Sugar and Spice - Holiday Cookies from Around the World

by Lauren Nemec

I love to bake, and this time of year is one of the best for baking. This Christmas, not only have I baked some typical American cookies to share with my friends, family and colleagues, but I've also had plenty of opportunities to sample Christmas sweets made by Czech families- for example, "Linecke", or "Linzer cookies" (the "Na Zdravi" blog written by a Czech living in the U.S.A. offers a recipe for this popular Czech Christmas cookie) .

Why not sweeten your own holidays with a cookie recipe from another country?

"Food Blogga" has a whopping list of Christmas cookies from around the world, at "Christmas Cookies from around the World 2007".

My own personal favorite- the Chocolate Crunch Brownie- hails from the southern USA and isn't really a cookie, but my mother has baked it for Christmas for years, and is always one of the first to run out!

Chocolate Crunch Brownies, photo courtesy: La Mia Cucina

1 c  Butter or margarine; soften

2 c  Sugar

4    Eggs

6 tb Baking cocoa

1 c  Flour

2 ts Vanilla extract

1/2 ts Salt

7 oz Marshmallow crème

1 c  Creamy peanut butter

12 oz Semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)

3 c  Crisp rice cereal

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar; add eggs.
Stir in cocoa, flour, vanilla and salt.  
Spread into a greased 13-inch x 9-inch x 2-inch baking pan.
Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (or 175 degrees Celsius)
for 25 minutes or until brownies test done. 
Cool.
Spread marshmallow creme over cooled brownies. 
In a small saucepan, melt peanut butter and chocolate chips
over low heat, stirring constantly.
Remove from the heat; stir in the cereal.  
Spread over marshmallow layer.
Chill before cutting.  
Store in the refrigerator.  

Source: Country Woman; Collector's Edition.

Don't use cups or tablespoons? Allrecipes.com offers a handy conversion chart from standard U.S. systems to Metric. Or try this ounces to grams calculator.

Happy Holidays, and Happy Baking!

Telephone Interpreting

by Lauren Nemec

"Lost without Translation", written by Mario Cacciottolo for BBC news, follows the linguistic and cultural challenges in the day-to-day work of a British midwife named Jayne Cozens. Though it's fascinating to read about the cross-cultural aspects of the job (ex: advising women of certain cultures to avoid SIDS/cot death by refraining from sleeping with their babies and other family members in the same bed), what is particularly interesting and relevant about this story regards the methods that Ms. Cozens uses to meet her language needs- and their drawbacks.

Ms. Cozens works with many immigrant mothers and expectant mothers, many of whom speak and understand little or no English. In order to communicate effectively with her patients, she often requires the assistance of language interpreters. Sometimes she is able to find interpreters for her patients quite easily, but sometimes interpreters must come from many miles away - and they're not cheap. She laments, "The costs are phenomenal, absolutely huge, and they get their travel expenses paid as well."

Since she cannot always have an interpreter physically present during hospital appointments, antenatal classes, or house calls, Ms. Cozens often relies on a telephone interpreting service. But even that is not without hassles and complications- "...you have to call the interpreter on the phone, speak to her, hand the receiver to the woman, get it back, and hear the translated reply. Everything takes three times as long."

While Ms. Cozens finds that the telephone interpreting service can be time-consuming and perhaps inefficient, many people in corporations, governmental agencies and non-profits find this kind of service to be an incredible asset to their organizations.

For example, take a situation where a non-English speaking woman in the United States is in labor and not able to reach a hospital. Emergency response officials would need to communicate with her to get important information about the baby and her health, inform her of the situation, and keep her calm - but serious complications could arise in the time it takes to arrange for an interpreter to come to the scene. Solution? Many police departments, hospitals, call centers and emergency response agencies depend on subscriptions to telephone interpreting services to give them inexpensive, immediate access to interpreters in virtually any language. (Click here to watch a video of how telephone interpreting company "Language Line" would respond to this situation).

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In a business setting, when important deals hang in the balance, a telephone interpreter can help you to decipher not only your business counterpart's message, but the cultural context of that message as well. For example, a telephone interpreter could tell you that your Japanese client's response of "It would be difficult" or "I will consider it" most likely means that the answer is "no", since a direct negative response might cause discomfort or loss of face.

Telephone interpreting does not come without difficulties, as Ms. Cozens has realized. Telephone interpreters cannot see and interpret body language, which is quite a serious drawback considering that most of what we communicate is done non-verbally. The quality of the connection is not always ideal- echoes, static and other noise can interfere with the process. And interpreting via the telephone can leave more room for error.

However, this method of communication provides instant access to interpreters in all of the world's major languages. It saves the cost of paying an interpreter's travel expenses to be on site. Telephone interpreting can be a blessing - whether you're helping to deliver a woman's baby or trying to get a big contract with a company in a foreign country.

Localization of Video Games

From the "Daily Yomiuri Online", this is the first of two articles explaining the process of video game localization.

Playing games with the world: It takes more than just translation

Andrew Sharp / Daily Yomiuri Staff Writer

The global video games industry is not bigger than Hollywood. But it's not far behind. More money will be spent on video games than on music this year, and the gaming market is projected to be worth 48.9 billion dollars by 2011, according to consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Many games are written by Japanese game producers, then translated and adapted for the large gaming markets of North America, Britain and the FIGS countries (France, Italy, Germany and Spain), in a process known as localization, a process that has to please the notoriously persnickety creature known as the gamer.

