#Mandarin Translation Services

[tservicescouk]

 Unlocking Global Communication: Mandarin Translation Services

"Expand your business reach with expert Mandarin translation services - accurate, culturally attuned, and secure for global success!"

[meiyuchinese01]

Chinese Language Translation and Interpretation

In today’s interconnected world, the demand for proficient Chinese translation and interpretation services has surged. As China continues to play a pivotal role in global politics, economics, and culture, the ability to bridge the language gap has become more critical than ever. Whether you’re a business looking to expand into the Chinese market or an individual seeking to communicate effectively with Chinese-speaking counterparts, understanding the nuances of Chinese translation and interpretation is essential. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the intricacies of Chinese translation and interpretation, offering insights and tips for navigating this complex linguistic landscape.

The Importance of Chinese Translation and Interpretation

1. Unlocking Business Opportunities

China is one of the world’s largest and most dynamic markets, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion people. Businesses worldwide are keen to tap into this vast consumer base. To succeed in China, effective communication is key. Accurate Chinese translation and interpretation allow companies to connect with their target audience, convey their brand message, and negotiate business deals with confidence.

2. Facilitating Diplomacy and International Relations

In the realm of diplomacy, accurate interpretation can make or break crucial negotiations. With China’s increasing influence on the global stage, diplomats and international organizations rely on skilled interpreters to ensure smooth communication and avoid misunderstandings that could have far-reaching consequences.

3. Enabling Cultural Exchange

Beyond business and diplomacy, Chinese translation and interpretation also play a pivotal role in promoting cultural exchange. From translating Chinese literature and films to facilitating cross-cultural events and exhibitions, language professionals serve as cultural ambassadors, bridging gaps and fostering mutual understanding.

The Challenges of Chinese Translation

Chinese, with its intricate characters and tonal nature, presents unique challenges for translators and interpreters. Here are some key hurdles they face:

1. Character Complexity

Chinese characters can be incredibly complex, with thousands of unique symbols. Translators must have a deep understanding of the characters’ meanings and cultural connotations to convey the intended message accurately.

2. Tone Variations

Chinese is a tonal language, meaning that the meaning of a word can change depending on the tone in which it’s spoken. Translators and interpreters must be attuned to these tonal variations to avoid misunderstandings.

3. Contextual Sensitivity

Chinese relies heavily on context for meaning, which can be challenging to capture in translation. Nuances and subtleties often require careful consideration to ensure that the message remains faithful to the original intent.

Tips for Effective Chinese Translation and Interpretation

1. Hire Professional Linguists

When seeking Chinese translation and interpretation services, it’s crucial to work with experienced professionals. Linguists with expertise in your specific industry or field will ensure accuracy and cultural sensitivity.

2. Provide Context

For translators, context is invaluable. When submitting documents for translation, provide background information and any relevant context to help the translator better understand the content and convey it accurately.

3. Embrace Technology

Technology can be a valuable ally in the world of translation. Translation software and tools can aid in the process, but they should complement, not replace, the skills of human translators and interpreters.

Conclusion

Chinese translation and interpretation are indispensable skills in today’s globalized world. They enable businesses to tap into the vast Chinese market, facilitate diplomatic relations, and promote cultural exchange. However, navigating the complexities of the Chinese language requires expertise, cultural sensitivity, and a commitment to accuracy.

[qazastra]

well. paid money for the first half of the word of honor/tyk audio drama may as well get the second half

[morningstartranslation]

Learn Chinese Culture with Us

Heaven and earth coexist with me; all things and I are one. 天地与我并生，万物与我为一For more information, visit https://www.morningstartranslation.com/learn-chinese-philosophy-with-us/

[transcriptioncity]

The Importance of Chinese Transcription Services - A Gateway to Accessibility and Global Connection

Chinese transcription services play a crucial role in modern communication. These services bridge communication gaps and foster international connections. By converting spoken Mandarin or Cantonese into written text, they make information accessible to a wider audience. Transcription services facilitate understanding between diverse linguistic communities. In business, this means smoother…

[frankgjaeger]

Major Role English To Mandarin Translation in Business Growth

When it comes to Mandarin, a small modification in the character composition can completely alter the context's meaning. Consequently, it is crucial to spend money on precise English to Mandarin translation services. Read More:- https://www.tridindia.com/translations/english-to-mandarin-translation-services/

[greenunoreversecard]

Kai general and Romantic headcanons

A/N:sorry if I got any of the characters wrong, I was using a combo of wiki/Google translate as I don't speak any of the languages mentioned. Pls let me know if I got any info wrong, i will gladly go in and change it to make it right.

General:

Half Indian and half Chinese.

His and nya's last name is 鄭 (Zheng), but he says it's Smith bc when they where younger he got in the habit of lying about his name so he Didnt have to deal with CPS.

His ma is from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, and was a practicing Hindu. Ray is from the 云南 (yunnan) province, and was a practicing theravida Buddhist. Ray is ethnically from the 傣族 (dai people, also spelt Tai in english)

Before his parents dissapearances, they both brought him to their hometowns, and actively taught him both cultures and religions, which he continued to learn about and even teach Nya about after their dissapearances.

