Vol. 58 October, 2005
Looking Back I’ve been at McElroy for 18 years and since I can remember there has been academic conversation about the viability of an industry that may soon be replaced by technology. Yet with each passing year I see more opportunity, not less. Attorneys continue to litigate and medical companies continue to conduct international clinical trials; both continue to require high quality custom translations performed by humans. Additionally, more businesses compete globally and realize that the best strategy to increase international revenue growth is to think “locally.” Translation is no longer viewed only in isolation as an expense, but is part of the ROI equation. Companies recognize that respecting other cultures and other languages has a positive impact on their bottom line. We even help clients who now translate materials for populations within the US that are not native English speaking. The vibrancy of the Latino market, in particular, has not gone unnoticed by US Corporate America. Read more...
International Translation Day September 30, 2005 Translation and Human Rights from the International Federation of Translators McElroy Translation celebrated International Translation day with festive flair. Employees competed in a cultural trivia quiz for prizes, a special promotion went out to clients challenging them to “stump us” with a cultural trivia question, proceeds from an employee auction for delicious special recipes were matched by McElroy for donation to the American Red Cross, and of course, lunch was served! We made this day a celebration of what we do! The right to express oneself in one’s language. The right to be served in one’s language. The right to information. The right to culture. The right to knowledge. The right to a fair trial. The right to legal aid. These rights, now known as human rights, could not be respected if no translator was present. As soon as there is an interrelation between two languages and two cultures, the translator is there. All that is then needed is to draw up a list of everything that we do on a daily basis to fully take stock of the place of translation in our lives. More than a simple transmitter of information and culture, the translator is present everywhere that human activity and human rights are at issue. In this way the translator is there for the accused in a trial, the injured in a disaster, people displaced in conflicts, and peacekeeping troops. On the economic level, the translator is the one through whom economic, trade, and political agreements are signed, the one without whom trade could not function, without whom products could not be sold. As such, a translator brings added value that often goes unrecognized, or is even ignored. Read more...

“

It has been said that arguing against globalization is like arguing against the laws of gravity.

Kofi Annan (Ghanaian diplomat, seventh secretary-general of the United Nations, 2001 Nobel Peace Prize)

”

Rochelle Carlin – Translator Coordinator

I lived in Decatur, Illinois for the first 12 years of my life until one day my Mom told me we were moving to Round Rock, Texas (just north of Austin)! I was definitely excited, but was also unsure what life would be like in Texas. The only thing I knew about Texas was what I’d seen on the television show “Dallas.” I wondered how I would function in the land of cowboys and country music! Little did I know that I would love the uniqueness of the Austin area and make it my permanent home.

I graduated from Round Rock High School and went to the University of Texas where I received a B.A. in French with a minor in Sociology. One of the most life-changing experiences during those years was when I studied abroad in Poitiers, France. It was there that I was able to meet some fabulous life-long friends while experiencing the ups and downs of living in a foreign culture.

After graduating from U.T., and not ready to enter into the “real world,” I applied for graduate school. I left Austin again and went to the Big Apple to attend New York University. I finally earned my Master’s Degree in French Language and Civilization after spending 3 grueling semesters studying and 1 year writing a thesis. At the mid-point of my studies, I calculated and discovered that it would be less expensive for me to travel Europe for the summer than it would be to stay in New York City! My boyfriend (now husband) and I promptly packed our bags and did the summer in Europe thing.

After finishing school, I moved back to Austin, got married (to my high school sweetheart) and began real life. Six years later on April 25, 2005, my life changed again with the birth of my “native Texan” daughter, Penélope Lucia. She is the most amazing person I’ve ever met, and I constantly find myself thinking that if I knew being a parent was going to be this wonderful, I would have started a family sooner! In my spare time (I know…with a 5½ month old baby, what spare time?) I like to spend time with my family and friends, read, cook and travel. We haven’t yet attempted a vacation with the baby, but the wheels are turning and I’m getting anxious for a trip somewhere!

