Metaglossia: The Translation World

Under the auspices of President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, the first National Forum of Translators of Mongolia was held at the State Palace of Mongolia on September 30, 2024.

First National Forum of Mongolian Translators

Khankhuu.J

j.khankhuu@montsame.gov.mn

2024-10-02 16:04:20

Ulaanbaatar, October 2, 2024 /MONTSAME/. Under the auspices of President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, the first National Forum of Translators of Mongolia was held at the State Palace of Mongolia on September 30, 2024.

 

President Khurelsukh’s message addressing the guests at the Forum was conveyed by Lodoiravsal Choimaa, Education, Science, and Technology Policy Advisor to the President of Mongolia.

 

In this message, President Khurelsukh extended his greetings to all guests attending the first National Forum of Translators of Mongolia, taking place in celebration of International Translation Day. The Head of State acknowledged the significant contributions made by translators in strengthening relations and cooperation between countries and nations, as well as fostering friendship and peace among the peoples of the world.

 

The President stated that Mongolia has a long-standing history of promoting translation and interpretation at the level of state policy, since the establishment of the first Mongol State. The President mentioned that Mongol emperors communicated with emperors of the Han Dynasty through envoys and interpreters during the period of the Khunnu (Xiongnu) Empire. President Khurelsukh also noted that an institute for translators was founded during the Khitan Empire, and later, at the time of the Yuan Empire under Khubilai Khaan, an institution for recording history and translating classical works was established.

 

The Head of State noted that since medieval times, Mongols translated written works from Uighur, Persian, Arabic, Tibetan, and Sanskrit into Mongolian, and published them in traditional Mongol script and Phags-pa script. During the Great Mongol Empire, translators and interpreters played a crucial role in governing different peoples with different cultures and languages under one government by ensuring the Khaans’ decrees and laws were conveyed accurately. 

 

President Khurelsukh mentioned that the Mongolian word for “interpreter,” khelmerch, has been found in the lexicons of many nations of the Middle Ages, signifying the skill and excellence of Mongol translators of that time. 

 

The President highlighted that the wealth of knowledge and skills, keen sense, determination, and responsibility of translators are becoming more valuable in promoting Mongolia’s rich history, unique culture, and fame at a time when Mongolia’s foreign policy and foreign relations are expanding and strengthening.

 

The Head of State expressed confidence that the first National Forum of Translators of Mongolia would define the pathways for solutions, and determine future goals and human resources policy of the translation industry. 

 

President Khurelsukh conveyed auspicious wishes to Mongolian translators that the Mongolian translation industry would expand and develop, and the finest literary works of the Mongols would be translated close to their truest meaning and spread throughout the world for generations to come.

A group of court interpreters and translators has withdrawn their services, protesting against freelance pay and worker status.

 

 

 

 

 

Employment lawLatest NewsEmployment contractsFreelance workers

Translators withdraw services amid worker status claim

by Jo Faragher 2 Oct 2024

Stock photo/Shutterstock

 

A group of court interpreters and translators has withdrawn services at Chelmsford Crown Court, protesting against freelance pay and working conditions.

The Ministry of Justice now books their services through an app, run by contractor thebigword (TBW), and this has led to issues with invoicing and payments, they claim.

The MoJ outsourced court translation services in 2012, and TBW won a contract to provide those services in 2016. It provides face-to-face and telephone translation and interpreting services to other departments too, such as the NHS and emergency services.

According to one of the translators, using the app has meant late cancellations, travel cost issues, and in some cases, just one hour’s pay for a full-day booking.

Worker status

Bolt drivers launch worker status claim 

Examiner was worker, not self-employed, finds tribunal 

One told the BBC that she was living “pretty much on the poverty line”. Courts would be told that translators were not available when they were waiting for work, or they would not be able to see available jobs on the app.

The action cannot be classed as a strike as the interpreters are not classed as employees of TBW. However, law firm Leigh Day is representing a number of claimants in a bid to get them classed as workers in employment law, meaning they would be entitled to full rights such as the minimum wage and holiday pay.

The firm argues that, because of the way the company engages their workforce, including making them undergo a detailed recruitment process, providing them with branded equipment, fixing their rate of pay and limiting their ability to substitute others to do their work, they should be classed as workers rather than independent self-employed contractors.

When Leigh Day took the case earlier this year, one translator told them: “There have been times when I’ve gone to a job, and they’ve given me the wrong address.

“I’ve travelled for two hours or so to get to the job and I can’t do what I’ve been hired to do because I’m in the wrong place, so I lose out on the money for that job. They have no leniency when interpreters make errors, but when the error is theirs it’s a different story.

“They give you 28 days to submit your timesheet for face-to-face work. Most agencies have moved to electronic but if you do work through thebigword you have to print out a timesheet, fill it out, get it signed by the client, scan and upload it and send it over to them.

“You must wait for thebigword to verify it before you can request payment. It feels like they make the process deliberately long-winded – if there is an issue with the process, the interpreter does not get paid. You also don’t get paid the same month as doing the work – you get paid at best 60 days after the job has been invoiced.”

A spokesperson for TBW said: “We were aware of a planned protest by a small group of interpreters out of the 5,000 interpreters who work with us. We had contingency plans in place to minimise any possible impact on the services provided to the courts.

“We have a great partnership with our interpreters, who overwhelmingly enjoy the working arrangements we have with them. There are considerable benefits which they appreciate and understand.

“We have an open dialogue with our people about any issues raised. Our contracts are reviewed by leading employment lawyers who confirm they are entirely appropriate for self-employed freelancers.”

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Jo Faragher

Jo Faragher has been an employment and business journalist for 20 years. She regularly contributes to Personnel Today and writes features for a number of national business and membership magazines. Jo is also the author of 'Good Work, Great Technology', published in 2022 by Clink Street Publishing, charting the relationship between effective workplace technology and productive and happy employees. She won the Willis Towers Watson HR journalist of the year award in 2015 and has been highly commended twice.

Seattle Children’s Hospital may soon pilot AI language translation Patients with limited English proficiency struggle to communicate with healthcare providers. AI could help change that.

Artemisdiana/Getty Images

ByCaroline Catherman

October 2, 2024

• 4 min read

Having a sick child is hard enough, but there’s an extra layer of difficulty when you’re not totally fluent in English and are trying to navigate an English-based health system.

That’s the reality for millions in this country. An estimated 8.2% of the US speaks English “less than very well" according to the US Census Bureau's American Community survey. And a 2024 review from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing found that people who don’t speak English very well have lower satisfaction rates and worse health outcomes, including more hospital readmissions and longer stays.

Doctors at Seattle Children’s Hospital hope to soon pilot an artificial intelligence-powered translator that may make things a little less stressful for non-English speakers.

