Your Guide to Setting Up a Tagalog Translation Agency in the USA
Tagalog is an important Asian language that is also popular in the United States, especially areas with large Filipino communities. According to the US research and census, Tagalog happens to be the fourth most spoken language in the United States. It is an Austronesian language spoken by the Tagalog people of the Philippines. A lot of people mix Tagalog with the Filipino language, whereas Filipino is the standardized version of Tagalog and the official language of the Philippines along with English.
Tagalog – A Brief Introduction
Tagalog is an alphabetic language just like English. It has 28 letters, which interestingly have 26 letters of the English language. Tagalog is also widely spoken in Hawaii. About 5.4% of the population there is proficient in the language. Moreover, the speakers of the Tagalog language are also massively present in California, Washington, and Nevada.
If you want to set up a translation services company in the USA, the country has great opportunities to offer, however, when it comes to the Tagalog language, it is comprehensible by around 0.6% of the population. San Francisco and California can be ideal places because Tagalog is one of the notably acknowledged languages in these regions.
You should consider these aspects before setting up a Tagalog translation agency in the USA.
How to Start Your Tagalog Translation Agency in the USA
As more businesses are seeking localized content for better customer reach, the need for specialized translation agencies is also increasing. Make sure to push all the right buttons and strategically go about building your translation company in the States.
Conduct Market Research
Before you start your Tagalog translation agency in the USA, make sure that you conduct thorough research. You may want to target specific sectors, whether it’s legal, medical, or technical. You should also analyze the translation market and competition that you might have to face in the region. The market size of the translation industry is around $10.5 bn as calculated in 2023. As Tagalog is a prominent language in certain regions of the states, make sure that you set up the agency in those locations, preferably.
Develop a Business Plan
For the past decade, the translation and language industry in the US has been witnessing steady growth, so if done rightly, you can surely get the expected revenue. However, make sure that you develop a relevant business plan first. As the Department of Labor says, the translation industry is set to grow at around 29% of the rate in the year 2024, and you can surely make the most of this prediction if you follow the right practices to set up your translation agency, particularly featuring Tagalog language. You can also feature other languages and offer your services. Make sure you work on a detailed financial plan, including the startup costs. You also need to check the translation rates common in Tagalog and other popular languages in the states and consider your costs accordingly. Most of the companies in the USA are charging $35 to $40 per page of 250 words for Tagalog to English translation tasks. A few translation companies charge per hour. You, however, have to develop the marketing strategies as per the marketing norms in your preferred region.
Hire Qualified Translators
This is an important aspect to consider. Translation is a creative and challenging task. Particularly if you are dealing with specialized translation. Therefore, it is crucial that you hire native Tagalog speakers for the Tagalog translations. They should also be subject matter experts if you plan to hire medical or technical translators. As there are more speakers of this language in Huawei and California, you can advertise translation jobs, particularly in these regions, and conduct interviews with the linguists and analysts to ensure that translators are professional and good enough to deal with a complex language such as Tagalog. While many categories of translation could ask for certified translation, make sure that you recruit translators who are not only native speakers but also have relevant certifications and awards from the translation authorities, such as the American Translation Association.
Consider other Important Languages
Now that you plan to set up a translation company in the States, you should also consider other popular and common languages. The most demanded translated languages in the USA are
- English
- Chinese
- Spanish
- French
- Arabic
- German
- Italian
Working on the right pairs along with Tagalog can boost your sales and bring more revenue for you. However, it is imperative that you have native speakers of these languages who are not only proficient in the given language pair but are also culturally literate, understanding the culture relevant to every language.
Collaborating with Harvard
The increasing popularity of Tagalog in the USA has also made the prestigious institute Harvard introduce a course in the Tagalog language. This happened in the fall of 2023 for the first time. The South Asian Studies department hired three language specialists to teach the Tagalog, Thai, and Bahasa Indonesian languages to students. This has happened for the first time in the history of the university. Harvard also hunted for the native speakers of Tagalog for the position of language tutor. Once you set up your translation services company in the country and start working, you can surely collaborate with the university, offering your resources for the betterment of all.
Conclusion
Tagalog is an important language that is the official language of the Philippines. The language is quite common in the United States and is the 4th most spoken language in the country. It is also popularly spoken in Huawei, San Francisco, and California. If you want to start your translation agency in Tagalog, you should ensure that you make all the right choices from the very beginning. You should meticulously conduct market research, develop a business plan, hire qualified translators, and consider other important languages to target.
