If you have German-speaking clients, customers, or employees, you will need German translation services in order to reach them in their own language. With around 100 million speakers, German is the 9^th most widely spoken language in the world. Although many German speakers have some facility with English, websites, software, and documentation should all be translated into German for best results in the German-speaking markets.

German translation is just one part of a larger process known as German globalization. German globalization is the process of adapting your products (software, documentation and websites) functionally, linguistically, and culturally for German speakers worldwide.

Websites

Research by IDC has shown that customers are four times as likely to buy if website content is presented in their language. German translation services for websites range from simple (such as a straight HTML-based German Web site) to complex (such as a dynamic, database-driven German web application). Your website translation company should have the capability to translate text from source files such as HTML/XML, applets, database exports, CGI scripts, Java scripts, graphic files, ASP files, or FLASH files.

Software

German software translation services, more appropriately called “localization” services, are needed to create an authentic German software user experience. Online help, menu commands, and installation instructions should be fully translated into German. Your software translation company should have the capability to deal with programming, scripting, and mark-up languages such as Java, VB and ASP, XML and ASP, C/C++, and Visual Basic.

Documentation

German document translation refers to the translation of printed materials such as books, user guides, promotional brochures, and financial information. Different industries generate different kinds of documents such as instruction manuals, packaging, and marketing materials, all of which must be linguistically and aesthetically consistent with the original. Common layout applications include QuarkXpress, FrameMaker, Word, and InDesign, while graphics are often created and edited in Illustrator or PhotoShop.

© Copyright 2024 Globalization Partners International.
® All Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
All graphics used in this report were provided by Flikr, Google Images and other free internet resources for pictures.