Language Skills Key to Employment in the UK
Feb 28, 2010
A report released in Britain last week found that knowing a foreign language is a major advantage in finding employment. Being bilingual was second only to computer skills in a list of the most important qualities employers look for. A quarter of the 500 recruiters in the poll named it as a factor that gave potential … » read more
Politician on a Mission to Promote German Language
Feb 28, 2010
Germany has become the latest European country making efforts to promote its native language. The country is on the heels of France, which has sent diplomats to the United Nations and the European Union in a bid to halt the decline of French. Now Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle is doing the same … » read more
Google Announces Image-Based Translation Tool
Feb 20, 2010
The latest translation experiment by Google will render images of foreign-language signs and texts into English. The new tool, unveiled by the internet giant last week, is designed to help tourists with tasks such as reading restaurant menus and traffic signs. It builds on the Google Goggles smartphone … » read more
News Website Aims to Cross Cultural Divide
Feb 20, 2010
A new website hopes to foster tolerance between east and west by translating Arabic news articles into English, and vice versa. Meedan.net, operating out of San Francisco, will use automatic translation along with a team of 30 human translators to provide daily stories. There is a tremendous … » read more
Microsoft Bid to Rescue Dying Languages
Feb 20, 2010
Microsoft has announced a scheme to help in the fight to save endangered languages. The multinational software company will roll out localized versions of its main packages, such as Office 2010 and Windows 7, using Language Interface Packs (LIPs) to translate software. The move will make … » read more
French Nervous over Language Decline
Feb 14, 2010
A French diplomat's refusal to speak English at a news conference in New York has highlighted France's fears over the decline of its language. Gérard Araud, the French Ambassador to the United Nations, was addressing the press for the first time during France's presidency of the UN Security Council. When … » read more
Italian Declared Language of Love in Poll of Linguists
Feb 14, 2010
Translators have named Italian the world's most romantic language in a recent poll, threatening French's status as the "language of love." However, the survey also revealed that the French word "amour" was the number one word for "love." Today Translations, based in London, England, carried out the research … » read more
Google to Develop Translation Phone
Feb 08, 2010
Google is working on a phone that can translate live speech. It will be the first of its kind, and the internet giant says it could be available within a few years. Google has already made headlines for its translation technology recently, with Google Translate, a real-time online translation tool, launched late last … » read more
Pakistani Diplomat's Linguistic Shortcomings Exposed
Feb 08, 2010
A senior diplomat has been denied the chance to become Pakistan's ambassador to Saudi Arabia because of an embarrassing translation issue. Former US Ambassador Akbar Zeb will not be taking on the high-profile job because his name – common enough in Urdu – has a vulgar meaning when … » read more
Indian Tribal Language Extinct as Last Speaker Dies
Feb 08, 2010
The last member of an Indian tribe has died, taking her native language with her. Boa Sr, of the Andaman Islands, India, passed away at the age of 85 last month. Until her death she was the sole remaining member of an indigenous tribe, and the only speaker of its language, Bo. Bo had been spoken in the islands … » read more
 Go back to Monthly Article Directory
|
