Take me out to the "BAL" game...

I was reading this article and it reminded me of how important proofreading is:

Majestic Athletic, the company that created these jerseys, creates all of the jerseys for Major League Baseball. They issued an apology here. To avoid national embarrasement, make sure you have a trustworthy proofreader!

Announcement!

I know I know, this might not be complete blog material - but LinguaLinx has announced the formation of its newest division. This division specializes in content authoring. Think of your LSP as a partner - we can help you write your content from day one, making the translation process easier for us and saving you money. It's a win-win situation. For more information, click here:

LinguaLinx Announces Formation of GlobalScript™

What is TM and why do I need one?

Translation memory (TM) is exactly what you think it is, in the simplest terms: A database that stores previously translated segments. This translation memory aids professional linguists in keeping production time low and consistency high.

The key word in this definition is segments. When the term "translation memory" is mentioned, often people get confused and think that every translated word is stored individually inside this memory. However, this is not the case. A TM will consist of translated segments, sentences, and paragraphs. Many people feel that translation memories were created for the sole purpose of reducing costs. This is also false. Although the use of TM can cause a slight decrease in price over time, translation memory was created to help maintain consistency and quality throughout documents. TM ensures that mission statements, slogans, and names will be translated consistently throughout all documents for a particular company.

When translating for the first time, do not be too concerned with the potential price benefit of translation memory. Instead, consider for which translations TM is best suited. Over time you will see the benefits. Remember that price alone should not dictate which translation provider you choose. Consider the quality translation that may be gained for virtually the same cost in comparison to not using TM. Translation memory is here to help you keep brand consistency. And that consistency is invaluable to your business.

What your spelling says about you

In any profession, correct spelling and grammar is important. None of us like to admit it but we all judge a book by its cover and in a world of emails, texting and blogging, our writing IS our cover. No one would send a potential employer a resume with typos. That's why the amount of emails and other materials that is sent with typos and misspellings is astounding.

Some of these grammatical faux pas are even reproduced on a grander scale. In this article, by Jen Carlson of the Gothamist website, she notes several examples within the New York City Transit system. Some of these mistakes are decades old! These errors are enough to leave anyone wondering where the proofreaders were on these projects.

Proofreaders, editors and quality assurance specialists are an integral part of ensuring that a quality product is presented to the world. After all, you are a brand – shouldn't you spell your name correctly?

photo by Wes VerHoeve