Why You Should Choose Your Translator Carefully

An over-simplified view of our profession will have you believe that a translation is the mechanistic rendering of the source text into the target language, as if the human element barely matters at all. You pour text in, text gets spouted back out, how hard can it be, right? After all, we've already got machines … Continue reading Why You Should Choose Your Translator Carefully

Advertisement

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

Jobs, vacation and the challenges of transcreation

We're at the height of summer and, in many European countries, it's blessed vacation season. People are exhausted and can't wait to take a break from their jobs, to travel, relax, and have some fun. Because most people, it would seem, actually hate their jobs. Even before the pandemic, a global poll conducted by Gallup … Continue reading Jobs, vacation and the challenges of transcreation

Applied Cultural Linguistics: Romanian Jokes About the Pandemic

Far be it from me to make light of the difficult times we are all going through, but sanity sometimes requires a lighter touch ("Dinge auf die leichte Schulter nehmen" as the Germans would phrase it), so I thought I'd bring you today some intercultural competence in the form of jokes and puns about quarantine, … Continue reading Applied Cultural Linguistics: Romanian Jokes About the Pandemic

Your 3 Best Friends in a Negotiation

Unless you live alone on a mountain top, you are involved in negotiations every single day. (And even hermits have to drive a ruthless bargain with themselves every once in a while - yes, negotiations can be intrapersonal too). Even though the term sounds fancy, each time you try to persuade another person to do … Continue reading Your 3 Best Friends in a Negotiation

How to Tell a Good Brand Story

Storytelling is central to marketing - and it's the main way we make sense of the world. Here are a few tips for putting words to work and crafting compelling narratives. Nowadays brands - like people - have personalities. They become friends, companions and - occasionally - bogeymen. Marketing is a bit like matchmaking, followed by … Continue reading How to Tell a Good Brand Story

What My Kids Have Taught Me About Engagement

Are you also juggling job, homeschooling of children, creative projects, and research? Are your kids constantly coming to you for advice/support/validation/reassurance even though your spouse is also available? And does that drive you mad? Then you can relate. Now, I've racked my brain trying to understand this, until it hit me. It's a communication and … Continue reading What My Kids Have Taught Me About Engagement

Traduttore, traditore?*

Communication consulting, translation, research, intercultural project support

Social Distancing? 7 Communication Tips for Maintaining Relationships

So, you are now in your second, third, or possibly even fourth week of social isolation. These times are tough on everyone (but more so on extroverts). On top of that, watching the news is like a bucket of negative emotions being dumped on your head on a daily basis, the future feels uncertain at … Continue reading Social Distancing? 7 Communication Tips for Maintaining Relationships

Covid-19 Update: How Can We Help?

Hello! I hope you are all keeping well. The coronavirus outbreak has everyone worried. These are difficult and trying times for all of us. Reading the future has become nearly impossible. Large swaths of industry have come to a standstill and the economic outlook is "chilly" to say the least. To successfully tackle this crisis … Continue reading Covid-19 Update: How Can We Help?