breaking the language barrier http://www.todaytranslations.com/press-room/feed en Today Translations http://www.todaytranslations.com www.todaytranslations.com/favicon.ico www.todaytranslations.com/ breaking the language barrier 1. Martin Luther King – I have a Dream Aug. 28 marked the 47th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C. Full speech in video below. I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation. Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon-light of hope to millions of negro slaves, who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity. But 100 years later, the negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the negro is still sadly crippled by the manacle of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we’ve come here today to dramatise a shameful condition. In a sense, we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a cheque. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men – yes, black men as well as white men – would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note in so far as her citizens of colour are concerned. Instead of honouring this sacred obligation, America has given the negro people a bad cheque, a cheque which has come back marked “insufficient funds”. But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this cheque, a cheque that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquillising drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children. It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the negro’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end but a beginning. Those who hope that the negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquillity in America until the negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges. But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvellous new militancy which has engulfed the negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realise that their destiny is tied up with our destiny, and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, “When will you be satisfied?” We can never be satisfied as long as the negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating “For whites only”. We cannot be satisfied as long as a negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream. I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow. I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.” I have a dream that one day, on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, one day right down in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the south with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. This will be the day, this will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning “My country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!” And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California. But not only that, let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee. Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi, from every mountainside. Let freedom ring. And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old negro spiritual, “Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last.” Speech copyright © 1963 Martin Luther King Jr, copyright renewed 1991 Coretta Scott King. All rights reserved Reprinted by arrangement with the Heirs to the Estate of Martin Luther King Jr, c/o Writers House as agent for the proprietor, New York, NY ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/849/the-best-speech-ever--part-1 http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/849/the-best-speech-ever--part-1 1 September 2010, 9:36 am http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed The English Oxford dictionary has added more than 2,000 words in its annual update which all our readers will be delighted to hear includes the word – Vuvuzela! Yes it is official! The editorial team for the Oxford English dictionary had no choice but to add the word vuvuzela. After a world cup with plenty of controversy such as being legally allowed to karate kick an opponent in the chest, national teams going on strike, a football as predictable in flight as a psychotic bird and blatant goals being disallowed, the vuvuzela’s addition to the oxford English dictionary seems justified to say the least. The Vuvuzela finally has the recognition it deserves and all those BBC viewer complaints about it sounding like a stampede of elephants or the biggest bee hive in the world was a massive help and your contribution is certainly appreciated. Shortly after the World Cup finished the translation service specialists, Today Translations carried out some research amongst 320 linguists and translators from over 60 countries and quickly discovered that the word ‘vuvzela’ was reported as the star performer and the word of the world cup. Furthermore, Jurga Zilinskiene MD of the translation company Today Translations, quite rightly predicted that “Long after individual matches and goals are forgotten, this will be remembered as the Vuvuzela World Cup. Thanks to the World Cup, vuvuzela has the entered the shared language of the world and joined the ranks of words that need no translation.” It has also come to light that there are in fact millions and millions of words which haven’t been approved. These are held in a very secretive vault, in filing cabinets at the Oxford University Press. Sounds more like some department of MI6 but some of these words date back hundreds of years and it really does sound like the kind of room a linguist would be happy to be locked in and for the keys to accidentally go missing for some time. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/821/vuvuzela--welcome-to-the-english-oxford-dictionary http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/821/vuvuzela--welcome-to-the-english-oxford-dictionary 19 August 2010, 11:07 am http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed The recent news that the German economy grew by 2.2% between April and June has been hugely encouraging for all EU member countries. For Germany it was a record smashing period. The quarter-on-quarter growth has never been seen in reunified Germany and is testament to how well they are battling out of the recession. Germany is the biggest economy in the EU. According to the IMF (International Monetary Fund) in 2009 the German economy was the 4th largest in the world, with America first, Japan second and China third. The Eurozone itself is an economic powerhouse but in the wake of a global recession many EU member countries have had to impose significant if not major austerity measures. The most notable and widely reported have been in Greece, Spain, Romania, Ireland, France and the UK, but if truth be told all EU members have paid a price. The areas of society which have been hit hardest are state wages and pensions combined with broad attacks on social welfare systems. Other areas such as defence, education and major state development projects are likely to suffer as well. Let there be light On a much chirpier note the German economy does have a significant advantage over many other countries in that they are arguably the finest engineers in the world. The demand for German engineering will remain strong because emerging economies are becoming more industrialised which requires bespoke engineering. Germany is a world leader in the production of components for power plants and other major infrastructure projects. In China, German engineering and manufacturing businesses are so crucial that plants and factories have been set up abroad. Some might argue that this devalues Germany’s domestic engineering market but it is another cog in the chain of a globalised world. English to German translation or German to English translation also benefits because it is common for a German manufacturing company based in China to use English as the primary language because more Chinese people speak it and because it is the international business language. The growing middle classes of developing economies demand more in the way of consumer products, particularly luxury cars such as BMW and Mercedes. Sales to India for Mercedes doubled from January to July and tripled in the same period in China. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/802/eu-depends-on-german-export http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/802/eu-depends-on-german-export 16 August 2010, 2:57 pm http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed Japanese to English translation is a well established and key international service. As the world’s third largest economy the country plays a crucial part to the global community and as such the demand for English to Japanese translation or Japanese to English translation is expected to remain strong for the foreseeable future. According to the Japan Foundation, which is an independent administrative organisation aiming to promote Japanese education overseas has performed regular surveys since 1979, and in their most recent (September 2009 to January 2010) the foundation found that 3.65 million people worldwide were learning Japanese, which is up 672,00 from three years earlier. Yoshiyuki Nishizawa, special assistant to the president of the foundation stated that “We’re relieved to find the number of Japanese learners worldwide has increased, even though Japanese-language education has been facing such challenges as the global economic crisis and the increasing popularity of Chinese,” 21st century Gold rush Yoshiyuki Nishizawa’s statement highlights a big challenge being faced by the Japanese language and Japanese translation, which is the growth of Chinese language, and therefore Chinese translation.  