Does studying translation and interpreting translate into an actual working degree? The answer is a resounding YES. Several well accredited universities and specialty schools offer foreign language degrees up to the Master’s level. With more and more translation specialists being needed in the business and academic world, and a steadily rising shortage of qualified interpreters affecting the field, a degree in foreign language specialties is not only in demand, but also very lucrative, providing competitive wages in an ever growing industry.

Interpreters and Translators

Median annual wages, May 2012

• Media and communication workers

           $50,930

• Interpreters and translators

           $45,430

• Total, all occupations

           $34,750

Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ,Occupational Employment Statistics

Degrees in the Translation and Interpreting Industry

A Master’s degree or PhD in translations, or translation studies, encompasses a comprehensive interdisciplinary program. These programs involve historical, literary, and scientific academics while at the same time establishing general multi-lingual translation skills.

Translation field graduates are generally qualified to work with the expanding corporate translation industry, government agencies, and even with software developers who commonly distribute their products worldwide. Graduates who pursue PhDs often stay in the academic fields, teaching linguistics or translating. Like many humanities degrees, a Master’s or PhD in translation studies allows the student to customize his/her program to their own preferences and specialties.

Top 5 Universities with graduate programs:

• Kent State University, Kent, Ohio

Offers a two year Master of Arts in Translation and a PhD in Translation Studies.

• Monterey Institute, Monterey, California
  

The Monterey Institute offers an M.A. in Translation, an M.A. in Translation & Localization Management, an M.A. in Translation & Interpretation, and an M.A. in Conference Interpretation.

• SUNY Binghamton, New York State University, Binghamton
  

The school focuses on the PhD level in Translation Studies – the university also offers a Graduate Certificate in Translation Research and Instruction, and an undergraduate Minor in Translation – The institution does not offer an MA program though.

• The Center for Translation Studies, University of Texas, Dallas
  

Degree plans are specifically designed for translation studies that supply broad general backgrounds in one or more of three areas: Literary Studies, History of Ideas, and Aesthetic Studies.

• Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C.
  

Programs and services at this university are specifically designed to accommodate the deaf and hard of hearing, Gallaudet is a prominent leader in the field of ASL and Deaf Studies. Instead of a degree in Translation Studies, Gallaudet offers a Masters of Arts in Interpretation, specifically American Sign Language interpretation.

Translating opportunities at the Certificate level

Many opportunities in the translation industry can be achieved at the certificate level as well. Jobs within the court system, medical fields, and in translating multilingual conferences, are all reachable with a certificate in translation services at the professional level.

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Translation services are a growing necessity in all forms of modern professional business establishments, teaching and academic fields, medical, hospital, and transcription services, and global trade industries in the new millennium. Making sure that a company or institution has the right translation services is also paramount to successfully enter or dominate the world market. Let the professionals at Translation Central provide your present or future translating needs. Start now by Contacting Us for further information.

Among the G8 countries, Canada had the largest foreign-born population at the time, at 20.6 %, which was followed by the United States at 12.9 %. With the Asian market still expanding in 2015, the ever-growing need for global translation services has fueled the shortage and the demand in the business world for proficient translators.

“Country of birth data USA” by Kransky – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_canada. Licensed under CC BY-SA 1.0 via Wikipedia.

Why do I need to hire a translator?

It bridges the gap

Translation services provide a business with an effective, locally ethnic, and globally oriented communication system. This enhances a business’s ability to compete in a growingly cross-cultural and multi-lingual business environment. With 2015’s brighter outlook on business opportunities worldwide, markets around the globe are steadily emerging in more and more remote places, which unfortunately for Western companies, usually speak little or no English.

It’s instantaneous

Outsourcing your translation needs is an efficient and cost effective business practice. Outsourcing provides instant access to the expertise and technical resources that are needed in order to perform translations, without the costly and time-consuming chore of having to constantly hire and properly train an in-house translation staff.

Statistically, it makes sense

Brazil, Russia, India and China, the (BRIC), together account for more than 40 percent of the world’s population. It is predicted that in the not too distant future, the BRIC economies might eventually overtake even today’s top world list of economically rich countries.

By Mjolnir1984 [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Why shouldn’t I do my own translation work?

