3 Moments Where Conference Interpreting Changed History
Interpreting as a profession has existed since time immemorial; archeological and other historical evidence shows that even in ancient Mesopotamia interpreters were used in diplomatic proceedings. The 20th century, however, ushered in the era of conference interpreting. Beginning with the Paris Peace Conference (1919) and the founding of the League of Nations, consecutive and simultaneous interpretation became necessary as official proceedings and other diplomatic events needed to be interpreted in multiple languages. Professional interpreting has now become the norm, as opposed to the ad hoc interpreting done before the 20th century. The following examples show how conference interpreting impacted key historical events in the past century.
Conference Interpreting At The Paris Peace Conference Of 1919
The Treaty of Versailles that ended the First World War was born out of the Paris Peace Conference. This conference is generally accepted as the first time consecutive interpreting services were used. A wide range of countries participated at the peace conference, with the five major states being the United States, Great Britain, France, Italy, and Japan (these being the victorious Allied powers). Because of the multitude of languages present at the conference, a more formal interpreting service had to be provided. Consecutive interpreting was performed by interpreters working for individual politicians and diplomatic delegations. Prior to this event, there were no professional interpreting services that could be hired. Once the conference was over and the League of Nations was born, it was understood that a new type of formal interpreting was needed.
Simultaneous Interpreting and the Nuremberg Trials
Although the technology for simultaneous interpreting was developed during the interwar period, the first time it was used in a formal setting was during the Nuremberg Trials. The official languages of the trial were English, French, Russian, and German; the defendants were granted the right to speak and listen to the proceedings in their native language. The organizers of the trial were concerned that consecutive interpreting would take too much time and drag out the proceedings. Therefore, they implemented a new mode of interpreting: simultaneous interpretation. Interpreters were split into four sections, with each section containing three interpreters. This way, the whole trial was simultaneously interpreted into the four official languages. After the trial was finished, the judges, some of whom were skeptical of the arrangement, all agreed that it would have been impossible to proceed with the trial without the use of simultaneous interpretation.
Conference Interpreting Today
Conference Interpreting continues to play an important role on the international stage. Interpreting has come a long way since the days of the Nuremberg Trials; many different interpreting companies exist today that provide professional interpreting services, including simultaneous remote interpreting services. The UN would not be able to operate under its current conditions without the use of modern simultaneous conference interpreting. In the age of lighting fast communications, the importance of these interpreting services cannot be understated.
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, 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 LLC
2001 Beacon Street, Suite 105,
Boston, MA 02135
Phone: +1-617-731-3510
Email: service@languageconnections.com
How Interpreting Services Have Changed at the Olympics
Every two years, the world’s attention is centered around the Summer and Winter Olympic games. Since the debut of the modern Olympic Games in 1896, these competitions have showcased the very best of humanity’s athletic achievement. Because of the multinational nature of these events, interpreting and translation services play an important role in the logistical planning of the Games. The nature of these services has changed over the years. While conventional interpreting services are still used, there has been an ongoing shift to use more cutting-edge AI and machine translation.
The First Interpreting Services At The Games
In previous Olympic Games, most of the language interpreting was performed in the traditional way. While communication technology has drastically improved over the years, the modes of interpreting have generally remained the same. For the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics, many different types of interpreters were hired; interpreters with more professional experience were hired for simultaneous interpretation and consecutive interpreting. In addition, conference interpreters were used for press conferences after events, medal ceremonies, and other official proceedings. Hundreds of volunteers were used as liaison interpreters, helping athletes and staff in day-to-day activities. At the 2016 Rio Games, thousands of volunteers were hired to help in a similar way. These volunteer interpreters were vital to the overall effort to make the Games run smoothly.
