What is the difference between translation and interpreting?

If you are new to the translation industry, you might wonder what differentiates these two closely related disciplines. While both services involve transferring meaning or content from one language to another, there are a number of significant differences.

  

Translators write and interpreters talk

The term “translation” refers to the process of translating written words or text from one language into another, while “interpreting” means translating orally the words of a person speaking a different language.

Time dimension

Interpreters and translators do not have the same amount of time to carry out these processes. Interpreting occurs in real-time (simultaneous) or almost real-time (consecutive), generally in person but sometimes on the phone or through a video conference. Interpreters need to be quick and extremely reactive. Depending on the type of interpreting used, and the pace at which the speaker speaks, interpreters have very little time to transpose oral content into another language. On the other hand, because translators deal with written content, it takes place after a document is created. Translators do have time to read and evaluate the content that they will translate, as many times as is necessary. They can use different resources if they wish, such as glossaries, dictionaries, reference material etc., or even ask the client to clarify any queries they might have. Finally they take the time to proofread their own work once they have completed their translation.

Language direction

Most translators only work in one “direction” (for example, from English into Russian or from Russian into English). The reason behind this is that translators are able to produce a better quality translation and a faster turnaround time when they work into his/her native language rather than into a language that they have acquired later in life. For translation projects, we refer to the source (from) and target (into) languages. Therefore when a client requires a document to be translated from language A into language B, and then a response document translated the other way round, ApLingo will work with two different translators; one whose mother tongue is language A and another one whose native language is language B. The key skills of a translator are to understand the source language and to use their knowledge of the target country’s culture and linguistic norms to create accurate and effective end documents.

Most interpreters work in both “directions”. They are highly-qualified people, who must be fluent enough in at least two languages to be able to translate orally in both directions, straight away, without any reference material.  

Interpreting and translation are two different professions that require different skills and different training. Therefore, professionals usually practice either as a translator or as an interpreter but rarely both. They share the same passion, however, for languages and for meaningful transferring of information which would otherwise remain inaccessible to some people.

We hope that this article has been helpful but if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call or send an email. We would be happy to hear from you on 0800 389 6571 or by email (translation@aplin.co.uk).

Do you need a certified, notarised or legalised translation? We can help you!

“Can you provide official translations?” This is one of the questions we are asked on a daily basis. Not only private clients, but also notaries, solicitors and other businesses people often require translations which can be used for official or legal purposes. Because we can offer different services, we thought it would be useful to summarise briefly the main types of official or legal translations you might need.

Determine which service is right for you

Our translations can be certified, notarised or legalised to suit your exact requirements. These services are available for all major world languages, as well as many rare languages.

You should always check with the relevant authorities which type of legalisation is required for your translated documents prior to proceeding with the work. The level of legalisation can vary depending on the nature of the document and the purpose for which it is being translated and legalised.

If the details contained in your documentation are sensitive or personal, you can be assured that all documents received are treated with strict confidentiality.

Certified translations

This is the simplest form of certification, usually required for use by non-governmental institutions such as universities, insurance companies or employers.

We will stamp your translated documents with our company stamp attesting to the fact that the translation has been carried out by a qualified translator and that we believe it to be a ‘true and accurate’ piece of work. 

Notarised translation

Translations of commercial or personal documents can be notarised. This is a more formal type of certification for translations, often required by formal governmental and legal organisations.

A representative from ApLingo will attend the office of a Notary Public and swear under oath and in writing that the translation is true and accurate. The Notary Public will then sign and stamp the translation to confirm its authenticity.

Legalised translation

Some translations of UK documents require legalisation by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This is a greater level of certification, required when translations are to be used abroad (e.g. overseas marriage certificates, adoption, visas or job applications).

Again, the authenticity of the translation is confirmed by a Notary Public. It is then sent to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, where a final document called the Apostille is signed, attesting that the Notary Public had the authority to sign the notarisation. This final document proves that all the legal steps have been completed and that the document is authentic.

