Monday, 20 July 2015
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Top 5 Mistakes To Avoid When Learning a Foreign Language



The Internet has made it easier for us to explore what we want. With a few clicks, you can see different places, talk to people from different countries, watch movies, or even learn new languages. If you are particularly inclined to know what phrases like Intercambios De Idiomas, encuentra penpals, or cursos de Ingles con videos mean, you need a good dose of effort and patience. There are also certain mistakes you must avoid if you want to master a new foreign language:

Not listening well.

Language experts suggest that you need to be a very good listener when learning a new language. You might notice how babies stare at you when you are talking and mimic the sounds you produce. You need that kind of focus and willingness to learn. Intercambio de Lenguas or language exchange can only happen if one is ready to listen. This will help you develop a new vocabulary and learn the structure of the new language.
We listen every day to people we communicate with on a daily basis but it can be difficult to practice when you are faced with a difficult foreign language. What you can do is to find TV shows, movies, and music using the new language. You can also join social networks that help people learn new languages.

Not being culturally curious.

Your natural curiosity and attitude are among the biggest factors in how you will progress when learning a new language. If you are interested in learning Spanish but not keen on learning different aspects of the Spanish culture, you might face more challenges in learning the new language.
Studies have shown that language learners who are culturally curious tend to be more receptive to the foreign language. Experts also encourage having amigos por correspondencia or pen pals that use the target language.

Using a single method.

Relying on just one method to learn a new language is not enough. You might be learning from language books but the process can be faster if you watch videos, talk with native speakers, and employ different media using the new language. Considering referring to high quality translation tools and experts as an additional method would help a great deal.
Using different methods can help you acquire more skills that you need to master a new language. If you are looking for a language course or an online language community, make sure that you will be able to practice listening, writing, reading, and speaking.

You are Easily Frustrated.

Right from the start, you need to set in your mind that you cannot learn the new language in a snap. You will be learning new words every day, learning rules for the new language, and encountering people who know by heart the language you are trying to learn. Try to conquer the challenges you face by utilizing the resources you have like the friends who speak the language, videos, books, online courses, and social networks.

Being Timid.

Any negativity towards learning a foreign language can slow you down. It can be quite overwhelming but knowing what resources to tap can make life easier for you. Remember to use the new language so you can improve it as you go along.
Do not be afraid to make mistakes, be it spoken or written, since they give you the opportunity to correct the errors before they become part of your system.

Friday, 19 June 2015
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REASONS WHY BILINGUALISM MAKES YOU BETTER

Did you know that there are more bilingual people in the world than there are monolingual people? According to the Associated Press, 66 percent of the children in the world are raised to speak two languages but only 6.3 percent of the children in the U.S. are. Bilingual education has become a hot-button political issue in the U.S. But politics aside, as Ana Flores of SpanglishBaby.com discussed, studies suggest that teaching our children to speak more than one language can provide surprising, long-lasting benefits.

The benefits of being bilingual extend far beyond simply being able to speak to people of different nationalities and opening up job/business opportunities, a language service provider being a good example. Outlined below are some out of the very many benefits of bilingualism:

1. Effortless Observation Skills
A study comparing German-Italian bilinguals and Italian monolinguals conducted at University of Pompeu Fabra in Spain found that bilinguals' brains tend to operate more efficiently with less overall brain activity in tasks relating to observation of surroundings (like driving a car).

2. What You Lack In Speed, You Make for Up In Capability
Children, after a year of learning a second language, will experience increased neural activity when exposed to an unfamiliar language compared with monolingual children. That is, their brains are effortlessly more active.

3. Offset Dementia
Many studies have found that the stimulation of the parts of the brain used when multilingual cause us to be more advanced cognitively. There are theories that this stimulation can delay dementia in the elderly. A study conducted in the University of California concluded that bilingual people are less likely to suffer from dementia or the symptoms of Alzheimer's with those who are more proficient in both languages lucky enough to delay onset further.

4. In Making Rational Decisions
The University of Chicago ran an experiment on bilinguals making decisions while thinking in their native tongue, compared with the same scenario but thinking in their additional language (all Americans who had learned Spanish in school). All participants behaved more rationally when processing information in the non-native language.

5. Less Capable Of Being Manipulated
When speaking the non-native language bilinguals are far less likely to be influenced by 'triggering' words or psychologically manipulated through semantics. This is because they view the language in a linear, formulaic fashion digesting the information and transferring it into their own language as simply as possible, where words which may be synonyms in the language being heard are considered the same in the mind of the reader.

6. Inhibitory Control
This means that bilingual people are better at selecting valuable information and filtering irrelevant content more efficiently. This is useful in many aspects of daily life and contributes to being more decisive.

7. Improved Short Term Memory
An experiment conducted on children to remember a group of words then recite them showed that the bilingual children recalled more words, and in cases of semantically linked word groups and arbitrary word groups had improved memories.

