Translation by Native Speakers

Adapmark specializes in translations to Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Hindi and Chinese. We also have access to a global network of native-speaking professional translators for every major language in the world.

• An airline advertisement proclaimed in Spanish that its first-class passengers sit "en cuero," meaning leather seats; However, to Spanish speakers, it means "naked."
• An American TV program translated into Portuguese and broadcasted in Brazil offended locals by portraying residents of Rio de Janeiro in a demeaning light. Presumably this was considered humorous by the creators of the program.
• A California state agency printed Korean fliers with letters positioned upside down.
• Red color in America means urgency, such as STOP! In some Asian cultures it means wealth and does not carry the same sense of urgency.

The problems in cross-cultural communications can be mis-translation, mixed messages and unintended slights due to lack of knowledge of cultural norms.

Adapmark provides English translations with cultural adaptations for the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and other English-speaking countries.

See some examples of British to American glitches (here it is again) written from the British point-of-view:

• HOLIDAY A holiday for a person in the UK is any time taken off work. For Americans, a vacation is time taken off specifically for yourself and a holiday is time that everyone gets off and they're paid for (Christmas, New Year, Easter, etc.). What Americans call holidays, we call public holidays. In actual fact we call all of them except Christmas and Easter "bank holidays".
• BLOODY Bloody is another great British multi-purpose swear word. Most well known as part of the phrase "Bloody hell!" which could best be described as an exclamation of surprise, shock or anger. Bloody can also be used in the middle of sentences for emphasis ("And then he had the cheek to call me a bloody liar!") or even with particular audacity in the middle of words ("Who does she think she is, Cinde-bloody-rella?").
• BLOW OFF Blowing off in the UK is not at all similar to blowing off in the US. While Americans know it as brushing someone off, British people use it as an alternative term for breaking wind.
• BUM This is the British version of butt. What the Americans call bums the British call tramps.
• PLASTER A British plaster is an American bandage or Band-Aid. In both British and American English, to describe oneself as plastered implies that you are wildly under the influence of alcohol. See? We do share the odd word, after all.
• RUBBER Of course you have heard this one already, no need to repeat it here... No, you have not, then you really need expert translation assistance. Call us now!

Adapmark can help you avoid mistakes when communicating in English with Britain, Canada, India or Australia. Adapmark, also has expertise communicating with customers in China, Brazil, Mexico and Russia.