What is Back Translation?
Filed under: Accurate Translation, Back translation, Certified Translation, Cultural Training, Globalization, Interpretation, Localization, Market Research, Proofreading, Transl8 Language Solutions
Back Translation is the process of translating a document that has already been translated into a foreign language back to the original language – preferably by an independent translator.
Translation of raw data such as focus group transcripts back into the language of a client from the language of the consumers is common in market research area. In fact translation remains one of the most important parts of a market research project.
Cross-Cultural Perspective Helps Teamwork
Filed under: Cultural Training, Globalization, Learning a New Language, Localization, Market Research, Transl8 Language Solutions
In this era of globalization, many companies are expanding into numerous countries and cultures. But they should not take a “one size fits all” approach to their business and management styles. As the authors of a new article on Culture and Psychology in Perspectives on Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, point out, people in different cultures think about work in different ways. Being aware of the cultural environment that their coworkers come from may help people work together better.
Do Mystery Product Names Really Sell?
Filed under: Cultural Training, Globalization, Interpretation, Localization, Market Research, Transl8 Language Solutions, Translation
There is a certain attraction in foreign words and made-up names. Psychologists discover that people associate positive ideas with words that they do not understand. Especially in the United States where an average American citizen speaks 0.18 foreign languages. (by Dr. Julianne Malveaux).
So for 4 out of 5 Americans A “Grande Mocha Frapuccino” is a fascinating foreign name calling for higher price than your regular next-door Shake with Shaved Ice Chocolate and Coffee would. Starbucks figured it out, hooking caffeine addicts to their exotic-sounding “venti” and “grande”. Read more
Life With Books: Turning Pages Into Digits
Filed under: Cultural Training, Globalization, Market Research, Proofreading
According to GIZMODO, there is a new tool on the market allowing you to digitize your entire library!
The BookLiberator Project is kit of open source hardware and software, designed to help you digitize your personal library without damaging your collection. It won’t spare you from having to turn each page, but it is some seriously clever design. Read more
Why does a Translator need to be a Linguist?
Filed under: Globalization, Interpretation, Localization, Transl8 Language Solutions, Translation
What makes a professional linguist?
For starters, linguists:
- Are bilingual (or multi-lingual) speakers; not just capable in another language but fluent
- Have advanced knowledge of the technical aspects of language, possess an understanding of sociolinguistics, which is the understanding of speakers’ backgrounds (socioeconomic group, degree of education, age, etc.) based on how they speak.
- Maintain specialization in a certain area such as legal translations, medical, IT/Telco, automotive, etc.
- Have experience doing professional translations
So, it is one thing to be bilingual or ‘fluent’ in the language, but to understand the underlying message and intent of the words is something much deeper altogether.
When it comes to translating, it’s the little things that count.
Filed under: Cultural Training, Globalization, Interpretation, Localization, Transl8 Language Solutions, Translation
Too many companies, not anticipating the sometimes subtle differences between countries and continents, send their products abroad without sufficient prior research. Later, they wonder why the sales results don’t match expectations.
Here’s a collection of real-life mistakes and some examples of machine translation, a technology that isn’t quite capable of all that’s often claimed for it. Read more
Top 10 Languages to translate your Website into!
Filed under: Accurate Translation, Certified Translation, Globalization, Interpretation, Localization, Proofreading, Transl8 Language Solutions, Translation, Translation Tools
When you’re looking to expand your market share and present your products to the broader international audience you have to do your homework in regards to your target audience. Knowing what are the fastest growing regions in the world will help you to position your website correctly and tap into the right markets.
Language As A Political Tool
Switzerland’s four official languages, traditionally spoken in different regions of the country, are German, French, Italian and Rumantsch. There are clearly defined regions for all four official languages with slight overlapping of the territories (German in northern and central Switzerland, French in western Switzerland, Italian in southern Switzerland and Rumantsch in southeastern Switzerland).
What is the future of English?
English is distinguished from other languages by having very significant numbers of non-native speakers.
It’s clear that globalization is making English especially important in universities and in the areas such as computing, diplomacy, medicine, shipping, and entertainment. No language is currently being learned by more people — there may soon be 2 billion actively doing so — and the desire to learn it reflects a desire to be plugged into a kind of “world brain.”
Globalization – more reasons than ever to learn a new language.
“English is a tool, just like a piece of technology. Much of the world’s economy is tied up in English-speaking countries and for that reason, English is like a cell phone provider offering the best plan. But if the dollar continues to drop, the most viable option could shift.” John Hayden, president of Versation, a social networking site for English language learners around the world, states.
