Go East for Translation Inspiration

BigT news, New23 August, 201620 May, 2020

The languages of Central and Eastern Europe are rich, complex and steeped in centuries of history. The years following the dissolution of the Soviet Union have seen the reopening of these societies after decades of isolation. Indeed, Eastern Europe’s desire to revolutionise itself in terms of establishing democratic institutions and free market economies has led a number of Western companies to invest in this virtually unexplored part of the continent since the 1990s.

Go East for Translation Inspiration

The languages of Central and Eastern Europe are rich, complex and steeped in centuries of history. The years following the dissolution of the Soviet Union have seen the reopening of these societies after decades of isolation. Indeed, Eastern Europe’s desire to revolutionise itself in terms of establishing democratic institutions and free market economies has led a number of Western companies to invest in this virtually unexplored part of the continent since the 1990s. The demand for translation and interpretation is in consequence increasing significantly.

However, in terms of providing language training in light of the growing demand for translation and other language services to and from Eastern European languages, the response of many Western countries has been surprisingly poor. For example, in the United Kingdom, there are fewer students of languages in secondary and higher education whilst the demand for translation and interpretation is increasing significantly. Of the languages we do study at school, German is one of the most widely taught, yet recent years have shown the demand for translation from and into German slowly decreasing.

Eastern Europe Translation: Big demand for Czech, Polish, Russian

On the other hand, language service companies, like BigTranslation are seeing a marked increase in requests for documents to be translated from and into Eastern European languages, particularly Polish, yet the response in terms of education has been almost non-existent. In the years to come, this could be a considerable cause for concern if we fail to give our young people the training they need to respond to this increasingly fast growing market. Britain’s universities have been slightly more effective in terms of providing adequate language training services to modern language undergraduates. At the University of Glasgow, for example, students from the School of Modern Languages and Cultures (SMLC) are now free to take up the study of subsidiary Czech, Russian or Polish on entering Junior Honours. This opportunity should be particularly attractive to students of French and German, since the European Commission is looking for translators and interpreters who speak French or German with Czech or Polish.

However, the benefits of studying Eastern European languages aren’t limited to graduates of Central and Eastern European Studies; SMLC graduates who have any knowledge of Czech, Polish or Russian have found it has helped them in finding jobs on graduation, since UK employers tend to interpret this expertise as a special commitment and are impressed by the line of study. Native English UK graduates with some knowledge of Czech or Polish are also sought after in Central Europe. So, for current or future translation students looking for the language combination that could serve them best in terms of employment, new experiences and opportunities, it may be an idea to look towards the East for inspiration. The possibilities are very exciting indeed!

Dispelling the Myths: Translation and History

BigT news, Cultural Corner, New26 July, 201615 July, 2021

As previously mentioned in our blogs, we at BigTranslation know the realities of business and commerce inside out, so we are more than aware of the important role that translation plays in international cooperation between people from all sorts of backgrounds. With this in mind, we’d like to take this opportunity to correct one of the biggest misconceptions in the history of language.

As previously mentioned in our blogs, we at BigTranslation know the realities of business and commerce inside out, so we are more than aware of the important role that translation plays in international cooperation between people from all sorts of backgrounds. With this in mind, we’d like to take this opportunity to correct one of the biggest misconceptions in the history of language.

“Ich bin ein Berliner” (“I am a Berliner”) is a quotation from a June 26, 1963, speech by U.S. President John F. Kennedy in West Berlin. Speaking in German, John F. Kennedy said “I am a citizen of Berlin.”
Pronounced at the height of the Cold War, with the intention of underlining the support of the United States for West Germany following the erection of the Berlin Wall, the speech is remembered as being one of Kennedy’s best. However, it is also the source of one of the most widely believed myths in the history of popular culture.

There is a common misconception that Kennedy made a rather comical error in pronouncing the words Ich bin ein Berliner. As the myth goes, his use of the definite article would change “I am a citizen of Berlin” to “I am a Berliner” (a Berliner being a type of German pastry, similar to a jelly doughnut). However, scholars of German will know that the indefinite article is omitted in German when speaking of an individual’s profession or residence, but still used when speaking in a figurative sense. Since the President was not literally from Berlin but declaring his solidarity with its citizens, “Ich bin ein Berliner” was the only way to express what he wanted to say.

