ask the expert
june/july june/july2020 2019 business edge
Propelled into the 21st Century Claire Thompson, Director of DeScribe Language Services, explains how the translation and interpreting industry has gained agility during lockdown and how this benefits clients. Claire Thompson
Director of DeScribe Language Services
The “Stay at Home” message has brought most of us in closer proximity to Zoom and other technologies and the translation and interpreting sector is no exception. We are delighted to now have access to technology sophisticated enough to further both professions.
Embracing ‘AI’ Common Sense Advisory suggested that 2 billion professional translators would be needed to meet true global language services requirements in an industry currently growing at a rate of 6–7% per year. Google alone machine translates approx. 140,000,000,000 words daily. So how has additional, time-critical work generated by the Covid-19 epidemic been handled? In some multilingual countries, governments have used machine translation (MT) to get Covid-19 messages out to the public in several languages in real time. This sentence would have sent waves of horror through linguists a few years ago, but the new generation of MT, neural machine translation, can generate useful content. Trained to process language in context, it produces fewer errors and professional translators can, in the right circumstances, let MT undertake the initial ‘hard graft’, leaving them to edit the translation to a professional standard or to the standard requested by their client.
When can I use MT? Text Type
Examples
MT or no MT?
High volume text for brief information purposes
Social media posts
MT, edited or unedited.
Informative documents
User guides, automated responses, nonfiction books
MT post-edited by a professional translator.
Texts which need a (re) action from another person
Advertising copy, user interfaces, poems, plays
No MT. Choose a human translator when your document entails language creativity or local cultural knowledge.
A quick clarification is needed here that language services providers will only use MT software that is secure for business purposes. The translation sector is now embracing this technology judiciously. Language service partners can advise where MT may complement existing electronic translation tools and provide clients with their translations more quickly, greater capacity and accessible cost.
RSI, OPI, TCI, VRI… Pardon? An even more pronounced shift has been seen in interpreting with the rollout of quality Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI)
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www.sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk
software, allowing interpreters to interpret an event from a different location — useful during lockdown! It uses a professional interface simulating the controls an interpreter would normally have in their interpreting booth, so key health appointments and business meetings have been able to continue and, although it will not be appropriate in every scenario, the interpreting sector may overcome physical distancing for the foreseeable future. Technology for RSI platforms now provides high audio and video quality and reliability, far superior to previous Teleconference Interpreting, Video Remote Interpreting and Over the Phone Interpreting systems. Added benefits to clients and linguists include that interpreters may have greater work capacity due to reduced travel time and expenses and, in terms of CSR, the service leaves a smaller carbon footprint. A recent, complex assignment for one of our clients involved a team of 8 interpreters on site using a total of 6 languages between them for delegates from 23 countries. If venue space is tight and the structure of the event allows, interpreters could work all or part of the assignment from a remote hub, releasing pressure on client budgets. Logistics, interpersonal interaction and event format are considerations your language service provider will be able to discuss with you and work out the best solution for your meeting, but the interpreting sector now has a feasible, additional service option to offer where appropriate. Technology has proved itself our friend through this period and we can look forward to making our clients’ lives easier. DeScribe Language Services hopes to meet you in the Sussex Chamber website’s Business Toolkit area soon! In the meantime, stay safe, keep your friends and family close and your customers even closer.
Useful links Institute of Translation and Interpreting’s advice to buyers: www.iti. org.uk/language-services/advice-to-buyers AIIC’s (International Association of Conference Interpreters) Guidelines for Distance Interpreting: https://aiic.net/page/8734/
tel: 01444 259 259
