Category: localization

The new normal – Corona times in the translations world

Wonders never seize!  When the Covid-19 pandemic made face masks an everyday essential, Japanese startup Donut Robotics spotted an opportunity. As people around the world are being urged to wear face masks when out in public, it hasn’t taken long for the functionality of a mask to be greatly enhanced but thanks to technology. The Donut Robotics has created a smart mask (C-Face smart mask) – a high-tech upgrade to standard face coverings, designed to make communication and social distancing easier through translations.

How the smart face mask works in conjunction with the translations world

Conjointly with an app, the C-Face Smart mask can transcribe dictation amplify the wearer’s voice, and translate speech into eight different languages. As you’d expect, the mask doesn’t work on its own, its instead relying on a wireless link (Bluetooth) to a smartphone and Donut Robotics’ software. The associated app uses machine learning developed with the help of translation experts and specializes in the Japanese language to handle language translations. Most competitor apps focus on translating to and from English. Donut Robotics CEO Taisuke Ono claims it’s “better than Google API, or other popular technologies” for Japanese.

Donut Robotics first developed the translations software for a robot called Cinnamon but when the pandemic hit, the robot project was put on hold. That’s when the team’s engineers came up with the idea to use their software in a facemask.

The new normal corona times in the translations world

The cutouts on the front are vital for breathability, so the smart mask doesn’t offer protection against the corona virus. Instead, it is designed to be worn over a standard face mask, explains Donut Robotics CEO Taisuke Ono. Made of white plastic and silicone, it has an embedded microphone that connects to the wearer’s smartphone via Bluetooth. The system can translate between Japanese and Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian, English, Spanish and French.

The impact of Smart face masks in communication amidst Covid-19 Social distancing rules

The mask’s Bluetooth chip can connect to smartphones up to 32 feet (10 meters) away, says Ono. He hopes the mask will make new social distancing norms in locations including hospitals and offices easier, by enabling good communication.

“We still have many situations where we have to meet in person,” he says. “In this new normal … the mask and the app are very helpful.”

The future of these new normal smart face masks

The company is expecting to make the mask available from January 2021 at a cost of roughly $38. If you want to take advantage of the translations and dictation features, there’s going to be a monthly charged, but the ongoing cost has yet to be disclosed. It also seems likely this will be the first of many smart masks to appear in the coming months, because companies are now realizing this is a new category of wearable and there’s the potential for millions of customers.

Why your business shouldn’t lag behind in the new normal times – Covid-19 times

Simply take a look why you need language translations services even in the new normal era:

  • Due to the pandemic, most businesses have switched to online operation. And so, you need translations for the growth of your online business. Though online businesses generally target a particular group of people of a country sometimes it has been seen that visitors from other countries also visit your website. Language translation services provide a translator medium which translates your website into different languages.
  • Hiring language translation services helps you attract a large audience to your business. In business, the products should speak the language but to advertise your products and services and to reach a global audience, you need a medium. Translations will increase your business to an extent you wouldn’t have ever thought.
  • There are many companies that need a translation of the technical text. Outsourcing language translation services in Africa helps you concentrate on your business goals and the translation work to be done by the efficient team of translators. You invest a little money and in return, you get to expand your business globally.
  • Language translations are specially used in travel and tourism. Translators are required to translate the history of the nation to the tourists visiting the country for vacation.

Language translation services have a huge scope in every field.

  • Localization translators have an aim of spreading the product information in different languages and cultures. They possess a high degree of knowledge about the product and the local users of the product. The main aim of the localization translators is to adapt the product information from where it has been manufactured and spread it where it will be actually sold.
  • Then there are specialized business translators who translate the information of finance, e-commerce, marketing among others to the dealers from other corners of the world. The aim is to expand the business. They possess great knowledge of business as well as both the languages.
  • Medical translators and interpreters promote communication between the hospital management and the patients. Medical translators have strong knowledge of both medical as well as conversational terms in both the languages.
  • Conference interpreters generally work in international forums where the people come from all around the world. Conference interpreters are a pro at translating languages into active as well as passive form during this new normal era.

Language translation services in Africa are affordable and provide the best services for the expansion of all types of businesses whether small scale or large scale. Language translations are used everywhere, whether in tourism, business or medical department.

Take no chances!

You can’t afford to lose, adjust to the new normal just like Smart Face mask inventors did! Hire the best language translations services and reach a much wider audience in this new normal era, Covid-19 or Corona times!

Content that connects international audiences

In today’s world, content drives sales, marketing, user engagement, and even user experience. Most successful companies have stopped competing on features and now focus on brands, and brands are primarily driven by storytelling.

Did you know!

More than half of the purchase decisions are made before the customer even reaches out to the supplier! That is why, in the content economy, every company is a media company.

Having a translation and localization plan in place is a natural fit within an organization’s digital transformation strategy. Out of the world’s billion residents, just 20% – 1.5 billion – speak English. If you are only producing marketing and product copy in one language, you’re missing out on profitable new customer markets simply by not localizing your content.

 

Do you wish your potential local customers to know about you?

 

If you want your local customers to know about you, first you have to adapt yourself to the language they speak and the perspective they view things. Localization helps you break the linguistic and cultural boundaries, which allows your brand to blend in and then stand out. Hence, connecting to your international audiences with ease.

How important is localization of your marketing content?

