Read our Translation Blog
Get the latest fun and facts from the language industry with our blog!
Need advice on website translation and localization?
Browse our ONLINE SHOP for ebooks on how to translate a website!
LingoStar’s Blog 
Welcome to LingoStar’s blog! On this page, you can find a lot of interesting and useful information about the translation industry. Explore topics on website translation and localization and how successful localization can influence your business to help your company grow and go global.
Language Blog Topics
On this blog, you can also learn about professional translators and interpreters, multilingual search engine optimization (SEO), the importance of socializing and networking and translators’ professional ethics. Quite often we write posts about the languages of the world, other cultures, and their traditions. Not only do translators convert texts from a source language to a target language, but they also help people communicate with each other, help establish international contacts, and are often prominent figures in the social, economic, and political life. Lastly, of course, we want you to have fun, so on our blog, you can find many posts that will entertain you and, hopefully, make you smile!
We hope you enjoy our blog and discover a lot of interesting things!
Useful Guide For Canada Day Celebrations
Happy Birthday, Canada! On July 1st, Canada will celebrate its 148th birthday. Here is your Canada Day events schedule across the country. Check it out! Origin Canada Day is a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867 enactment of the British North America Act, which called the Constitution Act today. Canada Day was originally called ‘Dominion Day’ but it was renamed in 1982. How to celebrate On Canada Day people gather downtown or in central locations in their respective hometowns. They wear red T-shirts with Canadian maple leafs and some people even paint their faces. There are many events like concerts, parades, etc. and you can enjoy eating various street foods. The biggest highlight is a fireworks display! Usually it starts at 10 or 10:30 P.M. This year’s celebrations for Canada Day Here is your complete events schedule for enjoying Canada Day across the country! Canada Day 2015 in Ottawa Parliament Hill 9am to 9:30am – Flag-Raising Ceremony 9:30am to 10am – Changing of the Guard 10am to 10:30am – Carillon Concert 12pm to 1:30pm – Canada Day Noon Show 2pm to 5pm – Swing Dancing, A Flock of Flyers : remix, Ottawa Stilt Union 7:30pm to 10pm – Canada Day Evening Show Major’s Hill Park (There are a lot of activities!) 9am to 3pm – NRJ 104.1 Ottawa – Gatineau 9am to 5pm – Commemorate the 200th anniversary of Sir John A. Mcdonald’s birthday, Historica Canada’s Trivia Challenge, GoodLife Fitness (Get in The Best Shape Of Your Life!) etc. 2:45pm to 3:15pm – Inner City Sirens 2, Fesso the clown 3pm to 3:30pm –... read more
Chopsticks And Their Multiple Use Across The World
The Culture Behind Chopsticks Unless you grow up using chopsticks, getting the hang of it can be difficult. Each country in Asia has its own culture and etiquette about using them, as well as different shapes, etc. So today we’d like to introduce you to the interesting world of chopsticks! The Origin of Chopsticks Chopsticks were invented in ancient China as early as 1766 ~ 1122 B.C. The first ones were probably used for cooking, stirring the fire, and serving or seizing bits of food, not as eating utensils. Types of Chopsticks China Longer than other styles at about 25 centimeters, thicker, with squared or rounded sides and ending in either wide and flat tips or tapered pointed tips. The most common type of material in regular households is lacquered bamboo and in restaurants, melamine plastic for its durability and ease of sanitation. Korea Medium-length with a small, flat rectangular shape, and made of metal. Traditionally they were made of brass or silver, with only rich families using silver chopsticks because silver was very expensive. Many Korean metal chopsticks are ornately decorated at the grip and they are used simultaneously with the Korean spoon. Japan Shorter length sticks tapering to a finely pointed end. Traditionally Japanese chopsticks were made of wood or bamboo and were lacquered. It is common for Japanese sticks to be of shorter length for women. Vietnam Long sticks that taper to a blunt point, quite like the Chinese style. Traditionally lacquered wood or bamboo. Etiquette China When eating rice from a bowl, it is normal to hold the rice bowl up to one’s mouth and... read more
