Translation with Colour®: The reason behind our name

One of the things I get asked most often about Translation with Colour® is the reason behind this name (which is, by the way, a registered trademark…). “Why should translation have colour?”, “what do you mean with this?”, “are you a translator who does design?”, and others alike are the typical mind-bogging questions quizzing colleagues, visitors, and clients on the first contact either online or on meetings.

I can’t even forget the episode in Saint Petersburg, Russia, at the famous Frikadel’ki restaurant, when an Israeli lady was puzzled with what she was trying to read on my Translation with Colour® t-shirt. After tilting her head left and right it didn’t take long till she addressed me. I explained Translation with Colour®’s was my translation venture and contrary to what she thought I was not a designer (despite I had made the design).

“But why Translation with Colour®?”

There is a language called Geez (some give it as extinct), which developed in what is nowadays Eritrea and northern Ethiopia in the Horn of Africa. This was the language of the Ethiopian Imperial Court and Kingdom of Aksum. This language is still used in by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Ethiopian Catholic Church, and also the Beta Israel Jewish community.


One of the less described and known features of the Geez language is that its writing, especially what on what concerns official letters and religious writings, was ciphered or protected using colours which altered meaning of texts, offering different possibilities for understanding the true message. Only the initiated would plunge into the different layers of a given text. To make the matters more complicated Geez makes use of an alphasyllabary aka abugida (a Geez word itself) writing system based on consonants, developed for this language alone, but afterwards adopted by other languages in the region.


In any case, now it’s clear how translation might get a colourful shade from an original text. In any case, ciphered texts are word of the day and a sign of the times we live in. In any case, languages, texts and ideas are charged in such a way with diverse and intense layers of meaning, offering no other solution than Translation with Colour®.

How to improve translation time? An how-to guide containing 7 easy steps. [Part 3/3]

Step #5 :: Do not cut on communication expenses. What I mean is that one must keep all communication gates open: it will allow better and faster communication with fellow translators, specialists, and customers. This will not only cater for a faster translation process, but also more efficient marketing, while assuring an image of credibility and availability for future projects.

Step #6 :: Discipline. Translation is “many things”. Some say it’s an art, others to it as a craft, others defend one must have a vocation for it, and so on. When we are talking about fast and optimal quality translation services we finally understand it is a job to be made by professionals who are target-focused people who make all efforts to deliver an output which makes no compromise with quality. This requires discipline. There is no other explanation but discipline for the Herculean efforts translators go through to deliver documents in the different working languages (also known as procedural languages) in international organizations (such as the United Nations, the African Union, or the World Trade Organization) or summits (for instance, minutes and final declarations issued in multilateral meetings). The translator is often the person who turns off the light at the office, even when the day is breaking...

Step #7 :: This tour-de-force on faster translation could not be finished without mentioning the working environment. This is especially true for those who work at home, as it is more easily controlled. The environment should fit your needs for space, light and noise level. On a very special personal note, I can’t forget the time I was working on a construction project as both translator and interpreter: the batches of documents I had to work on didn’t care about the scorching temperatures, and the concrete mixers and jumping jacks working close-by. Always do your best to guarantee the best working conditions, maximise the questions about safety, comfort and ergonomics. If the neighbor is testing your patience with renovation works, consider relocating those hours to the public library, most offer free broadband access, better than average dictionaries and source books, and at campus you may even find cabinets where you may work alone.

These tips are guidance for the professional translator who wishes to offer the best and fastest translation service. Some of these ideas will make you score big with clients, because deadlines are a real issue in the translation business and they can put one ahead of the competition. We hope you don’t have any excuses to postpone. If you have a work to do, just do it!

How to improve translation time? An how-to guide containing 7 easy steps. [Part 2/3]

Step #2 :: Saving time by process automation technology is another speed booster in productivity; therefore the best solution is to increase your skills and tools in translation assets management. No matter what the size of your business the way you manage simple and routine tasks in fundamental to become more competitive as you and your associates/partners save time for what’s really important and your core business: professional quality translation services. Proper management of translation assets allows the user to gain control and get value from huge amounts of translated or localized data in an unsurpassable way. Translation memories, terminology databases, glossaries, localized mixed media (intricate contents, such as, graphics, video, sound, and other), and even style books become an added value for your operations and projects completion deadlines.

Step #3 :: Team work is a basic skill in a globalised marketplace. Every translator offering conscious professional service knows and recognises his/her limits in every subject area, therefore a faster service will only be possible if special difficulties or text idiosyncrasies are dealt with in a streamlined fashion by contacting fellow translators or specialists. In any case don’t think twice if either the circumstances allow you to keep a close contact with the author of the source text or you can work in-house for the duration of the project which will be crucial for highly specialized texts with a short deadline.

Step #4 :: There was a time when training in translation and related areas was an on-going process, which is still true though, but nowadays the variants in professional service are manifold. The true translator takes the challenge and not only trains himself/herself but also looks for the best sources of information and know-how. An example will illustrate better: how can you cope with the details of high-end computer-assisted translation software without any previous background? A fairly good computer user will be able to master it after some time, but again: do you have time to waste with the trial and error method? Taking a planned training program will certainly open the doors to new knowledge and know-how, while at the same allowing one to create better networking opportunities with translation and technology-wise peers.

Step #5 :: ...
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Media covers Field Guide about the "Pateira de Fermentelos"

Our most recent publication has caught the attention of both the local and regional media and the online buzzing stations. As you can see below, the echoes about the book's release have reached different locations, which means the edition has met a wide audience. Please don't hesitate in reaching us if you have any other clipping about this edition or if either you or your organisation are interested in receiving more details about either this book, its author or translator. Simply write to translationwithcolour@gmail.com