faq

What is the difference between a translator and an interpreter?
A translator translates written language whereas an interpreter translates spoken language.

Where is Dutch spoken?
Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands and of Flanders, the northern part of Belgium. It is also the official language of the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles, Aruba and the former Dutch colony of Surinam. The inhabitants of the Netherlands and Flanders use Dutch as their mother tongue, but that is not necessarily the case for the 200,000+ inhabitants of the islands. However, affairs of state and education are conducted in Dutch on the islands. Approximately 22 million people worldwide speak Dutch.

Is there a difference between Dutch and Flemish?
Dutch is the official language that is spoken in the Netherlands and in Flanders, the northern part of Belgium. Flemish is not a separate language; it refers to a variant of Dutch as it is spoken in Belgium. The Dutch that is spoken in the Netherlands and Flanders has the same grammar and spelling. However, there are some differences in vocabulary/pronunciation that a translator/interpreter should be aware of. The difference between Dutch spoken in the Netherlands and Dutch spoken in Belgium is similar to the difference between English that is spoken in the UK and the US.

Is “Hollands” related to Dutch?
People who live in the western part of the Netherlands sometimes colloquially refer to this region as “Holland” and to “Hollands” as the language that is spoken there. Dutch and Hollands refer to the same language.

What is the relationship between Afrikaans and Dutch?
Afrikaans, the language spoken in South Africa, developed from a 17th century Dutch dialect. Many words in Afrikaans are easy to understand for Dutch speakers. Afrikaans gradually evolved into a separate language that is different from Dutch, and it has its own grammar and dictionaries. In 1920, Afrikaans became the official language of South Africa in 1920, alongside English.

How long does it take to deliver a translation?
It depends on the size, technicality and nature of the document. Usually, a longer text takes longer to translate but not always. For instance, a 10,000 word glossary requires more time than a 10,000 word text. Translating handwritten texts takes longer than translating electronically provided documents. All of these factors affect the cost of the translation.