Translation Blog

Language localisation is the process of creating a foreign-language version of a product that is adapted to the culture and region of a specific market. One of the most common language localisation services is adaptations of video games. This process is complex and involves the translation of text and localisation of content to account for cultural considerations.

Many video games could benefit from language localisation services, ranging from mobile games to PC and console games. Text based-games are the easiest to provide localisation for, as the audio does not need translation or localisation. On the other hand, video games with spoken language elements often represent larger projects. This is because native-speaking voice actors will record new audio for each language.

The scale of the project should be considered when planning for video game localisation services. Will new updates or additional DLC roll out new language versions of the video game? Or will the various localisations need to be ready and in place before product launch? This article helps answer these questions and looks into the benefits that language localisation provides.

Benefits of Video Game Localisation Services

One of the many benefits of video game localisation is a consistent user experience, regardless of whether people are playing the original or adapted game version. It allows for more consistency in the end product despite cultural differences.

Cultural differences between two countries mean that they have different behaviours. What may be polite in one location could be a social faux pas in another. As such, failing to consider cultural context could turn your video game’s hero into a villain. Language localisation can take these cultural considerations into account and adjust as necessary so that your video game makes sense.

Translation and localisation also ensure that you use the correct formality and politeness, which is essential when translating character scripts. Proper dialogue helps to ensure your video game is a success across the globe and can be enjoyed by people from all countries. This leads to one of the biggest benefits of language localisation: increasing video game sales internationally.

The Effects of Language Localisation on Game Sales

In 2021, the US gaming market had an estimated revenue of 30.4 billion dollars. Japanese video game revenue was about 18.2 billion US dollars, and game revenue in France was 2.7 billion. However, the country with the largest video games market was China, with estimated revenues of 49.3 billion US dollars.

Of the top ten countries in the world for video game revenues in 2021, only two were English-speaking countries. Therefore, each language localisation added to your video game opens up at least one new market. For the most significant impact on game sales, consider translation and localisation into Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, or French.

Of course, the above three languages are not your only option – you could list your video game on any international game store and see improvements in revenue. However, localising your video games in a rarely spoken language for the region will severely restrict your sales.

Game Localisation vs Translation

Language localisation goes much further than translation services. Translation looks solely at rendering the text into another language, such as from English to Japanese. On the other hand, a well-executed localisation can help to maximise sales and leave your new international customers happy by considering their cultural preferences.

When investing in game localisation, it is essential to use high-quality services. A bad localisation is just as harmful as no localisation and can leave customers frustrated and unhappy. There are even websites dedicated to discussing localisation failures, such as Legends of Localisation. If something in a video game is jarring or poorly made, it will be pounced on! Attracting this sort of negative attention, caused by poor translation or localisation, can severely limit sales of your video game.

Good language localisation avoids this negative media. However, it’s also crucial from a legal perspective. Some countries ban video games due to violent content. Australia, for example, requires altered content to remove violence, sexual content, nudity and drugs from video games. Germany has strict laws regarding video games referring to Nazi ideology and violence. It is possible to lose sales by failing to conform to censorship laws.

Professional Language Localisation Services

Renaissance Translations is qualified to offer effective language localisation services. We work with trained and skilled video game localisation professionals and we offer our services in over 120 languages. Our top priority is to provide the best game localisation and translation, working closely with our clients through every stage of the process.

Our company is member of the Association of Translation Companies in England as well as SDL Trados LSP Partner Programme. Get in touch today to discuss your language localisation needs or request a quote online on our website.

Chinese language translation is one of the most required language services worldwide. The demand has been increasing for years, and all recent studies suggest that Chinese language translation services will grow for at least another decade. Thus, many businesses ask themselves the same question: Should I hire a translator for Chinese?

To answer this question, you first need to understand what has caused the surge in Chinese language translation demand globally. Below are four key reasons for this increase in demand, which this article covers in more detail.

The Constantly Growing Chinese Economy

The Chinese economy is booming! Here is a statement from the World Bank on the economic status of China: “Since China began to open up and reform its economy in 1978, GDP growth has averaged almost 10% per year. In addition, more than 850 million people have been lifted out of poverty. Today, China is an upper-middle-income country and the world’s second-largest economy.”

Unfortunately, the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic collapsed economies worldwide. GDP growth rates plummeted to double-digit negative numbers for several major economies. The UK is one example, with a record low of -21.5% in June 2020. On the other hand, China hit a low of only -6.8%, and by June 2020, it recovered to a positive GDP growth rate of 3.2%. Therefore, not only is the Chinese economy performing well – it is solid and able to bounce back amid disasters.

With this in mind, Chinese language translation is a common choice for many UK and international businesses. The potential for consumer growth among companies in China is enormous, even amid global challenges like the pandemic. If you’re thinking of expanding your business, hiring a translator for Chinese can help you enter this strong and stable economy.

New Business Investments and Trade Partnerships

The Chinese government initiated a programme called ‘The Going Out’ or ‘The Going Global’ Strategy in 1999, aiming to expand investments beyond its borders. Of course, this created a necessity to communicate across languages. Any investments made by Chinese business owners must go through a professional translator for Chinese, communicating the terms of the agreements across multiple languages.

