Category Archives: Language
Portuguese ranks as the world’s fifth most spoken native language, with approximately 250 million speakers spread across four continents. Yet anyone who has worked with Portuguese speakers knows that “Portuguese” isn’t one language—it’s three distinct variations shaped by five centuries of divergent history. The Lusosphere—the community of Portuguese-speaking nations—encompasses nine countries where Portuguese holds official…
Few languages have experienced a transformation quite like Korean. Once spoken primarily within the confines of a mountainous peninsula, Korean has become one of the world’s most sought-after languages for business, entertainment, and cultural exchange. The Korean language learning market reached $7.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $67 billion by 2034—a…
If you’re planning a multilingual event that requires the services of interpreters, you may notice that, for certain languages, your language services provider will ask you who your target audiences are or what accent they may have. You may ask – well technically, it’s the same language, right? So are accents that important for interpretation? Do they matter anyway? Do I even need to hire a native speaker? The answer to all these questions is a resounding YES….
The first thing anyone wants when paying for a service, no matter what it is, is quality. But when it comes to translation and interpretation, it might be hard to describe exactly what that is. You know you want a “good” translation, but what does it really mean? And what does it take to achieve it? To start, the quality of a service will be defined by…
While Turkey and the U.S. are NATO allies on paper, the increasing tension between the two countries has created multiple domestic and international headlines – all of which can feel heart-stopping for U.S. business professionals facilitating relationships in Turkey or with Turkish-speaking prospects around the globe. Some of the most recent headlines: US. Punishes Turkey…
As professional linguists, you can imagine our delight when we read a recent New York Times op-ed titled, The Sacred Spell of Words. It’s not often that non-linguists think of language in sacred terms, and yet those of us who make our living as professional interpreters and translators spend the majority of our time reverently…
Does your company have an interest in the Japanese market? If so, there’s never been a better time to ally with a professional Japanese language services provider. Granted, the United States has always had a complex relationship with Japan. From a patriotic perspective, the countries are alike in that both consider themselves to be “ichi…
The large role the United Nations (UN) plays in keeping our planet safe and secure is undeniable. Presently, 193 nations make up the UN, and if you’ve ever watched a session of the General Assembly, you might have wondered: with so many nationalities and languages represented, how do they communicate? The answer is simple. Translators and…
French is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful, melodic languages in the world. The language of poetry has long inspired and influenced the arts and culture of many nations. French-speaking writers – from Victor Hugo to Aimé Césaire, from Milan Kundera to Vladimir Nabokov to Romain Gary – are still celebrated everywhere, and the influence…
If you have seen the opening, closing, and medal ceremonies of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, you may have been surprised to hear so much French – even before English was spoken. Although the Olympic games have roots in ancient Greece, the French – and by extension, the French language – had a massive historical impact and role in the organization…
