Using Localization Services To Understand Thanksgiving Traditions

Given our busy lives, it can be easy to forget how to appreciate what’s actually important in life: being thankful. There is no better time than on Thanksgiving to show gratitude to those you care about. This special day, which is celebrated across the world at different times of the year, requires great food to share with family and friends. Here are 4 different dishes prepared on Thanksgiving in different countries that show the power of localization services:

 

South Korea’s Braised Turkey And Localization Services

There’s no Thanksgiving without the classical turkey, but, what if you added some twist to it? The Korean sweet and spicy braised turkey is made using soy sauce, cranberry sauce, ginger and garlic. And that’s not even the best part of it; the best part about this dish is its sweet and spicy caramelized glaze mixed up with roasting juices. And, there’s more to this dish; you can use its leftovers to add to fried rice or noodles, roll up or even dumplings. If this does sound like something you’d enjoy, Korean translation and localization can keep you informed about more recipes and help you recreate them yourself in the most authentic way possible.

 

Mexico’s Pumpkin Empanadas And Localization Services

A Thanksgiving diner in Mexico without pumpkin empanadas is unimaginable. The empanadas are prepared and served in big batches using only fresh pumpkins to share with the whole family. If you’re planning on visiting Mexico over Thanksgiving and want to learn more about Mexican cuisine, translation services can help you learn the complex terminology involved.

 

India’s Tandoori Chicken And Localization Services

Marinated in hot spice with a tad of creamy yoghurt, crushed ginger, garlic and lime juice, these chicken are grilled in a Tandoor, a clay oven fueled by coal. This spicy marinated chicken tastes the best when wrapped in naan or rotare and are the highlight of every Indian dinner at Thanksgiving. However, if you don’t like spicy foods, you might want to learn more about this traditional dish through the help of localization and translation services provided by skilled language service providers.

 

Germany’s Rouladen And Localization Services

Even though stuffed turkey on thanksgiving is becoming more and more popular in Germany, one dish that can’t be left out on this special day is the famous German Rouladen (which roughly translates to “roll” using German translation). This dish is made out of thinly sliced meat rolled up with a stuffing made of bacon, fried vegetables, pickles, and onions. After the meat is cooked until it’s browned on each side, it’s served with potatoes on the side.

 

If you’re a stranger to these dishes and want to learn more about international dishes served on thanksgiving, localization and translation services will allow you gain valuable insights.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

World Philosophy Day And The Importance Of Literary Translation

Thanks to Greek translation, philosophy translates to “love of wisdom”. Today’s world has been shaped by philosophers from around the world who introduced their most daring thoughts to the world and showed us what hoping for a better tomorrow looks like. In tribute to World Philosophy Day, here are 3 philosophers that show how literary translation services contribute to spreading global knowledge:

 

Immanuel Kant And Literary Translation

Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher and scientist best known for his Critique of Pure Reason written during the Enlightenment era. His work covers essential questions such as “what can I know?”, “What ought I to do?”, “What can I hope for?“, which eventually led to a revolution in philosophy. He wanted to encourage people to take responsibility for their own actions and gave philosophy a foundation that was independent of tradition, culture or religion. During his time, his thoughts were dismissed and his works were banned since this kind of thinking was completely unacceptable. Nevertheless, he believed in his thoughts and kept promoting them in the belief that they could lead to a better tomorrow. The philosophy of the Enlightenment era owes a great debt to him and he is considered one of the greatest philosophers of all time. Through German translation, his thoughts, which resonate to this day, were translated with the outmost care and precision in order to share his beliefs with the world.

 

Confucius And Literary Translation

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall“. This famous quote by one of the most impactful philosophers in the East Asian region was brought to us through Chinese translation services. Thanks to proper translation, we are able to understand the thoughts of Confucius, a Chinese teacher and philosopher of great value. He was convinced that education and reflection lead to virtue, and that all human beings could benefit from them. Although he was not valued during his time, he had a fair number of pupils who recorded his thoughts and his teachings in The Analect, a collection of ethical concepts. The Analect was later used to guide government policy, informing and influencing Chinese history and society. To this day, Confucianism is practiced by those pledging for education, harmony, and ethics. Translation and localization services help share the wisdom of Confucianism by ensuring that meaning is not lost in translation and that different cultural aspects are conveyed.

