Translation-related know-how, examples and latest news.

Localization of Company Newsletters for Global Companies

February 23, 2015

Localization, company newsletter

Global companies with large numbers of employees across various countries and cultural regions tend to experience problems with regard to consistency of purpose and information gaps.

The appropriate localization of company newsletters offers an important way to address such problems.

Active use of a company newsletter aimed at internal and external stakeholders can be part of a successful global PR strategy.

Localization of Company Newsletters is Essential for Global Companies

At first glance, company newsletters cannot be seen as absolutely essential, and companies that are tough on costs might regard them as the first item of advertising expenses to cut. But company newsletters serve not only to promote the company's values and business policies; depending on the planning that goes into them they also serve to enhance employees' sense of solidarity with each other and motivation for their work. On this point, it is fair to say that international companies that engage employees embracing diverse cultural values might realize the true value of company newsletters more than would domestic companies that operate within a single cultural region.


The 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the Growing Role of Interpreter Tour Guides

February 16, 2015

 Interpreting, Olympics

The selection of Tokyo as the site of the 2020 Olympics is bringing renewed worldwide attention to Japan.

This is bringing the "interpreter tour guide" qualification into the limelight.

This article provides an introduction to the profession of interpreter tour guides as well as tips for utilizing interpreter tour guides in business contexts.

What is an Interpreter Tour Guide?

The interpreter tour guide qualification is the only national qualification in Japan relating to interpreting. It is an essential qualification for businesses that provide guide services in foreign languages to tourists who visit Japan. Examinations are now offered not only for English but also for a range of other languages such as French and Chinese, and as at April 2013 over 16,000 qualified interpreter tour guides were registered.


Polishing Translations Through Back-Translation

February 9, 2015

back-translation, translation

The process known as back-translation serves to avoid subtle alterations in nuance and ambiguities in a translation project. In this process, a translated document is translated back into the original language by an independent translator without reference to the original document. The back-translation is then compared with the original document to verify the accuracy of the translation, and any necessary refinements that can be made. To eliminate any lingering concerns over a piece of translation, please consider commissioning a back-translation.

Circumstances that May Merit a Back-Translation

A back-translation is an effective tool in situations where a relatively high degree of accuracy is required, such as in pharmaceutical documents, patent application documents, and market research. It can also be utilized when translating documents into multiple languages. In the case of Japanese-English and English-Japanese translation, it may be relatively easy for companies in Japan to verify the delivered translation and pick up on any points of doubt or concern. However, could you do that in the case of, say, a translation from Japanese to Arabic? Even if it can be confirmed that the commissioned translation has been turned into Arabic, it is difficult to verify that the translation is genuinely correct.


Familiar Yet Unfamiliar Video Translation

February 2, 2015

translation, subtitling, dubbing

In our lives, we are so familiar with European movies, Japanese anime or Korean dramas and other overseas films and dramas that they do not seem any different from English-language productions. Video translators are essential for these works to be widely enjoyed abroad. In recent years, the term "video translation" has become widely known and it is becoming a popular field of translation. Let us discuss the distinguishing characteristics of this video translation.

Types of Video Translation: The Distinguishing Characteristics of "Subtitling" and "Dubbing"

Video translation covers a wide range of fields, such as news and television programs as well as video games and promotional videos for companies. There are two main methods of translation: "subtitling" and "dubbing."

February 2015

Japanese Translation Agency Arc Communications

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