Blog | America

“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… Continue reading

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, Spanish,… Continue reading

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… Continue reading

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… Continue reading

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 Day Clean Your… Continue reading

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… Continue reading

Ghosts and Goblins and Confusing Signs – it’s Friday Funnies

The days are getting shorter and the fall breeze is cool. Hillsides are ablaze with colorful leaves. October is here and the delightful spookiness of Halloween is fast approaching. October is dominated by All Hallow's Eve but it's also a month filled with many celebratory days such as:National Cheese Curd DayInternational Day for FailureBe Bald… Continue reading

AI and Blooper Double Meanings: See what can go wrong

Every language has expressions. And AI captures most, but not all of them. For example: “J’ai la pêche” in French literally means “I have the peach.” But it can also mean “I feel good” which AI versions don’t provide. In English, “I feel like a spring chicken” means that I’m feeling young and vibrant. But put… Continue reading

Satanic Bike Handling and Head Banging – Friday Funnies have Arrived!

September is here and children have returned to school inspiring many parents to hum to the tune of the song, "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year". September is a contradictory month; warm summer days followed by cool fall nights. It's the month when both Be Late for Something Day and Fight Procrastination Day… Continue reading