Machine and Human Translation: Latest Trends

Aug 29, 2018 | Blog, Translation News

Is machine translation about to replace human translation? Translation companies have always tried to provide the best quality translations possible. So far, using human translation seems to be the best option. However, some companies have recently announced new translation systems that would bring considerable improvements to the industry. Their promise is to provide high quality and natural sounding translations through convenient devices. Recent breakthroughs in the real-time translation field After adding instant image translation to its “Google Translate” service in 2012, Google launched its first headphones in November 2017. They enable users to have direct access to Google Assistant. They can listen to music; ask for traffic information; write emails and have a conversation in another language thanks to Google Translate. Google’s earphones – the Pixel Buds – are a real-time translating device that can translate 40 languages. Although its product gathered impressive press coverage, Google wasn’t the first company to develop this kind of technology. In 2016, Waverly Labs, an American company, produced the first earpiece language translator. Since then, real-time translation has been a trend that no company wants to miss. Several companies worldwide have been developing their own devices such as LeTrans, Travis The Translator, Ili Wearable Translator and Bragi Dash Pro. How do these new technologies compare to human translations? These technologies are very easy to use. For most of them, all you need are earpieces and a smartphone. With the translating earphones, two people who speak different languages can both hear the words in their own language instantly during a conversation, and straight in their ears. These technologies aim at making international communication easier....
Certified Translators in Canada : How to Become one

Certified Translators in Canada : How to Become one

Jul 18, 2018 | Blog

Methods to become a certified translator in Canada Whether you want to be a certified translator or you’re just interested in learning more about this profession, here are some interesting facts that you may want to know. The translation industry in Canada in 3 numbers: Per capita, Canada has the highest number of university programs in translation The average translator salary in Canada is around $54 000 A Bachelor’s degree is often required (language major preferred) What is a certified translator? Certified translators are language professionals whose translations are considered valid and accepted as official documents by all governing authorities in Canada, regardless of the province or territory where they obtained their certifications. Certified translators are often specialised in one or two fields. They comply with provincial and/or territorial translation associations’ standards. These associations grant this title according to several criteria. How do they get their certifications? All certified translators, interpreters and terminologists have their title granted by provincial or territorial regulatory bodies. Each has its own evaluation methods and works independently. However, there is a national regulatory council responsible for the application of uniform standards for the professional certification to ensure translation quality and protect the public. The Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTTIC) represents all certified translators, interpreters and terminologists in Canada. Most provincial or territorial regulatory associations in Canada are members of this council. In order to be eligible for certification, all translators have to be accepted as members of their respective provincial or territorial associations. Each provincial or territorial association uses different processes to select its members. These processes are well described on their...
A Little Trick to Learn New Languages

A Little Trick to Learn New Languages

Jun 28, 2018 | Blog

How to Watch TV Shows and Movies to Learn New Languages Everybody learns grammar when studying a foreign language in school. However, is this really the best way to become bilingual? As a French-speaking person, I learned English grammar, but I can only write and speak with ease because I try a original solution to learn new languages with a few fun tricks. Why learn English? I began to learn English in elementary school at the age of 10 and continued on to my high school graduation. However, I always learned the same thing every year. At first, I found learning English pretty boring and difficult, but my growing love for music and especially for English-speaking artists led me to try to understand what was said in the songs I was enjoying. This was how my crusade for a better understanding of English began. The Attempts My first attempt was to read books in English. But when you do not have a high level of English, a foreign sci-fi book must come with at least one dictionary to understand every hard word you come across. You need to take breaks in your reading to search for the right meaning of these words. There is no doubt that this can kill the momentum and with it, your interest in the story you are reading. My second attempt was to change the language of my devices. I decided to change the language of my phone and my game station but the result wasn’t great, since I wasn’t really reading anything new. Since I had been using these devices all the time...
Chinese opportunity : How to do Business in China

