Tag Archives: Accredited Translation Agency USA

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo: Embracing Mexican-American Culture and Language Diversity

Cinco de Mayo, also known as the Fifth of May, is a Mexican-American holiday celebrated annually in the United States. It commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over the French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Today, Cinco de Mayo has become a widely recognized celebration of Mexican-American culture and heritage, marked by parades, festivals, and feasts across the country.

As a company that provides language services worldwide, Homeland Language Services recognizes the importance of celebrating cultural diversity and language differences. We believe that understanding and embracing different cultures and languages is crucial in creating a more connected and inclusive world.

Alfredo Hernandez, Business System Manager at Homeland Language Services told us his story about Cinco de Mayo:

“I celebrated Cinco de Mayo since I was in elementary school in Mexico, but it was a different way. In Mexico, it is something more patriotic because it was a big deal for a country like Mexico to defeat the most powerful army of the time with a practically small army of only 12,000 soldiers. Where I come from, it is just a civic celebration.

When I moved to California, I was very surprised that the celebration here is bigger and more due to the beer companies. People here celebrate it because California helped Mexico by sending soldiers to fight in that battle, and the beer companies make it a celebration for many other states on the country and even on some other countries too.”

The celebration of Cinco de Mayo provides an excellent opportunity for people to learn more about Mexican-American culture and language. It is a time to explore the rich history, traditions, and customs of this vibrant community. By learning about the significance of this holiday and its cultural context, we can deepen our appreciation for the diversity of our society.

One of the most important aspects of Cinco de Mayo is the recognition of the Spanish language. Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world, with over 460 million speakers. In the United States, Spanish is the second most common language after English, spoken by over 41 million people. As a language services provider, Homeland Language Services understands the value of language diversity and the need for accurate and efficient translation and interpretation services.

Furthermore, recognizing and celebrating Mexican-American culture and language can help break down barriers and build bridges between communities. By promoting understanding and respect for different cultures and languages, we can foster a more inclusive and harmonious society.

In conclusion, Cinco de Mayo is more than just a celebration of a military victory. It is a reminder of the richness and diversity of Mexican-American culture and language, and an opportunity to celebrate and embrace these differences. At Homeland Language Services, we are committed to promoting cultural diversity and language inclusivity, and we encourage everyone to join us in celebrating Cinco de Mayo and other cultural holidays throughout the year.

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Celebrating Chinese Language Day in language services company

April 20th is designated as Chinese Language Day by the United Nations to promote multilingualism and cultural diversity. As a language services provider, Homeland Language Services recognizes the importance of Chinese and all languages in the world. We recognize the crucial role that interpreters and translators play in facilitating communication between different cultures.

Interpreting and translating services are essential for businesses and organizations that work across borders, as well as for individuals who need to communicate with people who speak different languages. For example, companies that do business internationally require accurate and reliable translations of contracts, financial reports, and marketing materials to succeed in foreign markets.

Similarly, hospitals and medical facilities rely on interpreters to communicate with patients who do not speak the local language. They ensure that patients receive the best care at medical facilities and that medical professionals can accurately diagnose and treat their conditions.

In addition to facilitating communication, interpreting and translating services also help to promote cultural understanding and respect. When people can communicate effectively across language barriers, they can learn from one another and appreciate different cultures and ways of life.

At Homeland Language Services, we support language access for all. We value our interpreters and translators, who work tirelessly to ensure the communication is clear and accurate for our clients. Whether it’s Chinese Language Day or any other day, we are committed to providing high-quality language services to help bridge the communication gap between different cultures and languages.

We talked to our Chinese-English interpreter Karl Tsoi from Hong Kong about his way to become an interpreter.

