Alexika

82% of consumers more likely to buy in their own language!

2011-07-28T04:32:00.000-07:00

We've reported before on research from Common Sense Advisory which found that 72% of consumers globally are more likely to buy a product if they have information in their own language. Now research from the European Commission found that 82% of consumers were less likely to buy goods online if the site was not in their native language.

We sometimes hear the argument that "they all speak English anyway" i.e. we don't need to translate our web site because overseas clients don't need it. Well - an article about this research from the BBC explains how even in Sweden - where many people do speak English - over 80% of consumers have a preference for buying in their own language.

Even consumers who are fluent in English - or more commonly have a working knowledge of English - will only make a serious purchasing decision with confidence if they are reading their own language.

P.S. Please see previous post "No - they don't all speak English" from November 2009 - we feel strongly that more UK companies in particular need to recognise this issue!

Alexika office decorated for Addingham Gala

2011-07-11T03:45:00.000-07:00

The Alexika office was beautifully decorated for the Addingham Gala (annual summer festival) at the weekend - in accordance with theme of 'Through the Ages.' Sabine used her creative skills to great effect and the office was admired as the procession came down the Main Street past the office front door.

Our subject was the development of the English language throught the ages. A wide range of historical characters made an appearance - including a monk. He was explaining that Roman missionaries brought Christianity to Britain - bringing new words to the language from Latin.

Visitors were able to see influences on English through the ages:
- little was left from the Roman occupation apart from some place names (a local town Ilkley was Olicana.)
- Anglo Saxons were busy with everyday life and their influence on the language reflects this: 'Loaf', 'Woman', House'
- Roman missionaries left Latin-influenced words such as 'Bishop' and 'Martyr.'
- The ferocious Vikings left behind suitably ferocious words: 'Ransack', 'Die'
- The Renaissance and the development of science and arts brought new demands to the language: 'Gravity'
- The Industrial Revolution was another major linguistic upheaval
....and we came up to date with the electronic revolution and current influences on the English language. Textspeak anyone?

Thanks again to Sabine for a lot of work for the Gala - and for all her work in the local community.

Alexika sponsors Addingham Beer Festival

2011-07-04T06:49:00.000-07:00

The first FAPS (Friends of Addingham Primary School) Beer festival takes place on September 9th and 10th 2011. FAPS Chair Richard Hunter-Rowe explains:

"The beer festival has the potential to be a hugely successful event and something the whole community can enjoy. Its aim is to raise funds for Addingham Primary School and our children. At a time when funding for schools is being greatly reduced and schools are trying hard to make improvements to their facilities and the opportunities they can offer our children, the fund raising efforts of parents and school communities are becoming increasingly important and in our case will enable our school to continue to follow its school improvement plan and provide our children with up to date equipment and learning tools they need and deserve."

Alexika is proud to sponsor the event.

Alexika sponsors Addingham Cricket Club

2011-07-04T06:39:00.000-07:00

Alexika Cricket Club is at the heart of our local community, with 120 junior cricket - aged 6-17 - and 2 senior cricket teams. It is a wonderful sight to see the cricket field full of children or older cricketers enjoying the traditional game.

Alexika Ltd is proud to be a sponsor.

Schengen and the Euro

2011-07-01T06:30:00.000-07:00

Reading German news site Tageschau today, Denmark is to bring back formal passport controls on its borders with Germany and Sweden - this despite being a signatory to the Schengen agreement. The reason given is concern over cross-border crime. The beginning of the end for Schengen and free movement around Europe?

Reading the UK's BBC web site, there is a lucid presentation asking "Is the Euro crumbling?" This is an explanation of how budget deficits within a currency zone lead to increased sovereign debt, which leads to lower confidence which leads to higher interest rates..so governments ask for emergency loans....If one country leaves the Euro (Greece?), will others be forced to follows? The beginning of the end of European monetary integration?

These are difficult times for Europe, for Europhiles, for everyone. European politicians need to show courage and leadership now. European history tells us how important it is that we all work together.

