I recently got an unexpected request from someone in Japan. According to the sender, they had come across one of my articles on Microcopy and thought it would be great for their website audience. They wanted to translate the article into Japanese and needed my permission. After I checked their website (the English version, of course) and saw how they’re championing great Microcopy in Japan, I was more than happy to grant their request.
But it got me thinking about the power of writing.
I remain in awe of how far our words can travel, defying borders to connect people, regardless of cultural and linguistic differences. Knowing that our content can reach various corners of the earth makes it even more important to write with diversity in mind.
Think about it: once your content is out in the wild, anyone can access it. Among those accessing your content, you might have:
- Native English speakers
- Non-native English speakers
- Non-English speakers (who’ll be accessing the translated version of your content)
Every one of these groups matters. And more so, their needs are different. It would be a shame if your content, which has a significant impact on native English speakers, doesn’t have the same effect when translated into another language.
The challenge, therefore, is finding a common ground for communicating with these diverse groups.
The best way to achieve a common ground is to write in plain language.