Day Translations Blog

Samba and the Frenetic Rhythm of Brazil’s Carnival

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:12:00 +0000

Fast. Fun. Lively. Energetic. Graceful. These are just some of the adjectives that describe the dance form that is synonymous with Rio’s grand carnival, the samba. Many of these types of dances originated from Latin America and have evolved into the structured dance forms that we know today. Many of the Latin dances are performed by couples while some are suited for a solo dancer, male or female. Samba, in the carnival sense is danced by everyone, whether they have a partner or not.

Samba is one of the most recognized symbols of Brazil and really a top draw for tourists and other travelers. It has become an international Brazilian icon and deeply interwoven in Brazilian culture and tradition. It is so popular that Brazil celebrates the National Samba Day on December 2 of each year.

The roots of Samba can be traced to the traditional African-Brazilian dance performed by ordinary workers and slaves during a Candomblé ceremony, usually accompanied by drums such as the atabaque, singing and hand clapping. It first appeared around the 17^th century in Recôncavo, a region in Bahai, Brazil. As is typical with informal gatherings by the indigenous people, a circle is usually formed and samba is a word equated to roda de dança. During those days, everyone is invited to participate in the dance that is characterized by spontaneous movements of the hips, legs and feet, often accompanied by clapping and sometimes drums, but traditionally accompanied by a cavaquinho guitar. The Samba music that is known today, especially the ones that became popular in the United States after the Second World War are played by orchestras with clarinets, flutes, trombones, trumpets and choros.

Samba has a syncopated beat and if you are used to watching Samba performed in the movies or on dance shows on TV, you will notice the unusually missing beat which the dancer uses to her advantage by filling the gap with intricate and exaggerated but fluid movements of the arms, hands, shoulders or body.

Samba today is included in the Latin dances performed in Dancesport competitions. And true to the high-energy character of the dance, it is complemented with costumes that reflect the vibrancy of Samba’s rhythms. The arms, shoulders, legs and torsos of female dancers are typically exposed in Samba costumes that add drama, intensity and exotic appeal to Samba. And with the frenetic pace of the dance, the costume also helps the dancers from getting overheated. Samba costumes are quite elaborate and use vibrant and bold colors with accents and embellishments that are not limited to fringe, rhinestones and feathers. Samba ensembles can be bikini style, bikini and short skirt, bra top with longer skirt or loose samba pants and top. For carnivals and parades, the ensemble can be embellished with an elaborate headdress, boa feathers and back pieces. Other costumes include the use of sheer gloves, accents for the lower legs and calves, neckpieces and high-heeled boots or sandals.

History of Samba

Just like so many of the Latin dances that evolved since the 16^th century, Samba originated from the tribal and folk dances brought by the slaves from Congo and Angola. These slaves were imported by the Portuguese into Brazil and they introduced Embolada, Batuque and Caterete. These dances were not inhibited by a prudish society and since the risqué movements included touching the navels, the Europeans considered them sinful. Actually Embolada, meaning foolish, was a dance about a cow whose horn tips were covered with a ball for safety reasons. On the other hand the popularity of the Batuque caused the passing of a law to forbid its practice. It was a lively circle dance not unlike the Charleston, with the steps in rhythm with percussion and hand clapping. In some of the gatherings by the natives, a solo couple may perform inside the circle. This is still part of the folk dances of Cape Verde.

Samba is not just one dance. It’s a combination of several dances from the African slaves and the music, sways, footwork and body movements characteristic of the Portuguese native dances and the rituals done by the native Indians such as the Lundu. It combines indigenous Portuguese dance and music as well as that of the African Bantu. As the carnival is part of the people in Brazil, particularly in Rio de Janeiro, steps taken from the Copacabana were incorporated into the Samba as it continued to evolve. But it was in Bahia that the dance form continued to develop. As Samba as a dance form becomes more formalized and the movements organized, it did not only become popular with the common folks; it was embraced by Rio’s high society and included in their ballroom dancing repertoire.

Around 1885, the graceful dance from Brazil was still called Zemba Cueca before the name became Mesemba, which means, “to pray.” And early in the 1900s, around 1914, the dance was mixed with Maxixe, another old Brazilian folk dance. Maxixe combines the moves of polka and the musical rhythms of the Habañera. Modern-day Samba still incorporates the chassé and point of Maxixe. By 1923 Samba was already gaining popularity in France and instructions on how to dance the Samba were included in a book written by Paul Boucher in 1928. During the meeting of the New York Society of Teachers of Dancing in 1938, an exhibition of Samba dancing was performed. Samba music was played at the Brazilian Pavilion during the World’s Fair in New York in 1939, attesting to the escalating interest in Samba music and the dance of the same name. “Brasil,” a Samba music that became a classic hit was composed by Ary Barroso. It became so popular that it was turned into a 1944 Hollywood musical, “Brazil” for which Ary Barroso wrote the musical score.

Some of the dance variations have incorporated the moves and rhythms of Bossa Nova. While the word “samba” may be derived from Zambo, which is what an offspring of a Brazilian native woman and an African man is called, the actual source of the name for the Samba dance is unknown.

Carioca (also what the people in Rio de Janeiro call themselves) is a version of the Samba that was resurrected in 1934 in the United Kingdom, partly due to the popularity of the 1933 movie “Flying Down to Rio” that starred Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. By 1941, the popularity of the Carioca version of the Samba spread to the United States owing to the performances of Carmen Miranda, such as in the movie “That Night in Rio.” Carmen Miranda was a Brazilian samba singer who was born in Portugal. She starred in several films in Hollywood and was also a Broadway performer. Her birth name was Maria do Carmo Miranda da Cunha. In the 1950s, with her social position, Princess Margaret of England also had a hand in making Samba popular in the United Kingdom. With the popularity Samba had gained in British society, it only took a while for the dance to gain foothold and in 1956, European dance instructor Pierre Lavelle became instrumental in Samba gaining international recognition as new Latin dance form.

Samba Variations

Samba no Pé

Samba has many variations and in Brazil, the frame of the dancers shows the difference. The most popular one danced during the carnival in Rio de Janeiro is Samba no Pé, a Samba that can be danced by a single person and what is usually danced whenever Samba music is played. The dancers just follow the rhythm of the music and can vary from average to very fast depending on the tempo. In Samba no Pé the women dance on the balls of their feet as they usually wear high heels while the men dance with their feet flat on the floor. The body remains straight while dancing and the knees are bent one at a time. Small foot movements are executed to the 2/4 rhythm with three steps for each measure, just like in a step-ball-change step. Hip tilt is achieved by bending one knee slightly and the weight is shifted from one leg to the other.

Samba de Gafieira

This is samba for the masses, popularly danced in a lower-class dance hall or gafieira. This type of Samba is for a pair dance but differs to the ballroom samba. This variation is typically performed in the Catete, Centro and Botafogo districts of Rio de Janeiro and became well known around the 1940s. As it developed, it incorporated some acrobatic elements and borrowed some from the Argentine Tango, although of the more relaxed type, more like a combination of tango and waltz. It is danced with the partners in arm-length open embrace or in a closer embrace chest-to-chest, lead and follow movements. The basic steps or passo basico is quite similar to the box step or quadradinho in Portuguese. The beginner’s rhythm of quick-quick-slow is done in 4 beats. The whole sequence makes 8-beat basic steps with the lead dancer moving the left foot forward on the third beat and the right foot of the seventh beat.

The lateral movements are done almost in place on the count of one and two and on five and six. The lateral exit or saída ao lado is employed to enter or to exit the more elaborate steps of the Samba de Gafieira.

Samba Pagode

On the other hand, Samba Pagode, also a pair dance, is a simpler version of Samba de Gafieira and has fewer acrobatic elements. However, this version is more intimate than other sambas. Originating from São Paulo, Samba Pagode became popular when the Brazilian music style called Pagode, which came from Salvador in Bahia gained widespread acceptance in Rio de Janeiro around 1978.

Samba Axé

A solo dance and an evolving version of samba is Samba Axé, which started around 1986 in Salvador, Bahia in Brazil during the carnival season. It is danced to the rhythm of the music that replaced the Lambada, called Axé, which was popularized by music groups like E o Tchan. Samba Axé is a fully-choreographed samba dance that draws inspiration from the lyrics of the songs that accompany it. It is likewise energetic just like the other versions of Samba and is a combination of aerobics and Samba no Pé. However, there are no basic steps in this variation since the choreography for the dance goes hand in hand with the music that is released. The Axé music is a fusion of genres from Africa and the Caribbean, such as Reggae, Calypso and Marcha and also influenced by Brazilian and African music including Carixada, Frevo and Forró. Axé means good vibration, soul or spirit and comes from a Nigerian religious greeting used in Candomblé, an African religion practiced in Brazil.

Samba-Rock

A playful version of Samba is called Samba-Rock, a nightclub dance version that originated from São Paulo. It is a combination of different Latin dance forms, including Salsa, Forró, Zouk-Lambada and Samba de Gafieira.

Samba Rhythms

Samba is a very energetic, exuberant and funky dance, accompanied by a percussionist and a singer. Hand clapping can substitute for the percussion instrument. It has a fast tempo of 50 to 52 bars per minute. The movements in Samba are flirtatious, its music infectious and its rhythms are quite lively. While you will see Samba danced in its international form today, it still retains the figures with varied rhythms characteristic of the different dances where Samba originated. The rhythms of the different variations are the distinguishing marks to identify one from the other. The Natural Rolls have a simple 1, 2 and a half beat while the Boto Fogo variation has a 1 and a 2-quarter beat. Hip movements are retained during the half beats between the steps, called the “samba tic” or a pelvic tilt. The dancers display a flat carriage of their torsos and their weights forward on their standing legs, which should be bent.

The dance is also characterized by the unique “samba bounce action,” which is described as a rhythmic and gentle action that is felt through the knees and ankles but must be shown as a carefree and effortless movement. This is a difficult action to master but is an essential move to the whole make up of Samba. The pelvic tilt, the rapid footwork, the sway and pronounced rocking motion of the dancers are essential in the proper execution of the Samba.

Samba is not a dance for beginners who want to learn Latin dancing, as it requires fast footwork even for its basic steps. The footwork requires three-step changes with a slight lifting of the knee and led with alternating feet in a fast rhythm of quick, quick, slow and a slight pause. A Samba dancer keeps the shoulders slightly forward from the waist and maintains eye contact as well as a solid but never stiff connection with the partner. Due to the fast footwork, the dancers take their steps from the inside edge of the balls of their feet to make the small stop-and-go movement of the feet and hip while stepping to the side easier. The heel-and-toe are used when moving forward and backward. Throughout the dance, the dancers’ feet should always remain in contact with the floor. Samba is a combination of quick and slow, lingering moves that produce staccato movements, displaying the dancers’ form, their body outlines and defining movements. The arms of both the male and female Samba dancers must have some tension when they hold each other, although it should appear that the lady is held gently. The male dancer on the other hand must have firm arms and upper body.

Samba music has a 2/4 beat and most of the steps are executed on a two-count that creates a quick snapping of the dancer’s feet together as well as a fast hip tic. Abrupt and smooth motions are combined in the Samba that makes it breathtaking to watch. The cabaca, reco-reco, tamborim and chocalho are some of the original instruments that accompany Samba dancers and singers.

Samba Moves

Bouncy and light should be the feel when dancing the Samba. It may be a bit difficult to master at the beginning, since you have to still have to learn to execute those small, frenetic steps and making the samba tic. There will be some flexing and bending and linear and circular movements. These moves are what create the bouncy and light look of Samba. For the couple dancing the Samba, most of the action is done by the body. It includes contractions wherein the dancer should suck in the stomach in order to tilt the pelvis back and compress it so that the pelvis can tilt forward. The contractions are also used to move the foot forward or back while the compressions are employed to recover the foot to the starting position. These movements are also combined with the straightening and bending of the knees as the dancers transfer their weights from the balls of their feet to the flats of their feet to give them the particular Samba bounce. It is not just a matter of shifting the weight. Timing is very important and the weight change is usually delayed until the last possible moment and then moving the foot swiftly into position to achieve the Samba Bounce. You can achieve this by applying some pressure on the floor with both feet except when a foot has to be quickly moved into the next position. The standing foot is used to push the body and the full weight should not rest only on one foot particularly during an “a” or ¼ beat step. Toeing off helps in keeping the balance and show off a more captivating look. The Samba Bounce is used when the timing is on “slow” “slow” (SS) and on a “slow” and “slow” (SaS) combination but not when the count is slow-quick-quick or the reverse, which is quick-quick-slow.

Samba is a one of the great Latin American dances that are truly entrancing and a joy to watch, seemingly a fast yet fluid dance when performed by experts. The flirtatiousness is seen in the facial expressions of the dancers, in the way their shoulders move to and fro and the way their arms, hands and fingers tease the partner and the beautiful small hip sashays the female partner executes.

Photocredit: Wikimedia Commons

Beyond Valentine's Day – South Korea Celebrates Special Days Every 14th of the Month

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:24:00 +0000

Valentine's Day is around the corner. In many parts of the world, especially in the United States and England (where the holiday of hearts originated), February 14 is the time for men, women and children to express their love and affection to people close to them. The color of the day is predominantly red with splashes of white and pink. Chocolates, candies, little cakes, adorable teddy bears, mushy and sometimes kitschy greeting cards, and flowers of all kinds, not just roses, are bought, sold and delivered on the week of the 14th of February. The most popular images are those of hearts and cupids.

Because of intense commercialism, Valentine's Day practices common to the US and England have invaded the shores of other countries. From Europe to Africa, South America, the Middle East and Asia, Valentine's Day is celebrated either openly or under wraps. Some countries have their own Valentine's Day traditions. Usually, it is the florist or the confectionary makers (and other commercial establishments like department stores) that push Valentine's Day into the consciousness of the people for the sake of boosting their sales.

Women take the lead in Japan and Korea during V-Day

For instance, in Japan Valentine's Day was first introduced in 1936 by a confectionary and cake company, Morozoff Ltd. The foreigners living in the country were its market at that time. Other companies followed suit with their own gimmicks and promotions. Not all Western practices were absorbed by the Japanese, though. Exchange of Valentine cards or going out on dates was not a popular practice. What was unique to Japan was the practice of ladies in the office giving their male co-workers chocolates on V-day. In return, the men would give chocolates to the women a month later, specifically on March 14. The Japanese call this day, White Day.

South Koreans have adopted the practices of their Japanese neighbors when it comes to celebrating the day of love. Females are the expected gift givers during February 14. Then on White Day, it is the turn of the males to reciprocate.

But it seems that the South Koreans have (unintentionally perhaps) one-upped the Japanese by having a special holiday on the 14th day of each month for couples in romantic relationships. The only exception is the special holiday celebrated every 14th of April (more on this later). These South Korean special holidays (not to be confused with public holidays, though) may seem corny for many but they are fun nonetheless.

Diary Day – January 14

The first month of the year brings about a certain "newness" to any romantic relationship. January 14 is designated as Diary Day in South Korea. Diaries or 12-month planners are exchanged between couples (and close friends). These are used to take note of important dates such as birthdays, anniversaries, special events and other plans. Couples are encouraged to recount times spent with each other. It's a good way to keep track of things in the relationship lest one partner wants to be the accepting end of the ire of the other.

Valentine's Day – February 14

Western Valentine's Day practices are all too common in South Korea. There are decorations of hearts, roses and cupids in red, pink and white hues. Chocolate and candy sales are up. The only difference is that women are expected to give men gifts instead of the other way around. There is a sense of obligation to this practice. Some report that women give less expensive chocolates to men whom they are mere acquaintances with or whom they are not exactly fond of. But for men they really like, they choose the more expensive chocolates. Apparently, on this day, the chocolates do the talking. This practice was more common in the workplace when it started but has since gone beyond office buildings.

White Day – March 14

South Koreans adopted this Japanese special holiday, which is an answer to Valentine's Day. This gave South Korean men the chance to respond to their female counterparts. The common gifts given by men on this day are supposed to be predominantly white in color. Roses and other flowers are expected to be white and so are the stuffed animals or plush toys. White chocolate roses, marshmallows and other white confections are some of the gifts given out by men to certain women. Jewelry and dolls are also popular gifts during White Day. Of course gift giving during this day is, like on Valentine's Day, out of love, friendship, obligation or mere courtesy.

Black Day- April 14

The 14th of April is jajangmyeon-eating day for those who did not receive anything during Valentine's Day or White Day. This special holiday is known as Black Day in South Korea. Loveless men and women are given this day to drown their sorrows in "jajangmyeon," which is black colored noodles mixed with black bean paste. Single people who wish to celebrate (or commiserate) Black Day drink black coffee and consume other black colored foods. Dressing in black from head to toe is a common practice.

Rose Day/Yellow Day – May 14

The 14th of May is dubbed Rose Day and also Yellow Day. Those in a romantic relationship exchange rose bouquets to signify their love for each other. Some couples choose to wear clothes in shades of yellow during this day. So that single people are not left out, they have their own tradition on this day. And that is to eat curry.

Kiss Day – June 14

The language of the lips is celebrated during June 14. It's Kiss Day in South Korea. Locking lips is the order of the day for all couples. A number of venues and Seoul-based businesses try their best to capitalize on Kiss Day by organizing events like kissing contests and coming out with promotions to commemorate the day.

Silver Day – July 14

Jewelry stores profit from this day as couples are expected to exchange silver rings and other types of silver jewelry or accessories on Silver Day. The silver rings may sometimes serve as a couple's promise to marry each other at a future date. Some couples choose July 14 as the perfect day to introduce their partners to their parents or tell their friends about their on-going romantic relationship.

Green Day – August 14

South Korean couples take time to visit Mother Nature on Green Day. They go hiking, take a leisurely walk in a park or engage in other activities close to Mother Nature's heart. Couples often dress in green on August 14. For those who do not have a significant other, August 14 is also of some importance to them. This is the day when partner-less single men and women drown their sorrows at being loveless by drinking "soju," a drink that comes in a green bottle. The taste of "soju" is similar to vodka but slightly sweeter.

Photo Day and Music Day – September 14

An entire day is dedicated for couple to take pictures of each other and to have pictures taken of them together. After spending the day clicking away, September 14 ends with enjoying a night of singing or listening to music at one of the many karaoke rooms ("noraebang") around town. To confirm their romantic bond, some couples exchange music CDs on this day.

Wine Day – October 14

It's not exactly a day for couples to get inebriated. Rather, it is a day to enjoy a good glass or two of wine with one's significant other. The air is cold in October making wine a great companion to a good meal during a couple's romantic date. Single people also indulge in wine for their own personal reasons. In the end, it is really the wine sellers that are happiest on October 14 because of the volume of wine they are able to sell.

Movie Day – November 14

Couples are encouraged to go out and see a movie together on this day. But since there are no rules to this celebration, catching a flick at home is probably acceptable, too.

Hug Day – December 14

Hugs are often more powerful than words and transcend language barriers. In South Korea, Hug Day encourages couples to lock themselves in a tight, meaningful embrace. It's a great way to keep each other warm and toasty during this cold winter's day. But, it is not a special confined to lovers only. Hugs can also be exchanged between family and friends. Some people go around to give hugs to complete strangers (at no cost).

If you look at the list of special holidays above, you may find yourself scratching your head and asking yourself "WHY?!" Some of these special holidays seem silly and do not make sense at all. However, South Koreans are not the only people that have celebrations and holidays that do not make sense to other races and cultures. Some holidays were born thousands of years ago and were based on time-honored traditions. Others, especially recent ones, may have been born out of self-serving reasons (mainly for increased profit for certain companies). Other holidays just sounded like good ideas at the time they were conceptualized.

Whatever the reasons are for celebrating a particular holiday (regular, religious, special, etc.), respect it, honor it or simply enjoy what it is supposed to commemorate or stand for. When you are in South Korea or any other country for that matter, remember that it is more fun to join in their unique brand of fun than spending the time making sense of what is going on. Maybe as you learn more about the culture, its people and their language, you will be able to get what all the hoopla is all about.

The professionals working for Day Translations or World Interpreting, Inc. have their own set of serious and quirky holidays to celebrate. But when work calls, expect them to be 100% in work mode. Holiday or not, their translation and interpretation services are available 24/7 all days of the year.

Photocredit: by bitchcakesny

Don't Discount the Pen & Paper (not just yet)

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:06:00 +0000

We are now in the digital age. Technology has grown by leaps and bounds that electronic gadgets are now indispensible for many. Lives revolve around what information is written or received via gadgets that are supposed to make daily life easier. Productivity is on the rise; thanks to the wonders of information technology. And when it comes to keeping track of information, the tech gurus have provided a number of different options that mimic what was once the number one way to record information – the pen and paper.

Take for instance mobile phones; whether they are smartphones or not, mobile phones have the capability to store information. If you own a mobile phone and want to record something like a friend's phone number, a colleague's address, the weekend movie schedule, the price of soy milk at the local grocery, the license plate number of the vehicle that sideswiped you, an idea for your child's birthday party, the title of a song you just heard, quotable quotes, or a short poem you just wrote, you can take note of all these in your mobile phone. Use the calendar of your mobile phone for important dates and the notepad for ideas and other information. If you enter the information via the phone's texting facility, you can simply save the text in the draft folder for future reference.

Apart from mobile phones, tech companies have sophisticated thingamajigs like iPods, iPads and other tablet computers that make keeping and tracking information easier. In the tech world, a notebook actually refers to a smaller, less powerful laptop computer. Laptops are also getting smaller and can easily be carried around most places. And yes, who can forget the palmtops? It seems that today's gadgets have given people many different options to the pen and paper. But can these two peas in a pod really be replaced?

Why having a pen and paper with you is still practical

It seems that many have done away with bringing pen and paper with them on a daily basis. Many rely more on their electronic gadgets and can't seem to function as well without them. They seem to have forgotten that it is still practical to have these two writing tools handy.

When attending a meeting, a lecture or some sort of event where you need to take down notes quickly, it's actually faster to write with a pen and paper rather than do some finger typing. In cases where you are allowed to electronically record a lecture or seminar, by all means use a gadget with recording capabilities. Otherwise, take down notes using a pen and paper because aside from words, you can use the pen to draw diagrams, pictures or other graphics related to the subject being discussed.

In universities and colleges, laptops, notebooks, tablets, smartphones and other devices can be distracting to lecturers and other attendees. Students are sometimes caught watching videos on their devices, checking emails and social networking sites, or surfing instead of taking notes. In office situations, office workers attending meetings do the same thing. Gadgets tend to distract the attention of their owners because of what these gadgets can do. True, the pen and paper can be a tool for doodling and all, but it offers less temptation because you cannot open a YouTube video on your pad paper or paper notebook.

The pen will never run out of battery. It may run out of ink but if you use your pen often, you will know when it needs replacing. Just to be sure, you can always bring an extra pen with you. With electronic gadgets, to make sure that you don't run out of power, you will need to tote around the charger or an extra battery. A pen and paper can easily fit into a small bag and is not cumbersome to lug around.

If you lose your electronic gadget or drop it on the floor, it can set you back hundreds of dollars to replace it or have it repaired. A pen and paper notebook is cheaper unless of course you prefer to use a Montblanc pen together with a Moleskin notebook.

When you need to leave a note for a friend outside his door or on the windshield of his car, you will need a pen and paper. If you like someone and would like to slip him your number, you will need a pen and paper.

The pen and paper will neither crash nor slow you down. It doesn't matter if you have, excuse the term, fat fingers or not. The pen and paper will respond to your strokes with the same precision each time. It will not suddenly open your browser or delete your file. It will just write what your mind tells your fingers to write.

Sure, there are dozens of applications that try to mimic handwriting and note taking. These applications have so many bells and whistles. No doubt, they are cool to use. But at the end of the day, all you need them for is to write something down. You can do that with a pen and paper.

Of course some will argue that whatever is written on the paper still needs to be recorded in your gadget's contact list, digital calendar or in a software for record keeping or printing. Therefore, why bother with writing information down on paper? Simple, because there will be situations where writing on paper is quicker than typing on a keyboard or on the screen.

