General Articles Archives - Language Connections

3 Extremely Rare Languages for the Business Interpreter

Any business interpreter who encounters these languages knows they’re dealing with a rarity. Let’s have a curious look at some awfully rare languages a corporate interpreter or translator may come across – or even use at work.

1. Basque: One of the Rarest Business Interpreter Languages

Spoken natively by a mere 750,000 people, Basque is the language of none other than the Basque Country. It’s worth noting that the Basque Country isn’t actually a country, but a region that mostly encompasses northern Spain and a small part of southwestern France.

Incredibly, no one knows the origin of the Basque language – so forget about etymology. Furthermore, with the cultural changes and political upheavals that took place in the region over time, Basque isn’t a language you would call “uniform”.

In the Spanish zone, there are two Basque dialects: Biscayan and Gipuzkoan. In the French zone, there’s another two: Navarrese-Lapurdian and Souletin.

In the interest of greater linguistic unity, the Royal Academy of the Basque Language created, in the 1960s, Euskara Batua, or Standard Basque. Today, it is the most widely used form in the Basque country, even though it draws mostly on the Gipuzkoan dialect.

2. Hawaiian

The Hawaiian language, along with English, is the official language of Hawai’i, with about 25,000 native speakers, out of 1.4 million residents. The only U.S. state located in Oceania, Hawaiian is a Polynesian language.

Massive historic supplantation for English resulted in the Hawaiian’s near-disappearance on six of the seven inhabited Hawaiian Islands. It was eventually declared an endangered language by UNESCO and continues to hold that status to this day.

The origins of Hawaiian lie in the languages of ancient maritime southeast Asian civilizations, dating all the way back to the prehistoric Lapita navigators. This explains why Hawaiian has high mutual intelligibility with other languages, like Marquesan, Tahitian, Samoan, and Tongan.

After becoming a U.S. state in 1959, Hawaii began to develop a tourism economy, hosting millions of tourists every year. In an attempt to conserve and cultivate Hawaiian language and culture, the Hawai’i State Constitutional Convention was founded in 1978.

3. Guarani

Guarani, a South American aboriginal tongue, is an official language in Paraguay, Bolivia, and the Corrientes province in Argentina, native to these countries and also to Brazil. With 6.5 million native speakers, it is the largest language on our list.

The primary variety is Paraguayan Guarani. In Paraguay, the majority of the population speaks Guarani. In fact, it is estimated that half of the rural Paraguayan demographic speaks it exclusively.

What makes Guarani special is that it is the only native American language that hasn’t given way to the European languages of the South American colonizers. It did, however, like the other languages in this list, see intense institutionalized repression throughout its history.

It wasn’t until the creation of Paraguay’s 1992 constitution that Guarani was formally recognized as a language equal to Spanish. However, to this day, Spanish is preferred for more formal situations, while Guarani is left for everyday life and creative spaces, including a rich literature.

Languages Are a Bridge to the World For the Business Interpreter

Learning a new language for fun or for the purpose of becoming a business interpreter or translator means creating a new possible connection between groups and organizations. Come learn about exciting opportunities at Language Connections, where you can either find corporate translation services, conference interpreting services, or learn about how to become a company interpreter.

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About Language Connections:

Language Connections is one of the top language service companies in the US. Over the last 30 years, we’ve focused on providing the best business translation services, interpreting services, localization services, as well as interpreter training and customized language training programs. In addition to top-tier corporate language training, we offer certified corporate interpreters and professional business translation services in 200+ languages. Our network includes linguists with backgrounds in all major industries. They’re ready to meet your needs, whether they’re for technical translation services, legal translation, government translation services, international development translation services, education translation services, life sciences translation, or something else. Reach out to us today for a free quote on our cost-efficient and timely translation services, interpreters, or other linguistic services.