We hope that you will find short this guide helpful but if you have any queries, we will be more than happy to assist you. The applicable fees depend on the level of certification required and the size and number of the documents. Please do not hesitate to contact us on 0800 389 6571 or by email (translation@aplin.co.uk) for a no-obligation quote.

“Juntos num só ritmo” – “All in one rhythm” for the World Cup

Since the World Cup has been dominating the headlines for the past few weeks, we thought it would be interesting to find out the origin of this global tradition and a bit more about Brazil and its language(s).

The World Cup

The World Cup is organized by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), which was founded in Paris in 1904 and is nowadays based in Zurich.

The first World Cup was held in and won by Uruguay in 1930. In all, only 7 countries have triumphed in the 19 World Cups that have been played to date: Brazil has won 5 times, Italy 4 and Germany (as West Germany) 3 times. Uruguay and Argentina have each won twice and England, France and Spain once each.

The World Cup takes place every 4 years. From humble beginnings in 1930 when only 13 countries took part in the tournament, it has grown into one of the biggest sporting events in the world. The FIFA World Cup 2014 will take place from 12th June to 13th July, and a total of 64 matches are to be played in 12 cities across Brazil.

Facts and figures about Brazil

Brazil has approximately 198 million inhabitants, making it the 5th most populated country in the world.

With a surface area of more than 8.5 million km², Brazil is also the 5th largest country on the planet after Russia, China, Canada and the United States.

It is divided into 5 regions which are themselves divided into 26 states plus the Federal District that houses Brazilian capital Brasília.

Nearly a quarter of the world's coffee comes from Brazil. Likewise, Brazil is one of the biggest producers of sugar cane, cocoa, corn and oranges.

It is the largest lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) country in the world, as well as being the only one in the Americas. Although Portuguese is the official language, some Brazilians speak other languages (roughly 210 in total). There are approximately 180 indigenous languages and some from more recent European and Asian immigrants. About 0.02% of the total population (less than 40,000 people) actually speak indigenous languages. It is estimated that 37,000 speak Korean, 50,000 Italian, 380,000 Japanese, and 1,500,000 German.

Football is the most popular sport in Brazil and it has a significant effect on its culture. The Guardian features an interesting photo report entitled “Brazil 2014: What the World Cup means to us”. Click here for the article. It highlights the Brazilians’ perception of football and gives an insight into the Brazilian way of life. We also recommend the interview of Michael Reid by The Economist entitled “Brazil: Past, present and future”.

The Brazilian national football team is the only team that has succeeded in qualifying for every World Cup competition ever held. Only 31 days before we find out who will be the winner of the 2014 World Cup!

In the meantime, if you need translation or interpreting services from or into Portuguese (European or Brazilian), do not hesitate to email us at translation@aplin.co.uk. We would love to hear from you. Enjoy the World Cup!

The International Worker’s Day

The first of May is the International Worker’s Day, also called Labour Day or May Day in numerous countries. It’s a traditional spring holiday in much of Europe and many countries of the world.

The first of May has been traditionally used to fight for and defend worker’s right. Demonstrations and marches are a Labour Day tradition.

This tradition is believed to have originated from the US general strike in favour of the eight-hour working day, which started on 1st May 1886 in Chicago and which ended violently with the Haymarket Affair on 4th May.

In France, in 1889, an organisation of socialist and labour parties from different countries called the Second International gathered in Paris for their first congress. They decided to organise an international demonstration on 1st May 1890 to demand an eight-hour working day and to honour the people who died in the Chicago protests. Following the success of the event, May Day was formally recognized as an annual event at the organisation’s second congress in 1891.

Again, in France, people give each other a small Lily of the Valley bouquet on the first of May. This tradition was initiated by King Charles IX of France on 1st May 1561. On that date he received a sprig of Lily of the Valley which was said to bring luck. He then decided to give some each year to the ladies of his court. At the beginning of the 20th Century, this tradition merged with May Day.

I hope there will still be some Lily of the Valley left to pick when I go back to France tomorrow! Not sure though, as it flowered earlier than usual this year and it was already out a couple of weeks ago.