You’ll waste time

Doing one’s own translation services is economically inefficient and time consuming; it includes a lot of extensive research finding out precise terminologies.  It also eats up valuable time and resources by having to look up online information about the subject language, or purchasing and having to exhaustively look through expensive “How To” books.

You’ll lack inside knowledge

Hiring a professional translation firm will automatically keep track of important industry tactics and standards, like your style of linguistic preferences and exact terminology in order to ensure that no matter what human resource circumstances change in the workplace, the quality of your language interpretation services remain the same for your clients, and current or potential customers.

Top 10 Tips for hiring a Translator:

1. Make sure when hiring a translator, that they have an in-depth knowledge of the languages that are to be used, and that they also have an experienced working knowledge of the cultures that are to be involved. Don’t assume that being multi-lingual makes one a suitable translator.

2. Be specific about your needs – what do you need translated? Will it be primarily on paper, brochures, a website, or all three? Are your needs regional, global, or dialect specific? What deadlines and time frames do you need adhered to?  The translator needs to interview you as much as you need to interview them. If they are well experienced, they will know of, and utilize this fact to both your advantages.

3. Always make sure to ask how much it is going to cost for translation services, what is provided, and how long it will take for the translation services to be provided to you, along with the availability of future services.

4. Be willing to pay a reasonable fee for good translation services. This is one of those situations where you get what you pay for.  The quality of a translation is a must; the business risks of being cheap are not financially worth it.

5. Ask about what services the translator specializes in. They might turn out to be good at one aspect of your translation needs, but not proficient in another. Don’t wait to find this out until it’s too late.

6. Make sure to ask about what kind of assurances are in place about the quality of the translations to be provided.  What resolution processes are going to be employed if you are unsatisfied with the outcome of the service, or services that were provided?

7. Foreign language services are not normally performed by in-house teams. The work is far too specialized to be efficiently performed onsite. It is highly recommended to use outsourcing instead, this is the preferred method most businesses use when hiring a translator.

8. If you are thinking of hiring a professional translating company, ask about the criteria they use for hiring their translators. For example, their certifications, whether they’re native tongue speakers, their experience, etc.

9. It is also recommended that if you are going to use an outsourced translation service, that you pick a fairly large professional translation agency.  This way you will have access to a wider range of tools for managing your translation projects. They also have a larger pool of translators, and more service options to offer you.

10. Build a lasting and productive working relationship with a preferred chosen translator who has proven themselves trustworthy.

Statistics on the growing opportunities available to North American corporations, businesses, and associations do not lie. Now is the perfect time to join the global marketplace and promote your brand, product, service, or association’s mission statement worldwide. Let the experienced professionals at Translation Central provide you with the best translation services in the industry. Contact Us in order to get started on entering the new world market today!

Words for every occasion: English is not as diverse as you might think.

Diversity in words

If you’re one of those people who insist on having the last word and the answer to everything, we are sure you completely disagree with the above statement.

There are many arguments either way but in no language other than English is phrasal verb use so prolific, speaking volumes about the need for creating diversity where there is none or it is limited.

Take, for example, the classic example of the extensive variety of words for snow in Inuit. We have ‘sleet’, and ‘snow’, and that is about all. It is not as though we are oblivious to snow either, whether it is that fine stuff that doesn’t settle or the slushy stuff that seeps in through your shoes no matter how waterproof they are. We know what it is. So why such a short list of names for all the different types of it?

Japanese competes with Inuit in the weather stakes by having a high number of different words for rain. Perhaps this is a little overzealous and there really is no need to differentiate between ‘cold’ and ‘chilly’ rain, however, to a Japanese person these probably make a lot more sense than our ‘cover all bases’ of simply ‘rain’: it is just difficult to translate exactly.

Words to loan

However, there is more to untranslatable words than a seemingly uncountable number of ways to describe precipitation. There are some beautiful examples out there that when you read them you will no doubt think ponder why there is no such English alternative. Here are some suggestions for loanwords that we might want to adopt.

Sisu (Finnish) – stoic, determined, brave.

Pochemuchka (Russian) – a person who asks far too many questions.

Fernweh (German) – feeling homesick for a place you have never been.

Saudade (Portuguese) – nostalgia for something that doesn’t exist.

Hyggelig (Danish) – comfortable, contented, intimate.

Abbiocco (Italian) – post-meal sleepiness.