What kind of pen and paper should you bring?

The choice it up to you. There are too many options in the market today for writing implements and paper. Quality, price and application should be your basis for selection.

For pens, there are ballpoint pens, fountain pens, disposable pens, multi-colored pens, roller balls, gel pens, fiber tip pens, and so on and so forth. Others prefer to use pencils. Mechanical pens are a popular choice when it comes to lead based writing implements.

When it comes to paper, there are so many types to choose from. Notebooks and notepads come in different shapes, colors and sizes. The paper inside the notebook can be a plain sheet, with pre-printed text or graphics, or lined to help you write in a straight line. You can choose from different paperweight and quality. Paper can be glossy, matte, uncoated, recycled, handmade and more. Binding can be hand-sewn, padded, spiral-bound, to name a few. Notebooks have either hard covers or soft covers, with some notebooks using thick plastic, thick cardboard, cloth or leather for the covers. Your choice of notebook should be according to how and where you plan to use it and your own personal style.

Writing with a pen and paper gives you a different feel – one that no cool gadget in the world can ever replace. Sure, gadgets today can do so many things that either entertain or increase productivity. Still, there is something special about being able to write with a real pen on a clean sheet of paper. It makes you feel connected to the past.

Literary greats did not have the benefit of electronic gadgets to record their poetry and prose. Philosophers had no laptops to write down what they were thinking. Pioneering scientists never used apps to record their discoveries in medicine, astronomy, biology, geology, etc. Inventors, builders and engineers did not have tablets when they made their plans. Castles and monuments like the Eiffel Tower, the Hoover Dam or even the Sphinx were not erected using electronic gadgets. But surely they must have used some form of writing instrument and paper to take note of important ideas, plans and discoveries. So, have a pen and paper close by all the time. You'll never know when you'll need them.

Just like a pen and paper, Day Translations, Inc. and World Interpreting, Inc. are reliable all the way through. They provide professional translation and interpretation services that will never go out of style. If you are in need of their services, drop them a line. They will be happy to provide you with the best translation and interpretation requirements you need.

Disclaimer: This blog is not saying that the pen and paper are far better than today's digital tools and that these electronic tools should be done away with. There is nothing wrong with relying on technology for as long as it is used appropriately and responsibly. This blog is simply pointing out that it is still practical to have pen and paper on hand in case your gadget conks out. When there's no electricity to charge your gadget or a tsunami or any other devastating act of nature hits your location rendering your gadget unusable, a pen and paper is your best bet. Wet paper just needs to dry well for it to be usable again. But neither the sun nor the wind can help make your drenched or destroyed tablet, smartphone or laptop work again.

Photocredit: by Emiliantha

Happy 200th Birthday Charles Dickens!

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:40:00 +0000

February 7, 2012 marks the 200th anniversary of a beloved Victorian era writer from England, Charles Dickens. His name is known to many worldwide, not only to literary buffs but also to countless students across the globe who were made to do book reports on some of Dickens' works and to visual arts enthusiasts! Many of Dickens' novels and novellas have been turned into stage plays, movies and television shows. Through the valiant works of professional translators, Dickens can now be read in many languages.

Dickens' wrote about what he knew, the Victorian era. He created stories with vivid characters that his readers could relate to whether with sympathy, empathy, apathy or extreme dislike. Anyone who reads his works from the first word to the last will never forget the images that his words conjured. Many were too real for comfort while others were definitely unforgettable.

A literary genius is born

Charles John Huffam Dickens was born on February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth, England. His parents were John Dickens and Elizabeth Barrow. Charles was the second of eight children and at a very young age he experienced a life that he would later draw upon during his years as a writer. His father was imprisoned due to debt causing a 9-year old Charles to stop attending school. He had to spend time working at a blacking factory where he experienced appalling conditions which no child should ever experience. Charles felt much despair and loneliness. But fate smiled upon the Dickens family and once again, Charles was back in school. He never forgot his experiences at the blacking factory. These experiences eventually made their way into two of his works: Great Expectations and David Copperfield.

Dickens eventually became a journalist. By 1833, he worked at The Morning Chronicle as a parliamentary journalist. In 1834, 'Boz' was born. 'Boz' was the pseudonym he hid behind when his series of short pieces (known as Sketches by Boz Illustrative of Every-day Life and Every-day People) were published in The Monthly Magazine. By 1836, he was a married man having wed Catherine Hogarth in April. Pickwick Papers came out the same month.

Dickens wrote weekly periodicals, novels, novellas, plays, travel books, and other works. He also administered to a number of charitable institutions. A known theater enthusiast, Dickens once performed before Her Majesty, Queen Victoria. Travelling was also part of his life. Dickens travelled to such countries as Italy and Switzerland. He also had a chance to visit the United States twice in his lifetime.

Dickens was blessed with 10 children. He died on June 9, 1870 at his home in Rochester, England after suffering a stroke the day before. His remains lie in what is called the Poets' Corner in London's Westminster Abbey. Charles Dickens was 58 years old.

Dickens' literary offspring

Florid (flowery) and poetic are two adjectives used to describe Dickens' literary style. He is known to put comic touches to his works. Dickens was able to describe in realistic detail the London of his time and the London that he loved. In fact, some say that the city of London was the major character in most of his works. Dickens was adept at mixing fantasy and realism thus drawing in a wide range of readers from across cultures and countries.

Dickens blessed the world with many literary works to choose from both of the fiction and non-fiction sort. A number of his works seem to be autobiographical while others were definitely social commentaries of existing conditions during his lifetime. Dickens was known to criticize poverty, slavery and the social structure of Victorian England. His first-ever published work was a sketch in 1833 called A Dinner at Poplar Walk, which is also referred to as Mr. Minns and his Cousin. Soon after, more works sprung from the imagination and pen of Dickens. Among them were novels such as:

Pickwick Papers (1836-1837)

Oliver Twist (1837-1839)

Nicholas Nickelby (1838-1839)

The Old Curiosity Shop (1840-1841)

David Copperfield (1849-1850)

Bleak House (1851-1853)

Little Dorrit (1855-1857)

A Tale of Two Cities (1859)

Great Expectations (1860-1861)

One novel that went unfinished was The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

Some of Dickens' short stories included:

A Message From the Sea

George Silverman's Explanation

Holiday Romance

Hunted Down

Mrs. Lirriper's Lodgings

Somebody's Luggage

Some Short Christmas Stories

The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain

The Perils of Certain English Prisoners

The Wreck of the Golden Mary

Other works of Dickens' (some were written in collaboration with other writers) were:

A Christmas Carol (1843)

A House to Let

Master Humphrey's Clock (1840-1841)

Mudfrog and Other Sketches

Sketches of Boz

Pictures from Italy

The Chimes

The Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices

Three Ghost Stories: The Haunted House, The Signal Man and The Trial for Murder

To be Read at Dusk

Global Dickens

Dickens was born and raised in London, calling English his mother tongue. He spoke using this language and conjured up all his various masterpieces in English. But this did not stop Dickens from entering the consciousness of people who spoke languages far different from his. Because he was brilliant at writing about characters, locations and stories, these elements in his works are almost tangible that his global readers could easily relate to them in some way or another.

Thus, some of Dickens' works have been translated into different languages such as French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and even in Urdu, just to name a few. Some books are bilingual or subtitled. You can also find translated Dickens' works in audio form online.

Various cultures are able to enjoy the fantasy, romance, melodrama, humor, action, mystery and sentimental themes of Dickens' literary pieces because of the great work that translators across the globe done. It is through the hard work and perseverance of translators that Dickens continues to be relevant to many today across continents and across cultures. It also helps that the work of Dickens continues to influence new writers today the same way he influenced Russian writers in the past like Dostoevsky. Edmund Wilson and George Orwell pertained to Dickens as his time's greatest writer.

Today's British teens have their own language. In order to bring Dickens closer to the younger generation, writer Martin Baum came up with a unique translation of A Tale of Two Cities. He translated the novel into youth slang or yoof-speak. Baum initially translated several Shakespeare works into yoof-speak because he wanted to make Shakespeare fun and accessible for the English youth. In A Tale of Two Cities, the opening lines "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" has now become "It was da best of times, and not being funny or nuffing, but it was da worst of times, to be honest." He even renamed the title "Da Tale of Two Turfs." Baum shortened and translated 16 of Dickens' works into one book he aptly titles: "Oi, Mate Gimme Some More!" Whether Dickens would approve of these versions or not is the million-dollar question.

Visual Dickens

A number of Charles Dickens' literary masterpieces have landed on the big and small screen. Major theater companies have also had great successes in putting up their own stage versions of various beloved Dickens' classics. Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickelby, A Tale of Two Cities, David Copperfield, Great Expectations are just some of Dickens' works that were brought to life on stage, film or TV. Some of the visual adaptations of Dickens stayed true to his works. Others were inspired by his stories and spun new tales based on his genius.

It may be safe to say that it is Dickens' A Christmas Carol that is the most adapted of all his writings or at least the most well known. A Christmas Carol is a beloved Christmas story about Ebenezer Scrooge and how Scrooge's outlook in life was changed after his partner Jacob Marley and three convincing supernatural beings, the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, visited him. This Dickens novella is well known by all ages because it has been adapted in so many different ways and the main character, Scrooge, has been played by countless high-profile actors from many countries and across generations.

One of the most popular versions of A Christmas Carol is Jim Henson's The Muppet Christmas Carol. This version was and is still is loved by both children and adults alike. Michael Caine plays Scrooge opposite Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit. Disney also created their own version of A Christmas Carol with Donald Duck playing Scrooge and Mickey Mouse playing Bob Cratchit. A Christmas Carol has been retold many times and many ways over and till now, the story has not gotten old. This speaks to the genius of Dickens and his ability to whip up enduring stories and characters that stand the test of time.

Dickens' enters the Internet age

Dickens could have never imagined what is going on today. Literature in all its forms is now available for free and for a fee on the World Wide Web. A number of Dickens' works are on the Internet. A Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol, Bleak House, David Copperfield, Great Expectations and the Pickwick Papers are just a FEW of his works available as e-books, audio books and podcasts. Through the Internet, Dickens' is easily available to technologically savvy book lovers and to students who simply need to find a more creative way to get through a long book.

Students of Dickens are given newfound references in different forms – written, spoken, and visual. Furthermore, new technologies are allowing people from across the globe to connect with each other and share their thoughts, feelings and simple musings about Dickens, his works, his characters and his life.

Last year, experts on the works of Dickens explained how new technologies are being used to introduce and advance the works of Dickens to audiences worldwide. Internet sites led by Google books and YouTube are providing access not only to many of Dickens' well-known works but also to his works that only a few Dickens' lovers appreciate. Tablets and e-readers have made it possible to accumulate a collection of Dickens' works without having to deal with loads of books. You can take with you Dickens wherever you go. With a few taps on the screen of a tablet or e-reader, you can already jump to chapter 40 of Great Expectations. Movies, TV shows and stage plays based on Dickens' works can also be viewed on computer screen. You can watch Patrick Stewart playing Ebenezer Scrooge or an animated version of Oliver Twist. How cool and convenient is that?

Dickens' works can be downloaded, uploaded, read, heard and watched online and offline at home, in school, at work, in the mall or in a cozy coffee shop. You can read Dickens while in a car, plane, train or even a canoe. Whether you are up in the mountains, by the beach, in the boondocks or at the International Space Station, you can have your fill of Dickens' literary genius. Dickens is available 24/7! His works have been translated into many different languages allowing people from different cultural backgrounds to enjoy and learn from his works. Although some lines may get lost in translation, his message transcends language barriers. Dickens' stories are universal and timeless.

Prepare yourself for the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens on February 7 by enjoying at least one or two of his works. If you have time, get to know more about the man behind Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities. Don't let the next weeks pass without at least getting a glimpse of this prolific literary genius known to many as Charles Dickens.

Many of Dickens' works have been translated to meet a wider global audience. If you yourself need translation or even interpretation services, seek the help of professionals. Contact Day Translations, Inc. or World Interpreting, Inc. They are at your service any time of the day.

Photocredit: Charles Dickens. Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)

Neologisms or New Words in the Oxford English Dictionary

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:50:00 +0000

Each year, more and more words are added to English lexicons. New meanings are given to existing words by media, politicians, celebrities, artists, educators, writers, techies and just by about anyone creative enough to a neologism. This term simply means a new word or a new phrase that is being commonly used but not yet included in mainstream language.

Changes to the English language do not go unnoticed by linguists and lexicographers. While some of the other languages in the world are being fiercely protected in their mother countries, English seems to enjoy the influx of new terms into its dictionaries. "OMG," "FYI," "Britcom," "emailed," "goldendoodle," and "brain candy" are just some of the surprising entries to the Oxford English Dictionary.

The vanguard of words both old and new

The Oxford English Dictionary or OED was born over 150 years ago. It is not just any English dictionary that presents the current-day definition of terms; more importantly, it is also a historical dictionary. This dictionary presents the history behind individual words and phrases culled from literary classics, periodicals, cookery books, film scripts and more. Because it takes a historical approach to words, you can see how certain words, and the language itself, has changed over the years.

Oxford University Press, which publishes the OED, has a language research program that exists partly in order to gather new words, new meanings or changes to the language. They decide what new words are added to their different dictionaries. The OED in particular is updated 4 times a year. The first update comes out in March and the succeeding updates are in June, September and December of the same year.

Where does the Oxford University Press find the new words? Some are found in documents that come out in the World Wide Web. Other new words are sourced from song lyrics, fictional works, scientific journals and other writings. The Oxford University Press relies on a network of readers from all over the world who serve as their eyes and ears looking out for occurrences of new words, new meanings or changes to the language.

Evidence of usage of the new words is necessary whether in print or in online sources. It is not enough to accept new words heard in conversation, in movies or television shows. Though material coming from scripts and Internet message boards are analyzed.

When multiple writers use a new word it can become a candidate for addition to the OED. The new words that are included in the updates are those that are deemed most significant and those that may be in use for a long time.

Lexicographers are facing a challenge these days since many new words achieve popularity and acceptance in a short time period. There was a time when new words, in order to be considered for inclusion, had to be in use for 2 or 3 years. This is not the case now. In today's tech age, new terms are created in a blink of an eye. Assessing whether a new word is evanescent or eternal is a job lexicographers take seriously.

2011's new words, et al

March 2011

In the March 2011 update, which features more than 1,900 new entries and changes, you can find "couch surfer" and "ego surfer." The later means a person who boosts his ego by searching for his own name on Google and other search engines. Today's ego surfer goes beyond "Googling" himself. He boosts his ego by upping his Twitter friends and Facebook followers. The former is a person who has made it a habit to sleep in other people's homes instead of getting his own permanent place.

Some purists were probably up in arms when they found out that two popular initialisms landed on the March 2011 OED update: "LOL (laugh out loud)" and "OMG (Oh my God/gosh/goodness)." Both initialisms make certain people cringe but are widely accepted by the youth and the youth-at-heart.

After sitting in the sidelines for many years, "WAG" is now part of OED. It was first used in 2002 to refer to "wives and girlfriends" of footballers in England. The acronym never caught one until the high-profile wives and girlfriends of sports figures entered the limelight and the media started to take notice of them.

From the popularity of the 'I ♥ NY' campaign came the use of the word "heart" as a verb. "I ♥ (heart) you" means "I love you." The word "heart" as a verb is equivalent to "to love."

One phrase that women (and some men) would rather not see associated with their names is "muffin top." This refers to the (often unsightly) roll of fat that appears on top of trousers that feature a low waist.

June 2011

1,800 entries made it to the June 2011 update to OED. "Brain candy" is a non-intellectually stimulating form of popular entertainment. It may stimulate the mind in a most pleasant way but it does nothing to intellectually stimulate the brain. It can be likened to "eye candy" (something visually stimulating) and "ear candy" (a sound pleasant to the ears) both of which do nothing to get you closer to getting a Mensa card.

Instead of saying "urban area (city)" you can now use the word "urb." C3PO is a "bot," short for "robot." "Enviro" is a shortened form for the noun "environment" or the adjective "environmental."

Terms that originated from the Spanish language like "lucha libre," "luchador" and "salsa verde" made it to the June 2011 update.

September 2011

About 1,500 new words and meanings were included in the third update for 2011. The update welcomes terms associated with culinary delights that use chocolate as an ingredient. In the following terms, the word "black" is used to mean chocolate as a main component of the culinary creation: "black bottom," "black and white" and "blackout cake."

Japanese popular culture continues to invade the imaginations of many across the Pacific via Japanese comic books or "manga" and animation or "anime." The September 2011 update features 2 gender-specific terms for Japanese manga and anime comics: "shonen" (for your boys) and "shojo" (for young girls).

Other interesting words are "Britcom" (British comedy), "Goldendoodle" (a mix of Golden Retriever and Poodle), "ambo" (ambulance) and "emailed" (sent via electronic mail). If you want to be hip, exaggerate the way you pronounce the word "cool" by saying is as "kewl" and spelling it that way, too.

December 2011

The December 2011 update has pushed OED into reaching a milestone. Since March 2000, when OED first graced the web with updated material, OED has included 100,000 new as well as revised entries to its dictionary. Their current running total is 102,133 entries.

"Stich 'n bitch" is an entry that means a gathering of individuals who chat or gossip while knitting or crocheting. Another entry is "va-jay-jay," a term uttered frequently by media mogul Oprah Winfrey. It means "vagina." "Abott's bobby" has nothing to do with the mammary glands. It actually refers to an endangered species of seabirds. If you want to refer to someone as your best friend, you can say he's your "boon coon" instead.

Note on OED and ODO

Oxford University Press takes charge of both OED and ODO or Oxford Dictionary Online. While the OED offers definitions as well as the historical background of words and phrases, the ODO presents words and phrases as they are used today. ODO is more on practical usage. It gets its words from a 2.3 billion 21st-century English word databank called the Oxford English Corpus. If you need assistance in using English for today's audience, ODO is your go-to dictionary.

Rapidly expanding language

New words, new meanings and changes to the English language are inevitable especially now that humans are in the digital age. Because it is so easy to communicate and share ideas, neologisms seem to pop up faster than you can say the word neologism. Some new terms added to OED have actually made their appearance in documents, letters and other forms of text many years ago. But is it only now that these new terms are being used to their full potential. It seems that no one can stop the continued growth of the English language. It will continue to evolve.

Purists have criticized the makers of OED for adding "BFF (best friends forever)" and a host of other terms they find questionable. There may be merit in their criticisms. But if you don't include these new terms into an existing dictionary, where do you put them then and how do you stop people from using them?

Some say that language is not alive and it is not supposed to evolve. Unfortunately, it seems that language has a life of its own. It is moving towards the direction dictated by society and, lately, of technology. The question now is do you use these new terms or ignore them completely?

In this age of endless "tweeting," "Googling," "emailing," and reality television, it is best to keep yourself abreast with neologisms that you can use in your daily communication with people close to you and with the rest of the world.

You can be sure that Day Translations, Inc. and World Interpreting, Inc. take into consideration new words, meanings and changes to whichever language you use. They keep abreast with developments in language because they are dedicated to provide only the best professional translation and interpretation services. Inquire about their services any time of the day from wherever you are on the globe.

Photocredit: by etnobofin

Black History Month and African American Writers

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:25:00 +0000

February is Black History Month, a time to focus the limelight on Americans of African descent. It started out as Negro History Week in 1926 with the aim of educating Americans on African American history. It is also known as African-American History Month in the US. It is also celebrated in Canada in February. In the United Kingdom, Black History Month is observed in October.

In the US and Canada, different events and activities are staged throughout the whole month of February in observance of Black History Month. In schools, African American history is given much emphasis in all levels from elementary to university level. Media, print, radio, television and the Internet have their own programs centering on African American history and other related subjects. Focus is placed on black Americans who have made their mark in government, education, media, literature, medicine, business, sports, and other important fields. Their contributions serve as inspirations to fellow African Americans and non-African Americans.

African Americans seem to have come full circle – from slavery to presidency. Hawaii-born Barack Hussein Obama, whose father hails from Kenya, is the United States' 44th president. But before President Obama's ascendancy to the White House, there were many other African Americans who broke the glass ceiling in different fields. And these pioneering men and women should be remembered for their contributions to black history.

From Week to Month

Carter G. Woodson was the Harvard-educated historian who founded the organization called Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). One of Woodson's goals was to educate the people of America about the history of African Americans. In 1925, he announced an event that would help realize this goal: the Negro History Week. The very first celebration of the event happened sometime in February 1926, on a week that had both Abraham Lincoln's and Frederick Douglass' birthdays, which were on February 12 and February 14, respectively. Both men were stalwarts against slavery. An interesting trivia to mention is that since Douglass' actual date of birth was unknown to him; he chose his own birthdate.

Woodson's aim was to highlight not only the history and cultural background of African Americans, but also their great achievements in different fields. It was important for Woodson that African American history become part and parcel of the whole history of America. John Hope Franklin, another historian, said that Woodson's hope was for Negro History Week to eventually "outlive its usefulness." He hoped that one day, the celebration could be eliminated because black history would already be ensconced into American history.

The initial response to Woodson's event was overwhelming. A number of black history clubs were born; there was a clamor for teaching materials for use in educational institutions; and, endorsements came from progressive whites and not just from white philanthropists and scholars. Negro History Week continued to establish itself as an important celebration even after the death of Woodson. When the US celebrated its bicentennial in 1976, the celebration was extended to a month. The 1st African American History Month was celebrated 50 years after the 1st celebration of Negro History Week.

Criticisms against Black History Month

There has been an ongoing debate over the observance of Black History Month. Some feel that setting aside a whole month gives people an excuse not to think about black history for the rest of the year. It also makes it seem that African American history is separate from the whole history of the United States. Others question the selection of the month of February for Black History Month since it has the least number of days compared to other months.

There are critics who even argue that Black History Month actually promotes racism. In an interview with Mike Wallace for 60 Minutes back in 2005, legendary multi-awarded African American actor Morgan Freeman questioned why his history has been relegated to just a month. He finds the whole thing ridiculous because, as he said, "Black history is American history." There are other criticisms about the celebration. Yet, Black History Month continues to be celebrated each year.

Writing, a means of expression for the oppressed

Black History Month puts the spotlight on African American achievers in various fields. Prominent black politicians, celebrities, scientists, business leaders and journalists are hailed and honored together with African American writers who have made writing their means of expressing their culture, their thoughts, their feelings and their ideals. They use written language in order to connect with their fellow African Americans and with the world as a whole.

The works of notable African American writers range from poems to essays to novels to plays and other forms of literature. Black writers wrote about slavery, political and social oppression, poverty, the civil rights movement, injustice and racism. But these were not the only subjects of their works. African American writers also wrote about their hopes and dreams, about love, of freedom, their beliefs and values, and what was good in their lives.

The language they used ranged from Standard English to a mixture of Standard English and Ebonics (ebony/phonics). Ebonics, or African American Vernacular English (AVVE) as it is sometimes referred to, is often described as a dialect very similar to the Southern American English. Other African American writers wrote in creole and other dialects.

Here are some notable early African Americans writers:

· Phillis Wheatley. A slave from Africa, Wheatley was bought by a Boston Merchant back in the late 1700s. She came to America not knowing how to speak English. Her owners took time to teach Wheatley her new adopted language and by 1773, Wheatley published "Poems on Various Subjects."

· Frederick Douglass. He wrote the "Narrative of Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave," which came out in 1845. Ten years after, his next work, "My Bondage and My Freedom," was published. His "Life and Times of Frederick Douglass" was published in 1881. Douglass was not just a writer; he was an abolitionist and fought for the rights of African American men and women.

· W.E.B. Du Bois. One of the founders of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was the author of the 1903 collection of essays entitled "The Souls of Black Folk."

· Booker T. Washington. An educator, he wrote the following works: his 1901 autobiography "Up From Slavery," "The Future of the American Negro," and "My Larger Education."

