Beyond Words - Language Blog
Recent Blog Posts
Translating Harry Potter – Challenges in Translating Fantasy Literature
August 17, 2018
Lithuanian Haris Poteris and his Dutch best friends Hermelien Griffel and Ron Wemel attend a French school for magic called Poudlard (“bacon lice”), get in trouble with the Dutch Severus Sneep, and receive medical attention from an Italian Madama Poppy Chips. Doesn’t have quite the same ring to it? A […]
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10 Marketing Translation Fails That Impacted High-Profile Companies
August 10, 2018
Spectacular translation fails are the stuff of legend. While one of the most famous marketing translation fail examples is that of Chevy’s attempt to introduce its new car model “NOVA” in Mexico, which translates to “No go” in Spanish, this translation fail is actually a myth (there are plenty of […]
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A Discussion About Interpreter Ethics and Confidentiality around the Helsinki Summit
August 2, 2018
After the Helsinki Summit, it feels like the whole world is seeing the field of interpretation for the first time. Everyone has eyes on one interpreter, the only person apart from President Trump and President Putin who knows what was said in their private meeting at the 2018 Russia-United States […]
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Socio-Cultural Interactions – Small Talk in the U.S.A., Russia, and Beyond
July 25, 2018
A Russian and an American step into an elevator – let’s say the two know each other vaguely as colleagues at work. If this elevator happens to be in America, what ensues is likely a very uncomfortable (Russian) and confused (American) exchange, triggered by an innocuous American “How are you?” […]
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When the Patient is your Mother
May 11, 2018
This year, my coworker and I went to California to present at the CHIA conference. Three hours before our presentation, I got this text message from my mom: “I’m ok, but I’m in the hospital.” She’d fainted in her bathroom the night before. She hit the rim of the bathtub […]
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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
Are you interested in becoming a medical interpreter? Sign up Now and get started. 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 […]
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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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