China’s economy in 2009 was listed as the world’s fourth largest by the World Bank, trailing Japan very closely. In addition the Chinese economy has been one of the world’s fastest growing economies despite the economic difficulty. Chinese is also a language which is being learnt by vast numbers in the western world because of business opportunities. In many respects it is a new frontier for business, almost like a 21st century gold rush. Waking up to Tokyo Japan is a well established economy and key part of the global community. It is natural to have changes regarding the use and education of languages as the world is not a static place, but one that evolves in relation to the way the world changes. English to Japanese translation or Japanese to English translation will continue to be a key service and part of business both in Japan and major international hubs such as London and New York. For example it is common practice for a morning stock trader in London to check how the Japanese Nikkei 225 index has performed during the early hours and gives a good overview of the Asian markets generally. Japanese culture is highly respected due to its complexity and richness. Their society has an ancient culture which still forms a key part of their identity today, for example the samurai culture is still practiced to maintain the tradition and items such as samurai swords are hugely collectable. Furthermore modern Japanese culture which includes karaoke, manga comic books and anime cartoons are followed fanatically around the world. Their cuisine is loved and hugely popular in cities everywhere. In fact Tokyo has more 3 Michelin star restaurants than any other in the world. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/807/japanese-translation-stands-strong-in-language-battle http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/807/japanese-translation-stands-strong-in-language-battle 13 August 2010, 2:46 pm http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed English to Arabic translation is becoming an increasingly growing requirement for growth businesses in London. Over hundreds of years foreign culture has played a huge part is shaping London society and in these days of globalisation this has become truer than ever. Trade is the driver in the recent upsurge in language translation requirements. Each country works differently, for example in Germany manufacturing and exports are key industries, whereas here in the UK there is a service based economy. All modern economies though, depend greatly on exports as a means for revenue. And so it follows that increasingly, those small and medium-sized businesses that make up much of the London economy are realising that it makes business sense to reach out to the potential customer in their own language. “Reaching out to potential customers in their own language does not have to be difficult”, said Elliott King Director of web agency, MintTwist Ltd. “Engaging customers in their own language on your own website will often nudge a potential client in their initial decision to make contact. Correctly done, the prospect will understand that they will need to have the follow-up conversation in English, and in somewhere like the Middle East this is a non-issue as English is the business language right across the region. It’s about respect – by engaging the customer upfront in their own language, the chances of winning new business goes up significantly”. Today, London is one the major financial centres in the world. The location is ideal for International businesses. New York is an eight-hour flight and the US is five hours behind. Europe is a quick trip under the channel and the UAE is just a seven hour flight. Tokyo is about eight hours ahead of us with Hong Kong a little less. From a purely financial markets based perspective there is no denying that being in London gives a business a strategic advantage. Clients from the Middle East and elsewhere understand this and they want to buy in to the small and medium-sized services businesses that exist in London. Many of them, would just like to see those same London businesses make the first move by getting some of their website translated by a professional translation services company. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/796/the-business-power-of-a-website-translation http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/796/the-business-power-of-a-website-translation 9 August 2010, 4:34 pm http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed Chinese web surfers have been going Gaga about translating English language phrases. Now there is a new Chinese Lady Gaga that has emerged on YouTube.  He looks set to be a real star. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/787/oh-my-lady-gaga-the-chinese-lady-gaga-has-been-found http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/787/oh-my-lady-gaga-the-chinese-lady-gaga-has-been-found 4 August 2010, 10:34 am http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed Automatic translation has come a long way since the early days of the internet, when it seemed inevitible that we would all be using binary digits to translate between different languages. But, even the sophisticated language translation systems of today are still a far cry from a professional translation services. The automatic language translation of natural language is still limited because the power of the software and machinery are still holding things back. Or is it because the subtleties of language and translation were far more complex than most people gave credit for? Even today, the most automatic langauge translation system, including Googles own sophisticated pice of kit that is built in to the Chrome browser, cannot guarantee a perfect language translation of documents. Moreover, nobody would dream of trusting the intricacies of a novel or a poem to a machine. “The myth of fully automated translation is just that – a myth,” says Jules Simons, an independent translator for the UN, “Languages are just too complex for us to be able to make an automatic language translation system that deals with the whole process.” Not everyone agrees. “Automated translation works well enough if you simply want to get an understanding of a document,” says Eric Blassin, head of technical development for a US company that claims to be the world’s largest commercial translation services group. This is described as a “gisting” system. It will give you the gist of a document, although at the risk of significant errors or loss of sense. Automated translation can, however, save a translator time – he or she acts as a reviewer, correcting errors and mistranslations rather than working on the whole text from scratch. Today Translations’language translation professionals will work with clients to not only convey the meaning of the text, but also its rhythm, tone, melody, and allusions or metaphors.  Today Translations make use of systems that will speed up their work to enable them to provide a highly professional service at a very low price. Their talented staff of translators understand the importance of specific language traits present in todays business cultures. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/784/is-automatic-language-translation-possible http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/784/is-automatic-language-translation-possible 4 August 2010, 10:15 am http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed Ever since the 1970’s and the birth of the package holiday which guaranteed sun, sea and fun in abundance the British public has flocked to Spain and in particular the Costa del Sol. In certain parts of the coast it would not be uncommon to find cafes serving English breakfasts or fish and chips. Put it this way, it is unlikely you will need to translate English to Spanish because the local population is so well experienced in handling British tourists. Spanish translation to English happens most on the Costa del Sol because that is where the majority of British tourists go. On the other hand there are much quieter parts of the country which can offer so much more in the way of culture and natural beauty. When you compare towns such as Granada and Salamanca to say Valencia or Bilbao you can see two very different sides of Spain. In Salamanca and other towns there is plenty of stunning classical architecture which is reminiscent of times gone by when the world was a much simpler place and a time when you would worry about the health of your chickens rather than the health of your bank balance. In stark comparison to this you have a city like Valencia. Evidence of the 21st century is abundant in the architecture of buildings but also the city itself. The roads have been built in a very well thought out and deliberate way, with the focus being on functionality. However it would be wrong to label Valencia as completely modern 21st century city, indeed there is some amazing architecture from the past in the very heart of the city which reflects the cities naval history. This summer has in fact been somewhat different and in many ways challenging for Spain. A combination of the economic uncertainty and a poor euro exchange rate has left the Costa del Sol with acres of empty beaches and very little in the way of English to Spanish translation. According to The Office for National Statistics 15% more Brits holidayed in the UK compared to last year and the country which missed out most was Spain with the number of visitors down 19%. Exactly how much of an impact this made on Spanish to English translation is hard to gauge however with fewer tourists it is hard to imagine the industry being at its best. What many people are asking now is has the Spanish bubble burst? The answer is no. There will always be some years when due to whatever circumstance tourism will suffer, but because of its location and climate Spain will always attract tourists. Moreover it is a crucial part of the Spanish economy so as far as they are concerned it doesn’t really matter where tourists come from, so long as they come. The recent announcement that Michelle Obama will be travelling to Spain for a holiday will be eagerly anticipated by many in Spain and after the country were crowned as World Cup winners she should arrive in a country full of energy and optimism about their future. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/773/has-the-spanish-holiday-bubble-burst http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/773/has-the-spanish-holiday-bubble-burst 27 July 2010, 12:21 pm http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed English to Arabic translation has been increasing in demand quite steadily over the last fifteen years. It is no coincidence that in the last fifteen to twenty years countries such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Doha have experienced rapid growth in terms of infrastructure, investment and wealth. Gulf Emirate States such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Doha fuelled their growth by selling the world’s most lucrative and sought after commodity, oil. This enabled the region to improve and build up its infrastructure and it did so with huge ambition and vigour. The explanation is simple. Oil is a natural resource and sooner or later the oil wells will be drained dry. So thinking about this in the long term the leaders of Emirate States had make them much more than oil distributers. They turned their states into tourist destinations and financial centres. Being only a seven hour flight to London, places such as Dubai are easy to reach, get a lot of sunshine, not too far away from eastern financial centres such as Shanghai, Singapore and Hong King. Needless to say, where there is opportunity there is business. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) created the opportunity for investment and predictably businesses followed suit. One might argue that the opportunity came too fast and was premature. There were media reports in late 2009 that Dubai might need to be bailed out by the Americans or the IMF because it borrowed money and the ‘Credit Crunch’ was somewhat spoiling the business plan. And indeed there was borrowing but it was never realistically going to bring them down to their knees. Despite the ‘Credit ‘Crunch’ during 2008/2009 economies around the world are much more stable. However it is now European countries which are imposing austerity measures and doubt still remains over the British and American economy. Unfortunately the recovery still has a way to go. Forbes magazine is one the most respected business magazine’s in the world and it is published everywhere to an audience of 6 million readers and their website is viewed by more than an estimated 18 million people per month. If you combine that with the other Forbes media websites it is estimated that approximately 40 million businessmen and businesswomen will use their sites. In a move which reflects the growing financial prowess of the UAE Forbes announced the signing of an agreement to launch Forbes Middle East in partnership with Aran Publisher House. The launch is going to be held in Dubai and the first issued has been penned in for October 2010. Whilst English to Arabic translation has been growing service in many places around the world, one could easily argue that the trend will continue and will perhaps accelerate in the coming years. This is because as companies grow in places such as Dubai they will also want to expand to other countries which will create further demand to translate English to Arabic. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/765/forbes-middle-east-to-launch-in-october-2010 http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/765/forbes-middle-east-to-launch-in-october-2010 21 July 2010, 9:53 am http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed Certified translation There are many businesses and individuals who require translation services and specifically certified translation. For some businesses it may be more frequent and for individuals it might be common for the translation to be a one of. However these individual translations could be very important, say in translating your birth certificate so you can apply for citizenship or a passport. For businesses which deal with legal matters every document that enters a court room is going to be very important. For a business that is entering a foreign market the challenge of accurate translation also requires an in depth understanding of that country’s culture. Ultimately culture has a big impact language and therefore needs to be incorporated into the translation service. So to any company considering going into Europe, China, America, South America, wherever it may be, if you don’t use accurate translation which does require local knowledge you will pay the price. If a business is going into foreign markets that would typically be an encouraging sign. After all it is costly and can be risky so to be in that position means you are probably doing something or several things right. For well established companies with larger budgets at their disposal there can be no excuse for poor planning or execution. However one problem still remains, which is how will you know your translated document is in fact accurate and culturally sensitive? The very reason you had the document translated in the first place is because you can’t speak the language of the country the document has been translated into. How can you distinguish accurate translation from one company’s translation to another? Thankfully within the world of professional translation services it is possible to distinguish between the very best and most accurate translation from the most average of translation which is riddled with cultural errors. Certified Translator To find a company which can do the most professional translation work there are a couple of things you need to look for. The first is whether or not the translation company is a member of the Association of Translation companies, where each member is carefully vetted before admission to the association. The second aspect to look for is the range and type of services the company offer. For example if a company is only dealing with a couple of languages and only in a generic way, it might be best to steer clear. However if a company can do financial translation, medical translation, industrial translation and finally and most importantly an affidavit service, you’re on to a winner. Many people are in fact unaware of this service or don’t quite understand it completely. So to shed a little more light on the subject it can be described as legally verified translation. For example your translation company using a certified translator will translate the desired document and will then have it signed of in person by a solicitor or Commissioner for Oaths, verifying the accuracy of the certified translation. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/754/how-to-trust-a-translation-company http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/754/how-to-trust-a-translation-company 19 July 2010, 9:55 am http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed They made an infernal noise during the World Cup. They prevented commentators from hearing their own voice. People bought them in their thousands and annoyed their neighbours. But the vuvuzela has helped the translation company Today Translations make another big noise all around the world. Our news story, which reported on our global poll of language experts into ‘the word of the World Cup’, has been picked up by news and social media outfits throughout the footballing world and beyond. Yahoo! Spain, Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace (France), South Africa’s Times Live, the New Zealand Herald, The West Australian, Yahoo!7 Sport (also Australia), Venevision TV and Globovision TV (both Venezuela) and Zee News (India) were just some of the outlets that reported on the story. News groups from Mexico, Canada, Chile, the Middle East, Turkey, Argentina, Spain, Belgium and the Philippines also got in on the act, as well as numerous weblogs and micro-blogging site Twitter. For the survey, over 300 linguists in 60 countries voted vuvuzela the single word ‘that has made the biggest impact on the 2010 World Cup, and that it will be best remembered for’. The word beat ‘waka’ (from ‘Waka Waka/This time for Africa, the official World Cup song), ‘Jabulani’ (the official match ball), Zakumi (the World Cup mascot) and ‘bafana’ (as in bafana bafana, the South African team’s nickname) to the title. MD of Today Translation Jurga Zilinskiene said, “Long after individual matches and goals are forgotten, this will be remembered as the vuvuzela World Cup. Thanks to the World Cup, ‘vuvuzela’ has entered the shared language of the world and joined the ranks of words that need no translation.” Jurga believes it has made the biggest World Cup impact of any word since 2006′s WAGs (wives and girlfriends). “WAGs was probably the word of the last World Cup. But the big difference is that it was mainly a British term, whereas ‘vuvuzela’ is now a global one.” ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/745/poll-makes-a-big-noise--all-over-the-world http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/745/poll-makes-a-big-noise--all-over-the-world 15 July 2010, 1:02 pm http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed In a global poll of language experts across more than 60 countries the word “Vuvuzela” outperformed “Waka Waka”, “Jabulani”, “bafana” and “Zakumi”. It has without question made the biggest World Cup impact of any word since “WAG’s” in the 2006 World Cup. “Vuvuzela” has been voted the “word of the World Cup”, in a global poll of language experts and translation services in over 60 countries. The linguists voted it the single word “that has made the biggest impact on the 2010 World Cup, and that it will be best remembered for”. Vuvuzela, the long, coloured plastic horn or trumpet blown loudly by World Cup spectators, won a landslide victory in a survey of linguists conducted by Today Translations, a London-based translation company with a network of 2,600 linguists in over 60 countries. It far out-pointed “Waka” (as in “Waka Waka”/ “This Time for Africa”, the official World Cup song, sung by Shakira), which came in second place, itself well ahead of the three words in joint third place: • Jabulani (the official match ball of the World Cup) • Zakumi (the official World Cup mascot), and • bafana (as in “bafana bafana”/”the boys the boys”, the nickname of the South African national team) Over 320 linguists from over 60 countries voted in the poll. “Long after individual matches and goals are forgotten, this will be remembered as the “Vuvuzela World Cup”, predicts Jurga Zilinskiene, MD of the translation company Today Translations. “Thanks to the World Cup, vuvuzela has the entered the shared language of the world and joined the ranks of words that need no translation.” In fact, adds Zilinskiene, it has made the biggest World Cup impact of any word since  “WAGs” – the acronym for “Wives And Girlfriends”, particularly those of the England football players. “WAGs was probably the word of the last World Cup, in 2006”, says Zilinskiene. “But the big difference is that it was mainly a British term, whereas “Vuvuzela” is now a global one.” Origins of the term “vuvuzela” The origin of the word “vuvuzela” is disputed. “Some argue that it originates from the Zulu for ‘making a loud noise. Others maintain it relates to township slang for the word ‘shower’, because it ‘showers people with music.” Another theory for the latter derivation is that it resembles a shower-head. Wikipedia adds: “It was first used in South Africa from the Zulu language or Nguni dialect meaning to make a vuvu sound (directly translated: vuvu-ing)”. And the runners-up were… Second place in the poll went to “Waka”, as in “Waka Waka”, the title of the official 2010 World Cup song, sung by Shakira. The English title of the song is “This Time For Africa”, but, according to the most common view, the word “waka” is a Swahili or Kiswahili word variously translated as “shine”, “be lighted”, “blaze” or “burn brightly”. In joint third place was “Jabulani” , the name of the official but controversial World Cup ball. It means “rejoice” or “bring joy and happiness” in Zulu. Also joint third was “Zakumi”, the official World Cup mascot and a cheery leopard with green hair.  “His name”, says Wikipedia, “comes from “ZA”, the ISO code for South Africa and “kumi”, a word that means ten in several African languages.” The final word to share joint third place was “Bafana”, as in “Bafana Bafana”, the nickname of the South African national football team. “Bafana” literally means ‘the boys’ in Nguni languages such as IxiXhosa and IsiZulu. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/724/vuvuzela-named-word-of-the-world-cup http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/724/vuvuzela-named-word-of-the-world-cup 13 July 2010, 11:49 am http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed The English language is widely recognised as the most dominant language in business around the world. There is no disputing that other languages around the world are growing influences, most notably Chinese, Spanish and Arabic. However it is hard to imagine English ever being replaced as the most widely used commercial language. Due to the extensive use of English around the world it is also a key language for legal systems. So much so that in one part of Germany commercial law cases which are also referred to as business law, are to be conducted in English. In the German region of North Rhine Westphalia they have announced that they will use English in commercial court cases, which is aimed to attract more international business litigation to the country. When originally planned, oral submissions and written statements could be carried out in English and without the need for English translators. A draft bill, currently in discussion, proposes that written submissions and verdicts would also be dealt with in English, which broadens the scope of the proposal. However the major concern for these proposals is that the level of English amongst judges could vary and perhaps not be up to the required standards especially when dealing with very complex legal terminology. In addition there are words in German which might not be able to translate directly into German. As English continues to dominate the world of business law it will also be a crucial part of legal systems. However one could argue that as other languages grow in influence there could be a precedent for legal cases to be conducted other languages such as Chinese, Spanish and Arabic. It may be a bit early now but as the world continues to shrink it may be common practice for courts in the UK, America, Canada and Australia. If the migration of people continues to flow around the world, particularly in places like the American and Mexican border, the number of Spanish speakers will continue to increase. Spanish is the second language in America with over 34 million speakers, according to the 2007 American Community Survey conducted by the United States Census Bureau. If in America there were Spanish speaking commercial and civil courts it could make life much better for millions of people, businesses and may even reduce the growing demand for English to Spanish translation. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/707/commercial-court-cases-in-english-on-trial-in-germany http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/707/commercial-court-cases-in-english-on-trial-in-germany 22 June 2010, 10:12 am http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed Now our boys will know what’s afoot… If Tim Howard calls for the ball “in the wheelhouse” not the “wastebasket” Or Clint Dempsey wants one “on the diagonal service” Or the U.S. bench yells for more “match-ups” and “bulldogging” Or Landon Donovan “uploads” it “on the doorstep” towards “the upper-90” Or Jonathan Spector gives Rooney a “knock like bear’s kiss” after a “chicken-wing battle” on the “end-line” A London translation firm has given England’s World Cup hopes a vital boost by cracking the code of soccer jargon used by England’s U.S. opponents in their opening World Cup match on Saturday, June 11. The translation of U.S. soccer-speak by City-based Today Translations means that Fabio Capello’s boys will now know what’s afoot if U.S. stars like Clint Dempsey call for the ball “on the diagonal service” (a cross-field pass) or goalie Tim Howard wants it “in the wheelhouse” (within easy reach of the goalkeeper) not in “the wastebasket” (out of play). The England players will now also know what’s in store if the U.S. bench yells for “match-ups” (man-to-man marking) “on the doorstep” (in front of goal), or “bulldogging” (battling to win the ball back) not “stutter-steps” (step-overs) on the “midfield stripe” (half-way line). The list of terms translated by Today Translations includes those used by U.S.  soccer players – like “head-shot” (header), “cleats” (studs), “roster” (squad) – and others more associated with U.S. soccer commentators: America’s answer to John Motson and Andy Gray. Yes, David Beckham might already know some of these terms from his time playing in the States for LA Galaxy, says Jurga Zilinskiene, CEO of Today Translations. “But we wanted to compile a proper list in one place for the England players to study.” “We are not comparing this to the cracking of Germany’s Enigma code in World War II”, says Zilinskiene. “Of course not. But it will help England players know what the U.S. ones are calling to each other, which could make all the difference.” Some Premiership Players On The U.S. World Cup Roster: Clint Dempsey – Fulham Landon Donovan – Everton (and LA Galaxy) Tim Howard –  Everton Jonathan Spector  – West Ham United ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/655/translation-firm-cracks-the-code-of-us-world-cup-lingo http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/655/translation-firm-cracks-the-code-of-us-world-cup-lingo 7 June 2010, 2:25 pm http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed Early this morning we posted a blog on translation gone wrong which has been quite well received. We thought it would be a good idea to share some more of our favourite examples of when English translation goes wrong. If anyone out there has their own example please feel free to share we would love to hear about them. So in no partiuclar order, here are some more of our favourites:- This is just a small sample of translation gone wrong, mostly in China and Japan. The reason for this is not so much to do with the language but more the way we use our mouths when speaking. Believe it nor not different languages require different sounds which requires using your mouth in a different way. Here is a good example. The English language requires a lot of different sounds. English speakers have to use their tongue  and lips a lot. We typically push our tongues forward to our teeth to make more complex sounds, such as the letter “t”, or how about the letter “r”. Go and ask a French person to say the letter “r” and you will hear something completely different. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/639/translation-gone-wrong--part-2 http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/639/translation-gone-wrong--part-2 2 June 2010, 4:20 pm http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed English translation is not a straightforward exercise. In fact translating anything into another language is complicated. Different languages follow different rules and they are not always compatible. It is when an English translator or interpreter reaches obstacles like this that their true value signs through. Another potentially big part of why language translation goes wrong is human error. The slightest mistake in one language may translate into a word, sentence, phrase or paragraph meaning something completely different. Human error could also be argued as the reason behind why people use on-line translation engines. There is no doubting that translation engines have improved in recent years, but nowhere need to the extent for it to replace a professional translation agency. A translation agency will take into account not just the language but the culture of the country the language originates from. This has a big impact on the meaning of what is being translated and adds further context. On the other hand a translation machine will not have that kind of local knowledge and understanding. In addition a translation machine is a rigid devise which restricts creative freedom and wider interpretation, something a machine does not do all that well. There are literally hundreds and thousands of examples and they can be found all over the world but lets start at home, the UK. This bilingual road sign left many cyclists confused, telling them that they have problems with an inflamed bladder. The most popular theory behind this mistake is that an on-line translation engine led to confusion between cyclists and cystitis. Thankfully Glamorgan Council were informed and replacements for the sign were made, however what this highlights is how a small mistake can easily be amplified with bad language translation. Another classic error made with a bilingual English to Welsh road sign is pictured to the left. When officials asked for the Welsh translation of a road sign, they thought the e-mail reply was what was required. Unfortunately, the e-mail response to Swansea council said in Welsh: “I am not in the office at the moment. Send any work to be translated”. More Examples In 2006, a sign for pedestrians in Cardiff reading ‘Look Right’ in English read ‘Look Left’ in Welsh. In the same year, a shared-faith school in Wrexham removed a sign which translated the Welsh for staff as “wooden stave”. Football fans at a FA Cup tie between Oldham and Chasetown – two English teams – in 2005 were left scratching their heads after a Welsh-language hoarding was put up along the pitch. It should have gone to a match in Merthyr Tydfil. People living near an Aberdeenshire building site in 2006 were mystified when a sign apologising for the inconvenience was written in Welsh as well as English. Finally we wanted to just share these two images which are just fantastic because not only do they highlight just how important clear and concise translation is, and in addition how culture is a key part of language. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/631/translation-gone-wrong http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/631/translation-gone-wrong 2 June 2010, 7:00 am http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed Foreign language students or any student for that matter is stereotyped as a lazy, irresponsible, alcoholic burden to taxpayers and emergency services in general. Some people might view them as being only interested in partying and chasing the opposite sex, whilst completely ignoring their studies. However, as with most stereotypes, the whole story isn’t being told. The vast majority of students do drink today, and they drink more than previous generations but they live in a society where alcohol is easily accessible and cheap. It is produced and sold by companies which make millions and millions of pounds and then spend millions and millions on influencing the buying habits of students. As a result, yes students drink but caring and working towards your studies is not mutually exclusive. Students can actually have a big impact on society and an economy. Evidence of this has emerged in Ireland as the number of foreign language students has declined which has had a tangible effect, such as the suffering of the lucrative English language teaching business. Foreign student numbers have dropped almost 20% from 116,031 to 93,850 between 2009 and 2009. The figures are down from a peak of 130,000 in 2006 and 2007. This has equated to a loss in revenue and the value of the market dipping from €271 million to €254 million between 2008 and 2009. The biggest loss last year was students from Italy, Spain and France which have traditionally been the major sources of business and English translation services. On the whole, Europeans accounted for 99,800 of all foreign language students in 2008, but this figure dropped 23% to 76,900 last year. Each foreign-language student is estimated to be worth €412.85 a week to the economy, when all spending is taken into account. Italians account for the largest single group, sending 26,126 students to Ireland last year, although that was down from 31,120 in 2008. They were followed by the Spanish, at 20,073 students, down from 25,847 in 2008, while the French are in third place, with 10,440 down from 14,629. Although there has been a decline in students from European countries, there has been steady growth in numbers coming in, particularly from Asia and South America, which if continued could open up new opportunities for language services and education in Ireland. However, numbers from outside Europe remain small, and these regions are the focus of Government efforts to attract more students for learning English and other studies. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/625/foreign-languages-students-dent-irish-economy http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/625/foreign-languages-students-dent-irish-economy 28 May 2010, 11:43 am http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed Asian languages in Australia can be found in all major cities. If you go to Sydney or Melbourne it is clear that Asian people are very well integrated into Australian society. Like many other major cities around the world you will find a bustling Chinatown, showcasing some amazing food and products. Because Australia is situated closest to South East Asia, specifically countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, China and Japan, they are the countries which conduct the majority of trade on Australia. Australia has been trading with these countries for a considerable period of time which has resulted in the natural migration of thousands of Asian people to Australia. They are a key piece in the jigsaw of the country, representing the countries which matter most to Australia, their big trading partners. Because of this migration of people over decades one might expect the number of Asian language speakers and perhaps language translation to increase, however the first major study of Asian languages in Australian schools in over a decade shows declining participation rates despite the Rudd Government’s $62 million four-year program to reverse the trend. The study by the Asia Education Foundation at Melbourne University confirms a continuing and dramatic fall in the number of students studying Indonesian, Japanese, Korean or Chinese. Indonesian is faring the worst and could disappear at year 12 level by 2020, the study warns. Japanese is also waning seriously, while growth in Korean and Chinese is coming from native or heritage speakers. Overall, huge numbers of students drop Asian languages altogether before year 12. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd again this week promised to make every effort to boost Asian literacy, which several specialists say has virtually collapsed. What hasn’t been addressed is why this is happening. How can there be such a decline in speakers of Asian languages when they play a key part in the economy? It is a difficult question to answer and there is no right or wrong. There are various factors which we can speculate about, for example, perhaps children of Asian families who are raised in Australia don’t see the need to speak their parent’s language because they consider themselves more Australian than Asian. Another possibility could be that because there are so many Asian people learning the English language, which is the international language of business that there is no requirement for English translation services. Explaining why this is occurring in Australia is hard to answer with any certainty. What is clear is that if things continue in this direction, the ability for effective Asian language translation in Australia may suffer. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/617/asian-languages-are-declining-down-under http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/617/asian-languages-are-declining-down-under 27 May 2010, 11:28 am http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed Machine translation has come a long way since the heady, early days of the digital computer, when it seemed only a matter of time before nation would speak unto nation through the intermediary of binary digits, but is still a far cry from a professional translation services. That this is taking longer to come about than originally hoped is a consequence of the complexity of natural language and the limited power of the machinery. Even today, the most powerful supercomputers cannot guarantee a perfect language translation of technical documents – and nobody is foolhardy enough to trust the intricacies of a novel or a poem to a machine. “The myth of fully automated translation is just that – a myth,” says Mark Lancaster, chief executive of an UK translation company, “Languages are just too complex for us to be able to automate the whole process.” “Automated translation works well enough if you simply want to get an understanding of a document,” says Eric Blassin, head of technical development for a US company that claims to be the world’s largest commercial translation services group. This is described as a “gisting” system. It will give you the gist of a document, although at the risk of significant errors or loss of sense. Automated translation can, however, save a translator time – he or she acts as a reviewer, correcting errors and mistranslations rather than working on the whole text from scratch. There is a wide range of systems of varying degrees of power and flexibility available today to tackle technical translation. Today Translations’language translation professionals will work with clients to not only convey the meaning of the text, but also its rhythm, tone, melody, and allusions or metaphors.  Our talented staff of translators understand the importance of specific language traits present in todays cultures, in turn providing accurate and tailored delivery into your required languages. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/13/man-vs-machinethe-fight-for-the-perfect-language-translation http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/13/man-vs-machinethe-fight-for-the-perfect-language-translation 26 May 2010, 4:59 pm http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed India is a country which a lot people around the world are paying close attention to. Many will think it is their consistently growing economy, which is true, but an economy is an incredibly complex thing which is more than numbers, it is people. Voice artistes are in high demand as Hollywood films become more popular with Indian audiences, driven in part by the growth in multiplex cinemas in big cities and tie-ups between US and Indian studios. From a purely translation based view, it is interesting to think that because a voice artist requires a solid grasp of English, they also have the skills to translate from English to Indian dialects. If there are any voice artists out there who might not be making it, perhaps they should consider becoming a professional translator? Bollywood vs Hollywood Evidence of India’s appetite for US blockbusters is everywhere. The dubbing studios in the northern suburbs of India’s entertainment capital, Mumbai are thriving. With about three billion cinema tickets sold in India every year, compared with 1.5 billion in the United States, dubbing both foreign and domestic films in India is potentially lucrative. A total of 242 Hindi-language or Bollywood films were released last year with even more made in south India in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada. The Indian industry as a whole had revenues of 89.3 billion rupees (2.0 billion dollars) in 2009, according to a recent report on the film industry by auditors KPMG. In comparison, only 60 foreign films were released in India in the same period, making nearly 3.8 billion rupees. English – the language of India’s former colonial masters, the British, which is still the lingua franca of politics, administration and the judiciary – is effectively a minority language among India’s masses. Although there are estimates that about a third or 350 million Indians can hold a conversation in English – the highest in the world – only about five percent or 55 million