· Jean Toomer, Countee Cullen, Zora Neale Hurston and Dorothy West. They were well-known writers in the 20s to the 30s.

· Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison and James Baldwin. They were well-known writers who published works during the 40s, 50s and 60s.

· Lorraine Hansberry. A playwright and author, she wrote the notable play, "A Raisin in the Sun" for which she garnered a New York Drama Critics' Circle Award in 1959.

· Alex Haley. He wrote the critically acclaimed novel "Roots: The Saga of an American Family." This was published in no less than 37 languages and became a much watched television series. The book claimed for Haley a Special Award from the Pulitzer Board in 1977.

· Maya Angelou. A writer, playwright, director, producer, actress, dancer, professor, activist, public speaker and more, she has won countless awards for her many works and received more than 30 honorary degrees from various institutions and organizations. The first of her autobiographies, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" published in 1969, was nominated for a National Book Award. While "Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Die" a collection of poetry, garnered a Pulitzer Prize nomination in 1971.

· Alice Walker. In 1983 she was awarded a Pulitzer Prize as well as a National Book Award for her fictional work, "The Color Purple." The novel later on became a film directed by Steven Spielberg and then a musical produced by no less than notable African Americans Quincy Jones and Oprah Winfrey (who starred in the film version opposite Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover).

· Toni Morrison. She is recognized for her works such as "The Bluest Eyes," "Sula," "Song of Solomon," and "Beloved." She started receiving awards in the late 70s. In 1977, "Song of Solomon" gave her a National Book Critics Circle Award. Today, she continues to reap awards for her literary contributions not only in the U.S. but also in other parts of the globe. In fact, in 2011 the University of Geneva bestowed on Morrison an Honorary Doctorate of Letters.

Today, up and coming African American writers are continuing the tradition set by earlier generations of black Americans. These new crop of writers may not have the same set of experiences or lived in the same conditions as their predecessors but that does not mean they cannot achieve what the other African Americans have achieved in the past. Through their imagination, passion and expert use of language in writing a particular literary form, the new crop of African American writers can continue the legacy handed down to them.

Different public and private organizations continue to pay tribute to the different generations of black Americans who, even amidst the adversities and challenges in life achieved their own goals and are now viewed as positive role models for the new generation and for the generations to come. Black history or African American history is a big part of human history, not just the history of the United States of America.

Day Translations, Inc. and World Interpreting, Inc. have a history of providing only the best translation and interpretation services. Contact them anytime you need their professional services.

LSSU: Banishing Words to Oblivion

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:30:00 +0000

"Whoomp, There It Is! (1994)" Lake Superior State University or LSSU has released its annual Banished Words List for 2012! The Banished Words List is a collection of words that nominators would like cleansed from the English language. At the very least, these are words that nominators no longer want to hear being used by media personalities or by the general public. The first Banished Words List was issued by LSSU in 1976. Since then, people have been nominating words that they believe should be in the list for a particular year. Although not everyone is in agreement with the words that make it to the final cut, still, it is great fun to find out why these words have been deemed over-ripe and need to be removed from the collective consciousness of society.

Why the need for a list?

LSSU wanted to point out that people have a tendency to over-use and most often, mis-use words sometimes to the point where the words or phrases become generally useless. Words and phrases like "awesome (1984 & 2007)," "you go, girl (1997)," "win-win (1993)," and "to die for (1995)" for instance have been beaten to a pulp. These words started out as interesting and useful. But alas, they eventually became as pleasant to the ears as the sound of fingernails scratching on a chalkboard. To help regain some linguistic dignity, LSSU comes up with a yearly list as a reminder to all.

LSSU and the birth of the Banished Words List

Lake Superior State University started out as Lake Superior State College in 1946. Located in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, right along the border of US and Canada, the college was established for veterans of World War II who were returning after the war. By 1970, the once Michigan College of Mining and Technology branch became autonomous from its mother institution. In 1987, the college completed its transformation to all full-pledged university. LSSU offers over 60 degree programs including accounting, biology, computer science, fisheries and wildlife management, geology, engineering, criminal justice, teacher education, psychology and nursing.

It was LSSU's Public Relations Director, W.T. Rabe (now retired from the said post), who spearheaded much of the campaign to lift the small college out of oblivion and distance itself from Michigan Technological University. As early as 1971, the legendary Rabe established a group called Unicorn Hunters and instituted events like the yearly Snowman Burning, which was the then college's way to usher in the 1st day of spring.

The Banished Words List first came out in 1976. It was prepared in 1975 by Rabe and some friends at a party on New Year's Eve. Because of the popularity of the said list with the locals and with the international community, Rabe continued churning out lists since then. People have been invited to nominate words or expressions that they believed should be banished from the English language for a particular year.

Why release the list on January 1st? Rabe, a newsman himself, knew that the list would get the maximum coverage on New Year's Day because January 1st has always been what journalists term as a particularly slow news day. Each 1st of January, students, faculty, the local and international news organizations, and people who have grown fond of the list eagerly anticipate the Banished Words List. The list's popularity continues to grow especially because of its accessibility given the current state of computer technology. The 2012 Banished Words List is the 37th of its kind. It looks likes Rabe's brainchild will live on for a long time.

The first list

Since 1976, a whole slew of words have been banished by LSSU. The numbers are close to 900 to date. The words found in the very first Banished Words List are the following:

At this point in time

Call for Resignation

Détente

Dialogue

Implement and Viable

Input

Macho

Meaningful

Scenario

You can find, enjoy and criticize the different Banished Words Lists on the LSSU website. A few of the words that have appeared on the lists since its inception are:

24/7 (2000)

<3 (2009) - it is supposed to look like a heart

Absolutely! (1993)

App (2010)

Awesome (1984 & 2007)

Baby boomers (1989)

Been There, Done That (1996)

Bling or Bling-Bling (2004)

Carbs (2005)

Exact Same (1981 & 1990)

Flip Flop (2005)

Hello?! (1999)

My Bad (1988)

Organic (2008)

There are too many interesting words and phrases to mention and it would be best to read it from the LSSU site rather than repeat the same information here. In the LSSU website you can also get an explanation as to why these words made it to the list.

What's in the 2012 list?

The words and phrases that won a seat on the 2012 Banished Words List are:

Baby bump (came in second to the top word)

Blowback (corporate jargon meaning reaction)

Ginormous (used when gigantic and enormous are not big enough)

Man cave (popularized in television, movies and sports shows)

Occupy (gained popularity due to the Occupy Wall Street movement)

Pet parent (goes beyond pet owner)

Shared sacrifice (a politician's go-to word referring to sharing the burden)

The new normal (justifies new bad trends or styles)

Trickeration (why the word trickery does not suffice is a mystery)

Win the future (there must be much dislike for this politician's term that it landed in the list)

Thank you in advance (condescending much?)

AMAZING

But what got the most nominations for 2012 is, drum roll, please, "AMAZING." Apparently, more than 1,500 people put this word on the list. It seems that the alleged fault lies on journalist Anderson Cooper and media mogul/lifestyle maven Martha Stewart according to the nominators of this word. Not only were people from America and Canada gunning for "amazing," nominations were also received from as far as Scotland, England and Israel. The powers-that-be that issue the yearly list were caught by surprise because the word "amazing" was never part of any of the other lists in the past.

Is it right to banish words?

Freedom of speech, at least in some countries, essentially gives individuals the right to say what they wants to say. Of course, not unless what one is saying is slanderous and can result in a legal action. However, over-using or mis-using words may make a person appear unintelligent to the more educated crowd. There may be a sort of snobbery to the Banished Words List but at the same time it serves as a reminder that there is no need to use flowery words or meaningless words when there are better words that can communicate what you need or want to say succinctly and, more importantly, accurately.

When celebrities, politicians, media personalities and plain wannabes start dishing out over-used and mis-used words, one can't help but imagine the great writers and linguists cringing. Shakespeare must be turning over in his grave whenever someone mis-uses the language he loved.

In the end, it is up to the individual whether he wants to continue using the words in the Banished Words List or not. But when doing so, hopefully he uses the words the way these words were intended to be used in the English language. Otherwise, he might not be "on the same page (1996)" as the person he is attempting to communicate with even if that person is his "BFF (2011)."

Translation and interpretation are "ginormous" undertakings. Both Day Translations and World Interpreting, Inc. do an "amazing" job at these tasks. They hire professionals who never hide in their "man caves" or spend more time as "pet parents." Instead, their people perform "shared sacrifices" in order to come up with spot on work. "Win the future" with either Day Translations, Inc. or World Interpreting, Inc. "Thank you in advance" for the business.

Chinese New Year – Enter the Yang Water Dragon

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:43:00 +0000

Kung Hei Fat Choy!
Happy Chinese New Year!

At the heels of the Gregorian New Year is the Chinese New Year. The Chinese traditionally follow the lunar calendar rather than the solar Gregorian calendar. This year’s Chinese New Year falls on the 23rd of January. It will be the 4,710th new year based on the Chinese calendar although some references point out that it is actually the 4,709th year. For many, it is more important to find out what animal is associated to the year 2012 according to Chinese astrology.

The Chinese calendar is on a 60 year cycle. Each year is represented by a combination of one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac (known as Shēngxiào) and one of the 5 elements. The 12 animals under the Chinese zodiac, in order of their appearance, are: "rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. The 5 elements are metal, water, wood, fire and earth." This year, 2012, is represented by the dragon, which is the 5th sign of the Chinese zodiac, and by the water element.

Chinese astrologers base their reading of a person's traits and his future on his animal sign and the element associated with his year of birth. Each animal has personality traits associated with it and when combined with the characteristics of a particular element, these traits are either enhanced or softened. Yin and Yang, an ancient Chinese concept, also has an effect on a person's horoscope. The odd years on the Chinese calendar are designated as Yin years while the Yang years are even numbered years. Yin is earth, female, passive and dark. Yang is heaven male, active and light.

Were you born a dragon?

In determining a person's animal according to Chinese astrology, one must never rely simply on the year of his birth. Not everyone born on 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, or on the other years referred to as a dragon year can actually call the dragon their animal sign. The animal signs are, as stated earlier, determined by Chinese astrology rather than the Gregorian calendar years. Chinese astrology is more complicated compared to western astrology.

Chinese New Year is determined by the appearance of the second new moon right after the winter solstice. This may fall sometime after January 20 and before February 21 on the Gregorian calendar. The Chinese use the lunar system to determine the start of each year. However, the beginning of each month is based on a solar system rather than a lunar system. The first month of the year is always the Tiger month which is the start of spring and often falls around the 4th or the 5th of February each year.

On the Chinese astrology calendar, the official start of the year of the Yang Water Dragon is on February 4, specifically at 18:23 (according to China's time zone). Technically, following this train of thought, anyone born on or after January 23, 2012 but before February 4 18:23 is classified as a rabbit. This need to be precise in determining one's animal sign is probably the reason why many people prefer to simply take the Gregorian year assigned to the animal sign as the basis for their personal animal sign.

Do you have the traits of a dragon?

To determine a person's real temperament and personality plus his future according to Chinese Astrology, it is essential to provide information on a person's date of birth as well as his time of birth. These two essential pieces of information are combined by Chinese fortune tellers with the animal sign, the ruling element, Yin or Yang, the sun and moon positions and the directions (north, south, east, west and its combinations) to determine and describe a person's personal characteristics and in predicting his possible future.

The dragon is the mightiest of all the animals of the Chinese zodiac. It is a well respected symbol in China appearing in palaces as well as modest homes. Dragons often appear on imperial clothing. The dragon stands for power and might, success and good fortune, and for happiness. Respected and revered in Chinese culture, the dragon of the east is far different from the feared-fire breathing dragon of the west.

People born under the year of the dragon are said to be stately, loyal, confident, strong, decisive, perfectionists, proud, confident, self-assured, dignified, noble, intellectual, energetic, fiery, passionate, vigorous, generous, magnanimous, and artistic. Sometimes they can be demanding only because they have very high standards. Dragons appear to be brash, tyrannical, conceited, arrogant, tactless, intolerant, and imperious.

The dragon is said to compatible with the following animals: rat, snake, monkey and rooster. It is least compatible with a fellow dragon, ox, rabbit, and dog.

The Water Dragon

In the case of the water dragon, the water element is said to counter the fiery nature of the mighty beast. Water provides the much needed cooling power that results in level headedness for dragons that need to make important decisions. Patience that comes from the water element will help temper the passionate dragon. The water dragon is intelligent and uses his innate wisdom in all aspects of his life.

The dragon often aspires for greatness and succeeds in life through sheer determination and perseverance. Water will help prevent burn-out caused by too overworking himself just to succeed. Because dragons tend to be impulsive and stubborn at times, the water element will make those born in the year of the water dragon more open to collaborating with other rather than overly asserting themselves.

In the company of fellow water dragons

When asked who the famous personalities born under the dragon sign are, Bruce Lee's name often comes up. However, Lee, the quintessential martial artist and the man behind the film Enter the Dragon, is not a water dragon but a metal dragon. Some of the water dragons you may know are Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (son of Lee Kwan Yew), U.S. General David Petreaus, tennis legend Jimmy Connors, authors Amy Tan, Pearl S. Buck and Anna Quindlen, actors Jeff Goldblum, Isabella Rossellini, David Hasselhoff, Liam Neeson, and Mr. T, singer/songwriter George Strait, director Robert Zemeckis, and film producer Harvey Weinstein.

It is quite exciting to find out what your Chinese zodiac sign is and consequently, what future awaits you based on your animal sign. However, your zodiac sign should not be the basis of how you see your life and how you live your life. You should always live your life to the fullest without causing hurt, sadness or despair on others. Be compassionate, humble and charitable. Good things come to good people. Whether you are a dragon, a monkey, an ox, a Gemini, a Virgo or a Libra, all you need to do is to do unto others what you want others to do unto you.

If your line of work requires translation or interpretation services, always call on Day Translations Inc. or World Interpreting, Inc. to answer your needs. Like dragons, they are perfectionists at what they do.

Chinese New Year Traditions and New Year Traditions Across the Globe

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:24:00 +0000

New Year's Day does not actually come only once a year but several times a year depending on the type of calendar one uses. For countries that adopted the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Day is always celebrated on January 1 of each year. The date never changes. This is the New Year often associated with the countries of the West and those that follow the Catholic faith.

In other cultures, countries and religions, their New Year's Day falls on a different month and day if you look at it through the Gregorian calendar. The day and sometimes the month may be different because they base the calculations of their respective new year's day on the cycles of the moon. The Chinese for instance follow a lunar calendar as opposed to the solar-based Gregorian calendar. For the Chinese, January 23 is the date for this year's Chinese New Year.

Each New Year brings so much hope and promise for a bigger, brighter, more prosperous and more peaceful year ahead. And to ensure that the coming year will be a great one, different cultures have different customs, traditions and beliefs that they follow. Knowledge is always a good thing and so, it will be good to know some of the traditions different countries and cultures follow. In today’s hi-tech world, many of these traditions don’t seem to make sense at all. It doesn’t hurt to follow them. Besides, many are fun and entertaining enough for everyone to participate in. So for your next New Year celebration, see which traditions you think you would want to adopt.

Spring Festival is near

New Year's Day for the Chinese is a day of rebirth. It marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Farmers welcome spring because it is the time for them to plant new harvest and start the cycle of life anew. Thus, the Chinese Lunar New Year is referred to as the Spring Festival.

The Chinese are known for having many traditions not only related to their New Year but to other events as well. Even the way they live their lives is peppered with time old customs and traditions, which have been passed down from generation to generation.

When it comes to the New Year's Day, the Chinese believe that what you do on this day may have an effect on your life at least till the end of the year. The Chinese are careful with their actions and would only do things that would bring them prosperity, good health and positive energy. For instance, it is a custom to only greet people that they believe would bring them positive energy and joy. The Chinese also watch what they eat ensuring that their meals for the day will bring them good health.

Some of the more common traditions practiced by the Chinese in preparation for New Year's Day include cleaning the whole house and getting rid of things associated with the past year, debts are repaid, and differences with immediate family, relatives, friends, neighbors, business associates and other people are resolved. The Chinese also make sure they have red money envelopes with new crisp bills, circular candy trays, flowers like water lilies or peach blossoms and new outfits not just for kids but for the whole family. Since red or orange is the color of New Year's Day you will see a lot of people wearing either of these two colors.

The Chinese need to have 8 round fruits on their dining tables. In some cultures, people prepare 12 round fruits instead of 8. For the Chinese, it is the number 8, not the number 12, that signifies good luck. The number 8 represents infinity. Countries with a large population of Chinese like the Philippines, Malaysia and other Asian countries follow this tradition as they usher in the New Year. If you want to follow this tradition, you have a multitude of round fruits to select from. Some of these rounded fruits are apples, oranges, grapes, watermelons, limes, blueberries, pomegranates, guavas, rhambutans, kiwis, plums, and peaches.

The pineapple, with its many “eyes,” is an important fruit for the New Year according to the Chinese. The “eyes” of the fruit symbolize success in one’s career and more opportunities for the coming year. The pineapple is placed outside doors and on windowsills.

Polka dots, crisp bills, noise makers, new undies and jumping at midnight

In the Philippines, there are some New Year’s Eve customs that the Filipinos inherited from their conquerors while others came from their ancestors. One tradition has something to do with polka dots. Many Filipinos believe that they should wear clothing with polka dot designs on them. Other cultures also wear spotted garments on New Year’s Eve. Polka dots represent money or wealth because coins have the same shape as the dots. The bigger the circumference of the polka dots, the more money is expected to come into the wearer’s life.

Many Filipinos also believe that having money on their person, whether in their pockets, wallets, or in pouches attached to their clothing when the clock strikes twelve on December 31 will ensure that they will be prosperous the coming year; the crispier and bigger (denomination-wise) the bills, the better. Coins are welcome, too.

To drive away evil spirits, the people of the Philippines, young and old, grab metal pots, pans and basins just before midnight of the 31^st and hit them with much gusto to make as much noise as possible. They often use ladles, utensils, or sticks in banging the pots. Some bang two pots together for more noise. Others place coins inside tin cans or pots. These cans or pots are then shaken minutes before the clock strikes 12 on December 31 like you would a pair of maracas. Sellers of noisemakers such as different kinds of fireworks and horns made of paper or plastic make a mean profit days and hours before New Year’s Eve in the Philippines.

Parents, grandparents and other well-meaning adults tell the children to jump as high as they can on the strike of midnight. It is believed that the children will grow a few extra inches when they do so. Some young adults who want to gain some height also jump up as high as they can. After all, hope springs eternal. In other cultures, the children jump down from chairs or other platforms with the same wish in mind.

As far as wearing new underwear is concerned, some Filipinos believe that it is good luck to usher in the New Year fresh and clean. Wearing new clothes, shoes and accessories from head-to-toe and underneath makes people generally feel good during this time of year whether they are from the Philippines or elsewhere in the world.

Colorful underwear

In South American countries like Bolivia, Brazil, and Guatemala, and in Mexico, citizens have a tradition of donning colorful underpants as they welcome the New Year. Bright colored underpants are supposed to help them catch some good luck for the New Year ahead. Red and yellow are the favorite colors. Red represents love; so those who wear this color are hoping for a good love life ahead. Yellow is all about money and prosperity. Those who practice this tradition hope to gain material wealth in the coming year. For some cultures, yellow also represents happiness. Thus, people who wear this color of underwear expect less sadness and more glee in their lives. In Spain, where the practice probably originated, red underwear on New Year’s Eve equals good luck.

12 grapes of the New Year

Eating 12 grapes before the clock strikes 12 is a custom inspired by the Spanish. People of South America and even Filipinos follow this tradition. One grape is eaten to coincide with each chime on the clock as the countdown to the New Year starts. Each grape is equivalent to one wish.

Mistletoe in exchange for a mate

Irish women who are looking for love put mistletoe leaves under their pillows before the clock strikes 12 on New Year’s Eve. Not only are the mistletoe leaves intended for catching a future husband, the leaves also serve to ward off bad luck.

Breaking plates in front of the neighbor’s door

It is customary in Denmark for neighbors to break plates, cups, glasses and other types of crockery in front of their neighbor’s front door. Having breakable dishes thrown at their doors do not irritate the Danish people. It is actually a welcome custom. The Danes believe that the more broken pieces in front of their doors, the better. Why? Because it is a sign that they have a lot of good friends.

The Vikings’ fiery balls

In Scotland, in a place called Stonehaven, Scots celebrate the Hogmanay Festival. On the last day of the year, men walk through the streets in a parade at night swinging fireballs above their heads. They believe that these balls of fire bring purification as well as sunshine to their community of men, animals and plants. This custom has been going on even before the advent of Christianity in Scotland. It is believed to have started during the time of the Vikings. Hogmanay is also celebrated in other parts of Scotland.

Race to be first-foot

At the heels of the Hogmanay Festival is the custom of first-footing. The Scottish people race to be the first person that crosses a friend’s or a neighbor’s threshold. In the past, symbolic gifts like salt, coal, whisky, shortbread and a type of rich fruit cake called a black bun were given to the owner of the household to bring some form of luck to the recipient. The gift giver in turn receives food and drink from the owner of the house. The person who successfully becomes the “first-foot” is said to be the recipient of good luck for the whole year. Many homeowners prefer their first-foot to be a tall, dark and handsome man as they bring the most good luck.

Auld Lang Syne

The Scots contributed one of the greatest New Year’s Eve traditions, the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.” The literal translation of the title is “old long since.” The song was part of the 1796 book entitled Scots Musical Museum. Poet Robert Burns heard an old man singing the song, which Burns then transcribed and refined to come up with the ever-popular New Year ditty. Although Auld Lang Syne is the most popular song during New Year’s Eve, people don’t seem to know all of the lyrics of this song. Auld Lang Syne reminds everyone to remember the people and events of the past with a measure of fondness. Guy Lombardo, legendary bandleader active during the years1924 to 1977, is credited with turning Auld Lang Syne into the New Year’s Eve tradition many know today.

Burning bad luck

The scarecrow not only scares birds away from crops, it also scares away bad luck according to an Ecuadorian custom. Scarecrows are filled with small pieces of wood and newspapers then burned on New Year’s Eve. The people of Ecuador who follow this custom believe that all the negative events of the past year will be erased and good luck and happiness will be in store for them for the coming year.

Fireworks

The most popular New Year’s Eve tradition throughout the globe is lighting up fireworks. A gift from the Chinese, fireworks come in many shape, form and price. Not only do fireworks supposedly ward off bad luck and drive away evil spirits, they give so much glee to those who light them and to those who watch them burn like flowers of fire in the nighttime sky. Fireworks are part of the New Year’s Eve celebrations throughout the world.

New Year’s resolutions

Before the start of the New Year, it is customary for many people to think of New Year’s resolutions. Resolutions are promises they make to themselves and also to others. Many resolutions are related to diet and exercise especially for people who want to be healthier and were remiss in being more conscious of taking care of their physical health. Some resolutions are financially motivated. People resolve to be more frugal and wise with their money. Others want to be more patient, more charitable, more attentive, more loving, or more hardworking. Some want to learn something new, take up a new sport or activity, or to be more adventurous.

The list of resolutions can be either long or short. But whether the resolution consists of only one line or fills more than one standard size bond paper, the usual problem with making a resolution is sticking to it till the end of New Year. Still, it is a good practice to make a list of resolutions because it gives a person time to reflect on his life and identify ways to become a better person. If you follow the Gregorian New Year, you can still make a New Year's resolution or two. Just make sure it is something you can follow through.

Chinese New Year is around the corner while the end of the first month of the New Year will come soon. Remember to start the 2012 on a positive note. Think before your act. Spread only kindness, love, understanding and compassion. 2011 was a trying time for the whole world. 2012 brings new hope to all. According to some doomsday sayers, the Mayan calendar predicted that the world would end on December 21, 2012. Whether this is true or not is anyone's guess. So the best thing to do is to live life to the fullest each and every day.

Day Translations, Inc. and World Interpreting, Inc., we wish you a Happy, Prosperous and Peaceful New Year! Here’s to 2012!