Unfortunately, this still hasn’t deterred everyone from Len Deighton to Eddie Izzard using the misconception surrounding the phrase for comic effect, nor did it prevent JFK’s political opponents from repeating it to have a cheap laugh at the Bostonian President’s supposed linguistic ineptitude. On one hand, the extent to which this misconception has managed to manifest itself in popular culture is quite remarkable. However, the idea that translation may be used as a political football is less uncommon than one might think.

In Catalonia last year, the Institute Nova Història made the rather surprising claim that, for centuries, Spanish leaders have used translation to downplay the role of Catalonia in the country’s history. They even went so far as to claim that Miguel de Cervantes’ famous Don Quixote – widely considered to be the first modern novel – was in fact written in Catalan by Cervantes and subsequently translated into Spanish. It is argued that several linguistic errors in the text point to the possibility that Don Quixote was translated into Castilian from Catalan.

For a translator to provide an accurate, unprejudiced view of the characters and events which shape history, he or she must have an in depth knowledge of the social and political issues surrounding the source language and the people who speak it. If the whole story of Ich bin ein Berliner tells us anything, it’s that translators of the past haven’t always lead by example in this sense. And if the initial translations of Saddam Hussein’s last book (ranging from ‘Devil’s Dance’, ‘Begone Devils’ to ‘Get Out, You Damned One’) are anything to go by, it’s clear that the translators of today have got still got their work cut out for them.

BigTranslation: An Expert Agencye

BigT news, New23 June, 201620 May, 2020

Our team is made up of over 50 people with years of experience in both the online world and in the wider translation sector. Our expert knowledge of the market, coupled with our technical know-how, allows us to adopt a global perspective and integrated approach, in order to offer complete, high-quality and customisable translation services at exceptionally competitive prices.

BigTranslation

BigTranslation is a translation agency with a difference.

Our team is made up of over 50 people with years of experience in both the online world and in the wider translation sector. Our expert knowledge of the market, coupled with our technical know-how, allows us to adopt a global perspective and integrated approach, in order to offer high-quality and comprehensive translation services at exceptionally competitive prices.

At BigTranslation, we know the realities of business and commerce inside out, so we are aware of the important role that translation plays in companies’ expansion and internationalisation strategies. One of our main specialist subjects is the translation of SEO web content and documentation, and we have helped numerous businesses to break into new markets with the aid of tailor-made translations. As such, we have at our disposal a team of expert translators specialising in numerous different fields, as well as content marketing specialists and qualified I.T. technicians.

Our translation agency’s number one objective is complete customer satisfaction. In order to achieve this, we are supported by a large and diverse community of native translators and we offer translations in any combination you may need. Our competent professional translators are also carefully selected via our exhaustive selection tests, ensuring that every project undertaken is carried out to the very highest standards.

Professional Croatian Translator: Nadira Ljevaković Garić – Part 1

BigT news, New, Our partners, Professional translators15 June, 201615 October, 2020

My name is Nadira and I’m 28 years old. I live in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I graduated from High School of Economics and Finance and later studied English language and literature at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zenica. I also attended many IT conferences and workshops in Balkans. The work experience I have gained is my strongest suit, though.

Nadira shares with us a little about herself and her career as a professional Croatian translator

The work experience I have gained is my strongest suit, though. Besides that, studying and constant education have undoubtedly helped me progress.
During my 10 years’ work experience, I have worked for over 20 different clients/employers and changed 7 different jobs. I worked as a personal assistant, administration department manager, teacher, business development manager, IT project manager, general manager and translator.
I gained most of my work experience in a German software development company. My starting position in this IT company was Business development manager. In less than six months, I got promoted to IT Project manager and then to General manager. This was where I developed my organisational and management skills which eventually encouraged me to start my own business – a B2B translation agency.

How long have you been working with BigTranslation?

I’ve been working as a translator with BigTranslation for 3 months now. Despite being a short period overall, I have to point out that this translation agency is one of the best clients I’ve ever had. I believe that the professional team from BigTranslation is satisfied with my work, effort and accuracy considering the fact that, in these 3 months, none of my translations ever needed any changes or corrections by the team’s lectors.

Which are your working languages? What is it that you most like about translating?

