10 Amazing Facts about Translation and Languages

Language is an important yet complex part of communication. Human language is different and diverse and has continued to expand over centuries. Within each language are some sets of linguistic features that set one apart from another. The syntaxes, lexis, grammar, and structure of each language make it relatively unique and create a big communication problem between two or more people who do not have a common ground to agree on. Going from one language to another and back can be a lot of stress; however, some people have chosen this as their field of expertise. Translators help bridge the gap between languages while ensuring that each person on either side of the spectrum understands the context and content of the communication.

There are a lot of amazing facts about languages and language translation. If you have ever wondered about languages and translation services, below are some facts collated by a top provider of Italian translation services.

Who Is the Person with the Knowledge of the Largest Number of Languages?

Have you ever wondered how many languages a single person can learn in a lifetime? Alexander Arguelles, a Canadian linguist, challenges you to learn as many languages as he did. Holding the Guinness World Record for the most languages spoken, the verified polyglot speaks and understands no less than 43 languages. Alexander Arguelles lives in White Ricks in British Columbia and has held his world record since 1985. While 43 remains the number famous to everyone, the linguist suggests it may be more than that. In an interview, he noted that he could read and speak no less than three dozen languages fluently and has studied even more languages.

What are the Most Complex Languages?

Are you wondering whether the language you speak falls in the category of complex languages? You may be in luck if you speak any Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean languages. These four languages are regarded as the most difficult to learn for English speakers. If you are an English native who has learned and grasped any of these four languages, then you are in the top percentile of your peers. Remember that there are more than 70 languages, although most of the world only speaks about 23 of them in total.

Who are the Most Translated Authors?

Works of literature are a work of art. Many writers have been able to break the international barriers to have their works translated into different languages for local consumption. If you have ever wondered who the most translated authors are, think of Agatha Christie with 7,233 translations of her works, Jules Verne with 4,751 translations, and William Shakespeare with 4,293 translations to his name.

What is the Most Translated Document?

The Bible retains the record of being the most translated literary work to date. The religious guide has been translated into no less than 2,932 languages to date. However, the most translated document is a six-page Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Authored in 1948 by the United Nations, the document has since been translated into no less than 370 languages and dialects.

What is the Longest Single-Word Sentence?

Have you come across a sentence and thought to yourself that it might be the longest one you’ve encountered all your life? That feeling will be true if the sentence is a repetition of the word “Buffalo.” According to William Rappaport, “Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo” is the longest single-word sentence ever made. The linguistic professor at the State University of New York defends that the word “Buffalo” eight successive times makes sense. The first Buffalo with a capital B references the city of Buffalo, while others could mean different things, including a Bison.

What are the Top 10 Languages Used Online?

If you have ever wondered what the most predominantly used online language is, you’re in luck. The most used language online is the English language. Other languages in declining order include Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Japanese, Malay, Russian, French, and German. If the number of online contents is considered, the arrangement may witness a slight change as the order now follows English, Russian, Japanese, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese, and Polish.

What are the Most Popular Language Pairs?

Do you ever wonder what the most popular language pairs are in terms of translation services? Below is a list of the 10 most popular pairs

English – Spanish

English – Chinese

English – French

English – German

English – Russian

English – Portuguese

English – Japanese

English – Arabic

English – Italian

Spanish – Portuguese