Social Networking & Language Translation

Facebook and Google are both offering language translation on their social networking sites.  Facebook relies on real people to suggest translations and then allows a number of people to weigh in and vote on the phrase or suggest a better translation.

Google is attacking the problem in a very different way.  Google is using computers and mathematical equations to translate the Web’s content.   Computers learn how to translate by examining text that is already on the web.

Any translation based on technology still does not equal the quality of a human translation.  If it is important, make sure you have the right person on the job.

International Women’s Day – March 8th

Monday, March 8th is International Women’s Day.

This is a day when people around the world take time to reflect, recognize and celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.

 The Women’s Network of Opportunity International invites you to observe this important day in one of these ways:

• Visit the Global Opportunity Quilt to post a tribute to a woman who has inspired you, or to read tributes posted by others
• Read this week’s blog posts to learn more about International Women’s Day and the global status of women
• View videos of Opportunity staff and programs that are helping women in the developing world work their way out of poverty and build better futures for themselves, their children and their communities
• Pass this email along to a friend inviting them to celebrate International Women’s Day along with you

No matter how you chose to observe this day, know that you will be joining with women, men and children of all races, nationalities, religions and cultures to celebrate women everywhere.

Ruth-Anne Renaud
Vice President, Women’s Philanthropy
& The Women’s Opportunity Network

International Travel

How hard is it to maintain relationships with international clients when most companies are cutting their travel budget?  The global economic downturn has affected all companies and travel expense happens to be the first on the list to be curtailed.  Companies see business travel as an easy area to cut related expenses and bring the budget under control but is this hurting their global business?

Skycouch

Air New Zealand is testing a new product called the Skycouch.  It is a type of air mattress to be used on international flights.  Early reports say the mattress is comfortable but small in size.  It might not be perfect for the business traveler but may provide a solution for parents who need their young ones to take a nap on some long flights.

Languages in Haiti

 French is one of two official languages in Haiti. All Haitians speak Haitian Creole which is the country’s other official language. Spanish is also spoken by a growing amount of the population but this is mostly near the border with the Dominican Republic. English is increasingly spoken among the young and in the business sector.

Winter Olympics – Feb 12, 2010

The upcoming Winter Olympics in Vancouver will be broadcast in 22 languages that include Mandarin, Bangla, Ukrainian, the aboriginal language of Mechif and South Asia’s Gujarati.  This is an exciting effort to represent Canada’s diversity.  Broadcasters speaking 13 languages will cover the opening ceremony when the Games kick off Feb. 12, 2010.

Radio Interview on Wednesday, Feb 3

I’m going to be interviewed on the Pay It Forward radio show on Wednesday, Feb. 3 from 10 – 11 am est. 

http://toginet.com/shows/payingitforward

Chinese Math Test

Did you know that the New York 8th grade math test is in Chinese?  I learned this from my friends at School Choice International. They know all sorts of details about schooling around the world. Obviously, New York has enough of an immigrant Chinese population that it was worth it to translate the test into Chinese. 

Food and International Business

Thank you to Jinsoo Terry for these words of food:

It is really true that many business deals are done in restaurants around the world. Doing business in Asia becomes simpler for the American business person who understands foods from the country where he or she is doing business.

Here are five tips that America business people should know when doing business in Asia specifically with executives in China, Korea and Japan.

1. In the Chinese cuisine there are different types of food from each Chinese culture: Hong Kong Chinese, Mainland Chinese, and Taiwanese Chinese.
2. For the Japanese when you have dinner in a Japanese restaurant Sushi and Sashimi are different. Sushi has vegetable and raw fish with rice. Sashimi is totally raw fish.
3. In Korea they call it Kim Bop instead of sushi. Koreans will be impressed if you know this.
4. The Chinese noodle dishes chow mein and chow fun are different. Mein means flower noodle. Fun means rice noodle.
5. Kalbi means Barbeque Korean beef rib dishes and bulgogi means grilled beef.

Next time you have a meal with your international business colleagues, learn something about the food culture.  You will be amazed how easy it is to have a successful business meeting by opening up your mind and enjoying the foods from other cultures.

Bad Translation of Tag Line

A friend of mine, Ken Kahn, sent me the clip of an advertisement for Gaviscon, a medication that provides fast acting, long lasting relief to heart burn. The clip shows a woman suffering, then experiencing relief after she takes the medicine.

 The Tag Line is “It’s like a fireman came in your mouth”.

Oops, who translated that!