Language Connections Inc.
2001 Beacon Street, Suite 105,
Boston, MA 02135
Phone: +1-617-731-3510
Email: service@languageconnections.com

5 Fascinating Animals From Around the World for The Corporate Interpreter

The world is home to millions of different animals, but some species greatly stand out from the rest. In order for species’ to survive they must be able to protect themselves and obtain food. As a result over thousands of years animals gradually evolve special attributes that enhance their chances of survival. The changes that take place are unique to each species and depend on many different factors such as their environment, size, predators, food, ect. Here is a list of five animals from around the world that any corporate interpreter would find fascinating.

1. Glass Frog

Located in the rainforests of North and South America the Glass Frog is one of the coolest looking animals in the world. From the top, any corporate interpreter would think this animal looks like a normal tree frog, however, from the bottom it is completely translucent. Its entire abdominal layer is completely see through revealing its stomach, heart, intestines, and liver to anything underneath. This adaptation helps conceal the frog at night time which is its primary hunting time.

2. Angler Fish

If you have ever seen Finding Nemo you will probably know exactly what the Anglerfish looks like. This is definitely one of the most terrifying looking animals on the planet and would frighten even the toughest corporate interpreter. Although they are small, primarily only reaching lengths up to 1 foot, the Anglerfish has adapted to survive in the depths of the ocean. The most notable adaptation is its “photophore.” The photophore is the elongated dorsal spine that hangs over the fishs’ head and produces bioluminescent light. The light helps the Anglerfish maneuver in the darkness of the deep ocean and also draws scarce prey towards it and its gaping mouth of long sharp teeth.

3. Mantis Shrimp

Despite being only eight to ten inches long and looking like large harmless shrimp, the mantis shrimp possesses the fastest and pound for pound most powerful strike of any animal in the world. Being so tiny and living in the ocean, home to the largest animals on the planet, the Mantis Shrimp had to adapt to survive. On the front of their belly are two “hammer claws” that operate like spring loaded hammers. They can strike at 335,000 ft/s2 and generate 1,500 newtons of power. The mantis shrimp strike is so powerful that its strike can cause deep gashes in the skin of full grown humans even through diving gear. If you are a corporate interpreter you do not want to mistake this animal for the common shrimp.

4. Orchid Mantis

I’m certain that zoologists and corporate interpreters alike would consider this animal the most beautiful animal on this list and probably one of the most beautiful insects in the world. Structured like any praying mantis the orchid mantis features four walking legs, two front mandibles, and a triangular shaped head, however, it is not the stereotypical green color of most other mantis’. Orchid Mantis’ have adapted to look exactly like orchid flowers. They are bright pink, purple, and white colored and actually possess thin protrusions that resemble orchid flower leafs. Praying mantis’ need to be close to their prey in order to capture it in their front mandibles, so as a result, the orchid mantis has developed this appearance to help them blend in with flowers which their prey lands on so they can reach just far enough to get a meal.

5. Honey Badger

The honey badger is a small mammal that reaches sizes of 3 feet in length and weights of up to 35 pounds. The honey badger doesn’t have a light over its head, doesn’t look like a flower, and does not have the most powerful strike per weight in the animal kingdom, however, the honey badger is on this list for being one of the most badass animals on the planet. The honey badger lives in Africa, Southwest Asia, and India, which are all known for their expansive list of large and deadly predators such as lions, leopards, hyenas, ect. You would think that when a honey badger encounters these far larger and deadlier animals it would run away, however, honey badgers are notorious for their unparalleled aggressiveness. Honey badgers attack lions, hyenas, and leopards and seemingly back down to no one. Even a fully grown corporate interpreter would not intimidate these creatures.

Just as these fascinating animals have had to adapt to survive, companies in today’s extremely volatile market have to adapt and evolve unique attributes that keep them growing. Here at Language Connections we have over 30 years of experience integrating companies into foreign markets with the help of professional linguistics services such as professional language training, professional website localization, and professional interpreting.

