Top 3 Biggest Developments in the Software Localization Industry
The demand for software localization has been growing consistently every year. Increasingly, software localization services are becoming more integral to the broader localization process. Whether the product is a website, video game, or mobile app, chances are it will require some sort of software localization. The technology and methods involved with software localization are continuously evolving. The following are three examples of some of the latest and most exciting developments in the software localization and website translation services spaces.
1. Meta’s Approach To Mobile Software Localization
Facebook is used by millions of people all over the world. By some reports, as much as 98% of users prefer to access Facebook on their mobile devices. Providing localization and translation services for all of the different languages of Facebook’s users is not a simple task. However, the engineering team at Meta has come up with a clever solution: language packs. Meta constructs a specific language pack for every single supported language. These language packs are automatically updated with new translations every time a new version of the mobile app is released. The key to this system is that the app only downloads the specific pack that the user needs. This saves time and space as the app concerns itself with only the languages the user needs.
2. The Use Of APIs For Software Localization
The software-as-a-service model has revolutionized the tech industry. This change in the business model of tech companies means that tech products have to be constantly updated as new services are provided and new users join the platform. Software localization and technology translation play an important role in this continuous development process. Localization companies have to be constantly involved, instead of simply performing a one-time localization service. To do this, translation and localization companies often build their own APIs to be able to integrate their localization tools with their client’s platform. This allows new translations and adaptations to be quickly integrated into the product, increasing the efficiency of the localization process. With so many apps connected with cloud technology, the use of APIs in the localization process contributes to a faster and more dynamic service.
3. Localization and AI
In addition to using APIs and interfacing with cloud-based technologies, software localization service companies are using cutting edge computer aided transcription systems. These systems use AI and machine learning to help make the translation and localization process more efficient and accurate. These AI and machine learning systems are constantly being improved. The speed, accuracy, and efficiency of localization and translation services will continuously grow as the technical abilities of these AI systems improve.
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 Inc.
2001 Beacon Street, Suite 105,
Boston, MA 02135
Phone: +1-617-731-3510
Email: service@languageconnections.com
5 Times Localization Services Helped Popular Brands
Have you ever wondered how brands market their products around the world? Even when the same language is spoken, there are significant differences from place to place that need to be addressed, especially in terms of culture. As a result, localization services are needed in order to bridge cultural gaps, as translating without localization can lead to very awkward situations and put a company’s brand at risk. Localization services and translation services put together are an amazing tool to target a set group of people with common habits and customs. A whole set of world-wide brands use those services in advertising campaigns. Luckily, language service companies sell different types of services such as video translation and video localization, which help tailor commercials to a target group.
To better illustrate the advantages of localization services, we listed five times where localization helped popular brands:
1. Coca-Cola And Localization Services
Coca-Cola is perhaps one of the most recognizable brands on the planet. Given their status as a global company, they often use localization services to ensure that they target the right people through their ad campaigns. For example, when Coca-Cola launched a campaign where they decided to put names on the Coke bottles, the names they chose for each company were localized to reflect the most frequent names in a given region. For example, although “Josh” is a popular name in the US, it is obviously not as popular in Thailand.
2. Localization Services For Netflix
Netflix is another big name that knows how important it is to hire a professional translator and purchase website localization services. The most obvious example is the translation of their movies and series through dubbing and subtitling services. For instance, it is essential to localize the different notifications that pop up on your phone when a new show becomes available. According their strategy, you won’t get the same message if you live in England instead of France.
3. Nintendo And Localization Services
If there is one brand that is aware of how important it is to invest in localization services, it is certainly Nintendo. They have been purchasing localization for decade because they knew that if they wanted to be recognized by all customers regardless of language and custom, they had to make concessions and get rid of violence and sexual references in their games that can be inappropriate for certain audiences. As a result, they became a world-renowned brand used by both children and adults.
4. Samsung
This big smartphone brand was not in the many international markets for the longest time. To make its way into them, they had to use localizations services in an intelligent way. For example, they made their way into the French market by appealing to the French taste for art by hosting an art exhibition in Paris to promote the brand.
5. Domino’s
The pizza chain did something similar to Samsung when they introduced themselves to the Indian market by picking Indian cooks who personalized the pizza toppings.
