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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!
Language Matters in November 2013: CAT Tools
Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) and CAT tools In our November newsletter, we will discuss Computer Assisted Translation tools. Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) refers to specialized computer software that helps human translators during the process of translating texts and any form of written content. Computer Assisted Translation is sometimes confused with Machine Translation (MT). Although the two have similarities, CAT and MT are different. There are numerous CAT tools and their aim is to help translators complete their work more efficiently. Their functions range from spell-checking to keeping translation memories. CATs are quite useful tools but will they one day replace human translators altogether? The question is up for discussion. Whatever the outcome, one thing is for sure: the future is bright for Computer Assisted Technology! Contributed by Sophie Roulland What is Computer Assisted Translation? As mentioned in the introduction, Computer Assisted Translation is the process of using computer programs and software to assist the translator in his/her work. How exactly do they help translators? First, they save the translators time and thereby increase their production outputs. Thanks to translation memory software, it is much faster to translate a text, especially if they have already worked with that company or industry before. Secondly, it can produce a more consistent quality of work. Some CAT tools, such as SDL Trados, help you find the appropriate terminology for technical texts with less effort. Some tools come with alignment of segments, which makes it easier and faster for reviewers to proofread texts. So if used correctly, CAT tools can be very efficient and a good support system for translators. Because technology is involved,... read moreLocalizing Mobile Apps
“Mobile computers are spreading faster than any other consumer technology in history.” With the fast development of mobile technology and especially smartphones during the last few years, mobile applications have boomed in a way that most mobile users are regular users of mobile applications. This is why app developers are very interested in localizing and translating their applications. It is certain that doing so will reach markets in other languages and countries and augment the number of people who know about and download their apps. To achieve this, it is best to make sure the user experience is up to the standard, in other words, go for a user-friendly localization technique. A mobile user is much more likely to download and use applications that are in his/her own native language, which is why localizing an application starts with translation. It is essential to find a good translator to do the job, as a bad translation is worse than no translation at all: poorly translated content will put off your clients and make them think the app is not worth downloading. Localizing mobile apps does not only consist of translating the information. There are other factors to take into account, for instance, the layout design. Some languages have words that are longer and take up more space than others, like German for example. Also, app developers should look out for languages with different character types such as Chinese or Korean. Localizing your app will make sure your layout design is appropriate for the type of language used while remaining stylish and retaining the original aesthetic. In addition, localizing your app... read moreCan you provide an interpreter to translate what an English-speaking tour guide is saying?
Yes, this is sometimes called ‘whispering’ or ‘whisper’ interpreting. Please follow the procedure stated above in order to receive a quote for this service. read moreDo you provide tour guide services in foreign languages?
Yes. Please email us at info@lingo-star.com with your contact information and requirements so that we can issue you a quote for our services. Please include your full name, company name, phone number, mailing address, the language pair(s), date and time, location, length of tour, pick-up point and number of persons involved. Also advise if you have a set itinerary or require the tour guide to provide one. Please be advised that we cannot provide the transportation for the tour. This will have to be arranged with another... read moreCan you provide on-call/instant phone interpretation service for my company?
Unfortunately we are not able to provide this service at this time because we need advance notice in order to secure interpreters’ availability. read moreI need an interpreter tomorrow or this weekend for my conference/event/court proceeding. Is this possible?
While we can try and see if a qualified interpreter is available, it is very unlikely that we can secure their availability with such short notice. Please give us at least 2 to 3 weeks advance notice. read moreI need an interpreter tomorrow morning for my business/legal meeting/medical appointment. Is this possible?
While we can try and see if a qualified interpreter is available, it is very unlikely that we can secure their availability with such short notice. Please give us at least 2 to 3 days advance notice. read moreHow much advance notice do you need to book an interpreter?
We generally require at least 2 to 3 days advance notice to secure the availability of a qualified interpreter for business/legal meetings, conference calls, and medical appointments. For conferences/events, court proceedings and any other event for which you require a certified conference, certified court or professional simultaneous interpreter, please allow several weeks of advance notice, as interpreters are extremely busy and book up far in... read moreI need an interpreter for a medical appointment. Can you provide me with a quote?
Yes. Please email us at info@lingo-star.com with your contact information and requirements so that we can issue you a quote for our services. Please include your full name, phone number, mailing address, the language pair(s), type of medical appointment, date and time, exact location, and estimated length of the... read moreI need a certified court interpreter for a court proceeding. Can you provide me with a quote?
Yes. Please email us at info@lingo-star.com with your contact information and requirements so that we can issue you a quote for our services. Please include your full name, company name, phone number, mailing address, the language pair(s), type of court proceeding, date and time, exact location, number of persons involved and estimated length of the court... read moreI need a phone interpreter for a conference call. Can you provide me with a quote?
Yes. Please email us at info@lingo-star.com with your contact information and requirements so that we can issue you a quote for our services. Please include your full name, company name, phone number, mailing address, the language pair(s), purpose of the conference call, date and time, number of persons involved and estimated length of the call, as well as reference material, itinerary, and description of the technical nature or specific technical knowledge... read moreI need an interpreter for a conference or event. Can you provide me with a quote?
Yes. Please email us at info@lingo-star.com with your contact information and requirements so that we can issue you a quote for our services. Please include your full name, company name, phone number, mailing address, the language pair(s), theme and topics covered at the conference or event, date(s) and time(s), and exact location, as well as reference material, itinerary, and description of the technical nature or specific technical knowledge... read moreI need an interpreter for a business or legal meeting. Can you provide me with a quote?
Yes. Please email us at info@lingo-star.com with your contact information and requirements so that we can issue you a quote for our services. Please include your full name, company name, phone number, mailing address, the language pair(s), purpose of the meeting, date and time, exact location, number of persons involved and estimated length of the meeting, as well as reference material, itinerary, and description of the technical nature or specific technical knowledge... read moreWhat currency can I expect to pay for your services?
All of our pricing is in Canadian dollars. Please advise if you require your quote or invoice to be provided in alternate currencies. read moreMy company is located outside of Canada. Do we have to pay Canadian taxes?
No. No tax applies to clients outside of Canada. 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.