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Scooped by
Charles Tiayon
May 27, 2023 10:56 PM
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The winner of the Ottawa Award on the importance of children’s literature, and his project with the University of Chicago to translate South Asian literature
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
"PEN International Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee
17 Dec
Written By PEN International
“At a time when so many voices risk being silenced, our Committee works to ensure that every language has the space to thrive. Protecting linguistic rights is not only about preserving heritage — it is about safeguarding dignity, diversity, and the freedom to imagine in one’s own words.” Urtzi Urrutikoetxea, Chair of PEN International Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee
In a world where thousands of languages are at risk, defending linguistic rights has never been more urgent. PEN International Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee (TLCR) stands at the centre of one of the most important struggles of our time: ensuring that all languages — and the people who speak, write, and dream in them — can flourish.
The Committee’s mission is rooted in the belief that translation is more than a literary act; it is an act of solidarity. When a language is marginalised, its stories and people risk disappearing. Translation offers a bridge, carrying those voices into new spaces, widening their reach.
A history of championing translation
Although the TLCR was officially created in 1978 during PEN International 43rd Congress in Stockholm, its commitment to translation began much earlier. As far back as 1928, PEN collaborated with the International Institute of Intellectual Co-operation, a League of Nations body, to promote translations across borders. PEN Centres identified works deserving translation, which the Institute then shared with publishers worldwide. A Geneva meeting in July 1928, attended by figures such as John Galsworthy and Salvador de Madariaga, formally approved the arrangement.
The creation of the TLCR
By 1978, this vision had grown into a formal structure dedicated to translation. That year, under the global presidency of Mario Vargas Llosa, Swedish PEN used the Stockholm Congress to draw attention to the essential role of translators. Per Wästberg, then president of Swedish PEN, put together a coalition of PEN Centres to broaden access to world literature. Originally known as the Programme and Translation Committee, its first aim was simple yet radical: to champion translation from all literary traditions, especially those with little international presence. The Committee supported anthologies bringing lesser-translated voices into dialogue — for example collaborations between Portuguese and Catalan poets or Macedonian and French poets.
From “small” to “minoritised” languages
One of the Committee’s key contributions has been to challenge the idea of “small languages” and advancing the concept of “minoritised languages” — languages marginalised by political, economic, and cultural forces. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, under the leadership of Portuguese poet Ana Hatherly, the Committee sharpened its focus on cultural rights. With strong support from several PEN Centres, it affirmed that translation cannot be separated from defending linguistic communities. This led to the Committee’s current name: the Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee.
The World Conference on Linguistic Rights
This mission culminated in 1996, when 61 NGOs, 41 PEN Centres, and 40 experts gathered in Barcelona for the World Conference on Linguistic Rights. Organised by the Committee in partnership with the International Escarré Centre for Ethnic Minorities and Nations and with UNESCO’s support, the event aimed to create a global framework to protect linguistic rights.
Over three days, experts, activists, and writers drafted the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights (UDLR). Its scientific council, chaired by linguist Isidor Marí, warned that up to 80% of the world’s languages could disappear within the twenty-first century. The Declaration set out principles for linguistic justice and cultural coexistence and was formally approved at the University of Barcelona, with delegates from every continent signing it. UNESCO received the document a month later.
Building on the UDLR
Fifteen years later, the Girona Manifesto (2011) and the Quebec Declaration on Literary Translation and Translators (2015) continued to advance linguistic and translation rights. The Committee has also held meetings outside Europe, including Johannesburg (2016), Bengaluru (2017), and San Cristóbal de las Casas (2019), where the first Indigenous PEN Centre joined the PEN family (PEN Chiapas Pluricultural). The COVID-19 pandemic inspired the launch of the Video-Poem Marathon in Indigenous and Minoritised languages, further supporting their visibility. Since then, more Indigenous writers and their languages are represented, and the anthology Lenguas Vivas, featuring 26 authors in Indigenous languages of Latin America, has become a milestone in PEN International’s history.
A legacy that matters
From its earliest years, the TLCR has defended linguistic diversity, promoted translation, and upheld the rights of communities whose languages are endangered or overlooked. At a time when globalisation threatens to flatten cultures, the Committee reminds us that every language carries its own worldview and that every worldview is essential to humanity."
https://www.pen-international.org/news/pen-international-translation-and-linguistic-rights-committee
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
"Workshop 'Meet the Expert - Methodological Issues in Translation Studies Theses'
For whom: Employees, Students
When: 21-01-2026 from 10:00 to 12:00
Where: Campus Mercator, room BK.03, Groot-Brittanniëlaan 45, 9000 Ghent
Language: English
Organizer: Department of Translation, Interpreting and Communication - Faculty of Arts and Philosophy
Contact: piet.vanpoucke@ugent.be
The workshop is intended as a brainstorming session for discussing the presentation of methodological issues in Translation Studies Theses.
Each participant prepares a short abstract (up to 500 words) in English on their chosen topic. In the workshop, there will first be a short introduction to / survey of different types of methods’ sections in PhD dissertations in Translation Studies. Operationalisation is one of the key concepts here.
The theses discussed are all online, and a list of them will be provided, in case any of the participants are interested in having a look beforehand. After this survey, doctoral candidates will be discussing their methods and optimal ways of structuring the methods section, in smaller groups. Ideas, challenges and questions will be noted down and presented to the whole group afterwards.
Everyone has a chance to participate in the discussion, and the workshop organiser will comment on the groups’ suggestions as well as individual abstracts submitted earlier."
https://www.ugent.be/en/agenda/translation-studies
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
"Led by a unique team of adjunct professionals, the program offers American Sign Language courses taught by qualified instructors who are native signers, along with interpreting classes led by nationally certified interpreters, preparing students for real-world careers. The prospective interpreter gets the best of both worlds.
Through its Interpreter Training Program, Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City is working to meet that critical need: preparing qualified interpreters to serve communities statewide.
Jimmy Mitchell, department head of OSU-OKC’s Interpreter Training Program, said the program is focused on equipping students with the skills and ethics necessary to succeed in the workforce.
“We are very serious about developing qualified and skilled interpreters in every possible way that we can to make sure that they are ready for the workforce,” Mitchell said through an interpreter.
The program offers American Sign Language courses taught by qualified instructors, as well as interpreting classes led by nationally certified interpreters. Adjunct faculty bring real-world experience to the classroom, teaching both technical skills and professional ethics. Students also gain hands-on experience through internships and community projects coordinated by Mitchell.
Mitchell’s own path to interpreter education began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he frequently interpreted at emergency press conferences for Gov. Kevin Stitt. That experience sparked a deeper interest in the interpreting community.
Previously a vocational rehabilitation counselor, Mitchell had seen and experienced firsthand the challenges clients faced when interpreters were under qualified.
“I knew that we had interpreting problems in the state of Oklahoma,” he said. “After COVID, I realized teaching was more of my calling.”
Mitchell later taught at OSU-Stillwater before joining OSU-OKC as department head three years ago. Since then, he has worked to expand the program’s reach and strengthen its ties to the community.
“I send interns out to the community to work, in order to gain valuable real time experience you can't get in a classroom setting.” he said. “Whatever they need, if we need an intern for observation or hands up, then I coordinate all of that.”
Looking ahead, Mitchell envisions developing microcredentials in specialized areas such as medical, educational and legal interpreting. He also hopes to establish a bachelor’s degree program at OSU-OKC, similar to the one offered at OSU-Stillwater, to give local students more opportunities to advance their education. “I would love to set up a program here for the local students who want to have a bachelor’s degree in interpreting, while being as flexible as possible for students who work while attending school or for those with family obligations” he said.
Partnerships with community organizations and workforce initiatives are also part of his vision for growth.
“More partnerships with the community and different organizations and the workforce would help develop the program more,” Mitchell said."
https://news.okstate.edu/articles/osu-okc/2025/osu-okc-interpreter-training-program-builds-pathways-for-skilled-professionals.html
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
"Inside the World of a Sign Language Interpreter
Sign language interpreters are often unseen, yet they play a critical role in bridging communication between the deaf and hearing worlds. Bill Pugin, a veteran ASL interpreter of more than 50 years and author of the new book Fly on the Wall, shares how his deaf sister inspired his career and offers fascinating stories from decades of interpreting—especially in the entertainment industry. From working with Paul McCartney, Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, and Natalie Portman to performing high-pressure live, on-stage interpreting, Pugin explains why interpreting is about conveying meaning, not word-for-word translation. His book is available now, with a local book signing set for January 14 in Palm Springs.
By: Thalia Hayden
December 16, 2025
https://www.nbcpalmsprings.com/2025/12/16/inside-the-world-of-a-sign-language-interpreter
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
"We offer
The post of a Translator / Interpreter (Local Agent Group I) in the Head of Delegation Section. The team consists of 14 people and there are occasional atypical working hours.
Under this post, the recruited person will be attributed functions depending on the needs of the Delegation, and on the changes of these needs. The successful candidate will serve under the supervision and responsibility of the Ambassador, and will provide support, expertise and assistance performing tasks related to interpretation, protocol, coordination of European Union institutions VIP visits with the Ukrainian MFA and other governmental entities, and communications with Ukrainian authorities..
Following main tasks and duties are currently required:
To liaise with the Ukrainian authorities and different headquarters in Brussels (EEAS, Commission, Council).
To coordinate the protocol and the logistic of VIP visits organised by HQ: drafting of programmes, writing NVs, coordinating and communicating with the UA and EU security personnel, facilitating border crossing, communication with public, regional and local authorities, arrival/departure coordination, booking of the VIP Lounge, arranging permits for the EU security personnel, assistance with the accommodation, transportation arrangement, communication with the Ukrainian railways to arrange carriages/compartments, coordination of the motorcade, ordering of food and flowers/gifts, etc.
To translate from English into Ukrainian and from Ukrainian into English.
To interpret for the Ambassador and other Delegation officials in meetings and accompanying her/him on missions when necessary.
To coordinate the logistic of major events organised by the Delegation.
To provide occasional drafting and organisational assistance for the Ambassador such as drafting notes for high-level meetings and missions.
To fulfil other tasks as designated by the Ambassador.
The Employment Contract will be signed for 10 years. The base salary will depend on relevant and verified employment experience. There is a competitive benefits package, subject to certain conditions, including personal leave days and public holidays, health insurances and a retirement savings plan.
The expected start date will be March 2026.
Minimum requirements / eligibility criteria (necessary for the application to be considered)
University degree required minimum BA level, preferably in translation, linguistic, philology or a related field;
At least 3 years of professional experience in a related field after obtaining the minimum required diploma;
Ukrainian: C 2 level (spoken and written);
English: C 2 level (spoken and written);
Knowledge of IT tools: MS Office;
Right to residence and work in Ukraine;
Medical fitness to carry out the tasks assigned.