"Localization isn't just about the translation of words, its about the other elements that make up the game: the difficulty level, any cultural references," explains Richard Honeywood, localization director at Square Enix Co. "All these factors have to be changed from one culture to another."

An example of this would be the skirts of the female characters in a popular tennis game that were shortened for the Japanese version of the game--no doubt pleasing the kind of gentleman you could find frequenting the less family-oriented areas of Akihabara.

Read more.

Prague Post: The customer is always wrong

In September, I posted an article I wrote about Czech culture. In it, I very briefly mentioned Czech customer service and Czech envy.

The Prague Post put up an article the other day that delves into these concepts more fully, providing insightful commentary on how the shadows Communism still linger in the new service economy:

The customer is always wrong.

Happy Halloween!

by Lauren Nemec

It's October 31st, which means that tonight across the United States, children will be running from door to door asking for candy, dressed up in their Shrek, Harry Potter and Star Wars costumes. But Halloween is not just for children. Adults will enthusiastically don ridiculous costumes to attend Halloween parties. They'll compete with their neighbors to see who can turn their home into the scariest haunted house on the block; manicured lawns will be transformed into cemeteries, complete with spider webs, gravestones, spooky music, fog, and any other Halloween-themed novelty Wal-Mart can sell. Yes- in the United States, it seems Halloween has exploded into a major holiday, rivaling Christmas in its commercialism.

So, U.S. Americans celebrate Halloween by doing what we do best - spending money and eating. But how does the rest of the world celebrate Halloween? According to PumpkinPatchesAndMore.org, "Halloween is one of the world's oldest holidays, dating back to pagan times. But it is celebrated today by more people in more countries than ever before."

Let's take a look at Halloween traditions around the world.

Ireland - Where it All Began

In Ireland, where the holiday supposedly originated, children receive a one-week holiday from school for the Halloween celebration. Both adults and children dress up as goblins, ghosts and other creatures, much like in the United States. Bonfires are lit to ward off evil spirits and people sometimes also set off fireworks.

A traditional Halloween cake called "barmbrack" will be eaten. Various objects are usually baked into the cake, and tell the fortune of the one who gets the item in his or her piece. For example, a ring indicates a wedding in one's future.

Austria

From PumpkinPatchesAndMore.org: In Austria, some people will leave bread, water and a lighted lamp on the table before retiring on Halloween night. It was once believed that these would welcome the dead souls back to earth on a night that Austrians considered to be magical.

China

There is no "Halloween" celebration in China, but they have a very similar celebration called the "Ghost Festival" which is held on the thirteen day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar. Chinese families will prepare feasts and leave empty seats at the table for their deceased family members. The Chinese also burn things made of paper to remember the dead and bring comfort to the ghosts. For example, "Hell Money" is offered to ancestors for use in the afterlife.

Hong Kong

People in Hong Kong do celebrate Halloween, unlike maChristine Kee, Executive Vice President of the Translatus Asia division and native of Hong Kong explains, "In Hong Kong, children head to local theme parks like Disneyland or Ocean Park to participate in western Halloween traditions."

Halloween's "Jack-O'-Lanterns" in Asia.
Photo from Travelogger.

Korea

From PumpkinPatchesAndMore.org: In Korea, the festival similar to Halloween is known as "Chusok." It is at this time that families thank their ancestors for the fruits of their labor. The family pays respect to these ancestors by visiting their tombs and making offerings of rice and fruits. The "Chusok" festival takes place in the month of August.

Mexico

Halloween kicks off three days of celebration in Mexico, and is celebrated much in the same way as it is in the United States. Children dress up for trick-or-treating while teens and adults throw costume parties. The Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), which occurs the following two days, honors the lives of the deceased and celebrates the continuation of life. The traditions of the celebration differ across regions, but common elements include providing offerings for the departed, preparing special foods, lighting candles in honor of the departed, and spending time at desceased relatives' grave sites. It's a fascinating celebration, and you can read more about it here.

Photo by Ruben Cordova, from UTSA.edu.

UT's Profile of the Arab World

by Lauren Nemec

The University of Texas at Austin (my Alma Mater) usually has some wonderful feature stories posted on the homepage of their website. Their current feature story offers insight into the language, religion and culture of the Arab world. The story is called "Translating the Arab World: Language, religion and culture are keys to understanding diverse region".

The story has a section where you can listen to some pieces in Arabic.

The National Security Education Program recently awarded the University of Texas at Austin's Department of Middle Eastern Studies with $700k to set up an Arabic language program, in hopes the program will produce more proficient Arabic speakers in the United States.

NYT - Fearing Crime, Japanese Wear the Hiding Place

by Lauren Nemec

The New York Times recently published an article about quirky Japanese inventions designed to protect people from street crime. Fearing Crime, Japanese Wear the Hiding Place.

This is an entertaining and amusing read that also offers some insight into Japanese culture and their mentality about innovation and safety.

The article explains that the Japanese attitude toward protecting oneself from crime is based on the idea of "camouflage and deception" as opposed to the American tendencies to react or confront.

In response to growing fears about crime and safety in Japan, an experimental fashion designer named Aya Tsukioka has designed a skirt that transforms into a disguise that looks like a vending machine. There's also a handbag that is designed to look like a manhole cover, so when thrown on the ground, would-be thieves wouldn't notice it or the valuables hidden inside.

