The Polish language, with its deep historical roots and linguistic intricacies, is a fundamental part of Poland’s culture and market. Explore this article to uncover intriguing aspects of the Polish language and understand how the country has seen substantial market growth over the past decade.
The peculiarities of the Polish language
Polish is the official language of Poland, a country in Central Europe, boasting a global community of over 40 million speakers. It holds a prominent position among the Slavic languages, with a rich history stretching back centuries. Its unique features contribute to its allure, even though it is often considered one of the most difficult languages in the world.
The Polish alphabet uses the Latin alphabet, akin to English, but with some additional letters and diacritics. It consists of a total of 32 letters, including “ł” and “ż”, unique to Polish. Diacritics, such as the acute accent (´), can completely alter the meaning of a word.
Moreover, Polish incorporates grammatical gender, a characteristic shared with other Slavic languages. Words fall into three genders: masculine, feminine and neuter. The assignment of gender isn’t always semantically driven, adding a layer of grammatical intricacy to the language.
In Polish, a set of grammatical cases determines the role of a word in a sentence. With seven cases, words undergo changes in form based on their function: nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, instrumental, locative and vocative. These cases apply to nouns, adjectives and pronouns. While this can pose a challenge for foreign learners, it adds a level of precision to the language.
Polish is known for its nasal sounds, a feature uncommon in many other languages. The letters “ą” and “ę” represent these nasal sounds and pronouncing them correctly can be challenging for non-native Polish speakers.
Polish translations with Overseas Translations
At Overseas Translations, we embrace the Polish language with the valuable contribution of our two native Polish project managers. Our translation services extend seamlessly into various sectors such as construction, engineering, infrastructure, railways and IT. Beyond technical domains, we excel in translating marketing, advertising and market research content for Spanish and international companies establishing or expanding their presence in Poland.
Our in-house expertise in this language ensures the highest quality in our translations, enhancing the value of our services. Since 2012, we’ve translated millions of words into Polish, predominantly from Spanish and English. We’ve witnessed Spanish companies discovering a substantial and potentially growing market and recognising professional translation services as a key to succeeding in Poland.
Poland’s booming market
Poland has witnessed remarkable economic growth in recent years, rendering its market progressively appealing to international companies and investors. Over the last two decades, Poland has maintained a strong Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, demonstrating resilience against global economic downturns and establishing itself as one of the most stable countries in Central Europe.
In 2004, Poland became a member of the European Union, gaining access to the European common market. This accession has had a substantial impact on its economy, fostering foreign investment and facilitating the export of Polish products to other EU member countries. Despite its EU membership, Poland retains its own currency, the Polish złoty (PLN). Consequently, when traveling to Poland, you’ll need to exchange your Euros at currency exchange offices, commonly known as “Kantor”.
Numerous Spanish companies have been eager to extend their operations into the Polish market, capitalising on the country’s constant demand and growth.
Many of these enterprises have successfully secured public contracts for construction and infrastructure projects. We are proud to have played a role in supporting them, handling the translations of extensive project documentation, coordinating on-site interpretation services and providing the essential sworn translations for the establishment of branches and offices in Poland.
If you need liaison or simultaneous interpreting services to or from Polish in Warsaw, Krakow, Gdańsk, Szczecin, Katowice or Wrocław, don’t hesitate to reach out. We have interpreters ready to cover all types of business meetings.
Growing sectors
Poland has become a significant manufacturing hub in Europe. Thanks to its skilled workforce and competitive labour costs, many international companies have established factories and production plants in the country, driving the growth of the country’s manufacturing industry.
Another sector witnessing a boom in Poland is the IT and programming industry. Considerable investments in higher education have resulted in a highly skilled workforce. It is not uncommon to come across young talents in Poland holding dual university degrees, coupled with strong language proficiency and a deeply ingrained professional culture.
Cities like Krakow and Warsaw have evolved into major technological hubs, attracting companies from around the world and providing employment for thousands of software developers.
Polish tourism translations
Don’t overlook tourism! Poland is an emerging tourist destination, with historic cities like Krakow and Warsaw, and the natural beauty of the Carpathian Mountains and the Mazuria Lakes drawing visitors from across the globe. Tourism has become a vital part of the Polish economy and we are delighted to have provided Polish translations catering to the tourism sector for travel agencies, publishers and tour operators. The warm hospitality, delectable cuisine and stunning landscapes of Poland make every visit a treat for the senses.
Business tourism is also gaining popularity, which is notably reflected in the organisation of conferences and corporate events. With modern conference facilities and a well-developed transportation infrastructure, Poland is becoming increasingly appealing for international meetings and corporate gatherings. It also stands out as one of Europe’s current driving forces in exports.
One of the leading “export engines” in Europe today
In terms of exports, Poland excels in exporting manufactured goods, machinery and chemicals. Its primary trade partners are Germany, the United Kingdom and France, with the European Union accounting for 65–70% of annual exports. Poland has effectively diversified its exports and expanded its presence in international markets.
Agriculture holds a vital position in the Polish economy. The country stands as one of Europe’s primary cereal producers and the agri-food industry acts as a substantial catalyst for its economic growth.
And what about new technologies and environmental sustainability? Poland is channelling investments into renewable energy to decrease its reliance on fossil fuels and align with the European Union’s objectives for carbon emissions reduction. The development of wind and solar energy has been substantial in the country over the past few years.
Overseas Translations, your trusted ally for the Polish market
If you’re considering entering Poland and need professional Polish translation services, look no further for the perfect partner. We can guide you through all the necessary bureaucratic procedures – including sworn translations into Polish – to open your branch in Poland or lend you Polish<>Spanish<>English interpretation services through our interpreters residing in major Polish cities.
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