Advice and Information for the World Traveller on Many Destinations

Archive for July, 2009

Translating is generally labelled as the process of reading, understanding, interpreting and reproducing a certain document that originated in one language to another. A skilled translator should possess the ability to translate ideas, style and expressions, not just words. According to C.A Finch, “Translation is like stewed strawberry. It has form, flavour and utility, but it’s not the real thing.”

There are four various steps in translation that form the decoding process: the first step involves reading and comprehension; the second step is semantic analysis; the third step is the morphological and lexical analysis, which handles keywords; and the fourth step is the ontic analysis that deals with cultural aspects.

Being devoted to the original text is the basic responsibility of a translator. Cross-culture differences create a gap between people, and so a translator must know how the original text or message is conveyed in the source language, and how it will be delivered to a foreign reader or customer in the target language. How will the reader understand culture differences will depend on the translator’s experience and skill, thus, it must be accurately done.

Both languages should be mastered by the translator to produce a comprehensible output. It is vital that the translator displays knowledge and experience in the source and target language, and emphatically, to the subject content. In addition, subject theme can be studied, but target language experience requires some time to attain.

“To translate is to say in another language what has been written keeping the semantic and stylistic equivalence,” according to an unknown author. Translators basically play the role of people providing, though not perfect, refined conversion of language to another language.

Public speaker and author Dinesh D’Souza tries to counter the criticism about the issues of immigration to America. Being a native of India, Dinesh started to give a brief history of his early life in America. After finishing college, he had his first job at ‘The Washington Post,’ and then became a domestic policy analyst for former President Reagan.

Dinesh says that immigration to the country is based not only on the material wealth and better life, but also on a person’s dreams to create his destiny without cultural or paternal predestination. Dinesh explains that these reasons for immigration are the result of the difficult lifestyle experienced by the people from third-world countries. The difficulties include pollution, overcrowded streets, over-population, corrupt government, a lack of safe drinking water, and a lack of formal education for the children. Unlike in third-world countries, Americans do not fear starvation.

Furthermore, Dinesh stated that the media present America as a place of dreams, where the citizens have expensive houses, vehicles and televisions. Even the low-profile families are well-off, and the normal labourers can afford to go on expensive vacations. Although there are many things that a person can gain from immigration, he still needs to be more aware in advance of the life that awaits him.

Dinesh also tries to explain other benefits of immigrating to America. He says that when he came to America, new opportunities awaited him. He learned new skills, and gained new ideas and knowledge that he never had while he was living in his native land.

Immigration to America doesn’t only mean having a good life; rather, it is based on how a man shapes his life to have a better future.

Canadian culture is a mixture of different influences from other countries and its indigenous culture.  It was mainly influenced by French and British culture, cultural trends in America, and immigrants from other countries. Canada is multicultural and distinct at the same time.

The two main groups that settled Canada were the French and English and this is reflected in the bilingualism of the country. Canadian culture is shown mostly through their artists, including popular writers such as Douglas Coupland, Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, and Mordecai Richler; musicians such as Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, and Joni Mitchell; and film-makers such as Atom Agoyan, Denis Arcand, and David Cronenberg.

Canadians are fun-loving people who enjoy celebrating festivals. One of the most awaited festivities in the country is the Quebec City Winter Carnival, held in February, which features ice sculptures, parades, snow slides, music, and dancing. There is also a three-week winter festival in Ottawa, called the Winterlude, and music lovers have the Montreal Jazz Festival as well as the Ottawa International Jazz Festival. The most famous festivals held in this country are the International Film Festival in Toronto and the Festival of Music.

Canada has two national sports: ice hockey in the winter season and lacrosse during the summer. Hockey is also called the national pastime and is considered the most popular sport in the country.

Canadian culture involves a society that is open to all without class distinctions. Canadians are proud of the equality that is given to every citizen of the country.

South African culture is like a beautiful abstract painting, surrounded with different disorganised forms and colours in an attractive perspective. The national culture presents differences derived from the influences of African heritage, Asian migration, and British colonialism.

Regardless of the historical and political chaos suffered by this nation, the consciousness and sensitivity of its citizens have led to the development of a multiracial society. Although once considered a weakness, this meshing of cultures has transformed this weakness into a proud portrayal of unity.