Our offices will be closed on bank holiday Monday (5th May) but we will be back at work on Tuesday to assist with your translation projects.

Happy Worker’s Day!

Another Eggs-cuse for Chocolate

Easter is the most important Christian celebration. It commemorates the last week of Jesus’s life and celebrates his resurrection on the third day after his crucifixion, as recounted in the Bible. It falls on the first Sunday after the full moon following 21st March (the March Equinox), between March 22nd and April 25th.

Easter Sunday is celebrated in all the countries where Christianity is a state religion, or where the country has large Christian population or tradition. As Easter is always on a Sunday, many countries also have Good Friday and/or Easter Monday as a bank holiday.

Easter celebrations have also been influenced many customs welcoming spring, dating from Antiquity. Eggs, rabbits and hares were symbols representing fertility.

Easter eggs

In the Christian faith eggs symbolize resurrection, new life and renewed faith. In the IV century, the Christian Church prohibited Christians from eating eggs during Lent, the forty-day period of fasting preceding Easter. Therefore as the eggs laid during Lent had not been eaten, they were decorated and given as a gift. Nowadays, fasting is not as strictly observed as before but the tradition of giving decorated and chocolate eggs persists. In Germany, France, Sweden, Norway and many other countries, people still decorate hard boiled eggs with paint and felt pens. They even use wax in some countries like Hungary, Romania or Slovakia.

In Alsace and in certain regions of Germany, people prepare a cake in a shape of a lamb called Osterlammele or Lamala. It used to be a good way to consume the stock of eggs accumulated before Easter.

According to the Guinness World Record website, “the tallest chocolate Easter egg measured 10.39 m (34 ft 1.05 in) and had a circumference of 19.6 m (64 ft 3.65 in) at its widest point and was made by Tosca (Italy). It was measured at Le Acciaierie Shopping Centre, in Cortenuova, Italy on 16 April 2011. The chocolate Easter egg weighed 7,200 kg (15,873 lbs 4.48 oz).”

Click here to check out the egg-cellent Easter achievements listed by the Guinness World Record website.

The Hare

In some countries, and especially Germanic countries, eggs are brought by the hare or Easter bunny, le “lapin de Pâques” in French, “Osterhase” in German.

The legend of the Easter Bunny originated in Germany. The story says that a poor woman, who was unable to offer sweets to her children, decorated eggs and hid them in the garden. The children glimpsed a rabbit in the garden and thought that it had laid the eggs. As a result, each year, for Easter, children make nests and leave them in the garden in hope that the Easter bunny will fill it with eggs overnight.

Another origin of the Easter bunny comes from Saxony, where people used to honour the goddess Ēostre or Ostara. The hare is the emblematic animal of the goddess and it remains associated with Easter. Similarly, in Celtic and Scandinavian traditions, the hare was the symbol of the mother goddess.

Flying bells and fish-shaped chocolates

In Belgium, France and in The Netherlands, Easter eggs are brought by Easter bells. In the past fewer people had watches and they knew the time thanks to the church bells. Yet the bells stop ringing on Good Friday, on the day Jesus was crucified, as a sign of mourning. They start to ring again on Sunday, on Jesus’s resurrection day. The popular tradition says that bells go to Rome (explaining their silence) and come back on Easter Sunday with Easter eggs.

During Easter, the French chocolate shops are usually filled with delicious and beautiful chocolates in the shape of eggs and bunnies. Alongside these, French people can also find chocolate bells, which directly correlate with the coming back from Rome at the end of Lent, as well as small fish-shaped chocolates called friture (whitebait) because of their shape. A fish was the symbol of the first Christians.

Traditions around the world

Beside chocolate, Americans eat marshmallow peeps (marshmallow candies shaped into bunnies, chicks and other animals) and jelly beans during Easter. The Easter egg roll on the White House lawn has been a tradition since 1878. The event offers a wide range of activities and of course involves rolling a coloured hard-boiled egg with a large serving spoon, as well as many more entertainments such as music, an egg hunt, sports and crafts.

