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  Indian Language Relevance in the Translation Industry Indian Language Relevance in the Translation Industry With the advent of the internet and with the growing economic relevance of the so called ‘vernacular’ language speakers in the country, there has been a two-fold increase in the importance of local languages. Growth of E-Commerce Not only is the purchasing power of the Indian subcontinent increasing, but their participation in electronic commerce is growing too. Almost every individual has a mobile phone and the only impediment in the path of bringing them into the fold of e-commerce was the language barrier. E-Banking Applications Further, with the need for credit cards having been removed, and with the introduction of e-banking, Paytm, Bheem, EzPay and other banking applications, people from all walks of life and all socio-economic strata now have access to the market. Market Penetration Internet giants, conglomerates and e-commerce companies understand the need to reach ...

  How Translation Helps Grow Your Business How Translation Helps Grow Your Business For a successful business, it is necessary to have certain key features of strong communication among the prospects, great consumers and valid suppliers. If you are dealing at the international front then these skills become essential to carry out a prospective relationship among your customers. In the last 5 years, the growth of e-commerce is moving at a great speed, the internet is taking over the businesses landscape. Latest studies show that people prefer purchasing  products in their native language as it promotes originality and reliability. They feel a sense of comfort and safety while carrying out the operations in their own  language. It has also been seen that a company that has its own multilingual website enjoys and edge in terms of business allies and customers. The system of such companies too can be seen to have a rise in the advancement of the business as compared to other ...

  Who qualifies as a good translator? How can project managers identify the right translators for their jobs? Who qualifies as a good translator? How can project managers identify the right translators for their jobs? The perpetual question and bane of any project manager is how do I identify a good translator. How does one know whether the job assigned is the hands of a qualified, capable and reliable linguist? There are several parameters that one must look for while assessing a translator. Language Proficiency First and foremost one must ensure that the translator is naturally proficient in the two languages concerned. Here again, it is ideal when the translator’s native tongue is the TARGET language and the source language is the one that s/he may have studied in college. However, it is not simply enough that the merely reads and writes in his native tongue, but that his formal high school and university education must have been in the same. Also essential is to have had a form...

  Software Localization How does software localization differ from conventional document translation? Software localization is the translation and adaptation of a software or web product, including the software itself and all related product records. Traditional translation is typically an action performed after the source document has been confirmed. Software localization projects, on the other hand, often run in equivalent with the development of the source product to enable real time shipment of all language versions. For example, the translation of software strings may often commence while the software product is still in the beta stage.

  Localization Begins at Design Stage What developers can do to facilitate localization. Localization can be factored into the design stage. While creating an application, website or e-learning module, developers can keep certain localization points in mind to make the localization process simpler , more efficient, and cost effective. Use Unicode-compliant Fonts Many languages have fonts that are not compatible with Unicode platforms. In the past, several developers have had to re-do their work because of this issue. The right font has to be identified AHEAD of the translation process and this must be specified and communicated to the translators at the start of the project. This issue is being resolved rapidly by making most fonts Unicode-compliant, but this should be verified to avoid rework and wastage. Provide for Text Expansion Developers must bear in mind that text size varies from language to language. For example, something said in English will require more space in German ...

  Subtitling and Closed Captioning Subtitling is a translation on an audio-visual platform. It is translation of spoken dialogue, narration and off-screen conversations. The translations are available on screen for the viewer to read. In this way, a conversation in a foreign language film becomes readable for an audience that does not speak or understand the language of the film. Subtitling has its own rules, specifications and procedures and use tools different from other computer aided translation (CAT) tools.   Thus, it is a translation that has restrictions of time and space which directly affect the final result. Subtitle does not only consist of translating the textual context, but also supporting other aspects of video and audio. Phases of Subtitling: Spotting – In this the start and the end time is derived so that they are synchronized with the audio and also the maximum and minimum duration times need to be adhered. Translation – Translating from the source langu...

  Patent Translation – Guidelines Measures to prevent risks in the translation of patents There are guidelines for inventors to successfully obtain patent grants, despite challenges facing translations. Most patent applications require submissions of certified translations. Hire professionals For the purpose of correct translation of patents, a translator who understands patent laws must be hired. She must also know the techniques and terminology to use at the correct place, to bring the correct interpretation of the invention. Besides, she must write the sentences after analysing their meaning from the perspective of a normal person having domain-specific knowledge, the inventor’s ideology, and the patent examiner. One may also engage more than one person in the translation work. Thus, the second linguist can check or re-check the correctness of the translator’s work. Plan your investment carefully Applicants sometimes try to save their pocket by investing at business-promising fi...

  The Third Wave and Its Impact on Translation Business January 18 2022, Bangalore. The Covid Pandemic is taking centerstage in the global issues today. For the last three years in fact. This time with the omicron variant and the tsunami of a wave of cases. The impact has been tremendous and different compared to the first wave. Whereas online work from home increased and there was more to be done in the first wave, the third wave is seeing complacency and fearlessness. Most businesses were propelled by the need of the time and demand and opportunities created by the new challenges. Medicines needed to be created. Vaccines had to be created. People had to be protected. A new supply chain was to be created. The entire economy needed an overhaul in the face of doomsday predictions. The second wave of course came, although people had braced themselves for it. The third wave comes with nothing new to be done, templates already created, people knowing they are safe, and the holiday seas...

