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Charles Tiayon
November 16, 2022 12:41 AM
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Geonha Choi .’s photo The most difficult sentence according to Mattho Mandersloot Shortened sentence from poem by Kim Hwiseung, 1991 Translation:
It is said that he dangles from branches, does somersault after somersault and giggles at every trifle, that he eats bananas galore and when he gets tired of that, hop there he goes, to the next tree and the one after it, swinging from top to bottom Supposedly looking for some trinket until he becomes shy and lowers himself to the ground to waddle on trembling legs, tail between legs. Shortened sentence from poem by Kim Hwiseung, 2022 ‘Each stanza of this poem, which I translated for a lecture, consists of one long, thunderous sentence. This stanza in particular contains a high degree of sound symbolism. Languages such as Japanese and Korean contain many ‘mimetic’ words, which express a feeling or a situation through their sound. In Dutch, of course, we also find onomatopoeia, in words like ‘hiss’ and ‘buzz’, but as a translator I often have to come up with a creative solution. In this case I tried to play with sounds as much as possible: ‘ginnegappen’, for example, evokes more playful associations than ‘giggling’ – you can hear him laughing at his own joke, as it were – and the sound of the delightful Dutch word ‘waggle’ suggests the movement. And so he bumps out of the poem… Why Korean? That was a coincidence. I went to Seoul to become world champion. When I was 17, I had the opportunity to train for nine months with a famous taekwondo master. That was a childhood dream and I have practiced the sport at a high level for years, also next to my studies. But in 2018 I made the decision: I will not become world champion, but I will continue with that Korean. There is no Korean-Dutch dictionary, but there is a decent Korean-English dictionary, but even there are gaps. The real dictionary actually originates in my head. If I couldn’t figure it out, I could always call on ‘native speakers’. Or to international translators from the Korean Literary Translation Institute, with whom I worked for two years in a workshop where we constantly commented on each other’s translation work. Korean culture is booming: film, music and therefore literature. My translation assignments run until March 2023 and there are still seas of wonderful books and films to be translated and subtitled, so I keep my eyes on the infinite; maybe that boy who wanted to be world champion is still inside me.’ Mattho Mandersloot (1994): Korean-Dutch translator. Known from: Love in the big city of Sang Young Park. But also poems and novels such as The House with the Cherry Blossoms by Sun-mi Hwang and the international bestseller Kim-Jiyoung, born in 1982 by Nam-Joo Cho. Now working on: translation of the long-awaited new book by Han Kang (“the most important name in the world of contemporary Korean literature”). Karina van Santen and Martine Vosmaer: ‘As hard as Ali Smith is, so easy is Rushdie’ Photo Pepijn Kouwenberg The most difficult sentence according to Karina van Santen and Martine Vosmaer No, she said, the voice wasn’t weird. (…) No, it’s the thing it said, what it said, that was weird. (…) What did it say? I said. Curlew or curfew. It said what? (…) I mean, I know what curlew means, she said, and I know what curfew means. But I don’t know what the game is here. Out: Companion Piece by Ali Smith Translation: No, she said, the voice was not strange. (…) No, it’s the words it said, what it said, that was weird. (…) What did it say? I said. Curlew or curfew. It said what? (…) I mean, I know curlew means curlew, she said, and I know curfew means curfew. But I don’t know what this case is about. From: Company of Ali Smith “It’s not so much a difficult sentence as it is a daring solution. Translating Ali Smith is translating to the millimeter. She writes pointedly and full of puns. We first tried to find a translation for curlew/curfew. Sparrowhawk/barring time for example. A barrage of sparrowhawks. But because the curlew, the curlew, is described exhaustively in the book, we couldn’t make another bird out of it. Then come up with a word that differs by one letter from ‘curlew’ and also means something with time. We have therefore left it in English. In addition, we encountered a problem that often occurs when translating from English. The word ‘voice’ is referred to as ‘it’. But “voice” is a “the” word. Because it was not allowed to be a man or a woman here, we made it ‘voice sound’, a neuter word. By the way, this puzzle is exactly what makes translation so much fun. The advantage of translating together is that you can spar; where one gets stuck, the other comes up with a solution. We send the pieces of text back and forth as many as five times and are also merciless in changing the other’s translation. Kill your darlings was already instilled in us at the Institute of Translation Studies, but we also make mincemeat out of the other’s ‘darlings’. The disadvantages of translating in pairs are at most that it does not go twice as fast, so it is not financially convenient. And sometimes you think too easily: the other person will still look at it, so that certain issues remain until the first or second proof. We are now translating Salman Rushdie’s new book; as difficult as Ali Smith can be, Rushdie is so easy to translate because he writes such clear sentences. In the past, these kinds of texts, with many references to politics, other cultures and literature, were very time-consuming and we had to look up a lot in the library. Fortunately, there is now the internet. A blessing to the translator.’ Karina van Santen (1956) and Martine Vosmaer (1946): translators English-Dutch (and also Afrikaans-Dutch). Known from: Translated more than 150 books including those by Salman Rushdie, Ali Smith and most recently Kassa 19 by Claire-Louise Bennett. Working together for over 35 years. Now working on: Victory City van Salman Rushdie Deep Poppinga: ‘Time can change three or four times in one paragraph’ Photo Pepijn Kouwenberg The most difficult sentence according to Djûke Poppinga Shortened sentence from 2008 Syrian prison novel by Mustafa Khalifa Translation: They let us in. We all had a bar of soap thrown at us. There was swearing and they told us especially that we were not allowed to play with each other. They knew we were all gay. Shortened sentence from: The shell (1922) by Syrian writer Mustafa Khalifa “It’s a passage about bathing in prison. The sentence is rude. You can see that by the use of the word loeti (derived from the biblical name Lot) which means ‘sodomite’, ‘pederast’, ‘homophile’. Because written Arabic has a somewhat more formal character than Dutch, I opt for a powerful idiom: ‘slung’ (instead of ‘beating’) or ‘vozen’ (instead of ‘doing sodomy’). It also depends on the novel whether I change the choice of words – with a novel by Nagieb Mahfoez I would be less likely to do that. All Arab countries have the same Arabic written language and each country has its own dialect. The dialect of Mustafa Khalifa is Syrian. You sometimes see that in the idiom and in the dialogues. But apart from that, there is no difference between an Egyptian, Moroccan, Lebanese or Syrian novel. Actually, there are no difficult or easy sentences in Arabic. Every Arabic sentence presents dilemmas in translation because Arabic is far removed from European languages in terms of grammar, sentence structure and idiom. Easily solvable differences are, for example, that the present tense of the linking verb ‘to be’ is hardly used in Arabic (‘she is tired’ instead of ‘she is tired’) or that the same word is repeated several times in a sentence that makes you as a translator have to look for many equivalents because otherwise it is ugly in Dutch. But there are also countless features of Arabic that do cause problems. In Arabic, for example, the time can sometimes be changed three or four times in one paragraph. In Dutch this often leads to an alienation that is not intended that way. In addition, Arabic has no systematic punctuation. That has grown historically. Long sentences are strung together by conjunctions and can sometimes take up an entire page or even more. With translations, the solution is usually to break a sentence into smaller segments, as I’ve done here. You often cannot escape it. But if it works and if I feel like it has a reason, I try to keep the long sentence.’ Djuke Poppinga (1956): Arabic-Dutch translator from various Arab countries including Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Morocco. Known from: the Lebanese writer Hanaan al-Sjaikh, of whom she translated almost the entire oeuvre of which The Story of Zahra is best known. She has also translated a number of titles by Nobel Prize winner Nagieb Mahfoez, including her favourite, De Midaksteeg. Just handed in her sixtieth novel. Now working on: the translation of a novel by the Palestinian writer Adania Shibli about a young Palestinian journalist who goes in search of the story behind a rape incident that took place in 1949. Manik Sarkar: ‘Sometimes it’s nice to show yourself as a translator’ Photo Pepijn Kouwenberg The most difficult sentence according to Manik Sarkar ‘Slanders!’ to ‘These processes are despicable!’ uit: Group therapy 2: What is conceived well van Manu Larcenet Translation: ‘Slander!’ and ‘Abject and infamy!’ From: Group therapy II: What people understand well about Manu Larcenet ‘I think there is little more difficult in translating than short sentences with a lot of expressive power. For a few years now I have been translating graphic novels in addition to ‘classical’ literature. Group Therapy II by the French cartoonist Manu Larcenet features a talk show conversation between the seventeenth-century French writer Boileau and the ‘I’, an alter ego of the author, who accuses him in puffy terms of being a puppet of big business. Boileau responds to this with two speech bubbles, the first of which contains the word Calomnies! contains (“Slander!”) and the second contains the sentence Ces procédés sont ignobles!. I brooded on that short sentence for a long time. Something had to come here that was both arrogant, carried, old-fashioned and sharp. The literal translation would be ‘This state of affairs is unworthy’, which does not exactly run smoothly and certainly does not radiate the same directness and anger. So I had to find something that sounds like an exclamation and is funny too. And that, above all, fits into that cramped speech bubble… In the end I arrived at ‘Abject en infaam!’, Bram Moszkowicz’s catchphrases from the time he was still a lawyer. In meaning, it’s close to the original, but more importantly, it fits perfectly into context. Besides, it’s something I don’t often allow myself: a translator’s joke. Because many Dutch readers will recognize this as a wink to that criminal lawyer, and then perhaps they will consider for a moment that this text has been edited by a translator. Translators are supposed to be invisible, but sometimes it’s nice to show yourself for a little while. Sentences can be tricky in a completely different way too; The most recent book I translated – Ngando et autres histoires by Paul Lomami-Tshibamba – required me to delve into Congolese culture, but accessible information was hard to find. And years ago I translated On Men by Laurent Mauvignier, which featured a torture scene so horrific that it literally kept me awake and that now, years later, I still prefer not to think about it. It felt like I was peering at the screen with a hand over my eyes between my fingers.’ Manik Sarkar (1973): translates from English and French. Known from: The Bookstore of Algiers by Kaouther Adimi. He is also the permanent translator of Philippe Claudel and Joël Dicker. Just submitted: Ngando and other stories by Congolese journalist and author Paul Lomami-Tshibamba
Researchers across Africa, Asia and the Middle East are building their own language models designed for local tongues, cultural nuance and digital independence
"In a high-stakes artificial intelligence race between the United States and China, an equally transformative movement is taking shape elsewhere. From Cape Town to Bangalore, from Cairo to Riyadh, researchers, engineers and public institutions are building homegrown AI systems, models that speak not just in local languages, but with regional insight and cultural depth.
The dominant narrative in AI, particularly since the early 2020s, has focused on a handful of US-based companies like OpenAI with GPT, Google with Gemini, Meta’s LLaMa, Anthropic’s Claude. They vie to build ever larger and more capable models. Earlier in 2025, China’s DeepSeek, a Hangzhou-based startup, added a new twist by releasing large language models (LLMs) that rival their American counterparts, with a smaller computational demand. But increasingly, researchers across the Global South are challenging the notion that technological leadership in AI is the exclusive domain of these two superpowers.
Instead, scientists and institutions in countries like India, South Africa, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are rethinking the very premise of generative AI. Their focus is not on scaling up, but on scaling right, building models that work for local users, in their languages, and within their social and economic realities.
“How do we make sure that the entire planet benefits from AI?” asks Benjamin Rosman, a professor at the University of the Witwatersrand and a lead developer of InkubaLM, a generative model trained on five African languages. “I want more and more voices to be in the conversation”.
Beyond English, beyond Silicon Valley
Large language models work by training on massive troves of online text. While the latest versions of GPT, Gemini or LLaMa boast multilingual capabilities, the overwhelming presence of English-language material and Western cultural contexts in these datasets skews their outputs. For speakers of Hindi, Arabic, Swahili, Xhosa and countless other languages, that means AI systems may not only stumble over grammar and syntax, they can also miss the point entirely.
“In Indian languages, large models trained on English data just don’t perform well,” says Janki Nawale, a linguist at AI4Bharat, a lab at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. “There are cultural nuances, dialectal variations, and even non-standard scripts that make translation and understanding difficult.” Nawale’s team builds supervised datasets and evaluation benchmarks for what specialists call “low resource” languages, those that lack robust digital corpora for machine learning.
