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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!
THE CANADIAN TRANSLATION MARKET
Some Figures about the Canadian Translation Market. How big is the Canadian Translation Market? According to Statistics Canada, the number of individuals who declare revenue from translation in the whole country is greater than 12,000, and few professions have as much growth potential as this one. Quebec is the leading region, with 5,325 translators, followed by Ontario with 4,155. The two provinces combined account for 80% of all translators and interpreters in Canada. However, British Columbia is also a leading province for translation, with over 600 translators just in Vancouver. What is the value of the Canadian Translation Market? The value of the Canadian Translation Market is estimated at about $450 million, excluding the value of translations provided by the in-house translation services of Canadian businesses and organizations. This market is served by over 800 firms and some 4,500 independent workers. 48% of firms are in Quebec (which represents 382 translation agencies), 37% are in Ontario (296 translation agencies) and 6% are in British Columbia (52 translation agencies). Prospective growth of the Canadian Translation Market looks excellent as the expected rate of annual growth ranges between 5% and 10%. If you need translation services in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, call LingoStar today or send us an email for a free quote! Here we have qualified translators from all over the world able to work on any kind of... read moreTHE ROOTS OF ENGLISH
During the 5th century, three Germanic tribes (the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes) invaded Britain. The Celtic speakers that lived there were pushed west and north and the language spoken became known as “Englisc”, also called Old English. In 1066, Frenchman William the Conqueror invaded England and brought with him a kind of French, which became the language of the Royal Court and the ruling classes, whereas the lower classes spoke English. In the 14th century English became dominant in Britain again, but with many French words added. During the Renaissance, many new words and phrases entered the language. Also, with the invention of printing, books became cheaper and people learned how to read. The dialect of London, where most of the publishing houses were, became the standard. From around 1600, the English colonization of North America resulted in the creation of a distinct variety of English. American English (and subsequently British English) was influenced by Spanish, French (through Louisiana) and West African languages (through the slave trade). Nowadays, most documents are written in English. Here at LingoStar, we can offer high quality translations from and to English. Call us today or send us an email for a free... read more
Trends in Voice-Over Translation
Trends in Voice-Over Translation Businesses and organizations entering international markets naturally spend considerable time crafting their message and translating that message with care until the most fitting words and expressions can be found. Yet the act of translation is enhanced by voice-over translation professionals, artists that lend elements like tone and expressive nuances of voice to deliver the carefully-wrought message with an actor’s sensibility and a translator’s ability to convey meaning directly and accurately. Just as new technologies have complemented the field of translation services, voice-over translation has benefited from various trends that many companies with international interests may want to consider when they seek this viable service. It used to be that the main end of translation was to simply convey meaning between two languages. This is still the heart of translating services, but translated communication involving voice-over technique has advanced to encompass no small degree of art. While some will say that translation has always enjoyed an artistic component, it now features voice-over translation professionals who are also performers. Voice-over experts, for example, can embody a character that can bolster a marketing message. The voice-over translator may convey empathy in some way or create a connection with the audience that goes beyond translated speech. Performance elements aside, today’s voice-over translation and its translators are also increasingly supported by digital solutions that shorten or alternatively lengthen the performed translation. When a corporate video voice-over is needed, it’s important that the voice-over performer remain in sync with the video. Luckily, the technology allows for more ease of the syncing process. The result is a seamless representation... read moreTHE TRANSLATION INDUSTRY ON TOP OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES
Translation industry 1 – Cloud translation Cloud translation is the process of translating a document across the internet by using a portal that allows you to upload and manage files from just one location. You no longer need to use emails in order to send files, receive a quote, approve it and finally receive the translation. Thanks to this tool, you can now log on from any device to order a new translation job, approve a quote, check the progress of a project and download your translation. It will be really helpful for the translation industry 2 – Social media translation Social media is a good way for the translation industry to target a multi-national audience; however you have to take into account the differences between cultures in order for your campaign to be effective. Translating your content is just the first step. It is also useful to create a page / an account per country to communicate with customers on a local scale according to their interests, their cultures, the events they are going to, etc. 3 –Mobile apps translation Another way to target a multi-national audience for the translation, is to localize your mobile apps for different languages and different platforms. This way, you will be able to keep in touch with people from all over the world using different kinds of devices. Here at LingoStar, we specialize in localizing content to meet the specific cultural standards of your target market. If you want to make the best impression on your market, call us today at 604-629-8420, or email us at info@lingo-star.com for a free... read moreLANGUAGE MELTING POTS: LANGUAGE TRANSLATION SERVICE
