Many of us interchange “interpretation” and “translation” when in fact, they are two different schools of thought. Interpreters interpret language from one language to another and translators translate language from a source to target language. So, what’s the difference between interpreters and translators?

First, both professions and skillsets require years of education, practice and professional training to become a master of their craft. A common misconception is that bilingual friends, co-workers, and employees are qualified to perform these services, when in fact, they are not. The skills needed to perform professional interpretation and document translation services do not just rely on one’s ability to convert language word-for-word, but also to relay context and meaning between the person(s) in conversation.

Recruiting your bilingual receptionist or other such person raises the risk of poor communication, HIPAA violations, and confusion. This practice can severely impact a limited English proficient person’s ability to trust and engage in conversation with others outside of their culture, religion or community. Professional interpreters and translators are up-to-date and versed in cultural differences, regional dialects, phrases, idioms and meaning associated with their language specialty.

The infographic below illustrates the differences between interpreters and translators.

About Interpreters Unlimited

Making Connections Nationwide. Interpreters Unlimited provides professional foreign language and American Sign Language interpretation and document translation services in the United States. IU serves state and county government departments, hospitals and medical facilities, school districts, law firms and other businesses. For more information please call (800) 726-9891 to speak with a representative or fill out the form below.

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“The reality is we are never going to have enough qualified interpreters in enough languages for every courtroom that needs them at the time they need them.”District Court of Appeal Justice, Terrence L. Bruiniers

With more than 220 languages spoken in California, but only 1,900 court interpreters representing a small percentage of those languages, the state continues to fall short in providing legal language services to limited English speakers. To comply with federal law, the state’s goal is to provide California court interpreters for all criminal and civil cases, as noted by District Court of Appeal Justice, Terrence L. Bruiniers in this article by the LA Times. Bruiniers also said that “the reality is we are never going to have enough qualified interpreters in enough languages for every courtroom that needs them at the time they need them.” (Dolan, 2017).

While 1,900 interpreters is impressive,  recruiting on-site interpreters as employees is a cumbersome and costly business, and ultimately underserves speakers of less common languages such as Cambodian, Khmer, Japanese, Malayalam, Hmong, Lao, Mixteco, and other exotic languages. To combat the issue, the Judicial Council of California launched a pilot video remote interpretation (VRI) project in July to compare technology from two vendors in the Superior Courts of Merced, Sacramento and Ventura. At the end of the six-month project, the Courts, Council and vendors are to determine statewide criteria for VRI technology, based on the effectiveness of the technology and participant feedback.

According to Slator, the vendors, (Connected Justice and Paras and Associates)  both use Cisco equipment. In fact, Connected Justice is a branded Cisco platform! This leads to the question of whether the vendor selection will monopolize the market in the future.

Solution 1: Increase Competition, Increase Suppliers, Increase Coverage

Video Remote Interpretation

Increasing competition during the procurement process will increase vendor selection and increase interpreter coverage statewide.

In the past, the VRI interpreting in California was limited to court-certified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters. This practice limits the number of interpreters available and may increase the risk of violating the American Disability Act and the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964, in the event a court-certified ASL interpreter is not available.

Suppliers, such as Stratus Video, provide nationally certified sign language interpreters and professionally qualified foreign language interpreters to perform VRI services. Companies like Stratus increase the pool of qualified interpreters available for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing population, as well as LEP persons.

Solution 2: Improve Communication Before and After Court

Telephone Interpretation

While VRI interpretation is favored over telephone interpreting services, some counties are implementing this service. It is cost-effective, secure and provides equal access to the California Courts.

In addition to using legal interpreters for civil and criminal hearings, the courts are further challenged with providing language services for various court appointed services, programs, and any pertaining legal information, from substance abuse courses to where to pay for a parking ticket.

In order to ameliorate the burden on the court system, over-the phone interpretation services can be implemented for the court’s automated messaging system. This type of telephone interpretation directs the caller (non-English speaker) to a live interpreter or recorded message (jury duty, holiday closings, etc.), effectively communicating everything they need before and after their court obligation.

California Court Interpreter Certification Process

At present, there is no standardized national accredited certification for court interpretation. States have various requirements and may only represent some languages. In California, court interpreter certification exams are only offered in American Sign Language, Arabic, Eastern Armenian, Cantonese, Farsi, Khmer, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese. People who are fluent in other languages may apply for the registered court interpreters test.