people speak the language fluently. Dubbing, rather than subtitles, is the preferred option in India, as literacy – currently at about 61 percent of people aged 15 and over – cannot be taken for granted. Producing a dubbed movie can take as little as one month – a tight turnaround compared with the years it often takes to make the original film. Costs are estimated to be anything from 500,000 rupees to 1.5 million rupees. This however depends on the marketing, number of characters, the language and whether songs also have to be translated. Foreign films are tailored to suit more conservative Indian sensibilities, particularly in terms of sex and religion, while sometimes the language itself throws up problems. Meet the voice One voice artist, named Mona Shetty described the translation of director James Cameron’s “Avatar” as a “nightmare” as the characters speak Na’vi, which was created by a US linguist and inspired by the language of indigenous New Zealanders. With plenty of hard work the Indian version worked, and Avatar become one of the most popular movies last year. “It’s very satisfying to see a film like ‘Godzilla’, ‘Anaconda’, ‘Spiderman’ or ‘James Bond’ doing excellent business in Hindi also. That means people are hungry for good stars and good techniques,” she said. Shetty has made a living from the business, lending her voice to some of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, including Angelina Jolie in “Tomb Raider” and Drew Barrymore in “Charlie’s Angels” – but without the intense media scrutiny. “You just learn to listen to a voice and train yourself to replicate it in your own language. You have to match their pitch, their tone and voice quality as far as possible without sounding unnatural,” the 36-year-old said. Some voice artistes, who can earn anything from 20,000-50,000 rupees a role, see it as a stepping stone to a more high-profile on-screen career. “Many people come to Mumbai as aspiring actors. This is what feeds them until they make it,” said Shetty. “Some people do it as a part-time job. But they soon realise it’s a full-time job.” ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/606/voice-artists-in-demand-as-hollywood-takes-hold-in-india http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/606/voice-artists-in-demand-as-hollywood-takes-hold-in-india 25 May 2010, 4:49 pm http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed The Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing (BQFP) in association with Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar has finished a two-day conference titled – Continuing the Conversation: Bridging Civilizations through Translation focused on literary translation. Taking place for the first time in the Gulf region, the conference was designed to create a Gulf-based platform to discuss issues related to translation at both the theoretical and practical levels. Panels of top literary translators have been discussing philosophies and strategies of translation in general. The conference sessions which were moderated by the award-winning international bestselling author Ahdaf Soueif. “Translation is how you make friends across languages and find the common ground between cultures. It’s perhaps the activity we most need in the world today. Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing is superbly placed to give literary translation between Arabic and English a new and significant push forward. I’m delighted to be part of that effort.” Said Soueif. In addition to attending the plenary discussions, groups of translators have been meeting in workshops with leading practitioners and educators to focus on various aspects of the craft in relation to Arabic to English and English to Arabic translation led by Mona Baker, Professor of Translation Studies at the University of Manchester, UK; Samia Mehrez, Director of Center for Translation Studies at American University in Cairo, and Sameh F. Hanna, lecturer in Translation Studies and Arabic at the University of Salford. Dr. Amal Mohammed Al Malki, Assistant Teaching Professor of English at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar who helped develop the conference program says “Out of the University’s conviction in fostering well-rounded students who are comfortable with English as well as Arabic, I have been teaching a translation course called “Bridging Civilizations” to our students,” said Al Malki. “Teaching translation as both theory and practice is crucial to our students as translation is a part of their make-up as bilinguals. Translation is prominent in connecting voices and experiences and transferring them across different linguistic communities. Lack of a common language can certainly hinder the possibility of connecting with others. Therefore, we are very excited and happy to work with Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing on this first of a kind conference in Education City, and hope to make it an annual event.” Wednesday, May 19 was devoted to various themed discussions beginning with Amanda Hopkinson, Professor of Literary Translation at the University of East Anglia and writer, editor and translator Daniel Hahn giving thoughts on ” What Makes a Literary Translator and What Does a Literary Translator Do?” The afternoon plenary session staged “The Politics of Translation: Culture, Gender and Art” by Maureen Freely, frequent translator of Orhan Pamuk and Marilyn Booth, Chair of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Edinburgh. This conference was initiated by BQFP and part of its efforts to improve standards and the way we translate English to Arabic as well as editing of texts both into and out of Arabic and make it more accessible. Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar, PhD, Reading and Writing Development Director said “BQFP is keen to draw on its network, expertise and experience to hold activities such as Qatar’s first literary translation conference in conjunction with other vital locally based partners such as Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. By helping develop and nourish literary translation in the region, BQFP seeks to improve the standards of Arabic translation and ultimately give readers a more enjoyable reading experience.” Pre-registered attendees include 75 participants from the greater Doha community, as well as 20 invited international delegates from Egypt, Lebanon, the UK, the U.S. and Nigeria. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/592/first-translation-and-literary-conference-in-the-gulf-region http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/592/first-translation-and-literary-conference-in-the-gulf-region 25 May 2010, 11:47 am http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed Mexican President, Felipe Calderon is the latest world leader to suffer at the hands of poor English translation services. His arrival and speech at ceremony at the White House was difficult to understand and grammatically incorrect at times and the Mexican delegation blamed its own translator. In Spanish, Calderon’s comments were straightforward and clear as he stood by President Barack Obama on the South Lawn and spoke to the common values and principles that unite the U.S. and Mexico. But the English translation that American viewers heard was so bad that the official White House transcript ignored it. Instead the White House used a translation provided by the Mexican Embassy and it was markedly different from the words actually spoken by the translator as Calderon talked. For example, here’s how Calderon’s comments on the tough new immigration law in Arizona were rendered by his translator during the opening ceremony: “We can do so with a community that will promote a dignified life and an orderly way for both our countries, who are, some of them, still living here in the shadows with such laws as the Arizona law that is placing our people to face discrimination.” And here’s how those same comments appeared in the official transcript issued later Wednesday: “I know that we share the interest in promoting dignified, legal and orderly living conditions to all migrant workers. Many of them, despite their significant contribution to the economy and to the society of the United States, still live in the shadows and, occasionally, as in Arizona, they even face discrimination.” The spotty translation was a surprising lapse for a state visit with all the trappings meant to showcase close cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico and allow both presidents to demonstrate their commitment to addressing immigration reform, drug trafficking and other issues. An official with the Mexican delegation said the translator came with the Mexican delegation but apparently was not someone who regularly translates for Calderon. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue and because details of the situation remained unclear. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/586/calderon-visit-let-down-by-poor-translation http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/586/calderon-visit-let-down-by-poor-translation 21 May 2010, 4:58 pm http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed English to Arabic translation is a growing service not just in London but in many other major financial cities around the world. London is home to millions of people from around the world. Every continent, nearly every country and a lot of languages can all be found in the capital. Over hundreds of years foreign culture has played a huge part is shaping our society. Trade is ultimately the power behind economies. Each country will trade differently, for example in Germany manufacturing and exports are key industries, whereas here in the UK we have a service based economy. The industrial revolution that started in the UK and spread around the world was an incredible achievement but one that would bring the manufacturing age to an end in the UK. In other words, an Arabic to English translator will do far better than a coal miner these days. The growth of the middle class and improved education combined with a scientific age of discovery made the UK very progressive and forward thinking. As quickly as the industrial revolution came, it left and other countries found their way. For example, during World War 2 America and Russia were industrial and manufacturing goliaths which the Axis powers could never compete with, and played a big part in the Allies victory. Today, London is one the major financial centres