Among the 40 million Star Trek fans worldwide, die-hard Trekkies have more in common than pointy ears and Star Fleet insignias. While Klingon language localization campaigns have yet to go mainstream, there are new Klingon language tools, such as audio books, dictionaries and the new Microsoft Bing Translator tool Klingon features for transliterated and Kronos script. Klingon is more than just a gimmick, and today's post explains a bit of its history and place in popular culture.
The winners are in for the “POP Your Culture With The Warhol D.I.Y. Pop App” contest, which Acclaro hosted in association with The Andy Warhol Museum. Nicholas Chambers, the Milton Fine Curator of Art of The Warhol, chose the grand prize, second and third prize winners, as well as the 10 finalists for the People’s Choice Award.
Our contestants won some great prizes, from a trip to The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, to gift certificates, to way more than 15 minutes of fame. Today’s post reveals the artistic winners and shows off their submissions!
South Korea, nicknamed the “Land of Morning Calm”, is anything but sleepy these days. Most East Asian business travelers have the opportunity to land in Seoul International Airport, so why not take four hours to explore the sights. Hide-out at ICN, the world’s best airport — with golf, spas, a casino and much more — to reenergize for the next leg of your trip, or go on over-drive and explore Seoul’s historic, high-tech or traditional landmarks, from Gangnam Style or the DMZ to the herb market, royal palaces and museums. Any block of four hours will be efficiently and enjoyably spent in one of the world’s “newest” 21st Century cultures.
A giant monster terrorizes a city, leaving a trail of… art in its wake. Playful and provocative, Bangkok's Bukruk Street Art Festival has literally marked this city in a whole new way. Curious to find out what European and Thai graffiti artists can do when they put their minds to it? Read on to see how their art acts as a global language that pushes boundaries. Think of it as graffiti meets localization on a (literally) massive scale.
Follow in the footsteps of American icon Andy Warhol by entering the Acclaro pop art photo contest in association with The Andy Warhol Museum. Warhol re-imagined everyday items such as soup cans, soda bottles, and portraits to give us some indelible artistic images. Now you get the chance to leave your mark on the world and win a free trip for two to The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, PA. Read today’s post to get all the details.
Ah, Iceland. It's the land of fire and ice, Björk, and seemingly-unpronounceable volcanoes. The country's breathtaking beauty has put it firmly on the travel map and we're surprised this northern gem stayed secret for so long. Where else can you learn about Vikings, see whales, relax in geothermal spas, and ski all in one day? Read on for things to see and do in this land of strange contradictions.
Work cultures can have different meanings around the world. In America, we talk about having a 9-to-5, 40 hour a week job, According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) rankings in 2011, the top three countries in terms of hours worked, based on a combination of paid and unpaid hours, were Portugal, Japan, and Mexico. Strikingly for Japan's 9 hours of work, almost 3 of those are unpaid, whereas in Mexico, the work day is closer to 10 hours with a little over 4 of those unpaid.
In some countries, it's not just the length of the workday that matters, but how those hours are spent, and the all important work/life balance. Read on for some other considerations for businesses around the globe.
You don’t have to be a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu or a fan of Julia Child to know that French dominates the language of cooking. Words as familiar to English speakers as restaurant, gourmet, and cuisine all came to us from French. And if you are a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, or any other cooking school, you may have noticed that almost the entire culinary vocabulary is French, no matter what country you’re in or what language the instructor speaks. From au gratin to zest(e), French is the lingua franca of the kitchen. So how is it that French became so inextricably linked with the culinary professions?
On this day last year, we told you all about Valentine’s Day in Japan, and the related holiday of White Day. This year, we look to Denmark and the custom of gaekkebrev, or "joke letters", that are part romantic declaration and part riddle. While more traditional Valentine's Day traditions are now in vogue throughout Denmark, gaekkebrev are definitely unique, and we wanted to give them the spotlight today.
While heel height, skirt length or on-trend colors might change from season to season, the principles of successful video localization are truly timeless. Multimedia involves more components than traditional text translation and it can be a challenge to get the script, audio, and visuals to all combine seamlessly, much like putting together all the components of a stunning outfit or runway show.
You won't see us on a runway anytime soon, but you might see some of our clients. Last year Acclaro worked on video localization projects for the likes of Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co., and Saks Fifth Avenue. Read on to learn more about how we adapted their multimedia (while making sure they still looked good).
