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3 Korean Phrases Other Languages Need

One of the most interesting things about the vocabulary of other languages is just how much they can reveal of another culture’s thought process. Japanese vocabulary tends to spotlight the culture’s focus on honor, while French vocabulary shows just how much that nation and culture treasure love and other emotions. These cultures often have specific words to describe things that other languages might not ever think need to be summed-up in one word. Korea is no exception. The Korean language has some interesting words to describe things you never knew

March 2, 2017 No Comments

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Why Translation Choices Matter In Politics

Language is a very delicate thing in politics, but it becomes even more sensitive—and dangerous—when the language being exchanged is between two nations that don’t share the same language or culture. We saw some consequences of that late last year when then President Elect Donald Trump broke with decades of careful deference to China’s “One China” policy and took a phone call from the President of Taiwan. The reaction across the world has been one of alarm since this gesture effectively rejects the American government’s previous policy of not risking

January 26, 2017 No Comments

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3 Words With No English Equivalent

One of the interesting things about the English language is how often it adopts words from other languages and uses them the same way. Ennui, for example, is a French word that usually describes the dissatisfaction or restlessness and boredom that affluent or well off people experience when they lack challenges or meaningful tasks to complete in their lives. But for every word like ennui that actually manages to make it into general English usage, there are many words from other languages that never make the jump. Even though there

January 18, 2017 No Comments

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3 Non-English Words Now English

The difference between a dead and a living language are pretty clear, but beyond the fact that one is in active use and another is not, a key feature of a living language is its ability to change and evolve. The English that is used and spoken in the 21st century is so different from the Elizabethan English used in the 16th century that it requires scholarly specialization to even understand Shakespeare today “fluently,” rather than constantly referring to an index or guide to look up grammar and vocabulary no

January 4, 2017 No Comments

Translation

Top 4 Reasons Good Translation Matters In Politics

Achieving the right results in international politics requires effective communication. And since different countries speak different languages, accurate translation is an important part of good communication in politics. For example, consider statements Vladimir Putin made this summer concerning Donald Trump. Putin said Trump was “ochen’ yarkiy chelovek.” Literally translated this means: “a very bright person.” However, the issue here is that in Russian, “bright” doesn’t mean intelligent as it can in English. Instead, the more accurate translation would be that Putin said Trump is a “very colorful character.” What Putin

January 1, 2017 No Comments

Tips & Advice

3 Tips For Hiring Translation Providers

When you want your plumbing repaired, you call a plumber. When you want a building designed, you get an architect, and when you want your written work converted to another language, you hire a translation provider. In each and every one of these cases, you have recognized that if you want professional results, the only way you are going to get them is by engaging the services of an expert in the field. But, in all of these cases, there’s always more than one expert available. So, if you want

December 28, 2016 No Comments

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4 Holiday Traditions Around the World

As we move into December, we arrive at the season of holidays. While in some parts of the world, Christmas is perhaps the most heavily marketed and promoted, it is far from the only celebration during the winter season. Here are four traditions from all over the globe that may be different from what you’re used to celebrating. Merry KFC Japan doesn’t celebrate a Judeo-Christian Christmas, being primarily a Shinto and Buddhist nation, but that didn’t stop enterprising advertising agencies from creating a new December tradition. That tradition is to

December 21, 2016 No Comments

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La Rentrée And What It Means To Translators

One of the biggest challenges for translators is effectively conveying the meaning of a term or concept that is highly localized and specific to a single language. In France, la rentrée is a perfect example of this, and it highlights just how tricky it can be to complete a good translation and ensure that it fully gets the original point across. What is La Rentrée ? Literally, la rentrée translates into ‘the return’. But for those in France, the term goes much deeper than this. It is primarily a signal

December 14, 2016 No Comments