It’s hard to imagine that Herman Melville didn’t roll over in his grave several times when the first hard cover copy of Emoji Dick was rolled off the presses. Yet, it seems somehow fitting that one of English literature’s most celebrated novels would be translated into the new iconic language of our time: Emoji. And,…
Details
When it comes to ringing in the New Year on December 31st, people in most cities around the world celebrate in a similar fashion. People join family and friends to eat delicious food, listen to music, drink champagne or other traditional drinks, and watch gorgeous firework displays. However, amidst these similar celebrations, there are many…
Details
Christmas in Spain Now, for the third and final part in our series of Christmas traditions from around the world, let’s go to Spain. ¡Feliz Navidad! If you love Christmas, we recommend a visit to Spain or any number of Latin American countries where Christmas is a nearly one-month long event, filled with feasting, music,…
Details
Now, as part of our Christmas traditions from around the world series, let’s travel to France. The celebration of Christmas in France varies by region. Most provinces celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December. However, in eastern and northern France, the Christmas season begins on December 6th, with St. Nicholas Day (la fête de Saint…
Details
When you wake up on Christmas morning, what do you see? Have your stockings been filled by Dun Che Lao Ren? Don’t forget to leave straw on your shoes to feed the hungry camels, who have journeyed for 12 days to see the Christ child. Perhaps your house is visited not once, not twice, but…
Details
Did you learn Pig Latin as a child? If so, like many Americans, Pig Latin might have been the first “second language” you learned! Somewhere between second and sixth grade, a child is asked, “Ooday ouyay peaksay igpay atinlay?” At which point, the exciting process of orienting the ear to understand it more quickly, and…
Details
Today’s world sees more and more people interacting and doing business with individuals from other countries. A major barrier to these interactions is language. At conferences or other gatherings, interpreters are often in the background offering an interpretation of the speaker’s words from one language into another. Interpretation is conducted in two different modes: simultaneous…
Details
As communication between nations becomes more and more necessary, the need for highly qualified interpreters expands. If you are considering a career in interpreting, or are considering hiring an interpreter for a specific need, you should be aware of the various specializations in the field. There are various types of interpreting, each requiring a different…
Details
Simultaneous interpretation is usually contrasted with consecutive interpretation. That said, the adjective “simultaneous” may be a misnomer in that, although the interpreter is still in the booth wearing headphones and speaking into a mic, the interpreter needs to wait until the sentence is understood and processed before interpreting. Nonetheless, a simultaneous interpreter is listening and…
Details
When conducting business in Russia, before you even arrive, it is important to familiarize yourself with the most important basic phrases. Learning some of the following will allow you to travel around more easily, communicate your needs to non-English speakers, and greet those you are working with in their own language. Greetings Hello (formal)…
Details