02/14/2007 - 02/15/2007

Intercultural Communication and Globalization

Today's governments, organisations and companies are dealing more and more in a global scenario. We are no longer constrained by borders or distance and as a result globalization has meant a fundamental change in who, where and why we do business. The people that make these organisations tick, from the workers, to bosses to suppliers, are increasingly based in remote locations in foreign countries or drawn from a rich mix of cultural backgrounds. The need for effective and clear intercultural communication is becoming vital in securing success in today's globalized workplace.

Football Intercultural Plan - Open day consultation

The Football Association of Ireland is producing a plan for the Intercultural Programme which aims to increase the activity and involvement of people of all cultures within Irish football. Further to this there is an open day consultation at the Mont Clare Hotel, Merrion Square, Dublin 2 at 11am on Saturday, 24th February, 2007.

Multicultural Communications and Diversity Conference

The need for corporate–wide strategies to effectively communicate with the diverse workforce is growing everyday. Estimates indicate that by 2020, the multicultural population will comprise 40 percent of Americans and most likely will equal half of all U.S. inhabitants by 2050.

Companies are becoming much more diverse and dealing with a multitude of different ethnic backgrounds, customs and religions. Thus, the challenges that have been placed on HR, PR and Diversity Training professionals are increasing dramatically. They are all striving to find the best training methods, "do's and don'ts", and programs to implement in order to avoid any mishaps, in addressing the needs and distinctions of various diverse groups.

Ritz-Carlton to go Multilingual

The USA's travel giants are racing to become multilingual. Big hotel chains and major airlines are launching foreign-language websites to expand their international appeal and to boost e-commerce.

Luxury hotel operator Ritz-Carlton will launch Chinese and Japanese sites in March. Starwood, which includes W and Sheraton, plans to add Chinese and Italian sites this year to four other languages. Marriott is working on Chinese and Spanish sites, adding to German. Hilton recently launched a Spanish site, adding to German and Japanese. It will add Chinese in 2008.

Word of the Day: raffish

raffish \RAF-ish\, adjective:
1. Characterized by or suggestive of flashy vulgarity, crudeness, or rowdiness; tawdry.
2. Marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness; rakish.

The speaker was in his forties, an attractive-looking man with a black eye patch that gave him the raffish look of an amiable pirate. -- Sidney Sheldon, The Best Laid Plans

Sometimes we would go to the Gargoyle Club, . . . but it was too full of raffish upper-class drunks for my taste. -- John Richardson, The Sorcerer's Apprentice

GMAC 'WEBINAR': Doing Business with Germans

GMAC Global Relocation Services (www.GMACGlobalRelocation.com) will offer a complimentary "Webinar" presentation titled, "Germany: Business Interactions with German Nationals -- A Cultural Perspective" on Friday, Feb. 23 at 11 a.m. Eastern time.

The hour-long Webinar will provide unique insights into the cultural attributes of Germany and German Nationals in the workplace, dispelling common stereotypes and perceptions. The Webinar also will discuss the challenges non-Germans may face when conducting business with German colleagues, clients and suppliers.

Report on the Localization Practices of Multinational Companies

Conversis, a translation and localization company based in the UK and US, in coordination with the Localization Program at California State University at Chico, has released the findings of a one-of-a-kind research study that examines the localization practices of multinational corporations and how well they are adapting to countries, cultures, and languages.

Research on Localization Practices was conducted by the Localization Program at California State University at Chico. The program provides education, training and outreach in Localization and International E-Business to help students and businesses compete in the new global networked economy.

To obtain a cross-sectional view from various organizational departments about each company’s localization practices, the study surveyed international business managers, localization managers, e-business managers, web-content managers, IT managers, and marketing managers within Fortune 500 companies with a multi-national presence.

Is India the ideal destination to outsource translation work?

Imagine, if the nations of the world spoke one language. With the so called globalization, we are put into a stage where countries worldwide are brought below a single ceiling. With this comes the problem of communication, as the number of languages in the world outnumbers the number of countries. The only thing that can bridge this gap of communication is efficient translation. What else can bring in more understanding than getting to learn about the technicalities involved through regional language? This is what which has resulted in the greater demand for language translation. Today, one can see many countries and multinationals outsourcing translation works. Rumors are strife that in few years India can become one of the leading providers of translation work with the efficient resource that is has.

Why You Need a Translation Service

Getting a translation done can be a serious business. Maybe not if you are only having a brief email translated, but definitely so if you are dealing with business documents, reports of anything that will be printed. Many people however approach translation too lightly believing it is an easy, quick and straightforward process. This is far from the truth.

Translation is a complex affair and needs to be approached sensibly in order to avoid poor results. Before starting a project that involves translation, consider the following common thoughts people have about translation services. Do you think the same?

Word of the Day: beau ideal

beau ideal \boh-ay-DEEL\, noun;
plural beau ideals:
A perfect or an idealized type or model.

Their commentaries inspired generations of schoolboys to pen compositions in praise of the Spartan lad who flinched not as the fox gnawed his vitals, and shaped the American beau ideal of the "strong silent type." -- Florence King, "Oh, Sparta!", National Review, September 12, 1994

To the populace, of course, Hindenburg remains the national hero and beau ideal; nay, almost the national Messiah. -- H.L. Mencken, "Ludendorff", The Atlantic, June 1917