Professionally, I have spent the years working first in the international department, and then in marketing at the headquarters of a calendar retailer. I followed that up with a stint in customer service at a printing company. I am absolutely thrilled to be a Translator Coordinator at McElroy, where I finally working in an environment of languages and intercultural communication.

Translation market survey

California, USA (I-Newswire): Common Sense Advisory, an independent research and consulting firm, is currently running two quarterly business climate surveys: 1) for users, buyers, and decision makers of translation and localization services and tools; and 2) for language service suppliers and tool vendors. The surveys are a confidential polling of buyers and providers of translation and localization services about what they saw in the market during the last three months and what they think will happen in the next six months. Upon completion of the five-minute survey, participants can download the results of previous surveys and be put on the list for receiving the results of the current survey.

Deadline for participation: October 15, 2005
For more information, please visit: Common Sense Advisory

Australia

The People

Home to nearly five million immigrants from 160 countries, Australia is rich in cultural diversity. Australians, or “Aussies,” enjoy an easy-going lifestyle and are generally friendly and relaxed. Modesty and equality are valued.

Meeting and Greeting

Shake hands with everyone present upon meeting and before leaving. Allow women to offer their hands first.
Women generally do not shake hands with other women.
Use titles, Mr., Mrs., and Miss when first introduced.
Australians generally move to a first-name basis quickly. Still, wait to use first names until invited to do so.
Academic or job-related titles are downplayed.

Body Language

To beckon a waiter use a quiet hand motion.
When yawning, cover your mouth and excuse yourself.
Winking at women is considered rude.
The “V” sign (made with index and middle fingers, palm facing inward) is a very vulgar gesture. The “thumbs up” gesture is also considered obscene.

Corporate Culture

Personal relationships are important in the Australian business world. Connections are valued. An introduction by an established representative may be helpful in establishing a relationship with an Australian firm.
Australians take punctuality seriously. If possible, arrive fifteen minutes early for a business meeting.
Australians will quickly get down to business. Communications will be direct, good-humored and to the point.
Australian businesspeople tend to be pragmatic, efficient and profit-oriented. They appreciate straight-forward, open presentations.
Australians dislike one-upmanship. Don’t overplay qualifications, rank or titles.
Negotiations proceed quickly. Bargaining is not customary. Proposals should be presented with acceptable terms. Leave some allowance for some give and take.
Australians will often negotiate major issues without over-emphasis on details. However, contracts are generally detailed and firm.

Dining and Entertainment

Always arrive on time or a few minutes early for a dinner.
The person who makes the invitation generally pays the bill in restaurants. However, it isn’t unusual for friends to split the bill.
Australians follow continental-style dining etiquette (fork held in the left hand; knife in right).
Barbecues — very informal “cook outs” — are popular in Australia. Sometimes guests bring their own meat or other items.
The guest of honor is generally seated to the right of host.
Soup should be eaten by moving the spoon away from you, not toward you.
Lay knife/fork parallel on plate at 5:25 position when finished eating.
Keep your hands above the table and elbows off the table.
Offer to help with meal preparation and clean-up when being entertained in a home.
Do not say “I’m stuffed” after a meal. This means you are pregnant.

McElroy Translation appreciates the business of the following clients and announces the anniversaries of these client relationships:

15 Years

Colgate-Palmolive Company
Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky
Vinson & Elkins
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr

10 Years

Eli Lilly Scientific Library
General Electric Corporate Information
Roche – Corange International, Ltd.

5 Years

DeMont & Breyer, LLC
Patterson & Sheridan, LLP
Teradyne

The ultimate translation job

McElroy Translation Company translated over 60 languages last year, but so far, no requests from outer space! Inttranews introduces the future possibility in this article.

California, USA (Space): The ultimate translation job will be the one when we receive an intelligent message from outer space. But do archaeologists and anthropologists have anything to teach the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), where encounters are at the distance of light-years, and a round-trip exchange could take millennia? “Absolutely!” was the resounding response at a conference held last year of the American Anthropological Association.

