Dubbing vs. subtitles: a translation rupture
If translation is an effort in faithful recreation, a translator must consider as thoroughly as possible the medium of the source, its essence, and work toward achieving it as the foundation of the translation. For a written text, this can seem (deceptively) simple, for written language has a static quality once on the page, supposedly, […]
The origin of “troll”
For most English speakers, the word troll, out of context, most commonly registers as a noun, perhaps due to the striking imagery it elicits. Cue short, hideous monster-men hiding under a bridge, waiting to capture unknowing passersby. The horror of this imagery is no doubt why the word most strikes us in this manner—as a […]
Singing is the best way to learn a new language
Free image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net If you want to learn a language, music is the answer. According to a study, carried out a few years ago by French investigator Daniel Schön and his team, singing and listening to songs helps people to learn new languages. The study went a long way to proving that foreign […]
Globalization and translation rates
In general, globalization is highly beneficial to the translation industry, as the ¨geographic¨ (one of many applicable adjectives) expansion of people/culture/industry is closely linked to the acquisition of new languages or, at least, the need to communicate effectively in foreign languages. Thus, a rising demand for translations and translators. Free image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net It […]
Difficulties of ‘sounding right’ when learning English or Spanish as a second language
When learners of any non-native language reach a level of intermediate-to-advanced comprehension, new preoccupations emerge. In English, we might describe one of these as “speaking so it sounds right”, but of course the crux of this—“sounds”—is not so simple as the statement suggests. Free image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net One obvious sort of “sound” is pronunciation, […]
Translation errors severely damage branding image, even big brand giants like Mango
Sloppy translations, or translations that are hastily authorized without being sent through a strict screening process based on lots of research and managed by reliable, language professionals, can destroy a business’ reputation. Even Mango, Spain’s fashion giant, isn’t safe from the dangers of translation errors. Last week, Mango made worldwide headlines thanks to an incredibly […]
Choosing a foreign language to learn
By most accounts, it seems that there has never been a better time to be a teacher of languages. With globalization increasing the need for communication between diverse groups of people–the same force keeping the translation industry robust at the moment–more and more people are seeking fluency in one or more foreign languages. From toddlers […]
