http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/internet/web-design/website-localization-overcoming-language-barriers.html http://www.articletrader.com/internet/web-design/website-localization-overcoming-language-barriers.html Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Three Main Benefits of Website Localization

* Language barriers are overcome. With more and more people purchasing PC's and tapping into the Internet world, website localization breaks barriers and invites new countries into your world, in their own environment. Companies are finally realizing that there are many other languages besides English that are also very popular, such as French, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese. Therefore more companies are transferring their website content to other languages.

* Website localization establishes credibility – Localizing your website demonstrates your willingness to work with other countries, and to understand and respect the values of those particular countries. Which company would you want to invest in? The company that only has an English site or the company that has websites in all major languages? The company with websites in more languages has more profit potential as it reaches millions more in potential clients.

* Revenue is increased with website localization - The lack of it is a missed opportunity for billions of dollars, pounds and francs each year. Just envision the population in your own country. Once you undergo the website localization, you can then start imagining all the other countries in the language you have added to your website. Millions of potential clients observing your website content/products. Now, just imaging the possibilities!

Once you have made the decision to tap into the website localization process, there are some very important things you should consider.

Translating the language of a website is not as easy as it appears, there are a number of things to consider when translating its contents. Determine if all the words, phrases and metaphors translate towards the target language. When translating humor, be very careful to understand the culture and target audience you are aiming to reach. If you determine your audience will be aimed towards the business personnel, you should be sure that the vocabulary, grammar and punctuation reflect this. If you are aiming to reach the younger, more casual population, you should use more relaxed language. Using the wrong context of language could lead to misunderstandings. You do not want to offend anyone, as a very simple error in judgment due to culture, could be detrimental to your company.

Pictures in website localization - Pictures or images have many subtle cultural messages within them. Pictures or images can have negative connotations that may repel viewers.

Using symbols in website localization – Be careful when using symbols. Symbols mean different things in different countries, and if used in the wrong context, could be very offensive to the very people you are trying to impress. Pigs are considered unclean in the Middle East and cows are holy in India. Or, icons using fingers such as the OK sign or V-sign could mean different things in different cultures.

Colors in website localization – Believe it or not, colors could have an impact on your potential clients. Choosing the wrong color for your logo or background will likely not cause too much of a disaster, however, you should try to respect the fact that certain colors mean certain things in different cultures. For example, in Japan, white is associated with mourning, where red in China is auspicious, and in Africa, certain colors represent specific tribes.

Website localization is very important, and every business should consider updating their websites to include other languages and cultures. The potential for increased revenue is huge, take advantage of it today.

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Armando Riquier is a freelance writer and expert translator who has been working with Tectrad for many years. Tectrad provides high quality translations and complete website localizations into German, French, Italian, Spanish and most of any other European audiences.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/writing/business-translation-is-no-amateur-job.html http://www.articletrader.com/writing/business-translation-is-no-amateur-job.html Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The Qualifications Of A Translator

To really depict the almost inevitable consequences of not hiring persons qualified to do professional business translation, a real world example will serve. A national provider of medical insurance policies in the United States committed two of the aforementioned mistakes in responding to the business translation needs of their Spanish speaking customers. One of the bilingual customer care agents was asked to do the job of translating pamphlets, notices, and correspondence in English, into Spanish. The agreement, like most informal ones, provided for no specific deadlines. In the meanwhile, the company's Spanish speaking beneficiaries went without high quality service in their language. Hoping to remedy this, management resorted to the team of bilingual customer service agents to work on the project as a group. This collective effort only turned out to be more disorganized and haphazard due to the divergent dialects and educational backgrounds of the team's members. Arguments over vocabulary resulted in strained relations on the team and, eventually, interrupted the project and the company's promise to serve their non-English speaking clients in the translation of printed materials. None of these failures and stumbling blocks would have happened had the company realized up front, the need for professional services to assume their business translation needs.