Quality vs. Quantity in Translation

2011-05-27T06:22:00.000-07:00

When I explain to non-linguists that I work in a translation company, the first question is often something like: So how many languages do you speak then?

Now, I am impressed with people who speak many languages. When I heard that Denis Healey, former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer who hails from a village near the Alexika office, speaks 7 languages, he certainly rose in my estimation. But for professional translators, one 'source' language and one mother tongue is often quite sufficient.

What I want to know about potential translators for Alexika is that they have mastery of their mother tongue, an extremely high level of professional proficiency in the language that they translate from and also, critically, current knowledge of their chosen field so that they keep up to date with terminology. Then there are other factors such a professionalism, knowledge of translation tools etc etc...but the number of languages spoken is not part of that conversation. We have other colleagues who cover other language combinations.

But we are based in the UK. Is it just that British people are often impressed with any foreign language ability? Which brings me back to my regular theme of how important it is that children learn a second language in school up to and ideally beyond the age 16...

Alexika featured in Yorkshire Post newspaper

2011-05-10T03:15:00.000-07:00

As part of its reporting on the 2011 Yorkshire Business Market, Alexika is featured in an article in the Yorkshire Post newspaper today.

We were exhibiting at the very well attended exhibition for the third time, looking to promote our translation and interpreting service to local exporters. Yorkshire is home to many exporting companies, and the economy of Yorkshire is larger than that of Scotland.

Many thanks to the Harrogate Chamber of Commerce for the excellent organisation of the event.

The importance of studying languages!

2011-05-09T00:45:00.000-07:00

Please follow the link to a BBC article - one of many reasons why children in the UK should study languages up to at least the age of 16! There is a direct link between a nation's international competitiveness and language competence.

Yorkshire Business Market - 9th May 2011

2011-04-13T08:13:00.000-07:00

Less than 4 weeks to go to the Yorkshire Business Market in Harrogate. We are looking forward to meeting new and existing business contacts.

YTI Chair - Thank you Helen!

2011-03-31T08:27:00.000-07:00

We would like to say a big public 'thank you ' to Helen Robertson for her work over more than 10 years as Chair of the YTI (Yorkshire Translators and Interpreters - the regional group of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting.)

Helen has organised many events, both for training and professional support but also social - and her diligence has created an established and vibrant professional group.

Thank you Helen and we look forward to keeping in touch.

Buying Translations - Getting It Right

2011-03-31T08:17:00.000-07:00

I recently came across a publication from the Institute of Translation and Interpreting from around 2000 entitled 'Translation, getting it right - A guide to buying translation.' I was struck by how excellent the advice is even after over a decade. Advice that potential purchasers of translation would do well to heed includes:

- Does it really need to be translated? Decide which information is really required.

- Think international from the start. When writing for translation, avoid culture-bound clichés...and jokes.

- Resist the temptation to do it yourself. Speaking is not writing, and oral fluency does not guarantee smooth, stylish writing.

- Tell the translator what it's for. A speech is not a web site; a sales brochure is not a catalogue entry. Style, pronouceability, word choice, phrasing and sentence length can all vary.

- Professional translators work into their mother tongue.

- An inquisitive translator is good news. No one reads your texts more carefully than your translator. Along the way, he or she likely to identify the fuzzy bits - sections where clarification is need.

- The more technical your subject, the important it is that your translators know it inside out.

....after more than 10 years in a fast-moving profession, these are still fine words. If buyers follow these guidelines when purchasing, they are maximising the chances of a smooth translation process.

Perhaps just one area would be added now if the leaflet were to be rewritten in 2011 - technology has changed out of all recognition. A purchaser should ensure that the chosen Language Service Provider is working with the latest translation management software and more importantly knows when and how (and indeed when not) to apply it.

UK Languages Work Pledge

2011-02-28T09:01:00.000-08:00

We have written before about how it important it is that children learn a second language at school - and how sad it is that fewer children every year are studying languages in the UK. This is so important - both for the individual children who can benefit in adult life from exposure to another language and culture, and for the economy of the UK in global competition.

