While you may know that the Rosetta Stone is perhaps the most famous translation device in the world, there are probably other facts about this stone that you may not already know. The Discovery The Rosetta Stone was discovered by French forces in July 1799 in Rosetta, about 35 miles north of Alexandria,…
There’s a bit of argument over who translated the Bible into English. Officially, the translation was completed by John Wycliffe, and that’s the name you’ll stumble across if you search for information about Bible translations into English. However, there is evidence that sections of the Bible were translated long before…
When translators watch movies with their fictionalized counterparts, they can't help but chuckle. The nature of dramatization means that at first sight, Hollywood does not capture the skill and nuance required to succeed in this challenging, multi-cultural field. But dig a little deeper, and you will find worldwide blockbusters that…
Think back to your undergraduate literature classes. When you read Dante or Tolstoy, did the professor lead any discussions about the translator and his or her translations? Probably not. The common practice is to analyze the book without reserving time to discuss the translator or talk about the various translations in circulation…
A recent article talked about how the Bible could be the key to translating obscure languages. The article looked at how common languages like English or Spanish might be able to be translated using online software, but more obscure languages have little data online to provide a translation. Researchers found…
What, seriously, have the Romans ever done for us? Well, it's no coincidence that the word “romance” looks suspiciously similar to the word “Roman”. By marching all over Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, subjugating/civilizing the local inhabitants from Babylon to Portugal, they managed to spread the Latin language…
If the aim of a military exercise is to minimize casualties - and it isn't always - conflict between two antagonists requires effective communication. This has always been the case, and the examples of interpreters who have attempted to bridge the chasm between warring parties are numerous and often inspiring.…
Today, unless you're one of the relatively few people who travel between the US and Europe regularly, a trip across the Atlantic is still a real thrill, and something that many will only do once in a lifetime. Four hundred years ago, a Native American from the Patuxet tribe had…
Imagine a USA that, as you travel west, stops abruptly at St Louis, Missouri. No Denver, in fact no Rocky Mountains at all. No Grand Canyon, no Pacific coast. The lands that today contain San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, all under the control of Spain. From Montana in…
For a piece of land so obviously physically continuous as Eurasia, the difference between east and west has always been remarkable. The meeting point of the two is also remarkable in that it's so easy to pinpoint; Turkey. There are several possible reasons for this; if we travel back into…