The Limitations Of Robotic Translations

The computer is amazing for rapidly carrying out many difficult jobs--business translation doesn't figure among them. Why is this? Anyone who has ever tried translation software programs, know of its inability to understand natural language. This is mostly due to the existence of 'idioms'. Idiomatic phrases are set by usage, and meaning is not literally determined by the words used. For example, in English, when quoting another person, people will often say, "and then she went...." employing the verb 'to go' instead of the verb 'to say'. Imagine the senseless translation that software would come up with in this case; moreover, visualize the problem a company would have by relying on software for business translation.

Determining The Need

Commercial managers should analyze each business translation project on a separate basis. In general, a bilingual employee is not the prime choice for an intense job. Large projects can also interfere with his daily obligations. But, relatively small jobs may be completed smoothly by an employee, and has the benefit of inside influence. Remember, the employee should have the educational background required to render grammatically correct translations and know the dialect of the consumers targeted.

Machine rendered translations should be avoided for vital business translation needs. Software programs simply can't handle serious jobs.

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Armando Riquier is a freelance translator working with Tectrad, an agency dealing in translations between English, French and other key languages of legal, financial and corporate documents. Discover how Tectrad's business translation services can provide you with the high degree of professionalism you need when communicating to your foreign clients.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/writing/corporate-translation-services-finding-the-right-agency.html http://www.articletrader.com/writing/corporate-translation-services-finding-the-right-agency.html Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500
On one occasion, the negotiation process between U.S. and British counterparts came to a standstill when the American company suggested that they would proceed to "table" certain key points. To the Americans, the phrase "tabling a motion" signifies that no discussion is warranted, while the British use the same phrase: "bring it to the table for discussion" when they wish to specifically discuss the very points!

In the above example, the same phrase used in the same language, viz., English, conveys the exact opposite meaning, because the cultural usages of the same phrase are at variance. When such is the case, imagine the high possibility of errors arising when sentences or phrases are translated to a different language! This is where the right choice of translator or translation services agency plays its part. It is imperative that you select a company that offers the expertise of a well trained team of professional translators who have industry exposure in addition to language skills and certification. The time and money spent in the exercise are well spent, when you consider the possible tribulations that you may have to contend with if there were to be one or more mis-translations in an important official document or contract.

The following are some useful tips that can help you identify a reliable professional translation service provider for translating your documents, manuals, website, advertisement content or other important written communications.

Most service providers/firms in the translation business have membership of a recognized professional translation association such as American Translation Association (ATA).

The translator/team must be qualified, certified professionals and should ideally be native speakers of the target language.

The team of translators must be qualified and experienced in rendering translation services in the target language/s, but must also possess subject matter expertise if they are to be really effective.

The translation agency must accept responsibility for proof reading the final translated document before it is delivered. In many cases, reliable translation service firms have a second, and sometimes even a third translator, all of whom are fully competent to proof-read the translated text and perhaps perform a back translation wherever it is warranted.

If your document runs into a number of pages and where the deadlines are close, reliable translation service firms will press into action more than one professional translator to complete your work to your complete satisfaction.

If you happen to directly hire a translator to do the job for you, it would be advisable to check for any references he can provide in respect of past projects completed to the satisfaction of clients.

It may be worthwhile to compare prices of different translation service firms to get an idea of the current pricing structure. While cheap is not necessarily the best, price may sometimes be a deciding factor when all other things are equal.

Meeting deadlines is a very important aspect of the service, but this may become known only when the agency delivers its first completed project.

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Armando Riquier is an experienced translator and writer. He works with Tectrad, a professional translation agency. Find out how Tectrad can contribute to your sales with high-fidelity translation services for your business documents and promotional items.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/writing/translation-services-and-interpreter-tips.html http://www.articletrader.com/writing/translation-services-and-interpreter-tips.html Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500
* Having an interpreter from a business translation service allows you and the company you are dealing with to use your native tongue. Interpreters are trained professionals in specific languages, meaning they can ensure communication between the two of you to be as precise and as clear as possible.

