List of Articles
Words are the oil which keeps organisations functioning. When information is sent across language boundaries, it is almost always necessary to translate if you want your procedures to work efficiently....
People who speak more than one language earn more and are more succesful in the job market ...
Mark Boyle (aka "Saoirse") of the Freeconomy organisation intended to make a pilgrimage to Porbander, the birthplace of Gandhi, but soon discovered you need to speak your audience's language if you wish to get your message across....
A large Hungarian company relies on the ability of its regional and sales managers to speak many languages (including English) to drive its foreign expansion....
A half-day workshop on 14 May 2008 designed specificallly to help non-native speakers of English feel more confident when speaking in public or with colleagues in a meeting...
One of the aspects of ongoing quality management can be the assessment of articles relevant to your product or service that appear in the press or on the internet ......
Document version control in multilingual projects...
Can you rely on your translation supplier? Until recently it has been difficult to differentiate between those who perform well and those who do not, other than by trial and error....
Our language training department has seen an increase in the number of language learners from the medical and pharmaceutical sectors. In recent months we have designed specialist courses for...
Patient Information Leaflets in plain English (or any other language)...
Get a checklist on how to organise interpreters for a conference fom here...
RLI recently ran a Spanish course for beginners over the summer at a global IT company in the Thames Valley. The course was prompted by a lack of in-house native foreign-speakers which had brought about two undesirable effects...
Look for Quality Standard EN 15038!...
As more companies are doing business in the Far East and India, so more of our business is translating and teaching languages such as Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Malay and other Far East and Indian languages....
Published in 2006, BS EN 15038 Translation Services is the first and only pan-European standard for translation services and demonstrates that the company is committed to providing a quality-focused service....
Find out what subsidies are available to help UK companies export....
Just as we were one of the first UK translation companies to certify to ISO 9001, we are now amongst the first companies in Europe to certify to the new translation service standard EN 15038....
If you met us at the Vive la France Show in Olympia, this is the place to get further information about our culture and language holidays near Bergerac...
CCTV surveillance of our daily lives is something we have come to accept in the name of community safety. There are about four million cameras in the UK, used for a variety of purposes. While many...
One of the Directors of RLI, Liz Robertson, was recently elected Chairman of the professional body for translation companies (ATC). Immediately following her election, she chaired the 30th anniversary conference...
One of the signs of the growing business between UK and China is the increasing number of delegations and visits between the two countries. Recently Robertson Languages had the honour of attending a banquet offered by delegation from Wuxi to London...
If you telephone the Translation Department, you might speak to Satya Torres our new Project Manager. If you call in to our offices and Training Centre, you will be welcomed by Jenna Avent, Training Services Co-ordinator....
Over the last six months many of our readers have taken time to tell us what you like about Talking Business and the language services we are providing for you. We have noted your comments and look forward to continue being of service in the future.
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With its economy forecast to grow at a staggering 10.4% in 2006, UK businesses cannot afford to ignore China's economic potential, yet ...
Companies in Europe are communicating more successfully with their foreign customers thanks to a subsidised scheme that began in the UK. For over ten years, UK Trade & Investment's Export Communications Review has been helping UK exporters ...
News from EU institutions indicates that the UK workforce is losing employment opportunities to their European counterparts. Translating or interpreting is normally done by linguists working into their own native language. But in Brussels and Luxemburg ...
Producing good translations in Indian languages or Chinese is not straightforward. As well as the language element, there are other aspects to consider.
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Until the Industrial Revolution in Europe, barely 200 years ago, Chinese design and technology was the envy of the world and the Indian States were the richest countries on earth. Perhaps...
If you have seen our adverts in the press, this is the place to get some background information. ...
Mike Henry has recently graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics and is now taking a Spanish course at RLI. Here he explains his reasons for doing so:
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One of our clients in the public sector conducts large numbers of interviews in many different languages that their staff are required to analyse, even though they do not speak the languages in question. ...
Most companies in the UK must do at least some business with people whose first language is not English. Whether you are an established exporter nurturing customers from abroad, an importer purchasing from overseas, or exploring the threats and ...