Assets / selection criteria (basis for awarding points to select the best applicant)
Master in political science, international relations, journalism, communications or other related field.
Previous experience in protocol and liaising with a variety of actors as diplomatic corps, government, officials, national authorities, and a demonstrated ability to foster good relationships with them.
Previous experience with an international organisation would be an advantage
Personal skills
Communication skills
Excellent drafting skills in English and Ukrainian
Capacity to communicate clearly and concisely
Good negotiation skills
Interpersonal skills
Ability to listen and understand, to consult and to share information
Ability to work in a team in a multi-cultural environment
Positive and proactive attitude
Intellectual skills
Ability to prioritise
Strong analytical skills
Sense of initiative as regards the day-to-day work
Management skills
Excellent organisational skills
Ability to meet deadlines
PERSONAL QUALITIES
High degree of responsibility and discretion
Commitment to assure quality, speed and accuracy in performing technical and procedural duties
Ability to work under pressure and flexibility to respond quickly to new demands
Strong sense of confidentiality and diplomacy
Proven problem-solving abilities
How to apply
Please submit in English your application, consisting of a cover letter, Europass format CV https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/ and a declaration on honour regarding the work rights and medical fitness (no template, free format) via the Email: eeasjobs-101@eeas.europa.eu (Reference: Translator / Interpreter job) no later than 15/01/2026. Only complete applications received on time via eeasjobs-101@eeas.europa.eu will be considered.
The successful candidate will be subject to a medical check.
The process
After the deadline for applications, the eligible applications will be admitted to the Selection by the Committee set up for this purpose.
Depending on the number of applications received, successive phases of Selection may include shortlisting of candidates based assessment of the information provided in the cover letter, CV; practical testing and interviews.
Only candidates admitted to each successive selection phase will be contacted individually. The Delegation will use the same means of publication as for this job advertisement to inform the remaining candidates once the recruitment procedure has been completed and that a candidate has (or has not) been recruited.
The Delegation will not supply additional information or discuss the selection procedure. During the selection process, please do not contact the members of the Selection Committee, but address your questions and comments to eeasjobs-101@eeas.europa.eu
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES:
The European Union is committed to an equal opportunities policy for all its employees and applicants for employment. As an employer, the EU is committed to promoting gender equality and to preventing discrimination on any grounds. It actively welcomes applications from all qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds and from the broadest possible geographical basis amongst the EU Member States. We aim at a service which is truly representative of society, where each staff member feels respected, is able to give their best and can develop their full potential."
https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/ukraine/european-union-delegation-ukraine-looking-translator-interpreter-head-delegation-section_en
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
"Les traducteurs dénoncent
Les éditions Harlequin testent la traduction avec l'IA
Les éditions Harlequin, célèbres pour leurs romans sentimentaux, ont mis fin ces dernières semaines à leur collaboration en France avec des traducteurs. Elle souhaite les remplacer par une agence utilisant l'intelligence artificielle, dénonce une association de traducteurs. L'éditeur assure qu'il s'agit de «tests» à ce stade.
Les éditions Harlequin, célèbres pour leurs romans sentimentaux, ont mis fin ces dernières semaines à leur collaboration en France avec des traducteurs.
Les éditions Harlequin appartiennent au groupe américain HarperCollins.
Dans un communiqué publié lundi, l'association des traducteurs littéraires de France et le collectif «En chair et en os» expliquent que, «depuis quelques semaines», des traducteurs travaillant régulièrement avec les éditions Harlequin «reçoivent les uns après les autres un appel téléphonique leur annonçant la fin de leur collaboration avec la maison d'édition».
Selon les auteurs du communiqué, «Harlequin abandonne la traduction: un prestataire externe, l'agence de communication Fluent Planet se chargera de passer les textes dans un logiciel de 'traduction automatique' et de recruter directement en freelance des relecteurs et relectrices chargés de post-éditer la sortie machine en français».
Les traducteurs contactés ne se sont vu offrir «comme compensation que la possibilité (sans aucune garantie, d'ailleurs) de travailler au rabais pour un prestataire externe au lieu de traduire pour une maison d'édition», déplorent-t-il, dénonçant un «plan social invisible» pour des traducteurs collaborant parfois depuis de longues années avec Harlequin.
Une première à grande échelle
«C'est à notre connaissance la première fois en France qu'une maison d'édition passe à grande échelle à la 'traduction automatique' et à la post-édition, de surcroît en externalisant cette activité», s'indignent-ils.
«AUCUNE collection Harlequin n'a été traduite uniquement par traduction automatique générée par intelligence artificielle», a réagi HarperCollins dans une déclaration écrite transmise à l'AFP.
«Les ventes de nos collections Harlequin déclinent sur le marché français depuis ces dernières années. Nous souhaitons continuer à proposer au lectorat autant de publications possibles au prix public actuel qui est très bas, 4,99 euros par exemple pour (la collection) Azur», explique l'éditeur.
Fluent Planet se présente comme l'agence de communication «la plus en pointe sur les techniques humaines et numériques de traduction écrite». «L'intelligence artificielle est utilisée comme outil d'assistance, jamais comme substitut au travail du traducteur, qui conserve toujours le dernier mot», a assuré à l'AFP son directeur général, Thierry Tavakelian..."
17.12.2025
https://www.bluewin.ch/fr/infos/faits-divers/les-ditions-harlequin-testent-la-traduction-avec-l-ia-3014313.html
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
"Cette rencontre propose de découvrir la première traduction française de El Amigo Melquíades o por la boca muere el pez de Carlos Arniches, dont la première eut lieu au théâtre Apolo de Madrid le 14 mai 1914 et fut publiée la même année par l’éditeur R. Velasco. Pour la première fois, ce texte devient accessible au public francophone sous le titre L’ami Melquiadès ou l’âne qui brait jamais ne se tait, grâce au travail collectif de l’Atelier de traduction théâtrale du Centre de Recherche sur l’Espagne Contemporaine (CREC).
Cette présentation sera l’occasion de mettre en lumière une pratique de traduction originale, à savoir la traduction théâtrale collective, tout en faisant résonner la voix de Carlos Arniches, maître de la verve populaire madrilène et figure que Federico García Lorca considérait comme dotée d’une véritable poétique.
La rencontre sera animée par Marie Salgues et Évelyne Ricci, enseignantes-chercheuses en études hispaniques à la Sorbonne Nouvelle et Serge Salaün professeur émérite et fondateur du CREC.
Lecture en français et en espagnol par Inès Bartholmé, Zaineb Hassiri, Natalia Rojas García, étudiantes en Master à l’Université Sorbonne Nouvelle.
Dans le cadre des Nuits de la lecture 2026 et du cycle À voix haute : littérature et traduction, nous vous invitons à découvrir « L’ami Melquíades ou l’âne qui brait jamais ne se tait », une pièce emblématique de Carlos Arniches, l’un des plus grands dramaturges espagnols du XXe siècle.
Le vendredi 23 janvier 2026
de 18h00 à 19h30
gratuit Public jeunes et adultes.
Horaire : année-mois-jour-heure
début : 2026-01-23T19:00:00+01:00
fin : 2026-01-23T20:30:00+01:00
Date(s) : 2026-01-23T18:00:00+02:00_2026-01-23T19:30:00+02:00
Bibliothèque Sorbonne Nouvelle 8 avenue Saint Mandé 75012 Paris
https://www.dbu.univ-paris3.fr/accueil-dbu bibliotheque@sorbonne-nouvelle.fr"
https://unidivers.fr/event/lecture-bilingue-du-dramaturge-espagnol-carlos-arniches-bibliotheque-sorbonne-nouvelle-paris-paris-2026-01-23t1900000100/
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
Lecture bilingue du dramaturge espagnol Carlos Arniches Bibliothèque Sorbonne Nouvelle Paris Dans le cadre des Nuits de la lecture 2026 et du cycle À voix haute : littérature et traduction, nous vous invitons à découvrir "L'ami Melquíades ou l’âne qui brait jamais ne se tait", une pièce emblématique de Carlos Arniches, l'un des plus grands dramaturges espagnols du XXe siècle.
The Cervantes Institute in Shanghai will present next week the third edition of the Catalogue of Spanish Literature translated into Chinese.
"The Cervantes Institute in Shanghai will present next week the third edition of the ‘Catalog of Spanish Literature Translated into Chinese’, a publication that compiles nearly two thousand titles by authors from Spain and Latin America published in China up to August 2025.
The event, which will take place on December 18, will include the director of the Shanghai center, Inma González Puy; the author of the publication, Lucila Carzoglio; the translator Hou Jian; and the editor Peng Lun.
With nearly 250 pages, this publication explores those titles by Spanish-language authors that have found a place in the Chinese publishing world. For example, it shows that the most translated and cited writer is the Argentinian Jorge Luis Borges, whose fortieth death anniversary is next year and whose works are being republished in the Asian country.
Following closely behind is the Colombian Gabriel García Márquez. Both authors influenced not only the publishing world but also Chinese literature, as the impact of the Latin American Boom was “decisive” in China during the 1980s. Another prominent author in this catalog is the Chilean Roberto Bolaño, whose entire body of work has been translated.
Furthermore, between 2020 and August 2025, approximately 350 titles were published for the first time. Andrés Barba, Sara Mesa, Juan Tallón, Benjamín Labatut, Alia Trabucco Zerán, Javier Cercas, María Gainza, Agustina Bazterrica, Cristina Rivera Garza, Fernanda Melchor, Claudia Ulloa Donoso, and Pilar Quintana are some of the authors.
In this case, literature written by women is “setting trends,” with names such as Irene Vallejo, Mariana Enríquez, Samanta Schweblin, Cristina Rivera Garza, Fernanda Melchor, Sara Mesa, and Guadalupe Nettel, among others.
The document also reflects that in the 1950s and 60s, Spanish and Latin American authors whose work resonated with the political context in China, such as Federico García Lorca, Rafael Alberti, Mariano Azuela, Pablo Neruda, César Vallejo, and Miguel Ángel Asturias, began to circulate in local versions. In the early 1980s, a Spanish classic like “El Cantar de mío Cid” was translated, and “El lazarillo de Tormes” was republished.
However, it was the Latin American Boom that truly broke down literary barriers. Between 1979 and 1999, researcher Lou Yu mentions ten editions and three translations of García Márquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude”; six editions and three translations of Neruda’s “Confieso que he vivido”; and three editions of Mario Vargas Llosa’s “La casa verde” and “La tía Julia y el escribidor,” among others. Many of these editions had print runs exceeding fifty thousand and even reaching one hundred thousand copies.