  Software Localization How does software localization differ from conventional document translation? Software localization is the translation and adaptation of a software or web product, including the software itself and all related product records. Traditional translation is typically an action performed after the source document has been confirmed. Software localization projects, on the other hand, often run in equivalent with the development of the source product to enable real time shipment of all language versions. For example, the translation of software strings may often commence while the software product is still in the beta stage.  

  The digital world is an unprecedented medium for business expansion. The digital world has expanded the horizons of business opportunity, and provided relative ease of doing business. The flow of information combined with the growth in modes of transport and delivery logistics, has enhanced the possibilities for growth. Language barriers can be detrimental your business. What DOES come in the way of growth is the barrier of language. Despite the facility provided by modern technology, the language barrier can severely impede your foray into newer markets. Professional translation companies have the capability, expertise and resources to make your company website multilingual A multilingual website overcomes linguistic barriers and localization makes your company accessible to a wider market. Professional translation companies have the capability, expertise and resources to help you bridge the language gap. Trans-creation caters to local cultural practices and flavour. Translation...

  What is Subtitling? Ever seen a movie with the spoken text translated and visible to read at the bottom of the screen? Have you seen your own favorite movies on DVD or on TV with some strange text appearing at the bottom of the screen in strange foreign languages? Ever seen DVDs that specify a list of languages in which subtitles are available? Subtitles, as the word suggests, are titles given at the bottom (sub). These are the transcriptions of the words that are being uttered on the screen by the actors, newsreaders or commentators on the screen, but in a different language. The subtitles are essentially translations of the dialogue or narration in a language other than in which they are being spoken. Subtitling is the process by which subtitling artistes transcribe and simultaneously translate audio texts from a video clip into a different language. The process comprises 2 simultaneous conversions: the conversion from audio (aural) to graphic (visual / textual) mode (transcrip...

  Multilingual Localization – A Project Management Perspective Multilingual  e-learning localization  is the conversion of e-learning content into different languages at the same time. Such an enterprise requires a colossal effort in coordination and management. A Herculean Task Each localization project has several stages, interspersed by checks and reviews and innumerable micro-processes in the workflow. Multiplying each of these over several languages is a herculean task. It calls for challenging skills on the part of the project manager, in terms of understanding of language, people as well as workflow management. As a leading e-learning localization provider in Europe and India, we were approached by a client and commissioned a task of translating their e-learning tutorials. The company has operations in several countries of Europe, Asia and India. The project involved the conversion from English into 15 world languages. The tutorials served as training modules for n...

Verbs are the central element of a sentence. Most communicative elements are sentences. Except while identifying things or calling out to people, all other communication is done with sentences or simply verbs. A verb is like a pivot of a sentence, as is evident from previous articles on  Nouns and Cases .  A verb will determine what is the central action and thereby the central theme of the sentence, it establishes the relationship of all nouns in the sentence, and it also conveys the time zone (past, present, or future) and “mood” or “mode” of a sentence. (“Mood” here is a technical term – not referring to an emotional state but a manner in which a sentence expresses reality, imagination or instruction.) The next few paragraphs will decipher the meanings of these technical terms.

  Professional, Amateur and Machine Voice-over In this article we compare and contrast the different kinds of voiceover options that are available to us today. The article aims at making an informed choice. There are two broad categories of voice options available today. Artificial or machine voice, and a natural human voice. Artificial voices are of two kinds. Synthetic Voices:  These are truly artificial sounds, developed using machines. The smalls small elements, called ‘phonemes’ are artificially generated and using software and algorithms and rules of orthography of the respective languages, are trained to pronounce words based on these phonemes. These sounds lack the natural feel and are often described as robotic, artificial and lacking in emotiveness. The voices are monotonous, and completely devoid of modulation and emotion.

  Machine Translation vs. Human Translation Machine translation is growing both in terms of its quality as well as use by customers. Although the quality of machine translation improves with advancements in artificial intelligence, it is clear that it does not match the complexity of human thinking and lacks the ability to discern idiomatic, cultural and emotional nuances. What is Machine Translation? Machine translation (MT) is translation by a machine. Translation applications such as  Google Translate  and  Babelfish  use artificial intelligence (AI) to convert in a given language to other languages. AI uses combinations of dictionaries (embedded memory), algorithms and statistical methods. Rules of syntax that are coded into the system help identify the source and generate the target sentences.

  Language Decoded – Verbs: Moods, Voices, Tenses & Aspects Verbs are the central element of a sentence. Most communicative elements are sentences. Except while identifying things or calling out to people, all other communication is done with sentences or simply verbs. A verb is like a pivot of a sentence, as is evident from previous articles on  Nouns and Cases .  A verb will determine what is the central action and thereby the central theme of the sentence, it establishes the relationship of all nouns in the sentence, and it also conveys the time zone (past, present, or future) and “mood” or “mode” of a sentence. (“Mood” here is a technical term – not referring to an emotional state but a manner in which a sentence expresses reality, imagination or instruction.) The next few paragraphs will decipher the meanings of these technical terms. Moods Indicative The statement of reality, as is, was or will be. Most language is expressed in this mood. Simply said – it is the...