For more information, please visit:
www.space.com

Thank You for Your Referrals

Personal relationships are the cornerstone of our long-term business success. McElroy continues to receive most of our new clients from word-of-mouth referrals. And we have always repaid this compliment by providing the best possible product and service to these new clients. Now, we’d like to do a little more.

If you would allow us to send you a token of our appreciation for your referral that leads to new business, we will send you a $25 gift certificate from Amazon.com. Just let us know anytime you make a referral and we will send your gift certificate as soon as your referral places an order—that simple!

In this issue:

Looking Back
International Translation
Day
September Success
CLIENTS “STUMP THE
EXPERTS”
WITH ENTHUSIASM
Rochelle Carlin -
Translator Coordinator
People of Australia
Translator Challenges
McElroy Anniversaries
The Ultimate Translation Job
Translation Market Survey
About Language

CLIENTS “STUMP THE EXPERTS” WITH ENTHUSIASM

McElroy invited people to join in our recent International Translation Day celebrations by sending in cultural questions to try to “Stump the Experts.” All those who sent in questions were entered into a drawing for a chance to win a handsome gift box, Around the World in 12 Coffees. We got a kick out of the questions posed and more than one was clever enough to trip someone up if they weren’t on the ball! We are sharing them with you here. The answers are at the bottom of the newsletter, but see how many you can get without peeking! Don’t feel bad if some of these Stump You Too, there were a couple that we didn’t know the answers to either.

With our panel of experts all having their own idea of which was the most challenging question, we finally resorted to picking the winner out of a hat. Our lucky winner (and we hope thirsty person) is Linda Peterson of John Deere, but we think everyone who sent in questions earned bragging rights. You should pass this around to all your buddies and coworkers, proudly pointing out your question(s).

1. Como estas frijole cabrito?
2. Name one culture that is Matriarchal.
3. Recently, The Economist magazine had a cover headline of “The Meaning of Lula.” It was an unintended insult to President Lula of Brazil. Why?
4. What is “Euskera” and where does one find it? What is “choclo” What are “porotos”? What is “chispeando”? What is an “ojota”?
5. Why do English speakers say bless you after some one sneezes? (......as opposed to the imminently more logical gesundheit (good health to you) of our teutonic brethren and “sistren”)
6. What candy do Germans really like and cannot get?
7. What do many foreigners think Americans smell like?
8. What is this quote and what language is it: “Jag vill hellre vara fattig i en stuga full med böcker än Kung utan lust att läsa.”
9. When you are serving guests at your home in Iran, who would you serve first?
10. What’s a common nickname in Chile for young girls and what’s its origin?

Click here to read the answers

Would you like us to have this contest again in the future? If you think this might be a fun way to exchange cultural knowledge we’ll think up another cool prize to correspond to a challenge. Email lisa@mcelroytranslation.com and let her know your ideas. She lives for this stuff!

New terminology needed for technology

From InttraNews Reports:
One of the challenges faced by translators is the enlightened conveyance of terms in technologies that are bleeding edge and concepts that are newly evolved. This may sometimes require close communication with clients, research, and to some degree, creativity.

Massachusetts, USA (eWeek): The vocabulary of the tech industry—covering such concepts as disaster recovery, groupware, search engines and digital entertainment—is due for a change. The reasons for the change include a range of economic, social and environmental factors, but the need to find words and phrases that really fit the task at hand is upon us.

For more information, please visit: www.eweek.com

About Language

from the National Virtual Translation Center (Part one of a three part installment)

Language Origins

When did humans develop language? Are the origins of language lost in the mist of time, or does science provide us with some clues as to when, how, and why this ability appeared in humans?

It seems that language appeared from nowhere, since no other species has anything resembling human language. However, other animals do possess basic systems for perceiving and generating sounds that enable them to communicate. These systems may have been in place before the appearance of language.

In the six million years since apes and humans evolved from a common ancestor, language emerged only in the human line, along with all the necessary brain structures for encoding thoughts into sounds and transmitting them to others members of the species for decoding.

What were the first steps toward developing language?