The Afrikaaner culture offers some variation among its sub-groups, but they are similar regarding belief in supernatural forces and ancestral spirits. Among the African populations, polygamy is legal and a dowry expected. However, their ancient cultures were lost and the present-day blacks serve as a link to this missing culture. Urban European people were a major influence and they dominated the business and financial sectors of the country. However, they were gradually assimilated by a united South Africa.

The culture also has a pleasant mixture of African and European culinary influences. The urban culture of South Africa includes restaurants that mainly provide European foods. Due to British influence, brandy and beer are the preferred beverages even as wineries are becoming popular around the world.

Music in South African shows a variety of diverse cultural influences. Classical music was adapted to South African heritage, the mix heard at major concerts and theatres in the country. Jazz music has developed as a result of the African and Western combination, which is categorised as Black jazz, Marabi, and Township Jazz.

South African culture offers an exceptionally delightful and unique mixture of traditions. Formerly known as a conflict of cultures, it has now become so harmonious that both tourists and citizens enjoy it.

Understanding means that people must first speak a common language. This will allow a person to connect with other individuals and understand them better. Travelling the world allows someone to observe various cultures and peoples, but mere observation doesn’t guarantee understanding until a language is shared. This is a crucial point as the world continues to get smaller because of technological innovations. Thus, interaction between people from different cultures and backgrounds is becoming commonplace. People need each other to sustain development, and so they must share a common tool that will allow them to empathise with others.

English, as the most widely used language in the world, is considered such a tool. We are all aware that almost anywhere in the world, there is always at least one person who can speak and understand this language. This means that knowing English has the capacity to empower anyone who desires to connect with other cultures and people.

It’s quite obvious that today’s cultures have become universal. Of course, the cultural identities of different communities are retained, but they have adapted to others with the passing of time. As cultures have blended with other cultures, so too has the dominant language become English. This is probably because of the language’s malleability, allowing it to blend with different cultures. And certainly, it is because of the fact that so many people understand the language.

To the degree that English has become the most commonly spoken language, it has become of vital importance to learn the language in order to understand and blend with the worldwide culture. Translation is a wonderful tool that allows the conversion of one language to another, so that the prevailing language understood by a certain group of people is not ignored but is enhanced alongside the English language counterpart.

Interpreting the meaning of a text and the subsequent production of an equivalent text is called translation. This communicates the similar message in other language. Fasttranslator.co.uk is a translator agency for private individuals, authorities, and several organisations that interprets almost all the languages and in every field of expertise. This agency offers a speedy delivery of translations to different clients worldwide. It performs their utmost to guarantee that the translated text is brought back to the clients.

The agency works with native translators that are well experienced and knowledgeable of many subjects. A perfected method is applied in each translation in order to properly carry out the task. Deadlines are understood and maintained.

Clients can send a text through fax, email or by means of the agency’s website. In an hour, the Project Managers will post a no-obligation quotation by email. After the client’s approval, a translation will be received by fax or email at the specific date and time agreed by the client. The invoice consists of all particulars related to the assignment.

The agency mainly translates 150 languages, which are carried out by experienced professionals in all fields. Their service offers: fast deliveries, competitive prices, expertise in 150 languages, guarantees confidentiality, delivers in any format, and guarantees correctness and reliability. They translate over 200,000 words per day.

Each translator of the agency works in the evenings and on weekends as well. This is why they can guarantee a speedy turnaround time and a prompt response regarding the project deadline and costs.

The United Kingdom’s culture pertains to patterns of human activity and symbolism relating to the long history of the country itself and the British people. The culture of this island nation developed through the union of four distinct countries (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England), which make up the elements, symbolism and customs of the U.K.

The British Empire’s influence spread British culture, including the English language, to other cultures and countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, South Africa and other former British colonies. However, movements and innovations in Europe’s culture also affected the UK; Protestantism, Humanism, as well as representative democracy were adopted from the wider Western culture.

The UK offers a distinct artistic heritage, with great musicians, playwrights, poets, filmmakers, sculptors and painters, who are admired and recognised internationally. The UK’s contribution to the visual arts is immeasurable, as it presents astounding paintings, architecture, sculptures and ceramics, which are displayed in various museums and galleries across the world. The UK’s performing arts shouldn’t be overlooked; opera, dance, music and filmmaking are continuously performed with enthusiasm in concert halls, studios and theatres every night all around the country. The country’s rich cultural life arose out of its diverse history, as time has played a significant role in the development of different cultures and races that have influenced the UK. These races and cultures consequently played a vital role in establishing the society that is Britain today.