  • Karl, what inspired you to become a Chinese-English interpreter, and what do you find most fulfilling about this job?
  • 我從小就喜歡語言，所以一直以來的夢想就是成為一名中英口譯員。我喜歡幫助人們溝通，衝破語言和文化的障礙，讓不同國家和文化的人能夠進行更好的交流和合作。 (Ever since I was a child, I’ve had a passion for languages, and my dream has always been to become a Chinese-English interpreter. I enjoy helping people communicate and breaking down language and cultural barriers so that people from different countries and cultures can have better communication and cooperation.)
  • Can you describe a time when you encountered a challenging language barrier while interpreting, and how did you handle the situation?
  • 擔任中英文口譯員時，有時會遇到一些挑戰。我曾經在一個商業談判中遇到一個特別困難的情況。當時，中方代表使用了一些非常特殊的行業術語和詞彙，這些詞彙在英語中沒有直接的對應詞。我立刻詢問中方代表有關詞彙的詳細信息，例如它們的含義和用途，然後隨即使用我腦海中的專業術語庫，找到最接近的英文詞彙。(As a Chinese-English interpreter, I sometimes encounter challenges. I once had a particularly difficult situation during a business negotiation when the Chinese representative used industry-specific terms and vocabulary that didn’t have direct English equivalents. I immediately asked for more information and used my professional knowledge to find the closest English terms.)
  • Karl, how do you navigate cultural differences between the Chinese and English-speaking parties you are interpreting for, and what strategies do you use to ensure effective communication?
  • 作為一名口譯員，我了解中英文化差異可能會令交流產生困難。為了解決這個問題，我一般採用以下2個策略：

1. 熟悉雙方的文化習俗和差異，預見可能出現的誤解，相應地調整口譯。

2. 保持中立和公正，不受其他因素影響。 (As an interpreter, I understand that cultural differences can pose a challenge to communication. To overcome this, I generally use two strategies:

1. Familiarizing myself with the cultural customs and differences of both parties to anticipate possible misunderstandings and adjust my interpretation accordingly.

2. Remaining neutral and impartial, free from any external influence.)

 

Chinese Language Day serves as a reminder of the importance of multilingualism and cultural diversity. We celebrate all languages and are committed to providing reliable and accurate language services to help facilitate communication and promote understanding across cultures.

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Tips for effective week

We hope you had a great weekend and are ready for a new week filled with new challenges and opportunities. As a team of interpreters and translators, we know that inspiration is key to staying motivated and delivering high-quality work. So, we wanted to take a moment to wish you all a week filled with creativity, productivity, and success.

✅ To help you make the most of your week, here are five small tips to stay effective:

🟢 Set clear goals: Start each day by setting clear and achievable goals. This will help you stay focused and motivated throughout the day.

🟢 Prioritize your tasks: Identify the most important tasks and tackle them first. This will help you avoid getting overwhelmed and ensure that you’re making progress on the most critical projects.

🟢 Take breaks: Don’t forget to take breaks throughout the day. This will help you stay energized and avoid burnout.

🟢 Stay organized: Keep your workspace and schedule organized. This will help you avoid distractions and stay on top of your tasks.

🟢 Collaborate: Don’t be afraid to collaborate with your colleagues. This will help you generate new ideas and improve the quality of your work.

⚡️ We hope you find these tips helpful and wish you a productive and inspiring week ahead!

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Happy International Mother Language Day!

Today, we celebrate the unique and diverse languages that make up our world. At Homeland Language Services, we recognize the importance of preserving and promoting these languages through our interpretation & translation services.

Did you know that there are over 7,000 languages spoken in the world today? Sadly, it is also estimated that one language dies every two weeks, which means that many of these languages are at risk of disappearing forever.

Moreover, here are some interesting facts about languages on our planet:

  1. 1. There are more than 7,000 languages spoken in the world today, but around 40% of the global population only speaks one language.
  2. 2. According to the United Nations, there are more than 200 languages that have fewer than 10 speakers left.
  3. 3. Languages are not distributed evenly around the world, with some countries being home to a much greater number of languages than others. For example, Papua New Guinea has more than 850 languages spoken, while India has more than 400.
  4. 4. The loss of a language means more than just the disappearance of words; it also means the loss of cultural traditions, knowledge, and practices that are often passed down through language.
  5. 5. The theme for International Mother Language Day 2023 is “Language and Culture in the Digital Age”. This theme focuses on the role of technology in language preservation and how digital tools can be used to promote multilingualism.
  6. 6. The first International Mother Language Day was observed in 2000 to commemorate the language movement protests that occurred in Bangladesh in 1952. These protests sought to establish Bengali as an official language, as it was previously only recognized as a second language.
  7. 7. The UNESCO Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger lists more than 3,000 languages that are considered endangered.
  8. 8. Bilingualism and multilingualism have been linked to various cognitive and socio-cultural benefits, including improved communication skills, enhanced creativity, and increased cultural awareness.
  9. 9. The most widely spoken language in the world is Mandarin Chinese, with more than 1.1 billion speakers.
  10. 10. English is the third most spoken language in the world, with more than 1 billion speakers, after Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.

