What is th@ called?

In the translation industry, consistency of terminology within a document is a desirable characteristic. To achieve a translation with the same consistency of terms/phrases that are important to one’s business, company, or institution, the source document should have uniformity as well.

However, as a lover of words, I appreciate how we as speakers and how language itself seem to resist uniformity. Take, for example, the multiplicity of words used for the @ symbol, found in everyone's email address.

English alone has many words for this symbol, including “atmark” or “commercial at,” terms that some have observed lack the romance or at least the visual provocation of @’s name in other languages:

In Italian, “chiocciola” (little snail)
In Dutch, “aperstaart” (monkey’s tail)
In Swedish, “snabel-a” (‘a’ with an elephant’s trunk) or “kanelbulle” (Swedish equivalent to a Chelsea bun)
In German, “eine Klammeraffe” (a clinging monkey)
In Yiddish, a strudel
In Finnish, a monkey’s tail
In Greek, a little duck
In Russian, a little dog

Some say it should be called the “ampersat,” to follow suit with & or “ampersand.” Others simply refer to it as the “at” sign, which is straightforward enough and gives a clue to its use over its appearance, but in my opinion is a bit banal. Other names cited in the Free Online Dictionary of Computing include: rare, each, vortex, whorl, intercal, whirlpool, cyclone, snail, ape, cat, rose, cabbage, amphora…

Certainly, when it comes to translation, consistent terms/phrases are desirable and necessary. However, if the @ symbol is any model, the immense variety and creativity of word options in language can present a powerful force.

Thanks to the “Odds and Ends” chapter in Word Watching by Julian Burnside for much of this information. See the on-line discussion and more words for @ on guardian.co.uk by clicking here.

Learn language

This blog is chock full of links for both learning and teaching languages (including English), many of them free. You can connect to language learning podcasts, social language learning networks (the modern pen pal), study-abroad programs, software applications for specific languages, etc. Of course, we recommend a “buyer beware” stance if using the page with links to free online translation!

On the topic of irony

i·ro·ny (ī'rə-nē, ī'ər-) (definition by answers.com)
n., pl. -nies.

1. The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning.

2. An expression or utterance marked by a deliberate contrast between apparent and intended meaning.

3. A literary style employing such contrasts for humorous or rhetorical effect.

4. Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs.

5. An occurrence, result, or circumstance notable for such incongruity. See Usage Note at ironic.

6. Dramatic irony.

7. Socratic irony.

[French ironie, from Old French, from Latin īrōnīa, from Greek eirōneia, feigned ignorance, from eirōn, dissembler, probably from eirein, to say.]

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In an earlier post, I criticized those who use incorrect grammar. Ironically, some very astute colleagues found several errors in my post. I apologize for that. In my excitement and haste I forgot to completely edit my work. My sincerest apologies to those who read it and thanks to those who caught the mistakes and corrected them.

Image by Cartoon Stock

The Linguists on PBS

PBS (Public Broadcast System) has announced a new documentary film The Linguists for airing on Friday, 2/27/09 on Albany channel 17/WMHT (at 2 am!). I heard a preview on the radio and excerpted this from the NPR website: “The efforts of linguists Greg Anderson and David Harrison to preserve languages on the brink of extinction are chronicled. Their journeys take them to Siberia to record Chulym, a dialect now spoken by fewer than 25 people; to India, where an expressive regional language called Sora is dying out; and to Bolivia to capture a language once spoken by healers to the Inca emperor.”

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

On communication

One of my QA/editing colleagues sent the quote below to the rest of the LinguaLinx QA/editing team:

“Oliver Wendell Holmes once said: ‘A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanging, it is the skin of a living thought and may vary greatly in color and content according to the circumstances and time in which it is used.’ Those of us who use language as our principal tool of trade would do well to bear this in mind. The communication of an idea is not complete, and not useful, unless the meaning received corresponds with the meaning intended.”

from Word Watching by Julian Burnside

What is LinguaLinx?

LinguaLinx Language Solutions, Inc. is a full-service communications agency providing multilingual solutions to today’s leading corporations, law firms, non-profit organizations and government agencies. LinguaLinx offers an exceptional level of practical experience in the language industry. Founded in early 2002 to provide high-quality language solutions and informed, cost-effective client service at competitive rates, LinguaLinx leverages our management team’s collective experience to engage only the most qualified professionals who follow rigorous quality control procedures.

LinguaLinx is also the fasted growing translation company in the US, and the only translation company to land a spot on the 2008 Inc. 500 list, debuting at No. 311.