Friday, February 25, 2011

Let's Look at Aspects of Multimedia in Linguistics: Voice-Over

Translation Cleveland, OH

Spoken language is one of the most effective ways to get your message across. That’s where our team of voice talents comes in. They work closely with translators and studio engineers to ensure that your audio is flawless. The process begins with translating the original audio in the necessary language. The next step is editing that includes fixing the length of your original audio. This is necessary due to the fact that most of the text expands up to 30-40% when translated. It takes a very skilled translator to match the translation to the original length. Failure to do this may cause serious flaws in synchronizing the audio to the video thus causing major delays and expenses.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

What is localization?

Translation Services Cleveland, OH

The process of localization is a lot like translation only a bit more technical. The process of localization is used when translating such material as websites, software applications and computer programs. Localization involves programmers, linguists, and marketing specialists working together to ensure that a product or service is translated accurately for a specific region or target audience. Once your product is localized, your marketing efforts in new markets should go much smoother and more effective generating a better ROI.

There is a reason why we are called Localization. It sums up what we do and what we love to do. We have the best team of programmers, linguists and marketing specialists working together to make sure your project is completed accurately to be most effective for its target region. The process of localization addresses such issues as preserving the original thought that may require altering the images, colors and layout of your original document. Example: "Raining Cats and Dogs" is an idiom that would just sound silly in other languages. Other expressions may even be offensive. Yellow flowers in Russia for instance, represent death. A failure to accurately express your idea in foreign culture can have dire effects, as you can see. That's why our specialists will perform more than just a simple translation ensuring that your message is effective in the market you are trying to penetrate.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

What We at Localization, LLC Do Best

Translation Services Cleveland, OH

Translation is our bread and butter. It’s what we do best. No job is too large or small. Localization, LLC has capabilities to translate documents such as product manuals, labels, contracts, marketing materials, corporate policies, birth certificates or school transcripts. And we do it in over 50 languages. Quality, speed and accuracy are critical components in the translation project and we ensure that we execute them flawlessly. If you’re like most of our clients, whatever your project, whatever your industry, things need to happen quickly and we are confident you will appreciate our timeliness, customized approach and quality.

Technical aspects of translation industry have changed drastically in the past 10 years. New software and applications allow translation projects to be completed faster and more accurately. Some things don’t change though. And that is human touch. We utilize the latest technology to help our translation team and never vise-versa. So, next time your business needs a 100 page manual translated into Khmer, or you are interested in an article in French version of Newsweek, please, give us a call, Localization, LLC will deliver.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Continuing with Rare Languages: Aari

Translation Services Cleveland

Aari

A language of Ethiopia

ISO 639-3aiw

Population 155,000 (1994 census). 129,350 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 155,002 (1989 census).
Region North central Omo region, south tip of Ethiopia plateau, near the Hamer-Banna [amf].
Language map Southwestern Ethiopia, reference number 1
Alternate names  Aarai, Ara, Ari, Aro, “Shankilla” , “Shankilligna” , “Shankillinya”
Dialects Bako (Baco), Biyo (Bio), Laydo, Seyki, Shangama, Sido, Wubahamer (Ubamer), Zeddo. Most similar to Gayil [gyl].
Classification Afro-Asiatic, Omotic, South
Language use 13,319 L2 users. Home, market. Also use Amharic [amh] or Gofa (Wolaytta [wal]).
Language development Literacy rate in L1: 10%. Literacy rate in L2: 8.3%. NT: 1997.
Writing system Arabic script. Ethiopic script. Latin script.
Comments Patrilineal. SOV. Agriculturalists; traders; cottage industries. Traditional religion, Christian.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Continuing the series of Rare Languages: A’tong