The Changing Face Of Interpreting Services At The Olympics
While the main professional interpreting services were present at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the currently ongoing 2022 Beijing Olympics, AI and machine interpreting are playing an increasingly larger role. In the last few years, software companies have been working on developing better systems and platforms for machine translation and remote interpreting services. Japanese tech giant Panasonic teamed up with an accelerator, 100BANCH, to create a prototype AI translator, called the “Fukidashi”. This iPad-like device provides simultaneous interpreting for users. While not implemented on a widespread level, these devices helped bridge language barriers for athletes, staff, and visitors to Tokyo.
Interpreting Services at the 2022 Winter Olympics
In Beijing, automated translation is being taken to a new level. iFLYTEK, a Chinese translation service company, was designated as the official translator of the Games. It is telling that this designation was not given to a standard interpreting company, but rather to a company that specializes in voice recognition and AI translation/interpreting. For the 2022 games, iFLYTEK debuted its AI news anchor, “Xiaoqing”, to help with translations. Xiaoqing provides translations in five different languages and can transition between them in real-time. The use of AI and machine interpreting is all but assured in future Olympic Games as the technology becomes more advanced and reliable.
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, 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 LLC
2001 Beacon Street, Suite 105,
Boston, MA 02135
Phone: +1-617-731-3510
Email: service@languageconnections.com
3 Ways Translation Agencies Will Play a Big Role at the 2022 Olympics
The 2022 Winter Olympics are set to begin in Beijing on February 4th. Countries all over the world are preparing to send their teams to compete at the most prestigious quadrennial sports competition. Language is always an important logistical concern whenever such large international events occur. Athletes, support staff, and other personnel from practically every single country on Earth will be arriving in Beijing, and they will need translation services and interpreting services to help them get by in China. Because of the sheer volume of people and services needed, translation agencies will play a vital role at this year’s Olympic games.
Translation Agencies Will Provide Support To All Athletes
One of the most important ways translation agencies will help at the Olympics is through logistical support. iFLYTEK, a Chinese translation service company that also specializes in voice recognition, has been designated as the “Official Automated Translation Software Exclusive Supplier of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics”. iFLYTEK also provided translation services at the Tokyo Summer Olympics. The company has announced that it will be providing 20 smart translators to be used at the Beijing Capital International Airport, effectively providing real time simultaneous interpretation to travelers entering Beijing. As this is the only airport that will be used for the games, these translators will be immensely useful for travelers entering and leaving Beijing, especially when dealing with customs and border officials.
Translation Agencies Will Help Break Down Language Barriers
Translation agencies’ main job will be to provide interpreting and translating services for the duration of the games. iFLYTEK, the official translator of the event, is planning on using its new AI news anchor, “Xiaoqing”, to help with translation. This AI can deliver English, French, Russian, Mandarin, and Spanish translation with seamless transitioning between them. In addition, hundreds of interpreters from various translation and interpreting service companies will provide translation and interpreting services in an effort to bridge language barriers so fans and sports enthusiasts around the world can tune in and enjoy the feats of sportsmanship and athleticism.
Translation Agencies And Controversy
Because of the location of this year’s Olympic Games, controversy has spilled into a seemingly uncontroversial industry–specifically, the translation agency “iFLYTEK”, and its ties to the Chinese Communist Party and its role in the Chinese surveillance state. The United States has blacklisted iFLYTEK, alleging that the Chinese government is using iFLYTEK’s AI technology to spy on Uyghur Muslims. The US further accuses the Chinese government of using iFLYTEK’s interpreting services and voice recognition technology to help assist the CCP’s campaign against the Uyghurs. iFLYTEK received the award of “AI Champion” by the Chinese government, further cementing the allegations of close ties between the company and China’s Communist Party.
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, 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 LLC
2001 Beacon Street, Suite 105,
Boston, MA 02135
Phone: +1-617-731-3510
Email: service@languageconnections.com
5 International Translation Services Careers With A Promising Future
In a world defined by the exponential growth of technology, one should rightfully ask themselves what career paths have a more promising future. With the rise of automation, one wonders what are the remaining positions that will need an actual person to perform in the future. Even if some fields present more opportunities than others, the translation and interpretation fields are a great option that offers a variety of experiences with companies from different industries.
