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6 Facts about Languages on International Translation Day

Every year on September 30, the world’s translators celebrate International Translation Day. It’s a day to recognize the brilliant and remarkable translators who help build bridges among the world’s different cultures.

On this occasion, it’s good to share some interesting facts about the world’s languages. So here goes!

Just how many languages in the world are there?

There are about 7,100 living languages in the world today, among which roughly 6,500 are spoken languages. Approximately 2,000 of those languages have fewer than 1,000 speakers.

 

What is the most popular language in the world?

The most popular language in the world is Mandarin Chinese with 1,213,000,000 speakers in the world.

What is the most common official language in the world?

English is the most common official language, with recognized status in 51 countries. Arabic, French, and Spanish are also widely recognized. (I proudly speak 3 of the 4 listed here! :D)

In how many countries is Arabic an official language?

Arabic is the official (or co-official) language in 22 countries, making it the 5th most spoken language in the world.

What are the official languages used in the United Nations meetings?

There are 6 official languages used in UN meetings: English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Russian and Chinese.

Are all languages read from left to right?

Definitely not! Arabic is one of the few languages that are actually read from right to left, making it one of the harder languages to learn. It takes years to master writing the script from right to left! Other right-to-left languages include Hebrew and ancient Phoenician.

Wishing all the translators around the world a happy International Translation Day!

Rania

rania@transpremium.com

I AM RANIA MERCHAK ANDRAOS, A CAREER MOM WITH A PASSION FOR WORDS, FITNESS & HEALTH, AND FOOD! STICK AROUND AND ENJOY THE RIDE AS YOU GET A GLIMPSE OF MY WORLD!

2 Comments
  • Aalu sagar

    Every year, 30th September is Celebrated as the International Translation Day. This day commemorates the Feast of St. Jerome who translated the Bible (Old Testament) from “Hebrew into Latin”.

    September 29, 2019 at 7:50 pm Reply
    • Rania

      I know that and I already blogged about it 🙂 thank you for your comment

      November 4, 2019 at 3:51 pm Reply

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