- Uh, how much is that in dollars?
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* Upcoming Events *
 We
will be exhibiting at the upcoming American Society of Safety
Engineers (ASSE) Safety 2008 Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada from June 9
- 11, 2008.
As the industry leader in translation and localization services of
e-learning content for the health and safety industry, we provide full
turnkey solutions in any language. If you plan to be at Safety 2008,
please stop by our booth #845, say hello and learn more about
how we can help your company succeed in any language!
For more information about the expo, please visit the
Safety 2008 web site.
May Days
 With
apologies to our friends south of the equator, May is the month when
most of us "northerners" are finally assured that Old Man Winter
is leaving until next year, and we begin to celebrate the approaching
warm weather and nature's annual renewal.
Across much of Central and Northern Europe, where winter nights are
dark, cold and long, festivals are held in May to commemorate the coming of Spring
and the longer days. Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in
Austria and southern Germany (particularly in the German state of
Bavaria), where a traditional Maypole (Maibaum or "May tree") is
erected in the town square to celebrate the change of seasons.
This tradition goes back many centuries and each village has its own
variations, but by and large, it's a chance for the local population
to come out of their winter hibernations and celebrate and socialize
with each other...and what German celebration would be complete
without a healthy dose of sausage, beer and pretzels? It's not
uncommon to see German women, dressed in traditional costumes (called
a "Dirndl"), delivering huge mugs of beer and 8-10 pretzels
dangling between their elbows and shoulders. Yes, the oompah
bands also dust off their instruments this time of year and their
distinct sounds can be heard all across this region of Europe.
So if you are in Germany this time of year, take some time to visit a
May festival in any town in the South, and may we recommend the
following: 1) get a designated driver 2) ride the carnival rides
BEFORE sampling all the beer and 3) - always ask for the pretzel
closest to the barmaid's elbow ;-)
Why Italians Don't Speak Latin
 Two
thousand years ago, Latin was the lingua franca (which is Latin
sort of for "universal language"). From Spain to Romania,
everyone understood at least enough Latin to shop or serve in the
military (there was no cable TV back then, so those were just about
all your choices). When people learned to read, they learned to read Latin,
and a great many people could read — at least a little. (Just
think how much easier medical or law school
must have been back then!)
However, if you travel today to Italy, heart of the Roman Empire, you won't
hear anyone speaking Latin in the restaurants or market places. You'll
hear Italian...and you'll probably see it too, given the Italians'
penchant for talking with their hands.
Did the Italians kill Latin in favor of newer, better, hipper Italian?
Well, yes actually, but they didn't do it in the Colosseum. It
was more of a gradual thing. As the barbarians slowly overtook
the Empire, their languages mixed with the indigenous Latin and what
we are left with today are Italian, French, Spanish, Romanian, etc.
Every language is changing all the time (even the language you are
speaking right now), in baby steps. Languages
change in the way sounds are pronounced, in the words that are used,
even in the way words are strung together to make sentences.
Languages grow and even die too. When the last speaker of a
language dies, so, too, does the language they speak (and a small part
of the diversity of human culture). While the Pope (and the lawyers
of the world) may have Latin on life support, it's pretty much dead in
the real world.
We're just glad the toga died out with it.
The Savvy Traveler
 With this new segment of Translators Ink, we hope
to assist those traveling abroad in learning some tips that come in
handy in other countries and cultures.
Whether you travel for business or pleasure, you want to make a good
impression on everyone you meet. That's why it's always helpful
to know some inside baseball (even if where you're going, they have no
idea what baseball is).
Our Savvy Traveler segment is designed
to keep you on your toes and to help you avoid an 'international
incident' so to speak. The old saying "When in
Rome, do as the Romans do" is as true today as it was in Caeser's day.
Cultural differences begin with greetings.
You know that Japanese people bow when they greet one another.
Your first instinct is to bow in return, but many nuances of rank and
status are involved in who bows first and how deeply each person bows.
Then, there's the matter of gracefulness. Without practice, your
bow will be awkward and may seem insincere. The Japanese know
that most Americans don't understand the etiquette of bowing and will
accept a simple nod of the head as the politeness you intend.
Most businesspeople in Japan use a handshake and a brief nod.
In many parts of the world, the left hand is considered "dirty".
Always extend your right hand for the handshake, and use only your
right hand when you eat, too. In very strict Muslim countries,
men avoid touching women they don't know because that would be
considered rude. Female business travelers will be seen as
thoughtful and polite if they take the trouble to wear gloves, so
everyone is comfortable shaking hands.
Even today, in many countries in Europe and Latin America,
old-fashioned men don't shake hands with women. Instead, they bow, and
may even kiss the lady's hand (great for you ladies out there!) — offer the back of your hand
(before the kiss, i.e. don't "give them the back of your hand" after
it), and
expect just a peck. ;-)
In most other countries, manners are more formal than in the United
States and Canada. You won't go wrong by using someone's
professional title, and you may give offense if you don't.
Personal questions are usually considered rude overseas, and calling
people you've just met by their first name, which is very common on
the U.S., is definitely a no-no everywhere else.
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