Blog | America

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

Lounge, You Weak, Rice-Flour Noodle; Don’t Potato Romp or You’ll Vomit – It’s Friday Funnies!

August is named for Augustus Caesar, the first Emperor of Rome and the grandnephew of Julius Caesar - the Roman statesman. August is one of only two months named after leaders of the ancient Roman world. July (named for Julius Caesar) is the other. Like the Eternal City of Rome, the month of August is… Continue reading

Global Tips and Airport Bloopers

As was presented last month, our August newsletter explores some new concepts to help your global expansion. International Marketing According to our recent Global Gurus podcast with Ricardo Franco, in Mexico, marketing should be oriented to the well-being of the family, not just the individual. An example is large employers that provide grocery store discount… Continue reading

“Deciding” OPI, Brazil and Cars: Translation issues you never thought of.

“I’m on the fence about coming to your party.” A very simple sentence to translate, right? Not exactly. To be “on the fence” is an English expression meaning “to be undecided” about something. And if you put the sentence into Google Translate and then put those translations back into English to see whether they are… Continue reading

Carelessness, a Queen, Speeding and Confusing Invisibility – Get Ready for FRIDAY FUNNIES

July is here!The middle of summer has arrived which means we've all enjoyed a sunburn, overdue lawn mowing, heat-clearing thunderstorms, ice cream cones on a warm afternoon, traffic jams on the way to the beach and picnics with family and friends. Every day brings a new celebration. Independence Day for Americans may be the biggest… Continue reading

Critical lessons for doing business abroad: Global Gurus’ expertise – Part 3

With over 11,000 downloads during our 15-month life, the 60+ episodes of our Global Gurus podcast provide outstanding insights into a huge array of international business topics. To facilitate your own expansion, below is a sample of the treasure trove you will find:How can you avoid bribery when foreign norms require it?Learn from the fascinating stories of Gene… Continue reading