The basics. Hospitals that receive federal funding are required to provide “meaningful” translation and interpretation services when needed, which can include free on-site interpreters and translators, qualified bilingual staff, or remote interpreters via phone or video, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Still, three in 10 adults who don’t speak English “very well” said they had trouble understanding their healthcare provider’s instructions or communicating with medical staff, according to a KFF survey released in May.

Searching for solutions. While the “gold standard” for spoken or signed communication is still a human interpreter, AI has the potential to streamline written communication between doctors and patients, according to Casey Lion, research director, Center for Diversity and Health Equity, Seattle Children’s Hospital.

For instance, at Seattle Children’s Hospital, there typically isn’t time to get discharge papers translated into a patient’s preferred language before they depart, Lion told Healthcare Brew, so instead they’re sent through the mail.

“Those are arriving days later, when a lot of the information in there about how to take care of the child at home, what signs to look for, to come back to the hospital for, may already be irrelevant,” she said. “They’ve already gotten through the scariest, most critical period.”

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That’s why the hospital is testing an AI-powered tool to translate English-language clinical documents like discharge papers into Spanish, Somali, Vietnamese, and simplified Chinese—the most common languages of its patients, Lion said.

Within the next year, the system hopes to pilot test the tech with clinical documents given to actual patients, Lion said, though human translators will still double-check the results.

Let’s talk ethics. But just because it’s possible doesn’t mean it’s practical.

Seattle Children’s has taken a number of precautions, laid out in a September JAMA article, that Lion hopes other systems will also take if they follow suit.

One of the precautions is to keep everything internal. The hospital built AI language translation tech into its own data system so third parties aren’t given access to sensitive patient information, which could happen if the hospital used an outside system, like generative AI-based models, Lion said.

It’s also important to ensure that this AI tool works with every language in order to avoid exacerbating disparities, Lion said. AI has traditionally been trained on internet data that is mostly in languages like English and Spanish, and it’s not as good at translating less common languages, the New York Times reported in July.

“If we can’t do the high-tech solution well in all the languages, we need to continue investing resources in the low-tech solutions that are more accessible,” Lion said.

What’s more, Seattle Children’s created a dedicated AI ethics review board to monitor the use of the tech in the hospital, she added.

“Seattle Children’s has been really thoughtful and intentional about [its] approach, and my guess is that this is going to be adopted pretty routinely by other systems,” she said.

Moroccan and International researchers develop Atlas-Chat, the first language model in Darija. Atlas-Chat is the first large language model tailored for Darija, Moroccan Arabic, outperforming similar models in handling this dialect. The model was created using existing language resources and new datasets. 

Atlas-Chat is the first large language model tailored for Darija, Moroccan Arabic, outperforming similar models in handling this dialect. The model was created using existing language resources and new datasets. 

By Latifa Babas

02/10/2024 16h40

DR

Estimated read time: 2'

A team of researchers from Morocco and beyond has developed the first large language models specifically designed for Darija, Moroccan Arabic. Named «Atlas-Chat», this AI model is a nod to the Atlas Mountains, a significant symbol of Morocco.

Atlas-Chat is capable of understanding and speaking Darija. In a research paper published on ResearchGate in September, titled «Atlas-Chat: Adapting Large Language Models for Low-Resource Moroccan Arabic Dialect», the researchers explain that the model was developed by integrating existing Darija language resources, creating new datasets, and carefully translating English instructions.

Atlas-Chat-9B response example 2 (The model can understand English instructions but only responds in Darija)

The paper also highlights that their models, «Atlas-Chat-9B and Atlas-Chat-2B», outperform other cutting-edge Arabic-specialized language models, including LLaMa, Jais, and AceGPT in following instructions in Darija. The Atlas-Chat models can also perform standard Natural Language Processing (NLP) tasks, which include interpreting, manipulating, and comprehending human language.

 

Their findings also show that Atlas-Chat achieved a «13% performance boost over a larger 13B model on DarijaMMLU», a newly introduced evaluation suite for Darija that covers both discriminative and generative tasks.

Darija and low-resource languages

The study also observes that while large language models excel at understanding and using major languages, they often struggle with underrepresented languages, particularly Arabic dialects like Darija.

This is mostly because while Arabic boasts a rich cultural history and a complex linguistic structure, most efforts to develop Arabic-specialized models focus on bilingualism—balancing English and Modern Standard Arabic (MSA)—while often overlooking dialectal Arabic (DA).

Although DA is spoken by millions, there is a lack of data available for training large language models for it. To address this, the researchers created new datasets and evaluation tests specifically for DA.

Atlas-Chat-9B response example 1.

The research was conducted by researchers from Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (United Arab Emirates), École des Mines de Rabat (Morocco), Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique (Morocco), KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden), Atlas Institute for Artificial Intelligence (Morocco), and École Polytechnique (France).

To inspire the development of similar models for other low-resource languages, the researchers have made all of their resources publicly available.

...More : https://en.yabiladi.com/articles/details/154722/moroccan-international-researchers-develop-atlas-chat.html

 Nathaniel Martinez October 1, 2024

Around 100 language professionals from inside and outside Orange County gathered on Monday at the OCDE-hosted International Translation Day celebration, which aimed to honor the work of both translators and interpreters across various fields.

Organized by OCDE Language Services Program Specialist Natalia Abarca, the event featured breakfast and beverages and was highlighted by conference interpreter Daniel Tamayo, owner and chief interpreter and translator at Globaltradu Language Services. The commemoration also served as a precursor to OCDE’s annual Interpreters and Translators Conference, set to begin on Thursday, Oct. 3. 

“Today, we honor the vital role that translators play in bridging cultures, fostering understanding and promoting global communication,” Abarca said. “Together, let’s appreciate the art of translation and the incredible individuals behind it.”

Attendees included representatives from 17 Orange County school districts, along with participants from multiple surrounding districts, county offices of education and freelance language professionals from various sectors. 

Orange County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean opened the event by explaining the crucial role interpreters and translators play in the education of English Language learners. He underlined how the confidence they instill in students can often significantly shape their educational experience.  

After, guest speaker Daniel Tamayo emphasized the theme of growth through challenges, sharing multiple personal anecdotes as evidence. Following his presentation, Tamayo hosted a Q&A session to provide guidance, drawing on his 20 years of experience in translating and interpreting between English and Spanish. 

Further information and resources will be available at the Interpreters and Translators Conference, which will focus on language access, education and artificial intelligence. 

For additional information concerning conference content, contact Natalia Abarca at nabarca@ocde.us. For questions regarding registration, contact Brianna Gomez at eventsandpartnerships@ocde.us.

