PROFESSIONAL LAO TRANSLATION FOR THE LAOS MARKET
When it comes to Lao Translation, be it from Lao or into the language itself, the process is a feat in itself.
Because of the similarity between Thai and Lao languages, many Thai and Laotian are capable of speaking and understanding each other’s language. Those who are not familiar with 2 languages might even mix up both Lao and Thai languages!
Just like Thai, the Lao script also does not use any space between words or ending punctuation. Spaces are only used between certain sentences and clauses, which makes the translation of the language trickier!
To execute the Lao translation properly, knowing the language well is only half a battle won. It is also critical to understand the heritage and language of the intended reader, as well as where he or she now lives. Also, one slight error in the word choice could all too easily make you sound highly rude and offensive. Translating word for word and word by word too will make the sentence wordy, incomprehensible, and sound ridiculous at times.
Below are some challenges face in Lao translation:
- Lao has a complex character set and tone markers
- There is no spacing between words in the written Lao
- Line breaking issue is a challenge in layout making it extremely difficult for those who do not understand Lao to undertake layout efficiently
- Text expansion is common when translating from English
What we have covered here is but a drop in the ocean. If you think getting someone who knows Lao to handle your translation is the way to go, you may be heading for a disastrous outcome. There are many more things to consider than just getting someone who knows Lao to handle both translations from and into Lao.
ABOUT THE LAO LANGUAGE
Lao also referred to as Laotian, is the official language of Laos. Apart from Laos itself, Laotian is also spoken in Cambodia and the northeast part of Thailand. Laotian is also spoken in different countries around the world, namely Vietnam, Myanmar, Singapore, Japan, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, just to name a few.
The Lao language belongs to the Tai-Kadai language family. It is a tonal language as such the pronunciation will affect the meaning of the words. Similar to Thai, Laotian is written in a script of Indic origin. The consonants are divided into three classes to determine the tone of a syllable. There are five major dialectical groups for the language, namely Southern Lao, Central Lao, North-Eastern Lao, Vientiane Lao, and Northern Lao.
BELOW ARE SOME NOTABLE FEATURES OF LAO
- Its writing system is that of syllabic alphabet/abugida
- The direction of writing is from left to right and in horizontal lines
- Its syllables are based around consonants.
- Lao is a tonal language with 6 tones.
- For some consonants, there are multiple letters.
- Just like Thai, written Lao text also has no spaces between words, instead, spaces in a Lao text indicate the end of a clause or sentence.
- Written Lao is based on the dialect of the Lao capital, Vientiane.
- There is no official Latin transliteration system for Lao.
LAOS: COUNTRY OF A MILLION ELEPHANTS
Laos is one of the world’s few remaining communist states in the world. A French colony until 1953, the monarchy was overthrown in 1975, creating the current Laos People’s Democratic Republic with its capital at Vientiane. Laos is also known as the “country of a million elephants”. It is also is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. Although it opened its doors to the world in the 1990s, Laos remains one of the poorest countries in South East Asia.
With a population of almost 7 million as of 2018, Laos has attracted the attention of foreign investors globally in recent years. This is especially so in the hydropower and agricultural sector, which showed promise and openness to investment. These coupled with an abundance of willing cheap labour, makes Laos a very attractive location for business expansion. If you want to be the first to get into Laos, you cannot undermine the importance of the Laotian language.
YOUR BEST CHOICE FOR PROFESSIONAL LAO TRANSLATION
When it comes to Lao translation, it is essential to get the right native Lao translators with enough training and professional experience to produce Lao translations that are fit for its purpose.
With more than 2 decades of experience in providing English to Lao and Lao to English translation services in Singapore, we can share this valuable experience with you.
With our ISO 17100 certification and the support of our local Lao translation team, you know your translations are in good hands. You can now leave the tedious task of translation to our professional team of linguists and project managers while leaving you with more time to do what matters most to you.
Providing Lao translation solutions for the Laotian market, Lao translation is definitely our forte. We have accumulated a vast pool of native Lao translators based in their Laos to provide you with authentic Lao translation. When you work with us for your professional Lao translation requirement, you know you are getting expert advice and solutions from the source.
Contact us now at +65 6576 0138 or fill up our web inquiry form immediately. We are ready to share our experience with you.
WHY CHOOSE US?
Competitive Rates
Fast Turnaround
Quality Assured
With more than 20 years of proven excellence in translation services, Lingua Technologies International is one of the pioneers in offering Multilingual Translation Service Solution to Singapore and the region. The company takes pride in making translation an invaluable experience. With the ISO 17100 certification, you now have peace of mind that your translation projects are always processed and handled by professionals in accordance with the guidelines and standards outlined in this ISO certification specification developed for Translation Businesses worldwide. Let our professional team of linguists and project managers handle the tedious task of translation for you, leaving you with more time to do what matters most to you: your business.