Under the provisional qualification in the “language access plan”, California courts can outsource legal language services to language services providers (LSP). This method can save department time, cut labor costs, reduce expenses and bring the courts in compliance with federal law.

Solution 3: Outsource to Become in Compliance

Working with an LSP is extremely beneficial because these companies already have a network of professionally trained and qualified linguists contracted to perform services for clients. As you can see below, the only difference in credentials is certification through the state.

Qualified Legal Interpreters	Registered and Certified Court Interpreters
Self-employed as 1099 Independent contractors	Employed by the Court
Advanced education and training in English and second language	Advanced training and education in English and second language
Able to interpret complex legal jargon in real-time without distorting the meaning, context, or syntax.	Able to interpret complex legal jargon in real-time without distorting the meaning, context, or syntax.
Not required to pass state certification exam	Must pass California state certification test for OR pass written and oral exam and complete Judicial Council requirements.
Interprets for LEP and Deaf persons and English speakers during depositions, mediations, client intake meetings, preliminary hearings, etc.	Interprets in court settings, as mandated by court system
Charges an hour fee	Receives yearly salary and benefits

Many LSPs meet California’s requirements, not only under the provisional qualifications but for all legal language services. This includes written translations of signage, forms, applications, and other documents.

Moving forward, if state and county court systems considered outsourcing via a request for proposal (RFP) that includes on-site, telephone, VRI, ASL and document translation services, they could save valuable time and resources and be closer to achieving compliance with the federal government.

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Conclusion

“This is not the kind of challenge you can simply meet in three years and then declare victory.” – Supreme Court Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuellar (Dolan, 2017)

As California’s court interpreter shortage continues to develop, the state should consider including these provisional qualifications as acceptable standards for the RFP process. As the most diverse state in the union, it is time to provide equal access for all.

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About Interpreters Unlimited

Making Connections Nationwide. Interpreters Unlimited provides professional legal interpretation and document translation services in California and throughout the United States. Services are available in 200 foreign languages and American Sign Language for on-site, telephone and video remote appointments.  For more information, please call (800) 726-9891 to speak with a representative. To submit bid and RFP notifications, please contact bids@iugroup.com

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Sources

California Courts. Strategic Plan for Language Access in the California Courts. [PDF] (2014). Retrieved September 27, 2017, from http://www.courts.ca.gov/ San Francisco, California: The Judicial Council of California.

FAQ’s – Court Interpreters. (n.d.). Retrieved September 26, 2017, from
http://www.courts.ca.gov/2683.htm

Young, B. (2012, December 6). Calif. Courts Face Federal Scrutiny Over Interpreter Access. The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved from http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com

Dolan, M. (2017, September  5). With 220 Languages Spoken in California, Courts Face an Interpreter Shortage. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com

California Courts. (2017). Language Access Metrics Report [PDF]. Retrieved September 28, 2017, from http://www.courts.ca.gov The Judicial Council of California

Faies, F. (2017, March 23). Court Interpretation in California Goes Virtual. Slator. Retrieved September 28, 2017, from http://www.slator.com

Judicial Council of California (2017) Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) Pilot Project. [PDF]. Retrieved September 28, 2017, from http://www.courts.ca.gov/ San Francisco, California: The Judicial Council of California

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Whether you’re a seasoned pro when it comes to working with foreign language interpreters, or if it’s something you’re not familiar with, these 10 tips will help you before, during and after an on-site interpretation appointment.

Before the Appointment

1. Request an interpreter who is the same gender and age, with a similar background to the person who is not English proficient. Depending on the circumstances of a medical appointment or legal matter, the person may feel more comfortable communicating with someone who has a similar background to them. Also, be sure to know if a consecutive or simultaneous interpreter is needed.
   

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2. Allow enough time for the interpretation to take place. Note that the time will be close to double the time of a regular appointment or consultation. This is because, during consecutive interpretation, the limited English proficient (LEP) person speaks, followed by the interpreter.
   

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3. Speak with your interpreter before the appointment begins about any questions you may have. Discuss any protocols that may arise during the appointment. It’s also a good idea for the interpreter to explain to the non-English speaker his/her role during the appointment and to answer any questions that person may have before it begins.
   

