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
Tag: TRANSLATION
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 – INTRODUCTION
Ah, culture!... That vague concept, so hard to pinpoint. What is it, really? Is it a concert? A book? A Picasso painting? Is it everything humans have ever created? Is it the opposite of nature? For the purposes of this blog, CULTURE is the shared worldview, mindset, and behaviors of a particular community of human … Continue reading A Quick Guide to Romanian Culture – INTRODUCTION
SPOKEN DISCOURSE: How Do We Know What They Mean?
Welcome back and a happy, healthy New Year to all! Knowing what people actually mean is one of the most fascinating quandaries in verbal communication, and one that has preoccupied linguists, psychologists, philosophers, and cultural theorists the world over. Decoding information accurately is essential for proper understanding, so it is no wonder that we now … Continue reading SPOKEN DISCOURSE: How Do We Know What They Mean?
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
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
Is There Such a Thing as “Untranslatable”?
Are there any truly untranslatable words? The short answer is: No. The long answer: It depends on your definition of "untranslatable". Given that different cultures code things differently, it is a fact of life that every language contains at least a handful of words for which no equivalent word exists in another language. But fear not! … Continue reading Is There Such a Thing as “Untranslatable”?
What type of translator am I?
Well, if you must know... But no, that does not mean I work for free. 😉 It only means I'll make your day with beautifully translated texts delivered right on time and with plenty of useful feedback along the way! Contact me today!
Moral Relativity In A Foreign Language – Can it affect you?
Well, recent research conducted by psychologists from the University of Chicago and Pompeu Fabra University of Barcelona shows it can. How? What?! You have probably never doubted your own integrity to this extent before. Do we become different people when thinking about things in a foreign language? I don't know about that, but this research shows pretty conclusively … Continue reading Moral Relativity In A Foreign Language – Can it affect you?