Archive for January, 2011

Night of the Living Cornish – Resurrecting a Language

January 29th, 2011

One of the main reasons that people visit an area on their holidays is to immerse themselves in the culture of another part of the world, and Cornwall has plenty of opportunities for visitors to the region to do that. Whether it’s visiting National heritage sites to explore the history of the area from the middle areas or learning how the Cornish have made their living for centuries, you can find plenty of resources and places to visit.

Another great way to truly immerse yourself in the culture of a place is to start learning some of the language. Whilst you might think that this mostly applies to holidays abroad, Cornwall provides this opportunity too. Although the language was, for all intents and purposes, dead for a while, there have been efforts to revive it during the 20th century that have been very successful. Going from nothing to an estimated 2000 fluent speakers (as of Spring 2008) is an incredible achievement and shows the dedication of those who want to revive this language.

But how do you bring a language back? If there are no speakers remaining, surely there is nobody to teach the language. That’s where written records come in handy. By using a huge corpus of Cornish texts the syntax and vocabulary can be easily established. A little harder than this is to make sure the sounds are correct, but that’s where poetry and etymology can prove incredibly useful. If you have access to a huge amount of poetry and can work out the rhyme scheme you can discover how different words were pronounced and use those to work out which phonemes were represented by which letter combinations. Translations, along with guides to pronunciation, are also very useful.

Language is an extremely important part of culture as it reinforces the worldview and universal metaphors that a group of people use to make sense of what is happening around them. By bringing back the Cornish language the Cornish culture is reinforced as well, providing a much more satisfying experience to holiday makers.

Careers for interpreters and translators

January 5th, 2011

Have you thought about a career as an interpreter or translator, but not sure that would be a pleasant environment for you either? Alternatively, you can use one of many people often assume that an interpreter and translator in the same? Let us know that to describe their properties and a number of specific occupations in each area.

First, both an interpreter and translator “source” language to the other “target” language bring. This is done in our global society. In addition, both an interpreter and translator, different skills are required. Both require more than just translating words from one language into another language. On the contrary, both careers require translation concepts or ideas. Furthermore, they each require a strong understanding of the subject by the translator. In addition, both to be an interpreter and translator, sagacious, the cultures of the two languages.

In addition, an interpreter and translator fluent in at least two languages. Some professions may require three languages fluently. The first language is its “active” or “native” language is called, and the second is called its “passive” language. Your task is to know their language in the active language to the best of them, are interpreted.

If we are the differences between and interpreter and translator, interpreter, that a “spoken” in a different language “spoken” language look like converts. In addition to the excellent analytical skills in interpreting the person is living from one culture to another culture. A thorough understanding of the topic is necessary, before the examination is often required by the interpreter.

There are also two types of interpretation. “Simultaneous” requires a high degree of concentration and the interpreter would say a sentence when the speaker speaks still. It is often used in court systems and at international conferences. In simultaneous interpreting events interpreters often work in pairs for a period of 30 minutes.

“Consecutive” is used in person-to-person communication. The interpreter is sometimes notes. He or she will speak after the speaker has said several words or phrases.

On the other hand, a translator will be “written” material transfer from one language to another. Excellent writing skills, strong analytical abilities, skills and fine processing of a translator is required. As already mentioned, a translator does not just change every word in one language into another language. Practice, the translator for a number of steps. First, he needs to read the full text. Next, look at unfamiliar words and understood in the context of the letter. More research is required if the issue is unclear, to be the translator. Writing to a specific audience, the translator also necessary cultural references in mind. In addition, a translator several revisions before they made the final version.

If a person described, interpreters and translators working in a number of areas such as economy, social services and entertainment.

Conference Interpreter: An interpreter school work at conferences, where non-English speaking people in several languages. Often it is preferable that they are able to translate two “passive” language in an “active” language. For example, they are obliged to interpret French and Spanish into English.

Guide Interpreter: A guide to help foreign visitors interpreter in the United States, or shall be accompanied U.S. visitors abroad. Often working in pairs in 30 minutes. This includes travel frequently, this is probably an advantage for someone in this area.

Justice interpreters or translators, each of these people will work in court for non-English speaking people. You should be familiar not only with the languages, but also the United States, the judiciary and the judiciary in other countries. It is important that they do not remain indifferent to modify the content. You can also translate written documents and read.

Literary translator: a literary translators work closely with an author for their work in a different language to reproduce. The focus is on playing the role of conscious work. They translate literature such as poetry books, short stories and magazine articles from one language to another.

