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Communication with Animals

Apr 10, 2014 | Blog

Do you like your pet? If you have experience with pets, you most likely know how difficult it can be to communicate with animals. They can understand easy orders, but intensive training may be needed if you would like to make them understand complicated orders. And we can assume they experience feelings such as happiness, sadness, anger, or hunger based on their attitudes or actions, but usually they don’t have a method of communication with humans. Do you think it would be fun if they could communicate with humans more? Do you know the smart Gorilla named Koko? She can communicate with humans by using sign language. Her IQ is assumed to be between 80 and 90. (Average IQ of human is around 100). She has learned more than 2000 signs, and she expresses her emotion by using those. Furthermore, she can tell a lie, a joke and express her desire to humans. Of course, Koko’s case is an exception. Most of animals are not smart enough to communicate with humans, but this situation may change in the near future via the introduction of new technology. A professor in the U.S. is trying to make a translation device to translate a dog’s voice into English. He said that he would also like to apply his technique to translate the voices of other animals into English. If the translation device is functional and goes on sale to the public, the relationship between humans and pets would change significantly. There are countless languages people speak around the world, but all languages can be translated into other languages by hardworking translators. Therefore,... read more

Emails and Letters

Apr 3, 2014 | Blog

How many emails have you gotten today? Are there 100, 200, or more emails in your inbox? Both in private homes and businesses, email has become essential in our daily life, and we always check our inboxes in our cell phones, computers, or social media websites. It is a fact that around 150 billion emails are sent worldwide per day (65% of them are actually spam). Numbers of them have been increasing year by year because computers, the internet, and cell phones have become common in our daily lives. As media changes, methods of communication also change significantly. The first email was sent in 1971 by U.S. programmer Raymond Tomlinson. This means that email has 43 years of history. Then after several decades, email has become an important communication tool among people around the world due to convenience, quickness, and cost effectiveness. But as you see, newspapers, books, and magazines still exist in today’s world, and written media is also still an important tool. Many people still send handwritten letters especially on special occasions. What is the difference between an email and a letter? The perception of them could be an answer. People write Christmas cards, New Year cards etc. instead of emails because it is more sentimental and special to compose a warm-hearted thoughtful letter than send a computer generated message. Even though it costs more and takes much more time, the letter is not considered an outdated form of communication. If all emails were physically mailed, our office would be packed and could not handle the quantity. And if written letters were prohibited, it would be hard... read more

LANGUAGE MATTERS IN MARCH 2014: SPRING AROUND THE WORLD

Apr 2, 2014 | Blog

We hope everyone who is reading this article is enjoying a nice spring season.  We are going to talk about spring in March’s newsletter. The temperature goes up, snow and ice starts melting down, and buds of plants start to grow. Animals become active, insects come out of the ground, and flowers bloom. Everything starts moving and growing in this season and the atmosphere changes significantly. Even though weather in Vancouver is still chilly, warm and comfortable weather will be coming soon. With a nice atmosphere and lots of events, people have fun during this season. But the impression of this season may differ depending on the country because of many reasons. Not all countries have four seasons. It can be divided by wet season and dry season, or some countries have a different concept of seasons altogether. Or some cultural differences may influence the impression of the seasons. How’s this season treating you? We are going to introduce the differences between countries.  * Canada Spring comes slowly in most of the places in Canada. We can occasionally enjoy favorable weather in March in Canada, but especially in the West Coast area such as Vancouver or Victoria, people can enjoy nice spring weather compared to other areas in Canada. The Tulip festival in Ottawa takes place in May, hence spring comes later there. In other countries the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade and Easter holiday occur in this season. In late May, there is Victoria Day to celebrate the honor of Queen Victoria’s birthday. Then people in Canada welcome Summer time. * Europe As you see a prefix ”pri-” in... read more

