Draw your swords and get ready for today’s Wacky Word Wednesday, a weekly celebration of the wackiest and most interesting words from around the world!

Here is the definition of today’s wacky word courtesy of TermWiki.com:

foi·ble [foy-buhl] -noun a flaw or defect in character; a weakness; the weakest part of a sword’s blade, located near the point

This word began appearing in the 1640s to mean the “weak point of a sword blade,” the portion closest to the tip of the sword. Foible comes from the French word faible, meaning “weak,” the Old French feble meaning “feeble” and the Latin flebilis, which also means feeble.

In addition to the two definitions stated above, foible can also be used to define a quirk, idiosyncrasy, or unusual habit, a flawed characteristic in personality. The definition of foible was extended to incorporate this meaning in the 1670s.

Guest blog entry by Daniel Tenge-Nottingham, Marketing Intern at CSOFT

Given all the media regarding India in recent times, it is always interesting to come across a skeptical opinion questioning the notion of whether or not this “BRIC” (Brazil, Russia, India and China) country has become a more significant global stakeholder than ever before.

Just by comparing 20th-century India to 21st-century India, we can argue to a large extent that yes, India is rising rapidly in the global market. It is an understatement to say that India’s economic, social, and political reforms have been through a remarkable and dramatic transformation. What was once a third-world country just beginning to develop its economy to compete in the global market about three decades ago, has today transformed into the world’s fifth largest economy in terms of GDP, and only second to the United States in terms of its network of paved highways.

Today, India holds claim to being the world’s largest producer of milk and among the top five producers of sugar, cotton, tea, coffee, spice, rubber, silk, and fish. India’s role as one of the major (economic) forces in the world is all but guaranteed. It is no longer a question of whether India is going to play a major role in world economic and political arenas; it is only a question of what role India will play. Today’s post will highlight some of the main drivers that we can attribute to this awoken titan’s rise.

Today’s Wacky Word Wednesday, a weekly celebration of the wackiest and most interesting words from around the world, is going to blow you over with its divine message!

From TermWiki.com, the definition of today’s wacky word:

af·fla·tus [uh-fley-tuhs] -noun - inspiration or mental force that comes from within; divine communication of knowledge

Afflatus comes from the Latin afflatus, which means “a breathing upon” or afflare, which means to breathe or blow on. This word first came into use in the 1660s, when people who were privy to “miraculous communication of supernatural knowledge” were known to have afflatus. The original spelling of this was was adflatus, with ad- meaning “to” and flatus meaning “blowing or breathing.” Similarly, the word inspiration is derived from the Latin inspirare, which also means “to breathe” or “the inhalation of air into the lungs.”

Among translators, CAT (computer-assisted/aided translation) tools are a topic of interesting discussion and diverse perspectives—some swear by them while others find them to be more of a hassle than anything else. Regardless of personal opinion, CAT tools are an integral part of the translation industry as a whole. For localization buyers, it is important to understand how your translations are generated and what tools might be involved in this process. For localization providers, in order to maintain clear and open communication across functional groups, we need to be sure to be well-versed in all steps of the localization process, translation included.

The Basics of CAT Tools

Generally, CAT tools come with three basic functions: segmentation, translation memory, and a terminology database. By breaking text up into segments, CAT tools present text in a simple and easy-to-read manner. The phrase to be translated is usually sectioned off in a special box or highlighted, and the translator is able to insert the translated text into another identified box. Each source and target segment are paired together (identified as a translation unit) and saved in a database for future reuse (translation memory).

Unwrinkle those brows and relax your facial muscles for today’s Wacky Word Wednesday, a weekly celebration of the wackiest and most interesting words from around the world!

The definition of today’s wacky word from TermWiki.com:

gla·bel·la [gluh-bel-uh] -noun the area between the eyebrows and above the bridge of the nose

Glabella comes from the Latin word glabellus, which means smooth and hairless, and glaber, meaning bald, due to the lack of hair that is usually found in this area.

It doesn’t seem like an extraordinary anatomical feature, but the glabella was actually the focus of much attention and money not too long ago. And to some extent,  it still is. Most people who know the glabella will also refer to it by one of its nicknames: the “eleven” or the “W”.  These nicknames originate from the glabella’s susceptibility to producing vertical wrinkles as people age and their skin begins to reveal the effects of its elasticity. These wrinkles can result simply from repeatedly furrowing the brows when frowning, scowling, squinting or just from focusing on something.

For today’s post, here are some no-fuss, straight-to-the-point reasons why localization is the right next step for your organization.

1. You’re invested in your product’s international success.
According to the 2006 report “Can’t Read, Won’t Buy” from leading market research group Common Sense Advisory, 72.4% of people said that they are more likely to buy products with information written in their native language. Localization makes products and services more accessible on a global front.

2. You want more business.
Localizing a product or service creates more opportunities for business growth because it expands your market reach across borders and languages. The more exposure your brand/product receives, the greater the potential of increasing demand, which leads to more business.