Localization is no longer just an option for companies that want to go global; it is now becoming a must, a strategic plan that can help a brand survive abroad. By localizing your website, products or marketing campaigns, you are building a bridge to your target customers and making your brand more memorable in local markets/international audiences. So, here are some key benefits of content localization that are less obvious but also really important;

Market expansion

Localization helps you break the linguistic and cultural boundaries, which allows your brands to blend in and then stand out. It is true that market penetration success depends on other factors such as product, price, place and promotion; however, without the aid of localization, it is more likely that cultural conflicts will block your way before you can step into the market.

Sales growth

By communicating with your customers in their own language and creating mutual understanding, you are building trust and commitment with them. That will make them more comfortable when dealing with you and making a purchase. Research shows that 57% of customers said that to obtain information in their own language is more important than price. Therefore, with localization, you are to set a pace for your competitors.

Customer satisfaction

Localization is not just about translation. It is about thoughtfully refining and adapting the content to suit local culture. Without a careful localization plan, your million-dollar campaign can be turned into something hilarious or even offensive to the local customers. The unwanted effects of a localization fail can cause intensive damages to your brand image. Localization will help you avoid those damages and create appealing user experience for your diversified target customers. It is a way to show your customers that you care about them and truly understand what they need. Therefore, your overall customer conversion will increase significantly.

Risk Reduction

In some countries, certain colors or expression can bear the meaning of bad luck or insult. There are certain risks from cultural conflicts when you go global. Your localization agency can help you stay away from those possible blunders.

Localization acts as a precaution for you to ensure that your business runs smoothly in other country. The investment in localization will benefit you in both short-term and long-term. It would be a big loss if you have to spend money and time to fix the screw-ups caused by the lack of proper localization. That is why the importance of localization cannot be denied.

In conclusion

Remember, at the end of the day, people won’t buy a product if they can’t understand what they’re buying. Seems obvious, right? Investing in localized experiences is a proven way to drive your organization’s global growth. Create content that connects international audiences to your product or services.

Why is a Sworn translation important?

 

What is a sworn/certified/legal/notary public translation?

A Sworn translation simply refers to an authorized translation service, used to translate legal documents or certificates. The document is endorsed by the signature and seal of a sworn Translator who is authorized by the foreign office to translate official documents. This endorsement grants the document an official, formal status and a legal value that is equivalent to the original document. This means that the translator takes full responsibility for the accuracy of the document. This includes birth certificates, university degrees, academic records, certificates of incorporation, statutes and other official documents.

What is a certified translation?

Certified translation refers to a translation which fulfills the requirements in the country in question, enabling it to be used in formal procedures, with the translator accepting responsibility for its accuracy. These requirements vary widely from country to country. While some countries allow only state-appointed translators to produce such translations, others will accept those carried out by any competent bilingual individual. Between these two extremes are countries where a certified translation can be carried out by any professional translator with the correct credentials (which may include membership of specific translation associations or the holding qualifications). Certified translations are mandatory for legal documents such as immigration papers, birth certificates, business contracts, and court transcripts.

What is a legal translation?

A legal translation is the translation of texts within the field of law. As law is a culture-dependent subject field, legal translation is not necessarily linguistically transparent. In-transparency in translation can be avoided somewhat by use of Latin legal terminology, where possible.

What is a notary translation?

A notarized translation requires a notary public to witness the certification process. To acquire a notarized translation, the translator signs the certificate of authenticity in front of the notary. The notary then signs and stamps the document. This signed document becomes known as an affidavit, and can be used for any submission requiring this level of verification. A notarized translation is typically requested by various schools and universities for verification of application documents, previous courses taken, and diplomas in a language foreign to the school.

Why is a sworn translation important?

When certain types of documents are being translated, it is essential to have a guarantee of accuracy and legal recognition. More so if you need to present these documents to an official body, such as a court, university or a notary. In such cases, a Sworn translation is often mandatory.

A non-sworn translator cannot officially guarantee the accuracy of a translated document, as they are not qualified to do so. Thus, a regular translation of such documents will hold no value in the eyes of the authorities. A sworn translator officially guarantees the accuracy of the translated documents by signing and stamping the documents, and the assigning of a unique registration number. They also provide their credentials and contact details. When submitting legal documents, a certified translation is often obligatory.

Who is a sworn translator?

A sworn translator is a translator who has been officially sworn in by the court and is authorized to issue certified or sworn translation(s).

Is it worth paying extra for a sworn translation?

Oh yes, to a greater degree! In the translation industry, sworn translators are considered to possess the highest level of expertise. And more to that, a sworn translator is expected to be extra careful when working! More notably, a sworn translator never should he/she be slack when researching. If they are, they run the risk of being charged with negligence, perjury, or even contempt of court.

Sworn translators need to have a thorough understanding, of both the terminology and phrasing, of the languages they translate into. They agree to abide by precise rules, and to be bound by an ethical code.

Point to Note:

Sworn translation(s) can only be provided in hard copies, given that they need to be signed and stamped by the translator. However, the original documents can be passed on in any form (email, fax, among others).

As a result, Sworn translation(s) end-up more costly than any-other translation service. Nevertheless, if you need it, it’s worth extra penny!

In conclusion

Distinct countries have distinct regulations, but if you need to certify a document, usually you have to use a certified/sworn translator. You may also have to submit additional documents, such as The Hague Apostille. In some instances, you may need to get legal approval from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI). (Chambers of commerce exist all over the world. They do no have a direct role in creating laws or regulations, though they may be effective in influencing regulators and legislators with their organized lobbying efforts). Regulations vary from country to country, so it is best to check with your Language Service Provider before proceeding.

All in all, Translate 4 Africa Limited prides oneself on having a number of qualified Certified Translators! For more info, please get in touch with us.