Bosnian is my native language, Serbian and Croatian are “near-native”. Actually, Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian are all similar. There are some small differences, but anyone who speaks Bosnian completely understands Croatian and Serbian and vice versa. I studied English language and literature at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zenica so I am qualified to translate from English to Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian and vice versa.
In the world of translating, each project is a new challenge and a chance to learn something new. For me, translating is brain training which I enjoy so much and yet get paid for doing it. I have worked on so many different topics – some made me laugh, other made me sad or even angry (nobody likes poor originals), but overall they made me feel alive.
Have you always wanted to be a translator or did you consider other careers? For you, is translation a passion or a pastime?
I have always wanted to be a translator, and also to hone some other skills that any translator should have such as organisation, accuracy, promptness, and management as well 🙂 . As I have already mentioned, I’ve had 7 different jobs and finally opted for this job because it offers education, freedom, flexibility and a great salary – all in one package. The bottom line is, I’m finally doing something I truly enjoy in!

Professional Portuguese Translator: Sara Jones

Our partners18 May, 201620 May, 2020

Lost in translation is a movie very dear to me. Apart from its poetic depiction of the characters, multilayered feelings of solitude and displacement, what I find most astonishing about it is its delicate attention to detail. The devil is in the detail and it is based on this fundamental idea that I, Sara Jones, professional translator since 2012, have grounded my professional ethics. My passion: to do linguistic detective work.

Sara shares with us a little about herself and her professional career as a Portuguese translator

Lost in translation is a movie very dear to me. Apart from its poetic depiction of the characters, multilayered feelings of solitude and displacement, what I find most astonishing about it is its delicate attention to detail. The devil is in the detail and it is based on this fundamental idea that I, Sara Jones, professional translator since 2012, have grounded my professional ethics. My passion: to do linguistic detective work.

Multiculturalism and passion for translation

Born to a Portuguese mother and an English father, my life has been marked by multiculturalism and travel. After spending my adolescence in Germany, I moved back to Portugal, where I had previously spent my childhood, and earned my BA in English and German Languages, Literatures and Cultures, followed by an MA in Anglo-American Studies. During my studying years, I realized that I am enthusiastic about languages and cross-border communication.

For 4 years, I worked as a teaching assistant at the German School in Porto (Portugal), followed by the decision to become a translator. I then got accepted for a three-month translation traineeship at the European Parliament, where my wish to translate professionally solidified. Since April 2012 I have been collaborating with several companies as a freelance translator.

In 2014, I started working as external freelance translator (as a German and Portuguese translator) and more recently as a proofreader for BigTranslation. What I find most outstanding in collaborating with BigTranslation is its team, which combines a high level of professionalism with an exceptional degree of friendliness and helpfulness. These last two years have, in that sense, been a very rewarding experience and I hope that many more lie ahead of this amicable working relationship.

Language combinations

I work in the following language combinations:
German >Portuguese, Portuguese > German, English > Portuguese, English > German, Spanish > Portuguese, Spanish > German

Charlotte from England: Experience in Translating

New, Our partners4 May, 201620 May, 2020

This week, it’s the turn of our intern Charlotte to answer Marie’s interview questions and share a little bit about herself and her experience with BigTranslation. “I was born in the south of England (Crawley) and when I was nine, I moved to France with my family, where I’ve been living for the last ten years (Limoges).”

Translating into English with BigTranslation

This week, it’s the turn of our intern Charlotte to answer Marie’s interview questions and share a little bit about herself and her experience in translating with BigTranslation.

Please introduce yourself (where you’re from, where you live, past or present studies, etc.).

How long have you been working with BigTranslation?

I was born in the south of England (Crawley) and when I was nine, I moved to France with my family, where I’ve been living for the last ten years (Limoges). I did a scientific baccalauréat and then a year of classe préparatoire littéraire.

At the moment I’m studying at the faculty of Philology in Valencia, doing the first year of an undergraduate course in German Language and Literature. I’ve been working with BigTranslation for a few months.

Which are your working languages? What is it that you most like about translating?

Right now I’m working with Spanish and English, although I’ve also translated from French to English and vice-versa. Translating well is always a challenge, and I guess that’s what I like the most about it: the satisfaction of confronting a difficult text and to be able to find the exact expressions in another language. If you succeed in doing so, you turn into a kind of chameleon capable of blending into the people of any country and being taken for native (one of my goals!).

Have you always wanted to be a translator or did you consider other careers? For you, is translation a passion or a pastime?

My grandmother is an English/French translator and since I was little she’s helped me with languages, to learn French for example. She’s passed on to me her passion for languages, grammar and literature, as well as for Latin and Greek, and for that reason translating has always interested me. I don’t have any definite plans right now, or specific professions in mind, but translating is a possibility. In any case, I’m sure that I want to learn a few more languages.

