Innovative Degree Combines Love of Language, Culture

What happens when a business’s wildly popular U.S. slogan means something entirely different in another country?

The business suffers a blunder of international proportions. Take Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), for example. Its slogan, when translated into the Chinese language for the fast-food chain’s opening in Qianmen, Beijing, in 1987, changed from “It’s Finger Lickin’ Good” to the not-so-appetizing “Eat Your Fingers Off.” 

While KFC made a comeback, becoming the most popular fast-food restaurant in China, the translation oversight demonstrated the need for translators with localization skills — experts in language and culture. 

Demand for these individuals is even higher today due to increased globalization. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of interpreters and translators to grow 18% from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations, and for starting salaries to begin at $50,000. 

On the forefront of localization education, Weber State University’s Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities is the only state institution in Utah offering an associate’s degree in localization. 

In addition to localization, the Lindquist College is also offering a new bachelor’s degree in Spanish translation. For an overview of these two exciting and industry-needed programs, visit weber.edu/foreignlanguages.