Maybe I am indeed a "crime-hardened American", but I'll stick to pepper spray for now.

Czech Culture

by Lauren Nemec

The Czech Republic is an incredibly beautiful country with a rich history, fascinating people and an abundance of business opportunities. Yet the country remains relatively obscure and unknown to Americans, many of whom still call it “Czechoslovakia.”

Whether you are enticed to the Czech Republic by its dramatic castles, famous beer, luxurious spas or cheap labor force, this modest guide to Czech culture should provide you with a deeper understanding of the country and its people.

The Czech People

A common first impression of the Czechs is that they seem cold and impersonal. To us warm and open Americans, this can be quite disheartening. It shouldn’t be taken personally, as Czechs are very private people. They have a smaller boundary of personal space than Americans, but they guard it very closely. Though Czechs are used to being in close physical proximity to each other, they tend to keep others at an emotional distance and will not usually smile at, make eye contact with, or engage in small talk with strangers.

Americans are known for their ability to quickly and effortlessly form casual relationships, so it should come as no surprise that Americans are often frustrated at the difficulty of forging relationships with Czech people. In addition to their strong sense of privacy, years of foreign invasions and occupations have perhaps made the Czechs slightly distrustful and fearful of strangers or foreigners. Therefore, it takes a long time and a great deal of trust to overcome a Czech’s boundaries and fears and develop a friendship with him. Once you do, though, it will be a rewarding and lasting friendship.

When you do get to know them, you’ll find that Czechs have a unique sense of humor, best described as ‘mischievous’. Jara Cimrman, for example, is considered to be a national hero, having been the first man to reach the North Pole and the inventor of dynamite. Actually, Cimrman is no more than a figment of the Czech imagination, but Czechs still enthusiastically pretend he existed. They’ve even built a museum in honor of Cimrman, which often fools tourists into believing this extraordinary person really existed.

Money Matters

Czechs have not always lived in a consumer-oriented society. During the communistic era, goods were scarce and stores offered poor selections. People had to make do with what was available and everybody usually had the same things. For example, many Czech families have the same china collection, called the “Blue-Onion” pattern, because it was the only nice china collection available for a very long time. People who had something rare, unique or expensive were often the object of gossip and envy.

When my husband was a child, he was taken to the store every year on his birthday to choose one toy. When his mother took him to the store for his birthday after the Velvet Revolution, he looked at the wide selection of toys and burst into tears sobbing that he would never be able to choose just one thing. When Czechoslovakia entered a free market economy, more goods were available than ever before and Czechs suddenly needed to develop the ability to make complex purchase decisions. This proved difficult, as Czechs wanted to buy everything they had been denied for so long, yet they did not have the purchasing power to buy it all because salaries remained very low. Unfortunately, this caused an envious mentality and lust for money to emerge among Czech people.

Doing Business with the Czechs

The Czech Republic is an attractive offshore location, primarily because of its cheap but highly educated labor force. However, the differences between American and Czech business cultures can often cause frustration for American businesspeople.

Communism adversely affected the way Czechs do business. For example, customer service, quality and efficiency weren’t highly valued under socialistic rule, so Czech businesspeople have had to learn (or re-learn) how to do these things that we Westerners take for granted. You may find that these concepts aren’t yet up to Western standards in some situations. Processes might not be clearly defined and the pace of work and decision making may be slower than what westerners are accustomed to. However, one should not assume that the Czechs are in the Dark Ages. Though they don’t have as much experience in the free market economy as Western countries, the Czechs are quick learners and seem to be adapting quite well.

Czechs have a strong aversion to the unknown. In business, this certainty avoidance means that Czechs tend to need lots of time to consider their choices and weigh the options in their mind before making a decision. Plans are made slowly and methodically and details are pored over. It also means that Czechs tend to be nervous about taking risks and making changes. A French expatriate manager of a large financial institution in Prague once described to me his difficulty finding Czech managers willing to relocate to France.

The company wanted the Czech managers to go temporarily to learn how to successfully run the company on their own, but most of the managers refused. It was an excellent opportunity with a generous salary and benefits package, so the French managers couldn’t fathom why any reasonable person would refuse the offer. When you consider the Czech fear of uncertainty, it becomes a little easier to understand their hesitation.

Though the Czechs have a relatively egalitarian society, they are formal people. Formal Czech is spoken in business situations and it is very important to address people appropriately. The Czechs strongly value academic achievement and are proud of their academic accomplishments, so it is important to use correct academic titles, if known.

A Final Word

This article contains many generalizations of Czech people and culture. Generalizations help us determine what to expect from people in certain situations, but should never be taken as absolute truths. I think you will find, as I have, that the Czechs will never fail to surprise you.

*****
This article was originally published in the September 2007 issue of McElroy Translation's newsletter "E-Buzz". To subscribe to "E-Buzz", click here.
*****

International Business: Dining Etiquette

by Lauren Nemec

The rules of etiquette can be difficult enough to follow in your own culture. After crossing borders, the rules of etiquette can change so drastically from what you’re accustomed to, they become a minefield of blunders and faux-pas just waiting to happen. If you are in another country on business, following the local rules of etiquette becomes very important, as it can be crucial to the success of your business ventures.

While some etiquette blunders are laughable or not likely to cause serious offense, others might make your business counterparts perceive you as rude or unappreciative, and may inhibit your business relationship from moving forward. Knowing proper table manners can be an asset in international business.