 

Mary Wollstonecraft And Literary Translation

“Virtue can only flourish among equals” is one of the many groundbreaking quotes by Mary Wollstonecraft, a British writer and philosopher who advocated for women’s rights. Mary is known as the first women’s rights activist who used her own accomplishments to emphasize women’s capacity for independent thought and academic virtue. She was the author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, in which she advocated equality for women. Although her lifestyle did not resonate with the conventions of her time, she did what she believed was right and attempted to bring justice to an unjust society. This revolutionary thinking needed to be shared with the world, which was made possible through the help of English translation experts.

 

 

3 Key Facts About Nature And Scientific Translation Services

Nature is full of countless miracles. The more we research and discover, the more there is to learn. Here are 3 surprising facts about nature and how scientific translation services play a critical role in helping scientists uncover its mysteries.

 

Ensuring Accurate Scientific Translation Services

The depths of the ocean are full of mysteries. You might be surprised to know that phytoplankton, tiny sea-dwelling creatures, produce about 50 – 85 percent of the oxygen in the atmosphere. They live in the upper layers of water and, like plants, use photosynthesis to convert sunlight into energy, producing oxygen as a byproduct.

Huge scientific discoveries like this need to be shared around the world in order to for the global scientific community to build on the initial findings. To ensure accurate translation, scientists must work with skilled translator, who are fluent in both the source and target languages and understand the scientific terminology involved.

 

New Terminology And Scientific Translation Services

Walking through the neighborhood during a rainstorm allows people to appreciate the unique scent rain produces.. known as “petrichor”, a term coined by an Australian scientist. What might be surprising about this is that rain does not actually have its own scent. The scent is produced by molecules called geosmin, soil-dwelling bacteria. When rain falls, it creates “air pockets“ which contain geosmin. Rain traps and releases these air pockets, releasing geosmin into the air through evaporation and producing its distinctive scent.

New terminologies and complex biological processes are often introduced by scientists in their research papers. As a result, it can become difficult for life science translation services to adapt new words for different target languages. A text that cannot be translated into other languages is referred to as a lacuna (a Latin word meaning “lexical gap”). Therefore, working with skilled translators who know how to convey scientific content to global readers is very important.

 

How Localization Can Help Educate The Public

Did you know that the world’s largest desert, Sahara, fertilizes the Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest? Each year, nutrient-rich Sahara dust is transported by wind across the Atlantic Ocean and deposited in the Amazon basin. This dust serves as a natural fertilizer that nourishes the rainforest with the iron and phosphorus minerals it needs. The Amazon rainforest plays an important role in limiting carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and eliminates almost 340 million tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year. As a result, deforestation of the Amazon poses a major threat to the climate.

Raising awareness of important scientific issues does not just require linguists who are subject-matter experts.. Organizations involved in global advocacy for issues for climate change should also consider the importance of conveying their ideas simply enough for the general public to understand. This often necessitates investment in professional localization services, who specialize in adapting content for it to be digested in different cultural contexts. With the help of localization specialists and international development translation services, international organizations can create global campaigns that conform to the stylistic preferences, cultural sensibilities, and legal requirements of different countries to raise public awareness of important scientific issues.

 

 

 

Space Exploration And The Role of Aerospace Translation

Much of the universe is a mystery to us. Humans have made it their mission to learn out more about its secrets. Since this is an international task involving people from different countries, clear communication is essential, requiring the role of aerospace translation services.

 

The First Lunar Landing And The Role Of Aerospace Translation

Language services have always been vital to space exploration. In 1969, what was long believed to be impossible became reality. NASA sent three of their astronauts up to space and onto the lunar’s surface. An estimate of 650 million people around the world gathered around their televisions to witness this historic moment. “[It was] one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind“ was the proclamation with which Neill Armstrong had marked his first ever step onto the moon’s surface, a moment to be remembered by generations to come.