Language Translation Service We are living in a more and more globalized world, people tend to move to different countries much more than they used to do and this leads to having highly linguistically diverse cities all around the world. For example, in the United-States, more than 20% of people do not speak English at home. To reach these people, you may need to use a language translation service. So what are the main language melting pots on the planet? *New-York, US In New-York, over 800 different languages are spoken. Therefore, this is the most linguistically diverse city in the world. It shows in the subway, where the information signs are written in English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, French, Italian, German and even Hebrew, It’s the perfect example of a situation where you may need to use a language translation service. *Manchester, UK In Manchester, you can hear more than 200 languages. This city is the most linguistically diverse city in Western Europe. You may need to use a language translation service to translate your files into these languages . Around 4 out of 10 people speak at least one language other than English. The most common languages there are English, Urdu, Arabic, Chinese, Bengali, Polish, Panjabi and Somali. *Toronto, Canada In Toronto, there are over 150 different languages spoken. This is the most linguistically diverse city in Canada. 45% of the residents speak a mother tongue other than French or English, which is likely to be Cantonese, Italian, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Mandarin or Portuguese. To reach these targets, you will need to use a language translation service.... read moreHOW TO AVOID MISTRANSLATION WITH CALL CENTER.
Call-Center and Mistranslation. *Lack of language skills On one hand, the employee’s accent has to be easy to understand for your customer. You can achieve that by resorting to accent neutralization training. On the other hand, the employee has to be able to understand the caller perfectly as well. This is essential and they must be able to communicate effectively to avoid any mistranslation. *Lack of training Employees need to have sufficient knowledge of the product or services involved that they are selling, all the more if they are not available in their home country. It is important that they are experts of your industry, not to rely too much on scripts, and are able to manage efficiently the requests of the clients who are calling to avoid mistranslation or misunderstood. *Cultural differences Many behaviors your clients expect from a customer service employee (extra-politeness, empathy, etc.) are not common among foreign employees. You have to train them so that these behaviors become natural for them. *Poor location In some countries, the wages are low, which can be attractive. However you also have to take into consideration the government stability and the economic situation to make sure that hiring employees from those countries will not affect your business in the long term. *Lack of security The call center should have security guards on-duty 24/7 to provide a safe workplace for employees and to protect your data. You should also have the employees sign a nondisclosure agreement. If you are planning on outsourcing your call centre overseas and need documents translated, call LingoStar today or send us an email for a... read moreWebsite Translation for Global Markets
How valuable is website translation? Do you know how much international traffic your website gets? Have you ever asked yourself how much more it might receive if it was translated into multiple languages? A world class translation service with linguists and professional translators at its disposal can be worth its weight in gold. The fact is, in today’s global markets, a multilingual website is increasingly valuable. Its importance is such that it requires the dedication of professionals–human and not simply machines–to craft and perfect its message to appeal to local markets and effectively market to them. On the importance of human, professional translators There are many benefits to a well-translated website. Firstly, it has an authoritative advantage over competitors who may not rely on a professional service. They may rely on crowd-sourced or automatic translation. This is risky, however, because incorrect and even improper translation can undermine a company’s authority by making them appear ignorant or inept. Few would call the Coca-Cola brand and its marketers inept, of course, but even such major companies have endured language faux-pas and accidental mistakes that actually made headlines. Not so long ago, Coca-Cola spent a considerable amount of money printing signs that sounded like their brand name in Chinese but the wording actually told consumers to ‘bite the wax tadpole.’ Why use a translation agency? Some companies may choose to hire their own translator, but there are added benefits to working with a translation service. For one, website translation typically requires ongoing maintenance. Each time you add new content to the site, it will require professional translation. A translation service has teams... read moreSCAMMERS IN THE LANGUAGE INDUSTRY
