Common Languages for Translation Agency Work

Translation agencies exist all over the world, and work with almost every human language you can think of. Whether a person wants a document translated from French to Spanish or a business needs a comprehensive translation of English documents to every European tongue, there is sure to be a translation agency (Übersetzungsbüro) out there who is perfect for you. However, while there are a score of individual translators and small agencies who may specialise in obscure Papua New Guinean dialects or rare African languages, most of the translation work around the world is focused on the major world languages.

The most popular languages in the world are also those in demand from a translation point of view, as international businesses attempt to reach out to new and emerging markets. While the English language may be the global default for commercial and political communication, a diverse translation solution is critical for all businesses who want real world domination.

The definition of a world language is language that is spoken internationally and learned by many people as a second language. According to this strict definition, the largest world language is English, followed by Spanish, French, Arabic, Russian, and Portuguese. However, the standard Chinese language actually has more native speakers than all of these, and is spoken by people in countries other than China. A similar argument could be made for Hindustani, which has primarily spoken in India but also spoken throughout the Indian subcontinent. In terms of language translation however, the major European languages are more common, especially with documents being translated to and from the English language.

There are about 1800 million total speakers of English, which makes it the most popular language in the world. While there are more native speakers of Chinese, Spanish, and Hindustani, these cultures are generally more self contained. The English language has become the most important language for global business communication and international commerce, and is used as the de facto global language in many situations. However, in order to operate in the wider European and Asian markets, many businesses require translation between English and other languages. This situation is also reversed, with European and Asian countries often needing to translate their documentation into English to ensure global success.