Translation Services Cleveland

A’tong

A language of India

ISO 639-3aot
Population 4,600 in India. Population total all countries: 10,000.
Region Meghalaya state, Garo Hills; Assam, south Kamrup District. Also in Bangladesh.
Dialects Related to Koch [kdq], Rabha [rah].
Classification Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Jingpho-Konyak-Bodo, Konyak-Bodo-Garo, Bodo-Garo, Koch
Language use Many also use Garo [grt].
Comments Traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

Bangladesh

Language name  A’tong
Population 5,400 in Bangladesh.
Region Northern Netrokona District.
Language map Bangladesh
Alternate names Attong
Language use Will possibly become more mixed with the Abeng dialect of Garo [grt] and Bengali [ben]. Home, village. All ages, but many children can speak Abeng before starting school. Also use Abeng, which is used as LWC among all Mandi. Good proficiency in Bengali.
Comments Reckoned by themselves and other Garos to be Garos, but the languages not mutually intelligible with Garo. Peasants. Christian.
 

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Continuing with Rare Languages

Translation Services Cleveland – Language: ’Auhelawa

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3kud
Population 1,200 (1998 SIL). 30% monolingual.
Region Milne Bay Province, Normanby Island, Sehuleya District.
Language map Papua New Guinea, Map 17, reference number 795
Alternate names  ’Urada, Kurada, Nuakata, Ulada
Dialects Lexical similarity: 52% with Duau [dva] (most similar).
Classification Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western Oceanic, Papuan Tip, Nuclear, Suauic
Language use Some also use Dobu [dob].
Language development Literacy rate in L1: 85%. Literacy rate in L2: 85%. Bible portions: 1986–1993.
Writing system Latin script.
Comments Agriculturalists: yams; fishermen. Christian, traditional religion.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

Author unknown. Available: 2004; Created: 1983?. Organised phonology data: Auhelawa language [KUD] Milne Bay Province.  Available online
Lithgow, David R. 1995. “Reduplication for past actions in Auhelawa.”

Vernacular Publications

Talauvahili ʼalina Auhelawa. 1986.
Tula hedaheda vehabadi. 1988.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Translation Cleveland - Continuing with Rare Languages:

’Are’are

A language of Solomon Islands

ISO 639-3alu

Population 17,900 (1999 SIL).
Region South Malaita Island.
Language map Solomon Islands
Alternate names  Areare
Dialects ’Are’are, Marau (Marau Sound).
Classification Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Southeast Solomonic, Malaita-San Cristobal, Malaita, Southern
Language development Literacy rate in L1: 30%–60%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Bible portions: 1957–2008.
Comments SVO. Hunters; agriculturalists.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Vernacular Publications

?Atai 'e ka hana?. 1992.
?'O ko mahea? Haia, 'o ko 'ania niu. 1992.
Ho'asi 'e ka hiiko; Na'aha ni 'Are'are. 1992.
Huto ma kui. n.d..
Ko'e 'e na'a paina. n.d..
Poo. 1992.
Pua nau 'e kuru. 1995.
Puka hana kiriha ma isuha ana na'aha ni hanua. 1996.
Tome ma hare. 1992.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Localization, LLC Helps Businesses Navigate in the World of Languages

Localization LLC, a Cleveland based translation and global localization provider is helping business reach out in new worldly direction in today's tumultuous economy. By providing products and services to a global audience, businesses are discovering fresh and new surges of success with their products with untapped markets in foreign lands. Localization LLC helps them reach out with over 50 language combinations to the world.

