Language Matters in January 2014: Body Language

Jan 21, 2014 | Translation News

Dear Language friend, For the first Newsletter of the year 2014, we’re going to talk about a topic that concerns everyone: Body language. Body language is almost as important as spoken language. Although it is non-verbal, it says a lot about you and how you feel! Body language includes facial expressions, gestures, or even the tone of your voice. Most of the time, all of these elements will have a major impact on your professional life, your business relationships, and can make, or break your success. However, it is not as easy as it seems to know all of the variations of body language, as you can find different interpretations of it in different countries. This is why in this month’s newsletter, we will talk about the significance of body language in different countries and cultures, and how it affects your business and professional life. Read on! Contributed by Sophie and Nico Body Language and Crucial differences What kind of body language you use depends on your individual cultural background and upbringing. However, it is even more important to know about different types of body language than about the actual language. A wrong interpretation of body language can be quite dangerous or even life threatening. It is especially important if you want to develop a business relationship with companies from other countries, as only a slight misinterpretation could lead to considerable damage. For this reason, you should know about some crucial differences between cultures. For example, did you know that shaking hands is considered impolite in Japan and is replaced by a bow? The depth of the bow shows...

Is the Latin Language dead?

Jan 17, 2014 | Blog

If you work with languages, you are likely aware that languages change constantly. Some languages and their speakers change so much that they disappear. Today, we can count an upwards of 600 languages that became extinct. But what can we call a ‘dead language’? Let’s take Latin for example. Latin has been classified as an extinct language for centuries. No one uses it as a first language anymore and this is why it is a ‘dead’ language. Furthermore, even though people are still studying it, it is an ancient language that was never updated, therefore impossible to utilize in modern society. Despite the fact that Latin is extinct, we still use it today in many different sectors, like science, literature and medicine. Many plants have their names derived from Latin. Also, several languages stem from Latin, like French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian and Spanish. The only circumstance where Latin is still used in conversations is in the Vatican and between members of the Roman Catholic Church if they have different mother tongues. Last year in February, Pope Benedict XVI made his resignation speech in Latin, which was a historic moment and proof that Latin is still used. So, can we really refer to it as a dead language? In terms of Latin being classified as a native language, yes, but it has helped us develop many other languages that are widely used today. In terms of the usage of the language, it is still alive. Due to our experience in the language business, we know that Latin as a language on its own is still used and read. Here at Lingostar,...

Website Translation VS Document translation

Jan 17, 2014 | Blog

In the language and translation industry, you may have noticed that document translation and website translation are not classified as the same service. Indeed, website translation and document translation are not the same, and require different procedures and different skills. More often than not, website translation also comes with localization services. Read today’s article to know what differentiates website translation from document translation! While printed documents given to the translators are usually final, a website is often updated, which means the website translators have to deal with changes, modifications and newly added content constantly. Also, as opposed to printed text, website translation features the use of HTML and technical codes that the translator must be able to deal with, as well as being able to make the differentiation between text that has to be translated, and text that can’t be modified. A big difference between document and website translators is that website translators must have a good knowledge of computer science. And of course, website translation infers localization: adapting the layout of a text depending on the length of the words in a certain language, or simple but important details such as symbols, pictures or colours that might be offensive for people from different countries and cultures. Here at Lingostar, we provide document translation services and also website translation/localization. If you need translation services for your documents or for your website, we can help you! Call us today or send us an email for a free...

