Have been quite free these three months and suddenly this week I got pile of work to do! That's freelance life, lack of sleep this week. But good to have more $$! :D
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
Showing posts with label Translation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Translation. Show all posts
Am in US working
It's been about 4 days, work is fine. Just downloaded this blogger app which will allow me to blog easily.
Attached a yummy Thai dessert we had last night! :)
Attached a yummy Thai dessert we had last night! :)
My recent updates
My full-time freelance life started end May this year (yes, I was part-time freelancing for a looong time), and I have been enjoying it a great deal so far, apart from some parts of it which I did worry a bit about my income. But as a whole, I do enjoy the freedom (A LOT!!!). And to be able to meet different people from around the world because of different jobs makes me happy.
But as you can see, I have been so busy that I didn't even have time to update this space, which is sad because I do want to share my different jobs (some interesting, some boring, well, life can't be perfect, right?) with all of you. Anyway, I will try to do it whenever I can, and here is a brief catch-up of what's been happening in my translator/interpreter life:
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
But as you can see, I have been so busy that I didn't even have time to update this space, which is sad because I do want to share my different jobs (some interesting, some boring, well, life can't be perfect, right?) with all of you. Anyway, I will try to do it whenever I can, and here is a brief catch-up of what's been happening in my translator/interpreter life:
- Wine fair in Shanghai in late May
- Translation job for a tech comp. in June
- English summer camps in HK and 19 days in UK as a counsellor in July and Aug
- Sep was a bit dull, so nth about Sep...
- Translation job in Oct for a tech comp. in Beijing for 10 days
- Wine fair in HK in Nov
These are the big ones and there were also smaller translation jobs here and there. And among all these, I have also started a website called GingCreative (www.GingCreative.com), it's a crowdfunding website for people who have great ideas but lack of funding to raise money and fulfill their dreams!
Have a look if you have time, and do "Like" our facebook page (if you really do like it :), although it's just in Chinese at the moment, you can still give a "Like" base on the design. :D And comments welcome!
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
Why is a universal translator so elusive?
Lust for translation
By LJ Rich BBC Click
With a global economy and flights that can take you all over the world in hours, why is it that we still struggle with a language barrier that technology is finding hard to break down?
Turn on a TV in a Tokyo hotel room and you will get, if you do not speak the language, a jumble of incomprehensible symbols.
And from the moment you touch down in Japan, chances are you will be faced with a world that is difficult to decode.
Some of the world's most untranslatable words are Japanese. For instance, the word "naa", used in the Kansai area of Japan to emphasise statements or agree with someone, is placed third in a list of the most difficult words to translate - so what can be done when confronted by information that you are unable to process?
Translators are expensive and while useful in getting out of sticky situations, they are often out of the reach of the regular tourist.
So a gadget that was the perfect translation tool would be ideal. If only it were that simple.
Science fiction has always circumnavigated the problem of language with clever devices which act as universal translators - Doctor Who's Tardis, the Babel fish in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - but in reality it has been a lot trickier.
Turn on a TV in a Tokyo hotel room and you will get, if you do not speak the language, a jumble of incomprehensible symbols.
And from the moment you touch down in Japan, chances are you will be faced with a world that is difficult to decode.
Some of the world's most untranslatable words are Japanese. For instance, the word "naa", used in the Kansai area of Japan to emphasise statements or agree with someone, is placed third in a list of the most difficult words to translate - so what can be done when confronted by information that you are unable to process?
Translators are expensive and while useful in getting out of sticky situations, they are often out of the reach of the regular tourist.
So a gadget that was the perfect translation tool would be ideal. If only it were that simple.
Science fiction has always circumnavigated the problem of language with clever devices which act as universal translators - Doctor Who's Tardis, the Babel fish in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - but in reality it has been a lot trickier.
There is already a clutch of reading aids on the web - most notably, and now in over 50 languages, Google Translate. For access to websites beyond your mother tongue, just enter the web page address and the tool does all the hard work.
The problem is that, so far, it is quite literal with its translations and lacks the nuance of someone who speaks the language. Google itself says "while we are working on the problem, it may be some time before anyone can offer human quality translations".
Another site called dotSUB lets members add their own subtitles or translations to videos - think YouTube meets Wikipedia - and the free version allows people to translate through 400 languages, though there is no formal quality control.
Kanji understand?
Japanese is particularly challenging as there are three different types of writing.
One alphabet is especially for foreign words and if that was not complicated enough there are also over 50,000 symbols - Kanji - which are actually pictures of whole words.
You need about 2,000 of them to get through daily life in Japan.
An iPhone app called WishoTouch lets you enter Kanji by hand then gives you a dictionary definition. But you will need to know the stroke order - although the add-on lets you photograph your mystery Kanji, one character at a time.
The problem is that, so far, it is quite literal with its translations and lacks the nuance of someone who speaks the language. Google itself says "while we are working on the problem, it may be some time before anyone can offer human quality translations".
Another site called dotSUB lets members add their own subtitles or translations to videos - think YouTube meets Wikipedia - and the free version allows people to translate through 400 languages, though there is no formal quality control.