Bakku-shan (Japanese) – a girl who is considered beautiful but only when viewed from behind.

Backpfeifengesicht (German) – a face that is desperately in need of a fist.

Shlimazl (Yiddish) – an incredibly unlucky person.

Gattara (Italian) – an old and lonely woman who devotes her life to her cats

Prozvonit (Czech) – to ring a mobile number just once so that the receiver has to call you back.

Friolero (Spanish) – a person very susceptible to cold weather.

Utepils (Norwegian) – to sit outside on a sunny day enjoying a beer.

Schnapsidee (German) – an ingenious plan come up with whilst drunk.

Fika (Swedish) – gathering together to take a break from the everyday routine.

Pålegg (Norwegian) – everything that can be eaten on a slice of bread.

Tsundoku (Japanese) – leaving a book that you have bought unread, usually piled with other unread books.

Luftmensch (Yiddish) – a person who is a bit of a daydreamer.

Tretår (Swedish) – a second refill of coffee.

Trepverter (Yiddish) – a witty comeback you think of only when the time to use it has already passed.

Translating the untranslatable

Now imagine, if you will, the difficulty faced when translating these words into another language. There are times when an approximate translation is acceptable, but when it isn’t, would you really want to risk causing upset with a client or losing out on a sale because of a language barrier? Why not see what services we have on offer so that you can continue your business in confidence and leave the translation detail to us?

For decades now, Europe and North America have been the dominant forces in the translation service industry. But with the enormous growth rate of Asian companies that have been out-pacing the world marketplace, language translation companies have been scrambling to bridge the gap between the East and West by providing companies with an important and integral part of a successful global business relationship – accurate worldwide communication!

Europe

Europe’s translation market has been steadily growing in the E.U., which was once exclusively pertained to French, Italian, German, and Spanish speaking regional translators. With the creation of the European Union, Europe’s bureaucracies must now communicate in over 23 different languages in order to facilitate their governmental duties. For this reason, the need for consistent translation services has grown exponentially across the E.U.

The U.S.

The U.S. translation industry brought in over $5 billion dollars in 2014, up from $4 billion in 2013, taking control of its share in a $40 billion dollar global industry. The language translation business is projected to grow to $10 billion plus in the United States by 2020. Language translation is used in the United States in a number of different ways; translation services are used as a vital tool in U.S. commerce,  and also for mining data in different languages for major marketing campaigns in big businesses, where companies sift through, and buy and sell user information collected from social media channels worldwide.

Growth (and projected growth) of translation industries in the United States. Image via Analyst

Australia

Australia has been clamoring to keep up with demand for translation services, due to the high influx of foreign refugees who have fled in the last decade from the volatile and war torn Middle East or African nations, for the relative safety and sanctuary of Australia’s shores.

In Australia, interpreters who have English and Chinese language skills are in especially high demand. These are of great use to the country’s governmental agencies and departments, such as customs, immigration, their legal and health systems, welfare, and other community-based outfits; on the coast or in the outback.

Canada

Canada has a diverse set of cultures, which historically has been using English and French as their two main primary languages. Canada brings in approximately 10% of the global multi-billion dollar translation industry, even though the country only holds 0.5% of the world’s population. Canada, still holding on tight to its “official” languages, has approximately 90% of its translation done from (and to) French and English.

North American translating services are projected to grow over 40% by the year 2020. China is also quickly moving into the global business spotlight in the new millennium; Chinese to English interpreters are in very high demand in Canada, showing how more advanced technology, and better economics in the Asian country has shifted the translation market to face towards the East.

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While smartphones now come equipped with applications that can translate several different languages, they cannot compete with a human interpreter’s intellect, their understanding of cultural differences, and abilities to adapt to abstract cultural references.  Let Translation Central provide you with the best translation services in the business – Contact Us to get started today!

If you think idioms are the sole property of the English language, think again.

The Noble Idiom

From hot potatoes to pieces of cake, using idioms can be somewhat of a guilty pleasure. Argue the toss all you like: idioms are fun. Indulging in a little cherry picking, here are some fine specimens of English idioms.

That is not to say that idioms are only found in the English language. Far from it. In fact, natives of other tongues will likely argue that idioms in English are an amateurish attempt at word play. That is not for us to judge. What makes perfect illogical sense to us is probably incomprehensible gobbledygook to the non-native language learner or an international colleague, and vice versa when we hear the apparently more civilised idiom from afar.