* They also help with the possibility of misunderstandings. By having the cultural knowledge of an interpreter from a translation services company, businesses will minimize any misconceptions which could cause embarrassment by either side.

* For tactical reasons in negotiations, an interpreter can help you buy time to formulate responses. Once they have given you the response from the other side, you have a moment to mill over what you will say next.

* If properly briefed, an educated and professional interpreter can help you with presentations and negotiations by working with you to achieve goals.

* Interpreters assist in overcoming cross cultural differences and can act as guides in cross cultural matters.

* If you are planning to use a translation service agency interpreter, make sure they are fully informed prior to the meeting. Make sure they know what will be discussed, who they will be meeting with and if there are any documents available, make sure the interpreter has a copy.

* Fully brief your interpreter of any technical language that will be used and any potential uncomfortable situations that may arise.

* Discuss your aims and objectives for any meeting or negotiations with the interpreter and your strategy. This will allow the interpreter to give you cultural advice on the situation.

* If you are using an interpreter for a meeting then provide them with an agenda and walk them through it prior to the meeting. Make sure they understand exactly what will be covered and in what order.

* If you are giving a speech, provide a copy of the speech and ensure they understand any complicated language. This will allow the interpreter time to review everything to make sure the translation goes smoothly.

* Speak slowly and clearly as this gives the interpreter time to digest your words.

* Take breaks in your speech regularly, for example at the end of each sentence or statement and avoid long and complex sentences.

* No jokes. Avoid them if at all possible. There is too much room for error or misconception. Also avoid slang and metaphors.

* Try to let the interpreter finish before moving on to the next point.

* Always maintain eye contact with the audience or group and not the interpreter.

An interpreter from a business translation service will be of excellent assistance for your company. Interpreters should not be viewed solely as language assistants. In addition to helping you overcome the language barrier, they can also assist in many other areas such as organization, formulating strategies and advising on cross cultural differences. It is critical to see interpreters as not working for you but with you.

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Armando Riquier is a freelance writer and expert translator who collaborates with Tectrad, a company specialized in the translation of legal, financial and business documents between French, English and other languages. Find out how translation services of excellence will assist you in developing and maintaining a strong foothold on the global market.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/writing/cultural-considerations-involved-in-translation-services.html http://www.articletrader.com/writing/cultural-considerations-involved-in-translation-services.html Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Vast cultural differences play a role, because it has had an impact on nearly all the people worldwide, as well as on the international relations rising from the present new world order. Also, as technology develops and grows at a fast pace, nations and their cultures have started merging. Boundaries are becoming more unclear, when they once were sharply outlined.

Translators offering translation services today are faced with many different cultures. They are required to provide translation services that relay messages from one culture to another, and make it a smooth and solidly understood translation. The idiosyncrasies and cultural expressions must be known first hand. We are not talking about a minimum knowledge of having studied the language, but about a vast and thorough understanding of having the language as a native tongue. It's referred to as cross-cultural translation and it's relied upon heavily by organizations around the globe.

It is their task to focus primarily on the source culture and target culture, but this is not cut and dry. The answer is not clear-cut. Nevertheless, the dominant criterion is the communicative function of the target text. Attention is drawn to the fact that among the assortment of translation methodology, the use of the integrated approach seems the most widely used. This approach follows the model in which having a global vision of the text, at hand, is of primary importance. This type of methodology focuses on turning the macro into the micro, so to speak.

In addition, the trans-coding process should be focused not merely on language transfer but also - and most importantly on cultural transposition. As an inevitable consequence of the previous statement, translators must be both bilingual and bicultural if not multicultural.

When dealing with diverse cultures it can sometimes be the simple mistakes we make, like showing the soles of our shoes or giving a thumbs up, that can ruin a relationship or lose a very important client. Learning the similarities and differences in customs, mores and traditions, or seeking the professional help of a translation services agency can make all the difference. Learning the simple cultural do's and don'ts can avoid this and help generate respect and understanding. Also, due to the number of people working in offices abroad, non-US nationals coming to work in the US, and frequent business trips all around the world, the need for language skills is imperative. Thus, the proper use of translation services is vital to a successful business relationship.