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4. Be culturally aware of the differences between the languages of all speakers. Before the interpretation process begins, ask the interpreter about common religious, cultural and social class issues that may arise during the session. Many times, people from tight-knit communities may not feel comfortable speaking about issues when someone from a different social class is present. To be sure valuable information is not held back during the conversation, discuss this with the interpreter before the session begins.

During the Appointment

5. Speak at a regular pace and tone for the interpreter to accurately convey what is said. Remember to speak in your normal speaking voice and avoid changing your thoughts or the meaning of what you’re saying mid-sentence.
   

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6. Avoid industry jargon and technical terms during an appointment where an interpreter is present. Dialogue of this nature may at times be difficult for the interpreter to interpret, although the concept may be understood.
   

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7. Speak directly to the person with limited English proficiency or who is Deaf. The interpreter in the room is a medium to communicate what is said between parties. Position the interpreter between yourself and the LEP patient or client the interpreter is interpreting for. Remember that what the interpreter is saying is not his/her own words.
   

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8. Do not ask the interpreter any questions or comments directed towards the interpreter. Sign language and foreign language interpreters are trained to not answer these questions during the session. Doing so can confuse the person they are interpreting for.
   

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9. Remember that everything you say during the appointment will be interpreted. Don’t say or ask anything that you do not what the limited English proficient person to hear.
   

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10. Be conscious of body language. During the appointment, be aware of the body language you and your client or patient are using during in-person appointments. Face each other and make eye contact throughout the conversation.

After the Appointment

When the appointment is over, the interpreter typically is not involved in follow-up procedures and does not provide reporting of any kind. If you feel the appointment went well, it’s always recommended to thank the interpreter before they leave. If you particularly enjoyed the experience with a specific interpreter, it’s O.K. to request the same person again. This helps to build a relationship and trust between the interpreter and non-English speaker (s) and/or Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals. However, keep in mind that requests cannot always be guaranteed. This is because language service providers schedule interpreters based on their availability, location and/or industry specialization.

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Making Connections Nationwide. For more information about scheduling an on-site business interpreter, please visit ww.interpreters.com or call 800-726-9891.

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As the debate between human translators versus technology continues, one thing is for certain: as business goes global, the need for translation services growing. Google Translate is fast, easy-to-use, convenient and is a household name brand. But can Google really accommodate the translation of academic journals, legal contracts, pharmaceutical research, essays and so forth? The spark of the debate comes down to the issue of accuracy, and human translators continue to trump Google with the ability to recognize cultural verbiage, idioms and slang that technology often overlooks.

While professional translators do use technology to aid their work, the specific tools appropriate for linguists are far more sophisticated than a simple Google algorithm. Talk to any professional translator and they’ll tell you why they prefer to use these translating tools–and that’s just what we did.

We spoke with *Bettina, a professional Spanish translator, and asked her to share her insights and experiences with the software used in the translation world. Here is what she had to say:

Q: In your professional opinion, do you think tools like Google Translate can translate documents with the same accuracy, context and meaning as a human translator?

Bettina: “Google Translate and other Machine Translation Tools provide a less accurate translation and always require editing. A machine cannot grasp the style, register, or tone of a translation, and can therefore not convey the same meaning.”

Q: How so?

Bettina: “For example, if the text includes irony or sarcasm, a machine translation will make a literal translation that makes no sense, or conveys the exact opposite meaning. There are also words, especially in English, that have different meaning depending on the context and are therefore translated differently. A machine cannot understand the difference. Although there are some pretty efficient Machine Translation engines (not Google Translate) in the market, that are used combined with Translation Memories, especially for technical translations that are more literal, the output always requires editing.”

Q: What are the most common or preferred CAT tools or management software that you encounter in your profession?

Bettina: “I’d say MemoQ, SDL Trados, Memsource, and Wordfast. As far as management systems, I use XTRF. Larger companies tend to use Plunet.”

Q: Of all the tools you just mentioned, which would you say is your “go-to?”

Bettina: “I’ve worked with SDL Trados and MemoQ and I feel MemoQ is by far more user friendly. You can manage SDL Trados Packages with it and it’s very flexible and easy to use. It offers a lot of features to improve your work and make it easier to complete.”

Q: Is there a reason multiple translation tools are used for one project?

