Nordictrans http://www.nordictrans.com Just another WordPress site Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:09:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Localization and Professional Translation http://www.nordictrans.com/2012/02/15/localization-and-professional-translation/ http://www.nordictrans.com/2012/02/15/localization-and-professional-translation/#comments Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:53:15 +0000 admin http://www.nordictrans.com/?p=895 TwitterFacebookLinkedInGoogle GmailGoogle ReaderHyvesGoogle BookmarksShare/Bookmark

The word localization may not be familiar. It is a term used in linguistics to signify the adaptation of a product or document to a non-native language and culture.

This is more than just translation, which involves the transfer of words and meanings from one language to another. Localization involves a process of making a product or even a whole company “fit in” with the culture in which it is being marketed. The process will make the company practically indistinguishable from other local or native countries.

This can be done by professional translation companies if they have the resources.

If the need is big enough from a client, the professional translation and localization company can put a whole team specifically on that contract. An example of this might be a Fortune 500 company that wants to “move in” to a country and will need a large amount of marketing and procedural material translated into the local language(s). Smaller companies will need the same professional translation and localization services, just on a smaller scale.

A good translation company will have the capability to work with small and large firms alike, scaling their services as the need increases.

Localization services can even be used between two countries that speak the “same” language.

For example, British companies will want their marketing for America to be proofread and changed so that people will not misunderstand it and vice versa. One funny possibility for errors is the fact that in British English, “pants” mean underwear. So when people are told that someone spilled something on their pants, it takes on a whole different dimension.

Another example that has now become famous from the London subways is “Mind the gap!” This sentence really takes some getting used to for Americans to make any sense of it at all. These kinds of services could be utilized even within the United Kingdom with the different dialects and areas. Other examples are Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and countless others are countries where they speak English, but not like anyone else in the world.

Localization will be needed for expansion to all these new markets.

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]]> http://www.nordictrans.com/2012/02/15/localization-and-professional-translation/feed/ 0 Translations for Business or Pleasure? http://www.nordictrans.com/2012/02/06/translations-for-business-or-pleasure/ http://www.nordictrans.com/2012/02/06/translations-for-business-or-pleasure/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:28:33 +0000 admin http://www.nordictrans.com/?p=879 TwitterFacebookLinkedInGoogle GmailGoogle ReaderHyvesGoogle BookmarksShare/Bookmark

No one is suggesting that when you go on a vacation you should have a translation company work for you to make sure that you can read every brochure, menu or receipt.

One of the fun things about traveling on vacation is the adventure of going to a new place where you don’t speak the language. You get by on what you know and you just hope you don’t get too lost or offend someone with your native ways, sign language and manners. Often times you can find local people who know enough to give you a couple directions or help you out just enough to get you to where you’re going. It’s fun.

Business is another matter.

When you decide to do business in a country or if you have some kind of legal proceedings that you are a part of, you are now taking part in the system of the local culture. You are no longer allowed to bumble your way through laughing at the mistakes and using sign language to get your point across.

You need a professional translation service that has the capability and the facilities and staff to serve your needs.

If you are doing business, your company needs to come across respectfully and professionally. If you are involved in legal proceedings over property or contracts, you need to have some people on your side who know the local language and can translate and keep you in the loop on a professional level.

The reputation and liability of your enterprise is on the line. You need a professional translation company.

It’s one thing to find a tourist on an adventure that is lost and obviously doesn’t know what she’s doing. It’s a whole lot more alarming to find someone starting a company who is lost and obviously doesn’t know what she is doing!

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]]> http://www.nordictrans.com/2012/02/06/translations-for-business-or-pleasure/feed/ 0 The Practicality of A Translation Company http://www.nordictrans.com/2012/01/26/the-practicality-of-a-translation-company/ http://www.nordictrans.com/2012/01/26/the-practicality-of-a-translation-company/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:30:44 +0000 admin http://www.nordictrans.com/?p=140 TwitterFacebookLinkedInGoogle GmailGoogle ReaderHyvesGoogle BookmarksShare/Bookmark

Language is the vehicle that gets us where we want to go in communication

That means that the more languages you know, the more options you have in communication. Your Spanish may be like a four wheel drive truck, it may not get you there quickly or comfortably, but it will take you places that you wouldn’t be able to go in your sports-car native language. But it also may break down.

What do you do when you don’t have the vehicle you need to get where you’re going?

You have to get creative. Does one of your friends have one that you can trade for the week? Maybe they do but it doesn’t quite suit your needs. Maybe they don’t have one. It’s not the end of the world. You can rent a vehicle. Using a language translation company is similar to renting a car. You go to a company who specializes in an area that you don’t have the equipment for and you pay them a fair price to help you get your job done or get where you want to go. Of course it costs more money to rent a vehicle than your friend would charge you to borrow his old 4×4. But when you arrive at the rental car lot with choices of several recently purchased new beauties that have been serviced to perfection and come with roadside assistance, you realize that you made the right decision. Especially if you are on a business trip where a break-down means losing customers. In the same way, you may be able to borrow some translation services from a friend or try to get it on the cheap somewhere. But you will not get the service or the value that you will with a professional translation agency. If you need translation for business and are not getting where you need to go it will mean loss of profits, you will be glad to arrive on time with a reliable and professional translation service.

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