At Monterey Language Services, we are always searching for interesting tidbits to lift our spirits. Here is one good example. 

Deborah Fallows has a Ph.D. in linguistics.  She decided to immerse herself into Chinese culture by learning Chinese.  In her new book, Dreaming in Chinese:  Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love and Language, Fallows provides intriguing insights into how Chinese think and act as reflected in their language.  We found a delightful interview she had with NPR in which she explains why Chinese talk to each other so bluntly.

http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=129552512&m=129556812

Is this a big deal? Indeed.

Our Director of Translation, Mei-Ling Chen, once made a presentation on how to handle a translation project from English to Chinese involving marketing a product to Chinese people. The all-American audience seemed uninterested until she casually mentioned that Chinese characters can be displayed vertically. All of the sudden, everyone’s ears perked up. The entire floor turned attentive…

The story reminds us once again of the need to take cultural elements into account as part of the translation process. More than just words, translation brings worlds and peoples together.  Thanks to our fans for sharing the culturally revealing picture.