Fancy translating animal sounds? Does it even matter? In Germany, when a rooster crows in the morning, almost every German hears the sound as “kikeriki”. Not so in France: here, the rooster crows “Cocorico” while the Armenians even hear “Tsoo-ghoo-roo-ghoo”. When it comes to pigs, the differences are even more pronounced. Although they can’t be said to whistle in any country, their grunting sounds are perceived as “noeff noeff” in Sweden, “kurrin kurrin” in Spain and as “chaau chaa chaau chaa” in France.
The same applies to all other animal sounds. This is not because animals actually make different sounds in different countries. In reality, the same sounds are simply perceived differently in every language and are written down according to the relevant onomatopoeia. This has important implications if you want to translate animal sounds.
That’s why this blog post is devoted to the translation of animal language and the importance of not only translating content but also customizing it to your target market with the help of localization.
Is it “miau” or “meow”? Onomatopoeia in different languages
Animal sounds are a fantastic examples of how languages differ around the world. After all, there are animals living in every country. You’d think that they all make the same sounds worldwide – but the examples above suggest otherwise. Why is this?
People try to represent animal sounds – as well as all other sounds – using the phonology of their specific language. Onomatopoeia refers to the formation of words whose spoken sound is associated with the sound they are supposed to describe. In German, for instance, we use the word “peng” to describe an unexpected bang. However, since not every language uses the same sounds, noises are perceived and written down differently around the world. For example, the Hungarian word “nyihaha” for the whinnying of a horse suddenly changes to “i-go-go” in Russian.
This shows how important it is not just to translate animal sounds but also to localize them. But what exactly does localization mean?
Localization is important when you translate animal sounds
Localization is very similar to translation. Both language services involve translating words and phrases from one language to another. However, while translation can sometimes be a very literal process, localization goes one step further. It does this by taking into account the cultural, geographical and national peculiarities of the target group and adapting the message accordingly.
If you are translating ‘animal languages’, you must consider the onomatopoeia of the respective target language to ensure that your target audience will actually understand you. However, localization is not only essential when you want to translate animal sounds. The same applies for all other content such as advertising slogans, books or editorial news that you want to publish in other languages. Otherwise, you run the risk of making embarrassing translation mistakes that could tarnish your reputation.
But don’t worry: Here at ACT Translations, we employ native speakers. Our translators speak more than 150 languages and know the corresponding cultures inside out. Whether you’re translating animal sounds or localizing website content, we’re here to help.
Want to learn more about animal sounds in other languages? Check out the Pons Online Dictionary.
