Looking for expert Danish translation services? Since 2003, Green Crescent has been providing professional translation services between English and Danish to clients worldwide. We specialize in a variety of industries, including legal, technical, marketing, and business sectors. Our team delivers accurate, high-quality translations that are customized to meet your specific needs. Get a fast, free Danish translation quote today!
Our Comprehensive Danish Translation Services
Green Crescent’s skilled team of Danish translators includes subject matter experts for industry-specific needs. We provide translations tailored to all major Danish dialects, ensuring cultural and linguistic accuracy for diverse audiences, including:
- Danish (Denmark)
- Faroese Danish (Faroe Islands)
- Greenlandic Danish (Greenland)
We specialize in both English to Danish and Danish to English translations, offering the following services:
Simple Translation
Our simple translations in the English/Danish language pair are designed for basic communication needs. These translations are completed by a single Danish translator without the involvement of an editor or proofreader, and therefore should not be considered final or polished work for most professional or formal use cases. While they are typically of high quality, simple translations are essentially "rough drafts" that do not go through additional editing, proofreading, or other quality control processes. These translations are ideal for personal letters, informal communications, initial drafts that will later be revised, or for situations where you need to quickly understand the general meaning or "gist" of a Danish text.
Standard Translation (TEP)
Our Standard Danish Translation service is designed to provide high-quality translations for everyday use, including business correspondence, websites, reports, presentations, and similar content. This service includes translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) to ensure the highest level of accuracy and clarity in your Danish communications.
Organization Critical Translation (TEP+)
Our Organization Critical Danish Translation service is designed for situations where perfection is essential. This option is recommended for texts intended for large-scale printing, technical documents, legal contracts and patents, medical documents, or any case where an error could be critical or costly. Each translated line is reviewed by a minimum of three linguists, with multiple rounds of proofreading. Subject matter experts (SMEs) may be involved as needed throughout the Danish translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) process.
Bilingual Editing
Bilingual Editing for Danish Translation is the process of editing a translated text by comparing both the source and target texts in the English/Danish language pair. The editor, fluent in the source language and a native speaker of Danish, ensures that the translation is accurate, consistent, and faithful to the source text while also maintaining clarity and fluency in Danish. This step occurs after the initial translation in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) Organization Critical and Standard Translation services. We also offer this service as a standalone option for translations completed by individuals or organizations not affiliated with Green Crescent.
Proofreading
With each additional round of editing and proofreading, the error rate of a document approaches perfection. Our proofreading service for English to Danish and Danish to English translations involves reviewing a single-language text to identify and correct surface-level errors, such as spelling mistakes, grammar issues, punctuation errors, and formatting inconsistencies. This step is the final phase in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) Organization Critical and Standard translation services. We also offer proofreading as a standalone service for translations completed by individuals or organizations not affiliated with Green Crescent.
Legal Translation
Green Crescent's elite team of linguists, each with subject matter expertise in specialized legal fields, is ready to assist you with the translation of a wide range of judicial, administrative, and private legal documents between Danish and English. Nearly all countries recognize that submitting documents for translation does not compromise attorney-client privilege. Furthermore, we can implement enhanced security measures to ensure strict confidentiality upon request.
Technical Translation
Technical translations involve any text that features specialized vocabulary or language registers, necessitating additional research and terminology verification. Common technical subject matter includes legal, medical, scientific, engineering, and IT topics, but any text that utilizes industry-specific terminology or neologisms may be considered technical in nature. These translations cannot be executed by generalists alone; they require the expertise of linguists with in-depth knowledge of the relevant technical field in both Danish and English.
Medical Translation
Green Crescent has established protocols to ensure compliance with HIPAA and HITECH regulations, which you can learn more about here. Our Danish medical translations are treated as "organization critical," unless otherwise specified, and we are committed to implementing the necessary digital security measures and legal safeguards for every project subject to HIPAA and HITECH requirements. Our team of skilled linguists, specialized in medical terminology, ensures that your translations are both accurate and secure.
Localization
Our translation services are tailored for specific target markets that require non-standard varieties or dialects of the Danish language. Green Crescent is equipped to accommodate requests for localized Danish translation, ensuring that your content resonates with the intended audience. For example, we offer translations in regional dialects of Danish spoken in Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands. Our experienced linguists are well-versed in the nuances of these dialects, allowing us to provide translations that are not only accurate but also culturally relevant and engaging. By focusing on the unique linguistic characteristics of each Danish dialect, we help you effectively connect with your audience and enhance the impact of your message.
