The bilingual brain

Posted On November 24, 2010By TranspanishIn Did you know?, Languages/  1 Comment

Children learning two languages from birth achieve the same basic milestones (e.g., their first word) as monolinguals do, but they may use different strategies for language acquisition. Although bilinguals tend to have smaller vocabularies in each language than do children who know one language, bilinguals may have an advantage when it comes to certain nonverbal cognitive tasks.  Bilinguals tend to perform better than monolinguals on exercises that require blocking out distractions and switching between two or more different tasks. The authors note that “when a bilingual speaks two languages regularly, speaking in just one of these languages requires use of the control network to limit interference from the other language and to ensure the continued dominance of the intended language.”  The bilingual advantage in attention and cognitive control may have important, long-term benefits. Preliminary evidence even suggests that their increased use of these systems may protect bilinguals against Alzheimer’s.

The differences between monolinguals and bilinguals have important clinical implications. For example, vocabulary tests are commonly used in psychologists’ offices and bilinguals’ scores may not accurately reflect their language ability. According to the authors, “Bilinguals who score below average may be inaccurately diagnosed with impairment when none is present, or could be diagnosed as ‘normal for a bilingual’ even though impairment is in fact present and treatment is needed.” Clinicians need to be aware of the potential to misinterpret bilinguals’ test scores. Developing tests that specifically target bilingual populations may result in better outcomes for these patients.

Source: Psychological Science in the Public Interest

Other articles you may be interested in:
Is Being Bilingual Good for Your Brain?
Are You Bilingual? Two Languages May Delay Alzheimer’s

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Project Management and Translation Vendors

Posted On November 22, 2010By TranspanishIn Languages, Spanish Translation, Tips for Translators, Translation Buyers/  No Comments

As a Project Manager you will be coordinating multiple projects – each project will have a minimum of two outside vendors (translator and editor) with the possibility of many more.

Your vendors will usually work off-site as independent freelance vendors who have agreed to work with your agency on an independent basis. Your agency in turn has agreed to work with the vendor and has ensured that they have completed the appropriate tax forms, signed the Confidentiality Agreement, submitted their resume, references and details of their past experience and in some cases have taken an evaluation test. The Purchase Order you issue to the vendor will act as the agreement for the job.

Keep in mind that your vendors will likely have entered into similar agreements with other agencies so you will be competing for their time.

Vendors you will be working with in a translation project

Translators will have the task to take the written text that your client provides and rewrite it in their native language, staying as faithful to the source text, source format and provided reference as possible. The translators you hire should be native speakers of the target language with subject area knowledge and they should have translation experience.

Editors will have the task of polishing the translation and making the language flow as smoothly as possible. They should also be responsible for confirming that the translation is complete and for verifying consistency of terms and adherence to any supplied reference or glossaries. The editors you hire should be native speakers with subject area knowledge and they should have translation experience.

Proofreaders focus on the details. They need to ensure that all text is faithfully reproduced. Though their knowledge of the target language can help verify the quality of the translation – or alert you to problems, proofreaders must be reminded that they are not to re-translate the text. If there are problems, the Project Manager should be told and the PM is responsible for contacting the translator and editor and developing the recovery plan. Ideally proofreading will be done by internal staff working closely with the PM.

Typesetters will be responsible for laying out the approved translation into the client-supplied source layout file. They will need to have the appropriate software application and good knowledge of typesetting in foreign languages. Remember language conventions vary! The Project Manager must be responsible for supplying them with the final source file and the translated file for typesetting. As clients can update files in the middle of the process and since the translation process involves multiple people, but sure to keep a close eye on the versions and always send the correct versions to the typesetter. If changes occur during the Desktop Publishing phase, be sure to communicate any changes to the typesetter and discuss it with them to make sure all instructions are clear.

Skills to look for when contracting translators and editors:

  • Native speakers
  • Subject area experience
  • Experience with Translation Memory software (Trados, Wordfast, etc)
  • Up-to-date on technology
  • They should be willing to do basic research as necessary for a project (projects requiring extensive research should have the research phase included in the work flow both for scheduling and cost)
  • They should ask questions when needed and should point out problems in the source text when they find them
  • They should produce accurate and complete translations, while adhering to their deadlines
  • They should deliver on time and alert you to any potential delays as soon as they are aware of them

Also read Project Management in the Translation Industry.

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Origin of the word Brazil

Posted On November 17, 2010By TranspanishIn Brazilian Market, Languages, Portuguese Language, The origin of.../  No Comments

The name Brazil is derived from the Portuguese word pau–brasil, the name of an East Indian tree with reddish-brown wood from which a red dye was extracted. The Portuguese found a New World tree related to the Old World brasil tree when they explored what is now called Brazil, and as a result they named the New World country after the Old World tree. The word brasil is cognate with French brésil, Old French berzi and bresil, Old Italian verzino, and Medieval Latin brezellum, brasilium, bresillum, braxile. The many Latin forms suggest a non-Latin, non-Romance origin, as in an East Indian term.