Asia – 10 Destinations That You Have To Visit At Least Once In Your Life
Maybe Asia This Summer? Have you ever visited Asia? Asia has a lot of amazing and awesome places. Here are some suggestions for good places to visit. Let’s take a look! East Asia Shanghai, China Shanghai is the largest city in China by the population. Shoppers should make a beeline for the Fabric Market, where you can have a suit or dress tailor-made for you at bargain prices. Check out the fashionable restaurants, bars, and nightclubs at night! Seoul, South Korea Seoul is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea and the world’s second-largest metropolitan area. You can see a lot of skyscrapers and the N Seoul Tower. Go to the historical sites! In Seoul, there are many historical sites like the Gyeong-bok Palace and Changdeokgung Palace. You can also eat Korean food and enjoy the amazing nightlife. Tokyo, Japan Tokyo is the capital and largest city of Japan. You’ll meet many skyscrapers as well as the Tokyo Tower. You can enjoy karaoke and eat lots of Japanese food. Taipei, Taiwan The city of Taipei is the capital and a special municipality of Taiwan. You can eat high-quality food at very cheap prices. Also, it has a beautiful night view and amazing architecture. South Asia Jaipur, India The word Jaipur means “Palace of Jai king”. It is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan in Northern India. You should visit Vidhan Sabha, its view at night is gorgeous. Southeast Asia Phnom Penh, Cambodia Phnom Penh is the capital city and largest city of Cambodia. Beautiful sites like Wat Phnom, Veal Maen,... read more
Does Your Country Have The Fastest Internet Connection In The World?
Who Is The Fastest? We can’t imagine our life without the internet anymore. Have you ever thought about how your country compares to others in terms of internet speed? Which country do you think has the fastest internet connection in the world? Here are the top ten countries with the fastest internet. See if yours made the list! No 10. Finland In the fourth quarter of 2014, average speeds for broadband internet connection were 12.1 Mbps (megabytes per second), up 33% from a year ago. No 9. Czech Republic Average connection speeds in the Czech Republic in the fourth quarter of 2014 were 12.3 Mbps, up 8.4% from a year ago. No 8. Ireland Ireland was ranked number 8 at 12.7 Mbps. Their average connection speeds increased about 24% from 2013. No 7. Latvia In the first quarter of 2013, internet speeds in Latvia were 9.8 Mbps. But later their internet speeds hit 13.0 Mbps, up 25% from a year ago. No 6. Netherlands The Netherlands had an average broadband connection speed of 14.2 Mbps, up 15% from 2013. No 5. Switzerland In 2013, average broadband connection speeds were 12.1 Mbps. By the first three months of 2014, they rose to 14.5 Mbps. No 4. Sweden Not to be outdone, the Swedes had speeds averaging 14.6 Mbps, up 34% from a year ago. No 3. Japan Japan fell from second place to third, with speeds averaging 15.2 Mbps, up 16% from 2013. No 2. Hong Kong Hong Kong just stole second place from Japan. The average speeds reached were 16.8 Mbps, up as much as 37% from 2013. No 1.... read more
Vancouver Inhabitants And Their Everyday Habits
Exploring the Culture Of Vancouver As a translation agency, we are always keen on exploring new cultures, traditions, languages, and the differences and similarities between them. Today, however, we would like to take a look inwards, to our own Canadian – and more specifically Vancouverite – background. We will focus on the habits of Vancouver inhabitants. 15 fun facts about Vancouver and its inhabitants A nice day is a day without rain no matter how cloudy it is. You know the difference between West Van, the West End, and the Westside. You know that there’s a Third Beach and Second Beach but no first beach (it’s English Bay). Going for a hike in the mountains and to the beach on the same day seems perfectly doable to you. Yoga pants are a way of life. Rent and housing prices don’t seem that bad. You can tell when the Canucks are playing by the number of people wearing hockey jerseys on the bus. You consider anything below 5 degrees to be freezing and above 20 to be insanely hot. The city receives a mere sprinkling of snow and you call it a snow day. You know what 4/20 means and why on that occasion you don’t go to the Art Gallery to admire the paintings. You know what UBC, SFU, ICBC, PNE, and VPL mean. You’re tired of eating so much sushi. You know that Vancouver Island is not in Vancouver. You know the proper pronunciation of the Vietnamese soup Pho. Even on the sunniest days, you have an umbrella with you because… you never know. Contact Us! Here at LingoStar,... read more