Our team of skilled language specialists is fluent in a wide range of languages, and we are committed to bridging the communication gap between individuals, businesses, and organizations, regardless of language barriers.

This day reminds us of the value of our mother tongues and the significant role they play in shaping our identity and cultural heritage. Let us continue to celebrate and embrace the diversity of languages that make our world a richer and more beautiful place.

If you need interpretation or translation services in any language, we are here to help. Contact us to learn more about our services and how we can assist you in connecting with individuals and communities from all over the world.

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Ventura County Medical Department Testimonial

Ventura County Medical Department started working with Homeland Language Services in 2019. Homeland Language Services provides Onsite interpreting services, prescheduled Over-the-Phone and Video Remote interpreting services, and translation services in 10 languages. Moreover, we provide this department with sufficient Sign Language interpreting services. We are happy to get confirmation of our reliability as a language partner.

“We have had fantastic collaborative and working relationships, any problems were resolved immediately and with the highest level of professionalism. The firm exceeded my expectations regarding services and is highly skilled in this area. Overall, I find them to be responsive and very professional. We are very satisfied with their services,” – Cynthia, Equity Services Manager at Ventura County Medical Department.

The scope of work covers almost 5,000 language services during the period of our cooperation. Our interpreters and translators are working in Spanish, Mixteco, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Cantonese, Farsi, Arabic, Thai, English, and American Sign Language for Ventura County Medical Departments.

The Ventura County Medical Departments provide healthcare and treatment services. They play an important role as an integrated component of the Ventura County Health Care Agency. The team of Homeland Language Services is happy to help Ventura County Medical Department provide its services and achieve its mission. They promote wellness through a whole-person care approach where clients and families are empowered by appropriate, accessible, timely, culturally sensitive, and collaborative health services. With the help of our language services, they can do that with high quality and without language barriers.

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What are the skills of a good translator?

Homeland Language Services has a professional team of translators. For more than 6 years they provide our clients with high-quality translation. We definitely know what skills a good translator should have and our translators have these skills!

Translators don’t just convert words from one language to another. They are working with the meaning of the text, considering the specifics of the industry and the culture of the original and target languages. So, the basic translator’s skills are:

  1. 1. Language knowledge.

It is an obligatory skill for language specialists. The ability to speak and write fluently in at least two languages is the main characteristic of a translator’s profession. The best specialists are usually bilingual.

  1. 2. Cultural awareness.

Studying languages: translators are studying cultural peculiarities as well. It helps to understand and translate idioms, references, and slang from one language to another language. The cultural awareness of the translator makes communication smoother.

  1. 3. Writing.

Writing skills have a few components: grammar, punctuation, and style. Grammar and punctuation rules are different in various languages, that’s why good translators should study them carefully. And in terms of examples of writing styles, there are descriptive, persuasive, narrative, and argumentative.

  1. 4.Research.

The translation requires research all the time. The translator should be very confident during the word conversion from one language to another. That’s why he or she should confirm the rules for different languages and the meaning of different cultures.

  1. 5. Computer skills.

Translators generally use several computer programs to work on their projects and be organized. Among them are Microsoft Word, Adobe InDesign, and CAT tools. CAT or Computer-assisted translation tools are used to refine the pre-final translation. There are different types of CAT software, such as Language search engine software, Terminology management software, Translation memory software, Interactive machine translation software, and Text alignment software.

  1. 6. Reading comprehension.

This skill can boost translation skills. Translators should have a deep understanding of the text they are translating to optimize text value correctly.

  1. 7. Attention to detail.

“Details make the difference”, that’s why they are so important. Accuracy is one of the top-skills of a good translator. He or she should be eager to avoid even small errors in their translations because sometimes can cost a life, especially when we are talking about medical or judicial translations.

  1. 8. Specialization.

Industry specialization comes along with cultural awareness and accuracy. The best translators knows the particular industry and the better quality he or she performs in their projects. The majority of specialized translators have degrees in their fields of expertise. Homeland Language Services gets the largest amount of requests for translations in the medical, business, and legal industries.

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Happy International Translation Day!

September 30th is a special day for our team of translators and their team leads. International Translation Day is an opportunity for us to pay tribute to the work of language professionals, which plays an important role in bringing nations together, facilitating dialogue, understanding, and cooperation. We are proud to have such strong and high-skilled language specialists on board. With their help, we provide high-quality translation services in the USA and worldwide. 

We talked to our Translation Department team to discuss why this day is so important for them. 