When he was 14 he bought a small boat and him and Nya rode it across the costal line, and he promised Nya one day when he was older he'd bring the both of them to their parents hometowns.

He's a Buddhist.

He speaks so many languages.

Like so many

He's fluent in Thai, mandarin and cantonese chinese, telugu, urdu, hindi, Punjabi, arabic and ninjago-ian(idk whatever language ninjago speaks)

Also trying to learn Indonesian.

He also knows yunnan dialect bc his dad would speak in it more often than not

Absorbes info like a sponge

He likes to quilt

He always wears a golden bracelet He got from his moms jewelry box after she left.

Likes to draw but is bad at it, so he colors coloring books

Introvert

He may act all confident, but he really isn't. super insecure

Soooo good with hair

Like, has all the stops. 10 step hair care routine

rivals Zanes cooking skills.

When working out focuses on building rather than lean muscle.

Mother friend

has dragged all of his friends into the water splashing festival.

Fatal flaw is loyalty and kind of hubris (it's conflicting, ik with the insecure and extreme pride, but like- it makes sense in my head. Inferiority/maybe superiority complex.)(it makes sense bc this is such me behavior. Imagine hating yourself but thinking ur the baddest bitch alive)

Likes to stare at fire

If he can't sleep he'll make a small bonfire to stare at and think

insomnia

Chronic cigarette smoker

Romantic:

Hes more show than tell

Def acts of service (me frfr)

Although, he is very cuddly.

Not in public, though. Maybe infront of the other ninja if it was a rough day

Loves to rock you gently from side to side when yall are hug

loves to give you temple kisses

He's very gentle with you, treats you like glass

You wil prolly say ily first, and he'll go;"🧍‍♂️...cool?"

He has mommy and daddy issues, but HEAVY on the mommy issues. Have fun with this hyper-independant fuck who can't accept help without feeling like a failure even though they need it (I'm not projecting you are)

Goes all out for holidays and anniversaries.

Doberman/German Shepard vibes tbh

When it's just you two he doesn't feel the need to fill the air with meaningless chatter, so if he feels safe enough to just share air without talking feel honoured and cherish it bc that means he actually trusts you.

A little rough around the edges, but will remember that thing you said 5years ago on ur first date

Most dates are chill inside and take a nap

But sometimes if he can he takes you on the town or someplace fancy

Also likes to show you his favorite childhood spots

[international-writing]

Intelligence agencies 101: MI6

Dashing spies and deadly agents, from James Bond to Alex Rider and George Smiley. We have all heard of British Intelligence, but just how much do you know about MI6?

1.- It is the oldest secret service in the world.

If we want to get technical, spies have been working for the British crown since 1569, thanks to Queen Elizabeth I and her Secretary of State, Sir Francis Walsingham. But for now, we'll focus on the contemporary Secret Service.

Hear me out, back in 1909 in the midst of what we call the "armed peace", things were getting anything but peaceful. Countries developed and accumulated weapons like it was a sport, and most of them were unsatisfied with the territories they owned. Germany was going all Queen and screaming "I Want It All", which made the rest of the European countries slightly concerned by its imperialistic ambitions.

Britain was the first to grow paranoid and so Prime Minister Asquith decided to have the Committee of Imperial Defence, create a Secret Service Bureau.

However, it is worth mentioning that the existence of the agency wasn't formally acknowledged until 1994, under the Intelligence Services Act, and even though everyone had known about it for ages.

2.- They have very... diverse tasks

Officially, MI6 is tasked with the collection, analysis, and adequate distribution of foreign intelligence (it is a common misconception that MI6 also handles national affairs, that's what its counterpart MI5 is for).

Now, note that I said "officially", and that is because unofficially (it is kind of very illegal), MI6 has been known to carry out espionage activity overseas. But you already knew that, didn't you? Otherwise, why would you be here?

3.- Roles

As described by the SIS itself, there are several roles within the organisation:

Intelligence officers: Must be UK nationals of at least 18, with no drug use and pass a very intrusive security clearance. The jobs are divided into the following subcategories:

Operational Managers: planning and managing intelligence collection operations.

Targeters: turning information (data) into human intelligence operations.

Officers: link to Whitehall (government) as well as validating and testing intelligence.

Case Officers: managing and building relationships with agents.

Operational Data Analysts: Must be UK nationals of at least 18, with no drug use and pass a very intrusive security clearance. Tech abilities are a must. Training course lasts 2 years.

Tech Network Area: Must be UK nationals of at least 18, with no drug use and pass a very intrusive security clearance. Skills in: GoLang, gRPC, Protobuf, Kubernetes & Docker Python, Java, C#, C, C++, and React (+Redux).

Language Specialists: Must be UK nationals of at least 18, with no drug use and pass a very intrusive security clearance. Russian, Arabic and Mandarin linguists are the most solicited, followed by translators.

4.- Their alphabet is a bit jumbled up

Anyone that has ever seen or read any 007 material knows that M is the head of MI6, whether that be Judy Dench, Bernard Lee or Ralph Fiennes.

But what if I told you that the head of MI6 is actually a certain C?