Foreigners Living In Canada And What They Miss About Their Homeland
Foreigners living in Canada Canada is known to be a melting pot of cultures, languages, and traditions. Foreigners living in Canada come from all over the world for its high standard of living, plentiful opportunities, and beautiful nature. The pros of living in Canada are countless, however, foreigners will always miss something from their homeland, after all, they cannot deny their roots, they can even feel homesick sometimes. We decided to ask people from other countries now living in Canada – from longtime immigrants to aspiring permanent residents, from temporary workers to exchange students – to list the things that they miss most about their home countries. Some ideas of what foreigners living in Canada could miss Onsen and Sentō – Japan Onsen is the Japanese term for hot springs, while sentō refers to public bathing facilities. Therefore, there are thousands of onsen and sentō of many kinds scattered around Japan, outdoor or indoor, ranging from very basic to the utmost in luxury. A great way to relax after a stressful working day. Bidet – Italy Italians feel lost without it! Considered a luxury good in Canada, you will find a bidet in every Italian house, right beside the toilet. Really convenient item, once you get used to it you won’t be able to go back to a “bidetless” routine. Sophisticated online banking – Slovakia For most people, electronic banking means ATMs or direct deposit of cheques, however, the Slovak system allows many more types of transactions, mostly on computers or smartphones, which is the reason why e-shopping is so well-developed and popular all over the country. Christmas markets – Czech Republic Traditional handicrafts, local food and beer, carols... read more
Nepal Is In Need Of Translation, Nepal Needs You
Now It Has Hit Nepal Too Indonesia, China, Haiti, Japan, just to name a few, and now Nepal. Two quakes of magnitude 7.8 and 7.3 have struck Nepal in the last 3 weeks, killing more than 8,000 people and leaving several other thousands injured or homeless. Humanitarian organizations are already on the field doing all they can to heal the injured, feed and give shelter to the population with no place to go, recover bodies from the rubble and make reconstruction plans. Why the Role Of Translation Is so Crucial in the Areas Hit By the Earthquake When a disaster strikes, no one usually thinks about the need for linguistic aid. Why would you need translators when people are dying? You need doctors! Fair enough. But have you ever wondered how the communication between doctor and patient occurs? How does a Nepali father explain to a rescue worker who only speaks English that his child is in need of help in a certain place and needs to be rescued? These people are afraid, lost and destabilized. In addition, foreigners unable to speak their language surround them and they can’t communicate with them even if they absolutely need to. How must that feel? Translation has the crucial role of enabling mutual understanding and supporting the aid organizations as well as the Nepali media and communication channels to act quickly and efficiently. Translators Without Borders has sent a team of 25 people to the affected areas of Nepali, Newari, and Hindi for translation work. This kind of rescue work lacks in funds and is far from being the most advantageous job.... read more
Victoria Day: 10 Names That It Doesn’t Hurt To Know
