Boston, Massachusetts, is a thriving center of industry, arts, science, and education. One of Boston’s many nicknames is “The Hub of the Universe,” or just “The Hub.” Boston is a vital connecting point for all kinds of domestic and international trade, and language services form connecting points between each language spoken by individuals and businesses. What languages are spoken in Boston? What kind of translation services should your business use for Boston? Let’s find out.
Boston boasts many firsts in its history. One of the oldest cities in the colonies that would become the United States, Boston founded the nation’s first public park, Boston Common, as early as 1634. A year later, the first formal public school in the North American colonies, Boston Latin, was established. Multiple world-renowned universities call Boston home, including Harvard and MIT. Boston has set precedents for public transportation by installing the United States’ first subway system and improving urban planning standards by filling its streets with tree-lined bike and pedestrian paths.
Given Boston’s rich history and storied past, it is no surprise that immigration and international trade have played a significant role in its development. According to the Boston Globe, immigrants have been the primary drivers of Boston’s population growth in the last few years. Without them, the city’s recent population growth stats would be negative figures. It is no secret to Bostonians that international newcomers bring new intelligence, culture, and purchasing power. With visitors and new residents come their languages and dialects, making Boston a prime location for professional language services to be used effectively by businesses and institutions.
Multilingual, Multicultural Boston
The city of Boston is home to over 660,000 people, but as many as 5 million reside and do business in the Greater Boston area. Latin people make up the majority of the recent population growth, with some estimates from 1980 putting them in the 90% range. The majority are native-born. Most foreign-born Latin people coming to Boston hail from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Mexico, and Colombia. The Latino and Spanish-speaking population possesses untold amounts of skill and buying power. With professional English to Spanish and Spanish to English translation and interpretation, your business can reach this strong, dynamic market in a way that will please both. Our professional translators can help you navigate the Hispanic market by selecting the correct dialects and localizing your company’s materials, from website translation to legal document translation.
An interesting dichotomy exists when discussing Boston’s immigrant population. While Latino people are the most numerous newcomers to Boston, with most being native-born, they are not the largest contributor of human capital from areas outside the U.S. Most new foreign-born Boston residents come from China. Chinese Bostonians, like most shoppers, prefer to shop in their native language, both online and offline. A professional translation agency can help you provide exemplary service to the Chinese community with accurate translations and localization tailored to dialect and culture.
Boston Speaks
Apart from English, Boston speaks Spanish, Chinese, Russian, French, and Haitian Creole. However, English still dominates the linguistic scene. This makes language services all the more necessary, as English speakers seeking to reach a multilingual market must do so in a way that resonates with that market. Similarly, multilingual individuals and businesses with interests in Boston require English translation services to effectively convey their message to the English-speaking audience.
Fortunately, Boston is a city rich in language education opportunities. The University of Massachusetts Boston campus offers a robust linguistic program, featuring courses in Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, German, and additional languages. The Boston Area Spanish Exchange, or BASE, is a school centered on Spanish language skills. The International School of Boston focuses on the French and English languages, as well as their respective cultures.
Currently, the state of Massachusetts does not require languages beyond English to be taught to high school students, but that is changing with the help of groups like the Massachusetts Foreign Language Association. Students in the Boston public school system speak over 70 languages, including Tagalog, Malay, and Cantonese. These students will take their linguistic skills with them into the public sector, making Boston and the Greater Boston area even more cosmopolitan.
Language Service Providers Love Boston
Your business can’t afford to miss out on international and multilingual customers when doing business in Boston. Website translation is a perfect place to start. E-commerce is one of the primary ways businesses establish themselves in their client base, and a seamless online experience is essential for your business to be perceived favorably.
For best results, prepare as much as possible to give to your translation company. Keep your source files and plan to devote proper time to the project. Working with a professional translation agency in Boston not only ensures that your material is translated and localized accurately, but it also helps you acquaint your business with the needs and goals of the markets you seek.
