Feb 5, 2020 | Blog, Language Services
How to learn a foreign language? Usually you learn your first foreign language in primary school. In many countries around the world, English is the second language to learn. When you learn a new language, it means starting all over with the basics, and then trying to put everything together to make sense. Some say that children learn faster. According to an article on the website “Testbig“, the capacity that children have to learn quickly is considered an advantage in learning a foreign language. That could be the reason why we start learning very young. How to learn a foreign language at home When it comes to improving the learning of a foreign language, there is one option that is obvious: go abroad. But we all know that traveling or studying abroad is not affordable for everyone. Even though many universities offer scholarships, not all students are eligible. However, if you are able to study abroad, it can be a valuable experience. Check out this student article “Study in Vancouver” on the LingoStar website. But if you are not able to travel, there are other alternatives. First, being familiar with the sound of a language helps a lot. The more you hear it, the more you will understand it and be comfortable with it. Your pronunciation will improve and it will be easier to speak by becoming familiar with the accent and vocabulary. Secondly, audiovisual works, music or even a friendship with a foreigner are some of the best ways to master a fluid accent, understand the different nuances of a language, and learn different local accents. Convinced to...
Jan 28, 2020 | Blog, Language Services, Translation, Translation News
What is Audiovisual Translation Audiovisual translation, also known as ‘AVT’, is the translation for audiovisual works. This is as a series of related images accompanied by sounds and projected on various devices. Translation for audiovisual works has its own rules. It requires a special method of translation. Many new tools and apps have been created for this purpose. You can also read about these new developments in technology in our post on automatic translation. Issues with Audiovisual Translation Even though new technologies have evolved tremendously in this field, the interesting part about AVT translation is the language register. This register represents the tone and style of writing and it can be formal or informal. Also, different situations and people call for different registers. Translators specializing in audiovisual translation usually work with many different registers. In this field, it is not a question of translating words for words. It is necessary to retransmit the feelings of a script. Why? Because the source text and the final written translation must have the same effect. For example, cultural research is very important in order to translate an onomatopeia. ‘Meta magazine’ points out these problems with AVT: the synchronization between image and sound from one language to another, especially in voice-overs; the distinction between oral and written language. AVT is Evolving The demand for audiovisual translation is growing worldwide. At LingoStar we have completed numerous audiovisual translations, including voice-overs in Chinese Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, French, European and Latin American Spanish, German, Czech, and others. A decade ago, English was the main language used for all AVT translations. But thanks to companies such as...
Dec 30, 2019 | Blog, Holidays, Worldwide
How many New Year’s traditions do you know? Obviously, we are sure you know at least two or three New Year’s traditions from different cultures. Alternatively, we would like to share with you some of the most unique New Year’s traditions that we know from around the world. And, if it wasn’t enough, take a look at this amazing page containing 50 New Year’s Traditions from around the world! Canada Firstly, we are going to mention something about Canada. A tradition started in 1920 involves jumping into the freezing waters of English Bay on New Year’s Day. This is called the Polar Bear Swim. Do you dare to? 😉 Italy In Italy, it’s a very strong New Year’s tradition to spend New Year’s Eve with friends or family, at home for dinner or at parties. In fact, they usually eat lentils for good luck, together with zampone, a typical salami from Emilia-Romagna. After that, they countdown to midnight and toast with sparkling wine. Moreover, wearing red underwear is thought to bring love, prosperity and good luck! Czech Republic The Czechs believe that, as a New Year’s tradition, it is possible to predict what is going to happen in the coming year by cutting an apple in half and looking at the shape of its core. New Year’s Traditions in Argentina and Bolivia Argentinians believe that wearing pink underwear will attract love in the new year. Moreover, eating beans will help people to keep their current job or find a better one. Different from Argentinians and Italians, Bolivians believe that wearing yellow underwear will increase their fortune for the new year....