It’s not just a question of grammar or vocabulary. “The meaning often lies in the implication,” says Vukosi Marivate, a professor of computer science at the University of Pretoria, in South Africa. “In isiXhosa, the words are one thing but what’s being implied is what really matters.” Marivate co-leads Masakhane NLP, a pan-African collective of AI researchers that recently developed AFROBENCH, a rigorous benchmark for evaluating how well large language models perform on 64 African languages across 15 tasks. The results, published in a preprint in March, revealed major gaps in performance between English and nearly all African languages, especially with open-source models.
Similar concerns arise in the Arabic-speaking world. “If English dominates the training process, the answers will be filtered through a Western lens rather than an Arab one,” says Mekki Habib, a robotics professor at the American University in Cairo. A 2024 preprint from the Tunisian AI firm Clusterlab finds that many multilingual models fail to capture Arabic’s syntactic complexity or cultural frames of reference, particularly in dialect-rich contexts.
Governments step in
For many countries in the Global South, the stakes are geopolitical as well as linguistic. Dependence on Western or Chinese AI infrastructure could mean diminished sovereignty over information, technology, and even national narratives. In response, governments are pouring resources into creating their own models.
Saudi Arabia’s national AI authority, SDAIA, has built ‘ALLaM,’ an Arabic-first model based on Meta’s LLaMa-2, enriched with more than 540 billion Arabic tokens. The United Arab Emirates has backed several initiatives, including ‘Jais,’ an open-source Arabic-English model built by MBZUAI in collaboration with US chipmaker Cerebras Systems and the Abu Dhabi firm Inception. Another UAE-backed project, Noor, focuses on educational and Islamic applications.
In Qatar, researchers at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and the Qatar Computing Research Institute, have developed the Fanar platform and its LLMs Fanar Star and Fanar Prime. Trained on a trillion tokens of Arabic, English, and code, Fanar’s tokenization approach is specifically engineered to reflect Arabic’s rich morphology and syntax.
India has emerged as a major hub for AI localization. In 2024, the government launched BharatGen, a public-private initiative funded with 235 crore (€26 million) initiative aimed at building foundation models attuned to India’s vast linguistic and cultural diversity. The project is led by the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay and also involves its sister organizations in Hyderabad, Mandi, Kanpur, Indore, and Madras. The programme’s first product, e-vikrAI, can generate product descriptions and pricing suggestions from images in various Indic languages. Startups like Ola-backed Krutrim and CoRover’s BharatGPT have jumped in, while Google’s Indian lab unveiled MuRIL, a language model trained exclusively on Indian languages. The Indian governments’ AI Mission has received more than180 proposals from local researchers and startups to build national-scale AI infrastructure and large language models, and the Bengaluru-based company, AI Sarvam, has been selected to build India’s first ‘sovereign’ LLM, expected to be fluent in various Indian languages.
In Africa, much of the energy comes from the ground up. Masakhane NLP and Deep Learning Indaba, a pan-African academic movement, have created a decentralized research culture across the continent. One notable offshoot, Johannesburg-based Lelapa AI, launched InkubaLM in September 2024. It’s a ‘small language model’ (SLM) focused on five African languages with broad reach: Swahili, Hausa, Yoruba, isiZulu and isiXhosa.
“With only 0.4 billion parameters, it performs comparably to much larger models,” says Rosman. The model’s compact size and efficiency are designed to meet Africa’s infrastructure constraints while serving real-world applications. Another African model is UlizaLlama, a 7-billion parameter model developed by the Kenyan foundation Jacaranda Health, to support new and expectant mothers with AI-driven support in Swahili, Hausa, Yoruba, Xhosa, and Zulu.
India’s research scene is similarly vibrant. The AI4Bharat laboratory at IIT Madras has just released IndicTrans2, that supports translation across all 22 scheduled Indian languages. Sarvam AI, another startup, released its first LLM last year to support 10 major Indian languages. And KissanAI, co-founded by Pratik Desai, develops generative AI tools to deliver agricultural advice to farmers in their native languages.
The data dilemma
Yet building LLMs for underrepresented languages poses enormous challenges. Chief among them is data scarcity. “Even Hindi datasets are tiny compared to English,” says Tapas Kumar Mishra, a professor at the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela in eastern India. “So, training models from scratch is unlikely to match English-based models in performance.”
Rosman agrees. “The big-data paradigm doesn’t work for African languages. We simply don’t have the volume.” His team is pioneering alternative approaches like the Esethu Framework, a protocol for ethically collecting speech datasets from native speakers and redistributing revenue back to further development of AI tools for under-resourced languages. The project’s pilot used read speech from isiXhosa speakers, complete with metadata, to build voice-based applications.
In Arab nations, similar work is underway. Clusterlab’s 101 Billion Arabic Words Dataset is the largest of its kind, meticulously extracted and cleaned from the web to support Arabic-first model training.
The cost of staying local
But for all the innovation, practical obstacles remain. “The return on investment is low,” says KissanAI’s Desai. “The market for regional language models is big, but those with purchasing power still work in English.” And while Western tech companies attract the best minds globally, including many Indian and African scientists, researchers at home often face limited funding, patchy computing infrastructure, and unclear legal frameworks around data and privacy.
“There’s still a lack of sustainable funding, a shortage of specialists, and insufficient integration with educational or public systems,” warns Habib, the Cairo-based professor. “All of this has to change.”
A different vision for AI
Despite the hurdles, what’s emerging is a distinct vision for AI in the Global South – one that favours practical impact over prestige, and community ownership over corporate secrecy.
“There’s more emphasis here on solving real problems for real people,” says Nawale of AI4Bharat. Rather than chasing benchmark scores, researchers are aiming for relevance: tools for farmers, students, and small business owners.
And openness matters. “Some companies claim to be open-source, but they only release the model weights, not the data,” Marivate says. “With InkubaLM, we release both. We want others to build on what we’ve done, to do it better.”
In a global contest often measured in teraflops and tokens, these efforts may seem modest. But for the billions who speak the world’s less-resourced languages, they represent a future in which AI doesn’t just speak to them, but with them."
Sibusiso Biyela, Amr Rageh and Shakoor Rather
20 May 2025
https://www.natureasia.com/en/nmiddleeast/article/10.1038/nmiddleeast.2025.65
#metaglossia_mundus
"This week’s conversation is about curiosity in translation and interpretation. Not just the literal, “how do you say this thing in that language?” but how do we use our curiosity to communicate our ideas effectively, to investigate what’s really being said when we’re quite literally not speaking one another’s language.
Luckily, there are people like Silvia Villacampa who have a few things to teach the rest of us…
Silvia Villacampa worked in medical interpretation and is now managing director of Liberty Language Services.
“In the moment, the curiosity must be around the culture of both parties, both speakers. Culture is language, language is culture. It’s all intertwined.” ~ Silvia Villacampa
Episode webpage and full show notes: https://lynnborton.com/2025/06/26/curiosity-in-translation-interpretation-with-silvia-villacampa/";
https://kpfa.org/episode/choose-to-be-curious-june-26-2025/
#metaglossia_mundus
A group of authors, including Pulitzer prize winner Kai Bird, accuse Microsoft of using copyrighted works to train its large language model.
by Suhasini Srinivasaragavan
26 JUN 2025
The latest complaint comes as Meta and Anthropic both receive legal relief in similar copyright lawsuits.
A group of authors has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft, accusing the tech giant of using copyrighted works to train its large language model (LLM).
The class action complaint filed by several authors and professors, including Pulitzer prize winner Kai Bird and Whiting award winner Victor LaVelle, claims that Microsoft ignored the law by downloading around 200,000 copyrighted works and feeding it to the company’s Megatron-Turing Natural Language Generation model.
The end result, the plaintiffs claim, is an AI model able to generate expressions that mimic the authors’ manner of writing and the themes in their work.
“Microsoft’s commercial gain has come at the expense of creators and rightsholders,” the lawsuit states. The complaint seeks to not just represent the plaintiffs, but other copyright holders under the US Copyright Act whose works were used by Microsoft for this training.
The aggrieved party seeks damages of up to $150,000 per infringed work, as well as an injunction prohibiting Microsoft from using any of their works without permission.
This latest lawsuit is yet another that seeks to challenge how AI models are trained. Visual artists, news publishers and authors are just some of the creators who claim that AI models infringe upon their rights.
However, yesterday (25 June), a US court ruled that Meta’s training of AI models on copyrighted books fell under the “fair use” doctrine of copyright law.
The lawsuit was brought by author Richard Kadrey and others back in 2023.
Earlier this year, the authors’ counsel claimed that Meta allowed its LLM Llama to commit copyright infringement on pirated data and upload it for commercial gain.
In the decision yesterday, the judge said that the ruling does not mean that Meta’s use of copyrighted materials to train its LLM is lawful but that the plaintiffs “made the wrong arguments”, ultimately failing to prove their case.
He added that Meta’s use of the copyrighted works was “transformative” and the authors failed to provide any meaningful evidence of “market dilution” resulting from Meta’s actions. As a result, he said Meta was entitled to a summary judgement on its fair use defence.
While in another blow to authors, a different US court earlier this week ruled that Anthropic’s use of purchased books to train Claude AI also qualifies as “fair use”.
This case was brought by Andrea Bartz, Charles Graeber and Kirk Wallace Johnson in 2024, who claimed that Anthropic used pirated versions of various copyrighted material to train Claude, its flagship AI model.
However, “Claude created no exact copy, nor any substantial knock-off. Nothing traceable to [the plaintiffs’] works,” the judge wrote in his summary judgement. The judge said that Anthropic must face a separate trial for the claim that it pirated works from the internet.
Although, it appears that Big Tech companies, at times, acknowledge the role copyright holders play in creating the primary data from which their AI models learn.
Last year, Bloomberg reported that Microsoft and publishing giant HarperCollins signed a content licensing deal where the tech giant could use some of HarperCollins’ books for AI training.
While AI search engine Perplexity, which has repeatedly come under fire for allegedly scraping content from news publishers, also launched a revenue sharing platform with publishers after receiving backlash.
Meanwhile OpenAI has a content-sharing deal for ChatGPT with more than 160 outlets in several languages.
Earlier this year, Thomson Reuters CPO David Wong told SiliconRepublic.com that not only is it possible to create AI systems that respect copyright, but that respecting copyright will further those systems and improve accessibility to information.
Recent rulings seem to place Big Tech as the emerging winner in the AI fair use battle. Still, companies such as OpenAI and Microsoft continue to battle similar lawsuits."
https://www.siliconrepublic.com/business/microsoft-lawsuit-ai-copyright-kai-bird-victor-lavelle
#metaglossia_mundus
Nearly 3 in 4 Imperial County residents speak mostly Spanish at home.
"A new California bill could force local governments in Imperial County to start translating their agendas into Spanish. The lack of translation has kept many county residents from fully participating in the democratic process.
An immigrant worker, who was arrested during a raid outside a hardware store in Pomona in April, has been released from ICE custody. Now, immigrant rights advocates are pushing for the release of two other workers still in detention.
State Bill Would Require Imperial County To Translate Key Documents Into Spanish
Last September, dozens of public speakers gathered at the Imperial County Board of Supervisors meeting in El Centro. They were there to comment on the county’s proposed lithium spending plan — part of a major discussion taking place across the county about future tax revenue from the burgeoning industry. But some of the speakers also wanted to talk about something else.
“There’s no Spanish translation of the updated plan,” said Fernanda Vega, an organizer with the Imperial Valley Equity and Justice Coalition. “We cannot continue to push aside Spanish-speaking residents, especially when their health and livelihoods are at stake.” Nearly 3 in 4 Imperial County residents speak mostly Spanish at home, and more than a quarter don’t speak English fluently, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But the county government and many cities often don’t publish translated versions of agendas and other key documents. Without consistent Spanish translation in local government, these residents are in essence locked out of the democratic process.
Now, a new California bill could force the county government and the region’s two largest cities to start offering Spanish translations of their meeting agendas, which are currently published only in English. Among other changes, SB 707 would require that certain counties and cities with large communities who speak languages other than English translate their agendas and also provide translated instructions for tuning into meetings remotely. In a speech on the California Senate floor earlier this month, the bill’s author, state Sen. María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), said it would make it easier for non-English speakers to follow local government meetings and strengthen access to the democratic process.
