Month: September 2019

The beauty of mastering/learning a new language

Being able to communicate in a second language can be a privilege, especially when we are in this globalization era. How! Find-out here below in the article why and how learning a new language adds value to your life.

Benefits of learning a new language

It aids with brain growth

Studies have shown that people who are bilingual are better at multitasking and attention focusing. While speaking the second language, you require translating the words in your head. This requires a tremendous amount of focus. Brain scans have also shown that bilingual individuals have more gray matter in regions of the brain linked to executive functions.

It can improve your competitiveness in the job market

Knowing a second language makes your resume stand out and can boost you to the top of the interview list with potential employers. Companies today serve increasingly diverse, multilingual populations at home and abroad. Managers know that multilingual consumers are a huge commercial force and represent a significant opportunity for future business.

It can improve academics

Studies show that dual language students have somewhat higher test scores and also seem to be happier in school. Their attendance is better, behavioral problems fewer and parent involvement higher.

It strengthens native language abilities

People who diligently study a different language start to better understand their own native dialect. They begin to perform better in expressing thoughts in their own tongue.

Knowing a second language can open up new career opportunities

Foreign language skills can be particularly beneficial if you’re interested in changing careers to a new and growing field. Jobs as translators and interpreters are some of the fastest-growing occupations. There are a number of fields such as the military which actively recruits people within a variety of language skills. Other fast-growing fields like tourism and travel, healthcare and national security need employees with bilingual language skills and the ability to work across cultures. Fields such as journalism, education and international development are always in search of bilingual employees. And knowing a second language can give you an edge if you want to apply in those fields.

Increased communion

Truly learning a new language requires a person to dig deep into that particular culture. In your quest to understand their tongue you are grasping their ways. Learning a second language allows you to see things through the eyes of others. You begin to understand the way language shapes their way of thinking, which in turn allows you to feel more communions for them. And by having feeling for those faraway, you are also cultivating feeling for those closest to you.

It can slow the effects of old age

The benefits of learning a new language are life-long, but they seem especially important in old age. Cognitive flexibility which refers to the ability to adapt to unfamiliar or expected circumstances-tends to decline as we age; but speaking a second language can block that decline or at least significantly delay it. Research shows that bilingualism can improve cognition and delay dementia in older adults, particularly related to general intelligence and reading abilities.

And while bilingualism cannot prevent Alzheimer’s disease, but it can delay the onset of symptoms as much as five years. A recent study found that the brains of people who suffered from Alzheimer’s show the same physical deterioration whether they were monolingual or bilingual. But the people who speak two languages do not exhibit the typical symptoms of Alzheimer’s – such as memory loss, confusion, difficulties with problem-solving and planning until much later than those who only speak one language.

Increased quirky thinking

With automation becoming a usual part of society, creativity is a key component to better employment and opportunities. Computers and robots lack the necessary AI to think creatively, which is how you can set yourself apart. Imagination is the essential difference between the terminators and the human resistance. Learning a new language helps you experience the world through different lenses and approach problems in ways you may not normally consider.

So if you have the urge and are still struggling to learn a new language, here are some simple yet effective steps for you to master it faster.

Make full use of media

With the development of communication tools and the internet, you are able to approach the target language anytime anywhere. Even when you are driving, exercising, doing some gardening or cleaning, you can still learn by listening to the radio or music broadcast. The more you listen, the more you accustom yourself to the phonetics, intonation and accents of the native speakers.

You should pick up an online newspaper or magazine in the target language to start exploring the words and also the world. They are a rich source of new vocabulary and glossary for you. Reading is a natural and interesting way for you to run through the already-learnt words and structure, which effectively helps you get the feel of the target language.

Films, instructional videos and TV series are also the helpful sources for you to practice and experience the target language since they are clear, interactive and accessible. You will have a chance to learn how people make conversations in daily life and how they express their thoughts and feelings in the target language.

Interact with foreign/native friends

Hands down, the best way to learn a new language is to speak it. Too often, people spend all of their time studying grammar and memorizing lists of words instead of actually going out there and putting what they’ve learned into practice. Speaking with a real, live person will help you to feel much more motivated about learning the language than staring at a book, pamphlet or computer screen. Speaking to a foreigner helps you accustom your brain to think in the target language, which will sharpen your responsiveness and speaking skills. You should keep in mind that being fluent in a target language is the result of gradual interaction and consistent practice.

Do not worry about making mistakes

The fear of making mistakes can be the biggest obstacle on your way to master a language. Do not feel shy to speak out loud and to express your thoughts in the target language. The more mistakes you make, the more fluent you will be. Native speakers will not judge you by how accurately you pronounce or how well you make complex sentences. They will appreciate your efforts to communicate with them and even help you if you don’t mind.