Bettina:  “Word files are easy to manage on a CAT tool, but PDF does not work well with CAT tools. Depending on the type of document, we either convert it to a Word file, or if the layout is more complex (with images, for example) we ask the client if they have the InDesign file in which it was originally created. The InDesign files (idml) are compatible with our CAT tool, MemoQ, and we can export the file with a very similar layout, where only minor formatting issues need to be corrected. When a PDF file has to be converted to Word, there is usually extensive formatting/layout work to be done. Non-editable PDF files (for example images with text or faxes) can usually not be converted to Word, and therefore a similar layout has to be recreated.”

Types of Translation Tools and Software

CAT- Computer software applications (CAT) are used by translators to save words they’ve translated in a “bank.” With each project they’re assigned, they can refer to the bank of words as needed.

Translation Management Systems:  Translation management systems (TMS) support complex translation projects and tasks assigned to multiple people. TMS systems give the ability for multiple translators to work on one single project remotely as though they were working at the same location.

With that in mind, human translators are more reliable accurate and efficient. Humans: 1 Google: 0.

*= Last name removed upon request.

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Making Connections Nationwide. For more information about professional translation services, please contact Interpreters Unlimited at 800-726-9891.

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No One Should Stand Alone

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At IU Group we build bridges to close language gaps between English speakers and non-English speakers. Our work aides those who provide these individuals with the basic right to health care services, legal representation and right to live freely in their neighborhoods.  Since 1970, we’ve worked with dozens of businesses from coast-to-coast to ensure persons with limited English proficiency (LEP), and who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing have the ability to understand and adapt to new environments.

Last weekend, President Trump enacted an executive order which bans individuals from entering the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries in Africa and the Middle East. This ban has left numerous individuals stranded at airports, train stations and our international borders due to their race, religion and creed. In some cases, these individuals previously had the right to enter the United States. This is a major concern for the rights of not only our client’s clients and patients, but our neighbors, friends and family members.

Although so far articulated as a temporary measure, this ban has the potential to put hundreds of individuals in jeopardy. At IU, we are enthusiastic about the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) decision to take legal action by filing a lawsuit on behalf of two Iraqi men carrying valid Visas who were prohibited from entering the country.

One of these men, an interpreter, worked alongside US troops overseas. These brave professional linguists chose to risk their lives helping Americans learn the language, terrain, culture and dialects of the native peoples of Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the Middle East. It is shocking to ban someone who fearlessly helped assist an invading country’s military, and betrays the values for which our country stands.

The team at IU proudly supports our troops and civil rights for all. We believe the actions of the President’s order are a threat to our global interests as well as the health, safety and well-being of minority communities here at home.  It is time for Americans as a whole to come together to take action to preserve Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness for our neighbors because, after all, that is the American way.

About Us

Making Connections Nationwide. For more information, please call 800-726-9891 to speak with a representative.

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Unbeknownst to some, foreign language services play a large role in political campaigns and elections. As millions of Americans rush to the polls on Election Day, many will take advantage of mandated language services. It’s one thing to complete the grueling process of obtaining citizenship. Understanding how to vote, deciphering the forms and ballots is confusing enough for English speakers, so we can only imagine what it’s like for our limited English proficient neighbors.

According to a 2014 report, the limited English proficiency population rose by 80% between 1990 and 2010 and today, more than 25 million Americans are LEP. The Voting Rights Act requires states to provide interpretation and written translation services when five percent or more of a given population is LEP.

Such language services are from the moment an individual registers to vote, all the way up to Election Day. Translation of registration forms, brochures and ballots ensure the LEP understands the proper voting procedures, polling place information, candidate information, etc.

State Mandated Language Services for Elections

In addition to the federal Voting Rights Act, some states (and New York City) implemented regulations that are enforced alongside the national laws:

Arizona
Bilingual poll workers are recruited and trained for on-site interpretation services.

California
Translation services help the three percent or more of voting-age citizens who do not possess the skills and comprehension needed to effectively vote on their own.

Colorado
Language services (written and oral) are required when three percent or more of the population in a geographic region are LEP.

New Jersey
Document translation is required when 10 percent or more of the population of registered voters speak Spanish

New York City
This year, Mayor Bill de Blasio expanded voting access to include a variety of languages, including Russian, Urdu, Haitian Creole, French and Arabic. The new voter registration forms are now accessible for 80 percent of New York City’s LEP population.