Pomona Day Laborer Released From ICE Custody Faces Work Ban
A day laborer arrested during an immigration enforcement raid outside a hardware store in Pomona in April has been released from custody, but now faces release conditions that immigrant rights advocates call punitive. They’re also pushing for the release of two other workers still in detention.
Sponsored
Edvin Juarez Cobon and nine other day laborers, or jornaleros in Spanish, were arrested by Border Patrol at a Home Depot on April 22. Cobon was released on bond on June 13 under ICE’s Alternatives to Detention program, after being held for nearly two months at the Imperial Detention Facility. Cobon, who is Guatemalan, is now required to wear an ankle monitor and is prohibited from working.
“I’m worried because my family depends on me,” Cobon said in Spanish. “I’m not someone who stays home. I want to be able to work to make ends meet.” Alexis Teodoro, workers’ rights director at the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center (PEOC), said he’s never seen immigration officials restrict someone’s ability to work. “I think it’s part of the strategy of the administration doing everything it can, every step of the way,” said Teodoro, “to make the lives of immigrants impossible so they can self-deport.”"
Keith Mizuguchi
Jun 26
https://www.kqed.org/news/12046054/new-bill-would-require-imperial-county-to-offer-spanish-translations-of-agendas
#metaglossia_mundus
Since April 2024, the word slop has gained traction online, with online searches for the term AI slop increasing dramatically - EducationTimes.com
"Cambridge Dictionary Includes ‘Slop’ As The Low-Quality Content Generated By AI
Cambridge Dictionary includes ‘Slop’ as the low-quality content generated by AI
Since April 2024, the word slop has gained traction online, with online searches for the term AI slop increasing dramatically
TNN | Posted June 24, 2025 05:19 PM
As a new Artificial Intelligence-related definition of the word slop enters the Cambridge Dictionary, language experts are tracking emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) terms. Traditionally used as the word to define liquid or wet food waste, especially when it is fed to animals, slop has found new meaning due to the rapid rise of AI. As per the newly added definition, slop refers to content on the internet that is of very low quality, especially when it is created by artificial intelligence.
Since April 2024, slop has gained traction online, with online searches for the term AI slop increasing dramatically and continuing to grow.
Colin McIntosh, programme manager, Cambridge Dictionary, said, “The updated entry reflects growing concerns about increasing amounts of low-quality content created by AI. It is an important reminder that quality and integrity remain unmistakably human. In an era of machine-made content, those values are more crucial than ever.”
Wendalyn Nichols, publishing manager, Cambridge Dictionary, said, “Think of email in the 90s or hashtag in the 2000s. Now, AI-related words are becoming increasingly part of our everyday lives. It is our job to track terms used in popular culture and add the ones that are likely to have staying power to the Dictionary.”
Emerging new AI words
Other new words about AI identified by lexicographers at the Cambridge Dictionary reflect the evolving English language as technology continues to re-shape our world. Terms such as AI washing, the behaviour of a company or organisation that tries to make people believe that it is using AI to make its products or services better, when really it is not doing this or is only partly doing it; and decel, someone who believes that AI and other new technologies are developing so quickly that they are likely to cause very serious problems and that progress should be deliberately slowed down, are being monitored for possible inclusion in the Cambridge Dictionary.
Other AI terms which are being monitored by Cambridge Dictionary lexicographers include Neocloud, a noun, which is used to refer to a start-up that specialises in AI-based cloud computing. Meta face, noun, which refers to a trend where photos that have been enhanced using AI technology make everyone look similarly flawless and unrealistically beautiful.
The lexicographers are also monitoring abbreviations such as BYOAI, which is an abbreviation for “bring your own artificial intelligence”: the practice of companies saying that employees can use their own artificial intelligence tools when at work. E/acc is a noun and an abbreviation for “effective accelerationism”: a movement that believes AI and other new technologies should be allowed to develop as quickly as possible without any restrictions.
Some other terms include Artificial superintelligence, a noun, which is used to define a type of artificial intelligence that is much more intelligent than any human and can think, act, learn, etc., independently and beyond the abilities of people. Agentic AI, noun, a term used to describe a type of artificial intelligence that can make decisions and take actions without the need for human input. Intention economy, noun, which is used to refer to a system in which AI learns what people are likely to want to buy or do in the future, with companies using the information to create corresponding products and services."
https://www.educationtimes.com/article/newsroom/99738869/cambridge-dictionary-includes-slop-as-the-low-quality-content-generated-by-ai
#metaglossia_mundus
Shoogly, skooshy, beamer and bummer are among 13 new entries added by editors at the OED.
"Oxford English Dictionary is hoaching with new Scottish words
A total beamer - a football fan deals with Scotland's elimination from a tournament
The Oxford English Dictionary is hoaching with new Scottish words - with beamer, bummer and tattie scone among 13 new entries.
There is also a listing for Scotland's shoogly subway trains - not the kind of place where passengers would want to risk using skooshy cream.
Many of the new additions have a food theme, with Lorne sausage, morning rolls and playpiece also making the grade.
Oxford English Dictionary (OED) editors say they will consider a new word for inclusion when they have gathered enough independent examples of its usage "from a good variety of sources".
They said there also has to be evidence that a word has been in use for a "reasonable amount of time".
Some of the words date back to the 1700s and already feature in Scots language dictionaries.
They are among nearly 600 new words and phrases adopted into the OED.
What new Scottish words are in the OED?
The streets are hoaching during the Edinburgh Festival, if you're planning to chum someone along
Aye, right - A sarcastic phrase - used ironically to express contempt or incredulity. Similar to "yeah, right".
Beamer - A term for a flushed or blushing face, especially one resulting from embarrassment. Extended to mean a humiliating or shameful situation.
Bummer - A person in a position of authority. Normally used in the expression "heid (head) bummer". It sometimes has a humorous suggestion of pomposity or officiousness.
Chum - To join someone as a companion, as in "I'll chum you along".
Hoaching - Crowded, swarming or thronging. It is derived from the verb "hotch" - to swarm', dating back to 1797.
Morton's rolls
A well-fired morning roll, perfect for a slice of square sausage
Lorne or Square sausage - Sausage meat formed into square slices that are grilled or fried.
Morning roll - A soft white bread roll, its first usage dating back to Farmer's Magazine in 1801.
Playpiece - A snack taken to school by children to eat during the morning break or playtime. Also used in Northern Ireland.
Shoogly - A word used to mean unstable or wobbly. The OED cites it being used to describe to describe Glasgow's unsteady subway carriages.
Skooshy - Applied to anything that can be squirted. Whipped cream squirted from an aerosol can is often called "skooshy cream" north of the border.
Tattie scone - A type of flat savoury cake made with flour and mashed cooked potatoes. Goes nicely with square sausage on a morning roll.
Well-fired - Refers to rolls baked until brown or black and crusty on top."
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crenw75rlr1o
#metaglossia_mundus
Peformance Interpretation Limited are on the Isle of Wight for the first time.
"The Isle of Wight Festival is for everyone - and British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters ensure that those who are deaf or hard of hearing can enjoy the music too.
Performance Interpreting Limited are at the festival for the first time in 2025, providing interpretations of performances.
The Isle of Wight Festival's adoption of BSL sees them join many major festivals in offering the language, which makes the event more accessible.
Lynn, co-ordinator of interpretations at the festival, said: "We’re here on the Isle of Wight for the first time as part of Performance Interpreting Limited.
The Corrs go down a storm at Isle of Wight Festival 2025
Emmanuel Kelly feels "part of something iconic" at Isle of Wight Festival 2025
"We’ll be covering around 10 to 15 acts overall, plus any additional requests that come in."
"Our interpreters are prepared for impromptu, last‑minute requests."
The team, five-strong at the Isle of Wight Festival, attend many events across the summer.
Lynn said: "It’s not just festivals, it’s also concerts and sporting events. We will be there."
Interpreters recently provided BSL at Download Festival, and will continue to sign at events throughout the summer.
BSL is a welcome addition to the Isle of Wight Festival, with many benefitting from the interpretations and able to enjoy the music too.
Follow the County Press's live coverage of the Isle of Wight Festival throughout the weekend"
https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/25256830.bsl-interpretation-isle-wight-festival-2025/
#metaglossia_mundus
Incorpora la inteligencia artificial en sus estudios mientras sus responsables evidencian que una correcta interpretación requiere intervención humana
"La Facultad de Traducción de Soria se defiende: «La IA no puede leer entre líneas»
Incorpora la inteligencia artificial en sus estudios mientras sus responsables evidencian que una correcta interpretación requiere intervención humana
La Facultad de Traducción e Interpretación se creó hace 29 años en el Campus de Soria.
Milagros Hervada
Soria
23.06.2025 | 12:00
Actualizado: 23.06.2025 | 19:01
Hacerse entender y comprender otros idiomas es cada vez más sencillo gracias a la inteligencia artificial, IA, pero los resultados no son siempre los deseados. Desde la Facultad de Traducción e Interpretación del Campus Universitario de Soria, dependiente de la Universidad de Valladolid, reconocen que la IA es una herramienta más en su trabajo, aunque les está haciendo «daño», pero también recalcan, «es imposible sustituir al traductor humano».
Y eso es así porque «la IA no puede leer entre líneas», defiende el decano de la facultad, Miguel Ibáñez, quien matiza que «no lee las connotaciones», por lo que «para la traducción de una ruta turística puede valer, pero un texto publicable, un libro, si es importante para la venta de un producto, requiere una revisión», y esa sólo puede hacerla el humano, asegura, por eso se da el caso de que hay empresas que «vuelven al traductor humano y genera más trabajo por la postedición». En resumen, «que no se trata únicamente de sustituir una palabra por otra».
Ibáñez reconoce que la matrícula ha decrecido en los últimos años. El pasado curso iniciaron primero 27 alumnos, y este verano abandonarán la facultad 35 graduados, además de los tres alumnos de máster, precisamente centrado en Entornos digitales multilingües. Igualmente Traducción ofrece formación de doctorado –conjunto con la Universidad de Alicante– y son muchos los que siguen este camino.
La facultad se adapta a los tiempos y también la inteligencia artificial está en sus dinámicas de estudio. De hecho, el decano apostilla que la IA propicia que se traduzca más, y de una forma más cómoda. Por eso la consideran «más que un enemigo, un aliado». Constituye una herramienta estupenda cuando se trata de una pretraducción que hace la máquina y que después requiere una revisión, porque «sólo establece referencias, pero sin saber qué dice». Es decir, traduce palabras pero «sin reflexión», añade Ibáñez, y sin el traductor humano se pierden matices y «es fundamental a la hora de interpretar porque una palabra tiene muchas acepciones».
La Facultad aporta un bagaje de casi 30 años en los que las tecnologías han ido a velocidad de crucero y sus clases se han ido adaptando a los tiempos. Recuerda el decano «cuando los alumnos iban con sus diccionarios en papel». Ahora es todo electrónico. «Surgieron programas de memoria de traducción y lo incorporamos. Ahora es la IA y eso facilita, pero requiere una revisión», insiste. Por eso el Grado incorpora asignaturas de postedición desde hace ya varios cursos.
...
La matrícula en la Universidad de Valladolid está viva en estos días tras las pruebas de acceso –el plazo de preinscripción es del 4 de junio al 4 de julio de 2025, y la matrícula para antiguos alumnos del 24 de junio al 10 julio– y Traducción e Interpretación defiende su espacio porque incorpora la nueva tecnología, ofrece una formación muy personalizada «y un trato cercano». De hecho, la facultad se planificó para no ser un centro masificado, con unas 60 ó 70 plazas.
https://www.heraldodiariodesoria.es/soria/250623/200944/facultad-traduccion-soria-defiende-frente-ia-leer-lineas.html
#metaglossia_mundus
"The future of simultaneous interpretation: AI and the human interpreter
The Future of Simultaneous Interpreting: Artificial Intelligence and the Irreplaceable Role of the Human Interpreter
The simultaneous interpreting sector is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. The emergence of artificial intelligence, remote interpreting platforms, and advances in real-time machine translation are reshaping the way multilingual events are organized. But do these changes represent an opportunity or a threat for professional interpreters?
At Código Lingua, with years of experience in simultaneous interpreting in Valencia and internationally, we analyze the most relevant technological innovations, their apparent advantages, and their real limitations. Because while technology is here to stay, the human factor remains essential to ensure precise, empathetic, and contextualized communication.
What is Changing in the Sector?