Machine Translation Errors

Machine translation (MT) is still a huge challenge for both IT developers and users. From the initiation of machine translation, problems at the semantic levels have been faced. Machine translation can be referred to as the process by which computer software is used to translate a text from one natural language (such as English/Afrikaans) to another (such as French/Swahili).

Today despite progress in the development of MT, its systems still fail to recognize which synonym; collocation or word meaning that should be used. Although mobile apps are very popular among users, errors in their translation output create misunderstandings.

A brief history about machine translation

The origins of machine translation can be traced back to the work of Al-Kindi, a 9th-century Arabic cryptographer who developed techniques for systematic language translation, including crypt-analysis, frequency analysis, and probability and statistics, which are used in modern machine translation. The idea of machine translation later appeared in the 17th century. The field of machine translation was founded with Warren Weaver’s Memorandum on Translation (1949). The first researcher in the field, Yehosha Bar-Hillel, began his research at MIT (1951). A Georgetown University MT research team followed (1951) with a public demonstration of its Georgetown-IBM experiment system in 1954. MT research programs popped up in Japan and Russia (1955), and the first MT conference was held in London (1956).(wikipedia)

Can Machine translations out-compete professional translators too!

Although computer/technology has stolen the spotlight from humans in many sectors, they aren’t a threat to professional translators. Here are the main reasons why.

Today, we all have access to an automatic translator, and it is also true that we are often tempted to use this tool. But only a couple of uses are enough to realize that these tools are not always effective. This is because they provide literal translations in their raw state, without taking into account cultural and contextual factors, which is essential to any professional translation. This is the main reason why automatic translations often make mistakes.

Some sample machine translation error instances

The type of document

machine translation errors

Firstly, translation tools are very general. The reason is simple: they’re supposed to be useful with any type of document. This is where the worst enemy of machine translation tools comes in: ambiguity. You will find below a small example that should make you smile, where the computer obviously unwanted translated “female jacket” in Brazilian PT and into Spanish languages.

Translation model

Another flaw of translation tools lies in the translation model. These tools compare numerous collections of texts and draw translation rules from them. Despite these rules, for each new translation, the professional translator is faced with new issues which only they alone can solve by making choices. These choices cannot be made by the software.

Machine translation errors

Some examples of machine translation errors:

Machine translation errors

Here’s another example of a machine translation error of a sentence in French that was automatically translated into English

Here, ambiguity has led to a computer error still. The verb “sauter” in French can be translated as to jump, or to skip in English, depending on the context. Unluckily for these far-from-perfect tools, the verb “sauter” was used incorrectly. It should have been used to mean “skip” in order to conserve the original meaning of the sentence.

In addition, in a medical or legal context, a bad translation could have serious consequences.

In conclusion

The results are disappointing, because even after almost 70 years of MT research and improvement, researchers still cannot offer a system that would be able to translate with at least 50% correctness.

Always be cautious of these types of tools. They can be useful in some cases, but their limits must never be overlooked. Our advice to you is to always opt for professional translation services.

How to escape Cyber attacks by 2020!

With the number of cyber-attacks increasing across the globe day by day, businesses are seeking for new ways to ensure the cyber safety of their organizations. One way to double-check that cyber-security is the best it can be; is to seek assistance from companies that specialize in safeguarding systems and data. Regardless of the size of your business, enlisting a cyber-security firm’s help could be your best defense against a potentially devastating system attack or data breach. How about Cyber security localization!

Businesses large and small are at risk. To counteract this threat, companies need to invest in more sophisticated verification technologies, including AI and machine learning algorithms, as well as staff trained to identify the tiny details. However, results can be for sure if these are all fully localized! Cyber security localization solutions can help you strengthen your business security with less incurred.

 

What’s the meaning of Cyber-security!

Cyber-security refers to the practice of defending computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data from malicious attacks. It’s also known as information technology security or electronic information security. The term applies in a variety of contexts, from business to mobile computing, and can be divided into a few common categories, namely:-

  • Network security which refers to the practice of securing a computer network from intruders, whether targeted attackers or opportunistic malware.
  • Application security focuses on keeping software and devices free of threats. A compromised application could provide access to data it’s designed to protect. Successful security begins in the design stage, well before a program or device is deployed.
  • Information security protects the integrity and privacy of data, both in storage and in transit.
  • Operational security includes the processes and decisions for handling and protecting data assets. The permissions users have when accessing a network and the procedures that determine how and where data may be stored or shared all fans under this umbrella.
  • Disaster recovery and business community define how an organization responds to a cyber-security incident or any other event that causes the loss of operations or data. Disaster recovery polices dictate how the organization restores its operations and information to return to the same operating capacity as before the event. Business continuity is the plan the organization falls back on while trying to operate without certain resources.
  • End-user education addresses the most unpredictable cyber-security factor: People. Anyone can accidentally introduce a virus to an otherwise secure by failing to follow good security practices. Teaching users to delete suspicious email attachments, not plug in unidentified USB drives, and various other important lessons is vital for the security of any organization.

Check out the common Cyber-security threats

Along with the increase in the number of cyber-security attacks that are occurring worldwide, the implementation of these attacks has become more sophisticated, meaning that businesses cannot simply count on standard software to ensure that they are protected. Some of the types of cyber-security threats that companies face include:

Phishing: Scammers will use social media or emails to persuade users to click on misleading links and give sensitive information, such as financial data.

Malware: By inadvertently downloading malware, users give access to their computer systems, which cyber-criminals can use as a basis to spy or initiate a virus.