Be patient and consistent by studying the language everyday

Learning a new language is not something that can be done overnight. It takes time before you are able to use a language like a native speaker. You have to let the language enter your mind and soul naturally, effortlessly. Knowledge about a language is endless; you cannot learn by heart all the vocabulary and phrasal verbs. Indeed, the learning process is like teaching your brain a new habit, which requires daily practice and repetition. Therefore, if you want quick results, you will only make the journey longer. Just take it step by step from basic to advanced level, do not rush to the finish line but try to enrich your language knowledge day by day.

All in all

Learning is a process, not a destination. And in the process, you have to complete yourself and sharpen your skills everyday. People often claim to have studied a language “for five years” and still not be fluent. But when they say five years, they probably mean that they studied the language for a couple of hours a week over that entire time period. Let’s get one thing clear; if your aiming at learning a new language quickly that is, in the space of a few weeks or months! You’re going to have to commit to studying the language for a couple of hours per day.

The journey to mastering/learning a new language would be easier if you have these secrets in hand. And remember that practice makes perfect. All the best!

Why should you opt for video transcription to impact your campaigns the more?

The idea of needing video transcription sometimes baffles marketers and businesses until they realize; after multiple videos or campaigns, exactly how much they could benefit from having them transcribed. Transcriptions are particularly crucial for longer videos, though it’s important for you to consider leveraging them for all of your video content.

What’s the meaning of transcription and video transcription in particular?

Transcription in particular, according to Merriam Webster, is the act of making a written, printed, or typed copy of words that have been spoken while

Video transcription simply refers to the process of translating your video’s audio into text. Video transcription is done with automatic speech recognition technology, human transcriptionists, or a combination of the two.

The different types of transcription

There are three types of transcription known as verbatim, intelligent and edited transcription. Let’s see in details:

Verbatim:

Every single word or mumble that is recorded is transcribed. Such as mmmm…., hmmmm…, I mean…, I know…, and more. Also even the emotions like laughter, excitement, fear, nervousness in voice or body language are all noted when transcribing.

Intelligent:

This is also called “Smart Transcription” known as an accurate transcription for only the words said in the audio or video excluding the mmmm…, hmmmm…, I mean…, I know…, and more.

Edited:

This transcription type is more of a summary and the transcriber omits sentences without changing the sense/meaning of the audio or video.

The type you require, length, context, and specifications of the audio file can affect the time needed and cost to transcribe the audio or video file.

A brief history of transcription

Transcription is one of the oldest, most ancient forms of documentation; a useful, and often necessary, tool put in practice for centuries. Its origins are in the Latin verb for “to transcribe” (transcribere: trans (over)+ scribere (write)). Beyond being an efficient way to keep track of important information, dictation and transcription have helped to promote further understanding in complicated fields such as from medical and legal transcription to business and government transcription. Still widely used today, transcription has a past rooted deep in history. Transcription as a form of documentation began in ancient times. Scribes as early as 3400 BCE would train in hieroglyphics and scripts in order to become employed in ancient Roman and Egyptian times. 100 years later, children would transcribe their ancient languages onto stone tablets. The written language and ancient historical documentation are made possible by transcription and those committed to transcribing (and duplicating) as much information as possible.

16th & 17th century technology

It’s understood that the invention of the printing press in 1439 led to a decline in the need for scribes, and so led to a decline in transcription for a time. However, it was around this time (or soon after, at least) that the modern English language shorthand was developed by a British physician. Formalizing this shorthand set in stone again the transcriptionist’s (or scribes’) specialty field. Scribes in the 17th century were generally used for manuscripts and other types of literature.

Why video transcription is vital for your campaign

Video transcription improves accessibility

The World Health Organization reports that more than 466 million people in the world have disabling hearing loss. Shouldn’t they be able to access and understand your content, too? Video transcription is one of the best ways to involve every individual. When your video is transcribed, you can download the transcription as an .SRT file to add captions that further boost accessibility. Video transcription also makes it easier to translate your video content into other languages, increasing the potential viewers. Users who speak another language can read a transcript in their preferred language instead of watching the video or while following the transcript while the video plays.

Improves user experience and understanding

Although it’s found-out that most consumers would rather watch a video about a product than read about that product, there are still people who would prefer to read. Video transcripts help you capture both types of audiences.

It lets users skim the content before committing to watching the video.

For those who may be in a sound-sensitive environment (and forgot to bring their earbuds), transcription allows them to consume the video’s content without the use of audio. Transcription also lets users skim the content before committing to watching the video. It can also help website visitors find the right video by searching your website or playlist for a keyword used within the video.