Global Gender Gap

Mar 28, 2014 | Blog

As women’s participation in society is increasing, their role in the business world is also becoming more important. But it is true that only women can give birth, so it is controversial that women have to be at home, or should be treated as same as men.   But it depends on countries or cultures whether equality of men and women is regarded as important or not.  It is a crucial issue for women who would like to pursue their careers the same as men, and this issue may force them to give up their goals or dreams. Here are some examples: Asia In Japan, data shows that only 11.1% of women were working as an administrative post in 2013. Also there are no female prime ministers in Japanese history. Korea is in a similar situation.  In most of Asian countries, it can be said that women are not treated equally to men. It is mostly because of Asian conservative cultures, and it is not easy to get rid of them. Europe Among countries in Europe such as Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands, at least 40% of members of the National Parliament are women. And it is common that women have infant-care leave as well as long-term maternity leave. Also there is wage gap between men and women, but it is not as obvious as it is in Asian countries. Such a situation shows that most European countries are successful in filling up the gender gap. Canada According to ‘The Global Gender Gap’ which measures gender gaps from the economy, politics, education, and health, Canada is ranked 20th out of... read more

Canadian Multinationalism

Mar 26, 2014 | Blog

As the world becomes more international, the amount of immigration is also increasing. In Canada, an officially multicultural country, more than 200 thousands of people immigrate to Canada every year.  Since the immigration act was adopted in 1869, Canada accepted immigrants from all over the world, and now there are more than 200 races of people living in Canada. Canada attracts people who would like to assimilate with its equality, solid health care system, high level of educational standards and beautiful nature. But there are positive points and negative aspects to accepting large number of immigrants to be Canadian. Here are some opinions: Pros: – Enhancement of cultural exchange – Increase of population – Growth in economy – Increase of international competition Cons: – Financial burden – Racial problems – Risk of cultural devastation – Illegal immigration Even though there are positive points and negative points, Canadian multinationalism has enormous appeal for people around the world, and the amount of immigration is still increasing. Often described as a cultural mosaic, various cultures, languages, and races all co-exist in Canadian society, and it have built Canada its own identity. Here at LingoStar, we cover various languages all over the world. Call us today or send us an e-mail for a free... read more

Importance of non-verbal communication

Mar 10, 2014 | Blog

There is a Japanese proverb “The eyes say more than the mouth”. It means eyes show one’s real feelings, and it is more trustworthy than spoken words. According to a professor of Psychology at UCLA, when there is an inconsistency between verbal information and non-verbal information, people tend to believe non-verbal information rather than verbal information. For example, if someone says “It was really nice to meet you today” with a frown face, most people will feel that he/she is not happy. Verbal communication is simple. It is divided by just spoken words and written words, but non-verbal communication is more complicated. Here are some examples: Body Language and Posture: Gesture, Attitude, Behavior, Body movement etc. Facial Expression: Smile, Frown, Eye Gaze (Hold, or avoid eye contact), etc. Voice tone: Tone of voice, pitch, etc. Appearance: Height, weight, clothing, hairstyle etc. In this way, non-verbal communication is important in face-to-face communication. It is beneficial to be aware of non-verbal communication when you would like to leave someone with a positive impression. Verbal communication is also essential in our daily life and businesses. Here at LingoStar, we provide various types of services related to languages. Call us today or send us an email for a free... read more