Kanji understand?
Japanese is particularly challenging as there are three different types of writing.
One alphabet is especially for foreign words and if that was not complicated enough there are also over 50,000 symbols - Kanji - which are actually pictures of whole words.
You need about 2,000 of them to get through daily life in Japan.
An iPhone app called WishoTouch lets you enter Kanji by hand then gives you a dictionary definition. But you will need to know the stroke order - although the add-on lets you photograph your mystery Kanji, one character at a time.
So faced with the thought of dinner, and a whole load of symbols in a row, you are going to wish for a quicker and less painful way to help you find out what is on the menu.
One translation tool that deals with written text is called a Quicktionary and it is a character reader. It looks similar to a pen and when swiped across text it will give you a translation. At least, that is the idea.
This device is impressive but only works with two typefaces - a problem shared by most text readers.
And perhaps the most comprehensive gadget on a market is a 126-language cross translator made by Ectaco.
"It all started 20 years ago with the Russian market," says Greg Stetson, product manager of Ectaco.
"In Russia there were a lot of immigrants coming into America and [our product] started off as a Russian electronic dictionary - after that it evolved from electronic dictionaries to more language learning products - and from Russian it had to expand into different languages."
Artificial intelligence
Even soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq have used mobile translation when talking to local people. Voxtec's Phraselator has been the choice of the US military for years but, with a price tag of thousands of dollars, this is unlikely to transfer into success in the mass market.
Even if a machine can eventually translate speech in real time across hundreds of languages, it would still need some artificial intelligence to work out what people are actually implying - as everyone knows, no matter what country we are in, we do not always say what we mean.
One translation tool that deals with written text is called a Quicktionary and it is a character reader. It looks similar to a pen and when swiped across text it will give you a translation. At least, that is the idea.
This device is impressive but only works with two typefaces - a problem shared by most text readers.
And perhaps the most comprehensive gadget on a market is a 126-language cross translator made by Ectaco.
"It all started 20 years ago with the Russian market," says Greg Stetson, product manager of Ectaco.
"In Russia there were a lot of immigrants coming into America and [our product] started off as a Russian electronic dictionary - after that it evolved from electronic dictionaries to more language learning products - and from Russian it had to expand into different languages."
Artificial intelligence
Even soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq have used mobile translation when talking to local people. Voxtec's Phraselator has been the choice of the US military for years but, with a price tag of thousands of dollars, this is unlikely to transfer into success in the mass market.
Even if a machine can eventually translate speech in real time across hundreds of languages, it would still need some artificial intelligence to work out what people are actually implying - as everyone knows, no matter what country we are in, we do not always say what we mean.
"The Japanese prefer to speak in a roundabout way," says linguist Takafumi Shimizu, of Sophia University Tokyo.
"So if a taxi driver said to you it's difficult to get there in 10 minutes, he actually means it's impossible. Likewise when Japanese people want to refuse a request or invitation, they would say I'll think about it but do not expect a preferable answer later because the actual meaning is 'I'm refusing'."
And even if you get the right words, you might get them in the wrong order - luckily if you're speaking to Professor Shimizu, he will probably understand you anyway.
"In English, the basic word order is subject, verb, object," he says.
"In Japanese the best word order is subject, object and then verb. So for example 'I bought tea leaves at Harrods yesterday' would be, in Japanese, 'yesterday Harrods at I tea leaves bought'."
In Star Trek, their universal translation device was not invented until the latter half of the 22nd Century and even then it was not flawless. Let's just hope we do not have to wait that long for something similar in real life.
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
"So if a taxi driver said to you it's difficult to get there in 10 minutes, he actually means it's impossible. Likewise when Japanese people want to refuse a request or invitation, they would say I'll think about it but do not expect a preferable answer later because the actual meaning is 'I'm refusing'."
And even if you get the right words, you might get them in the wrong order - luckily if you're speaking to Professor Shimizu, he will probably understand you anyway.
"In English, the basic word order is subject, verb, object," he says.
"In Japanese the best word order is subject, object and then verb. So for example 'I bought tea leaves at Harrods yesterday' would be, in Japanese, 'yesterday Harrods at I tea leaves bought'."
In Star Trek, their universal translation device was not invented until the latter half of the 22nd Century and even then it was not flawless. Let's just hope we do not have to wait that long for something similar in real life.