Chinese opportunity : How to do Business in China

Jun 22, 2018 | Blog

Chinese market: What’s new? The Chinese and Marketing channels Chinese consumers are changing. They open more and more to the Western marketing channels and practices. However the rise of the local communication platform WeChat and its growing number of users threatens the email marketing strategies. According to Chinese authorities, half of the population now has access to the internet, although this access can be unstable due to government crackdowns – such as the one initiated in February 2018. The overwhelming majority of Chinese internet users – around 95% – connect via their smartphones. A responsive design for your website is thus crucial, especially for e-commerce websites, which must provide users with the best user experience possible. As for payments, local payment gateways – such as Alipay or WeChat – are increasingly popular and used on a daily basis. Using these payment solutions could help you earn your customers’ trust and develop your business more rapidly. Communicate with customers Earning trust from your customers also means addressing them in their language. As mentioned previously, Chinese consumers tend to trust local brands and companies more and more. Therefore, adapting your business techniques to the local culture and language can help you significantly. Mandarin is a very subtle language and if you decide to translate your brand or tagline, you need to have native speakers do the job. In the 1980s, KFC – the American fast food restaurant – learned this the hard way when their first restaurant opened in China. Their famous “finger lickin” good” tagline became “Eat your fingers off” after a mistranslation, which didn’t sound very appetising. Knowing your...
Business Communication: Learn about Cultural Differences

Business Communication: Learn about Cultural Differences

May 24, 2018 | Blog

Business Communication: What Should I Know? The way we communicate in the workplace can vary significantly from one country to another. Although there are some international rules, you may need to understand your partners’ cultures to improve business communication and build a long-lasting business abroad. Although cultural differences in terms of body language tend to fade, there are still some particularities to take into consideration. Eye contact Making eye contact is a proof of attention in Western and Latin American countries but is also a sign of dominance – or worse, aggression – in Japan. It can therefore create embarrassing situations. Make sure your eye contact is very brief. Handshakes It is now common around the world to handshake your co-workers in a business context, apart from a few exceptions such as Thailand, or in some Muslim countries between men and women. In countries where physical contact is considered rude, such as Japan, handshakes should be brief and limp. Also, you will exchange business cards, and should have yours translated into Japanese.  It’s a very common practice to give one’s business card when meeting someone in a professional context. Personal space In Latin American countries, even in a professional context, casual touching and physical proximity during a conversation are commonplace. Whereas people can consider it inappropriate in the UK or in Germany, it creates a climate of trust in Latin American countries. Emotional display It is not always professional to show how you feel to your co-workers. In some countries though, you can share your personal opinions or state of mind more freely than others. In China for example,...
Introducing The Future Of Translation

Introducing The Future Of Translation

May 9, 2018 | Blog, Translation

New Technology in Translation Technology and with it the future as it was imagined in the 1980s is upon us more than ever in 2018. Two of the best examples are the Nike Air Mag and the Hoverboard, seen in the movie “Back to the Future”. Also seen in sci-fi movies, instant translation is more and more a reality. Here are some new technological innovations that can change our way of understanding a foreign language. Logbar – ili The “ili” is a little device from the Japanese-based company Logbar. Their technology only as big as your thumb, it is an instant translator that allows you to have a conversation with somebody that speaks another language. You talk through the device and it translates instantly to the person you are speaking to. The product contains its own OS (operating system) that allows the instant translation. In addition, it works without any internet connection and has its own dictionary. The device is mostly for travellers and only supports English, Chinese, and Japanese for now. Unsurprisingly, the device has already received an award from the CES (The International Consumer Electronics Show) in 2016 and was on pre-sale at a price of $199. It officially opened to the market in January 2018 at a price of $249. Logbar website To pre-order or order the product Watch: The story behind ili Waverly Labs – Pilot Translating Earpiece The Pilot Translating Earpieces are small earplugs that give you instant translation directly in your ears. The device promises you clear instant translation by using the latest in speech recognition technology to understand other languages. The first...