Password theft: When cyber attackers are able to determine the password of a network, they can gain access to a grave amount of important and sensitive information.

Ransomware: With this type of malware, cyber-criminals can lock down a system and encrypt a device, rendering it unusable. To regain access, the user might have to pay a large sum of money to the attacker.

Distributed denial of service (DDoS): By flooding a server with requests from numerous sources, attackers cause the server to crash or slow down considerably.

Considering that half of these attacks are aimed at small businesses! Every company, regardless of their size, should have a localized approached to cyber-security.

Here’s an insight of how Cyber Security Localization can help

Since language and cultural barriers can prevent the user from recognizing a potential cyber-attack, multilingual training and localized products from cyber-security companies are critical to heading off cyber threats. Whether used by a large corporation or an individual, ensuring that the product is understandable to everyone is a vital step toward prevention. Here are some ways that cyber-security firms can ensure that their products and services are used to their full potential:

  • Provide product training in all regions that the company serves. This multilingual approach will give users the information they need without language barriers interfering.
  • Make certain that the users interface resonates with customers in their language. If someone doesn’t understand the symbols or text used to explain the product, then the user will not be able to prevent an impending attack. Understanding what a particular action entails is vital to using the cyber-security system properly.
  • Ensure that any region where the product is used has a localized website that provides important information and delivers the tools necessary for the product.
  • Offer localized instruction documents that include step by step descriptions of how to use the cyber-security product. With the help of localized brochures, user manuals, websites, and videos, employees in each region that your company is located will be able to participate in helping to protect your systems and data.
  • Work with a professional translation services company to make certain that the cyber-security product training and documentation is the best it can possibly be. Cyber-security companies provide a crucial service to their clients, so it is vital that the information is translated and localized properly. One mistake in the language or cultural nuances can make a huge difference for a client, as well as cause future customers not to have confidence in the product.

“2020 will be the year of 5G, bringing with it not only faster speeds and bandwidth capabilities to our mobile devices, but also making them highly coveted targets by DDoS attackers. While mobile devices have always been targeted by financial or personal data thieves, 5G’s increased bandwidth allows attackers to take control over a relatively small number of mobile handsets and unleash a tremendous amount of damage. A potential DDoS attack may be distributed via an innocent-looking app on the Play or App store and an attacker just needs a few hundred installs to create a massive outbreak”-Hagai Shapira, Research Team Lead, SAM

In the final analysis

With the above in mind, every company, especially those that handle sensitive customer information, should have a plan in place to prevent such attacks in each region it serves. Get in touch with a professional translation services company to help you with your Cyber Security Localization Solutions.

How to say “hello” in Sundry African languages per country

A greeting is time and again the initial point of call for human communication, and should be the first phrase you learn from any foreign language. Opening a conversation with a greeting is polite and shows willingness to communicate. Communicating can be difficult in Africa, a continent with over 1500 and 2000 African languages. However, don’t be nervous about saying “hello” as the effort will usually be appreciated even if you don’t get it quite right! A few words or phrases go a long way, and the best place to start is at the beginning with “hello.” In this article, we look at some of the greetings used across the African continent, organized by country to make the list easy to navigate. Most African nations employ countless different greetings, with each one representing a different race, people or tribe.

Learning how to greet others in many languages is both rewarding and fun, so here’s a handy list of how to say “hello” in sundry African languages per country; some of which may be repeated from one country to the next. However, where multiple languages are spoken, only the official or most prominent language is included:

Check-out how to say “Hello” In…

Algeria

Arabic: As-Salaam-Alaikum (Peace be unto you)

Berber/Tamazight: Azul (Hello), sbah Lkhir (Good morning), ms lkhir (Good afternoon), ms lkhir (Good evening)

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Angola

Portuguese: Olá (Hello), Bom dia (Good morning), Boa tarde (Good afternoon), Boa noite (Good evening)

Umbundu: Wakolapo (Hello to an individual) Wakolipo (Hello to more than one person, Utanya uwa (Good morning), Ekumbi liwa (Good afternoon), Uteke uwa (Good evening), Uteke uwa (Good night)

Kikongo: Mbote na yo (sg) Mbote na bino (pl) Sango nini (Hello), Boyei bolamu (welcome), Mbote (Good morning, Afternoon and Evening)

Benin

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Yoruba: Ẹ n lẹ (Hello), Ẹ ku aarọ (Good morning), Ẹ ku ọsan (Good Afternoon), Ẹ ku alẹ (Good evening)

Fon/Gbe: Bawo Ni (Hello (informal))

Botswana

Setswana: Dumela mma (Hello to a woman), Dumela rra (Hello to a man)

English: Hello

Burkina Faso

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Mossi: Ne y yibeogo! (Good morning)

Dyula: I ni sogoma (Good morning)

Burundi

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Kirundi: Amahoro – peace, widely used as greetins (reply: n’amahoro)

Swahili: Jambo (Hello), Habari (How’s it going?)

Cabo verde

Cape verde creole/ Portuguese: Olá (Hello), Bom dia (good morning), Boa tarde (good afternoon), Boa noite (good evening)

Cameroon

French: Bonjour (Hello)

English: Hello

Central African Republic

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Sangho/ Sango: Balao madame (Hello ma’m), Balao monsieur (Hello sir)

Chad

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Arabic: Salaam wa alekoum. (Peace be with you)

Comoros

Comorian/ Shikomori: Gege (Hello / how are you?)