Digital Remote Interpreting Platforms
The rise of remote interpreting platforms has been one of the major changes, largely driven by the pandemic. These tools enable the provision of remote simultaneous interpreting services, connecting interpreters and listeners from anywhere in the world. For organizers, they offer a flexible and accessible alternative; for interpreters, an environment that requires new technical skills and constant adaptation.
Generative AI and Real-Time Automated Voice
Another significant innovation is the emergence of automated voice solutions using generative artificial intelligence to produce real-time translation. These tools, integrated into mobile devices or virtual assistants, promise fast translation in multiple languages without human intervention.
Although they are presented as an innovative solution, their use in formal and complex environments is still far from reliable. Simultaneous interpreting is not just about translating words, but about understanding and conveying tone, intent, and context. Using them for travel as a tourist may be somewhat useful, but we insist that, as of today, they are not a reliable tool to replace conference interpreters.
Machine Translation in Virtual Events
Machine translation systems have also proliferated in virtual events, especially webinars and e-learning platforms. Again, these tools can be useful to provide a general idea of the content, but they are far from delivering the necessary quality in situations where nuance, terminological precision, and communicative fluency are essential.
In this changing landscape, the challenge is clear: how to make the most of technology without losing the essence and value of the human interpreter.
Where Is AI Already Being Applied in Interpreting?
Artificial intelligence is already being used in some contexts where accuracy is not critical:
Tourism and basic multilingual customer service
Instant translation mobile apps
Internal corporate events, with low linguistic demands
Video tutorials or pre-recorded presentations with automatic translation
However, when it comes to international conferences, diplomatic negotiations, court proceedings, or technical presentations, the role of a professional interpreter remains irreplaceable. AI lacks the ability to interpret irony, manage non-verbal language, grasp cultural references, or adapt to unexpected situations in real time.
Advantages Promised by New Technological Solutions
New technologies applied to simultaneous interpreting undoubtedly offer several benefits:
Global accessibility: remote interpreting allows working with qualified interpreters regardless of their location.
Reduction of logistical costs: by eliminating travel or on-site equipment.
Speed of implementation: especially for virtual or hybrid events organized on short notice.
Compatibility with new platforms: integration with Zoom, Teams, Meet and other digital tools.
However, these advantages should not be confused with replacement. Technology can facilitate the interpreter’s work, but not replace them. As we know well at Código Lingua, the success of a multilingual event depends on the technical channel and the human and linguistic quality of the professional interpreter.
Risks of Relying Exclusively on AI in Multilingual Events
The advancement of artificial intelligence in the field of remote interpreting has generated great expectations, but also presents significant risks for the quality and reliability of communication in multilingual settings. At Código Lingua, specialists in simultaneous interpreting services in Valencia, we have observed how technology can be useful in very specific contexts, such as for interpreters’ prior preparation, but also how its indiscriminate use can negatively impact the development of a professional event.
When interpretation is entirely delegated to a machine, what is most valuable is lost: the ability to understand nuance, emotion, and context. Below, we analyze the main errors and risks of relying exclusively on AI during congresses, technical meetings, or international conferences.
Common mistakes in automatic interpretation
Ambiguity, irony, technical terms
Automatic interpretation often fails in aspects that are fundamental for a human interpreter. One of the most common mistakes is the poor handling of linguistic ambiguity: words with double meanings, colloquial expressions, or emotionally charged phrases can be misinterpreted or translated literally, leading to confusion or even serious misunderstandings.
Irony and humor are especially difficult for an automated system to grasp. At best, the communicative effect is lost; at worst, the wrong message is conveyed.
In technical or scientific events, specialized terminology requires in-depth knowledge of the subject. Machine translation often fails with technical terms, which compromises attendees’ understanding and the event’s reputation.
That is why relying on simultaneous interpreting services provided by professionals with specific training is essential to ensure the accuracy and coherence of the discourse.
Cultural or institutional context errors
An AI system does not understand the cultural or institutional codes surrounding a speech. In a political congress or an international summit, the human interpreter not only translates but interprets tone, cultural references, formal protocols, or diplomatic expressions.
Simultaneous interpreting in Valencia, when conducted by interpreters with local and international experience, allows the message to be adapted to the specific setting and helps avoid uncomfortable or inappropriate situations. AI, by contrast, lacks this adaptability and sensitivity.
Ethical and privacy implications
Data protection
When using automatic remote interpreting tools, it is important to consider where data is stored, who has access to recordings, and how information security is managed. Many automatic translation platforms use external servers without explicit privacy guarantees, putting the confidentiality of exchanged messages at risk.
In contrast, by hiring simultaneous interpreting services in Valencia with providers like Código Lingua, clients can be sure that all data protection regulations are met and that interpreters operate under strict professional confidentiality agreements.
Confidentiality in legal, political, or business settings
In sectors such as legal, business, or diplomatic, confidentiality is non-negotiable. The involvement of an automated tool may constitute a serious breach of privacy rights, with potential legal or institutional consequences.
Professional interpreters are trained to ensure neutrality, professional secrecy, and respect for the content being interpreted — something that no AI can reliably guarantee. Therefore, in these settings, human presence remains essential.
What happens when technology fails?
Automation is never free from technical risks. Connection outages, synchronization issues, audio errors, or platform malfunctions can leave attendees without access to interpretation during a key presentation. In onsite or hybrid events, this can compromise the entire session.
By contrast, simultaneous interpreting services managed by experienced professionals always include technical support: soundproof booths, specialized technicians, prior testing, and a human team ready to respond to unforeseen events.
Technology can fail. Human judgment cannot. That’s one of the reasons why more and more congress organizers, international forums, and specialized seminars continue to rely on professional interpreters.
The added value of the human interpreter in an automated world
In a context where artificial intelligence and automated platforms are advancing rapidly, it’s worth remembering that simultaneous interpreting is not just a mechanical transfer of words between languages. It is, above all, a human act of understanding, adaptation, and connection.
That is why working with a professional conference interpreter offers a series of irreplaceable advantages, especially in complex multilingual events such as congresses, symposiums, institutional meetings, or international forums. At Código Lingua, with extensive experience in simultaneous interpreting services in Valencia, we witness it every day: the best results are achieved when technology serves human talent — not the other way around.
Real-time adaptability
Program changes
In any event, no matter how well planned, last-minute changes are common: a speaker modifies their presentation, a new order of speakers is introduced, or someone unexpectedly joins the panel. A human interpreter can quickly adapt, reorganize their documentation, and maintain message coherence.
In contrast, an automated tool cannot improvise, anticipate, or modify its behavior based on a new instruction. This real-time adaptability is one of the pillars of the professional value interpreters provide.
Accents, emotions, interruptions
Simultaneous interpreting takes place in very diverse contexts, where speakers may have different accents, intonations, or levels of clarity. Moreover, the emotional component of a speech is often just as important as its content.
A professional interpreter knows how to handle a difficult accent, interpret a contained emotion, or resolve a sentence interrupted by audience reaction. That level of emotional and adaptive understanding is, for now, far beyond the reach of artificial intelligence.
Cultural knowledge and empathy
A key element that distinguishes a human interpreter from any automated system is their cultural knowledge and capacity for empathy.
In multilingual events involving participants from different countries, intercultural sensitivity is essential. The conference interpreter doesn’t just translate words: they contextualize, soften expressions, respect cultural protocols, and prevent misunderstandings stemming from social or institutional differences.
Thanks to their training and experience, a professional interpreter can detect when a phrase may be inappropriate in another culture and adapt it in real time to preserve the speaker’s intent without causing friction. This deeply human role is essential for successful international communication.
The interpreter’s presence as a guarantee of successful communication
Beyond the technique, the presence of the human interpreter at the event inspires confidence. For both the speaker and the audience, knowing that a real person is in charge of the interpretation conveys assurance, professionalism, and responsiveness.
Additionally, in simultaneous interpreting services in Valencia, working with local interpreters who understand the environment, the audience, and the specific sector of the event adds unquestionable value.
At Código Lingua, we advocate for a smart hybrid model, where technology is a useful tool but never a substitute for a trained professional. Because simultaneous interpreting is not just translation: it is understanding, conveying, and connecting.
Simultaneous interpreting in the digital age
Digitalization has opened up new possibilities in the field of simultaneous interpretation, especially with the rise of hybrid events. This format, which combines in-person and remote participation, requires an equally versatile linguistic solution that can maintain interpretation quality regardless of the channel.
In this context, simultaneous interpretation services for hybrid events must rely on technological tools, yes, but without losing the value of the human factor. The key to success lies in combining the support offered by new technologies with professional interpreters, who bring precision, empathy, and communication control.
How to choose the most suitable service depending on the type of event
When planning an international event, choosing the most suitable type of simultaneous interpretation service depends on several factors:
Is it in-person, virtual, or hybrid?
Which digital platforms will be used?
How many languages will be interpreted and in what format?
What is the profile of the audience and the speakers?
What is the level of technical complexity of the content?
Working with an experienced provider like Código Lingua allows for a complete and personalized evaluation, adapting the simultaneous interpretation services in Valencia to the specific needs of each client.
Technological evolution has transformed the way we communicate, but in the field of simultaneous interpretation, the human factor remains essential. Neither artificial intelligence nor automatic platforms can match the precision, empathy, and adaptability of a professional interpreter trained to act in real time, understand cultural nuances, and ensure smooth communication.
The value of professional interpretation
In hybrid events, technical conferences, or institutional meetings, relying on simultaneous interpretation services in Valencia provided by professionals like those at Código Lingua is a guarantee of quality, reliability, and the success of your multilingual event."
https://codigolingua.com/en/future-of-simultaneous-interpretation/
#metaglossia_mundus
"If language is power, why is Australia going quiet?
26 Jun 2025|Francesca Ciuffetelli
In 1992, Paul Keating said, ‘Asia is where our future substantially lies’. Decades later, the rhetoric remains, but the follow-through is still lacking. Despite Australia’s pivot to the Indo-Pacific, our cultural competency is inhibiting our progress, and our next generation of leaders is even less prepared.
National security decisions are often shaped by assumptions grounded in one’s own cultural framework. Misinterpreting another country’s motives, communication styles, or strategic behaviours due to cultural blind spots can escalate tensions or lead to strategic miscalculations. The cause of such blind spots lies within education systems that fail to equip future leaders with relevant regional knowledge and language skills, leaving them ill-prepared to understand or engage effectively with key Indo-Pacific partners.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, Asia-focused engagement in Australia rose, with a particular interest on educating our youth. Under former prime minister Keating, programs such as the Asia Education Foundation were launched, Indonesian became one of the most taught Asian languages, and regional literacy was seen as a national strategic asset. At its peak in 2002, more than 1,000 Victorian Year 12 students studied Indonesian, while more than 300 did so in New South Wales. These numbers reflected a clear priority: building a generation of Australians who understood our region not just strategically, but linguistically and culturally.
Two decades later, this promising momentum has collapsed. By 2022, only 387 students in Victoria and just 90 in NSW studied Indonesian at Year 12 level, a decline of more than 60 percent. While the Asia Education Foundation and other programs still exist today, numbers have plummeted due to a shifting policy focus, low visibility and a lack of strong political advocacy.
Conversely, interest in studying Indonesian has grown in China, with at least 19 Chinese universities offering related modules and exchange programs in Indonesia. This shift reflects a growing recognition of Indonesia’s strategic importance to China. It’s a deliberate investment in future regional understanding, one that recognises language and education as essential tools of strategic influence.
For Australia, this trend presents a strategic challenge. As China equips a new generation of students with the linguistic and cultural tools to engage directly with Indonesian counterparts, it is also enhancing its ability to build trust, shape regional narratives and embed itself more deeply in key diplomatic, economic and security conversations. Without a comparable level of cultural and linguistic capability, Australian officials and institutions may find it increasingly difficult to engage with nuance, foster sustained partnerships, or counter competing narratives in the region. Over time, this capability gap could erode Australia’s relative influence in Indonesia and limit its ability to respond effectively to regional developments.
From a national security perspective, this matters. Language proficiency is not simply a communicative skill; it is a strategic enabler. Security outcomes improve when decision-makers possess cultural intelligence: the ability to interpret behaviour through the lens of another’s worldview. This intelligence is cultivated early, through education that prioritises understanding cultures and languages of Australia’s strategic region, rather than defaulting to traditional Eurocentric languages currently popular within our education system such as French and Italian.