The catalogue is being published to coincide with the 110th anniversary of the first recorded translation from Spanish to Chinese. According to researcher Hou Jian, the first translation of a literary work from Spanish was in 1915 with a book whose author was not identified, but which was titled ‘Anecdotes of the Spanish Court’. Separately, the first Chinese version of Don Quixote appeared in 1922, adapted by Lin Shu from an indirect translation from English, and it was a bestseller.
Although print runs are currently smaller than in the 1980s, current translations reach China almost simultaneously with the rest of the world, with print runs typically ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 copies.
“I can’t think of a more solid bridge than translating the literature of a people, a continent, a community of more than 600 million speakers, whose works and reference authors will be known and understood in China, thanks to the talent and effort of the translators who, in an act of pure creation, seek the right and precise word to exchange sensibilities between geographically distant countries, but increasingly united,” declared Luis García Montero, director of the Cervantes Institute, in his prologue."
https://thediplomatinspain.com/en/2025/12/16/cervantes-institute-compiles-nearly-2000-spanish-literary-works-translated-into-chinese/?amp=1
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
"The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is seeking a number of English to French translators for temporary positions in the lead up to, and during, the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Ensuring a successful EU Presidency in 2026 is essential for Ireland’s position, influence and reputation in the EU and for advancing the Union’s agenda against a complex geopolitical background. Ireland will assume the rotating six-month presidency on 01 July 2026.
The Irish Presidency website and social media channels will serve as the main public sources of information and news about all matters relating to Ireland’s Presidency and will be available in Irish, English and French. For many users abroad, the Irish Presidency website or social media channels will be the only contact point with Ireland’s Presidency and it is therefore essential that the online presence operates to the highest professional standards.
Successful candidates will have an exciting opportunity to be involved in the communications aspects of the work of the Department directly related to the Presidency by providing English to French translations for the Irish Presidency online content and other translation requirements as required.
For further information, (including details on how to apply) please see the attached Information Booklet.
Closing Date
The closing date for completed applications is 12 noon on Thursday 8th January 2026. Late applications cannot be accepted.
NOTE: Entry requirements/qualifications/eligibility may not be verified by the Department until the final stage of the process. Therefore, those candidates who do not possess the entry/eligibility requirements, and proceed with their application, are putting themselves to unnecessary effort/expense and will not be offered a position from this campaign. Candidates must satisfy the eligibility criteria, including the educational requirement, at the time the offer of temporary employment is made."
https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-foreign-affairs/news/french-translator-temporary/
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
Hannah Kauders on bypassing conventions to capture the spirit of Fátima Vélez’s “Galápagos"
"Fátima Vélez’s Galápagos is a plague novel unlike any other. Lorenzo’s body is disintegrating, his nails are falling off one by one. He takes this as an opportunity for one final journey, charting a course for the Galápagos Islands. His friends and lovers join him on the voyage, drinking wine and eating manchego cheese aboard the Bumfuck as their bodies decompose. Yet their creativity persists even as death presses in, and they swap stories on deck that challenge each others’ sense of love, loyalty, and mortality. In Vélez’s hands, illness is not just an affliction of the body but a force that reshapes language, desire, and art itself.
Hannah Kauders’s English translation captures the strangeness and poetry of Vélez’s prose, which bends syntax and genre, and blurs the line between the grotesque and the sublime. Translating Galápagos required both precision and irreverence: willingness to break linguistic rules, as Vélez does, and dedication to honor the unique style of the original rather than smooth it away.
I spoke with Kauders about how she navigated the book’s queered language, the grotesque humor in her translation, and the story’s haunting themes of art making, contagion, and survival.
Shoshana Akabas: How did you first encounter this book, and what made you want to translate it?
Hannah Kauders: I first found Galápagos through the book’s agent. I was having a coffee with Maria, and she asked me what kind of book I would be interested in translating, which is not a question that anyone had ever asked me before!
I told her I really wanted a project that would be creatively challenging. At that moment in my life, I was longing for something really absorbing to translate, something that would push me to my limits. And I was also interested in working on a book that had queer narratives, or engaged with queered language. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that book actually existed. And in fact, it did!
Galápagos is very interested in the inequity that’s built into the fabric of language.
SA: You mention queered language, which I know can be a translation challenge. How did you navigate translating a gendered language like Spanish to a non-gendered language like English?
HK: What’s really helpful about the book is how interested its narrative is in the subversion of that genderedness in language. For example, Paz María, the best friend of the narrator, has boy-girl twins, and she’s very averse to labeling them in the gendered “hijos” [children] (which is gendered male in Spanish), because she has one boy and one girl. She says it’s unfair. And Lorenzo responds, “language is unfair.”
Galápagos is very interested in the inequity that’s built into the fabric of language and how language creates limits in what can be expressed. And so, thankfully, because Fátima is interested in that subversion, I felt license to break the rules in the same way she did.
But because we have more gender-neutral language in English when it comes to words like “children,” it created a new challenge, which was to use the gender-neutral language while drawing attention to the fact that the language was gendered in the original Spanish.
SA: I noticed you left “hijos” untranslated. How did you decide to do that?
HK: Oftentimes when a word gets left in the original language, it’s because, either consciously or not, there’s some desire on the part of a translator (or even an editor) to inject moments of local flair into a text. And I don’t always think that’s a responsible choice. But because Fátima was problematizing the language, I felt like I had permission to keep it that way.
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SA: What were some of the other challenges that you encountered in translating this book?
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HK: The elements that made this book so exciting were precisely what made it difficult to translate.
SA: You said you wanted a challenge!
HK: I got what I wanted, and it was more difficult than I ever expected. This is a book that defies traditional elements of narrative at every level—at a level of plot, narrative arc, but also at the sentence level. Fátima is a poet, and it’s so clear reading her work that she has a passion for the line. For me, one of the big challenges is that Spanish is so much more syntactically flexible than English. And Fátima took every opportunity to do the kind of gymnastics that Spanish allows for—and that English absolutely does not allow for, because of our subject-verb-object structure. That structure is really hard to play with in English while also keeping things relatively intelligible.
Register was also a challenge, because the work really plays with this tension between literary and colloquial language. And as “fluent” as a translator is, sometimes it can be hard to pinpoint just how colloquial something is. I found myself having to ask a lot of questions, both of the author, but also my friend—just constantly bombarding him with questions: Is this something you read in a book? Is this something that you would hear aloud? If so, who would say this, and in what context? Just to get a sense of how colloquial, then, my translation needed to be.
I realized pretty quickly that I had to just jettison all hope that I would be able to replicate the order of things, but then I realized that it was a book that doesn’t seem particularly interested in the order of things.
SA: You mentioned asking the author questions. Some translators remain totally separate from the author or aren’t able to ask questions because the author is no longer alive. How did you decide when to consult the author? What was that relationship like?
As long as desire exists, a person will be vulnerable to contagion.
HK: I involved Fátima at the beginning when I was trying to get a vision of the book. I asked her a lot of questions about what inspired her to write it, who her references were from a literary perspective that inspired this style, but I did not ask her specific questions about my translation. I worried that I would lose my nerve if I asked her too many questions, so I saved all of my questions for the bitter end. Then I sent her a copy of the manuscript, and she went through this thing meticulously.
SA: Did you receive pushback on anything?
HK: There were some moments where my own need to try to make things seem logical was exposed. It was humbling. She had hundreds and hundreds of comments. We spent hours on Zoom, just going over every single thing. It was a team effort at the end.
EL: It’s a remarkable translation, and I found the sort of grotesque descriptions of physical deterioration quite striking. Can you talk about what role those passages play?
HK: What’s so beautiful about what Fátima does is that she replicates the feeling of being disfigured on the level of language. And at the same time, Lorenzo as a character has to contend with the fragility of his own body that is disintegrating.
This is part of the book’s claim: that art making is an embodied practice. It’s hard to make art if your body is in pain or ailing or uncomfortable. Lorenzo is fighting against his own embodiedness, and he has this inability to reckon with what’s actually happening to his body.
SA: Let’s talk about what’s actually happening to his body. AIDS is never explicitly mentioned, but there’s so much about illness in this book.
HK: Yeah, it’s definitely a plague novel. Fátima’s playing with this motif of storytelling in the time of plague, and she’s drawing that from a lot of things like The Decameron. She is very interested in what it means to tell stories in a time of plague or illness. So in some ways, it fits perfectly into what we might expect from a pandemic novel. What’s so interesting, though, is the way that desire is portrayed in relation to contagion. As long as desire exists, a person will be vulnerable to contagion.
SA: On the theme of storytelling and illness, I was really curious about the Galapagos as the backdrop. What sort of symbolic role does that play as the voyage destination in a book about storytelling and survival?
HK: The Galapagos is a landscape that is desolate if we look at it from the perspective of human habitation, but when we look at it from the perspective of a natural world that is so rich, as an environment, it puts these characters in their place and makes them feel their vulnerability. I can imagine it also felt rich to Fátima as the Galapagos has come to stand for extinction, the fragility of our ecosystem, and the fragility of human life.
SA: Aside from the setting, what else about this book feels specific to the South American landscape in which it was written?
HK: Right now in Latin America—Colombia has been my focus for the last few years—there’s been a rich wave of writers who are interested in how deeply the health of humanity and the health of the environment are intertwined. I think that this book in some ways exists in that tradition.
And I have to say, one thing I’ve noticed about the contemporary writers I’ve been reading—especially from Colombia—is a kind of openness to defying boundaries when it comes to genre, which I don’t think I’ve seen as much in contemporary literature in the US. It’s not because of a dearth of people writing that sort of work, but because of how risky it can feel to publish, and how difficult it might feel to market. So, I’m really excited that a book like this had an opportunity to find an audience in the US. Because frankly, I don’t think a lot of books like this in the US, written by writers in English, are finding a home.
SA: Situated in the tradition of the plague novel, what was it like to translate this novel during the COVID pandemic?
HK: It’s precisely in the darkest times that we long to engage with weighty subjects in a way that feels irreverent. That irreverence was especially welcome to me. My father had just died when I translated this book. Approaching this as someone who had just lost a parent during the pandemic, not to COVID but to cancer, I came to the book in great need of that irreverence, because death was looming over my whole existence.
People who haven’t experienced that loss don’t really understand just how absurd everything feels when you’re grieving, how the texture of life itself feels like it’s been totally destabilized. So this book was a really welcome opportunity to just exist in that space of absurdity where I already found myself at that moment in time. So, in some ways, the timing made it especially difficult because of the subject matter, but the tone and Fátima’s approach stylistically to writing about death and dying felt very fresh and very free.