Easter is one of the most deep-rooted celebrations of Spain, backed by centuries of history and tradition. Easter week, “the Holy week” is celebrated in every city, town and village of Spain although each region of Spain has its own way of celebrating the event. For more information about the Easter week in Spain, click on Spain's official tourism portal link.

If you want to find out about Easter traditions in many other countries, I recommend these two articles : Easter Traditions from Around the World and Easter Around The World.

The Aplingo team wishes you a Happy Easter!

Localized translations and language diversity

In our globalized world, many industries and businesses need to localize their products and services in order to reach more clients, new markets and to increase their revenue. Translation is one of the main tools to achieve that. However as some languages are spoken in different parts of the globe, a translation must also be localized.

To illustrate this, I have picked a few examples in Spanish, French and English that show how the same language can differ widely depending on the part of the world where it is spoken.

Here is a little anecdote I was recently told by a friend: during a student meeting at a Spanish University, a Latin American student introduced himself as “Memo”. The other students looked at each other, trying not to smile, and greeted the new student. While nobody would have reacted this way in Memo’s own country, the Spanish reaction was understandable. In European Spanish, memo means silly, stupid, daft whereas in Latin America it is a nickname for Guillermo (William in English). This reminded me of how different a language can be depending on the country of origin of the speaker.

Let’s have a look at a few Spanish examples. In colloquial European Spanish, pasta can mean money whereas in Latin America pasta means pasta and a colloquial way of saying money would be plata which means silver in Spain. In Latin America, you can eat papas, meaning potatoes whereas in Northern Spain you would certainly not eat your papa because over there it means your dad or the pope. There are many different ways to say jacket in Spanish, and depending on the different countries where it is spoken it could be chamarra, chaqueta, campera, cazadora ; T-shirt could be playera, remera, camiseta, franela and bus could be autobús, colectivo, liebre, camión, carrito, buseta, guagua, omnibus, colectivo, micro. Those are just a few examples for the Spanish language but the list is long!

Similarly, there are many notable differences between French as it is spoken in France or in Canada. A Canadian asking a French person “Où as-tu garé ton char?” would probably get a few raised eyebrows because in European French it literally means “Where have you parked your tank?”. Another funny example would be money or dough: if a Canadian says “La fin du mois va être difficile, je n’ai presque plus de bacon” a French person will understand “The end of the month is going to be tough, I don’t have any bacon left” whilst the Canadian actually means “The end of the month is going to be tough, I don’t have any money left”. French speakers will find numerous examples of the different words used in France and Canada in the Traduction du français au français website.

For surprising or funny examples of the difference between British English and American English as well as other cultural differences, I recommend this article by the Guardian and the amazing “English to English” cross-cultural project. And also have a look at this handy Anglo-EU-Translation-Guide.

I hope these few examples give you an idea of the importance of localization in translation. Whether you want to adapt your messages for the international market or to improve your company’s image abroad, we will source the translator best suited for your project. Aplingo provides localized translations thanks to a network of translators experts in their field and languages. Whether you need a document to be translated for the Spanish or Mexican market, French or Canadian, British or American, we would be happy to offer you a service tailored to your needs. We would love to hear from you by email at translation@aplin.co.uk or by telephone on 0800 389 6571.

The Feast of Saint Valentine

Many think that Valentine’s Day has only recently become part of our culture and that it is mainly commercial but February has been associated with love and fertility since Antiquity.

In Ancient Athens, the period between January 15th and February 15th was dedicated to the marriage of Zeus with Hera. The Ancient Roman festival of Lupercus, the god of fertility, used to be celebrated between February 13 and 15.

According to a popular legend Valentine was a bishop who served during the third century in Rome. At that time, the Emperor Claudius II believed that married men made poor soldiers and therefore he prohibited marriage for younger citizens. Valentine defied Claudius and continued to conduct marriages for young people in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, he was jailed and sentenced to death. According to the legend, he fell deeply in love with his jailer's daughter and, on the day of his execution, the bishop gave her a note which said "from your Valentine".