Sign Language: Not Just for the Hearing Challenged

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:25:00 +0000

One language that requires no sound, voice, or speech is sign language. It does not rely on audio like the other languages of the world. The development of sign language has made life for many people, hearing and hearing-challenged, easier, safer and more enjoyable. It has allowed hearing challenged individuals to communicate effectively with others without the use of writing implements and electronic gadgets. At the same time, it has made deaf and mute members of a community become integral members of the society in which they belong.

Sign language is transmitted visually. Hand shapes, hand gestures, movements of the arms or the body, and facial expressions are used to send a visual message to another person. What seems to be a collection of hand movements, gestures and facial expressions that hearing challenged individuals often display is a real, highly developed language. Apart from developing a finger alphabet based on a specific language, specific gestures are created for individual words. Sometimes, gestures come with matching facial expressions or body movement (or both.) Once a basic gesture is created for a specific word, it can be further developed to add more information related to the gesture. There is a constant building upon a specific gesture's meaning in order to convey additional information that the original gesture alone cannot adequately convey.

For the uninitiated, it may seem that sign language improves only the quality of life of the deaf, mute and near-deaf people. This is not true at all. Sign language has applications for people who hear perfectly every sound that can be heard in the world.

History of signing

Sign language developed in places where at least one person in the community was deaf. This is why there are scores of sign languages in the world. Some are more fully developed than others and a number have been given official status as a language for a particular country. It may be safe to say that one of the oldest, if not the oldest, ways by which humans communicated was through sign language. Before the spoken word was born, people must have relied on gestures, movements and expressions.

In the 5th century BC, Socrates already mentioned the use of sign language. In early Jewish society, sign language and lip-reading were present since the 2nd century Judea. By 1620, a Spanish priest named Juan Pablo Bonet developed a manual alphabet for use in communicating with the deaf or mute people. A Frenchman who lived in the 18th century named French Charles-Michel de l'Epee has often been credited mistakenly for creating the language of signing. He actually built upon the Old French Sign Language that already existed in Paris during his time. Some sources said that Abbé de l'Epee based his sign language method on Bonet's. Abbé de l'Epee's manual alphabet has been in use since the 18th century both in France and in North America. He opened the very first school in France that catered to deaf children.

In the United States, the first deaf school was opened by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet in 1817. His partner was Laurent Clerc, a graduate of Abbé de l'Epee's school. Gallaudet's son Edward became the founder of a liberal arts college for the deaf in the District of Columbia in 1857. The college was built and recognized through the efforts of a number of concerned and dedicated individuals including United States Postmaster General Amos Kendall. This college was the first and only one in the world. The college eventually became Gallaudet University in 1864. Today, it still stands as the only university in the world where the programs and services cater to deaf and hearing challenged students.

Sign language has continued to develop and is an invaluable visual language used throughout the world. Different cultures have their own sign language that stands side-by-side with their spoken and written languages.

Why different sign languages?

Although there exists an International Sign used during events attended by deaf delegates from different countries, each country or cultural group has its own form of sign language. Many of these different sign languages developed from a specific base language. The American Sign Language (ASL) relied heavily on the French Sign Language in developing ASL. Countries like Australia, Britain, and New Zealand, although all English-speaking nations have their own versions of a sign language.

The language of signing takes into consideration the culture where it is employed. Each culture has its own special words and phrases that are not found in other cultures. New signs were created for these unique terms in order for the community using the specific sign language to communicate effectively. Filipino Sign Language for instance was based on the ASL. But, it has signs for terms and phrases unique to the Filipino culture. Even in Mexico and Spain where Spanish is the predominant language, their sign languages are not the same.

A country's deaf population would create sign language counterparts for their own language. They may choose to use another country's sign language but only as a base to build on. If a country is made up of different regions, it is likely that each region or each dialect within that country has its own version of sign language. At the very least, regional words and phrases are incorporated into the country's predominant sign language. In the United States alone, there are three different sign languages: American Sign Language, Hawaiian Pidgin Sign Language and Plains Indian Sign Language.

Benefits of Sign Language

It is an obvious fact that the deaf, mute and hearing-challenged members of the community that benefit most from the use of sign language. They are able to work for companies who have deaf-friendly policies in place. They can also get an education from schools that have a deaf-friendly curriculum, deaf-accommodating facilities and services, faculty, and administration.

For non-deaf individuals, sign language can be used when, for some reason, verbalizing a thought, idea, request or need is not possible. When one is unable to speak due to an illness for instance, signing is a good way to let another person know what one needs or wants. In places where it is important or necessary to maintain silence, sign language can prove to be very useful. In places of worship, during chess tournaments, operas, classical music concerts, plays, movies, while hunting (so as not to spook the prey) and while participating in other similar activities where silence is golden, sign language can be used to get a message across minus the sound.

Scuba divers have their own set of gestures that they use in communicating with each other underwater. In occasions when the background noise is too loud, like in a rock concert or in a noisy dance hall or sports arena, people can communicate via sign language. In recording studios, movie sets and television sets, gesturing is common when talking is not allowed. Sign language allows communication between people separated by soundproof glass or closed windows.

For people involved in law enforcement and the military, using signs is one of the best ways to communicate without alerting suspects or enemies that may be in hearing distance. Those in the medical profession like doctors, nurses and caregivers need sign language skills when they are involved with the hearing-challenged.

Knowing how to sign fluently can develop into a career. On television, you can find at the corner of the screen a person signing what is being said verbally. You can also find people who sign at symposiums, meetings and other gatherings. This is such a big service to the deaf community. Businesses that are manned by staff who know how to sign can attract hearing-impaired individuals thus increasing the company's bottom line.

Learning how to sign gives a person new insight into the world of people who live in perpetual silence. They can appreciate the world in a new way minus the sometimes endlessly deafening din of the environment. It gives people an additional way of communicating with others. Knowing how to sign is an excellent way to be in community with the sector of society that is hearing-challenged.

Sign language is just one of the many languages in the world. For help with translation or interpretation of languages, contact Day Translations or World Interpreting, Inc. anytime of the day. They are ready to help you 24/7.

Photo Credit: by doozle

January 1st New Year’s Day – Is it for Everyone?

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:23:00 +0000

Yes, it is for everyone who uses the Gregorian calendar. However, some nations use a different calendar even if the Gregorian calendar is widely used. It is not uncommon for certain countries and religious groups to either follow a different calendar totally or to use two calendars to track significant dates. In the case of the New Year’s Day, many celebrate it on two different dates. One date, January 1, is based on the Gregorian calendar. The other date for New Year’s Day is based on a calendar important to the culture or prevalent religion of the country.

Buddhist New Year

The dates for Buddhist New Year fall on different days of the year depending on the principles and values of the countries where Buddhism is practiced. Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka are just some of the countries that practice Buddhism. The dates are based on the Buddhist calendar, which is luni-solar. For the above-mentioned countries, New Year starts on the first day of the full moon in the month of April. In countries where Mahayana Buddhism is practiced (Vietnam, Korea and China, for example), the New Year begins on the first full moon in the month of January, sometimes even in the earlier part of February. In Tibet, the Buddhist New Year starts in March according to the Tibetan calendar.

One thing remains the same regardless of the date when the Buddhist New Year’s Day falls – the first day of the Buddhist New Year is a time for reflection and introspection. Prayers are offered and rituals are performed in worship of Lord Buddha. Practicing Buddhists visit temples as well as monasteries. Social celebrations are also part of commemorating the New Year. Households and surroundings are tidied up, people wear new clothes, visit families and close friends, share special sweet dishes, exchange gifts, and when the clock strikes 12 on the eve of the New Year, light firecrackers to usher in the New Year.

Chinese New Year

The Chinese are found all over the world. They brought with them their own culture and beliefs which they continue to practice and share with others. One of the most well known Chinese events is Chinese New Year. The Chinese follow the lunar calendar. The first day of the lunar calendar may fall on any day between January 20 and February 20. It is a big celebration with red being the predominant color of their New Year. The color red is said to bring good fortune. Small red envelopes are given out containing money to children and adults alike. Fireworks, dragon dances, and other forms of merriment happen on the eve and on the first day Chinese New Year. Special foods make their appearance on dining tables and everyone dresses up for the occasion. Even people with no Chinese blood running through their veins join the fun. For 2012, the Chinese New Year will fall on January 23 on the Gregorian calendar.

Ethiopian New Year

The Ge’ez or Ethiopian calendar, the main calendar Ethiopians use, is based on the Coptic calendar. Enkutatash or Ethiopian New Year, which is Meskerem 1 on the Ethiopian calendar, is equivalent to the 11^th of September on the Gregorian calendar. For leap years, it coincides with September 12. The word “Enkutatash” translates to “gift of jewels” and has a connection to one of the famous queens in history, Queen Sheba. When Queen Sheba returned to her country of Ethiopia from Jerusalem, after visiting King Solomon, her chiefs brought her jewels or inku in order to replenish her treasury. Enkutatash, a spring celebration, marks the end of heavy rains. Much singing, dancing and other forms of fun activities are held throughout Ethiopia.

Hindu New Year

The Hindu calendar dictates when the Hindu New Year’s Day is observed. The event usually depends on when the Sun enters the Mesha (Aries). Usually, this happens on April 13 or 14, taking into consideration whether the year is a leap year or not. It is important to note that different Hindu sects may celebrate Hindu New Year on different dates. The Hindu New Year is the start of spring, a time when nature wakes up from months of wintery sleep. To welcome the New Year, celebrations are held in Hindu communities throughout the world. Parents and elders bless children both young and old. Families and friends exchange gifts as well as good wishes for a good year ahead. This coming 2012 is very important for the Hindus because according to their beliefs, this may be the start of the Golden Age.

Iranian (Persian) New Year

In Iran and other countries of Central and South Asia where similar cultures reside, Persian New Year is celebrated according to the 1^st day of the Iranian calendar. Persian New Year or Nowruz falls on the day of the vernal equinox, usually the start of spring. This holiday was originally a Zoroastrian festival. In 2012, Nowruz will fall on March 21.

Islamic New Year

Hijri New Year (Islamic New Year) falls on the first day of Muharram. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. Some Muslims spend time reflecting on their lives at the start of the year. Others prepare for the Day of Ashura, the 10^th day of Muharram. This is the day when Muslims commemorate the death of the Prophet Mohammed’s grandson, Husayn ibn Ali, in Karbala (in Iraq). Fasting is done during the 10^th day. Some start fasting on the 9^th and continue on till the 11^th day of Muharram. Special prayers are offered during the New Year. The Shi’a Muslims go on a pilgrimage to the shrine of Imam Husayn where Husayn ibn Ali is buried. The customs, rituals and celebrations depend on the different Muslim groups.

The Islamic year is shorter than the Gregorian year by about 11 to 12 days. Astronomical calculations are usually the basis for determining the New Year although some Islamic groups still prefer to rely on local lunar sighting. According to the Gregorian calendar, people of the Islamic faith will celebrate Hijri on November 14, 2012. The Islamic New Year started last November 26, 2011.

Jewish New Year

The Jews celebrate their New Year in autumn. Rosh Hashanah, literally translated as “head of the year,” is their New Year. It falls on days 1 and 2 of Tishrei. Tishrei, according to the Hebrew calendar, is the seventh month of the Jewish year. Why is the New Year celebrated on the seventh month? Judaism has different “new years” for different events.

The entire month before Rosh Hashanah is dedicated to self-examination as well as repentance for sins of the past. According to the Torah, Rosh Hashanah is the “day of sounding” or “blowing of horns.” The shofar, traditionally a ram’s horn, is blown on Rosh Hashanah according to Jewish customs. Jews do not work on Rosh Hashanah. They gather for prayer in synagogues, partake of traditional Rosh Hashanah foods including honey, apples, pomegranates, and wine. For 2012, Rosh Hashanah will start on the sunset of September 16, 2012 to the nightfall of September 18, 2012.

Korean New Year

The Koreans follow a lunar calendar in conjunction with the Gregorian calendar. According to their lunar calendar, the first day of the year or Seollal will fall on January 23 of the Gregorian calendar. Seollal is given more importance as a holiday than the Gregorian New Year’s Day, although both are celebrated in Korea. The New Year’s celebration usually extends for three days in Korea. Seollal is a special time for family. The three-day holiday gives Koreans time to visit parents and relatives whether near or far. Sebae is a Korean tradition that has been observed for many years. Children dress in hanbok, which is the traditional Korean clothing, and perform a deep bow in honor of their parents and elders. The children are rewarded with crisp paper money and sometimes with traditional rice cakes and fruits. Ancestors are also given importance during the Korean New Year.

January 1^st on the Gregorian calendar is the most popular New Year’s Day in the world. However, it is also important to know other races and cultures have their own New Year’s Day. One thing that is common to all New Year’s Day is that it is a time to reflect on the past and a time to make resolutions to improve one’s self and be a benefit to others. New Year’s Day is an important milestone for everyone regardless of race, creed or status in life. It should be greeted with much hope for a better future.

Do something different this coming year. Use the services of Day Translations, Inc. or World Interpreting, Inc. if you have translation or interpretation needs. Call or email them for inquiries. Or visit their websites for more information regarding travel, language and other useful and interesting topics.

Boxing Day – It Has Nothing to Do With Muhammad Ali

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 01:24:00 +0000

A lot of you have probably heard the term “Boxing Day” at least once in your life just like millions of people across the globe. But since you don’t celebrate Boxing Day, it is likely that you never bothered to find out what it was all about. Now you can find out what Boxing Day is and what happens during this holiday.

At the heels of December 25’s Christmas celebration is Boxing Day. It’s a holiday celebrated in countries like Britain and Canada. Boxing Day has evolved into an extra day for families and friends to spend more quality time together. For retailers in countries where it is observed, it’s like Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving Day, in the United States. Almost everything goes on sale much to the shoppers’ delight.

Countries that recognize Boxing Day

The United Kingdom (England, Scotland and Wales), Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Hong Kong, Fiji, Cook Islands, Greenland, Denmark, British Virgin Islands, Finland, Greece, and Hungary are some of the countries that observe Boxing Day. Apart from these countries, several Commonwealth countries and protectorates also celebrate Boxing Day.

In Ireland, instead of Boxing Day, they celebrate St. Stephen’s Day, which is a religious holiday. Since 1994, in South Africa, the term Day of Goodwill has replaced Boxing Day.

Boxing Day usually falls on December 26. However, since it is a bank/public holiday in a number of places, Boxing Day can at times fall on the 27th or even the 28^th of December because Christmas may fall on the weekend. The exact date when Boxing Day is observed depends largely on the national laws of the country that celebrates this holiday. In some countries, Boxing Day is not necessarily a public holiday.

Are pugilists involved?

No, Boxing Day has nothing to do with the sport of boxing. There are actually several theories about the origin of Boxing Day in England. One is that it had something to do with servants getting their day of rest the day after Christmas. Servants go home to their families bringing with them Christmas boxes from their employers. Christmas boxes are equivalent to Christmas presents. In a sense, it’s a Christmas bonus.

Another possible origin of Boxing Day comes from alms given to churches during Christmas day. Boxing Day is connected to the Feast of St. Stephen, which is commemorated the day after the birth of Jesus Christ. In the Roman times, boxes made of metal or clay were placed outside churches for collections connected to the saint’s feast day. The boxes were opened, some say during St. Stephen’s Day, and the monetary collections were given to the poor and needy. The Romans brought this practice to Britain.

No one can say exactly which origin of Boxing Day is accurate. What everyone is sure of, though, is that it has nothing to do with the sport of boxing or the many boxing greats like Muhammad Ali or Manny Pacquiao who have won and lost their fights in the boxing ring. It also has nothing to do with boxing up the decorations after Christmas. Finally, it has nothing to do with throwing away the boxes in which the Christmas gifts were placed.

Presents in boxes

Traditionally, Boxing Day is a day when gifts of money, food or things are given to service people. Employers usually give out gifts in small boxes to their employees. The postman or the newspaper delivery person usually gets gifts from people on their route. Way back in the feudal times, land owners would gather their workers the day after Christmas and give them boxes with items like food, clothes, and practical goods like agricultural tools.

Boxing Day activities and more

As a post Christmas holiday, Boxing Day gives families and friends extra time to be with each other or to see other family and friends who were not part of the celebrations on Christmas Day. People visit each other’s houses or meet up in pubs for drinks to continue the holiday merry-making.

Depending on the country where Boxing Day is celebrated, people watch sports event during this holiday. Horse racing, football games, hockey games, yacht races, running events and other sports are held during Boxing Day. It is possible to catch a boxing match on Boxing Day, too. In Britain, brave souls participate in an unlikely activity, swimming in the cold waters of the English Channel. This bone-chilling activity is not limited to Britain or the English Channel though. Dips into freezing cold waters happen in other places, too.

The English love their fox hunts and for hundreds of years, they used to have yearly fox hunts on Boxing Day. Aristocratic men and women ride their steeds and bring their best hunting dogs out with them in pursuit of the elusive fox. But this tradition has since been curtailed because of the ban on canines killing their prey. People still participate in fox hunts during Boxing Day but the dogs are a given limited role in this hunting activity. Scent trails are now used instead of live game.

For Boxing Day meals, Christmas Day leftovers take center stage. Since this holiday is supposed to be more relaxed, food is not expected to be as grand as what was served the day before. In the UK, Baked Ham, Minced Pies and Christmas Cakes are popular menu items.

Boxing Day is the cousin of Black Friday

Thanksgiving in the United States falls on the fourth Thursday of November. The following day, Friday, is called Black Friday. This day ushers in the start of Christmas shopping. Stores all over the US drop the “SALE” sign while shoppers fall in line outside the shops hoping to be one of the first to grab the great bargains.

In places where Boxing Day is celebrated, retailers also go all out in luring their customers into their establishments. Before, sales used to start after New Year. But things have changed. Retailers hope to rake in profits before the old year waves goodbye. For many merchants, Boxing Day is their biggest revenue day. There are doors that open as early as dawn. Shoppers brave the long lines and patiently wait outside shops. Popular items on this day are electronics. It is not uncommon for retailers to extend Boxing Day into Boxing Week.

Those who don’t want to deal with all the chaos that goes on during Boxing Day sales can shop online. Cyber Boxing Day is popular with netizens who love to do their shopping via the web. Without leaving the comfort of their homes, online shoppers can still get the best deals from retailers that offer drop-dead prices.

Boxing Day used to be about giving to the less fortunate. It started as a holiday that centered on doling out charity and recognizing the efforts of the service people. It has since evolved into a different kind of holiday. Although some of the charitable traditions have remained, Boxing Day in many places is spent with family and friends, going to malls and stores, watching sports and other events and simply relaxing after going through the frenzy of Christmas.

Boxing Day has often been misinterpreted by people who don’t celebrate this holiday. Misinterpretation can be a dangerous thing. If in your business you need the services of translators or interpreters, make sure to call Day Translation, Inc. or World Interpreting, Inc. These companies will make sure that whatever form of written or oral communication you pass on to them, they will translate or interpret them correctly.

Merry Christmas! ¡Feliz Navidad!

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 08:55:00 +0000

Christmas is probably the most well known religious holiday in the world. Christians and non-Christians alike celebrate Christmas in traditional and non-traditional ways. Part of the reason why Christmas is so popular is because it has become the biggest commercial holiday in the world. Business-savvy companies usually make a big profit during this season by tapping into the gift-giving tradition of this yuletide holiday.

But Christmas is not solely a holiday of glitz, glamor, endless parties and exchanging of presents. This Christian holiday centers on the birth of the child Jesus, who, according to Christian beliefs, is the Son of God, the Savior of the world. Christmas is the story of the Nativity where Joseph led Mary around Bethlehem to look for a place where Mary could give birth to the Light of the World, Jesus Christ. Joseph and Mary were turned away by all the innkeepers and had to settle for a barn. Thus, the child Jesus was born in the lowliest of places. And instead of a crib, the baby Jesus was placed on a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes. Shepherds, upon the call of an angel, came to pay homage to the newborn, as did Three Wise Men, who were guided by a star. The Three Wise Men or Magis, offered gifts of myrrh, frankincense and gold.

For Christians around the world, the Child Jesus symbolizes hope, peace and love. He is the fulfillment of God’s promise to his people, the promise of sending a savior. The circumstances of Jesus’ birth reminds everyone that even in the most trying of times, there is hope. That love will come from unexpected places and that peace will reign in the end.

2011 has been a very challenging year. The world has seen many tragedies many times over. There were the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster that devastated Japan, earthquakes that claimed lives in New Zealand, Turkey, and other countries, unprecedented flooding in Australia, Thailand, the United States, the Philippines and other nations, other forms of natural calamities that wreaked havoc in the lives of humans and animals alike, social and political unrest including terrorist attacks that have led to physical injuries and loss of lives especially in the Middle East and Africa, financial/economic crisis in Europe especially in Greece and in other nations, plus the various social, political and religious scandals that rocked the headlines for days and weeks.

But amidst these seemingly insurmountable challenges were great examples of hope and love. Government and non-government institutions, private and public corporations, and individuals from all levels of society, did their share in helping alleviate suffering, misery, pain and hopelessness. There were poignant stories everywhere you turn. Unlikely people became heroes overnight whether they wanted to or not. The triumph of the human spirit and man’s innate love for humanity has shown itself many times over throughout the past year.

And this is what Christmas is all about. It is about sharing what you have with another person regardless of creed, race, religion, social or political affiliation. It is not the amount you give or what you give but the act of giving something wholeheartedly. The message of Christmas is loud and clear. It resonates. It shouts. It makes itself heard above the din of the Christmas carols and the blatant display of commercialism. Christmas is about spreading joy, peace and love where it is most needed. It is about being a light to someone in the dark.

From Day Translations, Inc. and World Interpreting, Inc. and its sister companies, we would like to wish everyone around the world a most blessed and peaceful Christmas!

¡Feliz Navidad!

May the spirit of Christmas continue to be with everyone everyday of the year!

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:41:00 +0000

What Jewish holiday falls between late November and late December? Hanukkah, of course!

It falls between late November and late December of each year. Years ago, Hanukkah was just a minor celebration. Towards the end of the 19th century it has become almost popular as the celebration of the Passover. The popularity is credited to its nearness to Christmas, which other Christians all over the world observe.

Why is it then called the Festival of Lights? It is because Hanukkah begins four days before the new moon appears in the sky, hence that period is considered the darkest time of the month. Therefore it is very fitting that the most symbolic item to use for the celebration is light, to illuminate the darkness. The Hanukkah ritual involves the lighting of the candles, one at a time. The candles are added from right to left, while the lighting starts from the left to the right, one candle for each night of the celebration. The candle is allowed to burn until morning. So on the first night, a candle is lit; on the second night, two candles will be lit and the pattern goes on until the eighth day. The middle candle is the shammash, the source of the light used for the others.

Blessings are recited when the candle is lit or after lighting a candle. The prayer gives thanks to God who continues to bring light into this world and to everyone’s life.

Hanukkah is…

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival celebrated by practicing Jews each year. Compared to other Jewish holidays, Hanukkah is considered a minor holiday. Even so, it is still of great importance because it commemorates an important event in the history of Judaism. In Hebrew, the word “Hanukkah” means “dedication.” Hanukkah falls on the 25^th day of Kislev. What’s Kislev? It is one of the months on the Jewish calendar. Going by the Gregorian calendar, Hanukkah this year (2011) began on December 20.

The celebration lasts for eight days. Hanukkah is a commemoration of the rededication of the Holy Temple or the Second Temple (located in Jerusalem) during the 2^nd century BC. This festival is known by many names including: Chanukah, Chanuka ad Chanukkah. It is also called the Festival of Lights or sometimes, the Feast of Lights. The Hanukkah menorah takes center stage during this celebration and Jews follow different traditions both old and new.

Brief history of Hanukkah

If you pick up the Torah, which is the first five books of the Old Testament, and look up Hanukkah, you will not find any reference to it. This is because the events that led to the commemoration of Hanukkah happened after the five books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) were written. You will however, find a mention of Hanukkah in the New Testament. At one point in the life of Jesus Christ, he was said to have attended a “Feast of Dedication.”