Frankly, I don’t think a lot of books like this in the US, written by writers in English, are finding a home.
SA: What is something about the translation process, either for this book, or in general, that might surprise people?
7 Genre-Smashing Horror Novels in Translation
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HK: People think of art-making as something that we do in the mind. Translating this book was disconcerting a lot of the time because of the way that I would feel its effect in my body—and not just from hours slumped over with a red pen, but also because I had to be in this kind of consciousness where there is so much detail about how the body is breaking down, often portrayed in very unapologetic language that could not be less interested in propriety, that really embraces the scatological and grotesque. So, I felt my own embodiment all the time when I was translating. On the first page, Lorenzo gets a hangnail, and I swear to you I got a hangnail after, and I was like, “Oh my god, my body is unraveling, my skin is falling off, my body is breaking down.” And I think that’s actually what trained me to understand where Fátima’s interest lies in this book, which is precisely in the idea of contagion. I felt it in my body as a translator of the work. And more clearly than ever, I understood how fundamentally physical the activity of a book passing through the translator can be.
About the Author
Shoshana Akabas is a New York based writer, teacher, and translator. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, National Geographic, Rolling Stone, and elsewhere, and she holds an MFA from Columbia, where she has taught writing. She is also the founder and executive director of New Neighbors Partnership, a refugee-serving nonprofit in NYC."
Dec 16, 2025
Shoshana Akabas
https://electricliterature.com/the-book-that-infected-its-translators-body/
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
"The latest wave of updates to the “General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” includes an adjustment to a portion about editions and translations of the Holy Bible.
The handbook notes that “generally, members should use a preferred or Church-published edition of the Bible in Church classes and meetings.” In English, that is the King James Version.
The adjusted handbook section also points to examples of English Bible translations that members can consider as they seek to better understand the teachings of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament...
“We can confidently gain insights from multiple translations [of the Bible], in part because ‘we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.’ Latter-day scripture, including the teachings of living prophets, is a good standard for evaluating any doctrinal discrepancies that might come up in different Bible translations.” —Elder Renlund
“The Lord said that He speaks to men and women ‘after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding’ (Doctrine and Covenants 1:24),” the Apostle says. “Clearly, God’s children are more inclined to accept and follow His teachings when they can understand them.”
This is why the Church has shared examples of translations that achieve both readability and doctrinal clarity. The list comprises (but is not limited to) the following translations:
Ages 14 and Above
English Standard Version (ESV)
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Ages 11–13
New International Version (NIV)
New Living Translation (NLT)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Ages 8 and Above
New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)
Using multiple translations of the Bible is not new for the Church. The handbook explains that the Church “identifies editions of the Bible that align well with the Lord’s doctrine in the Book of Mormon and modern revelation (see Articles of Faith 1:8). A preferred edition of the Bible is then chosen for many languages spoken by Church members.”
The Church publishes its own edition of the Bible in some languages. For example, in addition to the KJV in English, the faith publishes the Reina-Valera 2009 in Spanish and the Almeida 2015 in Portuguese.
“There’s a misconception that modern translations of the Bible are less than faithful to the ancient sources — that in modernizing the language, translators have compromised or dumbed down the doctrine,” says Elder Jörg Klebingat of the Seventy, a member of the Scriptures Committee. “In many cases, that simply isn’t true. Modern translators often have access to manuscripts that were not available to early translators. And most modern translations were produced by faithful scholars and linguists who are utterly convinced that the Bible is the word of God. The simplified language they use supports — rather than compromises — understanding of the doctrine of Jesus Christ.”
The handbook encourages Church members to “use a preferred or Church-published edition of the Bible in Church classes and meetings. This helps maintain clarity in discussions and consistent understanding of doctrine. Other Bible translations may also be used.”
“We can all benefit from translations made by our Christian brothers and sisters to enhance our study and faith as disciples of Christ,” says Sister Tamara W. Runia. “Our hope is that everyone will feel welcome and respected, no matter the translation they connect with and choose to use. What matters most is how the scriptures speak to our spirits and draw us closer to God as we read every day.”
Many Latter-day Saints have already found power in this practice. Alysia Burdge of Washington state has ADHD, which makes reading comprehension — especially of the Bible — difficult for her.
During high school, her grandmother gifted her a Bible in a modern translation that was easier to understand. That simple offering transformed her ability to grasp the meaning of the sacred text.
“Now I feel like I can really understand the word of God,” Alysia says, “and it helps me feel the Spirit more deeply. Sometimes I compare different Bible translations. It helps me notice deeper meanings and strengthen my testimony because I understand what the verses are saying.”
Marc De La Peña Barredo, an institute teacher in the Philippines, says he has found similar usefulness in exploring different Bible translations. Including them in his study has boosted his confidence as a teacher.
“Comparing Bible translations has significantly enriched the way I prepare and deliver my lessons,” he says. “It has empowered me to teach with greater clarity and purpose, helping my students draw closer to the Savior through the scriptures.”
Seth Stewart,* a parent of three neurodivergent children in Utah, says reading a more accessible Bible translation has transformed their family’s scripture study.
“For individuals with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, or other learning differences,” he says, “simpler translations can make the difference between feeling shut out of God’s word and truly connecting with it.”
For those worried about using a new Bible translation, Elder Renlund says to rely on the robust resource that is modern revelation.
“As Latter-day Saints,” the Apostle teaches, “we can confidently gain insights from multiple translations, in part because ‘we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God’ (Articles of Faith 1:8). Latter-day scripture, including the teachings of living prophets, is a good standard for evaluating any doctrinal discrepancies that might come up in different Bible translations.”
*Name changed to protect privacy"
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/holy-bible-translations-editions-church-of-jesus-christ
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
"The Evolution of Artificial Intelligence in the Translation Industry: Past Insights, Current Trends, and Future Prospects
In an era where communication knows no borders, the translation industry stands at the intersection of technology and human understanding. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into this sector has transformed the way we communicate across languages, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of translators. The work of researchers like M.Q. Shormani and Y.A. Al-Sohbani sheds light on this evolution, examining the contributions of AI to the translation industry and projecting its future trajectory. Their insights remind us how far we’ve come and point towards an exciting horizon in language processing.
Historically, translation relied heavily on human expertise, with professional translators painstakingly working through texts, ensuring not just accuracy but also cultural nuance. As global interactions increased, the demand for quicker, reliable translations surged. Enter AI—a game changer that bridged the gap between demand and supply. With the advent of neural networks in the 2010s, AI began to deliver translations that, while not perfect, offered a remarkable improvement over traditional machine translation systems. This has laid the groundwork for a future where AI enhances human translation rather than replaces it.
The rise of AI in translation has primarily been propelled by advancements in natural language processing (NLP). These technologies harness vast datasets, including multilingual corpuses, allowing machines to learn language patterns, idioms, and contextual meanings. For instance, Google Translate, which initially relied on statistical methods, has transitioned to neural machine translation (NMT). This approach considers entire sentences, enabling AI to capture the flow and context of text, resulting in more coherent translations. Such improvements highlight AI’s crucial role in enhancing the quality of translations across various languages.
However, the transition to AI-driven translation tools has not been seamless. While machines excel in efficiency and can process language at an unprecedented scale, they still grapple with the subtleties that only human translators navigate adeptly. For example, humor, idiomatic expressions, and regional dialects often pose challenges to AI systems, which can struggle to deliver accurate representations of tone and context. Researchers continue to explore ways to blend human intuition with AI’s speed, aiming to create systems that augment human capabilities rather than undermine them.
Another aspect to consider is the ethical implications of AI in translation. As these technologies become more prevalent, concerns about bias in translation algorithms arise. Since AI learns from existing texts, any prejudices present in the source material can be amplified in translation outputs. This issue underscores the importance of diversifying datasets used to train AI models, ensuring that translations reflect a range of perspectives and do not perpetuate stereotypes or inaccuracies. Awareness of these ethical dimensions is crucial as we navigate the potential pitfalls of technology in the translation arena.
The pandemic accelerated the demand for digital solutions, prompting many businesses to adopt AI-based translation tools to maintain communication despite physical barriers. The translation industry witnessed a surge in the use of AI-powered platforms that enable real-time translations—particularly useful in international business negotiations, global customer service, and online content dissemination. These tools empower organizations to connect with diverse markets more effectively, reducing turnaround times and enhancing customer experiences.
Despite the benefits, there is apprehension among professional translators regarding the increasing reliance on AI technology. Many fear that widespread adoption could undermine their livelihood, leading to a diminished appreciation for the art of translation. However, Shormani and Al-Sohbani emphasize that rather than diminishing the role of human translators, AI could lead to the emergence of new opportunities. Translators may shift their focus towards specialist areas, such as localization, transcreation, or culturally nuanced texts that require a human touch.
In the educational sphere, the integration of AI tools into translation curricula can equip future translators with the skills necessary to leverage these technologies. Training programs that emphasize both linguistic proficiency and technological fluency will be essential in preparing the next generation of translators. By working alongside AI tools, students can learn to maximize productivity while maintaining the critical thinking and cultural sensitivity required for high-quality translations.
Looking forward, the landscape of translation will undoubtedly be reshaped by ongoing advancements in AI. Continuous research will drive innovation, leading to more sophisticated algorithms capable of understanding and producing translations that are contextually aware and culturally relevant. As machine learning models become increasingly adept at managing diverse languages and dialects, we can expect a future where language barriers are significantly diminished, fostering greater interpersonal and international collaboration.
The future of the translation industry will likely see the emergence of hybrid models where human translators work in synergy with AI tools. This dynamic environment will usher in a new paradigm, characterized by collaborative workflows that pair human creativity with machine efficiency. Such frameworks could lead to unprecedented levels of accuracy and relevance, affirming the value of human insight while harnessing the power of technology.
In conclusion, the research conducted by Shormani and Al-Sohbani offers a comprehensive overview of the contributions of AI to the translation field. As we reflect on how far we have come, it’s essential to remain mindful of the challenges that lie ahead. The balance between leveraging technology and preserving the human element in translation will be integral to the industry’s evolution. As we navigate this unfolding narrative, the hope is to foster an environment where both AI innovations and human expertise elevate the standards of translation across the globe. Indeed, the future of translation holds endless possibilities, transforming not just language but human connections worldwide.
Subject of Research: The contributions of artificial intelligence to the translation industry.
Article Title: Artificial intelligence contribution to translation industry: looking back and forward.
Article References:
Shormani, M.Q., Al-Sohbani, Y.A. Artificial intelligence contribution to translation industry: looking back and forward.
