Microsoft Windows has support for over 40 languages, and you can use your Apple iOS device in 22, but China has its eyes on having its very own operating system (OS) when it announced a partnership with Ubuntu this month. The Chinese government recently announced that they would partner with the open-source OS developer to create Ubuntu Kylin, an official operating system for China.
From the translator sat at their computer in the early hours, to the interpreter tucked into a booth at a conference, a linguist's role largely takes place behind the scenes and unfortunately often goes unrecognised. But their role is essential in many walks of life - diplomacy, politics, trade and war. Here, we will focus on the final point.
Chinua Achebe, one of the most - if not the most revered African novelist, passed away last Friday at the age of 82. Having written more than 20 novels in his lifetime, it was the Nigerian's first novel, Things Fall Apart, a damning criticism of British colonial rule in Africa, which has defined his legacy.
Does the crack in the footpath around the corner or the pothole just next to your drive, well, drive you crazy? For citizens in over 200 US cities, submitting a request to their local municipal government can be done quickly, efficiently, and in their language of choice through the PublicStuff app. Having already fulfilled over 81,000 requests, PublicStuff is unique in the way it bridges communication between speakers of different languages through its One Voice instant translation technology.
Scandinavian fashion is all the rage at the moment, but have you ever been in a rage after bringing home an amazing new jumper, only to find out you don't know how to wash it? Fear not, for starting in 2014 the majority of clothing will contain material and washing instructions for all 23 languages of the EU member states. That means you'll know how to wash your clothes in Spanish, German, French, Swedish and Polish, to name but a few.
Oreos: a quintessentially American snack that has captured hearts the world over. We all know what it looks and tastes like: round, black and white and very, very sweet. In China, however, Oreos can take up a cylinder shape, have a strawberry filling or not be a biscuit at all, but a wafer.
We blogged last week about how Britain's monolingual children are at a distinct disadvantage, especially once they reach the job market. At the same time, one primary school across the pond in California is providing children with skills for the future by offering an immersion Mandarin language program.
While the world eagerly waited to find out who will be the next pope, "Habemus Papam" took the news to a new level by allowing people to read and share any news article, regardless of the language or location in which it was written. The project was supported by Der Mundo, an online service that generates links which detect a reader's preferred language and automatically translates the news article into it.
At Today Translations, we naturally place a lot of emphasis on the value and empowerment provided by rich linguistic skills. Having the resources in place for people and businesses from around the world to effectively communicate is one of the foundations for a globalised world that is becoming increasingly connected and intertwined.
When you think of translated literature, titles such as The Little Prince, Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl, and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo spring to mind. If you struggle to think of any others, you're not alone. A recent report from Literature Across Frontiers called Publishing Data and Statistics on Translated Literature in the United Kingdom and Ireland reveals that approximately only 2.5 per cent of all publications and 4.5 per cent of fiction, poetry, drama (literature) are translations.
