Category: News

24
Nov

Finding “lost” languages in the brain

Study has far-reaching implications for unconscious role of infant experiences on adult development.

An infant’s mother tongue creates neural patterns that the unconscious brain retains years later even if the child totally stops using the language, (as can happen in cases of international adoption) according to a new joint study by scientists at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – The Neuro and McGill University’s Department of Psychology. The study offers the first neural evidence that traces of the “lost” language remain in the brain.

Read more…

05
Nov

Translation error leads to refugee evacuation

An immigration office in western Germany was evacuated on Monday after a translator mistakenly said a refugee was carrying a bottle containing a “chemical weapon”.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/owj8sdu

05
Nov

Dangers of translation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Did you know that the bombing on Hiroshima and Nagasaki could have been averted if it was not for the folly of a translator? The notorious term was ‘Mokusatsu’, (‘Silence’ or ‘Withholding Comment’) which was the reply Japan gave to the US in response to their letter demanding surrender, refusal of which could lead to serious consequences.  Unfortunately, the term also carried the meaning ‘not worthy of comment’ or an utter denial to surrender, and this was how the allied leaders translated it. Thus, a mistranslated word finally lead to the atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/pmu5ouz

30
Oct

Stanford combines s/w with human intelligence to improve translation

Computer scientists at Stanford have created a language translation system that allows bilingual humans to translate text faster and more accurately than is currently possible.

This hybrid approach, which blends human and machine intelligence, is aimed at the $34-billion-a-year worldwide market for professional translation services.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/q7aql3t

29
Oct

Tesco cash machine offers ‘free erection’ because of mistake translating sign into Welsh

A branch of Tesco in Wales has been accused of “promising more than it can deliver” after a mistake in the Welsh translation of “free cash withdrawals” meant it ended up offering a “free erection”.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/lntkru4