Clairol, the hair products company, introduced the Mist Stick curling iron a few years back. While the product sold well around the world, sales came to a grinding halt in Germany – ‘Mist’ of course being German for ‘manure’. Cue toothpaste was introduced to the French market by Colgate, sharing its name with that of […]
When Mist Becomes Manure – Professional translation could save your brand Read More »
Under Apartheid, South Africa had two official languages: English and Afrikaans. Translation into and from Afrikaans was the order of the day. Afrikaans terminology lists were developed in most subject areas. In 1994, language policy in South Africa was democratised. Official status was awarded to 11 languages. Afrikaans was liberated from the zoo of artificial
Afrikaans Translation. Past, Present And Future Read More »
Google Translate is a fascinating and continuously evolving online resource that currently allows users to translate single words and short phrases directly and surprisingly accurately into 50 international languages. The app version even allows users to take a photo of signs in 27 languages and have them translated, a huge boon for travelers! –
Human Translation vs Google Translate Read More »
It is estimated that more than 25 million South Africans are registered to vote in the 2014 elections. The parties involved are pulling out all the stops to reach as many diverse voters as possible. There have been rallies, debates, interviews, campaign posters and television adverts, with much difficulty for some parties (http://mg.co.za/article/2014-04-28-da-launches-new-election-ad-eff-marches-over-sabc-ban), all with
Jargon or Genuine – The Use of South African Languages in Election Campaigns Read More »
This April we at Bangula have another talented new addition to our team: our new language and translation intern, Lorraine Shabangu. Lorraine is training in the Bangula office, lending her South African language expertise to a variety of language, translation and editing briefs. Take a look through Lorraine’s eyes at the first two weeks of her experience with us.
My First Two Weeks, An Intern\’s Eye View Read More »
If a business needs language services (copywriting, overwriting, editing, translation and proofreading) and document design services (graphic design and typesetting), it can follow one of three routes. Route 1: Take care of its requirements in house Route 2: Outsource its requirements to individual freelance service providers Route 3: Outsource its requirements to an expert language
The benefits of outsourcing language services to agencies Read More »
Brand activation, a catchphrase that is used with abandon in the marketing sphere of business; such a positive phrase, to activate your brand, with connotations of growth and je de vivre. Get right down to the nitty gritty however and many in business will struggle to pin down just what a brand activation is. Even
Brand Activation ideas for SMMEs Read More »
Language agencies in South Africa experienced a whirlwind growth spurt over the last decade. The biggest reason for this: A steady supply of volumes of educational publishing work. Periodic curriculum changes meant there was enough writing, editing, translation and proofreading work to fuel the growth of a myriad of agencies, big and small. As 2014
The Future of Language Agencies in South Africa Read More »
Here at Bangula we’re excited to get the year off to a bang! We spent 2013 planning, strategising, pouring over whiteboards covering our office walls and brainstorming the best ways to help you ‘Bangula’ 2014. We have much to be excited about this year. We’ve gained a few big clients and we are all set
Happy New Year and welcome to 2014! Read More »
At Bangula we have weathered the storms of 10 years in the small business and entrepreneurial sector of the South African economy. In 2003 we began with two entrepreneurs. Han and her first partner combined their South African language, translation and editing skills to form a small business. Since then Bangula has grown from strength to
David and Goliath – the battle of the small business Read More »
