Here we are in mid-May. We've already celebrated Cinco de Mayo and Mother's Day, and still have Memorial Day ahead of us. May is the gateway month with Memorial Day weekend signaling the beginning of summer. But the official start of summer actually occurs on the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. This year, June 20th is that day when the daylight hours are longest and darkness hours are the shortest. Some other important holidays in May include:
- Lost Sock Memorial Day
- Jumping Frog Day
- Tear the Tags off the Mattress Day
- National Cellophane Tape Day.
Just as summer can have more than one starting point depending on where you are, translating a foreign language requires sensitivity to regional customs and expressions. While AI can manage literal translation, capturing the true intent and cultural nuance of a message demands the skill of a trained linguist who is also a native speaker. The examples below demonstrate that using the right words doesn't always convey the right meaning.
A sign at the Budapest Zoo: "PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS. If you have any suitable food, give it to the guard on duty."
A sign in Japan:
"In case of emergency, break this wall to escape."
A brochure in a car rental firm in Japan:
"When a passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with vigor."
On a poster in Nairobi:
"Are You an Adult that Cannot Read? If so We can Help."
A professional organization like yours requires professional translations. Relying on amateurs or AI for your translations will inevitably end with confusing or reputation damaging mistakes. Some of the pitfalls of using AI for your company's translations include the inability of AI to grasp subtle language like sarcasm and humor, and difficulty with cultural nuances.
You deserve the highest quality translations when communicating with non-English speaking customers or colleagues. For over 30 years, Auerbach International has been a trusted vendor partner to companies like yours. You receive personalized attention from linguists who have a minimum of 10 years of translation experience and your projects will receive A+ accuracy in 120 languages; on time, every time.
Drop us a line or give us a call. to get a complimentary quote with top precision.
A final thought from Mae West: “Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before."
Best ~
Chris Hempel
Director of Client Success
www.auerbach-intl.com
chris@auerbach-intl.com
phone 415-592-0042 X125
mobile 818-445-4451
