RSG English

 I came across this advert today and thought how well it illustrates how other cultures affect the use of English. English is not just the language of the UK, USA, Canada, Australia etc., it is also used as a lingua franca by many non-native speakers. Consequently it isn't always written in the same way, with the same cultural principles behind it. Take a look at this:    Firstly, there is nothing wrong with the English at all. However, it is produced from a different cultural basis. Despite the existence of the monarchy in Britain and a reputation for formality and ceremony, the English have always had a strong suspicion of authority: democracy can be traced back to the Witan (parliament) of the Anglo-Saxons and there is a reason why 'Kowtow' is a loan word and broadly used pejoratively. So, 'patronage' is fine, but what exactly is ' high patronage'? From an English-speaking point of view, it means the King is too important to be an ordinary patron. You als...

 When translating from Portuguese to English, it’s easy to fall into the trap of translating word for word. After all, it feels “faithful,” right? But the truth is: literal translations often sound unnatural and miss the point . 🔍 Real communication is more than words Good translation isn’t just about replacing words — it’s about conveying meaning , tone , and style in a way that feels natural to the reader. For example: 🗣️ “Fazer vista grossa” literally means “to make thick eyes” — that doesn't make any sense in English, we would say “turn a blind eye.” Both expressions refer to the same idea, but only one would make sense to your English-speaking audience. ✅ What to do instead: Think about what the sentence really means Use equivalent expressions in English Focus on clarity and tone , not just structure Read your translation out loud — does it sound like something a native speaker would say? If you are not sure, try googling it - but check that any results...