Government communication. But not through Twitter

I recently had to translate the following seminar title from Italian to English: La reputazione della Pubblica Amministrazione: in questo paese, può l’impiegato pubblico essere un alleato del cittadino? E può cambiare il modo di vedere la P.A. da parte del cittadino? This title has a major flaw (quite apart from its utter lack of …

Language learning. What’s it good for?

Language learning is good for quite a lot, by the looks of it. What’s your favourite benefit? Are there any more you would add? With thanks to Jill McIntyre of Bearsden Academy’s Modern Languages Department and Kaplan International Colleges.   By Marian Dougan      

Are your fees high enough? Some food for thought

I’ll soon be moving into a new office. The current occupants offered to sell me their nearly-new IKEA office furniture (the Galant range, which is attractive, good quality and reasonably priced). Their quote listed installation and labour fees at £50 an hour. Now, that included some computer cabling. But mainly, I think, assembling IKEA flat-pack …

Top 100 Language Blogs 2013: voting now open!

Voting is now open for the Top 100 Language Blogs 2013 competition organised by LexioPhiles and bab.la, for which we’ve been nominated in the “Language Professionals” category. Voting runs from today, 22 May, to 23:59 hours German time on 9 June 2013. If you’d like to vote for Words to good effect, you can do so here. Thank …

Training and CPD: how to cut the costs

Training and continuing professional development (CPD) are important not just in keeping your skills up to date but also in increasing your job satisfaction. Training should also act as a signal to savvy clients that you take your business – and them – seriously. It underscores your professionalism. But training events can be expensive. There’s …

Top 100 Language Lovers 2013: we’ve been nominated!

We’ve been nominated as one of the Top 100 Language Lovers 2013 in the annual competition organised by LexioPhiles and bab.la. As you can imagine, we’re well pleased! Nominations remain open until 20 May 2013 (23:59 pm German time). Voting will then run from 22 May until 9 June, with the results being made public on …

English local elections 2013: a linguistic conundrum

Yesterday’s local elections in England saw the UK Independence Party (UKIP) win a remarkable 25% of the vote. Immigration is a key concern of many UKIP voters, including immigration from EU countries. In 1978, I moved from the UK to Italy, where I lived until 2002. I’m pretty sure that, as viewed from the United Kingdom, …