Back when the Secret Service Bureau was created, a 50-year-old Royal Navy officer called Mansfield Cumming (and dubbed "C") was chosen to head the Foreign Section.

5.- MI6 or SIS?

Officially, the agency's current name (adopted in 1920) is Secret Intelligence Service, hence the acronym SIS, but it wasn't always that. We've established that it started its days as the Secret Service Bureau, and during WWI, the agency joined forces with Military Intelligence, even going as far as to adopt the cover name "MI1(c)".

The agency continued to acquire several names throughout the years, such as "Foreign Intelligence Service", "Secret Service", "Special Intelligence Service" and even "C's organisation". It wasn't until WWII started, that the name MI6 was adopted, in reference to the agency being "section six" of Military Intelligence.

And I truly do hate to be the bearer of bad news but... the name MI6, as cool as it sounds, is no longer in use. Writers and journalists still use that name, but those within the organisation just call it SIS nowadays.

6.- They are fond of their traditions

Remember our dear Commander Mansfield? Well, turns out he started a thing. The man used to sign his letters in green ink and always with the letter "C" a tradition that proved to be sticky enough to be passed down to every single Chief afterwards. Another tradition worth mentioning, is that of calling intelligence reports "CX reports", which... you guessed it, is still done to this day.

7.- Special friends

On 1949, the SIS began a formal collaboration with the CIA, even though the agency had already helped to train their predecessor's personnel, the U.S. Office of Strategic Services.

Even the CIA has admitted that the MI6 has provided them with some of the most valuable information of all time, including information that helped during the Cuban Missile Crisis and key elements to the capture of Osama Bin Laden.

I hope this will be of some use to your future writings and do feel free to submit an ask if you happen to have a specific question regarding British intelligence, or any other International Relations subject!

Yours truly,

–The Internationalist

[zhansww]

Bruh, four years later and I only just found out that that food delivery service that dd used to be sponsored by was called ele.me cuz 饿了么 means "are you hungry". Learning Mandarin is so much fun xD Can be frustrating, too, mind you. Differences like between 末 and 未 or hanzi that have two different pronunciations and therefore also more translations (like 还 or 觉) drive me a little crazy ngl. But it is also still fun and I just wanna learn it, no matter how slow I am and how long it'll take~

[grits-galraisedinthesouth]

Meghan, thy name is PATHETIC!

These two numpties truly think they have outsmarted the world. Normal people don't repeatedly attempt to fool the world into thinking they are "whip smart" or accomplished by regurgitating childhood and adolescent fantasies. Meghan and Harry are clearly mentally deficient individuals with massive amounts of resources to serve as global court jesters.

During a festival that had absolutely NOTHING to do with the Temu Royal Snowcation 🌨 ❄ Tour, these idiots dashed on the stage to CYA after MegaLiar's poor performance as the "FLUENT duchess" who couldn't be bothered to memorize the pronunciation of their host's proper title: /bee-seh-preh-see-dehn-teh/ but the whip smart MegaLiar referred to her new amiga as /v-ICE / 😬🤦‍♀️

Sparry who has a hot & heavy bromance with Argentinean polo player named Nacho pretended that he was too dumb to say a simple thank you and good night to the crowd. He enlisted the help of his soap actress wife (who snatched the mic) for the Spanish "translation" as if the croud was too dumb to translate the simple English phrase for themselves.

Who is going to tell these idiots that even if she is the bilingual Duchess (which she's not) it would NOT make her special. You'd think the woman could speak Mandarin. 🥴

How pathetic 🤑

MegaLiar's need to overwhelm the internet with a lie about her being bilingual is just another reminder that this woman is a 1 trick pony with 1 ADULT accomplishment: sex with a drug addled brained prince. Sex with a dumb prince. Truly Pathetic.

What is Meghan Markle so desperate to Cover Up for the past 20 years? She literally flunked out of the state department before she could even get her foot in the door, yet she is constantly pushing & promoting "Argentina." She was humiliated into "relocating" to Madrid until her graduation ceremonies. Makes me wonder whether or not those sugarbaby rumors are true?

If she worked in Argentina "early in her career," then why is Meg pictured on the set of General Hospital so she could gain the necessary credentials to work Hollyweird?

She's also pictured with another liar, her BFF Lindsay Roth Jordan, on the day they both graduated from Northwestern as "candidates for degrees in Communications."

The Daily Mail:

Newlywed and newly employed on Season 1 of Suits, and during promo for Season 2 she drops the lie about Argentina. Makes you wonder what else was happening in Argentina.

2011 and Just Married to Trevor Engleson. Finally she booked her 1st TV series, and she's visibly embarrassed by 1 innocent question. She opted to lie. She reached all the way back to ten (10)+ years ago instead of simply saying, "...5 years ago I was looking for work." What are you hiding Megsy?🤔

She couldn't believe the question, "...what was I doing five (5) years ago?" She was embarrassed by 34 episodes as Season 2 Deal or No Deal model # 24 (2006-2007) would have been 8ish years ago so tell the truth Meg.

