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In most countries in the world, more than one language is widely spoken. Although many countries do have an official language, more often than not, you are able to find a wide array of speakers of other languages.
This is a trend that is likely to continue as we increase our global connectivity, and as our lives tend to settle us farther and farther away from our lands of origin. But if you’re a business person who is looking to reach to a new market, you might wonder whether you should be translating into an official language or a national language. But what, ultimately, is the difference between the two?
The term “official language” typically refers to the language in which the government of the country in question functions, the language in which all government personnel are schooled, and the language in which governmental services are available. So if you are in a country with more than one official language, then governmental services must be available in all of those languages to ensure complete comprehension for all members of the country’s citizenry. For example, Canada’s official languages are both English and French, while in Singapore, there are four official languages: Malay, English, Mandarin, and Tamil.
The “national language,” on the other hand, refers to a language with a special status in the country in which it’s spoken. Take our examples above: The national language of Canada is English, as it is the most widely spoken. In Singapore, Malay is the designated national language, because it is the indigenous language of the native people to the region. The Singapore National Anthem is in Malay; likewise, the national anthem for Canada is in English. And in Singapore, Malay is explicitly protected in the country’s constitution.
So, should you translate into an official language or a national language? That depends more specifically on the populations you’re trying to reach. But broadly speaking, you are not likely to go wrong if you translate into the national language.
