Why Are English Words Spelled Differently in the US and the UK?

Living in the age of spell checker and auto-correct has made us less sensitive to the subtleties of spelling, but the differences between US and UK English spelling is still difficult to ignore. If we speak the same language, why are there different spellings of the same words and how did this all happen?

The New Skills Shortage | Study Translation at University

The Growing Demand for Translators

We are currently faced with a shortage of translators around the world because of the growing demand for skilled professionals in this field. The translation sector is not a glamorized or highly publicized space, but it was predicted that the demand for Translators and Interpreters will almost double in the U.S. between 2010 and 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Contrary to popular belief the majority of these jobs aren't in translating books or interpreting for the UN -- many are in manufacturing, ecommerce, travel and working with large enterprises. Jobs are well paid, with some earning six figure salaries, and the profession offers many freelancing opportunities. So how about studying Translation?

Native VS. Non-Native Translators | The Debate

In the translation industry there is an ongoing debate around the topic of using native vs. non-native translators. Before entering further into this debate it's important to note what the professional associations think about the matter. 

Industry Norms 

The Institute of Translation & Interpreting's members can only translate into languages that are their mother tongue or they habitually use. And the Chartered institute of Linguistics favors the language of habitual use. So native speakers are essential in their opinions, but it's also worth noting that the language of habitual use is just as important in this discussion. The term 'dominant language' is also used in place of 'habitual use' by many associations including the ATA. 

The Top 5 Easiest Foreign Languages to Learn

For many English speakers, learning a second language is something that can seem daunting, time consuming or even unnecessary at times. As English has become the international language of the 21st century, this had led to many native speakers feeling as if they don't need to learn another language. In my opinion that's their loss, these people are missing out on a rich cultural, lingual, and age-defying (it's good for the brain) learning experience. 

When it comes to choosing a language it's important to consider how difficult it's going to be to learn. So here is a list of the top five easiest to learn languages for English speakers.