July 12th 2013 Promotion for one of her blog affiliates "Birchbox" just prior to dumping Trevor. "If I wasn't acting I would most likely be working in politics have a career in politics. I had been working at the US Embassy in Argentina and was certain I'd get into a career in foreign service much like my character Rachel it was really tough for me to pass the foreign service exam, Rachel had trouble passing the LSATs, end up coming back to LA for a break and a friend of mine from college had given a manager a student film that I did, he called me the next day and was like you know what, I think you should be acting. So if you're constantly just on your A game and you're ready for when that moment arises that's when things can take off in a much bigger way. Success is reachable."

She wrote this for Birchbox: "USA's SUITS is one of our top summer TV shows—not least for its awesome female characters. While the guys of Pearson may rule the roost, it's the ladies who steal the show. Case in point: the whip-smart Rachel Zane, played by Meghan Markle. We sat down with Markle to find out about her foodie favorites, her background in Foreign Service, and the one beauty product..."

More lies on the red carpet

Mid Season 2 Promo at The Paley Center for Media Jan 14th 2013

"And I read that you were never originally going to go into acting!?"

Lies: "no I was gonna do politics...I grew up in LA so I grew up in this industry and obviously loved entertainment, my father's a lighting director I just always wanted to do something different and working in politics was exciting for me but I'm saying as we were driving up 2 blocks down the street is paper source. I used to teach gift wrapping classes there. I used to teach calligraphy classes there and so to be here tonight and to see that contrast happen in my life from an auditioning actress just trying to make it work to pilot after pilot to have one that's going into 3rd season with fans who are so supportive I mean I couldn't be more grateful. It's really amazing."

Almost 8 years later and she's on Craig Ferguson's show to promote Suits and still lying about her education and Argentina. Why?

I've always thought it was interesting that Meghan and Sparry were in Argentina around the same time, and of course Diana was there in 1995.

"On 23 November 1995, Diana, Princess of Wales arrived in Argentina to begin a historic, four-day visit to the South American country. While not an official state visit, the trip was undertaken by Diana in her newly-defined role as goodwill ambassador for Britain. The visit, which was the Princess of Wales' first international engagement since her controversial Panorama interview, was seen as an important step in the warming of relations between the UK and Argentina, the countries having fought one another in the Falklands War of 1982 and resumed diplomatic relations in 1990. The footage featured in this edit covers the full four days of Princess Diana's visit, including her famous meeting with Argentine president Carlos Menem, her visits to a number of charities and hospitals in Buenos Aires, whale-watching in Argentine Patagonia, and attending a charity gala banquet."

Prince Harry cuts short visit to Argentina.

Thursday, November 25th 2004 

Twenty year old Prince Harry flew back to London from Buenos Aires Thursday afternoon after the Argentine press revealed he had become a “head ache” for those responsible for his security.

Apparently the Prince was scheduled to return next week but Buckingham Palace decided to anticipate the date given the adverse press coverage he was receiving during his alleged "night incursions" to local pubs and discos.

Although British Airways desk said any information relating to Prince Harry was "confidential", from early hours the reinforcement of security measures in Ezeiza's airport was evident.

Local reports indicate Prince Harry boarded the plane in good humour.

The second son of the Prince of Wales arrived in Argentina November 12 and was staying in estancia "El Remanso" close to the town of Lobos in the province of Buenos Aires belonging to some British friends, where supposedly he was to take polo classes and rest before returning to England for Christmas and Sandhurst military academy next January.

However his sport activities in Argentina were known to be limited since the prince had an injured knee from a recent rugby match.

Mayor of Lobos, Gustavo Sobrero minimized the press versions about Prince Harry's behaviour, particularly last Wednesday early morning when shots were heard in a nearby farm which forced a quick security response in the area.

"This visit hasn't altered normal life in the area. Besides it is quiet common during the hunting season to hear shots", said Mr. Sobrero.

As to Prince Harry's alleged night escapades to town pubs Mr. Sobrero indicated that "as far as we are concerned we haven't been informed".

According to Buenos Aires daily "Página 12" on his return from town partying Prince Harry was in quite "bad condition" given his "uncontrolled consumption of alcohol".

[vivicantstudy]

17 Compelling Reasons to Start Learning Mandarin Today!

1. Cultural access: Mandarin opens doors to understanding China’s rich cultural heritage, including literature, philosophy, and art. It’s the key to exploring classical works like Confucian texts and contemporary media without relying on translations.

2. Cognitive benefits: Studies show that learning Mandarin enhances cognitive abilities, such as problem-solving and memory. The complexity of Mandarin characters and tonal distinctions challenges the brain, leading to better mental agility.

3. Future-proofing: As China continues to grow as a global economic powerhouse, being fluent in Mandarin positions you advantageously for future job markets and international business opportunities.

4. Travel convenience: Speaking Mandarin makes traveling in China, Taiwan, and Singapore significantly easier. It helps with navigating public transport, understanding local customs, and accessing services, enhancing your overall travel experience.

5. Business and networking opportunities: With China being home to many of the world’s largest companies, Mandarin can open doors to new business ventures, partnerships, and job opportunities in a wide range of industries.

6. Learn a completely different writing system: Mandarin involves learning thousands of characters, offering a unique cognitive challenge. This skill not only enriches your understanding of the language but also provides insight into Chinese thought processes and cultural nuances.