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About Language Connections:

Language Connections Inc.
2001 Beacon Street, Suite 105,
Boston, MA 02135
Phone: +1-617-731-3510
Email: service@languageconnections.com

3 Biggest E-Commerce Countries In The World Ripe For Website Localization

E-Commerce has revolutionized the way companies do business. Companies are now able to sell their products all over the world from one centralized location, which has made some companies extremely powerful, causing a rapid shift towards online retail. However, to be successful in e-commerce you need to seamlessly adopt the language and cultural nuances of foreign market. This can be extremely difficult and requires professional website localization services to be done effectively. Website localization helps to ensure that foreign consumers not only see and understand what your product is, but are also able to relate to it and like it. With that being said, here are the three biggest e-commerce markets in the world that your company should expand into.

1. China

No real surprise here, China has, by far, the largest e-commerce market in the world. With global e-commerce giants like Alibaba, Taobao, Tmall, and many more, China has an estimated $672 billion in yearly sales. Additionally, China has the highest percentage of retail sales coming from online stores with 15.9%. In China, online sales are only trending upward and your company should consider tapping into this market with the help of an experienced professional linguistics services company and professional website localization.

2. United States

In number two is the United States, which surprisingly only has half the amount of online sales as China. The United States has an estimated $340 billions dollars in online retail sales each year which account for around 7.5% of their total retail sales. Home to Jeff Bezos’ Amazon, the most valuable company in the world, the United States looks like it could be catching up to China in the coming years. Website localization and other software localization services into the United States could be a huge move for your company.

3. United Kingdom

Drastically dropping off from the amount of online sales China and the United States produce each year is number three on the list, the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom produces around $99 billion dollars in online sales each year which is around 14.5% of their total retail sales each year. However, proportionally, for the size of their population the United Kingdom produces larger sales than both China and the United States. While the United Kingdom’s e-commerce market is vastly smaller than China’s and the United States’ it is still the third largest in the world and far more lucrative per person who lives there. The United Kingdom could be a great choice for website localization and even professional language training for your company.

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About Language Connections:

Language Connections Inc.
2001 Beacon Street, Suite 105,
Boston, MA 02135
Phone: +1-617-731-3510
Email: service@languageconnections.com

3 Ways Legal Document Translation Can Save Your Company Millions

Possibly the most complex and costly aspect of business is ensuring that your company adheres to the laws and regulations of your local government. Additionally, the complexity and price of legal affairs only compounds when your company is operating within foreign markets that possess different sets of rules and guidelines that must be followed. Here are three ways professional legal document translation can save your company millions of dollars in legality issues.

1. Legal Document Translation Helps Your Company Avoid Breaking Government Laws

When crossing borders and operating in foreign countries, it is essential that your company evaluates the laws of your target country. Countries greatly differ in rules and regulations, especially when it comes to business. There are hundreds of nuances when it comes to taxes, distribution, pricing, marketing, ect., that vary from country to country. Something that is perfectly acceptable in one country could be extremely illegal in another. Because of this, if you do not use professional translation services and use a team of translators to translate the legal documents for business operations in a foreign country, you essentially go in blind and risk running into many issues that will cost your company millions of dollars down the road.

2. Legal Document Translation Helps Diminish Lawsuits From Other Companies and Employees

Additionally, just as important as it is for your company to be able to read the laws of your foreign market, it is also vital that your company translates and professionally localizes your personal documents into the languages of your foreign markets. Miscommunication between and within companies is extremely easy when there are varieties of languages and cultures. Because of this, foreign employees and foreign competitors are far more likely to develop animosity towards your company if they feel they are being mistreated. This could result in hundreds of lawsuits directed at your company which could be detrimental to your success.

3. Legal Document Translation Is Essential When Facing Foreign Legality Issues

In the event that your company does face legal issues from either the government, other companies, or foreign employees, legal document translation is essential to your company’s success in court. Your company needs to be able to understand the lawsuits and the issues at hand and be able to effectively communicate with the plaintiff. Without a solid team of legal document translators to translate and professionally interpret foreign legality issues could drag on for years draining your company in time, money, and attention.

