Switzerland has four national languages.
For any company wishing to do business successfully there, translation is a daily necessity.
Switzerland’s four national languages are German, French, Italian and Romansh.
For a company looking to expand and consolidate its presence in this country, communicating in all four official languages is essential.
Although most Swiss have no difficulty in understanding at least one other national language, when it comes to written documentation – catalogues, websites, technical manuals or contracts – a professional translation is a must.
It is essential to be aware that the Italian spoken and written in Switzerland is not exactly the same as the language spoken and written in Italy itself.
Swiss Italian, influenced by close proximity with German and French, has numerous expressions which may sound odd to the Italian ear, yet are commonly used in Switzerland.
Examples in speech:
| ITALY | SWITZERLAND |
| Variazione | Mutazione |
| Cellulare | Telefono mobile or Natel |
| CAP | NPA (Numero Postale di Avviamento) |
| Patente | Licenza di condurre |
| Mutuo | Ipoteca |
And if we look at specialised terminology, the differences are even more noticeable.
The following examples are taken from the fields of medicine and medical science:
| ITALY | SWITZERLAND |
| Medicinale | Medicamento |
| Mutuabile | Ammesso dalle casse o rimborsato dalle casse malati |
| Pompa protonica | Pompa a protoni |
| Sovradosaggio | Posologia eccessiva |
Or in law:
| ITALY | SWITZERLAND |
| Dichiarazione dei redditi | Dichiarazione d’imposta |
| Verbale | Protocollo |
| Società per Azioni, S.p.A. | Società Anonima, S.A. |
| Società a responsabilità limitata, Srl | Società a garanzia limitata, Sagl |
| Stipendio | Salario |
Another critical aspect to be grasped when translating for Switzerland is that each public institution, body, association, and trade association, like each law, ruling, or provision and all other matters relating to civic life has a single version in each of the official languages.
Private companies may be enrolled with Business registers in more than one Canton, so they will have official company names in more than one language.
Examples of official denominations:
| GERMAN | FRENCH | ITALIAN |
| Geldwäschereigesetz (GwG) | Loi sur le blanchiment d’argent (LBA) | Legge sul riciclaggio di denaro (LRD) |
| Alters- und Hinterbliebenenversicherung (AHV) | Assurance-vieillesse et survivants (AVS) | Assicurazione vecchiaia e superstiti (AVS) |
| Schweizerische Bundesbahnen (SBB) | Chemins de fer fédéraux suisses (CFF) | Ferrovie federali svizzere (FFS) |
| Schweizerische Bankpersonalverband (SBPV) | Association suisse des employés de banque (ASEB) | Associazione svizzera degli impiegati di banca (ASIB) |
| Schweiz. Spenglermeister- u. Installateur-Verband (SSIV) | Association suisse des maîtres ferblantiers et appareilleurs (ASMFA) | Associazione padronale svizzera lattonieri e installatori (APSLI) |
In a country of the political, economic and financial importance of Switzerland, translations must deliver outstanding standards of quality. It is therefore essential to be aware of the country’s linguistic and cultural idiosyncrasies and to refer to only the most authoritative sources of terminology.
interlanguage has built up considerable experience on the Swiss market, working for private companies and government authorities. We have in-depth knowledge of the country’s linguistic peculiarities and are able to tune our working tools to its need for confidentiality and quality from its translation services.
One of our most prestigious clients is Swiss Railways (SBB CFF FFS).
Contact us for further information or a quote