Given that the language field is very diverse, one can easily involve other areas like law or medicine while still having to deal with linguistics. This diversity implements a wide range of concrete career paths attached to international translation services.
For this purpose, 5 promising language-oriented careers are suggested below:
1. Translator in the International Translation Services Industry
We are all familiar with online translation devices like Google Translate or Reverso. Though they may be practical for translating small sentences, they cannot replace a professional translator when it comes to more complex work like academic translation or contract translation. As a translator, you can work in different sectors such as legal departments, the financial sector, or even medical services (e.g. clinical research translation) is always in demand).
2. Interpreting For The International Translation Services Industry
Just like a translator, an interpreter chooses a specific area to work in. If you like helping people, interpreters are needed for social services and in the healthcare department. Working in these areas not only gives you experience as an interpreter, but also gives you a unique look at the department you work in (e.g immigration, retirement homes…). Additionally, interpreters are highly demanded in marketing. As more and more start-ups open up, it is common to be in need of a corporate interpreter once business takes off.
3. Localizer For The International Translation Services Industry
Becoming a localizer is the perfect middle-ground between translation and localization. Localization refers to the process by which content is adapted to a target region. The expansion of digitization around the word makes localization crucial for content to be adapted for everyone in order for business to expand. As more and more business happens online, SEO translation is crucial and so are localizers for that matter.
4. Language Teacher For The International Translation Services Industry
Contrary to popular belief, teachers will be needed for quite a long time whether classes happen online or in-person. Elearning is becoming very popular but language teachers are often needed to promote second language learning. In addition, when learning occurs online, the situation frequently requires elearning translation and elearning localization. Thus, if your career path is oriented towards education, you can be a language teacher but also an elearning translator or an elearning localizer.
5. Computational Linguist For the International Translation Services Industry
If you are torn between IT and the language field, becoming a computational linguist might be a perfect fit for you. A computational linguist works within the field of computer science by managing oral and written language. As a computational linguist, you develop digital devices to help translators and localizers.
To summarize, the language field is so broad that it brings many job positions always in demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, demand for interpreters and translators will increase by 24% by 2030.
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, 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 LLC
2001 Beacon Street, Suite 105,
Boston, MA 02135
Phone: +1-617-731-3510
Email: service@languageconnections.com
5 International Thanksgiving Celebrations For the Interpreter to Enjoy
It’s Thanksgiving. Which means it’s autumn. Which means it’s the harvest time. Which means rejoicing and being thankful. But also that some 17th century British Christians landed on a rock and then feasted with the local natives with the help of a native interpreter?
We are here to translate, interpret and localize what this special time means around the world (and to celebrate it!)
In the past, nations would toil and pray every year for a bountiful harvest at the end of the summer so they would have enough to eat during the winter. In continental climates (regions with hot summers and freezing winters), this was a natural and common concern.
In such a situation, a successful harvest was very much cause for joy and merrymaking. Let’s look at five countries’ holiday traditions and see what makes each one a little bit different.
1. Japan: Thanksgiving and Labor
On November 23rd, the Japanese commemorate Labor Thanksgiving Day. People give thanks for their productivity and their workers. Although the holiday has roots in the Shinto harvest ceremony Niiname-sai, it was actually instated by law during the post-World War II American occupation of Japan.
2. Germany: A Bucolic Thanksgiving For the Interpreter
The Erntedankfest, or the Harvest Thanksgiving Festival, takes place in the Urdenbach borough of the city of Düsseldorf. It’s a Christian harvest festival that is celebrated every first Sunday of October. Autumnal crops are arranged in remarkably artful ways to decorate streets, public buildings, and procession cars.