In the Middle Age, it was a common belief that birds began their mating season on February 14th.

Nowadays, Valentine’s Day is celebrated all around the world and is considered in many countries as a day to celebrate love and friendship. According to Hallmark, Valentine’s Day is the second largest card-sending holiday of the year after Christmas.

Here is a useful link to whisper sweet nothings in different languages.

The Aplingo team wishes you a Happy Valentine’s day! We remain at your disposal if you need translation services in the language of love or any other language. Do not hesitate to email us at translation@aplin.co.uk.

2014, the Year of the Horse

“Chinese New Year” or the “Lunar New Year” is celebrated on the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar: the date corresponds to the new moon. It is the beginning of the Spring Festival which lasts for 15 days and ends with the Lantern Festival, on the full moon date. Because the Chinese calendar is lunisolar (ie based on both the annual cycle of the Sun and the regular cycle of phases of the moon), the date of the Chinese New Year in the Gregorian calendar varies from one year to another and usually falls between January 21st and February 20th. This year it falls on January 31st.

Chinese New Year is officially celebrated in China (7 bank holidays), Taiwan (at least 5 days), Hong Kong and Macau (3 days), and a number of Asian countries influenced by the Chinese culture or with significant Chinese populations, such as Singapore, Malaysia, The Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Every year, two weeks before the celebration, an intense migration period starts. People converge on train stations, bus stations and airports to travel back to their native countries.

It is the most important celebration of the year in China. People gather with their families as we do in Western countries during the Christmas period. A ritual is followed to end the previous year and to prepare the beginning of the new one. The New Year’s dinner symbolises family reunion, prosperity, happiness and good health. It is a true food feast where dishes follow one another and never seem to end. On the menu, you will find the Niangao, a traditional rice cake, fish in many different guises and various types of dumplings. People also usually eat duck, chicken, crab and jellyfish among other things.

During Chinese New Year celebrations people wear red clothes, they decorate their windows and doors with poems on red paper and red strips of paper. They also give children "lucky money" in red envelopes. Red symbolizes fire, which according to legend can drive away bad luck. The Lion and Dragon dances (which are also supposed to drive away evil spirits) are also part of the celebration and offer an extraordinary and colourful show to the public.

The Chinese Zodiac has 12 animal signs and each year is represented by a different animal. 2014 is the Year of the Horse. In Chinese astrology, this animal is spirited and independent. It is also regarded as a worker, which shines with its creativity and constantly needs to move forward.

In the UK, Chinatowns in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield will welcome the Year of the Horse on or near 2nd February. London is said to host the largest Chinese New Year celebrations outside Asia although the festivities only last for two days. Do not miss the parade in central London at 10 am. The dragons and lions will be snaking along the Charing Cross Road and Shaftesbury Avenue. In Trafalgar Square, artists from China will offer impressive performances. Of course, London's Chinatown and its almost eighty restaurants will offer succulent traditional cuisine, delightful decorations and a wide range of performances from local artists. On the Chinese New Year's Eve, the London Eye will be lit red and gold in celebration from 5.30pm. For more information about the celebrations in London, visit the London China Town website: http://www.thelondonchinatown.org.uk/.

The Aplingo team wishes you a happy Chinese New Year! And please feel free to contact us if you need any translation services in Chinese!

The British Passion for Camellia sinensis

I am delighted to write my first ever article for our Aplingo blog. I recently joined the UK team as a Translation Executive and this is my first position as part of a British team. It’s a bit of a cultural shock and I must say, one amusing thing about the UK is its passion for tea. Drinking tea is such a British cliché and yet it is so true. According to the United Kingdom Tea Council, the British drink 165 million cups daily or 60.2 billion per year. We enjoy this delectable drink here at the Aplingo office and I wanted to find out the origin of this tradition and some interesting facts about it.

