – and Why Not Everyone Can Translate It
German is spoken in Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Belgium. It is also understood and spoken in regions bordering Germany, such as parts of Denmark and France, as well as northern Italy. Globally, around 130 million people speak German as a second or foreign language, with an estimated 100 million being native speakers.
German is known for its complex grammar, particularly among those learning it as a new language. While one-to-one translations into or from German may suffice to convey basic information, they are not always effective, fluent, or error-free. This is crucial to ensure that the message is understood correctly. When it comes to contract translations or the translation of legal documents, good German language skills alone are not enough. A deep understanding of the subject matter is also essential.
How to Address Someone Correctly – and How to Handle Gender-Inclusive Language in Translations
When you read something, it resonates with you to varying degrees. One important factor is how it addresses you. Particularly in advertising texts (e.g., posters, flyers, social media ads), the style of address can significantly influence your response. Naturally, you need to like the product or at least see its potential. But the way you are addressed can determine whether you buy or not. Are you addressed formally or informally? Do you prefer a friendly tone, or does it need to be highly formal? These are questions that are just as important for marketing texts as they are for marketing translations. After all, personal forms of address differ between languages, and language is one of the most effective tools for convincing potential customers.
Another important aspect of correct addressing is gender-inclusive language. Gender-neutral language is (not just in marketing) a controversial topic but is appearing on more platforms and in various types of texts. This makes translations – whether into or from German – more challenging. How can a translation reach all intended audiences without excluding anyone? Does the target language implement gender-inclusive language through special characters or other methods? These are questions you should answer before, for example, translating your website. Different languages and cultures handle this in diverse ways, and it’s something worth keeping in mind.
The More Complex, the More Professional – Where (So Far) No Translation Tool Can Compete
There are German texts that even native speakers don’t fully understand, often due to specialized terminology and specific formulations found in technical documents. Every industry and field of expertise has its own unique language. Capturing this is the art of a professional translation. So far, no translation tool can reliably promise accurate and error-free specialized translations. Human specialized translators still hold the advantage here and should at least review AI-generated translations. However, machine translations are improving in quality and already have a clear advantage in speed.
As a rule of thumb, "the more complex, the more professional" applies to specialized translations. But when is a text so complex that it needs professional translation? Unfortunately, there’s no universal answer. While precision and accuracy are always important, a scientific translation will likely have different requirements than a technical translation. Our recommendation: Seek expert help. Preferably from the professionals at a professional translation agency.
.webp)