Independence, OH (PRWEB) February 17, 2011
Languages are living organisms. They are complex and multi-layered. And no one knows that better than Localization, LLC—after all, they are a translation agency that has been at it for a while now. Localization, LLC is a Cleveland based translation firm that provides such services as translation, interpretation, voice over and dubbing.
The list of the languages that the company works with is impressive. "The most requested languages that we get are Spanish, French, German, Russian, Cantonese, Japanese, Italian, Arabic and Hebrew," notes Ray Michaels, Marketing Director at Localization, LLC, "but all in all, we work with over 50 language combinations including very rare African and Asian languages."
The company contributes a lot of its success to outstanding customer service. The management realizes that a lot of its first time clients have never dealt with translation before. When a translation project lands on the desk of a project coordinator, he/she uses all of the knowledge and capabilities to ensure that the translation has the right dialect, register and tone.
Take Spanish for example. There are European, Mexican and South American dialects that Spanish carries and if a project coordinator fails to determine the right one the translation may end up sounding awkward to the reader or even offensive. Right, offensive; many languages, Spanish is one of them, have formal and informal way of addressing an individual, and if the translator is using a wrong dialect he/she may miss formal form where necessary which could be very offensive to the reader.
Another reason why it's important to know the dialect the text is going to be translated is to show that the seller is making an effort to show that he/she respects the regions' inhabitants, their culture and language.
And lastly, a matter of simple understanding," adds Mr. Michaels. "Take a word "email; it is different in Canadian and European French."
"I can't stress out enough the importance of dialects," continues Ray. "Take English as an example. There is US English, UK English, Australian and Canadian. Believe it or not, we've had a number of projects where after talking to the client, linguists and researches, we had determined that changing a document from US to UK English was the right course of action. It may make you smile, I know, but believe it or not, the right dialect and tone of the translated text is that important."
Choosing the right translation company is very important for your project. Mr. Michaels suggests that the potential client should always ask a translation company the following questions:
  •     Does the translation company use machine translation (If yes, do not use them. Ever)
  •     Does the translation company use Computer Assisted Translation Tools (CAT Tools) (If yes, absolutely use them, absolutely do not use them if their reply is: "What is CAT Tools?" It's as bad as if a surgeon asked you what a scalpel is)
  •     Does the company use native speakers of the target language (target: the language the document is being translated into: source language: original language of the document)
  •     Always ask for a written quote
  •     Make sure the deadline is agreed upon in writing

"These questions should give those searching for a translation provider a pretty good idea about that particular provider and their capabilities.
"Translation is actually a very exiting process for the company," concludes Ray. "That means the company is expanding, going into new markets and is trying to reach new clientele and in today's economy, that's exciting to see."
To learn more about translation and other language services please visit Localization, LLC at http://www.localizationllc.com/ or by calling 216.785.5252

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Localization, LLC Is Partnering Up With The U.S. Department Of Commerce

http://www.ohio.com/community/readernews/onthemove/116248979.html

Localization, LLC Translation Cleveland

CLEVELAND, OHIO — Localization, LLC has announced that the company will participate as a partner of the US Department of Commerce at the 2011 Export Controls Seminar: Complying with U.S. Export Control Laws. The day-long event will take place on March 22, 2011 at the Crowne Plaza, 5300 Rockside Road in Independence, Ohio.

The seminar will include an overview of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) as well as determining licensing requirements, and developing an effective OFAC compliance program. Other topics will cover Electronic Export Information & Automated Export System (AES), and developments in enforcement and compliance.

“This event is a terrific opportunity for us to keep up with current exporting rules and regulations as well as meet with the existing and potential clients,” says Ray Michaels, Marketing Director of Localization, LLC. “In the age of email, a chance to meet face-to-face is one of the most important aspects of today’s business.” The organizers expect around 150 participants representing a wide range of manufacturing businesses from seasoned exporters to those who are just looking to take their product across the border.

The management at Localization, LLC believes that the US Department of Commerce is a great resource to market their services. The company is listed with the United States of America Department of Commerce Directory and participates in the US Department of Commerce events. “These events are a great way to engage in a direct conversation with people who are involved in exports and are faced with language barriers on a day-to-day basis. The topic always makes for a great conversation,” notes Ray, “We talk about funny language blunders, misunderstandings and confusing idioms but believe it or not, that provides us with a good source of ideas on how to improve our translation services.”