Dr. Derek Bickerton of the University of Hawai’i argues that humans may have been speaking a precursor of language (words without grammar) some two million years ago. He suggests that language developed some 120,000 years ago when humans left the forest and started to forage and hunt in the savanna. To communicate to others what they found, they needed to develop context-free vocal symbols, for instance, a general word for lion. By context-free is meant that the same word could be used in different contexts, such as “The lion is big,” or “The lion is hiding in the bushes,” or “Beware of the lion.” In this way, early hominids could have taken the first steps toward language. Language also provided a means to engage in communal activities, such as hunting, and to transmit knowledge, such as tool-making. Ability to communicate through language created an advantage that spread quickly through the population.

The faculty for language may be coded in our genes, waiting for scientists to identify the genetic program responsible for this uniquely human ability.

The Range of World Languages

How many languages are spoken in the world?

As you look at the map of the continents, imagine that by some estimates there are roughly 6,800 languages spoken on this planet. 96% of them are spoken by a mere 4% of the world’s population. The exact number of languages may never be determined exactly.

Where are these languages spoken?

Ethnologue estimates that 2,200 are spoken in Asia, 2,060 in Africa, 1,300 in the Pacific, 1,000 in the Americas, and 230 in Europe.

Which countries have the greatest number of languages?

Papua-New Guinea 832

Indonesia 731

Nigeria 515

India 400

Mexico 295

Cameroon 286

Australia 268

Brazil 234

Half of the world’s languages are spoken in only eight countries.

Why is the exact number of languages difficult to determine?

Firstly, we don’t know enough about many of the languages. Linguistic surveys in many parts of the world are incomplete. Some languages have yet to be discovered. Lots of languages have not been adequately described. This is the case with many languages of Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas.

Secondly, criteria of national identity and mutual intelligibility may not coincide. In some cases, political criteria outweigh linguistic considerations. For instance, Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian are mutually intelligible (linguistic criteria) but since they are spoken in different countries (political criteria), they are considered to be three separate languages. On the other hand, many dialects of Chinese are mutually unintelligible, but are considered to be varieties of the same language because they are spoken in the same country and because they share the same writing system.

Human voices in cosmic space

25 years after their 1977 launch, the twin Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft are twice as distant from Earth as Pluto, and speeding outward into interstellar space at 38,000 miles per hour. Both spacecraft are still sending scientific information about their surroundings through the Deep Space Network.

Voyager carries a message on a phonograph record, a 12-inch gold-plated copper disk, that contains sounds and images portraying the diversity of life and culture on Earth. The contents of the record were selected for NASA by a committee chaired by Carl Sagan. They assembled images, a variety of natural sounds, musical selections from different cultures and eras, and spoken greetings from Earth in fifty-five languages including several dead ones. Instructions use symbolic language to describe the origin of the spacecraft and to explain how the record is to be played.

It will be forty thousand years before the Voyager approaches another planetary system. As Carl Sagan had noted, “The spacecraft will be encountered and the record played only if there are advanced spacefaring civilizations in interstellar space. But the launching of this bottle into the cosmic ocean says something very hopeful about life on this planet.”

Why is it difficult to determine how many people speak a language?

Estimates of how many people speak a given language can vary considerably. Some surveys include only first language (native) speakers, others include both first and second language speakers (i.e., those who use the language in daily life but are not native speakers of it). Thus, Ethnologue gives the following statistics for English world-wide: first language speakers 341 million, first and second language speakers 508 million.

Writing Systems

How many languages are written?

About one-third of the world languages have a writing system.

Where did writing evolve?

Writing may have evolved independently at different times in different parts of the world, although some languages also borrowed their orthography from other languages. For instance, Japanese borrowed the characters (Kanji) from Chinese.

What impact does writing have on language?

Writing systems usually change more slowly than the spoken language. The odd spelling of many English words, for instance, reflects earlier pronunciations.

Writing can act as a unifying force. The numerous mutually unintelligible dialects of Chinese are unified by one writing system. Thus, one can often see two people speaking and drawing Chinese characters in the air at the same time. This is the only way they may be able to communicate with each other.