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About Language Connections:

Language Connections Inc.
2001 Beacon Street, Suite 105,
Boston, MA 02135
Phone: +1-617-731-3510
Email: service@languageconnections.com

3 Most Populated Cities in the World That Even the Business Interpreter Couldn’t Handle

Do you ever find yourself sitting in traffic getting frustrated and impatient? Or are you late to work because the line was out the door of your morning coffee stop? You may be caught up in thinking that there are way too many people living in your city and there just isn’t enough space and resources to support you all. Well, unless you live in one of the places below, you have no reason to complain. Here is a list of the three most populated cities in the world that even the business interpreter couldn’t handle.

3. Shanghai, China

Located on the eastern coast of China, is China’s largest and most populated city, Shanghai. Even though Shanghai is less than half the size of Beijing it is home to more than 7 million people with a population of 27.8 million. Being one of the world’s main financial hubs, Shanghai features a dense skyline full of large skyscrapers, the tallest of which is the Shanghai Tower, whose scale could shock any business interpreter. The Shanghai tower stands at 2,073 feet tall and is the second tallest building in the world.

2. Delhi, India

Delhi is within national capital territory and is located in the northern part of India. Although Delhi is the second most populated city on this list, it is the most densely populated city on the list, with 29.4 million people living in just 573mi2. There are so many people living in Delhi that they have completely given up on having organized streets and freeways. Cars, motorcycles, bikes, and walking pedestrians all converge into one large mass on the roads. Fascinating enough it seems to work and people are able to merge into small openings to get where they need to go without getting hit. The amount of time it takes people to get to their destinations however, is a completely different problem and would definitely not help the business interpreter get to work on time.

1. Tokyo, Japan

The current most populated city in the world is Tokyo, located in east Japan. Most business interpreters may know Tokyo by its thousands of huge electronic screens that appear to single handedly light up the city in bright neon colors, but Tokyo’s main spectacle is it’s GDP. Tokyo is the richest city in the world with a GDP of 1.5 trillion dollars, which makes it number 13 on a list between all of the countries.

From a business interpreters’ perspective living in a city with this many people may seem impossible, but the millions of residents within these countries all work to create a unique living experience that you couldn’t get anywhere else in the world. Because there are so many people in these cities, there’s an abundance of shops and stores. You could live life in your own bubble, not needing to travel far to get what you need while still being able to meet new people. If you do want to travel to one of these cities it is important that you at least educate yourself on the language and the unique culture of your destination. At Language Connections we have over 30 years of experience providing professional language training to help you learn any language. Additionally, we provide interpreting services and translation services that can keep you or any fellow member of your company safe when traveling to a foreign country.

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About Language Connections:

Language Connections Inc.
2001 Beacon Street, Suite 105,
Boston, MA 02135
Phone: +1-617-731-3510
Email: service@languageconnections.com

5 Happiest Countries In The World For the Stressed Corporate Interpreter

With summer coming to an end you may be eagerly awaiting your upcoming holiday break time. Especially after this year and a half with COVID-19 reluctantly in our lives, it is essential that you use this time to reset and put yourself in environments that are going to ease stress and make you happy. Since we have your best interests at heart over here at Language Connections, we decided to compile a list of the 5 happiest countries in the world that could be the perfect fit for the stressed corporate interpreter.

5. Netherlands

Located on the western coast of Europe and bordering the North Sea, Netherlands is one of the smaller countries in Europe with a square area of 16,040 mi2 and a population of 17.28 million. Not only is the Netherlands home to beautiful beaches, but it also has a moderate climate that ranges between 34 degrees and 64 degrees fahrenheit throughout the year. No wonder the Netherlands found its way on this list, I mean who wouldn’t be happy being able to wear a light coat and pants all year round. That luxury is something a corporate interpreter could only dream of.

