Latinos and the 2010 U.S. Census
With the 2010 U.S. Census set to begin in March, members of the Latino community are at odds over their participation in the decennial survey. Some fear that the census data collected by the government could provide an inaccurate tally of the population. “Concerns about an accurate count of the Latino community partly stem from […]
How Hispanic Immigrants and Their Families Fare in the U.S.
The impact of immigration on the U.S. over the years in undeniable, but what sort of influence is the U.S. having on recent Latino immigrants and successive generations of “native Latinos” born on American soil? A study undertaken by the Pew Hispanic Center shows that U.S.-born Latinos expressed optimism regarding their economic futures, and they […]
Scientists Find That Monkeys Make Meaning Too
The human ability to utilize language is one of the most remarkable features of our species; however, new research suggests that the communication gap between humans and our primate cousins is narrower than previously supposed. Earlier this month, scientists from the University of Rennes in France published findings that point to the use of basic […]
Will Slang Be the Ruin of the English Language?
The answer, according to some detractors, is yes. But is slang really damaging the English language or is it just a natural part of its evolution? Though colloquialisms have long been a part of the richness of the language, experts say that slang-filled “multicultural English” is overtaking proper English as teens’ preferred method of communication. […]
Working as a Freelance Translator
The flexibility offered by working as a freelance translator certainly has its perks, but being your own boss presents its own set of challenges (and the occasional headache). Here are some tips for those of you considering the move to freelance translation or interpreting. »Master the Business Side When you’re a freelance translator, your responsibilities […]
New Inclusive Grammar Guidelines from the Real Academia Española
Spanish speakers around the world, take heart; you don’t speak incorrectly, just differently. The Real Academia Española (RAE), Spain’s language authority, is finally acknowledging the diversity of grammar and vocabulary among the Spanish language’s nearly 500 million speakers in some 20 countries. The language mavens at the RAE just released a two-volume set detailing the […]
CAT Tools: Wordfast vs. Trados
Computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools provide many benefits for translators and clients alike. As previously discussed in this blog post, translators utilize CAT tools to create translation memories (TM), which enhance productivity and provide greater consistency within the document. Although there are a number of CAT tools available, the two most popular programs are SDL Trados […]
Google Adds Dictionary to its offerings
Google adds another language tool to its arsenal with the introduction of Google Dictionary. Google’s new dictionary offers up results in close to 30 languages, including the major Western European languages, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, and Hindi. Notable exceptions from the line-up include Japanese and Persian (Farsi), though surely Google will work to support these languages […]
The Differences between Translators and Interpreters
At the most basic level, the difference between a translator and an interpreter is simple: one works with the written word while the other deals with spoken language; however, while each is well-versed in both a source and a target language, a good translator does not necessarily make for a good interpreter and vice versa. […]