Invitations

Receiving an invitation to dine out should be considered and honor and should not be refused. Dining out with your hosts can help build your relationship and establish trust, which will help you with your business endeavors in the long run. If you must refuse, offer a legitimate reason.

In most countries, an invitation to dinner likely means you will be dining with your host in a restaurant. A personal invitation to dine at someone’s home should be considered a tremendous honor and a sign of deep trust. However, some cultures highly value hospitality and are eager to extend invitations to dine in the home. Therefore, an invitation to dine at an Indian or Colombian home may not carry the same significance as an invitation to dine at a Japanese or British home. Nevertheless, these invitations should be treated with the same amount of respect and decorum, and should not be refused; otherwise, you might offend the host or miss out on a fascinating experience.

Time and Punctuality

Dinner, drinking and other social occasions can last many hours. Set aside an entire evening for a social event and pace yourself. To avoid causing offense, try not to leave before others do. In China, the serving of fruit signifies the end of the meal. Guests are expected to leave within 30 minutes after the fruit course is served.

While punctuality is important to many people, it can offend others. When in North America, Scandinavia, Germany and China, it is important to arrive on time for business functions and social occasions. Arriving late could offend your hosts. In other countries, you will be expected to arrive late for social functions. Arriving early or on time could embarrass your host, as they may not yet be prepared for your arrival. In India, for example, you should arrive 15-30 minutes late for dinner at someone’s home.

Seating

Seating arrangements are often well thought out according to many factors, such as age, gender, status or hierarchy. A good rule of thumb in any country is to wait to be seated. In many countries, the guest of honor will usually have a specific place to sit, often next to the host, at the head of the table or farthest from the entrance.

Ordering

As a guest, you should respect the selections of your host and sample everything. A host may ask you for recommendations. If you are familiar with the country's food, don’t hesitate to say something like, "I've read about haggis and I would love to try it."

As a host, you should take into consideration the dietary restrictions of your guests. In India, for example, Muslim Indians do not eat pork, Hindus do not eat beef and many Indians are vegetarians. When hosting a meal in India, provide chicken, fish or lamb for meat eaters and a variety of vegetarian dishes.

Toasting

Toasting is a common practice in most countries. You should wait for your host to initiate the toast before drinking or beginning your meal. Make an effort to lightly clink your glass with all other guests. In many cultures, it's appropriate to make eye-contact when touching glasses and to seal the toast by sipping your drink. After the host proposes a toast, you can also make one, but be sure you do not upstage the first.

Here is a list of common toasting phrases in different countries:

China: Ganbei

Czech Republic: Na zdraví

Denmark, Norway, Sweden: Skål or Skoal

France: Santé

Germany: Prost

Japan: Kampai

Spain and Mexico: Salud

USA, UK, Australia: Cheers

More phrases can be found here.

Eating Utensils

Chopsticks

Chopstick etiquette is very important in Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Vietnam, and you would be wise to learn how to use chopsticks properly before visiting any of these countries on business. The effort will be appreciated by your hosts. For those who are completely inept at using chopsticks, silverware will probably be available for you in many restaurants. Chopstick etiquette differs across cultures, but here are some general guidelines:

• Never leave your chopsticks sticking straight up out of your rice bowl, as this resembles a funerary rite in many of these cultures.
• Never point your chopsticks at someone or use them to gesture.
• Use a chopstick rest, when available.
• Don't chew on your chopsticks.
• Don’t pierce or spear food with your chopsticks.
• Dropping your chopsticks or placing them parallel across your bowl symbolizes bad luck, so don’t do it.

Hands

In the Arab world and in India, the left hand is considered to be 'unclean', as this hand is used with water in place of toilet paper. It is taboo to eat or pass food with your left hand. In these countries, refrain from using your left hand when shaking hands, dining, passing objects or gesturing. This will be a challenge for left-handed people, but you will have to train yourself.

Cutlery

The U.S. American style of dining with cutlery is often a source of amusement for many Europeans and South Americans. U.S. Americans tend to hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right hand as they cut their food, then switch hands to put the food in their mouth with the fork (tines up), and switch back again to cut the next piece of food. This method of eating may seem quite silly to people outside of the United States, and may even offend those with high expectations of proper table manners.

Outside of the United States, most people adhere to the “Continental” or “European” style of dining with cutlery, where the fork is held in the left hand and the knife is held in the right hand throughout the meal, without ever switching.

Rejecting food

I recently had dinner with a well-traveled American businessman, who told me about the time he was offered live baby mice at a banquet in China. In nearly every country, it is considered polite to sample every kind of food you are offered. To refuse food without having tried it can offend your host. However, no one will expect you to eat something that will make you sick or violate your beliefs. If you are offered something you simply cannot or will not eat, offer a believable health or religious reason.

Cleaning Your Plate

In some countries, etiquette dictates that you should eat everything on your plate. Otherwise, you might be seen as wasteful or unappreciative of the food. However, in other countries, cleaning your plate would indicate to your host that he did not provide enough to eat.

Here are some general guidelines that should help you handle this delicate situation:

• In Asian countries like Japan, China and Taiwan, leave a small portion of food on your plate to signify to your host that your appetite was satisfied.
• In most European and North American countries, eat everything you take.
• When in doubt, observe what your fellow diners do, or leave a small portion of food on your plate.