Discov Artif Intell (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44163-025-00487-3";
Bioengineer December 15, 2025
https://bioengineer.org/ais-impact-on-translation-past-and-future-insights/
"Doctranslate.io is an AI-powered translation platform designed to handle multiple content formats, including text, documents, images, audio, and video. The platform focuses on preserving the original formatting and structural integrity of the source material, which can be critical for professional and enterprise use.
By supporting a wide range of languages and file types, Doctranslate.io aims to facilitate multilingual communication, content localization, and global collaboration. Its applications include translating corporate reports, marketing materials, multimedia content, and technical documents, allowing organizations to maintain consistency across markets. The software is intended for businesses, professionals, and enterprises that require accurate, context-aware translation without compromising layout or readability. Doctranslate.io emphasizes automation, efficiency, and scalability for multilingual workflows in diverse business environments.
Trend Themes
1. AI-powered Multimodal Translation - AI-driven platforms capable of handling text, audio, video, and document translations are revolutionizing how businesses manage multilingual communication.
2. Context-aware Localization Tools - New tools that understand context and maintain format integrity are enhancing accuracy in translating diverse content across languages.
3. Scalable Multilingual Workflows - The development of scalable multilingual solutions is facilitating seamless global collaboration, boosting efficiency in diverse business landscapes.
Industry Implications
1. Translation Services - The translation industry is transforming with AI innovations that improve the speed and accuracy of content localization across multiple formats.
2. Content Management Systems - Content management technologies are evolving to integrate AI-powered translation tools, enhancing their ability to support diverse, multilingual content formats.
3. Global Marketing Solutions - Global marketing industries can harness advanced translation software to maintain brand consistency and communicate effectively in various cultural contexts."
Ellen Smith
December 16, 2025 — Tech
Multimodal Translation Tools
https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/doctranslateio1
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
"Liberty professor earns Fulbright grant to teach, translate Romanian philosopher’s works
November 6, 2025 : By Logan Smith
Dr. Michael Jones, professor of philosophy in Liberty University’s College of Arts & Sciences, has been accepted as a Fulbright Scholar to Romania, where he will spend the Spring 2026 semester at Lucian Blaga University in the city of Sibiu teaching and working alongside Romanian university students to translate the philosophical writings of Blaga into English.
The Fulbright grant is a prestigious, competitive award funded by the U.S. Department of State that provides faculty members with the opportunity to research and teach in a foreign country. This trip marks Jones’ third Fulbright grant — and second as a Liberty faculty member — and aids his decades-long endeavor to introduce Blaga’s philosophical works to America. It will be his 15th visit to Romania.
The esteemed Romanian philosopher Lucian Blaga (1895-1961), rose to prominence in the 20th century for his works in poetry, theatre, and philosophy. He was censored shortly after World War II by the Romanian People’s Republic, a communist regime influenced by the Soviet Union. Because Blaga was not a communist philosopher, he was blacklisted by the regime and prohibited from speaking, publishing, and teaching. However, Blaga continued writing philosophy manuscripts, which were later published in Romanian following his death in 1961.
Jones said the Soviet Union’s suppression prevented Blaga from potentially gaining major international notoriety.
“It’s a shame that communism took over right when it did and prevented him from getting known outside of Romania,” Jones said. “They squashed him, and he would have been a really big name otherwise. But maybe it’s not too late.”
The esteemed philosopher Lucian Blaga was censored after WWII by the Romanian People’s Republic, a communist regime heavily influenced by the Soviet Union.
Jones will spend the first few weeks of the semester lecturing about Blaga’s key philosophical concepts and training students how to approach translation theory. He will then work with his team, who speak both Romanian and English, to interpret Blaga’s philosophy line by line and translate his work into an accurate representation of the fluent English language. Depending on the number of students enrolled, the class may be able to translate an entire book in one semester.
“I want it to be translated into good English, not a very wooden literal translation, but fluent so it’s easy for Americans to read,” Jones said.
Jones spent his first Fulbright in 2000 researching his doctoral dissertation, which he later published as a book. He also received a Fulbright in 2014, his first as a Liberty faculty member, to teach courses in philosophy of religion and ethics at the University of Bucharest. He has organized LU Send Study Abroad trips to Romania, accepted speaking engagements at conferences, and taught at multiple universities.
These opportunities to network, teach, and research, Jones said, would not have been possible without the Fulbright grants and the support from Liberty.
“I’ve had all kinds of academic and ministry opportunities as a result of my trips to Romania, some of which were funded by Fulbright,” said Jones, noting that submitting strong applications for the program requires rigorous and time-consuming focus. “It’s had a huge and positive impact on my life, and it’s been so beneficial to me.”
While in Romania next semester, Jones plans to connect with and serve in a local church, a priority he set for each of his trips abroad.
“Most of us at Liberty who receive Fulbright grants, whether we’re students or faculty, view it as an opportunity for ministry,” said Jones, whose wife, education professor Dr. Laura Jones, also received a Fulbright grant in 2022 to research and teach in Romania. “We want to do our research, but while we’re over there, we also want to serve the Lord. We view ourselves as tentmakers. We’re going over to teach and do research, but we want to minister while we’re there. For us, that’s a really big thing.”
The university’s Fulbright committee, led by Professor of Government and Fulbright Program Advisor and Scholar Liaison Dr. Edna Udobong, has consistently helped students and faculty apply for and receive prestigious scholarship opportunities to study, teach, and research abroad.
Jones poses beside a statue of Lucian Blaga, who continued writing philosophical manuscripts after being blacklisted by the Romanian communists. Blaga’s works were later published after he died in 1961.
Liberty’s applicants, who work through a laborious three-stage application process alongside the committee, are competing with students and faculty from distinguished institutions like UCLA, Harvard, Yale, MIT, and more.
“I’m thrilled that we have, almost every year now, students who are successful,” said Jones, a member of Liberty’s Fulbright committee whose key responsibilities within the committee involve mentoring students and assisting with applications.
Jones said he is looking forward to visiting Romania once again, reconnecting with friends, plugging into a church family, being the ‘hands and feet’ of Jesus, and illuminating Blaga’s philosophical work for a global audience.
“My life project is making (Blaga) no longer unknown and bringing him out into the light,” Jones said. “If we translate his work into English, he will be accessible to virtually the whole world.”
Each year, Liberty students and faculty apply for and obtain Fulbright grants. Earlier this year, two graduates, Samuel Heath and Evelyn Loftin, earned grants to research and teach in Europe; rising senior Tyler Kerr received the competitive Boren Scholarship to master Portuguese in Brazil; and Liberty hosted Dr. Hilly Moodrick-Even Khen, an expert on genocide and a senior lecturer of public international law at Ariel University in Israel, as its first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence."
https://www.liberty.edu/news/2025/11/06/liberty-professor-earns-fulbright-grant-to-teach-translate-romanian-philosophers-works-2/
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
In courtrooms across Wisconsin, the use of interpreters could shift to AI under a bill that would make English the state’s official language.
"GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) - A bill to make English the official language in Wisconsin is now another step closer to becoming law on Thursday after advancing in the assembly.
However, some of the language in the bill might be surprising in what it would do for those who can’t speak English.
When people who can’t speak English show up for a court hearing, the state is required to provide an interpreter.
In some cases, it can be expensive.
While this bill makes English the official language, it also goes a step further by removing that requirement and allowing ai technology to be an option instead.
That’s now the biggest source of controversy.
In courtrooms across Wisconsin, the use of interpreters could shift to AI under a bill that would make English the state’s official language.
“That is an outrageous idea, because AI is not good enough to replace a trained certified interpreter, especially when there’s different nuances with that technology and that human aspect, that cultural aspect is necessary,” says Christine Neumann-Ortiz, the executive director of Voces de la Frontera.
Supporters of the bill, including State Senator Andre Jacque, a De Pere Republican, say the use of AI would especially benefit rural counties, where local governments may have to spend considerable money to accommodate immigrants not yet fluent in English.
“I think it would reduce costs for municipal and county government when your dealing with interpretation, the printing of ballots would be another significant one, but also that awareness, there is going to be an expectation of learning English,” says Sen. Jacque.
Jacque says the bill isn’t about exclusion and encourages immigrants to better integrate within the community.
“Something multiple polls have shown well above 70% support and really support across all ethnic groups,” says Jacque.
https://www.wbay.com/2025/11/07/new-bill-that-would-make-english-state-language-allow-ai-translations-court-passes-assembly/
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
"La Asociación Cultural Iberoamericana (ACI) ha celebrado el reconocimiento otorgado en Buenos Aires a Juan Ramón Fariña, distinguido con el premio 'Andresito' por la versión en guaraní de 'Platero y yo'.
Este galardón pone en valor la proyección iberoamericana de la obra del Nobel moguereño Juan Ramón Jiménez y reafirma la importancia de este proyecto cultural, coeditado con la Diputación Provincial de Huelva y con el apoyo de la Fundación Caja Rural del Sur y la Universidad Internacional de Andalucía (UNIA).
El premio 'Andresito' es un galardón del legado de Andrés Guacurarí, líder guaraní considerado como el máximo símbolo histórico de la provincia argentina de Misiones y un referente de identidad regional, que en esta primera edición distingue a personalidades vinculadas a la cultura y los derechos humanos.
La distinción a Fariña fue concedida específicamente "por el trabajo de traducción al idioma guaraní de la obra literaria de Juan Ramón Jiménez Platero y yo (Platero ha che)" en un acto celebrado en el histórico Café Tortoni de Buenos Aires.
La edición en guaraní de 'Platero y yo' fue una iniciativa de la ACI, desarrollada dentro de sus líneas de acción para la preservación, promoción y difusión del patrimonio cultural iberoamericano, con el propósito de acercar obras universales a nuevas comunidades lectoras a través de sus lenguas de identidad.
El presidente de la ACI, Jaime De Vicente, hizo también un reconocimiento a Gudelio Ignacio Báez Benítez, quien junto a Fariña fue responsable de la traducción al guaraní, así como las ilustraciones de Alfonso Aramburu y el trabajo del maquetador Juan José Antequera. Subrayó, además, la colaboración y generosidad de los herederos de Juan Ramón Jiménez y la Fundación Zenobia-Juan Ramon, fundamentales para que este proyecto viera la luz.
En octubre, la ACI y la Diputación de Huelva presentaron esta edición bilingüe en el Centro Cultural de España Juan de Salazar en Asunción (Paraguay) y en el Centro Cultural de España en Montevideo (Uruguay). Las actividades incluyeron la distribución gratuita de 1.000 ejemplares, con especial atención a comunidades donde el guaraní es lengua cooficial junto al español. El objetivo es acercar la literatura universal a niños y niñas desde su propia identidad lingüística, promoviendo el respeto a las lenguas originarias y el acceso a la lectura en contextos bilingües.
