How many Christmas traditions exist in the world? Is it possible to know all the Christmas traditions of the world? We know it’s almost impossible, but we will try to tell you about some. And, if you want to know more, please take a look at this interesting article about Christmas traditions all around the world. Christmas traditions in Canada Canadians love to adorn their houses with lights and decorations. This nation is particularly fond of Santa Claus. This might be because his home in the North Pole is so close to Canada! The Santa Claus Parade in Toronto is one of the oldest and largest Santa parades in the world: more than 2500 people take part in it! The traditional Canadian Christmas meal is roast turkey with vegetables and potatoes. But, Canada is a very large country, full of people with many different cultural backgrounds. For example, the Ukrainian community in Canada is one of the largest in the world, and they will have their traditional 12-dish meal for Christmas. Christmas traditions in Italy Italians love the Nativity scene. In fact, St. Francis, a Saint from Italy, made it very popular in 1223. It can be recreated in several ways: using handmade figures (waterfalls, food, animals, people), with a background made of paper or painted glass. Additionally, the set is different: you can use a hollowed-out wooden trunk, a “trullo” (a typical building of the South of Italy made with dry stone) or within the same dry stones one finds in Matera. Every year in Matera, the locals put on a play that recounts the story of the...
What is automatic translation? “Automatic translation” means substituting words from one language to another. It is software that translates a text in a very short time with little human effort. How does it work? It is usually (and hopefully) based on corpora. Words are translated automatically because of other words nearby. However, because a machine can’t think, it can’t give a perfect translation. It lacks context and meaning. For more on this, take a look at our blog post about Common Mistranslations. What does automatic translation mean for “human” translators? There are two opinions on the subject: It means that a machine with no faculty of thought could take the translator’s place. The machine works rapidly. On the other hand, using a machine could be useful when the topic is technical. Likewise, when one just wants to understand the general meaning of a text. This can help the translator in post-production. That is to say, the translator can edit and proofread the machine-translated text until it reads naturally. Does automatic translation represent a real threat? The answer is: it depends. If a machine translation is trained in a specific field, the resulting technical translation could be useful. It represents a threat if the translator is afraid to be replaced. However, it could also be an opportunity for the translator to save time by working with the text post-production. However, if one wants to translate a literary text, the machine translation will fail. Why? Because in a literary text, you will find metaphors, allegories, hidden meanings and more. A machine cannot identify these figures of style and will therefore produce a...
How languages and Greta Thunberg are connected to the environment. News items about climate change, Greta Thunberg and the environment bombard us. Something is changing all over the world. But what’s really happening? And who is this girl speaking to our state representatives? Her name is Greta Thunberg. Who is Greta Thunberg? Greta Thunberg is a 16-year-old Swedish girl. People consider her a young influencer for the environment. Last year she wanted to meet politicians. In fact, she started to spend her days in front of the Swedish parliament. She has organized strikes and founded a movement called Friday for Future. Greta took part in several debates about the environment. She was present at several conferences: firstly, the Katowice Climate Change Conference, which made her famous; secondly, the World Economic Forum in Switzerland; thirdly, the meeting at the European Parliament. She also went to the Senate of the Italian Republic (where she met Pope Francis); World Earth Day in London; and finally, to the United States Congress in Washington. She wants to share her message: “We have wasted too much time and risk having no future.” What is happening in our World? The effects of global climate change are clear. Glaciers are disappearing and the temperature of the globe is rising. In the long term, the seasons will no longer exist. Besides, precipitation will increase. There will be more aridity and stronger hurricanes. Species are becoming extinct. What we can do for the environment? As Greta Thunberg says, we should be activists for the environment. We should share awareness in every possible way: in English, Spanish, Chinese, using images,...
How organized are you? A freelance translator’s daily workload Those of you who work from home know that establishing a good daily routine can be a challenge. There is no place for tiredness or boredom in a freelance translator’s day. You must manage your time wisely and can only count on yourself to complete the wide variety of tasks you have to juggle and to get the work done. A freelance translator spends hours in front of a computer working with texts or visuals, using various technical software programs and dictionaries. For example, multiple projects, lengthy documents in several languages, tight deadlines, meticulous attention to detail, all these are part of a typical day’s work. Unfortunately, if not carefully managed, these aspects can lead to a problematic sedentary lifestyle. Indeed, this in turn comes with its own health risks: reduced mobility, lethargy, weight gain, back pain, cardiovascular issues, headaches, eyesight problems, low mood. It’s easy to see the negative impact a sedentary lifestyle in front of a computer can have on your health. Therefore putting time aside for your own personal wellbeing is crucial. On top of all this, you may have to continue dealing with all the typical household duties – such as the school run, shopping, cooking, helping with the kids’ homework, taking them to their respective activities, doing the laundry, etc. – but combined with your own daily workload, it can very quickly get out of hand. It’s very common for a freelance translator to feel overwhelmed. We hope our top tips below will help you with your daily organization to achieve a better work-life balance!...
What is Public Speaking? Public Speaking in Vancouver or in any part of the world is the way by which we connect with a live audience. We are living in a world where we need to prove ourselves by our actions. Some people are really extroverted and some are introverted. Also, some people have good communication skills while others are nervous when speaking in public. Communication is the very first impression a person makes on another person. At the same time, public speaking plays an important role in the professional or business environment. All successful job interviews are based on the communication skills and confidence of the interviewee. Ways to Overcome a Fear of Public Speaking Know your topic and audience: Before going in for a presentation or speech, it is important for the individual to know well what they are speaking of and who they are speaking to. Knowing this will help the speaker to present with confidence. Good posture: To look confident, it is important to have good posture while speaking to a group of people. It shows that you have perfect knowledge of the topic and are comfortable with the audience. Relate with personal life: It is always beneficial when you relate the topic to your personal life. In that way, you can express your words or feelings in a convincing manner. Begin and end strong: Always make sure that your introduction and conclusion have a strong impact on the audience. As a result, the audience will understand the topic from the very beginning and leave with a good impression.Add visual aids: While doing public speaking, visual aids play...
What is a Superstition? A superstition is a belief that is considered supernatural or irrational. Over the years there have been many superstitions that have developed and some are still present. In every country there are superstitions but they may come in different forms. For example, they can be related to a number, day, colour, animal, etc. Superstitions in India: In India there are a lot of superstitions which are believed as supernatural. So here are some of the most interesting ones: Shaking of legs: If a person’s legs shake continuously, they will be left with less wealth. Washing hair on Thursday: Thursday is considered a bad day for washing your hair. The reason again is fear of losing wealth. If you see a garbage truck: If you see a truck full of garbage before leaving your home, it means that your day will pass very well. However, if you see a garbage truck that is empty before leaving your home, it is considered bad and unlucky. More superstitions in India: Colour (White and Black): The colours white and black are not considered lucky for a new bride. She cannot wear these colours for a few months because it is considered a threat on their new relationship. Whereas, in developed countries, it is tradition for the bride to dress in a white gown for the wedding. Sneeze: If you are about to leave from your home for work, and someone sneezes, it is thought to be fear of the unknown. Something will go wrong on the way or the task will not be completed. Perfumes and colognes (fancy and...
