Expand your business by translating into Afrikaans

Expand-your-business-by-translating-into-Afrikaans.

Working in Africa? Here is why you need to consider Translation into Afrikaans… 

The African continent is expanding in many domains; like agriculture, technology, and finance. This rapid growth is due to the accelerating development of infrastructure and water resources in many countries.

As a result of this development, Africa is becoming a great hub to expand your business.

To ensure success in Africa, you need to be able to communicate with the diverse community, by adapting either to their language or their culture.

Nelson Mandela once said: “If you speak to a man in a language he understands, it goes to his head. If you speak to him in his language, it goes to his heart.”

Afrikaans is the best language aid you may have and is widely spoken in Africa which will help reach your audience easily.

Origins of Afrikaans language 

It’s a modified form of the 17th-century Hollandic Dutch dialect. As a result of the Dutch colonization of South Africa, the name Afrikaans interprets “Africa” in Dutch, it’s also called Cape Dutch.

It belongs to the West Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family. It is closely related to European Dutch (as spoken in the Netherlands and Belgium).

Although Afrikaans has adopted words from other languages, including German and the Khoisan languages, 90 to 95% of the vocabulary of Afrikaans is of Dutch origin as estimated.

Therefore, differences with Dutch lie in the morphology and grammar of Afrikaans and spelling that expresses Afrikaans pronunciation rather than standard Dutch.

Afrikaans has several dialects due to the contact with many immigrants from different groups. They are as follows:

●      Cape Afrikaans: Was influenced by the language of the people of Malay, who were brought in to work on a sugar plantation 

●      Orange River Afrikaans: Was influenced by the neighboring Khoi language 

●      East Cape Afrikaans: It came as a result of contact between Dutch and English colonizers and Xhosa tribes of Southern and Eastern Cape 

Where is Afrikaans spoken?

South Africa

It is currently one of the eleven official languages spoken in South Africa, where over 23 million people speak Afrikaans. It’s South Africa’s 3rd most spoken language after Zulu and Xhosa. So, it is the world’s youngest official language.  

It’s the dominant language in the Western and Northern Cape, and the most spoken common language by South Africans as well as many of South Africa’s Muslim community.

It is also spoken in neighboring countries like Lesotho, Botswana, Malawi, and the Portuguese-speaking country of Mozambique.

Afrikaans is spoken only in South Africa. You can easily find Afrikaans speakers in countries like Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.

The language is also spoken by 10% of Namibia’s population.  

Why Afrikaans Is Important For Your Business

As explained before, it is really important to speak to your customer in their language.

Afrikaans is spoken by 23 million people only in South Africa. So, providing your marketing messages in their language will let them feel their voice is heard and understood.

This might be your gate to a wide base of customers who speak Afrikaans, wherever they are.

Below are some reasons why Afrikaans should be in your business languages list:

  1. Afrikaans has experienced a growth in use in the private sector. Compared to the native African languages.
  2. It is widely used in religious purposes, broadcasting, and educational texts.
  3. As a national language, Afrikaans is considered a major business asset when working with South African entities.
  4. The simplicity of the language makes it a growing language as it attracts many foreigners to learn it, thus a bigger audience and client base.
  • Use a professional translation service. This is a good option if you need a high-quality translation for a legal or business document.
  • Use a free online translation tool. There are many free online translation tools available, but the quality of the translations may vary.

Translation helps businesses in many ways, including:

  • Reaching a wider audience. By translating their content into multiple languages, businesses can reach a wider audience of potential customers and partners.
  • Building trust and credibility. When businesses communicate effectively with their customers in their native language, they build trust and credibility. This can lead to increased sales and loyalty.
  • Complying with regulations. In some cases, businesses are required to translate certain documents, such as contracts and safety instructions. By translating these documents accurately, businesses can avoid legal problems.
  • Preventing misunderstandings. When there is a language barrier, misunderstandings can easily occur. By translating content accurately, businesses can help to ensure that their messages are understood correctly.
  • Improving customer service. When businesses can communicate with their customers in their native language, they can provide better customer service. This can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Overall, translation is a valuable tool that can help businesses to grow and succeed in the global marketplace.

some ways to make money from language translation:

  • Freelance translation: You can find freelance translation jobs on websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer.com. You can also find clients through networking or cold pitching.
  • Work for a translation agency: Translation agencies hire freelance translators to complete projects. This can be a good way to get regular work and a steady income.
  • Become a certified translator: Getting certified can help you get better-paying translation jobs. There are many different translation certification programs available.
  • Translate content for your own business: If you have your own business, you can translate your website, marketing materials, and other content into other languages. This can help you reach a wider audience.
  • Teach translation: You can teach translation at a college or university, or through online courses. This is a good way to share your skills and knowledge with others.

The amount of money you can make from language translation depends on a number of factors, including your skills, experience, and the type of work you do. However, it is possible to make a good living as a translator.

Conclusion

With the quick rise and development in the African continent, it is highly attracting many companies to invest there in the coming years.

If you are one of them, you should not forget about talking to your future customers in their language. Afrikaans can help you achieve this easily.

It is spoken in many African countries, especially in the region of South Africa.