Behind every word lies a story, a journey through time and across cultures. Etymology, the study of word origins and evolution, provides us with a captivating glimpse into the rich tapestry of language.
In this blog, we embark on an adventure through etymology, exploring interesting facts that shed light on the hidden histories and connections of our beloved words.
Latin – the language of influence
Latin, the ancient language of the Romans, has had a profound impact on many modern languages, including English. More than 60% of English words have Latin roots.
From legal terms like habeas corpus to scientific terms such as biology — from the Latin word biologia meaning study of life — the legacy of Latin can be found in numerous domains.
Greek Contributions
The Greek language has also left its mark on the world of words. Greek mythology, for instance, has inspired numerous terms we use today.
Narcissism originates from the myth of Narcissus, while herculean is derived from the mighty hero Hercules. Additionally, the Greek philosopher Aristotle gave us the term metaphysics, which now refers to the branch of philosophy dealing with abstract concepts.
The Viking influence
The Vikings were more than just fierce warriors — they were also skillful navigators and traders. As they sailed across the seas, they spread their language, Old Norse, which still influences English today.
Common English words like sky, knife, and egg are derived from Old Norse roots.
Arabic contributions
Arabic, the language of the Quran and a key contributor to the Islamic Golden Age has left an indelible mark on the world of science, mathematics, and language.
English words like alcohol, algebra, and zero owe their existence to Arabic influences. Moreover, the Arabic numeral system, which we use today, revolutionized mathematics in the Western world.
Onomatopoeia – words that imitate sounds
Onomatopoeic words are fascinating examples of how language can mimic the sounds of the world around us. Words like buzz, crash, and hiss imitate the sounds they represent, enhancing our ability to describe and communicate auditory experiences.
Eponyms – words derived from names
Eponyms are words that originate from the names of people or places. For example, the word sandwich comes from John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, who was known for his love of eating meat between slices of bread.
Other eponyms include boycott — from Charles Boycott — algorithm — from Al-Khwarizmi — and guillotine — from Joseph-Ignace Guillotin.
Borrowed words – linguistic borrowings and loanwords
Languages constantly evolve through interactions and borrowing from other cultures. English specifically has borrowed extensively from other languages. Words like sushi from Japanese, chocolate from Nahuatl — an indigenous language of Mexico — and karma from Sanskrit demonstrate the global interconnectedness of language.
Exploring the origins of words not only expands our vocabulary but also provides us with a deeper understanding of the cultures and histories that have shaped our languages. Next time you utter a word, remember that it carries within it a tale of its own, connecting you to the fascinating tapestry of human communication.
Teneo Linguistics Company (TLC) is a certified small, woman-owned business that specializes in a variety of customizable language services in over 180 languages. Learn more about TLC and get a quote for professional language services at www.tlctranslation.com.
So what does ISO 27001, a data security standard, have to do with translation quality?
Translation quality has many faces. It can look like correct terminology and syntax.
Or how about the appropriate style for the given audience? And, let’s not forget all-around excellent customer service!
And it can also look like the secure handling of information assets.
For some time now, our clients have been telling us about the importance of data security for them and their stakeholders.
Continuous improvement has been the way of life for us here at Teneo ever since we achieved our first ISO certification (9001) back in 2013. This year, amidst numerous “work from home” scenarios, data security became even more important to us and our clients.
That is why, faithful to our improvement culture, reached for another ISO certification.
What is ISO 27001?
ISO/IEC 27001:2013 is the international standard for information management systems. Similar to other ISO standards, it represents an extensive framework for “establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an information security management system”.
In essence, by applying the ISO 27001, we make sure we handle information securely, that we pay attention to existing and potential risks through periodic risk assessments, and take action to mitigate them.
For us at Teneo, this achievement translates into a commitment to the security of our client’s data and systems.
What Information Security Controls are covered?
Examples of the areas covered by ISO 27001:
Access Control
Antivirus and backup
Communication security
Classification of information
Handling of media
Physical security
Human Resource security (including work from home and mobile devices)
To become certified, Teneo has improved and expanded upon the existing documentation and processes in the area of information security. In addition, the Teneo Team also had to prove that the processes and guidelines are actually used in the course of managing and processing our work. Finally, Teneo received its certification from ISO Quality Services, Ltd. on November 2nd, 2020.
Moving forward, we will undergo an internal audit as well as an external audit each year.
Benefits for Teneo’s Clients
Our clients already know we provide high-quality translation services. And now they can also have the peace of mind of knowing that we have processes, systems, and technology in place to provide for the highest possible level of data security out there. Data security is even more important now when people might be either working remotely or in a hybrid scenario.
There are only a few Language Services Providers who have achieved this certification and who operate according to the best standards available today. We are proud that our team is among those who have made the conscious decision to invest in data security. We show our clients that we are a worthy partner supporting their own data security efforts.
What is Next?
As we celebrate this major milestone, we are already working toward the next goal of our incremental improvement. For us, this is the NIST CSF (Cyber Security Framework) assessment. Because we are always taking our efforts to the next level, we are working on deepening both our processes and systems to comply with the more technical controls of the NIST assessment.
2019 has been very busy year for Teneo Linguistics Company. Along with working on exciting new projects and expanding our office, we have also attended several educational – and enlightening – conferences.
Each one has expanded our knowledge in the various domains in which we work, allowing us to better serve our customers. Here is a recap of the conferences we have attended so far this year.