Dec 24, 2019 | Blog, Holidays
How many Christmas traditions exist in the world? Is it possible to know all the Christmas traditions of the world? We know it’s almost impossible, but we will try to tell you about some. And, if you want to know more, please take a look at this interesting article about Christmas traditions all around the world. Christmas traditions in Canada Canadians love to adorn their houses with lights and decorations. This nation is particularly fond of Santa Claus. This might be because his home in the North Pole is so close to Canada! The Santa Claus Parade in Toronto is one of the oldest and largest Santa parades in the world: more than 2500 people take part in it! The traditional Canadian Christmas meal is roast turkey with vegetables and potatoes. But, Canada is a very large country, full of people with many different cultural backgrounds. For example, the Ukrainian community in Canada is one of the largest in the world, and they will have their traditional 12-dish meal for Christmas. Christmas traditions in Italy Italians love the Nativity scene. In fact, St. Francis, a Saint from Italy, made it very popular in 1223. It can be recreated in several ways: using handmade figures (waterfalls, food, animals, people), with a background made of paper or painted glass. Additionally, the set is different: you can use a hollowed-out wooden trunk, a “trullo” (a typical building of the South of Italy made with dry stone) or within the same dry stones one finds in Matera. Every year in Matera, the locals put on a play that recounts the story of the...
Dec 10, 2019 | Blog, Translation, Translation News
What is automatic translation? “Automatic translation” means substituting words from one language to another. It is software that translates a text in a very short time with little human effort. How does it work? It is usually (and hopefully) based on corpora. Words are translated automatically because of other words nearby. However, because a machine can’t think, it can’t give a perfect translation. It lacks context and meaning. For more on this, take a look at our blog post about Common Mistranslations. What does automatic translation mean for “human” translators? There are two opinions on the subject: It means that a machine with no faculty of thought could take the translator’s place. The machine works rapidly. On the other hand, using a machine could be useful when the topic is technical. Likewise, when one just wants to understand the general meaning of a text. This can help the translator in post-production. That is to say, the translator can edit and proofread the machine-translated text until it reads naturally. Does automatic translation represent a real threat? The answer is: it depends. If a machine translation is trained in a specific field, the resulting technical translation could be useful. It represents a threat if the translator is afraid to be replaced. However, it could also be an opportunity for the translator to save time by working with the text post-production. However, if one wants to translate a literary text, the machine translation will fail. Why? Because in a literary text, you will find metaphors, allegories, hidden meanings and more. A machine cannot identify these figures of style and will therefore produce a...
Dec 2, 2019 | Blog, Environment
How languages and Greta Thunberg are connected to the environment. News items about climate change, Greta Thunberg and the environment bombard us. Something is changing all over the world. But what’s really happening? And who is this girl speaking to our state representatives? Her name is Greta Thunberg. Who is Greta Thunberg? Greta Thunberg is a 16-year-old Swedish girl. People consider her a young influencer for the environment. Last year she wanted to meet politicians. In fact, she started to spend her days in front of the Swedish parliament. She has organized strikes and founded a movement called Friday for Future. Greta took part in several debates about the environment. She was present at several conferences: firstly, the Katowice Climate Change Conference, which made her famous; secondly, the World Economic Forum in Switzerland; thirdly, the meeting at the European Parliament. She also went to the Senate of the Italian Republic (where she met Pope Francis); World Earth Day in London; and finally, to the United States Congress in Washington. She wants to share her message: “We have wasted too much time and risk having no future.” What is happening in our World? The effects of global climate change are clear. Glaciers are disappearing and the temperature of the globe is rising. In the long term, the seasons will no longer exist. Besides, precipitation will increase. There will be more aridity and stronger hurricanes. Species are becoming extinct. What we can do for the environment? As Greta Thunberg says, we should be activists for the environment. We should share awareness in every possible way: in English, Spanish, Chinese, using images,...
Nov 19, 2019 | Blog, Tips, Translation
How organized are you? A freelance translator’s daily workload Those of you who work from home know that establishing a good daily routine can be a challenge. There is no place for tiredness or boredom in a freelance translator’s day. You must manage your time wisely and can only count on yourself to complete the wide variety of tasks you have to juggle and to get the work done. A freelance translator spends hours in front of a computer working with texts or visuals, using various technical software programs and dictionaries. For example, multiple projects, lengthy documents in several languages, tight deadlines, meticulous attention to detail, all these are part of a typical day’s work. Unfortunately, if not carefully managed, these aspects can lead to a problematic sedentary lifestyle. Indeed, this in turn comes with its own health risks: reduced mobility, lethargy, weight gain, back pain, cardiovascular issues, headaches, eyesight problems, low mood. It’s easy to see the negative impact a sedentary lifestyle in front of a computer can have on your health. Therefore putting time aside for your own personal wellbeing is crucial. On top of all this, you may have to continue dealing with all the typical household duties – such as the school run, shopping, cooking, helping with the kids’ homework, taking them to their respective activities, doing the laundry, etc. – but combined with your own daily workload, it can very quickly get out of hand. It’s very common for a freelance translator to feel overwhelmed. We hope our top tips below will help you with your daily organization to achieve a better work-life balance!...