Alcohol

Alcohol plays different roles in different cultures. In some countries, drunkenness indicates a lack of self-control and will be frowned upon. In others, social drinking can last far into the night and your counterparts may get "three sheets to the wind". You should understand the local drinking habits and laws in order to prevent yourself from getting sick, making a faux-pas, or even committing a crime.

Your host country might be more avid alcohol drinkers than what you are accustomed to, the alcohol might be stronger, or the climate might make the effects of alcohol more extreme. Pay close attention to your alcohol intake and the effects it has on your body. When you’ve had enough to drink, turn over your empty glass or keep it full so it won’t be refilled. In countries where rejections of alcohol might cause your host to lose face or take offense, state health or religious reasons for abstaining.

In Islam, intoxication by alcohol is forbidden. In most Islamic countries, Muslims may face severe penalties for importing, purchasing or consuming alcohol. As a tourist or business traveler, you may consume alcohol in some hotels, but refrain from offering alcoholic beverages to your Muslim business counterparts or drinking in front of them.

Topics of Conversation

In some countries, meals are considered to be social occasions, and as such, your host may not bring up the subject of business. Wait for your host to begin discussing business first. Even if business is not discussed at dinner, you are still building a relationship and establishing trust with your host, which can help your business goals in the long run.

Not all topics of conversation are appropriate in all countries. For example, you should refrain from discussing women in Saudi Arabia, talking about Aborigines in Australia, or criticizing the government in China.

When in doubt, safe topics to discuss include:

• Weather
• Sports
• Culture, the Arts and Literature
• Travel
• Food
• History – positive aspects
• Your home country or city

Unless your colleagues bring it up first, avoid these topics:

• Politics
• Terrorism
• Religion
• Money
• Sex
• Divorce
• History—negative aspects, including wars
• Racism and Ethnic/Class differences
• Criticism of the host country
• Personal issues, such as income, marital status, age, sexual orientation, etc.

Other Etiquette Tips

Some general or miscellaneous etiquette guidelines to follow:

• cover your mouth with your hand when using a toothpick
• refrain from blowing your nose at the table
• avoid adding excess salt, pepper or ketchup to your food
• don’t belch or slurp when eating, except in Asian countries where these are signs that you are enjoying your meal
• wash your hands thoroughly before eating
• participate in the singing if you are invited to karaoke in Japan, Korea or China
• offer cigarettes to everyone else in your group when smoking
• keep hands on the table, not in your lap, when dining in Europe
• men should refrain from dining alone with a businesswoman in South America; consider inviting spouses

Payment

In almost every country, the person who extended the invitation is expected to pay the bill, though guests and hosts will often enter into a good-natured argument about who will pay. Women should expect their male counterparts to insist on paying.

When saying “thank you” is not enough, you can reciprocate by inviting your host to a meal of the same value. In fact, this may be expected in places like China and Taiwan. Before the meal begins, make sure you give your credit card to the restaurant staff or instruct them to only accept payment from you.

Tipping customs vary across countries, so you should do research on it or ask a native of the country you're visiting how much you should tip at restaurants.

Here’s To Your Health!

In any culture, adhering to proper table manners and etiquette shows your host that you have respect for them. This can only help improve your relationship and establish trust.

The guidelines put forward in this article are generalizations that should give you a vague understanding of dining etiquette across cultures, but you should do your own country-specific research before traveling abroad for business.

The following resources should help:

1) Executive Planet

2) Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: How to Do Business in 60 Countries

3) Wikipedia

-Worldwide Etiquette

-Table Manners

Judges Say "No" to Ballot Transliteration

by Lauren Nemec

A couple of months ago, I posted a story about Chinese-American citizens in the City of Boston who were pushing for the full translation of voting ballots, including transliteration of candidate names.

A federal panel of three judges has voted against a move that would require that transliterated candidate names be printed on ballots in precincts of Boston with a high concentration of Chinese-speaking citizens.

Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin has been opposed to the transliteration of candidate names on ballots, arguing that there is no precise or accurate process of transliterating names and that there is a possibility candidates will sue over poorly transliterated names. Examples of transliterated names of politicians running for President in the 2008 elections include:

Mitt Romney - 'Sticky' or 'Uncooked Rice'
Fred Thompson - 'Virtue Soup'
Thomas M. Menino - 'Rainbow Farmer' or 'Imbecile'
Barack Obama - 'Europe Pulling a Horse'
Hillary Clinton - 'Upset Stomach'

Chinese-American activists have insisted that the city's agreement to fully translate ballots should allow for the transliteration of candidate names. Since the judges have agreed otherwise, Galvin has promised he will "continue to work with voters who have language issues to find ways to make their votes effective".

Localizing the Theme Park Experience

by Lauren Nemec

Disney has learned the hard way that you simply cannot impose American culture on another culture and expect to be successful.

In 1992, Disney opened the Euro-Disney theme park, located just outside of Paris, France. Unfortunately, Disney failed to adapt to local tastes and cultures when planning the theme park, which resulted in negative publicity, controversy and low attendance. For example, in line with Disney values and policies, alcohol was not served at the park-- a poor decision considering that wine is a staple at any meal in France. The executive chef in charge of menus at Disney parks recalls being told, "Do your own thing. Do what's American." Many viewed Disney's expansion as an assault on French culture. French intellectuals called it a "cultural Chernobyl."