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Arabic: Salaam wa alekoum. (Peace be with you)

Cote d’Ivoire

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Dioula: I (a) ni sɔgɔmo (Good Morning), I (a) ni woula (Good Afternoon), I (a) ni suu (Good evening)

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lingala: Mbote (Hello)

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Tshiluba: Betu’abu (Hello)

Djibouti

Afar: Assalaamu qaleykum or Nagayna sin amol tanay (Hello)

Arabic: As-Salaam-Alaikum (Peace be unto you)

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Somali: Iska warran (Hello)

Egypt

Arabic: As-Salaam-Alaikum (Peace be unto you)

Equatorial Guinea

Spanish: Hola. (Hello. /Hi. )

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Fang: M’bole (Hello to one person), M’bolani (Hello to several people)

Portuguese: Olá (Hello), Bom dia (Good morning), Boa tarde (Good afternoon), Boa noite (Good evening)

Eritrea

Tigrigna/Tigrinya: Selam (Hello.)

English: Hello

Ethiopia

Amharic: Teanastëllën (Hello, formal), Tadiyass (Hello, informal)

Gabon

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Fang: M’bole (Hello to one person), M’bolani (Hello to several people)

Gambia

Mandingo/Mandinka: Esama (Good morning), Etinyang (Good afternoon), Ewulara (Good Evening)

Pulaar: No ngoolu daa. (Hello)

English: Hello

Wolof: Na nga def (Hello (sg)), Na ngeen def (Hello (pl))

Ghana

English: Hello

Twi: Maakyé (Good morning), Maaha (Good afternoon), Maadwo (Good evening)

Guinea-bissau

Portuguese: Olá (Hello), Bom dia (Good morning), Boa tarde (Good afternoon), Boa noite (Good evening)

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Guinea

Pulaar: No ngoolu daa. (Hello)

Maninka: I ni sooma (Good morning), I ni wura (Good evening), I ni tele (Good afternoon)

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Kenya

Swahili: Jambo (Hello), Habari (How’s it going?)

English: Hello

Kikuyu: Wĩmwega (Hello), Ngeithi cia rũcinĩ (Good morning), ngeithi cia mũthenya (Good afternoon), ngeithi cia hwainĩ (Good evening)

Luhya: Bushire (Good morning), Keshitare (Good afternoon), Bwakhera (Good evening)

Luo: Misawa/Ber (Hello), Oyawore (Good morning), Oimore (Good evening)

Lesotho

Sesotho: Lumela (Hello to one person), Lumelang (Hello to several people)

English: Hello

Zulu: Sawubona (Hello to an individual), Sanibonani (Hello to more than one person)

Xhosa: Molo (Hello to one person), Molweni (Hello to more than one person)

Liberia

English: Hello

Mende: Bisse (Hello)

Libya

Arabic: As-Salaam-Alaikum (Peace be unto you)

Italian: Ciao (Hello), Buongiorno! (Hello; Good morning; Goodbye), Buona sera! (Hello; Good evening; Goodbye)

French: Bonjour (hello, good morning), Bonsoir (good evening)

English: Hello

Madagascar

Malagasy: Salama (Hello), M’bola tsara (Hello)

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Malawi

Chichewa: Moni (Hello)

English: Hello

Mali

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Bambara: I ni ce (Hello)

Mauritania

Arabic: As-Salaam-Alaikum (Peace be unto you)

Hassaniya: Aw’walikum (Hello)

Mauritius

Mauritania creole: Bonzur (Hello)

English: Hello

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Hindi: Namasthae (Greetings)

Morocco

Arabic: As-Salaam-Alaikum (Peace be unto you)

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Berber: Azul (Hello-informal), Tifawin (Good morning), Timensiwin (Good evening)

Mozambique

Portuguese: Ola (Hello), Bom dia (Good morning), Boa tarde (Good afternoon), Boa noite (Good evening)

Makhuwa: Salaama (Hello)

Namibia

English: Hello

Afrikaans: Hallo (Hello) or Goeie dag (Hello)

Oshiwambo: Mwa lele po (Hello)

German: Hallo (Hello), Guten Morgen (Good morning), Guten Abend (Good evening)

Niger

Fulfulde: Mihofnima (Hello!)

Hausa: Sannu (Hello)

Tamasheq: Wayi wan (Hello)

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Nigeria

English: Hello

Hausa: Sànnu (Hello)

Igbo: Ibaulachi (Hello)

Yoruba: Bawo (Hello)

Fula: Sannuko (Hello), Jam na? (How are you?), Useko (Thank you)

Rwanda

Kinyarwanda: Muraho (Hello)

French: Bonjour (Hello)

English: Hello

Sao Tome and principe

Portuguese: Ola (Hello), Bom dia (Good morning), Boa tarde (Good afternoon), Boa noite (Good evening)

Sãotomense: Seja lovadu! (Hello)

Senegal

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Wolof: Nanga def (How are you?)

Pulaar: No ngoolu daa. (Hello)

Mandinka: I ni sooma (Good morning), I ni wura (Good evening), I ni tele (Good afternoon)

Seychelles

English: Hello

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Seselwa/Seychellois creole: Allo (Hello), Bonzour (Good morning)

Sierra Leone

English: Hello

Krio: Kushe (Hello)

Somalia

Somali: Iska warran (Hello)

Arabic: As-Salaam-Alaikum (Peace be unto you)

Oromo: Naqaa? (Hello)

South Africa

Zulu: Sawubona (Hello)

Xhosa: Molo (Hello)

Afrikaans: Hallo (Hello)

English: Hello

Sudan

Arabic: As-Salaam-Alaikum (Peace be unto you)

South Sudan

Dinka: Cë yïn bääk (Hello (Singular))

English: Hello

Neur: Malɛ (Hello (singular))

Bari: Madaŋ/Do a purwe/Do a parana (Hello (singular))

Zande: Sene foro (Hello (singular)), Sene fu roni (Hello (Plural))

Swaziland

Swati: Sawubona (Hello)

English: Hello

Tanzania

Swahili: Jambo (Hello), Habari (How’s it going?)