National security training must begin long before entry into government. If Australia is serious about its place in the Indo-Pacific, we need to inspire the next generation to engage with the region. That means embedding cultural competency into the classroom. Expanding regional studies and prioritising languages such as Indonesian and Mandarin should be a national priority, not an afterthought. These languages reflect our geopolitical reality and are key to fostering culturally literate analysts, diplomats and policymakers.
To reverse declining enrolments, students need to see tangible value in choosing these pathways. That could mean higher university admission bonuses for strategic languages, scholarships for study abroad, or guaranteed internships in government and industry for high-achieving language students. These incentives work. A study found that over half of senior students said a university admission bonus had influenced their decision to continue language study into Year 12. The same paper also confirmed that bonus points, clearer university pathways and strategic messaging helped boost enrolments. When students see tangible academic and career value, they are more likely to commit to languages that reflect Australia’s regional future.
At the same time, we must support the teachers delivering this capability. A 2021 report commissioned by the Asia Education Foundation highlighted persistent challenges, including teacher shortages, limited training and a failure to properly integrate Indonesian studies into the curriculum.
Continuing to prioritise such European languages as French and Italian, while culturally enriching, risks reinforcing a Eurocentric bias that no longer aligns with Australia’s strategic future. If Australia wants to lead in the Indo-Pacific, we must invest in the cultural and linguistic capability of our youth. This is not just about language; it’s about building a generation that understands, respects, and can navigate the complexities of our region. By incentivising students and empowering teachers, we can turn cultural competency from a gap in our national security into one of our greatest strengths."
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/if-language-is-power-why-is-australia-going-quiet/
#metaglossia_mundus
"Feature: Arabic-dubbed Chinese animation "Ne Zha 2" premiers in Riyadh
Source: XinhuaEditor: huaxia2025-06-26 19:24:30
RIYADH, June 26 (Xinhua) -- A soft ripple of guzheng music floated through the foyer of Reel Cinema in northern Riyadh on Wednesday night as dozens of movie-goers posed beneath a towering poster of Ne Zha 2, the first time the Chinese animation blockbuster has reached Saudi screens in Arabic.
Among the early arrivals was Bushra al-Dawood, a journalist for the Saudi outlet Gorgeous. To celebrate the premiere, she paired a black abaya embroidered with red crimson blossoms and matching red shoes. "A nod to the fiery spirit of Chinese culture and Ne Zha," she smiled. "The film's landscapes are so vivid that I can't wait to travel there and see those mountains and rivers for myself."
Inside the 200-seat auditorium, laughter, gasps and spontaneous applause punctuated the two-hour screening of the Arabic-dubbed edition, which blends standard Arabic with Saudi, Egyptian and other dialects. When the lights came up, clusters of children rushed back to the poster for selfies, while adults lingered in animated debate about the plot's twists and mythical creatures.
"The movie is visually stunning, the story is beautiful, and I had no trouble following it thanks to the Arabic dub," said Shahad, a fourth-year Chinese-language major at King Saud University. "I saw posters of Ne Zha 2 all over China during a summer camp but never caught a screening there. The moment I heard it would open in Riyadh, I signed up right away. I'll be back with my family."
The film's Saudi distributor, CineWaves Films, believes the combination of state-of-the-art animation and localised dialogue will broaden its appeal.
"'Ne Zha 2' is a high-quality, truly original work that speaks to audiences everywhere," said Faisal Baltyuor, CineWaves chairman. "By dubbing it into Saudi dialect we remove the language barrier and make the story even more inviting for local viewers."
Directed by Chinese filmmaker Jiaozi, Ne Zha 2 continues the coming-of-age saga of the rebellious boy-god first introduced in 2019's record-breaking Ne Zha. This time the stakes are higher, the universe larger and the visuals more ambitious, with richly textured dragons, fiery battles and sweeping panoramas rendered in full 3-D.
Saudi animation veteran Malik Nejer, who supervised the Arabic version, said selecting different dialects for rival clans helped newcomers navigate a world rooted in Chinese folklore.
"Many Arab viewers don't know Chinese mythology," Nejer explained. "So we matched each on-screen tribe with a distinct Arabic dialect. It guides the audience through the plot and mirrors the linguistic diversity of our own region."
He also mentioned when concepts had no exact equivalent, the team searched for cultural parallels, "letting viewers feel an instant connection."
Backed by CineWaves and Dubai-based PBA Entertainment, Ne Zha 2 opens nationwide in Saudi Arabia on Thursday and will roll out to the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar in early July.
"We've seen Chinese products expand abroad in waves. Now it's time for cultural exports," said PBA chairman Shi Kejun. "With Saudi-China ties deepening, I'm confident we'll soon see more Chinese films not only screened here but even shot on Saudi locations."
Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Chang Hua called the premiere "a highlight of the 2025 China-Saudi Cultural Year," which also marks 35 years of diplomatic relations.
"By hearing the story in their own language, Saudi audiences can better appreciate China's rich mythological heritage," Chang told Xinhua. "We hope the film sparks wider interest in Chinese culture and inspires further collaboration in creative industries."
As the last viewers drifted out into the warm Riyadh night, reporter Bushra al-Dawood adjusted her red-blossom abaya and waved goodbye: "Ne Zha's courage will stay with me, and my next stop would be those beautiful Chinese landscapes!" Enditem."
https://english.news.cn/20250626/01632ddf08e1406c83deb3e2d1aa3eb6/c.html
#metaglossia_mundus
"Du 26 Juin 2025 au 27 Juin 2025
À : Université Lyon 2, Campus Berges du Rhône - voir sur une carte
Publié le 26 Juin 2025 par Marc Escola
Colloque international organisé par
Baudouin Millet (Université Lumière – Lyon 2, laboratoire LCE)
et Carine Barbafieri (Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France, Laboratoire LARSH)
Retrouver sur Fabula l'appel à contributions…
—
Programme du colloque
Jeudi 26 juin 2025
14h. Mot d’accueil de la directrice du laboratoire LCE, Pascale Tollance, et introduction de Baudouin Millet et Carine Barbafieri.
Présidence de séance : Marie Nadia Karsky
14h30 Claude Bourqui (Université de Lausanne), « L’humour moliéresque : principes et procédés ».
15h. Michèle Vignaux (Université Lumière – Lyon 2), « “French Plays, in which true wit’s as rarely found / As Mines of Silver are in English ground”, ou comment “améliorer” les pièces de Molière.
Pause
16h. Clara Manco (Université Paris Cité), « The Sullen Lovers (1668) ou Molière comme stratégie ».
16h30. Line Cottegnies (Sorbonne Université), « Le polyglottisme chez Molière et chez Aphra Behn dans Sir Patient Fancy (1678) ».
20h. Dîner
—
Vendredi 27 juin 2025
Présidence de séance : Marc Martinez
9h30. Thomas Barège (Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France), « Traduction des “gasconneries” et autres hétérolinguismes de Molière en anglais ».
10h. Baudouin Millet (Université Lumière – Lyon 2), « Les plaisanteries de Molière et le personnage du fop dans les comédies de la Restauration ».
10h30. Pause
Présidence de séance : Clara Manco
11h. Marc Martinez (Université de Rouen), « Transposition et recréation des plaisanteries de Molière : du jeu verbal au jeu théâtral dans The Miser de Henry Fielding (1733) ».
11h30 Véronique Lochert (Université de Haute-Alsace), « Traduire Molière au féminin ».
Déjeuner
Présidence de séance : Line Cottegnies
14h. Suzanne Jones (Cambridge University), « “Laughter is the best medicine” ? Traduire la satire médicale de Molière au-delà de la Manche et à travers le temps »
14h30. Marie Nadia Karsky (Université Paris 8 – Vincennes Saint-Denis), « “Vous vous moquez, je pense ?” Plaisanter avec Molière dans quelques versions britanniques contemporaines du Misanthrope ».
15h. Véronique Duché (University of Melbourne) et Kirk Weeden (Monash University), « Molière aux antipodes ».
15h30. Clôture du colloque."
https://www.fabula.org/actualites/128415/traduire-et-adapter-les-plaisanteries-de-moliere-en-anglais-du.html
#metaglossia_mundus
"Navigating Cultural Differences: Insights from an Intercultural Relationship
22 Juni 2025 21:50 Diperbarui: 22 Juni 2025 21:50 135 0 0
The YouTube video “CULTURAL DIFFERENCES | INTERCULTURAL RELATIONSHIP!” by Steven & Monica offers a glimpse into the complexities and rewards of navigating an intercultural relationship. The couple, initially from different countries, share their experiences with cultural differences that affect their relationship. This analysis will discover some of the main points stated in the video, offering an overview of the challenges and victories of intercultural couples.
Some points about intercultural relationships that we have from the video are:
Communication Styles
The first point that can be analyzed from Steven and Monica's relationship is their communication styles. They come from different countries; Monica is from Honduras, so she speaks Spanish, and her husband, Steven, is from France, so he speaks French. Although her mother tongue is Spanish, she can speak French but is not a hundred percent fluent. Sometimes, she says phrases or expressions that she uses in her country, and it sounds quite strange but funny to her husband. Furthermore, they both can speak English, so it helps them to communicate. Monica and Steven can communicate fluently although their first languages are different. However, many people perhaps have difficulties overcoming language barriers when they speak with someone who has a different first language. There are several guidelines offered by Reynolds and Valentine (2011) in their book titled Guide to Cross-cultural Communication (Second Edition). One of the things must be attended to is word choices. We must be careful to choose words and avoid disrespectful words when we speak with someone who has a different language, especially if they are non-natives English speakers. Back to the Monica and Steven case, Steven does not use disrespectful words when Monica says something strange and it reflects a healthy cross-cultural communication.
Family Dynamics and Expectations
In Honduras, there is a tradition to spend time with family at night when dinner, unlike in a big city of France which is quite busy with their work and they do not really have so much time to spend with families. So, it feels weird for the husband to spend more than two hours with the family to get to know each other after having dinner together. However, they respect each other and learn to understand their partners’ different cultures. This intercultural relationship shows different cultures in terms of high and low context culture. As in Guide to Cross-cultural Communication (Second Edition) by Reynolds and Valentine (2011), the low context culture emphasizes individual initiative (work, eat, sleep, work again, and so on) while high context culture emphasizes on spending time to maintain strong relationships with family and friends.
Cultural Values and Beliefs
They indeed have different cultures because they come from different countries. There are several cultural differences such as lifestyle. In France, especially in Paris (a big city), the routine is around sleep, work, and eating. Although it is only common in big cities. Meanwhile, in Honduras, they usually spend more time with their friends and family. They must be able to adapt because of their different lifestyle. Moreover, French's food and Honduras' food are very different. In French, the main meal is bread. Bread is like drinking water there. Meanwhile, in Honduras, they love to eat spicy and fried stuff. It is totally different and they must adapt with it. Besides lifestyle and food, there are religious differences between French and Honduras. In Honduras, people prioritize going to church (for Christians) but in French people mostly do not really concern about that. Although they have different beliefs, they still respect each other. The last one is about table manners. In French, they have a knife, a fork, and a spoon to eat in three sections such as entry, meat dish, and dessert. Meanwhile, in Honduras people usually can eating only use their fingers. Those cultural differences does not make them feel impossible for them to live together. As long as they both can respect each other and learn to understand each other. A relationship with different cultures is challenging, as Monica and Steven who have so many differences in their lifestyle. Thus, the couple must learn how to understand each other's cultures as in the book Guide to Cross-cultural Communication by Reynolds and Valentine (2011), such as understanding how low and high context cultures communicate with others, view the relationship with others, and rely on others in their life.
Conflict Resolution
Couples from different cultures often have different ways of dealing with problems. Some like to talk to the point, while others prefer to remain silent to protect their feelings. This video shows that the key is to understand each other's communication style. For example, when one party is angry, it may be their way of showing concern, not because they hate each other, we have to understand that. Successful couples usually make ground rules such as not shouting during an argument or giving time to calm down before discussing to solve the problem. So the problem is discussed with a cool head. They also learn to ask, "What do you really mean?" rather than immediately getting angry when there is a misunderstanding. The point is, conflict is not avoided, but managed patiently and wisely.
https://www.kompasiana.com/akusylca17936/684f0607ed64153b6276c432/navigating-cultural-differences-insights-from-an-intercultural-relationshipi
#metaglossia_mundus
"SAN ANTONIO — Truckers are legally required to speak and read English proficiently to drive their rigs. This isn't new. But starting today they can no longer use aids, like apps or translation books to help them.
