translation Archives - Scott Flood Writing

Writing for translation doesn’t have to involve miscommunications

July 9, 2024 by Scott Flood

If your organization does business in the growing global marketplace, there may be times when you need to communicate with people in languages other than English. While it’s tempting to simply translate your existing materials, that may not be the most effective approach. That’s because writing for translation requires different thinking and approaches than writing … Read more

MAY HELP PROVIDE YOU OF I?

July 22, 2015 by Scott Flood

Why do so many companies put people who are unable to communicate clearly in frontline roles? Whether it’s someone at the counter who can’t deliver a coherent answer to a customer question, or “Bill,” the highly accented voice that tells you he is really sorry you are having this problem, and then offers advice you … Read more

DO YOU PARLEZ-VOUS?

April 13, 2010 by Scott Flood

People like to stick foreign-language phrases and expressions into copy because they think it makes them appear to be intelligent and sophisticated, n’est-ce pas? And it can, except when they either don’t understand the phrase or are unable to spell it correctly.

IS THERE A TRANSLATOR IN THE HOUSE?

December 29, 2009 by Scott Flood

We’ve all sat in our share of frustrating meetings, but I can still remember the meeting that frustrated me the most. It took place in 1987 in a boardroom in Chicago. A group of automotive industry CEOs (you’d recognize most of the company names) was meeting with a pair of representatives from a social services program. I was in the room as the PR person for one of the auto parts manufacturers.

OF LANGUAGE SPEAKING YOU ARE?

October 8, 2009 by Scott Flood

No matter how much money a company invests in its advertising and marketing efforts, no matter how hard they try to create and promote a compelling brand, and no matter what they do to get your business, they often lose sight of the fact that their reputation hinges on every employee or representative who has contact with customers and prospects.

Why then do so many companies put people who are unable to communicate clearly in these frontline roles? Whether it’s someone at the counter who can’t deliver a coherent answer to a customer question, or “Bill,” the highly accented voice that tells you he is really sorry you are having this problem, and then offers advice you can’t understand, these poor choices forever tarnish your impression of the organization behind them.

Writing for translation doesn’t have to involve miscommunications

MAY HELP PROVIDE YOU OF I?

DO YOU PARLEZ-VOUS?

IS THERE A TRANSLATOR IN THE HOUSE?

OF LANGUAGE SPEAKING YOU ARE?

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