From the perspective of our stand at the Vive la France Exhibition at Olympia, it would appear that a large percentage of the UK population is still determined to swap grey old England for the rural delights of France. Many towns and villages in popu...
Although we have clients and business partners around the world, Robertson Languages International is proud to be based in the UK's Thames Valley, one of the most prosperous and vibrant regions in Europe. We are based here because many of our interna...
The sea is by nature the most cosmopolitan place on earth. There is hardly a language that is not spoken there – with the possible exception of the Amazonian Chapakuran. Equally, there are few human endeavours that
cannot be found at sea, ...
Everyone educated to at least A-Level in this country speaks good English, right? So therefore, they can also produce good English text from whatever foreign language they can understand. So, what's the problem?...
When it comes to understanding the practical issue of translation and training, Sean has the right experience and qualifications: he worked for 7 years in TEFL before working in the translation industry for the past 11 years. Sean spent 10 years living an...
Approximately one third of our translation projects at RLI are from a foreign language into English. In fact we have become rather specialised at this kind of work and regularly receive such orders from overseas companies as well as insurance companies, s...
One of Robertson Languages International's specialisms is in translating medical and pharmaceutical documents. We serve a large number of clients in this field. Despite the obvious importance of such work, it rarely gets the recognition it deserves....
At RLI, we are proud to be one of the UK's leading providers of business language courses in all languages to executives from all over the world. We teach English to people of all nationalities and other languages to English-speakers, principally from Bri...
For many years RLI has provided settling-in services for the whole family that combine language and cultural training. Our clients are both multi-nationals and relocation services companies. Our school-settling-in programmes for children of all ages are p...
At a time when the Straights of Malacca have to be closed to shipping because of air pollution, shipping companies again find themselves confronting events beyond their control. ...
French for meetings and presentations, English for meetings and discussions, Spanish for oral and written communication, Italian for discussing business, Advanced English in writing reports and tenders and many others...
Anita, one of the secretaries of an international audit team of a major Dutch corporation, came to RLI for an intensive individual one-week English training course....
UK Trade & Investment (the government department responsible for international trade) makes large amounts of public resources available to help British companies sell their goods and services to countries that do ...
Two people are asked to produce a beautifully designed brochure in ten languages. As usual it is a race against time. Calamity Jane falls into every pitfall on the way, but Competent Karen breezes her way to the finishing-line with ease....
French in France, Italian in Italy, English in England...
A new term of evening classes is beginning at our Training Centre in Twyford, Berkshire. Classes are small (four to six people approximately) to ensure maximum learning and progress.
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There is a form of translation that can be a useful servant, but a dangerous master. Coupled with the use of machine translation it has been used as a source of entertainment on Jo Whiley's show on Radio 1...
Whether you are currently following a course and want extra practice materials for homework between lessons, or have just finished a course and want a convenient, cost-effective way to maintain your level with enjoyable
...
Impress and amuse your friends with this fascinating tit-bit of knowledge about the derivation of words: Avocados are called avocados because...
Many people wish they spoke another language better, but feel put off because they think the challenge is too great or because of bad experiences in the past. At Robertson Languages we know that learning a language is rewarding and fun, as our many repeat...
When a GCHQ translator was threatened with prosecution for leaking the contents of an email to the Observer, concerns about translation confidentiality were highlighted in the minds of the public and of the translation industry...
As the linguists among our readers will know, many modern European languages have their origins in Latin, the language of the ancient Romans. If like me you spent many happy (?) hours at school learning chunks of Virgil and Tacitus...
The latest steps towards the new CEN standard for translation companies were taken in London in February. The British Standards Institution (BSI) in Chiswick was the host for the international meeting...
Usually a well-written, accurate translation delivered on time is enough to make our clients happy. However, sometimes we need to provide additional information which makes the translation truly comprehensible...
Whether you are a student attending a course or a busy HR Manager responsible for other people's training, there are crucial bits of information about your course which you need to check quickly and easily....
How we keep your documents strictly confidential and secure.
If one considers that we deal with the translation of legal papers of all kinds, clinical trials documentation, software licences, inter-company contracts and agreements, ...
It is theoretically possible to make text edits to a PDF document using Acrobat, but:...