If you are in the UK, please sign the Languages Work Pledge organised by CILT (National Centre for Languages.) It is possible to stop the decline in language learning, but it needs government to restore the requirement for all children to learn a language to the age of 16.

Alexika's Helen wins cookery prize!

2011-02-24T07:29:00.000-08:00

Helen Tawn, Alexika Translation Coordinator since 2003, has displayed another of her many talents. Helen won third prize in a cooking prize across the North of England - as described in our local newspaper with a picture of a smiling Helen.

The competition was organised by Northern Supermarket chain Booths and was designed to protect traditional Northern recipes from becoming extinct. Helen's plum jumbly tart was highly acclaimed at the finals of the competition, which were held at Blackburn Rovers Football Club.

Well done Helen!

Linguistic disputes in Belgium and Spain

2011-02-03T08:22:00.000-08:00

There is a fascinating article in the Charlemagne section of The Economist this week describing why Belgium's unending linguistic disputes matter to Europe. As I write, no government has been formed since the general election of June 210 - 235 days. The problem is based around the differences between the richer Flemish North and French-speaking Wallonia. It is possible to draw a language line through Belgium - if your children live on one side of the line, their school teaches in French - on the other side Flemish.

Contrast this with the situation in the Spanish region of Catalonia, where schools teach in both Spanish and Catalan. Theoretically at least, neither language is dominant in education.

If it proves that there is no answer to the Belgian problem and the country splits along the language line, other European countries will hope that this is not a precedent for rich regions to go their own way.

Languages in state schools 'decline further'

2011-01-27T04:50:00.000-08:00

There is an excellent article on the BBC news web site today discussing the continuing fall in the numbers of teenagers studying languages in state schools in England. This problem started in 2004 when the study of a language ceased to be compulsory to the age of 16.

Children and indeed the country will be at a disadvantage for years to come. The answer must be to reverse the decision and make language study universal again!

Alexika to present at ITI regional seminar

2011-01-20T07:58:00.000-08:00

Alexika Director Mark and Project Manager Gemma will present at a forthcoming seminar of the regional network (YTI) of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting. The seminar will consider a comparison between our preferred translation memory software - SDL Trados Studio 2009 and another tool

DéjàVu, which will be presented by Paul Clarke of Lodestar Translations. The seminar will take place in the Parkinson Building of the University of Leeds on Saturday 12th February starting at 2pm.

Mark and Gemma will be there in their capacity as SDL Approved Trainers, and are looking forward to some stimulating debate on the latest technology trends.

Mr. Gove - now please finish the job!

2011-01-13T04:57:00.000-08:00

The Education Secretary of the UK's coalition government, Michael Gove*, has introduced the concept of an 'English Baccalaureate.' This concept will measure how 16 year olds perform in core subjects - including modern languages. So - this is a recognition that all children should study at least one foreign language up the age of 16, which is so important not only for specific language skills for later life but also as a means to accessing another culture.

This is a current issue because the previous government made it non-compulsory to study languages to the age of 16, so language study has fallen dramatically. How to resolve the issue once and for all? Make the study of a foreign language compulsory again!

*Picture taken from Mr. Gove's web site http://www.michaelgove.com/

Yorkshire Business Market - 9th May 2011 - Alexika exhibiting!

2011-01-11T09:30:00.000-08:00

For the third successive year, we look forward to exhibiting at the Yorkshire Business Market. The event is held at Harrogate's Great Yorkshire Showground and attracts a wide range of businesses from the North East of England. The Harrogate Chamber of Commerce are to be congratulated on their expert organisation.

We look forward to seeing as many clients, suppliers and friends as possible at the event!

Alexika Christmas and New Year Closing

2010-12-02T08:53:00.000-08:00

The office will close on the afternoon of Thursday 23rd December and re-open on Tuesday 4th January (not 3rd as previously published - the 3rd is a bank holiday in the UK!) Please send any enquiries during this period to mail@alexika.com. We wish all of our clients and suppliers a Happy Christmas and peaceful New Year.