Localization, LLC believes that it’s important to participate in such events. It gives the company a chance to show the qualities that set Localization, LLC apart by making sure that the client is always comfortable before launching a translation project. “We always stress to our potential clients that who they use for translation is very important,” concludes Ray. “In many cases written documentation is what a potential client will see before he/she sees a product or talk to a representative of the seller. And if that documentation is full of mistakes or grammatically incorrect, then it will be very difficult for the sales person to convince the potential client that the company offers excellent good or service.”

If you are interested in finding out more about Localization, LLC services, log on to localizationllc.com or cal at 216.785.5252.

Those in attendance please stop by the table of Localization, LLC.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Rare Languages

Translation Cleveland - We thought of doing a small series on rare languages. We'll try to do one a day and you tell us what you think. Thanks!

Lewis, M. Paul (ed.), 2009. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Sixteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International. Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com/

Language: Ani

A language of Botswana
ISO 639-3hnh

Population 1,000 (Brenzinger 1997).
Region Northwest District, Khwai River, Mababe; near Khwe [xuu].
Language map Botswana
Alternate names  |Anda, Handá, Handa-Khwe, Handádam, Handakwe-Dam, Ts’exa, Ts’éxa
Dialects Related to Khwe.
Classification Khoisan, Southern Africa, Central, Tshu-Khwe, Northwest
Language development Literacy rate in L2: 15 to 29 years 70% Tswana [tsn], 50% English; 30 to 54 years 40% Tswana, 10% English.
Comments Traditional religion, Christian.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

Hasselbring, Sue. 2000. A sociolinguistic survey of the languages of Botswana.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Language May Play Important Role in Learning the Meanings of Numbers

Translation Cleveland
Original Post: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110207151212.htm
ScienceDaily (Feb. 7, 2011) — New research conducted with deaf people in Nicaragua shows that language may play an important role in learning the meanings of numbers.
Field studies by University of Chicago psychologist Susan Goldin-Meadow and a team of researchers found deaf people in Nicaragua, who had not learned formal sign language, do not have a complete understanding of numbers greater than three.
Researchers surmised the lack of large number comprehension was because the deaf Nicaraguans were not being taught numbers or number words. Instead they learned to communicate using self-developed gestures called “homesigns,” a language developed in the absence of formal education and exposure to formal sign language.
The research doesn’t determine which aspects of language are doing the work, but it does suggest that language is an important player in number acquisition,” said Betty Tuller, a program director in the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, which funded the research.
“The finding may help narrow down the range of experiences that play a role in learning number concepts,” she said.
Research results are reported in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in a paper titled, “Number Without a Language Model.”
While the homesigners do have gestures for number, those gestures are accurately used for only small numbers–numbers less than three–and not for large ones.
By contrast, deaf people who acquire conventional sign languages learn the values of large numbers because they learn a counting routine early in childhood, just as children who acquire spoken languages do.
“It’s not just the vocabulary words that matter, but understanding the relationships that underlie the words–the fact that ‘eight’ is one more than ‘seven’ and one less than ‘nine,’” said Goldin-Meadow. “Without having a set of number words to guide them, the deaf homesigners in the study failed to understand that numbers build on each other in value.”
“What’s most striking is that the homesigners can see that seven fingers are more than six fingers and less than eight fingers, but they are unable to order six, seven and eight fingers,” added Tuller. “In other words, they don’t seem to understand the successor function that underlies number.”
The complexity for homesigners learning seemingly simple concepts such as “seven” may help researchers learn more about the important role language plays in how all children learn early mathematical concepts, especially children who are having trouble learning number concepts in their preschool years.
Scholars previously found that in isolated cultures where the local language does not have large number words, people do not learn the value of large numbers. Two groups of people studied in the Amazon, for instance, do not have words for numbers greater than five. But their culture does not require the use of exact large numbers, which could explain the Amazonians’ difficulty with these numbers.
In Nicaraguan society, however, exact numbers are an important part of everyday life, as Nicaraguans use money for their transactions. Although the deaf homesigners in the University of Chicago study understand the relative value of their money, their understanding is incomplete because they have never been taught number words, said Elizabet Spaepen, the study’s lead author.
For the study, the scholars gave the homesigners a series of tasks to determine how well they could recognize money. They were shown a 10-unit bill and a 20-unit bill and asked which had more value. They were also asked if nine 10-unit coins had more or less value than a 100-unit bill. Each of the homesigners was able to determine the relative value of the money.
“The coins and bills used in Nicaraguan currency vary in size and color according to value, which give clues to their value even if the user has no knowledge of numbers,” Spaepen said. The deaf homesigners could be learning rote information about the currency based on the color and shape of the currency without fully understanding numerical value.
“The findings show that simply living in a numerate culture isn’t enough to develop an understanding of large number,” said Tuller. “This conclusion comes from the observation that the homesigners are surrounded by hearing individuals who deal with large numbers all of the time.
“The findings point toward language since that’s what the homesigners lack,” she said. “In all other respects they are fully functioning members of their community. But that doesn’t mean that there might not be other, nonlinguistic ways of teaching them, or others, the idea of an exact large number.”
The research team is currently working on developing a training procedure to do exactly that–train deaf homesigners the meaning of number using nonlinguistic means.
Other authors on the paper are Marie Coppola, Assistant Professor in Psychology at the University of Connecticut; Elizabeth Spelke, the Marshall L. Berkman Professor of Psychology at Harvard; and Susan Carey, Professor of Psychology at Harvard.
NSF supports all fields of fundamental science and engineering, except for medical sciences, by funding the research of scientists, engineers and educators directly through their own home institutions, typically universities and colleges.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Translation Cleveland - Way too Funny

