Category: Translators

The importance of interpretation and translation in times of humanitarian crisis

If you want to donate money directly to poor households in East Africa, thanks to the internet, you can. If you want to raise money for a charity project of your choice, thanks to the internet, you can. This connectivity has transformed charitable aid, helping the world respond to humanitarian crises like the Syrian war, and recent extreme natural disasters.
But although the internet may have made cross-border aid much easier, there is one barrier it can’t overcome: language. True humanitarian efforts rely just as much on accurate and timely translation and interpretation. Without these things, no amount of connectivity could make a difference.

Natural disasters happen across borders

Society may have broken up the world with national borders, but nature pays no notice. Hurricane Irma, for example, tore through many island nations, covering French-, Dutch-, English-, and creole-speaking areas of St Martin, Spanish-speaking Puerto Rico, and French- and creole-speaking Haiti.
In cases like these, medical translation is crucial. As we have said before, translating in emergency situations takes more than just language knowledge. “Good medical translators also possess an understanding of the regulatory laws and quality controls that operate in different countries.” Medical translators will be able to navigate sensitive issues, from whether certain drugs are legal to whether patients are allergic.
When helping survivors or coordinating aid missions in areas where more than one language is spoken, knowledgeable medical translations are essential.

Refugees face legal barriers

The legal requirements for seeking refuge from a conflict zone are complex enough as it stands. Trying to understand them in a second language could be almost impossible.
When newly-inaugurated President Trump filed an executive order banning immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US, several lawyers dropped everything to work for free in support of airport detainees. Though many of the immigrants spoke English, some were more fluent than others, necessitating swift and accurate legal translation to read these people their rights.
With the number of ongoing conflicts around the world, and attempted persecution of refugees by some national governments, legal translation is become ever more important. Like lawyers, translators themselves could work on a volunteer basis in situations like these.

Translators can help refugees resettle

Being forced to leave your home country after a war, disaster, or genocide is a harrowing experience. Settling down in your new home can be difficult too, especially if you don’t speak the local language. Again, translators can be helpful here. Skilled translators can dedicate their time to teaching refugees a second language, equipping them with the knowledge they need to navigate their new environment.
Refugee Action set up the Let Refugees Learn campaign to create broader access to English lessons among asylum seekers in the UK. The project encourages supporters to write to their local MPs, but trained professionals can volunteer as English teachers themselves.

Translators and interpreters can go beyond the port of call

Some crises require extra pairs of hands more than they do translation. In these instances, translators and interpreters themselves can still prove useful. After the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, many locally-based interpreters travelled around devastated areas, using their cars to transport survivors and supplies. Some even offered their homes to those with nowhere to stay.
In responding to this disaster, translators made it clear that helping others in any way shape or form is what’s important, whether or not your personal expertise is involved. Though some interpreting may have been needed after the earthquake, translators were helpful in their capacity as human beings, regardless of profession.
If interpreters and translators are based close to a disaster or crisis, their linguistic talents will often be necessary. But even when these skills are not needed, these professionals can still lend a helping hand.

Translation and interpreting is one of the most varied lines of work there is. Professional translators and interpreters can find themselves working in courtrooms, assisting UN dialogues, or bringing novels to new audiences.

The internet may have hailed the dawn of online translation tools, which some have worried will phase out the need for human translators. But in other ways, the internet has created more work. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and a plethora of other online streaming services have made a wealth of video content available to more people than ever before. And to make this content available to a global audience, video translation is crucial.

This, coupled with an increasing number of Hollywood shooting outside of the US, and the diversification of storytelling has opened up many new and bountiful opportunities for translators.

Translating scripts and subtitles brings movies to new audiences

Translating spoken dialogue into local languages is possibly the most common form of video translation found within the film industry. Subtitlers listen to a movie’s English dialogue, for example, and translate it into, say, Spanish. Though this may sound simple to bilingual readers, there is more to it than a simple word-for-word approach.

Translators working on subtitles need to be skilled creative writers, working on lines that may be (or become) iconic in their native languages. Immortal lines like “You can’t handle the truth!” and “Are you not entertained?!” need translations with equal gravitas. There’s also the matter of conveying consistent characterisation. Subtitled lines must be written in each character’s ‘voice’.

