Demand for literary translations reaches all-time high

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Literary translators rejoice, as this summer the UK has seen a reported “mini-boom” in the popularity of foreign authors. The Guardian reports that British bookworms have picked translated works off the shelves in record numbers this year. The most popular novels, unsurprisingly perhaps, have come from the Scandinavian shores thanks to the popularity of Stieg Larson’s Millenium series, as well as Nordic television dramas such as The Killing and The Bridge.

Translating the horrors of war

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Though it remains one of the most widely written about subjects, words will never fully illustrate the atrocities of the First World War. However, the closest links we have to this darkest of periods are retained in the letters of the time.These letters were written either in the blood, filth and fog of the trenches, or from towns destroyed and afflicted with the fear of imminent death.

The unseen security and compliance risks of free online translation

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We all enjoy killing time on the internet chuckling at embarrassing mistranslations. This popular pastime has even catapulted some botched translations, such as "All your base are belong to us" and "Pepsi Brings Your Ancestors Back from the Grave," into internet infamy. Well, you get what you pay for.

5 football phrases you’ll hear in Brazil this summer

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It is often said that a country’s language is the mirror of its society. In Brazil, football is considered an art form, so it is no surprise that nuances and expression related to the beautiful game ring as though they were inspired by a work of poetry.

The cost of a bank holiday

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Another Monday, another bank holiday. But at what cost? When UK workers were granted an additional day off work in 2012 for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, reports suggested that it cost the economy up to £2.3bn.

Why China’s authorities are wrong to muzzle ‘zero translations’

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Last week, the BBC reported on an editorial in the Chinese ruling party’s official newspaper, The People’s Daily, which denounced the increasing use of so-called 'zero translations' (foreign words and phrases that have crept into everyday vocabulary) in the media, online and even within scientific journals.

Read an excerpt from Tolkien’s Beowulf translation

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JRR Tolkien fans are rejoicing this month in eager anticipation of The Lord of the Rings author's translation of the renowned Old English poem, Beowulf - eighty-eight years after he wrote it. Published by Harper Collins and due for release on May 22nd, 2014

Manga adaptation of BBC’s Sherlock being officially translated into English

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The manga adaptation of the BBC series Sherlock will be officially translated from Japanese into English this year, it has been revealed. British blogsite Bleeding Cool reported the news after the majority of Sherlock pages uploaded to scanlation sites - where comic frames are uploaded online and unofficially translated - were taken down.

Why Roman Polanski’s furious with the French film industry

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The association of Anglo Subtitlers in France (ASIF) has the pledged support of Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski, as they plan to protest against declining rates for professional subtitling at next months Cannes Film Festival. A petition drafted by the ASIF highlights the problems facing professional translators and subtitlers, whose rates are being squeezed by French production studios.