iPhone新程式助即時傳譯
智能手機iPhone大流行，吸引了不少人為其設計軟件，有程式設計師為它設計了一款雙向即時翻譯軟件，將iPhone變成一位通曉五十一種語言的即時傳譯員，打破人與人之間的語言隔膜
屏幕分成雙向區域
這款名為Converse的iPhone即時翻譯程式，將手機屏幕分割成兩個不同語言區，各區擁有自己的語言鍵盤，兩名操不同語言的 人，只須通過該程式便可以即時為語言解結。使用時，其中一方在設有自己語言的鍵盤上輸入字句，系統便會將句子譯成指定文字，顯示在屏幕另一端，對方在靠近 自己一方的鍵盤上，用自己的文字回覆，軟件便會代為傳譯。
這個軟件共設有多達五十一種不同語言，包括中文、日文、韓文、泰文及俄文等，連阿拉伯文、烏克蘭文、捷克文及希伯來文等亦有提供翻譯，適合世界各地的iPhone用家。
It costs 1.99$US has anyone tried? It just feels very funny to me, I can't imagine myself playing my iPhone with a stranger in a foreign country. :P
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
屏幕分成雙向區域
這款名為Converse的iPhone即時翻譯程式，將手機屏幕分割成兩個不同語言區，各區擁有自己的語言鍵盤，兩名操不同語言的 人，只須通過該程式便可以即時為語言解結。使用時，其中一方在設有自己語言的鍵盤上輸入字句，系統便會將句子譯成指定文字，顯示在屏幕另一端，對方在靠近 自己一方的鍵盤上，用自己的文字回覆，軟件便會代為傳譯。
這個軟件共設有多達五十一種不同語言，包括中文、日文、韓文、泰文及俄文等，連阿拉伯文、烏克蘭文、捷克文及希伯來文等亦有提供翻譯，適合世界各地的iPhone用家。
It costs 1.99$US has anyone tried? It just feels very funny to me, I can't imagine myself playing my iPhone with a stranger in a foreign country. :P
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
Recent translation jobs
I have been doing mostly translation jobs lately.
Last month, I did quite a long one, it's a company training manual, the content is not too difficult, because it's straightforward, but it's the turnaround time, I quoted 7 days for about 7000 words. It's not too easy because I had to finish it among other jobs on hand. Anyway, it's finally done and I handed in everything on time. :)
By the way, I just received a reader's email asking me about freelance interpretation jobs and charges for beginners in this industry. I am usually not a good quoter for jobs, but it seems to be quite a difficult for new comers, so I have decided that I will put up a post later regarding these issues to try to solve some of the puzzles new comers/graduates might encounter.
So stay tune! I promise it won't take too long this time. :)
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
牛栢葉譯 Albert Yip 港酒家歸咎內地生操刀
I am not trying to discriminate Mainland China's translators, I know there are many good ones there, but it's just hard to control the quality, so many of the ones with cheap prices there are universities students who don't really care about the quality. So I do recommend people to use Hong Kong translators (ME!! :P) to ensure qualities, higher price most of the time does guarantee quality. And the best of it is that you will then be supporting locals!
牛栢葉譯Albert Yip 菜單失禮人 九成亂來 港酒家歸咎內地生操刀
(明報) 2010年3月20日 星期六 05:10
【明報專訊】謎語一則﹕Albert Yip，猜一種食物——「答案」竟是牛栢葉！網上近日流傳天水圍 一間酒家的火鍋餐單，其英文翻譯被評為「笑爆嘴」，成為熱話，被譏為「大陸化翻譯」，如手打魚蛋是「Hand fighting fish balls」。有翻譯專家說﹕「近九成錯！這不是翻譯，是憑空揑造！我們常常笑大陸翻譯差，這次輪到香港蒙羞了！」有關酒家承認錯誤，歸咎請了內地大學生翻譯出事，已付錢找專人改正。
這張令人忍俊不禁的「英文菜牌」來自嘉湖海逸酒店滿庭芳海鮮火鍋酒家。旅遊界立法會 議員謝偉俊 說﹕「荒謬的菜牌竟然出現在這麼好的酒店餐廳內，真是失禮人！搞笑！會影響香港國際城市的聲譽，旅遊發展局應幫幫有困難的食肆。」
酒樓位於酒店 議員指損港譽
該酒家姓胡經理昨晚接受本報訪問時說，早前有一名港人帶外籍朋友來吃火鍋，突然投訴英文菜牌。胡氏說﹕「我英文不好，但也被嚇倒！牛栢葉竟是『Albert Yip』，粉絲是『fans』！」他說因上任不久，平時多接本地客，又主力控制食物水準，沒留意菜牌的翻譯，當時已立刻向客人道歉。
懷疑是上述客人的網友事後在食評網站圖文並茂講述事件，盛讚酒家美食，但笑言當日要逐道菜向外籍友人解釋，沒時間吃飽。他又幽默地推介該店美食「Albert Yip」。
胡經理感嘆說﹕「我翻查紀錄，發現原來以前有人找內地人翻譯，對方應該是大學生。想不到會 錯得這麼離譜！唉……」他說，點心菜單大致沒錯，「因為是我在以前任職的食肆抄來的」。他說已花1500元找翻譯公司重新翻譯火鍋菜單，「新的菜單一個星期左右便可用。」
正重新翻譯 專家﹕值得稱許