Britain’s social structure has had an important, central cultural role throughout British history.

Canadian culture is the term that includes musical, artistic, culinary, social, literary, and political elements that are symbolic of Canada; not merely to its population, but to communities worldwide. Canadian culture is multicultural, being inspired by European traditions and culture, especially the French and British. These elements of cultures involve Canada’s aboriginal (Inuit and Metis)  as well as immigrant inhabitants, who have integrated into the Canadian culture; and the culture has also been powerfully affected by the economy, culture, and language of its neighbour, the United States of America.

The federal government of Canada greatly influences the Canadian culture with institutions, laws, and programmes. It has also produced crown businesses to support Canadian culture by means of the media, including the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), and endorses numerous events that it believes support Canadian traditions. Canadian culture is the product of its geographic, political, and historical uniqueness. It was formed by several migrations that combined different traditions, cuisines, and customs, and contributed to the socio-cultural advancement of the country.

Almost all the territories of Canada were inhabited and urbanised later than other European colonies in the Americas, with the outcome that symbols and themes of traders, pioneers, and trappers were essential to the initial progress of Canadian culture. The British occupation of Quebec during 1759 brought a huge number of Francophone inhabitants under British rule, generating a need for accommodation and compromise, while the immigration of United Empire Loyalists from the 13 colonies resulted in strong American and British influences. Due to Canada’s late economic advancement in some regions, Canada’s native populations have had a comparatively strong influence on the national culture while maintaining their specific identities.

The increasing demand for German translators is very apparent as Germany is one of the leading countries in the world, with many growing businesses. It is an essential trade partner for several European as well as non-European countries and, of course, Canada and the United States. It is very obvious that Germany is one of the most powerful countries in Europe and the German language has been the established language for almost all major businesses within the European community.

One can just envision the quantity of documents each corporation produces on a daily basis, written in several languages; little wonder that several businesses in and outside Germany are experiencing a rising need for German translators, especially for user and maintenance manuals for the electronic gadgets Germany exports to various countries worldwide.

The increasing demand for German translators is evident in e-commerce, where German is the second most widely used language online. Therefore, owners of different websites need German translators to promote their businesses, not just in Germany but worldwide. German influence can be felt on the web because Germans are very innovative individuals. Germany has eight million web domains, most of which need translations.

German translators convey beliefs, dreams, ideas, and thoughts to other people who possess a different culture and language. German businesses that obtain the services of reliable German translators expect to have a clear business communication with their associates, and expect their websites to attract more readers and, therefore, generate additional sales. An excellent German translator is what each German business needs to make the difference between winning and losing an agreement, between closing or losing a transaction and, eventually, between being taken seriously or not.

India’s history underpins its rich culture, including its exceptional geography, customs, ideas and traditions, which were acquired from neighbouring countries and form its ancient heritage. The nation’s diverse languages, practises, traditions and customs define India’s exceptional evolution through the years.

Indian literature’s earliest works were passed along orally until they were finally written down in Sanskrit and include the epics, ‘Ramayana’ and ‘Mahabharata’, the drama, ‘Abhij sakuntalam’, as well as ‘Mahakavya’. The Indian writer Rabindranath Tagore won the 1913 Nobel Prize and was among the modern-era writers who were active in both the English and Indian languages.

Distinguished by a wide range of regional varieties and a stylish utilisation of herbs and spices, Indian cuisine is known throughout the world because of its exceptional methodologies. Wheat and rice are the staple foods of India, while the spices have been incorporated into almost all cuisine worldwide.

The Diwali, Ugadi, Ganesh Chaturthi, Thai Pongal, Onam, Holi, Vijayadasami, Eid ul-Fitr, Durga Puja, Bakr-Id, Vaisakhi and Buddha Jayanti are India’s famous festivals. The majority of them are derived from religious origins, but some are celebrated regardless of creed and caste.

The colourful and stylish traditional Indian manner of dress is influenced by various factors, like climate. This dress incorporates draped garments, like the lungi or dhoti for men, and the sari for women. Stitched clothes, like the kurta-pyjama (for men) and salwar kameez (for women), are also widely seen.

The values of traditional Indian families are observed across the region, though modern urban families eventually choose the nuclear family structure because of the socio-economic limitations required by the traditional extended family system.

India, as the land of ancient wisdom, displays a culture affluent in almost all phases and is just waiting to be discovered.