Taiwan & China Taiwan and China’s relationship is quite politically charged and controversial. However, regardless of whether one views Taiwan as part of China or not, there is a common misconception that life in Taiwan and China is exactly the same. However, Taiwanese culture and linguistic differences from Mainland China are quite interesting to learn about. Let’s go over a few of them! Taiwanese Culture: Convenience Stores Similarly to convenience store culture in Japan, Taiwan’s convenience stores are nothing to scoff at. Practically every street has at least one store, the most common being Family Mart and 7-Eleven, which are open 24/7. In fact, Taiwan has the second highest convenience store density in the world! True to their name, you can conveniently buy surprisingly high quality meals, snacks, baked goods, and you can even pay with the local public transit pass. Not only that, but you can also: Buy hot foodPay parking tickets and other finesPay your taxesSend moneyAnd more! How did Taiwan’s convenience stores become so widespread? The first 7-Eleven opened in 1979, but only became a profitable business in 1986. Coincidentally, the Japanese Family Mart opened up in Taiwan in 1988 – around the same time when 7-Eleven became profitable in Taiwan. Other smaller convenience store chains followed soon after. Convenience stores became so prominent because they were firmly able to integrate into Taiwanese culture and daily life, and their services have only been expanding since. Taiwanese Culture: Night Markets Taiwan has a bustling night market culture. These markets are either permanent or temporary night-time popups, and attract large crowds of people who go to play games,...
Japanese Culture in Hawaii Hawaii often brings to mind images of coconut trees, beaches, and tropical fruit. However, modern day Hawaii has a rich culture built upon the lives and traditions of the indigenous Hawaiian people, as well as the many immigrants who came to the islands as plantation workers during the early colonial period. One influential culture is Japanese culture. It is so ingrained in some parts of life that one might not even notice their Japanese origins unless explicitly pointed out. However, not only has Japanese culture influenced Hawaii, but Hawaii has made Japanese culture its own in a way. For instance, many Japanese-origin aspects of culture or life in Hawaii have evolved from their original Japanese counterparts. In addition, the general non-Japanese population also enjoys aspects of Japanese culture that have moved past ethnic lines and into the general lifestyle in Hawaii. The strength of Japanese influence depends on the island and even parts of island. Japanese Influence on Language and Culture Children often say jan ken pon when playing rock paper scissors – the Japanese version of the game. However, they often don’t know its Japanese origins and think of it as a string of syllables. Japanese popular culture like anime and manga are quite popular and widespread. Obon is a traditional Buddhist summer festival where people gather to dance and honour their ancestors. However, unlike in Japan, where the festival is held over a three-day period, Hawaii’s obon festivals run throughout the summer. Hawaii’s festivals are also less strictly religious. Many non-Japanese and non-Buddhist people go simply to browse the food stalls and enjoy the festival atmosphere. Japanese Influence on Food and Shopping There...
How many people speak the French language around the world? France has an estimated population of 67 million people and the official language is French. Over 80 million people speak French as a native language worldwide. If we include non-native speakers, this increases to about 220 million worldwide. French is an official language in 29 countries. This includes its DOM-TOMs (remaining overseas territories from the colonial era), which still have French as their mother tongue because they are still an official part of France. What are the most common clichés about the French? Talking about the French language often leads to stereotypes about the French. Here’s a small selection: “The French say “ooh là là” a lot” – well, it’s true, they do say it a fair bit but not as we use it in the English-speaking world. There’s the good “oh là là”, used to express admiration, there’s the bad “oh là là”, used to express annoyance, and there’s the really bad “Oh là là là là (là là)” – yes, it’s got to be at least four là’s! – for when you’re in a real pickle. It’s all in the intonation! Three little but powerful words! “French people are unruly and impolite” – this is a famous stereotype but this comes down to understanding cultural differences. The French are very “matter-of-fact” and “straight-to-the-point”. They don’t beat around the bush, and sometimes, this can come across as abrupt or brash but in actual fact, most of them are very well behaved and will treat you with respect. “French workers complain a lot and are always on strike” – trade...
How Many People Speak Argentine Spanish & the Spanish Language Around the World? Argentina has an estimated population of 45.2 million people and the official language is Spanish (Argentine). According to Instituto Cervantes, in 2019, over 483 million people speak Spanish as a native language worldwide. In addition, about 22 million people study Spanish worldwide as non-native speakers. What is Argentine Spanish related to? Here’s an interesting list of facts and myth busters about stereotypes related to Argentina’s culture: “Argentine people use the second personal, singular “you” form (“vos”) to address everybody.” Well, Argentine people use “vos” mainly in informal contexts, let’s say, with family and friends. However, when addressing a manager or a doctor, they would use the formal “you” form (“usted”) as it is more polite. “Argentine people say “che” all the time.” TRUE. They use the word “che” as an interjection, often to: emphasize something, get someone’s attention or address someone whose name they don’t know. As a matter of fact, the revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara earned the nickname “el Che” because he frequently used this word. “Argentine people are always eating asado.” No matter how much Argentine people would like this to be true, they don’t eat asado (traditional Argentine barbecue) every day. However, it’s true that people eat asado regularly. An asado on a sunny Sunday is always a classic. “Argentine people drink mate all day long.” TRUE. “El mate” is widely drunk in Argentina. More importantly, apart from the drink itself, it’s about bonding and sharing with your loved ones. “All Argentine people know how to dance tango.” FALSE. Although tango is a...
