Monday, 9 June 2014
by

Rik Mayall, adorable lunatic.

I’ve never been one to get all “gooey” over celebrities and never really grasped the need to scream, howl and faint over musical stars and Hollywood actors. However, what I do appreciate in the performing arts is the talent of anyone who can keep me glued to a screen avoiding wavering interest in the flashing lights and sounds of the box on the wall. Included in that description and one criterion for encouraging me to watch a show of any genre is the inclusion in the cast of any artist who makes me laugh without fail.

Channel 4’s “Man Down” was one of those shows to grab my attention and all because of the promise of Rik Mayall appearing once more on the screen.

Of the inspiring people I would love to meet/have met, and all on so many varying levels, Rik Mayall is one person I would have been delighted to bump into. That psychotic level of energy he brings to everything he has done, his snarling charm and his “go screw yourself” attitude which only he could truly pull off hilariously and keep you wanting more was addictive.

From “The Young Ones” and “Bottom” to “All About George” and “Man Down”, not to forget everything he has done before then and in between, Rik Mayall has brought a smile to my face and a leap in my heart at the thought of some sheer Mayall-esque stupidity to keep me entertained for half an hour or so. Stupidity in the kindest sense of the word, of course.

If I were to describe Rik Mayall as a fan based on his unique, daring humour, I would describe him as an adorable lunatic whom I will miss immensely. My thoughts go out to those lucky enough to have known him, worked with him and, mostly to his family at this time.

Rest in peace, Rik Mayall, knowing you’ve had a tremendously successful career and touched the lives of so many people you’ve never met. That’s the beauty of talent and achievement. Thank you.


Rik Mayall 1958-2014
Thursday, 17 April 2014
by

Easter Around the World

Easter is a widely celebrated holiday worldwide with many different traditions and meanings.  While it is a symbolic Christian holiday, Easter has also in recent years become a more culture-based event in many countries.  In fact, it is becoming increasingly common for non-practicing Christians and even individuals of other religious beliefs to celebrate Easter as a fun holiday due to its commercial nature, partaking in festivities such as egg hunts, Easter dinners and gift card exchanges.  At the same time, it is also still very well known as a religious holiday amongst Christians and it continues to have a prominent religious foundation for many that celebrate it.

In North America and the English speaking world, Easter is both a religious and a cultural celebration that focuses mainly on activities for children in the family.  On the Friday and Saturday of Easter weekend, Hot Cross Buns are eaten and eggs are decorated using dyes and paints by children and their parents in preparation for the holiday.  Children are told that there is an “Easter Bunny” who hides chocolate eggs and other goodies around their home while they are sleeping on the night before Easter Sunday.  On Sunday morning, they wake up to go hunting around their home for treats that include Easter themed sweets, chocolate eggs and rabbits, colorful wicker baskets and occasionally small toys.  There is also an Easter dinner on the Sunday evening where roasted lamb, ham and turkey are all commonly served meals.   For individuals who do practice the religious aspect of the holiday, there is also a Sunday Mass to attend and numerous religious traditions that are followed.

In contrast, in Latin America the Easter holiday continues to be a traditional and primarily religious event.  In many Latin American countries, the entire week leading up to the Easter weekend (Holy Week or Semana Santa) is given as time off of work.  To follow Catholic tradition, individuals take the week to reflect spiritually and connect with their religion by going to church regularly, spending time with family and loved ones, fasting from Good Friday to Holy Saturday and avoiding red meat in their diet.  There are also many typical dishes consumed during Holy Week, however they vary quite a bit from country to country.  In many cases, alcohol is not permitted to be sold in stores during this time or stores will opt not to sell it.

Easter is a holiday that is constantly evolving.  With its roots grounded firmly in Christianity, this is a celebration that has become a huge commercial holiday in many parts of the world.  There are some places where people continue to celebrate Easter as a means of connecting with their religious beliefs and community and other places where people choose to enjoy Easter as a fun family event with very little religious connection.  Both the typical foods and activities differ quite a bit from country to country, making Easter celebrations relatively unique to each place they are held in.  It is a holiday filled with fun, family and tradition which people look forward to annually all over the world.