4. Iceland

Similar to the Netherlands, Iceland also features a moderate climate of lows of 41 and highs of 77 that definitely makes the citizens happy. However, it is Iceland’s nature that a corporate interpreter would love and is primarily responsible for it being the fourth happiest country in the world. Iceland features huge fields of luscious untouched plush green land ingrained with beautiful streams and large cascading waterfalls. Not to mention Iceland’s plethora of natural hot springs that have special healing properties.

3. Switzerland

Another European country, Switzerland, is the third happiest country in the world. Most likely because of the fact that Switzerland takes the idea of democracy to a whole new level. Switzerland practices a direct democracy which means the citizens vote on pretty much anything and everything that affects their lives. From health care issues to how many vacation days workers get, Swiss people seem to have complete control over their lives. I think it’s safe to say that a Swiss corporate interpreter would have plenty of time to visit the rest of the countries on this list.

2. Denmark

In this country the biking culture rivals that of a west coast American College’s campus. No but seriously, in Denmark few people drive. Not only do bikes help citizens of Denmark stay healthy which adds to their happiness, but Denmark is also one of the most eco-friendly countries in the world. This collective effort towards the common good of the planet must feel great and is most likely why Denmark’s citizens, even if they’re a corporate interpreter, are so happy.

1. Finland

From 2017 to the present, Finland has been the world’s happiest country. If you are a corporate interpreter, you may be wondering, what could make a country so dominant at having the happiest citizens? Well the simple answer to that is Finland provides a lot of luxuries and freedoms to their citizens. Finland covers the health, wealth, and education of all of their citizens with a well established welfare system, free universal healthcare, and free high-quality education. Even the criminals in Finland are supported by the government. Finland has open prisons where prisoners live in dormitories and are allowed to come and go throughout the day in their own vehicles.

Interestingly all five of the happiest countries in the world are located in Europe. I think that makes it safe to say that if you are a corporate interpreter looking for the perfect place to surround yourself with happy people and a stressless environment, you know where to go. At Language Connections we have over 30 years of experience providing professional language training services if you or any members of your company decide you need to surround yourself with happiness. If visiting isn’t enough and you and your company decide to move to one of these countries, we provide localization services that can help you seamlessly transition into one of these markets.

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About Language Connections:

Language Connections Inc.
2001 Beacon Street, Suite 105,
Boston, MA 02135
Phone: +1-617-731-3510
Email: service@languageconnections.com

3 Ways Medical Device Localization Can Greatly Help the World

No matter where you are in the world, there is always going to be sickness and injury present. Whether it be due to unhealthy living conditions or even car accidents, an inevitable part of human life is pain, suffering, and death. However, because it is natural for humans to face these problems, we allocate a large amount of time and resources to the development of products that help to resolve and reduce them. Medical devices have the ability to greatly benefit the human race, however, without the localization of these devices, their potential is stunted. Here are three ways medical device localization can greatly help the world.

1. Medical Device Localization Can Help Save Lives

Because illnesses and injuries are an innate part of human life they occur in all parts of the world. Whether it be in the United States or a small town in the Philippines, there is going to be hurt people where a medical device could offer great aid. However, in order for medical devices to be as effective as possible, it is essential that they are completely accessible and understandable by the local citizens, otherwise citizens may not know how to get and use the medical device. Medical device localization will help ensure that the medical device’s instructions/guidelines undergo professional translation services and the product is seamlessly adapted to the language, culture, and infrastructure of the target location, making sure that the people in need will be able to effectively use it.

2. Medical Device Localization Can Help Countries’ Economy

The healthier and more capable a person is, the more work they will be able to do. Therefore a country with a lesser amount of sick and hurt people will have larger amounts of output than a country that has a greater amount of people who need to be cared for. Medical device localization helps to decrease the amount of sick people a country has. If a medical device is distributed and goes through professional localization, lives are going to be saved and restored to greater levels of health. Previously unhealthy citizens will be able to return to their work, increasing the economic output for their country and decreasing the overall input to health services and helping their sick citizens.