Website, App, and Software Localization for Danish
At Green Crescent, we leverage our extensive experience in software development to provide specialized Danish localization services. We excel in adapting your website, app, or software’s content, design, and functionality for Danish-speaking audiences. Whether you need a fully multilingual solution or specific adaptations for Danish, our services encompass translating text, adjusting images, and modifying layouts. We also adapt and program code for both mobile and desktop applications, ensuring that your app functions seamlessly across Danish-speaking regions while adhering to platform-specific guidelines. Let us help you create an engaging and culturally relevant experience for your Danish-speaking users.
Back-translation
Back-translation is often a crucial component of the quality control process, particularly when translating highly technical documents or for critical translations in the Danish/English language pair where an error could have significant consequences. This process involves an independent linguist translating a previously translated text back into its original source language—either Danish or English—without reference to the original document. The resulting text is then compared to the original translation to verify its intelligibility, accuracy, and suitability for its intended use. Back-translation is also relevant in situations such as the translation of legal documents, medical texts, and marketing materials, where precise wording is essential. It can be particularly beneficial when adapting content for different cultural contexts, ensuring that the intended message is preserved and resonates appropriately with the target audience in both Danish and English.
Peer Review
Green Crescent offers professional focus group services that include a comprehensive "read-through" conducted by one or more linguists who were not involved in the original translation process. This approach allows for an unbiased assessment of the translation's quality, style, and overall fitness for its intended purpose. The focus group can evaluate various aspects of the text, including linguistic accuracy, cultural relevance, and the effectiveness of the messaging in reaching the target audience. Feedback is provided on how well the translation conveys the original intent and nuances of the source material, ensuring that it resonates with readers in both Danish and English contexts.
SME Review
Subject Matter Expert (SME) review is a specialized form of peer review conducted by non-linguist professionals with deep expertise in specific fields. This process is particularly important for Danish to English or English to Danish translations of highly technical texts, ensuring that the content is both linguistically accurate and technically precise. In fields such as legal, medical, scientific, and engineering, SMEs help verify the correct use of industry-specific terminology, adherence to regulatory or technical standards, and the contextual relevance of the translated material. By incorporating SME review into the translation process, we ensure that your final product is not only fluent and culturally appropriate but also technically sound and ready for professional use in both Danish- and English-speaking markets.
Transcreation
Our Danish Transcreation Service goes beyond simple translation by creatively adapting your content to resonate with Danish-speaking audiences. At Green Crescent, we ensure that your brand’s messages, campaigns, and communications maintain their original intent, emotional impact, and tone, while aligning with the cultural and linguistic nuances of the target market. Whether it’s marketing, branding, or advertising, we reimagine your content to feel authentic and compelling in Danish, helping your brand connect meaningfully and effectively with Danish-speaking audiences.
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full)
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full) refers to the comprehensive post-editing of a machine-translated text between Danish and English, ensuring the final product meets the highest standards of linguistic quality. In this process, once the machine generates the translation, a skilled human editor thoroughly reviews the entire content, ensuring that it is not only accurate in meaning but also flows naturally and fluently in the target language. This detailed editing process includes correcting grammar, syntax, and terminology, adapting the text for the intended audience, and ensuring it adheres to any stylistic preferences or regulatory requirements. MTPE-Full is suitable for business-critical texts where precision and quality are paramount.
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light)
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light) is a more streamlined version of post-editing, designed for situations where speed and cost-efficiency are prioritized over linguistic perfection. In this process, the human editor focuses primarily on fixing major errors and ensuring that the overall meaning of the machine-translated text is clear and understandable in the target language (Danish or English). While MTPE-Light may not deliver a translation that is fully polished or ready for publication, it provides an efficient and cost-effective solution for internal documents, reports, and communications where basic comprehension is sufficient.
Additional Language Services and Options for Danish
Certified Translation
Green Crescent provides certified translations of a wide range of legal documents, including birth, marriage, and death certificates, diplomas, school transcripts, passports, and much more, in both Danish and English. Our certified translations are recognized for their accuracy and compliance with legal standards, making them suitable for official use. You can receive hard copies of our standard certificate of translation mailed directly to your home or business.
Rush Service
If you require expedited service, Green Crescent can usually accommodate such requests. However, please note that rushing translations often comes with trade-offs, which may affect both price and consistency. Please consult with a project manager for more details.
