A social networking rant. Tell us who you are, people!

Why do some business people go to such great lengths, on social networking sites, to avoid telling people who they are and what they do? Or to convey such a whimsical image of themselves on serious business platforms? I’ve just been up-dating my profile on KILTR, a social networking site for Scots or people who …

Not love, not money. It’s translation that makes the world go round.

In an article in the Huffington Post marking International Translation Day (celebrated on 30 September), Nataly Kelly, Chief Research Officer at Common Sense Advisory and co-author of “Found in Translation”, listed 10 ways that translation benefits us all: 1. Translation saves lives. 2. Translation prevents terror. 3. Translation keeps the peace. 4. Translation elects world leaders. 5. …

Lingua franca: English vs Latin

Have you ever wondered why English beat Latin to become the world’s lingua franca? Here’s Eddie Izzard’s explanation. Warning: Not Safe for Work, contains strong language. By Marian Dougan

Olympic linguistic games

The organisers of the 2012 Olympic Games are making a big effort to ensure that the whole of the United Kingdom feels included in the event. There was a great fuss on the BBC news yesterday (18 May) about the arrival and planned relay — covering the length and breadth of the UK, with a …

Global. It’s, like, a relative concept. Whatevs.

A recent article in the New York Times entitled “They’re, Like, Way Ahead of the Linguistic Currrrve” suggests that there’s a lot more method in teenage-girl-speak than young women are usually given credit for. The article’s worth reading (especially if you’ve got a teenage daughter…). The author cites a Saturday Night Live sketch with Maya …

Planning a new website? Communicate! (with your translator too)

One of my clients told me recently that their company is re-doing its website. They’re working with web-designers and -developers, copy-writers, graphic designers and search-engine optimisation (SEO) specialists based in Spain, the US and various Italian cities. The client, a company based in north-east Italy, already works with designers and suppliers based in Spain, Denmark, …

Signing up to The Sunday Times…+

tarting next month, the Sunday Times will be charging for access to its online edition. One day’s access will cost £1, a week’s subscription £2. The weekly subscription will include special digital services, such as an e-paper and new applications. Judging from the following invitation (in today’s “Culture” supplement), those new applications might give subscribers …

Top 100 Language Blogs 2010 – we’re well chuffed!

“Words to good effect” is one of the winning blogs in the Top 100 Language Blogs 2010 competition organised by LexioPhiles and Bab.La. We came 42nd overall, and 9th in the Top 10 Language Professionals category. We’re delighted! A big Thank You to everyone who voted for us! By Marian Dougan  

Four and twenty embedded tweets for much less than sixpence

A quick up-date to yesterday’s post comparing embedded tweet tools. Publitweet have now tweaked the code for their Blackbird bookmarklet to reduce font size a bit and include clickable #hashtags and @mentions. They’re also releasing a version that will in turn allow people to embed your embedded tweet in their site, with your site/tweet indicated …

Embedding and emailing your tweets

It’s now possible to embed tweets directly into your blog using free tools such as Twitter Media’s Blackbird Pie, Publitweet’s Blackbird bookmarklet, or Tweetshots. I’ve tried them out for size, here are the results. Blackbird Pie Cleverly done article (not the same tool that I used, BTW) RT @guardiantech: That Twitter embed tool – now …