"Reducing the world to English: My job as a court interpreter

By Shauna Singh Baldwin | October 1, 2024Every day in courthouses across the state, people’s lives are affected in consequential ways. Author Shauna Singh Baldwin of Milwaukee suggests the stakes can be even higher when there’s a language barrier involved.

==

The Latin words “Vox Populi, Vox Dei” are engraved on the imposing façade of Milwaukee County’s neo-classical courthouse. The voice of the people, it declares, is the voice of God.

Daily, inside that courthouse, many voices of the people speak American English as judges solemnize marriages and judge cases, prosecutors and defense lawyers argue, bargain and plead; mediators try to heal betrayals.

But the lives of real people happen in several languages. Often witnesses, plaintiffs or the accused speak enough English for transacting normal life, but not enough to understand legal discourse.

Tucked away on the third floor of the Safety Building is an office where Interpreter Coordinator Natalie Nguyen calls on a roster of 108 certified court interpreters to interpret in 17 languages. Her counterparts in the 72 counties of Wisconsin do the same.

My social worker friend, Nimmi Arora, asked me to consider interpreting for members of our community. Punjabi is the 10th most commonly spoken language in the world. Hindi is the third most commonly spoken language in the world, but both are rare in Wisconsin. Accustomed to interpreting for my elders, I signed up for the court interpreter orientation over two weekends.

Instructors patiently described the Wisconsin court system, the expected course of criminal and civil cases. Good knowledge, I thought, even if I didn’t pass the written exam.

But some knowledge must have rubbed off from being an attorney’s wife for 29 years, because I passed the test in English. Then came phone calls with Punjabi and Hindi examiners.

In my first session, I used some English words … That’s normal in a multilingual family. But in court, I needed to become monolingual in each language, as I was when talking to my Irish-American husband.

How could I prepare? One day, I would be in children’s court on a guardian ad litem case, another day I would be required to interpret at a hearing for a restraining order. And human speech in court is not predictable.

I prompted ChatGPT to prepare vocabulary lists with translations for each case type. The AI is only about 80 percent accurate in Punjabi and Hindi, but its word lists have spared me years of on-the-job learning.

Bilingual legal dictionaries soon littered every chair, sofa and table in my condo. I translated and memorized legal terms while walking the Oak Leaf Trail. I began interpreting WPR’s hourly news. I practiced in the car, or while biking, or walking — many people wearing earbuds are ranting at or confessing to Lake Michigan anyway.

In his book “Neurofitness,” Dr. Rahul Jandial explains that the brain has different areas for language processing. He describes a situation before brain surgery where he asked his patient to choose the language she needed more: Spanish or English. An awful impoverishing choice!

As I began interpreting, I became aware of my responsibility to be merely an unobtrusive conduit. Low-English people (LEPs) often asked for advice or opinion, but per the court interpreter’s Code of Ethics, I couldn’t give either.

A courtroom inside the Milwaukee County courthouse (Courtesy of Shauna Singh Baldwin)

Words spoken by judges, lawyers, accused, witnesses and victims had to be conveyed with the same meaning, tone and register. Misinterpretation of a judge’s instructions or decisions, or misinterpretation of witness testimony, could lead to a decision being overturned on appeal.

I needed to map legal words like “ilzaam” from the Mughal Court System to and from the British-Indian legal system (allegation) – to the post-independence Indian and Pakistani systems (aarop and shikayat), to American judicial system jargon (complaint and charges). I needed to map Latin phrases like “habeas corpus” to a phrase like “sharirik hazari,” that a non-legal Hindi or Punjabi speaker would understand.

And how should I translate American idioms like “to throw someone under the bus”? Or map American swear words to Punjabi ones? Sometimes it helped that English has appropriated words like “loot,” “thug” and “mugger” from Indian languages. But mostly, I dove down rabbit holes — now I was into trilingual legal dictionaries, along with several translation apps.

Wisconsin — indeed every state — will, for the foreseeable future, need human court interpreters to reduce the world to English, so Americans can navigate conflicts arising in our multilingual world. If you interpret in Spanish, ASL, Mandarin or Rohinga, you might be in demand.

Editor’s note: Shauna Singh Baldwin is a member of the Wisconsin Public Radio Association Board of Directors.

Shauna Singh Baldwin

Shauna Singh Baldwin is a Canadian-American novelist of Indian descent. Her 2000 novel What the Body Remembers won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, and her 2004 novel The Tiger Claw was nominated for the Giller Prize. She lives in Milwaukee with her husband."

#metaglossia_mundus

Most learners expect to study verb tenses in their new language. But if you only know about languages with their origins in Europe, like Spanish and English, you might be surprised to find that some languages don't use tense at all: They don't conjugate verbs for past, present, or future!

Verb tenses are a headache for learners—but not all languages have them!

Sep 30

 

Gabriela G. SalidoManuel Andrés Pérez Pérez

Most learners expect to study verb tenses in their new language. But if you only know about languages with their origins in Europe, like Spanish and English, you might be surprised to find that some languages don't use tense at all: They don't conjugate verbs for past, present, or future!

So how do languages express the past or the future… if they don't have a past or future tense?! These languages have a totally different way of envisioning events and actions, and this system is used by many indigenous languages from Mexico.

Here's what these Mexican languages can teach us about verbs and time!

Tense 101

First, let's take a look at English verbs. In English, tense is used to mark whether an action or activity takes place in the past, present, or future:

The English past tense is typically shown with the -ed ending and the future tense uses the auxiliary verb will, so talk becomes talked for the past and will talk for the future.

But this isn't the only way the world's languages divide up time!

Are there languages that can't talk about the past or future? 

Well… the answer isn't so simple!

In some languages, what matters is whether an event is complete or incomplete.

In addition to tense, some languages use another way of thinking about time: aspect. 

Instead of past, present, and future, grammatical aspect expresses whether the state or action lasts or ends. For example, have you finished talking to Bea, or are you still talking to Bea? Is the talking to Bea something ongoing? 

In the sentence I talked to Bea at night, the action of talking has a beginning and an end, so it's a completed action.

And in I talk to Bea in the morning, the action has a beginning but not an end, since you can talk to her every day and no ending is specified. This activity is prolonged and doesn't ever have a specific end! It's an incomplete action.

Some languages that use aspect—and that don't use tense—are from Mexico. Here's how they work.

Mayan T'aan

Mayan T'aan is a language spoken in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. It uses the marker -laj to indicate that an action has been completed. You can see it in the middle of these words:

Mayan T'aan Meaning of each part Translation Kul-laj-en sit-completed-I I sat Kul-laj-ech sit-completed-you You sat

And for actions that have not been completed, Mayan T'aan uses lak:

Mayan T'aan Meaning of each part Translation Bíin kul-lak-en someday sit-incomplete-I Someday I will sit Bíin kul-lak-ech someday sit-incomplete-you Someday you will sit

O'dam

O'dam is a language spoken in the mountains of Durango, Mexico. It also does not express time, but rather use short part-words called particles: The particle ba- is for complete actions and -t is for incomplete actions.

