The role of ethics in the localisation and translation industry is critically important – not just for translation professionals, but also for our clients. Localisation through translation is the service we provide. But it’s what goes on behind the scenes to provide that service that makes it ethical or unethical. Unsustainably low rates, overly long
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It is commonly known that different cultures perceive and treat animals in entirely different ways: whereas dogs are seen as food in some parts of China, they are the most beloved pets in Western Europe. Cows are considered holy in India, but are the core ingredient of almost every hamburger in Great Britain. But apart
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Here at AJT, we live and translate by the sea. Every day we’re inspired by our relationship with the ocean, so we thought it might be fun to have a look at where some of the nautical terms found in our daily vocabulary originated. Some expressions have quite an obvious nautical connection: to know the ropes
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In our commitment to sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint, AJT’s Green Committee took part in a Carbon Literacy training course hosted by betternotstop via the Better Business Network. As a certified B Corporation we take our responsibility to the planet seriously, but as a business without a physical office or products, we know that
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We all know that words can take on completely different meanings when directly translated into another language. Not only does the meaning of individual words change, but so can their context when grouped together. For example, we would say, ‘I made a mistake’, but wouldn’t say ‘I did a mistake’. What does this mean in
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We’re happy to share that we’ve won the Ethical Business Award at this year’s Language Industry Awards. It’s wonderful to be recognised for the work we’re doing in our own company and in the language industry. The UK Association of Translation Companies and the European Union Association of Translation Companies joined forces to host the
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In my family, we lovingly refer to Germany as the ‘land of sausage’. Beyond the simple Frankfurter and Bockwurst there is a whole world of different types of meaty goodness to explore. On a recent trip to a big supermarket, I counted no less than three aisles solely devoted to sausages and cold meats! So
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At last year’s Association of Translation Companies’ Stargazing Conference, three localisation professionals, Karen Gammarota from Wise, Jennifer Vela Valido from Spotify, and Megan Hilleard from Renishaw discussed their job roles and what they look for in the ideal translation partner. It quickly became apparent that the human touch is still very much in demand, not
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You might have decided to localise your website or product for the German market. Or you might be welcoming international employees into the company and want to address them in their first language. Either way, you’ve got a dedicated localisation budget (if not, this article might be helpful to you) and can’t wait to get
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Found in all languages, idioms inspired by the world of music contribute to a richer and more expressive vocabulary. There are plenty examples to choose from. In Italian, for instance, “fare la prima viola” (“to play the first viola”) means you’re the one calling the shots. For the English and German equivalents, you just switch
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