Translation Center, originally uploaded by Illuminant Partners.

As we all know, language is, in most cases, far more than just a number of symbols and expressions. Instead, language is a reflection of a nation’s civilization, its unique thinking and behavior patterns and its geographic location as well.

我们都知道，在大多数情况下，语言不仅仅是一系列象征和表现形式。相反，语言能够反映一个国家的文明程度、独特的思维与行为模式以及地理位置。

As a result, translators must do more than merely translating from one language to the other. Translators are also playing the roles of editors and copywriters, as they need to polish their translated work and make it sound as natural and elegant as possible in the target language. Here arises an inevitable dilemma for translators, as they are expected to be faithful to the original language and are usually not encouraged to change the content and sentence orders in the original language and are thus influenced by the original language. That’s why many knowledgeable Chinese call translators “dancers with shackles”. Most of the time, translated texts are slightly, if not too much, different from those directly written by a native copywriter due to different ways of thinking and structure development. At Illuminant, to maintain the high quality of our translation work, our language team always tries its best to offset the abovementioned influences by polishing the text afterwards and by always having a designated internal third party to contribute as a polisher to proofread our finished translation work in an objective manner.

因此，译员要做的不仅仅是将一种语言翻译到另一种语言。他们同时还发挥着编辑和撰稿人的作用，因为他们需要润色自己的翻译成果，从而尽可能地使翻译的目标语言变得自然而优雅。而译员在这里就难免陷入一种困境，因为他们仍然需要忠实于原文，不轻易变更原文的内容或是语句的排列顺序，所以他们将或多或少受到原始语言的影响。这就是为什么人们将译员称为 “带着枷锁的舞者” 。在大多数情况下，翻译出来的文本与直接撰写的文案，二者有一定的区别，这是因为不同的语言总是有不同的思维方式和文章构架。为了尽量减少上述影响，在朔光，我们翻译团队总是尽力保证在翻译完成之后对译文进行润色与审译，并在交稿之前让其他同事以客观的角度再次审查译文，从而保持翻译工作的质量。

So our translation procedure is usually consisted of three parts: translatio； internal proofreading and polishing； external polishing, before we hand our work over to our clients, and from time to time, post-translation communication with clients is carried out to best understand and satisfy our clients’ specific needs and requirements.

因此，我们的翻译工作程序通常包括三个部分：翻译；翻译团队内部的校对与润色；其他同事的审译（有时是我们亲爱的媒体部门的同事）。另外，我们会不时地与客户展开积极的沟通，从而更好地了解并满足他们的特殊要求与需要。

Also, the Illuminant language team takes pride in a number of house glossaries we have compiled for each of our major clients based on their specific fields, such as architecture, mining, high-tech, tourism, and other sectors which our agency is expert in. Glossaries are very important for all of our language-related work at Iluminant, because most of our clients are long-term retainer-based and thus keeping our copywriting and choice of words professional, accurate and consistent is a key priority for our language work. That’s when our glossaries come into play: ensuring accuracy and consistency.

此外，令翻译团队倍感骄傲的是我们针对主要客户以及他们所处的领域而汇编的词汇表，这些领域涉及建筑、矿业、高科技等等。这些词汇表对朔光而言，是一种非常重要的语言工具。这是因为我们的大多数客户都是长期客户，所以保持语言服务的准确性、一致性与专业性是语言工作的重中之重。而通过使用我们所编撰的词汇表，我们就可以简易地找到过去使用的所有专业词汇以及它们的特殊用途。

Graceful language and elegant wording is always appreciated and enjoyed like a refined art. But there are occasional cases where clients don’t want their copywriting – words that powerfully represent themselves and their products – to be “high-brow”. In other words, they want “plain” language to represent them (in the Western sense, this might be thought of as “tabloid” language). When this happens, we will actively communicate with them to know about their specific needs and “play down” our choice of words accordingly, in order to cater to their special requirements. After all, clients’ needs and satisfaction form the priority. But the good news is: most clients LOVE beautiful language the way they appreciate refined arts.

优美的语言、典雅的措辞，如同精致的艺术一般，是一种愉悦的欣赏与享受。但是，有时有些客户却不希望我们为他们撰写的文案太过“风雅” 。换句话说，他们希望用“平实”的语言来表达自己。在这种情况下，我们将积极地与他们展开沟通，从而了解他们的具体需求，并在措辞方面为他们量体裁衣，以满足他们的特殊要求。毕竟，客户的需求与满意是市场经济的重点所在。而好消息就是：我们的大多数客户，正如喜爱精致的艺术一般，也喜爱美丽的言辞。

Article by Illuminant’s head of language services, Monica Lin （林敏）

DAN_Logo, originally uploaded by Illuminant Partners.

Illuminant Partners is excited to be working with our new client, Data Acquisitions Networks (DAN). DAN is a fast growing Australian company with a revolutionary technology that holds exceptionally strong promise for the Chinese market: a comprehensive, secure data logging system that protects the integrity of local data while allowing it to be monitored remotely from anywhere in the world.