O'dam Meaning of each part Translation Ba-jimia’-iñ completed-go-I I am already going Ma’n bɨx xi-m-kuidaru-t one all imperative
-us-take.care-incomplete Everyone need to take care

There are also special part-words in O'dam that combine information about the grammatical person who did the action and the aspect of the action:

O'dam Meaning of each part Translation Pu ji-ñich dhu bhammi certainty go-I.completed first.hand information direction I am already going

Yühü

Finally, the language Yühü, also called Otomi, is spoken in several states in central Mexico. This language is a tonal language, which means that each syllable has a specific pitch, like having its own musical note. Tone is just as important as the individual sounds themselves, and different tones can change the meaning of a word! 

In Yühü, the aspect information goes before the verb to distinguish completed and incomplete actions—and this contrast also causes a change in the tone on the verb syllable, as represented by the marks above the vowels:

Yühü Meaning of each part Translation I pá he-incomplete go he is going Bi mǎ He-complete go He went

Languages can be timeless!

The languages of Mexico show us the diversity of the world's languages, and even just how different the languages of the Americas can be! All languages have the ability to express the same ideas—and they can use very different grammar tools to do so."

#metaglossia_mundus

"Sheikh Sultan highlighted the importance of language as a pillar of national pride, preserving its knowledge, history, and culture.

 

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

 

His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan BIn Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, commended the completion of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language, highlighting it as a significant achievement for the Arab and Islamic communities.

 

Sheikh Sultan highlighted the importance of language as a pillar of national pride, preserving its knowledge, history, and culture.

Sheikh Sultan commended the devoted efforts of everyone involved in this vital endeavour throughout the seven-year journey, acknowledging their steadfast dedication to supporting researchers, scholars, and future generations.

On Monday, at the headquarters of Al Qasimi Publication, he delivered a speech highlighting the achievement of printing all 127 volumes of the Historic Arabic Language Dictionary.

Sheikh Sultan has personally signed the final volume of the dictionary, which covers the Arabic letters "Waw" and "Ya."

Sheikh Sultan has officially announced the start of the Comprehensive Arabic Encyclopaedia project, a series of extensive volumes aimed at encompassing all Arabic terminology across various fields of knowledge. The Encyclopaedia serves as a comprehensive resource for the Arabic language, making it accessible to all.

Sheikh Sultan also highlighted the importance and goals of the Historic Arabic Language Dictionary, extending congratulations to the Arab world for this significant accomplishment.

His Highness emphasised that the effort will keep going, as the dictionary focusses on the roots of the language with the goal of eventually achieving its full potential. He stated, "The Arabic language includes all sciences and knowledge, and this historic dictionary serves as a container that carries it. We are proud of this language."

His Highness emphasised the significance and objectives of the Historic Arabic Language Dictionary, offering congratulations to the Arab world for this remarkable achievement.

He emphasised that supporting Arabic is a duty for everyone in this nation. His Highness emphasised that the effort would continue as the dictionary concentrates on the roots of the language, aiming to ultimately realise its full potential. He stated, "The Arabic language encompasses all sciences and knowledge, and this historic dictionary acts as a vessel that holds it, so we are proud of it."

His Highness announced that all volumes of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language will be available at the upcoming Sharjah International Book Fair. Additionally, it will be accessible online to enhance accessibility, as its creation was not solely for library shelves but for the public's benefit. It is essential for researchers, students, and teachers alike.

Sheikh Sultan announced that work on the comprehensive Arabic encyclopaedia will commence without delay. It will be comprehensive and encompass all Arabic terms in sciences, literature, arts, and prominent figures. We will not omit any Arabic term except for foreign terms to maintain the integrity and purity of the language.

Sheikh Sultan stated that the development of the encyclopaedia will follow the same methodology as the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language.

During that period, the initiative commenced with the involvement of language scholars and experts from different nations, who dedicated themselves to the task diligently, utilising both computers and traditional paper methods throughout the day. Reviewers and editors would subsequently arrange the material before forwarding it to the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, which then sends it to Al Qasimi Publications.

The volumes are produced to the highest standards, prioritising ease of use and meticulous attention to the finest aspects of production and BInding. This approach ensures that readers remain engaged and at ease while reading, enhancing the accessibility and appeal of the content.

Sheikh Sultan stated: "On this blessed morning, it is now nine o’clock, Sharjah time, and with the blessings of God, we shall begin the first step towards the comprehensive Arabic encyclopaedia." We are brimming with optimism and hope for the numerous positive experiences that await us.

Sheikh Sultan emphasised the commitment to completing the encyclopaedia, even if it extends to 500 volumes, and assured that it will be accessible online for everyone.

Sheikh Sultan emphasised the thorough commitment to learning, teaching, preserving, and exchanging the Arabic language by establishing cultural centres in European and African nations.

He stated, "This encyclopaedia will contribute to the world." We are currently establishing the groundwork, but we also have another significant responsibility: to transform the learners of Arabic. This is critical, and we are taking action in childhood education, schools, public spaces, and all sectors, including advertising billboards. I meticulously review everything and promptly rectify any identified errors. Whether in the East or West, we owe the Arab and Islamic communities and Arabic language lovers. We initiated the cultural centres in Europe and are actively working on reviving the institutes in Africa.

Sheikh Sultan underscored the importance of fostering accurate, distortion-free knowledge by completing the comprehensive Arabic encyclopaedia, a crucial component of global cultural hubs.

Sheikh Sultan wrapped up his speech by commending everyone involved in the successful completion of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language. He recognised the numerous individuals from different fields whose committed work led to outcomes that serve the greater good.

He praised their genuine efforts and the dedication with which they worked. His Highness expressed, "We hope that those who joined us in this endeavour will stay and carry on." Indeed, our journey is delightful, devoid of hazards, and abundant in affection—initially, affection for God, followed by this faith and this language.

Sheikh Sultan and those in attendance watched a presentation detailing the stages involved in completing the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language from its inception to the final volumes, highlighting his efforts to reach this significant milestone.

Following his speech, His Highness visited Al Qasimi Publications, where he explored the documentary exhibitions showcasing original handwritten manuscripts of his works. The collection included the manuscript for the 1990 book "The Omani-French Relations."

Mohammed Obaid Al Zaabi, Head of the Protocol and Hospitality Department, Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, Dr Mohamed Safi Al Mosteghanemi, Secretary General of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, Muhannad Bou Saida, Director of Al Qasimi Publications, and several staff members from both the Publications and the Academy were in attendance at the event."