Aside from subtitles, script translators are needed to write dialogue for dubbed versions of films. This comes with its own set of unique requirements. The chief difficulty with dubbing translation is turning native dialogue into local dialogue that matches an actor’s mouth movements as closely as possible. If it takes an actor a long time to say something in English, it has to last the same length of time in German, even if there is one simple German word which conveys the same meaning as a whole English sentence (as there so often is).

Once timing, meaning and ‘voice’ have been taken into account, script translators need to bear localisation in mind. This comes into effect most starkly when a source film uses more than one language. The 2010 hit Toy Story 3, for example, features prominent scenes in which Buzz Lightyear is reset in ‘Spanish mode’. For these scenes, the character speaks Spanish and adopts stereotypical Spanish mannerisms. This presents a problem for the writers translating all of the film’s dialogue into Spanish. Ingeniously, Toy Story 3’s translators addressed this by having Buzz speak a different Spanish dialect for these scenes. In the Mexican version of the film, for example, Buzz adopts a European Spanish dialect. In the European Spanish version he speaks the dialect from Andalusia—the southern Spanish region thought to be most stereotypically ‘Spanish’.

Interpreting on set helps cross-border productions

Due to the growing international market and booming blockbuster budgets, larger numbers of Hollywood films are being shot in foreign locations. To make sure these shoots run smoothly, interpreters are invaluable.

On-set interpreters can help cast and crew communicate across language barriers. A director working with actors who don’t speak their language, for example, may need someone to interpret their notes. As will producers working with local foreign crew members.

On-set interpreters are most crucial when large numbers of extras who don’t speak English are being used. In one famous example, Francis Ford Coppola directed hundreds of native extras from the Ifugao province in the Philippines during the making of Apocalypse Now. In cases like these, interpreters can also take on the responsibility of looking out for the welfare of native extras. Lily Luglug, an interpreter on Apocalypse Now, made sure all the Ifugao extras were properly treated, since being on a movie set was completely alien to them. Her husband Gerry also acted as an interpreter, telling of the “immense responsibility.”

Though Apocalypse Now was filmed in the 1970s, an increasing number of films are being shot in foreign locations. Action movies like the Mission Impossible and James Bond series often film in locales, sometimes with native extras, meaning opportunities for translators like the Luglugs are becoming increasingly available.

Native advisors help with cultural accuracy

In recent years, many Hollywood movie makers have looked to tell more diverse stories. Disney Animation’s Moana is one recent example. The film follows the adventures of a village chief’s daughter as she navigates the Polynesian islands with the demi-god Maui.

To ensure their depictions of local customs and traditions were accurate, the filmmakers traveled to the Pacific Islands and assembled a team of linguists, historians, anthropologists and fishermen. The team, dubbed the Oceanic Story Trust, advised on every aspect of the movie to ensure accuracy and cultural sensitivity. This was important for Disney, as many of their previous films, such as Aladdin, have been accused of racism and appropriation.

The movie got a lot of things right, casting people with indigenous heritage to play all the leading roles, incorporating native language into musical numbers, and sticking closely to local history. Unfortunately the film failed to depict Maui in a way which satisfied Pacific Island audiences; many were offended by the character’s rotund physique. This mistake only cements the importance of cultural sensitivity when making movies. Translators and interpreters will have a lot of work in the film industry as these trends continue to develop.

Machine translation has come a long way over the past few years, to the point where students are now habitually using Google’s translation services to help with foreign language homework. The results of these machine translations have been getting increasingly accurate, as the programme ‘learns’ more about words and their context. Yet, while the technology is improving drastically, it is still not good enough to take over the role of expert translations from human beings, and it never will be.

This is because, when it comes to translations, there are still a few things that humans will always be able to do better than machines:

Machines can’t pick up on nonverbal communication

While machines can be accurate when translating word-for-word, or even phrase-for-phrase, this still only takes into account the verbal aspect of communication. 93% of communication is nonverbal, which marks a huge portion of conversation which cannot be read by technology. This hidden part of communication can be found in tone of voice and body language, which is overlooked in machine translation.

For example, machines are less likely to pick up on jokes or sarcasm, which could result in translations that are far too literal. Having someone available to pick up on these slight changes gives a more accurate translation, which is far beneficial for your interpreting and translating needs.