7. Stand out in the global job market: Fluency in Mandarin is a rare and highly sought-after skill. It can distinguish you from other candidates, making your résumé stand out and potentially leading to higher salary offers and unique career opportunities.

8. Influence of Chinese pop culture: Access China’s booming entertainment industry, including hit movies, music, and television shows. Understanding Mandarin allows you to enjoy these cultural products in their original form, without relying on subtitles or translations.

9. Connect with Chinese heritage: For those with Chinese ancestry or interest, learning Mandarin facilitates a deeper connection with your heritage. It allows you to engage with historical documents and family traditions that are often only accessible in the original language.

10. Enhance travel experiences in Asia: Mandarin proficiency improves your travel experiences across multiple countries in Asia, where Chinese influence is significant. It helps you interact with locals, understand regional dialects, and fully immerse yourself in diverse cultures.

11. Access to advanced technologies: China leads in fields like artificial intelligence and fintech. Understanding Mandarin gives you direct access to cutting-edge research, innovations, and trends emerging from these technology sectors.

12. Build stronger personal relationships: Learning Mandarin allows you to communicate more effectively with Mandarin-speaking friends, colleagues, and partners. It deepens personal connections and shows respect for their language and culture.

13. Tap into Chinese academic resources: China’s academic sector is growing rapidly. Mandarin proficiency enables you to access a wealth of research, academic journals, and educational materials that are increasingly influential on the global stage.

14. Gain insights into global trends: Understanding Mandarin helps you stay informed about global trends and innovations directly from China. This knowledge is valuable for staying ahead in industries like fashion, technology, and social media.

15. Improve cultural sensitivity: Learning Mandarin enhances your understanding of Chinese social norms and etiquette. This cultural insight is crucial for navigating personal and professional interactions with respect and understanding.

16. Develop long-term cognitive benefits: Mandarin’s unique challenges, such as tone recognition and character memorization, promote long-term cognitive development

These were my favorite reasons why I study Mandarin! I’m loving the journey because it connects me deeply with a new culture and opens doors to Chinese technological innovations. Plus, the challenge of learning Mandarin is boosting my cognitive skills and problem-solving abilities. Thanks for reading up to here!

[tgcfresources]

Master Post Links

Since the reddit post has outdated links and information, I wanted to provide people an easy way to find things instead of having to look through massive amounts of scrolling.

First I just want to say I'm new to this fandom, if there's any incorrect information or things missing feel free to message me on Discord or @ me at any of the TGCF discord's I'm on as I DO NOT check tumblr often. My Discord is .raphaela

Tags:

Official Art

Audio Drama

Sprites

Official Videos

Novel

Colored Novel Illustrations

B/W Novel Illustrations

Revised Uncensored Version

Discord Servers

Eternal Faith / Live Action

Manhua

Novel

As the novel as been official translated into several languages, I will NOT post links to read it here.

Novel Audiobooks

Link to Audiobooks: Link 1.

Revised Chinese Novel

There is currently no plans for 7S to translate this version as it was released as a webtoon AFTER the official novel translations.

Link to the Revised Chinese Version English Fan Translations and Faq.

If you would like to buy the Chinese revised version, follow this guide on how to purchase the novel on JJWXC books. Then use this guide on how to export the text for use on your preferred translator.

You can read the revised novel easily with SmoothReader, which now has a google chrome extension.

Manhua (Manga)

The English bilibili comics site shut down on February 29th and is no longer available. You can view the original Chinese Raw on the official bilibil site with a VPN. Guide on how to buy the original volumes here.

Currently there are 101 chapters, no word on when it will resume. HEAVEN OFFICIAL'S BLESSING IS ON LEHZIN!! (no new episodes, just publishing existing episodes... for now. First 4 Chapters free.) It's also on bato.to.

Donghua (Anime)

There are currently 2 seasons available.

Season 1

Audio: English, Mandarine. (Only the Bilibili website has Japanese Audio Available, you need to become a Big Fan to view them. The Official release DVD/Bluray also only had the two languages available. If you want Japanese audio you will need to buy the Japanese release from a proxy service website.)

Subtitles: English.

Official English DVD/Bluray available from a number of retailers.

Season 2

Audio: English, Japanese, Mandarine.

Subtitles: English.

Does not yet have an official English DVD/Bluray release.

Currently Available to view on Crunchyroll (US Only, VPN Works), Bilibili Website (Available with Japanese Audio, Season 1 only) & Bilibili Youtube (Season 1 only) Both requires you to have a VPN, only available in hongkong.

Placeholder Guide on how to pay for Big Fan on Bilibili Website.

It has since been removed from Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Season 3 has yet to be confirmed.

Audio Drama

It's getting VERY long - Post here

Live Action Adaptation Series

A live action Adaptation is in the works and will be called Eternal Faith. Filming was done in 2022, rumored to be released this year (2024), set to be 60 episodes, but nothing is confirmed.

Information taken from a number of sources, mostly the tgcf reddit faq and TGCF Discord servers.