Considerada una de las obras universales más publicadas y leídas, 'Platero y yo' posee un profundo carácter educativo, social y simbólico, erigiéndose como un puente literario y cultural entre Andalucía e Iberoamérica y fortaleciendo el diálogo entre lenguas, territorios y tradiciones compartidas.
Antes de las presentaciones en Paraguay y Uruguay, 'Platero ha che' se dio a conocer en la Feria Internacional del Libro de Villa Carlos Paz (Córdoba, Argentina) y en la Feria del Libro de Posadas (Misiones, Argentina), donde se destacó el carácter iberoamericano del proyecto y el papel de Misiones en la difusión de la obra.
La edición fue presentada también en Huelva y Sevilla, en la sede de la Universidad Internacional de Andalucía, y está siendo distribuida en instituciones educativas de la provincia de Misiones en Argentina, donde la lengua guaraní forma parte del patrimonio cultural vivo de la región.
La ACI reafirma su apuesta por la cultura como herramienta de entendimiento mutuo y su confianza en el trabajo de Juan Ramón Fariña y Gudelio Ignacio Báez Benítez, cuya labor de traducción y mediación lingüística permite que la voz de Juan Ramón Jiménez dialogue con el guaraní contemporáneo."
https://www.notimerica.com/cultura/noticia-huelva-asociacion-cultural-iberoamericana-aplaude-reconocimiento-otorgado-traductor-platero-yo-guarani-20251213160101.html
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
"Harlequin a contacté en novembre les traductrices et traducteurs de la collection « Azur » pour leur annoncer la fin de leur collaboration, rapportent l'Association des traducteurs littéraires de France et le collectif En chair et en os. En difficulté, la collection de romances courtes sera désormais traduite par l'agence de communication Fluent Planet qui s'appuie notamment sur des outils d'intelligence artificielle, confirme HarperCollins France, maison mère d'Harlequin..."
https://www.livreshebdo.fr/article/harlequin-souvre-la-traduction-automatique-par-ia-des-traducteurs-denoncent-un-plan-social
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
Une traduction rigoureuse du Coranpour lutter contre l’islamophobie...
"IQNA-Dans un contexte marqué au Danemark par des débats tendus autour de l’islam et par la montée de l’islamophobie, la traduction du Coran en langue danoise par une universitaire non musulmane a suscité un large écho.
Selon Al Jazeera, Elin Wolf, orientaliste danoise titulaire d’un doctorat en langue arabe, a consacré plusieurs années de travail à la traduction du Coran avec l’objectif explicite de présenter l’islam de manière fidèle et compréhensible au public danois.
Publiée dans un format académique soigné, cette traduction se veut un outil de connaissance et de dialogue, mais elle a également donné lieu à des débats et à des critiques au sein de la communauté musulmane du pays.
Une traduction académique au service de la connaissance de l’islam
La traduction du Coran réalisée par Elin Wolf a été publiée en langue danoise dans un volume de 544 pages, rédigé dans un langage universitaire précis et rigoureux. La traductrice explique avoir consacré plus de trois années à ce travail exigeant, qu’elle qualifie elle-même de difficile et éprouvant. Selon elle, l’objectif principal de cette publication est de permettre aux Danois de mieux connaître l’islam et de corriger les malentendus, les fausses informations et les accusations qui ont contribué à ternir l’image de cette religion dans la société danoise.
Elin Wolf considère également son initiative comme une réponse intellectuelle et culturelle aux discours portés par les partis d’extrême droite de son pays. Elle estime qu’un accès direct au texte coranique, dans une langue claire et maîtrisée, peut favoriser une approche plus juste et plus apaisée de l’islam. Contrairement à de nombreuses traductions publiées dans d’autres pays, son travail ne juxtapose pas le texte arabe et le texte traduit. Ce choix repose sur la conviction que la lecture dans une seule langue permet au lecteur de se concentrer pleinement sur le sens, sans être distrait ou désorienté par la confrontation de deux systèmes linguistiques différents.
Malgré une volonté affichée d’utiliser une langue accessible, la traduction d’Elin Wolf se distingue par sa qualité littéraire et sa force d’expression. Toutefois, certains choix ont suscité des réserves, notamment l’absence de références aux causes de la révélation des versets, jugées essentielles par de nombreux spécialistes pour une compréhension approfondie du message coranique. De plus, le terme « Allah » n’est pas employé dans le corps du texte, remplacé par le mot « God », alors même que certaines expressions arabes figurent sur la couverture de l’ouvrage.
Réactions et critiques au sein de la communauté musulmane danoise
La publication de cette traduction a été accueillie avec un certain soulagement par l’importante minorité musulmane vivant au Danemark, tout en suscitant des débats. Abdelwahid Pedersen, imam d’origine danoise, a souligné que ce travail ouvre la voie à une meilleure compréhension du Coran pour le grand public danois et contribue à nourrir une réflexion collective sur les enseignements de l’islam. Il a également noté l’utilité de cette traduction pour les jeunes générations de musulmans danois, souvent confrontées à des difficultés dans la lecture et la compréhension du texte arabe.
Cependant, Pedersen a exprimé des réserves quant à la valeur religieuse de cette traduction, estimant que le fait qu’elle ait été réalisée par une personne non musulmane en limite la portée spirituelle. Selon lui, l’absence de références à la tradition prophétique et à l’exégèse coranique rend difficile son adoption comme source officielle et complète.
Ce point de vue est partagé par Jihad Al-Farra, président du Centre islamique du Danemark, qui considère que l’absence de traductions réalisées par des musulmans disposant des compétences scientifiques et des moyens financiers nécessaires constitue une lacune à combler. Il exprime néanmoins l’espoir que de tels projets se multiplient et gagnent en maturité, afin de devenir des références fiables pour les musulmans du pays.
Al-Farra souligne aussi que le caractère académique, non partisan et dénué de préjugés de la traduction d’Elin Wolf peut favoriser son acceptation par le public danois. Selon lui, une traduction des sens du Coran, sans entrer dans l’interprétation, peut représenter un outil utile pour les personnes abordant l’islam avec équité. Cette initiative s’inscrit enfin dans l’histoire des traductions coraniques au Danemark, la première datant de 1967, et marque une étape importante dans la diffusion du texte sacré dans ce pays."
https://iqna.ir/fr/news/3494279/l%E2%80%99initiative-d%E2%80%99une-chercheuse-danoise-pour-lutter-contre-l%E2%80%99islamophobie-par-une-traduction-rigoureuse-du-coran
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
Axon Assistant can translate speech into more than 50 languages during traffic stops, calls for service and other interactions. When translation is activated, the body camera records audio and video, which are uploaded to Axon Evidence and can be automatically transcribed...
"Flagler County sheriff’s deputies are adding new technology to help improve communication with residents who do not speak English.
The sheriff’s office is equipping deputies with Axon Assistant, a tool integrated into body-worn cameras that can translate conversations in real time into more than 50 languages...
Officials said the technology will allow deputies to communicate more effectively during calls for service without relying on phone-based translation services or other officers.
Sheriff’s officials said the tool is especially useful in a diverse community where deputies frequently encounter language barriers. The cost of the software will be covered for five years through a state grant, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The system allows officers to ask questions verbally in the field and receive real-time responses through the camera, including general reference information, department policy guidance and live language translation.
Axon said the goal is to provide critical information without requiring officers to look away from unfolding situations.
Axon Assistant can translate speech into more than 50 languages during traffic stops, calls for service and other interactions. When translation is activated, the body camera records audio and video, which are uploaded to Axon Evidence and can be automatically transcribed.
Axon said certified human translators can review transcripts for accuracy, helping ensure transparency and maintain a secure chain of custody."
https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/flagler-county-deputies-use-new-translation-technology-field
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
"An interpreter's assault by an in-custody defendant prompted court staff to call for tighter security as they questioned the sheriff's office security protocols.
A San Francisco courtroom interpreter was beaten and hospitalized after being attacked by an in-custody defendant last month, raising concerns about safety measures in another public space monitored by the Sheriff's Office.
The alleged Nov. 3 incident, which has not been previously reported, came just weeks before a hospital patient allegedly fatally stabbed a social worker at San Francisco General, where sheriff's deputies also provide security.
In a letter to court and sheriff officials following the alleged Hall of Justice attack, Kenneth Wright's fellow interpreters said they were "dismayed" by courtroom procedures that made the security breach possible.
Alleged assailant Gerardo Contreras, who was already facing charges of felony assault with a deadly weapon and child endangerment, was not shackled or handcuffed in the courtroom when officials say he turned to Wright and punched him twice in the face.
"Despite a documented history of violence requiring psychiatric hospitalization from which he was only recently released, Mr. Contreras was brought into the courtroom without adequate security measures," the 21 staff interpreters said in the letter. "Four sheriff deputies were in the courtroom at the time of the assault but did not respond in time to prevent the attack."
The letter went on to say it was Contreras's own public defender who intervened to separate her client from Wright.
Court spokesperson Ann Donlan said the Sheriff's Office is responsible for court security and was investigating the incident. The court had no further comment. Spokespeople from the sheriff's office and the public defender's office could not immediately provide responses to questions from the Chronicle about the incident.
In a Friday interview, Wright said the incident took place during another defendant's hearing in the same courtroom, just after he sat down next to Contreras to translate a discussion between Contreras and his attorney.
Wright recalled he didn't say anything to Contreras other than "I am the interpreter," when something set him off.
"He all the sudden got up and said, ‘I'm out of here,'" Wright said. "I heard the deputies say something like ‘sit down,' and the next thing I remember I just felt this blow – at least two blows to my face."
Wright fell to the floor, and said he may have briefly lost consciousness. By the time he looked around, the attacker was also on the floor, in handcuffs.
A San Francisco deputy's incident report confirmed Wright's recollection of events. The deputy stated that Wright had a cut on his eyebrow and blood on his face, nose and shirt.
After backup deputies arrived, Contreras was moved to a holding tank and Wright was taken to the hospital by ambulance. He was treated for cuts and bruises, and for a few days suffered from blurred vision, he said.
Wright identified his attacker as the same Gerardo Contreras who was seen on video attacking a female Asian police officer in 2021, in what San Francisco police at the time described as a hate crime. Contreras, now 37, was arrested at the scene, but it was not immediately clear whether he was charged in that case.
San Francisco court records show charges of misdemeanor battery and child endangerment in 2023, in addition to the felony charges he was arrested for in 2024, which are still pending. Contreras last month was also charged with felony assault and inflicting injury on an elder or dependent adult, in connection with the attack on Wright.
Wright said when he learned about Contreras' history, "I realized he should have been shacked and cuffed."
In their Nov. 12 letter, interpreters said that while violence against court staffers was rare, they would like to see "concrete steps" to better protect court staff and the public.