Victoria Day: One Holiday, Ten Different Names Ready for the long weekend? Do you know what we celebrate on Monday? At LingoStar Language Services, we found 10 different names for the very same holiday, in Vancouver called Victoria Day, and we are bringing you the explanation for every single one. Take inspiration and enjoy your free time and beautiful weather on this great Canadian holiday. Victoria Day Queen Victoria, who reigned over Great Britain, was born on May 24, 1819. Victoria Day Weekend This celebration marks the birthday of Queen Victoria and is celebrated every year on the last Monday before May 25. May Two-Four A “two-four” is slang for a case of 24 beers, and since the Victoria Day Weekend often ends up including the date May 24th, well, the “May Two-Four” is that weekend where you have an extra day to drink, or to recover. The Start of Camping Season Camping season in Canada runs from Victoria Day (third Monday in May) until Labour Day (first Monday in September). Unofficial Beginning of Summer In the hopes that the frost is really over, many people break out the gardening gloves and get dirty on Victoria Day weekend. May Long Weekend This is pretty self-explanatory. Sometimes abbreviated to just “May Long”. Firecracker Day Fireworks on the holiday Monday is a Canadian tradition. People usually go to fireworks displays put on by their local towns or cities, or set their own off in their backyard or neighbourhood parks. May Run Why is this weekend called “MAY RUN”? In a Facebook discussion, someone thinks that it is a combination of some species... read more
Queen Elizabeth II: ‘We Love to Have Another Girl’
Queen Elizabeth Shares her Baby Joy and We Provide the Translation of her Quote into Several Languages: “Yes, we love to have another girl.” — Queen Elizabeth Translation into Albanian: Jemi të lumtur për ardhjen e një vajze tjetër. Translation into Arabic: نعم نحن سعداء بالحصول علي طفلة أخري Translation into Bulgarian: Радваме се, че имаме още едно момиченце в семейството. Translation into Croatian: Drago nam je što imamo još jednu djevojčicu. Translation into Czech: Ano, jsme rádi, že máme další holčičku. Translation into Dari: ما دوست داریم یک دختر دیگر داشته باشیم Translation into French: Oui, on est ravi d’avoir une autre fille. Translation into German: Ja, es freut uns sehr, noch ein Mädchen in der Familie zu haben. Translation into Goun: E vivi nan mi na mi so do ovi yon’si devo Translation into Greek: Χαιρόμαστε πολύ που έχουμε ακόμα ένα κορίτσι στην οικογένεια. Translation into Gujarati: અમને એક બીજી છોકરી હોવાનો આનંદ છે. Translation into Hebrew: אנחנו שמחים שיש לנו ילדה נוספת. Translation into Hindi: हमे एक और लड़की होने की बेहद ख़ुशी है। Translation into Italian: Sì, siamo felicissimi di avere un’altra bambina. Translation into Indonesian: Kami merasa bahagia memiliki bayi perempuan lagi. Translation into Korean: 우리는 또 다른 소녀를 가졌으면 해요 Translation into Kurdish: خؤشحالين بة لةدايكبووني كجيَكي ترمان Translation into Latvian: Mēs priecājamies par vēl vienu meiteni. Translation into Lithuanian: Džiaugiamės dar viena mergaite. Translation into Macedonian: Milo ni e što imame ušte edno devojče vo semejstvoto Translation into Norwegian: Vi er veldig glade for å ha en jente til i familien. Translation into Pashto: موږ مینه لرو یوه بله جلی ولرو Translation... read more
5 Awesome Sports That Aren’t In the Olympics But Should Be
Cool Sports For the Olympics Every two years the Olympics come and an assortment of exciting and classic sports are spectated by millions. The most common of which include the well-known sports like Hockey, Soccer, Basketball, Swimming, Track and Field, etc. There are several sports around the globe that go unrecognised at the Olympic Games though, and there are five in particular I think would be awesome to implement in future games to amp the excitement up! Foosball (or Table Soccer, whatever you people call it) When I was a kid foosball was one of the most fun games I had ever played. It got extremely competitive between me and my friends and relatives, and I think it could have a place at the Olympic level. Just picture it like Tennis. There could be men and women’s singles matches, as well as doubles. I think it could do very well and be extremely popular. Dodgeball One of the best games ever invented? I think so! I have unleashed my wrath against my classmates so many times in dodgeball and I think you would be hard pressed to find someone who DOESN’T enjoy it. Throwing a ball as hard as you can at other people in order to win, how can you beat that!? Paintball A simulation to prepare soldiers for battle, this game is extremely tactical, strategic, and requires a huge amount of precision, skill and athleticism. Combining several exciting elements into one crazy sport, Paintball would be a great addition to the Olympic Games and would provide a very fast paced and exciting sport for spectators to watch. Sepak... read more
