Translation, technology and the future of the language barrier

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Machine translation has changed the practical significance of the language barrier. Tools based on artificial intelligence can translate documents between German and English with a quality that was unattainable a decade ago. Lawyers, authorities and companies use them to produce first drafts of translations, which are then checked by specialists. Foreign residents use them to read letters from the authorities and to write simple correspondence in German. The tools do not replace professional translation for legally binding documents, but they reduce the cost and time of dealing with a second language.¹

The long-term effect of these tools is uncertain. They may reduce the pressure on the canton to introduce English into its institutions, since foreigners can deal with German documents through translation. They may also reduce the incentive for expatriates to learn German, since they can manage without it. The canton's institutions will continue to work in German, but the practical barrier that German represents for foreigners is likely to diminish. The language question will then become less a question of access and more a question of participation and belonging.

Notes

Federal Chancellery, press release "Bundeskanzlei beschafft das maschinelle Übersetzungssystem DeepL Pro für die Bundesverwaltung", 11 December 2023, admin.ch: after a WTO tender, DeepL Pro is made available to employees of the Federal Administration for two years from July 2024, with a possible extension to 2033. Use by lawyers and companies and the checking of drafts by specialists are not covered by this source. ↩

For general information only. This article does not constitute legal or tax advice, does not replace advice on an individual case and creates no lawyer-client relationship. It reflects the legal position as of September 2025.

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Dr Alexander Ressos, TEP

Rechtsanwalt/Attorney-at-Law

I am a Swiss attorney-at-law and also admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong and in England & Wales, with almost 25 years of experience.

Together with my multilingual team, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Ukrainian and French native speakers, I advise companies and their owners from around the world on the full range of banking, corporate, commercial and tax law matters in Switzerland, including international tax planning, fiduciary services, and legal family office services including immigration & relocation or real estate investments. My practice has a particular focus on clients from growth and frontier markets in Greater China, Central Asia and the Caucasus, the rest of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, and I equally advise clients from Europe and North America. Through an affiliated Swiss trust company, we also take care of the incorporation and ongoing administration of their companies and other structures, including accounting, tax returns and corporate secretarial services, and I serve as a professional director where required. With the support of a network of first-class cooperation partners, I also implement solutions worldwide.

My approach is to act as a trusted advisor who works directly with decision-makers, on an equal footing: I start from what you want to achieve and shape every structure, contract and tax decision around your commercial goals and how it improves your after-tax return. As “lawyers who make it happen”, my team and I stay involved until your company is set up, your structure is in place and your transaction has closed, and we remain available for any follow-on work that may be required. You benefit from bespoke solutions and personal attention, and sound, friendly and practical advice. We are not the lowest-cost provider in the market, nor do we intend to be; our aim is to deliver well-founded, proper solutions and excellent value for money.

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Translation, technology and the future of the language barrier

Notes

Setting up or expanding in Switzerland?