Brasil tree

Pau-brasil

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New Spanish Spelling Reforms from the RAE

Posted On November 9, 2010By TranspanishIn Languages, Spanish Language, Spanish Translation, Tips for Translators, Translation Buyers/  2 Comments

Spanish Spelling Rules Get a Makeover

Change is coming to Spanish orthographic conventions courtesy of the Real Academia Española (RAE), the organization that defines Spanish language standards. Last week, the RAE announced a number of planned changes prepared by 22 linguists from both Spain and Latin America. If all goes well, the changes to the Spanish language will be officially adopted on November 28 at the academy’s next meeting in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The following is a summary of some of the most important changes that are about to be implemented:

»The letters “ch” and “ll” have been considered a part of the Spanish alphabet since the 19th century, but no more. The Spanish alphabet will now consist of 27 letters.

»The names of the letters “b,” “v,” “w,” and “y” previously varied among different Spanish-speaking countries. The RAE seeks to further unify the language by assigning just one name to these different letters, e.g. the name of the letter “b” will change from “be alta” or “be larga” to simply “be.”

»The accent will be eliminated from the word “sólo” except in cases where its omission may lead to ambiguity. Previously, “sólo” was used to distinguish between the adverbial form of the word meaning “only” and the adjectival form “solo” meaning “alone.” Demonstrative pronouns such as “éste” or “ésa” will also cease to carry an accent.

»The RAE plans to eliminate “q” when it is used to represent the phoneme “k.” As such, Iraq will be written as “Irak” and quórum will become “cuórum.”

» Prefixes such as “ex” and “anti” will be joined to the word they precede. For example, ex-husband will appear as “exmarido” instead of “ex marido,” as it is currently written. Prefixes will continue to be written with a space when they precede two words, as in the case of “pro derechos humanos.”

»Words such as guión, huí, riáis, Sión o truhán will be considered monosyllabic, and therefore, will no longer be accented.

»The conjunction “o” used to be written with an accent when it appeared between two numbers (e.g. 3 ó 4) to avoid confusion with 0, but this rule will be eliminated.

Please read The RAE Discards Some Proposed Spanish Spelling Reforms for the latest changes.

Related Posts:
New Inclusive Grammar Guidelines from the Real Academia Española
Dirae: The Latest Tool to Search for Terms in Spanish

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When was the first Spanish Grammar Book published?

Posted On November 8, 2010By TranspanishIn Did you know?, Languages, Spanish Language, Spanish Translation, Tips for Translators, Translation Buyers/  4 Comments

In 1492, Antonio de Nebrija published Gramática de la lengua castellana, the first grammar book of the Spanish language. Works had previously been published on Latin usage, such as Lorenzo Valla’s De Elegantiis Latinae Linguae (1471), but Gramática was the first book to focus on the study of the rules of a Western European language besides Latin.

Digital version of Gramática de la lengua castellana.

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Differences between Spanish and Portuguese

Posted On November 5, 2010By TranspanishIn Portuguese Language, Spanish Language, Tips for Translators, Translation Buyers/  No Comments

Both Spanish and Portuguese are Indo-European languages derived from Latin, and they developed on the Iberian Peninsula during roughly the same period. Though the two languages are closely related, important differences exist between Spanish and Portuguese, which can create problems for those acquainted with one of the languages when they try to learn the other.

Despite the fact that the Spanish and Portuguese lexicons are very similar, the languages differ significantly in terms of pronunciation. Phonetically, Portuguese bears greater resemblance to French or Catalan while Spanish pronunciation is much closer to Italian. Portuguese includes a greater phonemic inventory than Spanish, which may explain why it is generally more difficult for Spanish speakers to understand, in spite of the strong lexical similarity between the two languages.

Linguistic differences between Spanish and Portuguese appear more pronounced in the written language than in the spoken one due to differences in spelling conventions; however, the two languages do share a great deal of vocabulary that is spelled either exactly the same (but may be pronounced rather differently) or almost the same (but may be pronounced in more or less the same way).

Differences in vocabulary between the two languages evolved due to several reasons:

  • While Spanish retained a great deal of its Mozarabic vocabulary of Arabic origin, Portuguese’s Mozarabic substratum was not as influential. In many cases, Portuguese words of Arabic origin were eventually replaced with Latin roots.
  • During the languages’ development during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, Spanish remained more autonomous, while Portuguese was more greatly influenced by other European languages, namely French.
  • Spanish and Portuguese incorporated differing influences from Amerindian, African and Asian languages.

Besides a number of “false friends,” Spanish and Portuguese share several cognates whose meaning is broader in one language than in the other. For example, Spanish makes a distinction between the adjective mucho (much/many) and the adverb muy (very/quite). Portuguese uses muito in both cases.

Generally speaking, Portuguese and Spanish grammars do not greatly differ, though minor differences do exist in terms of possessives, the use of pronouns, certain verb tenses, and prepositions.

For Portuguese Translation, visit our site Transportuguese .

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Hispanic or Latino?

