Now is the time to make sure your brand speaks Arabic

April 3, 2013 By

“Now is the time to make sure your brand speaks Arabic.” That is a great line from a post on the Common Sense Advisory Global Watchtower, a language industry publication, called “Waking Up to the Arabic Spring.”

The Common Sense Advisory published research showing that “Arabic has now surpassed Russian, French, and German in total online population. The language now ranks as #11 in share of world online wallet, notching the fastest growth between 2011 and 2012 – even outpacing still-surging Simplified Chinese.”

That means that global businesses are missing a huge swath of potential customers if they are not communicating in Arabic. The Common Sense Advisory found that only one in four top global brands communicate in Arabic.

Multilingual Connections offers document translation and live interpretation in Arabic. Contact us for a quote on translating your website, printed materials, advertising, HR manuals and many other documents into Arabic. Don’t miss this opportunity to reach a growing market!

Filed Under: Business, Cultural competency, Demographics, Global business, Translation

Adding pictograms to translated documents

March 8, 2013 By

Hato Bus multilingual system supporting English (UK) English (US) Chinese Korean and... Australian...

One great resource for a multilingual workplace is using images, or pictograms, in documents. Images can be especially useful in safety manuals or policy and procedure documents, where communicating detailed information is essential to business and human resources.

Translating important information from the majority language (say English) into the minority language (Spanish, for example) is crucial to a safe and fair workplace. Using pictograms to communicate can help those with limited language skills in either the majority or minority languages.

Multilingual Connections can not only translate your workplace documents but also add pictograms to be sure that all employees understand the important communications to remain safe and content at work.

Filed Under: Business, Cultural competency, English in the Workplace, Immigrant workforce, Spanish in the Workplace, Workplace diversity

Simplified vs. Traditional Chinese

February 26, 2013 By

Translating between English and Chinese is complex. First, there are two dialects of spoken Chinese: Mandarin and Cantonese. Read more about Chinese dialects in our post on Mandarin vs. Cantonese. Mandarin is generally the dialect of global business, but there are many needs to translate to and from Cantonese, especially for a Cantonese-speaking workforce.

Another point to consider in translating to Chinese is to decide which written format to use. There are two forms of written Chinese characters – Traditional and Simplified. Traditional Chinese is the written form of Chinese characters dating back approximately to the 5th Century. Simplified Chinese was introduced in the 1950s by the People’s Republic of China. The simplified form is reduced both in style and in total number of characters. Instituted by the government, the simplified form was thought to encourage literacy.

Traditional Chinese characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau (note: Cantonese is spoken in Hong Kong and Macau). Simplified Chinese is officially used in the People’s Republic of China and in Singapore (where the dialect of choice can be Mandarin, or depending on the location Cantonese), and is increasingly used in the US.

Still unsure which dialect and written form you need for your Chinese translation project? Contact the Multilingual Connections translation team for advice and a free translation quote.

Filed Under: Cultural competency, Mandarin, Translation

Auld Lang Syne

December 30, 2012 By

The end of a year is often a time for reflection, and the beginning of a year a time to make changes and set goals. The stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve is when we traditionally sing Auld Lang Syne. Though we sing the song in English, many people don’t know the meaning of those three important words.

Auld Lang Syne is an old poem composed in Scots, the traditional Germanic language of lower Scotland (as opposed to Scottish Gaelic of the Highlands).

The words “auld lang syne” translate to “old, long, since” in English. Those words do sound familiar! The phrase represents our “once upon a time,” referring to the “olden days.” It’s a song to acknowledge the memories of the year (or years) gone by and anticipate the new.

So (incorporating a couple of other translations) when we sing this song, we are saying, “We’ll drink a cup of kindness yet for times gone by.”

Is your business setting a linguistic goal for the new year? Whether it’s on-site English classes to improve safety, morale and employee retention rates, or document translation to reach a new global market, contact Multilingual Connections for a free quote.  Here’s to a Multilingual 2013!

Filed Under: Cultural competency, Global business

The Recent English/French Debate in Quebec

December 18, 2012 By

The following provisions are included in the Bilingual Law of the Canadian constitution, which has origins in 1867: the government must conduct and publish their business in both French and English, food and product labels must be printed in both languages, and non-government groups are allowed to promote the use of one or the other language.

French was declared the official language of Quebec in 1977, through Bill 101. It is the only province in Canada that claims French as the official language. English is the dominant language in the majority of the country, but Quebecois retain a deeper connection to their ancestors’ native French language and culture. It’s estimated that only 8.3% of Quebec residents declare English as their dominant language. Some (mostly older generations) do not speak English at all.

Monolingualism will always inspire debate. Where is the line between language preservation and multicultural inclusion? In the United States, the debate rages between English as a common language and accommodating the influx of languages that have always accompanied they country’s immigrant population. In Canada, official bilingualism comes with costs, not the least of which is providing corporate and government translation and interpretation into French and English.