In what capacity do you work with BigTranslation and what was it that made you chose the company? In your opinion, what makes it stand out from other companies?

I’m doing work experience in the company and I found it a bit by chance (a poster in the faculty). However I like the style of work and being part of a big multilingual team, and the experience is very interesting.

What essential qualities or skills should a translator possess? What’s your ‘motto’ on translation, if you like?

Like I said before, my grandmother passed on to me her passion for grammar, and I think that’s essential when translating – good knowledge of how different languages work, because just knowing vocabulary isn’t enough. It’s also useful to have lived in different countries to know how things are usually said, so that you don’t write or speak like a dated exercise book. I think a good translator needs to be rigorous, patient, and above all needs to be passionate about languages and enjoy working with them.

Imagine a world without translators. What would it be like?

Such a world would be very sad! What’s so fascinating about translating is to be able to share different cultures and views on the world, to spread knowledge, to explore languages and the way they work, which always reflects something about the people who speak them… If there were no translators, it’s obvious that conflicts would be far more frequent (although we still have a lot to improve in that matter). Translators are linguistic diplomats, bridges between cultures: to make do with just one language is to cut oneself off from the rest of the world, and the more open we are to countries different to ours and the more we understand each other, the better we’ll all live.

Why Do I Need a Translation from BigTranslation?

BigT news, New16 February, 201613 May, 2020

Quite simply, because choosing BigTranslation is the key to the success of any kind of translation you need! BigTranslation’s team of translators is made up of native professionals, specialising in diverse fields, who will fit your needs and transform your text into a precise and high-quality translation.

Why choose BigTranslation?

Quite simply, because choosing BigTranslation is the key to the success of any kind of translation you need!

BigTranslation’s team of translators is made up of native professionals, specialising in diverse fields, who will fit your needs and transform your text into a precise and high-quality translation. All of the native translators who work with BigTranslation are appointed via a rigorous selection process which ensures that, with each and every one of our translation services, we deliver an unbeatable final product to our customers. We work hard so that our translations are authentic reformulations, faithful to the text’s content, so that the translation reads like an original creation written in the chosen target language. At BigTranslation, we go beyond the just the individual words on the page to get to the core of your message!

High-quality translation services.

BigTranslation knows that, for every translation carried out, it is essential that the central meaning of the text is sought out and conveyed. This pursuit of a text’s message and its purpose is what allows the translator to transmit exactly what the client wishes to convey, so that the concept is received and understood by the target audience. In this way, the process of internationalisation carried out by BigTranslation in the translation of your projects is completed successfully and effectively.

A wide range of translation services from experienced professionals.

The importance of selecting a professional translation agency like us lies in our experience. It is this experience and expertise that will make all the difference for your business! We specialise in numerous different sectors such as e-commerce, economy, finance, business, tourism, academia and education, journalism, and marketing, among others. Our experience in the world of translation, the combined years of experience of the native translators who work alongside us, the team of capable IT experts that support us and our background in e-commerce, localisation and multilingual SEO, all mean that we are the trump card that every company is looking for.

Musings of a Translation Trainee: The Responsibility of a Translator

BigT news, New, Professional translators16 February, 201615 July, 2021

The responsibility that is taken on by a translator is huge! This is the overwhelming impression that I am left with whenever I stop to think about what it actually means to be a translator, the profession which I have chosen and the role which I am working towards!

The translator’s responsibility

The responsibility that is taken on by a translator is huge! This is the overwhelming impression that I am left with whenever I stop to think about what it actually means to be a translator, the profession which I have chosen and the role which I am working towards! This is both terrifying and incredibly exciting at the same time! We all know that those jobs which hold the most responsibility are also, very often, the most rewarding!

A translator needs knowledge and creativity

The job of translator requires not only skill but also great cultural knowledge, good judgement, and also a generous helping of creative problem solving. Let’s have a little think about just one of the anecdotes which have been recounted to me during my studies, which I have retained and springs to mind when I think of the importance of contextual adaption and a target orientated approach. I was told of the situation where a Jamaican politician said to his French counterpart that an event he had seen in France was as exciting as the best cricket game. Nevertheless, the interpreter facilitating the communication between the two of them decided to translate it as “what I saw here was as exciting as a cycling race”, which undoubtedly speaks more to a French speaker.

Consideration and courage

Whilst, obviously, not all situations call for this kind of alteration to the content, (and caution should always be exercised) I do think that bearing in mind the effect of the text on the target audience is something which cannot be overestimated. I know that we have all witnessed examples of literal translations which have lost the message among the jumble of verbatim words…

Be brave my fellow translators, translate the message of the text and not just the words on the page!