城大專上學院語文學部高級講師謝聰說，初時以為操刀翻譯的內地人用Google網上翻譯鬧出笑話，「但看過全份菜牌，發現更離譜，完全是生安白造！」他說火鍋菜牌58道菜中，只有鮮冬菇、鮮牛肉等數項勉強譯對。「文法錯晒！有些是普通話拼音、英文再加廣東拼音，如黃沙豬潤竟然是Huangsha Pig Run，Run是廣東拼音，但外國人看了就會想﹕什麼豬跑了？至於Albert Yip，根本像是拿某人開玩笑！」謝說，美國 肥牛譯成Cephalomappa更是離題萬丈，「我到網上一查，發現那是植物！」
謝說﹕「其實很多香港茶樓點心的特點、頂點、中點，普遍被翻譯成XL、L、M，也是常見錯誤！」謝希望市民不要對搞笑翻譯太苛刻，該店承諾立刻改進也值得稱許，但應該汲取教訓，維護香港的旅遊形象。
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
(明報) 2010年3月20日 星期六 05:10
【明報專訊】謎語一則﹕Albert Yip，猜一種食物——「答案」竟是牛栢葉！網上近日流傳天水圍 一間酒家的火鍋餐單，其英文翻譯被評為「笑爆嘴」，成為熱話，被譏為「大陸化翻譯」，如手打魚蛋是「Hand fighting fish balls」。有翻譯專家說﹕「近九成錯！這不是翻譯，是憑空揑造！我們常常笑大陸翻譯差，這次輪到香港蒙羞了！」有關酒家承認錯誤，歸咎請了內地大學生翻譯出事，已付錢找專人改正。
這張令人忍俊不禁的「英文菜牌」來自嘉湖海逸酒店滿庭芳海鮮火鍋酒家。旅遊界立法會 議員謝偉俊 說﹕「荒謬的菜牌竟然出現在這麼好的酒店餐廳內，真是失禮人！搞笑！會影響香港國際城市的聲譽，旅遊發展局應幫幫有困難的食肆。」
酒樓位於酒店 議員指損港譽
該酒家姓胡經理昨晚接受本報訪問時說，早前有一名港人帶外籍朋友來吃火鍋，突然投訴英文菜牌。胡氏說﹕「我英文不好，但也被嚇倒！牛栢葉竟是『Albert Yip』，粉絲是『fans』！」他說因上任不久，平時多接本地客，又主力控制食物水準，沒留意菜牌的翻譯，當時已立刻向客人道歉。
懷疑是上述客人的網友事後在食評網站圖文並茂講述事件，盛讚酒家美食，但笑言當日要逐道菜向外籍友人解釋，沒時間吃飽。他又幽默地推介該店美食「Albert Yip」。
胡經理感嘆說﹕「我翻查紀錄，發現原來以前有人找內地人翻譯，對方應該是大學生。想不到會 錯得這麼離譜！唉……」他說，點心菜單大致沒錯，「因為是我在以前任職的食肆抄來的」。他說已花1500元找翻譯公司重新翻譯火鍋菜單，「新的菜單一個星期左右便可用。」
正重新翻譯 專家﹕值得稱許
城大專上學院語文學部高級講師謝聰說，初時以為操刀翻譯的內地人用Google網上翻譯鬧出笑話，「但看過全份菜牌，發現更離譜，完全是生安白造！」他說火鍋菜牌58道菜中，只有鮮冬菇、鮮牛肉等數項勉強譯對。「文法錯晒！有些是普通話拼音、英文再加廣東拼音，如黃沙豬潤竟然是Huangsha Pig Run，Run是廣東拼音，但外國人看了就會想﹕什麼豬跑了？至於Albert Yip，根本像是拿某人開玩笑！」謝說，美國 肥牛譯成Cephalomappa更是離題萬丈，「我到網上一查，發現那是植物！」
謝說﹕「其實很多香港茶樓點心的特點、頂點、中點，普遍被翻譯成XL、L、M，也是常見錯誤！」謝希望市民不要對搞笑翻譯太苛刻，該店承諾立刻改進也值得稱許，但應該汲取教訓，維護香港的旅遊形象。
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
新華社向「 歐 巴 馬 」說不
I agree with Xinhua News Agency.
======================
新 華 社 向 「 歐 巴 馬 」 說 不
(星島日報報道)是奧巴馬，還是歐巴馬？這是個問題。美國駐華大使館希望為他們的總統「正名」為歐巴馬，但中國堅持「說不」。新華社譯名室負責人說，除非美方透過外交途徑「強烈要求」，否則「奧巴馬」就這樣叫定了。
正如美國前總統布什又譯「布殊」，兩岸三地格局下，美國新任總統再度在海峽兩岸鬧「奧巴馬」和「歐巴馬」的雙胞。有道是「名不正，則言不順」，因此在奧巴馬訪華之前，美國駐華大使館在多個場合為給總統正名「造勢」，藉派發中文紀念海報，正式用台灣譯法「巴拉克．歐巴馬」為美方認可的統一中文譯名。為此美國駐華使館新聞發言人史雯珊還強調，美國政府正在規範總統中文譯名，今後將統一使用「歐巴馬」。
但中國的官方通訊社新華社很快做出回應，指「奧巴馬」才是正宗，這個譯法從二○○四年十一月三日奧巴馬嶄露頭角開始，一直沿用至今，而且「奧巴馬」不是美國總統「專利」，這個姓氏在非洲一些國家的部落很普遍。
2009-11-21
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
Thinking of my french
I have taken up french classes again recently, and it re-ignites my crave for France, French lifestyle, culture...etc. Basically anything related to France, I would be interested it, this explains the reason for the birth of my new blog: Paris Mania - http://parismania.blogspot.com. I post almost every other day (yup, more frequent than this blog, sorry guys). This blog is about how I try to enjoy a french (or European) way of living in Hong Kong, very hard I know, and some people may think I am living in fantasy land, I don't care, this is the way of life I like and adore. So keep an eye on it if you want to know how I achieve it. :)
As for this blog, of course I won't abandon it. I will keep writing. In fact, if you have been following my blog, earlier this month, I wrote about my disappointing translating experience for a company. I am happy to annouce that they came back to me for a second job! :D I have already completed it, seems like they are more satisfied with the work this time. And it made me happy/ier. I hope more jobs will continue to come.
