Two thousand words is a good day's work. - Evelyn Waugh

The same can be said for translation. We are frequently asked how long it will take to translate a document and the answer depends on several factors. The quality and complexity of the original text affects how quickly a translator can work. Most translators can translate 2,000 words a day or about eight pages.

When the translator is finished, the translation is edited and proofread by a second translator. While this process doesn't take as long as the original translation, it also needs to be built into the schedule.

The Chinese New Year begins on Thursday, February 3rd and ushers in the Year of the Rabbit. People born during a rabbit year are said to be considerate, fragile, modest, calculating, ambitious, well-mannered, fashionable, obsessive,  and sophisticated. Sting, Tiger Woods, Angelina Jolie and Orson Welles were all born in a rabbit year.

If you eat the right foods, good luck, more money and a long life may be in your future. Here are a few to try.

For a long life: Eat long noodles or long green beans.

Why?: For their shape but don't cut them into smaller pieces.

For wealth:  Eat dumplings or eggrolls.

Why?: Egg rolls resemble gold bars and dumplings look like old Chinese silver and gold ingots.

For good luck: Eat oranges and tangerines.

Why?: The Chinese words for these fruits sound like luck and wealth.

Happy new year, Xin Nian Kuai Le, 新年快乐.
 

Photo by Andrew_B under Creative Commons license.

Be careful when you select photographs or graphics of common American gestures for your international documents.   User guides and operating manuals often include them as a substitute for text, to break up long paragraphs, and to make the copy easier to understand. A word of caution here: these images may be meaningless or offensive in other countries.

• Thumbs Up - Steer clear of photos of this sign if you are selling in the Middle East or Southeast Asia.  Americans use this to show approval or support, but it is the equivalent of a middle finger salute in other areas.  In Thailand, it is considered to be a childish gesture similar to sticking out your tongue.

• "V" Sign - Winston Churchill made this hand gesture to celebrate victory.  George W. H. Bush learned that can be an insult in many parts of the English-speaking world after he used it in front of a group of Australian farmers.

• The "Okay" Sign - A circle made with the thumb and the index finger is definitely not okay in many parts of the world.  In France, it means something is worthless, in Japan it signifies money, and in Venezuela it is used to question someone's masculinity.

• Crossed Fingers - A photograph of this will bring you no luck in Viet Nam where it is considered an obscene gesture.

• Bull Horns - You won't hook any new business if you use a picture of  a raised index and pinkie fingers in Italy. This insult means that someone's wife is being unfaithful.

Image courtesy of Joe Lodge.

What will marketers learn when the Census 2010 results are released?

1. Companies selling to young consumers will need to target Latino youth.  22% of the US population under the age of 18 is Hispanic.

2. Ad campaigns in English will miss a large number of people because 37% of Latinos communicate mostly or only in Spanish.

3. The Hispanic population is no longer concentrated in just a few states.  Many states, including Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee, showed double or triple digit increases in the number of Hispanic residents between 2000 and 2008.

4. Latinos have money to spend.  Hispanic spending power grew by 6.4% vs. 2.9% for the general population between 2005 and 20008.

What are the implications for your business? 

As the Hispanic population in the United States continues to grow, major advertisers are seeking new ways to attract Hispanic customers. These advertisers are increasingly trying to deliver their message in Spanish through Web sites, special sites for mobile phones and texting campaigns.

“What we’re seeing is clients who are looking for growth outside their “What we’re seeing is clients who are looking for growth outside their normal market, and often that market speaks a different language,” said Charles Whiteman, senior vice president of client services for the MotionPoint Corporation, a company that offers Web site translation services for marketers. “If we’re serious about targeting this consumer, this target market, we need to speak their language.”

Read the entire article at The New York Times .