Viewers can use a transcript to follow along with a video, potentially increasing retention of your content. (Most transcriptions include some type of timestamp, which helps reader keep up with the video.) Users also may share the transcript along with, or instead of, your video.

Make consuming your video a great experience, and users are more likely to look to you for similar content.

Helps in Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Including a transcript with your video gives search engines another source of data for indexing your content. Using the transcript, search engines like Google can crawl the full text of your audio or video content, potentially increasing your organic search results. Videos also may be ranked higher in YouTube results if they include a full transcription.

If you have longer transcripts, you can also optimize them for specific keywords you want to rank for. Ideally, you can incorporate keywords into the video script before you actually create and share the video, ensuring that the keywords will be in the finished transcript. A high-quality, searchable video transcript can only benefit your website’s SEO.

Better product value with transcription

If you offer a video as part of a paid product, such as a paid-access webinar, you can automatically increase the value of that product by transcribing the video. You might include the transcription as part of the main product or present it as an add-on option for an additional fee.

Either way, a video transcript can help increase revenue. It can also make the product more appealing to an undecided potential buyer.

Provides accurate and professional outsourcing

Professional video transcription services create an environment that meets your expectations with excellent customer service, timely and accurate transcription and a significant return on investment. However, high-quality transcription also depends on the quality of the audio you provide. To ensure a smooth experience, endeavor to submit audio files with good sound quality. When voices fade in and out, there is static, background noise, low speaking voices and audience members far from the microphone, transcription time is extended, which costs you money.

Transcriptions have multiple uses

Not many companies have time to write brand-new content every single day, which is why re-purposing is a vital technique in content marketing. A high-quality video transcript can be shared on other mediums or used to create other types of content. Depending on the subject of your video, the transcription can also be used to create:

A transcript may also help you create additional videos that elaborate or answer questions about the first video. Use the transcript of the first video to help pull out keywords and structure the script of a follow-up video.

In conclusion

Even if you had video scripts, you should still create video transcriptions. Sending your video files to a professional transcription agency like Translate 4 Africa Ltd is quick, easy, and affordable, and we’ll be able to give you the transcriptions that you need to create and other necessities like the .SRT files, closed captions, and subtitles to help take your content to the next level.

Xenophobic Attacks In South Africa – Solution With Professional Translation

There has been much disharmony in the recent days in the beautiful country South Africa. The most recent one being on  2nd  September, 2019 in Johannesburg. Do you know the reason why? Well, a section of the society says that the South Africans are causing disharmony in their own country because of xenophobia (hatred towards people of other community or country etc.). Considering this is the case, doesn’t a question arrive that the locals are causing harm to themselves as well in the process of looting the foreigners?

The locals there are also setting the foreigners shops on fire and taking away all that they can get their hands on. However, another section of the society says that these are just a few criminal minded people who are hiding under the curtain of xenophobia. They are targeting only the foreigners so that these attacks look like acts of xenophobia.

Who, Then, Is Correct?

These kinds of attacks were not uncommon in the country of South Africa. Statistics say that these attacks have occurred at a high rate in the year 2008 and then in 2015. Now, again, the bar is rising high. People in various parts of South Africa are getting looted everyday and there have been a few deaths in the process as well.

One of the reasons these loots are happening is because the unemployment rate in South Africa is about 28%. This statistic indicates a large number of people who are in a state of unrest because they do not have any jobs. In addition to that, they observe that the immigrants have jobs in their country. Though the immigrants are earning their living in an honest manner, this causes jealousy in the hearts of a few criminal-minded people and they are the ones who commit these crimes.

The policemen there are doing everything they can to help the people who are endangered. They have taken strict measures to control these loots. These measures include arresting, using tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets. One of the sad things we have to notice is that in this process, the innocent locals are also getting affected. The name of the country is going down continuously because of all these happenings.

It is very clear that xenophobia is only an excuse which the criminals are using to cause all this distress in the country.

How Can Professional Translation Services Be Part Of The Solution?

Amidst all the spite that exists between some of the locals and the non-locals, there also exist lots of people who want this thuggery to stop and live in peace. Violence, indeed, is violence, regardless of on what basis or in which place it happens and it needs to be stopped for the well-being of the whole country. The little solution to these loots and violence lies in professional translation services. By effective communication between the locals and the immigrants, there can be better understanding and empathy. Right now, the locals and the immigrants might not have complete understanding of the feelings of each other and translation services will help them understand each other better and then, we can finally hope that the locals and the immigrants will co-exist peacefully.