#metaglossia_mundus

"Language in academia should not alienate the masses but instead be inviting discussion from the general public.

• Divya Aswani

 

Sep 29, 2024

 

 

In the hallowed halls of academia, a peculiar phenomenon persists; the pervasive use of obfuscatory vernacular that serves to alienate the uninitiated and perpetuate a cycle of intellectual gatekeeping. This proclivity for abstruse articulation, while ostensibly rooted in the pursuit of precision, often degenerates into a self-aggrandizing display of erudition that undermines the very essence of scholarly discourse.

If you found yourself reaching for a dictionary or scratching your head in bewilderment after reading that opening paragraph, congratulations – you have just experienced firsthand the exclusionary nature of academic language. It is a linguistic sleight of hand that transforms knowledge into a luxury good, accessible only to those who possess the decoder ring of specialized education.

Picture this: you are scrolling through an article about climate change, eager to learn about the latest research. You are hit with a barrage of words that might as well be written in ancient Greek. Your eyes glaze over and you close the tab, feeling a mix of frustration and inadequacy. Sounds familiar? Welcome to the world of academic language, where even the most crucial information can sometimes feel locked behind an impenetrable wall of jargon.

But here is the question: is this linguistic complexity a necessary evil for precise communication, or is it just academic showboating? While there are arguments for both sides, I believe that the scales have tipped too far towards exclusivity, and it is time for a change.

When researchers use specialized terms and complex sentence structures, they risk alienating readers who do not share their educational and linguistic background. This language barrier can turn important discussions about societal issues into conversations that can only be had by the educated elite. Climate change, poverty, and healthcare… these are not just abstract concepts, they are realities that affect millions of people who might not have a Ph.D. after their name.

Proponents of academic language argue that it serves several crucial purposes:

Precision: Some concepts are inherently complex and require specific terminology to be accurately described. Efficiency: In specialized fields, using agreed-upon terms can make communication more efficient among experts. Avoiding Misinterpretation: Academic language often includes carefully chosen words to prevent misunderstandings. Depth of Analysis: The process of learning and using academic language can force deeper engagement with concepts.

These are valid points, and I will not dismiss them outright. After all, we cannot expect a heart surgeon to explain a complicated procedure using only words found in a children's book.

But, here is the catch: while these arguments hold true in specific contexts, they struggle to apply universally. The problem arises when academic language spills over from specialized discussions into broader conversations about issues that affect us all.

There is a fine line between necessary complexity and intellectual peacocking. When academics use unnecessarily convoluted language, it is not just annoying but also potentially harmful. It can discourage public engagement with important ideas, widen the gap between experts and the general public, and even hinder the spread of crucial information.

So, where do we go from here? I propose a shift in how we view academic communication. Instead of prizing complexity above all, we should celebrate clarity. We need to recognize that explaining complex ideas in simple terms is not dumbing down academia, it is a sign of true mastery.

Imagine a world where grant applications and tenure reviews considered not just the complexity of one's work, but also its accessibility. Where academics are trained not just to conduct research, but to communicate it effectively to diverse audiences. Where the ultimate measure of scholarly success is not just peer recognition, but societal impact.

To those who argue that some ideas are too complex to simplify, I say this: if you cannot explain it clearly, you might not understand it well enough yourself. The greatest minds in history – from Einstein to Feynman – were known for their ability to make the complex comprehensible. This was not a diminishment of their work, but a testament to their true mastery of it.

The democratization of knowledge is not about devaluing it. By breaking down the linguistic barriers that often separate academic discourse from public understanding, we can actually amplify the impact of scholarly work. After all, what good is knowledge if it remains locked away in the minds of a select few?

In this push for clearer communication, we must be careful not to swing too far towards anti-intellectualism. The goal is not to dumb down our collective dialogue but to elevate it through increased accessibility and engagement. By fostering a culture that values both intellectual rigor and communicative clarity, we can cultivate a more informed, engaged public without sacrificing the depth of academic thought.

As I wrap up this exploration of academic language and its societal implications, I cannot help but chuckle at the irony. Have I, in my attempt to critique the exclusionary nature of academic discourse, inadvertently produced a work that plays into the very elitism it seeks to dismantle? Perhaps. But then again, if you have made it this far without reaching for a dictionary, I would say we are making progress.

In the end, the true measure of academic brilliance lies not in the complexity of one's vocabulary, but in the clarity of one's ideas and their potential to describe the human experience.

And if you found parts of this piece a tad verbose, well... old habits die hard, do they not?

Divya Aswani is a Contributing Writer. Email them at feedback@thegazelle.org."

#metaglossia_mundus

 

TRANSLATION IS WORTH PROTECTING!

Happy International Translation Day to All!

#metaglossia_mundus

Online event organized by UNESCO and Translation Commons to celebrate the International Translation Day with special emphasis on Indigenous languages.

Translation Commons

30 September 2024

Event

International Translation Day - Online Event by the International Decade of Indigenous Languages and Translation Commons

30 September 2024 - 4:00 pm - 30 September 2024 - 6:00 pm

Location

UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France

Rooms :

VIRTUAL ROOM A

Type :

Cat VII – Seminar and training

Arrangement type :

Virtual

Add to calendar

 

The online event will be live-streamed on the Translation Commons Youtube channel.  Click here to participate.

Join UNESCO and Translation Commons in an online event celebrating the International Translation Day. Under the theme "Translation, an art worth protecting: Moral and Material rights for Indigenous Languages" this event will focus on prominent ethical issues in the context of copyright, data collection and use of translated works. The event will shed light on the practical challenges faced by our multifaceted global community in data collection and translation of Indigenous languages and how they navigate such challenges as per industry norms.

 

Objectives

The online event will:

• Focus on ethical issues around copyright and data collection while translating Indigenous languages.

• Act as conversation starter for moral and social responsibility of language experts towards Indigenous communities. 

• Highlight practical, cultural and legal challenges faced by translators, on and off the field. 

• Focus on moral and material rights of both Indigenous communities and translators. 

• Focus on Indigenous communities' rights to cultural and linguistic access.