8. Less Difficulty Learning Additional Languages
As the bilingual person is more adept at noticing linguistic variation it is less difficult for them to build upon their two existing languages than it is for a monolingual individual to take that first step into a new language. Much like those first few trips to the gym are the most difficult, a bilingual person has already developed language learning 'muscles'.

9. Provision of Career Opportunities
Today, there are plenty of opportunities for bilingual people which include Customer Service Representative, Technical Support Representative, Field Interviewer, Project Manager, Field Supervisor and more. Getting this kind of job, however, does not simply depend on the linguistic knowledge, training that covers the whole course of the particular subject would also be required.

Conclusion
Being bilingual or even multilingual therefore opens up a range of career opportunities at all levels. Even if the person chooses not to use the second language, the brain functions are already in place to allow enhanced communication skills, key to most fields of employment. Improved cognitive abilities, open-mindedness and analytical skills in relationships and new situations in addition to potential health benefits are evidence that coming from a social or family environment where more than one language is spoken is an advantage not to be dismissed.
Wednesday, 10 December 2014
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Spain - Spanish Translation & Getting Married



Many people choose to get married in Spain simply because of the country’s pure beauty. Others wish to be part of a different culture or enjoy the idea of traveling abroad for their wedding. Nonetheless, getting married in Spain comes with many legal requirements that must be fulfilled before the ceremony can take place.

To start off, both the bride and groom must be at least 18 years of age or older, and cannot be related in any way at all. Next, you must be a resident or own property in Spain for a minimum of two years before your wedding day. Otherwise, if this requirement is not met, then you can get married in Spain if you are a Catholic and choose to have a Catholic ceremony.

Before the ceremony even takes place, there are various procedures you must follow if you wish for the process to go smoothly and successfully. For instance, you must visit the Civil Registry to fill out an application form to marry. The Intent to Marry notice must be sworn by both of the applicants and posted at least fifteen days prior to the wedding day.

Apart from the common legalities associated with getting married in Spain, there are also less commonly known legal requirements. These involve translation by an approved translator. This is something that has to be dealt with if you wish to get married in any non-English speaking country.

The legal papers you must provide include an original birth certificate, Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage, Certificate of Residence, divorce papers, death certificate and former marriage certificate, and legal proof of any name change. The latter includes if you reverted back to your maiden name after a previous divorce. Of course, some of these papers only apply to those people who were previously married, divorced, widowed, or if they are residents of Spain.

All of these documents, with occasional exceptions, require translation by a sworn translator and some require an Apostille stamp. Otherwise, the marriage ceremony might not be able to take place. More information on Apostilles, sworn and certified translations or translationsfrom English to Spanish is available from Translations2u. Just use the online form or email lmw@translations2u.com
Thursday, 4 December 2014
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Understanding Arabic



Arabic is a beautiful language that dates back to the sixth century.  It is a Central Semitic language which is closely related to Hebrew, Aramaic, Ugaritic and Phoenician.  As many as 420 million people around the world speak Arabic while most are concentrated in the Arab world.  It is the official language in 27 countries and one of six official languages of the United Nations. More than 1.6 billion Muslims speak Arabic in their daily religious worship.

It has influenced numerous languages around the world including Urdu, Persian, Hindi, Malay, Swahili, Punjabi, Kurdish, Turkish, Indonesian, Pashto and many more.  Through Arabic, culture was transmitted in Europe with science, mathematics and philosophy.  Consequently many European languages have borrowed Arabic words.  Arabic words can also be found in Latin and Greek.  

Spanish, Catalan and Portuguese also were influenced by Arabic because of the closeness between Christian European and Muslim Arab civilizations during 800 years of Arabic culture and language in the Iberian Peninsula.  Arabic has also borrowed words from Persian, Greek and Syriac languages.
Those new to the language learn what is called Modern Standard Arabic.  Classical Arabic is found in the Holy Quran the religious book of the Muslims.  Many a traveler, proud of what they’ve learned of the language are greeted with frustration when they arrive in one of the 27 countries where Arabic is the official language and they hear something different than what they’ve learned.   

Puzzled by the difference, is it back to the drawing board to learn a totally new form of Arabic?
The short answer is no.  Modern Standard Arabic is the found around the world in print publications and is understood by many Arabic speakers but in many different countries they have spoken differences.  Egyptian Arabic is spoken by 54 million people.  It is a colloquial language confined to the borders of one of Africa’s largest countries.  It descended from Arabic when the language arrived in the seventh century and was influenced by the Coptics of pre Islamic Egypt.  It is one of the most widely spoken and studied varieties of Arabic.  Egyptian Arabic is basically a spoken language though it can also be found in the culture in the form of poems, plays, and songs.  It has no official status and is not recognized as a language.  
 