Akamba: Uvoo waku?(how are you? To one person), Uvoo Wenyu? (How are you? To a group of people)

English: Hello

Togo

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Ewe: Alekay (Hello)

Tunisia

French: Bonjour (Hello)

Arabic: As-Salaam-Alaikum (Peace be unto you)

Uganda

Luganda/Ganda: Oli Otya (Hello)

Swahili: Jambo (Hello), Habari (How’s it going?)

English: Hello

Acoli: Itye nining? (Hello)

Zambia

English: Hello

Bemba: Muli shani (How are you?)

Kaonde: Muji byépi? (How are you?)

Lozi: Lumela (Hello (sg)), Mlumeleng (Hello (pl))

Zimbabwe

English: Hello

Shona: Mhoro (Hello (sg)), Mhoroi (Hello (pl))

Ndebele/Sindebele: Sawubona (Hello)

All in all

That’s, how to say “Hello” in sundry African languages per country. Languages are very important for society in communication and expression of individuals. And the diversity of language is truly a fantastic accomplishment and it’s great to explore the vast differences and fascinating similarities in how we greet each other the universal way of starting conversation. It’s insightful to see from the above list how some languages include a selection of different greetings, and how others have concise greetings. All that credits to human creativity.

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.

Localization

Localization is the process in which a product or a service is so changed that it adapts to the specific international market or an international language or international culture. It is the ability to change itself according to the look and feel which matches the local market.

A successful localized product is one which you cannot tell apart from the local product. It can also be a service. There are many successful localized products and services yet there are some products and services whose essence is completely lost in the process of localization. These products and services have failed at localization and they often end up in the market as jokes. People take these products and services lightly and they are made fun of in the global market.

Language Translation as a Part of Localization

Language translation is a huge part of localization. The two terms—translation and localization are used in multiple contexts and hence, they often get mixed up. People use one term for another, but it is quite important to understand the correct meanings of these two terms.

If a website is undergoing translation, it means that the website’s words, phrases and all the other media are simply getting changed from one language to another. It is a simple process and it does not require much effort.

In localization, however, along with the words and phrases and other text being translated into another language, we try to change the essence of the website so that it looks and feels like a website developed and maintained by the locals and for the locals. Here, the time format, the date format, the measurements etc. are changed so that it matches with the local formats which are regularly used.

Pepsi’s Distress in China

Sometimes, when things get lost in translation, hilarious yet woeful things happen. Pepsi has always been having troubles with the Chinese market because of some translation problems. Their advertisements in the Chinese market have always ended up being funny because of the translation. In the 1950’s, Pepsi’s slogan was “Be Sociable”. In the Chinese market, interestingly, it got translated to “Be Intimate”.

After Pepsi realized this blunder, they changed their campaign to “Now it’s Pepsi for those who think young” but even this got translated as “New Pepsi is for those with the minds of children”. These two slogans have resulted in a rapid fall in the sales. Therefore, Pepsi came up with a new slogan. The slogan was “Come Alive With Pepsi”. This got translated as “Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the dead”

The Pepsi Company had to change their slogan again because their sales were continuously falling down. The next advertising slogan they put up was “Come Alive! You’re In The Pepsi Generation”. This got translated as “Resurrect! Your Body Will Be Made Of Pepsi”

The Pepsi Company didn’t overcome the translation problem till date and even today, a local brand dominates the sales of the cola drinks in China.

Few Other Blunders Caused During Translation

  • MTN Uganda: MTN Uganda, which is the largest telecom company in Uganda, has also had problems with translation. They put up a huge billboard in Soroti town which said “Send Money And Win” with wrong spellings in Ateso. However, they apologized for the mistake and promptly got the billboard down.
  • Mc Donalds: When Big Mac was introduced in France as “Gros Mec”, it got translated as “Big Pimp”.
  • Frank Perdue’s: In the Spanish market, Frank Perdue’s “It takes a strong man to make a tender chicken” got translated to “It takes an aroused man to make a chicken affectionate”.
  • Schweppes: Another company called Schweppes had to incur a huge drop in their sales because their “tonic water” got translated as “toilet water”.
  • KFC: Even KFC had a blunder in translation. The “finger-lickin’ good” chicken got translated in Chinese as “Eat your fingers off”.
  • Parker Pens: To the Spanish people, instead of letting them know that parker pens wouldn’t cause pocket ink stains, they let them know that the pens wouldn’t impregnate them.
  • Coca Cola: In the 1920’s, when Coca Cola was introduced in China, their slogan was literally translated to “bite the wax tadpole!”

Hopefully, the companies of today will consider localization done by professional translation companies as well when getting their services or products translated so that they could avoid some silly blunders and have an increment in their sales!

How professional can marketing translation and localization be done?

Majority of companies exploit the chance to take their business across borders with excitement! Unaware of the fact that they’re about to join the infamous rank of international marketing fails. They think they’re taking along plenty of hard-earned know-how from home. But sometimes this all pales in comparison to a few little mix-ups when it comes to language. Borders might be disappearing, but cultural and language barriers still stand strong. Hence the need to learn how professional we can deal with our Marketing translation and localization process.