Communication facilitated by translation and localization services was key to the success of the mission. The scientific advancements required to put a man on the moon were an international effort. Even though this mission is entirely an American triumph, countries like Australia, Canada, Germany and Switzerland made valuable contributions such as timepieces, and engineering or architectural knowledge. For the knowledge of these countries to be shared globally, translation and interpreting services played an essential role.

 

The ISS And The Role Of Aerospace Translation

Continuously occupied since 2000 by five space agencies from 15 countries, the International Space Station (ISS) has become home to many living and working there, orbiting the Earth every 90 minutes. The ISS serves as a science laboratory where several nations work together to maintain our ongoing presence in space. Onboard, crew members conduct research that can be applied to create new technologies on Earth. This is where translation and interpreting services play an essential role. Flights to the ISS are provided by the Russian Soyuz capsule. Because American and Russian astronauts work on the station, Interpreters stationed on the ground allow the astronauts to communicate effectively when docking the spacecraft and while completing their important experiments.

 

How NASA Uses Interpreting Services

Ensuring the safety of astronauts in the harsh vacuum of space is a difficult undertaking. In 2013, NASA led a spacewalk in which a European astronaut’s helmet started to fill up with water, damaging his communication system Because the astronaut spoke English, Russian Mission Control could only rely on their interpreter to decipher what happened through the power of Russian translation. Luckily, the astronaut was able to make it back to the station before the helmet became completely filled. Clearly, communication is vital in space in order to troubleshoot the inevitable problems posed by space travel.

 

 

 

3 Spooky Stories From Different Cultures And Localization Services

Buckle up everybody; the spookiest of all seasons is back. In the spirit of Halloween, here are 3 spooky stories from around the world that demonstrate the importance of language and localization services:

 

La Llorona And The Importance Of Localization Services

La Llorona (with the help of Spanish translation) means “the weeping woman“. There are a number of different versions of the La Llorona narrative, but the best known tale begins with A beautiful and desirable woman named Maria marrying the love of her life, a nobleman who seemed to love and care for her deeply. However, after the birth of their second son, her husband leaves her and his children for another woman. Maria becomes vengeful and seeks to repay her husband in the worst way possible – by taking his children away from him and drowning them in a river. After she realizing what she had done, Maria takes her own life in the very same waters.

Yet this is only the beginning of the story. Banned from the afterlife for eternity, it is said that Maria wanders among us to this day, roaming the waterways, crying and searching desperately for her lost children. According to Mexican tradition, she can still be heard luring children into her arms, past the tree lines and towards the water.

As you can imagine, in order to recount this  story for different cultures without it losing any meaning in translation, localization services are needed to adapt the tale for foreign audiences..

 

Jiang-Shi And The Power of Localization Services

The vampires and zombies you knew until now don’t come close to the jiangshi (which with the help of Chinese translation services means “stiff corpse”) that extract the qi (“live energy”) of humans. According to Chinese folklore, during the Qing Dynasty, members of low-income families whose relatives had died in a foreign place were transferred back to their home town since it was believed that their souls would get homesick otherwise. Jiangshi are believed to be the souls of people who died an unnatural or violent death Therefore, their souls are unable to leave their body and turn into reanimated corpses. Another reason why jiangshi are believed to exist is because their corpses were not given the proper burial after their death which causes the dead to become unrestful and return to haunt the living. According to tradition, their key characteristics are very pale skin, long white hair, a disfigured body that doesn’t compose, and complete blindness It is said that only one touch is enough for them send their victims to the afterlife.

 

The Legend of Hanako-San And Localization Services

 Three knocks on the third door of the girl’s bathroom is all it takes for Hanako-san’s spirit to come out. There are different versions to the story that explain how she died and became a haunting spirit.. Some say she was killed during World War II while she was playing hide-and-seek; some say she was killed by a parent; others even claim she committed suicide in a school bathroom. Either way, once you knock on her door and ask her to come out, she will grab you with her blood-stained hands and pull you into the stall that leads into hell. According to some narratives, she even turns into a three-headed lizard and devours her victims.

