Traduzioniclick.it

The mind continues to acquire knowledge on a daily basis, but it also tends to easily forget concepts or ideals that are seldom used.  Actually, we often speak of the terms paradox or oxymoron, especially when trying to convey certain contradicting expressions.  Most of us “think” we know the difference between the two, but are we really using them correctly in every day conversations?
Let’s take a quick and easy test to find out how much we really know about these two “almost” analogous words!  Insert a “P” in the right column if you think the statement is a paradox and an “O” for an oxymoron. 

If you are like most of us, you probably don't take advantage of the formatting functions available in programs like Microsoft Word and Apple's Pages. Most prefer to use these programs as if they were typewriters, therefore avoiding the use of these "advanced" formatting functions.

If:

• you frequently share documents with others for reviews, edits or other;
• you write documents that will be printed or published on the web;
• you want to create a standard and consistent look for all your documents;
• you just want to create beautiful and professionally structured documents;
• you want to improve the efficiency of your writing;
• you want to use outline tools to better structure your documents or facilitate the creative writing process;

then you should pay attention to the following formatting do's and don'ts.

There... I think I found my topic! For all the times Caroline has pushed me to write:  «you know... that way your name will be published on the site! ». Sure, maybe... but quite frankly, what could I say more or even better than all those wonderful bloggers; whether colleagues or not?  So, I felt like... talking about Caroline to present her in my own way...

Just a small and useful preamble to reassure any doubtful mind: I do not work for Caroline.  We cooperate together and she did not pay me to write what follows (although... after all... I could think about it!).  I don't know if you're like me, but I like to understand what hides behind the figures I hang out with and I often find myself trying to read or understand what they say or even to see how they are in real life! A long time ago, one of my best friends told me: «If you want to know a person, do not listen to what he says, but observe what he does».  Although it took me a while (and a lot of more or less negative experiences with regards to this subject) to understand this great figure, I admit that she has now become a sort of uniform for me.  Since I know there are many of you who read what she writes, I felt like telling you about the «behind the scenes» of Traduzioniclick to let you know what she represents... both for me and the people who know her. 

A little background information on how we met...  I don't want to sound pathetic, but I would still like to underline the fact that she was the origin of a somewhat professional recognition for me. I sent her a very shy curriculum; me who always suffered from a lack of great diplomas despite a baccalaureate dating back to a certain number of years ago (I will not go into detail on that one, my feminine pride forbids me from doing so!).  After some time, she replied with extreme kindness to offer me a great job from English into French (not at all the language combination for which I presented myself).  Naturally, I refused it (at least at first, I assure you)! This is exactly what she liked about me! My humbleness... because... let me tell you... I will not excuse myself for it... even it it's not very politically correct.  The world of translators is full of people with tons of diplomas, references and many, many things, but they sometimes (often) provide totally opposite results than what they claim... and speaking of humbleness, I would like to let you know that Caroline is born in Belgium, that she left for the United States - where she studied for so long - because of her Italian father and that she decided to return in her country of half-origin by herself 14 years ago.  This beautiful background, these three languages she speaks and writes perfectly (lucky one!) and especially the peculiarity and richness of these three perfectly integrated cultures: she is American for her discipline, determination and professionalism, French (Beglian because I wouldn't want to offend her) for her culture, seriousness and sense of integrity and Italian when it's a matter of creativity, passion and... joy of life!

Did you know that some of the most commonly used words were named after people?  That’s right!

1. Sandwich
The word “sandwich” actually refers to the town of Sandwich, Kent, in the Southeastern part of England.  In 1762, the 4^th Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu, asked for roast beef between two slices of bread during a gambling session so that he could continue playing cards while eating.  Others quickly followed suit and began requesting “the same type of food” while referring to the word “sandwich”.

2. Braille
“Braille” was created to enable visually impaired individuals to read and write.  This technique was the first digital form of writing and a blind Frenchman called Louis Braille invented it in 1825.

3. Boycott
The word “Boycott” came from the name Charles Boycott, who managed the lands of his expelled landlord, Lord Erne.  Protesting tenants demanded a reduction in rent after a poor harvest and Charles Boycott began evicting those who could no longer pay.  In response, Charles Stewart Parnell asked these tenants to shun the evictor rather than resorting to violence.  As a result, Charles Boycott soon found himself alone and abandoned because his workers stopped coming to work, the local businesses stopped trading with him and the postal services stopped delivering his mail.