Posted On October 21, 2010By TranspanishIn Latinos, Spanish Language, Translation Buyers/  No Comments

The terms “Hispanic” and “Latino” are frequently tossed around by the United States government and the media. But, what exactly is the difference between these two labels?

The term “Hispanic” generally refers to any descendent from a Spanish-speaking nation of Latin America, while the term “Latino” refers to any descendent from a Latin American nation where the main language spoken is derived from Latin (Brazilians and Haitians, for example, speak Portuguese and French, respectively, which are both Latin-based languages).

It is important to note that the terms “Latino” and “Hispanic” do not denote a particular ethnicity or race. Instead, individuals who fall under the label “Latino” or “Hispanic” share a common cultural/language background.

A 2006 Pew Hispanic Center survey uncovered that 48% of Latino adults normally identify themselves by their country of origin first as opposed to Hispanic or Latino. In terms of a preference for the Hispanic or Latino label, a 2008 survey by the Center found that 36% of those questioned prefer the term “Hispanic,” 21% prefer the term “Latino,” and the rest stated no preference.

Tips for Using the Terms “Hispanic” and “Latino”

Although both terms are considered acceptable by most people, some individuals or groups may show a keen preference for either “Latino” or “Hispanic.” An effort should be made to identify and respect these preferences.

When possible, use specific references such as “Mexican” or “Cuban-American” or “Costa Rican immigrant.”

“Latino” and “Latina” may be used as both an adjective and a noun.

The New York Times style guide defines “Hispanic” as “descended from a Spanish-speaking land or culture.” However, there is debate over the definition and usage of this term. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “Hispanic” as “of or relating to the people, speech, or culture of Spain or of Spain and Portugal.” So, should Brazilians and Portuguese speakers be lumped into this category as well? Are Spaniards considered Hispanic, too?

In most cases, Brazilians are not categorized as “Hispanic,” but they may be accurately referred to as “Latino.” Spaniards are not generally considered Hispanic or Latino, since the use of these terms is normally reserved for descendents from countries in the New World. You can reduce ambiguity by using a more specific label, as previously stated.

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Why consider Portuguese Translation?

Posted On September 30, 2010By TranspanishIn Brazilian Market, Portuguese Language/  No Comments

With growing opportunities for foreign trade and investment in Brazil, the demand for Portuguese translation, particularly in the industrial/commercial sector, has increased markedly over the last several years. A robust economy and favorable business climate combined with the country’s burgeoning middle class present an interesting opportunity for corporations looking to expand their operations into South America. Although Brazil is the sole Portuguese-speaking country in the Americas, approximately one-half of South America’s inhabitants speak the language. The key to accessing Brazil’s population of roughly 190 million will be through translation to and from Portuguese.

As the citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries become increasingly connected to the Internet, companies must begin to consider the importance of having a Portuguese presence on the web. For example, Internet access is growing at breakneck speed in Brazil, even among the poor. Companies looking to break into or strengthen their position with the Portuguese-speaking market would be wise to cultivate an Internet presence em português.

As the site of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, Brazil will experience a massive tourism boost over the next few years. Although English and French are the official languages of the Olympics, translation from Portuguese to a host of other languages will be necessary to accommodate the scores of foreign athletes, tourists and journalists who will travel to Brazil for these events.

While Brazil is eager to attract visitors from abroad, the nation’s growing middle and upper classes enjoy traveling as well. According to BuyUSA.gov, with Brazil’s “economic growth prompting more middle-class travelers, growth [in travel to the U.S.] seems likely to continue for many years.” In addition, “Brazilian travelers are among the biggest spenders when traveling to the U.S., averaging ,557 per traveler.” Business owners looking to attract Brazilian visitors should consider translating marketing materials into Portuguese.

It is also worth noting that UNESCO has recognized Portuguese as one of the fastest growing European languages. Additionally, the language’s expanding influence in South America and southern Africa mean that Portuguese demonstrates significant potential as a language of international communication. The language is also experiencing a resurgence in popularity in certain parts of Asia including East Timor and Macau. Businesses looking to capitalize on opportunities in these emerging markets are wise to consider Portuguese translation.

More information on the Brazilian Economy and Portuguese Language.

Are you looking for a Portuguese Translator? Visit TransPortuguese.

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Number of Living Languages

Posted On September 29, 2010By TranspanishIn Did you know?, Languages, Tips for Translators/  No Comments

Did you know that there are 6909 living languages in the world?

Distribution of languages by area of origin

AreaLiving languagesNumber of speakers
CountPercentCountPercentMeanMedian
Africa2,11030.5726,453,40312.2344,29125,200
Americas99314.450,496,3210.850,8522,300
Asia2,32233.63,622,771,26460.81,560,19411,100
Europe2343.41,553,360,94126.16,638,295201,500
Pacific1,25018.16,429,7880.15,144980
Totals6,909100.05,959,511,717100.0862,5727,560

Source: Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 2009.

Also read: Will 90% of the languages cease to exist? and Endangered languages open database is launched online

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