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
As for this blog, of course I won't abandon it. I will keep writing. In fact, if you have been following my blog, earlier this month, I wrote about my disappointing translating experience for a company. I am happy to annouce that they came back to me for a second job! :D I have already completed it, seems like they are more satisfied with the work this time. And it made me happy/ier. I hope more jobs will continue to come.
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
I am still here!!
It's not that I dumped this blog, it's just I am too....you know...lazy... :P
I know i have let you guys disppointed (and I doubt if I have posted frequent enough to have loyal readers), anyway, I will try posting more about my experience. In fact, I have done another mini project for one whole week in August, that was quite a week.
And I have also completed a translation job for a new client, that time was quite disastrous, I haven't really done a press release translation before, and it was quite a fast turnaround. Anyway, it was ok at the end of course with the revision. So, the lesson learnt: don't rush and leave it aside when done the 1st round and come back to it, revise again, before giving back to clients. : )
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
I know i have let you guys disppointed (and I doubt if I have posted frequent enough to have loyal readers), anyway, I will try posting more about my experience. In fact, I have done another mini project for one whole week in August, that was quite a week.
And I have also completed a translation job for a new client, that time was quite disastrous, I haven't really done a press release translation before, and it was quite a fast turnaround. Anyway, it was ok at the end of course with the revision. So, the lesson learnt: don't rush and leave it aside when done the 1st round and come back to it, revise again, before giving back to clients. : )
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
Google Dict - UK and US pronunciation
I am excited to see Google Dict. has added UK and US pronunciation to it, and also an improved layout, i.e. Chinese and English explanation together.
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
Finally, i can relax
ell, what a week! Too much to do, sleeping hours were enough i think, but it's the thought of knowing there are still work that made me tired. You know, always thinking how much more to finish, it felt like never ending during the course of it. But it is done! Yeah!
Right, it was translation, again. (where's my favourite interpretation job?!) The hours are quite long, and the first night I was working when Typhoon No.9 was on! So scary! Watch the video here, you will know what I mean!It wasn't fun working during Typhoon at all! So scary with the wind blowing although I was at home, I could still feel the power of it.
A few essentials when doing translation through the internet: MSN, mobile phone, Computer (of course), email.
For this weekend, I could sleep as much as I want, and do whatever I want to do without having to rush back to the computer for work. YEAH!
P.S. I think I should reward myself for the hard work. What should I get...?! Um...Email HK Interpreter - Louise
Right, it was translation, again. (where's my favourite interpretation job?!) The hours are quite long, and the first night I was working when Typhoon No.9 was on! So scary! Watch the video here, you will know what I mean!It wasn't fun working during Typhoon at all! So scary with the wind blowing although I was at home, I could still feel the power of it.
A few essentials when doing translation through the internet: MSN, mobile phone, Computer (of course), email.
For this weekend, I could sleep as much as I want, and do whatever I want to do without having to rush back to the computer for work. YEAH!
P.S. I think I should reward myself for the hard work. What should I get...?! Um...Email HK Interpreter - Louise
Google: email translation
Have you tried it? I haven't. But it sounds like a really great idea!
To enable this function: Click top right hand side Settings-->Labs-->Message Translation -->Enable (but actually I still don't see it anywhere on my email msg after enbling though...)
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Google makes the world smaller with email translation
By Jack Riley Wednesday, 20 May 2009
The internet search giant Google today announced their intention to combine two of their most used products in an attempt to do their bit to bring the world together. 'Message Translation' combines the popular Google Translate service, which can convert text and web pages from and to any of 41 languages, with Gmail, the company's webmail service which boasts more than 113 million users worldwide.
Allowing users to conduct conversations with each exchange translated into the relevant language is hoped to enable international communication for Gmail users, and is just one of the many weird and wonderful Gmail plugins available to try out through the experimental "Gmail labs" service. Google has already launched services including the option to dissuade drunk emailing by making users answer a maths puzzle before they can send an email, and another to hold messages for a short period before sending so that users can change their mind should they have sent something they may later regret, as well as a variety of others designed to make the service customisable.
