Applying for translation jobs can be daunting — whether it involves writing a personal statement, compiling a portfolio or indicating your language proficiencies or qualifications. At the same time, presenting yourself in a way that appeals to potential clients or employers can sometimes make yourself feel like a sellout. …

I spent my formative years living near Bangkok, geographically located at the centre of Thailand. As a result, I have only been exposed to Central Thai, which is the official language in the country. In the past few months, I was lucky enough to venture out to the Northeast and…

Talking trees, laughing dragons, smiling butterflies, or frolics to the moon. Children’s books invite us through passages of adventure and imagination — not just for young readers but eager translators as well. This is a quest that Jala eagerly pursues with StoryWeaver since 2019. Jala’s mission to make translation more…

While learning a new language, you may have stumbled upon gendered nouns. Nouns are either masculine or feminine in languages like Hindi, French and Spanish. There are also more than two genders in some languages such as Russian, where a noun is either masculine, feminine or neuter. In fact, the…

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “I’m fluent in [insert language],” or you’ve heard the word “fluent” used in someone’s language-learning goal. These statements always sound impressive and lofty, until I stopped to wonder — what does fluency really entail? A quick dictionary search brought me to Merriam-Websters’ definition of the…

“Sek teng um sek gong 識聽唔識講” This is a phrase I frequently use with my elders during Chinese New Year. It literally means, “I can understand, but I can’t speak,” — a phrase I often use to describe my Cantonese proficiency, or rather, lack thereof. Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien, Teochew —…

Diving into a new career like translation can be daunting. But wading into unknown territories may not be as perplexing as one thinks. As a keen translator and language-lover myself, I sought real stories from translators to understand what it takes to kickstart a translation career. …

Non-profit organisations often require quality translations to communicate vital information to at-risk communities. In Asian countries where diverse populations mean diverse languages, it becomes especially imperative for organisations to properly reach communities in a language they understand. …

Change is the only constant in life. This antithesis unfortunately rings true in 2020. As this new decade unfolds like a tragic satire or dystopian Black Mirror episode, humanity continues to plug away through seemingly insurmountable feats to adapt — in our work, social interactions and especially healthcare. For the…