Florencia Gomez, Localization-Translation Department Supervisor:

“Today we celebrate the International Translators’ Day in reference to St. Jerome, a priest who translated the Bible from Hebrew into Latin.

His journey in translation could spread the word into all different cultures and make it accessible to a wider audience.

Translators play a fundamental role in bringing the world together, from Peace Treaties to your favorite Pop Song; they make science available to different countries so everyone can access all the most advanced literature.

That’s why, as the Project Manager and Translation Department Supervisor, and translator myself, in Homeland Language Services, I would like to congratulate our staff on their day and remember that your role is greatly appreciated in bringing peace, knowledge, development between nations and cultures all around the globe.”

Martina Viegas, Linguist Quality Specialist:

“As translators, we have a huge and important responsibility and we are liable for our works. We’re living in a globalized world and that’s where our role lies. We connect cultures, we build bridges between cultures and people for them to communicate, we make it possible. We must have the ability to transform everything so nothing changes, what an irony, right? And to be where we are, all of us experienced situations that -good or bad- strengthened our powers. 

Personally, becoming a translator was not easy at all, but acting as a professional translator when graduating was the difficult part, almost the most difficult part of my life! (The most  difficult was to study translation while being a single mom of a disabled child). Anyway, at college you have your guiding people, but after that, you’re left alone in the world. Fortunately, I soon became part of this amazing Homeland Language Services team and I love it. And it doesn’t matter if you’re working freelance or in-house, but you love so much what you do that you wake up happy thinking you have to work, this is called passion. This profession requires passion to succeed, and of course lack of sleep and tones of coffee. I had to fail to succeed, make a mistake to learn, fall to stand up. I could tell many stories to demonstrate it’s not a fairy tale, but each of us has to pave our own way. 

In my experience, every time I had to make a hard decision and I said NO, something better came to my life. So don’t be afraid of valuing yourself and valuing and honoring our profession, happy day for all translators who make the world a better place!”

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How to provide high-quality translation services?

Homeland Language Services’ translators have enormous experience working with different types of texts. With their help, we gathered some tips and advice for novice or freelance translators to become successful in their job.

Any professional translator can’t be excused from learning to use new tools and studying new techniques to provide better translations. In Homeland Language Services the translation process involves several stages that freelance translators are often not aware of.

There is much more to translation than simply typing in a foreign language and using CAT tools or translation memory tools. A professional translation service typically requires both a revision (or edition) and proofreading. These are two essential stages that need to take place before we can say that a document is ready to be delivered to the client.

In other words, the professional translation service includes the Quality Control stage in the process. The final text is read (or proofread) additionally before sending it to the client. Of course, we have a team for this, that’s why one document is translated and checked by several specialists. If you are a freelancer, you should implement the quality control stage in your working process. You should never send a project to your client without additional checks and reading it beforehand. 

Nevertheless, it is not the only piece of advice we want to share with you. Familiarize the following list: 

  1. 1. Review the document or files before starting a translation and check all the requirements from the client. Make sure that you received the right copies before starting translation. 
  2. 2. Work with the texts from your expertise industry. This way you can guarantee the quality of the translation. If you don’t specialize in the topic of a proposed project, think twice before agreeing on this job. 
  3. 3. Check the file format. Generally, files should be sent in a translation-friendly format with a translation memory. Also, don’t change the CAT tool, if the client specified it. By doing this you will save time and money using a tool that gives full compatibility with the initial formatting. 
  4. 4. Try to use glossaries, style guides, and terminology databases as much as possible. Sometimes, clients can send you a glossary or database together with material for translation. Use it! You can import it into a CAT tool and use the right terminology. 
  5. 5. Be honest. You should ask all questions, evaluate the deadline, and set and confirm the price before starting to provide translation service. 
  6. 6. Check your finished translation against the source for missing text or formatting issues. 
  7. 7. Check your finished translation (yes, once again). You should proofread it by yourself if you are a freelancer. If you work together with the editor, forward the project to him/her. 
  8. 8. Leave notes or comments for the client or editor. When you send the final version of the material, write a shorе accompanying letter. Even if there were no issues to mention, write that the process went smoothly. Clients appreciate it when you pay attention and show your concern about the project. 

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A Good Translator Should Be Passionate About His or Her Job

It is widely thought that speaking a foreign language gives you the ability to be a translator, but this job is not as easy as it seems. We gathered a list of qualities that a good translator should have, as well as a story from one of our personnel who created the meaning of a new word.