[halfagonyandhope]

ignite the stars │ch. 3

first chapter (x); previous chapter (x)

Satine Kryze is an internationally-recognized scholar in genocide studies who recently resigned from the Department of State over her concerns regarding the agency's ethics. Ben Kenobi is a tenured professor at Georgetown University studying the use of religion to justify military conflicts. Once high school sweethearts, the two haven't spoken since parting ways for university. That is, until Satine accepts a research fellowship - at Georgetown.

---

Suddenly grateful she’d stocked up on wine, Satine reaches for the cabinet of glassware and then for a bottle next to the fridge. She’s never cared enough to learn which wines to chill and which to leave warmer, so her wine collection lives perpetually adjacent to the refrigerator. She takes a sip, knowing she wouldn’t notice the difference in taste anyway even if she had bothered to chill it.

The wine gives her permission to be bolder, and she makes her way to the couch, grabbing her laptop. Setting down the glass on a coaster, she decides the line between fuck and fuck it is now non-existent, so she opens an internet browser and types in Ben’s name.

If he’s been following her career, she needs to get up to speed on his. She will not allow him to have the upper hand here.

As it turns out, there is a lot to catch up on. He’d indeed graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point the same year she’d received her BA in anthropology from Stanford. She has to laugh when she discovers his major was sociology. Even four years removed from knowing each other, their worldviews were exactly the same and yet entirely different.

And when she’d jetted off to Oxford for her Rhodes Scholarship, he’d also been on the move. There is less on his life during this time period, but she’s able to gather he worked as a military translator abroad.

Of course he’s fluent in Arabic, she thinks, rolling her eyes. Because of course. 

When she’d worked at the Department of State, she’d been taught that some languages were more difficult than others for English-speakers to learn. Arabic - along with Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Japanese - was in the “most difficult to learn” category, according to State’s categorization schema. Ben likely had spent all of his years as an undergraduate taking classes in the language, even if he didn’t have enough credits for a major, and he’d probably spent a great deal of time abroad learning to speak it well enough for him to be hired as a translator.

And him being fluent in such a difficult language? Satine groans. 

Sexy as hell.

She navigates to another webpage, wondering what he’s been up to since. Then she arches a brow, surprised. She’d come back from Oxford with her doctorate, on her way to Northwestern for a postdoc, and he’d come back from the war with a distinguished record of service - only to enroll as a graduate student at a Big Ten school in the Midwest.

He could have gone to any Ivy League of his choosing, could have had a fellowship literally anywhere in the world.

And he’d chosen Wisconsin for his doctorate?

Satine takes a large sip of wine, pondering this. He’d been in the political science department. She hums in consideration. The Ben she once knew had been radically liberal, and she suspects not much has changed in his political leanings despite the years. Moving to a purple state didn’t appear to make much sense for him.

She shakes her head. Maybe someday she’d ask him about it.

A thought occurs to her, but no - he’d moved to Madison a year before she’d accepted the postdoc at Northwestern. But their time in the Midwest had overlapped. For two years, they’d been within a three hours’ drive of each other.

The realization constricts around Satine’s heart.

Then she’d been recruited by State, and he’d been recruited by Georgetown. He’d completed a one-year postdoc there before being hired on as faculty.

Their lives were like parallel lines, forever running next to each other but never quite intersecting. Satine drains the rest of her wine.

She has a feeling the two of them are headed for that intersection now, and at full speed.

---

Ben climbs back into bed, lanky muscles still glistening with sweat and the scent of sex. One hand reaches for her jaw to cradle her face as he leans in for a soft kiss; the other hand holds a damp, warm washcloth.

“May I?” he asks, and Satine nods. He pulls the sheet away from her body, and his eyes rove over her skin. She shivers under his gaze, at the cool air.

He presses the washcloth between her legs, cleaning away the evidence of their joining. Satine wonders when she will remember how to breathe.

“Ben,” she whispers, and he meets her eyes. “How did you…how did you know exactly what to do?”

She’d been terrified the entire time. She’d had no one to ask before, had no idea what to expect. Beyond that it would undoubtedly be painful.

But it hadn’t been.

Not with him.

Ben sighs in relief. “I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am that you think that.” He finishes cleaning her and tosses the washcloth in the bathroom. Then he folds himself around her, hooking a leg over her hip, and pulls the comforter back over their naked forms.

He kisses her, slowly.

“I did a lot of reading,” he eventually admits. “Apparently, it’s not always painful if enough attention is placed on the…uh, preparation.” He swallows, and his young, wide eyes search hers. “You didn’t look like you were in pain. Were you? Was it painful?”

Satine shakes her head. “Not in the slightest,” she says. She brings his hand to her lips, committing to memory the feel of his clever fingers entering her, inside her, preparing her for what was to come. “On the contrary, it was perfect.”

She can practically feel his smile.

“I wish we had more time,” Ben says. “I can do better…the more I learn about you - ”

“Hush,” she says, kissing him again. She can’t let him continue down that line of thought, for her heart is already broken enough. She can’t let herself imagine what they might have had. “It was perfect,” she repeats.

She thinks he understands what she is thinking, and he nods. “I lo - ” he begins, but the look on her face freezes the rest of the words before they escape his throat. 

She’d thought she could hold it together until after they’d parted, but she’d thought wrong.