3. Mexico: Say a Thanksgiving Prayer
Mexico’s close proximity with the United States has resulted in the adoption of the Thanksgiving holiday, called by locals: Día de Acción de Gracias. Given the deep-set Roman Catholic belief system, Thanksgiving is taken as an overtly religious holiday. And, oftentimes, they will roast a pig rather than a turkey!
4. Rwanda: Age-Old Thanksgiving Tradition
In Rwanda, Thanksgiving correlates to Umuganura Day, observed on the first Friday of August. The celebration traces back over a thousand years as the mark of the beginning of the harvest season. Today, about 80% of Rwandans work in agriculture, making it a holiday of great national meaning.
5. USA: An Interpreter Saves Thanksgiving
In the year 1620, 102 people landed on Plymouth Rock (in modern-day Massachusetts) on a ship called the Mayflower. They were British Separatists fleeing prosecution, but we commonly refer to them as Pilgrims. In the unfamiliar, already-occupied land, the odds of survival were stacked against the group from the start.
These Europeans would ultimately survive through trade and collaboration with Native American tribes. This liaison was possible because of two Natives who spoke English as a foreign language: Samoset and, more famously, Tisquantum, also known as Squanto, who spoke English fluently and provided language interpreting.
Thanksgiving Translation in Every Language
Professional language service is how we do business with our neighbors, how we market our products and services, how we expand international aid and immigration law translation. But it is also how we fraternize, bond, and share what we are grateful for with our global community.
Contact us with your language needs and forge connections with international reach.
Thank you for joining us! Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Language Connections!
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, 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 LLC
2001 Beacon Street, Suite 105,
Boston, MA 02135
Phone: +1-617-731-3510
Email: service@languageconnections.com
What is Patent Translation And How Can It Help Your Organization?
If you’ve invented a new groundbreaking product, you might want to patent it! Your creation constitutes intellectual property (or IP). As such, you may want to protect it so that others don’t use your idea for their own gain. One of the ways to do this is by filing a patent and hiring a language service provider (LSP) for patent translation.
What Is a Patent?
A patent is a legal, government-issued license that gives one the exclusive right to access and make use of a product’s design and manufacture.
Patents often apply to scientific discoveries: a new kind of plant, chemical formula, or machine. In this case, you would ultimately need assistance from specialized biotechnology and life science translation services. Patents can also apply to business ideas, like production methods or a tool – for which you’d work with business translation services.
In the U.S., inventors can apply for patents with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Additionally, WIPO, or the World Intellectual Property Organization, is an organizational subset of the United Nations. Their goal is to promote international cooperation in the protection and administration of intellectual property.
Patents last twenty years and require the inventor’s disclosure of production secrets through the legal registration of the patent. To some, these qualities might constitute drawbacks. Therefore, they must inform the decision as to whether a filing patent is the right course of action case by case.
Patent Translation: The Process
If your goal is to protect your intellectual property, in our globalized age, it’s important to make sure that protection covers the whole of the planet. The most cost-efficient way to do this is through a skillful translation agency that works with a network of international translators.
Let’s take a look at the steps that go into the process of translating a patent.
- 1. The patent document is assigned to a deft translation project manager
- 2. The project manager coordinates linguists, translation technology, and editors who are subject-matter specialists
- 3. Translation and editing take place
- 4. Proofreading and quality feedback forms are filled out
- 5. Members of the assembled translation team iron out any final details
- 6. Final in-house quality review is completed followed by delivery
The translation process ensures your patent right will be duly observed. This protects you from incurring financial losses or extra costs through, for example, failed local or international patent applications, legal prosecution overseas, and, of course, the weakening of your business potential.
We Can Help!
Whether you need an LSP for translating a patent for target countries, translation for filing a patent in a foreign setting, or conference interpreting services – we’ve got you covered. We offer full language service, guaranteed at the highest rate of client satisfaction.
Reach out to us today! We’ll be more than pleased to be your provider of patent and IP translation services.