In 200 BC, the king of Syria, Antiochus III, governed Judea, which was the Land of Israel. He was, in a sense, a benevolent ruler, since he allowed the Jews to live in Judea and continued to let them practice their own religion. Unfortunately, Antiochus III’s son, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, was not like his father. He outlawed the religion of the Jews and forced the Jewish people to pray to the Greek gods instead. At one point of his reign over Judea, his soldiers massacred thousands of people who were living in Jerusalem. This happened in 168 BC. Antiochus IV also ordered the desecration of the holy Second Temple. The Greek god Zeus was given an altar within the temple. Pigs were sacrificed within the sacred temple and their blood smeared on the walls.

A Jewish priest named Mattathias, together with his five sons, led a rebellion against Antiochus IV and his soldiers until his demise in 166 B.C. Judah, one of his sons, took over Mattathias’ role. Judah was the one known as Judah Maccabee or “the Hammer.” Within two years, the Jews, under the leadership of Judah, successfully drove the Syrians out of the holy city. He ordered his followers to cleanse the holy temple, rebuild its desecrated altar and light the menorah.

Hanukkah miracle

There are different versions and interpretations of the Hanukkah story. One alluded to a miracle that was said to have occurred during this time (this story does not appear in the Old Testament’s Book of the Maccabees). According to legend, Judah’s men found enough untainted oil in the temple to keep the candles of the menorah burning for at least a day. But lo and behold, the flames continued to flicker for seven more nights. This gave Judah and his followers enough time to obtain more untainted oil for use in the temple. Because of this “miracle,” the Jewish sages were inspired to establish the annual eight-day Hanukkah festival.

The Hebrew calendar

The most widely used calendar in the world is the Gregorian calendar, which is also known as the Western Calendar and the Christian Calendar. This was the calendar established by Pope Gregory XIII. However, different religious faiths used their own traditional calendars when establishing the dates for their religious feasts, celebrations and commemorations. Islam for instance uses the lunar calendar while those of the Jewish faith use the Hebrew calendar. This is why dates for particular events special to these two faiths change each year on the Gregorian calendar.

The basis of the calendar used by the Jews is the movement of the moon. Each month on the Hebrew calendar starts when the first sliver of the new moon reveals itself in the sky. This happens soon after what is called the dark moon phase. During ancient times, people used their naked eye to determine when the new moon begins to peek out of the sky. Once a sliver appears, those who have seen this sliver tells the Sanhedrin (a group of 23 judges serving every city in Israel at that time). It is the job of the Sanhedrin to declare the beginning of each month based on information from credible, independent eyewitnesses. Messengers then go around the cities to inform the people when the start of the month begins.

The Jewish year starts with the month of Nissan, which has about 30 days. In the Gregorian calendar, this falls between March and April. The year ends with the month of Adar II, which has about 29 days and also falls between March and April. Kislev, the month where Hanukkah falls, is the ninth month of the Jewish year. It may have 29 or 30 days and falls between November and December.

The dates for Hanukkah (25 Kislev on the Jewish calendar) on the Gregorian calendar are found below. Hanukkah begins at sundown on these dates.

December 20, 2011

December 8, 2012

November 27, 2013

December 16, 2014

December 6, 2015

Tradition, tradition, tradition

The Jews take their religious traditions seriously. In the story of the Fiddler on the Roof, Tevye, a Jew, says at one point “Traditions, traditions. Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as…as…as a fiddler on the roof!” He even bursts into the song entitled “Tradition” in the play and the movie versions. Some of the Hanukkah traditions have been handed down from many generations. Other traditions are more recent. Each country or even each community of Jews may have their own special Hanukkah traditions related to food, gifts and activities. But all Jewish communities have one basic and common tradition, the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah.

Let there be light

The Hanukkah menorah is at the center of this Jewish celebration. It is a nine-branched candelabrum usually made of metal but can also be made using other materials such as glass. The Hanukkah menorah is also called by these names: hanukkiyah, hanukiah and chanukiah.

It is wrong to use the term menorah to only refer to the nine-branched candelabrum because there is a menorah with only seven branches, which is used to celebrate the days of the creation of the world and mankind. The latter is usually made of gold and uses only fresh olive oil. It is also used as a symbol of universal enlightenment, in reference to the branches of knowledge of humans, moving towards the center from outside. The lamp at the center symbolizes the light God uses to guide His people.

The Hanukkah menorah is lit starting from the first candle on the left side. One candle is lit nightly from left to right. This lighting of the candles is the reason why Hanukkah is often referred to as “the festival of light.”

The Hanukkah menorah is displayed prominently inside a dwelling, ideally by the window to remind others of the events that occurred that led to the celebration of Hanukkah. During the candle lighting ritual, Jewish blessings are recited.

Although Hanukkah lasts only for eight nights, the Hanukkah menorah has nine candles. The reason for this is that the ninth candle is known as the “shamash” or the “helper.” This is the candle that is used to light each of the candles that are added to the Jewish candelabrum daily after the sun has set.

Today’s Hanukkah menorah comes in many different styles. The shamash in some menorot (plural of menorah) is at the center of the Hanukkah menorah while in others it is at the left side. Some menorot are built for candles while others are built for burning oil. The Hanukkah menorah is one of the most well known symbols of Judaism together with the Star of David.

You can find the largest Hanukkah menorah in the world in Manado, Indonesia. Its height is about 62 feet. It is much taller than the Hanukkah menorah located on New York’s Fifth Avenue and 59^th Street. This New York Hanukkah menorah is only 32 feet in height. What is interesting about having the largest Hanukkah menorah in Manado is that the number of Jews in the area are said to be no more than 20.

Hanukkah gatherings, eats and treats

Jewish families gather together every Hanukkah not only to light the Hanukkah menorah but also to share meals together, play games, sing songs and give gifts. Many households decorate for Hanukkah to bring in a more festive vibe to the home.

During gatherings, Jews throughout the world sing traditional Sephardic and Ashkenazic songs as well as more recent compositions. One popular song, “I Have a Little Dreidel,” is known both by Jews and non-Jews. Comedian Adam Sandler has a very popular song called “The Chanukah Song” which he performed in 1994 while on Saturday Night Live. The song became more popular when it was included in Sandler’s Hanukkah-themed animated movie “Eight Crazy Nights.”

A number of Hanukkah foods are cooked in oil. This is partly an allusion to the miracle that was said to have happened during the time of Judah Maccabee. Latke or potato pancakes are very popular and traditional as are sufganiot or jam-filled donuts. Latkes are topped with different toppings including applesauce and sour cream. Fritters are also a hit at this time. Foods made with cheese are also customary during this Jewish festival. The eating of cheese and other dairy products pays homage to Judith, a Jewish heroine who saved her people from the Syrians.

Children are treated to gifts of gelt, the Yiddish term for money. Chocolate gelts, which are round, flat chocolate encased in gold foil to resemble gold coins, are handed out to children. They may also receive nuts and raisins. Lately, families and friends exchange gifts during Hanukkah. This is not traditional because gifts are usually exchanged during a different Jewish celebration, Purim. The concept of gift giving is something new. Some say that the Christmas tradition of gift giving rubbed off on the Jews because Hanukkah falls within the Christmas holiday season.

The dreidel

“Sevinon” is the Hebrew equivalent of the Yiddish word dreidel. The definition of sevinon is “to turn around.” During Hanukkah, it is traditional to play with the dreidel, a toy that looks like a top with four sides. The dreidel is usually made from wood. Four Hebrew letters are found on the dreidel. The four letters on the four sides are: “nun,” “gimmel,” “hey” and “shin.” The dreidels used in Israel have the letter “peh” on it instead of “shin.” The English translation of what the letters stand for is: “A great miracle occurred there.” However, in Israel, the saying is: “A great miracle occurred here.”

One story about the dreidel tells about how the Jews used to play with the toy whenever Syrian soldiers enter their homes. Since practicing Judaism was outlawed, Syrian soldiers would often raid the homes of the Jews and check whether the Jews were following their laws. The Jews would grab a dreidel and pretend to play with it when in fact they were reading the Torah moments before the arrival of the soldiers. Other references refute this story. It is believed by some that the use of the dreidel came long after the Syrians were defeated.

Playing the dreidel

The basic game of dreidel is a gambling game. There is no limit to the number of players that can play. Each player has to have an equal number of items to use as game pieces. Some examples of game pieces are coins, food items (candies, nuts, raisins, etc.), matchsticks and chocolate gelts.

Players start by putting one item into the pot. The pot should never be empty so it is also necessary to add one item to the pot when someone wins all of its contents or when only one item is left in the pot. A player spins the dreidel and waits for it to stop. The letter that is facing up determines the action of the player.

If the player gets “nun” he does nothing because “nun” stands for “nisht” which in Yiddish means “nothing.” “Gimmel” stands for “gantz” which means “everything;” so, the player gets to empty the pot. “Hey” is “halb” or “half;” so the player collects half of what is in the pot. Finally, “shin,” which is on dreidels outside of Israel, stands for “shtel.” In Yiddish this means “to put in.” The player has to add one game piece to the pot. In Israel, “peh” is used in place of “shin,” which means “pay.”

Players with no items left can either make a “loan” from another player or opt out. When one player wins all the game items, the game is over.

Hanukkah and Christmas

Hanukkah is not a major event when taken in the context of the Jewish law. However, the Jewish community has embraced Hanukkah and made the festival very significant. It is a celebration of Judaism’s survival. It reminds Jewish adults about their deep faith and the big responsibility they have in terms of educating their children about the religion of the Jew.

Hanukkah, which falls around the Christmas holidays, should never be in competition with Christmas. It is not the Jew’s version of Christmas and there is no such thing as Chrisnukkah. Since Hanukkah is a minor holiday for the Jews, no one is asked to take a day off. But some Jews make it a point to go home early for the ritual lighting of the candles on the Hanukkah menorah.

It’s easy to get caught up in the spirit of the Christmas holidays even for Jews. But it is important to stay true to one’s faith. Hanukkah, like Christmas, can also be a fun and memorable time for the Jews without letting go of the true essence of the celebration. Hanukkah and Christmas, in a sense, are both festivals of lights. Hanukkah celebrates the ever-burning light of one’s faith. Christmas is about the birth of the light of the world in Jesus Christ.

Happy Hanukkah to Jews all over the world!

Day Translations Inc. and World Interpreting, Inc. can help you out of the dark when you need help in language translation or interpretation. Both companies offer high quality services that many top organizations and corporations rely on. E-mail them for your questions and inquiries.

Santa’s Not the Only Star of the Christmas Season

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:51:00 +0000

What?! There’s someone else aside from Santa? The most popular character during the holidays is Santa Claus. The jolly man in the red suit is known all over the globe as the man who knows when you have been naughty or nice. But apart from Santa, there are other popular characters that pop up during this festive time. Jolly St. Nick (the basis for the man in red, white and black, Santa Claus) shares the limelight with a few good and not so good characters this season. It’s time to find out who’s out during the Yuletide season.

The Devil

Yes, the devil is a popular character during Christmas. Surprising, huh? Not for the people of Guatemala. The most popular Christmas tradition involves toasting the devil into smithereens. After spending years hiding under beds or in piled up junk and casting all sorts of bad luck and misfortune on unsuspecting mortals, the devil finally gets what’s coming to him. Guatemalans have a date with the devil each year at exactly 6 p.m. of December 7. Effigies or images of the devil are thrown out of dwellings together with the trash. The effigies are set afire in the tradition known as Quema del Diablo or Burning of the Devil. This seemingly un-Christmassy custom is actually how the Guatemalans start their Christmas season. The burning of the devil and the trash serves as a form of purification, a depiction of good’s triumph over evil. Children are delighted with the tradition and participate by lighting the bonfire or setting off a firecracker or two. Quema del Diablo is a celebration like no other.

In Europe, a devil-like figure also makes his appearance during the yuletide season. Krampus is the counterpart of St. Nicholas or St. Nick as he is fondly called. In Europe, pre-Christian traditions intermingle with modern customs that make for an interesting holiday season. Customs that were introduced in the Middle Ages continue to be observed in modern Europe but with a twist. A number of European countries have their own antithesis to St. Nick. Krampus is popular in Middle European as well as Alpine countries. Other devil-like figures exist during the holidays. These devil-like figures like Krampus are known for dealers of punishment when good children go bad. Sometimes, instead of leaving nice gifts in nicely hung Christmas stockings, Krampus will put lumps of coals instead. Throughout the years, parents have used the image and idea of Krampus to frighten their children into becoming well-behaved kids.

Colonel Sanders

You got it right! It’s Col. Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame that is being referred to here. In Japan, Santa shares the spotlight with the man all in white. Christmas is a Christian religious celebration. Only less than 1% of the people of Japan are Christians. The rest of the Japanese practice other religions. But this does not stop the Japanese, who love festivals and celebrations, from enjoying Christmas.

Since the Japanese celebrate Christmas in a very commercial way, KFC saw this as an opportunity to up their sales during the ultimate holidays. The company launched a successful advertising campaign back in the early 70s. The Christmas Chicken Dinner was at the center of this marketing campaign. In 1974, the KFC Christmas meal was born. It consisted of chicken and wine and sold for around US $10, quite a hefty price. Still, this campaign created a new Japanese Christmas tradition.

The Japanese were made to believe that the chicken dinner was the meal of choice for Christmas and not turkey or ham. Today, millions of Japanese pre-order KFC meals to make sure their Christmas dinner is always complete. Long lines form outside KFC stores around Japan with eager Japanese waiting to get their hands on Col. Sander’s famous chicken with 11 herbs and spices. Japanese Christmas = KFC.

The Dead and the Three Kings

Portuguese celebrate the birth of Christ Jesus and remembers their dearly departed at the same time. On December 25, as families gather for dinner, they make sure that the alminhas a pehar or “souls of the dead” also have their own place on the dining table. They believe that serving their departed loved ones food will ensure good fortune and good luck in the coming future. This holiday tradition is called Consoada or Consoda.

Apart from the dearly departed, the Three Kings are also part of the Portuguese tradition. Instead of Santa, the Three Kings are known to be the gift givers during this season. Once the children have their gifts, families come together for the Consoada to eat and be merry, sharing the feast with family and friends, both in the flesh and in spirit.

The Witch of Christmas

La Befana is older than Babbo Natale (the Italian moniker for Santa Claus). While Babbo Natale only made his appearance after the second World War, La Befana has been around for centuries. Since the 13th century, La Befana, said to look like an old witch with hunched shoulders, a big red nose and a face/body covered with soot, has been part of the Italian Christmas tradition. Le Befana is often pictured wearing a black shawl or a jacket with colorful patches and having a broomstick. She was said to have joined the Three Wise Men in looking for the baby Jesus. Although she declined the invitation at first saying she was swamped with chores, Le Befana decided to follow the Wise Men. Unfortunately, she never caught up with the Wise Men and never found the baby Jesus.

Each year, on the 12th night of Christmas, which is traditionally the 5th of January the Eve of the Epiphany, Italians expect La Befana to travel on her broomstick to go from house to house in search for the baby Jesus. She would enter houses through chimneys bringing candy (“caramelle”) or fruit to good children and onions, garlic or black coal to naughty ones. Gifts of toys and other things may also in La Befana’s bag. Children leave not milk and cookies but wine and a plate of food popular in the region for La Befana. Kids also write her letters hoping to get something good in their stockings the morning after the 5th of January.

St. Nicholas’ Angels

The day of gift giving in the Ukraine is on St. Nicholas Day. Angels accompany St. Nicholas, who is also the patron saint of children. When he arrives on December 6 each year, St. Nicholas is seen dressed in a red Byzantine bishop’s attire. The angels that accompany the saint often test the Ukrainian children’s knowledge of catechism. The test is the prelude to gift giving.

Black Pete

In Belgium and the Netherlands, St. Nicholas (“Sinterklaas” in Dutch) is not assisted by angels but by Zwarte Piet or “Black Pete.” According to Dutch legend, Zwarte Piet is the African or Moorish slave whose task is to abduct naughty children so he can bring them to Spain. To the Dutch at that time, Spain was as wicked a place as hell. Of course today, Zwarte Piet’s image is more politically correct. Zwarte Piet makes his appearance on the feast day of St. Nicholas that falls on December 5 in the Netherlands and December 6 in Belgium. Together, they distribute presents and sweets to children who made it to the “nice” list.

For Christians throughout the world, the real symbol of Christmas is not Santa Claus but the newborn child, Jesus Christ. They believe that Jesus Christ is the true gift giver and that the gifts He bears are more important than material gifts. During the holiday season, remember that beyond the glitter and the sparkle, the tinsel and the tassel, beyond the ho-ho-hos and the sleigh rides is the message of peace, love and charity for the whole of humanity. Let this Christmas season be the best for you, your loved ones and the rest of the world!

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!

The best gift you can receive from Day Translations Inc. or World Interpreting, Inc. is a perfectly translated or interpreted work. Whether it’s a regular week or the holidays, these sister companies are staffed with professionals that are waiting to give you their best anytime of the day. Contact them now for any of your translation or interpretation needs.

Spreading the Christmas Spirit Through the Five Languages of Love

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:59:00 +0000

It’s Christmas time once again. Although Christmas is rooted on a Christian event, the birth of Jesus Christ, Christians and many non-Christians get into the spirit of the holidays in more ways than one. Christmas is a time to be with loved ones whether they be family or friends. It’s a time for endless Christmas get-togethers, from big blown out parties and family reunions to small intimate meals or drinks with close friends that have not seen each other for a long time.

Christmas is a time to dust up different holiday traditions, of which there are many. The traditions during this holiday season vary according to a particular race, their locations, their Christian religious affiliation and their overall beliefs. For example, some have a white Christmas because of the presence of snow while others have a more tropics inspired celebration. Some put up decorations a day before Christmas while other start Christmas in September. Yes, September. As soon as the “ber” months (months whose names end with the letter “b-e-r”) start, Christmas carols are played on radio stations across the Philippines signaling the start of preparations for the holidays.

Giving gifts is an important tradition for the young and old alike. Businesses make a killing during this time of year. And it seem that Christmas becomes more and more commercialized and a tad impersonal as the years go by. Stores all over the world create gimmicks; go on sale or offer discounts a few weeks before Christmas to make sure they can catch early buyers.

But are material gifts really the only gifts to give during Christmas? What if you gave gifts not based on what you can financially afford to give but on what the receiver really wants to get. Why not give gifts according to a person’s language of love?

Languages of Love

Dr. Gary Chapman coined “The 5 Love Languages,” which was a result of his years of playing marriage counselor to various types of couples. In his book about the subject, he said that each person has his or her own language of love and that there is no one language. You cannot put love into one category because each person looks for something different. Dr. Chapman said that the secret to a successful relationship is by learning the correct language of love.

The five languages of love according to Chapman are below. These are the categories that define how a person feels that he is loved and cared for by another person.

• Words of Affirmation – getting encouragement through kind words
• Quality Time - receiving undivided attention
• Receiving Gifts – getting thoughtful gifts rather than mere tokens
• Acts of Service – when someone does something for you that you normally do yourself or do not expect
• Physical Touch – receiving loving touches that encourage you or make you feel secure and loved

For a relationship to survive, Dr. Chapman believes that a person has to be clear on the language of love of his partner because this is how his partner understands what it means to be loved. A person can have more than one language of love.

Using the five languages of love during Christmastime

So how does this relate to the tradition of giving during Christmas? You can base your gifts according to what a person’s language of love is. If you know exactly the person’s language of love, then your gift will definitely be appreciated.

Words of Affirmation
If a person feels loved when she hears encouraging words, then during Christmas, pick up the phone and call her instead of sending an e-mail, an e-card, a text, a tweet, an IM or any other impersonal way of communicating your thoughts and wishes for this time of year. Having a good conversation peppered with reassuring words can perk up the holiday spirits of people who see love in words of affirmation. If having a verbal conversation is difficult for you, write a well thought out letter instead.

Quality Time
Everyone seems to be in a frenzy during the holiday season. If you know someone who likes spending time with you, then by all means, give her the gift of your undivided attention. Physical presence is important for people who see love in spending quality time with people they cherish. So, have a meal with a friend or visit a family member during the holidays. While you are with that person, make sure to take yourself off the grid. Put off your smartphones and other gadgets. Make yourself available only to the person you are with. The time you invest will surely be appreciated for a long time.

Receiving Gifts
According to Dr. Chapman, this particular language of love has nothing to do with being materialistic. It is about thoughtfulness more than anything else. The effort put forth by the giver of the gift is more important than the actual gift and most especially the cost of the gift. So give a gift that you know the receiver will truly appreciate. Give one that the recipient can use instead of token gifts that end up being re-gifted or stocked in the garage. This particular language of love is powerful when used the right way.

Acts of Service
Children use this language of love well. Because they often cannot afford gifts, they instead make breakfast for their parents or clean the car. These are simple but powerful expressions of their love. Adults can likewise use this love language effectively. Reach out to someone whom you know would appreciate help at home, in the office or elsewhere. Offer to do some of that person’s responsibilities during the holidays. For example, ask if you can help someone decorate her home, deliver gifts for her, or help her prepare for an event. If the person understands love this way, an act of service to that person can go a long way compared to a sweater or a pair of shoes.

Physical Touch
Physical touch is not to be taken just in the romantic sense. It goes beyond what happens inside the bedroom. In fact, it is not connected to sexual intimacy. Physical touch is more about encouragement and support. There are some people that require only a hug or a pat on the back to know that they are appreciated, valued or loved. Within this language of love, a simple touch on the shoulder or arm can already make a big difference. This Christmastime let someone know he is doing a good job by patting him on the back. When a family member hugs you, make sure you hug back.

Dr. Chapman’s five languages of love are universal. They know no race, creed or religion. Everyone can identify with one or more of the language of love categories. This Christmas, don’t get caught up with commercialism and materialism. Instead, think deep. Ask yourself what the languages of love of the people important to you are. Once you know which languages they speak, use them instead of buying token gifts or sending impersonal greetings this holiday season.

Happy Holidays!

Day Translations, Inc. and World Interpreting, Inc. care for all their clients all year round. Both companies give their clients the gift of impeccable translation and interpretation services. They know your language. Contact them to find out what they can do for you.

Thank You O’ Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 23:54:00 +0000

The United States of America and Canada share the continent of North America. These two countries are divided by a land border to the northwest and to the south of the continent. Referred to as the International Boundary, this is the longest border in the whole world. Alaska, which belongs to the US, lies alone on the northwest corner of the continent. Thirteen US states share the International Boundary with 8 Canadian provinces/territories. Of the two countries, Canada is bigger than the US. In fact, it is the 2nd largest country in the world while the US ranks 3rd.

A federal state, Canada is under a parliamentary democracy. It is also under a constitutional monarchy with Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II as the current head of state. Canada is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Although the US is still the most admired country among all countries across the globe (this according to the annual GfK Roper Public Affairs & Corporate Communications report), there is much to be admired about Canada, which incidentally also made it to the top 10 list of admired nations. One of the things Americans probably wished they had in the US Canadian citizens enjoy is universal healthcare. President Barack Obama’s health care bill is yet to materialize in a concrete way.

The country, which sports a red maple leaf on its flag, is often the butt of jokes by comedians and entertainers in the US Americans who are not shy about poking fun at Canadians once in a while. What are never mentioned in their digs are the things that Canada has contributed to the world. To jog everyone’s memory, here are but a few Canadian contributions that the world now benefits from.

Communications

Walkie-talkie
In 1937, Canadian Donald Lewes Hings debuted his “packset” which journalists eventually referred to as the walkie-talkie. Hings’ creation was a portable voice radio used by employees of his employer, Consolidated Mining, during trips into the wilderness. It was easy to find the communication device because it was a very bright yellow thing. It was also watertight and could float. With a folding antenna and a 130-mile range, the device proved useful for the company. When World War II came, his “packset” became an important means of communication for military personnel in the battlefield. Hings developed a newer model that was called the “Handy-Talkie.” This was used by the military in 1942. King George VI bestowed an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) on Hings after the war for his contribution and service to the British Empire.