Disney did a little better in 2005 with the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland. For example, they limited the number of clocks in the park (in China, clocks are seen as a symbol for death), put Mickey Mouse in a red and gold Chinese suit, and even consulted a Feng Shui master to ensure a harmonious and pleasant environment for Chinese guests. However, Disney got a little too carried away adapting to the local environment when they offered shark fin soup (a local delicacy) on their wedding banquet menu. They removed the selection after environmental groups threatened a worldwide Disney boycott. Poor Disney can't win.

Mickey and Minnie in traditional Chinese clothes. Photo courtesy cbsnews.com.

There are a myriad of cultural differences that must be addressed and overcome when theme parks expand into other countries. There is a fantastic article today on OrlandoSentinel.com called "Disney and Universal tailor attractions abroad to prevent culture shock" that provides some wonderful examples of these localization difficulties. Highly recommended read, especially if you're a fan of Disney or Universal Studios theme parks.

Top picture: Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Hong Kong Disneyland. Photo courtesy wikipedia.com.

16 Ways to Get Employees Excited About Workplace Diversity

by Lauren Nemec

I found this article about workplace diversity because my article "International Business: Business Card Etiquette" was referenced there: 16 Ways to Get Employees Excited About Workplace Diversity

I had a lot of diversity coursework and training throughout my undergraduate education, so I love the idea of getting employees psyched about diversity in the workplace. This article presents some excellent ideas for getting employees pumped up about diversity initiatives. I especially like the idea of "Multicultural Food Day" where everyone brings a native dish!

Great article, Dawn!

Cultural Dimensions- Individualism vs. Collectivism

by Lauren Nemec

I just read a fascinating article on Yahoo! about study results illustrating Americans' individualistic nature and how it tends to hinder our abilities to understand other people's perspectives. Perhaps it's not directly related to translation, but I strongly believe that understanding culture is crucial to success in international business.

Study: Americans Don't Understand Others

Basic Rundown of the Study
Researchers took American and Chinese participants and told them to move a block on a table. There were two blocks on the table, though one was obstructed from the examiner's view by a piece of cardboard. The Chinese participants were more likely to take into consideration that the examiner was not able to see both blocks and quickly determined the block in the examiner's view should be moved. The Americans were confused by the request, and took much more time to decide which block to move.

Cultural Dimensions
The study and its results illustrate an important concept about culture: individualism vs. collectivism. This concept has been developed and studied by specialists in the field of cross-cultural communication- Geert Hofstede, Fons Trompenaars and Charles Hampden-Turner. These specialists have developed models of culture using multiple 'cultural dimensions'. Anyone who has ever had coursework or training in cross-cultural communication, intercultural sensitivity, or international management should be familiar with these dimensions of culture.

The individualism vs. collectivism dimension explains a culture's social functions; in society, do people function as individuals or groups?

Individualism
In individualistic cultures (such as in the United States, Canada, Germany and South Africa) relationships between people are loose. A person's utmost responsibility and duty is to himself and his immediate family, and people will often put their own needs above the needs of others. Independence and self-reliance are important values in individualistic societies. It is strongly believed that people should be free to pursue their dreams and goals.

This tendency to think about ourselves can suppress our ability to empathize with others and understand different points of view. People in individualistic societies are often seen as 'selfish' or 'egotistic'.

Collectivism
In collectivist cultures (such as China, Japan, Greece and most Latin American countries), individuals are bound together through strong ties. A person's responsibility and duty is to his community, and the needs of the group are put above the needs of the individual. People are expected to act in the best interest of the group, society or family unit. Harmony and loyalty are important values in collectivist societies.

Why is this important?
Developing cultural awareness can help you communicate and work effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds than your own. Understanding the influence of culture on a person's values, behavior, communication style and decision-making may mean the difference between success and failure in an international business venture.

And for Americans, training in cultural awareness might be the medicine we need to cure our egocentric and selfish reputations!

Kwintessential has some great cultural awareness quizzes on their website, if you'd like to get started with your cross-cultural education.

Transliteration of Candidate Names into Chinese Causing 'Upset Stomachs'

by Lauren Nemec

Who would you vote for in the 2008 Presidential Election: ‘Europe Pulling a Horse’, ‘Upset Stomach’, ‘Beautiful Soup’, or ‘Sticky Rice’?

(Translation: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Tommy Thompson, Mitt Romney)

Chinese-American citizens in the City of Boston are pushing for the full translation of voting ballots, including transliteration of candidate names. Because written Chinese uses characters rather than an alphabet of Roman letters, some Chinese-Americans may have a difficult time understanding an English-only ballot. Advocates for Chinese-American voting rights insist on using transliteration as a tool to assist Chinese-American voters who are not able to read English.


However, Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin is opposed to the transliteration of candidate names on ballots, arguing that there is no precise or accurate process of transliterating names and that there is a possibility candidates will sue over their transliterated names.

Remember: Transliteration is not the same as translation.

Translation changes the word into another language while preserving original meaning.

Transliteration changes letters or words into corresponding characters of another alphabet or language.

Though there is a process to transliterating, it is not without flaws and can be very subjective. When a name is transliterated to Chinese, the linguist will find Chinese words that phonetically sound like the pronunciation of the original name. The linguist will then choose the word with the most appropriate meaning and turn it into the correct Chinese written character for that word.