In some cultures, death is a sensitive matter.  For example, it can be considered offensive to have the soul of dead people turn into creatures like zombies, which is why Japanese translation and localization services are important to adapt creative content like marketing and ad copy for release in foreign markets.

 

The Importance of Language Services

To fully capture the essence of these spooky tales and make them accessible to everyone, it’s important to understand your audience in order not to disrespect different cultures. Therefore, it is important to work with skilled translators who know how to localize content accordingly. As an experienced company with over 30 years of experience we provide businesses with accurate translation and localization services.

 

 

 

The UN And The Importance of International Development Translation

UN’s “quirkiest“ language contest finally returned to Vienna after a three year hiatus. Known by many language enthusiasts, this competition was first introduced in 2005 to commemorate International Translation Day, a day to celebrate St. Jerome, the patron saint of translators who translated the Bible into Latin from Greek manuscripts. In this year’s contest, participants from around the globe were given frustrating household tasks, an AI-related topic, and a traditional Spanish dish to translate. The goal was to ensure nothing got lost in translation. The winners were selected by expert judges based on accuracy in conveying the meaning, style, and nuance of the source text. Let’s learn more about the U.N. and their use of international development translation services.

 

How Does The UN Use International Development Translation?

The UN has six official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) for which it requires international development translation services. The work of a translator is highly detail-oriented. Translated documents have to be clear, coherent, and faithful to the original text. U.N. documents that require translation services cover a variety of issues including technology, politics, science, and social, economic, and legal policy. These translated documents play many important roles. Not only are they used internally in important conferences and meetings; they are often shared to the general public and cited in media, quoted in statements, and incorporated into legislation.

 

How Does The UN Use Interpreting Services?

Interpreters at the UN headquarters provide interpreting services at important intergovernmental meetings to make sure subjects such as peace and security, sustainable development, human rights, and the environment are conveyed accurately into and from the six official languages. To make communication during conferences easier, the UN mainly uses simultaneous interpreting. This interpreting mode allows interpreters to interpret a speaker’s message from one language into another as the speaker talks. Good interpreters must adopt the delivery and tone of the speaker, as misunderstandings can cause major international incidents. The UN also uses consecutive interpreting services for smaller meetings, In contrast to simultaneous interpretation, consecutive interpreters wait for the speaker to finish talking before interpreting.

 

Finding A International Development Translation Partner

Translation and interpreting services are crucial to maintaining relationships between UN member states. As a result, experienced language service providers are needed for its conferences and meetings. If you are looking for an exceptional provider of interpreting and translation services for international development matters, Language Connections has been providing high-quality services for over 30 years. We have worked extensively with NGOs and international organizations for decades and understand the complexities of your industry. Given the sensitivities of international relations, we only hire skilled linguists who are experts in the field for which they translate. When combined with our seasoned project management team, your next international program or event is sure to be a success.

 

 

 

3 Must-Read Autumn Poems And The Role Of Translation Services

It’s October. The leaves are changing their colors, the weather is getting chillier, and the days are becoming shorter. Welcome to autumn!. In celebration of this beautiful season, here are three poems from around the world about autumn that demonstrate the importance of translation services to conveying emotion in literature:

 

ALL, LEAVES, FALL by Emily Brontë and Translation Services

The end of summer evokes many different feelings . For some, it’s a symbol of new beginnings. For others, it’s a reminder that everything beautiful eventually comes to an end. If you consider autumn to be the season of coziness as well as one that marks the end of a chapter then you will most likely identify with the theme of Emily Brontë’s poem All, Leaves, Fall. This poem describes the joyous excitement each falling leaf brings with it. Here, the falling leaves are a countdown to winter, a way to feel excited about the next approaching season and all the new adventures it will have to offer. Nevertheless, the beginning of something new means the ending of something else. This poem is able to capture this particular transition perfectly:

 

“ Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;
Lengthen night and shorten day;
Every leaf speaks bliss to me
Fluttering from the autumn tree.