3. Medical Device Localization Can Help Improve World Relations

The quality and accessibility of healthcare for the general population varies greatly from country to country. Unfortunately this means that some countries face many greater dangers from diseases and injuries than others in more privileged countries. It is because of this inequality that some countries run rampant with disease and injuries which threaten their infrastructure to such an extent that they are completely blocked off from the rest of the world. Tourists are not able to travel to their country, prohibiting the world from learning about their culture and meeting their people. As we all know, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries have been pretty much isolated from the rest of the world. Nobody has been able to leave their own country. Tourism was completely stopped and the only access we had to other countries was through the internet. This is an issue because physical interaction, even through a tour guide’s professional interpreting services, is vital to creating a relationship. Befriending people from other countries can have a great impact on how people view other countries and the world. Medical device localization can help to improve the health, economy, and infrastructure of countries which in turn will make it possible for greater amounts of foreign communication and healthier world relations as a whole.

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About Language Connections:

Language Connections Inc.
2001 Beacon Street, Suite 105,
Boston, MA 02135
Phone: +1-617-731-3510
Email: service@languageconnections.com

3 More Bizarre Sports From Around The World That Will Shock The Business Interpreter

Since “4 Bizarre Sports From Around The World That Will Make Even The Business Interpreter Question What a Sport Even Is” was so popular, we decided to make a second part. Here is a list of three more bizarre sports from around the world that will leave even a business interpreter shocked.

1. Chess Boxing

Chess boxing may be the ideal sport for an intelligent, but temperamental business interpreter. Popular in Germany, India, Russia, and the United Kingdom, chess boxing was originally developed by a French comic book artist and a dutch performance artist. As the name suggests, chess boxing is a mixture of chess and boxing. Matches consist of 11 three minute rounds that alternate between chess and boxing with a one minute break in between each round. Players begin and end the match with rounds of chess and are allowed a total of nine minutes on the board. The rules of this sport adhere to the rules of traditional chess and boxing, a player can win by a knockout or technical knockout in the boxing ring, or a checkmate on the chess board. Additionally, you can lose by exceeding the allotted nine minutes you have to make your chess moves. If the match ends in a draw on the chess board, an additional round of boxing takes place to decide the winner. After this round of boxing, if there has been no knockout, a final ruling goes to the scorecards of the boxing match to see who has scored the most points and won.

2. Ostrich Racing

A sport that you’d likely only imagine seeing in movies, let alone think was legal, ostrich racing originated in Africa and is now common in South Africa and parts of the United States of America. Ostrich racing is something of a mixture of bull riding and horse racing. Men ride on the backs of the 300 pound birds to see who can win a straight away race on a dirt/mud track. Generally, this sport is not about which pair is the fastest but rather a competition on who can make sure they keep their ostrich going straight towards the finish line. Races often end with a majority of the field being thrown to the ground by the spastic and volatile movements of these animals. To the spectators’ delight, after the race is finished is another sport in itself. Rodeo clowns use plastic fences and their own bodies to strategically funnel the confused birds into a trailer. Ostrich racing could definitely be a sport the business interpreter would enjoy.

3. Bossaball

What do you think you would get if a group of business interpreters commandeered a child’s birthday party? It would probably end up being something like bossaball. This unique sport originated in Spain, but is rapidly growing and is now played in over 20 countries. Bossaball is a team sport played between two teams of four players. It combines aspects of volleyball, soccer, gymnastics, and dancing to music. Matches are played on an inflatable court with a net in the middle separating the teams and two trampolines on either side. Players compete to hit the ball over the net and into the ground of the opponent’s side. Each team is only allowed to touch the ball five times in each possession and must have one football touch each possession. A football touch allows the player two consecutive touches and is done by any part of the body minus the arms or hands. The other touch allowed is a volley touch, which is any touch done with the arms or hands and must be an immediate pass to another teammate or back over the net to the opposing team. Matches are played best of three sets each up to 21 points. Points are scored in a multitude of different ways with different ways of scoring providing different values of points. A team can score with the easier volley touch and receive a point, or three, depending on whether they hit the ball into their opponent’s trampoline. Teams can also score with the more difficult football touch which gains the team a minimum of three points and a maximum of five if the ball lands in the opponent’s trampoline area.