The French Community in British Columbia The French community in British Columbia continues to grow and diversify every year. British Columbia has the fourth largest Francophone community in Canada. According to Statistics Canada in 2016, French is the mother tongue of over 70,000 British Columbians. There are more than 300,000 residents of the province who speak French in addition to English or another language. Francophones have contributed to the economic growth, intellectual pursuits, and political and cultural development of British Columbia. Structures are in place to provide several services to Francophones living in the province or thinking of moving there. It is possible to study, work and stay informed in French, as well as to access social services and health care. Many organizations are working hard to expand the Francophone and Francophile presence in B.C. One is the British Columbia Francophone Federation, the official voice of the province’s Francophone community. Their mission is to represent the Francophone community in British Columbia while preserving their linguistic and cultural heritage. Infographic: The strong French presence in British Columbia The Francophone community in B.C. is not only growing but also changing the overall Canadian population. This infographic will show you some interesting facts about the Francophonie in British Columbia: PDF Download The need for French translation services French is not only the mother tongue of many Canadians, but an integral part of the Canadian identity. If you want to successfully expand your business into the Canadian market, you need to understand the country’s linguistic variations and adapt your business to the local look and feel. By working with a trusted translation agency that is familiar...
The significance of accurate translation English is one of the most prominent languages in the world. Many people ask why doesn’t everybody just speak English? Or how important is translation? The fact is that not everyone can speak English. More importantly, language is much more than communicating with words. It is also an expression of a country’s society, culture, and beliefs. Translation facilitates effective communication between people who speak different languages by spreading information, knowledge, ideas, or messages. Therefore, it is crucial to produce a genuine and accurate translation that correctly reflects the original text. When it comes to translation services, the quality and accuracy of translations are crucial. Quality language translation narrows the gap in communication. A good translation enables companies to reach a global audience by talking in a language that their clients can understand. Accurate translation is critical to all aspects of any industry field. It requires a double effort when it comes to medical, legal, or technical translations. If the official document is not translated accurately, it can cause catastrophic consequences such as loss of income and damage to an organization’s reputation. Medical translations require a high level of accuracy for all the medical terms, findings, recommendations, and instructions in the target document. Like medical translations, legal translations must also be completely error-free. Any small mistake in the translated copy can result in serious legal issues affecting the lives and freedom of people who use the document. How to produce a genuine and accurate translation Being able to translate accurately is an art and the translator is an artist. Besides following the rules of translation...
How many people speak the Italian language all around the world? Italy has a total population of 60 million people and the official language is Italian. 61,860,418 people speak Italian as a native language. In addition, 16,957,243 people speak Italian worldwide as non-native speakers. What is the Italian language related to? Talking about the Italian language obviously takes you to stereotypes related to it. Let’s go over these together: “Italians are pizza and spaghetti eaters.” Yeah, that could be true. Italians eat pasta almost every day and pizza once a week, even if they are on a diet! “Italians talk with their hands.” It’s a scientific truth: everybody gesticulates to express themselves in a better way, but yes, let’s consider this stereotype true too. “Italians are loud.” No less than our Spanish, German and English neighbours! 😉 “Italians are always late.” It depends on the appointment. We’re hardly ever late for work. If it’s a meeting with friends, that’s another matter. “Italians drink espresso and cappuccino all day long.” INCORRECT. We meet for coffee to spend time with our loved ones. Cappuccino is only for breakfast, unlike other cultures. “Italians are disorganized.” Try telling that to my best friend. She is one of the most organized people I have ever known. And she managed to make me an organized person too! “Italians can’t speak English.” Of course, it’s not easy to get rid of our distinctive accent but that’s not true. At least, we try! 😊 Curious facts about the Italian language It derives from vernacular Latin (as opposed to ancient Latin). When Latin merged with the languages of...
