Dutch

The origins of the Dutch language can be traced back over a thousand years to what we now know as the Netherlands, Belgium, and parts of France, collectively referred to as the Low Countries. “Old Dutch” and “Middle Dutch” developed in this region for centuries, Eventually, the “Golden Age” of Dutch would see the language become a major European language, and Dutch explorers would come to spread the language around the world.

Standardization efforts would come in the 19th century, which would lay the foundation for the modern Dutch that is spoken today. Distinct versions of Dutch would come to be adopted in the Netherlands and Belgium, and further interaction with other cultures and events around the world would continue to shape and transform the language into the Dutch that is spoken today.

Languages form in their own contexts to describe specific phenomena. This means that two languages from different regions may not have easy ways of describing phenomena from the other culture. This is what can make accurate translations incredibly difficult, and what makes direct translations often sound silly, if not entirely incoherent.

To truly and accurately translate a message, it is important to have the cultural understanding to know not only what needs to be expressed, but how such a message might naturally be expressed in the target language. This nuance of cultural understanding might seem like a small detail, but it can make all the difference in formulating accurate, coherent translations, especially in distant languages.