We recently assisted DAN in its first China market visit to Beijing and Shanghai, and we were thrilled with the enthusiastic response its technology received from food industry and environmental protection officials, two sectors in which DAN’s technology has particular applicability.

DAN’s technology is two-fold: on-site hardware and web-based software hosted by DAN. The on-site hardware is comprised of a compact black box which can be configured to communicate wirelessly with up to six industrial probes. There are literally thousands of industrial probes commercially available, measuring variables from temperature to pollution levels and much more. Probes send their data back to the blackbox, which utilizes GPRS communication to transmit the data back to DAN’s server.

The web-based software gives users complete control over their data, allowing them to remotely change parameters, set alarm points, and monitor data collection. Using a secure login, users can see their data displayed in a simple format requiring no interpretation. Customized alarm points can be set, meaning that if data points fall outside of chosen parameters, SMS and e-mail alerts will be automatically sent immediately to as many as five designated recipients.

In Australia, DAN’s technology is used to measure everything from salinity in aquaculture – where it has substantially increased harvests – to monitoring chlorine levels in municipal swimming pools, ensuring safety. The advantage of DAN’s technology is not only the flexibility it offers, but also the security: data cannot be manipulated or changed, meaning central authorities can exercise remote oversight without fear of local tampering.

In China, the applicability of DAN’s technology is wide-ranging and exciting. Regulatory authorities constantly struggle with the challenge of centrally monitoring industry round-the-clock to ensure compliance with standards designed to protect safety, environmental quality, and efficiency. Data integrity is frequently suspect thanks to corruption, inappropriate monitoring techniques and tampering. DAN’s system takes the guesswork out of data collection and monitoring, meaning authorities can be independently assured of the integrity and reliability of data.

The disastrous results of faulty central oversight of industry have hit China particularly hard in the last year – from tainted food causing tragic infant deaths to faulty and dangerous products being exported around the world, never has the need for more reliable data logging and monitoring been so apparent. DAN’s comprehensive solutions would give authorities and regulators the oversight they need to ensure food safety, product integrity, and environmental protection. Illuminant is extremely excited to be working with this very promising new client!

Blog posting by Illuminant senior account manager Matt Doran.

ACBA:08 logo, originally uploaded by Illuminant Partners.

Illuminant Partners learned today that we have been voted a finalist of the forthcoming Australia-China Business Awards 2008.

In what we believe was a record number of entries, we are down to the final three in our category, “Entrepreneurial Business of the Year”.

Our directors are flying to Hong Kong on Friday 17th October to present to the judging panel.

We’re honoured to have made it this far, and we wish our two competitors in our category, Chongherr Investments of Shenzhen and the Shanghai Pie Company the very best of luck. May the most entrepreneurial Australian business in China win!

More info here.

Update, Saturday 18th October: Well, we have pitched our agency’s performance and philosophy to the judging panel in Hong Kong, and we eagerly await the result!  We won’t know if we’ve won the award until the evening of the awards ceremony, Thursday 6th November.

George Davey with Pan Beilei (1), originally uploaded by Illuminant Partners.

NSW Food Authority Director-General George Davey met with the President of the China chapter of the International Dairy Federation, Madame Pan Beilei, in Beijing on September 24.

Illuminant Partners has proudly supported the China-side government relations and public relations of the Authority since 2004.

Carlo Aspri performance at Canada Club Beijing 2008-08-15 (36), originally uploaded by Illuminant Partners.

It’s been an eventful summer for our client Carlo Aspri.

After a wonderfully well-received debut concert July 19 at the YAMAHA Music Performance Center, Carlo Aspri’s success continued with hit performances at the British Columbia Pavilion during the Olympics, a VIP-only mini-concert at the Canada Club, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Shaolin Monastery.

Carlo, a phenomenally gifted young composer and pianist from Quebec, entertained crowds at the British Columbia Pavilion’s Pub Night events. Attended by dozens of VIPs, the Pub Nights gave Carlo the opportunity to support his native land during the Olympics. He performed classic favorites as well as his own compositions.

Carlo was also honored when the Canadian Embassy asked him to perform at an exclusive, VIP-only event at the Canadian Club, celebrating the 400th anniversary of his native Quebec. Carlo performed traditional Quebec music and was touched by the opportunity to honor his home.

Fresh off his Gamestime success, Carlo headed off to Shaolin Monastery, for a much deserved week of gong fu training and exercise. It was a terrific chance for Carlo to continue his study of Chinese gong fu, at the world’s premier gong fu center. Carlo enjoyed the opportunity to train with the Shaolin monks and even took the opportunity to create a video chronicling his experience at the monastery.

It’s been a terrific summer for Canada’s next great musical export, with more excitement sure to come this fall.

Destination Greenwich at London House Beijing 2008-08-18 (129), originally uploaded by Illuminant Partners.

Illuminant’s efforts for London’s Greenwich Council culminated August 18 in a very successful event at the Beijing Olympics’s London House, located in the prestigious Shichahai Club.