To see samples of writing in hundreds of different languages, visit the comprehensive Omniglot Omniglot.com guide to writing systems and written languages.

Different types of writing systems

There are four basic types of writing systems, as you will see below.

Alphabet-based

In alphabetic systems, there is usually some type of correspondence between graphic symbols and sounds. Languages vary in their symbol-to-sound regularity. At one extreme is Spanish which has a very regular system. At the other extreme, there are languages such as English and French that exhibit a great degree of irregularity. Alphabet-based systems are used by languages all over the world.

Here are a few samples of some of the world’s orthographies.

Armenian
Georgian
Greek
Hindi
Mongol (Cyrillic)

Consonant-based

Consonant-based alphabets represent consonants only, or consonants plus some vowels. Full vowel indication can be added by means of diacritics, but this is not common. Most consonant-based alphabets are written from right to left. Arabic, Hebrew, and Farsi (Persian) use consonant-based alphabets. Below are samples of consonant-based orthographies. Among other languages that use Arabic script are Kurdish, Pashto, Persian/Farsi, and Urdu.

Arabic
Hebrew

Syllable-based

In a syllable-based writing, each symbol represents a syllable, usually a consonant-vowel pair. Syllable-based systems are common for the languages of India, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Bengali
Korean
Thai

Logographic systems

In a logographic (also called pictographic) system, the symbols represent words or parts of words. The best known examples are Chinese characters. To read and write modern Chinese, one needs to know around 2,000 characters. Characters are traditionally written vertically from top to bottom and right to left. Chinese characters with some modifications are also used by Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese.

Chinese
Japanese (Kanji)
Vietnamese

Mixed systems

Some languages use a combination of writing systems. For instance, Japanese uses a combination of two syllabaries (Katakan and Hiragana) and characters (Kanji). Korean also uses a combination of the native Korean syllable-based alphabet Hangul and borrowed Chinese characters, although the latter are not used very often.

Hiragana
Katakana
Kanji

Mystery writing systems

There are writing systems that have proven to be difficult to decipher or that have yet to be deciphered. For a more complete list, go to Omniglot guide to writing systems.

Rongorongo, the hieroglyphic script of Easter Island, has remained a mystery since its discovery. For over a hundred years, controversy has raged over the meaning and source of the characters that look like representations of plants, people, and natural objects. Recently, it was reported that Dr. Steven Fischer had successfully deciphered this unique Oceanic “writing.”

In some cases, a writing system has been deciphered but the language is extinct and remains a mystery to scholars. The Etruscan alphabet was once used by Greek colonists in Italy from 6th century BC to lst century AD. Although the Etruscan alphabet has been deciphered the Etruscan language continues to remain a mystery.

Back

Looking Back

(continued)

Recently progress hit me over the head in a very personal way. I was helping my 6th grader study for a test in Social Studies. Her textbook defined globalization and addressed its related economic impact. She prepared for an essay test question about what it means to “think globally, act locally.” The text discussed the potential perils of loss of cultural identity in a world drawn ever closer by technology. Wow!!! What was stirring and progressive thought at industry conferences not too long ago has made the jump to 6th grade social studies textbooks.

The translation and localization industry is growing up and gaining respect. When we celebrated “International Translation Day” September 30 we really had something to celebrate.

Back

International Translation Day

(continued)

Because in fact, what rights are granted to the translator? From the simple reasonable deadline in order to complete professional work, to copyright and the right to treatment equal to that of the person being translated, his/her rights remain abused to varying degrees in countries worldwide. This abuse ranges from non-recognition of professional training in better-off countries, to prosecution for the translation of a disputed author in other countries, and even lack of adequate protection in a war zone. So vital, yet, a translator is taken for granted, once introduced…when he or she is not being criticized!