“Please don’t cry, Satine,” Ben begs, his face falling. “Satine.” And he pulls her more securely into his arms. “We’ll see each other again; I know we will.”

She buries her face in the crook of his neck.

“Promise me.”

“I promise you,” he says against her temple, and it is the last time she hears his voice for eighteen years.

---

Satine blinks at her alarm clock.

Damn him.

She’d been particularly proud of the way she’d buried that memory. She hadn’t dwelled on it in years. Until, of course, he’d waltzed back into her life and she’d been assigned the office next to his.

Though it’s still too early to get up, Satine rises anyway. She might as well take the early bus to campus - she wants to find her office before Ben arrives. She will not run the risk of him finding her wandering the halls again, still as lost as she was the night before.

But as it turns out, she needn’t have worried. She remembers the route he’d shown her last night, and she arrives at her office with only having taken one wrong turn. Pleased, Satine unlocks the door and steps inside.

It’s dreary and dull, with empty shelves and an empty desk save for the computer that was delivered to her yesterday. She’ll have the shelves filled with books - including the one she’d written - in no time, but she’d never been one for decorating an office space. It always meant more heartbreak when she eventually vacated said space and had to pack all her trinkets into a cardboard box. 

As she hangs her peacoat on the hook on the wall, there’s a knock at the door. Satine looks up to meet blue eyes icier than her own.

“Asajj Ventress,” says the woman, sticking out a pale hand. There’s a surety in her shoulders only gained by successfully defending one’s work against snakes and vultures; even if she hadn’t introduced herself by name, Satine would know she is speaking to a colleague rather than a grad or undergrad student.

Satine shakes the proffered hand. “Satine Kryze,” she supplies, and she takes in the woman before her.

Tall, thin, blonde, and pale like Satine, the resemblance ends there. Ventress’ platinum hair is cut short to one side and undercut on the other, and facial tattoos - possibly hinting at membership to a northern Indigenous group, Satine guesses - extend out from the lateral-most points of her eyes and lips. Despite her slim features, Satine gets the feeling that Ventress could snap her neck if she so pleased.

Ventress nods. “Oh, I know who you are,” she says. “Before you, there were two women in the department. And with Billaba on sabbatical, that meant it really was just me.”

“Want to come in for a moment?” Satine asks, gesturing at the chair in front of her desk.

Ventress doesn’t answer but strides through the threshold, her skirt flowing around her as she sits. Satine moves behind her desk and moves to sit as well. As she does, Ventress’ eyes follow her. “You’ll have already met my partner, Vos,” Ventress says.

Satine will return later to ponder the strangeness of addressing a partner by their last name. Instead, she says, “Yes, I met Dr. Vos when I interviewed here. He asked insightful questions. Seemed like he actually cared what my answers were.”

The steel of Ventress’ visage flickers for an instant as she takes in this compliment of her partner. “He’s always been better at the social aspect of academia than I am,” she says. “But I am trying to improve. The junior faculty - Vos, Kenobi, and myself - we usually go out for drinks on Friday afternoons, after the department seminar. You should join us.”

Satine’s heart stops and then works overtime the instant Ventress says Ben’s last name. It must show on her face, because Ventress lifts a platinum brow.

Before Ventress can comment, Satine accepts the invitation. “I’d like that,” she manages to get out, and suddenly there’s movement in the hallway. From her angle, she can’t make it out, but Ventress has full view.

Smoothly, Ventress calls out in a sing-song voice, “Kenobi, why the panicked expression?”

Satine tilts her head, curious, as Ben appears in the doorway, still clad in his winter outerwear. “Not a clue what you mean, Ventress,” he says, and Satine can tell he’s lying.

Ventress, it appears, can tell as well, and her eyes follow Ben’s…which have landed on Satine.

“Ahhh,” says Ventress with exaggerated understanding. She says to Satine, “So you’re the woman.”

“Beg your pardon?” says Satine, but Ben has suspiciously disappeared into his office to hide the blush that has reappeared on his cheeks, having nothing to do with the cold from outside.

Ventress smirks. “It probably would be best if you hear the details from him,” she says, eyes sweeping over Satine, who has the eerie feeling she’s suddenly being profiled. “Suffice to say that before I met Vos, Kenobi and I had a…situationship. It went nowhere fast, entirely due to the fact that he was hung up on another woman.”

Ventress stands before Satine feels the words sink in. When they finally do, Ventress is already halfway out the door.

“See you Friday,” she says over her shoulder, and Satine just blinks.

Well, she can’t begrudge Ben once having feelings for Ventress. If she weren’t attached to someone, Satine thinks, I’d probably fall for her, too. Still a little off-kilter, she stands and makes her way to Ben’s office.

It’s everything hers is not, with pictures in frames on his desk and fabric hung on the walls, such as the kufiya near the window and a scarf adorned with what she suspects are Russian folk motifs near the shelves. Ben looks up as she enters, and Satine reaches out for the door frame. She finds herself internally swearing at him again.

He’s wearing glasses, and it’s making her knees weak.

Trying to ignore the feeling, she says, “So, you and Ventress?”

Ben groans and throws himself in the chair behind his desk. “She had to tell you. Hence my panicked look,” he says.

