Beyond Words - Language Blog
Recent Blog Posts
Translation Tip of the Week: Utilize Translation Software
April 3, 2018
If the term “translation software” makes you think of paid language professionals plugging text into Google Translate, guess again! Computer-assisted translation tools are complex, varied, and integral to any seasoned translator’s daily work. This overview will help you learn more about the different types of tools translators use – and […]
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The Air up There: Elevation and Phonology
March 21, 2018
Imagine someone running up three flights of stairs to convey some astonishing news to a friend. As soon as the excited speaker opens his mouth to talk, the words tumble forward in gasps and bursts, punctuated by pauses that allow him to catch his breath. Only after filling his lungs […]
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What do the Roma speak?
March 14, 2018
The Roma are a traditionally nomadic ethnicity with communities all the way across Europe and beyond. Often misunderstood and mistreated – a topic I won’t go into – they are typically thought to be homogeneous. Language variation is just one way to illustrate that this is definitely not the case. […]
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All the other Interpreters Do It
February 26, 2018
I recently took an interpretation assignment at a mental health facility. Usually, I think these are assignments are challenging and fascinating, so I was excited about this particular day. When I arrived on the unit, the tech said, “Oh, you must be here for Claudia. She’s sleeping now, but you […]
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Translation Tip of the Week: Establish a Relationship with your Translation Agency
February 6, 2018
Most of us would rather go to the same doctor for medical questions, the same mechanic for car repairs, and the same barber or hair stylist for a trim. The level of trust and personalized knowledge that grows with time is what builds a true working relationship; it distinguishes a […]
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The Patients Who Stay with You
January 11, 2018
It’s been years since I’ve interpreted for Elena, but I can still hear her voice in my head. There are patients that just stay with you. Elena was in the hospital for weeks, and she memorized everyone’s names. Everyone’s. Every nurse, every doctor, every interpreter, every janitor, every physical therapist. […]
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Getting to know Thais Barboni do Prado
December 4, 2017
ALTA Qualified Portuguese Interpreter: Breaking Boundaries in Healthcare® alumni Tell us a little bit about the first moment you realized you were bilingual. “I remember I heard a song, and I could understand the meaning without translating it. I used to love to listen to music and translate it to […]
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The Languages of Taiwan: Past, Present, and Future
November 16, 2017
In published reports from recent years, the Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) compiled the results of the first stage of a three-year study into the languages of Austronesia. Focusing on five languages used in Taiwan – a state with 14 officially recognized indigenous groups – the study illustrated a lamentably […]
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Getting Your (Interpreter) Foot in the Door
November 2, 2017
A common question from untrained interpreters is: “If I take a medical interpreter training course, can I get hired at a hospital?” The simple answer to this question is yes, but there’s a lot more to it. According to the 2016 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Interpretation and translation is […]
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It’s Hard to Tie My Shoes
September 27, 2017
Today I worked with a patient that I’ve seen a thousand times. As a Spanish interpreter, I work with the same patients a few times a week in the emergency room for dialysis. Many of these patients have no health insurance. No documents. Not enough resources to pay the astronomical […]
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