Esperanto, as an international language

Feb 28, 2014 | Blog

If you are interested in language, you may have heard about the language “Esperanto”. Esperanto is the world’s most successful constructed language created by Polish linguist L. L. Zamenhof. The name “Esperanto” derives from his pen name “Dr. Esperanto” when he presented the language in 1887. It is said that there are almost two million Esperanto speakers (called Esperantisto) around the world. Esperanto does not intend to overtake other native languages. It aims to become an international auxiliary language, which is used as a second language for people all over the world. Here are some examples of Esperanto words: • Jes (Yes) • Ne (No) • Saluton (Hello) • Dankon (Thank you) • Ne dankinde (You’re welcome): • Mia nomo estas … (My name is …) As you see, Esperanto uses the Latin Alphabet. Also, because 80% of the words are originated from Latin-Romance origin, most vocabularies look similar to other languages such as Spanish, French, or German. Esperanto can be learned much easier than other languages. For example, the accent of words always exist on the second last vowel. All common nouns finish with –o, adjectives finish with –a, adverbs finish with –e. Furthermore, there are no irregular conjugations of noun (such as go-went-gone), and there are no gender of nouns in Esperanto. Because Esperanto has no cultural background and it has quite a few native speakers, it has not become one of the major languages in the world. The process of Esperanto to become an ideal second language for people around the world is still underway. Here are Lingostar, we offer translation and voiceover services in over... read more

WEBSITE RENEWAL NOTICE

Feb 25, 2014 | Blog

We are excited to announce the launch of our brand new website! This newly designed website will enable you to access your required information. Here is a quick review of our new website. SERVICES We offer a variety of services to meet various types of customer’s needs, which includes translation, language services, tutoring, and other services. We provide translation and voiceover services in over 100 languages. Combinations of languages are listed at the “language list” section. ABOUT US Here are some details about LingoStar Language Services, as well as owner’s profile, including achievements and expertise. You can explore achievements and developments of the company over the past 10 years. Also, you can reach the information of employment opportunities from this section. CLIENTS In this section, you can learn about various clients and language projects we have completed and detailed descriptions of our clients on our past project page. Happily, there are testimonials clients have given for us. Please go to our testimonials page to review those. GET A FREE QUOTE Please feel free to send us a request for a free quote. Please complete the form below and upload the documents to be translated. It will take only a few minutes to fill out information. We aim to deliver your quote within 24 hours. Your inquiry will be handled in strict confidence. NEWS Here is some reading material for anyone who is interested in the language industry. There are three sections. These include promotions, blogs, and translation news. Thank you for taking your time to read this notice. We will do our best to provide the best services... read more

Advanced Nutrients

Feb 3, 2014 | Blog

We’ve been with Advanced Nutrients almost every step of the way as they have blossomed into a high-yield international business. This innovative nutrient start-up company has grown exponentially since its inception in 1998. Today, Advanced Nutrients is the global quality leader in hydroponic fertilizers. Faced with a burgeoning international client base, we have helped them reach target audiences in countries around the world by translating their advertising copy, product packaging, website content, white papers, and research reports into Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Czech, Bulgarian, Vietnamese, and Chinese.  Scientific accuracy and technical prowess are prerequisites for their highly specialized microbiological content, as well as localization and branding of their advertising material to appeal to demanding clients and prospects in culturally specific target... read more

Communication in Customer Service

Jan 23, 2014 | Blog

As we have explained in previous blog and newsletter articles, language exists in different forms. These forms include body language, sign language and verbal language. Language helps us to communicate. Today’s blog is about communication, and to be more precise, communication in customer service. Communication between customers and service providers should not be underestimated. After all, your customers are the most valuable asset in your company. Without them, your business does not exist. Luckily, it’s quite easy to keep and make new costumers, with a little effort! Good communication and positive language is the key to outstanding customer service. Costumers like to be praised and to feel appreciated, and there are many ways that you can give these good feelings to your clients. Firstly, you should listen: pay attention to what they are saying and identify their needs. Always find a way to compliment them and thank them every time the opportunity presents itself. Make them feel important and don’t hesitate to use their name when addressing them as it gives them the impression that you are treating them as an individual and not as ‘one of the customers’. Secondly, always put your clients first. Know how to keep control of your emotions. Working in customer service is not always easy. Sometimes, the customer might be wrong, but no matter what, they must always be right! Learn to apologize. It’s not that hard, and clients love it, it gives them a sense of power. And, even if you might not always like it, take their complaints and bad comments as a constructive way to improve your services. Finally, always... read more

Is the Latin Language dead?

