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Matthew Connaughton | August 19, 2009
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Holiday Translation Tool: “In’t reet gud” according to ALS staff member

Just seen a funny (gimmicky, yet useful) post about a UK travel company that has launched a new online search facility – it lets users search by typing in phrases in their own dialect.

Lastminute’s new ‘Pronto’ tool translates pre-set search terms in Scouse, Geordie, Manc, Brummie, Bristolian and Glaswegian dialects. Alternatively, the more skeptical (confused) visitor can decide that they are “standard”, and thus use the Queen’s English instead.

Users can select their accent by clicking their location on a map – and flit between for their own amusement, obviously. The company has admitted leaving out Cockney Rhyming slang, presumably for a multitude of reasons (for those of you who have heard of this but are yet to experience it first hand, I suggest you spend a few weeks on YouTube studying StepToe and Son or Russell Brand (or worse, Alf Garnett)).

A "Brummie" (Birmingham) search on Pronto

A "Brummie" (someone from Birmingham) search on Pronto

I spoke to a few people at Applied Language Solutions’ Head Office and Sam Philpot, Web Marketing Executive, had this to say about the tool:

“It is a bit gimmicky, but some of the searches are  funny and besides, it’s got people talking about the brand!  There is a bit of an omission in that there’s no Yorkshire accent either…I were fair opin to gerrona plane and go ovver seas!” I should point out at this point that Sam hails from Huddersfield. He adds “…I’m not surprised Cockney Rhyming Slang isn’t on there either, it’s that complicated I don’t even think most Londoners fully understand it!”

Selecting your (chosen) dialect

Selecting your (chosen) dialect

Some searches found by The Telegraph (thanks) include:

Scouse (Liverpool): Ello der, la, ay wanna boss ’otel in Dublin for two nights termorra.

Queens English: I’d like a fantastic hotel in Dublin for two nights tomorrow.

Geordie (Newcastle): Howay man! Aa’d leik te gan bi plane te John F Kennedy Airport, pet.

English: I’d like a flight to John F Kennedy Airport tomorrow.

Brummie (Birmingham): Gizza groit hotel in London to-die.

English: I’d like a hotel in London today.

Bristolian (Bristol): Awrite, me old luvver, I’d like summat to eat in Bristol ternight, my love.

English: I’d like to book a table in Bristol tonight

Mancunian (Manchester): Ay-up! A wanna bitta scran t’morra at a curry house for two avin’ it large in Brick Lane

English: I’d like a table for two at an Indian resturant in Brick Lane.

Read the full story here.

 

Category: Dialects, Free Translation, Translation | Tags: , , , , , ,
Matthew Connaughton | August 10, 2009
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For the grade A, B, C or D, answer A, B, C or D…

Interesting story in The Telegraph about a school not too far away from Applied Language Solutions Head Office (no connection!), that has suspended five teachers for helping pupils to pass language examinations.

The language specialist high-school in Little Lever, near Bolton, will also withhold results for papers submitted for French, German and Spanish examinations.

Encouraged? Cheating pupils reportedly aided by teachers!

Nothing to do with us: ALS does NOT condone cheating, even when copying Martin Prince!

James Stangroom, Applied Language Solutions Director of Interpreting Services, had this to say about the reports:

“Anyone who works with languages will know just how important self-development is for those who eventually come to make a living from their language skills. It’s interesting that these reports are about a specialist language school, so it would be a shame if they had any truth in them.”

Applied language offers professional language courses and has over 14,000 linguists based worldwide who provide translation and interpreting.

Good article? Leave a comment.

Category: Languages | Tags: , , , , , , ,
Matthew Connaughton | August 7, 2009
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Gaelic translation for Scottish Parliament, via India

Just seen a report that Scottish Parly chiefs have gone and outsourced a Gaelic Translation project to a company based in India – via a UK based company (!) – only to use locally sourced linguists (local to Scotland) for the job. This is despite Holyrood employing two in-house Gaelic speakers, of course, prompting the Sun to cover the story.

Applied Language Solutions founder and CEO, Gavin Wheeldon gave his reaction;

“Even we have an office in India, but you can source linguists from anywhere in the world. You would have thought a domestic company would have the capacity to finish such a job without farming it out.” He goes on to add..