Citizens' Band and pager
Like Hings, Al Gross is also Canadian. In 1938, he patented his own walkie-talkie soon after Hings developed his own in 1937. Aside from his version of the potable communication device, he also invented the CB or Citizens’ Band and the telephone pager. Gross, through his company, came up with a two-way communications system that could utilize the first radio frequencies that the FCC allocated for personal use. In 1948, the FCC approved his system and he sold thousands of units to different groups including the US Coast Guard. In 1949, he tweaked his two-way radio and produced a one-way remote telephonic signaling system. This turned out to be the original telephone pager system.

BlackBerry
One of the most popular smartphones in the market is the BlackBerry. Not many owners of this brand of smartphones probably know that the BlackBerry was born in Canada, in a company called Research In Motion or RIM in 1999. Since its initial launch, the BlackBerry has captured the business market by storm. Even personal users swear by this hi-tech phone. This Canadian export has standard cellular features and then some. Its mobile e-mail and instant messaging capabilities are the most widely used features. RIM knows how to innovate; thus, it continues to give the competition a run for the smartphone users’ money. The BlackBerry will surely continue to be one of Canada’s best exports for many years.

Sports and Games

Basketball
If you think that basketball was invented in the United States, you are right! But like lacrosse (Canada’s national sport), it was a Canadian that invented one of the most played sports in the world. This team sport, sometimes referred to as “hoops” or “b-ball,” was first played at Springfield College (Massachusetts), then known as the International Young Men's Christian Association Training School or YMCA, in December of 1891. Physical education professor Dr. James Naismith wanted his students to play an indoor game that would keep them active even during the cold winter months. After much thought and sifting through ideas, he came up with the beginnings of basketball. Naismith nailed a peach basket (with its bottom intact) to the wall and instructed players to throw balls into the basket. Because there was no hole in the basket, if a player was successful in shooting the ball into the basket, the ball had to be retrieved manually. In time, the bottom of the basket was removed. Naismith came up with very basic rules for the game and the rest was history.

Trivial Pursuit
In 1979, a sports editor and a photo editor, with the help of two other people, developed a game that soon became one of the most popular board games of all time. Chris Haney, the photo editor of The Gazette (Montreal) and Scott Abbott, the sports editor of The Canadian Press, came up with a game that required players to scour the depths of their brains for answers to questions under different categories such as general knowledge, science, history and literature. The game, created with Ed Werner’s and John Haney’s help, was released in Canada in 1982. Today, there are many different types of Trivial Pursuit games catering to a wide variety of players. Aside from the traditional board game style, online and mobile versions are also available. Trivial Pursuit is now produced by Parker Brothers, a subsidiary of Hasbro.

Science and Medicine

Electron microscope
In laboratories across the globe, electron microscopes are put to work day in and day out. Electron microscopes are largely used today for observing microscopic specimens like cells, microbes, large molecules, metals, crystals and other biological as well as inorganic specimens. This type of microscope uses electron beams to illuminate specimens in order to produce magnified images. Electron microscopes are more powerful than their light-powered optical cousins. A number of scientists are credited with the invention of the electron microscope. But the world has the following Canadians to thank for putting together a practical electron microscope back in 1938: Professor E. F. Burton, students James, Hillier, Cecil Hall, and Albert Prebus.

Pacemaker
The first cardiac pacemaker is credited to Canadian John Hopps. While he was with the National Research Council of Canada back in 1941, he discovered through his research on hypothermia that if the human heart ceased beating because of cooling, it can be artificially stimulated to restart again via electrical or mechanical means. The device he invented was an external pacemaker because it was too big to be placed inside the body. Hopps invented a device that has literally saved and continue to save many lives.

Motorized wheelchair
Many engineers from around the world attempted to create an electric or motorized wheelchair. But the motorized wheelchairs that many of these engineers made were too dangerous to use or they were impractical. Fortunately for Canada, the one who succeeded in giving wheelchair-bound people a new lease on life was George Klein, who, like Hopps, was with the National Research Council. Klein, together with his team, invented the first-ever practical motorized wheelchair in 1952. World War II veterans who were paralyzed from injuries sustained during the war were able to benefit from the improvements that Klein’s team made on the earlier designs of motorized wheelchairs. To this day, motorized wheelchairs continue to improve the quality of like of many people across the globe.

Everyday Things

Snowmobile
The first patent for a snowmobile was given in 1927 to an American from Wisconsin named Carl. J. Eliason. His machine was called a “snowmachine” and not a snowmobile. Other inventors also contributed to the genesis of the snowmobile in its various forms and stages. But it was Canadian Joseph-Armand Bombardier, a Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Famer, who was bestowed the title of Father of Snowmobiling. He developed the type of snowmobile that is mostly in use today.

Electric oven
A number of historians give credit to Canadian Thomas Ahearn for the invention of the electric oven. This was in 1882. Working with Warren Soper, his business partner, their electric oven was put to use 10 years after. According to newspapers reports back then, Ahearn’s electric oven, which was made of bricks, was “hot enough to roast an ox.”

Wonderbra
For women who value their body image, they have a Canadian to thank for named Louise Poirier. The Wonderbra has been around for many years before it exploded in the market in the 1990s. It was reintroduced to the American market in 1994 by Sara Lee Corporation, which redesigned the inner garment for the current market. A Canadian lingerie company called Canadelle developed this innovative brassiere in Canada. The company’s Wonderbra Model 1330, which came out in the 60s, is almost identical to the Wonderbra of today.

Canadians on the Big and the Small Screen

Singers and musicians
Canadians know how to make music. A number of well-known singers and musicians hail from Canada and many of them have won music awards in and outside of Canada. A few even bagged multiple Grammy Awards, the most sought-after awards in the music industry. Different generations of music lovers have their own favorite Canadian singers, songwriters and all around musicians. A few of the Canadians that made it big from different eras are: Paul Anka, David Foster, Paul Shafer, Neil Young, Celine Dion, Byran Adams, Joni Mitchell, Shanai Twain, Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé, Avril Lavigne and of course, Justin Beiber. Some of the popular music groups and bands from Canada are Barenaked Ladies, Simple Plan, and Crash Test Dummies.

Thespians
Many thespians born in Canada have made their mark in Hollywood and around the globe. A number of them have won acting awards from prestigious award giving bodies including but not limited to the Oscars, the Emmy’s, and the Tony’s. Generations of moviegoers have enjoyed the performances of Canadians Raymond Burr, Glenn Ford, Christopher Plummer, Donald Sutherland, Keifer Sutherland, William Shatner, Anna Paquin, Sandra Oh, Keanu Reeves, Matt Frewer, Eric McCormack, Nathan Fillion, Kim Catrall, Tom Cavanagh, Michael Cera, Rachel McAdams, Dean McDermott, and Ellen Page

Funny and entertaining comedians
No one can say that Canadians don’t have a sense of humor. Canadians can surely make other people laugh, and more importantly, they know how to laugh at themselves. Many mainstream Hollywood comedians hail from Canada and among them are Dan Akroyd, John Candy, Martin Short, Leslie Nielsen, Rick Moranis, Howie Mandell, Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, Michael J. Fox, Will Arnet, Seth Rogan, and Catherine O’Hara.

Eye candies
Women swoon when they hear the names Ryan Gosling and Ryan Reynolds. Both are Canadians but only Ryan Reynolds has been bestowed the title Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine. This was back in 2010. For this year’s list, a controversy has broken out. Fans are demanding to know why Ryan Gosling was not given the honor. Instead, this year’s Sexiest Man Alive according to People Magazine is Bradley Cooper. A video of Cooper speaking fluent French in an interview (which incidentally went viral) may have something to do with his earning the title because many female hearts melted when they saw the video. Maybe the persons behind the annual list do not know that Gosling also speaks French.

Journalists and hosts
Canadian journalists have managed to penetrate the American news scene. The biggest name is Peter Jennings who was ABC’s news anchor since 1965 up to his death in 2005. He was part of the triumvirate of great news anchors on American television. The two others were Dan Rather of CBS and Tom Brokaw of NBC.

The name Alex Trebek is synonymous to the game show Jeopardy. No one can host that cerebral game show better than Trebek. He has been with the show since 1984.

Canada’s history in terms of inventions, innovations and contributions is long and hard. Canadians take credit for many other inventions like the zipper, the Robertson screw, the telephone, IMAX, the process of making kerosene, five pin bowling, and the goalie mask. To this day, Canada’s brightest and most talented citizens are still hard at work to make like easier, safer, more entertaining and happier not just for their fellow citizens but for everyone on the planet.

Canadians are one of the happiest people in the world. If you have documents that need interpretation or you are looking for someone to translate for you, contact Day Translations, Inc. or World Interpreting, Inc. They provide high quality services that will make you as happy as people who call Canada their home.

Laughter – A Universal Language

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:11:00 +0000

Ha-ha-ha, hi-hi-hi, tee-hee-hee, bwah-hah-hah, yuk-yuk-yuk-yuk-yuk, mu-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha….these are just some of the different sounds people make when they laugh. Of course the last one sounds more like malevolent laughter that comes out of an evil character’s mouth; but it is still laughter just the same. Some believe that laughter is the universal language of man. Regardless of race or creed, everyone enjoys a good laugh.

Laughter is the sound one makes as a reaction to a particular stimulus. Usually, it comes about due to amusement and during merriment. It is also common for people to laugh as a result of stress, fear or nervousness. Laughter is one faculty that some human’s use to regain balance when there is anxiety, tension, or pressure around them. Hyenas use laughter this way, too.

The sound of laughter can range from the quiet, almost silent, shy laugh to a really loud, belly-bursting kind of laugh. It can be caused by a joke, a tickle, a visual stimuli or a memory. And when one person laughs in a group, others may catch it like a bug and cause the whole room to explode in glee. Some even say that laughter is therapeutic in different ways. But is it really a form of language?

How can laughter be a language when there are no words?

There are several definitions of the word “language.” One definition states that language pertains to words, how these words are pronounced, and the way they are used or combined so that they can be understood. Another definition of language is an organized way of communicating a person’s ideas or feelings through signs, marks, gestures, and sounds that have defined meanings. Language can be a nonverbal way of communication using facial expressions and gestures. Language is therefore not only about words that mean something. Language refers to ways humans and animals communicate with their own species and with other species as well.

An example of a language that uses no words is body language. This language uses a person’s gestures and movements to communicate feelings and thoughts to others. Even if a person does not say anything, his current state of mind can be deciphered by observing the person. For instance, when a man closes or folds his arms while listening to another person, this is seen as a sign that he is not open to what the other person is saying. Facial expressions easily reflect how a person feels. The eyes especially can convey sadness, joy, fear and other emotions that are easy to figure out.

So, since gestures and facial expressions are considered a form of language even if words are not involved, why not laughter? Laughter expresses or communicates thoughts and feelings, too. When you see or hear someone laughing, you know that at that precise moment, that person is happy or full of glee; that he has heard, seen, thought or felt something that made him laugh. You understand that he is in an amused, happy, joyful, gleeful or tickled pink state of mind.

Is laughter universal?

Of course it is. Studies have been conducted wherein the subjects are groups of people belonging to different races and different lifestyles. These subjects know little about each other’s way of life, their language and their backgrounds. But their reactions to certain situations are similar. People are able to understand the emotions being projected by other races because there are basic facial expressions and vocalizations shared by all humans.

When one is sad, he may shed tears, sob, or bawl. A person’s eyes may look livid and menacing when he is angry; some even grunt when they are mad. Amusement or joy is projected by a smile. And when something is funny, people, regardless of race, laugh in varying ways depending on how funny the situation is. In fact, in the early days of cinema, people only watched silent movies. Even without knowing the dialogue between the actors, the viewers know when to laugh. The movies of actors like Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy were popular worldwide because their brand of comedy was easily understood. They made peoples of different races laugh out loud.

Laughter and the human body

Try this: observe a person who is laughing. Which parts of his body move? When someone is laughing his mouth usually moves, his eyes may crinkle, and his cheekbones become more prominent. Laughter sounds may escape his throat. His neck and maybe his shoulders may move as well. If someone is laughing really, really hard, his arms and legs may join in the fray. Some people slap their thighs, move their upper body forwards and backwards, literally shake all over, or even shed tears as they burst into uncontrollable laughter.

According to studies, the facial muscles stretch and so do other muscles in the body particularly in the abdomen. That’s why some people say that their “tummy hurts” from laughing. Laughter may cause pulse rate and blood pressure to go up. Hearty, belly laughs can even cause palpitations in some people. Breathing often becomes faster and gasping for air is not uncommon during fits of laughter. It is normal for the lachrymal glands to activate causing tearing or crying in some individuals.

A good laugh is like a mild workout. It can increase the heart rate in a good way. One research has shown that laughing for 10 – 15 minutes burned around 50 calories. While another research suggested that a minute of hearty laugher can increase the heart rate of the person to a level that is equal to 10 minutes of rowing on a rowing machine. Of course it is not possible to replace exercise with laughter.

Why can you not tickle yourself?

The most ticklish areas of the human body are: underarms, ribs, soles of the feet, palms of the hand, waist, and neck area. A person can try his best to tickle himself but chances are the whole exercise will not result in any form of laughter. Even if that person is really ticklish and attempts to tickle himself in the same areas of his body that are ticklish, he still won’t be able to make himself laugh. This is because, according to certain studies, tickling can only work if there is tension and surprise, which can only be provided by another person or in some cases, even a pet.

When the element of surprise is not there, then the body sees no reason to laugh. Plus, tickling is a sensory thing. When one laughs because he is being tickled, he is reacting to someone else’s touch. Of course not everyone laughs when tickled. Some people can control their reaction to being tickled by sheer mind over matter; while others simply erupt into uncontrollable laughter. Why spend time trying to tickle yourself when someone else can do a better job than you.

Is laughter really a form of medicine?

The jury is still out when it comes to this statement. But some studies have shown that laughter is good for the heart. It was found out that laughter increases blood flow in the body, reduces inflammation and decreases platelet aggregation. A good laugh can lower stress hormones. When a person laughs, the brain releases endorphins, which help lessen physical pain. It is also said to boost the production of cells that create anti-bodies and improves the efficiency of T-cells making the immune system stronger. Scientists continue to study the physiological and psychological effects of humor and laughter on the human body. This field of study is called gelotology.

In the meantime, many people are cashing in on laughter. There are laughing clinics, laughter yoga classes, and laugh therapy sessions. People are taught how to laugh and how to harness the positive effects of laughter. At present, research on whether laughter has a significant impact on health is still unclear but this is not stopping people from attending sessions where they let it all out and have a great laugh.

Are the hyenas really laughing?

It was mentioned earlier that hyenas laugh during stressful situations. Spotted hyenas in particular let out nervous laughter when these animals are agitated. Laughter-like outbursts often erupt during feeding frenzies especially when a pack of hyenas are enjoying a freshly slaughtered carcass. Peals of laughter emanate from the pack. It is a type of vocal response, a language if you will, understood by members of the pack. The laughing sound that hyenas make is part of their specie’s social structure just like human laughter is part of man’s. Laughter is a language that communicates something to the group.

So if you are having a bad day, feeling down, stressed out, under the weather or simply bored to death, find something to laugh about. Watch your favorite comedian do his bit or view the latest comedy on film, TV or the Internet, read something humorous or play tickle with someone you love. Remember that laughter is contagious so spread this universal language around. You don’t need to go to a language school to learn how to laugh. The ability to laugh is inborn and a great way to put people at ease.

It is no laughing matter if the translation or interpretation of your work goes awry. Count on Day Translations, Inc. and World Interpreting, Inc. to do the best job they can do for you. They take their translation and interpretation jobs seriously.

Switzerland’s Romansh, Struggling to Survive

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 09:54:00 +0000

Apart from German, French and Italian, Switzerland has another national language that many people across the globe have never heard of. This language, which originated from Latin, is called Romansh. Romansh is also known by these names: Romansch, Rumantsch, Romanche and Rhaeto-Romansch. In Switzerland, speakers of this unfamiliar language account for about less than 1% of the whole population of the country.

Accounts on how many actually speak Romansh vary. Some statistics indicate there are around 50,000 – 70,000 speakers while others peg the number of speakers to 30,000 plus. Another source says that in Switzerland, the language is understood by more than 100,000 people and that 75,000 speak it regularly while 40,000 refer to it as their main language. Majority of Romansh speakers live in eastern Switzerland, specifically in the canton of Graubünden/Grisons. Graubünden is a trilingual canton. German and Italian are the two other languages in use in the canton.

Historical Background

The oral form of Romansh is believed to be based on what is known as Vulgar Latin. Vulgar Latin is often referred to as “People’s Latin.” The Romansh language, which dates back to roughly 1,5000 years, was influenced by Celtic, Etruscan and other languages that were spoken in the area of Grisons by early settlers.

If you are under the impression that Romansh is one language, it is not. It is actually an umbrella term that lumps into one group several similar or related dialects or idioms spoken in the southern region of Switzerland. These related dialects, which include the five idioms of Surmiran, Sutsilvan, Sursilvan, Vallader and Putur, all come from the Rhaeto-Romance language family.

There are articles that state that in print, this largely unfamiliar language first appeared in the 1552 catechism called Christiauna fuorma, which was written by Jacob Bifrun. By 1560, a Romansh translation of the New Testament was printed. However, it is not stated which of the dialects under the Romansh umbrella were used in these written works.

In 1938, Switzerland formally recognized Romansh as a national language. However, Romansh is not one of Switzerland’s official languages. Only German, French and Italian are considered official languages of the country.

By 1996, a referendum paved the way for the Constitution’s amendment giving Romansh official language status for issues and affairs concerning Romansh-speakers. The promotion and safeguarding of Romansh as well as Italian was included in the amendment. Cultural exchange between German, French, Italian and Romansh was provided for.

In 1982, Heinrich Schmid, a Zurich-based linguist, was credited with nationally standardizing Romansh. Rumantsch Grischun or ‘Romansh of Grisons’ or RG was the name given to the standardized language that was being promoted by the umbrella organization Lia Rumantscha. Under Lia Rumantscha are different Romansh associations. Unfortunately, the standardized Romansh was, and still is, not widely accepted (see Controversy).

In the 2004 Federal Law on National Languages, the use and promotion of Romansh was further encouraged. Its use in education, culture, science and technology was supported.

Romansh in Media

The Swiss Broadcasting Company has shown support to Switzerland’s fourth language by establishing a Romansh unit called Radio e Televisiun Rumantscha (RTR). The TV unit produces a news programme, a children’s show and a cultural programme in Romansh. The shows can be seen on the German language television channel as well as on the French and Italian channels. Subtitles are provided accordingly. On radio, Radio Rumantsch broadcasts programs in Romansh around the clock.
The Agentura da Novitads Rumantscha publishes La Quotidiana, a daily newspaper in Romansh. Punts is a magazine in Romansh for the younger generation.

Controversy

Unfortunately, there is an ever-growing dissent among speakers of the five idioms against standardized Romansh. Since there are five main idioms spoken in the canton, the government saw it fit to create one Romansh language so that people of different dialects can better understand each other. The standardization was supposed to make things easier for the government and the people. Having a standardized form rather than five idioms will save money for the canton, as this will make translations costs lower. Just imagine how much money would be needed if the government had to print official forms, announcements, correspondence, schoolbooks, and other materials in five different idioms of Romansh.

Sad to say, the plan is backfiring. Romansh speakers are divided rather than united under what is perceived as a “bastard language.” The government has shelled out roughly $2,450 for each child enrolled in village schools just so these schools do away with teaching dialects and instead convert to the standard form of Romansh. This has been going on since 2003. Aside from having schoolbooks written in RG, the government went as far as publishing Romansh cartoons in order to entice the younger generation to speak and embrace the standardized Romansh language. By 2020, the government expects the dialects to be phased out

At present, administrators, teachers and parents are having a hard time adopting RG because the local dialect is still in use. There is continued opposition to RG to this day. Pro-Idioms was founded in February by a former official from Zernez, a tiny town in Graubünden. Domenic Toutsch, the founder, wants to push the powers-that-be to get rid of RG. The group is lobbying for the return of schoolbooks not written in RG but rather in the traditional dialects. Aside from Pro-Idioms, there are other groups that are doing their share in bringing back the local dialects into the school system and elsewhere. Of course Graubünden officials are working towards a compromise, or even several, to say the least.

Romansh at the Liet International Song Contest

In this year’s Liet International Song Contest, 22-year old Rezia Ladina, a singer and songwriter from Lower Engadine, sang ‘Id es capital’ or ‘It Happened’ in Romansh. This vocal tilt is a Eurovision-like song contest where all songs entries should be in one of the many minority or endangered languages in Europe. Some examples of these languages are Udmurt, Sami, Vespian, Ladin, Asturian, Burgenland-Croatian and Frisian.

Early this year, Ladina won the first national Romansh regional singing competition making her Switzerland’s representative to the Europe-wide singing tilt. Ladina placed seventh overall. The contest was held in Udine, Italy where Friulan is the minority language. Friulan and Romansh belong to the same romance language family. Although Ladina did not win, she said that she will continue to sing in Romansh and hopes that lovers of Swiss music will begin to “seek out Romansh music.”

Only time will tell whether Romansh Grischun survives. The problem in the region of Graubünden is a very emotional one since what is in the middle of the maelstrom is language. Language is in the hearts and minds of its native speakers. The mother tongue forms part of a people’s identity. Attempting to suppress the mother tongue and replacing it with something unacceptable to the people is a recipe for disaster. Change is always scary but inevitable. If change is necessary, then there is a need to work together as a community to come up with acceptable ways to make this change happen.

The only changes you can expect from Day Translations, Inc. and World Interpreting, Inc. are positive ones. They can help change your life by providing you with top notch, high quality and exact interpretation or translation services. Call or e-mail them today to make change happen.

KOREA: Hangul and the Great Man Who Created It

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:51:00 +0000

Hangul or Hangeul is the name of the alphabet used by both North and South Koreans today. Many language experts consider Hangul as a highly efficient writing system. Easy to master, when it was first put to use, Hangul was made up of 28 letters. Today’s Hangul only uses 24 letters. Even with the diminished amount of letters, this Korean script is able to communicate anything and everything that Koreans want to express on paper.

The history surrounding this Korean script is quite interesting. Hangul was invented in the royal court of the Choson Dynasty by one of its royals. The creator/promulgator was not just any royalty; he was known as “a great” royal. Koreans owe their native alphabet to King Sejong the Great.

Hangul and its history

Hunmin chong-um, sometimes spelled as Hunminjeongeum, was the original name of Hangul, Korea’s native script. It was created between the years 1443 to 1444 and then proclaimed by the court as the first Korean alphabet in 1446. Other monikers for Hunmin chong-um were Eonmeun or vulgar script and Gukmeun or national writing. Eonmeun was a name given by the intelligentsia because the alphabet was created more for the common people than the educated and the elite. The literal meaning of Hunmin chong-um is “the correct sounds for the instruction of the people” or “right sound to teach people of the nation.”

Before Hangul, Koreans were using Hanja, which was built on Chinese characters. The elite and the educated were well versed in Hanja because they had the means and the access to learning this script. The lower classes, which did not have access to Confucian education, struggled to learn, much less understand Hanja and thus found it difficult to express themselves in writing. Enter the new Korean alphabet, Hangul.

When Hangul was introduced, it featured a block style of writing. Each block had one consonant, at the very least, and one vowel. The blocks were penned in vertical columns to be read from top to bottom. But since its initial introduction, Hangul has morphed in different ways because of the needs of the times. For example, it is common practice to write horizontally beginning at the left side. And, it has also incorporated some Western practices in terms of spacing, punctuation, and grammar.