Another global cooperation effort between China and several countries was launched in 2013, called the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This effort aimed to increase the transportation connectivity between China and the rest of Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. Again, Chinese language translation was central to the initiative, helping to form international trade agreements that all parties were happy to enter.

Along with overseas investments and the expansion of large Chinese enterprises, China’s language services providers (LSPs) have also taken the initiative to go abroad and service the international market. These firms are now hiring Chinese translators from across the globe fluent in various languages so they can handle even niche language pairs.

Migration of Chinese Language Speakers Worldwide

With around 1.3 billion speakers globally, Chinese is the most commonly spoken native language in the world. Through travel, international education, and migration, native Chinese speakers are fanning to all corners of our planet. This means businesses from around the globe are requiring Chinese language translation to communicate with these Chinese speakers.

In fact, organisations worldwide have quickly discovered the need for and benefits of working with a translator for Chinese. Effective, clear and accurate messaging is imperative to ensuring all members of society understand their content. Moreover, access to this large market demographic creates tremendous business profit opportunities.

Entertainment Industry & Internet Communications 

The rich culture of China is experiencing a dramatic time of globalisation due to all of the reasons stated hereinabove. Chinese movies and other forms of entertainment are now competing for awards internationally. Moreover, technological advances – especially the Internet and social media – have helped increase the demand to view films and videos originally produced in Chinese.

Rather than document translation, Chinese language translation is beginning to take new forms. Chinese movies need professional video subtitling services, while businesses marketing on social media need social media translations. A translator for Chinese can help with all of these services.

Renaissance Translations’ Professional Chinese Language Translations 

If you’re looking for a reliable translator for Chinese, look no further. Renaissance Translations is your trusted Chinese language translation partner. With over 5,000 native and qualified translators, we have helped many global businesses and brands with their translation projects.

Our company is member of the Association of Translation Companies in England and we also use translation technology through our membership in SDL Trados LSP Partner Programme. Contact us today to get your Chine language translation project started. We will exceed your expectations and help you gain a slice of this massive and ever-growing Chinese market.

More UK businesses are looking to translate English to French as globalisation creates new market opportunities worldwide. Not only is the market growing, but it is getting more competitive. By enlisting English to French translators, organisations can communicate effectively with French speakers worldwide. Therefore, businesses that translate English to French gain a competitive advantage over those that don’t.

This article looks at why professional French translation is in high demand. However, French translation services are just one example! The translation industry as a whole is expanding, with agencies offering more language pairs to meet the demand for unique language combinations. These general industry trends are also covered in this article.

Translation Industry Data in the United Kingdom

As the second-largest language services market globally, the translation industry in the United Kingdom follows global trends—that is, it is growing rapidly. The UK’s language and translation services industry reached £35 billion in 2018, and the outlook remains strong.

According to the Association of Translation Companies (ATC) language industry report, 1,200 translation companies provide various language services to the UK’s private and public sectors. Their revenues contribute to £1.2 billion annually, and they employ over 12,000 translators. Therefore, not only is translation important for business, but it is vital to providing jobs to support the UK economy.

The report from ATC goes further, stating, “The added value language service companies generate for the UK’s economy through the growth of international trade far surpasses the numerical data.” As you’ll learn, improved trade opportunities are one of the primary reasons businesses want to translate English to French. It benefits the revenues for these businesses and drives the UK economy forward.

Unfortunately, the report also noted a decline in foreign language learning in the UK. Therefore, the demand for native speakers and professional translators has increased to serve the growing market. English to French translators are seeing a particular surge as more English businesses translate to serve French-speaking populations across the globe.

Globalisation Trends of UK Businesses

The ATC report included a recent Institute of Directors (IoD) survey Going Global Trends in Trade. IoD surveyed its members to determine the average number of markets served. The survey instructions were also clear that the entire European Union (EU) is one market. Proving the trend of globalisation, the report uncovered that:

• 10% of businesses surveyed served one market
• 44% of businesses surveyed served 2-5 markets
• 30% of businesses surveyed served 11+ markets

Providing information and content in the native languages of these international markets provides a competitive edge. French is considered a global language, so companies can serve many countries outside Europe when they translate English into French. LSPs in the UK are thus looking to employ English to French translators from many regions to cover the many French-speaking areas.

Translations are also becoming more crucial as savvy consumers often expect personalised service in today’s competitive marketplace. Therefore, translating your content into the most commonly translated languages in your key markets is a wise business investment.

Importance of Translating from English to French in the UK

There are many reasons to offer your product or services to French speakers. Firstly, French is spoken as a first language by about 136 million people worldwide, and a total of 250 million speak French as either a first or second language. When you translate English to French, you can effectively reach these people and dramatically expand your market size.

Moreover, French is spoken by people on nearly every continent. It is the official language of more than 22 countries, including France, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, Rwanda, and Madagascar. Therefore, businesses don’t only increase their market size when they translate English to French; they grow their market distribution. French is also one of the UN’s official languages!