Many clients have used us for years to provide English language training for employees and their families who have relocated to the UK. Sometimes these courses are so successful that the children ask...
The centenary of the signing of the Entente Cordiale between Britain and France was celebrated with great pomp and ceremony on 8 April. The event is not just of historic interest, nor simply an excuse for two heads of state to pat each other on the back: ...
Robertson Languages stands ready to put its experience at your disposal to support you in meeting the challenge of addressing your markets in Central and Eastern Europe in their own languages....
Language skills and cultural awareness are essential if UK companies are to be truly competitive in the European - and indeed global - market......
Robertson Languages International is proud to work with the Regional Languages Network South East to promote a greater national capability in the use of foreign languages and cultural awareness skills in business and employment. ...
Communicating with non-English-speaking citizens, patients, customers and sales prospects, both in spoken and written language, is more challenging today than ever before....
Although English is an important world language, it is not understood everywhere. Even in Spain and Italy, you only need to stray from the major tourist centres to find out for yourself....
We have a vacancy for a Translator/ Project Coordinator in the translation department.
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Although English is an important world language, it is not understood everywhere. Even in Spain and Italy, you only need to stray from the major tourist centres to find out for yourself....
For the second year running, 26 September has been designated the European Year of Languages in order to celebrate the diversity of languages spoken throughout Europe....
Even the latest generation of automatic translation software relies essentially on taking one word (or in the case of more sophisticated programmes) group of words and looking up the equivalent in another language from its pre-configured database....
You would think that anyone with four languages under her belt would rest on her laurels and put her feet up: not "our Melanie"......
Anyone who has organised or taken part in a training course knows that the key to successful learning is motivation....
Can one really measure teacher effectiveness? Yes one can. And what's more, our clients certainly do!...
Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at the Olympics? Now read on....
Court cases are notoriously impervious to the magic of high-tech. Not here the neat digital files that can be overtyped by the translator nor even the clearly legible typed documents usually found in business....
As a global engineering company, GKN are committed to growth. Specialising in two key markets, Automotive and Aerospace, GKN operates in more than 30 countries and employs over 38,000 people...
RLI have a great deal of experience in preparing mothers (or occasionally fathers) and children of employees who are taking up a new post in the UK....
The Association of Translation Companies (ATC) today announced that Elizabeth Robertson, one of the Directors of Robertson Languages has been elected as Vice Chairman....
Now is your chance to attend a group language class with one of the best providers of language training in the Thames Valley area!...
Get your copy of the Government's Language Strategy document here....
The Languages National Training Organisation has welcomed the decision to create a single organisation to support the development of language skills and language learning. ...
There is a limit to how much research can be carried out based only on information available in English. Researching a topic in depth has to involve looking overseas for information, ...
There is a limit to how much research can be carried out based only on information available in English....
Robertson Languages International (RLI) specialise in translating medical and pharmaceutical documents for a large number of clients. However, the definition of a medical or pharmaceutical document is quite broad......
When carrying out international product and market research, collecting accurate patient feedback is a critical part of the trials process. ...
When you operate in an internationally distributed manufacturing environment, where millions of vials and ampoules and other glass tubing items for the pharmaceutical industry are made and distributed all over Europe, ...
Do you want to join us? We currently have a full-time vacancy for a quality driven, client facing
Translator/Translation Project Coordinator ...
This year's London Language and Cultural Learning Show took place once again at the beginning of November...
Languages are more than just a tool to get things done. Speaking another language opens doors and brings opportunities you would not otherwise have. With languages, you win friends, influence people and save money too....
Learning languages is all about getting to know people and making friends from other cultures. We were reminded of this by some coincidences that took place at RLI over the summer....
Robertson Languages International are proud to announce the launch of a new web portal that gives you access to a whole world of services and information relating to languages and international communication or business. ...
The Financial Ombudsman helps consumers resolve disputes with financial firms. They therefore deal with the general public and of course that includes, the large number of UK citizens for whom English is not their first language. ...
Learning languages is all about getting to know people and making friends from other cultures. We were reminded of this by some coincidences that took place at RLI over the summer....
This article is taken from on-line magazine A List Apart (Issue 129) and was written by Jeffrey Zeldman, a pioneer of the web standard movement....
