Canada and France: are there many differences? We love to discover new cultures around the world. Here are a few cultural differences between France and Canada about the language they speak, the food they like and the sport they play or watch. Differences in Languages The two main languages spoken in Canada are English and Canadian French. English is by far the most spoken language in Canada with 58% of Canadians speaking English and only 22% speaking French. Canadian French is a variation of the French language from France, originating from the 18th century. In France, French is the official language and many people know some English but less are fluent. Differences in Food Canada has a large variety of dishes from East to West. Most of them are based on meat, cheese, and potatoes. First of all, poutine is one of the most famous dishes in Canada and especially in Quebec. It is a delicious meal made with French fries, gravy and cheese curds. In addition, British Columbia salmon, and Alberta beef and bacon are also very much appreciated in Canada. Coincidentally, meat, cheese and potatoes are also much appreciated in French cuisine. For example, Raclette and Tartiflette are typical French dishes composed of potatoes, bacon and cheese. On the sweet side, Canada is famous for its maple syrup and beavertails. Nevertheless, in France, pastries and bakery goods are also very typical with the classic baguette, croissant and pain au chocolat. Differences in Sport The national sport in Canada is ice hockey. However, most American sports, like football and basketball, are also represented in Canada. The National Hockey...
Lonely Planet: Best Travels 2017 For those who are dreaming of this year’s holiday but find themselves overwhelmed by a deluge of exotic options, help is at hand from the experts at Lonely Planet. The travel guide company has published its list of the top places to visit in 2017. Published every October, the list predicts the hottest trends and experiences, highlighting the top five countries, cities, regions, and best value destinations for the months ahead. TOP 5 Countries and there Languages 1. Canada The Lonely Planet Traveller 2017 guide presents Canada as the top country to visit thanks to its beautiful scenery, friendly locals, and a weak Canadian dollar. Thumbs up, Canada! LingoStar will be happy to guide you through Canada’s language mosaic! Check out our wide range of translation services provided in Canada >>. 2. Colombia Colombia, sitting at number two on the list, was lauded for its “rich tapestry, nature and hospitality”. Pictured is Cartagena in Colombia. Spanish is a beautiful language and it’s one of the main languages we translate into: English to Spanish translation is one of the most requested language services in Canada. 3. Finland Finland was awarded third place, with a whole host of events planned for the country’s centenary this year, including outdoor concerts, communal culinary experiences, and sauna evenings. Yes, we translate English into Finnish as well! 4. Dominica Dominica. “The Caribbean’s ‘Nature Island’ opens its doors this year with first-class resorts.” The official language of this beautiful beach country is English. Locally Dominican Creole French is spoken. 5. Nepal Nepal. “Witness its road to recovery from the devastating 2015 earthquakes.”...
Trends for multilingual websites in 2017 according to numerology (Claim your free gift for a Happy New Year) 6 things to concentrate on while doing business in foreign markets in 2017 Dear friends, So there you have it. The year 2016 has ended and 2017 has begun. Thank you for following our blog, Facebook page, and newsletters in 2016. We believe that this year we will continue to learn something interesting about languages and translations. According to numerology, with the year 2017 a new 9-year-long cycle begins, wherein we build something new, invent new things, develop new projects, set up new initiatives, and sow the seeds of adventure that we will nurture for the next 9 years. What is your next business venture? Are you thinking of reaching out to global markets and expanding your business internationally? In this post, we’d like to introduce you to trends in foreign language websites and how to market them effectively to foreign speaking audiences in 2017. We have a small gift for you: a translation of Happy New Year wishes in 15 foreign languages. Please download it at the end of the article! What are the trends for multilingual websites in 2017? If it is your intention to create an online business in another country, you will need a website in a foreign language. It is important to build a global website with a local focus. If you wish to succeed in a foreign market while doing business online, do your best to act locally, however, think globally. When writing texts and launching products via a foreign language website, write...
