Business Translations for the Chinese Language

As the Chinese economy is gaining prominence all around the world and Chinese goods are flooding world markets, it has become important to communicate effectively and efficiently with the Chinese business community and vice-versa.

The advent of the global economy is changing the fundamental nature of our governments, businesses, organizations and populations. In short, we are no longer constrained by state boundaries but have all become part of an interdependent international network. One of the key changes this has triggered is the need to communicate effectively with different people in different languages and from different cultures in foreign countries and at home. Therefore in the modern global economy it has become even more relevant and so it is important to provide accurate and professional Chinese language translations.

But while international and multi-language product labelling is often the first step to giving a business a worldwide audience, the task of seamlessly adapting the actual management and production of such products across multiple languages and cultures demands an in-depth globalization strategy that effectively localizes marketing, communication and management. Globalization services include translation, interpretation, Web localization and multicultural brand management.

It is now recognized that linguistic and cultural knowledge are two of the most vital areas of knowledge that organizations must come to acquire if they are to integrate, progress and succeed in the marketplace. Effective cross-cultural communication has become a must.

Because of their specialized and complex nature, translation services are increasingly carried out by professional organizations that specialize in corporate translations services. Therefore it has become necessary to understand the concept of translation and how effectively it can be utilized to achieve the business objectives more effectively.

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This post was created by Textronics Communications Ltd. (www.textronics.com), a leading language and translation services provider since 1991. Our service offering includes translation, interpretation, proofreading, narration, transcription as well multi-lingual desktop publishing and web design services in all languages and subject matters. Our growing client base includes corporate, public and non-profit sector clients in Canada, the United States and Europe. Our language specialists are highly trained, tested and have many years of experience in their chosen subject matter and we consistently strive to offer high-quality language services at affordable prices. New clients can take advantage of a free test translation to try out our services first hand at no cost.
www.textronics.com – Communicate with the World

Textronics Communications Ltd. also publishes www.travelandtransitions.com, a popular web portal for unconventional travel and cross-cultural connections. Award-winning travel writer Susanne Pacher chronicles her personal journeys to places such as Havana, Mexico City, New York City, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Sicily, and various other places in Europe and North America and writes about the people behind the destinations. Compilations of these articles are now available as electronic books at the following link: http://www.travelandtransitions.com/ebooks.html. In addition, the website offers interviews with fascinating personalities and tourism experts as well as practical travel advice and regional travel information.
www.travelandtransitions.com – Life is a Journey – Explore New Horizons

Chinese Language – History and Geographical Distribution

The Chinese language is the key element of the Chinese culture and it is quite important to understand the history and background of Chinese culture itself to fully understand the evolution of the Chinese language. Chinese culture has evolved as a rich culture with many achievements to its credit. Ancient China had land and water trade and commerce exchanges with Japan, Korea, India, Persia and Arabia.

Linguistic experts classify modern Chinese as part of the Sino-Tibetan language family, but some believe that it actually evolved from the Proto-Sino-Tibetan family. The relation between Chinese and other Sino-Tibetan languages is an area of active research. The Chinese language is believed to have had different phases in its evolution classified in terms of Old Chinese sometimes known as ‘Archaic Chinese’. It was common during the Zhou Dynasty. The Middle Chinese classification relates to the use and evolution of the language in the Sui, Tang and Song Dynasties. The development and evolution of the modern spoken Chinese language has been complex.

The need to establish an official national language was felt as early as the 17^th century. The concept of national language coalesced around 1910. In the 1913, the Ministry of Education convened a Commission on the Unification of Pronunciation to establish a standard national tongue. Due to the domination of the numerically superior Mandarin-speaking delegates, the Peking dialect was chosen for the general foundation of the new national language 'guoyu' (national speech). It embodies the pronunciation of Peking, the grammar of the Mandarin dialects, and the vocabulary of modern vernacular Chinese literature, but features of various local dialects were also incorporated. Guoyu is now the official language of mainland China, Taiwan and one of the official languages of Singapore. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949 it was renamed to putonghua (common language). In 1956, it became the medium of instruction in all schools nationwide and a policy of promoting its use began. It is now the most widely used form of spoken Chinese. In Taiwan, it still goes under the name of guoyu, or 'national speech'. In the West it is generally referred to Mandarin.

Approximately 95 percent of the Chinese population speaks Chinese, as opposed to the non-Chinese languages such as Tibetan, Mongolian, Lolo, Miao, and Tai spoken by minorities. The vast majority of the Chinese-speaking population is in China (over 980 million), Hong Kong, and Taiwan (19 million), but substantial numbers are also found throughout the whole of Southeast Asia, especially in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Important Chinese-speaking communities are also found in many other parts of the world, especially in Europe, North and South America, and the Hawaiian Islands.