At Robertson Languages standards are very important. When it was time to upgrade our website things were no different. We wanted recognised standards for that too....
Over the last week millions of people in the UK and around the world have been suffering from the effects of the virus W32.Bugbear@mm. It is a mass-mailer virus...
1-2 November 2002
Novotel London West, Hammersmith, UK.
The London Language and Cultural Learning Show is the annual showcase event for the language industry where service providers and customers meet together and discuss matters of mutual interest....
The Financial Ombudsman helps consumers resolve disputes with financial firms. They therefore deal with the general public and of course that includes, the large number of UK citizens for whom English is not their first language....
Languages are more than just a tool to get things done. Speaking another language opens doors and brings opportunities you would not otherwise have. With languages, you win friends, influence people and save money too....
You get more for your money with Robertson Languages. Some of the services we
offer on top of standard translation are:...
The UK launch of the LG Internet Family in Harrods' window caused a bit of a stir and attracted 148 press, including 50 from overseas. Four people lived in the window from 10am until 7pm for 6 days back in May....
Learning languages is all about getting to know people and making friends from other cultures. We were reminded of this by some coincidences that took place at RLI over the summer....
Now is your chance to attend a group language class with one of the best providers of language training in the Thames Valley area!...
More and more HR departments have to husband their resources with great care. As one of our regular clients put it: 'We in HR are frantically busy at the moment and grateful for all the help we can get'....
Old-Fashioned Customer Service Requires New Tools...
For many years Robertson Languages has successfully run cultural briefing workshops, both tailor-made for particular clients and scheduled seminars open to everyone. Whichever approach is chosen, one fact remains: ...
"I have been having language training with Robertson Languages since 1995 and have begun to study my second foreign language there......
French-owned car company, Citröen UK Ltd, based in Slough, regularly sends Robertson Languages International technical reports......
How does a court know that a translation is an accurate representation of the original? Straightforward translation of legal documents for use as evidence in court is often not enough. ...
The last verse of the poem "Cargoes" describes a "British coaster... butting through the Channel in the mad March days". Although aware of the risks of sea transportation,...
In business, not all documents are equal. Some are more important than others, and the tendering process produces a stream of documents that are both especially important and especially urgent....
When Carmen (not her real name to protect her privacy) approached us requesting a course in Spanish for marketing financial products, she caused a great deal of head-scratching: she was a native Spanish speaker!...
Why are white cars likely to be unpopular in Japan? Why did Vauxhall's Nova cause comment in Spain?...
However fluent your languages may be, it is always a little daunting to be asked to make a formal presentation in another language...
We will in future use this space to publish your views on any topical (and not so topical) language issues. ...
James's appointment as IT Manager reflects the importance RLI attributes to its IT infrastructure....
Fiona has joined the Translation Department's team as project co-ordinator. After graduating in Modern Languages (French and Italian), Fiona has worked in a variety of multilingual environments and is experienced in working with multinational clients....
Welcome back to Translation Manager Alissa Stephenson and congratulations on the birth of her little boy James, who arrived on 10 October 2001. ...
Fancy a change of scene and lifestyle? Anthony Lunch, CILT Governor and Trustee of LNTO and ALL, has been supporting Himalayan communities in Nepal since 1990....
If your company has a need for training large numbers of employees in different languages, Robertson Languages International could certainly be the answer....
Director Bob Robertson was presented with the National Languages for Export Award (London and South East Region) for excellence in language services...
Alan Moys, Secretary to the Nuffield Languages Inquiry, talks to Robertson Languages about his hopes for action following the report on the current state of languages skills in the UK....
A large international pharmaceutical company that produces therapies for life-threatening conditions, such as kidney disease, cancer and haemophilia, has to meet tight deadlines with the EMEA...
One of RLI's regular translation clients is an independent contract organisation providing regulatory affairs services to companies in the pharmaceutical and health care industries on a global basis....
If there is one thing that will make a client happy with our work, it is cost effectiveness and quality. Okay, so technically this is actually two things, but it is true to say that if you compromise quality......
Many languages have the same words that have come from a common root. However, the words do not always have the same meaning. ...
We are pleased to announce our acquisition of J Kuyl Translations...
