When it comes to international expansion, languages are what you need the most. The reason why we give languages such a top priority is because they are the medium of communication. And the best way to inspire people is by communicating with them in their language. Language is our identity, and for most people, it is kind of a personal thing as it gives people a sense of belonging. If we talk about Semitic languages, they are the identity of Middle Eastern people.
In this read, we are going to talk about the famous Semitic languages that you need to focus on if your goal is to expand worldwide. For instance, you need to add Hebrew translation services to your global expansion program if you are entering the Israeli markets.
What are Semitic languages?
First of all, let’s discuss where the term Semitic comes from. The word “Semitic” comes from the Bible, where it is called, “Shem”. Now Shem is one of the sons of Prophet Noah. As Semitic people are labeled as an ethnicity, often these languages are often termed as ethnic ones. However, that is not true at all. Basically, these languages are one of the branches of the Afroasiatic language family.
Today, there are many dialects present of Semitic languages, which is why they are great in number. These languages also acquire the status of languages of the Middle East. Businesses and brands that wish to expand to the Middle Eastern market specifically focus on these languages.
Let’s understand this concept with a real-time example. The Anbessa City Bus Service Enterprise in Ethiopia is one of the famous bus services that especially caters to tourists who visit Ethiopia. If you want to indulge in business in Ethiopia, one of the best ways is to affiliate yourself with their consumer services with the help of Amharic translation services.
Don’t Forget the Main Element When Considering International Expansion
So in the above paragraph, we have already talked about translation, now let’s discuss it in detail. When it comes to international expansion, you need to align your goals first. If you are in business, you need to adopt strategies that cater to the target audience as they are the center of attention in that case. One can also go for international expansion for resource acquisition, for example, raw materials. Or even for partnerships or mergers. Hence, the reason could be anything. A well constructed goal will lay the foundation of your expansion.
Translation helps you communicate easily with potential audiences. When it comes to Semitic languages, they rule the Middle Eastern market in a way you can’t even imagine. They might seem like ethnic languages or just a branch of a famous language family, but they are more than that.
As the Hebrew language holds significant importance in the Middle Eastern market, it is wise to add Hebrew translation services to your arsenal. And why only Hebrew translation, you will also need Arabic translation, as there is a majority of people that speak Arabic in the Middle East.
Naming Most Spoken Semitic Languages You Would Need For Expanding Internationally
Talking about the Semitic languages, let’s get to know what are the most spoken ones and what status do they hold in the Middle Eastern world.
Arabic
Arabic is the official language of more than 25 countries and is an old Semitic language. Its speakers are more than 456 million among which 422 million are present only in the Middle East. Comparing Arabic with the world languages, it attains the 4th spot in terms of number of speakers.
Amharic
The Amharic language is the official language of Ethiopia and is one of the 45 languages that are spoken in Ethiopia alone. So now you know the prestige and status this language has. More than 33.7 million people speak Amharic in the Middle East alone. And more than 22 million people speak Amharic in the whole world. Because of this number, when it comes to expansion in the Middle East, it becomes vital to translate your business into the Amharic language. For this purpose, you should seek professional Amharic translation services so that your content caters to the target audience.
Hebrew
More than 9 million people in the world speak Hebrew. It is the official language of Israel. Mostly, this language is associated with the Jews but there is no compulsion that only the Jewish community can speak Hebrew.
Aramaic
It is one of the oldest languages present since 600 BC. Today, Aramaic is known by the name, Biblical Aramaic. Approximately 850,000 people speak Aramaic as their native language in the Middle East.
Final Words!
Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic, and Amharic are a few of the languages that are the most spoken Semitic languages. For international expansion, you need to target the Middle Eastern market. In the Middle East, it is the Semitic languages that are spoken the most. Translating your business into these languages will lead you towards the international expansion of your business.