Holiday Traditions in Canada

Dec 19, 2013 | Blog

People all over the world are excited about the holidays: Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s! The traditions are different in every country and sometimes even in different parts of the same country. In such a big country like Canada, we find different traditions. Most people in Canada buy their own Christmas tree: a real pine and fir tree that they decorate with lights and colorful ornaments in their home. Families and friends gather together on Christmas Eve for festive meals and drinks which include roasted turkey, ham, potatoes and vegetables. Many Canadian families open their presents on the evening on the 24th, but some just open their stockings or pick one present in their pile to open and leave the rest for the following day. On the 25th, another meal is served late in the afternoon, and the day is spent watching movies, playing cards or sports like road hockey. In Quebec, French traditions are incorporated during the holidays but similar customs to the rest of the country include gift giving, decorating and feasting. Because it’s the holidays, you can take the time to go skiing, or simply party with your family and friends! For New Year’s Eve, people in Canada celebrate on the evening of December 31st. When midnight strikes, couples kiss and everyone makes a New Year’s resolution, a promise of what they will accomplish in the coming year. Then, bottles of champagne are popped and people sing Auld Lang Syne and party into the wee hours. If you would like to know more about holiday and Christmas traditions around the world, make sure you check out our December...

A Very Merry LingoStar Christmas!

Dec 17, 2013 | Translation News

Dear Language Friend, Christmas is around the corner. Almost all doors of the Advent calendar have been opened and everyone is waiting for the holidays to come. My experience with Christmas is that time is flying during the holidays and everything is over pretty fast. However, after Christmas the celebrations won’t stop as the New Year draws near. You may think of something totally different when you think of these two celebrations. Even in our office there are differences, as we come from various countries. Various countries mean various backgrounds and various Christmas and New Year celebrations. Do you want to find out how these two holidays are celebrated in the countries represented at LingoStar? Then continue to read this month’s newsletter. Contributed by the LingoStar Team Frohe Weihnachten und einen guten Rutsch! In Germany, during the Christmas season (which starts around mid-October in the supermarkets, but normally with the Advent season, 4 weeks before Christmas Eve) we decorate our houses, inside and outside, with lights, candles and fir branches. On an Advent Sunday, we light the Advent wreath and in the afternoon, we eat self-made cookies – every family seems to have its own recipe. We also eat gingerbread, Christmas Stollen (a cake with lots of raisins and spices) and Spekulatius (a spiced cookie). At least one visit to one of the numerous Christmas markets, which you can even find in small villages, is a must. There you can get all sorts of spices, candies (like roasted almonds or marzipan) and the typical “Glühwein” – a hot drink made of wine and various spices. You can also buy...

Voice-over Artists and Services

Dec 6, 2013 | Blog

A voice-over is a production technique where a recorded voice is synchronized to a video. Voice-overs are typically used on different platforms: television, film, and online for advertising, narration, documentary pieces, and more. In our industry, clients require corporate videos or presentations to be voiced in multiple languages for promotional or business purposes as well as employment training. Media companies also require multilingual voiceovers for their clients’ promotional material, TV shows, film production, commercials, etc. Generally, the voice-over artist is provided a translated script and then records the audio in a professional studio or using professional equipment in their home studio. Being a voice over artist is a hard job that combines linguistic, technical and marketing skills all in one package! High-tech software technology today can give you the option to instantly record tracks in acceptable quality. But to be a successful voice-over artist is not easy. First of all, if you want to have your voice heard, you need to have standout voice-over demo recordings available for potential employers. It is also a good idea to have your own at-home recording studio and that requires quite an investment. Furthermore, in the voice-over world, it is always useful to have a circle of friends in the business, so go to conferences! Meet some people, get some contacts, and seek advice from professional voice-over artists. What is there to lose? Finally, look after your main instrument: your voice! Vocal training can help you learn to breathe properly and help your voice sound great for long hours of recording.   LingoStar Voice-over Services provides voice-overs in English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese,...

Quality Assurance

Dec 4, 2013 | Blog

LingoStar is committed to providing reliable and exceptional services to clients with global language needs. We take several steps along the translation process to ensure the highest standards are met in regards to customer service and quality assurance. We only use native speakers for translations, and all LingoStar translators and interpreters are highly qualified to translate into their native language. Our language professionals follow strict internal quality assurance guidelines, and we employ in-house quality control procedures for all our translations and related language services. To further protect against any chance of misinterpretation, all translations include editing/proofreading by a second qualified linguist to ensure accuracy in grammar, spelling, writing style, and linguistic and cultural subtleties. Additionally, all translations are spot-checked by the LingoStar team for inconsistencies and formatting errors prior to...