Enabling global conversations of this kind has been on the agenda of the search giant over the last few months, after the company also made available a translation function for comments on blogs for users logged into Google Friend Connect. The 'Message Translate' service has been made available worldwide for all Gmail users.
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Gmail 增 翻 譯 功 能 一 按 完 成
Google 周 二 開 始 在 旗 下 的 免 費 電 郵 服 務 Gmail 加 入 自 動 翻 譯 功 能 ， 讓 用 戶 只 要 按 一 按 滑 鼠 鍵 ， 就 可 將 電 郵 訊 息 翻 譯 成 另 一 種 語 言 ， 目 前 可 供 翻 譯 的 語 言 達 數 十 種 之 多 。
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
To enable this function: Click top right hand side Settings-->Labs-->Message Translation -->Enable (but actually I still don't see it anywhere on my email msg after enbling though...)
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Google makes the world smaller with email translation
By Jack Riley Wednesday, 20 May 2009
The internet search giant Google today announced their intention to combine two of their most used products in an attempt to do their bit to bring the world together. 'Message Translation' combines the popular Google Translate service, which can convert text and web pages from and to any of 41 languages, with Gmail, the company's webmail service which boasts more than 113 million users worldwide.
Allowing users to conduct conversations with each exchange translated into the relevant language is hoped to enable international communication for Gmail users, and is just one of the many weird and wonderful Gmail plugins available to try out through the experimental "Gmail labs" service. Google has already launched services including the option to dissuade drunk emailing by making users answer a maths puzzle before they can send an email, and another to hold messages for a short period before sending so that users can change their mind should they have sent something they may later regret, as well as a variety of others designed to make the service customisable.
Enabling global conversations of this kind has been on the agenda of the search giant over the last few months, after the company also made available a translation function for comments on blogs for users logged into Google Friend Connect. The 'Message Translate' service has been made available worldwide for all Gmail users.
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Gmail 增 翻 譯 功 能 一 按 完 成
Google 周 二 開 始 在 旗 下 的 免 費 電 郵 服 務 Gmail 加 入 自 動 翻 譯 功 能 ， 讓 用 戶 只 要 按 一 按 滑 鼠 鍵 ， 就 可 將 電 郵 訊 息 翻 譯 成 另 一 種 語 言 ， 目 前 可 供 翻 譯 的 語 言 達 數 十 種 之 多 。
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
Twist and turns in life
C'est la vie! I know it's such a cliche to say it, but these 2 weeks really made me think life is never ever a predictable one.
The US company job, remember I said they have chosen another translator instead of me? I thought that was the end of it, but it wasn't! It wasn't at all...
The week following the turn down, the agent contacted me and said there might be a chance for me to go with the other translator to the workshop held in US, so I said "ok, let me know if you have more details". I think it's always good to have a face-to-face contact with the people in the company, because I am confident that they would have a good impression of me and my job performance. And then I waited for a week, and I received another message from the agent...
She told me "I am sorry, it turned out that the company just needed one translator now." And then I said "ok". Honestly, I wasn't really disappointed about it, because of swine flu. So that should be the end of it, right? The answer was NO! Haha!
The next day, I received a call from the agent (it's always just email or MSN), she told me that the translator couldn't make it because her passport expired (?! right...but whatever). And so she was calling to ask me if I could go instead, it's 2 weeks later, yes, to fly to the States.
Am I excited? Not yet, I think not until everything is more settled and concrete.
But the whole thing is such a turn, right? I think when you treat something with an ordinary mind, then life will always take you by surprise. :)
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
The US company job, remember I said they have chosen another translator instead of me? I thought that was the end of it, but it wasn't! It wasn't at all...
The week following the turn down, the agent contacted me and said there might be a chance for me to go with the other translator to the workshop held in US, so I said "ok, let me know if you have more details". I think it's always good to have a face-to-face contact with the people in the company, because I am confident that they would have a good impression of me and my job performance. And then I waited for a week, and I received another message from the agent...
She told me "I am sorry, it turned out that the company just needed one translator now." And then I said "ok". Honestly, I wasn't really disappointed about it, because of swine flu. So that should be the end of it, right? The answer was NO! Haha!
The next day, I received a call from the agent (it's always just email or MSN), she told me that the translator couldn't make it because her passport expired (?! right...but whatever). And so she was calling to ask me if I could go instead, it's 2 weeks later, yes, to fly to the States.
Am I excited? Not yet, I think not until everything is more settled and concrete.
But the whole thing is such a turn, right? I think when you treat something with an ordinary mind, then life will always take you by surprise. :)
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
A really comprehensive learning site for interpreters
I know I have posted site this a long time ago on Practice Resources, but seems like they have revamped a little, so you guys better check it out again for some useful tips and information!
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
A great opportunity, well...no more...?!
About 2 to 3 weeks ago I was being asked to do a written test for an agency in China, normally I hate doing written test but since it's for a big computer company, I was excited about it, so I completed and return it.
After a week, they asked me to do another one since the client would like to see the accuracy and creativity, and I did it within a very fast turnaround, and I was so anxious about the result...I waited and waited until a week or so later, the agent finally gave me an answer by email!
