Reed Translations

05/07/2018

Magic indeed!

Le français est une langue magique.

28/01/2018

Menus can be difficult to translate!

Toward a grand unified theory of hilarious and odd foreign-language menus.

16/01/2018

So, what do you think? Should we protect languages in this way?

After the language police ordered the French to ditch smartphone and use telephone multifonction instead Camille Chevalier-Karfis, founder of the language site French Today says France's fight against new English words is totally stupid.

05/09/2017

"In most cases, though, localization fails are not good news for a business"

Localization fails on product names are surprisingly common. A quick Google search brings up plenty of entertaining results. While to the casual reader these serve to raise a smile, they can be a serious issue for the companies concerned.

04/08/2017

Two days ago, on Wednesday the 2nd of August, all the natural resources for 2017 were used up. It was Earth Overshoot Day. This calculated day "marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year" (Global Footprin...

31/07/2017

Who would have thought that such a short word could be so complicated?
"The answer lies in contextual meanings."
Context is very important for a translator and enables them to find the most fitting expression in the target language.
https://www.bookstr.com/most-complicated-word-english

A three-letter-word with 645 meanings

05/05/2017

Beyond the politics: on the importance of adapting your message (language and culture) to the target audience!

While the American far right has undertaken a digital assault in support of Marine Le Pen, it hasn’t resonated with the French electorate.

18/03/2017

Bread and lettuce - very important!

Eating and drinking is a crucial part of French culture and social life. There are rules and codes to be aware of so here are some of the dos and don’ts of French dining etiquette.

22/02/2017

"A 2014 study by investment bank Natixis suggests that by 2050, French might be the most widely spoken language in the world..."
What do you think?

Kathy Stein-Smith explains why demand is growing for French the world over. There is one skill that is being learned around the world, with enrollments growing by 50% in Asia and Africa, while in the U.S. programs are being reduced and even eliminated. This highly sought-after global skill is not so...

13/02/2017

http://www.actumontagne.com/itineraires/le-belvedere-des-ecrins_12602

07/02/2017

Do you want you readers to understand? Beware of nominalisations!

Few mistakes sour good writing like nominalizations, or, as Helen Sword likes to call them, zombie nouns.

29/01/2017

Learning French? 'Tu' or 'Vous'?
A tongue-in-cheek look at all you need to know here. Easy!

YES YES YES YES YES NO NO NOT SURE NO NO NO NO NO Vous Vous Tu Tu Tu Tu Vous Tu Vous Tu YES NO Tu Vous NO NO NO Tu Vous YES NO Tu Vous Vous God? Are you speaking to a child? Are you an adult? You are speaking to... Is the childlike a prince or something? Are you speaking to an adult? Is the adult...