Translation services in today’s world act as a bridge between different languages and cultures. As the world is becoming more globalized and impacted by bleeding-edge technological innovations, the need to connect with people speaking different languages has become a necessity to exchange knowledge, technology, and news, and facilitate international investment and trade.
Although English is the most widely spoken language in the world as reported by Statista, only 17% of the world population speak English. This means that translation services are needed to communicate effectively with non-English speakers and establish solid relationships with them. Whether you are a business owner seeking global expansion, a tourist, or even a language enthusiast, you need professional translation services to connect with people of different languages and cultures.
One language pair that is given special attention nowadays is English to Hebrew. Both languages require native-speaking translators who are fully aware of the intricacies of each language to deliver translations that are accurate and culturally sensitive.
In this blog post, we will dive into the importance of English-to-Hebrew translation services, mentioning the challenges met during the translation process and providing you with essential tips on how to select the most reliable English-to-Hebrew translation services. However, before we start, let’s look at the Hebrew language.
A Glimpse at Hebrew
The Hebrew language is a Semitic language that belongs to the Northwestern group. It was primarily spoken by the Israelites when they took possession of the land of Canaan west of the Jordan River in Palestine. So, it is a Canaanite language in its origin.
Hebrew was the language of the Jews till the 3rd century BCE before it was replaced by one of the dialects of the Aramaic language. However, in the 19th century, thousands of Jewish people resettled from Europe to Palestine and occupied most of the Palestinian lands after vicious conflicts. This inspired the linguist Eliezer Ben-Yehuda to revive the Hebrew language by using it as a spoken language in an attempt to keep the Hebrew literature and build a distinct Jewish identity. After that, Palestine was split into two independent states; Palestine and Israel as declared by the United Nations in 1948.
The number of Hebrew speakers worldwide is approximately 9 million people, of which more than 6 million people speak Hebrew as their native language in Israel. This great number of Hebrew-speaking populations makes it necessary to translate English to Hebrew and vice versa, especially for businesses aspiring to expand their operations to countries with large numbers of Hebrew-speaking populations.
The Benefits of Translating English to Hebrew
Hebrew is the official language of Israel with a rich cultural heritage. It is an especially important language when it comes to conducting biblical studies, studying archaeology, and exploring Jewish history. That is why all the Jewish people value their language and culture and prefer to communicate in their native language. This is where professional English-to-Hebrew translation services come into play to facilitate communication between English speakers and Hebrew speakers. Here are some of the key benefits of translating English to Hebrew:
Crossing the Cultural Barriers
English-to-Hebrew translation services play a vital role in enabling effective communication and fostering strong connections between English speakers and Hebrew speakers. By addressing all the cultural nuances of both languages, Professional Hebrew translators serve as a bridge for communication and allow for cultural exchanges. This is particularly important in the travel and tourism field. Since Israel is a popular tourist destination, translation services help tourists understand the historical sites, communicate with locals, and appreciate its rich cultural heritage.
Boosting Business Expansion
In today’s digital age, businesses are striving to expand their reach globally. Therefore, translating English to Hebrew when expanding to a country where there is a large number of Hebrew speakers such as the United States and Israel is indispensable. This enables businesses to successfully engage with their intended Jewish audiences and establish long-lasting relationships with them.
Fostering Academic Research
Hebrew is a language with strong religious and academic significance. Thus, many scholars and researchers around the world are interested in studying and exploring religious and academic books that are written in Hebrew. Accurate Hebrew-to-English translation services help them understand the cultural contexts of the Jewish academic and religious source materials.
Challenges of English to Hebrew Translation
Translating English to Hebrew requires hiring professional translators who are well-versed in the linguistic and cultural nuances of both languages. The following are some of the major challenges that are faced in translating English to Hebrew:
Addressing the Linguistic Differences
English and Hebrew are two distinct languages that have different grammar rules, vocabulary, and writing systems. Hebrew is written from right to left and has 22 alphabet characters. Modern Hebrew expresses long vowels in writing by unpronounced consonant sounds. On the other hand, English is written from left to right and has 26 alphabet characters including 5 vowels, 19 consonants, and 2 letters (Y and W) that can function as consonants or vowels. These differences pose challenges for translators, who must accurately convey the meaning and intent of the source text while ensuring the translation reads naturally in the target language.
Handling the Cultural Nuances
Each language has its own cultural expressions and references. When translating from English to Hebrew, translators should pay attention to the words and sentences with cultural meanings that do not have direct equivalents in the target language. Only experienced translators can find culturally appropriate alternatives in the target language to convey the same meaning of the source text. This is highly needed for companies establishing their businesses in a Hebrew-speaking region. Translating their brand’s information and marketing materials while taking into account the cultural nuances will help them entice the highest number of customers and increase their conversions.
Selecting the Appropriate Tone and Terminology
Some fields have their own terminologies in each language such as the medical and legal fields. Translators should be fully aware of the terminologies that are used in Hebrew and English to deliver translations that are accurate and error-free. Moreover, choosing the suitable tone for each text is challenging as the same tone of the original text should be maintained.
Super Useful Tips for Selecting the Most Reliable English to Hebrew Translation Services
- Expertise: Before partnering with a language service provider, make sure that they have translators with subject matter expertise in the field of your translation project. Furthermore, translators should be native speakers of Hebrew to handle all the language subtleties and deliver accurate and precise translations that meet the requirements of your industry.
- Quality: Reputable translation agencies follow quality assurance procedures to guarantee that the delivered translations are of the highest possible quality. Such procedures always involve reviewing, editing, formatting, and proofreading.
- Turnarounds and Cost: Do not forget to ask about the turnaround times and pricing to check whether they are compatible with your deadline and budget. Investing in professional translation services upfront can save businesses and individuals both time and money in the long run, as it eliminates the potential for miscommunication or errors that could lead to costly misunderstandings or legal issues.
In a Nutshell
As a global language with an immense number of speakers around the world, translating the Hebrew language is critical to fostering mutual understanding and effective communication between Hebrew speakers and people speaking other languages such as English. Yet, only translators with in-depth knowledge of the nuances of English and Hebrew can perform translations that are rigorous and culturally sensitive.
If you are looking for professional English-to-Hebrew translation services that are affordable, scalable, and fast, Afrolingo will be your go-to option. Our expert team comprises native speakers of Hebrew who are able to manage English-to-Hebrew language translation projects of any size and in any field. At Afrolingo, we blend the power of technology with the expertise of our professional translators to deliver best-in-class English-to-Hebrew translations with the fastest turnarounds and at the most competitive rates. So, what are waiting for? Get an instant quote now!
