BLEND Localization

What language was spoken at the first Thanksgiving—and is it still spoken today? The 1621 meal commonly known as the first Thanksgiving brought together the English-speaking Plymouth Colony and the Wampanoag tribe, who spoke Wôpanâak, a language from the Algonquian family. Though Wôpanâak ceased to be spoken nearly 200 years ago, its revival is underway. Ironically thanks to a writing system developed by Christian missionaries for Bible translation, modern Wampanoag communities are now teaching the language in schools, bringing it back to life for future generations. Wishing a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone celebrating 🧡

💭 Some food for thought during the Thanksgiving weekend: Reflecting on ways to improve your localization strategy for 2025 is important....but so is celebrating 2024's wins 🎉 Spotlight your team's best localization efforts of the year with a feature in the 2024 Localization Hall of Fame. Past editions have featured outstanding work from talented folks at {{linkedin_mention(urn:li:organization:2850862|Canva)}}, {{linkedin_mention(urn:li:organization:56101|Payoneer)}}, {{linkedin_mention(urn:li:organization:784652|Shopify)}}, {{linkedin_mention(urn:li:organization:2525169|monday.com)}}, {{linkedin_mention(urn:li:organization:33246798|TikTok)}}, and many more—this year, it could be you! Submissions are open now until December 18th: https://lnkd.in/eq7YfkWM

Back in the 80s when Translation Memories were invented, the translation processes suddenly became a lot more cost and time efficient. Now you can add a Quality Estimation step to your workflow and become even more efficient. It's the biggest cost-saving invention since TMs and we're excited to share a use case from BLEND Localization who have implemented an innovative QE program that helps their clients save up to 80% in costs. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eWFyN7RJ And don't forget to sign up for our webinar on 4 December 2024 where Andrew Miller and Amir Kamran will share more insights about this successful program as well as an exclusive sneak peek into what to expect from TAUS QE in the coming months. https://lnkd.in/ei2ZatVt

It's no secret that the industry is changing, and with it, localization roles. How do you see roles like localization PMs evolving?

Black Friday is one week away! Need some last-minute help with translating your ads? We got you 👇 Leverage our free translated ads that convert shoppers, ready-to-use in 6 major languages: https://hubs.la/Q02Z33VM0

We're excited to join TAUS in this upcoming webinar where we'll cover how our collaboration helps our clients save money and shift to AI with confidence! Don't miss out, register to join us on Wednesday, December 4th at 5:00 PM CET 👇

We are thrilled to share that Heelee Kriesler has joined our leadership team as BLEND's Chief Customer Officer and Chief Financial Officer 🌟 Heelee previously served as a partner at PwC, where she led three financial and management consulting departments. She has also held senior global financial and enterprise account management roles at leading cybersecurity companies, including Checkmarx and Bright Security. With a background that blends impressive financial and account management expertise and strategic leadership, Heelee brings a wealth of experience to our team as we continue to grow and redefine the localization industry. Please join us in welcoming Heelee to BLEND! Read more: https://lnkd.in/dEK7xghx

Behind every global success story, there’s a team making localization magic happen ✨ The Localization Hall of Fame is your opportunity to showcase how your localization efforts reached international audiences and boosted business growth this year. Past editions have featured outstanding work from brands like TikTok, Wix, Shopify, and Spotify—this year, it could be you! Applications are now open until December 18th: https://lnkd.in/dsRPkgNq

Using AI to translate messages for your Airbnb host is one thing, but what about the high-stakes content your business puts out? Thoughts? 💭

Ever find that some words are just IMPOSSIBLE to translate? 🤯 Some words are so deeply tied to culture, emotion, or context that they have no direct equivalent in other languages. Take Japanese, for example: - Komorebi (木漏れ日): The sunlight that filters through the leaves of trees. - Tsundoku (積ん読): Buying books and letting them pile up, unread. These untranslatable gems remind us that language is more than just words—it’s a window into how we see the world. 💬 What’s your favorite untranslatable word?