How to Become an ASL Interpreter

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The nation has experienced considerably more American Sign Language interpretation on their screens and phones due to the many COVID press events and national crisis coverage over the last 2 years. Films and Netflix shows also highlighting Signed Languages has further brought attention to these unique languages.But did you know that there is a dire need for new, diverse Sign Language interpreters and plenty of room to grow in this exciting field. So how does someone go about becoming a Sign Language interpreter? Our Deaf & Hard of Hearing team will lay out how a hearing person can become an effective ASL interpreter!

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Ad Astra Goes to the Movies: CODA

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The Ad Astra team recently watched the Apple Original 2021 film CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), directed by Sian Heder. On the tail of an exciting year for Deaf representation and stories on film, television, games and more – this heartwarming movie about family and finding oneself was a touching experience to see. Dive in as we discuss the importance of authentic Deaf representation on the silver screen. We’ll cover some of the real-life scenarios that played out in the film, learn more about why language access is so important and explore some of the facets of Deaf culture the film presented to us.

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Language Industry Scams That Exist

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The language industry is an industry not very well known to most of us. But, nonetheless, there are moments in our lives where we might come across language companies in our day-to-day work. With increased globalization and international teams comes the need for both companies and freelancers to better understand how to safely exchange services and money. One of the downsides and dangers of this rapid industry growth that there are also ” companies” or “translators” pretending to offer you services you are looking for but end up scamming you. To prevent getting scammed there are a few key things to watch out for.

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Translation Process Do’s and Don’ts

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The rendering from one language to another is not as easy a process as it may seem. A great understanding of the language and its culture, lots of experience, and excellent writing skills are needed to deliver a great translation that serves its purpose. In this guide we take a deep dive in to Translation Process Do’s and Don’ts to help you get a sense of just how much care and craft goes in to high quality translations.

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The Countries With the Most Official Languages and How They Translate

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With more than 6,500 languages worldwide, it is not uncommon for countries to have more than one official language. An official language has a legal status and is the most used throughout the nation in politics, government and education.But for a host of reasons, not every country can agree on only one language, and that results in countries having as many as 37 official languages. We’ll explore the top 5 countries with the most official languages and how they translate them.

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A Hard Look at Certifications: Are They Worth It?

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One of the elements of business growth in language services for businesses and translators is becoming recognized and certified by standards organizations. Reputable companies often hire individuals, firms or organizations that are certified due to the feeling of trust it might give them – the same goes for translators that want to demonstrate professional value. It assures both parties that they will deliver excellent service or follow strict protocols. However, as we’ll explore with you, that isn’t always the case.

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Classic but Funny Mistranslations

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Have you ever come across a translation that seemed hard to believe, strange or funny? Many translations have led to confusion and misinformation because of issues with the language, context, or grammatical structure in which they were presented. When business skip using translation experts and head to Google Translate, they are guaranteed to get strange and comical copy. Here’s a list of some classic but funny translations.

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6 of the Most Common Spanish Translation Errors

Spanish is an official language in more than 20 countries with an estimated half a trillion speakers! As you can guess innumerable dialects and regional variances course throughout the language’s veins. Spanish-English translation therefor comes with a host of potential errors, goofs, and issues to look out for. Dive into this deep exploration of 6 of the most common Spanish translation errors.

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Rare and Dying Languages of The World You May Not Know About

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There are over 6000 languages on Earth, but many languages run the risk of becoming extinct! 1 language dies every two weeks as speakers and teachers of them dwindle down. When the globe loses a language, it loses connections to history, culture and traditions that can never be regained. Learn a bit about some rare languages we are fond of throughout the globe and the steps being taken to preserve them.

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7 Unexpected Countries That Speak French

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Have you ever wondered why French is so popular? A World Population Review report shows that about 76 million people are native French speakers, while 274 million speak French fluently. With French being the second most widely spoken language in the European Union, the numbers only continue to rise. However, it might surprise you that some unexpected countries speak a great deal of French! Let’s take you through the surprising list of countries to see for yourself!

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