A little bit of history

Tea was first discovered in China more than 5000 years ago. According to a popular legend, the Chinese emperor Shen Nung was sitting beneath a tree when some of its leaves fell into his hot water. Shen Nung, who was a renowned herbalist, decided to try the infusion that had accidentally been created. The tree was a Camellia sinensis, and the resulting drink was what we now call tea. A variant of this legend tells that the emperor, who had tested all the plants of the universe, ingested by mistake a toxic plant while resting under a tea tree. The emperor chewed a tea leaf and discovered its virtues (stimulating or antidote). No one knows whether those stories are true... But tea drinking certainly became established in China many centuries before it had even been heard of in the west. Tea firstly appeared in Europe in 1560 thanks to Portuguese Jesuit Father Jasper de Cruz. In the 1660s, Catherine of Braganza brought to the English royal court the habit of drinking tea. She was the queen of Charles II and spent her childhood in Portugal, hence her love for tea.

Which tea?

Although there are many different teas (approximately 1,500 different varieties of tea, black, green, white, flavoured or scented teas, etc.), black tea is the most popular in the UK - more specifically English Breakfast, traditionally a blend of Assam and Ceylon teas. Tea bags are far more popular than loose leaves; 96% of all cups of tea drunk daily in the UK are brewed from tea bags. According to the UK Tea Council, 98% of people take their tea with milk, but only 30% take sugar in tea.

Is tea good for you?

Tea contains less than half the amount of caffeine found in coffee. It keeps the dentist away as it is a natural source of fluoride that can help protect against tooth decay and gum disease. Tea helps you to stay hydrated and without milk it has no calories. Four cups of tea with milk provides 21% of daily calcium requirement. Tea has potential health benefits for cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention.

For more information about tea I highly recommend the UK Tea Council website. Enjoy your cuppa!

The good, the bad and the ugly of machine translation

The good, the bad and the ugly of machine translation…..

Machine translation can be great when you just want to get the gist of what something written in another language means, or communicate informally with someone in another country.  But it can be embarrassing if used in professional situations where you end up making a laughable faux pas and even dangerous if used in a situation where lives might be put at risk.

The good……

The remarkable speed of machine translation can offer many benefits in terms of time and cost.  If you are searching for a particular section within a lengthy piece of text then it can help you identify the section to be translated and therefore avoid the cost of translating the entire text to find the relevant passages you need to have professionally translated.

If you’re not sure whether a document is worth translating, it can assist you in making a more informed choice by helping with general comprehension.

It can also be used in much the same way as an online dictionary to look up specific words or phrases (although bear in mind that the same word may have different meanings and the non-human translation tool can struggle when it comes to matching the correct context).

The bad………

Although machine translation technology is advancing at a rapid rate and constantly improving, it will never be an exact science.  It can use statistical ‘guesses’ to match the context, but it cannot take the place of a human translator who can understand the complications of the source language.  A machine will just follow pre-programmed rules and can’t understand all of the vocabulary, grammar, meaning and nuances in the source and target languages.  At best it can produce an overly literal translation that just about makes sense with some informed guesswork.

The ugly…..

Some businesses will decide to use machine translation on company material that will be published, such as marketing brochures and websites.  This may seem like the cheaper alternative at the outset, but will prove costly if product information contains errors, or customers are put off by oddly worded phrases on a brochure littered with mistakes, making the business seem unprofessional and unreliable.

It can even prove downright dangerous.  A business that uses machine translation for translating important Health & Safety notices and instructions could find themselves in hot water if an employee speaking another language is injured due to translated signage that contains errors.

As an example, running the phrase ‘That’s a weight off my mind’ through Google translate into French produces the phrase ‘C’est un poids sur mon esprit’.  Not only is the French translation nonsensical, if you tried to decipher the French phrase this would actually indicate the opposite sentiment.  And if you want to tell a Spanish friend not to drink the milk as it has gone off, expect a strange look when this translates as ‘the milk has run away’!

For all of its technological advances and improved capabilities, the inherent flaws in this type of translation mean that this is one area where humans are not likely to be replaced by machines anytime soon.

Kings' Cake anyone?

Kings’ Cake anyone?