Well...it turned out the client chose another translator instead, of course I was disappointed, but well, I guess life's like this, sometimes you hit and sometimes you miss.
But the funny thing is, when I am still in my disappointment, the agent asked me whether going on trip (with the other translator) to the company HQ is ok for me! I was happy yet a bit worried because of swine flu, anyways, nothing is certain yet, But I do hope to have the chance to actually go to their HQ, it would be such an experience!
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
After a week, they asked me to do another one since the client would like to see the accuracy and creativity, and I did it within a very fast turnaround, and I was so anxious about the result...I waited and waited until a week or so later, the agent finally gave me an answer by email!
Well...it turned out the client chose another translator instead, of course I was disappointed, but well, I guess life's like this, sometimes you hit and sometimes you miss.
But the funny thing is, when I am still in my disappointment, the agent asked me whether going on trip (with the other translator) to the company HQ is ok for me! I was happy yet a bit worried because of swine flu, anyways, nothing is certain yet, But I do hope to have the chance to actually go to their HQ, it would be such an experience!
Email HK Interpreter - Louise
Jia You! 加油! (2)
中國語言博大精深 “加油”英文翻譯引網友爭議
競報訊 (記者 李佳)拉拉隊是奧運賽場上的亮點，但面對中國人的“加油”，多數外國運動員和外國記者都感到費解。網友們對“加油”這個詞的英文翻譯產生爭議。
來自英國的Breeze不解地說：“既然不是炒菜也不是車子，為什麼要加油呢，加的是機油還是汽油？”當記者解釋說：“‘加油’是漢語里的一種比喻義，車子加了油會跑得很快，正像比賽的運動員一樣，是一種鼓勵的意思。”但他仍無法理解。韓國的曹大值提的問題則更為深刻：“為什麼奧運會要用加油，而四川地震仍然要用加油呢？”
採訪中多數外國人認為喊出自己國家的名字更有廣泛性和通用性。日本的李愛愛說：“‘China’更國際化，所有人都可以聽懂。我認為最好還是用具有普遍性的詞語。日本在舉行世界杯的時候，提倡國民喊的是JAPAN，而不是‘剛把咧’。”
對於老外們的疑惑，網友們展開了熱議。名叫“比心比力”的網友說：“不理解就不理解，就讓外國人直接用‘JIA YOU’好了，用不著翻譯，就像我們直接用‘沙發’‘卡拉OK’一樣。”他的看法得到了很多網友的支持。另外也有網友表示應該將這個詞翻譯成Never Give Up或GO GO GO等。
針對這一問題，新東方托福詞匯老師盧根解釋說：“這是一個直譯和意譯的問題。‘加油’的字面翻譯老外肯定不明白，畢竟我們所處的語言環境不一樣，這正像外國的一些俚語，我們也無法理解一樣。比如我們驚訝的時候可能會說我的天呢，如果直譯過來就是oh my sky,而老外則會用OH MY GOD!”
他說：“中國的語言非常博大精深，是世界上最難學習的語言之一，一個詞可以在不同的語言環境中使用，‘加油’就是如此，但英語中卻不完全如此。我們在比賽和災難發生時都可以用‘加油’，而英語則要根據不同的語言環境來翻譯‘加油’，比賽時我們可以把它翻譯成‘come on’,而災難中我們這樣翻譯則不太合適。其實奧運會在某種程度上就是各國語言和文化的一種碰撞和交流，語言環境和語言本身讓我們存在這樣的理解差異。”
Email Louise
Jia You! 加油!
Interesting piece of news about how to translate "Jia You" into English. I personally think Jia You should be added to Oxford Dictionary as neologism, because there's really no term in English could be an equivalent to 加油! :D------------------------------------------------------------------
加油該怎樣翻成英文？外國媒體傷腦筋
更新日期:2008/08/22 10:04
（中央社台北二十二日電）北京奧運會開賽以來，場上喊「加油（jiayou)」的聲音此起彼伏，這種聲音引起賽場老外們極大的關注，但什麼是加油？加油該怎麼翻譯成英文？這些問題讓國外媒體記者頭疼。
據「新京報」報導，在雅虎等一些國外知名的BBS，許多外國網友詢問「What is jiayou in Chinese？」「jiayou」已經成了流行海內外的中國元素。
一名觀眾回憶，在中國男排與日本比賽的時候，現場喊「加油」的聲音此起彼伏，中國選手每一次得分都獲得現場觀眾熱烈歡呼。鄰座的巴西記者好奇探頭過來問他，「加油 (jiayou)要怎麼拼成英文，我要寫進報導裡。」
據報導，一名來自荷蘭的女孩，因不知「加油」該如何翻譯，便在衣服上寫了一串「英文」「Helanjiayou 」。
在中國的一名美國媒體工作者說，對於「加油」的翻譯問題，他們確實遇到麻煩，一般把這個詞翻譯成「go,go,go」或者「come on」，但這些詞都沒有「加油」來得乾脆，來得那麼有韻律，但是又找不到其他更合適的詞。
最令老外不解的是，加油（jiayou)」這個詞既可以用於四川地震的悲傷環境裡，也可以用於奧運這種歡樂的大氛圍裡。「加油」兩字居然能使用在大悲與大喜兩種完全不同情形中，卻不發生衝突。這對他們來說是不可思議。
中國人齊聲吶喊的「加油」二字，最表面的意思是「加：add」和「油：oil或fuel」時，這令老外非常不解。
報導說，自奧運火炬傳遞以來，「jiayou」的呼聲在世界各國媒體頻繁出現，已經成為了流行海外的一個中國元素。它無法準確的被翻譯成英文是能成為流行的一個前提。
Email Louise
What does BOB stand for?
