Blog | America

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