As French is spoken in different regions, there are remarkable differences between written and spoken French in these countries. This is precisely why localisation services are essential to reach target audiences effectively. As with all translation projects, it is critical to only entrust your French translation services to professional English to French translators who can account for linguistic and cultural accuracy.

Translate your Content from English to French with Renaissance 

Renaissance Translations has extensive translation expertise and can translate English to French or any other language pair. We offer a comprehensive suite of services, including proofreading, transcreation, transcription, and video subtitling. Let’s discuss your French language project goals! Get in touch with our English to French translators today, or get a quote online.

Choosing a language translation agency in Manchester is more challenging than you might expect. The Association of Translation Companies (ATC) conducts surveys on UK language service providers annually. They recently reported that the UK has approximately 1,600 language service providers offering to translate languages and provide business services. Unsurprisingly, many of these are in the UK’s biggest cities, so choosing one Manchester translation agency can be daunting!

If you need to translate languages but are unsure how to begin your search for a language partner, you’re in the right place. This guide gives you five simple steps for finding a reputable translation agency in Manchester that produces accurate and professional translations.

How to Find the Best Translation Agency in Manchester

With so many language service providers to choose from, where should you begin looking for a language translation agency in Manchester? Like any successful project, it’s critical to start by considering why you need to translate languages in the first place. You must then define precisely what needs to be done and the quality of the final outcome. In other words, finding the best Manchester translation agency is unique and depends on your wants, needs, and preferences. These five steps walk you through the process:

1. Confirm Why You Need a Manchester Translation Agency

Ensure you’re clear about your reasons for hiring a language translation agency. This helps you decide whether you need a professional translator for the project or can rely on a quick and affordable machine translation.

More than likely, Google Translate or other technology applications will fail to translate languages to your required level of accuracy. Machine translations are often full of translation mistakes. As such, hiring a professional translation agency in Manchester is recommended for all important translations, such as business-related translations, legal translations, and government translations.

Working with a professional translator has many additional benefits, too. For example, they can provide valuable pre-project consulting to ensure your translation project goals are met efficiently with high-quality and accurate final deliverables. If you’re still unsure whether you need a professional Manchester translation agency, read this blog outlining three reasons to work with an agency.

2. Decide Your Project Requirements

A good language translation agency will guide you through the project definition stages. However, it’s best to approach a Manchester translation agency with a pre-determined idea of your goals, timeline, and budget. Contacting agencies that cannot meet your requirements is a waste of time. Likewise, if the agency is charging fees outside your budget, there is no need to contact these firms.

If you are still getting familiar with the pricing structures in the language services industry, read about the factors that may impact your project quote in our blog here. If you need to translate to languages quickly or require unusual language combinations, this will typically be reflected in the price.

3. Decide What Translation Services You Need

The translation industry has no shortage of both freelancer translators and professional translation agencies. Both have advantages, and choosing the best fit for your specific translation project should be the primary criteria you review.

Whether working with freelancers or a language translation agency in Manchester, ensure that you:

• Find a language services provider that is a native speaker of the target language and fluent in the source language. If you need to translate to languages that are less widely spoken, agencies with extensive networks are your best bet.
• Find a translator with knowledge regarding the content of the source document. Keep in mind that not all qualified translators have the specific skills and expertise needed to translate all types of content, especially technical translations.

4. Identify & Contact Suitable Translation Partners

Now that you have narrowed down the parameters of your translation project, you have an idea of what type of language translation agency will meet your needs. It is now time to identify and contact potential partners to translate languages for your business.

We have already touched on two crucial considerations before contacting any Manchester translation agency: native language speakers and subject matter expertise. However, there are several other ways to identify a good translator, including:

• Years of professional translation experience. You ideally want at least five years of experience translating content similar to your project.
• Whether the translators have passed a proficiency test. Translation agencies usually require this before the linguists are accepted into their network
• Writing style, tone of voice, and general writing talent. You can ask for samples of work written in your native tongue to get an idea of their writing abilities.
• Expensive in using translation tools such as TM, TMS, and TMM. These all help improve the efficiency and consistency of your projects.

5. Work with Your Language Partner

Once you have found a translation agency in Manchester that meets all your requirements, sign a contract to make things official. Ensure you’re happy with the translation fees and that the quote specifies your goals, timeline, budget, and final deliverables.

Once the service contract with your new language translation agency is in place, you will want to do everything you can to guarantee that the agency is able to translate languages smoothly. We recommend following these best practices for working with a translation agency. These tips include communicating your project clearly and the communication you can expect.

Your Trusted Manchester Translation Agency

Renaissance Translations is a professional language translation agency offering high-quality translation services in over 120 languages. We are a Manchester translation agency, but our 5,000+ native linguists are positioned around the globe. This ensures we can work around the clock to deliver your translation on time and can account for the cultural nuances of your target language.

We take your translation projects very seriously and would be honoured to be your preferred translation partner. Contact us today to discuss your translation project or get a quote to learn how much it costs us to translate languages.