Jan 17, 2014 | Blog

If you work with languages, you are likely aware that languages change constantly. Some languages and their speakers change so much that they disappear. Today, we can count an upwards of 600 languages that became extinct. But what can we call a ‘dead language’? Let’s take Latin for example. Latin has been classified as an extinct language for centuries. No one uses it as a first language anymore and this is why it is a ‘dead’ language. Furthermore, even though people are still studying it, it is an ancient language that was never updated, therefore impossible to utilize in modern society. Despite the fact that Latin is extinct, we still use it today in many different sectors, like science, literature and medicine. Many plants have their names derived from Latin. Also, several languages stem from Latin, like French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian and Spanish. The only circumstance where Latin is still used in conversations is in the Vatican and between members of the Roman Catholic Church if they have different mother tongues. Last year in February, Pope Benedict XVI made his resignation speech in Latin, which was a historic moment and proof that Latin is still used. So, can we really refer to it as a dead language? In terms of Latin being classified as a native language, yes, but it has helped us develop many other languages that are widely used today. In terms of the usage of the language, it is still alive. Due to our experience in the language business, we know that Latin as a language on its own is still used and read. Here at Lingostar,... read more

Website Translation VS Document translation

Jan 17, 2014 | Blog

In the language and translation industry, you may have noticed that document translation and website translation are not classified as the same service. Indeed, website translation and document translation are not the same, and require different procedures and different skills. More often than not, website translation also comes with localization services. Read today’s article to know what differentiates website translation from document translation! While printed documents given to the translators are usually final, a website is often updated, which means the website translators have to deal with changes, modifications and newly added content constantly. Also, as opposed to printed text, website translation features the use of HTML and technical codes that the translator must be able to deal with, as well as being able to make the differentiation between text that has to be translated, and text that can’t be modified. A big difference between document and website translators is that website translators must have a good knowledge of computer science. And of course, website translation infers localization: adapting the layout of a text depending on the length of the words in a certain language, or simple but important details such as symbols, pictures or colours that might be offensive for people from different countries and cultures. Here at Lingostar, we provide document translation services and also website translation/localization. If you need translation services for your documents or for your website, we can help you! Call us today or send us an email for a free... read more

Holiday Traditions in Canada

Dec 19, 2013 | Blog

People all over the world are excited about the holidays: Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s! The traditions are different in every country and sometimes even in different parts of the same country. In such a big country like Canada, we find different traditions. Most people in Canada buy their own Christmas tree: a real pine and fir tree that they decorate with lights and colorful ornaments in their home. Families and friends gather together on Christmas Eve for festive meals and drinks which include roasted turkey, ham, potatoes and vegetables. Many Canadian families open their presents on the evening on the 24th, but some just open their stockings or pick one present in their pile to open and leave the rest for the following day. On the 25th, another meal is served late in the afternoon, and the day is spent watching movies, playing cards or sports like road hockey. In Quebec, French traditions are incorporated during the holidays but similar customs to the rest of the country include gift giving, decorating and feasting. Because it’s the holidays, you can take the time to go skiing, or simply party with your family and friends! For New Year’s Eve, people in Canada celebrate on the evening of December 31st. When midnight strikes, couples kiss and everyone makes a New Year’s resolution, a promise of what they will accomplish in the coming year. Then, bottles of champagne are popped and people sing Auld Lang Syne and party into the wee hours. If you would like to know more about holiday and Christmas traditions around the world, make sure you check out our December... read more

