As a part of the former Soviet Republic, Ukraine is host to a multitude of different ethnicities and languages. Until recently, Ukrainian was the only official language in the entire nation, and while it remains the only official state language, many other languages have been now been granted official regional status. A law passed in late 2012 allows regions wherein more than 10% of the population speaks a single language other than Ukrainian to declare that language regionally official.

It is no secret that the population of the United States is not only increasing that that it is also becoming increasingly diverse. The Census Bureau has projected that there will be 18 million more minorities then non-minorities under the age of 35 by 2050. Currently, California, Hawaii, New Mexico, and the District of Columbia consider non-whites their majority populations.

April 19, 2013 marked the fourth annual Chinese Language Day held by the UN in order to appreciate the beauty of the Chinese language and the historical importance of the culture. The celebration is held each year in April on Guyu, which translates literally to "grain rain," one of the 24 solar terms created to mark agricultural activities throughout the year. Festivities include lectures on ancient Chinese poetry, an exhibition of paintings and calligraphy, and performances of ancient songs and musical instruments.

Having the ability to speak a language does not mean that one is qualified to be an interpreter of that language. Someone who grew up speaking both Spanish and English from an early age has many advantages over someone who studied either of these languages later in life, to be sure. Being able to speak another language and having the skills to be an interpreter, however, are quite distinct from one another.

When studying a language, it is important to be aware of more than just the spoken and written forms of the language. Non-verbal communication plays a significant role in communicating with others in every culture. Examples of non-verbal communication include facial expressions, hand gestures, forms of greetings (such as hand shakes or nods), and personal space.

Transliteration is the process of converting a proper name between two languages that do not share an alphabet. Just as translation and interpretation require more work than word-for-word equivalencies, however, the transliteration of even a single name is not an easy matter.

Any dialect of a language is simply a variation of that language that a group of people from a particular area have adapted or modified in writing or speech.  French, for example, incorporates European French (the French which is spoken in France) and Canadian French (the French which is spoken in Canada).  In each case, the people and culture from each of these two countries bring unique geographic, cultural, and linguistic influences on their p

Oftentimes, clients ask interpretation companies why they need more than one interpreter when a single person is equally comfortable interpreting into and out of both languages, is able to do consecutive and simultaneous interpretation, and when the interpreter already understands the specific needs of the client.

Most of us remember the feeling of acting in a school play.  You have practiced for hours on end until you memorized your lines, and you were confident and sure of yourself.  You stand up on stage, under the hot lights and in front of the crowd who is completely focused on you, and you can't remember what you're supposed to say.