Translation traps

Translation traps are everywhere, be it a badly translated slogan, a company name or a cultural blunder. For instance, the most recent translation blunder was with MTN-Uganda where they displayed a promotion banner (MoMo Nyabo promotion) in Soroti town with miss-spelled content. When locals had a glance at it they couldn’t hold it back, so they had to inform MTN instantly. In no time the Company had to pull down their banner.  And to make matters worse even the apology had errors still! Oh my! This was really bad to both the Company brand and to the locals themselves. Checkout the image below;

Marketing translation and localization

Conquering a new market

Conquering new markets is all about the right marketing, and marketing means translating ideas, not words. So, let’s find out what translation and localization mean;

Translation

Translation means conveying your content from the source language into the target language, respecting grammar rules and syntax. It’s not a word to word translation, but a complex process that takes into account each language’s standards and guidelines. Translators are required to produce accurate work to make sure the message in the target language keeps the original meaning of the source text.

Localization

Localization means more than rewriting the text into a different language. It adapts your message to local audiences. Localization is widely used for websites, mobile apps, software, video games, multimedia content and voice-overs. Localization means you’ll need to provide content for that particular setting such as Ateso, Acoli, Ganda, among others even though these groups have English as their official language. Just as English varies from the US, to Australia, UK and Canada, most languages have local versions and dialects that you need to consider when building your marketing strategy.

In this context, translation is just a small step in the localization process. It’s essential to have a good team of translators to localize efficiently, but you’ll also have to work with local marketers and consultants, to make sure you respect cultural aspects and local laws for each market you’re localizing in. Regular translation probably isn’t enough for your business to be successful in local markets. You need to localize your content to gain the trust of local public. Because selling in a foreign country or locale means more than overcoming language barriers. It means coming up with a customized message, specially made for each local audience. You need to go beyond translation, as cultural barriers can make understanding the original message difficult. KitKat, for example, didn’t just translate their famous slogan into Japanese when they launched their product in Japan. The Company changed ‘Have a beak, have a KitKat’ with ‘Kitto Katsu’, which means ‘surely win’. They also launched a series of exotic chocolate bars to meet the local taste. This strategy made the KitKat Japanese campaign a localization success, clearly demonstrating how to use the same words that clients do to express themselves.

Simple steps to follow for a successful marketing translation and localization strategy

Define your audience:- Determine your language combination. When appropriate, be sure to target a particular region or country to ensure appropriate use of language based on the target region and culture. For example, choose English(UK) to Spanish (SP), rather than simply English to Spanish. Are your readers young or old? Industry experts or the general public? Local or International? With a clear target audience in mind, the translation team will be equipped with that knowledge when localizing the content for that target audience. Consider the subject matter and target audience. Legal, medical and technical translations usually require a serious, formal tone and in some cases, use of the passive voice. In contrast, marketing content allows more freedom in language and tone, including the use of an active voice to feel natural.

Set publishing requirements:- How will your translated project be distributed? For example, a website translation project will require clear communication with the ‘language service provider’ on project scope; that is to say; Meta data, SEO, graphics localization and content distribution. Some companies may have duplicated versions of their website that are hosted in their new target countries. Others may opt for a language navigation menu within one content management system. Dynamic language can work directly within your content management system and upload translated content or be provided source code that is translated and returned in the same format. It is important to set these publishing requirements before beginning the project to avoid overruns on project deadlines, budge and scope.

Quality translation:- Consider using both native and professional translators for your project. This can help you capture both translation and localization at the same time.

Proofread:- Check for linguistic and cultural errors, as well as punctuation, and capitalization. Then, check for layout consistency of bold or italicized words, date/time and number formatting.

Create a terminology glossary and style guide:- A terminology glossary and style guide will boost translation speed and ensure preferred terminology, and consistent tone/voice throughout this and all future translation projects.

Communicate any hard deadlines:- The turn-around for your translation project will depend on factors such as translator and editor availability, language combination, and word count. Other possible factors to consider are difficult terminology and the requirements of a niche industry or highly-targeted audience. However, if you have a particular deadline, that information should be relayed to ensure adequate resources are available. Review content for any idioms, expressions and cultural references that may require localization or even trans-creation. Taking the time to prepare a quality translation project will improve the quality of translation and speed of delivery.

Advantages of proper Marketing translation and localization

Marketers are often plagued with a dilemma when reaching out to a new market: to standardize or localize? To standardize is obviously the easiest from an operation standpoint, meaning that you use the same marketing style and theme for all your products and services regardless of where you’re marketing them. However, there are disadvantages and advantages on both sides, but when reaching out to a new market, it’s actually more advantageous for marketers to choose localization.

With marketing localization, you are able to create linguistic and physical adjustments to your existing products or services so that it fits in with your new target market’s specific needs. It takes a lot of work to customize and make adaptations of existing products and services, especially if there are multiple products to launch, but it allows companies to resonate with their customers, and resolve the deepest needs and desires of their new market from the market’s own perspective. Checkout some of the advantages of Marketing translation and localization below:

Reduces the barrier to entry:- When introducing your company or idea to a new market, there are several barriers to entry that may be observed. It could be government monopoly; limited or scarce channels of delivery of goods; tight competition; or lack of product or brand awareness. Market adaptation is mandatory in many countries and so it makes perfect sense to localize marketing. This could be the translation of product packaging, removing/altering product ingredients or packaging, changing brand names and so on.