It’s much more difficult to localise machines and apps for all languages

Depending on the dialect, new phrases are constantly being developed in any language. Machines are much less likely to pick up on these evolutions in language as immediately as human translators, who will be experts on the different dialects and localisation of their specialist language. A machine will have to be kept up to date with the language by constantly ‘learning’ new phrases, based on how often new words (or words in new contexts) come up in conversations before can find a suitable translation.

Human translators and interpreters are able to pick up on these developments in language much more quickly than machines. There may also be times when there is no appropriate translation for a particular phrase, which could leave the machine “speechless” as it struggles to find a way to interpret these unfamiliar combinations of words.

Machines need specific instructions, and may still malfunction

While we rely on technology now more than ever before, it’s important to remember that machines are still prone to stop working altogether; following specific sets of instructions to get to the end result, and learning user behaviour over time does not prevent issues from arising. Much like a SatNav accidentally navigating cars in the wrong direction, machine translators still have the potential to inaccurately interpret your copy, leaving you with mixed messages.

Face-to-face communication helps build lasting relationships

In this modern-day digital age, technology has made almost every aspect of our lives more convenient. But ultimately, face-to-face communication has advantages, including establishing more meaningful relationships between individuals. Speaking to someone directly has been proven to build and establish trust, which is key to a lasting relationship, both in a professional and personal context.

Relying on machines can block this bridge from being built, leaving trust dependent on how reliable the technology is. While machine translation can bring people together, it lacks that ‘personal touch’ that is crucial for building a meaningful relationship.

Machine translation has come a long way in a short space of time, however it still lacks certain aspects that will make it an effective translation tool for day-to-day and business use. Human translators and interpreters are much more effective and reliable, and the ‘personal’ aspect will always beat technology.

At London Translations, we translate websites for businesses of all sizes and in a wide number of languages. The importance of website translation for businesses cannot be understated. Even though English is the most common language on the Internet, it is only one of the many languages that are used by Internet users. Therefore businesses with websites in more than one language can gain the upper hand over competitors when it comes to engaging with and attracting new audiences.

Although the advantages of translating your website are numerous, there are certain things you ought to consider before starting the process.

1: Avoid machine translation

The content on your website is a vital representation of your company, so any inaccuracies could not only damage your brand, but may also give the impression of a bad or unprofessionally run business. If a reader looks at a website that is full of mistakes, why wouldn’t they assume you treat your business with as little care?

Even the most advanced machine translation engines are far from perfect. One of Google Translate’s own, Quoc Le, has stated that their latest AI update, the GNMT, “doesn’t have a model of how the world actually works”. Human beings, more specifically professional website translators, can produce a translation that is not only fast and accurate, but that also engages your target audience.

2: Localise your website’s content

The country in which a user resides does not determine the language they speak, or indeed the way in which they speak it. For example, the Spanish spoken in Spain is very different to the Spanish spoken in Mexico. The languages you want to translate your website’s content into differ from country to country, therefore you must also consider the specific linguistic quirks that permeate your target region.

If you decide to translate your website through a professional translation company, they should have mother tongue translators who can make sure your content speaks to local people. That way you can ensure that your website is accurately localised with your specific target audience in mind.

3: It’s not only content that needs translating

When machine translation engines translate websites from one language into another, they work by taking each individual word to make a literal translation. However, professional translators who have an in-depth knowledge of both the language and culture of the target audience will spot other potential issues.

Even the colour of your website might say one thing to some audiences, and something completely different to another. For example, white has connotations of purity and innocence in Western societies, but it is the colour associated with mourning and death in Asian culture. Red is associated with courage and passion in some cultures, but in others it’s associated with communism and death. Similarly, certain images may seem innocuous to certain audiences, but offensive or unsightly to others.

There are plenty of different variables to consider when translating websites. It’s much more than just the words on your page. Even something as simply written as the date can differ from country to country. Catching these small potential errors is vital in website translation.

There is a certain degree of confusion between what translators and interpreters actually do. Although a professional translation and interpretation agency such as London Translations will be able to offer both to the highest standard, there are significant differences between interpreters and translators, and the skills required of both.

This guide will identify and explain those differences.