Programme

 

7.00 am PDT / 4.00 pm CET: Welcome Address 

• Ms Jeannette Stewart, Founder Translation Commons (USA)

• Dr Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information Sector, UNESCO (France)

• Ms Alison Rodriguez, President, International Federation of Translators (New Zealand)

 

7.10 am PDT, 4.10 pm CET: Panel Discussion: Ethical Issues in Translating Indigenous Languages

Moderator: Dr Jandhyala Prabhakar Rao, Professor of Linguistics, University of Hyderabad (India)

• Dr Elin Emilsson, CEAL-UPN Mexico, UNESCO Chair Linguistic Policy for Multilingualism (Mexico) (Co-presented with Mr Nelson Martinez, Researcher at National Institute of Indigenous Languages, Master in Applied Linguistics concentrated on Zapotec writing (Mexico))

• Dr Marie-Odile Junker, Director of the Algonquian Linguistic Atlas and Algonquian Dictionaries Project (Canada)

• Mr Kawiti Waetford, Certified Translator and Interpreter for the Māori Language Commission (New Zealand)

 

 

7.50 am PDT, 4.50 pm CET: Translation and Interpretation: Ensuring Cultural and Linguistic Access (Part 1)

Indigenous languages and cultural access

Moderator: Dr Rambhatla Siva Prasad, Former Honorary Professor, CDLTR, and Professor of

Anthropology, University of Hyderabad (India)

• Dr Samar Sinha, Professor, Department of Nepali & Centre for Endangered Languages, Sikkim University (India)

• Mr Evandro de Sousa Bonfim, Professor of Ethnology and Anthropological Linguistics, Anthropology Department, National Museum, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) (Co-presented with Dr Altaci Rubim, Member of Associação dos Índios Kokamas Residente no Município de Manaus (AKIM) (Brazil))

• Mr Roy Boney, Cherokee Language Film and Media Producer (USA)

• Mr Serge Gladkoff, CEO, Head of R&D, Logrus Global, MQM Council (USA)

• Q&A

 

8.40 am PDT, 5.40 pm CET: Translation and Interpretation: Ensuring Cultural and Linguistic Access (Part 2)

Training, regulation, and education for linguistic access

Moderator: Dr Hanem El-Farahaty, Associate Professor of Arabic Language, University of Leeds (UK)

• Dr Tariq Khan, Professor, National Translation Mission, Central Institute of Indian Languages (India)

• Ms Patry Muñoz Andrés, Director of Translation & Localization, Linguava (Spain, Argentina) (Co-presented with Mr Juan Cruz Vera Ocampo, Localization Project Manager, Linguava (Spain))

• Mr Abdulaziz Aldhohayan, Interpreter Trainer, Faculty of Translations, Kent State University (Saudi Arabia)

• Valts Ernštreits, Director of the University of Latvia Livonian Institute, Co-chair of Ad-Hoc group on Digital Equality and Domains

• Q&A

 

9.30 am PST, 6.30 pm CET: Keynote: Meta/UNESCO partnership announcement for project “No Language Left Behind”

Moderator: Mr Michael Wynne, Digital Applications Librarian, Mukurtu CMS, Washington State University (US, Canada)

• Ms Sharong Yang, Innovation Programs & Partnerships, Meta Platforms (USA)

• Mr Kevin Chan, Global Policy Campaigns Strategy Director, Meta Platforms (USA)

 

9.50 am PST, 6.50 pm CET: Closing Address

• Mr Tex Texin, Globalization Architect, Board of Advisors, Translation Commons (USA)

Related links

Indigenous Languages Decade (2022-2032) - UNESCO

Multilingualism and Linguistic diversity | UNESCO

Vision and Mission - Translation Commons

International Translation Day is observed annually on September 30th to recognize the invaluable contributions of translators, interpreters, and language professionals around the world.The Hans India Hans News Service | 30 Sept 2024 10:12 AM IST x HIGHLIGHTS International Translation Day is observed annually on September 30th to recognize the invaluable contributions of translators, interpreters, and language professionals around the world. International Translation Day is observed annually on September 30th to recognize the invaluable contributions of translators, interpreters, and language professionals around the world. Established by the International Federation of Translators (FIT) in 1953 and officially recognized by the United Nations in 2017, this day celebrates the critical role that these experts play in facilitating communication, fostering understanding, and promoting unity across cultures and nations.

The date of September 30th was chosen in honor of St. Jerome, the patron saint of translators, who was renowned for translating the Bible into Latin in the 4th century. His work laid the foundation for much of the translation practices we rely on today, and International Translation Day offers a modern platform to honor the legacy of language professionals who continue to shape the global landscape...
Celebrating the unsung heroes of communication International Translation Day is an opportunity to pay tribute to the often-overlooked work of translators, interpreters, and other language experts who operate behind the scenes. Their contributions are critical to the smooth functioning of international organizations, businesses, and cultural exchanges, yet their efforts frequently go unrecognized. On this day, the world takes a moment to appreciate the skill, dedication, and expertise required to bridge linguistic divides.

 

Happy International Translation Day! To celebrate, here are three fun language quotes and a brief account of the day's history and importance.

It's International Translation Day!

Topics:GLOBO News

Happy International Translation Day

We'd like to extend a gracious "thanks" to all of our amazing translators and interpreters,
and all linguists around the world. We appreciate all that you do.

To celebrate, here are three fun language quotes:

"The world cannot be translated; it can only be dreamed of and touched." - Dejan Stojanović 
Stojanović is a poet, writer, essayist, philosopher, bussinessman and former journalist. 

 

Walter Benjamin was a philosopher and cultural critic, most well known for his essay, "The Task of the Translator." Benjamin's essay holds the idea that translation is a form of artistic writing, observing what happens when one language passes into another. 

Rita Mae Brown is a writer and activist.
The above quote can actually be found in her 1988 writers manual, "Starting from Scratch." 

 

About International Translation Day:

International Translation Day is celebrated once a year on the 30th of September, which is the feast day of Saint Jerome. Saint Jerome is best known for translating the Bible into Latin way back during the 4th century. He is also known as the "patron saint of translators." In 1953, the International Federation of Translators (FIT) was established. Since FIT's inception, translators and interpreters were encouraged to celebrate Saint Jerome's feast day, but it wasn't until 1991 that FIT's Public Relations Committee officially launched International Translation Day as a holiday to be celebrated internationally and annually. 

On this day, linguists are celebrated for their profession. Without translators' and interpreters' continuous contributions, we would be unable to communicate with people around the globe, or even communicate with linguistically diverse individuals within our own nation. Translators and interpreters help us connect with others, whether that be through voice, text or video, every day. 

"Discover the vital role of translators in bridging world literature and the challenges they face in the translation process.

With revived attention to their craft, two experts highlight both change and challenges in the industry and how to keep translators a step ahead of AI

Updated - September 29, 2024 06:18 pm IST

Suchitra Ramachandran,Priyamvada Ramkumar

 

An expanding readership and pool of talented translators means that the publishing landscape has also altered significantly. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

In a recent interaction about translated literature, film critic Baradwaj Rangan made the observation that when we read a treasured classic of world literature, such as The Idiot or One Hundred Years of Solitude, very often it is a translation — and a translator — that we are reading. Without a Gregory Rabassa or Edith Grossman, we cannot access the thoughts of a Gabriel Garcia Marquez. In the late 18th century, Goethe proposed the idea of Weltliteratur (world literature), but translators have before and since been going back and forth across the world, knitting its thoughts into shape. What translators carry across are not simply well-formed ideas — a finished product — but new ways of using language that are essentially novel ways of thinking and seeing: a process of thought.

