A blog about translation, writing and language in all its glorious aspects
Voting is now open for the Top 100 Language Blogs 2012 competition organised by LexioPhiles, for which we’ve been nominated in the “Language Professionals” category. Voting takes place from 15 to 28 May 2012. If you’d like to vote for Words to good effect, you can do so here. Thank you! PS Having chosen a name that …
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Earl Bush served for many years as press secretary for Richard J. Daley, a controversial mayor of Chicago who was a forerunner to another Bush, George W., in his mangling of the English language. Examples are: “Gentlemen, get the thing straight once and for all — the policeman isn’t there to create disorder, the policeman …
Continue reading “Translators’ and editors’ skill-set: add mind-reading”
A recent article in The Vancouver Sun entitled What are the jobs of the future? examines the skills and careers likely to be most in demand as the 21st century progresses. The article cites a study by Sharon D. Crozier, of the University of Calgary’s Counselling Centre, on “Waves of the Future and High Demand Careers” …
Continue reading “The jobs of the future… include translating”
Ruth Webber, a friend and generous source of marketing wisdom, moved from Scotland to Australia earlier this year. So a new city and country to discover, and a new variant of English to explore. Here are Ruth’s first impressions of English, Australian-style. English as she is spoke in Sydney. Having been in Sydney all of …
Continue reading “English, Australian-style: impressions from Down Under”
One of the participants at the Web-Writing Webinar on 11 April asked me how translators should deal with keywords when working on website translations. The question threw me for a minute, but I realised afterwards (as you do) that the answer should have been: “With great caution”. Selecting keywords is an important part of the …
Continue reading “Web-writing for translators: keywords. Should we be going there?”
One of the slides I used for the Web-Writing Webinar on 11 April asked the question: Users with accessibility or usability issues. Who are they? The answer was: All of us. We all at one time or another (indeed eventually) become less able: you fall and sprain your wrist, get repetitive strain injury, you get …
Continue reading “Web-Writing Webinar (2): accessibility and usability. They really do matter.”
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has published a survey calling for more training in foreign languages to help boost British exports. The BCC calls for: the National Curriculum to be revised so that studying a foreign language is compulsory until AS level additional financial incentives such as tax credits for small and medium-sized businesses …
Continue reading “Language learning matters. Word of the British Chambers of Commerce.”
I’m delighted and honoured that eCPD Webinars has invited me to present a web-writing webinar on 11.30 am (UK time) on Wednesday 11 April 2012. While eCPD focuses on continual professional development for translators, Wednesday’s webinar will include tips and insights for anyone interested in writing good web copy. It will also give you an overview …
We had a Twitter conversation a couple of weeks ago about Zodiac signs and the sort of character traits that make for good translators/editors. I thought it would be interesting — and fun — to see if there’s any correlation between a person’s zodiac sign and their choice of translation/editing as a career. So I’ve devised this …
Well, that’s International Women’s Day over for 2012. I’m not a big fan of this particular “day” because I think that on 9 March, after all the fine words and the gifts of mimosa (in Italy, at any rate), everything just goes back to normal. I also think that girls and women in the (still …
Continue reading “Don’t be stupid, girls. And don’t be stupid, BBC Radio Scotland”