Internationalisation in DITA
Internationalisation in DITA (and how to deal with Japanese index terms) Companies generate enormous amounts of data and technical documentation. This presents huge challenges for …
There’s more than one way to skin a horse
There’s more than one way to skin a horse The English language is loaded with idioms. These strange phrases are generally understood and used frequently …
Motivating monikers: why job titles matter
Motivating monikers: why job titles matter You will spend a huge proportion of your life at work. The nature of that work is inevitably fundamental …
All about spoonerisms
All about spoonerisms Sometimes your brain can get way ahead of your mouth. When your tongue and mouth are struggling to keep up with your …
Commonly misunderstood and misused English words
Commonly misunderstood and misused English words English boasts a huge vocabulary in comparison with many languages. When there are hundreds of thousands of words to …
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Euphemisms in marketing and advertising
Euphemisms in marketing and advertising The term euphemism is derived from the Greek word euphēmismos which means to use auspicious words. Euphemisms are neutral, innocuous …
Is it wrong to pull out all the glottal stops?
Is it wrong to pull out all the glottal stops? People will always be judged by the way they speak. In Britain, the language police …
Iconic Mountains: What’s in a Name?
Iconic Mountains: What’s in a Name? We have previously discussed how English has progressively become the world’s lingua franca. The use of English doesn’t please …
SLV or MLV? That is the question!
SLV or MLV? That is the question! Translation and localisation projects vary dramatically in size, scope and character. Happily, language service providers (LSPs) are equally diverse, …
Jamaican English and Patois
Jamaican English and Patois The official language of Jamaica is Jamaican Standard English, a variety of Standard English. However, the island is also notable for …
Manga translator
Mantra Inc. delivers first automated system for manga translation We have exciting news for manga enthusiasts and all fans of comics! Japanese start-up Mantra Inc. …
Book Fairs in 2021
What does the COVID-19 pandemic mean for Book Fairs in 2021? 2020 was a mixed year for bibliophiles. As a result of the national lockdowns in various countries across …
The English West Country Accent
The English West Country Accent There’s no mistaking the pleasing sound of the West Country accent. Many people find West Country speak rather appealing. But, …
Registering the difference – language and context
Registering the difference – language and context Consciously or not, we all adapt the way we speak and write to suit our audience or the …
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Mondegreens in all their glory
With Sellotape and knives – mondegreens in all their glory We’ve all experienced those awkward moments when we have completely misheard what somebody has said. …
British place names you probably can’t pronounce
British place names you probably can’t pronounce English is a very difficult language to master. So difficult that most native speakers struggle to remain grammatically …
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Do English people speak too quickly?
Do English people speak too quickly? Any language can sound as if it is being spoken with indecent haste when you don’t understand it. English …
How to find your way in the Excel maze
How to find your way in the Excel maze Excel is almost certainly the file format encountered most frequently in the translation industry. Microsoft Excel …
Tomorrow will be a good day – touch wood!
Tomorrow will be a good day – touch wood! The English language is loaded with strange phrases and sayings but there is none stranger than …
Is English a gender-biased language?
Is English a gender-biased language? Gender bias in all aspects of life has been a hot topic for some time. In recent years, the spotlight …