For all those reasons and to make sure your marketing can be easily understood in all target markets, you need to have the best translation company by your side, whether it is for brand deals or for more conventional requests like academic translation.
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
The Top 5 Most Disastrous Localization Service Mistakes
You don’t realize how important localization is until you see the mistakes that occur when there is lack of it. When a professional localization service is not used, mistakes happen really easily. Many think that translation is enough in order to market products and services internationally, but localization is equally essential in most cases. In fact, marketing localization services must be used because a slogan made for one country might not translate well into the language of another country. There are many different factors to pay attention when localizing a text, including place names, dialects, idioms, text dimensions, and much more. Hiring a localization service is essential to ensure that a perfect translation is directed towards a target group in a culturally-sensitive fashion. Most commercials use localization services paired with good video translation services, but nevertheless, there have been some mistakes that have happened throughout the years involving very well-known brands that underestimated the importance of good web localization.
Here are five hilarious instances when localization services could have been used:
1. KFC Could Have Used A Localization Service
Their famous slogan “Finger lickin’ good” was translated to “Eat your fingers off” in China. Such a mistranslation could have easily been avoided if they had used a localization service and proof-read it. These mistakes are funny now, but at the time, this must have been really awkward to explain.
2. Honda Didn’t Use A Professional Localization Service
For Honda, investing in a localization service partner might have avoided the mistake of presenting their car model as a “Fitta” in Japan even though the car’s name referred to a woman’s intimate parts. Imagine if this had happened in the internet age; it would have easily gone viral. This story proves that it is important to invest in website translation services and localization when exporting to foreign markets
3. A Localization Service Could Have Helped Pepsi
Pepsi’s localization mistake is also really awkward. They translated their slogan, “Come alive! You’re in the Pepsi Generation!”, to “Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the dead!” in Mandarin and Cantonese and “Rise from the grave with Pepsi!” in German. Clearly, they would have avoided this mistake if they invested in a certified localization service and translation services.
4. The Case of Electrolux
This case especially demonstrates the importance of marketing localization services. The slogan for the company, Electrolux, when translated into English, read, “Nothing sucks like an Electrolux.”. Here the Swedish brand was talking about their new vacuum, but unfortunately the lack of professional localization services created an embarrassing situation for the company. Obviously, this model didn’t sell well in the American market.
5. Parker
The Mexican Pen brand had the slogan, “It won’t leak in your pocket and embarrass you” in Spanish. Even if their slogan worked in Spanish, they mistranslated it in English to, “It won’t leak in your pocket and make you pregnant” in English. Such a mistake does not look well at all for a brand whether it is in a commercial or in a webpage; brands should never underestimate the power of investing in a localization service.
A localization service is not limited to providing marketing localization; it can also provide elearning translation services and localization, video translation, and website localization. In today’s age, it is essential to think seriously about website localization and how they can help your company’s marketing.
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
4 Industry Examples Of How Online Marketing Localization Shapes Business
Websites and ecommerce use the most marketing localization because that is the most effective way for marketing material to be disseminated. So, let’s look at the localized marketing campaigns of a few different types of businesses and see how language localization powered those strategies.
1. International Development Marketing Localization
Have you ever visited the website of an international development organization and found that, depending on the language you select, the content changes? This kind of localization is done to ensure the content displayed is relevant to the visitor, depending on where they are geographically.
2. Tourism Website Localization
Major travel sites use localization to distinguish themselves through a sense of personalization. For example, they might provide translation for user-generated content, like reviews. Additionally, they might generate content that users grow to trust for clever travel guide tips.
3. Entertainment Platform Marketing Localization
If you look at your preferred entertainment platform for films and TV shows, you’ll notice marketing localization all over the place. In fact, it’s built into the production. Through suggestions appearing on your interface, language dubbing and subtitling, and international shoots, localization keeps consumers engaged.
4. Video Game Localization
In the case of video games, companies strive for an ideal balance between the culture depicted in the game and that of the person playing. For example, the video game might be set in Japan, while the user is American.
The goal is to deliver an experience that feels culturally authentic to the user. To this end, localization happens alongside development, as opposed to after product completion.