Satine ponders this. "You didn't want me to know. Why?"

"She will surely tell you all sorts of ridiculous stories about me, all of them true.”

Satine snickers as Ben continues.

“Ventress and I had fun,” he says. “I don’t regret our time together. But the best thing that came out of it was that I introduced her to Quinlan. You see, at the time, Ventress wasn’t in the department. She was adjuncting over in Russian Studies, and Quinlan had just started a postdoc here. They hit it off, eloped, and soon after applied for the same position in International Studies. The department decided they liked them both equally and arranged a dual career hire to incentivize them sticking around.”

His face had heated again while he explained, and a sly smile crosses Satine's face. “You met Ventress because she was your Russian instructor.”

Ben removes his glasses so he can scrub a hand down his face. He groans again. “I was only auditing the class,” he says. "And in fairness, I stopped auditing the class as soon as things...escalated."

Satine tries to hide her laughter behind her hand. “So you’d mastered Arabic and decided you needed another language to tackle?”

“Someone spent last night Googling.”

She waves a dismissive hand. “Last night I sent you a LinkedIn request, so you already knew that.” Satine crosses her arms against her chest. “So you audited a Russian class? For fun? How fluent are you now?”

He responds in what she suspects is perfect Russian.

“So she was a good instructor, then.” In more ways than one, apparently.

If possible, Ben’s face becomes more red. “Is this revenge for me teasing you about getting lost? Because I’ll refrain from mentioning it ever again if you pledge to never bring up my relationship with Ventress.”

Satine shakes her head. “Not a chance. This is far better dirt to have on you than what you have on me.” She makes to step out of the office but pauses, looking back. “Ventress invited me to your happy hour on Friday. I think this could be the start of a beautiful friendship.”

She grins at Ben’s dismayed look, and takes her leave.

[battle-of-alberta]

Who speaks the most languages? Also who has the best French?

well this just might be my most ambitious ask in a while :) shout out to the 1.5 francophones who may or may not follow this blog. And also for those 1.5 francos...

Clause de non-responsabilité

J'ai étudié 6 langues mais je suis toujours monolingue. :'(

Je ne suis pas franco-albertaine et je ne peux pas commenter sur le dialecte.

Mon éditrice @randomoranges n'est pas franco-albertaine, elle est québécoise*. Ah, et elle dit, avec plus d'élegance:

"nous pouvons répondre en français, mais svp demandez-nous pas d'le faire trop souvent, sinon notre pauvre artiste ira en burn out, malgré le fait que ses efforts feront rire sa consultante"

*cependant, selon le Lego, mon éditrice n'est même pas considérée québécoise haha >>;

more info below!

I already expect this piece to get less engagement because it's (mostly) not in English, and I'm afraid I'm still going to be more annoying and not provide a translation. As previously I will lean into making a statement Windex-style by purposefully not translating what I've written above into English just because the point of celebrating Franco-Albertan heritage month is, well, acknowledging the unique status of French in this country and how there is an expectation to conform to English in this province that needs a little challenging. I hope if nothing else, it strikes your curiosity enough to painstakingly type it into google translate so you can get half of the banter.

Another question that languished at the bottom of the box for over a year! This was because I felt I should make a real effort to write in French, of course, but also because I struggled with the wording of the question and ultimately didn't answer it. The "most" or the "best" are very loaded terms, so I avoided answering them entirely particularly because we have several languages that risk losing native speakers and because there's a lot of bs wrapped up in what "good" french is that I'm not skilled enough to unpack (though you can read what Windex wrote on this matter earlier on this blog... And here as well).

I have to strike a balance between representing the gang here as individuals (and immortals to boot) who have a lot of time on their hands and some interest and investment in learning languages on one hand... but also as representations of "average" people on the other. Francophone travellers aren't going to find many French speakers outside of airports, national parks, or government services in this province, but it still might surprise you considering all the "everyone outside of Quebec hates French" rhetoric that politicians like to fling around. It's more complicated than that, obviously, but I can mostly talk about my own personal experience with French here. I tried to represent both the reality that Franco-Alberta exists (represented by Ed) and the stereotypical resistance to French here (represented by Calvin, though clearly he understands enough to respond here. I also just think he tries to play dumb on purpose so that others underestimate him, it's all part of the image!)

Finally, I don't speak any of the languages (Michif, Tagalog, Punjabi, Cree) represented here so I hope they pass muster for the purpose of this little comic! ;~;b I have also represented Calvin speaking Mandarin previously on this blog!

oh yeah, and that "english and business" quote is from kevin o'leary who is from montreal so make of that what you will.

[morningstartranslation]

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Death comes to all men. 人生自古谁无死（rén shēng zì gǔ shuí wú sǐ）。For more information, visit https://www.morningstartranslation.com

[transcriptioncity]

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Introduction to Mandarin Chinese Language Services Mandarin Chinese, more commonly referred to as Mandarin, holds the title as the most widely spoken language in the world. Its roots can be traced back to the North China Plain around the time of the Yuan Dynasty in the 14th century, but it was during the Ming and Qing dynasties that it began to evolve significantly as the administrative and…