"While we have every belief that the Court and the Sheriff's Office will dutifully conduct all necessary investigations and take corrective action," they said, "input from interpreter staff on the way we work in and around the courtroom must inform this process."
Story by Megan Cassidy
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/after-brutal-sf-courtroom-assault-interpreters-urge-sheriff-s-office-to-tighten-safety-measures/ar-AA1SfM9a
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
A written interview between Henry Widener, Portuguese Language Reference Librarian in the Hispanic Reading Room, and Brazilian author and translator Vanessa Bárbara on the author’s lifelong engagement with translation, both through translating authors like Lewis Carroll, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Virginia Woolf, and her own award-winning novel Noites de Alface.
"Through its blog series Conveyances, the Library of Congress’ International Collections explore the ways in which the translated words held in the Library’s collections link us across continents, cultures, and centuries. The following is a written interview between Henry Widener (HW), Portuguese Language Reference Librarian in the Hispanic Reading Room, and Brazilian author and translator Vanessa Bárbara (VB) on the author’s lifelong engagement with translation.
HW: How did you get into working as a translator? How long have you worked with translation?
VB: I was a fact-checker for the publisher Companhia das Letras, but I always enjoyed working with translation. I started out translating children’s literature for CosacNaify and then I took a test to start translating adult literature for Companhia das Letras. The first title I translated was The Raw Shark Texts (Cabeça Tubarão) by Steven Hall, in 2007.
HW: Many people say translation is an art, something which involves the creativity of the translator. How does your voice or your hand appear in your translations?
VB: Translation is not a mechanical act. It’s not like you can send a text through a machine and get a result that is always the same. My concern is always achieving a balance between loyalty to the work itself, solidarity with the reader, and containing my own creative impulses, which can run totally wild.
In the end, I am a very slow translator because it takes me a long time to assimilate the voice of the author. This can only happen as the work progresses, which is why I often have to revisit the initial chapters to correct my initial lack of familiarity. Despite all that, my voice always comes through in translation, one way or another. I try to at least make sure that the final product is a duet.
HW: You have translated the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Art Spiegelman, Virginia Woolf, Lewis Carroll, and Gertrude Stein, among others. What ties together these authors or your translations of them? Were there any particular challenges?
VB: Lewis Carroll was the most difficult, though, of all the works I’ve translated, his was the most similar to my own style of nonsense humor. Translating his poetry was quite nearly impossible. I think that, more towards the end of my life, I can try again, and I will find better solutions.
Translating The Great Gatsby was like traveling in the novel: full of pain yet delightful. I even made a map to help locate and guide myself through the story’s setting. It was very difficult to find Gertrude Stein’s voice.
Something that links all these authors is they all demanded a lot of research, finding references and studies on which to base my own choices of translation – most of all with Virginia Woolf. I really enjoy this part of the work, which I think speaks to my fact-checking spirit.
HW: Your book Noites de alface (The Lettuce Nights) has been translated into six languages. What about this book has enabled it to speak to audiences across languages and cultures? Has the reception of this book differed according to the language of translation?
VB: I think the story is almost universal – it’s about relationships, neighbors, grief, introversion. It’s also pretty crazy, with elements of suspense and strange characters. I would like to acknowledge the French translation by Dominique Nédellec, which was exceptional and crucial for the book to win the Prix du Premier Roman Étranger, in 2016. (One example: he translates the phrase “cansada para burro”, which closes the novel, to “vachement fatiguée”, which I thought was genius.)
HW: Many people prefer to read works in their original language as they feel it brings them closest to the author and their work. What would you say to someone who can only engage with an author through translation? Are there any authors you love whom you have only engaged in through translation?
VB: Ah yes! All of the Russians (I love Tolstoy), as well as some French authors: I fell in love with Flaubert through the Portuguese translations. I think something will always be lost when reading a work in translation, but you also gain something: the translator’s work of cultural mediation is rich and beneficial to the reader in many ways. For instance, a translator’s hand takes a reader to a universe that is so different from their own.
I grew up reading old translations that were full of old-fashioned syntax and spellings. This more antiquated language engaged the text in a certain way, as if I were really reading in another language, though it was my own. Literature is like this, too, I think. You arrive at the book with a desire to dive into another universe, even if it seems out of place in relation to your own."
https://blogs.loc.gov/international-collections/2025/12/conveyances-vanessa-barbara/
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
"Behind the Glass Booth: The Realities of Being a Simultaneous Conference Interpreter
When the audience sits back and listens to a seamless stream of speech — whether in Polish, English, or any other language — it is easy to forget that behind the transparent booth, someone’s mind is working at full capacity. Simultaneous conference interpreting is one of the most cognitively demanding professions in the world. It requires linguistic precision, deep subject-matter understanding, technical mastery, and nerves of steel. The recent Jubilee Gala celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Medical University of Lublin, held on 21 November, offered a perfect illustration of how vital — and how challenging — this role can be.
Reflections inspired by the Jubilee Gala of the Medical University of Lublin, 21 November 2025.
The Interpreter’s Task: More Than Just Words
At first glance, interpreting seems simple: listen, understand, and repeat the message in another language. But simultaneous interpreting requires doing all three at the same time, with only a two-to-three-second delay. The interpreter must understand the speaker’s intention, tone, and emotion, not just the vocabulary. Every sentence becomes a puzzle solved in real time.
Interpreters at academic and medical events, such as the MU Lublin Jubilee Gala, must often navigate:
Complex terminology
Long technical sentences
Discipline-specific abbreviations and acronyms
Cultural references
Formal protocol and ceremonial language
This means being excellent in both languages is not enough. One must also be prepared for specialised content ranging from medical achievements to academic reforms and institutional history.
At the Jubilee Gala (21 November)
Ceremonial speeches included academic titles, medical terminology, and historical references—a challenging combination for interpreters.
Multiple international guests required real-time interpretation for inclusivity and protocol.
The interpreters’ work ensured that the 75-year history of the Medical University of Lublin was accessible to everyone in the hall.
Equipment: The Invisible Partner
Modern conference interpreting relies heavily on technology. At the Gala, as at any major academic event, interpreters work with:
Soundproof booths
High-fidelity microphones
Noise-cancelling headsets
Receiver systems for the audience
When the equipment works perfectly, the interpreter becomes almost invisible—an ideal outcome. But even minor technical issues can turn the job into a high-pressure crisis. A crackling microphone, delayed audio feed, or poor acoustics can make comprehension nearly impossible. In simultaneous interpreting, every fraction of a second counts.
Why Speakers Make the Interpreter’s Job Hard
It is a truth known to all conference interpreters: even the most experienced professionals struggle when speakers unintentionally sabotage the process. Common difficulties include:
1. Speaking too fast
Some speakers accelerate when excited, emotional, or pressed for time. Interpreters then must condense content while trying to preserve meaning.
2. Poor articulation or accent issues
Mumbling, unclear diction, or heavy accents can severely hinder comprehension.
3. Reading written speeches at high speed
A speaker reading from paper tends to use unnatural pacing and dense phrasing, making it harder to follow.
4. Using humour, idioms, or wordplay
These rarely have direct equivalents across languages. Interpreters must decide instantly whether to explain, adapt, or omit.
5. Diverting from the script
Improvised additions, personal anecdotes, and last-second changes are common at gala events—and difficult to predict.
6. Using technical terminology without context
This is especially significant at medical celebrations. Even a skilled interpreter may need to rely on prior preparation or on-the-spot inference.
At the MU Lublin Jubilee Gala, the combination of ceremonial speeches, academic terminology, historical references, and expressions of gratitude created a rich but demanding environment for any interpreter.
The Mental Effort Behind the Scenes
Simultaneous interpreting is often compared to performing music, solving puzzles, and doing live broadcasting—simultaneously. Cognitive research shows that interpreters use working memory, long-term memory, multitasking skills, and rapid decision-making continuously during a session.
To prevent fatigue, interpreters typically work in pairs, switching every 20–30 minutes. Even short intervals can feel like marathons when they involve complex medical terms or long, protocol-heavy speeches like those heard during the MU Lublin celebration.
Why the Interpreter Matters
An anniversary gala such as the 75-year celebration of the Medical University of Lublin brings together international guests, partner institutions, and dignitaries. Without professional interpreters:
Non-Polish-speaking guests would miss crucial parts of the ceremony
The university’s achievements could not be communicated effectively
Collaboration and international relations would suffer
Interpreters enable institutions to present themselves confidently on the global stage. Their work ensures that the message is conveyed accurately, respectfully, and in real time.
A Profession Built on Excellence
Being a simultaneous conference interpreter requires not only bilingual proficiency but near-native command of both languages, superb listening skills, cultural sensitivity, and emotional resilience. Events like the Jubilee Gala are a reminder that the quality of interpretation shapes audience experience, international visibility, and even institutional reputation.
Behind the dignified speeches, ceremonial music, and celebratory atmosphere, the interpreter’s work remains largely unseen—but absolutely vital.
What the Photos Reveal: A Glimpse Into the Booth
The images from the gala offer a rare look into the interpreters’ environment. They show a portable simultaneous interpreting booth, the standard for events hosted in venues without built-in infrastructure. The booth is:
sound-insulated to prevent external noise from entering
compact, often warmer than the rest of the room
equipped with transparent panels to allow a view of the hall
furnished with two chairs and minimal desk space
Inside, two interpreters work side by side—also standard practice. They switch every 20–30 minutes, because the mental load is too heavy for one person alone.
On the desk are the essential tools of the trade:
an interpreting console with volume, channels, and microphone controls
headsets delivering the speaker’s voice
a desk lamp, because booths are typically dim
laptops and display monitors with a video feed of the stage
printed scripts, notes, terminology lists, and event programmes
From these details alone, one can see the professionalism required: interpreters prepare in advance, organise their materials, and rely on technology to keep up with speakers they cannot always see directly.
Simultaneous interpreters listen and speak at the same time, with only a 2–3 second delay—one of the most complex mental tasks measured by cognitive science.
Professional interpreters switch every 20–30 minutes to avoid mental fatigue.
The booth used at university galas is soundproof and often kept at a cooler temperature—interpreters heat up quickly from the mental effort!
On average, interpreters process 120–160 words per minute. Some speakers go beyond 200.
Interpreters hear everything through headphones—even pages turning or someone tapping their pen near the microphone.
Before events like university jubilees, interpreters often prepare by reading programmes, biographies, academic abstracts, and even scanning the campus website for terminology.
Quotes from the Booth
“Please, slow down—my brain can only sprint for so long!”
—Every simultaneous interpreter at least once in their life
“Interpreting is like dancing: the speaker leads, the interpreter follows.”