Let’s Localize
Whatever the industry of your project, working with the best language translation agencies is a must. We’re here to help your business reach a targeted, international audience in all your language needs, from marketing and eLearning localization to patent translation.
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
How Does Clinical Trial Translation Aid the Clinical Trial Process?
One of the instrumental working parts in the fields of life science and biotechnology is the development of new medical treatments that will improve the quality of life for people living with a health condition. Clinical trial translation is central to this process.
Clinical trials are medical research studies in people. The goal is to evaluate if a drug, surgical procedure, or behavioral intervention is safe and effective in humans. The process involves testing specific treatments, finding appropriates dosages and measures, and looking for side effects.
Clinical trials can be used to for:
- > Studying emergent medical treatments
- > Finding treatments that have fewer or less harmful side effects than currently available treatments
- > Identifying new health issues
- > Preventing illness eruption
Observational Studies
Clinical trials are one of two types of medical research. The other is called observational studies and serves to prompt new clinical trials. In such studies, healthcare professionals collect data through exams or questionnaires in uncontrolled environments, with the goal of detecting changes over time.
Clinical Trial Documents
The clinical trial process is shaped by procedural bureaucratic steps, represented by clinical trial documents:
- > Clinical trial protocols (CTPs), which delimit the trial’s objectives and methodology
- > Documents containing experiment instructions
- > Consent forms
- > Patient reported outcomes (PROs), which provide direct participant feedback
The 4 Phases of Clinical Trials
In the United States, there are four phases in clinical trials.
Phase I Trials
In a Phase I trial, the focus is testing a treatment on a small group of 20 to 80 healthy people. Here, the goal is to is to assess and draw an initial conclusion on safety, side effects, and appropriate drug dosages.
Phase II Trials
In Phase II trials, focus shifts to compiling preliminary data regarding treatment effectiveness on people with a particular health problem. Larger groups are used, usually between 100 and 300 people, which is part of the reason Phase II can take years.
Phase III Trials
Data collection broadens it reach in Phase III trials. Studies comprehend varying dosages, populations, and treatment combinations. Test groups are larger, from a few hundred to a few thousand people. In the USA, the FDA has to approve the results of Phase III trials in order for the study to go on.
Phase IV Trials
With Phase IV, tests continue with an even larger group, as the goal is to get more diversity and, if relevant, explore findings in targeted populations (e.g. a given age group). Testing also becomes more in-depth; for example, some applications may go on for a lifetime.
The Role of Clinical Trial Translation
Nowadays, clinical trials are a global affair, as companies tend to carry out their studies in strategic and economically-emergent countries. This implicates a direct need for clinical trial translation and localization services for the fundamental documents: the CTP, instructions, PRO, and consent forms.
In fact, language services are entrenched in several of the clinical trial stages:
- > Clinical research
- > Regulatory submission
- > Review
- > Directions for manufacture and production
- > Marketing localization
Clinical trials are a significant investment, which generates further motivation to maximize chances of success. Proper clinical trial document translation ensures a functional process with minimal error and damage, culminating in the approval of regulatory bodies.
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
Keeping Warm This Winter – 3 Tips From Around the World
It’s November, which means that, in the northern hemisphere, the cold is here and winter is coming. We thought his would be an opportune time to talk about some of the special ways different peoples keep warm around the world – besides the obvious putting on some mittens and plugging in your heater, of course!
1. Denmark: Where Keeping Warm is an Art
By now, you probably know how to hygge (pronounced HOO-ga). In recent years, the hygge, a Danish concept wherein one harnesses the bitter winter cold to generate a profound sensation of coziness and well-being, has made quite an international splash. But we would be remiss if we didn’t give our old friend, the hygge, a nod.
For those who skipped the hype, the hygge, in action, looks like wearing thick, plushy clothing; sipping hot, comforting beverages from mirthful mugs; and creating a bright atmosphere. This may sound like something you already do in the winter. The point, with hygge, is doing it as a conscious behavior.