Advent Visitors at Alexika Office

2010-11-29T03:33:00.000-08:00

For one day only, the Addingham Community Travelling Crib is adorning the Alexika office frontage! The beautifully knitted figures will make an appearance at a different local business each day during advent - and will then make a final journey to the Crib Service at St. Peter's Church in Addingham on 24th December. We hope that passers-by may take a quiet moment to enjoy the scene as they prepare for Christmas.

Dr. Shirley Lawes - Why Learning Foreign Languages Matters

2010-11-19T04:34:00.000-08:00

There is an excellent article in the UK's Independent newspaper today, in which Dr. Shirley Lawes articulates why learning a second or third language is so important. It is not just the matter of learning a language but the access to another culture. Travelling through a country with no knowledge of the language can be fascinating - but language skills mean access to the culture on a completely different level.

Learning foreign languages is absolutely essential for business, for life - for international understanding and ultimately for world peace.

ISO9001 Accredited again

2010-11-15T06:26:00.000-08:00

We are delighted to report that Alexika Ltd has been re-accredited as an ISO9001 Quality Assured firm. The inspection was demanding as ever, but very worthwhile. We can recommend the process for any business.

Thank you to the British Assessment Bureau for their assistance.

Message from Wiesbaden

2010-11-10T10:19:00.000-08:00

It was a pleasure to visit Wiesbaden, capital of Hessen, last week for the SDL Partner Conference and Tekom exhibition. It is very good to keep abreast of the latest developments in translation technology - indeed these days essential to maintain the best service for our clients. Thought for the week - it seems that many different technologies are moving into the cloud and away from desktop or server-based software. But software companies in this industry and many others - from the likes of Adobe and Microsoft down to the smallest - are going to have the challenge of maintaining both systems for some time to come.

Many thanks for to technology partner SDL for such a thought provoking program and sharing some very exciting visions of the near future!

European patent translation update

2010-11-04T07:19:00.000-07:00

A good summary of the situation for translation of patents in Europe can be read here on the EurActiv web site. The debate revolves around the need to translate a patent application to every European language verses the cost of this translation. It remains to be seen whether the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union Council will be able to simplify the process.

Conference Quotations - the White Heat of Technology

2010-10-07T09:07:00.000-07:00

Britain's labour Prime Minister of the 1960's, Harold Wilson, is often credited with coining the phrase 'the white heat of technology." Actually what he said in 1963 was: "The Britain that is going to be forged in the white heat of this revolution will be no place for restrictive practices or for outdated methods on either side of industry." Nearly 50 years ago but a familiar feeling - which rather brings to mind a biblical quotation: "There is nothing new under the sun" (Eccl. 1:9.) What was true for industrial unions and bosses then is true for translations companies and their clients and suppliers today. Things are changing fast - as usual.

The conference of the Association of Translation Companies was this year a fascinating day with a recurring theme. The technology of machine translation is developing and becoming a useful tool for business in some situations. To summarise in a sentence: machine translation will increasingly be used for commercial but rough translations of non-business critical text, whilst human translators - albeit supported by both translation memory technology and machine translation technologies - will continue to be needed for the growing volume of business critical text.

It was a pleasure to co-present a seminar at the conference with our technology partner SDL. Through the use of SDL technology, we can offer our clients the advantages of the latest language technologies.

Plus ça change...

European Day of Languages - 26th September!

2010-09-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

To mark the European Day of Languages on Saturday 26th September, do visit the Council of Europe site. There are lots of smiling linguists and a game to test your linguistic skills.

We've also had fun recently with a site which machine translates from English to various dialects. English to Yorkshire? English to Brummie? Try here.

Letter in Telegraph - Baffling Instructions!!

2010-08-19T07:19:00.000-07:00

A letter in today's Daily Telegraph newspaper runs as follows:

SIR - I have just acquired a solar charger but the found the instructions a trifle confusing.
They said: "This machine increases intelligence battery charging newly protecting a circuit, should use the lithium battery that voluntarily go out, much better protection of red lantern has built-in, when PC or suitable orchestrate gives machine to charge."
Bruce Lee
Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire.