Scammers: A real danger? What is their basic mode of operation? Scammers steal resumes from professional translators. They replace the email address on the resume with their own and even change the name for a fake one sometimes. They also replace the phone number with an IP (Internet Protocol) phone number. Once this is done, they respond to online job offers with this fake CV or spam clients in order to get translations jobs. How do scammers find those translators’ resumes? They create fake translation companies with fake names, addresses, emails, etc. in order to receive resumes from new potential employees. Once they have them, they attempt to get translators to sign authorizations to use their resumes. Translators have to be very careful. On one hand, because their names can be used without them knowing it to do all sort of things they cannot control. Their reputation of being good translators can be severely endangered on the internet. On the other hand, because fake agencies try to appear legitimate by asking translators for test translations and having fake profiles on translation forums. How do those fake translation agencies work? They either translate with Google translation or send the job to the cheapest translator they can find, who is likely to be a poor translator and not to get paid in the end. This is why they either deliver nothing or a useless translation to the client. In the end, the invoice is sent from an unidentified PayPal address and if the client refuses to pay, the fake agency starts to threaten them. This is why clients should turn to... read moreThat’s all, Thank you!
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Endangered languages. Endangered languages, are those languages that are at risk of falling out of use, as their speakers die or start to speak other languages. Nowadays, languages are becoming extinct at an accelerated rate due to globalization. Economically, powerful languages dominate others that eventually disappear. Since this truly arms the cultural diversity of the world, measures are implemented to save them. Many projects are aimed at preventing or slowing this loss by revitalizing languages. This means having adults acquire the language, creating a population of active speakers and encouraging literacy and use in education, in the workplace and in government services. This is above all implemented in countries that have indigenous communities. Areas of the world with a high number of languages nearing extinction include Siberia, Northern Australia, Central America, Southern South America, the Northwest Pacific Plateau and Oklahoma. Here are some examples of endangered languages throughout the world: Dumi in Nepal, Ongota in Ethiopia, Njerep in Nigeria, Lemerig in Vanuatu, Kaixana in Brazil and Taushiro in Peru. Here at LingoStar, we unfortunately do not have translators for those endangered languages, but we do have translators for over 100 languages as well as English. Call us today or send us an email for a free... read moreIs Your Online Video Translation SEO-Friendly?
Everyone is concerned about search engine optimization today. Whether based on Main Street or in foreign capitals near and far, businesses and organizations value their page ranking immensely. Every company would prefer to be found on page one of a Google search and not buried ten pages deep where few searchers take the time to reach. Therefore, companies that want to maintain their ranking or climb to that number one spot must regard SEO seriously. While the placement of video content on a website is a great way to diversify content, and most likely the best way of interacting with your potential audience, that video might not be working as hard as it can if its translation isn’t prepared with SEO in mind. Just like text-based content, your online video translation can benefit from SEO where it can better support the website ranking. Many companies wish to have their video content translated for use in international marketplaces. The most professionally wrought translations, of course, can be obtained by working with professional translation solutions providers. Not only can you expect accurate translations, you’ll benefit from their SEO know-how. The fact is if you are going to have your video content translated, you may as well make sure the translation is SEO -friendly in order to better enhance your online presence. Whether it is voice-over translation or use of multilingual subtitles, your online video translation will support your website when that translation is made with SEO in mind. Because search engines like Google will index the video translation, this translated text can influence page rank. With more traffic to your website... read moreTHE MULTINATIONAL BUSINESS: TRANSLATION COMPANY