Scotland, India: (Very) close ties

Scotland, India: Very close ties

“With regards the cost, I would suggest this is an attempt just to get the business – so you might want to question the quality of a translation at that price. That said, there is quite a myth around the costs involved in translation in that it can actually be very cheap if you know how to find the right linguists – but you certainly don’t have to go halfway round the world to do it.”

Applied Language Solutions has over 14,000 in-country linguists. Amongst the 150 + languages they cover include the Irish, Scottish and Manx variants of Gaelic.

See the full story in The Sun

Category: Languages, Translation Mistakes | Tags: , , , , ,
Matthew Connaughton | August 3, 2009
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A sad day indeed as spammers go multilingual…

Whilst the boundless choice of language from spammers may be annoying/offensive/hilarious (or all three), reports over the weekend claim that spammers are now using machine translations to bolster sales. So, quite serious then…

Due to the rise in popularity of machine translation, it has at last found its way onto the workflow of the spammer – making emails for all things “extra inches” a truly universal gripe – with major European countries reporting a 95% spam rate!

Universal gripe - multiningual spam

Universal gripe: Multilingual spam

In response to the news, John Dixon, Translation Service Delivery Director at Applied Language says: “Machine translation gives you about 75% accuracy, but it can’t recognise context, so this has the potential to be a really worthless move for spammers.  Of course, with some of the reported margins involved in spamming, translating mass mailers was always a no-brainer. You can’t help but wonder then, why they haven’t employed a professional translation company for marketing translation – or even post editing machine translation.”

Indeed! Though it’s very useful for individual word references, machine translation has yielded some examples you really couldn’t make up.  Amongst the few recent spams we’ve heard of so far (please feel free to add any others in the comments section), the viagra pill that “leaves you nothing to hope for!” was one of the funniest – and most honest!

Read the full story here.

Category: Languages, Machine Translation, Translation Mistakes | Tags: , , ,
Matthew Connaughton | July 31, 2009
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Lending figures add up to bad news for UK business

Gavin Wheeldon - CEO of Applied Language Solutions

Gavin Wheeldon: Concerned over business lending levels

Just read an interesting story on BBC News about the recent war of words between the Chancellor, Alistair Darling and the British Bankers Association (BBA) concerning the supposed (disputed) increase in business lending.

Following comments made by the Chancellor, that he was “Extremely concerned” about lending levels, the BBA promptly released figures that showed an increase in small business lending in June.

However, these latest figures are bound to cause further debate after it was revealed that the BBA classes a “small business” as one that has up to £1m annual turnover – effectively ‘fudging’ the stats, according to one blogger.

Applied Language CEO, Gavin Wheeldon commented:       “If business lending is down, and everything suggests that is the case, it puts increased pressure on the cash flow of small UK businesses. Most business borrowing tends to be for expansion related reinvestment, so this means that more companies will have their attempts at growth stifled – anything that does that, particularly during a recession, is extermely counterproductive for the economy.”

Read the full story here.

Category: Business Management | Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Matthew Connaughton | July 22, 2009
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Export Box launch covered by Daily Express

This morning we woke up to the encouraging view of our new service, Export Box being featured in the Daily Express – always a pleasure!

EBLOGO

Partners include Google, HSBC, Royal Mail, Institute of Export and Search Laboratory.

Export Box is a dedicated exporting package that enables first time exporters to venture overseas with their goods or services – It’s pledge is “Helping you export – to anywhere”.

For under £3,000, Export Box includes in-country marketing with Google, dedicated Pay Per Click (PPC) campaign management and landing pages designed to maximise orders & enquiries from a dedicated PPC partner.

Applied Language Solutions (ALS) will provide additional translation for emails and marketing purposes, while HSBC and Royal Mail provide banking and shipping respectively. ALS will also be able to provide instant telephone interpreting for additional customer support for non-English speaking customers.

Applied Language Solutions CEO, Gavin Wheeldon said: “The package is a no-brainer for companies wanting to take the plunge into exporting. With Export Box we have included a years membership to the Institute of Export, as well as a free storefront with Alibaba.com and discounted membership. Other partners will be added over time with their services and benefits given retrospectively for customers.”