That is the joy of idioms.

Awarding the untranslatable

If there were a competition for ‘most obscure idiom’, some of the most promising contenders would surely hail from Finnish and Hungarian. These Uralic languages are about as far away as you can get from our own Germanic-rooted language whilst retaining the same alphabet. Perhaps that is why their idioms sound so strange to us.

Here are five examples to argue the point:

1. Vuonna miekka muusi ja kypärä. – ‘In the year of mashed potatoes and helmet’.

Meaning: ‘A long time ago’. (Finnish)

2. Ne csinálj szúnyogból elefántot. – ‘Don’t make an elephant out of a mosquito’.

Meaning: The closest English equivalent is ‘Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill’. (Hungarian)

3. Päin honkia. – ‘Against the pines’.

Meaning: Something has gone completely wrong. (Finnish)

4. Tele van a hócipőm. – ‘My snowshoes are full’.

Meaning: ‘I’ve had enough’, ‘I can’t take any more’. (Hungarian)

5. Vintti pimeni. – ‘The attic blacked out’.

Meaning: Someone fainted. (Finnish)

Translating Idioms

This seems like as good a time as any to raise the issue of the virtues of quality translation.

When translating between languages it is crucial that colloquial and idiomatic expressions are understood in both, because if not, imagine the can of worms it could open. Imagine, for example, relying purely on an automated translation of number 4 from above during an intense sales negotiation. Are business deals now to be done on the ski slope rather than the golf course? Is it actually snowing outside? Is this merely questionable taste in office attire? Without correct translation it is up for (mis)interpretation and who knows where that could lead?

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If you have something important you need translating and don’t want to make a fool out of yourself, why not have a look at the services we provide to avoid any misunderstandings?

The Force is Strong…

Photo via V-kony/Deviant Art

There is an internet rumour/urban legend that goes like this: in Star Wars, Yoda’s unique style of speech was created by first translating his dialogue into Hungarian and then translating it directly back into English, word for word. Hungarian has a very different word order to English and makes use of suffixes rather than prepositions, resulting in ‘Yoda-tongue’ when back-translated.

Whether there is any truth to this is unclear, but what is likely true is that, were the internet available during the writing of the Star Wars script, a whole world of translation tools could have made Yoda’s speech even more grammatically bizarre.

To Translate or not to Translate?

Whether you want to know the meaning of an individual word or need a legal document translated for all sorts of reasons like studying abroad, becoming a citizen of a foreign country, or getting married really dictates where you look for help and what kind of tool you use.

Cost is, naturally, a limiting factor, as is time: the internet has shaped our society into one where the phrase ‘instant gratification’ is no longer a by-word for ‘spoilt brat’, it is something expected by us all: we want it now, and more than this, we want it free. Preferably whilst we’re waiting for our favourite TV show to download and our Instagram photos to upload.

While there is nothing like using the skill of a bilingual speaker to ensure we are saying what we really mean, when an actual on-the-spot translation is unavailable and time is pressing, we find our fingers seeking out the answers online.

Translation Tools: What can they Offer?

There are hundreds of different free online tools out there, but are any of them any good? Is it worth risking that Chinese translation of ‘peace’ coming back as ‘egg fried rice’ and being tattooed on you forever more?

Here is a sample of what is available out there, and how they compare, using a phrase translated into French:

For an approximate translation, all are reasonable. For ease of use, Google Translate and Bing win hands down. IM Translator and Paralink offer multiple translation platforms (notably, Google, Bing and Prompt). In terms of the amount of translatable languages, 101languages provides the most (132 languages) and Reverso comes in last (13), which does actually make you wonder about the quality of the translation work. Google, Bing and Frengly provide automatic language detection, and if you want to translate something a little more ‘exotic’ then look no further than Bing for Klingon and 101languages for Dothraki. You know, if you want.

All offer numerous additional services such as direct translation of websites, imbedded links for your own blogs, dictionaries, and so on. Frengly follows Google and Bing in their sleek and minimalist design, whereas IM Translator feels thrown-together and messy and 101languages is almost encyclopedic in its usefulness, meaning finding the actual translation tool is harder than it needs to be.