ENHANCING STAFF COLLABORATION WITH EFFECTIVE MULTINATIONAL TRANSLATION COMPANY In a multinational company, there can be many languages being spoken. Nevertheless, you have to be able to communicate effectively with everyone for the company to run and for your employees to be engaged. This is why the role of translation and translation company in this environment is very important. When a new employee joins the company, you want them to know as precisely as possible what their role will be, so they can be as productive as possible as early as their first day at work. If their predecessor was working in a language different from theirs, any important documents they have to take into consideration should be translated professionally by a translation company. You can also create a database with FAQs and all the documents translated by translation company, available in all the languages your company works with. This way, employees will be able to solve simple and repetitive problems by themselves. This will make them feel more comfortable and they will become more committed to their work. Translations done by Translation company ensure input from your entire workforce. Here at LingoStar, we have translators from all over the world able to work on any business document. We can provide language services in over 100 languages, as well as English. Call us today or send us an email for a free... read moreFRENCH: THE LANGUAGE OF DIPLOMACY – French Translation
History of French throughout the centuries – French Translation In the 13th century French was the most spoken language throughout Europe and it started to be used for diplomatic affairs between several countries. During the next centuries, as France became a world leader, people tended to learn more and more French, and little by little, the language replaced Latin. In the 17th century, the pre-eminence of Louis XIV (the “Sun King’) consolidated the position of French. It became the language used for international communication and it started to be referred to as the language of diplomacy throughout the world. Its strict rules of syntax and its vocabulary supervised by the Académie française allowed speakers to produce discourses that were both precise and accurate. However, after 150 years of French diplomatic predominance, the popularity of the English language rose and it took over the role of the international language of diplomacy in many parts of the world. Nowadays, the French language still plays a part in international relations: it is one of the UN official languages and is the official language of many countries. In addition, most diplomats in the world have a good knowledge of French. If you want to travel or work abroad you may need to have a french translation of your documents. Many documents are written in French, and whether they are diplomatic documents, legal documents, business documents… Here at LingoStar, we can offer a high quality of services from and to French. Call us today or send us an email for a free... read moreGREAT LANGUAGE APPS FOR BUSINESS TRAVELERS
LANGUAGE APPS FOR BUSINESS TRAVELERS BC *Word Lens Word Lens instantly translates printed words using your built-in video camera. You can also look up translations by typing them in. Up to 6 language pairs are available. This Language apps is easy to use and no network is required. *Lost in Translation Lost in translation, allows you to translate from one language into one or more of the 36 languages offered. This language apps remembers your most recent 50 translations so that you can easily reuse them. The result of the translation can be copied and sent via sms or email and you can also hear how to pronounce it. *Google Translate Google Translate directly translates speech and handwriting from and into 80 languages. You can then listen to your translations spoken aloud. You can also start your favorite translations for quick access even when you are offline and view dictionary results for single words or phrases. *Duolingo Duolingo is Apple’s 2013 App of the Year and one of the best language apps available. It allows you to learn Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian and English in a fun way for free. You also have the opportunity to translate real-world texts in the language you are learning. Of course, if you need a professional translation of a business document, you need to turn to a translation agency. Here at LingoStar, we have specialized translators from all over the world able to work on any technical document. We can provide language services in over 100 languages as well as English. Call us today or send us an email for a free... read moreDOES YOUR BABY SPEAK MANDARIN CHINESE?
Mandarin Classes Vancouver BC Mandarin Chinese is the most widely spoken first language in the world. Mastering this language allows you to communicate not only in China, but as well in Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines and Mongolia. Since the economies of these countries are becoming more and more important and we trade a lot with them, it might be a good idea to have Mandarin Chinese taught to your child. So, how can you do this in a cost-effective way? Here is the link our website, where you can find more information about Mandarin Chinese: https://lingo-star.com/mandarin-chinese-translations/ A Mandarin Chinese nanny for your baby Hiring a Mandarin Chinese speaking nanny might be what you are looking for. Not only do they take care of your children, but they also will speak Mandarin Chinese around your child consistently, which will eventually rub off and be absorbed by the child. Children pick up languages very easily, all the more when they are under 6 or 7 years old. They quickly become fluent and speak with no accent, even in Mandarin Chinese. However, after this period of time, it becomes harder for them to learn a new language, this is why hiring a foreign nanny is one of the best ways to learn a language. Here are some tips so you can make the most of this opportunity. Make sure to check the nanny’s qualifications, previous experience and references and, if necessary, have her diplomas translated by a translation agency (teaching qualifications, driver’s licence). Here at LingoStar, we have specialized translators from all over the world able to accurately... 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.