In a Hong Kong supermarket: For your convenience, we recommend courteous, efficient self-service.

On the faucet in a Finnish washroom: To stop the drip, turn cock to right.

In a Czechoslovakian tourist agency: Take one of our horse-driven city tours we guarantee no miscarriages.

On the menu of a Polish hotel: Salad a firm's own make limpid red beet soup with cheesy dumplings in the form of a finger; roasted duck let loose; beef rashers beaten up in the country people's fashion.

In the window of a Swedish furrier: Fur coats made for ladies from their own skin.

In a Belgrade hotel elevator: To move the cabin, push button for wishing floor. If the cabin shoudl enter more persons, each one should press number of wishing floor. Driving is then going alphabetically by national order.

In a hotel in Athens: Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 and 11 A.M. daily.

In a Bucharest hotel lobby: The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable.

In a Leipzig elevator: Do not enter the lift backwards, and only when lit up.

In a Japanese hotel: You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid.

In a Paris hotel elevator: Please leave your values at the front desk.

In a Yugoslavian hotel: The flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of the chambermaid.

In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian Orthodox monastery: You are welcome to visit the cemetry where famous Russian and Soviet composers, artists, and writers are buried daily except Thursday.

In an Austrian hotel catering to skiers: Not to parambulate the corridors in the hours of repose in the boots of ascension...wow this is my favourite!

On the menu of a Swiss restaurant: Our wines leave nothing to hope for.

In a Tokyo hotel: Is forbitten to steal hotel towels please. If you are not person to do such thing is please not to read notis.

In another Japanese hotel room: Please to bathe inside the tub.

Outside a Hong Kong tailor shop: Ladies may have a fit upstairs.

In a Bangkok dry cleaner's: Drop your trousers here for best results.

Outside a Paris dress shop: Dresses for street walking.

In a Rhodes tailor shop: Order your summers suit. Because is a big rush we will execute customers in strict rotation.

Similarly, from the Soviet Weekly: There will be a Moscow Exhibition of Arts by 15,000 Soviet Republic painters and sculptors. These were executed over the past two years.

In an East African newspaper: A new swimming pool is rapidly taking shape since the contractors have thrown in the bulk of their workers.

In a Vienna hotel: In case of fire, do your utmost to alarm the hotel porter.