Aside from these tools there are hundreds more, specific to individual languages with more dedication to correct translation than being a blanket ‘we translate all’ outfit.

What is Appropriate?

There are pitfalls, of course. Formality, colloquialisms, and a whole world of potential misunderstandings. What is good for Tumblr might not be appropriate for a Powerpoint used in an international conference call between colleagues. When considering which translation tools to use, ultimately it is up to you: how important is accuracy over fluency, perfection over getting-your-point-across without errors?

So, if there is a word on the tip of your tongue that you really want translating now, go on, reach out for one of the many tools out there; what harm can it do?

If, however, you truly want to avoid the night sweats of poor translation shame, there really is only one solution: get the translation done by a professional, bilingual speaker who knows how to prevent you from foot-in-mouth slip-ups. Because it is never, ultimately, about an individual word. Real translation comes from knowing the language inside and out, and what words will get you slap on the back or a slap in the face.

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If searching for translation services has brought you here, see what we have available to save you from yourself! From document and website translation to interpretation, we have the solutions you need.

Translating copy takes more than just an online Google app for it to be done properly, as it also involves a good understanding of syntax, phraseology, and the etymology of words to be done effectively, and here are a few examples of how it can all go horribly wrong:

1. Driving In Tokyo

Hired cars in Japan have brochures to help visitors with some local driving etiquette, and where most are informative, one in particular went viral:

“When a passenger of the foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet at him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage, then tootle him with vigour” – we’re guessing this means to honk your horn when you come across bad driving!

2. Parker Pens Don’t Get You Pregnant!

There have been numerous international marketing errors, and this one was a classic.

Parker Pens were marketed with the tagline “It won’t leak in your pocket and embarrass you“, but the Mexican translation became “It won’t leak in your pocket and make you pregnant” which caused all sorts of confusion!

3. Beer, Pepsi, & Milk Goes Off?

Similarly, the beer maker Coors’ slogan “Turn it loose” translated as “Suffer from diarrhea”, and a Dairy Association’s campaign of “Got Milk?” read in Spanish as “Are you lactating?”.

Meanwhile, in Taiwan the Pepsi slogan of “Come alive with the Pepsi Generation” was ominously translated as “Pepsi will bring your ancestors back from the dead”.

4. Diplomatic Faux Pas

Getting the translation right for foreign dignitaries is crucial, especially when the world’s media is following the proceedings, but when the US President Jimmy Carter visited Poland in 1977 things all went horribly wrong for translator Steven Seymour.

In talks, Carter said he wanted to learn about the Polish people’s desire for the future, how he was happy to be in Poland, and had left America to go on a trip, which was translated to Carter desiring the Polish people, that he wanted to grasp Polish parts, and that he’d abandoned the United States – awkward!

 5. Valentine’s Day Mix Up

A mistranslation by a chocolate company in the 1950s led to a tradition in Japan that still stands – women giving chocolate to men on February the 14th every year.

To the chocolate companies’ delight, a month later on White Day men traditionally return the favour with a gift worth up to three times the one they received.

This is just a small sample of how important correct translations can be, especially in a political or marketing forum, as so many factors can affect the outcome including slang, idioms, and local culture.

So in future, make sure to mind your own language, and get professional help when you need to mind someone else’s!

Image by jeanbaptisteparis

Many people are confused with the difference between translation and interpreting – so what are they? They both deal with communications in different languages, and changing one language to another, but essentially the main difference is regarding the method of communication, whether it is written or spoken.

It is a commonly held belief that a translator can act as an interpreter, and vice versa; the two jobs are not, however, interchangeable.

In saying that, the major differences between translation and interpreting are:

1. Time to Perform

When documents are translated, the translator has time to read, re-read if necessary, and change the language. They can then read the finished document, comparing it with the original version. A translator can use a variety of resources to assist them, such as dictionaries, spell-checkers, and thesauruses.

Interpreting is generally instantaneous. An interpreter must change the language very quickly, without using different resources to help. It is also often the case that the words they hear are fairly fast moving, with little time to pause and plan.

Fun Fact #1

The world’s most translated document is the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It has been translated into 300 different languages!

2. Accuracy

Connected with the time and tools available, it is expected that translated materials have a higher level of accuracy than interpreted speech.

3. Fluency

Whilst both translators and interpreters are bilingual (or, in some cases, multilingual) professionals, the language is used in a very different way.

