7 tips for translating a website
Are you thinking about translating your website? Whether you want to respond to the newly developed consumer demands or expand onto international markets, you know that a multilingual presence is essential. (Just in case you need any convincing, you can read about why it is a good idea in my blog post here.) Choose your […]
Web Application Localization Best Practices
This video is a summary of 27 best practices shared by Nataly Kelly, VP Localization at HubSpot in her blog post on www.borntobeglobal.com. Following these guidelines will help make your content easier to localize. Read Nataly’s brilliant advice and tell us about your localization journey! Would you like to receive a copy of this video […]
Does Your Translator Ask Questions?
Why should a good translator ask you questions? From very generic ones before the project starts, such as asking you about the purpose and audience of your content, to more technical ones, such as preferred terminology or style, questions are a sign of a professional approach. This is the equivalent of the gathering of requirements […]
Too much “thank you” in France puts you in the position of inferiority
When I lived in the UK, I often heard a judgement about French businesses, restaurants or commerce that the customer service is rude and unhelpful. It is true to say that phrases such as “I’m afraid we don’t…” or “I am really sorry, but” are not really part of the French language. The excessive use […]
Why should you hire a professional translator if you have bilingual staff?
I’ll be the first to admit: I have built my industry knowledge and maintained my translation skills in my in-house software development jobs. In other words, I was part of the in-house staff who spoke languages. A lot of translation work landed on my desk. However, in many cases, especially in development and testing […]
“Can’t read: won’t buy”: why you should localise your website
“Can’t Read, Won’t Buy: 2014,” is a catchy title of a report published in April 2014 by an independent research firm, Common Sense Advisory (CSA Research). The report contained findings of a survey of more than 3,000 global consumers in 10 non-Anglophone countries in Europe, Asia, and South America. Specifically, the research assessed online language […]
Advances in technology bring people closer
On the International Translation Day, 30 September, I read the recent ProZ report by Henry Dotterer and Jared Tabor about the changing face of our industry and the human response to technological innovation. (https://www.proz.com/industry-report/2019_human_response). According to the authors of this report, the translation industry changes can be categorised into three areas: Automation, Intimacy and Scale. Automation includes […]
What makes an excellent translator? 5 traits you should look for
Many businesses and organisations find the process of hiring translators quite daunting, simply because they do not know what to expect and what to look for. Here are the 5 most important traits you should consider: 1. Quality and expertise It goes without saying that this is the most important aspect of being a translator. […]
Why did the world laugh at the French President’s mistake?
Last year a piece of news about the French President Macron made a lot of readers giggle. The President possibly switched between French and English a bit too fast. When talking about the Australian PM’s wife, he misused the word « delicious » — délicieuse — because in French it also means “delightful”. Question: what if a […]