 Translations2u is a professional translation company based in the UK offering multiple languages and subject matters. Specialist translations for solicitors are our forté.
Wednesday, 16 April 2014
by

Chicken on my jacket - the interview!

Here at Translations2u we thought we’d give you something different via our blog this time. Yet another year everyone is buzzing about Britain’s Got Talent so we thought we’d jump on the bandwagon! Earlier this week we were lucky enough to catch up with 23 year-old BGT contestant Rob Ross whose performance of his self-written rap “Chicken on my jacket” was immensely popular on last week’s show. (In case you missed it, here it is again.)

This is what Rob had to say.

T2U: OK, so, what do you do in your everyday life, how long have you been doing it and what are your aims?

RR: Well, I am also a dancer and I haven't been rapping for long. I’m a guy that likes to be versatile to the audience and I love to entertain. My aim is to be on stage and later on in life have my own chat show.

T2U: Following on from that, how long have you been a dancer for?

RR: Dancing since I was 16 and I was on “Move Like Michael Jackson” on BBC three in 2009.

T2U: So, why rap?

RR: I've always written comedy stuff but wanted a different approach to make a big impact.

T2U: What or who inspires you? (Other than falling bits of food ;))

RR: My main icon is Will Smith. I look up to him in a way I can relate with personality wise.

T2U: Do you think a good grasp of language is essential for you to be able to rap, write rap/comedy?

RR: Not necessarily, it all goes down to how you perform and deliver your performance. If you look at Will Smith, he wasn’t the best rapper.

T2U: But you need to be able to put your thoughts into words in a way that your intended meaning is clear, though?

RR: Of course! See there's a difference: I'm not a freestyle rapper, I write songs before I can perform them.

T2U: Would you rap in another language and, if you had to, which language would you choose?

RR: If I could I would and I probably would say either French or Spanish.

T2U: Any particular reasons?

RR: I always like new challenges and I’d learn different languages.

T2U: Fair enough :) Why BGT, then?

RR: If you only go down one path it can take a while but if you take different turnings you might get there quicker.

T2U: What was it like on there?

RR: Amazing roller-coaster of different emotions going up and down specially in front of about 3,000 people!

T2U: Your biggest ever audience?

RR: I would say yes. I went on “Take me out” as well.

T2U: OK :) And, who do you think will win Britain’s Got Talent  this year? :D

RR: I hope the Paddy lady, the dancing couple.They’re amazing and such inspiring people to talk to.

T2U: Bless her! Anything you want to add at all?

RR: Thanks for showing support and just hopefully you will see me on the screens more often :)

T2U: Let's hope so!

RR: Of course, I’m looking for chicken on my jacket fans to upload the best pic with chicken like my one [on Rob's Twitter profile here]

T2U: Thank you and loads and loads of luck. Looking forward to duck face! :D


RR: Thank you, much appreciated :). And don't mention it. Ha ha I’ll keep you posted on that!

You can also catch up with Rob via his official Facebook page.


 Translations2u is the online home of Language Matters Worldwide Ltd, a professional translation company in the UK that likes to be different.
Thursday, 20 March 2014
by

Instruction manuals, native speakers & professional standing

As professional linguists who have worked hard to achieve our qualifications, gather experience and attain professional credibility in our field through forging strong client relationships and professional accreditation, our biggest issue remains with potential clients who have no understanding of the translation task and often feel that some knowledge of a language or languages is all it takes.

A frequently overlooked aspect is that industry specific or topic specific knowledge or the ability to understand it is essential in order to convey the true meaning into another language. Understanding of the source language term is essential but is only consolidated in the translation context when the translator has a complete understanding of the appropriate target language term.