The Different Varieties of Chinese

Dec 3, 2013 | Blog

When it comes to the Chinese language, we can identify many different dialects, both written and spoken. First we will discuss the two most common spoken varieties of the Chinese language: Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese Chinese. Then we will note the differences between the two main styles of written Chinese: Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese. Mandarin is the most spoken Chinese language in Mainland China. It is the official dialect for millions of people: as of 2010, there were 960 million native speakers of Mandarin in Mainland China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan and Singapore. On the other hand, we have Cantonese Chinese, spoken primarily in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangzhou. Mandarin and Cantonese are very distinct languages. As for written Chinese, we have Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. Simplified Chinese is a modern form of Chinese writing, appearing after the 1950’s. It is said that Simplified Chinese was developed to encourage people to learn to read by simplifying the Traditional Chinese characters. It is used in Mainland China and Singapore. On the other hand, Traditional Chinese is the original text that has been used for centuries in China. Chinese speakers in Taiwan and Hong Kong use Traditional Chinese characters. Of course, there are many more dialects than just Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese, and more written styles than just Simplified and Traditional Chinese. If we go deeper in the subject, we can also find differences between Traditional Chinese in Taiwan and Traditional Chinese in Hong Kong! Languages never cease to develop and change.   Here at LingoStar we have professional certified translators available to translate your texts both in Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese....
First Nations Languages in Canada

First Nations Languages in Canada

Dec 2, 2013 | Blog

Languages Worldwide Of the approximately 6000 languages spoken worldwide, experts estimate that at least 3000 are under threat and this includes First Nations Languages. Up to 90% may actually disappear over the next century. A language becomes extinct when its speakers relocate and are required to speak the dominant language of their new region. This is usually to be able to get a job and become a functioning member of society. It can also become extinct when a more aggressive or economically stronger culture infiltrates its region and overruns the existing one. First Nations Languages Canadian Aboriginal languages have one of the worst survival records. Many Aboriginal languages are now extinct. This is mainly due to harsh assimilation policies and residential schools that prohibited students from using their mother tongue. Approximately 60 Aboriginal languages exist in Canada. Inuktitut, Cree and Ojibway are some of the healthiest of these languages, but even they are under threat. For example, in Nunavut, where 85% of the population is Inuit and speak a dialect of Inuktitut, 40% report that they are losing the ability to speak their mother tongue. Only 38% say they are fluent in reading and writing—but this is because Inuktitut is primarily an oral language. Clearly the survival of the language is at stake. Today in Nunavut, where the official language of the government is Inuktitut, a debate is developing over what should be done about the decline. On the one hand, some believe that Inuktitut should be preserved and argue that if the language is lost, Inuit culture will be lost as well. These people blame several factors. They...

Common mistakes and types of patent translations

Dec 2, 2013 | Blog

When you run a business and want to expand your business abroad, applying for patents in other countries to protect your products from copyright infringement is a necessary step. For this, you will need to have your patents translated into different languages. A great patent translation may be the key to your success in the first stage of expanding your franchise overseas. Accuracy and subject expertise are extremely important when it comes to patent translation. You never want to run the risk of submitting a problematic patent translation, especially when the intellectual properties could involve millions of dollars. Therefore, it is paramount to work with professional patent translators. In addition to excellent translating skills, these patent translators need to have profound knowledge in different fields such as science, medicine, or engineering so that they can provide high-quality patent translation services. There are two general types of patent translation. One is for referential information and the other is for official application. The one for reference requires a literal translation which tends to keep tightly to the original text. However, this kind of translation is not suitable for the official application. Patent translators working on this kind of patent translation need to be aware of and comprehend the differences among different regulations in different countries. LingoStar has been working with professional patent translators in various language combinations – some of them are qualified even beyond expectation. For example, we have translators who work in the language pairs of Japanese – Chinese, German – Japanese, and even Japanese – Thai! In addition to this, we also guarantee the quality of our patent...