So, the question is: what are the characteristics of a good translator?

  1. 1. Passion and curiosity: Professional translators are passionate about what they do and try their best to deliver high-quality projects.
  2. 2. Skilled in linguistics and rich in vocabulary: Certified translators at Homeland Language Services have undergone extensive education and have considerable experience. Our professionals are constantly trained, gathering new knowledge to provide the best services.
  3. 3. Accuracy and honesty: Providing accurate information is essential for translations. The goal of professionals is to express the source text as clearly as possible without ambiguity.
  4. 4. Appreciation for other cultures: Diplomacy is their motto. They break down misconceptions, stigmas, and other language barriers, so as to prevent misunderstanding between different cultures.
  5. 5. Time management skills: Tight deadlines are part of the daily challenges; every minute can make a difference. Our certified translators cope with high-stakes situations when major projects need to be completed in a record time, which is usually in the medical and social industries.

 

At Homeland Language Services, we are proud of our translators, who possess these great qualities. Fortunately,  Ahmed Ali — one of our Arabic-English interpreters from Egypt— has shared with us the story about his translator experience:

“During my college days, I’ve had two major military translation projects. The first one was when my professor chose three of my colleagues —who had top scores in the exams— and myself to assist him with a military translation for a training project report between Saudi and American Air forces.

It was a challenging project, as it was a new field of translation for me and it was the first time I had a deadline to finish my share. Additionally, it was a classified document, so we could only work in our professor’s office with him.

The second project I’d worked on was my graduation project, where he asked us to translate a book in the military field that had not been translated before. I managed to find a book about Military siege tactics across history up to the modern ages.

One of the main challenges I have ever faced was a new word that was not found in any dictionary. After researching in vain, I informed my professor who advised me to fashion a new meaning out of the context. After he approved it, he decided to add it to his own Dictionary, which he was about to release.

Later on, I managed to put a glossary together after I finished translating the book. As a glossary was extra work and I was the only one who included it, my professor gave me the highest score and I managed to graduate with excellence.”

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World Refugee Day in 2022

Can you imagine that you need to leave your home, your country, and flee to another? And it wasn’t your choice. Every minute 20 people undergo this awful experience and become refugees.

It is very important to support refugees. But how we can do that if we even don’t know about them? Today the topic of refugees is more spread and visible in daily news due to the war in Ukraine. Russian invasion highlighted lots of world problems and the problem of refugees is among them.

The concept of seeking a place to save a life dates back as far back as Ancient Egypt was. But the international efforts to protect refugees started only at the beginning of the 20th century. The High Commission for Refugees was founded by the League of Nations in 1921. Again it was intended to help people escape the Russian Revolution.

During the past century, people have fled terror and oppression all over the world, from such countries as Armenia and Germany, Spain and Turkey. In recent years many refugees were displaced from Afghanistan, Somalia, South Sudan, and Syria. At the end of 2021, there were 70 million displaced people all over the world, and now this number increases enormously.

The ultimate goal for refugees is to return to their home country when it is safe for them to do it. Unfortunately, often it is impossible for years. Meanwhile, refugees aim to integrate into their host nation. Frequently, people, who leave their native country don’t know foreign languages. So their adaptation process becomes even more complex.

It is a simple practice when refugees use language services. Moving to another country people often need translation services. They need to translate their documents, and application forms. Moreover, lots of countries require personal presence to apply for refugee status in special organizations. and this is the case when refugee needs interpretation services. Nowadays, it is a great opportunity to get different interpreting services. The refugee can choose the onsite interpretation, so the interpreter will be next to him, or Over-the-Phone interpretation, so the refugee will receive interpreting services in any place he needs.

The integration process in a new country is difficult and lengthy. The basic needs: food and shelter are covered the first of all. At these locations, volunteers work, and often they know the native language of refugees or are bilingual. Such practice for interpreters and translators is a priceless experience, considering what a great job they are doing. After refugees are accommodated, social and cultural integration starts. It depends on the mental and physical state of the refugee, so the process can also be long and not so easy.

Interpreters and translators at Homeland Language Services have huge experience in working with such sensitive situations. They all worked with clients on social issues, the healthcare and insurance sphere, and career-building. Moreover, they can be a confidential helper during the legal processes too.

Language specialists together with social and medical workers, volunteers, and government officers like no one else know the painful issues for refugees and can advise them partially.

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