Now, this is definitely one tradition that would be a welcome new addition in the ApLingo office.  Forget New Year diets and health kicks, we think countries such as France and Spain have definitely got it right with this most sociable and delicious custom to brighten up dark, depressing Januarys.

In France, these cakes, or ‘galettes des rois’, are baked for Epiphany on 6 January and then consumed throughout the month –at friends’ houses, in the office, in schools – pretty much everywhere!  And if there is a nice glass of cider or sweet white wine to wash it down with, even better! 

Whoever finds a fève in the ‘galette’ becomes a king for the day.  This tradition dates back to Roman times, when a real bean would be baked into the cake, similar to our traditional coin in the Christmas pudding.  Nowadays, the fève is generally a small figurine and the person who finds it in his or her slice receives it as a keepsake.

Spain, Portugal and Latin American countries all have a similar Epiphany tradition, with several variations of the ‘fève’ theme and in Italy carnival cakes are shared around neighbourhoods. 

We can’t think of a nicer way to add a bit of warmth and cheer to these dark winter evenings, so next year we’ll be making our own Kings’ cakes too.  Here’s the recipe in case you want to join us :)

puff pastry

2 round sheets of puff pastry

almond mixture (you can double the quantities if you have a sweet tooth!)

1 egg

75g caster sugar

50g good quality unsalted butter

100g ground almonds

A few drops of almond extract

Glaze

1 egg yolk

Inside

1 fève (lucky charm)

Method

1.                   Place one sheet of puff pastry on a greased baking sheet.

2.                   •Prepare the almond mixture: soften the butter and add the sugar. Beat strongly to obtain a smooth texture. Add the ground almonds, then the egg and the almond extract.

3.                   •Place the almond mixture in the centre of the round-shaped pastry and spread it evenly up to 2cm away from the edge. Add the fève near the edge (if you add it near the centre, it might be easily discovered when cutting the cake!).

4.                   •Cover the base with the second round-shaped pastry and make sure the two pastry sheets are stuck down together, otherwise the almond mix may slip away from the cake when cooking. You may use a little water to join the two sheets along the edges.

5.                   •Make an egg wash with the egg yolk and a little water and using a pastry brush, brush all over the top.

6.                   •With a knife, carefully trace decorative shapes (diamonds, flowers or any other creative designs). Make sure you don’t press too hard in order to avoid piercing the pastry.

7.             •Cook in a pre-heated oven at 170 degrees C for about 40 minutes. Our advice is to check on it regularly as we found our oven cooked it a lot quicker (25 mins).

8.             •Cook the galette for a further 5 minutes at 220 degrees C to enable the sugar to cook slightly and create a shiny effect. Take out of the oven.

9.             •Eat the cake lukewarm and enjoy the party!

 

New to Translation? Here are some tips to help you in your first multi-language venture…..

The business of translation can be a little daunting at first glance but a good translation agency should assist you through the process from start to finish.  If you have not used a professional translation service before then please see below for our guide to getting it right.

Deadline: 

If you are working to a deadline then let the agency know in advance.  As a rough guide, you can expect a translator to carry out between 1,500 – 2,500 words per day, dependant on the complexity of the subject and source file format. 

File Formats:

Agencies can translate from a variety of source file formats and generally provide your completed translations in Word / Excel or PDF files as standard.  If you are able to provide your source document as a Word or Excel file the translator can overtype the document to retain the original layout features.  If you only have a non-editable version of the source document available, such as PDF, but require design work to make the translated version look as close to the original as possible, then ask your agency for details of their typesetting services as well.

Apart from choosing the right agency to carry out your work, there are also some simple steps you can take as well to ensure that  the end product fully meets your expectations:

Reference material:  Any previous translations, website links, or glossaries can help the translator to contextualise your project and use specific terminology to ensure consistency. 