More than 100 VIPs and media joined us for a traditional British afternoon tea party to hear from business and government leaders about investment opportunities in Greenwich – one of London’s oldest, most historic boroughs – during the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Greenwich is one of London’s most prestigious areas, and is currently enjoying a renaissance bringing growth and redevelopment. The next summer Olympics – in 2012 – represent a golden opportunity for Chinese investors to explore the booming London market. More than one third of London 2012′s Olympic events will take place in Greenwich, which is also the home to GMT and the Cutty Sark.

Chris Roberts, Mayor of Greenwich, delivered an excellent speech on the opportunities on offer to Chinese investors in the borough. Illuminant organized for Chinese VIP guests from 10 different industries to be invited to the event, including leaders in tourism, higher education, creative industries, sports management, Olympic sponsorship, culture, and inward investment.

The Greenwich Council presents this vision also on the official website on www.destinationgreenwich.com where potential investors and business partners will also find further information and contact details.

Greenwich Council was thrilled with the success and quality of the event. It was an exciting challenge for Illuminant and we look forward to continued collaboration with Greenwich Council.

SmartTrans Kooka Networking at BCA 2008-08-15 (6), originally uploaded by Illuminant Partners.

Illuminant is proud to have supported our client SmartTrans through its triumphant success at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

SmartTrans, an Australian Stock Exchange listed company (ASX: SMA), supplied Olympic sponsors with its fantastic EventTrack service – an all in one GPS navigation, VIP transportation, and translation tool. High profile clients including Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Omega, BHP Billiton, Macquarie Bank, and DB Schenker relied on EventTrack for their Gamestime VIP transportation needs.

This fantastic achievement was the result of a months-long, intensive collaboration between SmartTrans and Illuminant.

Illuminant worked closely with SmartTrans to support its Gamestimes efforts, having secured the endorsement of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at his inaugural visit to China earlier this year. Rudd’s endorsement of EventTrack at its April 10 launch event marked the Mandarin-speaking prime minister’s only commercial endorsement during his trip. Illuminant’s support for SmartTrans continued right through Gamestime.

We’re extremely proud of our work for SmartTrans and look forward to continuing our collaboration, as SmartTrans furthers its success in the Chinese marketplace post-Games.

It’s been a busy month for our client Carlo Aspri!

Carlo’s debut concert July 19 at the YAMAHA Music Performance Center was a smash success. Carlo, a brilliant young composer and pianist from Montreal, Quebec, played two beautiful sets for a select, by-invitation-only audience of 50 Canadian and Chinese VIPs. The concert primed Carlo for his next series of performances, at the upcoming Canada Olympic House “Pub Nights” during the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

Playing on a fantastic YAMAHA concert grand in the performance center – a gem of a venue – Carlo performed original compositions from his debut album, “Carlo Aspri,” and newer pieces from his upcoming second CD. He also offered stirring arrangements of “The Moon Represents My Heart,” a traditional Chinese song, and the Canadian national anthem, “O Canada.”

Guests enjoyed fine Canadian wines and delicious European hors d’oeuvres provided by our fine caterer, Café Europa. We were extremely pleased with the turnout by VIP guests and the support Carlo received from the Canadian community in Beijing. The Canadian Embassy was represented by VIPs including Jane Lang, First Secretary of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, and Rene Milot, the head of the Quebec government offices in China.

Energized by the success of the YAMAHA concert, Carlo is now looking forward eagerly to his four upcoming Pub Night performances at Canada Olympic House over the next two weeks. The Canada BC Pavilion is a beautiful venue which serves as Canada’s home base in Beijing during these Olympic Games. Carlo will be helping the Canadian government entertain its VIP guests with a dynamic repertoire comprised of both classic favorites and some of his original compositions. It’s an auspicious start for Canada’s next great musical ambassador to the world.

Carlo’s performances at Canada House are on the evenings of Tuesday 12th August, Thursday 14th August, Tuesday 19th August and Thursday 21st August.

Immediately following the Canada House performances, Carlo heads to the Shaolin Monastery where he will train with the monks for a much deserved break.

Launching the Legend of Greece

On Friday June 20, Illuminant Partners assisted Ouzo of Plomari Isidoros Arvanitis, the leading premium Ouzo brand in Greece, to successfully launch its delicious aniseed-flavored liquor in Beijing.

Ouzo of Plomari Isidoros Arvanitis is the first Greek ouzo to ever enter the Chinese market, and will soon be available in premium bars, restaurants and retailers across China.

More than 100 invited guests from Beijing’s food and beverage, media and entertainment industry responded to our hand-written invitations (“Come have a drink with me!”) and enjoyed this wonderful ouzo which is a synonymous with Greek life of leisure and the perfect ingredient for a refreshing summer cocktail.

Find more information about this new lifestyle drink on the official website or contact the Ouzo of Plomari team directly via email to get invited to the next event!

We’re pleased to have worked with the Australian Trade Commission to write up a case study for our fantastic transport technology client SmartTrans. The case study went live on the Austrade website on 5th June. You can read the whole case study by clicking here.