Over the years, instruction manuals have caused many linguists and non-linguists alike to cringe or even laugh out loud and highlight not only the sentiments of the preceding paragraph but the importance of a truly native speaker qualified to perform the required task.

The following extract from an instruction manual equally exemplifies the need for careful proofreading and editing.

"[...] Insert the three feet plug of battery to output port of battery charger, and the green indicator will dark, gradually increased along with the battery capacity, the green  indicator will gradually bright, when the green indicator is completely bright, the battery capacity will achieves 100%, it shows that the recharging finishes[...]"

Sometimes the cheaper option is perfectly acceptable, when buying certain food items, small casual clothing items, etc., however, accepting the lowest bid to a translation project is not a guarantee that your firm or company will appear in the best light to potential new clients or business partners.

Translations2u/Language Matters Worldwide Ltd specialises in legal translation services as well as editing and translation for many other fields including scientific business and technical translations.  See our reviews and our website for more about our translation services.

Wednesday, 19 March 2014
by

Islamic Finance based on Sharia Law


The Sharia Law also known as the Islamic Law is the foundation of the concept of Islamic finance which dates back to the birth of the religion of Islam itself. Sharia law is a code of conduct that guides the followers of Islam in social, economic, and political matters based on the Holy Quran and examples preached by Prophet Muhammad. 
 
Islamic finance’s main focus point is the fact that money itself has no intrinsic value. This denotes that Muslims are prohibited to lend money in order to receive an interest on it known as riba in Arabic. Trading is the principle means of Islamic finance and essentially a proportion of the risk is borne by both parties. Any gains involved in the trading are shared between the person providing the capital and the person providing the expertise. However, sharia also prohibits business transactions based on prohibited products and industries that are damaging to society according to Islamic teachings such as alcohol, pork, prostitution, pornography, tobacco, and any products based on uncertainty or gambling.

Key concepts of the Sharia Law include the following: humans are mere trustees of wealth and therefore they must manage wealth according to Allah's commands; Muslims must balance trade and wealth with the virtues of life, meaning they should seek moderation in the material world by avoiding being either stingy or too materialistic; an individual must balance personal needs with social needs by using the earth's resources wisely and by promoting justice in all economic activities; economic transactions should take place within a reasonable, responsible, free-market economy where supply and demand are decided based on the market trends.

Translations2u specialises in the translation of Islamic finance agreements and other Sharia law matters.
Thursday, 6 March 2014
by

Overview of Certified Translation & Sworn Translation

A certified translation is a legal document usually required in the process of submitting foreign language documents to courts, government organisations or non-governmental organizations such as universities, colleges and other institutions. Since there are different categories of certification across the globe, it is highly recommended check the precise certification required. Certification lends weight to a translation. For instance, if a document is mistranslated deliberately or carelessly, legal action could be taken against the translator with contempt of court, perjury or negligence.

A sworn translation hints that the document is signed and sealed by an authorized sworn translator and is endorsed with his or her stamp. A sworn translator is the holder of an office in public law who, in a sense, is similar to a notary public although this depends on the jurisdiction. They are permitted by the state to certify the accuracy of translated documents and often the validity of copies of such translations. Any document which is authorized by a sworn translator is legal and can be used as an official translation.

However, in the English common law system covering the jurisdictions of England and Wales, the "sworn translator" concept does not exist unlike in civil law countries. In this system the term most referred to is “certified translator” who is preferred to other translators because of the skills and suitability as certified by an accrediting body such as the Chartered Institute of Linguists or Institute of Translators and Interpreters.


A certified translator adheres to a code of professional conduct and may provide a certifying letter or paragraph to accompany a translation that is required for official purposes. This certification attests to the accuracy of the translation and the translator’s qualifications and experience. However, such translators do not have stamps or any official or state-recognised status.
Tuesday, 4 March 2014
by

Key cultural knowledge in translation

Being a linguist doesn't mean simply having well developed language skills, it requires a high level of cultural awareness and an open mind especially when dealing with matters of international business or international law. Understanding terms and their true roots is key.