What Makes BigTranslation Different? A Translation Agency Revolution.

BigT news, New4 February, 201613 May, 2020

For some time now, online translation agencies have proliferated considerably. However, it is worth considering whether all of these agencies dispose of the right linguistic services to carry out high-quality translations.

BigTranslation is a modern, professional translation agency which stands out from the rest.

For some time now, online translation agencies have proliferated considerably. However, it is worth considering whether all of these agencies dispose of the right linguistic services to carry out high-quality translations and offer their clients an optimum service.

When we created BigTranslation, our priority was to have the very best team of professional native translators from different countries around the world. Our website and platform were created with the aim of recruiting the best professionals in the translation business, who are also skilled proofreaders and editors. The search was arduous, but we know that we have the most talented linguists working in our team.

What sets us apart from other translation agencies?

The first element that gives us the edge is that we are capable of translating from and into 24 different European languages, something which allows you to attract new clients from a large part of the world. Another point which differentiates us from the rest is our website translation service and multilingual SEO option. Given that the majority of our clients have a website through which they make their company known, we believed it fitting to train our team so that, as well as translating websites, they are able to provide them with the elements which will ensure that they are well positioned in search engines.

Native professional translators and high-quality guaranteed.

Each one of our translators is a native speaker of the language they translate into, and all of them specialise in a certain branch of knowledge or sector, meaning that they can carry out translations of different kinds (e-commerce, journalism, literature, etc.). From the start, BigTranslation has been committed to the team of personnel which shape it, as it is this team which make us strong and earn us the recognition of our clients. Thanks to our sales team and all of the people which have worked on this project, our translation agency has broken away from the typical kind of services that, until now, have been available on the web. Our reliability, the quality of our translation and proofreading, our punctuality and, above all, our professionalism and commitment to the projects we carry out, have all made BigTranslation a trusted online translation agency, a team of translators that you can put your faith in.

Rugilė from Lithuania: Working in Translation

BigT news, New, Our partners4 February, 201613 May, 2020

This week, our intern Marie, the most recent addition to our in-house team, interviewed one of our senior Lithuanian translators, Rugilė. This is a little post put together by Marie using Rugilė‘s answers to her questions.

Rugilė works with BigTranslation as part of the excellent Lithuanian translation team!

Rugilė, tell us a little about yourself.

I am Lithuanian but I have lived in Spain for just over 15 years. For the last 10 years, I have always had language-related jobs. I studied Translation and Interpreting at university and, since graduating, I have worked exclusively in translation.

What languages do you speak, and how do you maintain your proficiency?

At the University of Vilnius, I had the chance to study English and Spanish as primary languages. Currently, my working languages are: Lithuanian, Spanish, English and Russian. For me, translation is a tool which bridges the gap between people that speak different languages. It is indispensable for international communication.

Was being a translator your dream job when you were little?

Have I always dreamt of being a translator? In all honesty, I can’t say that I discovered my vocation as a child, but my interest in languages did start at a young age. That interest grew and took shape as I travelled to different places over the years, discovering different worlds and different peoples. As well as a translator, I also work as an intercultural mediator and I believe that these two professions are those which best define me professionally.

How did you become a BigTranslator?

I work as a translator and proofreader for BigTranslation. Sometimes life presents you with unexpected proposals and exciting opportunities, and that was the case with BigTranslation. One day I got a call from the team, saying that they were interested in my profile and here I am, forming part of this great and diverse team. This is a young, dynamic and enthusiastic company. Each translator, proofreader, coordinator, etc. has high standards and, together, the team works hard to always ensure that they offer the very best services to their clients. This is a translation agency which not only has the experience, energy and dynamism to adapt to the demands of the market, but also an able IT team working alongside them to make sure that all of the tools, processes and services run smoothly and efficiently.

What are your top tips for translators who are just starting out?

I believe that a good translator has the courage to move away from a text’s words when necessary in order to transmit its message. They skilfully manage the text in such a way that its message and purpose remain unchanged and the message is transmitted to the recipient in the most understandable way possible. Honestly, I can’t imagine a world without translators – translation is an ever more sought after profession, thanks to the rise in globalisation and the expansion of technology. Nowadays, all new technologies and research need to be communicated to the largest number of users as possible and, as such, translation will always be vital.

Want to become a BigTranslator?

Join now!