December 2008

Malaysians Debate Language

by Richard Brooks December 29, 2008 Languages

Malaysian politicians, schools, activists and parents have been engaged in a furious debate over what language to use for instructing the nation’s schoolchildren in math and science. Now, MSNBC reports that negotiations between the different camps have reached a standstill. The issue is emotional and difficult to negotiate: Should Malaysian students receive math and science [...]

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Online Social Site Offers Machine Translation

by Richard Brooks December 19, 2008 Machine Translation

One of the earliest Utopian promises of the Internet was that it would connect the world and give different cultures a greater understanding of each other. Imagine if you could sit at a coffee shop and talk to people from across the world, and hear what they have to say. In theory, at least, everyone [...]

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Happy New Year in 15 Languages

by Richard Brooks December 18, 2008 Free Translation

Well… as 2008 draws to a close we’d like to wish all of you all the very best for 2009 – in 15 languages.

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Don’t Jump…. Get yourself a donkey!

by Richard Brooks December 12, 2008 Translation Errors

Translating documents is not an easy business, a word can mean one thing in one language but something different in another if translated literally. When translating important life saving information leaflets it is essential to proofread the text to make sure it reads correctly and fluently.

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Germany Seeks to Enshrine the German Language

by Richard Brooks December 12, 2008 Languages

What could be more German than the German language? At least, that’s the question being asked by members of the German Christian Democrat political party, which is seeking to change the German Constitution to include the following 6 words: “The language of the Federal Republic of Germany is German.” The Associated Press notes that ever [...]

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The whole world speaks Engrish

by Richard Brooks December 10, 2008 Translation Errors

At a conference in Germany last week I was talking to a Japanese guy who worked for a manufacturer of medical equipment… This is how the conversation went.

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Free Translation of ‘Merry Christmas’

by Richard Brooks December 8, 2008 Free Translation

Every year we get asked to supply the translation for ‘Merry Christmas’ (people like to put it in their xmas cards). To make 2008 a truly multilingual festive season we have included the most popular languages in this post.

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In a Global World, Localization Still Matters

by Richard Brooks December 5, 2008 Localization

English is the most widely taught second language around the world. However, new research from Common Sense Advisory has confirmed that even when people are confident speaking English as a second language, they feel more comfortable buying products with labels and instructions in their own language.

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Saving India’s Traditional Languages

by Richard Brooks December 1, 2008 In Danger of Extinction

India is a large country that contains an incredible amount of cultural diversity. As the country continues its growth into a major economic power, the modern world has begun to creep into its small, traditional villages.

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