BABEL-minus

Removing the Language Barrier One Word at a Time.

by 16 Comments

There is a need for interpreters

Let me start right here:

When you say the word interpreter some people think  $$$  and no joke, interpreters do charge for their services JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE (ha, I just thought I should remind you that we all work for a paycheck even if we really love what we do).

I have come accross interpreters in the medical and legal field and there are a lot of them that feel like they don’t make enough money. Some interpreters feel like their profession is not appreciated and they are just the bridge that connects your language to the target language.

HELLO, the interpreter is the bridge that connects what you know to the unknown languagewise.

If you don’t know the language than you need an interpreter.

How professional do you want/need your message to come across?

I understand that there are areas where profesionalism is an option but good business people go the extra mile.

DO IT FOR YOURSELF, DO IT FOR YOUR CLIENTS.

by 4 Comments

Is it cultural awareness or kindness???

Is it cultural awareness or kindness???

 

iphone mayo 967

 

I was in an airplane fixing to come back home from a business  trip. My wife was with me and that is always a happier trip.

I don’t know WHY we usually end up in the middle or the back of the plane (perhaps because I usually try for the cheaper tickets, lol). I found a dilemma after we finally found our seats and settled down. There was an older Chinese couple whom did not speak English and they were sitting already in place beside each other. Apparently they had been assigned seats that were not together, but were in two different rows instead. They figured this out when a young man whom was traveling by himself stood in front of them and demanded to have his seat which was the one where the lady was sitting in. The Chinese gentleman understood the situation and traded seats with his wife and then he moved to the different row.

I am obviously not one to judge people for not being kind, but sometimes it is small kind gestures in life that make a huge difference and mean so much. I felt bad for this couple that did not speak the language or really understood the culture around them.

Just to be fair to the young man that wanted his assigned seat, I must remark that he seem oblivious or perhaps not interested in the cultural situation and just wanted his seat and went to sleep not long after he sat down (however I cannot say I didn’t chuckle the couple of times he had to get up to let the Chinese lady out to go use the restroom).

While cultural awareness has to do more with being aware of the cultures of people and why they do or don’t do certain things I like to be as kind as possible to people who are in need specially when they seem unaware of language or things around them.