Localization Translator: Translator is a localization of a product is adapted for use in a different language and culture, such as software, websites, and production. The goal for the product as it was in the country where they are sold is created looks like. Knowledge of the target, a strong computer background and a solid understanding of the language to be translated to be essential.

Sign language: a sign language interpreter must be fluent in American Sign Language (ASL). They will be the communication between deaf or hard of hearing people and people who can hear. Like a foreign language interpreter sign language interpreter requires more than replacing a spoken word with a shield. Ideas can be transferred, and the cultures involved are important components of sign language interpretation.

Price salary for interpreters and translators

There is a wide variation of the salary of an interpreter or translator. It is clear that the demand for a particular language, the higher the profits. Along with language, theme, experience, education, employers, all play a role in determining salary. In 2008, data from the occupational group employment statistics that earned the average income of interpreters and translators have ranged from $ 28,940 to $ 52,240. In addition, say statistics from the National Employers matrix us that the average employment growth for an interpreter or translator to grow at a rate of 22% between 2008 and 2018.

There are some disadvantages to a career in these areas. One of the negative factors, which is a career as an interpreter or translator, that the applications can be exhausting and stressful. In addition, you are often under time pressure. If you decide to freelance, you are your own finances, which could manage a slow process of paying customers.

Despite the drawbacks, and the stress of a career in translation or interpretation, there are a number of important advantages. For example, you have the option of your time and workload to manage. There is a small proportion of work-related injuries. In addition, a variety of concentrations in these areas. Flexibility is also a positive factor when looking for some time to pursue other interests.

Should I learn Chinese or Spanish? How to choose the language to learn

January 5th, 2011

“I want to learn a language. What language is most beneficial for me to learn?” This is a common question on sites like Yahoo Answers. However, there is no right answer.

Just at that moment to learn a large number of Spanish people, others to learn Chinese. Whether Spanish, Chinese or another language is best for you depends on your situation. In this article I discuss three (3) questions that your decision may lead to learn the language.

Question 1: Do I need a language in the first place?

Learning a language is a long process that requires commitment over a long period of exercise. Especially if you only have time to study part-time, you probably need several years before you can really interact with native speakers.

Since knowledge of a language takes so long, it is better not to close a course, just because you want your friends or because you read it, your chances of employment. Into a stage where to speak the language a difference for you, you must have a strong motivation.

You will not achieve your goal if your only motivation is extrinsic, ie, dictated by external factors such as higher wages or status. You really want to learn the language, the result is an interest in the land, culture, people and literature, curiosity or other personal reason.

If you start asking yourself the question “What language should I learn?” Can you still not enough to learn a particular language and really motivated to see it through. If you are motivated, you would know which language you really wanted to learn.

Question 2: Which language is most important to you?

I asked the question “should I learn Chinese or Spanish?” asked many times on Yahoo Answers, and often answered in a real way, macroeconomic, cited the tremendous growth of the Chinese economy and the growing importance of the Hispanic population in the United States.

Such high arguments are hardly relevant to the personal decision to learn the language. Opportunities are everywhere. You do not need the opportunities in the world to use as long as you can have a chance for a good cause.

To give you an example, I learned some Spanish, and now I can communicate with all of South America, as well as people from Spain. But I live in Singapore, and not many people speak Spanish here.

But I know at least three people who live in Singapore, with their knowledge of Spanish. You are tackled in the small but persistent demand for Spanish classes and translation. This just shows what language you learn it are many options.

Question 3: What languages and cultures interested in?

You’re going to pour a lot of time and effort in learning the language, it is important that it begin with an interest in language and culture. If you are planning to learn Japanese, it helps a lot if you are interested in talking with Japanese and more about them.

So what happens if you think a particular language is very useful to you, but you are really more interested in a different language? In this case, there are basically two things you can do:

1. You can try your interest in the language that turn out to be very useful would be to encourage you. Ex If it is clear that a lot of people talking around you, Spanish, but you have no particular interest, you can read about the culture or trying a Spanish-speaking country to visit on holiday – it’s a good chance that this piqued your interest;

2. Or select the language you are interested in more useful for you. For example, if you can not really interested in the Japanese language, but see no immediate use for, try more Japanese in your area, or a job in a company that does business in Japan or Japanese style to perform.

When you get to this book in any language, will, I hope I have given you some perspective. At the end you have a choice. Courage, however, that it is not 100% right or wrong decision here, as long as you are determined, they will be learning a language on an amazing journey to see a new world will open!

A Dutchman currently living in Singapore, has now Guus studied 7 languages (English, German, French, Spanish, Greek, Latin and Mandarin). He is passionate about travel, culture, language and learning.