But that’s not the only difference in Egyptian Arabic.  Even within the country there are different dialects of Egyptian Arabic.  Saidi Arabic is spoken in the northern part of the country.  It is widely spoken by 19 million people.  The Arabic you speak identifies where you are from in the country.  There is Western Egyptian Bedawi Arabic and there is also Eastern Egyptian Bedawi Arabic.  The differences between the dialects include some reductions of long vowels in open and unstressed syllables, the modal meaning of the imperfect and the integration of the participle.  You may need an advanced English grammar degree to understand that but basically it means that words and phrases adapt to the culture and lifestyle of the people over time.

The dialects don’t end there. Travel to the Eastern Mediterranean coastal strip that includes Syria, Greece, Albania and Turkey you’ll hear Levantine Arabic considered one of the five major varieties of Arabic.  It is spoken only (no written form) and is a part of Eastern Arabic that includes Mesopotamian Arabic and peninsula Arabic.  In that area written Arabic and official documents use Modern Standard Arabic.  Levantine Arabic is distinguished by its stress pattern which closely resembles Classic Arabic.  The differences are also distinguished by whether you come from an urban area, rural or nomadic population.

Travel to Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Iran, Oman or the United Arab Emirates and you will hear Gulf Arabic.  It is spoken by 3.6 million people.  This dialect differs in vocabulary, grammar and accent.  Gulf Arabic is distinct from Saudi Arabic.  Most Saudis speak Hejazi Arabic, Najdi Arabic or Bareqi Arabic.  Neither are an official language.

Travel to northern Africa to Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia or Malta and you will hear Maghrebi Arabic spoken.  It is a colloquial language called Derija or Darija by the natives.  Written communication is done in Modern Standard Arabic or French depending upon the country.  Maghrebi Arabic can also be heard on TV dramas.  Its vocabulary is mostly Arabic with some Berber, French, Spanish and even Italian words thrown in, the language of the historical occupiers of the region.

Well if you’re now totally confused and think the Arabic you’ve learned is useless, think again.  While certain areas have specific dialects they all know Modern Standard Arabic.  Learn what you can and then mix in with the locals where you can learn even more.  One of the best classrooms for learning a language is right among the people.

As salaam alaikum!

Translations2u is a UK legal and commercial translation specialist that offers Arabic language translation.
Wednesday, 15 October 2014
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Multilingual video production

So excited to finally be publishing our new video productions website and starting off the marketing for this new offer.

Using our multilingual skills to rise to even more challenges, the company can now offer promotional video clips to support organisations of every genre in their online marketing through video - the way to get noticed.

So, here is just one of our own videos to give you an idea.




Tuesday, 5 August 2014
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Interrogating Catherine

The concept of human rights has been widely debated for some time now and spans diverse matters that impact on all of our lives. For some, the concept is academic, for others it is non-existent.  The concept fundamentally consists of rights and freedoms granted to the individual by his or her government and, in Europe, embodied in the European Convention of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The most significant of those are article 2 (right to life), article 3 (prohibition against torture, inhuman or degrading treatment), article 8 (right to privacy) and article 10 (freedom of expression).

Over the last 30 years, 155 states have ratified the UN Convention Against Torture although recent Amnesty International surveys revealed that over half of its signatories are continuing this practice. And since 2009 torture and other treatments have been recorded in some 141 countries. To quote Salil Shetty, Secretary General to Amnesty International, “Governments around the world are two-faced on torture – prohibiting it in law, but facilitating it in practice”.

Many people think of this sort of conduct in countries far from home, but is our right under article 8 and our freedom under article 10 truly and freely granted to us?

There are significant debates over the value of privacy vs security. Cameras record our every move in the name of security most places we go. The advancement of technology has enabled a safer society as well as a more controlled one. Every keystroke on a mobile phone or computer is recorded – somewhere.

Ray Corrigan, Senior Lecturer on Technology at the Open University whose academic interests lie between law, society and technology, believes that such collection of data is “incompatible with the rule of law – and a healthy society” when it is in relation to “every member of the population” for later “fishing expeditions” seeking out “misbehaviour”.

An independent filmmaker is currently examining these concepts in a new film titled “Interrogating Catherine” described as “a modern day look at government sponsored intelligence, torture and interrogation methods.”


This grabbed our interest here at Translations2u, especially in light of our current expansion into making multilingual corporate films. Anyone who is interested to any extent in human rights both at home and overseas should take a look at this. You can find out more about the film and what’s happening here: http://www.interrogatingcatherine.com/index.html. And if you’d like to help raise awareness of these issues, help out by making any contribution at https://www.fundsurfer.com/project/interrogating-catherine.

References:
http://worldwithouttorture.org/tag/torture-statistics/
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:12012P/TXT
http://www3.open.ac.uk/documents/7/rl1412073704271340.pdf
Monday, 9 June 2014
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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
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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
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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.