How German Translation Spread the German Constitution Globally

The German Basic Law, one of the oldest living constitutions in the world, turned 75 this year. It contains 146 articles with the most important one being the first: “[H]uman dignity shall be inviolable. To respect and protect it shall be the duty of all state authority.“  To share its message with other countries, it’s important to understand the role of German translation services as well as the profound influence of the German language.

The History of the Basic Law and The Role of German Translation

Four years after the Second World War, disagreements about the future of Germany between the Allies and the Soviet Union arose and the state was divided into East and West Germany. In response, the three allies, France, USA, and Britain drafted over Frankfurter Dokumente and, with the help of translation and interpreting services, translated it into each language of the allies and lastly into German before handing it over to the West German minister president.

These documents offered a framework for the construction of a new state, with the first step being the creation of a constitution. The minister president, however, feared that writing a new constitution would drive the western and eastern factions further apart, since the state of West Germany was intended to be provisional. As a result, Germany is governed by the Basic Law instead of a constitution.

The Basic Law’s Influence And German Translation

The German Basic Law became a key template for other countries when drawing up their own constitutions, including Spain, South Korea, and Hungary. The document has been translated into multiple languages such as English, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic, and more. The content of this constitution is the bedrock of German law. Therefore, translating it into different languages is an incredible responsibility that requires great precision and attention-to-detail. Translation and localization services must also be familiar with legal terminologies and regulations in other countries to be able to properly localize content to fit the cultural contexts of foreign nations.

The Importance of the German Language

German is the most spoken native language in Europe and has over 180 million speakers worldwide. Germany is Europe’s largest economy and the world’s second-largest exporter of chemical products, goods, vehicles. Given Germany’s influence on the international market, there are numerous opportunities for companies to grow and partner with German business entities. Therefore, partnering with language service providers for professional translation services is a must. They can provide your organization with German interpreters to help your meetings and conferences run smoothly. Additionally, if you need to translate important legal or internal documents such as contracts or HR manuals, working with professional German translators will ensure compliance with all relevant regulations, saving your company time and resources.