Iceland – The Land of Ice and Fire Dear reader, Have you ever been to Iceland? If not, you should definitely check out this amazing country! It is about a 5 hour flight from Toronto (you can get cheap tickets at Icelandair, who also provide all-inclusive trips. 😉 ). But first of all, what can you do in Iceland and what is the culture like? What to do in Iceland? If you think there is nothing to do in Iceland, you are wrong! The beautiful landscapes invite you to go on incredible hikes, and a lot of festivals are held in Iceland, where people celebrate together. It doesn’t matter if you visit during the summer – or wintertime; there are plenty of things to do. If you decide to spend the summer in Iceland, you will definitely have plenty of daylight hours, up to 22 hours in June! It is a magical time of year, and taking a stroll in the midnight sun will show you Iceland in a different light. During the autumn and winter months, Iceland is famous for the Aurora Borealis – also known as the northern lights. Even though the sun shines for maybe 4 hours or less, which may seem depressing, the darkness allows you to view those beautiful lights, which appear out of the blue and disappear just as quickly. Icelandic landscape Iceland is called “The Land of Ice and Fire” since it is home, not only to the largest glacier in Europe, but also to the world’s most active volcanoes. Due to this volcanic activity under the earth’ surface, there are also...
This past weekend, Vancouverites were given the opportunity to enjoy the large variety of cultures at the European Festival in Burnaby. Unfortunately, it was raining cats and dogs on Saturday, but Sunday made up for it with sunny, warm weather. It was perfect for a Sunday stroll at the European Festival! Representatives of the European countries Located in beautiful Central Park, you could find participants from all over Europe: Armenia, Greece, Russia, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iceland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Latvia, Slovenia, Croatia, Lithuania, Spain, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Montenegro, Switzerland, Finland, Norway, Turkey, France, Portugal, Ukraine, Germany, Romania and the United Kingdom. The festival took place at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby. Tents representing different European countries were set up all along the track. This was perfect since you could walk around without missing a country! European customs and traditions Traditional garments and beautiful jewelry were not the only things that you could find at the European Festival. Volunteers described their cultures, explained the traditions and customs they practice. They also explained what kind of meals they eat. (If you want to know more about the food, just scroll down, it was delicious!). There were German books up for grabs and delicious Swiss chocolate. You could write down well wishes for the Queen’s 90th birthday, and paint your own Easter eggs in the traditional Ukrainian method using beeswax and dye. A lot of fun for the whole family at the European Festival The festival wasn’t only a great chance for adults to explore the diverse cultures of Europe, it also served as a huge playground for children! There...
Germans and beer The Germans. Organization and structure? Yes, please! We Germans love rules and have them for everything. And I really mean EVERYTHING. What else do we love? That’s right! German Beer! And how are rules and beer related? Well, let me show you. Why do people always use beer and Lederhosen to describe Germans? Because we know how to brew good German beer (and needed some hardwearing pants…). There are over 1300 breweries in Germany, and so what do the orderly Germans do to guarantee high-quality beer? We lay down rules! And since beer is such an important part of German culture, we pay a lot of attention to the brewing method. By the way, the translation of “Prost” is “Cheers!” And if you are looking for some German beer in Vancouver, there are a lot of pubs where you can try some. The German Beer Purity Law The Reinheitsgebot (translation: “German Beer Purity Law”) is a series of regulations limiting the ingredients of beer made in Germany. This goes back to 1516, Bavaria, Germany, when beer could only be made from water, barley and hops. The law passed in order to prevent price competition with bakers for wheat and rye, in an attempt to ensure the availability of affordable bread. The rules were so strict that breweries were punished for producing impure beer! And the Bavarian government wasn’t kidding… “Furthermore, we wish to emphasize that in future in all cities, markets and in the country, the only ingredients used for the brewing of beer must be barley, hops and water. Whosoever knowingly disregards or transgresses upon this ordinance,...
