AAA Translation - We'll Take You Global

As a business owner, department head or project leader, you want your HR documents, marketing collateral or other translated materials to be accurate and timely.

Because translations done WELL are paramount to your global success, we have several tips to help you directly influence the outcome, speed and cost-effectiveness of any translation project:

1)    Start with a well-written, simple piece. If the original marketing collateral or internal communications document is wordy, ambiguous or poorly written to begin with, the translated document will follow. Translators cannot rewrite. Their job is to accurately translate. To increase your success in the original language – and in the translated one(s) – make sure the piece is written really well.

2)    Be careful who translates for you. Someone may be bilingual, but that doesn’t mean they are an experienced translator, understand your industry or are up-to-date on the latest, localized language nuances in the market you’re trying to reach. It’s best to work with professionals who have teams of in-country, experienced translators.

3)    If you have preferred company lingo or branding guidelines, provide that to your translation company BEFORE the project begins.

4)    Be careful who proofreads your documents. You may have someone on your team who speaks Spanish, for example, but the nuances of Spanish in Mexico differ greatly from Spanish in Colombia. And even if someone is from the area, if they no longer live there, they are not as knowledgeable as an in-country translator and proofreader. AAA Translation’s founder and CEO Susanne Evens, for example, no longer translates German, despite growing up there. “I still speak German often and visit Germany, but I have lived in the U.S. too long to provide the kind of accuracy that I expect and get from someone who still lives there.”

Want to get more tips or learn how you can work with AAA Translation for your next translation, interpretation or global consulting project? Contact us at 636.530.1010 or visit www.aaatranslation.com to learn more.

A monthly blog feature from AAA Translation’s Susanne Evens, My Neighbor Next Door is from… aims to expand multicultural knowledge and break down divides by letting readers get to know immigrants from various countries…one neighbor, friend and/or business colleague at a time.

This month’s featured country is Iraq. The country’s name has been in use since before the 6th century. An Arabic folk etymology for the name is "deeply rooted, well-watered; fertile.” The region of the country between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, often referred to as Mesopotamia, is the world's oldest civilization. It is here that mankind first began to read, write, create laws and live in cities under an organized government. The area has been home to continuous successive civilizations since the 6th millennium BC.

We recently interviewed a man who immigrated to the U.S. from Iraq with his family when he was a child. First, they moved to Syria in 1993; from there, they came to the U.S. in 1997. Currently, he lives in Texas.

Q. What are the cultural differences between Iraq and the U.S.?

A. The United States is a melting pot of cultural diversity. There are many types of races and religions in the U.S., and it is wonderful. In Iraq, everyone was predominantly Muslim and born in Iraq. 

Q. What brought you to the U.S.?

A. We came to the U.S. to seek a better life because Saddam Hussein was killing innocent people.  

Q. What is something most people don't know about your original country?

A. There are regular houses there. Nobody in Iraq lives in stone houses in the middle of the desert. The scenery is beautiful. There are big houses in the city and paved roads. People drive the latest cars and have the latest technology. There are also a lot of McDonald's everywhere, and a vast number of mountains. In many ways, it is just like the U.S. 

Q. What do you miss the most?

A. I miss going to my grandparents' house and seeing my whole family there. I also miss the delicious kabobs and shwarmas. I can’t seem to find kabobs and shwarmas in the U.S. that taste the same as they did back home. The meat was so tender and juicy and had the freshest vegetables.

Q. What is the biggest misconception you encounter when people learn where you are originally from?

A. They seem to think everyone from Iraq is out to get them. They couldn’t be more wrong. Some of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my life were from Iraq. 

Q. Any other comments to add?

A. Throughout my time in Iraq, I hadn’t seen any crimes committed due to religious beliefs. There are crazy people nowadays that think being a Muslim is about killing people of other religions. That is a horrible thing to do. These self-proclaimed “Muslims” could be white, black or brown. Those are the real terrorists and those are the people who everyone should avoid. 

St. Patrick’s Day, made an official Christian feast day in the early seventeenth century, is celebrated on March 17th each year. It commemorates Saint Patrick and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish. The largest celebrations are held in Dublin, Ireland, but there are plenty of other St. Patty’s Day parties around the world…because, whether we have Irish heritage in our bloodline or not, everyone is a little bit Irish on St. Patty’s Day!

Ireland
Ireland’s national saint – St. Patrick – is celebrated throughout the country from March 14 to March 17. Dublin is home to the biggest celebrations (4 days of city-wide events), but parades, street carnivals and parties are also held in Cork, Kilkenny, Limerick and beyond.