The Chinese population has a strong presence in North America. They have a population of over 5,920,000 in United States and of over 3 million in Canada. The numbers are growing each year and the Chinese population is gaining prominence because of the emergence of the Chinese economy and also due to the increased volume of trade and bilateral relations with North America. Therefore it is becoming even more important to communicate effectively and efficiently and bridge the gap in linguistic communication.

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This post was created by Textronics Communications Ltd. (www.textronics.com), a leading language and translation services provider since 1991. Our service offering includes translation, interpretation, proofreading, narration, transcription as well multi-lingual desktop publishing and web design services in all languages and subject matters. Our growing client base includes corporate, public and non-profit sector clients in Canada, the United States and Europe. Our language specialists are highly trained, tested and have many years of experience in their chosen subject matter and we consistently strive to offer high-quality language services at affordable prices. New clients can take advantage of a free test translation to try out our services first hand at no cost.
www.textronics.com – Communicate with the World

Textronics Communications Ltd. also publishes www.travelandtransitions.com, a popular web portal for unconventional travel and cross-cultural connections. Award-winning travel writer Susanne Pacher chronicles her personal journeys to places such as Havana, Mexico City, New York City, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Sicily, and various other places in Europe and North America and writes about the people behind the destinations. Compilations of these articles are now available as electronic books at the following link: http://www.travelandtransitions.com/ebooks.html. In addition, the website offers interviews with fascinating personalities and tourism experts as well as practical travel advice and regional travel information.
www.travelandtransitions.com – Life is a Journey – Explore New Horizons

Chinese culture / etiquette / business practices

For thousands of years, the Culture of China has attracted and moved many people from all over the world. The Chinese Culture, a culture that has evolved over more than 5000 years, contains rare beauty and enchantment with history. It is one of the oldest continuous civilizations and has a long history covering a large geographical region with significant differences in culture and tradition.

The culture of China contains wonderful and delightful arts and customs which make it interesting and special. The most unique aspect of Chinese culture and which differentiates it from other world cultures is the connected split between Old and New. The Chinese culture can be divided into two: Traditional and Modern culture. Like other cultures the Chinese culture has also evolved and changed throughout history, especially during the 20^th century. Before the mid-1900's, traditional Chinese culture was characterized by traditional values and beliefs as well as old teachings and ways of life. However, after the political change in 1949, a new culture developed as modern Chinese culture was developed. The ways of life of the Chinese people took on a whole new character as the traditional styles and ways were put behind. Today, however, the Culture of China is neither traditional nor even fully modern, as most people would think it to be; it is a combination of both.

Standard Mandarin is the official language of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan), as well as one of four official languages of Singapore. Standard Mandarin—is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. Of the other varieties, Standard Cantonese is common and influential in Cantonese speaking overseas communities, and remains one of the official languages of Hong Kong (together with English) and of Macau (together with Portuguese).

Key concepts and values

Guanxi - “Guanxi” literally means "relationships", stands for any type of relationship. In the Chinese business world, however, it is also understood as the network of relationships among various parties that cooperate together and support one another. The Chinese businessmen’s mentality is very much one of "You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours." In essence, this boils down to exchanging favors, which are expected to be done regularly and voluntarily. Therefore, it is an important concept to understand if one is to function effectively in Chinese society.

Mian-zi - Mianzi, commonly referred to as 'face', is a reflection of a person's level of status in the eyes of his or her peers. It is a subtlety that is not openly discussed in Chinese society, but exists as a conversational skill nonetheless. As a foreigner, it is not necessary to take Mianzi too seriously when engaged in discussions that may be confusing. Mianzi can best be understood as the avoidance of embarrassment in front of others.

Keqi – This is a term advocating thoughtful, courteous and refined behavior. In business terms, it is important to demonstrate humility and modesty as exaggerated claims of ability are viewed with suspicion and are likely to be looked into.

Confucianism - Confucianism is a "code of conduct" to live life, and it has had a tremendous impact on how the Chinese live their lives, with a great influence in Chinese government, education, and attitudes toward correct personal behavior and the individual duties to society. This is based on the teachings and writings of K'ung Fu Tzu (commonly pronounced Confucius in English) who was born in 551 BC in the state of Lu (modern day Shantung Province), who lived during the Chou dynasty, an era known for its moral laxity. It is deemed still effective in Chinese business culture today in the preservation of surface harmony and collective good.