Take my first name, for example: Lauren. The first syllable, ‘lau’ sounds like the Chinese word for ‘law.’ The second syllable, ‘ren’ sounds like the Chinese words for 'cloud', 'kind’ and ‘patient.’ My transliterated name could therefore be ‘law cloud’.

The problem with this process is that it can create nonsensical meanings in the target language. Perhaps you’ve heard of a very famous transliteration problem of Coca Cola’s. Back in the 1920’s, Coca-Cola was preparing to enter the Chinese market. A translator transliterated the name ‘Coca-Cola’ into Chinese characters. When the drink didn’t sell, the company found out that the transliterated characters meant ‘bite the wax tadpole’ or ‘a wax flattened mare’. The company then changed the name of the product to 'happiness in the mouth' for the Chinese market.

In order for an election to run precisely and smoothly, the ballots should be as clear as possible. Transliterated names could possibly cause more confusion than clarification and might complicate election procedures and results. Politicians with unflattering or poorly transliterated names could potentially argue that it adversely affects them in the polls, possibly resulting in litigation and contested elections. With this in mind, it’s easy to understand William Galvin’s concerns. However, the Chinese-American activists are not out of luck yet: Galvin says, "If there is precise way to do this, then I'll agree to it.” Good luck!

Further Reading:

Candidates lost in Chinese translation: USAToday

Voting rights, not 'Sticky Rice': Boston Globe

International Business: Business Card Etiquette

by Lauren Nemec

“To know another’s language and not his culture is a very good way to make a fluent fool of yourself.” Winston Brembeck

Your plane tickets are booked, your glossy brochures are printed, your business suit is pressed and your trusty phrasebook is in your pocket. Are you prepared for your meeting?

In the United States, business cards are seen as nothing more than an easy way to exchange contact information. Elsewhere, however, a business card represents its owner, and as such should be treated with the utmost respect. In some business cultures, exchanging cards can be a ceremonious process, with plenty of opportunities to impress – or offend - your business associates.

Here are some tips and guidelines on appropriate business card content, appearance, translation, and ceremony.

Business Card Content

It may seem straightforward - all you need on your business card is your name, job title and contact information, right? Depending on where you are doing business, more information may be necessary. Your card should provide people with information about your background and qualifications.

Job Title

Your job title could be the most important piece of information on your card. Ensure it is translated accurately. Some job titles can be hard to translate, or the title might not exist in the target language.

In many situations, your title will help your business associates determine if you have the authority to make decisions on behalf of your company. You can determine the same thing about your counterparts by referring to the titles on their business cards.

Academic Qualifications

In countries where people hold great respect for higher education, it may be beneficial to state your academic qualifications on your business card if you have any advanced degrees. A few examples of where this would be appropriate are Austria, France, Germany, India, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Peru, and Russia.

Professional Qualifications

If you are member of a professional organization, or if you have received any honors, awards or other distinctions, you might consider putting this information on your business card.

Company Logo

A logo is seen an essential part of any reputable company’s identity, and as such, should be included on your business card.

Company Distinctions

Many cultures value tradition, stability, and longevity. If your company has been established for many years, it would be an asset to put the company’s founding date on your business card.

Translating Your Business Card

If your business card is in English, it is not necessary to have it translated when doing business in these countries, as English is widely spoken or understood:

• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• German
• India
• Israel
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Philippines
• Poland
• Singapore
• South Africa
• Sweden
• Switzerland

It is beneficial to have your business card translated when doing business in the following countries:

• Argentina (Spanish)
• Austria (German)
• Belgium (French and Dutch)
• Brazil (Portuguese)
• Canada (French and English)
• Chile (Spanish)
• China (Chinese, local dialect)
• Colombia (Spanish)
• Egypt (Arabic)
• Greece (Greek)
• Hong Kong (Cantonese)
• Italy (Italian)
• Japan (Japanese)
• Peru (Spanish)
• Russia (Russian with Cyrillic alphabet)
• Saudi Arabia (Arabic)
• South Korea (Korean)
• Spain (Spanish)
• Taiwan (Traditional Chinese)
• UAE (Arabic)
• Venezuela (Spanish)
• Yemen (Arabic)

If you do translate your business card, you can have it translated on the reverse side. Remember to hand over a double-sided business card so that the native language of your business counterpart is facing them.

Business Card Appearance

The quality of your business card may reflect the quality of your product or service, so opt for the best.

People may appreciate the elegance of an engraved or embossed business card. As this prevents anything being printed on the reverse side, have separate cards made for translations into other languages.

In China, the colors red and gold are considered to be auspicious, and would be ideal for use on a business card.

If you don’t already have one, consider buying a business card case. It is considered poor business etiquette to shove a card in your pocket.

Business Card Exchange

Exchanging business cards is a common practice in most countries. In some countries, it is quite common to distribute business cards to everyone you meet, including secretaries and assistants. Make sure you bring a plentiful supply of business cards with you. To avoid causing offense, be sure you offer a card to everyone present, no matter their station. Remember this example: Japanese employees can be very loyal, often staying with the same company for their entire career. The assistant you meet today could one day be an influential decision maker. He will likely remember you if you treat him with respect and politeness.

Rituals of business card exchange vary greatly from country to country. In Western countries, cards are usually exchanged with very little ceremony. However, in some nations, business card exchange can be a highly ceremonious event, requiring decorum, etiquette, and knowledge of the customs.

