Translations are now required for many different matters related to Swiss, German, or Thai authorities. However, the embassies only accept a select group of recognized offices. Translations from Thai into German, or vice versa, are very challenging, especially since the languages differ significantly. German is considered one of the most precise languages of all, while Thai has a rather simple structure and grammar. The similarity to Latin-based languages such as French and Italian is definitely not present here.
The different alphabet with its own characters already presents a high level of complexity for translators, and Thais who speak and write fluent German are not that common, just as foreigners who speak and write fluent Thai are rare.
The Thai alphabet consists of 44 consonants, 32 vowels, 4 tone marks, and 4 special characters. Punctuation marks such as commas and periods do not exist. Compared to our German alphabet with 26 letters, this is a completely different language and writing construct, even though the language is read from left to right, as we are used to.
As mentioned, the structure and grammar of Thai are very simple; it's only when it comes to pronunciation, with its five different tones, that Europeans begin to experience problems. Pitches in Western languages are used to determine the character of a sentence (question, statement, command, and so on), whereas in Thai, the height of a syllable changes its meaning. For example, the syllable "maa" has more than three possible meanings, and "mai" has even more than five, depending on the pitch of the tone, the length of the vowels, and its position in the sentence.
To have your documents correctly and certified for a Schengen visa or a wedding, it's best to turn to a reliable partner. We at Swiss Helping Point are your competent partner when it comes to recognized translations and certifications. Our staff is fluent in German, Thai, and English, both written and spoken.
Swiss Helping Point, June 26, 2023