All of these efforts play a crucial role in the country’s election process at the state, local and federal levels. Without qualified interpreters and translators, millions of Americans wouldn’t have the opportunity to properly exercise their right to vote. In 2004, it was found that these services had a direct impact on voter participation in San Diego County, California; voter registration among Filipino and Latinos increased by 20 percent and 40 percent among Vietnamese Americans.

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Campaigning

Each election, we see more concentrated efforts to mend the language barriers and boost communication during campaigns. Of course traditional methods like print media, television and radio ads, and telephone calls are essential to reach voters. However, in 2008, President Obama became the first presidential candidate to actively campaign on social media, expanding opportunities for language services. Today, social media is a top channel in driving awareness and communications to the American people by all political parties.

As diverse as the United States is, reaching all eligible voters is challenging. With the right rhetoric and strategy, candidates strive to win the votes of all eligible voters. Using localized (translated) websites, campaign managers are able to target specific regions, collect and solicit donations, send highly specialized messages and monitor approval ratings between each region.

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Sources

Cha, J., & Kennedy, L. (2014, February 18). Millions to the Polls: Language & Disability Access (Rep.). Retrieved November 07, 2016, from Demos website: http://www.demos.org/publication/millions-polls-language-disability-access

Contact Us

Making Connections Nationwide. For more information about Interpreters Unlimited please call 800-726-9891 or fill out the form below.

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Did you know International Translation Day is celebrated every September 30?  

This year, the International Federation of Translators’ (FIT) theme for International Translation Day is “Connecting Worlds.” The theme, submitted by the American Translators Association, is designed to generate awareness of the impact interpreters and translators have on international communication.

The first three examples are how FIT encourages its member organizations to celebrate International Translation Day worldwide:

5. Say thank you. You may not be able to find a translation day-specific greeting card at your local drug store but, a “thank you” card will do just the trick. Collect signatures from everyone in your department and send to your language service provider. Or check out these free thank you e-cards from American Greetings!

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6. Give a “key” to your company — figuratively, of course. Present your linguist friend or language service provider with a physical or symbolic “key” to honor the work they’ve done for you, your clients and business. Or you may want to pick something industry related; for instance, if you’re in the legal field, a small scale of justice would be perfect.

About International Translation Day

The role of translators is the same as it was hundreds of years ago- to enable communication. It is on this day, September 30, that we pay tribute to translators the world over. The date was chosen by the International Federation of Translators (FIT) because it was originally the day chosen to honor Saint Jerome the patron saint of translation. In 1991, International Translation Day became an official global holiday to celebrate the translation occupation, regardless of religious affiliation.

For more information, please visit the sources below:

Sources

International Translation Day 2016. (n.d.). Retrieved September 12, 2016, from http://www.fit-ift.org/international-translation-day-2016 /

Katschinka, L. (n.d.). The history of International Translation Day. Retrieved September 09, 2016, from http://translators.org.za/sati_cms/downloads/dynamic/international_translation_day_english.pdf

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Contact Us

Making Connections Nationwide. For more information about Interpreters Unlimited please call 800-726-9891 or send us a message.

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Brazilian vs European Portuguese

Portuguese may be the official language of Brazil, but it is not indigenous to the South American continent. The language actually stems from across the Atlantic, in Portugal. There are a few distinct differences in Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese, so if you have plans to travel abroad to Rio de Janiero for the 2016 Olympic Games, you may want to brush up on some Brazilian Portuguese. Here, we will explore the differences between the Portuguese of Brazil and the Portuguese of Europe.

History

The Portuguese influence in Brazil dates back to 1500 when it was accidently “discovered” by Pedro Álvares Cabral, a Portuguese military commander and explorer who was on the way to India. The Portuguese quickly set-up trade routes with Europe to capitalize on pau-brasil , a redwood valued for its dye, and for which the colony was named. For centuries, Brazil was a colony of Portugal until 1822, when it declared  independence.

According to historians, the first colonists were greeted by the Tupinambá, a native coastal tribe of Brazil. Jesuit priests studied the Tupi language, and then taught it to the colonists to establish communication.  Evidence suggests that the Portuguese worked with the natives to harvest redwood and, at one point tried to enslave the Tupi. After a short while, the Portuguese deemed them as “not suitable” for labor and turned to the African slave trade.

