OPI. How to talk (now) when you can’t speak
Over 72% of the world does not speak English. In addition, many countries in Asia and Africa—such as Nigeria, India and the Philippines…
Invisible Dentures, Nude Covid Protection and Hands-free … Never Mind – It’s the Friday Funnies!
The New Year has arrived and with it the promise of great opportunities ahead! It’s a month that brings gradually longer, if colder, days. We begin the month by ringing in the new year and then honor the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. on January 15th. January is filled with many special days to […]
Business Closures, Questionable Composting, Population Control Diet and a Sauce to Avoid – These are the Holiday Friday Funnies
The weather outside is frightful but the month of December is so delightful! It’s filled with celebrations and more food and libations than we should probably consume. A month of continuing holiday revelry and thanks, and the warm gathering of kith and kin. With the major holidays of Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa all taking precedent, […]
“Revising” website translations inexpensively. And website Bloopers.
“I can’t translate my website yet. It’s being revised.” If I had a hundred dollars for every time I’ve heard that, I’d by now have a condo in Monaco. The problem is that websites are rarely “done.” If you can or do derive revenue from other cultures or countries, you are missing tremendous opportunities if […]
Lit, Narc Dogs, Snacks for Two Mouths and an Eco-Nightmare – It’s Friday Funnies
February is here and we’re reminded that, although it’s the shortest month of the year, it’s filled with celebrations. February is Black History Month. We also celebrate Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day, and Presidents’ Day. The month doesn’t end with only these special events and celebrations. February brings us the joyous recognition of International Pancake […]
The Importance of Emptiness. Book translations and Bloopers
When companies design brochures or forms for translation, they often forget a critical element: white space. It’s very important to keep empty space on your original pages. That’s because most common languages require far more words than English to express the same concepts. In general, 20% more space is needed for translations into French, Italian, […]
New Year’s Gift: Wonderful signs and bloopers to brighten your day
I have always been amazed that foreigners can learn English so well. Ours is a crazy language where compound words make no sense and where opposites are true. For example: An eggplant contains no egg and a hamburger contains no ham. Quicksand works slowly, boxing rings are square, and guinea pigs do not come from […]
Untranslatable words and Humorous signs: A Thanksgiving gift
Our newsletter last month illustrated how simple words such as “reuse” or “recycle” cannot be translated directly in some languages because translations depend on how the words are used in context. This month we wanted to illustrate words in other languages that simply have no direct translations in English, regardless of context. If you try AI or […]
Drinking, Pigs, Water and the No-Fun Zone – It’s Friday Funnies
November is here; the month of thanks and friendship and family gatherings. In many parts of the country, we rise to frosty mornings and sometimes a dusting of fresh snow. The days have gotten shorter and the evening darkness arrives sooner. The longer evenings provide the perfect setting to celebrate: King Tut DayClean Your Refrigerator […]
Bloopers, and why easy translations are not so easy
In general, simple words are simple to translate. Except when they aren’t. And AI programs usually make no distinctions and cause errors. For example, consider the sentence, “I felt welcomed by the warmth of the happy people.” Is the “I” speaker a male or female? The word “welcomed” changes endings in many languages, depending on […]