A brief interaction with lasting consequences: such is the power of the "first impression". Studies show that the first 7 seconds of an encounter are crucial for forming opinions, and that those impressions - those labels - can stick for a surprisingly long time. Nobody wants to disappoint. So, are there any "universal" rules about … Continue reading Business Communication: Getting off to a Good Start
Author: Andreea Sepi
Quote of the day
Today, I'm going to trust you with some German, but you can always use ModernMT, DeepL or Google Translate to figure it out 😋 - and also check how good Neural Machine Translation has become in the meantime. (Not kidding, please evaluate, compare, and let me know your thoughts on this. How much post-editing do … Continue reading Quote of the day
Ideologies – What Are They and How Do They Come to Be?
"We are faced with the curiously appalling trend of modern thought, in which the absolute which was once a means of entering into communion with the divine, has now become an instrument used by those who profit from it, to distort, pervert, and conceal the meaning of the present.“ Karl Mannheim - Ideology and Utopia … Continue reading Ideologies – What Are They and How Do They Come to Be?
On Nation Branding and Competitive Identity
"National reputation truly cannot be constructed; it can only be earned. Imagining that such a deeply rooted phenomenon can be shifted by so weak an instrument as marketing communications is an extravagant delusion. As Socrates observed, ‘the way to achieve a better reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear’." SIMON ANHOLT … Continue reading On Nation Branding and Competitive Identity
Narratology – How Stories Work and Why They Matter
We live in a world of stories. Stories shape the way we think about reality. Stories are what we tell ourselves about ourselves. When the human brain wants to make sense of events and data in the environment, transform them into actionable insights, and share them with others, there is no way around stories. We … Continue reading Narratology – How Stories Work and Why They Matter
Why You Need an Experienced Linguist to Translate Your Work
You have spent countless hours, days, months, maybe even years working on something important. Whether it is a product, book, article, patent, or marketing campaign, you do not want to skimp on the translation. In fact, you want the best possible translator/editor on your team. Why? Because you do not want to undermine your credibility … Continue reading Why You Need an Experienced Linguist to Translate Your Work
A Quick Guide to Romanian Culture – OTHER HUMANS
Last time we talked about communication, which is one of the main ways we interact with OTHER PEOPLE. In fact, everything we do can be termed "communication", as it results in different types of messages and human beings are meaning-making creatures. This time, I'd like to talk a little more about power dynamics, decision-making, and … Continue reading A Quick Guide to Romanian Culture – OTHER HUMANS
A Quick Guide to Romanian Culture – COMMUNICATION
Hello again and welcome back! It's really good to have you, what can I offer you and how can I help you today? Yes, Romanians can be quite welcoming (but not always, aggressive behavior is on the rise, especially on the roads), and there are several set phrases you need to master to deal with … Continue reading A Quick Guide to Romanian Culture – COMMUNICATION
A Quick Guide to Romanian Culture – ENVIRONMENT
And here we are already, Episode 3 of our Romanian saga. How do Romanians, on average, relate to their ENVIRONMENT? What is going on with deforestation? Why is the majority of Romanians still unvaccinated against Covid and why is the polarization on this topic so dire? All legitimate questions. While most of the highly-educated urban … Continue reading A Quick Guide to Romanian Culture – ENVIRONMENT
A Quick Guide to Romanian Culture – TIME and SPACE
It seems I owe you an explanation. I left you on a cliffhanger, but not for long. Just testing your loyalty. 🙂 So, let us pick up where we left off. What is the Romanians' relationship with TIME and SPACE? In Romanian culture, as in many other high-context, multi-active (Latin) cultures, time is flexible. Objectives … Continue reading A Quick Guide to Romanian Culture – TIME and SPACE