We do not think that Mr. Lee's instructions were translated by a professional!!

Alexika on Facebook and LinkedIn

2010-08-11T06:09:00.000-07:00

Alexika is on Facebook and LinkedIn - we look forward to meeting you there! In both cases, you can just find us under the key word 'Alexika.' The Facebook pages in particular are intended as a place where we can relax with friends and maybe enjoy some healthy debate.

Alexika speaker at ATC conference

2010-08-09T08:20:00.000-07:00

Alexika will again be represented at the conference of the Association of Translation Companies (ATC) in London on 23rd September 2010.

In addition to looking forward to meeting old and new colleagues in the translation industry, Mark will co-present a seminar with our technology partner SDL plc. The seminar will focus on adoption of the latest version of SDL's Trados translation technology. The best use of technology is important for both our clients and indeed our professional translators, enabling both to work in as efficient a manner as possible - Alexika aims to keep abreast of latest developments and it is good to be able to discuss developments in an open forum.

The conference again takes place at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) campus on Russell Square.

The Big Society at Alexika

2010-07-20T01:35:00.000-07:00

UK Prime Minister David Cameron launched his big idea yesterday – The Big Society. We are not going to comment on politics here – but how new is this idea?

Every year in our community in the North of England, there is a summer festival known as a Gala. This involves for example decorating houses and businesses, community groups parading through the town in costume, lots of food and drink and a race to the top of the nearest hill...something for all ages.

The theme this year was 'The Movies' - and we're delighted to report 2 pieces of success for Alexika at the Gala! Alexika's office was placed second in the competition for best dressed business frontage. The office frontage was dressed in the theme of Mary Poppins - complete with models of the main characters from the film with Mary herself flying from a top floor window! Well done to Sabine for her imagination on that project and to Becky for the support.

We also had an outright Gala winner though! Translations Coordinator Helen is also leader of a Brownie pack (girl's youth group.) Helen led her troupe to success as the best procession group with the theme of 101 Dalmatians - with Helen leading the pack as Cruella de Vil!! Wonderful work Helen, and we thought you were enjoying the character a little too much!

Alexika is a sponsor of the Gala, and is also proud to be one of the sponsors of Addingham cricket club this year, where Mark is Junior Chairman. The club has 130 junior members ranging from ages 6-17. There are 500 cricket clubs in the Yorkshire region of the North of England, and each plays an important role in their local community and provides a focal point for young people in particular. For our continental European readers, please ask if you would like an explanation of the rules of this fine summer sport - but you mind need to set aside a spare hour or two!

Alexika is also a sponsor of the Addingham pantomime, a peculiarly English – and very stylised – form of comedy theatre. Hours and hours of volunteer time go in to producing 8 performances to a packed theatre.

CSR for SMEs? Small and medium-sized companies also contribute to society in many ways.

Thoughts from ITI Marketing Workshop - the role of translation distributors

2010-07-09T08:04:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to the ITI for having me as a speaker at the recent Marketing Workshop event in York.

We had some interesting discussions about the translation company/freelance translator relationship. Freelancer translators have a choice in their business life - they can work for client companies directly and/or they can work for 'distributors' such as translation companies. This situation is perhaps more commonly known in manufacturing industries than the service sector, but in both cases there are situations when either option is appropriate. Reasons for working for a distributor in this case might include:

- a strong relationship means that only appropriate work should be offered by a translation company
- the end client receives an enhanced service as the translation company may undertake preparation, checking and proofreading tasks
- freelance translators are left to focus on what they do best, using linguistic skills rather than business skills.

And for client purchasers of translations, reasons to purchase from a company rather than an individual might include:

- ease of purchase from one source for a range of languages and language services
- project management for multilingual requirements
- the knowledge that a subject specialist translator can be selected for different types of assignment

Perhaps the most interesting area of discussion of the day was around a thought from Ana Simkins of Applied Language, suggesting that the rise of the internet means that loyalty and relationships are becoming less important in business. Competitors are now only a mouse-click away. Fair point - but in a very fragmented industry such as translation, buyers may not know where to go for a particular service, and a relationship with a valued and trusted supplier can be more important than ever? Probably a question of different situations in different sectors of our translation world.