Those of you who have learnt a foreign language for work will know that, like physical exercise, you need regular practice to keep your skills in good shape. This is true for everyone, even the experts....
It is not always easy for the HR and Training functions of a company to assess potential interest and take-up rates of training programmes before they have actually been implemented. ...
"RLI trainers are very flexible," he explains. "You can explain what you do in your working life and they can adapt the content to suit your needs."...
This year RLI is once again working with one of Europe's leading design agencies, Imagination, on another Ford launch event. ...
You may recall that in a previous issue we told you how our local MP Theresa May was rising to the languages challenge for the European Year of Languages....
We our pleased to announce the acquisition of J Kuyl & Company Translations earlier this summer. For 40 years, John Kuyl's company has provided specialised translation expertise in the legal, financial and marine sectors in the City. ...
If you want to be sure that your medical or pharmaceutical translation will be effective, we recommend you take as directed....
When Andy Goss took over as Managing Director of Porsche Cars UK, one of his first actions was to take steps to improve communications with HQ in Stuttgart. ...
US or UK companies who wish to sell world-wide rather than just to English-speaking customers are faced with the challenge of handling enquiries or orders in potentially any language at any time of the day or night....
Because English is generally understood by senior people in Western companies it is often adopted by international companies as the language for official use in communications. ...
Our clients don't always need just translation or just training or just cultural awareness support. ...
International languages can be spoken in very different ways. We are all aware of the variety of ways in which English is spoken. Think of the difference between the Aussie style and the Geordie! There are similar differences within the Spanish language....
"I enjoy everything about my English course! This is the second time that I have come to Robertson Languages to study English and I feel I am making good progress."...
Because English is generally understood by senior people in Western companies it is often adopted by international companies as the language for official use in communications....
For a recent interpreting assignment, Robertson Languages faced an unusual criterion of the selection process of interpreters: they had to have a head for heights!...
Or how to ensure a successful relocation...
When en employee and his/her family are transferred to another country, the often undergo a potentially traumatic experience. ...
Robertson Languages International Ltd has once again proved to be one of the best providers of language services in the Thames Valley area...
US or UK companies who wish to sell world-wide rather than just to English-speaking customers are faced with the challenge of handling enquiries or orders in potentially any language at any time of the day or night....
As a certified ISO 9001 company, Robertson Languages International has an in-depth understanding of the Quality Assurance (QA) needs of our clients....
If you are looking for a short course in a foreign language, and have some free time on Tuesday evenings, then it is time to contact Robertson Languages!...
Theresa May MP, Shadow Secretary for Education & Employment, visited Robertson Languages International recently to discuss her Language Challenge for the European Year of Languages....
The life and loves of "Johnny Casanova" proved to be a light-hearted change for the Translation Department recently....
Have some fun with a language and raise money for your favourite charity at the same time!...
Robertson Languages International is proud to be an official sponsor of the European Year of Languages, a joint Council of Europe/European Union initiative,...
The launch of the New Ford Mondeo to its European dealers took place during the autumn in Sardinia. Training materials, dealer guides, travel instructions, driving instructions for the test route... ...
It is not only in this Year of Languages that RLI contributes to the development of language awareness in the UK....
The London Language Show is the foremost UK exhibition for the promotion of languages, culture, language services and state of the art resources and technology for language learning and teaching....
Teresa Tinsley, Programme Manager at CILT for the European Year of Languages, explains the ways in which businesses could promote language skills....
When it comes to launching a new brand in Europe, one of the most vital ingredients for gaining a foothold in the new environment is to be able to successfully launch to your dealers and agents first....
It may come as some surprise to many readers to know that one of the most popular choice of languages for training is English. ...
Robertson Languages has always prided itself on developing and improving its services to all clients, whatever the request. And as the demand for language training and translation services has grown, so too has Robertson Languages!...
Producing multi-lingual documents is something we pride ourselves on here at RLI. However, when the AA recently approached us to translate a new leaflet into 14 different languages, there were still a few challenges for our team to overcome!...
Robertson Languages International is pleased to announce the recent acquisition of King Translation, formerly based in Datchet. ...
