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.
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.
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.
Sunday, February 10th marked the beginning of the Year of the Snake for many people around the Asian world. And continuing a global business trend, international retailers took notice as snake-themed items hit the shelves (both digital and otherwise). Not only is this a timely move for marketing and advertising teams, but a smart one, as this is a major gift-giving season for millions of people.
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.
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!
The French and English may have been the first wave of immigrants to arrive on Canada’s shores but they certainly weren’t the last. Throughout its history, immigrants have come from the four corners of the world to live in North America's vast north, weaving a rich cultural and linguistic tapestry that cannot be described as merely bilingual. When you think about your customers north of the 49th parallel, you may want to consider that other languages in addition to the official ones, English and French.
Dictionaries are an important part of any translation process, particularly if the language is no longer spoken. Take ancient Egypt. While we might think of hieroglyphs as the language of ancient Egyptians, the language that everyday people wrote and spoke was quite different. Known as Demotic (from the Greek meaning "the tongue of the demos," or the common people), this language was one of the three scripts on the famous Rosetta Stone (shown above, along with Greek and hieroglyphs) that enabled scholars to translate the meanings of the hieroglyphs and unlock an entire period of history.
Scholars at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago have completed an almost 40-year project of a Demotic dictionary, expected to further unlock the many unpublished manuscripts from this period in history. Read on to find out more about Demotic, the dictionary making process, and why this language is relevant today.
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.
Beauty is in the eye of beholder, which is why global cosmetics companies take care to adapt their products for a local gaze. Whether it’s a tweak to an existing product or a shift in marketing strategy to accommodate different beauty priorities, product localization in the beauty industry is nothing new. Now some major players are upping the ante in the beauty localization game for China’s ever-expanding market.
Global beauty giants like L’Oréal and Estée Lauder are competing with Japanese and Korean beauty companies like Shiseido, Kao, and Amorepacific for market share in China. How are these North American and European companies using localization to make themselves more attractive to Chinese consumers? Read on to find out.
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.
Are you planning to go to Europe this summer? On vacation or expanding your business? Dubrovnik? Paris? Frankfort? We've got a few tips to make your trip (and your localization project) a smoother and more enjoyable one.
Who wants to play hooky and hit the beach today? If you're headed to the coast (shh—we won't tell if you won’t), take two minutes to check out our beach-lounging recommendations for maximum enjoyment and get a few localization tips along the way.
Nothing caps a long, warm summer day like a cold, delicious beverage. In this slideshow, we serve a triple shot of localization lessons that won’t give you a hangover!
Smart, fun and useful. Acclaro shares news and tips on translation, localization, language, global business and culture.