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
Armistice Day and Its Meaning Around the World
Last week, on November 11th, it was Armistice Day.
Armistice Day coincides with Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in Commonwealth countries. The significance of the holiday is commonly attributed to honoring those who serve, served, and lost their lives serving in the military. But what’s the history of Armistice Day?
The Signing of the Armistice
World War I ended “on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” in 1918. The four years of WWI stunned the world. No one had ever witnessed such great capacity for destruction and death all at once, a result of new technological advances in weaponry and the advent of industrialization.
After four years of a war that caused about 40 million in casualties, the final remaining Central Power, Germany, was running out of supplies and manpower. At 6:45 in the morning on November 11th of 1918, in the private railcar of French commander Ferdinand Foch, Germany signed an armistice with the Allies. It took effect 11 o’clock that morning, thereby ending all hostilities and effectively ending the war.
World Celebrations of Armistice Day
Armistice Day became a holiday in many countries all over the world. In 1938 in the United States, Armistice Day was marked with so many ceremonies, religious services, and parades that Congress approved an act to make it into a legal holiday. In 1954, the holiday was renamed Veterans Day.
Gatherings are a common way to celebrate Armistice Day in observant nations. But, for example, in the UK, Remembrance Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of November. At 11 o’clock in the morning, a two-minute period of silence is observed throughout the country.
Additionally, in the UK and Canada, the poppy flower is considered a symbol of the armistice. So, paper and cloth poppies can be seen adorning towns and people’s clothing. For this reason, sometimes Remembrance Day is known as Poppy Day.
The Language of Armistice
Armistice Day is a day to celebrate world peace, honor, and service. With so many different countries involved, one can only imagine the effect of linguists, translators, and interpreters at such a critical time.
We are proud to be in that line of work, with the hope of supporting law, education, and international development. Our promise is to offer specialized language services – such as immigration law translation, medical device labeling translation, community interpreting, or simply full language service – with the highest efficacy and quality.
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
What Is Diwali And How Is It Celebrated?
Last week, November 4th, was Diwali 2021!
For Westerners to get a better understanding of what is Diwali right off the bat, let us start by saying that Diwali is to Hindus as Christmas is to Christians. In other words, very important and meaningful; a massive festival celebrated in collective unison.
The festival lasts five days, stretches back 2,500 years in tradition, and marks the beginning of the Indian fiscal year. But there’s much more to it than that. Let’s break down the aspects of Diwali to understand what it is.
What’s In a Name
The word comes from the Hindi translation dīvālī, which in turn comes from the Sanskrit dīpāvalī, meaning “row of lights”. If we break it down, dīpā means “lamp” and vali means “row”, evoking the literal translation of a row of lamps. Which more than fitting, since Diwali is a festival of lights.
The Rules
Every year, India lights up with clay oil lamps called diyas. Hindu families place them wherever they can around the interior and exterior of their homes.
Each day in the festival has a name, the third of which is Diwali. It’s considered to be the most important day, which is why the festival often takes its name. The day of Diwali is the last day of the year that is ending, a Hindu New Year’s Eve, if you will.
Diwali follows the lunar calendar, making it so it usually falls sometime in October or November. The day of Diwali falls on the new moon phase in the Hindu month of Kartik, ringing in the new year in the Indian national calendar.
Kartik is considered to be the holiest month of the year. The day of Diwali falls on the fifteenth day of Kartik, as coincides with the new moon phase.
What Are We Celebrating?
Diwali is not just is the celebration of a new year, prayers for prosperity, and new beginnings.
The mythological story behind Diwali changes depending on the community. But, to everyone alike, the festival celebrates the triumph of light over darkness. In fact, it represents a general victory of positive over negative: strength over weakness, good over bad, and knowledge over ignorance.
The More, the Merrier
Although Diwali is thought of as originating in Hinduism, Hindus aren’t its only celebrants.