It is fascinating to see how these different sports not only are played but are integrated in the cultures of their home counties. Being a linguistics services company, at Language Connections it is our job to not only understand the various cultural nuances specific to different countries, but provide services to help companies expand into foreign markets. We offer professional interpreting, professional translation services, and professional localization services that can be exactly what your company needs to develop your foreign operations.

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About Language Connections:

Language Connections Inc.
2001 Beacon Street, Suite 105,
Boston, MA 02135
Phone: +1-617-731-3510
Email: service@languageconnections.com

3 Reasons Why International Translation Services Can Benefit Your Company

In modern society, the internet is being rapidly integrated into more and more areas of our lives. Not only have these developments revolutionized our day to day lives, but they have also changed the way companies can do business. The internet gives companies the ability to fully operate anywhere in the world from one central location. By using international translation services your company will be able to effectively capitalize on the full potential of online services.

International Translation Services Can Help Your Company Increase Revenue

The more people your company can effectively communicate with, the more potential customers your company has. The internet has given companies a way to perform global outreach to contact potential customers, but because these customers are from virtually anywhere in the world, effective communication will not be possible without translation services, interpretation services, and localization services to convert messages into various languages. International translation service providers have teams of professional translators and interpreters that are not only native speakers, but understand the various cultural nuances of your target market. With international translation services your company will be able to communicate with any foreign contact greatly increasing the chances of converting them to buying your product or service.

International Translation Services Protect Against Competitors

The internet has created tremendous potential for rapid company growth. Regardless of the industry, more and more companies are adopting a hybrid or completely online approach. Assuming your competitors are able to successfully transition online, they are going to rapidly grow in size and power, which could be extremely dangerous for the survival of your company. International translation services can help ensure that your company is able to effectively utilize global outreach and not lose any positioning in your market.

International Translation Services Help Facilitate Stronger Customer Loyalty

Companies with a global outreach have a large amount of customers, but the majority of them have little to no investment in the company itself. In competitive markets and industries where there are not huge differences between your companies products and services and your competitors’, something as simple as a decreasing prices could sway your customers to choosing a competitor. Building customer loyalty prevents this vulnerability. Customers are far more likely to stay with a brand that they feel a strong connection to, which can be formed through amazing customer service. When operating globally, international translation services can not only help you communicate with foreign customers, but do so using the various cultural nuances that can help form a friendly relationship. Governments working can also invest in government translation services from a skilled government translation provider to aid their efforts to reach out to members of different language groups.

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About Language Connections:

Language Connections Inc.
2001 Beacon Street, Suite 105,
Boston, MA 02135
Phone: +1-617-731-3510
Email: service@languageconnections.com

4 Bizarre Sports From Around The World That Will Make Even The Business Interpreter Question What a Sport Even Is

With the 2020 Olympic Games recently coming to a conclusion in Tokyo, it is likely that you have been surprised and confused by the obscurity of some of the events featured in the Olympics this year. Five new sports debuted this summer and while 3×3 basketball and sport climbing may shock you as being professional global sports, here is a list of four bizarre sports from around the world that will leave a world traveler or a business interpreter alike questioning what a sport even is.