Beijing Olympics is going to an end soon, do you know what BOB stands for? It stands for Beijing Olympic Broadcasting (北京奥林匹克转播有限公司).A little information about BOB from its website:
Beijing Olympic Broadcasting (BOB) was established in May 27th 2004, as a joint venture between OBS and BOCOG.
Olympic Broadcasting Services:OBS is a company created by the IOC, specifically to fulfil the host broadcaster function for the Olympic Games.OBS’s primary objectives are:Guarantee the quality of production and services to the Rights Holding Broadcasters.Optimize resources and make the host broadcaster more professional and efficient.
Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of XXIX Olympiad:BOCOG is a Chinese company officially formed by the PRC and the City of Beijing in accordance with the host city contract following Beijing’s successful bid for the 2008 Olympic Games.
BOCOG are responsible for the planning and the execution of the Games.
What is a host broadcaster?
A Host Broadcaster is responsible for producing and distributing unbiased radio and television coverage of the Olympic Games. It also provides Broadcasters with the facilities and services necessary for broadcasting the Olympic Games.
Who is on the Board of Directors for BOB?
The BOB Board of Directors was established to oversee BOB’s operations and comprises representatives from BOCOG and OBS as follows:
Xiaoyu JIANG - President
Hein VERBRUGGEN - Vice-President
Manolo ROMEROUrs LACOTTE
Xiaojie WANG
Guizhi HE
Weijia SUN
Yingjin LI
Yan LIU
Jinggu WU
Changli GAO
What are BOB's main responsibilities?
-Produce and distribute the international radio and television coverage of the Games, as mandated by the IOC- Design, construct and operate the International Broadcast Centre(IBC), the headquarters for the radio and television operation during the Games
- Coordinate and provide broadcast facilities and services at the venues and the IBC for the Rights Holding Broadcasters (RHB’s) for such items as broadcast equipment and telecommunications
- Represent the needs of the RHB’s within the Organizing Committee in regards to services
- As required, act as producer of features and maintain an Olympic archival service for RHB’s and the IOC
Broadcast organizations that purchase the rights to televise the Olympic Games from the International Olympic Committee are known as “Rights Holding Broadcasters”.
What are Rights Holding Broadcasters?
Broadcast organizations that purchase the rights to televise the Olympic Games from the International Olympic Committee are known as “Rights Holding Broadcasters”. Rights Holding Broadcasters are grouped into three categories: Networks: individual organizations from a country, e.g. NBC, TVNZPools: a combination of networks within a country, e.g. Korean Pool, Japan ConsortiumUnions: a consortium of Broadcasters from a particular region that combine their resources, e.g. EBU, ABU, OTI
How important is the broadcast of the Olympic Games?
- For the vast majority of people around the globe television is the only means of access to the Games.
- Television has rendered the five Olympic Circles are the most recognizable logo globally.
- 44,000 hours of television coverage were devoted to the Athens Games (49% increase from Sydney). This is the equivalent of 1833 days of television. We believe in Beijing it will be higher.
- 3.9 billion people watched the Games. We believe in Beijing it will be more than 4 billion.
- Television rights represent 50% of the total income of the whole Olympic Movement.
- Total income for ATHENS 2004 are 1.5 billion US Dollars. For Beijing higher.
- 49% of it goes to the Organizing Committee. In Athens it covered 38% of the total budget of the Committee.
BOB at a glance?
- Games-time staff will number approximately 4000.
- BOB will use around 1000 cameras.
- Production efforts will require 450 videotape machines.
- BOB will produce approximately 3800 hours of live Olympic coverage.
- 350 Broadcast trailers will be used.
- Accredited broadcasters will number 12,000.
- BOB will use approximately 60 outside broadcast (OB) vans.
- BOB will design and operate approximately 1600 commentary positions.
- 2580 observer seats will be available.
- There will be approximately 200 countries televising the Games.
- The Olympic broadcast will reach a cumulative worldwide audience of more than 30 billion people.
Email Louise
We should appreciate the Chinese - Chinglish
Now I have read more and more the Chinglish from Mainland China (I am from Hong Kong, also Chinese), I actually start to think that maybe we should learn to appreciate it, it's so creative and brave for them to actually put down on the menus.
P.S. Of course I do support David Tool, hopefully he could help change all the Chinglish to proper English.
Email Louise
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