 

To share this blissful poem and the joy of new beginnings it symbolizes, translation services are absolutely necessary. In fact, they proved highly important to establishing Brontë as an internationally famous writer; her famous novel, Wuthering Heights, has been translated into 61 different languages. Translating poems as such will enable people to get ready for change and embrace new chapters in their life.

 

Chanson D’autumne by Paul Verlaine and Translation Services

As beautiful and exciting autumn can be, for some the arrival of autumn is less about coziness and more about melancholia. Paul Verlaine writes exactly about this feeling in his poem Chanson D’automne (or Autumn Song with the help of French translation). In this poem, Verlaine personifies the season and uses it as a reflection of the melancholic mood created by dying leaves, crisp air, and grey clouds. Verlaine’s language in this poem implies that he’s not only talking about autumn but also about better days in the past that make us sigh from time to time. At those times, we feel like leaving ourselves to the wind so it can carry us to our “broken and brief“ memories, as described in this poem. However, this poem is also a reminder that even the melancholic feeling that seem to drag itself endlessly will end, maybe not instantly but eventually. Here’s a brief peak into Verlaine’s Chanson D’automne:

 

 “ And I go
Where the winds know,
Broken and brief,
To and fro,
As the winds blow
A dead leaf

 

This poem has become so influential in part because of translation services. A skilled literary translator makes sure that the message of each word written is conveyed properly into different languages.

 

Autumn Moonlight by Matsuo Bashō And Translation Services

Autumn is not just about melancholia or new beginnings. It is also about remembering to take time to enjoy the tranquility, stillness, and calmness the season brings. Matsuo Bashō captures the essence of this season’s beauty in his well-loved haiku, a Japanese poetic form that consists of three lines. He writes:

 

 “ Autumn moonlight–

a worm digs silently

into the chestnut.

 

The simplicity and brevity of this poem encourages readers to take a break and appreciate the  beauty that lies in the moment. This poem is a reminder that every moment is passing, and that therefore it is important to actively appreciate each moment to its fullest. By painting a picture in our minds of the “chestnut“ being old, not standing anymore, and the worm digging itself into the remains of it, this poem manages to perfectly refer to the cycle of life. Maybe it’s time for us all to take the time and watch the moon shine through the trees, reflect on the windows of the highest skyscrapers, or watch it reflect itself on the surface of a river close by. A poem as simple and as captivating as this one needs to be shared with as many people as possible, which is why Japanese translation services play such a huge role in spreading the beauty of Japanese literature around the world.

 

Translation Services and Global Localization Services

Translating poetry is more than just conveying a message. It’s about conveying feeling. Translating a text word-for-word isn’t enough. Literary translators must convey both the tone of the author as well as the mood they create through their powerful words. Similarly, in order to achieve these results in the business world, decisionmakers need to understand that only by professional translation and localization services can their message be accurately shared with global audiences.

 

 

 

3 Unique Festivals Of Light And The Role Of Translation Services

Festivals of light are held all around the world and each culture has its own unique way of celebrating. Here are some of the most unique festivals of light and how translation services play an important role in each of them.

 

iLight Singapore and the Role of Interpretation and Translation Services

With so many lights being lit, it’s natural to wonder about the source of electricity used. But don’t worry: the i Light Festival in Singapore exclusively only uses sustainable energy sources. The festival held in Marina Bay was first introduced in 2010 and takes place in February of each year. The artworks are created by Singaporean and international artists using only environmental-friendly materials in order to encourage visitors to adopt sustainability into their daily lives. This year’s theme was the color blue. This theme was chosen deliberately to emphasize all different emotions and thoughts light can make you perceive like how watching ocean waves hit the coast make you get excited or how watching the clear blue sky on a warm summer day can fill you with peace. To perfectly capture the concept and imagination of all international artists, translation and interpretation services are crucial to preparing for the festival each year.