The president signed an 'executive order' earlier in the year, citing safety as the reason.
We visited a San Antonio truck stop for 30 minutes and three out of 5 drivers we spoke to could not speak fluent English with us.
Trucker Mark Bolen says that's unsafe.
“You see road construction and all sorts of other signs that you kind of have to know exactly. They say you know all the lanes are closed.” Bolen said.
Before drivers would be allowed to use a translation device, but not anymore.
“You need to read and write in English. it's very important especially in the United States regardless if we're this close to the border of Mexico.” truck driver Reuben Talamantez said.
John Esparza is President and CEO of the Texas Trucking Association, he represents about one thousand different trucking companies and it will be up to officers who pull trucks over.
“There's no place in the state that would be off limits for our enforcement community,” Esparza said.
Sid Miller the Texas Agriculture Commissioner says he supports the new law but it could cause a short term pinch in the shipment of agriculture products but it won't be long.
“We will get our agricultural products to the consumer. I can promise you that.” Miller said.
The new language requirement will be enforced from a traffic violation, like a busted taillight or lane violation, or a set inspection at a weigh station.
That's when law enforcement would engage the driver in conversation, and then evaluate their ability to understand and respond."
https://foxsanantonio.com/newsletter-daily/new-order-bans-translation-aids-for-truckers-sparking-concern-over-safety-and-efficiency-texas-trucking-association-sid-miller-agriculture-commissioner
#metaglossia_mundus
"COLOGNE, Germany, June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DeepL, a leading global Language AI company, today announced the addition of three new languages to its platform: Vietnamese, Hebrew and an early access version of Thai, currently available on the DeepL API. These updates bring the total number of languages supported by DeepL Translator to 36, further empowering businesses around the world to overcome communication barriers and drive global growth and connectivity.
Additionally, DeepL has enhanced its document translation functionality by adding support for Arabic and Traditional Chinese. The addition of the two languages ensures users can translate entire documents in seconds, while maintaining the original formatting.
"The introduction of these languages is a direct response to demand we're hearing from our customers and will significantly enhance their daily operations," said David Parry-Jones, CRO at DeepL. "Vietnamese and Thai, in particular, are crucial for our manufacturing clients, enabling their teams to communicate swiftly and effectively with colleagues and partners across the Asia-Pacific region."
The expansion of DeepL's language support underscores the company's ongoing commitment to delivering precise, enterprise-grade translations tailored to real business needs. By adding these highly requested languages, DeepL is enhancing support for organizations operating across diverse linguistic and cultural contexts.
Key announcement highlights include:
Three new languages: Vietnamese, Hebrew and an early access version of Thai are now available on DeepL Translator and the DeepL API, bringing the total supported languages to 36. Thai is currently only available on the DeepL API, and will become available on web, mobile and desktop apps in the near future.
All languages in next-generation LLM: All languages are now live on DeepL's next-generation LLM, giving users enhanced precision and parity across the platform.
Enhanced document translation: The addition of Arabic and Traditional Chinese within DeepL's document translation functionality offers users broader compatibility for handling complex multilingual documents.
Jarek Kutylowski, CEO and Founder of DeepL, emphasized the vital role of Language AI in reshaping global communication. "More than 200,000 global business customers rely on the DeepL platform to operate and grow across borders. With every new language we add, we build a bridge between people and markets, expanding businesses' reach and accelerating their ability to compete globally."
Learn more about DeepL and experience the new languages today at www.deepl.com."
https://www.ktsm.com/business/press-releases/cision/20250624NE14311/deepl-accelerates-global-business-connectivity-and-document-translation-with-new-languages/
#metaglossia_mundus
The Language Translation Device Market was valued at USD 1.22 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 3.46 billion by 2032, registering a CAGR of 12.37% from 2024 to 2032.”
"Language Translation Device Market is growing rapidly due to AI advances, global travel, digital use, and cross-cultural communication demand.
Pune, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Language Translation Device Market Size Analysis:
“The Language Translation Device Market was valued at USD 1.22 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 3.46 billion by 2032, registering a CAGR of 12.37% from 2024 to 2032.”
This expansion is mainly the product of the increase of globalization, the boom of international tourism as well as the increasing demand for real-time, portable and interchangeable communication tools. The increasing penetration of cross-border business and the rising usage of language translators in government, education, medical and other domains are also expected to drive the market growth. Moreover, the development of AI-based translation technology and the integration of voice recognition and neural machine translation functions are improving product accuracy and industry popularity.
The U.S. Language Translation Device Market was valued at USD 0.30 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 0.84 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 12.13% from 2024 to 2032. Growth is fueled by increasing international travel, diverse multilingual populations, and demand for real-time communication solutions."
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/language-translation-device-market-reach-140000631.html
#metaglossia_mundus
International (MNN) -- unfoldingWord tools and technology expedite the Bible translation process.
"It often requires Western missionary linguists to spend years learning a language and then carefully translating the Bible, verse by verse...
While traditional methods have made a significant impact, they simply can’t keep up with the growing global demand for Scripture in more languages...
unfoldingWord’s innovative software, translationCore, is transforming how translation happens – putting powerful tools directly into the hands of the global Church.
International (MNN) — Bible translation has traditionally been a slow, labor-intensive process. It often requires Western missionary linguists to spend years learning a language and then carefully translating the Bible, verse by verse.
“We have profound respect for the accomplishment of our brothers and sisters in the traditional Bible translation world,” Dane with unfoldingWord says.
“Several of our founders spent 30 or 40 years in that movement. We couldn’t do what we do without their shoulders to stand on.”
While traditional methods have made a significant impact, they simply can’t keep up with the growing global demand for Scripture in more languages. That’s where unfoldingWord comes in.
unfoldingWord’s innovative software, translationCore, is transforming how translation happens – putting powerful tools directly into the hands of the global Church.
“It is our goal to deliver a comprehensive end-to-end Bible translation tool chain that’s self-service,” Dane says. “It provides self-service capabilities for drafting, checking accuracy, and even publishing translations.”
The impact has been dramatic. According to partners working with unfoldingWord, “‘When we have to check a Bible translation by hand, we can get through maybe 10 verses a day. When using translationCore, we can check 100 verses a day,’” Dane shares.
“They have all the tools right there. They don’t have to be a PhD consultant to do this.”
As the global Church increasingly takes the lead in translating Scripture for their communities, tools like translationCore are essential. However, developing this kind of technology takes resources. You can help by giving.
“It costs several hundred thousand dollars per year to develop these tools,” Dane notes. “We really need people to step up and help us to equip the global Church to translate the Bible for themselves.”"
By Katey Hearth
June 25, 2025
https://www.mnnonline.org/news/new-tools-speed-up-global-bible-translation/
#metaglossia_mundus
"Le patrimoine immatériel marocain traduit en mandarin grâce à un partenariat éditorial
À l’occasion de la 31e Foire internationale du livre de Pékin, un accord culturel majeur a été signé entre la maison d’édition marocaine Axions Communication et l’éditeur chinois People's Tianzhou Publishing. Deux ouvrages emblématiques du patrimoine marocain seront traduits en chinois, renforçant les liens littéraires et culturels entre les deux pays.
À l’occasion de la 31e Foire internationale du livre de Pékin, qui s'est tenu du 18 au 22 juin 2025, la maison d’édition marocaine Axions Communication a signé un accord important avec l’éditeur chinois People's Tianzhou Publishing Co., Ltd. pour la traduction en chinois de deux ouvrages majeurs consacrés au patrimoine culturel marocain. Cet accord marque une avancée significative dans les échanges littéraires et culturels entre le Maroc et la Chine.
Les deux ouvrages concernés sont « Trésors du patrimoine culturel immatériel du Maroc » et « Rabat, la Ville de Lumière ». Tous deux sont des livres richement illustrés, au format large de 240 pages, mettant en valeur la diversité culturelle et le charme architectural du Royaume du Maroc.
L’ouvrage « Trésors du patrimoine culturel immatériel du Maroc » met en lumière les traditions et expressions culturelles reconnues par l’UNESCO, telles que : la place Jemaa el-Fna de Marrakech, le Moussem de Tan-Tan dans le sud-ouest, la fête des cerises de Sefrou près de Meknès, les pratiques ancestrales liées à l’arganier, ainsi que la tradition musicale des Gnaouas.
Quant à « Rabat, la Ville de Lumière », il propose au lecteur une exploration photographique de la capitale marocaine, avec un accent particulier sur son paysage architectural et son développement urbain, notamment à travers de magnifiques images nocturnes.
La cérémonie de signature s’est déroulée au pavillon national du Maroc, organisé par l’Ambassade du Royaume du Maroc en Chine, en présence de Son Excellence l’Ambassadeur Abelkader Ansari.
Cet accord ouvre également la voie à une collaboration plus poussée entre les deux maisons d’édition, incluant la traduction d’autres ouvrages marocains vers le chinois ainsi que de futurs projets d’édition conjointe."
par Mohamed Elkorri
Mercredi 25 Juin 2025
https://www.lopinion.ma/Le-patrimoine-immateriel-marocain-traduit-en-mandarin-grace-a-un-partenariat-editorial_a69146.html
#metaglossia_mundus
"L’Institut fondamental d’Afrique noire (IFAN) annonce le lancement officiel de « Sentermino » en septembre 2025. Ce projet de banque de données terminologiques et de traductique (BDT) vise à harmoniser et uniformiser la production terminologique dans les langues nationales sénégalaises.
« ‘Sentermino’ est une initiative nationale d’envergure, qui vise à harmoniser, centraliser et valoriser les terminologies dans les langues nationales du Sénégal, notamment le wolof, le pulaar et le seereer », précise le communiqué transmis à l’APS. Ce projet facilitera l’enseignement bilingue et la traduction entre les langues nationales, ainsi qu’entre ces dernières et le français. La base de données centralisée, évolutive et accessible en ligne, contiendra des terminologies validées pour divers domaines : éducation, santé, environnement, artisanat, TIC et agriculture. « Sentermino » contribuera à l’opérationnalisation du modèle harmonisé de l’enseignement bilingue au Sénégal (MOHEBS) et à l’atteinte de l’Objectif de développement durable 4, relatif à une éducation de qualité, inclusive et équitable.
Selon Sud Quotidien, cette initiative vise à « faciliter la traduction entre les langues nationales elles-mêmes, et entre celles-ci et le français, grâce à la traductique »."
https://senego.com/ifan-lancement-de-la-plateforme-sentermino-pour-les-langues-nationales_1852463.html
#metaglossia_mundus
"Beyond Words: Defending Language as a Tool for Cultural Survival and Peoples’ Rights
June 25, 2025
Identities and Narratives, Highlighted News
The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) has today published a new policy paper, “Beyond Words: Language as a Peoples’ Right”, highlighting how the erosion of linguistic diversity poses a direct threat to cultural survival, collective identity, and the ability of Peoples to exercise their right to self-determination.
Based on the experiences of UNPO members, the report demonstrates how the suppression of language is often one of the first steps taken by states to marginalise or erase Indigenous and minority communities. The paper makes a clear connection between language, identity, political participation, and cultural resilience.
Language as a Cornerstone of Rights
Language is not simply a tool for communication, it shapes how communities understand the world, relate to their environment, and pass on knowledge and identity. The paper shows that limitations on language use, especially through state policies of forced assimilation or exclusion, undermine the right of Peoples to self-determination and weaken cultural survival.
It outlines how these patterns of repression are visible across different regions, with examples from UNPO members:
Catalonia, where legal restrictions continue to weaken the Catalan language’s presence in public life and education, despite formal recognition.
Balochistan, where state policies have systematically eroded the Balochi language, contributing to the broader suppression of Baloch identity.
Khmer-Krom, where restrictions on Khmer language education and use reflect a wider system of exclusion targeting cultural and religious practices.
Kabylia, where refusal to fully recognise the Kabyle language and identity forms part of ongoing repression against the Kabyle people.
In all these cases, linguistic repression is closely linked to political marginalisation and cultural erasure. The paper emphasises that when a people’s language is excluded from education, media, public spaces, and governance, their capacity to maintain their identity, culture, and future is directly threatened.
