Blog on holidays

Posted on 19. Jul, 2010 by Ashleigh in Blog

This is just a quick note to let you know that our blog, Translation Fitness, will be on summer holidays beginning today. We may have some admin updates over the next few weeks, but any new posts will be on hold until the fall. We’ll resume regular posting in September and we hope to see your smiling face then! [...]

How to set your translation rates (4 tips for novice and veteran translators alike!)

Posted on 10. Jul, 2010 by Ashleigh in Blog

1. Charge what you’re worth. This means not allowing yourself to be negotiated down to work for less than your regular translation rates. This means not agreeing to work for less than your regular rates in exchange “for the promise” of a higher rate in the future. This never happens. More often, the client company [...]

Primer on literal translations + 4 ways to spot them!

Posted on 07. Jun, 2010 by Ashleigh in Blog

What is a literal translation? Literal translations, or word for word translations, are translations in which the content of a document is communicated by replacing one word with another, regardless of whether the resulting translation is accurate or reads well in the target language. How do literal translations happen? There are two main types of [...]

Need a copywriter? Call a translator! (3 Reasons translators make excellent copywriters)

Posted on 01. Jun, 2010 by Ashleigh in Blog

Many of the translators I know also write content or copy from scratch instead of just translating content or copy that has already been written in another language. Translators who write content for promotional purposes such as websites, brochures or other marketing copy, advertisements, radio or TV commercials, company taglines, slogans or any other promotional [...]

B2B: How translators can help you increase sales and customers

Posted on 25. May, 2010 by Admin in Blog

If you own a business selling products or services to consumers and you’re thinking about exporting or selling to global markets, you may be wondering: how important is professional translation anyway? Can hiring a professional translator to translate my website, brochures or marketing materials into other languages really increase sales of my products and services? [...]

Workplace Safety: How Translators Help Keep Your Employees Safe

Posted on 28. Apr, 2010 by Ashleigh in Blog

Today is one of the most important days of the year that many people have probably never heard of. Here in Canada, it’s called National Mourning Day, and it has been recognized annually on April 28 since 1991. It’s a day that recognizes and pays tributes to the many workers who are injured or killed [...]

Don’t leave Google Translate alone with your idioms

Posted on 22. Apr, 2010 by Admin in Blog

An idiom is a phrase, a common saying, or a string of words, that gains its meaning from the combination of all of its words. Take away one of the words, and the phrase may suddenly lose its meaning. Because of their linguistically complex and colourful nature, idioms are almost never translated literally or word for word.

One of the real difficulties that automated translation systems (and not unsurprisingly, foreign-language speakers learning English) face is interpreting and understanding the real messages conveyed by certain language constructs. Idioms often lack context and it’s difficult for both computers and new language learners to understand what’s really being said.

Older Entries »