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Armando Riquier is a freelance writer and expert translator who has worked with Tectrad for over a decade. Develop new foreign markets very effectively right from the start with Tectrad's high-fidelity English French translation services.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/writing/translation-services-and-translator-vocations.html http://www.articletrader.com/writing/translation-services-and-translator-vocations.html Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Qualification required for becoming a good translator
* A good command over the native tongue, a suitable degree may prove the worth.
* A good command over another or other foreign languages and definitely English. One should be qualified enough to prove his or her skill or aptitude.
* A Graduate Degree.
* A few years of experience in the related field would definitely prove to be an added advantage.
* Accuracy and precision in translation is a very important thing to maintain all along.
* Professionalism is also a quality that becomes imperative while seeking a career in translation services.

General overview

If someone does not have any experience in translation or is starting new, he or she might work part time as a freelancer to gather some personal experience. Innumerable websites are there who offer jobs that can be done as a freelancer. This can prove to be a great opportunity for those who are willing to start on a translation career. This will not only help to garner experience but also teach the technicalities of translation. The translator would also achieve a higher accuracy level that will be in great demand would he apply for a full time job as in house translator later.

Fields in translation services

There are various types of translation work that one can encounter while working as a translator. These include legal and business translation, literary translation, medical translation, government translation, aerospace, energy & power, automotive translation, tourism translation, and various other fields in which one should be knowledgeable about.

Role of Entrepreneurs

Though there are ample opportunities for the translators seeking a career offering translation services, there are a few criteria that the various translating companies or entrepreneurs follow. The eligibility criteria for appointing a translator vary from company to company but entrepreneurs who are looking for translators and interpreters to join their team usually prefer to require these conditions:
* At least 3-years industry experience in translation or interpretation.
* Highly qualified professionals.
* They would have the translator's experience and work scrutinized.
* Recognized qualification in the desired field.
* A good command over the target language.
* A sound knowledge in other foreign languages.
* Accuracy and precision.

The entrepreneur will intimate the terms and conditions of work when they appoint a translator. The payment terms will also be intimated by them at the time of appointment.

Conclusion

Translators who are looking for a career in the translation services industry have the chance of plentiful choices to select from and they will be able to make a great career as a translator. They may even join a specific translation service field in which they can specialize and excel. With consistent dedication, accuracy, and hard work translators can scale heights aptly.

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Armando Riquier has been participating in the Tectrad control team as a freelance expert translator and writer. The Tectrad group comprises various agencies delivering quality translation work in the area of finance, legal and business writings. Use their specialized translation services to help push your expansion in Europe and globally.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/writing/french-english-translation-a-linguistic-and-stylistic-breakdown.html http://www.articletrader.com/writing/french-english-translation-a-linguistic-and-stylistic-breakdown.html Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Both English and French are Indo-European languages. English is a derivative of the Germanic branch while French is a derivative of the Italic. Aside from English, all Germanic languages are V2 languages (the verb always occupies the second position in the sentence) and, aside from French, all Italic languages are null subject languages (the sentence does not need a subject because the verb itself implies the subject). Today, both French and English are fixed, subject-prominent, SVO languages that have lost much of the grammatical inflection of their forebears on the Indo-European tree. Other word order combinations have not, however, been in lost in either language:

French English
VSO Questions:
French: Sais-tu l'heure? (Do you have the time?) - verbatim: know you the time?
English poetics, Shakespeare: Met I my father? (King Lear)

SOV With all pronoun objects:
French: Je le vois. (I see it.) - verbatim: I it see
English fossilized expressions: 'Til Death do us part.