in the world. The location is ideal for International businesses. New York is an eight hour flight and the US is five hours behind. Europe is a quick trip under the channel and the UAE is just a seven hour flight. Tokyo is about eight hours ahead of us with Hong Kong a little less. From a purely financial markets based perspective there is no denying that being London gives a business a strategic advantage, being able to analyse stock markets both ahead and behind in time. Languages like Mandarin and Arabic are set to be in demand among employers. Portuguese is another growing language in business because of the opportunities in Brazil, which is far beyond an emerging country, it has emerged and it is vibrant, dynamic and exciting, with huge natural resources. Those organisations with US headquarters said Spanish and French were the most useful. In the import and export arena, Chinese languages were important while Urdu, Filipino and Russian were seen as useful in shipping. Norwegian and Arabic were viewed as valuable in the oil and gas sector. Science and education are also essential pieces to the economic jigsaw puzzle. Make no mistake; science is not just about making discoveries. Discoveries are essentially pieces new information, which is then turned into knowledge and “knowledge is power” as the expression goes. Here is a good example of turning knowledge to power, quite literally. When Albert Einstein came up with the theory of Special Relativity (E=mc2) at first, even he did not grasp the full potential of what he discovered. This new found knowledge and understanding of energy and radiation was the backbone of nuclear research in the 20th century which led to a nuclear arms race and the Cold War. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/575/arabic-translation-and-language-booming-in-london http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/575/arabic-translation-and-language-booming-in-london 19 May 2010, 12:02 pm http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed Competition between various publishing houses was rife to obtain the language translation rights to publish the English to Arabic translation of Chirac’s memoirs. For Kalima to obtain the rights to publish this book in Arabic is yet another indication of the prestigious position which the project has managed to obtain in the publishing world. The translation services of such an important book to be a contribution towards a better understanding between the Arab World and the West, and another bridge between the cultures. The book attracted worldwide attention. Serialized highlights of many of its chapters appeared on Le Parisian, Le Figaro, and the weekly Le Point. Chirac’s memoirs come at the right time. His popularity in France is still high, even though it has been more than two years since he left the French Presidency. His memoirs have sold out with sales exceeding 200,000 copies. The first volume of his memoirs covers the first sixty-three years of his life, from being born in 1932 up to the moment he became President in 1995. He scans over the important landmarks of his early political life, especially the time when he twice became the Prime Minister under Presidents Giscard d’Estaing and Mitterrand. At Today Translations, our linguists know there’s more to professional translation services than mere words. We are a specialist translation company, capable of providing anything from English to Arabic translation, to Russian to English, translation to English to French, and much much more. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/573/jacque-chirac-to-translate-his-memoirs-into-arabic http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/573/jacque-chirac-to-translate-his-memoirs-into-arabic 19 May 2010, 9:24 am http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed Historically the UK has been a liberal and progressive country which respects and welcomes cultures from around the world. It is one of the features of this country which makes it so great. The UK has, for longer than many people realise, been a haven for immigration which played a crucial role in the building of this country. Being an island with only a tiny stretch of water between us and the continent of mainland Europe makes the UK an attractive destination for many Europeans and other cultures which connect to Europe. Furthermore, for hundreds of years London has been an economic juggernaut. It is a place where people’s fortunes can be made or asylum can be found. Under the British Empire people from all over the world arrived here to better their lives and achieve their dreams, some just to escape persecution or to feed their family back home, and this still happens today. The UK is arguably the world’s most culturally diverse country and it is not because of the EU and its latest member countries as some might try to argue. It is because of hundreds and hundreds of years of history and the natural migration of people over time. To get an idea of the impact immigration has had on the UK examining the Milton Keynes Community Language Service centre is a good example. Since the year 2000 the number of translators has increased from 20 to 300. The centre, part of Milton Keynes Council, now offers services in 84 languages rather than the original 12. Twi, the second largest language in Ghana, Teluga, spoken in India, and Yoruva, used in Nigeria, are included on the centre’s list. English to Arabic translation has consistently been in demand around the UK as well as eastern European languages. More exotic languages are now being spoken which makes the translation industry very exciting in the UK. The centre provides a free 24-hour service to immigrants helping them understand housing, health, police and legal matters in Milton Keynes, Luton, Bedford and Northampton. The staff is currently in the process of recruiting a further 20 interpreters and plan to add Pashto, and the Afghan language, by the end of the year. Gloria Drew, co-ordinator for the centre, said the services were in ”great demand” and the nature of users had changed significantly over the years. She said: ”We have definitely seen a large increase in demand for our services and for different languages. When we first started we were helping those who were highly educated with professional jobs such as doctors.” ”Now their relatives have arrived and they are not as highly educated and need our help more. Milton Keynes is a very multi-cultural and welcoming city with people from all over the world who speak many different languages living here.” ”Our services are in great demand and we are often needed to help at health centres, various areas within the council, hospitals and law courts.” ”The interpreters all have a six day training assessment which is very intense because they have to learn all the terminology for social services, health and housing.” ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/556/translation-is-big-business-for-localcouncil http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/556/translation-is-big-business-for-localcouncil 14 May 2010, 5:38 pm http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed Today is a momentous day for language, especially the Scottish Gaelic language and therefore the Scottish people. In the last census of Scotland, which took place in 2001 there were a total of 58,652 Gaelic speakers. The overall pattern for the language has been one of steady decline. However despite the shortage of Gaelic speakers, there is room for optimism. Scotland Act With the advent of devolution, Scottish matters have begun to receive greater attention, and the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act was enacted by the Scottish Parliament on 21 April 2005. In October 2009, a new agreement was made which allows Scottish Gaelic to be used formally between Scottish Government ministers and European Union officials. The deal was signed by the UK’s representative to the EU and the Scottish government. This does not give Scottish Gaelic official status in the EU, but gives it the right to be a means of formal communications in the EU’s institutions. The Scottish government will have to pay for English translation services from Gaelic to other European languages. The key point to make is that Scottish Gaelic has been allowed to be used. How much it will be used for both formal and casual communication is yet to really be seen, but don’t expect English to disappear anytime soon. Historic day Scottish education secretary Michael Russell has claimed a place in history as the first person to address an EU meeting in Scots Gaelic. Mr Russell delivered his speech at a meeting of ministers from all member states discussing education, youth and culture, yesterday. Interpreters were provided for his colleagues as he spoke about youth policies in Gaelic before reverting to English. Mr Russell said it was a great honour to be the first minister to deliver a speech in Gaelic. He said: “The Scottish Government is committed to a sustainable future for the Gaelic language. I can think of no better way to promote the language within Europe than at a Council meeting which, by definition, encourages and promotes multilingualism.” A Memorandum of Understanding signed last year established the technical arrangements to allow Scottish Gaelic to be used within EU institutions. However, interpretation will only be provided from Scots Gaelic into English, and not from English into Scots Gaelic – and the cost of providing interpretation and translation must be accounted by the devolved Scottish administration. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/527/minister-makes-history-with-eu-speech-ingaelic http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/527/minister-makes-history-with-eu-speech-ingaelic 12 May 2010, 3:42 pm http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed A few days ago Today Translations posted an advert on Craigslist seeking fluent ‘Brooklynese’ speakers. The ad highlighted the need for tourists who need someone who could understand and translate the very heaviest Brooklyn accent and all the slang. If you don’t know New York very well and want to get a real feel for the city and a fantastic part of its culture, what better way than to have someone with you that can make your trip truly memorable and probably quite educational, even if it is in an a less than conventional way. New York is a popular holiday and business destination for millions around the world. In addition American TV and Hollywood is hugely popular all over the world and as a result a Brooklyn accent is just as internationally recognised as any other. And if Brooklyners think they have it bad, they should spare a thought for Londoners. Londoners have had to put up with American’s thinking they all sound like a cockney Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins, which in 2003 was voted by Empire magazine as one of the worst film accents in cinematic history. The Craigslist advert by Today Translations lead to dozens of websites, particularly based in New York, running stories about a London based company looking to hire a Brooklynese translator. So to set the record straight we thought it would be a good idea to spread the message and answer any questions by talking to Nick Cannon, live on his radio show. Before the interview started Nick Cannon made a very valid point, which is that Brooklynites don’t have an accent, which might sound silly but it isn’t. Would a Londoner say that they have an accent? Probably not, but ask a Londoner if a New Yorker has an accent and they will probably say yes. Ask a New Yorker if a Londoner has an accent and they will probably say yes. To listen to the conversation between Nick Cannon and the CEO of Today Translations click on the link! www.nickcannon.com If you are from Brooklyn and this sounds like your ‘cup cawfee’ and you’re happy to take home $210 for a day’s work, then do feel free to get in touch with us at hr@todaytranslations.com or visit our website for more contact information – www.todaytranslations.com ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/497/today-translations-live-on-air-with-nickcannon http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/497/today-translations-live-on-air-with-nickcannon 5 May 2010, 4:28 pm http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed Ask a life-long Brooklynite if he has an accent and you’re likely to get this rapid-fire response: fuhgeddaboudit! Ask a typical European what that means, and you’re likely to get a befuddled look and silence. That’s why a London-based translation agency is looking for people to help translate Brooklynese. Today Translations has posted an ad on craigslist seeking speakers of “‘Brooklyn English,’ with good knowledge of accent, slang, nuances” to help foreigners who “find it an unexpected challenge.” The freelance gig pays up to $210 a day. It’s open to anyone who can decipher such Brooklynisms as “not for nothin,’” “cawfee” and “whatayagonna do?” “We’re looking for someone who loves the dialect and is able to understand someone who has the heaviest Brooklyn accent,” said Mick Thorburn, spokesman for Today Translations. Along a stretch of Carroll Gardens dotted with Italian businesses, the job offer drew a smorgasbord of reactions. Vinny Mastellone, owner of Mastellone’s Italian Market on Court St., said he never has a problem tawkin’ to the tourists who stream into his shop. “I have fun with them,” Mastellone, 49, said. The job posting drew laughter from Joanny D’Amico, who runs D’Amico’s coffee shop near Degraw St. She admitted that the dialect spoken in the neighborhood can sound like a foreign language to outsiders. “We don’t speak in full sentences,” D’Amico said. “We kind of mush it all together.” Danny Calcaterra, a retired longshoreman from Bay Ridge, said the problem cuts both ways. “I have a tenant from England and I can’t understand a f—–g word he says,” Calcaterra said, noting that whenever he leaves Brooklyn, nobody seems to understand him. “I was in Britain, I had trouble. I was in St. Martin, I had trouble. Same thing in Vegas,” added Calcaterra. “I almost got locked up in Canada. You say one thing. They don’t understand you. They lock you up.” Brooklynese is not entirely unique, experts say. The tendency among Brooklyn stalwarts to drop an “r” at the end of a word as in “deah,” for instance, is shared by the British. “There’s no linguistic reason why a New York City accent should be more difficult to understand for a person overseas,” said Kara Becker, a doctoral candidate at New York University who has studied city accents. Augie Giglio, a retired electrician who moved to Brooklyn from Italy when he was a kid, said he could relate to foreigners who need help with the accent. “Sometimes, you get high-class Italians, their dialect is so far beyond me,” Giglio, 60, said, pausing. “Fuhgeddaboudit!” ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/488/today-translations-give-tourists-a-hand-in-understanding-confusingbrooklynese http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/488/today-translations-give-tourists-a-hand-in-understanding-confusingbrooklynese 30 April 2010, 1:13 pm http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed After years of post-war Anglicisation and Americanisation, seven out of 10 Germans speak some English. But experts say there is a growing backlash against the widespread use of foreign terms in the age of globalisation, technology and immigration. Business leaders are growing tired of English “management speak”. A fortnight ago, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative party voted to enshrine the German language in the nation’s constitution. And German companies are starting to shy away from relying on English in their marketing slogans, after years of using the foreign language so often that sometimes their own customers didn’t know what they were talking about. ”Many people have decided that enough is enough,” said Roland Kaehlbrandt, author of a book called German for Elites. ”They are not taking companies that only use English seriously any more. We are very open-minded and positive about everything that comes from outside, but there is a fear now that we may forget our own language and our own culture.” After the war and during the Cold War in West Germany, English — particularly through the influence of the US — was simply cooler than German, he said. English to German translation services have traditionally had very good relations with German businesses because of the popularity of English, and long may it continue. In addition, historically the German and British economies have conducted huge amounts of trade over hundreds of years. At least 60 per cent of new words being used in Germany today are English. ”That’s too much,” Mr Kaehlbrandt said. “It’s not because of functionality. German is a very functional language. But there’s a side to Germany that — unconsciously, I think — is trying to get rid of our heritage to get rid of our past, which is conceived as being linked to the crimes of the Nazis. But we have changed profoundly since then. And German language is much older than the Nazis.” Walter Kraemer, from the German Language Association, which claims 32,000 members and campaigns to protect German, said the country’s science and industry were being damaged as Germans fell back on English jargon and technical terms, even when talking to other Germans. ”There is no way around English,” said Mr Kraemer, an economist and statistician. ”It’s the international language. But before you communicate, you have to be innovative, imaginative, creative, and you can’t do that properly in a language that’s not your own. People think better in their own language. German science is suffering because of this.” He said that when DaimlerChrysler was manufacturing cars in Stuttgart using English in the factories, it had the highest product recall rate in the country, whereas Porsche, which uses only German language, has negligible recalls. Annette Trabold, a linguist at the Institute for German Language in Mannheim, which studies dialects and trends in German, said that all languages were fluid and therefore it was no surprise that Germany had absorbed so much English. ”In 2006, when Germany hosted the football World Cup, that was the first time it was really okay again to fly the German flag, to paint it on your face. It was such a change.” ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/478/some-germans-fear-language-is-being-ruined-byenglish http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/478/some-germans-fear-language-is-being-ruined-byenglish 29 April 2010, 4:16 pm http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed We understand that The Vatican has given its approval to a new English-language translation of the Roman Missal, which will probably be introduced for parish use sometime next year. “I welcome the news that the English translation of the Roman Missal will soon be ready for publication,” Pope Benedict XVI said at an April 28 luncheon with members of the Vox Clara committee, the international committee of bishops set up by the Vatican to supervise the English translation services for the project. The new translation concludes an often contentious 8-year process, in which the Vox Clara committee guided the development of a translation that would be more faithful to the authoritative Latin original of the Roman Missal. The new texts follow the guidelines set forth by the Vatican in the 2001 document Liturgiam Authenticam, which led to a series of changes in English-language translations. Pope Benedict noted that the process of preparing a new translation had been “a truly collegial enterprise,” involving bishops from all of the world’s English-speaking countries, with every continent included in the process. Having obtained official approval with a recognitio from the Congregation for Divine Worship, the new translation will be introduced in each English-speaking country after a period of preparation in which the bishops’ conferences of these countries will explain the changes in their services. “The change will need to be introduced with due sensitivity,” Pope Benedict said, since the faithful have grown accustomed to the language of the Mass that they have now heard for up to 40 years. Cardinal George Pell of Melbourne, Australia, the chairman of the Vox Clara committee, said that the introduction of the new texts for regular parish use would probably take place in 2011, likely around the Advent season. Each Episcopal conference will be responsible for determining the date of implementation in each individual country. ... http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/471/vatican-approves-new-english-translation-of-mass-texts http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/471/vatican-approves-new-english-translation-of-mass-texts 29 April 2010, 1:48 pm http://www.todaytranslations.com/blog/feed