Publication = Proofreading:

If your translation is going to be published, whether it is a website, marketing brochure or a technical manual, it is essential to ensure that an in house colleague speaking the translated  language looks over the translation prior to publication.  A good translator will carry out extensive research and proofread their translations thoroughly before finalisation to ensure accuracy.  They will follow any glossaries or reference materials provided to reflect your corporate terminology and style.  However, they do not have the benefit, or freedom, of insider knowledge to ‘tweak’ a few phrases for the specific target market, or to emphasise your brand image and style.  A final proofread within your company ensures that not only is the translation accurate, but it perfectly reflects your company’s ethos and values.

Automatic = Problematic.... 

When you have gone to the trouble of securing a professional, expert translation service, don’t be tempted to cut corners and use machine translation for those odd bits and pieces that were forgotten or added on at the last minute.  Even if it is just a few words, it can be almost guaranteed that the serious errors of meaning that can occur from the use of these tools will be the first thing that your client sees.

At first glance, machine translation can seem like an inexpensive option for your translation needs, but it can end up costing you your clients and even your reputation!  It is useful to an extent, if you quickly need to get the gist of correspondence or information written in another language.  But only a human, experienced and professional translator can give you peace of mind that you are not instructing your client to click on the ‘hammer’ menu when you want them to click on ‘tools’, or ‘propose to first gear’, instead of ‘engaging first gear’!

And finally....

We hope that you will choose ApLingo for your translation projects and find our expert translation service friendly, efficient and intuitive.  We like to go the extra mile for our customers and if you have any queries at all, before, during or after your translation project we will be more than happy to assist you.  Please don’t be afraid to ask us any question at all, even if you think it might be ‘stupid’, it more than likely is not! 

Email:  translation@aplin.co.uk  Telephone: 0800 389 6571

REMEMBER REMEMBER THE 5TH OF NOVEMBER

Each year on 5^th November, we celebrate Guy Fawkes Day and remember the aborted bomb attack against the Houses of Parliament. But did you know that Fawkes was also a well-seasoned traveller who spoke fluent French and Spanish?

We know him more as the guy that’s stuffed with old Newspapers, a mask for a face and is thrown on a huge bonfire, beneath a sky of fireworks!

We wish you a great Guy Fawkes Day, hope it goes with a ‘BANG’ and don’t forget to get in touch for some ‘SPARKLING’ November rates.

Movember's back!

Why says nothing happens between Halloween and Christmas but frantic shopping? Well, actually November has become one of our favorite months of the year here at ApLingo. Thank you Movember!

Did you know that the word "moustache" is French, and is derived from the Italian mostaccio (14th century), from Medieval Latin mustacium (8th century) which ultimately originates as a diminutive of Hellenistic Greek μύσταξ (mustax, mustak-), meaning "upper lip" or "facial hair".

Our ancestors from the Neolithic times were technologically able to shave with sharpened stones, but the oldest portrait showing a shaved man with a moustache is an ancient Scythian horseman from 300 BCE.

Various cultures have developed different associations with moustaches. Most of them are linked to virility, power or religious traditionalism.

Having learned a few facts about facial hair, the team would like to support and thank our generous colleagues who support the event. Can’t wait to see how they turn out!

Working at ApLingo: a month in

I can’t believe it’s already been a month since I started my new job as Translations Executive!  In no specific order, I thought that:

-          I would feel useless for a while and I’d have to learn everything from scratch again,

-          I should expect to regret my decision for (at least) the first couple of weeks, the time to familiarise myself with the job,

-          You know what you lose but not what you get, etc.

If I had known how wrong I was, no doubt I would have made the decision earlier! 

Getting to know my lovely new team mates was nothing but enjoyable. Jacqui kindly shows me the ropes and patiently answers my many questions. I slowly get to know our fantastic team of translators and interpreters, their strengths, the subjects they specialise in and how they like to work. I am impressed by their professional approach and their passion for their language and what they do. Led by their example, I am more determined than ever to continue to progress as a linguist and I am already putting my German and my French to good use.

I’ll let you know how it goes. In the meantime, just get in touch if you want to know more about what we do.

Very excited to be making ApLingo's first blog!  We'll be using this space to keep you updated on news, events and any other interesting snippets from the translation world....See you soon :)