How Language Affects Our Perception of the World

Ask someone to describe a smell, and you will often receive an answer that is vague, confused, overly simplified, or uses other odors as a comparison. Studies aiming to determine how well people can identify smells around them have only seen success rates of 50%, even when using common scents such as coffee, bananas, or […]
The World’s Ten Most Translated Authors

Have you read the world’s most translated authors? If you think that means catching up on Tolstoy or Proust, think again. Rather than classics, the world favor’s popular fiction, according to data complied by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which compiles translation records in its Index Translationum. Mystery writer Agatha Christie […]
Businesses Need Networks, Too: How To Network With Other Language Companies

When people talk about networking, it’s often on an individual level: one person making or renewing connections in their industry. But networking can function on a larger scale. Businesses also stand to benefit from networking strategies. As an employee or leader of a language service company, you can connect your company to other companies to […]
How to Translate Culture in Birth Certificates

Short documents don’t mean simple translations, and birth certificates are no exception. Written in formal language, these most-basic legal declarations require knowledge of culture for effective translation. This knowledge about the culture and the tradition of a place can later be implemented during a Birth Certificate Translation or translation of any such formal or informal […]
Understanding and Using Form Fields in the Word Developer Tab

Introduction to Form Fields in the Developer Tab in Word Welcome to this week’s Tip of the Week! In today’s post, we delve into the Developer Tab in Microsoft Word with a special focus on how to create and use form fields to enhance your document customization. If you’re unfamiliar with the Developer Tab or […]
Valentine’s Day Around the World

There are various traditions of Valentine’s Day around the world, but the holiday has a universal theme of “Love” and for many is a special day to express their feelings. Showing how you feel about others with roses, chocolates, gifts, and cards are pretty standard, but let’s take a look at some interesting customs that […]
Why Should I Learn Italian?

“La bella lingua” is appreciated all over the world as one of the most beautiful spoken languages. It is the 8th most spoken language in the United States largely due to a high rate of immigration of Italians during the late 19th century. It is also the 2nd largest ethnic market in the United States […]
Simultaneous Interpretation Series Part 5 of 6: Handling Humor During a Simultaneous Interpretation Assignment

Key Points Navigating the Challenges of Simultaneous Interpretation Humor can present unique challenges for simultaneous interpreters during assignments. It happens to everyone: we’ve all felt out of place at one time or another. Whether you’re in an unfamiliar city needing to ask for directions or feeling uncomfortable at an unexpected social gathering, such situations can […]
Italian Gesticulation

The fact that Italians talk with their hands is generally accepted as a stereotype, a joke, and the truth. Far from simply being an outlet for emotions, the movement of an Italian’s hands conveys depth and meaning that words may not fully express. Gesticulation has been passed down through generations, just like spoken or signed […]
How Eliminating Language Barriers Helps People Understand the Value of Water

Let’s say you want to tackle the issue of clean water access. Around the globe, 783 million people lack access to safe, clean water, according to the UN, and you work with a group that wants to do something about it. No doubt your company or organization will plan systems to improve water treatment, quality […]