Insights Archives - Living Word

Insights Jun 9, 2021

The use of colours in transcreation

Copy can make or break an advertising campaign, but the choice of colours is an equally important element – even more so when the marketing effort relates to different cultures. A colour palette that has positive connotations in one culture can be a big faux pas in others, so what should you...

labyrinth of colours

Insights Jun 7, 2021

‘He’s a ghost!’ – why film and TV transcreation is among the most challenging to get right

From the Chinese translation of the American blockbuster The Sixth Sense delivering a major spoiler, to small details being misinterpreted, there are many ways in which poor transcreation can vastly change the experience of a film or series. We take a look at some examples that demonstrate why...

movie set action board

Insights May 31, 2021

Easing tensions and improving cross-cultural ties within the UK

Scotland recently voted the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) into power for the fourth consecutive time, while Welsh Labour would like to see more devolved powers from Westminster. With interest in pro-independence parties on the rise in some areas of the UK, as well as a growing...

Scottish independence campaigners

Insights May 26, 2021

Diplomatic translation and writing history

Ever thought about the significance of diplomatic translation? It’s certainly not an easy task, with translating errors potentially having wide-ranging and far-reaching implications. We take a look at some historic examples of where diplomatic translation got… well, lost in translation. One...

Soviet wall artefacts