“A good interpreter is invisible. A great interpreter makes the speaker sound brilliant.”
“When the microphone crackles, we pray. When the speaker improvises, we improvise too.”
Written by Katarzyna Karska (Departmet of Foreign Languages, UMLub)"
https://umlub.edu.pl/reports/reports_item/behind-the-glass-booth-the-realities-of-being-a-simultaneous-conference-interpreter
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
"Traduire la bande dessinée : entre bulles, cultures et contraintes en Asie orientale
10 et 11 avril 2026, université Paris Nanterre, CRPM (en hybride)
Organisation :
Marie LAUREILLARD (Université Paris Nanterre), Jaqueline BERNDT (Université de Stockholm) avec l’aide de XIANG Wenlan (Université Paris Nanterre)
Langue de communication : anglais (français possible avec PPT en anglais)
—
La bande dessinée, par sa forme hybride mêlant texte et image, constitue un terrain de réflexion particulièrement stimulant pour les traducteurs et traductologues. Cette journée d’étude se propose d’explorer les spécificités de la traduction de la bande dessinée, à l’intersection du littéraire, du visuel et du culturel. Quels sont les défis liés à la spatialité du texte ? Comment rendre l’humour, les jeux de mots, les références culturelles ou les effets typographiques dans une autre langue ? Quels rôles jouent les normes éditoriales ou la censure dans certaines aires géographiques ?
Nous accueillons des propositions portant sur les traductions des langues asiatiques ou vers les langues asiatiques, avec une attention particulière portée aux bandes dessinées issues de l’espace sinophone, japonais et coréen (manhua, manga, manhwa). L’adaptation d’œuvres littéraires nationales ou étrangères sera également considérée comme une forme de traduction. On pourra aussi réfléchir à l’aspect éditorial des traductions : quelles sont les œuvres japonaises traduites en chinois, par exemple, ou inversement ?
Les contributions pourront aborder, entre autres :
La traduction du texte dans ses différentes composantes (dialogues, onomatopées, titres…)
L’adaptation culturelle et les stratégies de localisation
Les contraintes éditoriales et graphiques (format, sens de lecture, lettrage…)
Les enjeux spécifiques à certaines traditions graphiques (manga, manhua, webtoon…)
Des études de cas de traductions publiées ou en cours
La place du traducteur dans la chaîne de production
La question de l’adaptation
La sélection éditoriale
—
Date de la journée : 10 et 11 avril 2026
Lieu : Université Paris Nanterre, CRPM
Modalité : Hybride
Envoi des propositions (300 mots + bio-bibliographie de 5 lignes) avant le 15 janvier 2026 à marie.laureillard@parisnanterre.fr et 44020957@parisnanterre.fr
—
Call for Papers – International Conference
Translating Comics: Between Bubbles, Cultures, and Constraints in East Asia
April 10, 2026, Paris Nanterre University, CRPM (in a hybrid format)
Organizers: Marie LAUREILLARD (Paris Nanterre University), Jaqueline BERNDT (Stockholm University), assisted by XIANG Wenlan (Paris Nanterre University)
Communication language: English
As a hybrid form that merges text and image, comics offer a particularly stimulating field of inquiry for translators and translation scholars. This study day aims to explore the specific challenges of comic translation, at the intersection of literature, visual semiotics, and culture. What are the difficulties posed by the spatial layout of text? How can humor, puns, cultural references or typographic effects be rendered in another language? What roles do publishing norms or censorship play in different cultural areas?
We welcome proposals focusing on translations from or into Asian languages, with particular attention to comics from the Sinophone, Japanese, and Korean spheres (manhua, manga, manhwa). The adaptation of national or foreign literary works will also be considered a form of translation. We can also consider the editorial dimension of translations: for example, which Japanese works have been translated into Chinese, and which Chinese works into Japanese?
Possible topics include, but are not limited to:
Translation of the various textual components (dialogue, onomatopoeia, titles…)
Cultural adaptation and localization strategies
Editorial and graphic constraints (format, reading direction, lettering…)
Specific issues in various graphic traditions (manga, manhua, webtoon…)
Case studies of published or ongoing translations
The translator’s role in the production chain
The issue of adaptation
The editorial selection.
—
Date of the event: April 10 and 11, 2026
Location: University of Paris Nanterre, CRPM
Format: Hybrid.
Submission deadline: Proposals (300 words + 5-line bio-bibliography) to be sent before January 15, 2026, to marie.laureillard@parisnanterre.fr and : 44020957@parisnanterre.fr
—
Some bibliographical references
BERNDT, Jaqueline & KÛMMERLING-MEIBAUER, Bettina (ed.). Manga’s Cultural Crossroads. Routledge, 2013.
BORODO, Michał (ed.). Reimagining Comics: The Translation and Localization of Visual Narratives, inTRAlinea, 2023.
BORODO, Michał et DIAZ-CINTAS, Jorge (ed.). The Routledge Handbook of Translation and Young Audiences, Routledge, 2025.
BOUVARD, Julien ; DANYSZ, Norbert ; LAUREILLARD, Marie (ed.). La bande dessinée en Asie orientale : un art en mouvement, Paris : Maisonneuve & Larose / Hémisphère, 2025.
HUTCHEON, Linda. A Theory of Adaptation, 2ᵉ éd., Routledge, 2013.
KAINDL, Klaus. « Comics in Translation ». In Handbook of Translation Studies, vol. 1. John Benjamins, 2010.
MARTINEZ, Nicolas. Reframing Western Comics in Translation: Intermediality, Multimodalities & Cultural Transfers. Routledge, 2022.
MITAINE, Benoît ; ROCHE, David ; SCHMITT-PITIOT, Isabelle (dir.). Bande dessinée et adaptation : littérature, cinéma, TV. Clermont-Ferrand : Presses universitaires Blaise-Pascal, 2015.
VENUTI, Lawrence. The Translator’s Invisibility, Routledge, 2008 (1995).
ZANETTIN, Federico (ed.). Comics in translation, Routledge, New York, 2016.
Responsable :
Marie Laureillard, CRPM
Url de référence :
https://ceei.hypotheses.org/26465
Adresse :
Université Paris Nanterre, Nanterre, France"
https://www.fabula.org/actualites/131623/traduire-la-bande-dessinee-entre-bulles-cultures-et-contraintes.html
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
"L’Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) et la Direction des services linguistiques du Gouvernement du Vanuatu (DSL) ont signé une convention de collaboration visant à professionnaliser et à renforcer les capacités des traductrices, traducteurs et interprètes au service de l’administration vanuataise.
L’accord, signé le 11 décembre 2025 par M. Nicolas Mainetti, directeur régional de l’AUF – Asie-Pacifique, et par M. Stewart Garae, directeur de la DSL, marque une nouvelle étape dans l’appui de l’AUF aux politiques publiques en faveur du multilinguisme et de la bonne gouvernance.
Cette convention définit le cadre d’un programme de formation ambitieux à destination des personnels en charge de la traduction et de l’interprétation au sein des services du Gouvernement du Vanuatu. L’AUF apportera son expertise pour la conception pédagogique, la coordination et la mise en œuvre des modules, ainsi que pour l’évaluation des activités. De son côté, la Direction des services linguistiques assurera l’identification des bénéficiaires, l’organisation logistique sur le terrain et le suivi de l’impact des formations dans le fonctionnement quotidien de l’administration.
Le programme prévoit l’intervention de plusieurs formatrices et formateurs internationaux sur des thématiques variées : techniques de traduction spécialisée, interprétation de conférence et de liaison, terminologie juridique et administrative, outils numériques et bonnes pratiques professionnelles. Des sessions d’interprétation seront également organisées afin de permettre aux participantes et participants de se confronter à des situations réelles de travail et de consolider leurs compétences.
Au-delà du renforcement des compétences individuelles, cette collaboration vise à structurer un véritable pôle de services linguistiques au Vanuatu, capable d’accompagner les réformes, les coopérations internationales et les échanges avec les partenaires régionaux. Elle s’inscrit pleinement dans la mission de l’AUF, opérateur de la Francophonie, qui soutient les politiques éducatives et linguistiques dans l’espace francophone, en particulier dans la région Asie-Pacifique.
Par cet accord, l’AUF et le Gouvernement du Vanuatu réaffirment leur volonté commune de promouvoir le plurilinguisme, de faciliter l’accès à l’information et de renforcer la qualité de la communication institutionnelle. Les premières activités de formation seront déployées dès 2026, avec l’objectif de constituer un réseau durable de professionnels de la traduction et de l’interprétation au service du développement du pays."
https://www.auf.org/lauf-et-le-gouvernement-du-vanuatu-sassocient-pour-renforcer-les-competences-des-services-de-traduction-et-dinterpretation/
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus
"The 8th International Conference of the International Association for Translation and Intercultural Studies (IATIS) concluded at Sultan Qaboos University under the patronage of Prof. Amer bin Saif Al-hinai, Deputy Vice-chancellor for Postgraduate Studies and Research.
The event brought together scholars, practitioners and students from around the world to explore sustainable translation in the context of knowledge extraction, technological change and global challenges.
Prof Kyung Hye Kim of Dongguk University, chief of the IATIS conference, praised the organising committee and volunteers for their efforts, highlighting the conference’s focus on inclusivity and “lived experience, not just secondhand knowledge.”
Hosting the conference in the GCC for the first time, Prof. Kim said the gathering allowed participants from diverse regions to exchange ideas, build networks, and carry forward a spirit of dialogue. She noted that “conversation does not require visas” and looked ahead to the next IATIS meeting in New Zealand in 2027.
Prof Julie Boéri, the new president of IATIS, described the Muscat event as a defining moment for the association. She emphasised the ethical and political responsibility of translation and intercultural studies in a fractured world, noting that humility, solidarity and care are central to addressing contemporary challenges.
The conference concluded with recommendations reaffirming translation’s role in knowledge production, social justice and environmental responsibility. Key points included protecting translators’ well-being, valuing less widely spoken languages, promoting openaccess knowledge, and addressing the environmental impact of emerging technologies, including AI."
8th IATIS conference concludes at SQU
https://www.pressreader.com/oman/muscat-daily/20251215/281724095884330
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Scoop.it!
The winner of the Ottawa Award on the importance of children’s literature, and his project with the University of Chicago to translate South Asian literature
Congratulations on the Ottaway Award. Do awards really impact how we read, think, and write as a culture?In theory more than in practice, I think. I’m not sure in reality there are very many awards that have a broad impact. For me, they’re more important, sort of in the abstract, as a statement of what we value – what is this prize supposed to be rewarding, exactly? – more than any direct impact on sales, for example....
#metaglossia mundus