Posted by Alex on June 30, 2009 under History | 
Believe it or not, the practice of translation has a rather interesting history. The word translation derives from the Latin work translatio which means “to transfer” or “carrying across.” The most recognized icon for the practice of translating is the Rosetta Stone.
The Rosetta Stone is an Ancient Egyptian artifact which was used in the advancement of the understanding of hieroglyphic writing. The stone is made up of three translations of one single passage. The stone was created in 196 BC and ultimately discovered by the French in 1799. The Rosetta Stone contributed greatly in the efforts to decipher the principles of hieroglyph writing. The text on the stone has been revealed to be a decree from Ptolemy V, the 5th ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty. The decree repealed taxes and included instructions on how to erect statues in temples.
More to come…!
Posted by Alex on June 29, 2009 under Language Study |
While we often tend to think of languages as singularities, understandable by everyone who calls him or herself a “native speaker,” this is not always the case; a single language, such as Italian for instance, may be broken up into dozens of smaller dialects, each with its own quirks that make it unique and distinct from the Italian spoken by other groups and communities.
Even though Italy is one country, it has many regions that have their own culture and language that differ from those of the rest of Italy. The dialects of Italy vary between regions. For historical, cultural, and political reasons, most “dialects of Italy” have not yet been given an official status. All the dialects of Italy exhibit internal variety, especially the dialects of the North, where the fragmentation into different states was more pronounced and where there was isolation because of the mountains.
It adds up to just another factor to be considered when translating a language for use abroad!
Posted by Mike on June 26, 2009 under Translation News |
As we all know, translation is a very difficult, strenuous, and time consuming process, and so the amount of work and dedication that goes into every page, every line, and every word all adds up to greater work overall. This is particularly important when it comes to literature, which is inherently more subjective and complex than, for instance, technical or legal document translation. Consider Gregory Rabassa, an award winning translator who has, in turn, translated award winning books such as the Pulitzer Prize-winning book 100 Years of Solitude. Without contributions from translators such as Rabassa, many of us would otherwise not be able to indulge in great works of literature such as this.
Posted by Mike on June 25, 2009 under Translation News |
Sibel Edmonds was a former translator for the FBI, now turned whistleblower. Edmonds exposed Washington’s corruption by exposing their illegal endeavors in selling nuclear secrets, money laundering, and other threatening activities.
Read more about Edmonds’s fascinating story here:
http://www.amconmag.com/article/2008/jan/28/00012/
It is no surprise that very sensitive information is often passed through translators. For the FBI, expert linguists such as these play a critical role in counter-terrorism and providing intelligence information. This role is extremely important, as they must use their own judgment in sorting through information to authenticate its accuracy and its prospective value to agents and analysts. As we can see, translators do more than just sit at a desk and translate documents!
Posted by Alex on June 24, 2009 under Language Study |
Spanish has become the world’s second most-spoken language, with over 350 million people who speak it as their native language. Spanish has its origins dating back to northern Spain, where the language known as Castilian developed as a Romance language (derives from Latin). Spanish gradually spread throughout the Kingdom of Castile, and from there it evolved as the primary language of government and trade. With the expansion of the Spanish empire into unknown territories such as the Americas between the fifteenth and nineteenth century, the language continued to spread to other continents as well, such as Africa and Asia.
The Spanish language also has a long history with the United States. Many of the southwestern states were at one time part of Mexico and the property of Spain. Spanish is the most commonly taught foreign language in the country. Spanish usage is growing in the States in many cases by being formally recognized next to English at a state level, such as in New Mexico, where 30% of the population speaks the Spanish. The Spanish language also has a strong influence in urban areas such as New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Antonio.
Many people throughout the country use Spanish in addition to, or even in place of, English, both in casual day-to-day activities and within the workplace. According to the 2006 census, 44.3 million people in the U.S population were of Latin American descent, and more than 12 percent of the population spoke Spanish in their households, giving the United States the world’s 4th-largest Spanish-speaking population. All good reasons to consider Spanish translation for your document, project, or website!
Posted by Alex on June 22, 2009 under Translation News |
Translation is becoming a useful business skill in today’s diverse society. American businesses must enlist the help of translators not only for consumers abroad, but within the United States as well. In 2006, the number of immigrants in the United States totaled 37.5 million. A portion of the new immigrants cannot read in English, let alone speak it. With thousands of individuals immigrating every year, the need for translators and interpreters increases. These individuals not only make their home in the States, but are consumers, too.
Throughout the U.S., there is a growing demand for interpreters in retail and office environments; in the New York City area alone, the so-called “melting pot” of races and ethnicities of the local citizens, as well as the thousands of tourists that come every day to stores such as Apple, M&M World, Toys ‘R’ Us, and shops all over Times Square, has convinced many local businesses to make it a top priority to hire as many people as they can that speak different languages in order to serve all of these individuals.
With all this in mind, it’s easy to see why businesses must make adjustments for their customers by adapting and making language accommodations that benefit their entire customer base.
