Free BBC Online Learning Resources

Nov 29, 2013 | Blog

Learning a second language is a must in some parts of the world. Not only does it break cultural barriers, but it also creates potential business opportunities. Most start learning English in school because they believe that it will help their future careers. There are different ways of learning languages, such as studying abroad, acquiring language-learning software and private or group tutoring and classes. With the rise of the Internet, it is easy to find free courses online in most languages. In this article, we are going to talk about BBC Online Free Lessons, which provides good learning resources in a variety of languages. Online Learning Resources Provided The BBC learning website provides free learning resources in 40 languages based on different subjects. However they focus mainly on Mandarin, Spanish and French, three of the most useful languages in business besides English. For each language, there are several topics that beginners can pick up easily such as introducing yourself, ordering drinks and food, and numbers, etc.   Spanish Besides Spain in Europe, most Spanish speaking countries are located in South and Central America. Spanish is spoken in more than 20 countries including Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Peru. It is the most studied foreign language in the United States and it is not uncommon to see Spanish signs and hear Spanish spoken in most American cities. Beginners can download key phrases in an MP3 file to learn the most common spoken Spanish in daily communication such as greetings, booking hotels and meeting people, etc. In addition, they also provide holiday phrases for people who want to travel to Spanish countries...

The Difference Between Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese

Nov 29, 2013 | Blog

Mandarin is spoken by over one billion people throughout Asia, including China, Singapore and Taiwan. Mandarin has become an imperative language in business gradually replacing English on account of China’s growing economy. However, most people might ask what the difference between Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese is and why Chinese people use different written text in different countries. In translation, oftentimes our clients are confused by Mandarin and Cantonese and where Chinese people speak them. We hope this article will work out your questions and clear up some of the complexities of one of the most difficult and oldest languages in the world. Mandarin and Cantonese are spoken languages. Maybe the most confusing of aspect is why we never see the words in either Mandarin or Cantonese, because they are two spoken dialects of Chinese language. Their difference is dependent on the region they are spoken in, not on their written characters. Mandarin is widely used in Mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore as an official language whereas Cantonese is specifically targeted in China’s Guangdong Province and in Hong Kong. Simplified and Traditional Chinese are written languages. Written Chinese has been used for several thousand years and was standardized during Qin Dynasty (221 – 206 BC). Until today, although there are many varieties of spoken Chinese dialects, but there are only two primary written systems: Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. Simplified Chinese The proposal for simplified characters started as early as 1906. The purpose of simplified Chinese not only made the characters faster to write and easier to memorize, but also boosted literacy rate. After Chinese Civil War ended in...

Language Matters in November 2013: CAT Tools

Nov 29, 2013 | Translation News

Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) and CAT tools In our November newsletter, we will discuss Computer Assisted Translation tools. Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) refers to specialized computer software that helps human translators during the process of translating texts and any form of written content. Computer Assisted Translation is sometimes confused with Machine Translation (MT). Although the two have similarities, CAT and MT are different. There are numerous CAT tools and their aim is to help translators complete their work more efficiently. Their functions range from spell-checking to keeping translation memories. CATs are quite useful tools but will they one day replace human translators altogether? The question is up for discussion. Whatever the outcome, one thing is for sure: the future is bright for Computer Assisted Technology! Contributed by Sophie Roulland What is Computer Assisted Translation? As mentioned in the introduction, Computer Assisted Translation is the process of using computer programs and software to assist the translator in his/her work. How exactly do they help translators? First, they save the translators time and thereby increase their production outputs. Thanks to translation memory software, it is much faster to translate a text, especially if they have already worked with that company or industry before. Secondly, it can produce a more consistent quality of work. Some CAT tools, such as SDL Trados, help you find the appropriate terminology for technical texts with less effort. Some tools come with alignment of segments, which makes it easier and faster for reviewers to proofread texts. So if used correctly, CAT tools can be very efficient and a good support system for translators. Because technology is involved,...

Localizing Mobile Apps

Nov 28, 2013 | Blog

“Mobile computers are spreading faster than any other consumer technology in history.” With the fast development of mobile technology and especially smartphones during the last few years, mobile applications have boomed in a way that most mobile users are regular users of mobile applications. This is why app developers are very interested in localizing and translating their applications. It is certain that doing so will reach markets in other languages and countries and augment the number of people who know about and download their apps. To achieve this, it is best to make sure the user experience is up to the standard, in other words, go for a user-friendly localization technique. A mobile user is much more likely to download and use applications that are in his/her own native language, which is why localizing an application starts with translation. It is essential to find a good translator to do the job, as a bad translation is worse than no translation at all: poorly translated content will put off your clients and make them think the app is not worth downloading. Localizing mobile apps does not only consist of translating the information. There are other factors to take into account, for instance, the layout design. Some languages have words that are longer and take up more space than others, like German for example. Also, app developers should look out for languages with different character types such as Chinese or Korean. Localizing your app will make sure your layout design is appropriate for the type of language used while remaining stylish and retaining the original aesthetic. In addition, localizing your app...