02/12/2007 - 02/13/2007

Intercultural Conflicts of Traditional Values

Traditional family values may be strongest among immigrant men in one of the fastest growing populations of American society. A recent study by researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia is one of the first to intently interview Hispanic immigrant men in focus groups about their opinions and concerns toward family planning in the United States.

The study found that family values are central to the culture of Hispanic male immigrants and recommends that this concept be used by family planning services to foster communication and safe-sex between a husband and wife.

Launch of the Cultural Diversity BizLab

Tánaiste Michael McDowell, TD, on Monday launched the Cultural Diversity BizLab initiated by the Irish Management Institute (IMI), in conjunction with the National Action Plan Against Racism (NPAR) and the Equality Authority of Ireland. Cultural Diversity is the newest theme for the IMI’s established BizLab programme, which is a think tank and dedicated action research project initiated to develop and implement solutions to address management and organisational issues.

Cultural diversity has been selected as the focus of this Bizlab initiative due to the growing cultural diversity in the workforce in Ireland. This change presents both opportunities and challenges for Irish based employers. International case studies illustrate that companies which manage cultural diversity and draw on the uniqueness of their employees perform better. The most recent Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Survey shows that culturally diverse workforces produce measurable results.

International, Social and Business Pressures Require Proper Etiquette

Growing up, etiquette was reserved for dinner out or for special occasions with Grandma. Now, proper etiquette is a big business concern in today's thriving services-based economy, as businesses and professionals seek new and better strategies to compete.

Long-time resident Turiya Alton has opened The Protocol School in Ellicott City, MD, to address this emerging need for businesses and consumers alike. Unlike any other, The Protocol School offers comprehensive training programs that teach proper business etiquette and international protocol through unique, interactive seminars that give individuals and executives the skills they need to ensure success in every business and social situation.

Women more likely to learn new language

Women are much more open than men to learning a new language, according to a survey by language software provider Rosetta Stone. While 97 per cent of women would learn a language to better communicate with a partner, only 71 per cent of men would do the same, the poll found.

Lionbridge Translation Management Platform is the Fastest Growing Solution in 2006

Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. today announced that the adoption of Freeway(TM), its free, web-based translation management system has surpassed 2006 performance targets. In the eight months since the platform's launch, more than 150 Lionbridge clients have adopted Freeway as their preferred management platform. Logoport, the linguistic engine behind Freeway, now supports more than 10,000 users worldwide just one year after its public release. Contributors in the Logoport(TM) community include client teams, project managers, translators, and engineers via secure web connections.

The Internet in the Global Marketplace

The power of the Internet at opening global markets has been verified by a recent report from comScore Network, an Internet rating service.

According to their data, 14 of the top 25 websites based in the USA are visited more by users outside of the US than by Americans. Surprisingly, Google™, Yahoo!®, and Microsoft® receive fewer than 25% of their Web visitors from within US borders.

According to Multicultural Business Council the report verifies the Internet's importance in introducing products and services to buyers beyond a business's local trade area. The Internet is a particularly valuable tool organizations in economically struggling regions. When MaxImpact, a leadership development company, saw the local economy tightening up, they turned to the Internet to sell their services outside of the borders of Michigan. Within a few months they had located the customers in 19 states. At My Neat Site of Siberia recognized they could not survive unless they reached across the Siberian border. They used the Internet to find new customers in the US, Canada, and England.

Word of the Day: slaver

slaver \SLAV-uhr; SLAY-vuhr\, intransitive verb:
1. To slobber; to drool.
noun:
1. Saliva drooling from the mouth.

The tiger was slavering. It was thirsty. Or maybe hungry. -- Eliseo Alberto, Caracol Beach

Two ancient, lopsided wooden signs declared NO TRESPASSERS! and BEWARE OF GUARD DOGS! The latter featured a slavering Doberman frothing at the mouth. -- Meera Syal, Anita and Me

Valentine's Day: The Cross-Cultural Experience

Heart-shaped traffic lights for Valentine's Day, a wealth of chocolate treats and an influx of bright young things from all across Europe arguably make Brussels the continent's love as well as political capital.

But for the hoards of expatriates from a myriad of European cultures, differences in language and background can make or break relationships. And Valentine's Day, the festival of romance viewed in some countries as a litmus test of love and in others as a commercialised waste of time, puts these romances under the microscope.

Want JobSeeker's Allowance? Then Learn English...

People who claim jobseeker’s allowance but lack English skills will be strongly encouraged to take language classes, welfare reform minister Jim Murphy said today in a speech to think-tank the Work Foundation.

HTH Introduces Global Doctor Search and Medical Translation Tools

HTH Worldwide announced today that it has developed a new suite of global medical assistance tools for mobile communication devices, enabling international travelers to find highly qualified physicians and to translate key medical terminology all around the world. Producing precise results with a few simple clicks, HTH Mobile Health(SM) serves the rapidly increasing ranks of world travelers relying on their mobile devices, such as PDAs and smart phones, to help them achieve their international business, leisure or educational goals.

Word of the Day: vivify

vivify \VIV-uh-fy\, transitive verb:
1. To endue with life; to make alive; to animate.
2. To make more lively or intense.

Can the writer isolate and vivify all in experience that most deeply engages our intellects and our hearts? -- Annie Dillard, "Write Till You Drop", New York Times, May 28, 1989

Stories not only provide context for statistical statements but canillustrate and vivify them as well. -- John Allen Paulos, Once Upon a Number