1. Current Landscape in China
Even though many Chinese natives study English when they go to school or college, the translation industry in China is not as advanced as it is in other parts of the world. Finding someone who is not only able to properly understand German, but can provide the right legal knowledge to translate important documents, is not an easy task (Chinese-German Translations).
2. Translations to Local Chinese Dialects
Europeans may find it hard to believe there are so many different dialects of languages such as Chinese. However, we have Mandarin, Cantonese and Simplified/Traditional Chinese languages. The Simplified/Traditional Translating legal documents and witness statements from one language to another is always a challenge, no matter the identity of the two languages.
For instance, translations between German and English are never easy. However, many languages around the world have a ton of commonality, especially the European languages. It is not hard to find those who are experts at translating from German to Italian, or Spanish to Portuguese. However, translating from a language such as German to Chinese presents a whole set of issues.
Here are the top five points to consider during those translations. Chinese is the written version of the language, while Cantonese or Mandarin are the spoken languages. Depending on the area where these services are being offered, the translator must understand both the written and spoken languages to offer the best legal translation services.
3. Cross-Cultures and Confusion
Not only is there confusion in terms of what type of Chinese is being spoken in an area, but the Chinese culture is so different from its German counterpart. And you may wonder why culture matters, but it plays a vitally important role when completing translations.
It is important for a translator to have the right language, legal and cultural understanding of the work they are doing if they are to be successful in the long-term.
4. Massive Difference in Language Structures
Putting culture aside, the difference in language structures between German and Chinese can represent major issues as well. Translating a document from German to Chinese is not the same as an English-German translation, as the languages are so different. It is not always obvious what Chinese word can be used for its German counterpart, or vice versa.
This means translations of legal documents or witness statements between the two languages can be extremely time consuming, especially if you are striving for perfection with the finished text.
5. Legal Terminology
When completing Chinese-German translations, or any legal translation, it is vital for the translator to avoid misinterpreting legal terminology. Even the best translator can fall into such traps, as they will translate words from one language to another in the most literal way possible.
However, when converting German to Chinese or vice versa, it is vital to understand the legal meaning of what is being translated. The smallest mistake could totally change the meaning of a phrase, and that would spell trouble for both parties who requested the translation.
Chinese-German Translations: How we can help?
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