The most recent debate in Quebec is over newly proposed Bill 14, which is discussed in the Common Sense Advisory Global Watchtower blog. It strengthens the status of French while loosening restrictions on prohibiting the use of English (as supported in the original Bilingual Law). In other words, the Bill will affect many officially bilingual cities in Quebec. The new bill would make it easier to remove bilingual status whenever a city’s population falls below a threshold of 50% of citizens with English as their mother tongue.

Another change affects workplace language. Bill 101 already states that French must be the day to day language at businesses with more than 50 employees. Under Bill 14, businesses with 26-50 employees would be included in the French-only rule, which includes serving their clients in French.

Bill 14 certainly supports the preservation of French in an increasingly English speaking world. And basing official language on population seems to make sense.

Discussions of official language, and of supporting minority languages, will always inspire debate, particularly amongst people who argue that we should all side with the dominant language as a common language. In this part of the world, that would be English.

However, language preservationists support more than words. To preserve language is to preserve culture and thought. It will be interesting to watch this legislation and interpret the results – does Quebec side with its French history or its presumed multilingual future?

Advice to global businesses from Common Sense Advisory: “Policies that limit the rights of people to receive information in their native languages are often economically short-sighted. Organizations doing business in Canada should keep a close eye on this proposed legislation.”

Filed Under: Cultural competency, English in the Workplace, French, Global business, Language Policy

826CHI Staff Studies Spanish to Teambuild and Connect with Parents

December 10, 2012 By

826CHI is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.

Many of the students that attend 826CHI writing programs come from Spanish-speaking homes. Their parents are actively involved, but the language barrier between the staff and parents was becoming a frustration.

With only one or two people on staff speaking Spanish, 826CHI was not fully supporting its parent group. When a Spanish-speaker would call the office, many times the person who answered would be at a loss. “I’m sorry, the person who speaks Spanish isn’t here right now.”

Executive Director Barry Benson suggested that the 826CHI staff learn Spanish. Not only would staff be able to communicate with Spanish-speaking parents, they could create stronger relationships with each other through team building.

Benson set up Spanish classes with Multilingual Connections. 826CHI staff attend class for one hour per week at either the beginner or intermediate level.

At first, Benson thought that with everyone’s diverse schedules, choosing a good time for classes would be difficult, and interest would fade. To Benson’s delight the Spanish classes, which began last May, have a 100% participation rate. 826CHI staff find their Spanish instruction so important that they schedule around the class time. Even the board president attends classes!

Benson says every day is a success story, and is thrilled with the results. “It’s gone beyond being a smart investment. We’re improving morale and getting to know each other.”

Multilingual Connections classes always teach language within culture, and the 826CHI staff have plenty of student work to practice from. The group recently translated a complete “I Wish” story written by a fifth-grader. Here is a sample sentence:

  • “If I could do anything, I would go on a date with Justin Bieber. We would go to Golden Corral and we would talk about our deepest feelings and our hobbies.”

Not only did they learn useful vocabulary that their Spanish-speaking students might use, that sentence gave the class a chance to practice the conditional and subjunctive tenses!

826CHI recently received an award from the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago honoring their work with Spanish-speaking communities at Global Latino Fest in October. The language studies were part of that recognition.

What’s next for Spanish instruction at 826CHI? Benson would love to extend Spanish lessons to their dozen or so interns. Learning Spanish would not only boost their marketable skill set, it would be a way for the non-profit to reward them for their hard work.

We at Multilingual Connections would love our friends and fans to get involved with this cutting-edge group of writers and educators. 826CHI sports an innovative and lively volunteer program populated by creative individuals. “People who volunteer at 826CHI come here as much for the enjoyment as they do to give back,” says Benson. Volunteers can tutor after school, run workshops and field trips, and even just help in the office with administrative support.

Multilingual Connections applauds 826CHI for embracing the challenge of bilingualism in the workplace. We are so proud to share this success story!

If your workplace is looking for language instruction – in Spanish, English, or any of our 18+ languages, contact Multilingual Connections so we can begin designing a custom language learning curriculum for your business.

Filed Under: Chicago, Cultural competency, Spanish, Spanish in the Workplace, Workplace diversity

Translation for Museums

November 6, 2012 By

Placard at Montmorency

As the U.S. population becomes more multilingual, and international travel becomes accessible to more people, the need for language translation and interpretation at cultural institutions increases.

Museums in the U.S. desire to be inclusive of all linguistic backgrounds as a way to support a larger audience. Institutions are responding to multilingual needs by translating printed documents, online materials and signs, and by offering pre-recorded audio guides or live interpretation in multiple languages.

Museums share knowledge culture with the public, and translation into multiple languages brings culture to more people, in a meaningful way. We at Multilingual Connections are moved by the Smithsonian’s performance of a Spanish translation of the Star Spangled Banner.

The following are some areas of opportunity for museums to reach a multilingual audience:

  • Signage translation
  • Website translation
  • Art and artifact description translation
  • Guidebook translation
  • Menu translation
  • Press release translation
  • Cultural consulting
  • Audio tours in multiple languages
  • Live guided tour interpretation

Multilingual Connections is any cultural institution’s source for written translation, multilingual voiceover recordings and live interpretation. We offer translation to and from English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese and more. Contact us for your translation or interpretation project!