Speaking of the extras within the Export Box package, he added “Not stopping there, users of Export Box will also receive a free £200 Google Voucher to add to their PPC campaigns – so we really do make sure every Export Box customer will get everything they need to export, from the impartial advice of the IOE to marketing, communications, sales and transactional support.”

For more info on Export Box visit www.exportbox.co.uk.

Category: Translation | Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Matthew Connaughton | July 21, 2009
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ALS boss reacts to Porsche payout

During the recession, the bonus culture which has (in part) helped to propel the global economy to  the dizzy heights from which it has recently plummeted (sic: and subsequently buried itself under its own terminal velocity), has come under fire from just about every possible angle.

From bank bosses to outgoing MP’s, public outcry against the endorsement of big bonuses and ‘golden parachutes’ has made proverbial mincemeat out of many a reputation (however well deserved said reputation may have seemed previously). With that in mind, it will come as no suprise to learn that outgoing Porsche chief, Wendelin Wiedeking may be in for similar treatment. Recent reports state he may receive a parting payout in excess of $100million after seventeen years at the helm of the German manufacturer. Couple that with the small factor of Porsche debts totalling some $10 billion and you might not find yourself surprised at such derision.

Beautiful! 740 of these - yours for $100m

If only! 740 of these - yours for just $100m

Speaking to Real Business, Applied Language Solultions CEO Gavin Wheeldon gave his reaction to the reports: “Wiedeking should be appropriately rewarded for the results he achieved earlier in his career at Porsche – but he shouldn’t be getting such a significant golden parachute at such a bad time for the business,” in reference to the company’s plummeting share price and €10bn debt added “any kind of exit bonus should be based on the current health of the business you are exiting.”

For the full story on Real Business, click here.

Category: Business Management | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Matthew Connaughton | July 9, 2009
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Monkeys recognise ‘bad grammar’

Studies on monkeys have revealed clues about the evolution of language.

In the journal Biology Letters, researchers said that cotton-top tamarins (like the one pictured) are able to spot if the order of syllables in a word is “wrong”.

Hear no evil? Not quite, according to new findings!

Hear no evil? Not according to new findings!

They familiarised the monkeys with two-syllable terms, and recorded their reaction to words that were not consistent with that syllable pattern.

The team says the work illustrates how many animals use patterns that have become intrinsic to human language.

Applied language Solutions have dedicated professional language courses – maybe zookeepers need to brush up on their English language skills!   View the full story here.

Category: Translation | Tags: , , , ,
Matthew Connaughton | July 2, 2009
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Google helping firms take over the world…

You’ve heard the remarks before, no doubt, that “Google is on a mission to take over the world”. You may have even agreed from time to time, however one thing is certain – they definitely are, but not as you would (like to) think!!

Much has been said about Google (good and bad) since its meteoric rise to fame, fortune and household-namedom, however there is one thing you certainly won’t have heard from the paranoia brigade. I speak of Google UK’s recent launch of its Export Advisor website – a free tool that guides business managers through the various barriers to entry to overseas markets and thus helps them to export with relative ease.

The overarching aim of Export Advisor is to encourage small firms and first-time exporters trade overseas by giving free impartial advice and ‘how to’ guides for all things exporting. They’ve even come up with a nifty (dare I say nifty?) market sizing tool for certain geographic regions based on your market (screenshot below).

Google Market Sizing Tool

Google's market sizing tool gives potential opportunities for your products/services abroad.

Sticking to what they clearly know best, Google have also impressively drafted in a number of suppliers to cope with all the non-web based elements of exporting. These include HSBC, Royal Mail, the Institute of Export and Applied Language Solutions.

In keeping with the exporting theme, Applied Language has also teamed up with Google and the other partners to launch Export  Box. Combining translation, shipping, banking, in-country Pay Per Click and Google advertising for a one off fee, Export Box is the first ever ‘out of the box’ exporting package.

Anyone reading this is encouraged to take a look at the Export Advisor website and try out the (beta) tools for themselves. Oh and try not to reach the conclusion that Google are trying to help you take over the world…

Happy exporting!

Category: Translation | Tags: , , , , , ,
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