Although these two languages share many syntactic parallels, their literary conventions are quite dissimilar: wherefrom the challenge of French English translation. French tends to be a language of long sentences carefully constructed with copious commas and stacked phrases (appositives and subsequent actions). English tends to be more limited in sentence construction, often requiring connectors in place of mere commas. So the French English translator frequently finds himself faced with a French sentence that is too long by English standards and which will not translate gracefully. A talented French English translator must be prepared to dissect the lengthy sentence into pieces that will make sense to an English reader. There are a few different ways to do this: 1) break the sentence apart (either into two sentences or two independent clauses with and or but...) or 2) demonstrate the relationship between the clauses in another way (a demonstrative determiner, like that or which, or a dash). Regrettably, this de-stacking breaks apart the rhythm of the original. Another major hurdle in French English translation is the separation of a noun phrase from its modifier. Because French includes noun genders and verb conjugations, it is not difficult for French readers to ascertain to what a modifying clause refers. English, on the other hand, has neither of these morphosyntactic properties and English writers are taught to place modifying phrases directly adjacent to the noun phrase to which they refer. Ultimately, translators must reorganize sentences and perform various linguistic somersaults so that nouns and their modifiers are friendly and flow naturally in the English.

People often think that because French and English are linguistic cousins, French English translation is fairly uncomplicated. Although the two languages have a common Indo-European base and similar basic syntax, their literary traditions are separated by centuries.

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Armando Riquier as a freelance writer and expert translator collaborates with Tectrad, a company specialized in the translation of many types of documents, legal, financial or corporate. Find out how to keep an excellent image in the eyes of your foreign customers by translating between French and English all your foreign documentations and papers.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/writing/assessing-business-translation-needs.html http://www.articletrader.com/writing/assessing-business-translation-needs.html Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600
Choice Of Dialect

All influential languages, English included, have a variety of dialects. A dialect is a geographical way of speech and variety of language with non-standardized vocabulary, pronunciation and/or specific grammar that's unique to the region. The unfavorable impact that a little known dialect may have on comprehension by those who speak a different dialect, can be fatal to a company's marketing campaign. England's famous 'fish and chips' is known as 'fish and fries' by natives of America, only because of the dish's popularity and frequent travel between the two nations. Unfortunately, things are not so clear with many words and phrases that will be required in business translation. If a company has planned to create a presence in Spain, Castillian, over Latin American Spanish, should be the chosen dialect.

Targeting An Audience

Most businesses serve a targeted audience. Nurseries serve those who garden and do landscaping. Fabric stores attract dressmakers, tailors, and people who are into crafts. Even department stores and supermarkets target audiences. Wal-Mart appeals to price conscious consumers; Yonkers attracts customers with a taste for expensive merchandise. These commercial characteristics help to determine business translation needs. Even among speakers of the same dialect, people will be diverse in vocabulary depending on age and level of education. These are additional considerations to keep in mind when looking at business translation requirements. Most teens around the globe make use of their own slang vocabulary. In the same manner, people who live in regions where bilingualism is common place, such as in Quebec, Canada, often use words that are a cross between two languages of the area. It's advantageous for the company to know and respond to their business translation needs.

Cultural Considerations

There also exists the need to cautiously consider cultural customs. This point is particularly important to native English speakers from the United States. Often, Americans who have learned to speak Spanish, seek out jobs in bilingual customer services. Many of them usually reply to 'gracias' (thank you), with 'de nada' (you are welcome), after serving a client. Such a reply unveils ignorance of just how important courtesy is in Spanish. Native Spanish speakers often answer with phrases such as 'para servirle' (at your service), or similar phrases that seem so flowery to the English speaker's ear that it never occurs to him to 'pick up' the language in its culture. Cultural considerations also determine business translation needs.

There are even more factors to keep in mind, but the ones mentioned in this article should always be included to guarantee that the company reaps a return from business translation.

