Chinese translation, just like any translation, is a tricky process that needs to be done by someone who doesn't just speak Chinese but who is also a native from which the language originated. Chinese is a complicated language, for even the people of China use more than one type of lettering system. Mainland China use the Simplified Chinese in their documents, while places outside Mainland China prefer documents written in Traditional Chinese. A translator should be sensitive on this matter if he wants to provide a successful Chinese translation service.
More than knowing the difference between Simplified and Traditional Chinese, a Chinese translator must also have a keen knowledge of the 3000 characters that are commonly used in Chinese newspapers and magazines, and the 6000 characters that are employed by literature and technical writers. To date, there are actually 56000 characters in the largest Chinese dictionary a Chinese translation company or provider must be concerned with.
An effective Chinese translator also knows the number of syllables each Chinese word has when spoken, and the corresponding Chinese character each syllable must have. Furthermore, he knows which character can be used singularly or could only be used if combined with other characters. The complexity of the characters proves that Chinese translation can only be performed by those who have been using the Chinese language for a significant amount of time. When the translation, however, needs to be colloquial, the translation becomes more complex. For instance, text books for self-study or classroom use must follow the language habit of the region from which they will be available. When doing colloquial Chinese translation, a translator must remember to always consider the language customs and styles of the target Chinese.
The Chinese use of their three central colors - red, black and white - is an essential part in Chinese translation. Here is a rundown of what each color means:
Red is the most important color of all because it symbolizes everything that is positive in life such as family, wealth, happiness, good career etc. Red is associated with good luck. Black, on the other hand, stands for darkness, evil, worry, anxiety, hate, suffering and everything else that is negative; thus black should be avoided. White is inbetween red and black, the balancer. It signifies purity and life. Believed to be a harmonizer of all elements and neutral, white is used in rituals and ceremonies, including funerals. These colors play an important role in Chinese translation, for translators often based the color of their ink or paper on them.
Language constantly develops and changes; when not used regularly it will easily stale. A company that provides excellent Chinese translation service always highlights the importance of having translators who reside in China, for it knows that in-country translators are constantly abreast of any development on the language. Any company that translates documents using the services of translators whose primary language is not Chinese should be disregarded. Reputable Chinese translation companies or providers will produce works that are not only perfectly translated, but are also submitted on time and priced reasonably.