Voice-over Artists and Services

Dec 6, 2013 | Blog

A voice-over is a production technique where a recorded voice is synchronized to a video. Voice-overs are typically used on different platforms: television, film, and online for advertising, narration, documentary pieces, and more. In our industry, clients require corporate videos or presentations to be voiced in multiple languages for promotional or business purposes as well as employment training. Media companies also require multilingual voiceovers for their clients’ promotional material, TV shows, film production, commercials, etc. Generally, the voice-over artist is provided a translated script and then records the audio in a professional studio or using professional equipment in their home studio. Being a voice over artist is a hard job that combines linguistic, technical and marketing skills all in one package! High-tech software technology today can give you the option to instantly record tracks in acceptable quality. But to be a successful voice-over artist is not easy. First of all, if you want to have your voice heard, you need to have standout voice-over demo recordings available for potential employers. It is also a good idea to have your own at-home recording studio and that requires quite an investment. Furthermore, in the voice-over world, it is always useful to have a circle of friends in the business, so go to conferences! Meet some people, get some contacts, and seek advice from professional voice-over artists. What is there to lose? Finally, look after your main instrument: your voice! Vocal training can help you learn to breathe properly and help your voice sound great for long hours of recording.   LingoStar Voice-over Services provides voice-overs in English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese,... read more

Quality Assurance

Dec 4, 2013 | Blog

LingoStar is committed to providing reliable and exceptional services to clients with global language needs. We take several steps along the translation process to ensure the highest standards are met in regards to customer service and quality assurance. We only use native speakers for translations, and all LingoStar translators and interpreters are highly qualified to translate into their native language. Our language professionals follow strict internal quality assurance guidelines, and we employ in-house quality control procedures for all our translations and related language services. To further protect against any chance of misinterpretation, all translations include editing/proofreading by a second qualified linguist to ensure accuracy in grammar, spelling, writing style, and linguistic and cultural subtleties. Additionally, all translations are spot-checked by the LingoStar team for inconsistencies and formatting errors prior to... read more

The Different Varieties of Chinese

Dec 3, 2013 | Blog

When it comes to the Chinese language, we can identify many different dialects, both written and spoken. First we will discuss the two most common spoken varieties of the Chinese language: Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese Chinese. Then we will note the differences between the two main styles of written Chinese: Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese. Mandarin is the most spoken Chinese language in Mainland China. It is the official dialect for millions of people: as of 2010, there were 960 million native speakers of Mandarin in Mainland China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan and Singapore. On the other hand, we have Cantonese Chinese, spoken primarily in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangzhou. Mandarin and Cantonese are very distinct languages. As for written Chinese, we have Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. Simplified Chinese is a modern form of Chinese writing, appearing after the 1950’s. It is said that Simplified Chinese was developed to encourage people to learn to read by simplifying the Traditional Chinese characters. It is used in Mainland China and Singapore. On the other hand, Traditional Chinese is the original text that has been used for centuries in China. Chinese speakers in Taiwan and Hong Kong use Traditional Chinese characters. Of course, there are many more dialects than just Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese, and more written styles than just Simplified and Traditional Chinese. If we go deeper in the subject, we can also find differences between Traditional Chinese in Taiwan and Traditional Chinese in Hong Kong! Languages never cease to develop and change.   Here at LingoStar we have professional certified translators available to translate your texts both in Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese.... read more

First Nations Languages in Canada

Dec 2, 2013 | Blog

Languages Worldwide Of the approximately 6000 languages spoken worldwide, experts estimate that at least 3000 are under threat and this includes First Nations Languages. Up to 90% may actually disappear over the next century. A language becomes extinct when its speakers relocate and are required to speak the dominant language of their new region. This is usually to be able to get a job and become a functioning member of society. It can also become extinct when a more aggressive or economically stronger culture infiltrates its region and overruns the existing one. First Nations Languages Canadian Aboriginal languages have one of the worst survival records. Many Aboriginal languages are now extinct. This is mainly due to harsh assimilation policies and residential schools that prohibited students from using their mother tongue. Approximately 60 Aboriginal languages exist in Canada. Inuktitut, Cree and Ojibway are some of the healthiest of these languages, but even they are under threat. For example, in Nunavut, where 85% of the population is Inuit and speak a dialect of Inuktitut, 40% report that they are losing the ability to speak their mother tongue. Only 38% say they are fluent in reading and writing—but this is because Inuktitut is primarily an oral language. Clearly the survival of the language is at stake. Today in Nunavut, where the official language of the government is Inuktitut, a debate is developing over what should be done about the decline. On the one hand, some believe that Inuktitut should be preserved and argue that if the language is lost, Inuit culture will be lost as well. These people blame several factors. They... read more