COVID-19: cómo LingoStar puede ayudarle con traducciones y el COVID-19 En primer lugar, esperamos que usted, su familia y sus colegas estén sanos y salvos durante esta pandemia mundial. Dado que el coronavirus (COVID-19) sigue propagando en Cánada, pro favor consulte la información general del gobierno canadiense para garantizar su seguridad. Queremos que sepan que seguimos trabajando actualmente, ya que muchos de nuestros traductores y editores tradicionalmente trabajan desde casa. Así es como los traductores independientes solemos trabajar. Por lo tanto, ya cumplimos con las recomendaciones de distanciamiento social y minimizamos el riesgo de infección entre nuestros empleados y traductores. Entonces, LingoStar sigue trabajando y puede ayudarle con traducciones y el COVID-19. Traducciones y el COVID-19: ¿cómo podemos ayudarle? Entendemos que muchas empresas en todo el mundo necesitan seguir en contacto con sus clientes, colegas, empleados, socios comerciales, etcétera. Nuestro propósito no es sacar provecho de esta crisis, sino ayudar a promover la información. Por lo tanto, siéntase libre de contactarnos con cualquier necesidad de traducción relacionada con el coronavirus (COVID-19). Ya sea una traducción o una voz en off, estaremos encantados de ayudar a difundir su mensaje en varias lenguas como en español, francés, chino, italiano, coreano, alemán, farsi y más. Ya hemos estado traduciendo memorándums y anuncios de compañías para algunos de nuestros clientes en las últimas 2 semanas. Pida ayuda con sus traducciones relacionadas con el coronavirus Sabemos que, en estos tiempos, sus mensajes necesitan llegar a muchas personas rápidamente. Por lo tanto, trabajaremos las 24 horas del día para asegurarnos de que sus necesidades de traducción se cumplan. Además, no aplicaremos tarifas adicionales para las...
COVID-19 et aide proposée par LingoStar concernant les traductions du Coronavirus COVID-19 Tout d’abord nous espérons que vous, votre famille et vos collègues vous portez bien en cette période de pandémie mondiale. Le Coronavirus, aussi appelé COVID-19, continuant de se propager partout dans le monde, veuillez vous référer à ces instructions du gouvernement canadien pour assurer votre sécurité. Nous tenions à ce que vous sachiez que nous continuerons à travailler pendant cette période, tout comme beaucoup de nos traducteurs/traductrices qui travaillent comme d’habitude à distance depuis chez eux. C’est généralement la manière de travailler des traducteurs indépendants. Nous respectons donc scrupuleusement les recommandations de prises de distance et minimisons les risques d’infections parmi nos employés et traducteurs. Par conséquent, nous somme à votre entière disposition pour toute traductions du Coronavirus COVID-19. De quelles armes dispose une entreprise de traduction pour lutter contre le Coronavirus ? Nous comprenons que des entreprises du monde entier ont besoin de tenir informés leur clients, collègues, employés, partenaires commerciaux etc. Notre volonté n’est pas de profiter de cette crise mais d’aider à la circulation de l’information. Ainsi, nous vous invitons à nous contacter pour toute question ou pour tout besoin de traduction relatif au COVID-19. Qu’il s’agisse de traduction ou de voice-over, nous serons plus que ravis de vous aider à faire circuler votre message en anglais, espagnol, chinois, italien, coréen, allemand, farsi, ou autre. Nous avons déjà commencé à traduire des notes et annonces d’entreprises pour certains de nos clients lors des deux dernières semaines. Acceptez notre aide pour vos traductions du Coronavirus COVID‑19 Nous sommes conscients du fait que vos messages doivent...
Traduzione ai tempi del Coronavirus: come LingoStar può aiutarti con le traduzioni in questo periodo Prima di tutto ci auguriamo che voi, i vostri familiari e i vostri colleghi e amici stiate bene in questo momento di pandemia globale. Vogliamo informarvi che noi continuiamo a lavorare con la traduzione ai tempi del Coronavirus, poiché molti dei nostri traduttori ed editori lavorano a distanza “da casa”. D’altronde è questo il mondo della traduzione freelance. Pertanto, ci atteniamo alle raccomandazioni di distanziamento sociale e minimizziamo il rischio di contagio tra i nostri dipendenti e traduttori. Come può un’agenzia affrontare il Coronavirus con la traduzione? Siamo consapevoli del fatto che molte aziende in tutto il mondo abbiano bisogno di aggiornare i propri clienti, colleghi, dipendenti, partner commerciali e così via. Il nostro desiderio non è quello di trarre profitto da questa crisi, bensì di contribuire alla promozione dell’informazione. Per cui, sentitevi liberi di contattarci per qualsiasi esigenza di traduzione relativa alla comunicazione di COVID-19. Che si tratti di una traduzione o di un voice-over, saremo lieti di aiutarvi a diffondere il vostro messaggio multilingue in spagnolo, francese, cinese, italiano, coreano, tedesco, farsi e altro ancora. Nelle ultime due settimane, abbiamo già tradotto messaggi e annunci aziendali per alcuni dei nostri clienti. Traduzione ai tempi del Coronavirus: chiedi il nostro aiuto Sappiamo che i vostri messaggi in questi tempi dovranno raggiungere più persone molto velocemente. Pertanto, lavoreremo 24 ore su 24 per assicurarci che le vostre esigenze di traduzione siano soddisfatte. In questo duro momento, per le traduzioni relative a COVID-19, il sovrapprezzo dell’urgenza, se richiesta, non verrà accreditato. Naturalmente, come di consueto,...
