When a client requests a translation from an agency, they usually require that certain guidelines are met, or provide instructions or directions that need to be followed during the work. For example, a client may request compliance with a glossary of specific terminology, that the text is written in a specific font or color, or [...]
Archive for January, 2011
How to Write “Simply”
Friday, January 28th, 2011The Languages of Africa
Thursday, January 27th, 2011Official estimates state that there are 2,000 languages spoken throughout the continent of Africa, which are then broken down into these groups: * Afro-asiatic: these languages are spoken in many countries of northern, eastern and southwestern Africa. The family of Afro-asiatic languages includes approximately 240. The main ones are the Semitic family, Kushite, Berber, and [...]
Considerations when translating marketing material
Tuesday, January 25th, 2011I usually recommend to customers looking to translate content created to communicate and promote their products and services that they seek a “creative writing” service. I explain that this is “added value” to avoid a literal translation and to be able to adapt the content to the audience receiving the message. In this way, we ensure the [...]
Trusted Translations at the GALA conference in Lisbon
Monday, January 24th, 2011Translation agencies, localization service providers, globalization consultants, internationalization specialists and linguistic technology developers linked to GALA (Globalization and Localization Association) will attend the 2011 conference in Lisbon, Portugal. The theme this year – The Future of Global Content Delivery – looks at the future of global content as a tool to grow business globally through [...]
The Etymology of the Word “OK”
Friday, January 21st, 2011Consider the following hypothetical conversation between two people: – Hey, you want to meet up this afternoon? – Yeah, that sounds good. Your place at 8? – OK, see you then Does anyone find it difficult to understand this conversation? Probably not. Is there a term foreign to them? Not really. What’s that “OK”? What [...]
Localization
Wednesday, January 19th, 2011According to the Localization Industry Standards Association (LISA), in his introductory guide to the field of localization, localization is “the process of adaptation and manufacture of a product to present the appearance and operation of a manufactured article in a particular country. Thus, localization is a piece of the global business puzzle that allows companies [...]
Looking for Ebonics Translators
Monday, January 17th, 2011We recently posted a concise summary of what is Ebonics, or African-American Vernacular English. In even shorter terms, it is a form of English used by the U.S. African American population, usually members of the lower social strata, but also used generally as a “street language” (i.e., not limited to use by African Americans). And [...]
And in India…
Friday, January 14th, 2011More than a billion people speak Hindi in the world, as it is one of the official languages of India, one of the most populated countries in the world. India formally recognizes 18 languages. In turn, most of these 18 languages include a subset dialects and variants. And it is no wonder that Hindi is [...]
Idiom ignorance
Thursday, January 13th, 2011Idioms, which many translators are loathe to agree, are unavoidable in translation. While most people with a solid understanding of the source language shouldn’t come up against too many hurdles, the problem is that they are so region specific. Some idioms used in Australia won’t mean anything to people from the United States, and vice [...]
Globalization
Wednesday, January 12th, 2011Most experts agree that the process of globalization is the result of the laws and trends in the global economy. The disintegration of socialism was a factor in speeding up the process, mainly driven by technical progress which reduces the costs that the movement of goods, services, money, people and information. According to Ambassador Juan [...]