Common mistakes and types of patent translations

Dec 2, 2013 | Blog

When you run a business and want to expand your business abroad, applying for patents in other countries to protect your products from copyright infringement is a necessary step. For this, you will need to have your patents translated into different languages. A great patent translation may be the key to your success in the first stage of expanding your franchise overseas. Accuracy and subject expertise are extremely important when it comes to patent translation. You never want to run the risk of submitting a problematic patent translation, especially when the intellectual properties could involve millions of dollars. Therefore, it is paramount to work with professional patent translators. In addition to excellent translating skills, these patent translators need to have profound knowledge in different fields such as science, medicine, or engineering so that they can provide high-quality patent translation services. There are two general types of patent translation. One is for referential information and the other is for official application. The one for reference requires a literal translation which tends to keep tightly to the original text. However, this kind of translation is not suitable for the official application. Patent translators working on this kind of patent translation need to be aware of and comprehend the differences among different regulations in different countries. LingoStar has been working with professional patent translators in various language combinations – some of them are qualified even beyond expectation. For example, we have translators who work in the language pairs of Japanese – Chinese, German – Japanese, and even Japanese – Thai! In addition to this, we also guarantee the quality of our patent... read more

Localization Service and the Economy

Dec 2, 2013 | Blog, Language Services, Translation

What does localization mean? How can a localization service help you? Localization is basically a way for companies to customize their website content in order to reach foreign target markets more effectively. The best way to do this is to use the localization service of a translation company. Indeed, if businesses want to open up to new markets, they have to make sure that the local population can understand their content. People might object that today’s world expects everyone to learn English at some point. However, surveys repeatedly show that customers are more inclined to purchase products online if they find the description in their native language. In addition, over half of the searches in Google are conducted in languages other than English. Read this article for more information. Localization Services in Canada Canada is a bilingual country. Therefore, localization services are even more relevant. It is of major importance, especially in Quebec where French is the official language. Indeed, the Charter of the French Language is a law that was adopted by the Quebec government in 1977. The law aims to preserve the quality and status of the French language. National companies need to promote their services to both English and Canadian French speakers. Consequently, they advertise their products and services in a more direct way to both target markets. To learn more about content marketing, read about these interesting social media marketing ideas >>. How LingoStar can help you We offer localization services for websites, online content, applications, video games and other software-related projects. If you would like to receive more information, feel free to contact us at info@lingo-star.com or call us... read more

Google Translate: Beyond Human Translation Borders!

Nov 29, 2013 | Blog

Everybody has already had their say about the pros and cons of the useful but misleading Google Translate tool. The truth is, a translator will never be as entertaining as Google Translate. Here are a few examples: Everybody has already had their say about the pros and cons of the useful but misleading Google Translate tool. They say it is handy when it comes to technical terms and short strings but at the same time it degrades the priceless efforts of all translators worldwide! This may be true but a translator will never be able to entertain as well as Google Translate! Here are some fun examples of what we mean: 1) Go to http://translate.google.ca/translate_t#en|ja| and type in your text; copy the Japanese text that shows up and paste it into the text box. Click the swap button below the text box and click Translate……..what kind of translation do you get? 2) To simulate the sound of a helicopter, copy and paste the following text in the translation box and select German to German translation: “kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk“ 3) Google Translate for Animals: if you have an Android phone go to Android Market and download the translation app “Translate for Animals“. Then open it and choose your source animal `language`. Unfortunately only English is available as the target language (but of course they are already working to implement more languages)! Then approach the animal you want to hear from and wait for it to make some sounds. After a few minutes you get the transcription of what your new friend has just said! Here at LingoStar we always try our best... read more