Back Translation

Back Translation is the process of translating a document that has already been translated into a foreign language back to the original language – preferably by an independent translator. This is a way to verify the accuracy of a translation. For example, a document in Spanish is translated into English. Then a separate translator would translate the English document back into Spanish. The two Spanish documents would be compared to make sure the English text ..read more

10 Things I Know about Language Translation . . . .

10. Just Do It. A huge share of the business market is being missed if you are only targeting English speaking audiences. Less than 10% of the world’s population speaks English as their first language, yet if information about a product is in a person’s native language, that person is four times more likely to purchase.

9. Provide Good Copy Providing well written English copy is the most important first step to insure a quality foreign language translation.

8. Quality ..read more

Language Barrier for DUI -Test Consent

USA Today posted an article by Laura Bruno where she explains, “When German Marquez was charged with driving while impaired, he was read a statement in English warning him of the penalties he faced if he did not submit to a breath test. Marquez, who speaks Spanish but not English, says he did not understand and did not take the test. In addition to a driving-while-impaired charge, he was charged with failure to take a breath test.”

Marquez’s attorney, Michael ..read more

International Business Card Etiquette

If you plan to do business internationally, it is important to understand the cultural significance of business cards and the etiquette that surrounds them in each country. Rapport International, a foreign language translation company based in metro-west Boston makes some good recommendations. A good rule is to view the business card as a personal representation of one’s self. In North America and the United Kingdom, business card etiquette is easy to understand and quick to learn. ..read more

Selecting a Quality Translation Company

When you hire a professional translation firm, you want to build a long-term relationship that will ensure accuracy, consistency and timely translations. As Executive Director of Rapport International, a full-service translation and interpretation company, I have compiled a list of tips for assessing the skills of a translation company.

Make sure the company has a selective screening process for their translators. You want to be sure that the translators are qualified and have the appropriate background. Learn ..read more

Do Words Affect our Thoughts?

Can the words we use affect the way we think? Do the words that describe an item actually affect the way we view the item? In some languages, the words used to describe a building can denote whether it is female or male. When a masculine word is used, the building is then thought to be enduring, immense, and full of strength. When a feminine word is used to describe the building, it is then thought ..read more

Restaurant Names

How would you answer the phone if you were working at the Fuk Mi Sushi & Seafood Restaurant?  Too many business owners fail to consult an expert language translation company before establishing their new names.

Great article on language and translation from Newsweek

Newsweek “What’s in a Word?” by Sharon Begley

When the Viaduct de Millau opened in the south of France in 2004, this tallest bridge in the world won worldwide accolades. German newspapers described how it “floated above the clouds” with “elegance and lightness” and “breathtaking” beauty. In France, papers praised the “immense” “concrete giant.” Was it mere coincidence that the Germans saw beauty where the French saw heft and power? Lera Boroditsky thinks not.

A psychologist at Stanford University, she has long ..read more

Funny translation mistake

I heard from a client that they made this translation mistake:

“We named a product SwiftSite only to discover in Japan, it was a feminine hygiene  product!”

Increase in English Words

I recently heard that currently there are about 540,000 words in the English language.  “They” estimate thta there are 5 times more words than there were in Shakespeare’s time.  Seems hard to believe but if we consider just the following words and inventions it probably makes sense.  Electricity, global warming, Nintendo DS, automobiles, airplanes, swimming pools, computers, Intel chips, synthetic fabrics….

 Since new words are being added all the time to languages, make sure to use a translator that stays current in ..read more

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