In a very busy start to the new Millennium, our translation department has successfully completed a major project for a world-renowned client....
Robertson Languages represented the Association of Translation Companies at a major conference on translating in Luxembourg in April. ...
Since he began his business four years ago, selling Dutch barges, Tony has been aware that not being able to speak Dutch was losing him business. ...
One of our many recent training clients will be well-known to all our readers. HJ Heinz Company Ltd has encouraged several of its senior logistics personnel to improve their language skills during the past 18 months....
UK businesses are showing an increasing tendency to employ foreign nationals because of the shortage of British people who combine technical or professional skills with competence in languages other than English. ...
At the last two international Toptec conferences for multi-lingual documentation organised by the Society of Automotive Engineers, the subject of measuring translation quality was high on the agenda....
Translation into English is in great demand from many of our clients and is a service which we here at Robertson Languages are very experienced in providing....
Or how to ensure a successful relocation...
Why are white cars likely to be unpopular in Japan? Why did Vauxhall's Nova cause comment in Spain? Why do training managers in France and Finland want different content in in training launch materials for the same product?...
Since the last newsletter, our Translation Department has completed its 10,000th project! Chris Rock, one of Robertson Languages' in-house translators, carried out the French to English translation for our client, an Internet financial services company....
Businesses have long recognised the need for investment in employee training and development, which often can include language training and support. Just as important however, ...
'All the world's a stage...' and your personnel are the leading lights who need to perform like stars wherever they are sent in the world....
>In a recent survey, 'Perceptions of Language', MORI interviewed two hundred foreign nationals working in the UK and one hundred native speakers of English. Amongst the results revealed were, that :
...
There are many reasons for companies to consider languages training, but they generally fall into three main categories....
We see from our calendar that Robertson Languages was ten years old earlier this year. Throughout that time we have consistently striven to give our clients the best and most reliable service available in the languages market....
The DTI and others have identified the requirement for improved language skills and cultural awareness as one of the most pressing needs for UK businesses today....
Our training department is currently managing a significant project for a major client. Almost one hundred people at a major telecommunications company are attending courses in French, German, Italian or Spanish...
According to a recent study as part of the Language in Business Campaign Feasibility Study*, the inability of European firms to communicate in foreign languages, accounts for 20% OF LOST BUSINESS. ...
Under the Chairmanship of Trevor McDonald, an enquiry has been launched into the current and future language capability of British industry. It will look at two major issues:...
The four phases of selling are well known as AIDA. How can you make them work in another country?...
There are prizes in the Languages for Export Campaign for companies that have improved their export performance through languages skills, and also for language training providers. ...
We have recently seen the successful completion of a major documentation/localisation project for the IT industry....
For those of you who have just relocated to the UK, or are about to, there has never been a better time to improve your English language skills!...
"English is the common language of international business" is a frequently heard observation. As native speakers of English this sometimes works to our advantage....
International Executives can only succeed in their objectives if they create a congenial environment with their international business partners...
Anyone involved in a translation project, as purchaser or provider, knows that it can be a complex process with many pitfalls for the unwary....
Presenting awards at the British Trade International (formerly DTI) Languages for Export Campaign Ceremony, Trade Minister Brian Wilson, explained the importance of languages skills to the UK economy:...
It's one of industry's best kept secrets: you can get an NVQ in languages. As a registered centre for NVQs and a pioneer of the National Language Standards, ...
This is a familiar cry from a client in distress! While many translation projects are organised well in advance and follow a project plan perfectly, others are needed urgently. On these occasions, we are pleased to help with our clients' crises. ...
Once in a while a project takes on a life of its own and leads us out of the normal commercial world in which we operate. One of the most interesting examples of this started with a normal telephone call: ...
Robertson Languages represents the Association of Translation Companies at the European Association of Translation Companies at the European Association of Translation Companies...
A vital way of continuously improving the quality of translation is to ensure that translators are well-trained and experienced. This is an area in which Elizabeth Robertson is particularly involved: ...
Watching Michael Palin travelling the world reminded us how technology allows us to communicate with the remotest parts of the world....
Isn't it strange how your overseas suppliers or clients often speak passable English UNTIL the moment when there is a problem?...
We take the worry out of international communication