Filed Under: Business, Cultural competency, Translation

Marketing to a Diverse Audience: The Value of Localization

October 16, 2012 By

Today’s businesses invest a significant amount of time and money toward capturing the attention of targeted demographic groups of Americans, particularly Latinos. According to Deliver Magazine’s Multicultural Marketing Roundtable, the purchasing power of America’s 10.4 million Latino households exceeds $1 trillion. Businesses are aware of the spending power of Latinos, and though their efforts to market to this demographic are rooted in finance, when done right, targeted marketing can have a broader reach. Localized marketing to a diverse audience is also a way to show support and thanks to the communities in which a businesses operates.

According to Forbes, Latinos are more likely to turn away from brands that are only interested in selling to them, rather than empowering their cultural relevancy. Latinos represent a new type of consumer who is less likely to set aside their cultural identity when other subgroups may move toward the mainstream. “Brands need to find new ways to engage with Hispanics,” says Monica Gil, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Government Relations at Nielsen media research. “It’s time for companies to understand the behaviors that drive Latinos to connect emotionally with their brands. Until they do, they are leaving revenue and market growth opportunities on the table.”

Chicago-based Cardenas Marketing Network creates brand experiences that resonate with Latino audiences. CMN produces over 700 live events each year nationwide including concerts, grassroots campaigns, soccer matches and mobile marketing tours. They specialize in localized marketing by designing interactive campaigns take a brand’s marketing messaging directly to Latino consumers. Instead of relying on static advertising, CMN encourages the target audience to engage with the brand in a meaningful way, building trust and loyalty.

Marketing to a diverse audience doesn’t just mean showing a photograph of the target audience and using the same marketing message from the “mainstream” campaign. Using targeted language and cultural references is imperative to reaching a diverse audience. Likewise, photography should be authentic. Businesses are wise to avoid obvious stock photography. How can your target audience trust you if it seems like you don’t know them?

The bottom line is that by creating localized, meaningful connections with members of the target audience they are trying to reach, businesses can lead successful multicultural and cross-cultural marketing campaigns. Language is a major part of brand awareness and marketing. Multilingual Connections provides culture-focused and culturally-relevant document translation for marketing needs across a variety of industries. Contact us for a free quote on your marketing translation project.

Filed Under: Business, Cultural competency, Latino Culture, Marketing, sidebar2

Language in the Multilingual Workplace

September 16, 2012 By

In today’s multilingual and multicultural workplace, issues of language exclusion are hot as ever. A prime example is this story out of Norway, where a Polish hospital worker was fired for speaking Polish on her unpaid lunch break.

She was fired because she failed to heed a policy of Sykehuset Telemark hospital that forbids the speaking of any language other than Norwegian in the hospital, during working hours and on breaks. That means that immigrant workers, who may share a common, native language, must speak to one another in a secondary language, or they will lose their jobs.

The hospital believes that speaking languages other than Norwegian leads to a “bad working environment.”

We all understand the value of using a shared language in the workplace, to foster communication especially related to business and safety. That is why many of our clients seek out our Workplace English as a Second Language classes. When English is the majority language, employers understand the importance, and the benefits, of all employees understanding a common language better.

But we also understand the value of cultural competency in the workplace. About creating a confident workforce based on mutual respect. That means respecting language disparities by providing translation when necessary, and respecting workers’ rights to engage in workplace-appropriate conversations with their colleagues in their native, comfortable language. An employee that feels respected at work will likely become a more valuable, long-term member of the team.

Does Sykehuset Telemark hospital have the right to create its own policies regarding language and behavior at the workplace? As long as those policies follow local laws, then of course it does. However, if the hospital is trying to create the “good working environment” it intends, it would benefit them to think of how language policies affect every stakeholder at that hospital.

Learn more about cultural competency in previous Multilingual Connections blog posts.

Filed Under: Business, Cultural competency, Immigrant workforce, Workplace diversity

Illinois is First State to Offer Bilingual Education

August 24, 2012 By

Drawing competition for school kids

Illinois governor Pat Quinn recently enacted a law strengthening bilingual education throughout the state. This law is very good news for immigrant parents who desire quality education for their kids, but might not understand how to get the best access for their children.

“School is challenging enough for students and parents alike without having to struggle with a new language,” Governor Quinn said, according to a State of Illinois press release. “This new law will keep Illinois on the cutting edge of bilingual education programs to ensure that every student is ready for the workforce.”

Nearly 10 percent of the state’s student population speak English as a second language. This new law will require the state’s Advisory Council to evaluate the success of bilingual programs and explore the benefits and possibilities of “parent academies,” which guide parents through the local education system and teach best practices like homework strategies.

Here at Multilingual Connections, we are thrilled to see our state government take an active roll in cultural competence. This new law creates a more navigable education system for immigrant parents, and better sets up for success kids who speak English as a second language.

Filed Under: Cultural competency, Demographics, Immigration in the US, Language Policy
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