Among the hot Islamic items of interest in the West is the term sharia and that which is associated with it. Something gets lost in the translation if you don’t fully understand the term and what it means to the lives of over one billion Muslims.  The term itself means the unchanging body of texts and their precepts that govern all aspects of a Muslim’s life. The Quran and the literature termed hadith are the immutable body of texts. Hadith refer to that which the Prophet did and said. In turn, this includes all of his actions, their frequency and circumstances which he approved both directly or indirectly. The application of the aforementioned is termed fiqh.  If Islam is a way of life, it is a prescribed way of living whose tenets and values affect every aspect and second of a Muslim’s life. Allah’s, (God’s), likes and dislikes are never absent and for the believer are first in priority over that and those who are less than Him in power, knowledge and so on.

To learn more about Sharia and some common examples we interviewed Dr. Mukhtar Curtis, who has a Ph.d in Islamic Studies from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Curtis, please give an example of Sharia and its application:

“On this personal level of Sharia governance, for example, is the treatment of parents. It is more than a personal, good feeling, fuzzy do gooder item. Allah says in the Qur’an:  (17:23) And your Lord has commanded that you serve/worship none but Him. And that you treat your parents in a manner knowing that Allah sees you. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honor. Thus, the sharia prescribes that parents be treated in an especially high and good manner. The fiqh of it applies to the particulars. Depending on the Muslim society and culture, this may mean that offspring are not to look directly into the eyes of their parents when the mother or father is disciplining them or that the parents are always to be served first even if there are young children present or that it is impermissible to marry someone whom the parents reject.  In a non-Muslim society these things may be totally different depending upon the culture and societal norms.”

These differences are significant in terms of translations.  Some things are cultural in Islam and some things are religious.  It is important to know the difference.

“On another personal level is the item of prayer. All practicing Muslims know that it is obligatory by the Sharia, namely the Quran and Sunnah (the actions of the Prophet, pbuh, as contained in the hadith). However, the practical application of the sharia, the fiqh, produces variations that we identify with the differences associated with the major schools of fiqh: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, Hanbali and others. This is why Muslims may fold their hands and arms in prayer and some do not; why some always wash their feet for wudu (cleansing before prayer) and some allow for wiping over their socks or shoes; why some Imams say the basmallah out loud when leading prayer and others do not.”

Dr. Curtis continues with examples.  “On a higher level is the Sharia injunction not to get high or be drunk; and if one is found to be drunk, after a proper assessment, the Sharia dictates that the person should be lashed. There is a sharia principle involved in confronting wrong-doing in Islam whose general idea is that if the imposition of a good leads to or makes the wrong or illegal situation a worse condition concerning the halal (the permitted), then do not impose the good, for in such a case, it has been Shaytan (devil) who has been helped not the rule of God.” 

“For example, when the Mongols ruled Egypt during the time of Ibn Taymiyyah, he and Ibn Qayyim came across a soldier (or soldiers) who were drunk. Ibn Qayyim wanted the Islamic punishment to be exacted. Ibn Taymiyyah said no. Since the Mongols ostensibly were only nominally Muslim, the soldier(s), when sober might be wrongfully jailing, killing or raping. He advised that it was better, therefore, for the Mongul to remain drunk.”


“Many people, Muslim and non-Muslim, read the Quran and hadith and may believe that the commands, injunctions and the like found therein are clear cut and are to be literally applied and understood. Such a mentality belies the educated Muslim belief that the Quran and sunnah are unique and a priori are so since Allah Himself has guaranteed that He will preserve them.  Indeed, one indication of this is the body of literature concerning the religion that is tremendously respected and read throughout the centuries although the authors of them had no public relations personnel or advertising. The texts of al-Bukhari, Muslim, Imam Nawawi are a few of a number of other examples.”

Translations2u/Language Matters Worldwide Ltd specialises in commercial and legal translation and includes a team of specialists in the translation of sharia law related matters including Islamic finance agreements.