Joining in the party are Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists, particularly Newar Buddhists. Countries that see large Diwali festivals include Sri Lanka, Nepal, Singapore, Indonesia, and even Western countries like Canada and the UK.
The 5 Days of Diwali
Day 1 (Dhanteras): Participants of the festival clean their homes and buy decorations with a gold color theme, including jewelry and utensils for mealtimes.
Day 2 (Choti Diwali): This is the day that decorating with clay oil lamps can finally begin. But there is more decorating to be done: floors and tabletops are embellished with sands and powdered pigments in a traditional Indian design called rangoli, a sign of welcome to all and good luck.
Day 3 (Diwali): To those who observe the festival, this is most important of the five days. Families gather at temples to carry out a ritual prayer to the goddess Lakshmi, goddess of wealth, called Lakshmi puja. After, there is a bountiful feast, the sharing of sweet festive treats, and a display of fireworks.
Day 4 (Padwa): The fourth day is the first day of the new year. On this occasion, there are visits from relatives and friends, prompting hearty well-wishing for a prosperous future and the exchanging of gifts. Marital relationships receive extra celebratory attention.
Day 5 (Bhai Duj): On the last day of Diwali, families visit their in-laws, who receive them with another special and sprawling feast. Sibling relationships are emphasized and exalted.
Diwali Across Languages
The themes of Diwali are prosperity, multiculturalism, and service to others.
We, at Language Connections, believe in these principles, too. We help businesses in all areas (tech and life sciences, education, law, etc.) grow through language services like website localization, remote conference interpreting, and eLearning translation.
Make sure your enterprise only works with the best professional translators in the world. And on that note, shubh Diwali, or happy Diwali, to all!
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
Which Type of Bilingual Are You? There Are 3 Types
There are three major types of bilinguals. If you’re bilingual, the type that corresponds to you has a great deal to do with the stage of life in which you were learning a second language. It also carries influence over the way that you think and socialize.
Bilinguals of any type can become proficient in their second language, meaning that differences may very well never be spotted by listeners. The classification informs effective bilingual education design for children, as well as adult language training and assessment.
1. Compound Bilinguals
A toddler that moves with their family to a new country will grow up with two linguistic codes that tie back to one single consolidated set of concepts. This is the language structure that classifies a person as a compound bilingual.
So, a toddler who’s left, say, their native Romania to go live in England will grow to be able to express themselves in both Romanian and English. The two languages, however, won’t represent situational distinction for them. For more clarity, let’s look at the next type of bilingualism.
2. Coordinate Bilinguals
Let’s say that instead of a toddler, the child in the family moving from Romania to England had been a teenager. In this case, the child grows with two sets of concepts in their mind, each associated with one of the languages in their language pair, Romanian and English.
The typical manifestation, in this case, would be the adoption of English in school, while Romanian continues to be used at home and in the community. The key characteristic in coordinate bilinguals is this separation in the form, purpose, and environment in which each language is used.
3. Subordinate Bilinguals
The last sort of bilingualism could be exemplified through the parents in our migrating family. As naturals of Romania and full-grown adults, they are proficient in Romanian. The move to England, however, means they need to use their languages faculties to adopt English as well.
The assimilation of English unfurls through a process of filtering in the new language through the one they already know, comparable to simple translation. For instance, in their minds, the Romanian word for a familiar concept like “car” would simply be replaced with the appropriate English word.
Bilingual and Proud
Bilingualism mixed with a passion for global communication yields specialized professionals. They are the ones who become corporate interpreters, provide translation localization services, and translate marketing materials, making the difference in legal, scientific, and audiovisual business development.
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
3 Spooky Halloween Short Stories from Around the World
It’s almost Halloween. Wrap yourself up like a mummy and get wrapped up in these three spooky Halloween short stories from abroad. We’ve got a mythological monster, a dead man who is still active in his community, and a baroness who made her poor servants’ lives a living hell.
