Is Language a Means of Communication or Portal into Being?
Is language a means of communication? A friend recently used the word “flimsy” in a somewhat unusual context, and I asked, “What do you mean by flimsy?” He replied, “Well, the word means…
Can Machines Truly Understand? Language as Living Energy
Can machines truly understand? A client recently contacted me as an interpreter and said, “It’s critically important for me not just to convey the words literally, but to preserve the…
Who Can Be an Interpreter for a USCIS interview?
Who can be an interpreter for a USCIS interview? Technically, an interpreter must be at least 18 years old, fluent in both English and the applicant’s language, and able to…
The Hidden Psychology of Interpreting That AI Will Never Replace
What will AI never replace? As an ATA-certified Russian translator and interpreter, I get to meet many people—and learn a great deal about the psychology of interpreting. What do people…
How to Find a Certified Russian Medical Interpreter You Can Trust
Finding the right certified Russian medical interpreter or translator can be tricky. When choosing the right specialist, you are looking for someone you can trust — someone who can not…
How is AI Affecting Language and Human Ability to Connect?
How is AI affecting language? "To reduce language to information is to flatten out the miracle of understanding." — George Steiner, After Babel: Aspects of Language and Translation (1975) George…
A Good Metaphor for AI? Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea
What is a good metaphor for AI? Hans Christian Andersen is a genius in his ability to capture absolute metaphors — striking comparisons that cannot be easily interpreted in multiple…
Website Localization: Why Localizing Your Russian Website into English Is Essential
When it comes to website localization or website translation into English, things can get tricky. If your website is only in Russian or written in awkward English, you could be…
What is the True Definition of Poetry?
What is the true definition of poetry? In Greek, the word “poiesis” from which we get “poetry” means “making.” In my mind’s eye, I can picture an ancient Greek working in his…
What is the True Point of School? Harmony Between Being and Doing
What is the true point of school? Aristotle defined happiness as “the performance of the activities inherent in our being.” (Eudemian Ethics). Happiness is what we feel when there’s harmony…