Inspirational Quote: Get Motivated By The Positive Message of the Day
Inspirational Message Translation into Italian, French, Japanese, Slovak, Russian and Czech. Dear friends, one of the greatest inhibitors of success is fear. Fear of success is rampant in our society, and it prevents many people from achieving greatness. Only when your desire to be successful outweighs that of your fear of rejection and failure, can you truly achieve success. You will fail over and over before you finally succeed, and it is imperative that you take on the risk of failure with open arms because only by embracing failure can you truly win in life. Today’s inspirational quote is here to help you achieve success. Let’s inspire and support each other. Let’s share this motivating positive message with everybody. We are always happy to send your translations of the positive messages we prepare for you. Inspirational Quote in English: Don’t worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try. – Jack Canfield Inspirational Quote Translation into Italian: Non preoccuparti dei fallimenti, preoccupati invece delle opportunità che perdi quando non ci provi nemmeno. – Jack Canfield Inspirational Quote Translation into French: Ne t’inquiète pas de l’échec, inquiète-toi des chances que tu manques lorsque tu n’essaies même pas. – Jack Canfield Inspirational Quote Translation into Japanese: 失敗を恐れる必要はない。恐れる必要があるのは、やりもしな いで逃がしてしまうチャンスのほうである。－ジャッ ク・キャンフィールド – Jack Canfield Inspirational Quote Translation into Slovak: Netrápte sa nad neúspechom, ale nad šancami uspieť, ktoré ste nevyužili. – Jack Canfield Inspirational Quote Translation into Russian: Не переживайте насчет неудач, переживайте о шансах, которые вы упускаете, потому что даже не пытаетесь достичь успеха. – Jack Canfield Inspirational Quote Translation into Czech: Nebojte se neúspěchu, starejte se o šance, které zmeškáte,... read more
Italian Food Lost in Translation : 5 Fun Facts That You Didn’t Know
Italian Food As An Important Trait of the Culture Food is one of the most distinctive traits of a culture. Each cuisine has its own local specific ingredients and flavors to mark its identity. However, in the interpretation of foreign dishes to fit in with the local cuisine, mistranslation happens. Today I would like to give you a quick insight into Italian food lost in translation. Ice-Cream Gelato is the Italian word for ice-cream. Therefore, being Italian myself, I was very confused when coming to Canada as I found out that the two are actually different. Apparently gelato indicates what I knew as such (soft, smooth and creamy) whereas ice-cream has a heavier and richer texture to it like Tim Horton’s ice cream. Prosciutto The same goes for ham and prosciutto (the Italian word for ham). Ham refers to the cooked ham known in Italy as prosciutto cotto. Prosciutto, on the other hand, refers to the dry-cured uncooked ham, called prosciutto crudo. Doing some research you will be able to find some more detailed and scientific descriptions of the differences. However, I learned at the expenses of my taste buds that the English-named product is, more often than not, the fatter and less refined version of its Italian food-named twin. Peperoni Is No Meat In Italy Totally misleading food-related words are also pepperoni (spelled peperoni). In Italy it has nothing to do with meat. It actually means bell peppers. In the same vein is latte, which translates into Italian simply as “milk” and doesn’t have any coffee in it. So if you go to Italy, ask for a caffè macchiato and... read more
Enjoy Our New Positive Message Translation
Inspirational Quote Translation into Italian, French, Japanese, Slovak and Czech. Dear friends, Procrastination and laziness are prominent in society nowadays. Many people assume that if they just wait long enough then a golden opportunity will eventually present itself and then they will be set for life. Unfortunately, life doesn’t always work out that way. Life favors the proactive, and the success seekers. Take it upon yourself to make opportunities for yourself, and to go out of your way to put effort into opening doors of success for yourself, as opposed to waiting for others to do it for you. Let’s inspire and support each other. Let’s share this motivating positive message with everybody. We are always happy to send your translations of the positive messages we prepare for you. Don’t hesitate to contact us and send us more translations. You are amazing! Inspirational Quote in English: If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door. – Milton Berle Inspirational Quote Translation into Italian: Se l’opportunità non bussa alla tua porta, costruiscine una. – Milton Berle Inspirational Quote Translation into French: Si l’opportunité ne frappe pas à ta porte, construis-en une. – Milton Berle Inspirational Quote Translation into Japanese: もし機会がノックしないなら、ドアを建てなさい。