New York City, USA
With more than 150,000 participants, this is the world’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parade each year. Started in 1762, it’s held along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on the Sunday before March 17. You can even watch it live on their website at nycstpatricksparade.org. It features floats, dancers, bagpipes, large crowds and plenty of green beer at the city’s Irish bars

Boston, USA
Considered to be the most Irish city in the U.S., Boston has a proud Irish heritage and holds the second-largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the U.S.. It’s held in the predominantly Irish-American neighborhood of South Boston, better known as ‘Southie.’ Each year, this parade attracts around a million spectators and is also broadcast live on TV to overseas troops.
Additionally, festivals and exhibitions are held throughout March, including the Boston Flower and Garden show.

Chicago, USA
Chicago, literally, goes green for Saint Patrick’s Day. Most notably, the Chicago River is dyed green each year. Other festivities include the ‘greening’ of the home of the Chicago Bears football team, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower, Trump International Hotel & Tower, the Wrigley Building, Chicago Board of Trade, Millennium Park and other buildings.

Buenos Aires, Argentina
South America’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration takes place in Buenos Aires each year, with more than 50,000 people participating. Ten blocks of the city are closed to traffic, allowing green-clad party-goers to take to the streets. The parade on March 17 ends up in Plaza San Martin, while other celebrations also take place in Plaza Irlanda.

Munich, Germany
Like millions of Irish all over the world, the Munich Irish and their friends celebrate this national holiday. Since 1996, Munich has held an annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. This year, the parade will be held Sunday, March 15 at noon, followed by an after party.

Birmingham, England
One of the biggest in England, the Birmingham St. Patrick’s Day parade started in 1996 and has grown significantly since then. Traditionally, the week’s festivities start with a gala event at a local venue, with entertainment that includes Irish dancers and traditional Irish music. The week before the parade, other events are held celebrating Irish heritage and culture.

Montserrat, Caribbean
Monsterrat has an interesting link to Ireland. In the 17th Century, Irish Catholic indentured servants were welcomed to the tiny volcanic island at a time when they were shunned in most other English-controlled islands of the Caribbean. The Irish mixed freely with the African slaves brought to work the English sugar plantations, and a unique Afro-Irish culture developed. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated each year with a week-long festival culminating in St Patrick's Day. It’s also a commemoration of the slave uprising on the same day in 1768.

Sydney, Australia
Australia has marked St Patrick's Day since 1810, when the Governor of New South Wales Lachlan Macquarie declared the date an official day of celebration. Typically, the day is celebrated with entertainment, music and dancing before the main parade begins. The parade is said to be the second largest St. Patty’s Day parade, after New York City’s. Following the parade, there is a Family Day, where the Australian and Irish National Anthems are sung, followed by local Irish bands and musicians.

Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo proudly bills itself as the first St Patrick’s Day in the Northern Hemisphere and holds the largest celebration in Asia, with colorful costumes, marching bands and colorful floats. The parade, sponsored by the Embassy of Ireland, includes more than 1,500 participants and 50,000 visitors.

Traveling internationally in the New Year?

Tipping in other countries can be confusing. Only in the U.S., for the most part, is it customary to tip 20% in a restaurant. In most European countries, like in Germany for example, patrons typically round up to the nearest dollar. If the bill is Euro 23, for instance, most Germans would round it up to 24 or, if the service was really good, 25. European employees in restaurants don’t work for tips but have a salary, as they have to go through major training to even be able to serve and wait on people.

Before you travel to another country, research local customs and tipping practices. They can vary WIDELY. In Japan, a tip is an insult and considered an offensive display of wealth and pity. But in countries like Mexico, many service people rely on tips to provide for their families, and not tipping is a big faux pas.

To help, here are tips on restaurant tipping for several business travel locations:

• Australia – 10% (but only for upscale dining)
• Canada – typically, 15%
• China- 3% in major cities (otherwise, none)
• Egypt – 5-10% plus service charge
• England – 10% if no service charge
• France – round up
• Germany – round up
• India – 10% if no service charge
• Japan – tipping is perceived insulting
• Malaysia - none
• Mexico – 10 – 15%
• Morocco – loose change
• Russia – 10-15%
• Singapore – none
• South Africa – 10% if no service charge
• Thailand – loose change (5-10% in upscale restaurants if excellent service)

If in doubt, observe the locals and follow their lead (or ask a trusted source).

Happy travels!