Looking for Expert Malagasy Translation Services? Since 2003, Green Crescent has been delivering professional translation services between English and Malagasy to clients worldwide. We specialize in a wide range of industries, including legal, technical, marketing, and business sectors. Our experienced team provides accurate, high-quality translations tailored to your specific needs. Get a fast, free Malagasy translation quote today!
Our Comprehensive Malagasy Translation Services
Green Crescent’s skilled team of Malagasy translators includes subject matter experts for industry-specific needs. Malagasy, the national language of Madagascar, has several dialects, and we provide translations tailored to all major varieties of Malagasy, ensuring that your message resonates effectively with local audiences.- Merina (Central Highlands)
- Sakalava (Western regions)
- Betsimisaraka (Eastern coast)
- Antandroy (Southern regions)
- Bara (South-central regions)
Simple Translation
Our simple translations in the English/Malagasy language pair are designed for basic communication needs. These translations are completed by a single Malagasy 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 Malagasy text.Standard Translation (TEP)
Our Standard Malagasy 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 Malagasy communications.Organization Critical Translation (TEP+)
Our Organization Critical Malagasy 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 Malagasy translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) process.Bilingual Editing
Bilingual Editing for Malagasy Translation is the process of editing a translated text by comparing both the source and target texts in the English/Malagasy language pair. The editor, fluent in the source language and a native speaker of Malagasy, ensures that the translation is accurate, consistent, and faithful to the source text while also maintaining clarity and fluency in Malagasy. 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 the perfection horizon. Our proofreading service for English to Malagasy and Malagasy 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 Malagasy 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 Malagasy 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 Malagasy 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 Malagasy language. Green Crescent is equipped to accommodate requests for localized Malagasy translation, ensuring that your content resonates with the intended audience. 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 Malagasy dialect, we help you effectively connect with your audience and enhance the impact of your message.Website, App, and Software Localization for Malagasy
At Green Crescent, we leverage our extensive experience in software development to provide specialized Malagasy localization services. We excel in adapting your website, app, or software’s content, design, and functionality for Malagasy-speaking audiences. Whether you need a fully multilingual solution or specific adaptations for Malagasy, 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 Malagasy-speaking regions while adhering to platform-specific guidelines. Let us help you create an engaging and culturally relevant experience for your Malagasy-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 Malagasy/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 Malagasy 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 Malagasy and English.Additional Language Services and Options for Malagasy
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 Malagasy 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 Malagasy language services, including interpretation, transcription, website design and development, and desktop publishing.About the Malagasy Language
Malagasy, known locally as "Fiteny Malagasy," is the national and official language of Madagascar, spoken by nearly 25 million people. As a member of the Austronesian language family, Malagasy has unique linguistic features, influenced by languages from Southeast Asia, Africa, and more recently, French. The diverse roots of Malagasy reflect Madagascar's rich cultural history and its connections to both Africa and the Indian Ocean region.
The Cultural Context, History, and Linguistic Features of Malagasy
Malagasy is the result of centuries of migrations and cultural exchanges, particularly with Southeast Asia, which is evident in its vocabulary and grammar. Its Austronesian origin gives it similarities with languages spoken in Indonesia and the Philippines, although it has also incorporated vocabulary from Bantu languages, Arabic, and French.
The language has a rich oral tradition that includes epic poetry, folklore, and songs passed down through generations. The most famous Malagasy text is the "Sorabe," a script used by the Antemoro people, based on Arabic letters, which documented historical and spiritual knowledge. Modern Malagasy has a standard form based on the Merina dialect spoken in the highlands of Madagascar, which has become the most widely used version of the language across the country.
The Writing System: Latin Script
Since the 19th century, Malagasy has been written using the Latin alphabet, replacing the earlier use of the Sorabe script. This transition was largely influenced by European missionaries. Today, the language is written phonetically, with 21 letters used to represent both consonants and vowels, making the language relatively straightforward to read and write for those familiar with the Latin script.
Vowels and Consonants: The Malagasy language consists of the following main characters:
- Vowels: A, a, E, e, I, i, O, o, U, u
- Consonants: B, b, D, d, F, f, G, g, H, h, J, j, K, k, L, l, M, m, N, n, P, p, R, r, S, s, T, t, V, v, Z, z
Key Linguistic Differences Between Malagasy and English for Translation
When translating between Malagasy and English, several key differences must be taken into account:
Sentence Structure: Malagasy generally follows a Verb-Object-Subject (VOS) sentence structure, which differs significantly from English's Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order. For example, "I eat rice" in English would be structured as "Eat rice I" in Malagasy.
Verb Forms: Verbs in Malagasy are less conjugated than in English, often relying on context or additional words to indicate tense or aspect. This simplicity must be carefully adapted when translating to ensure clarity and accuracy.
Loanwords: Malagasy has absorbed many French loanwords, particularly in areas such as education, law, and government. Translators must consider whether to retain these loanwords or provide more culturally appropriate alternatives.
By understanding these nuances, Green Crescent ensures that our Malagasy translation services are accurate and culturally aligned, whether the content is legal, technical, or creative.
An Insight into Malagasy Expression
This passage is from Ny Felan'ny Voalavo by Jean-Joseph Rabearivelo, first published in 1935. As one of the most renowned Malagasy literary works of the 20th century, it delves into themes of identity, colonialism, and the search for self-expression in a changing world.
- Malagasy: "Tsy ny olona no miova fa ny fiainana manodidina azy."
- English Translation: "It is not the person who changes, but the life around them."