In the 1700’s, the Portuguese government mandated that the entire population speak their language to create unity between the colonists.  It is believed that this is when Brazilian Portuguese started to develop its own form and style, since only 30 percent of the colonist population had Portuguese ancestry. The remaining 70 percent of the population was of African or Amerindian decent, which indicates that the majority of the population learned Portuguese as a second language. In addition,  Brazilian Portuguese has historically adopted new words into its lexicon, whereas European Portuguese remained fairly static.

Blending Languages

The mix of Portuguese settlers, native inhabitants and African slaves produced the roots of modern day Brazilian Portuguese and its culture. Words and phrases from indigenous languages were adopted into the Brazilian language, but never made it back to the mother county. Here is an example of some of the Amerindian words absorbed by Brazilian speakers.

Amerindian Words	English Translation
Abacaxi	Pineapple
Mandioca	Manioc flour
Caju	Cashew
Tatu	Armadillo
Piranha	Piranha

It’s without question that the African influx made a significant impact in Brazil. To this day, Brazil has the highest African population outside of Africa than any country in the world. In fact, 300 Bantu words were adopted into the language. We’ve collected a small sampling of these words along with the English translation below:

Bantu Words in Brazilian Portuguese	English Translation
Bunda	Buttocks
Quiabo	Okra
Moleque	Young boy
Xingar	Curse, insult

Key Differences

Today, native Portuguese speakers can effectively communicate with each other but will likely notice a dialectal difference in pronunciations, verb conjugations and forms of address. For example, the way the pronouns tu (Portugal ) and você (Brazil) are used can make or break a conversation. Both terms mean “you,” but in Brazil, você can be used both informally and formally to address friends, family members, associates and co-workers. In this, it is similar to English, which does not distinguish between formal and informal pronouns.

On the other side of the Atlantic, “tu” is used in casual situations. Not being aware of the formal and informal usage can confuse or offend some people. In Portugal, você is not used as often, preferring to conjugate tu using the third person singular form.  Similarly, tu is used in some parts of Brazil, but  is not as widespread.

Another key difference is vocabulary. If you have plans to travel, you may want to brush up on a few terms. For instance, if you want to take the train in Brazil, the word is trem, whereas in Portugal it is comboio. The same goes for the word for bus. In Brazil you’d take the onibus and in Portugal you’d ride the autocarro.

In addition to Amerindian and African languages, European languages like French and Italian influenced the Portuguese of Brazil. Ciao, Italian for goodbye is used and written in Brazilian Portuguese as “tchau.” Brazilian Portuguese is also known for following French suffixes.

Overall, historians and linguists do agree that Brazilian Portuguese bears a striking resemblance to European Portuguese of the 16^th century. However, the differences can be compared to the differences between American and British English. Nonetheless, if you’re interested in learning Portuguese but aren’t sure which “version” to choose, go with the one that will have the most beneficial impact on your life and goals. Either way, it’s a beautiful language with a rich history that is worth embracing.

Interpreters Unlimited provides written translation and spoken interpretation services for Brazilian and European Portuguese. For more information please call 800-726-9891 or fill out the form below.

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Sources

(2013, June 11). Differences in Brazilian and European Portuguese and tu vs. você. Retrieved August 10, 2016, from http://www.livinglanguage.com/blog/2013/06/11/differences-in-brazilian-and-european-portuguese-and-tu-vs-voce/

Marques, N. (n.d.). What’s The Difference Between Portuguese In Brazil And In Portugal? Retrieved August 12, 2016, from https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/difference-between-brazilian-and-european-portuguese

De Andrade Tosta, A., & Coutinho, E. F. (n.d.). Brazil. Retrieved August 11, 2016, from https://books.google.com/books?id=XxUuCwAAQBAJ

New York Times. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2016, from http://www.nytimes.com/fodors/top/features/travel/destinations/centralandsouthamerica/brazil/riodejaneiro/fdrs_feat_129_9.html

Ferreira, F. (2002, December). The African Contribution to Brazilian Portuguese: To what extent did the speech of slaves influence the mother tongue? Bridgewater Review, 21(2), 7th ser. Retrieved August 10, 2016, from http://vc.bridgew.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1057&context=br_rev

Brazil. (n.d.). Retrieved August 11, 2016, from http://www.lonelyplanet.com/brazil/history