Oct 31, 2019 | Blog, Communication, Tips
What is Public Speaking? Public Speaking in Vancouver or in any part of the world is the way by which we connect with a live audience. We are living in a world where we need to prove ourselves by our actions. Some people are really extroverted and some are introverted. Also, some people have good communication skills while others are nervous when speaking in public. Communication is the very first impression a person makes on another person. At the same time, public speaking plays an important role in the professional or business environment. All successful job interviews are based on the communication skills and confidence of the interviewee. Ways to Overcome a Fear of Public Speaking Know your topic and audience: Before going in for a presentation or speech, it is important for the individual to know well what they are speaking of and who they are speaking to. Knowing this will help the speaker to present with confidence. Good posture: To look confident, it is important to have good posture while speaking to a group of people. It shows that you have perfect knowledge of the topic and are comfortable with the audience. Relate with personal life: It is always beneficial when you relate the topic to your personal life. In that way, you can express your words or feelings in a convincing manner. Begin and end strong: Always make sure that your introduction and conclusion have a strong impact on the audience. As a result, the audience will understand the topic from the very beginning and leave with a good impression.Add visual aids: While doing public speaking, visual aids play...
Sep 30, 2019 | Blog, Traditions, Worldwide
What is a Superstition? A superstition is a belief that is considered supernatural or irrational. Over the years there have been many superstitions that have developed and some are still present. In every country there are superstitions but they may come in different forms. For example, they can be related to a number, day, colour, animal, etc. Superstitions in India: In India there are a lot of superstitions which are believed as supernatural. So here are some of the most interesting ones: Shaking of legs: If a person’s legs shake continuously, they will be left with less wealth. Washing hair on Thursday: Thursday is considered a bad day for washing your hair. The reason again is fear of losing wealth. If you see a garbage truck: If you see a truck full of garbage before leaving your home, it means that your day will pass very well. However, if you see a garbage truck that is empty before leaving your home, it is considered bad and unlucky. More superstitions in India: Colour (White and Black): The colours white and black are not considered lucky for a new bride. She cannot wear these colours for a few months because it is considered a threat on their new relationship. Whereas, in developed countries, it is tradition for the bride to dress in a white gown for the wedding. Sneeze: If you are about to leave from your home for work, and someone sneezes, it is thought to be fear of the unknown. Something will go wrong on the way or the task will not be completed. Perfumes and colognes (fancy and...
Sep 27, 2019 | Blog, Testimonials, Tips, Worldwide
Study in Vancouver: A Great City for Students Many people dream of studying and living in Canada and often Vancouver is the city which comes to mind. Vancouver is a coastal seaport city located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, also known as Beautiful British Columbia. What’s more, Vancouver offers a unique and extraordinary experience in terms of lifestyle and educational opportunities. Here are some reasons people want to live and study in Vancouver. Benefits of studying and living in Vancouver Universities and Colleges: In Vancouver, there are a few universities and colleges which are ranked high in quality of education. For example, the University of British Columbia is in the top three universities in Canada. Other institutions include Langara College, Columbia College, Kwantlen Polytechnical University, and Simon Fraser University. Moreover, there are many programs available for different types of students. Climate in Vancouver: Apart from rest of the Canada, the weather in Vancouver is pleasant and soothing. You can feel the drizzling of the rain on your face in the month of September. Here in Metro-Vancouver, there are plenty of places where you can enjoy the beauty of nature like Grouse Mountain, Stanley Park, and Capilano Suspension Bridge. Public Transportation and Lifestyle: Getting around in Vancouver is easy. All the credit goes to the government who manage a vast network of public transportation. Moreover, travelling by public transportation is cheap compared to having your own car. This means that you spend less on a monthly basis. Diversity: As people from different countries come here to study, it makes the city richer in diversity. People from Asia...