When Hangul was promulgated, it faced a mountain of opposition from Korean Confucian scholars as well as from the literary elite. These groups believed that only Hanja was acceptable as Korea’s writing system. The distaste and displeasure for the new Korean alphabet by those loyal to the use of Hanja continued on even after its creator, King Sejong passed away. King Yeonsangun, tenth king of the Choson Dynasty, for instance, forbade the people from studying or using Hangul. All Hangul documents were banned in 1504. Another king, King Jungjong, abolished what was known then as the Ministry of Eonmun in 1506. This was a government institution focused on Hangul research.

By the late 16 century and into the 17th century, the country saw a revival of Hangul as it found its use into literature. By the 19th century, during the occupation of Korea by Japanese forces, Hangul was pushed forward by the Japanese in order to sever China’s influence on Korea. From 1894 onwards, official documents, textbooks, newspapers and other written materials featured Hangul characters. However, many of the literary elite still used Chinese characters and a vast number of Koreans remained uneducated during this time.

In 1910, the Japanese were in control of Korea. For the first time in Korea’s history, the Japanese ordered mandatory attendance to public school for Korean children. The children were finally taught Hangul in a formal setting. However, in 1938, the Japanese colonizers banned Korean language from schools. Furthermore, publications written in Korean language were outlawed. This was part of Japan’s attempt to culturally assimilate the Koreans. After the independence of Korea from Japan, Hangul was adopted as the official script of the peninsula.

The Hangul that is in use today is a combination of 14 consonants and 10 vowels. Hanja is still around as both North and South Korea continue to educate their children on the Chinese based script. In South Korea, Hanja is still featured on some official documents. Both North and South Korea celebrate Hangul Day. In North Korea, the celebration falls on January 15 of each year. While in South Korea, October 9 has been designated as Hangul Day.

Hangul’s creator, King Sejong

King Sejong was born on May 6, 1397. He became Grand Prince Chungnyeong when he reached the age of 12. Sejong was the third son of King Taejong of the Choson (Joseon or Chosun) Dynasty. Because of his innate intelligence, the young prince excelled in different fields of study. It was said that his father greatly favored him over his other siblings. Taejong’s eldest son even believed that Sejong would make a better king than he. So, Sejong’s eldest brother acted rudely in court and this led to his eventual banishment. On the other hand, Taejong’s second son entered a Buddhist temple where he subsequently became a monk. After Teojong’s abdication in 1418, the young prince was crowned King Sejong. He was 21 years old when he became the fourth king of the Choson Dynasty, a dynasty that spanned from the years of July 1392 – October 1897. King Sejong died on May 18, 1450 at the age of 53. Sejong was posthumously honored with designation “the Great.” The only other ruler who received this honor was Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo.

As a king, Sejong was a highly respected ruler praised by his subjects for his benevolence, diligence, and his brilliant mind. He has a natural talent for learning and his knowledge of different fields surprised many experts in and outside his court. Advances in agriculture, traditional medicine, engineering, natural science and literature were among the feathers in King Sejong’s cap. King Sejong was credited for improving the country’s defenses against Manchurian invaders and Japanese pirates.

A scholarly king, he was said to have invented a sundial, a water clock and a rain gauge. King Sejong also dabbled in literature. He wrote Songs of Flying Dragons (Yongbi Eocheon Ga), Episodes from the Life of the Buddha (Seokbo Sangjeol) and Songs of the Moon Shining on a Thousand Rivers (Worin Cheon-gang Jigok). The Dictionary of Proper Sino-Korean Pronunciation (Dongguk Jeong-un) was credited to King Sejong.

He also founded a royal academy called Jiphyeonjeon/Chiphyonjon (Hall of Worthies). Scholars from various fields were part of the Hall of Worthies. Because of the many scientific and scholarly writings produced by the Hall of Worthies, King Sejong’s reign was said to be the “golden age of Korean culture.”

King Sejong was not only an educated king, but he was also very determined and dedicated to the cultural independence of his country. It was important for him that there was a clear national identity in place. Part of being culturally independent and caring for the welfare of his subjects was to find an alternative to the current way of writing that was in use during his time. King Sejong wanted a new writing system that his people would be able to learn and use with much ease. This was what inspired him to create Hangul.

Why Hangul was born

King Sejong abhorred the fact that people belonging to the lower levels of society were not educated in writing Hanja (Chinese characters), which was used by educated Koreans. It was difficult for the common Koreans at that time to communicate their thoughts, ideas, feelings and even their complaints in writing because the Idu system which uses Chinese characters were simply too complicated to learn and use. There were thousands of Chinese characters to memorize! In fact, only the male elite had both the time and resources to learn the established writing system at that time.

The Choson king understood the frustration of his people. He explained that Chinese script was foreign to his people and that it could not capture the true essence of what his people wanted to express in their native tongue. The people did not know how to use Chinese script to record knowledge of what they knew in work and in life. Also, if they had legitimate complaints that needed to be addressed by the authorities, they could not write down these complaints.

King Sejong, in the introduction to Hangul’s proclamation, said that he created Hangul because he was sympathetic to the difficulties experienced by his subjects. So, together with Chiphyonjon scholars, he created an alphabet of 28 easy to learn letters in the hopes that the new Korean alphabet will improve his people’s quality of life. Today, out of the 28 original letters, only 24 letters are in use.

No such thing as illiteracy in Korea today

In the 2009 United Nations Development Programme Report, both North Korea and South Korea have a literacy rate of 99.0%. This may be due in part to how simple it is for one to learn Hangul. Upon reaching school age, Korean children are able to show some form of mastery of the Korean alphabet. Hangul is a very accessible and easy to learn writing system. In fact, it has been said that one can learn Hangul in half a day if the person has the drive to learn and studies the Korean alphabet intently. Foreigners living in Korea find learning to read and write Hangul in a simple manner.

Hangul, since the time of King Sejong, has been at the heart of the culture of Korea. Although there was much opposition to it at the start, Hangul has managed to prevail. It has effectively preserved the national identity of the people of the Korean peninsula and became a way of establishing their independence from their colonizers.

King Sejong deserves his title “The Great.” Language experts see the writing system he created as scientifically sound and technically beautiful. And, his motives for creating Hangul were very noble, indeed. Through his laws, edicts and promulgations, King Sejong defied the philosophy of Confucianism and instead gave his people a measure of independence and self-worth. He was not just a great scholar; he was also a humanitarian of epic proportions. If King Sejong were alive today, he would be very pleased to see that his efforts were not for naught.

Owing to King Sejong’s popularity, there is a television show revolving around him. King Sejong is one of the main characters of the Korean television drama titled “Deep Rooted Tree” (also called “Tree With Deep Roots”) that is currently being shown in South Korea.

Don’t have the time to learn Hangul? Let Day Translations Inc. and World Interpreting, Inc. help you figure out Korea’s official script. Visit their respective websites today to find out how they can help you understand not just Hangul, but other writing systems foreign to you.

La Cumparsita (Tango’s Most Popular Music) – Is it Uruguay’s or Argentina’s?

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 05:18:00 +0000

Unbeknownst to many, tango is not just a form of dance. Tango is also a type of music, music that accompanies the soulful dance. The most popular among all tango songs is La Cumparsita, written by Uruguayan Gerardo Hernan Matos Rodriquez.

Who was Rodriquez?

Rodríguez was born in Uruguay on March 28, 1897, in the city of Montevideo. To people close to him, Rodríguez went by the nickname Becho. He was not only an Uruguayan musician and composer, Rodriquez was also a journalist.

Rodríguez’ father, Emilio Matos, was the owner of the local cabaret, the popular Moulin Rouge. In college, he took up architecture but was not able to finish his course. At a young age, some sources said he was 17 while others said he was 20, he began composing music. His exposure to the music in his father’s cabaret must have had an influence in the young Becho. Rodríguez’ first recognized work is said to have been his best, a piece he called La Cumparsita. He wrote this piano piece while at Uruguay’s Federación de Estudiantes.

He eventually ventured out into the world and reached Europe where he spent time in Paris as well as Germany. Rodríguez served as the consular representative of the country of Uruguay to Germany. It was in 1931 that the Uruguayan native collaborated on the musical score for the film Luces de Buenos Aires. The movie, which that starred Carlos Gardel, one of the most renowned tango vocalists at that time, was filmed in Joinville-le-Pont, France.

For a time, Rodríguez led a tango orchestra back in his native Montevideo. He also composed musical pieces for stage plays in Buenos Aires. Some of the lyricists he worked with during his time were Juan B.A. Reyes, Enrique Cadícamo, Fernán Silva Valdés, Victor Soliño, and Manuel Romero.

Some of Rodriquez’ other tango compositions are:

• Che papusa, oí
• Hablame
• La muchacha del circo
• Pobre corazón
• San Telmo
• Son grupos

Rodríguez passed away on April 25, 1948 at the age of 51 in Montevideo.

La Cumparsita’s History

La Cumparsita means “the little cumparsa.” “Cumparsa” is a Lunfardo (dialect of the lower classes developed towards the end of the 19th century in Argentina, specifically in Buenos Aires) that refers to a set of people attending carnivals wearing similar fashion or outfits.

When Rodríguez wrote La Cumparsita, he had a carnival band in mind. The musical score landed in the hands of Roberto Firpo, an orchestra leader. Some say Rodríguez’ friends gave it to Firpo when he was at the La Giralda café in Montevideo. Others have said that Rodríguez himself sold it to Firpo for a mere 20 pesos. Whatever the truth is, La Cumparsita fell into the masterful hands of Firpo who tweaked the music by adding parts of his own tango compositions into Rodríguez’ work. By 1924, lyrics were added by Pascual Contursi and Enrique Maroni, both Argentines.

Controversy

In the years to come, so much controversy surrounded La Cumparsita. Rodríguez heard the music while he was in Paris. He was told that the song was called “Si Supieras.” Francisco Canaro, the man playing “Si Supieras” at that time, told Rodríguez that the song was very popular with orchestras.

This discovery of Rodríguez led to legal battles left and right. Controversy enveloped La Cumparsita for many years. In fact, in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the Olympic team from Argentina marched to La Cumparsita during the opening ceremonies. This resulted in a protest submitted by the Uruguayan Olympic Committee to the International Olympic Committee.

In the early 90’s, specifically during the Seville Expo ’92, La Cumparsita played at the Argentine stand. During the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, Argentina also used the popular tango during the games’ opening ceremonies.

Argentina and Uruguay both claim ownership of La Cumparsita. According to the government of Uruguay, Rodriquez, the original composer was Uruguayan. But the Argentine government argued that the lyrics that made the music famous were written by two Argentines. The Uruguayans and the Argentines have always been at odds when it came to tango, both dance and music. It is important to note though that it shared credit for the music and the dance when they petitioned UNESCO to include tango in the list of “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.” The Argentine and Uruguayan tango made it to the 2009 list.

All the controversies that surrounded La Cumparsita do not matter. Even if La Cumparsita went through a number of reworks and changes here and there, it remains as the song/music most associated to the sultry dance of tango. La Cumparsita’s popularity and its ability to tug at the hearts and souls of tango dancers worldwide will never wane. Uruguayan Gerardo Hernan Matos Rodriquez’s place in tango history has been cemented for eternity.

The lyrics to the tango music La Cumparsita have been translated to different languages worldwide. People of different nationalities all over the globe have interpreted the tango dance. When you are talking about legal translations and interpretation services, you only need to know two names Day Translations, Inc. and World Interpreting, Inc. Both offer high quality services that you can trust.

Of Pilgrims, Turkeys, Parades, Football and Black Friday – Happy Thanksgiving Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:48:00 +0000

Tradition dictates that Thanksgiving Day in America be celebrated every fourth Thursday of November. This is why this year Thanksgiving Day falls on November 24. This holiday is a perfect time to be with family and friends, to share a meal, watch some football and participate in all kinds of family traditions associated with the Thanksgiving. Each family has their own Thanksgiving customs and traditions. There is really no wrong way or right way to celebrate this holiday for as long as everyone remembers the original intent of Thanksgiving Day.

What do people give thanks for? Many non-Americans are not aware why there is such a holiday in the U.S. They probably have greeted their American friends, co-workers and acquaintances a “Happy Thanksgiving” without really knowing what the holiday is all about. If you yourself have no idea about Thanksgiving and the brouhaha surrounding it, here is what you should know.

Canadian Thanksgiving

It is best to get this out of the way. Thanksgiving is actually a holiday shared by two nations in North America – the United States and Canada. Yes, Canada also celebrates Thanksgiving. But, Canada celebrates Thanksgiving not on the 4th Thursday of November and not even within the month of November. Canadian’s celebrate it a month earlier, on the 2nd Monday of October. This has been so since 1957. Inspiration for Canada’s Thanksgiving holiday came from the American Thanksgiving holiday.

Pilgrims and Native Americans

There is much controversy with regards to when Thanksgiving was first celebrated. Many refer back to the Plymouth Thanksgiving as the first time this special day was celebrated. According to some accounts, in September 1620, roughly 102 passengers rode the Mayflower out of Plymouth, England. The ship reached Cape Cod (located in present-day Massachusetts) after 66 days. After a month, the ship finally reached Plymouth Harbor, which was located in Massachusetts Bay. The passengers, referred to as Pilgrims or sometimes, the Pilgrim Fathers because they were the first European settlers in New England, sought out to create their new life here. The pilgrims were made up of various religious separatists who wanted to find a new home where they can practice their faith freely, and of other persons seeking prosperity in what was then referred to as the New World.

Unfortunately, the colonists were in for a cruel winter. Many stayed on the Mayflower. Various illnesses beset the colonists. By spring of 1621, only half of the original crew and passengers remained. When March came, they moved ashore. An Abenaki Indian named Samoset came to visit them. Much to their surprise, Samoset spoke English. After a few days, they received another visit from the Samoset. This time he was not alone. A Native American named Squanto, from the Patuxet tribe, was with him.

Squanto shared with the Pilgrims his knowledge of planting corn, catching fish, and extracting maple sap from trees. He also told them which plants to avoid. With the help of Squanto, the Pilgrims were able to form an alliance with a local tribe, the Wampanoag.

The Plymouth Colony had their first corn harvest in November of 1621. Governor William Bradford, the English leader of the Plymouth settlers, organized a feast to celebrate the successful harvest and to give God thanks. He invited their Native American allies to the feast. For three days, the settlers and the Native Americans celebrated what some people refer to as the very first American Thanksgiving.

Edward Winslow, another Pilgrim leader and a chronicler of the group, mentioned in his journal how four men were ordered by Governor Bradford to find fowl for the celebration. According to Winslow, the Wampanoag tribe brought with them five deer. It was most likely, according to some historians, that spices and cooking methods for the celebration were of Native American origin. And since the settlers did not have an oven, plus the fact that sugar was in low supply on the Mayflower, pies, cakes and sweet desserts were not on the menu unlike in today’s Thanksgiving celebration.

But for some historians, the first ever religious Thanksgiving Day recorded in history was in 1623. On that day, the colonists thanked God for seeing them through the two-month drought. This practice of giving thanks became common in other settlements in New England after that.

Thanksgiving celebrated in different days

Thanksgiving was celebrated on different days by different states for many years. George Washington called on the nation in 1789 to celebrate a day of gratitude for the favorable conclusion to the war of independence and the ratification of the country’s Constitution. Other presidents also assigned days to give thanks while they were in office.

New York was the first state that adopted a yearly Thanksgiving holiday. This happened on 1817. Other states also adopted annual Thanksgiving celebrations. However, the celebrations were not in sync. In the southern states, Thanksgiving was not a familiar holiday.

Mary Had a Little Lamb

A prolific female author and editor named Sarah Josepha Hale campaigned for the country to have just one specific day for Thanksgiving. Hale, who wrote one of the most beloved nursery rhymes of all time, “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” spent years writing letters to politicians, including governors, senators and presidents. She also wrote many editorials on the subject of having just one specific day for Thanksgiving.

In 1863, her request was finally heard. It was the height of the American Civil War when then president, Abraham Lincoln, heeded Hale’s request. Lincoln designated the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day.

Franksgiving

The designated day was moved up a week in 1939. Franklin D. Roosevelt was president then and the country was under the Great Depression. Roosevelt did so upon the request of the National Retail Dry Goods Association. It was expected that by doing so, retail sales would go up. Unfortunately, his plan, which was derisively called Franksgiving, was a very unpopular one and many were opposed. Some states continued to celebrate Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November. This led to a lot of confusion. Some families could not spend the holiday together because their respective states were celebrating Thanksgiving on two different dates. After two years, Roosevelt finally signed a bill that designated the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving traditions

On the dining table

It was believed that Pilgrims and Native Americans shared a meal consisting of venison, fowl, lobster, fish, clams, nuts, corn, pumpkin, squash, peas and carrots. Sweet potatoes, potatoes, pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce were not part of the fare then. Today’s Thanksgiving dinner, however, is all about the turkey. In fact, another name for Thanksgiving is “Turkey Day.” Turkey is usually stuffed with either homemade bread stuffing or some store bought equivalent before the whole fowl is roasted. Nowadays, deep-fried turkey has been making its way on dinner tables. Turkeys are lowered into large cylindrical fryers filled with hot oil. It’s a novelty that is dangerous when done by inexperienced cooks.

Instead of Turkey, other types of fowl are served such as goose, duck or even chicken. Venison also makes it to the table in some homes today.

As far as side dishes are concerned, each family has their own must-sides. Some of the common side dishes on Thanksgiving tables are: cornbread, bread rolls, biscuits, deviled eggs, all sorts of vegetables and roots such as green beans, peas, carrots, corn, yams, squash, and potatoes (usually mashed). Then there’s an assortment of salads, cranberry sauce, gravy and extra stuffing.

For dessert, pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, apple pie, and pecan pie are common. Apple cider is a common beverage. However, wine, beer, and even soda also make it to today’s Thanksgiving table. What people partake of during Thanksgiving really depends on what’s available, what’s bountiful, what’s traditional to the family or what’s affordable at that time. Turkey or no turkey, Thanksgiving dinner is all about being with loved ones and expressing one’s gratitude.

Gobble, gobble

And speaking of turkeys, each year since 1989, the sitting president of the U.S. pardons two turkeys, thereby keeping them off the White House Thanksgiving table. There are different stories about when this tradition really started. Some historians credit President Harry Truman while others say it was President Abraham Lincoln. Even President John F. Kennedy is being given credit for pardoning the fowls. But the most popular version gives credit to President George H. W. Bush as the first president who officially showed mercy on the Thanksgiving bird.

During the yearly National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation held at the White House Rose Garden, the organization presents a presidential turkey and a vice-presidential turkey to the incumbent president. The VP turkey is the alternate or backup to the presidential turkey just in case it cannot fulfill its duties.

So in 1989, George Bush senior decided to grant a presidential pardon to the two birds he was presented with. And every year since then, the turkeys presented to the sitting president have been pardoned. Before 2005, the turkeys were sent to live out their lives in Frying Pan Park somewhere in Virginia. From 2005 to 2009, the pardoned turkeys were sent to Disneyland (either in California or in Florida). These turkeys served as grand marshals (honorary) during the past Disney Thanksgiving Day parades. 2010’s pardoned turkeys were sent to George Washington’s home in Mount Vernon.

Below are the names of the turkeys that were pardoned since 2002:

2002 George W. Bush - Katie and Zack (alternate)
2003: Bush - Stars and Stripes (alternate)
2004: Bush - Biscuits and Gravy (alternate)
2005: Bush - Marshmallow and Yam (alternate)
2006: Bush – Flyer and Fryer (alternate)
2007: Bush - May and Flower (alternate)
2008: Bush – Pumpkin was the backup; the original was Pecan who fell ill prior to the ceremony
2009: President Barack Obama – Courage and Carolina (alternate)
2010: Obama – Apple and alternate Cider (alternate)

U.S. governors have also joined the turkey pardoning bandwagon and have their own turkey pardoning ritual every Thanksgiving.

A parade of mega-huge balloons and elaborate floats

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City is the biggest and most anticipated parade every fourth Thursday of November for many years now. But it was Gimbel’s, a Philadelphia department store, which started it all. The year was 1920. After four years, Macy’s launched its own parade spearheaded by its employees. The Macy’s parade has been the gold standard ever since.

The parade route is about 2.5 miles long with more than 2-3 million people lining the streets to watch marching bands, performers, giant hot air balloons in all shapes and sizes and huge floats (sometimes carrying celebrities) pass by. Cast members of currently running Broadways shows and Radio City Music Hall Rockettes often grace the event. Back in 1924 though, animals from the city’s Central Park Zoo were the attraction during the parade together with employees dressed in colorful costumes.

For those who cannot make it to New York, they can catch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on the boob tube. It has been televised since 1947.

Black Friday

For those who are out for a bargain or are simply certified shopaholics, it is best not to overeat on Thanksgiving Day. Why? Because after Thanksgiving Day comes Black Friday! This particular Friday ushers in the start of Christmas shopping. Retailers offer sales, promos and discounts not to be missed by those who want to save money on clothes, toys, appliances, electronic devices and other products.

The term Black Friday was coined in Philadelphia sometime in the 60’s to describe the heavy traffic (pedestrian and vehicle alike) that happened after Thanksgiving Day. By 1975, the term’s popularity extended beyond the borders of Philly. An alternative meaning was given to the term later on. Black Friday was used to describe the point when retailers start to make a profit. Back in the day, red ink was used to designate losses in accounting books, ledgers and records, while black ink was used to indicate profit.

Today, more than 130 million Americans shop on Black Friday according to the National Retail Federation. The crowds are massive outside shopping malls and retails stores. Many retailers open as early as 4 in the morning (or even earlier). Shoppers have to be in good health and need all their strength and mental acuity to get what they want. Therefore, it is never a good idea to over eat on Thanksgiving is a big no-no. Otherwise, someone else will snatch the great bargains they have been eagerly waiting to get their hands on.

Pigskin games

Some believe that the tradition of playing (for players) and watching (for spectators) of football every fourth Thursday of November was started in 1934 by the National Football League (NFL). This is fiction because the American Intercollegiate Football Association had its first championship game during the 1876 Thanksgiving Day.

In 1934, the NFL joined the tradition when the Chicago Bears came to Detroit to play against the Detroit Lions. The two teams played at the stadium of the University of Detroit with roughly 26,000 spectators in attendance. Every year since then, the Lions would play a rival team every Thanksgiving Day, except of course in the years when World War II was raging on. Today, Thanksgiving without football is simply unthinkable to many fans.

Thanksgiving is a few days away. The original intent of the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving was to celebrate the fruits of their labor and give thanks to God for the bounty and good health they so generously received. Today, Thanksgiving should be no different. Everyone should give thanks and be grateful for anything good in their lives, be it material wealth, good health or the love and support of family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving!

Day Translations, Inc. and World Interpreting, Inc. have their own tradition. Their tradition is to give the best translation and interpretation services to those who need them. Don’t hesitate to contact them anytime and from any location. Their services are available all year round.

Have You Heard of the New 7 Wonders of Nature?

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:28:00 +0000

11-11-11 was a significant day for those who have been eagerly awaiting the initial results of the voting for the New 7 Wonders campaign: The New 7 Wonders of Nature. The founder and president of the New7Wonders Foundation Bernard Weber announced the provisional list of winners on this day. At the organization’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, Weber, read the list in alphabetical order. Although the list if not yet final, much jubilation and pride has passed since Weber’s announcement. Before you find out who made the cut, it is important find out more about this campaign and about other 7 wonders lists.

Weber, the man behind the campaign

An author, aviator, explorer, filmmaker and museum curator all rolled into one, that’s Bernard Weber, founding president of the New7Wonders Foundation. Weber, a Swiss-born Canadian who speaks 5 languages, has had his share of adventures all over the world. He has seen what many men and women can only dream of. And, he has met and interacted with peoples of different cultures from across the globe.

Because of his past experiences, adventures and explorations, he has come to develop a greater appreciation for the beauty of his home planet and the inexplicable talent and skill of his fellow inhabitants. Before he launched the campaign for the New 7 Wonders of Nature, he first began with the New 7 Wonders of the World.

