Author: roy@keivs.com

Happy July to All! The dog days of Summer are upon us and that, of course, means most of us are preparing to celebrate National Drive-Thru Day. Based on the price of a gallon of gas, it may be a subdued celebration this year. Fortunately, we have an almost endless procession of non-petroleum based holidays.… Continue reading Cannibals, Mountain Pastures, Cell Phones, Baked Beans and Big… ah, BIG Friday Funnies

Many companies use overseas agents or distributors to do their translations. You assume, because “they know our product well,” that their renderings are accurate. But how can you be certain? Over our 30+ years, we have seen many cases where: Agents rewrite your message to what they think it should say, not what you want… Continue reading How translations can explode your best intentions

Dear Profit, As companies re-engage during life after (or with) Covid, in-person conferences are igniting again. Since around 72% of the world does not speak English, conferences with international participants must rely on simultaneous interpreting [spoken communication] to convey speakers’ messages immediately in attendees’ languages. And that process can involve interpreters’ booths, participants’ multi-channel headsets… Continue reading Conference interpreting for your ROI … with no diplomatic blunders.

Greetings! Summer has arrived and for the first time in a couple years we can return to vacationing and gathering for picnics and parties. As we’re all aware, June is National Accordion Awareness Month, a time to bring out those Lawrence Welk and Myron Floren albums. Many of us will also celebrate other special June… Continue reading Onion Rings and Cliffs – Shocking Dangers Await in June’s Friday

Welcome to the May Friday Funnies! It’s already May? 2022 is flying by with a third of the year in our rear view mirror! The economy is racing forward and businesses, like yours, are supercharged. May gives us so much to appreciate and celebrate. It’s a month notable not just as the gateway to summer… Continue reading Friday Funnies – Puke, Crack and other Delicacies

One of the biggest mistakes companies make is to invest huge sums into a new global venture without first gaffe-proofing their company name, product name or slogans in other languages. Checking that these names and taglines don’t contain negative connotations in key languages seems obvious … but it’s surprising how few firms actually do it.… Continue reading Funny Blunders Costing Millions

Welcome to April Friday Funnies! April, when thoughts run to the arrival of warmer weather, budding trees and blooming flowers. In April, we celebrate many things including: Foot Health Awareness Month Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month National Fresh Celery Month National Safe Digging Month National Soft Pretzel Month So, without further ado … let the… Continue reading Shoplifting, Police, Slow Children and Surprises – April Friday Funnies is Here!

Welcome, once again, to this month’s edition of Friday Funnies! Before we commence with the revelry of comic translation blunders, let’s take a moment to consider the tragic invasion and senseless war against the people of Ukraine by Russian forces. Politics aside, we all hope for a quick resolution of this disastrous event and an… Continue reading Littering Police and Water Rationing – Time for Friday Funnies

Welcome to February’s Friday Funnies! The economy is heating up and business is buzzing again. Global trade is booming as logistics and supply chain obstacles are being overcome. With all this good news, what could go wrong? Well… Even the most routine multilingual communication errors can completely upend business opportunities in a hot, economic upturn.… Continue reading A Confused Inventor, an Off Limits Park, Spa Tools to Avoid and Uneducated Drivers – February Friday Funnies