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This post was created by Textronics Communications Ltd. (www.textronics.com), a leading language and translation services provider since 1991. Our service offering includes translation, interpretation, proofreading, narration, transcription as well multi-lingual desktop publishing and web design services in all languages and subject matters. Our growing client base includes corporate, public and non-profit sector clients in Canada, the United States and Europe. Our language specialists are highly trained, tested and have many years of experience in their chosen subject matter and we consistently strive to offer high-quality language services at affordable prices. New clients can take advantage of a free test translation to try out our services first hand at no cost.
www.textronics.com – Communicate with the World

Textronics Communications Ltd. also publishes www.travelandtransitions.com, a popular web portal for unconventional travel and cross-cultural connections. Award-winning travel writer Susanne Pacher chronicles her personal journeys to places such as Havana, Mexico City, New York City, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Sicily, and various other places in Europe and North America and writes about the people behind the destinations. Compilations of these articles are now available as electronic books at the following link: http://www.travelandtransitions.com/ebooks.html. In addition, the website offers interviews with fascinating personalities and tourism experts as well as practical travel advice and regional travel information.
www.travelandtransitions.com – Life is a Journey – Explore New Horizons

Chinese business culture

• Working practices
• Being late is considered a serious insult in Chinese business culture. It is advised to inform and make adjustments or rearrangements before hand when late.
• Trust is an important element in the Chinese business system.

• Structure and hierarchy
• Hierarchical structures are quite evident in Chinese business organizations with clear distinction on ranks, positions and protocol.
• Business meetings are chaired by the most senior people and they usually start the negotiations and direct the discussions.

• Working relationships
• The Chinese are comfortable with long term relationships, therefore it is important not to rush for hurried and abrupt transactions.
• The Chinese give credit to the final outcome based on trust and mutual benefits.
• Collectivism, a backlog from the communist days, is still part of the Chinese business culture.

• Business practices
• Business cards are usually exchanged after formal introduction and it is a good idea to have one side of the business card translated into Chinese and it should be presented with both hands.
• As the Chinese view trust as an important element of business, the initial discussion may include personal talk.
• The Chinese expect patience during negotiations so it is important not to rush to hurried negotiations but to be humble and accommodate the gradual process of having confidence building measures during discussions.
• There is a difference in the mindset of the Chinese when compared with the westerners. Western thought is dominated by linear logic whereas Chinese thinking is influenced by early philosophers, who saw a paradoxical balance of opposites in all things. Where Westerners tend to look for clear alternatives (option A instead of option B), Easterners may examine ways to combine both option A and option B.

Business etiquette (Do's and Don'ts)

+ DO maintain face to face and eye contact while meetings. Chinese take this gesture to mean that you are being honest and sincere.

+ DO greet the all Chinese counterparts with usual handshakes, direct eye contact and a smile after the Chinese counterparts have initiated formal greetings.

+ DO remember to address the Chinese counterparts with their titles or last names.

× DON'T ever cause someone to lose face i.e. never try to insult an individual or criticize in front of others.

× DON’T try to rush or force an outcome as this will be seen in the negative by the Chinese counterparts.

× DON’T think that the signing of the contract seals everything; the Chinese see this as the beginning of the mutual association. The Chinese may be signing a contract to honor their guests. To them, a completed contract may merely be the proof that both sides have grown close enough to develop a trusting relationship.

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This post was created by Textronics Communications Ltd. (www.textronics.com), a leading language and translation services provider since 1991. Our service offering includes translation, interpretation, proofreading, narration, transcription as well multi-lingual desktop publishing and web design services in all languages and subject matters. Our growing client base includes corporate, public and non-profit sector clients in Canada, the United States and Europe. Our language specialists are highly trained, tested and have many years of experience in their chosen subject matter and we consistently strive to offer high-quality language services at affordable prices. New clients can take advantage of a free test translation to try out our services first hand at no cost.
www.textronics.com – Communicate with the World

Textronics Communications Ltd. also publishes www.travelandtransitions.com, a popular web portal for unconventional travel and cross-cultural connections. Award-winning travel writer Susanne Pacher chronicles her personal journeys to places such as Havana, Mexico City, New York City, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Sicily, and various other places in Europe and North America and writes about the people behind the destinations. Compilations of these articles are now available as electronic books at the following link: http://www.travelandtransitions.com/ebooks.html. In addition, the website offers interviews with fascinating personalities and tourism experts as well as practical travel advice and regional travel information.
www.travelandtransitions.com – Life is a Journey – Explore New Horizons