According to UNESCO, 40% of the world’s languages are at risk of disappearing, with at least one language vanishing every two weeks. Globalisation, technological developments, mass migration, and authoritarian policies have accelerated these trends, undermining the ability of Indigenous Peoples and minority communities to transmit their languages to future generations.
The paper also raises concern about how technological advances, including the dominance of major global languages in artificial intelligence and digital platforms, further exclude minority languages, making it harder for them to survive and remain relevant in modern society.
Language Suppression as a Form of Control
The policy paper shows that states often use language as a political tool to assimilate, control, and silence Peoples. Restrictions on language use in education, media, or public life are rarely isolated, they form part of broader policies designed to weaken cultural resilience and suppress demands for recognition or self-governance.
Assimilationist policies, whether imposed through law or more subtle forms of pressure, target language to fragment communities and undermine collective rights. The paper underlines that defending language is an essential act of resistance, closely tied to protecting cultural identity and the right to self-determination.
UNPO’s Call to Action
The policy part is part of UNPO’s ‘Preserving Identities and Re-owning Narratives’ campaign and the 2025 webinar series, ‘Peoples’ Rights, Peoples’ Future – The Foundation of Our Shared Future’, which highlights the links between language rights, cultural survival, and self-determination.
UNPO urges governments, regional bodies, and the international community to:
Recognise and protect linguistic diversity within states;
Guarantee mother tongue education and language rights in public life;
End assimilationist policies and state practices that erode minority and Indigenous languages;
Ensure communities have a meaningful role in shaping language and education policies;
Safeguard linguistic rights as part of broader strategies to support self-determination and cultural resilience.
The loss of language is not only the disappearance of words, it represents the erasure of history, knowledge, identity, and the ability of Peoples to participate in shaping their own futures. Defending language rights is a necessary step towards resisting cultural repression and ensuring that unrepresented nations, Indigenous Peoples, and minority communities can thrive."
https://unpo.org/beyond-words-defending-language-as-a-tool-for-cultural-survival-and-peoples-rights/
#metaglossia_mundus
"IA africaine : quand le Bénin fait parler les langues oubliées du numérique
Le Bénin vient de poser une pierre fondatrice majeure dans la lutte contre l’exclusion numérique linguistique. Le 24 juin 2025, à Cotonou, l’Institut pour une Afrique Numérique Inclusive (IIDiA) et l’Agence des Systèmes d’Information et du Numérique (ASIN) ont lancé le Laboratoire Régional d’Innovation et des Technologies Numériques, avec un projet inaugural à fort retentissement : la création du premier modèle d’intelligence artificielle vocal en langue Fon.
Langue parlée par des millions de personnes au Bénin et dans les pays voisins, le Fon est jusqu’ici absent des interfaces technologiques dominantes. En ciblant les populations non francophones, notamment rurales et âgées, ce projet entend rompre la fracture linguistique numérique en permettant à chacun d’interagir vocalement avec la technologie dans sa langue maternelle, sans avoir recours à l’écrit ou à une langue étrangère.
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Trois cas d’usage prioritaires ont été définis :
– Trouver les pharmacies de garde ;
– Consulter son solde Mobile Money (en partenariat avec Celtis) ;
– Accéder aux démarches administratives pour obtenir un acte de naissance, via des interactions vocales simplifiées.
Pour Marc André Loko, DG de l’ASIN, « il ne s’agit pas seulement de technologie, mais de dignité. Quand une grand-mère dans un village peut demander son solde bancaire en Fon et recevoir une réponse vocale immédiate, c’est ça, l’inclusion numérique. »
Un prototype fonctionnel est attendu dans 9 mois, reposant sur la collecte communautaire de données vocales et l’entraînement de modèles IA sur des GPU de dernière génération (NVIDIA A100/H100).
Ce projet, soutenu par la Fondation Gates et les ministères du numérique du Bénin, du Sénégal et de la Côte d’Ivoire, ambitionne d’être le premier jalon d’une infrastructure publique numérique africaine, multilingue, ouverte et souveraine. L’objectif est d’étendre ce modèle à d’autres langues locales et secteurs stratégiques : agriculture intelligente, e-santé, navigation, services publics digitalisés, éducation en langues locales."
par AITN
25 juin 2025
https://afriqueitnews.com/tech-media/ia-africaine-benin-fait-parler-langues-oubliees-numerique/
#metaglossia_mundus
"GLOSSARY OF GENDER EQUALITY
Glossary of Gender Equality
JUNE 25, 2025
Gender equality discourse in Armenia has often been shaped by direct borrowings from English, frequently without adaptation to Armenian linguistic norms. While these borrowings reflect global influence, they have also contributed to the perception that gender equality is a foreign concept, disconnected from Armenian cultural and intellectual traditions. This perception has created a communicative gap both linguistic and conceptual that limits broader engagement with gender-related issues.
The Glossary of Gender Equality directly addresses this gap. Developed by Assistant Professor Rafik Santrosyan of the American University of Armenia in collaboration with the UNDP Armenia Gender Equality Portfolio, the glossary enriches and standardizes gender-related terminology in Armenian. It introduces expanded definitions and new terms specifically adapted to Armenia’s sociolinguistic context, while drawing on international standards, scientific literature, and legal frameworks.
Designed as a practical reference for policymakers, researchers, educators, students, and practitioners, the glossary not only promotes the accurate use of global gender terminology in Armenian, but also revitalizes the expressive potential of the language itself. Rather than relying on uncritical translations, it restores underused native terms and introduces thoughtful neologisms aligned with Armenian linguistic logic.
The glossary’s innovations extend beyond terminology. Its definitions embed contextually grounded explanations that invite deeper understanding and more inclusive public discourse. In doing so, the Glossary of Gender Equality represents a decolonial intervention reclaiming space for gender discourse that is locally rooted, culturally resonant, and globally connected.
This publication reflects UNDP Armenia’s continued commitment to inclusive governance, linguistic equity, and the advancement of gender equality through accessible and culturally responsive knowledge."
https://www.undp.org/armenia/publications/glossary-gender-equality
#metaglossia_mundus
As the availability and performance of AI for language editing and translation continues to improve, we can imagine a future in which everyone can use their own language to write, assess and read science. The question is, how can we achieve it?
Tatsuya Amano, Lynne Bowker, Andrew Burton-Jones
In an ideal world, academic publishing is about “removing barriers and promoting inclusion in knowledge creation and sharing, and publishing research outputs that enable everyone to learn from, reuse and build upon scientific knowledge”. The use of English as the common language of science has boosted international scholarly communication, including publishing, but has also posed unignorable barriers to the progress and application of science. For example, reading, writing, and publishing papers requires much more time and effort for scientists whose first language is not English compared to native English speakers [1], which can lead to higher levels of anxiety and dissatisfaction [2]. Centralizing the publication of research around English also undermines the ability of people with limited English proficiency to read and use the research [3] and drives international research to ignore science published in other languages [4]. The scientific community urgently needs to move beyond the use of English as the singular default language to ensure that all scientists (and other actors and stakeholders) have an equal opportunity to access, contribute to, and benefit from science, regardless of their backgrounds [5].
A primary reasons that science has not yet become fully multilingual is that translation can be slow and costly. Artificial intelligence (AI), however, may finally allow us to overcome this problem, as it can provide useful, often free or affordable, support in language editing and translation [6]. Large language models are already widely used in academic writing, especially in countries where English is not widely spoken [7]. Existing AI has limitations, most notably variations in the availability and performance of AI among different languages [8]. However, assuming that this situation will continue to improve, we can now imagine two futures for academic publishing in which we could leverage the power of AI to overcome language barriers and improve equity in the publication, synthesis, and application of science.
In Future 1, English would continue to be the lingua franca in science (Fig 1A). Although international journals would continue to publish in English, researchers with limited English proficiency could write papers in their own language and use AI to translate them into English before submission. They could also use AI to translate English-language papers into their own language when reading, reviewing, and editing those papers. Scientific knowledge would continue to be centralized around English, but the use of AI would help to make science more easily producible and accessible for those with limited English proficiency.
Expand
Fig 1. Two futures for academic publishing using artificial intelligence language tools.
Information communicated in English is shown in pale blue and that in a language other than English (Japanese in this example) is shown in orange. (A) In Future 1, scientific papers continue to be published in English. Artificial intelligence (AI) is used by those with limited English proficiency to translate information between their preferred language and English when writing, assessing (reviewing and editing) and reading papers. (B) In Future 2, scientific papers are published in any language of the authors’ choice (English or Japanese in this example). AI is used by those without proficiency in the publication language (e.g., Japanese) to translate information between that language and their preferred language (e.g., English). Here, only one non-English language is shown for simplicity, but translation may be between different non-English languages. For example, Reviewer #1 may read a Japanese-written paper and provide feedback in Spanish, Reviewer #2 may do the same in Chinese, the Editor may read the paper and the reviewers’ comments and provide feedback in Arabic, and the authors would read all of their feedback in Japanese, all through AI translation.
doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3003215.g001
More »
This future is less ‘disruptive’ because the scientific community would continue to operate using the existing publishing system. Also, as most AI models are disproportionately trained on English-language data, translation to and from English tends to be of higher quality than translation between non-English languages. However, Future 1 would have various drawbacks. Inequality between fluent and non-fluent English speakers would remain; any negative consequences of using AI in academic publishing, including translation inaccuracies and the financial cost of using AI tools, would be imposed only on non-fluent English speakers. As long as scientific knowledge is centralized around English, the ongoing ‘domain loss’ (the idea that the growing use of English in a certain domain leads to other languages losing status and eventually not being used at all [9]) for other languages will not decelerate and could even intensify. New concepts in science may be described only in English, and other languages may not even have terms for new concepts. People will not be able to talk about science in their own language easily, and this may further isolate science from non-scientists, potentially leading to a lower uptake of science in decision-making and less trust in science among the general public.
Now imagine another future, Future 2, in which academic journals publish papers written in any language (Fig 1B). This would enable authors to write and submit papers in their own language. Here, assessors (editors and reviewers) and recipients of science (both scientists and non-scientists) would use AI to read those papers in their own language. A major advantage of this future would be that everyone can use their own language for science, which would help maintain and promote the diversity of science and scientific languages. This would be a giant leap forwards for 95% of the world’s population (native speakers of languages other than English) who, at present, have little choice but to conduct science in English. Publishing science in other languages could also help to halt domain loss and facilitate the understanding and use of science in countries where English is not widely spoken.
That said, making academic publishing multilingual in a fair way will not be easy. For example, even with AI tools, will people find and read English-language papers and papers in unfamiliar languages equally frequently? Will the evaluation of papers written in a non-English language be conducted in an unbiased manner? Given that AI translation is inevitably imperfect, especially for low-resource languages, this future could introduce another bias in the assessment, visibility and use of science depending on the language of publication. Various pragmatic roadblocks also exist; for instance, literature search systems would need to integrate multilingual metadata and cross-language information retrieval to allow users to search for literature written in different languages. The AI-driven automation of literature searching, screening and data extraction using multilingual models should help researchers to better use evidence in multiple languages [10]. However, encouraging publishing in languages beyond English will require a systemic change, as the current English-based assessment of science and scientists drives scientists to publish in English, even in countries where English is not widely spoken.
We should be mindful about the inaccuracy of AI translation and its consequences in science. But we also need to understand trade-offs between the consequences of AI inaccuracy and the considerable benefits of overcoming existing language barriers. The acceptable risk of using AI translation likely differs depending on purpose and discipline. Training subject area experts continues to be essential for spotting improbable AI translations, and the involvement of such experts will be necessary, especially where misunderstanding evidence can have serious implications.
Despite these and other counterarguments, Future 2 is still our preferred future, as it would truly democratize academic publishing. People often express concern that AI translation does not meet a phantom gold standard. But the reality is that issues around inaccurate use and understanding of English are already widespread in every process of academic publishing, and these are now entirely attributed to a lack of effort by researchers with lower English proficiency. The use of AI can at least create a more level playing field in the sense that it does not privilege one language above all others. There is no single big step towards Future 2; what we need are small stepping stones, such as experimenting with multilingual publication in just a few languages. To make a start, we have launched various initiatives [11] and encourage others to follow suit. AI will no doubt be integrated into all elements of the academic publishing workflow in the near future, and we believe now is the time for the scientific community to start discussing how we can use its benefits to move towards making science multilingual.
