When it comes to top requested languages, Google knows a thing or two. Google Translate might be one of the most popular solutions in a pinch, but it doesn’t come close to competing with a certified translation agency. However, if you want to figure out how to say, “You’re cute” to that out-of-towner on a dating site, Google can probably deliver.
What Google lacks in quality, comprehensive and customized translation it makes up for in research—that’s where the search engine leader really shines. Google doesn’t just choose which languages will be added to their program willy nilly. It’s based on demand, and there are constantly new languages being added. Currently, the available languages hover around 90, but you can tell a lot from what the most recently added languages are.
Consider this a heads up for which languages you might be requesting from your reputable translation service soon. The sooner you know which languages are in hot demand, the sooner you can secure a translator who can take care of those documents for you.
1. Chichewa
In Malawi, 12 million people speak Chichewa. If you haven’t heard of it before, you’re clearly not tuned in to the Voyager interstellar probes. It’s one of the 55 languages used in the greetings that travel the galaxy on the Voyager.
2. Malagasy
A whopping 18 million people speak Malagasy, mostly in Madagascar, and it’s the official language of this country made famous to kids from the beloved movie of the same name. A unique language, it places the verb first in sentences, with the object and subject following.
3. Sesotho
The third African language recently added, Sesotho boasts six million speakers. As the national Sesotho language, it’s one of only 11 official languages featured in South Africa.
4. Malayalam
Malayalam is one of the most popular languages in India with 38 million native speakers. It’s also considered one of just six classical languages on the subcontinent. For Google, it’s been “one of the most-requested languages” in recent years.
5. Myanmar
The Burmese language is the official Myanmar language and has 33 million native speakers. This is a tough one for auto translation according to Google—which is yet another reason to go with a certified translator.
6. Sinhala
This Sri Lankan language has 16 million speakers and was recently the “star” at the inaugural Sinhala Translate Week.
7. Sundanese
The Indonesian island of Java is where you’ll find most Sundanese speakers—all 39 million of them (not all at once, of course). Sundanese is commonly written in both the Latin alphabet and the native script.
8. Kazakh
Kazakhstan citizens speak Kazakh, which encompasses 11 million native speakers. There’s also Kyrgyz, which Google says is on their to-do list.
If you plan to do business with speakers of any of these languages, make sure you’re speaking their language—compliments of a certified translator when possible. Talk to Verbatim Solutions today for your exotic language translation today.