 

Dev Diwali, India and the Role of Interpreting Services

Dev Diwali is more than just a festival of lights; it’s the festival of the Gods taking place in the holiest city in the Hindu mythology, Varanasi. The festival falls on a full moon night of the Hindu month of Kartika and lasts for 15 days. This year the festival falls on November. This day is believed to be celebrated by the Gods to mark the victory of Lord Shiva, who defeated and killed a powerful demon. It is believed that on this day, the Gods descend from heaven to celebrate. To welcome the Gods and to celebrate this day, millions of diyas (earthen lamps) and lights are lit up and released onto the river to make it look like a stairway to heaven. Eating mithai or sweets is a must on this day as well. In order to truly capture the importance of this festival for the Hindu community using interpreting services is crucial. Having an interpretation service on site will allow participants to understand the meaning and beauty of the breathtaking spectacle.

 

Las Fallas Valencia, Spain and the Role of Translation Services

Even though this festival does not use conventional lighting, it’s definitely a special time considering UNESCO declared it part of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The festival starts on March 1^st and last for 19 consecutive days with each day offering different traditional and non-traditional activities to do. But, before digging deeper into the festivities, it’s important to know the origin of Las Fallas. Las Fallas is an old carpenter’s tradition where the arrival of spring was celebrated by burning pieces of wood that were used to prop up lights during winter. Villagers gradually formed a wooden structure out of old belongings and rags  to create a ninot (an human effigy). After the mayor announces the start of the festival on the first day, loud fireworks explode. After March 15^th , the ninots are set up and the best ones are granted an award signifying that they will be burnt last. All the other ninots are burnt down on the last day of the festival, causing the whole city to light up. Like the other festival, interpretation and translation services play an important role for Las Fallas. Through interpreting services, the experience in Valencia becomes unforgettable, since you will get to hear first-hand about the thing you witness. Translation services on the other hand play a slightly different role.  To share in the Intangible Heritage of Humanity and its message with the world, translating important information about the festival is the best way to spread its appeal.

 

The Role of Localization Services

Just like the light used in the different festivals, translation and interpreting services are a way of communicating human emotions and ideas. Yet, in order to convey one’s message even more accurately, it is important to use localization services. Global localization and marketing translation services help organizations communicate effectively with their customers by by adapting content to fit specific cultural contexts. As a 30 year translation and localization veteran, Language Connections is uniquely positioned to help you succeed whether you are planning a global marketing campaign or even running a global festival.

 

 

 

Hispanic Heritage Month And The Importance Of Spanish Translation

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the many cultural contributions and rich history of the American Latino community and is taking place September 15 to October 15 of every year. What began as a week-long celebration in 1968 was later extended to a full month and  coincides with independence days in several Latin American countries including as Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Today, the Latino population in the United States stands at over 60 million which comprises almost 19% of the total population. Latinos continue to help fuel our economy and enrich our nation in many ways as entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, entertainers, scientists, public servants, and much more. Here are some language-related facts about the global Hispanic community and Spanish translation services:

 

The Spanish Language

Spanish is one of the most spoken languages in the world with an estimate of over 550 million native speakers in over 20 countries. Therefore, there is enormous demand for Spanish translation and interpreting services around the world. However, it is important to note that there are nearly 10 different Spanish dialects spoken throughout the world. Here are some of the more famous ones:

 

Dialects in Spain And Spanish Translation

The Castilian dialect is known as the original form of the Spanish language. Castilian, is used in the Iberian peninsula and compared to Latin American Spanish, you will hear ‘th’ sounds replacing softer ‘c’ sounds. Catalan and Basque are often mistaken as strictly Spanish dialects, however they are one of the official languages spoken in Andorra and by 2% of the country’s population in Northern Spain. Andalusian is another dialect used in southern Spain known for its frequent dropping of the ’s’ from the end of words. Murcian is becoming more and more rare and is similar to the Andalusian dialect. Llaniton on the other hand is unusual sounding and only spoken on Gibraltar.

 

Latin American Dialects And Spanish Translation

Latin America is home to several distinct Spanish dialects as well. In parts of Argentina and Uruguay, you can hear a lot of Rioplatese. Its name derives from the Rio de la Plata river running between these two countries. This dialect features words and phrases from French, German and English. The largest Spanish speaking country in the world is Mexico, with its own dialect having a very clear pronunciation and the usage of slang in day-to-day conversations. Columbian Spanish also has a very clear and soft pronunciation making it easy to understand.