Typically, translators change a foreign language into their own native language, one that comes naturally to them and is easy to create a sensible and accurate written account.

An interpreter must switch between two languages on the spot, often acting as an intermediary between people. Interpreters must be highly fluent in each language.

Image by Antonio Litterio

Fun Fact #2

It is very rare for one person to work as both a translator and an interpreter. There is no name for a person who performs both functions; they should be referred to by both job titles.

4. Number of People

Whilst both translators and interpreters usually do their work alone, it is possible for a team of translators to work on the same document. It is also common for a translated piece to be proofread by another professional before being finalized. However, an interpreter must rely solely on themselves, although it is usual in long dialogues for interpreters to work for a short time and then switch due to the demanding and intense nature of the work.

Fun Fact #3

It is difficult to know the exact number of languages that exist in the world. According to Ethnologue, there are around 6,900 languages in the world! Without translators and interpreters it would be impossible for users of these different languages to communicate effectively. Some languages have no written form, leading to a reliance solely on interpreters.

5. Types of Languages

Interpreters deal solely with living languages – those languages that are spoken by groups of people in the world today. There are also interpreters that communicate in signed languages, and they may be required to use a combination of speech and sign.

Translators, however, may work with living, dead, and extinct languages. They are never required to work with sign language. Extinct languages are those that are not used in oral communications by anyone in today’s world. Examples include Gothic, Lycian, and Ancient Macedonian. There are some languages that are only used in the modern world for ceremonial events and that are not spoken by people in their everyday communications. These are known as dead languages and include Pali, Latin, Coptic and Sanskrit. Statistically, one language dies every two weeks!

1. Ioannis Ikonomou: 32 languages and counting

A native Greek speaker, Ioannis Ikonomou started learning foreign languages from the tender age of six years old. Born on the island of Crete, he now works for the European Commission in Brussels as a translator. He can speak a mind-blowing 32 languages fluently, including Greek, English, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, German, Polish, and Amharic. As well as spoken languages he can also understand and communicate in several ancient languages, such as Sanskrit, Latin, Gothic, and Pali.

There are various character systems and alphabets used amongst the different languages that he can use fluently, although he says that no language is particularly easy or difficult – it is, rather, a case of passion and he advises that anyone can learn languages if they fall in love with them.

Ioannis Ikonomou is celebrated for his phenomenal language skills and for the important role he holds at the heart of Europe.

2. Michael George Francis Ventris: the code breaker

Born in the UK to a British father and a Polish mother, Michael George Francis Ventris was educated in Switzerland, quickly learning both French and German in addition to English and Polish. He had an aptitude for learning languages, eventually learning several others, including Russian and Swedish.

After having served in the RAF during the Second World War, during which time some people believed he was involved in code breaking exercises, he became an architect. His translation prowess is noted for his part in deciphering an ancient code, known as Linear 2, discovered on items found on the island of Crete. His work and discoveries enabled historians to learn more about Mycenean Greece and the Cretan civilization. If it were not for the hard work of Michael George Francis Ventris and his peers, the previously mysterious language may have remained a secret for all time.

3. Jean-François Champollion: deciphering the hieroglyphics

Born in France in 1790, Jean-François Champollion was able to understand at least a dozen languages by the time he had reached the age of 16. He continued his linguistic studies, learning a combination of spoken languages and ancient languages. He had a particularly strong interest in Oriental languages, and was given the task of trying to interpret the writing on the Rosetta Stone.

After his success with the Rosetta Stone, Jean-François Champollion continued to decipher the meaning of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. He gifted the world with the meaning of the ancient characters, as well as the key to the Egyptian system of grammar. His tremendous work gave much to historians, scholars, and Egyptologists all over the world.

4. Xuanzang: a monk on a mission

A Chinese monk, Xuanzang lived in the seventh century and was one of the most famous translators of his day. He remains amongst the world’s most renowned translators today, especially within Asia, due to his tireless work at translating sacred Buddhist scriptures.

His quest led him on an adventure that lasted for a decade, during which time he learnt Sanskrit, and a subsequent number of years devoted to translating texts in Chinese. He played a huge role in shaping Chinese Buddhism and helping people to understand the teachings of the Lord Buddha. He is also credited for recording the political and social situations of the time.