Abstract
As the availability and performance of artificial intelligence for language editing and translation continues to improve, we can imagine a future in which everyone can use their own language to write, assess, and read science. The question is, how can we achieve it?
Citation: Amano T, Bowker L, Burton-Jones A (2025) AI-mediated translation presents two possible futures for academic publishing in a multilingual world. PLoS Biol 23(6): e3003215. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3003215
Published: June 23, 2025
"Traduction, paix et confiance : JMT 2025
Le Conseil de la FIT a le plaisir d’annoncer le thème de la Journée mondiale de la traduction (JMT) 2025, inspiré par l’Année internationale de la paix et de la confiance des Nations Unies et par celui du Congrès de la FIT2025, Maîtres de la machine : façonnons l’intelligence de demain. Le thème de la JMT 2025 est
La traduction, garantie de votre confiance en l’avenir
Dans des temps troublés où souvent se joue l’avenir de la paix, où la défiance s’insinue dans les échanges internationaux, il met à l’honneur la confiance dans les relations humaines, spécifiquement le rôle des traducteurs et traductrices, interprètes et terminologues, garanties de fiabilité des communications, artisans du dialogue en confiance, maîtres des outils d’IA générative et de traduction automatique.
Dans sa résolution sur l’Année de la paix et de la confiance, l’Assemblée générale de l’ONU constate aussi la nécessité de prévenir et résoudre les conflits par le dialogue et la diplomatie. Si dans les négociations internationales, les interprètes ne sont pas visibles, nous savons que ces conversations stratégiques seraient impossibles sans leur travail et ne sauraient être laissées aux mains de la technologie.
Le thème rappelle également la résolution A/RES/71/288 de 2017 faisant du 30 septembre une Journée internationale du réseau des Nations Unies honorant la contribution de la traduction, l’interprétation et la terminologie professionnelles au rapprochement des nations et à la promotion de la paix et du développement.
Comme chaque année depuis plus de 35 ans, le Conseil encourage les membres à adopter pour leurs célébrations le thème de l’année. Et le Comité permanent des partenariats externes vous invite le 26 septembre 2025 à fêter la JMT en ligne avec la FIT lors du webinaire annuel."
https://fr.translatio.fit-ift.org/2025/03/28/traduction-paix-et-confiance-jmt-2025/
#metaglossia_mundus
"Ce webinaire est co-organisé par l'UNESCO et Translation Commons dans le cadre de la Décennie internationale des langues autĺochtones (DILA2022-2032) pour célébrer la Journée internationale de la traduction.
Traduction des langues autochtones : Façonner un avenir digne de confiance
30 septembre 2025 - 4:00 pm - 30 septembre 2025 - 6:30 pm
Location
UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France
Rooms :
VIRTUAL ROOM A
Type :
Cat VII – Seminar and training
Arrangement type :
Virtual
Rejoignez l'UNESCO et Translation Commons pour un événement en ligne célébrant la Journée internationale de la traduction ! Le thème de cette année, la confiance dans la traduction autochtone, englobe plusieurs dimensions : la confiance dans l'exactitude et la sensibilité culturelle des traductions, la confiance dans le traitement éthique des connaissances et des données autochtones, et la confiance dans les technologies employées, en particulier en ce qui concerne l'intelligence artificielle. Il s'agit de s'assurer que le processus de traduction respecte l'autonomie des communautés autochtones. L'instauration de cette confiance nécessite la participation active des communautés autochtones, la transparence, des lignes directrices claires et le respect des droits moraux et matériels, tant pour les communautés que pour les professionnels de la langue concernés. L'établissement de la confiance est essentiel pour la préservation, la revitalisation et la promotion des langues autochtones, et pour garantir que leurs connaissances et leurs cultures sont représentées de manière précise et respectueuse.
Le webinaire sera en anglais.
Objectifs principaux
Le webinaire permettra de :
Explorer l'évolution des rôles et l'avenir des professionnels de la langue autochtone en examinant l'impact de la technologie, de l'IA et de l'évolution des compétences nécessaires dans le domaine.
Souligner l'importance de l'expertise humaine pour garantir l'exactitude, la sensibilité culturelle et la préservation de la signification spirituelle dans la traduction des langues autochtones.
Discuter et aborder les considérations éthiques liées à l'utilisation de l'IA et de la technologie numérique dans la traduction en langue autochtone, y compris la propriété des données, la protection de la vie privée, les préjugés et les cadres dirigés par la communauté.
Faciliter le dialogue sur les meilleures pratiques en matière de traduction et de validation communautaires, en garantissant une participation active et le respect de l'autonomie autochtone.
Sensibiliser aux droits moraux et matériels des communautés autochtones et des traducteurs/interprètes, en mettant l'accent sur une compensation, une reconnaissance et un soutien équitables.
Examiner le droit à l'accès culturel et linguistique pour les communautés autochtones, y compris l'aide juridique et l'interprétation dans des domaines critiques tels que les soins de santé.
Promouvoir la collaboration intergénérationnelle et les approches novatrices du travail linguistique à l'ère numérique.
Fournir des études de cas qui mettent en évidence le rôle essentiel des traducteurs humains dans la préservation du patrimoine linguistique et culturel.
Programme (en anglais seulement)
7.00 am PDT / 4 pm CEST
Welcome Address
7.10 am PDT / 4.10 pm CEST
The Enduring Trust in Human Voices: Ensuring Accuracy and Cultural Integrity within Indigenous Communities
7.50 am PST / 4.50 pm CEST
Navigating the Future: The Evolving Roles of Indigenous Language Professionals
8.30 am PST / 5.30 pm CEST
Ethical Pathways in the Digital Age: AI and the Future of Indigenous Language Translation
9.10 am PST / 6.10 pm CEST
Closing Address"
https://www.unesco.org/fr/articles/traduction-en-langues-autochtones-faconner-un-avenir-digne-de-confiance
#metaglossia_mundus
Traductrice, interprète, la Française Karine Martin accompagne au quotidien les expatriés francophones dans les démarches administratives de particuliers ou d'entreprises.
Karine Martin : "S’expatrier en Espagne demande beaucoup de traductions assermentées"
Pour les particuliers ou les entreprises, la traductrice, interprète, Karine Martin aide au quotidien les expatriés francophones dans les démarches administratives. Rencontre.
Écrit par Simon Legentil
Publié le 23 juin 2025, mis à jour le 25 juin 2025
Karine Martin pose ses valises en Espagne au début des années 2000, juste après ses études. Elle débute sa carrière à la Chambre de commerce, puis se lance dans l’entrepreneuriat en fondant Fidélité Idiomas, une entreprise de traduction et d’interprétation, à Alicante en 2006. Quelques années plus tard, elle s’installe à Barcelone pour son dynamisme, le cadre de vie et la proximité avec la France. Elle devient déléguée consulaire en 2021. Aujourd’hui, cette traductrice passionnée accompagne au quotidien la communauté francophone de Barcelone.
Fidélité Idiomas, concrètement, qu'est-ce que c'est ?
À la base, c'était moi en tant que traductrice-interprète. Espagnol, anglais vers le français. Au fil du temps, mes clients m'ont demandé de gérer des projets multilingues. Et c'est là où j'ai commencé à travailler en tant qu'agence avec des collègues freelance dans d'autres langues. Je n’ai pas de salariés, mais je collabore presque toujours avec les mêmes personnes. Vous savez, les bons traducteurs ne veulent pas être salariés. Ils préfèrent rester maîtres de leur temps, maîtres de leurs projets, maîtres de leurs clients.
Il y a deux versants de Fidélité Idiomas. Le premier, la traduction à l'écrit de textes simples, c'est-à-dire non assermentée. Ce sont des traductions pour des sites web, des annonces ou des textes commerciaux. Ensuite, il y a les traductions assermentées. Beaucoup de documents juridiques ont besoin d'être assermentés pour être présentés légalement devant les administrations. C’est le cas quand des Français viennent s’installer ici par exemple.
L’autre volet, c'est l’interprétation. J'accompagne des chefs d'entreprise qui viennent faire des réunions, des négociations ou qui viennent voir leurs équipes. Et il y a l'interprétation simultanée, pour des congrès ou des visites avec des audioguides par exemple.
On traduit énormément pour les Français qui viennent s'installer en Espagne.
Et comment les entreprises ou les particuliers font appel à vous ? C'est sur votre site ou c'est vous qui les démarchez ?
J'ai un site web. Je fais partie de nombreux réseaux d'entrepreneurs à Barcelone comme La Peña ou la Chambre de commerce française. Et je suis répertoriée sur la liste des interprètes recommandés par le consulat. Au niveau de l'interprétariat, les entreprises font leurs recherches et je pense que je remonte dans les recherches internet.
Quelles sont les plus grosses demandes des francophones qui vous sollicitent ?
Alors, on traduit énormément pour les Français qui viennent s'installer en Espagne. Il faut beaucoup de traductions assermentées pour s'expatrier ici. Je pense que les plus fortes demandes que nous avons sont les livrets de famille, les actes de naissance ou des diplômes. Ça va être des traductions assermentées pour les particuliers. Et ensuite, pour les entreprises, on va traduire beaucoup de documents destinés à ouvrir des filiales ici, comme le Kbis. C’est, on va dire, la carte d'identité de l'entreprise en France. Et ensuite, des contrats de collaboration, des négociations, etc. Ça, ce sont des traductions assermentées aussi.
En termes de délai, quand une entreprise ou un particulier demande de traduire un numéro ou une carte d'identité de l'entreprise, combien de temps ça met ?
Tout dépend des documents et de l’urgence de ceux-ci. Des documents courts, en général d'une à trois pages, on est très réactif. C'est d'ailleurs une des caractéristiques que nous avons et c'est pour cela qu'on est très connu de la communauté pour la gestion des urgences. Étant moi passée par ces démarches-là, je connais le stress que représente le fait de rater son rendez-vous parce qu'il nous manque un papier. Il nous arrive, de l'après-midi pour le lendemain, d'avoir la traduction.
Maintenant, pour des entreprises, les documents sont plus longs. Un document d’une vingtaine de pages, il faut quand même un minimum de temps pour pouvoir procéder. Mais on est toujours attentif et en bonne collaboration avec nos clients.
Le traducteur engage sa responsabilité sur les traductions, l'IA n'a rien d'officiel.
Comment devient-on traducteur-interprète ?
Alors, traducteur-interprète, ce sont de vraies études ! C'est bien que vous me posiez la question. On devient traducteur en faisant des études de traducteur. En France, il y a des écoles de traduction. En Espagne, cela se fait à l'université surtout.
C’est un vrai métier. De nos jours, l’IA vient réellement nous concurrencer. Alors, il faut la regarder avec un œil expert. Parce que sur de la traduction simple, comme des mails, ou des textes n’ayant rien d’engageant, je dois reconnaître que l'IA est très forte et rapide. Donc là, je me tire un peu une balle dans le pied. Mais il faut être réaliste. Maintenant, quand on parle des contrats, sur des documents confidentiels ou personnels, je pense qu'il faut être très précautionneux au niveau de la confidentialité. Il y a aussi un gros risque de contresens. Et je le répète, dans tout ce qui est juridique, on reste des experts, on engage notre responsabilité sur les traductions, l'IA n'a rien d'officiel."
https://lepetitjournal.com/barcelone/installation/karine-martin-expatriation-espagne-traductions-assermentees-416055
#metaglossia_mundus
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"...there are no difficult or easy sentences in Arabic. Every Arabic sentence presents dilemmas in translation because Arabic is far removed from European languages in terms of grammar, sentence structure and idiom. Easily solvable differences are, for example, that the present tense of the linking verb ‘to be’ is hardly used in Arabic (‘she is tired’ instead of ‘she is tired’) or that the same word is repeated several times in a sentence that makes you as a translator have to look for many equivalents because otherwise it is ugly in Dutch. But there are also countless features of Arabic that do cause problems. In Arabic, for example, the time can sometimes be changed three or four times in one paragraph. In Dutch this often leads to an alienation that is not intended that way. In addition, Arabic has no systematic punctuation. That has grown historically. Long sentences are strung together by conjunctions and can sometimes take up an entire page or even more. With translations, the solution is usually to break a sentence into smaller segments, as I’ve done here. You often cannot escape it. But if it works and if I feel like it has a reason, I try to keep the long sentence.’..."
#metaglossia mundus