One classic example for this would be Coca Cola in China. Coca Cola is currently known as Kekoukele in China. This is because its original brand name, when translated into Chinese, means “bite the wax tadpole” or “female horse fastened with wax,” which are unusual and inappropriate. It would have been incredibly unappetizing to buy a drink thus named, so Coca Cola had to do a change to their brand name to adapt to the Chinese market. They chose the brand name Kekouleke because it means “tasty fun” and it is close to the original brand name. This dramatically changed Coca Cola’s image in China, and it helped them connect to locals in a more language-appropriate and personalized way.

Customizes customer experience:- In many first-world countries, products are often sold in larger-container quantities, which is done based on both consumption and convenience. On the other hand, the same products sold in third-world countries may not be affordable for the majority of consumers and that would greatly affect the sales. Due to these pricing constraints, companies may create products in different and smaller packaging, such as sachets or pouches, for the greater market to be able to afford it.

Breeds cultural respect and appropriation:- It’s no secret that cultural patterns, religions and norms affect people’s habits, outlook in life, the media they choose and even the products they buy. Advertising or identifying your brand with a Christmas or Christmas-related promotions, for example, in a largely non-catholic country may not be accepted by the target market. On the other hand, advertising your brand with a Christmas theme in Christian and catholic countries will be largely appreciated and remembered. Outsourcing experts from Translate4africa.com have seen how hiring local marketing executives in Africa, where every border is a new country and culture, played a big role in providing contextually correct translations and preventing conflicts with the target market’s culture.

It results to better brand identification:- Marketing translation and localization “personifies” a brand, which helps it connect to its target market on a deeper level. Some brands become an extension or expression of culture in some countries by integrating culture into their brand message and active storytelling.

Hastens local business development:- Marketing translation and localization accelerates business development. Creating a demand for your products or services is not your ticket to success. Knowing your target market deeply and seeing their needs from their perspective is the key to providing products or services that are in demand. You won’t be able to achieve this if you use the same standards for all your target markets all over the globe. This can only be done with marketing localization based on in-depth market research.

In conclusion

Marketing translation and localization is a complex, yet often an underestimated field. While it consists of translating from one language to another, it also involves writing appealing and persuasive content that has impact to the local audience. Unlike general translation, marketing translators need to be good writers first and foremost. Marketing translation can also involve trans-creation, where a translator and writer work together to create truly and powerful content. Choice wisely! Always be conscious of your marketing content, as it’s your key to either success or marketing failure.

Website localization most effective points not to miss

Do you have an urge to expand your brand’s global markets? Website translation is one step not to miss. However, having your website content translated may not achieve you much. That is why it’s vital for you to go past just translation to website localization.

Localization is vital to your business’ success. How! Localizing your website ensures that your content resonates with your entire potential target audience. Beyond simply translating the words on the page, localisation adapts your website to meet the needs of a particular language, culture or desired population’s “look and feel.” A correctly localized website attracts more traffic and increases click-through rates that improves conversation rates and inevitably sales.

Changing your site’s color scheme, adapting your SEO and social media strategy, and even remodeling the design of your site itself can all impact positively to your success out there. Checkout the crucial points to remember for your multilingual and multi-regional websites.

Content localization

The first step in localization of any content is to know who you are selling to. For that need to analyze which markets will bring in the greatest revenues but going global without proper research would lead to losing customers instead of bringing more. Conduct specific research before deciding to take a step ahead. Know your international buyer personas by carefully researching on the language they speak, their cultural background, traditions, and buying habits. Try asking these simple, yet useful questions when identifying your target market:

  • What is the target market’s growth rate?
  • Can local buyers afford to buy your products?
  • What are the buying habits and preferences of the target customers?
  • How much is the competition in the market?
  • What are the cultural and linguistic nuances to be kept in mind before localizing?

Contact information

Be sure that each of your localized sites has the correct contact information localized to that particular locale.

Legal considerations

Make sure that your legal considerations such as terms and conditions page and cookies agreement adhere to the requirements of that particular territory.

Product details

Ensure that details on your site’s products or event listings, such as sizes, measurements, dates or currency, all conform to the standard units or formats in your target country.

Images and videos

Images and videos also need to be altered and optimized, including subtitles on video content, or reworking text-based images into your target language. All in all, you should ensure that your images and videos themselves are culturally sensitive to your target audience.

Make your instructional imagery as easily-comprehensible as possible, and be sure to adapt any step-by-step graphics for any territories reading from right to left. You should also make sure that any gestures and scenarios in the photos on your site which may register as inoffensive to western audiences (such as drinking alcohol) are altered or replaced in order to avoid upsetting users in other cultures.

Keep local SEO(Search Engine Optimization) in mind

As with the text and layout of your pages, the overall structure of your site will need to be revised in order to adhere to localized customs in your target markets. Researching how your local competitors organize the navigation of their sites will give you a better idea of how companies in your sector structure their websites, particularly when it comes to organizing products and services.

Beyond this, developing a local SEO strategy to these new markets is also essential, making sure that any link building campaigns target locally-relevant websites. As well as translating your onsite content, revising elements in the back end of your website, such as your title tags and Meta descriptions, allows you to accommodate localized keywords, and set canonical tags on any pages which could be flagged up as duplicate content. Hosting these versions of sites at different local domains has also been recognized as a positive ranking factor, so investing in a “.co.ug, .bf or .za website alongside your primary global domain will help your site’s visibility. You should also keep your Google My Business profiles updated with all information for any local offices you might have in these other territories.

In conclusion

Website localization may seem terrifying, but it can easily be primed by your market research and the collective knowledge of the staff in the territories to which you are expanding. Depending on the number of countries for which you will need to localize, the process will likely become easier the more.