The Dragon Has Entered: English to Chinese Translation
The People’s Republic of China is seen through different lenses even today. Exotic. Mysterious. Aggressive. Fascinating. These are just some of the nicknames that are stuck in these 9,597 million square kilometers that make up the Land of the Dragon.
What is China today? How did “Made in China” become the most visual brand of manufactured goods? Why has speaking and writing Chinese become so important? If Chinese are not fluent in English, isn’t the obvious solution for English users to be fluent in Chinese and translate, translate, translate?
What is China today?
China is a land surrounded by the Gobi Desert in the north, dense and impenetrable forests in the south, the Himalayas in the west, and the Pacific Ocean in the east. That is why early civilization had limited interactions with this country. The politics of this country also added to its economic and cultural isolation. It was only in the 1970s that the winds of radical economic reform swept across China’s vast landscape and ushered in a global commercial economy. China’s communist government has opened up not only the market, but the free flow of trade and technology across its borders.
Today:
China is the second largest economy in the world alongside the US.
a global manufacturing center
the largest exporter and the second largest importer of goods and
the largest trading nation.
Add to these facts that China weighs in with a population of 1,382,323,332 and grows every millisecond (yes, count it live by clicking the link and you will see how quickly the number changes), and you know the mind-blowing economy and market being considered. .
Tongue tied in english
The emphasis on English education in China did not take off until 1979 when the dragon established strong diplomatic ties with the American eagle. With estimates of English “speakers” of just 10 million and English “learners” of 300 million, China still has a long way to go in free and easy communication considering that a large part of the West uses English. So this gigantic and well-connected market must remain cut off? Hardly!
“If the mountain does not reach Muhammad, Muhammad will go to the mountain”
So said Sir Francis Bacon in his Essays, 1625.
Translation: If Chinese don’t learn English, English users will have to learn Chinese.
The official language of China and Taiwan is Mandarin or Standard Chinese. It is also one of the four official languages of Singapore.
Cantonese (a variety of Yue Chinese) is the official language of Hong Kong and Macau, the two mostly autonomous special administrative regions of China.
The script uses characters called hanzi – there are over 100,000 individual characters. Generally speaking, each character represents a syllable and can be used individually or in combinations to make words. A recent development has split this script into simplified Chinese that uses shorter and simpler characters; This is mainly used in mainland China. The traditional version still continues in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau.
Pinyin, the official transliteration system that uses the Latin alphabet, has also been developed to facilitate pronunciation.
Also, it should be noted that Mandarin Chinese is spoken by wealthy Chinese communities in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, and Mongolia, where the Dragon makes its presence quite prominent and breathes scorching breath.
Language translates into business
With China fostering the free flow of business and becoming the golden land of opportunity, Chinese communication takes on varied shapes and colors if this high-potential market is to be exploited more and more deeply.
Professional Chinese translation should be specific to the target area and the purpose that this service demands. For example, if the target market is Mainland China and / or Singapore, the type of Chinese written would be Simplified Chinese. However, Traditional Chinese would be the lingua franca for companies operating within the high-tech industry and Simplified Chinese is preferred for companies in the manufacturing sectors.
Translators from English to Chinese need to know much more than languages: a good translation company will offer translators who know the type of profession for which the translation is required.
Minding business
There are many professional translation needs that arise in the course of business.
The language and tone of the translation must be adapted to each need. There is no wide brush you can paint Chinese with! Dealing documents, patents, resumes, medical cases, educational certificates, brochures, insurance, visas … the list is endless when a country opens its doors to the rest of the world.
Add to this the nuances of Chinese writing where one stroke or one syllable can change the entire context or meaning. Work in the command of English as a language of business and commerce. Note the fact that the Chinese spirit is a little known and tentatively understood denominator and the care that must be taken to keep the subtleties of the language in the first place. The formula for success dictates that English is skillfully translated into Chinese text, writing, language, tone, and suitability.
That is why an expert translation is needed. No automated or translation software can fit the invoice in a language like Chinese. It’s enough to order a plate of schezwan noodles and kung pao chicken, but not when your needs are professional and your goal is heaven.
China still burns exotic in many minds. But as the People’s Republic increasingly demolishes the “Great Wall” that once surrounded its isolationist mentality, the layers of mystery are peeling off. China is today a prosperous and booming economy. Make your presence felt at the Big Bang.
Translate your business strategies to success. Literally.