Key similarities and differences between an interpretation service and translation service

Interpreters and translators convert information from one language into another language. They both need to understand information in one language (the source language) and then accurately convey that information in a second language (the target language). The information must replicate the original source speech or text as accurately as possible.

The primary difference between translation and interpretation is this: interpreters work in the spoken word (or in sign language), and translators work in the written word. However, there are a number of differences in the way they work, who they typically work for and what skills are required of both translation and interpretation agencies.

What does an interpreter do?

Professional interpretation services work with the spoken word, often in a range of different industries. An interpreter maintains message content, context and style in the specified language when interpreting messages, consecutively or simultaneously, orally and/or through the use of hand signing. An interpreter can work in any number of industries, including finance, media and public services.

Interpretation can be done in person, over the phone, or over video call. There are several different types of interpreting, such as consecutive interpreting, where a speaker pauses to allow an interpreter to repeat what has been said in the target language. There’s also simultaneous interpreting, where the interpreter speaks at the same time as the original speaker from an isolated booth via a headset, or whispered interpreting, where an interpreter literally whispers in the ear of their client. This version of interpreting is commonly used in face-to-face business meetings.

Rates between the different types of interpretation will vary. An interpretation agency will generally charge more for conference interpreters, because simultaneous translation involves a minimum of two interpreters. Price also differs depending on the languages the interpreter is working in.

What does a translator do?

Translators take text and translate it from one language to another. This is not just a literal word for word translation, as provided by online translation tools, but rather it is adapted to make the most sense to the reader and to be true to the original text.

Translators often have to spend much of their time researching, in addition to having strong writing, editing and proofreading skills. Not only that, but industry specific knowledge is just as important to translators as it is to interpreters. Translators tend to work in a specific industry, because to translate accurately in say, the financial industry, one would need to understand financial terminology and business practices. Simply speaking two languages will not give you this insight.

Although translators rarely work over the phone or face-to-face, translation services often work to very tight deadlines, and therefore it is of paramount importance to work as quickly as possible, without sacrificing the quality of the work.

The costs of translators are usually calculated per 1000 words. Like interpretation services, translation rates also depend on the source and target languages.

What skills & qualifications do interpreters need?

Many skills are interchangeable, for both interpretation and translation. Showing cultural sensitivity, having industry expertise and being fluent in two or more languages are traits both translators and interpreters require. However, some skills are specific to interpreters:

• Fantastic listening skills
• Eloquence and accuracy of body language and tone
• Able to process language and translations in their head near instantaneously

Qualifications:

For live interpreting, you’ll usually need a degree in languages or interpreting, and often a postgraduate qualification in interpreting. Interpreters in the public sector generally hold a certificate in Bilingual Skills, a diploma in Public Service Interpreting, or a college qualification.

Just as significant as any degree is accreditation. In the UK, the Institute of Translation and Interpreting and the Chartered Institute of Linguists offer accreditation for both translators and interpreters. The majority of London Translations’ interpreters have received accreditation through one of these institutions.

What skills & qualifications do translators need?

These skills include…

• Fantastic writing skills, including editing and proofing skills
• Time management skills
• The ability to cope with the responsibility of dealing with sensitive and classified information

Qualifications:

Generally, translators are educated to degree level and usually have a postgraduate qualification in translation. However, sometimes a translator’s requirements will be dependent on the industry they are working in. For example, financial translators may have a degree in economics or mathematics.

As is the case for interpreters, accreditation is just as important as any degree. In the UK, the Institute of Translation and Interpreting or the Chartered Institute of Linguists are two such organisations.

At London Translations, our translators can guarantee a fast and accurate service as we hold the British Standard EN 15038 for translation service quality. The British Standard EN 15038 is a benchmark of professionalism used to distinguish fantastic, quick, accurate translators from chancers with a foreign language dictionary.

Does your business need a translation agency, interpretation agency, or both?

Depending on what type of service you need, you may require a translator, interpreter or both. Do you have a document you need translating into a target language? Then you will need a highly competent translator. Are you attending a meeting where there is a language barrier? You’ll need a top quality interpretation service.

Fortunately, London Translations’ network of professional and highly skilled translators and interpreters can cater to all of your language needs. Request an instant and free quote today.