A sign posted in Germany's Black Forest: It is strictly forbidden on our black forest camping site that people of different sex, for instance, men and women, live together in one tent unless they are married with each other for that purpose.

In a Zurich hotel: Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose.

In an advertisement by a Hong Kong dentist: Teeth extracted by latest Methodists.

A translated sentence from a Russian chess book: A lot of water has been passed under the bridge since this variation has been played.

In a Rome laundry: Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time.

Advertisement for donkey rides in Thailand: Would you like to ride on your own ass?

On the box of a clockwork toy made in Hong Kong: Guaranteed to work throughout its useful life.

Detour sign in Kyushi, Japan: Stop: Drive Sideways.

In a Swiss mountain inn: Special today no ice cream.

In a Bangkok temple: It is forbidden to enter a woman even a foreigner if dressed as a man.

In a Tokyo bar: Special cocktails for ladies with nutes.

In a Copenhagen airline ticket office: We take your bags and send them in all directions.

On the door of a Moscow hotel room: If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome to it.

In a Norwegian cocktail lounge: Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar.

At a Budapest zoo: Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitable food, give it to the guard on duty.

In the office of a Roman doctor: Specialist in women an other diseases.

In an Acapulco hotel: The manager has personally passed all the water served here.

In a Tokyo shop: Our nylons cost more than common, but you'll find they are best in the long run.

From a Japanese information booklet about using a hotel air conditioner: Cooles and Heates: If you want just condition of warm in your room, please control yourself.

From the brochure of a car rental firm in Tokyo: When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with vigor...second winner up


From the Engrish web site: www.engrish.com/

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Demand for Language Services is on the Rise

CLEVELAND, Ohio /eNewsChannels/ — Mr. Ray Michaels, founder of Localization, LLC, has recently announced that despite sluggish economy performance, the demand for translation and language services has held up. As the economy recovers, companies once again are looking to reach new customers.
Some companies are starting to increase their exports, others are making efforts to broaden their client base domestically; in both cases, the companies are targeting non-English speaking customers. And for Localization, LLC, that’s music to their ears.
Localization, LLC is a Cleveland based firm that provides such language services as translation, interpretation, voice over and dubbing. The company works with over 50 language combinations.
Localization, LLC was founded in 2007 by Ray and his wife. Since then, the company has worked with leading Northeast Ohio businesses as well as companies in San Francisco, London and New York. The main source of company’s business comes from translating manuals, legal cases, scientific works, financial reports, patents and personal documents.
As of late, Mr. Michaels points out that there has been an increase in demand for translation of medical equipment manuals. “There is a great demand right now for American made medical equipment,” says Ray. “Canadian, Mexican, South American and European hospitals are very interested in US made medical product and when you sell to a foreign country, all the supporting documentation has to be in the language of the country the product is going to.”
Mr. Michaels also adds that translation has evolved into a very diverse industry with services that may not come to mind right away when thinking of translation. That’s why in addition to translation and interpretation, one will also find that Localization, LLC offers such services as transcription of foreign languages, voice over and dubbing.
“Manufacturers and service companies always look for new innovative ways to take advantage of globalization and utilizing new media outlets,” notes Mr. Michaels, “that’s why Multimedia Services has been a great asset to the company.”
But one doesn’t have to look into conquering new foreign markets to realize that the need for language services is just as great in Northeast Ohio. Says Mr. Michaels, “Not only do we work with corporations, we still work with our local community which is very diverse. We are a country of immigrants. A lot of people are looking to translate personal documents from their native countries such as birth and marriage certificates, diplomas and other legal documentation. People are also looking for interpreting services for medical and legal appointments and we are always happy to provide a qualified interpreter.”
“Some people are fascinated when I tell them that I work for a translation agency and we work with over 50 language combinations,” concludes Ray, “and their first question is usually: ‘Oh my gosh, do you speak all those 50 languages?’”
“Fortunately, I am not the one man company,” laughs Ray.