Discounts
Volume discounts are available for large projects, long-term clients, and for non-profits, charities, NGOs, and government organizations.
Minimum Fee
There is a minimum project fee of $75.00 USD per language, which can be reduced or waived for regular clients.
Additional Language Services
In addition to translation, Green Crescent offers a range of other Danish language services, including interpretation, transcription, website design and development, and desktop publishing.
About the Danish Language
Danish is the official language of Denmark and the Faroe Islands, and it is also one of the official languages of Greenland. Spoken by around 6 million people, Danish is a North Germanic language closely related to Norwegian and Swedish, forming the Scandinavian language group. As a language of culture, trade, and governance, Danish plays an important role in both local and international settings.
Denmark: The Standard Dialect and Regional Variations
The "standard" Danish spoken today is based on the dialect of the Copenhagen area, which gained prominence due to the political and cultural influence of the capital city. While Standard Danish is used in media, education, and official communication, several regional dialects exist, such as Jutlandic and Bornholmian, each with distinct phonetic and lexical characteristics. Although these dialects are still spoken in rural areas, most Danes use Standard Danish in formal settings.
Denmark’s influence on design, architecture, and philosophy has made Danish an important language for creative and intellectual pursuits. From the works of Søren Kierkegaard to contemporary design trends, the Danish language carries a rich cultural legacy. When translating for a Danish audience, it is essential to capture both the linguistic precision and cultural nuance required for the intended purpose.
History and Legacy of the Danish Language
Danish evolved from Old Norse, the language spoken by the Vikings, and began to take shape as a distinct language during the Middle Ages. Over time, Danish developed unique characteristics, such as its softening of consonants and distinctive vowel sounds. The Reformation and the spread of Christianity introduced a wealth of Latin and German loanwords into Danish, shaping its modern form.
The rich literary tradition of Denmark includes authors like Hans Christian Andersen, whose fairy tales have been translated into numerous languages, and Karen Blixen, known internationally as Isak Dinesen. Danish literature continues to be a source of national pride, reflecting the deep cultural roots of the language. Green Crescent’s Danish translation services aim to maintain this rich literary and linguistic legacy while adapting it to modern communication needs.
Key Linguistic Differences Between Danish and English for Translation
Translating between Danish and English presents unique challenges due to significant linguistic differences:
Word Order and Sentence Structure:
Danish and English share the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) sentence structure, but Danish allows for more flexibility in word order, especially in subordinate clauses. For example, "I am going to the store" in English translates to "Jeg går til butikken" in Danish, but in more complex sentences, the verb often comes at the end, similar to German syntax. This can affect the tone and emphasis in translation.
Definite Articles:
Unlike English, which uses separate definite articles ("the"), Danish has "postpositive articles," meaning the article is attached to the end of the noun. For example, "the book" in Danish is "bogen" (book+the). This requires careful attention during translation to ensure the meaning is properly conveyed.
Pronouns and Formality:
Danish traditionally had both formal ("De") and informal ("du") pronouns for addressing people, but the formal pronouns have largely fallen out of use, except in very formal or old-fashioned contexts. However, tone and politeness still play a significant role, especially in business or legal documents, where a formal tone might still be expected.
Compound Words:
Danish, like German, often creates long compound words. These compounds can be difficult to translate directly into English without losing clarity. For example, "arbejdsglæde" (literally "work happiness") refers to job satisfaction. Understanding these compounds and their cultural significance is key for effective translation.
Phonetic Differences:
Danish has a unique set of vowel sounds and a "stød" (a glottal stop), which can change the meaning of words based on tone and stress. While these phonetic features do not directly impact written translation, understanding their role in spoken Danish helps in conveying tone and intent accurately in text.
Green Crescent ensures that our Danish translation services account for these linguistic intricacies, delivering accurate, contextually relevant translations. Whether you're translating legal documents, technical manuals, or marketing content, our expert translators will ensure your message resonates with Danish-speaking audiences while preserving the original meaning and intent.
An Insight into Danish Wit and Expression
This passage is from Pelle the Conqueror by Martin Andersen Nexø, first published in 1906. The novel stands as a cornerstone of 20th-century Danish literature, exploring the struggles of the working class and the pursuit of human dignity in the face of oppression.
- Danish: "Det er kun de døde, der aldrig drømmer."
- English Translation: "Only the dead never dream."