In a country like India, home to many languages and dialects, translations and adaptions have always been around. In the early part of the 20th century, there was a fervent interest in bringing world literature in various Indian languages with a view of enriching their modern idiom. Works written in one Indian language were eagerly translated into another. Since the early 2000s, however, attention has shifted to translations into the English language. There has been a push in the reverse — to convey the intellectual contributions of Indian languages to the broader Anglophone world..."

 

September 30, 2024

Today, Northern Health proudly celebrates International Translation Day, an opportunity to recognise the invaluable work of language professionals, including our very own team of in-house interpreters and translators at TALS (Transcultural and Language Services).

While the terms ‘translator’ and ‘interpreter’ are often used interchangeably, they represent distinct roles, each with its own set of specialised skills. An interpreter works with spoken or signed language in real time, either face-to-face or via video or phone calls. In contrast, a translator takes written material from one language and conveys it in another, ensuring the meaning remains clear and accurate. Both professions are essential, bringing unique value to the diverse communities we serve.

At Northern Health, we are fortunate to have both services available in-house. In the last financial year alone, TALS received over 70,000 interpreting requests across 122 languages and completed 65 translation projects, translating a remarkable total of 276,097 words.

Our hospital interpreters and translators play a critical role in bridging the communication gap between patients whose first language is not English and their healthcare providers. The team works diligently to adhere to the strict Code of Ethics for interpreters and translators, ensuring that they remain accurate, impartial, and that all conversations remain confidential.

To celebrate International Translation Day, here are some insights and experiences from our incredible TALS team:

Imad Hirmiz, Arabic/Assyrian/Chaldean Interpreter and Translator, reflects:

“The world has become a smaller place, with people from different backgrounds crossing paths daily. Professional interpreters and translators facilitate communication at a professional level, tackling complex cross-cultural issues. Interpreting goes beyond mere word exchange, it is a mental process at both intellectual and cognitive levels where a bilingual person lack experience. In healthcare, this work takes on its highest form, combining mental and physical aspects to provide critical support. Utilising interpreters and translators not only enhances formal consultations but also strengthens this vital profession.”

Federica Stefani-Comi, Italian Interpreter and Translator, shared a poignant quote from Italian writer Italo Calvino:

“Without translation, I would be limited to the borders of my own country. The translator is my most important ally. They introduce me to the world.”

Luyuan Chen, Mandarin Interpreter and Translator, shared feedback he received from one of the patients after interpreting for her over multiple sessions:

“The idea of going to a local hospital used to be intimidating because I assumed that English was the only language spoken there, and I would always need my daughter to take time off work to come with me for support. However, having an interpreter, especially one with a familiar face, changed my mind completely. They know what they are doing and make me feel confident about going there on my own. Thank you!”

George Karagiannis, Greek Interpreter and Translator, shared:

“Last week I was asked to interpret for an elderly patient in the ward. The doctor briefed me and did not think would have much success to convince the patient for the investigations needed to diagnose her condition. The patient wanted to discharge herself as she was feeling better post the two bags of blood given to her. Apparently, she comes often by ambulance with abdominal pain and bleeding and a “dangerously low” blood count.  We were able to talk to her in her language and convinced her of the importance of going ahead with the tests, and she signed the consent form. This was an amazing result for the patient, the hospital and the taxpayer.”

Yan Qin, Mandarin Interpreter and Translator, shared:

“Interpreting and translating are to build bridges between different languages, cultures and values. The practice of interpreting and translating is beyond only words, which adds value to the profession, and differentiates the work done by people, and by machine. As in-house interpreters, we are also the reliable source of support to the non-English speaking patients, yet within our role boundaries.”

These stories reflect the profound impact our interpreters and translators have on our patients and the broader community. By removing language barriers, we ensure that every patient has equal access to healthcare. We are proud to celebrate and honour the essential work of our TALS team today and every day.

September 30 marks International Translation Day. In 2017, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted Resolution A/RES/71/288, recognizing and emphasizing the role of professional translation in connecting nations and fostering peace, understanding and development.

 

We discussed the profession of translation/interpretation, its intricacies, and the importance of quality translation/interpretation in communication with Anna Allahverdyan, a translator licensed by the RA Ministry of Justice who holds a Master's degree in Public Communication and serves as Advisor on Public Relations to the Executive Director of AraratBank.

 

She has worked with various international institutions and held the position of an interpreter-translator at AraratBank for 13 years. Her experience as an interpreter-translator has allowed her to provide deep insights into the intricacies of successful communication and highlight the significance of this profession.

 

How would you define the role of an interpreter in the 21st century? In your opinion, how crucial is an interpreter's work in this era of technology, where artificial intelligence is already capable of delivering translations?

 

In the 21st century, a translator serves as a cultural bridge not only between languages but also between ideas and worldviews. In our rapidly evolving world, one should never underestimate the opportunities offered by the digital age. Many professions transform over time to meet the demands of the period in which they exist. In my opinion, a career as a translator has always enjoyed great demand but also required extreme responsibility, not least because it often merges with other professions. Although the influence of digital technology is evident in this field as well, it cannot undergo a fundamental transformation for one simple reason – the human factor remains a priority.

 

The role of a translator/interpreter in this era of technology is becoming even more crucial, as the sense of cultural intricacies, contextual understanding, and creative approach still remain irreplaceable and often beyond the scope of machine translation. Despite the progress of artificial intelligence, human translators/interpreters continue to play a pivotal role in situations involving complex communication. Naturally, translators can avail of the opportunities provided by technology, but this needs to be done adequately and competently. Professionalism is crucial. Each term must be used in its proper place. Imagine a mosaic where each piece is unique, matchless, and in the right place.

 

No matter how much artificial intelligence develops, it still cannot grasp the subtleties of human communication. It lacks the innate ability to sense context, read facial expressions, emotional nuances, and body language, which are essential components of human relationships and communication.

 

How challenging is it to maintain resilience while interpreting?

 

Undoubtedly, simultaneous interpretation is one of the most demanding and stressful career choices. Maintaining composure while interpreting for officials is indeed a significant challenge. The high tension, time constraints, and fear of making mistakes can affect even seasoned interpreters. A minor moment of confusion can truly jeopardize a reputation built over years of dedicated work. Maintaining stress requires consistent effort and experience: in-depth knowledge of the subject matter, constant practice, psychological preparedness, mastery of breathing exercises, and the ability to recover quickly.