WBENC National Conference
Teneo Linguistics Company is proud to be certified as a woman-owned business by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). This organization is the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the United States and a leading advocate for women business owners and entrepreneurs. The WBENC believes that diversity promotes innovation, opens doors, and creates partnerships that fuel the economy.
Every year our CEO, Hana, attends their national conference to connect with some of the thousands of attendees from all over the United States. This year, she enjoyed inspiring keynotes, networking with WBENC members, educational presentations, roundtable discussions, and so much more!
The conference was also a chance to celebrate some of the nation’s most successful women-owned businesses and corporations, and to learn how the owners built their flourishing companies.
Life Science Diversity Conference
Our Account Manager, Heather, had the pleasure of attending the Life Science Diversity Conference in New Jersey. The conference is put on by the Diversity Alliance for Science, and connects diverse suppliers (like TLC) with corporate, academic, and government entities within the life science and healthcare industries.
Companies with supplier diversity programs reap many benefits, including increased ROI, expanded network opportunities, and the creation of a positive impact in their communities. With our vast experience in providing translation and other language services for the medical and life sciences industry we relish the opportunity to connect with the life sciences community at conferences such as this one.
Heather enjoyed networking with other diverse suppliers, presentations from industry thought leaders, workshops, and more.
Texas-EU Business Summit
In May, Heather and TLC’s Marketing Manager, Allison, attended the Texas-EU Business Summit held at the University of Texas at Austin. The summit provides Texas businesses, entrepreneurs, policymakers and target businesses with an overview of trade and expansion business opportunities in Europe as well as information and connections to make the most of those opportunities.
With TLC’s years of experience in business translation, we help many clients looking to enter the international marketplace by localizing their website, as well as their marketing collateral and other business materials.
Heather and Allison gained valuable insight from panels that discussed a variety of topics including, among others, predicting and preventing culture-based problems when entering a foreign market and launching a product in the European marketplace.
These topics give TLC a deeper understanding into the process of entering the EU market, the potential obstacles and opportunities, and what resources are available to aid entrepreneurs in their expansion – all to better serve and inform our clients.
ATP Conference
Back in March, Hana attended the Association of Test Publishers (ATP) Conference, which focused on innovations of testing. Teneo Linguistics Company’s experience in assessment translation has led us to create customized processes for many of our clients.
Assessment translation serves many needs including providing fair testing among students, psychometric testing for job placement, testing for trade certifications and programs, game-based testing, online education, and more.
Hana attended keynotes, educational presentations, and mingled with more than 1,200 assessment industry professionals. Keeping up with innovations in the assessment field allows us to better serve current and future clients needing assessment translation.
Questions about how our language services can benefit your organization? Contact us!
Does your company have a supplier diversity program in place? If not, you are missing out on phenomenal benefits including increased revenue, better brand image, and decreased expenses.
How is this possible? Let’s dive into what supplier diversity is all about.
What is Supplier Diversity?
Supplier diversity refers to a business program that is dedicated to partnering with businesses/suppliers that fall into certain categories; categories that promote diversity and economic growth within their communities. Some of these categories include women-owned, veteran-owned, minority-owned, LGBT-owned, historically underutilized businesses, and SBA-defined small business vendors.
Here are some related certifications that qualify a business as a diverse supplier:
What are the Benefits of Partnering with Diverse Suppliers?
Increased ROI
A study by the Hackett Group showed that long-term supplier diversity programs generated 133% more ROI than businesses that continue to use only the same suppliers they have always used. It showed a $3.6 million increase to an organization’s bottom line for every $1 million spent on procurement and operating costs.
Businesses with diversity supplier programs not only earn more, they also benefit from decreased operating costs. The same study concluded that procurement organizations who partner with a diverse supplier base experienced lower operating costs and saw a 20% decrease in buying operations.
Expanded Network
Naturally, gathering a pool of diverse suppliers will open the doors to new opportunities and resources. As your relationships develop with diverse suppliers, you will have access to their business contacts – expanding your possibilities even further.
Whether it is to gain more diverse suppliers, gain new business, or obtain new perspectives – networking through a supplier diversity program will promote unique opportunities for your organization.
Positive Impact in Your Community
Hiring diverse suppliers improves the economy in your community, promotes job creation, and clearly shows the community (and the world) that you are committed to making a positive impact.
Creating positive relationships within the community will ultimately benefit your business. Locals will be more likely to use or recommend your products or services to others, due to the positive impact – and attitude – your business creates.
Tax Incentives
Not only will a supplier diversity program make a positive impact in your community, it also makes you eligible for federal and possibly state tax incentives.
The federal government allows tax breaks for companies who partner with minority and women-owned businesses. They also provide a tax incentive that reduces tax liabilities for firms that use diverse suppliers for labor or services for a project funded by federal or state grants/loans.
Tax breaks and incentives benefit your bottom line, giving you more capital to improve your business.
Good All Around
As we’ve seen, supplier diversity programs improve many aspects of a business. They improve local economies, increase ROI, benefit the bottom line, and so much more!
Click here to learn more about implementing supplier diversity programs in your company.
Teneo Linguistics Company is HUB, WBENC, and SBE certified. If you are looking for a diverse supplier for your company’s professional language service needs (translation, interpreting, transcription, etc.), contact us!