So thanks again ITI - and the National Railway Museum is a great venue for a conference.

I was pleased to recommend Malcolm MacDonald's 6th Edition of his book 'Marketing Plans' as a thorougly practical guide to marketing planning for all types of business.

Mark

Language Education in the UK

2010-05-21T03:51:00.000-07:00

The current state of language education in the UK was summed up perfectly by Baroness Coussins in a letter to The Times this week. The plan to provide all Primary School children with foreign language education seems to have been quietly dropped. This follows the disastrous recent decision to no longer make languages compulsory after the age of 14. Baroness Coussin's letter points that only 6% of the world's population speak English as a native language and 75% speak so English whatsoever. In the past decade, the amount of traffic in English on the Internet has declined from 51% to 29%.

So what does this say about the UK? A sad mixture of complacency and arrogance. Economic complacency as we watch the BRIC and other developing nations power ahead in business - do we think that British firms will do well in China if we do not teach at least some of our children to speak Chinese? Arrogance because that old 'they all speak English anyway' attitude just won't go away despite the overwhelming evidence that the world is moving on.

Where Machine Translations fits with Human - the Translation Continuum

2010-03-11T01:45:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to clients and suppliers who took the trouble to send to us a piece in the New York Times recently about GoogleTM's free machine translation tool. The quality of machine translation produced has improved significantly over the past year as a result of some serious investment. Google is now our first recommendation when clients want a quick and easy gist translation.

So great news for society at large - as long as society uses the technology with great care! The improvement is such that in future people will be able to communicate across cultures more easily. But how do we view improved machine translation in the human translation industry? Good news for us too for several reasons:

Our clients have a real benefit in having a tool to give them a rough understanding of a document before deciding whether human translation is required.
In purely business terms, the translation market is expanding - partly due to this type of technology. Machine translation means that people are communicating more in foreign languages. This drives increased demand both for machine translation but also for complex and business-critical human translation.

I have to say that I am very much a linguist rather than a scientist, and human translation remains an art. From my viewpoint, machine translation is not going to replace human translation but it moves further along the translation quality continuum. Think machine translation at one end of a quality continuum with high quality human translation at the other end of a very long line. Machine translation is moving further along that line.

And a final thought for professional translators - I'm delighted to see Google amongst machine translation options integrated as one source of reference in SDL Trados Studio 2009 SP2, our translation memory tool of choice. The critical question here is how can machine translation be best deployed as a back-up resource for those of us using translation memory, termbases and other technologies for human professionals. I think that SDL have adopted precisely the right approach.

Alexika to exhibit at Yorkshire Business Market

2010-01-28T08:33:00.000-08:00

Alexika will have a stand at the Yorkshire Business Market at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate on 26th April 2010. Harrogate is a delightful town North of the city of Leeds, and is always worth a visit whether for business or pleasure! We look forward to meeting new and existing clients and suppliers.

For more information, please contact Gemma Cooper or Mark Robinson on 0800 917 9579 (outside UK: +44 1943 839227).

Mark Robinson to speak at ITI Marketing Workshop

2010-01-28T06:50:00.000-08:00

Alexika Director Mark Robinson will be amongst the guest speakers at the Marketing Workshop event of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting. The event will be held at the National Railway Museum in York on May 14th 2010 - further details can be found on events page of the ITI web site.

Mark will be discussing the importance of marketing for small businesses - and also for sole traders, particularly freelance linguists. Prior to cofounding Alexika in 1998, Mark spent 10 years in marketing management in the plastics, metals and textiles industries. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Renewed ISO9001 Accreditation for Alexika Ltd

2009-12-04T03:20:00.000-08:00

Following a rigorous assessment, we are pleased to announce that Alexika Ltd has renewed accreditation as an ISO9001 quality assured firm. Ever since the company was established in 1998, delivery of high quality translations has been central to everything that we do. We find that formally setting out our quality procedures – and regularly reviewing them - is a positive process and we believe that our clients will benefit in years to come. We are grateful again to the British Accreditation Bureau for their help in preparing us for assessment.