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Armando Riquier is a freelance expert translator and writer and a member of the Tectrad control team. Tectrad is a business translation service agency that specializes in translations between English and French of all types of legal, financial and business documents.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/writing/the-necessity-of-website-localization.html http://www.articletrader.com/writing/the-necessity-of-website-localization.html Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600
Expensive Errors

Possibly, translation blunders can do a website more damage than benefit. When the automotive company, American Motors, decided to market the Matador, a very costly mistake was made. Their intention was to position the car along with an image of bravery and endurance. But, in Puerto Rico, the name means 'killer'. Considering the hazardous route conditions on the island, a 'killer' car was the last thing that would be welcomed. True website localization protects against such costly and disappointing failures.

Breaking Down The Barriers

It can't be overstressed just how important it is to be familiar with the customs of a website's targeted public. What dialect do they use? What age groups are represented? What is their predominant religion? What are their levels of education? Not all of the questions will have to be answered. However, if for instance the business is a vendor of books on all topics, the targeted clientele will be diverse in a Western culture. Most countries in the West have a very high literacy rate. Therefore, in the case of website localization for a bookstore, the choice of a dialect probably doesn't require much thought. The most standardized form of the language should be the choice. In case of an organization not-for-profit that may target particular ethnic groups however, dialect becomes a point of strong interest.

Surprisingly, even wrong choice of colors, symbols and images, can bring down a campaign of website localization. How can this be? Suppose a clothing store wishes to market their apparel in the Arab world. Now suppose that they have a special on bikinis and depict photographic images of women in bikinis on the site. Their web pages may be accurately translated, linguistically speaking, but it would be offensive to the greater part of the targeted audience. Most Arabs, Muslims or Christians, disapprove of the lack of modesty in dress common in the West among both men and women.

True website localization will also cover the scripting issues of translation. For example, if a site is going to be adjusted to a Chinese-speaking audience, its format will likely have to be modified because Chinese and Japanese are top to bottom languages.

Those are only some of the major points that must be well thought of for effective website localization jobs.

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As a freelance writer and expert translator Armando Riquier has been working with Tectrad, a company providing professional website localization services between English and other main European languages such as French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, etc.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/writing/why-translation-services-are-essential-in-our-multi-cultural-world.html http://www.articletrader.com/writing/why-translation-services-are-essential-in-our-multi-cultural-world.html Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600
Translation is "the rendering of something written or spoken in one language in words of a different language" and services are "works done by somebody for somebody else as a job". In other words they mean the professional work of freelancers or agencies all over the world offered to all the people who need it. Thanks to shorter distances and faster communication, it is easier today keeping contacts either for business or for pleasure. We live in a multi-cultural society where people work, study with less language barriers than before and this happens thanks to translation services. The job of professional translators helps people to deal in the best and most professional way in business, for example, where accuracy is extremely important. Business translations regard contracts, conditions, terms and money, therefore they have to be very precise and they have to be done by linguists who own a perfect knowledge of the subject. One thing is having a basic knowledge of a language, different thing is being able to offer a professional translation service. Perfect communication among the parties is essential in business and a very accurate service in translation is a clear important aspect of it.

Translation service is concretely the job of a professional linguists' staff that work according to a purpose and to the audience for whom the translation is destined. This work is not as simple as it may appear: behind translation services there is hard work, much practical experience and years of study. Literal translations is not accurate, for example many idiomatic expressions change from a language to another and they have to be adapted from a source language to a target language. Besides professional linguists are able to use proper translation tools such as dictionaries and computer programs called CAT tools that are completely unknown by non-professional linguists. The same project manager of a group of translators is very often an expert and qualified linguist who can also coordinate a staff. This is not always simple as deadlines are often very tight and translators work under a lot of pressure, but, at the same time, they have to provide a perfect service.

We know that there should be about 6,800 languages on earth and global communication is essential nowadays. Therefore the services performed by translators play an essential role in order to eliminate language barriers. Translation services are the key of successful business and relationships, they are like a gate towards the cultures that makes people feel closer in business, education, leisure and health.

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Armando Riquier is a linguist with years of experience writing about languages and translations. He acts as a freelance translator with the Tectrad group, a professional translation agency. Find out how you can reach a broader audience with the help of their specialized translation services in the areas of legal, finance and other corporate matters.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>