These stories come to us through oral history, language translation, and localization (so we don’t feel like we’re hearing it from a robot or miss any of the juicy details.) There’s a fair amount of gore in these stories so perhaps calling a medical translator could be in order. Don’t read with the lights out!
1. Fenrir: Wolf of Halloween (Scandinavia)
In Norse mythology, Fenrir is a monstrous wolf who never stops growing in size and has supernatural strength. When he was born, the gods were intimidated by the havoc he would wreak and decided to raise Fenrir themselves in Asgard. The only god brave enough to approach and feed Fenrir was Týr.
Fenrir was getting too big to be kept in Asgard. The gods twice tricked Fenrir into becoming bound in chains, but both times his strength won. For their third attempt, they presented a special, lighter chain. Fenrir became suspicious and understood the gods’ intentions wasn’t tomfoolery, but capture.
So, Fenrir said he would let them bind him again if, this time, one of the gods rested a hand in his jaws during the process. The terrified gods knew Fenrir’s intention was to bite the hand off. Knowing his sacrifice would be for the good of the Nine Worlds, Týr chose to volunteer.
As soon as the tethered Fenrir realized that the new magical chain was unbreakable, he chomped down on Týr’s hand and swallowed it whole. Týr lost his hand, but Fenrir was finally contained – for now.
2. Petar Blagojević: Dead and Kicking (Serbia)
The word “vampire” comes from the extremely similar Serbian word vampir. And the first vampire in Serbia was a real man who once lived. His name was Petar Blagojević. A peasant in a small village, he led an ordinary life. It wasn’t until he was deceased that his name spread across Europe.
In a wave of vampire hysteria, Petar was held responsible for nine murders – even though he was already dead. Within eight days of his passing, nine people died. On their deathbeds, the decedents reported that Petar Blagojevic had visited their rooms at night and tried to choke them.
Petar’s family also received postmortem visits. His wife reported that he came to her asking for his sandals. In response, she moved away from town, as did many others who feared a chance meeting. Petar then visited his son, asking for food. When his son did not comply, Petar bit and murdered him.
The villagers decided to disinter Petar’s body. To their astonishment, the body looked as though it were alive and active – in fact, with fresh excess blood spilling from the mouth, it looked like the corpse had recently made a kill. Ultimately, they drove a stake through the chest and incinerated the body.
3. Elizabeth Bathory: Creepy Halloween Queen (Hungary)
Born Erzsébet Báthory in 1560 in the Kingdom of Hungary, this real-life historical figure is known for the one atrocity that she probably didn’t actually commit. The legend goes that in her middle-age, she would drip-dry young virgin girls for their blood, collect it in a tub, and bathe herself. Very, very dark.
Unfortunately, the verified facts are not less dark – Elizabeth Bathory was a serial killer. It all began with her early life influences. As a child that suffered from epileptic episodes, she underwent the treatment of the time, which consisted of rubbing the blood of a non-epileptic onto the lips.
At the age of 13, she would bear and dispose of an illegitimate child. When she was married at 14, her husband had the child’s father, a peasant, castrated and thrown to a pack of wild dogs. Whenever the couple was together, they bonded over a shared interest in the torture of their servant girls.
By the end of her life, Elizabeth and her inner circle murdered 650 girls, with 306 testimonials filed against her in court. Because of her social stature, an agreement was made whereby she would not have to stand trial, sparing her family the embarrassment. Instead, she would go straight to prison.
Halloween Spooks and Delights
It’s amazing to think these ancient spooky stories have been immortalized through simple document translation. That is the relevance of language services. Not only can cultures all over the world take part in the fun but, amazingly, these stories inspire new articles and web content every day.
Every enterprise has a story. Tell other countries the story of your enterprise through translation, conference interpreting, and web localization. If you’re in the business of medical or legal issues (hopefully not like the ones described in today’s Halloween stories), we can be of service.
Happy Halloween 2021!
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