While varying slightly in formality, the exchange of business cards in countries like Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan is as follows:

Bow or shake hands and say your greeting. Present your business card with both hands (or your right hand only, see below), with your associate’s language facing them. Start with the most senior person in the room, and repeat with process with everyone else, moving down the corporate ladder as you go along. When accepting a business card, accept it with both hands and a gracious 'Thank you’. Politely read the business card for a few moments. This is a good time to clarify the pronunciation of a person’s name, ask a question, or make a pleasant remark about his or her card. You may want to leave the cards near you on the table to facilitate name-learning during a meeting. Be sure to carefully put all the cards away in a business card case.

A good rule of thumb for ANY country: treat a business card as if it is a precious gift. Don’t write on it. Don’t stuff it in your pocket. Don’t play with it.

In places like India, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco and Egypt, the left hand is considered to be unclean. (If you don’t know why, click here for a good explanation). Therefore, in these countries, you should hand over your business card only with your right hand.

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Although poor business card etiquette may not be disastrous for your business efforts, good business card etiquette will leave a positive impression of you and your company in the minds of your associates. Knowing the ceremonies will help to put you at ease and open the lines of communication.

Before leaving on a business trip, it is wise to research local business card customs. Here are some resources to get you started:

Executive Planet

Kwintessential Article

Illinois Village Debates Official Language - Part 2

by Lauren Nemec

Last night, the Carpentersville village board of trustees voted on and passed a resolution declaring English as the village's official language.

The resolution that was passed is much weaker than the originally proposed ordinance. An ordinance would have been enforceable, meaning that- by law- officials would not be able to distribute foreign language materials or offer multilingual services.

Instead, the trustees opted to pass a resolution, which is no more than an official declaration that English is the official language of Carpentersville. Though it lacks teeth (it does not bar village officials from offering foreign language services and materials), opponents of the resolution believe it will divide the community by sending the message that Carpentersville is not tolerant of diversity. Supporters of the resolution hope it will encourage residents to learn English.

Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the board meeting and bring back a first-hand account (alas, Chicago White Sox baseball tickets proved to be too much of a temptation). According to reports, the meeting was quite a spectacle, with over 100 people voicing their opinions through boos, catcalls, applause and cheers.

Over 100 people attended the Carpentersville village board meeting on Tuesday night. Photo credit: WBBM 780 News Radio.

As the immigration debate heats up here in the United States, we will continue to see more and more towns, villages and cities proposing and passing English-only resolutions and ordinances. However, I believe that the majority of these towns will find that they achieve very little, while causing division in their communities and flirting with unconstitutionality and lawsuits.

A good example is the town of Pahrump, Nevada, which passed an English-only ordinance last November, only to overturn the decision months later after finding that the ordinance only succeeded in creating controversy and discontent.

Further reading:
Nonbinding English-only goes before C'ville board: Chicago Sun Times
Carpentersville Passes English-only Resolution: Northwest Herald

Czech in the Big City

by Veronika Svobodova

I have always loved learning about different cultures. From joining the traditional Javanese Gamalan orchestra to learning the dance steps of the Greek Tsifteteli, I’ve always been the kind of person who’s eager to travel the world and meet new people as much as possible. So when I was asked to come and work with Translatus in Chicago, I knew it was a great opportunity for me to experience life in yet another part of the world.

I was born in a small town in Moravia, the eastern region of the Czech Republic. In January of 1996 my family moved to Jakarta, Indonesia. While there, we also visited nearby countries like Singapore and Thailand, and then moved on to live in Thessaloniki, Greece. After almost 9 years of living abroad, my family moved back to the Czech Republic. I decided to move to the capital city of Prague, where later, in April 2006, I started working with Translatus Inc as a project manager in the Operations Department.

Moving to Chicago was my first time ever visiting the US. I knew right from the start it was going to be quite different from anywhere else I’ve been, so I decided to get ready for the unexpected.

Here are some of my impressions of living in Chicago so far:

1) Everything is large, or sometimes even extra large (to my “small” European eyes, that is) large cars, large streets, tall buildings, large meals….

2) The food is really good. I haven't had food here yet that I didn’t like. What is quite surprising though (at least for me) is the fact that everything is served with chips. Posters on restaurants and sandwich corners invite you to "have a healthy meal" while you get your “healthy” meal served with a bag of chips. I’m not really sure how healthy that is.

3) Certain things are just quite different and at first just a little confusing for those who don’t know. While grocery shopping, when you pay for your items, your change in coins comes through an automated machine into a little bowl, while the bills are handed to you by the cashier. The first time I went grocery shopping the cashier had to scream after me and point out to the place where I "forgot" to take my change from.

4) Generally people in Chicago are very nice and friendly. It always brightens my day to see people smile not only at me but also at each other

5) However, sometimes this friendliness can be too much. Having a waitress ask you how your food is three times during your lunch as you’ve just taken another bite of your hamburger isn’t exactly my kind of fun. Luckily this doesn’t happen that often.

6) Everybody's always trying to sell you something or make you contribute to some organization, or even save you from your sins. A short walk from one corner of the street to another may include a sales person trying to sell you a voucher to a near by salon, an activist trying to make you contribute to the saving of the environment, a young lady inviting you to a "free" makeover (with the purchase of the product of course) and a street preacher screaming in a microphone and giving out pamphlets.

7) Going shopping can sometimes be a l