Christmas around the world isn’t always what you might expect. Just like well-known brands that take on a new flavor when localized for foreign countries, your experience with Santa Claus and holiday treats may vary, depending on where you’re traveling.
For example, how is an American fast food chain part of a Japanese holiday tradition? Why does Iceland have 13 versions of Santa Claus? And does Germany really hunt for the “Christmas pickle” in the tree each year?
Pack your sled, and let’s take a tour of some strange facts and fictions about Christmas around the world.
On December 15, the landmark exhibition Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal Asia opens at the Hong Kong Museum of Art. With over 300 paintings, photographs, screen prints, drawings, 3-D installations and sculptures featuring some of Warhol’s most iconic images, the Hong Kong stop is part of a two-year tour throughout several cities across Asia.
Thanks in part to Acclaro’s track record serving clients such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Guggenheim, Tiffany & Co., and Coach, The Andy Warhol Museum chose Acclaro to translate into Chinese their mobile app and educational resources website for the exhibition.
How does one present an artist like Warhol whose own definition changes in the context of contemporary life? Furthermore, what does it take to translate his legacy for Chinese audiences?
It turned out doing it well while on tight deadlines was an art form of its own.
December brings with it visions of snow, so what better time to head to Russia and its vibrant capital Moscow? Whether you've got a long layover or better, if you're spending a few days in this sprawling city, there's more to see than just the Red Square and the Kremlin.
From taxis to how to enjoy a Russian banya, the best museums to street food, we have what to do in Moscow covered. Our first word of advice: watch out for the high curbs. They're tall because of the snow, so when you step, it's a long way down.
Read on for our tips on how to make the most of your Moscow visit.
Through the multilingual magic of our Go Global Holiday Card Creator, you (yes, you!) get to send free e-cards with holiday greetings to friends, family and business associates around the world, in any one of thirteen languages. From a client in Chengdu to an aunt in Aix-en-Provence, put a smile on someone’s face with holiday wishes in their own language.
From Thanksgiving pies to Christmas cookies, the holiday season in the States is a sugary six weeks of baking and celebrating. Every culture has a sweet tooth, so as Americans pull out their rolling pins and pat out the pastry dough for pumpkin pie this week, we thought it would be fun to take a tour of celebratory desserts and sweets around the world. Whether for religious holidays, national celebrations, or special occasions, sugar plays a prominent role in the international recipe book. Forget about your diet and don’t tell your dentist — it’s time to celebrate the sweeter side of life!
Have a layover in Istanbul as you jet from Europe to Asia? Or looking to spend some time after a business meeting with your Turkish partners? While a visit to Topkapı Palace demands at least half a day and the Grand Bazaar can be overwhelming, there are plenty of ways to get a taste of this eclectic and unique city without following the traditional tourist paths. Read on for our tips for enjoying Istanbul to the fullest.
Although small, the vibrant and vocal market for film and television in Quebec has made the studios stand up and take notice. After years of screening entertainment dubbed in France, the film industry in Quebec began to call for market-appropriate products.
Today, more and more studios are double-dubbing films and TV series, creating one version for France and the international francophone market, and another for the Quebec market. If the trend continues, the dubbing and subtitling industry in La Belle Province may well become a serious contender against competition from France and Belgium.
Boom! And they’re off! Did you hear the gunshot from across the Atlantic? The summer 2012 Olympic Games have officially begun. If you want to see a great example of a fusion of languages and cultures from around the world, the Olympics are your ticket.
Got some time in San Francisco between the end of your business meeting and your red-eye flight back home? We know how that goes. If you don't have quite enough time for Alcatraz, there's plenty you can do in the City by the Bay. Leave your colleagues at Fisherman's Wharf (we know how that goes, too) and check out some of the following....
On July 1st, the winner of the 2012 Euro Cup will be decided. Have you been following the action with over 150 million others worldwide? If not, some of your clients might be! But don’t worry, there’s time to consider your options.
Join us in the stands in the meantime for a look at the first Euro Cup to be hosted in Eastern Europe, how one company launched a successful 16-country marketing campaign around the event, and what the language of team slogans might reveal about the hearts and minds of football fans across cultures.
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