NO! They don't all speak English...

2009-12-01T02:39:00.000-08:00

Thought from Mark directed at UK exporters....

I love this job - but it can be hard to explain to others in social situations sometimes! 2 recent illustrations: an acquaintance at an evening class, on hearing that we are a translation company, said "they all speak English on the continent don't they!" Secondly pub landlord comedian Al Murray on hearing that a member of his audience was a Spanish translator quipped: "they all speak English, you're surplus to requirements you are mate!!"

NO! I'm travelling to Germany this weekend. According to some latest figures, approx. 56% of the population of Germany can speak English to some degree as a second language - a Eurobarmoter survey from back in 1994 gave the figure as 35%, so maybe there is a trend there. In the Spain the recent figure is 27% and the 1994 figure is 13%. Whilst these figures are not particularly scientific, there may be a trend to more people speaking English as a second language - and clearly this ability does not extend to the majority of the population in many key European markets.

So the key questions for UK exporters are: do the people receiving my communications speak and read English, and then are they more likley to purchase from me if I communicate in the receiver's language? The answer to the second question is very probably yes: people are more likely to buy in their own language.

The graph below is taken from Wikipedia, and shows the approximate percentage of the population that speak English as a second language in each country.

P.S. According to figures released recently by fellow ATC members LTC, the UK translation industry is now worth between €636 and €641 million.

Translation, coal and cricket

2009-11-30T09:18:00.000-08:00

There has been much talk* recently of the Jevons Paradox of 1865. The 19th century saw great technological advances, particularly in the efficiency of the steam engine. This meant that each steam engine needed less coal so it was expected that demand for coal would fall......except that new technology meant that there were more applications for steam engines and the demand for coal actually rose. Counter-intuitive at first - but that's also what is happening to translation on the web. The translation industry is becoming more efficient every year, technology means that words can be translated more efficiently, it is becoming cheaper and easier to publish content on the web - and the demand for translation continues to grow.

.

And the link with cricket? Well, it was the contrast that struck me as I gave a presentation recently including the above thought at Marylebone in London, first home to the MCC. The MCC, the preeminent cricket club in London, has now moved to Lord's cricket ground, where it can cost up to £100 to watch an international cricket match. Is this an extreme example of inelastic demand? Or will pricing soon be out of reach of supporters causing demand to collapse? It seems the former at the moment.....

*We think that the debate was started by http://www.commonsenseadvisory.com/ - well done to them!

Announcement of New SDL Trados training dates coincides with launch of SDL Trados Studio certification program

2009-11-01T09:32:00.000-08:00

Alexika has announced the latest dates for SDL Training courses for translators and translation project managers through to April 2010. The announcement coincides with SDL’s launch of the SDL Trados Studio certification program – a set of exams which graduates from the training courses take online. We thoroughly recommend the scheme as a means for linguists to prove their professionalism to their clients.

After passing each level of the certification, translators are entitled to display the corresponding badge on their professional communications. The badges now come in both electronic form and as pin badges.

European Day of Languages

2009-10-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

26th of September was the European Day of Languages and Alexika celebrated with a trip to school – Directors Mark and Sabine Robinson went to Addingham Primary School. Mark gave an assembly presentation to the 270 pupils about Germany and the German language, and Sabine spent the morning in classrooms answering questions about Germany and making potato salad German style. Mark has spoken to secondary schools over the years but this was the first time speaking to the age range of 4-11 years - and the level of enthusiasm was very stimulating!

Alexika speaking at ATC Conference

2009-10-01T09:34:00.000-07:00

Alexika Director Mark Robinson attended the conference of the Association of Translation Companies, and was guest speaker at the seminar about the SDL Partner Programme. The conference found the industry in positive mood – demand for languages services around the world is said to be growing at 4.5% per annum despite the financial crisis.