 

The Importance Of Spanish Translation

Because of the incredible variation found within the Spanish language, interpreting and translation services have become crucial investments for globally-minded organizations. Website content, legal documents, marketing materials, and instruction manuals all require excellent English to Spanish translations. To ensure all members of the Spanish-speaking community can understand and access these materials, it’s important to only work with skilled Spanish localization services. Have a happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

 

 

How To Overcome The Challenges Of HR Translations

HR translations are often needed to facilitate internal communication between management and employees for your business. Clear communication helps shape your company’s culture and thus paves the way to outstanding business results. In an age of increased workplace diversity, it is important to invest in translation services for HR materials such as onboarding booklets, activity reports, job descriptions, meeting notes, employment contracts, and much more.

 

The Challenges Of HR Translations

Owning a company with a diverse workforce means having to translate your HR documents into multiple languages. This can cause a series of costly misunderstandings if not done accurately. Make sure your employees understand essential HR materials for your business to run flawlessly.

Here are some challenges you might encounter when translation needs arise for HR-related documents:

 

Linguistic Nuances And HR Translations

Linguistic nuances are some of the most familiar challenges HR translators face. For instance, when translating HR documents, dialects can pose significant challenges. Navigating dialects is tricky when translating  materials or providing interpreting services because their grammar and word usage varies. HR translators need to be familiar with different dialects to deliver high-quality services. Arabic, for example, is spoken in over 20 countries, and has a different version in each country. If proper attention is not paid to different dialects, word meanings can be misunderstood by employees who speak foreign languages, which can lead to dire consequences for companies operating in industries that emphasize safety, such as manufacturing.

Localization services are also essential when translating HR-related documents. Translators use the localization process to ensure that their translations align with local dialects, customs, and even legal regulations This process of adaptation is critical to making sure that nothing is lost in translation.

 

The Cultural Challenges Of HR Translations

Cultural challenges are just as difficult as linguistic challenges when it comes to business document translation services. Each country has its own way of conducting business. In most Asian countries, for instance, respect, value and hierarchy characterize business communication. Asian workers will typically wait for the person to finish talking before responding as a way of honoring their counterparts. Negative words such as “no“ are avoided since it’s considered disrespectful.

In Latin countries on the other hand, business is handled more openly. Emotions are respected and even encouraged allowing individuals to present their ideas from a subjective point of view using phrases such as “I feel that…“. Even though opinions are well-accepted, authority is still important. When it comes to disagreement between authority figures, it is important to present a viewpoint as an opinion rather than a form of disagreement.

U.S business culture is more outcome-oriented. Authority is shared among figures at various levels and anyone responsible is expected to speak up. Clarity is also important since the goal is to avoid confusion in the end. When it comes to feedback, the negative is often surrounded by the positive, which can make it difficult to some individuals to understand criticism.

Having many cultures represented at your company means your HR translators and interpreters need to be familiar with diverse communication styles to relay important information accordingly.

 

The Legal Requirements Impacting HR Translations

Labor law requirements have become increasingly employee-friendly, making it more challenging for businesses to keep pace with its requirements. The 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) created to ensure safe working conditions for employees, sets and enforces labor standards by requiring employers to provide training, outreach, education, and other forms of assistance. HR translators must understand this important regulation when dealing with safety-related documents. Safety manuals play a huge role in employee’ well-being. Therefore, it is important to ensure these are treated with extra care to avoid misinterpretations that violate employee rights and potentially harm your company’s reputation.

 

The Solution

The complexities of this task dictate that companies with HR translation needs should only hire skilled language service providers who have experience dealing with important HR documents.. This will save you time and money afterwards, and you will not have to worry about low-quality outcomes. HR communication translators are specially trained and certified to provide you and your employees with the best business document translations to make sure everyone in the company feels welcome and understood.