Welcome to our new newsletter, Panoramas. In each issue we’ll take a wide and comprehensive view of the expanding translation and interpreting landscape, and how it affects you.
As the world grows smaller, the demand for translation and interpreting services grows larger. The dynamics of these two phenomenons are tied together through communication. We’re all doing more of it, and we’re trying to do it better.
Whether you’re a business looking to cultivate new foreign markets, an organization trying to serve limited-English-speaking clients, or an individual just trying to stay connected, language is key to making it all work. But it’s no longer just a handful of key languages we’re conversing in, like Spanish, Chinese, French or German. Now we are interacting with virtually every corner of the world and the myriad languages that exist out there—from Acholi to Zulu.
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.
Translation: “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”
This proverb by 19th century French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr captures our mindset at ASIST Translation Services. We’re excited to announce some new changes in our company, but proud to say we’ll continue to provide the same high-quality translation and interpreting services our customers have enjoyed for the past 30 years.
First let’s talk about the things that have changed.
Multilingual Websites = More Sales. A multilingual website is an easy solution for businesses looking to achieve that competitive edge, increase their client base, and secure higher sales volumes. As the process of globalization deepens, a multilingual website will not be an option, but a necessity. Top 2 Reasons to…
ASIST Translation Services Inc. has been translating to and from Spanish for the US market for over 25 years (as well as other Spanish-speaking countries around the world, of course!). Among the frequent topics of conversation with our translation clients are the many myths and misconceptions about the Spanish-speaking population…
First question: Where is the recorded audio going to be used? In the United States, Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico, Central America, South America… or some combination of the above? Choosing an appropriate accent is extremely important. Audiences can easily be distracted when a narrator’s accent seems “out of place,” and…
The figures one sees for the number of Spanish speakers per country vary tremendously. One of the biggest factors is whether the number being cited includes all “Spanish speakers”—including those who speak Spanish as a first, second or even third language—or exclusively those who speak Spanish as their first or…
A 2007 report by the Pew Hispanic Center provides statistics about how Hispanic immigrants in the United States manage Spanish and English. Here, we recap a few points that are of great interest for anyone involved with Spanish translations for the United States. 52% of foreign-born Hispanics speak only Spanish…
The Spanish-speaking, Hispanic population in Columbus, Ohio (Franklin County) has increased dramatically over the past few years. Accordingly, the area’s hospitals, healthcare providers, medical suppliers, courts, legal offices, government and social services have met the challenge to ensure that Spanish translations, Spanish interpreters, and culturally appropriate communication is available to…
According to the Ethnologue Web site, in addition to Spanish, 290 living language varieties are spoken within Mexico. This includes between 87,000 and 100,000 people who speak Mexican Sign Language. Eight percent of Mexico’s population speaks one of many native-american languages. When creating Spanish translations for use in Mexico, it…
When you employ a translation agency to create Portuguese, French or Spanish translations of your existing material, simply specifying one of these language names is not sufficient! The Portuguese variety spoken by 163 million people in Brazil has important differences from the variety spoken by 10 million in Portugal. Use…