－ ミルトン・バール Inspirational Quote Translation into Czech: Pokud příležitost nezaklepe, postavte dveře. – Milton Berle Inspirational Quote Translation into Slovak: Ak príležitosť neklope, nastal čas kúpiť si dvere. – Milton... read more
Living Costs Around the World – The Costs of Living Vary Dramatically
Massive Differences In The Living Costs It is amazing how drastically living costs differ around the world in modern-day. Whether you choose to live in America or Asia, your budget calculations can look very different. Let’s have a look at a few examples. Living Costs In North America Living in a tiny studio apartment in Vancouver could cost a small fortune. Meanwhile, the same amount of money could buy you a family-sized house somewhere halfway across the world. America is well known as an expensive country to live in. However, cities in the United States have climbed in the ranking due to the relative stability of the US dollar against other major currencies. This is in addition to the significant drop in cities in other regions. It resulted in US cities being pushed up the list away from one of the most expensive places to live. European Living Costs Four European cities remain in the top 10 list of the most expensive cities. Paris is the most costly European city on the list, followed by Zurich and Geneva. Switzerland remains one of the most expensive locations for expatriates following the slight strengthening of the Swiss franc against the US dollar. Asia and Huge Cities vs. Rural Towns In Asia, it is no surprise that Hong Kong tops the rankings as one of the highest living costs on the planet. Singapore and Tokyo not too far behind. To clarify, it is evident that the more popular and population-dense a city is, the higher the living cost will. In rural areas and farm towns in Canada specifically, the price of a... read more
Personal Growth : Keeping Your Head Above Water
How Personal Growth allows us to face life’s challenges As people, personal growth is one vital parameter in our lives. Our learning and understanding of life does not end with graduation. It is only a start. It is pretty amazing to realize that there is so much knowledge and so many lessons to learn from life. At universities and colleges we learn the theory, we memorize books and scripts, we learn critical thinking. It is very valuable and it serves us. But at one point in our lives, there comes a moment when education seems moot, all the theory and endless seminars seem distant. Even the greatest professors of the greatest universities do not seem to teach us the lessons of life. Why? Because personal growth takes a lifetime, we can grow if we feel grounded in deep waters just like the poles in this photograph, if we accept the ocean of emotions that is contained within us. Handling certain emotions can be overwhelming and we are not made of stone even though our hearts sometimes act so. We are trees of life that grow and flourish with every breath. We can blossom, we can expand, we can become more knowledgeable and aware. Being able to stand strong, just like the seemingly weary poles in the photo, is one of our characteristics. We can face life and its experiences as calmly as the old poles can handle the waves of blue waters. The Importance of Personal Growth The poles in this beautiful picture may seem rotten, tired and worn out. But there is wisdom in the poles of life.... read moreTranslation Blog and News
LingoStar has been a language services provider in Canada, the USA, and Europe for more than a decade. We are proud to say that we cooperate with professional translators, interpreters, and other language specialists worldwide and work with over 100 language pairs. If you are looking for a reliable translation company, contact LingoStar! We are always ready to help you with your projects and documentation. Get a free quote online.