2. Arctic and Antarctic Indigenous Peoples: Pile on the Meat
Peoples living in the polar regions (like Yaghans, Inuits, and Nenets) share some techniques for keeping warm that are rather exclusive – because they’re genetic:
- > They can consume an amount of fat that would make members of most other ethnicities ill
- > They subsist almost entirely on meat
- > And they have faster metabolisms that generate more body heat
While you can’t change your genes, you can still glean some valuable cold weather tips. And these tips would all, essentially, tie back to one: the basic understanding that a balanced diet, in the winter, naturally tends to include a relatively higher amount of protein and healthy fats.
3. Norway: No Fear of the Dark!
Like many geographically northern or southernmost nations, Norway doesn’t just have uncompromising temperatures as a factor in the winter. It also has the serious problem of a total lack of light – for three months. November to February is what Norwegians know as (not to use the Norwegian translation) “the dark period.”
Resulting cases of seasonal affective disorder and vitamin D deficiencies are managed by one ingredient Norwegians swear by: Tran. It’s cod liver oil – although it has an off-putting taste and smell, the practice is to have one spoonful at breakfast every day. And that’s what takes the place of sunlight.
Keep Warm and Translate
Concepts like the hygge swept across the world through languages services like book, video, and marketing localization. Similar phenomena happen in the realms of law, business, and scientific endeavors. For business translation services at the best translation company, make sure to come hygge with us this winter!
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!
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 Linguistic Divides in Separatist Movements of Today
Separatist movements around the world represent nations’ pursuit of self-rule, secession, and independence. In that process, their goal is to separate themselves politically from larger nations that have control over them. The reasons vary, but can all be traced back to feelings of subjugation.
A condition that aggravates relationships between linked nations is a discrepancy in language; especially if one of the means of subjugation is the prohibition of a minority language. Let’s take a peek at the nature of these linguistic relationships in a few principal separatist movements from around the world today.
1. Catalonia
Catalonia is currently a province of Spain, whose only official language is Spanish. For Catalonians, this can be a bit of a blow, because their language is not Spanish, but Catalan.
Most people around the world aren’t aware of the Catalan language. And if they are, their first assumption is that it’s a dialect of Spanish, since Catalonia is located in Spain. But the reality is that Catalan is a romance language just like Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Italian.
2. Flanders
Belgium is divided into the regions of Flanders and Wallonia, which are linguistically and culturally distinct from each other. The language spoken in Flanders is Flemish and in Wallonia, French.
Flemish, being a dialect of Dutch, is quite different from French. Additionally, you will find that the vast majority of political conservativism in Belgium concentrates among its Flemish citizens. From this movement stems the nationalism that begets the separatist movement in Flanders.
3. Tibet
Along with Mandarin Chinese, Lhasa Tibetan (or Standard Tibetan) is the official language of Tibet (or Tibet Autonomous Region – TAR). It is typically spoken by the formally educated dwellers of the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, and is one of three Tibetan dialects.
Mandarin and Lhasa Tibetan are both descended from the Sino-Tibetan language family, but are now two completely mutually unintelligible languages. Tibet fell into the hands of the People’s Republic of China in 1951, and has been vindicating their independence ever since.
4. Palestine
Because of the current war between Palestine and Israel, which began when the UN founded Israel in 1948, both Arabic and Hebrew are spoken in the region. Arabic, historically, was the local language, but that changed with the artificial revival of the Hebrew language in the 20th century.
Arabic peoples in the Middle East have been working to obtain self-rule since the time they were subjects of the Ottoman Empire. In the case of Palestinians, that quest is not yet over.
5. Scotland
Scotland entered a formal union with England in the 18th century, forming Great Britain and causing English to replace Scots as the local language. That said, the English spoken in Scotland has its own characteristics, causing it to be referred to as Scottish English.
Feelings of oppression from England have prompted Scotland to look to “home rule” since the 20th century. This phenomenon culminated in 2014 with a very close result in a referendum regarding whether Scotland should secede.
Languages as Symbols of Resistance
In many cases of separatist movements, the minority side deliberately adheres to their language, even if it isn’t as useful to learn, in the name of preserving their culture. For this reason, the work of international translators and interpreters for small languages is vital, as their work advances that endeavor.
Through document translation in science, legal justice, and commerce, the relevance of a language persists. Conference interpreting and website localization (for nuanced linguistic distinctions) are also impactful measures to increase international awareness a language.
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