This year, the International Federation of Translators has chosen the Rights of the Translator as the theme for its World Congress and for International Translation Day 2005, in order to heighten public awareness. In this way, it hopes that the users of translation and interpreting — that is everyone, everywhere — will recognize and support the vital nature of translation and of translators and interpreters around the world, not only for culture, but also and above all for the economy, trade, politics, information, and human rights.

The International Federation of Translators is a world federation of professional associations grouping translators, interpreters, and terminologists. It has 115 members in more than 50 countries and thus represents more than 60,000 professionals.

Back

Australia

(continued)

Dress

Australians wear fashions similar those worn by Europeans and North Americans.
For business, men should wear conservative jackets and ties. During the summer months, jackets are often removed. Women should wear skirts and blouses or dresses.

Gifts

It is not customary to exchange business gifts during initial meetings.
When invited to an Australian’s home, bring a small gift (flowers, chocolates, or books about your home country or region) for your hosts.
Australia produces excellent wine. Taking wine would be like taking sand to the desert.

Helpful Hints

Stick with standard English, not Aussie terms.
Aussies dislike class distinctions and have a history of “cutting down the tall poppy.” This grew out of the Australian prisoners’ hatred of their British overseers. Many Australian politicians have declined the designation of knighthood for fear of alienating their constituents.
Australians sit in the front seat of a taxi/limousine. A single passenger sitting in the back seat is viewed as “putting on airs.”
Australians respect people with strong opinions, even if they don’t agree.
Avoid discussions about the treatment of the aboriginal people.
Don’t comment on anyone’s accent. Accents often distinguish social class.
If you are teased, you are expected to reply in kind, with good humor. Such self-confidence will increase an Australian’s respect for you. They do not admire a subservient attitude.
Do not sniff or blow your nose in public.

-- Excerpted from the “Put Your Best Foot Forward” series by Mary Murray Bosrock. These publications are available for the U.S., Asia, Mexico/Canada, Russia, Europe and South America.

Back

CLIENTS “STUMP THE EXPERTS” WITH ENTHUSIASM

(answers)

A Spanglish pun — How have you been (bean) kid? — John Hamlet
The Nakhi of southern China — Tim Altanero
"Lula" means "penis" in Urdu. — Tim Altanero
Basque language (the Basque provinces of Spain), corn, beans, sparkling or slang for being tipsy, a sandal — Ron Walker, Director of Legal Affairs, Texas Association of Realtors, "Honestly," I had some help from my mother (Norah Walker) and cousin (Alejandra Jordan).
Because in the middle ages, it was thought that sneezing was an expulsion of evil spirits and that a person needed to be blessed so the evil spirits would not return to that person. — Catherine L. Bell
Jelly beans — Linda Peterson, Deere & Company
Butter — Linda Peterson, Deere & Company
Thomas Macauly quote in Swedish — "I would rather be a poor man in a garret with plenty of books than a king who did not love reading." — Yara Z. Lott, Healthpoint
Really really old people first, then women and among the women, you go with age, then similarly with men. At dinner, the host typically never eats! Honestly. He/she (more often with the older generation SHE serves and runs back and forth to the kitchen while he ATTENDS the table and most often EATS). Generally again, older folks are guided to the table first and served first and then everyone else … — Sandy Harris, KerrMcGee
Lolita or Lola, from "Lolita," the novel by Nabokov — Anonymous

Back

Reach McElroy Translation at
910 West Avenue
Austin, Texas 78701
800 531 9977
512 472 6753
512 472 4591 fax
sales@mcelroytranslation.com

Looking Back

International Translation Day

Rochelle Carlin – Translator Coordinator

Translation market survey

Australia

McElroy Translation appreciates the business of the following clients and announces the anniversaries of these client relationships:

15 Years

10 Years

5 Years

The ultimate translation job

Thank You for Your Referrals

October Jam – Let ‘em Rip

September Success

CLIENTS “STUMP THE EXPERTS” WITH ENTHUSIASM

New terminology needed for technology

About Language

Looking Back

(continued)

International Translation Day

(continued)

Australia

(continued)

CLIENTS “STUMP THE EXPERTS” WITH ENTHUSIASM

(answers)