Weber’s Foundation

Weber wanted to be part of protecting the different man-made structures and natural heritage of the planet. He did this by establishing the New7Wonders Foundation in Switzerland in 2001. This foundation is a privately funded organization and is currently headquartered at Zurich’s Heidi-Weber Museum.

The new millennium back in 2000 was a fitting time to start the New 7 Wonders of the World project. Prior to the New 7 Wonders of the World, there was the 7 Ancient Wonders of the World (discussed below). Among the 7 ancient wonders, only the Egyptian Pyramids still stand. Weber thought it important for the public to pay tribute to “newer” examples of human achievement in terms of architecture, building and engineering in the past 2000 years. Unlike the ancient list, which was dictated only by one man, the new list will be a result of a democratic vote.

It was through the use of new technology, specifically the Internet that people from all over the world were able to vote for their choices. Weber saw the Internet as highly instrumental in starting a global dialogue between peoples of different races, languages, and beliefs.

7 Wonders of the Ancient World

In 200 BC, a man from Byzantium, Athens named Philon came up with a list of 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. It is said that Philon came up with the list as a sort of travel guide for his fellow Athenians. He based his choices on man-made monuments located mostly in and around the Mediterranean. Why are the man-made structures only located in the Mediterranean basin? Because during Philon’s time, the Mediterranean basis was already the whole world to them.

So what was in essentially Philon’s list of must-sees? Here they are:

1. The Colossus of Rhodes. To honor Helios, the Sun God, Chares of Lindos was tasked to construct the Colossus of Rhodes. It took him 10 years (some say 12, from 304 BC to 292 BC) to build the bronze statue that once measured 110 feet or 32 meters. The Colossus stood on top of a marble plinth back in its time. When an earthquake shook the region in around 226 or 227 BC, the Colossus of Rhodes suffered cracks specifically on area of the knees. This eventually caused the gigantic statue to collapse into pieces. For hundreds of years, its fragments were left lying on the ground to be admired. The valuable parts of the statue were eventually taken from Greece to Syria when the Arabs invaded Rhodes in 654 AD

2. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar was credited for creating the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, a tribute to his beloved wife Semiramis. Although there are other versions of the story. Scholars believed that the ancient garden was built around the 7th century BC in an area close to what is now known as Baghdad, Iraq. The botanical garden was created in the midst of the hot Mesopotamian desert. And this is the reason why it is such a testament to man’s skill. The garden featured different types of flora together with waterfalls, exotic creatures and features unexpected to be seen or thrive in the desert. Unfortunately, until now, no definitive traces of the gardens have been found making some historians and archaeologists skeptical about it’s existence.

3. The Lighthouse of Alexandria. Also known as the Pharos of Alexandria, this lighthouse was built in Egypt to help ships navigate the maze of sandbars as they try to reach the port of Alexandria. Believed to have been constructed between 299 BC and 79 BC, the structure stood about 500 feet or 166 meters. During daylight hours, bronze mirrors were used to reflect the rays of the sun out to the sea. A night, fires served as beacons for incoming ships. History suggests that it was Sostratus, a Greek merchant, who provided the money to build the lighthouse in order to ensure the safety of the ships going into Alexandria. The lighthouse eventually fell into ruin due to earthquakes and deterioration brought about by natural elements.

4. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. Queen Artemisia II of Caria had the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus built for her husband, King Mausolus between 370 BC and 351 BC The monumental structure, also known as the Tomb of Mausolus, was 135 feet or 45 meters high and featured 36 columns. Sculptural reliefs adorn each of the four sides of the mausoleum. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was a testament of Artemisia’s love for Mausolus. The tomb lasted intact for many years. In 1522 AD, it was destroyed because it was viewed as one of the examples of pagan art. Halicarnassus is located in what is now Bodrum, Turkey.

5. The Statue of Zeus. Phidias, an Athenian sculptor, created a statue in honor of Zeus, the most powerful god of Mt. Olympus. Commissioned by the Council of Olympia in 438 BC, the statue that resided inside the Parthenon, the great temple that overlooked the city of Athens, was made of gold and jewels. It was not only a site to visit for the Greeks back then but it was also a place to worship the greatest of all the Greek gods. In 170 BC, the statue of Zeus was destroyed when an earthquake struck the city of Athens.

6. The Temple of Artemis. The Temple of Artemis was a tribute to the Greek goddess, sister of the god Apollo and daughter of Zeus. Artemis was the goddess of the hunt and at the same time, a known protector of wild bests. She was also referred to as mistress of nature. The Temple of Artemis, located in ancient Ephesus (now part of Turkey) was once a fine example of Hellenistic culture. The temple featured 127 marble columns measuring 60 feet or 20 meters height. Built around the 6th century BC, 200 years after its construction, fire ravaged the temple. Upon the instructions of Alexander the Great, the Temple of Artemis was rebuilt. Both nature and man caused the eventual destruction of this great temple. Today, only one column stands to give testament to its past existence.

7. The Pyramids of Egypt. Fortunately for humankind, the Pyramids in Giza are still keeping a close watch over the lands of Egypt. Among the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, only the pyramids remain standing. Constructed between 2600 BC and 2500 BC, these monumental structures are made up of over 5 million blocks of limestone. The largest among the three pyramids, aptly called the Great Pyramid, is said to be the Pharaoh Khufu’s tomb. It stands about 280 feet or 146 meters high. Until now, there is much debate as to how exactly the Pyramids were built given that the peoples of Egypt back then only had access to simple tools.

New 7 Wonders of the World

After 7 years of global voting over the Internet, through SMS and via telephone lines, over 100 millions votes were counted before a final announcement was made on July 7, 2007 in Lisbon Portugal for the world’s 7 newest wonders. Three are found in Latin America, two in Asia, and one each in Europe and the Middle East. The New 7 Wonders of the World are representative of the past 2000 years’ most important civilizations. These civilizations include: Roman, Arab, Chinese, Inca, Indian and Mayan.

1. The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá. Built prior to 800 AD in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, Chichén Itzá was the center of Mayan politics and economics. The temple city’s main attraction today is a stepped pyramid with a square based called the El Castillo de la Serpiente Emplumada (“Castle of the Plumed Serpent”). It measures roughly 75 feet all. Other features of the temple city can still be seen today which include the Temple of Chac Mool, the Chichan Chob (“Red House”), the Hall of the Thousand Pillars, the Playing Field of the Prisoners and the Caracol or Observatory.

2. Christ Redeemer. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, you can find a statue of Jesus Christ that stands around 130 feet or 39.6 meters tall (this includes the pedestal that measures 31 feet or 9.5 meters tall). It is called Cristo Redentor (Portuguese) or Christ the Redeemer. Weighing aroung 635 tonnes, this statue with outstretched arms was designed by Heitor da Silva Costa from Brazil but executed by Paul Landowski, a French sculptor. Landowski spent 5 years constructing this monument that is found high on top of the Corcovado Mountain. Inauguration was held on October 12, 1931, it has been watching over Rio de Janeiro ever since.

3. Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu means “old mountain.” This was where Emperor Pachacútec, 15th century leader of the Incas, built his estate around 1460 - 1470. Machu Picchu was constructed on the Andes Plateau, on Peru’s Urubamba Valley. The city was said to have been abandoned by its inhabitants after multiple cases of smallpox broke out. For more than 300 years, after the Spanish defeated the empire of the Incas, the city was lost to the world. It was never found by the Spaniards, and therefore, never destroyed. In 1911, American Hiram Bingham rediscovered the ancient city of Machu Picchu. Tourists have been visiting Machu Picchu ever since.

4. The Taj Mahal. Agra, India is the site of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan’s tribute to his beloved Mumtaz Mahal, third among his wives. The grand mausoleum was built in 1630 AD using white marble. The structure is Mughal architecture at its best. The style combines Indian, Persian and Turkish styles. The Taj Mahal is one of the most admired buildings in the world.

5. The Great Wall of China. It is said that the Great Wall of China is the only human-made structure that astronauts can see from space. The wall is not built as a continuous wall. It is actually a series of fortifications eventually linked together to keep the Mongol invaders from entering the Kingdom of China. Measuring around 8,851.8 kilometers or 5,500.3 miles, the wall’s construction period was said to have gone on for 2,000 years. It started during the Warring States Period between 476 BC - 221 BC and ended during the Ming Dynasty 1644 AD Literally blood, sweat and tears went into the construction of the famous Great Wall of China.

6. The Roman Colosseum. Located in the center of the Italian City of Rome, the Colosseum has seen its share of gladiatorial contests, classical dramas, public spectacles and more. Also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, the stadium is a prime example of Roman architecture and engineering. Built around 70 AD to 82 AD, the Colosseum’s design continues to give inspiration to modern sports stadiums across the globe. Today, it stands partially ruined because of earthquakes and past stone-robbery. It remains an iconic symbol of the city of Rome.

7. Petra. It was during the reign of King Areas IV of the Nabataean empire that the city of Petra was built. This was between 9 BC and 40 AD in what is now known as the Kingdom of Jordan. Petra, an important archaeological and historical city, was carved out of rock. Referred to at times as the Red-Rose City because of the color of the rock, Petra has several ancient buildings including the El-Deir Monastery, several tombs and even a Roman theater. Aside from the buildings and roads, Petra featured water conduit systems and tunnels that showed just how brilliant its builders were at that time.

The end of the New 7 Wonders of the World campaign in 2007 was the start of a new campaign: The New 7 Wonders of Nature.

New 7 Wonders of Nature

From 77 voted nominees, 28 official finalist candidates vied to be included in this prestigious list of New 7 Wonders of Nature. Celebrities, politicians and other important figures from all over the world, as well as ordinary citizens, campaigned for their favorite candidates. Social networking sites were used heavily to rally people to vote.

The provisional list of New 7 Wonders of Nature is based on the initial counting of the votes. The initial results will need to be verified before a final list of winners can be announced. This leaves a possibility of changes in the provisional list.

Here are the 7 that made it to the provisional winners’ list.

1. Amazon. Amazonia, the Amazon Basin, the Amazon Rainforest, and the Amazon jungle are the different names by which the Amazon is called. This highly diverse and species-rich rainforest is part of nine nations in South America, namely: Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela and French Guiana. Measuring roughly 7 million square kilometers, the actual forest is only around 5.5 million square kilometers. Rich in different species of flora and fauna, the Amazon represents more than half of the Earth’s last remaining rainforests. This makes the Amazon a very important ecosystem that needs to be protected by man.

2. Halong Bay. In Vietnam’s Quáng Ninh province, one can find a bay rich in limestone karsts. Karsts look like monolithic islands jutting out from the water. Thick vegetation is usually found on top of these karsts. Halong Bay, where these karsts are bountiful, also has many isles in different shapes and sizes. The coastline is around 120 kilometers long. There are 1969 islets according to the locals. Caves are found in some of the islands. Some islands also feature lakes inside them. Different species of fishes and more than 450 kinds of mollusks can be found in Halong Bay. Apart from water creatures, animals such as monkeys, antelopes, lizards, bantams and different species of birds live on the islands.

3. Iguazu Falls. The Iguazu Falls is part of two National Parks. It borders the state of Paraná in Brazil and the province of Misiones in Argentina. This large waterfall system located in the Iguazu River takes on a semi-circular configuration. Also known by the names Iguassu Falls and Iguaçu Falls, the falls split the river into two: the upper Iguaza and the lower Iguazu. There are about 275 waterfalls that make up the Iguazu Falls. The tallest of all these waterfalls is called the Devil’s Throat. It is shaped like the letter “U” and towers at a height of 82 meters. Hundreds of endangered and rare species of plants and animals are found in both subtropical rainforests where Iguaza Falls is located.

4. Jeju Island. At the southernmost tip of the Korean Peninsula is Jeju Island. It is a volcanic island that features a dormant volcano, Mt. Hallasan. This is South Korea’s tallest mountain rising 1,950 meters above sea level. Around the main volcano are 360 satellite volcanoes. The island has a system of now empty lava tubes that used to serve as natural conduits for magma, pillar-shaped rocks, wide variety of flora and fauna and other important natural features. Jeju Island is South Korea’s smallest province and at the same time, its largest island.

5. Komodo. The Republic of Indonesia has roughly 17,508 islands. One of them is Komodo, which is one of the larger islands that make up Komodo National Park. The two other islands are Rinca and Padar. The National Park, founded in 1980 for the protection of the Komodo dragon, is 1,817 square miles, 1/3 of this area is land. The Komodo dragon, a kind of monitor lizard, is the largest living lizard in the world. The island is named after this mighty beast. Komodo also features a beach that appears to have pink sand. The sand is actually a mixture of white and red sand.

6. Puerto Princesa Underground River. 50 kilometers north of Puerto Princesa, a city on the island of Palawan in the Republic of the Philippines, is an underground river system featuring stalagmites, stalactites and large chambers. Many limestone karst mountains can be found in the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. It is said that the 8.2-kilometer underground river is the longest in the world. There is a clear lagoon right at the mouth of the underground cave. Different types of animals such as monkeys, squirrels and large monitor lizards can be found living on the beach close to the cave.

7. Table Mountain. In Cape Town, South Africa, one can find a flat-topped mountain rich in different species of flora and fauna including rare and endangered ones. Its name is Table Mountain. The main feature of this mountain is a roughly 3 kilometer level plateau; that’s 3 kilometers from all sides. Located at the eastern side of Table Mountain is Devil’s Peak; at the western side is Lion’s Head. Table Mountain has a diverse collection of plants. One estimate noted that about 2,200 plant species can be found on this mountain even though it is considered the world’s smallest floral kingdom. A number of animals also call Table Mountain their home.

The final announcement of the confirmed winners of the New 7 Wonders of Nature will happen sometime in 2012. Both New 7 Wonders campaigns were not without any criticisms. Some criticized the selection process while others had a thing or two to say about the voting process. Other aspects of the projects were also under scrutiny. However, one thing that cannot be criticized is that the campaigns opened a global dialogue among people of different ethnicities, beliefs and social standings. Both campaigns shone lights on the different finalists. The projects increased tourism thereby helping the local economies.

From now until then, why don’t you get to know more about the winners of the recently concluded campaign and the runners-up? Or join the next campaign: The New 7 Wonders Cities. Nominate your favorite city now at New7Wonders.

The world is a wonderful place full of beauty and diversity. Human communications is full of diversity, too. This is why translation and interpretation services are a big help for people of different linguistic backgrounds who need help to understand or be understood. Call on Day Translations, Inc. and World Interpreting, Inc. for any translation or interpretation services you may require. These two companies are the best at what they do.

Touring North Korea – an experience you will never forget

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 11:48:00 +0000

North Korea’s official name is Democratic People’s Republic of Korea or DPRK. Given that North Korea is under the dictatorship of Kim Jong Il, the official name may be misleading. The country is a mystery to the outside world and its people are reclusive.

Visiting North Korea is nowhere like visiting other Asian countries like its sister South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, or Tokyo. It’s a place not for the typical tourist who expects first class amenities, lots of places to explore on their own and freedom to just click or snap away with their digital cameras. To become a tourist in North Korea means to give up one’s notion of a grand vacation and all around good time.

This is not to say that it is a country that you should scratch off from your list. In fact, traveling to North Korea should be in a serious traveler’s bucket list. The lifestyle of the people in the country is totally different from the rest of the world. While, communism has fallen in many countries, North Korea continues to be partly communist. According to the CIA FactBook, the country is classified as “communist state one-man dictatorship.”

How to get there

Getting into North Korea is not as easy as travelling to Spain, the Philippines, Brazil, Egypt or other countries across the globe. The North Korean government strictly regulates all tourism into the country via the government run Korea International Travel Company. Tours in North Korea are strictly guided. North Korean tour guides are with visitors all the time. Interaction with locals and picture taking are heavily controlled. Tourists have to follow a set itinerary. Deviations are generally not allowed.

Technically, anyone can travel to the country except for South Koreans. South Koreans can be granted special permission but they can only go to specially designated areas. Journalists are also routinely denied entry. There was a time when Americans were not welcome but things have changed. Still, getting a visa into North Korea is not easy. But there are travel agents worldwide that specialize in North Korean tours. They can help would-be visitors secure the right tours, visas and permissions.

What you can see

One of the best times to visit North Korea is in August during the Arirang Mass Games. You will see a show like no other. More than 100,000 North Korean performers participate in impressive choreographed performances that entertain and mesmerize. Another good time to visit is during “The Day of the Sun,” April 15, which commemorates the birthday of Kim Il Sung. During special holidays and events, mass presentations and other performances can be seen.

The places to see in North Korea are the highlights of its capital Pyongyang, the Demilitarized Zone, City of Nampo, Kaesong, Lake Shijung, Mt. Myohyang and a host of other areas of the country. You can learn more about places to visit through the different North Korean authorized tour companies.

The Demilitarized Zone or DMZ is of special interest because this is where the two Koreas come face to face with each other, literally. In fact, when you enter the meeting room where discussions between the North and South are held, the center of the long table lies exactly on the border of the two countries.

Respect is your key to having an uneventful trip

You want your trip to North Korea to be as uneventful as possible. In other words, you don’t want to get yourself, your fellow tourmates or your North Korean tour guide or driver into trouble. Be ready to keep your opinions to yourself and avoid getting into ideological arguments with anyone. Insults against their leaders, their culture, people and way of life are not taken kindly.

The North Koreans are devoted to their deceased eternal president, Kim Il Sung and to his son Kim Jong Il, who sits as head of government. If a visit to a national monument is part of your tour, be ready to bring flowers and bow solemnly in front of Kim Il Sung’s statue. When taking pictures of his statue, make sure to photograph the whole statue. It is best to ask your tourist guide regarding proper decorum in all the places you visit.

Banned items

You can bring your analog or digital photo-camera into North Korea but not your video camera. Mobile phones can be left at the airport locker. Only laptops without wireless devices are allowed in. MP3 players, CD players and PDAs are likewise allowed. Never bring GPS enabled gadgets, radios, weapons, explosives, drugs, pornography of any sort, mass printed propaganda and of course plants and animals into North Korea. Keep in mind that the immigration authorities will inspect all your things so be prepared.

Going on tour in North Korea is a surreal and unforgettable experience. You will see places and events that the North Korean government wants to showcase. Make the most of your visit but remember that “Big Brother” is watching you all the time. If you are not one to stick to rules don’t bother visiting the country. But if you want a vacation like no other, see North Korea and get a glimpse of a country far different from your own.

The language in North Korea is Korean. If you need legal papers and other printed materials translated from or into Korean, trust that both Day Translations Inc. and World Interpreting, Inc. will be able to translate for you.

APEC: Bring Back the Silly Shirts!

noreply@blogger.com (Dine Racoma) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:40:00 +0000

People who follow the yearly Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting of leaders were in for a rude awakening last weekend. President Barrack Obama, host of the 2012 APEC Summit, did away with the traditional silly shirts for the “APEC leaders family photo.” Yes, people call it the silly shirts. Instead, the world leaders donned suits in Honolulu, Hawaii and stood beneath towering coconut trees for the photograph last November 13, 2011. Many were shocked, others were surprised and probably some were relieved. A number of journalists, commentators and followers of this annual tradition are clamoring for the return of the silly shirts.

The APEC

21 countries from the Pacific Rim make up the member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC. Each year, they meet to discuss economic cooperation, free trade, and other matters along that line. The location for the yearly meeting rotates among the different member economies. The very first APEC Leader’s Meeting was held in 1993 in Seattle when leadership of the U.S. belonged to President Bill Clinton. APEC chic was born the same year as President Clinton gifted each APEC leader with a leather bomber (bombardier) jacket to be worn for the photo call. Previous to 1993, only foreign trade ministers held meetings.

Today, the 21 member nations are:

Australia
Brunei Darussalam
Canada
Chile
People's Republic of China
Hong Kong
Indonesia
Japan
Republic of South Korea
Malaysia
Mexico
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Peru
Republic of the Philippines
Russia
Singapore
Chinese Taipei (Taiwan)
Thailand
United States
Vietnam

History of the silly shirts

The so-called “silly shirts” are not actually silly shirts but the host country’s traditional clothing; clothing that reflects the host member’s tradition and culture. The wearing of the host’s chosen national attire was an opportunity for the multi-cultural APEC leaders to don something symbolic and traditional from a country not their own. Granting that not everyone can look good in a particular piece of clothing, it was still a good way to connect with the people and the culture of the APEC host country.

If a particular world leader does not look good in the host country’s chosen outfit, it’s not like Heidi Klum of Project Runway or Tyra Banks of America’s Next Top Model will suddenly appear to say “you’re out” or that “you are no longer in the running to be a member of APEC.” In fact, this tradition kind of humanizes the leaders. It softens them. Makes them look more approachable. The ponchos may have put smiles on the faces of people looking at the photos. However, there were particular traditional shirts such as the Philippine barong that made the male leaders look dashing and debonair!

Curious as to what APEC leaders have worn in the past? Here’s a rundown of the previous APEC meeting’s fashion:

Year/Host country/Traditional outfit

1994 Indonesia (Batik shirts)
1995 Japan (Business suits)
1996 Philippines (Barong shirts)
1997 Canada (Leather jackets)
1998 Malaysia (Batik shirts)
1999 New Zealand (Sailing jackets)
2000 Brunei Darussalam (Kain Tenunan shirts)
2001 People's Republic of China (Tangzhuang shirts)
2002 Mexico (Guayabera shirts for men/Huipíles for women)
2003 Thailand (Brocade shirts for men/Brocade shawls for women)
2004 Chile (Chamantos)
2005 Republic of Korea (Hanboks)
2006 Vietnam (Áo dài)
2007 Australia (Drizabones and Akubra Hats)
2008 Peru (Ponchos)
2009 Singapore (Peranakan-inspired designer shirts)
2010 Japan (Smart casual)
2011 United States (Business suits)

Why no Hawaiian shirts this year

It was actually during last year’s APEC summit that the tradition of wearing the host country’s traditional clothing was broken. The 2010 APEC meeting was held in Yohohama, Japan and smart casual was the prescribed dress code. An unnamed Japanese official said that the reason for breaking with tradition was because the kimono, which was expected to be form fitting when worn, would not be comfortable at all and that the traditional Japanese garb was not suited for the session.

When President Obama announced sometime ago that the 2011 APEC meeting will be in his birthplace, Hawaii, he joked that the Pacific Rim leaders will be “in flowered shirts and grass skirts.” Alas, President Obama did not hold true to his statement. Instead, he took all the fun away and put an end to a much-awaited 20-year old tradition. Chilean President Piñera Echenique was said to have asked during this year’s APEC meeting, “Where are the Hawaiian shirts?” The U.S. President was said to have replied that the tradition was to end in Hawaii.

President Obama did give away tropical shirts but did not require his fellow leaders to wear them. He said that his team persuaded him to do away with the tradition and that there were not many complaints about it from the APEC leaders. Plus, wearing such happy-go-lucky looking outfits might send the wrong message across the globe. After all, the global economy is still not in the pink of health for many nations.

To begin with, it’s possible that a few of the APEC leaders were not exactly looking forward to looking like Magnum P.I. (although he makes the loud and boxy Hawaiian shirt look mighty fine). But still, the leaders of the member economies were robbed of the opportunity to either enjoy the moment or cringe all the way through the photo-op. The public was also robbed of the opportunity to make fun of the whole situation. During times like this, a smile, a snicker or a big belly laugh can help erase, even for a moment, the economic worries of the day. It gives people something else to focus on that amusing.

In 2012, the APEC leader’s meeting will be held in Vladivostok, Russia. Hopefully, the whole world will once again see its’ APEC leaders in the traditional outfit of the host country. People from all over the world will be wondering whether they will see their leaders in beautiful belted or un-belted Kosovorotka (traditional Russian skewed-collar shirts) or linen tunics perhaps. Fur hats should be optional, though.

There’s nothing silly about the work that Day Translations, Inc. and World Interpreting, Inc. do. These two companies will provide you with interpretation and translation services that rival the services of APEC translators and interpreters. Contact them anytime of the day for your inquiries.