1. Calcio Fiorteino

Like many of the other sports on this list, Calcio Fiorteino combines different aspects of various popular mainstream sports, but filters out their practicality. This sport, which may be too violent for the business interpreter, was conceptualized in the middle ages and has seemingly not seen any rule changes since. By far the most brutal and violent sport on the list, Calcio Fiorentino is a combination of soccer (football), rugby, and MMA, with an emphasis on rugby and MMA. It features two teams of 27 players, with no substitutions and no breaks unless you are injured or kicked out of the game for breaking one of the two rules; no head kicks and no teaming up on an opponent. Matches are 50 minutes long and played on a gigantic dirt field 109 yards by 55 yards. The field is divided in half by a white line and framed by two goals that cover the width of each side of the field. In this game players run around and try to incapacitate as many opponents as possible using punching, kicking, tripping, and wrestling. Once one team sees that they have enough opponent defenders in submission they go on the attack carrying a soccer ball towards the opponents goal. Teams are awarded one point or a “caccia” for either kicking or throwing the ball into their opponents goal and half of a caccia for missing the goal.

2. Tejo (Turmequé)

Our next sport is similar to the popular American game of corn hole, but with an explosive twist. Tejo, also known as Turmequé, is an extremely popular sport in Colombia. This sport can be played with teams, but involves a single player at a time throwing a metal puck (tejo) across a 20 yard lane. The object of this sport is to get your puck as close to the target, which is a pipe positioned in the center of the table across the court. Tables are set up at a 45 degree angle, with wooden framing, and filled with clay. The target is positioned in the center is a pipe and a “mecha.” Mechas are often brightly colored triangular exploding targets that contain gunpowder and explode upon impact of being hit by a player. Generally, games are played to 27 points and follow a standard point structure. If nobody hits the target for the round, the player whose tejo was closest to the mecha get’s one point. Three points are awarded for exploding the mecha, six points for landing your tejo inside the target/pipe area, and a maximum of nine points for both exploding the mecha and landing your tejo in the target.

3. Kabaddi

As a business interpreter, do you ever wish that tag wasn’t only socially acceptable for kids to play? Well maybe you should look into Kabaddi. Popular in India and various surrounding Asian countries, Kabaddi is a high contact tagging sport. This sport is traditionally played on a 33ft by 43ft indoor court. It consists of two 20 minute halves played by two teams of seven players each. The object of this sport is for an offensive player of a team, their “raider,” to run into the opponent’s half and tag as many players as possible and return to their half without being tagged or tackled. As if it wasn’t bizarre enough for grown men to be playing tag, in order for the raider’s tags to count they must successfully tag their opponents and re-enter their side of the court in a single breath. Teams are awarded one point for each successful opponent tagged and also for each opponent raider tagged or tackled. Assuming the raider is tagged or tackled while attacking, they are taken out of the game until their team is able to score a point or take one of their opponents out of the game.

4. Sepak Takraw

Developed in Malaysia in the 1960’s, Sepak Takraw is an extremely popular sport amongst various countries in Asia. Sepak Takraw is a spectacle to watch and seemingly features real life ninjas for players. Games are played by two teams of four players each on a small rectangular court with a net separating the two halves. This sport is a combination of soccer (football) and volleyball. It features a low hanging net in the middle of the court that the two teams use to kick a small plastic ball over on either side. Games are played best of three sets and each set is played up to 21 points. Similar to volleyball, the main avenue for scoring a point is by hitting the ball to the floor of your opponent’s half of the court. Points are also awarded to teams when the opponents miss two serves and cannot return the ball back to the other team within the boundaries of the court.

Although these sports are not as refined or practical as the world’s most prominent sports today, they are some of these countries’ main forms of entertainment. Sports are continuously developing and taking on different forms and combinations. While I doubt there is much hope for Calcio Fiorteino, maybe we’ll see Sepak Takraw, Kabaddi, or Tejo in the Olympics one day. Who knows? One thing is for certain however, as these sports exemplify, every country possesses a unique culture that could offer a wide range of opportunities in your industry and for your company. At Language Connections it is our goal to provide professional translation services, interpreting services, and even language training to help ensure that your company doesn’t face any linguistic barriers when conducting business. Whether you need a business interpreter or a professional translator Language Connections will be there to help.

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