 

Despite the difficulties, it is precisely this challenge that fascinates interpreters and makes them seek this work.

 

Could you elaborate on the importance of interpretation in facilitating effective communication?

 

In the context of events and official meetings, simultaneous and consecutive interpretation play an extremely important, and often decisive role. The success of these events largely depends on accurate interpretation, as it ensures effective communication between participants.

 

An event or official meeting is not merely about attractive packaging. While external organizational issues remain important, it is the accurate transmission of content that ultimately delivers real value and success. Quality interpretation guarantees that participants correctly perceive and comprehend the topics discussed, ideas proposed, and decisions made.

 

Precise interpretation helps avoid misunderstandings that may arise due to language differences and ensures that all parties are equally involved in discussions. Therefore, in the context of events and official meetings, quality interpretation is not just a desirable supplementary factor, but a necessity for effective communication, mutual understanding, and ultimately, the success of the event.

 

Could the quality of translation/interpretation affect the reputation of a business and customer trust?

 

Yes, absolutely. The quality of translation/interpretation directly impacts the reputation of a business and the trust of customers, investors, and international financial institutions. High-quality translation/interpretation demonstrates a company's professionalism and contributes to partnership growth with international organizations.

 

Poor-quality translation/interpretation may damage a company's reputation, lead to the loss of customers, and even legal issues. It could come across as a sign of negligence or a disrespectful attitude.  

 

Therefore, investing in quality translation/interpretation not only improves communication but also bolsters the company's position in the international market, increasing trust and loyalty among partner international institutions and customers.

 

Let's talk about the possible consequences and risks of translation/interpretation errors in the banking sector, as well as the importance of accurate translation of professional terminology in the financial field.

 

Translation/interpretation errors in the banking sector could end up having serious consequences. First, inaccurate translation of financial terms or contracts can lead to significant financial losses for both the bank and its customers. For example, misinterpretation of interest rates or payment terms can result in unexpected liabilities. Many people think that knowing only terms like 'loan,' 'deposit,' 'assets and liabilities' is enough to provide translation services in the banking sector, whereas in fact deep knowledge is required of terminology for various financial operations, accounting, audit, law, and IT security, to name but a few topics. Accurate translation of professional terminology in finance is of crucial importance. It ensures clear communication and reduces the risk of misunderstandings, which may lead to serious financial and legal consequences.

 

The management of AraratBank has always highlighted the crucial role of translators/interpreters within the organization, given its extensive network of partner IFIs and, consequently, the large number of documents requiring translation. Accurate translation is not just something desirable; it is a necessary condition for effective operations in all areas. Serious legal risks may arise from inaccurate translation of documents, which could even lead to lawsuits. However, at AraratBank, translation is carried out in collaboration with various departments, which means the process is reviewed at several levels. In the case of interpretation, we have always procured the services of qualified simultaneous/consecutive interpreters both for annual meetings and other events. Among recent events, I would highlight the UN Global Compact event, where AraratBank was the first company from the financial sector. The event was attended by representatives from the UN and public sector, Yerevan-based and foreign offices of international financial institutions, and local and international companies that are members of the UN Women Empowerment Programme. Interpretation at the event was entrusted to professional interpreters from the Armenian Conference Interpreters Association.

 

Equally impressive was the Robust Armenia 2024 Conference organized by Mediamax, where AraratBank was a partner. Interpretation there was once again entrusted to the Association members, interpreters Khachatur Adumyan and Artashes Emin. As a result, you feel confident that your message is being conveyed accurately. By the way, we should seek to instill a culture of explicit gratitude to interpreters. They perform an enormous task. After all, we must bear in mind that any information communicated at an event without qualified interpreters would have zero value, and consequently, the event would be considered a failure.

 

Do you see a need for translators specialized in finance and banking for work in those specific sectors?

 

There is a significant need for specialized translators in the finance and banking sector. Translation in this complex and technical field requires in-depth knowledge of financial instruments, banking operations, and regulatory norms. Financial and banking translators ensure accurate communication in international transactions, financial reports, and banking documents. They can correctly translate complex financial terminology, understanding its context and significance and thus reducing the risk of errors and misunderstandings. They also help maintain compliance with regulatory requirements and international standards. Therefore, the presence of financial and banking translators is an imperative requirement for effective operation in the modern global financial system.

 

I am pleased to note that the banking sector recognizes the importance of quality translators. Most commercial banks in Armenia have in-house translators but often additionally seek professional interpretation services during events.

 

How is the quality control carried out for both written and oral translation, and is there a professional body to test and certify translators?

 

Every year, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia conducts a certification process for written translators in Armenia. The quality of written translation is mainly controlled by the clients receiving these services or by internal standards of translation agencies.

 

In the case of interpretation, quality control is more complex and is often carried out through client feedback but, regrettably, this does not always work. And although some universities offer translation education and award diplomas, there is still no body or office specifically established to certify interpreters.

 

It is noteworthy that translation and interpretation are two distinct professional fields that require different skills and approaches. These two forms should never be confused or equated. Translation allows the specialist to delve into the original text, affording time for reflection and analysis. Translators can review their work multiple times, use different sources, clarify terminology, and refine the final result.

 

An interpreter must have the ability to think and react quickly, possess a broad worldview, and have a rich store of knowledge. Their mind should be flexible and analytical, able to navigate through various situations and topics, capable of instantly perceiving and conveying not only the content of the speech but also its nuances, emotional coloring, and cultural peculiarities.

 

It is for this reason that the certification of interpreters has become a pressing issue and an imperative need today. This is not only about linguistic knowledge but also about a range of other qualities necessary to fulfill the mission of conveying speech accurately and effectively. This certification should be carried out by an appropriate professional body capable of assessing the multifaceted skills an interpreter should possess.  Finally, it should be noted that it is interpreters themselves who best understand and appreciate the professional qualities of their colleagues. An experienced interpreter can immediately appreciate a colleague's mastery, sense of language, and professional ethics. Therefore, the best judge of their professional quality is often another high-class interpreter. Hence, the certifying body should consist of top-tier interpreters.

 

September 30 marks International Translation Day, which is also your day. What would you wish the best-ever professionals in this field who respect their work and consider it their way of life?

 

Only a translator knows the true value of translation: it's not measured solely in material terms. For a translator, the real value lies in a precisely and aptly used word. Translation is a unique art that is not given to everyone. I sincerely congratulate all translators dedicated to this profession who have made their calling a way of life. May your mind remain sharp and flexible, and your work appreciated. It is through your efforts that the world becomes more understandable and better integrated.

 

Interviewed by Hovhannes Vardanyan

With AI invading our lives, a look at whether technology does a better job than humans

Sapna SarfareUpdated: Sunday, September 29, 2024, 02:37 PM IST

 

The ever-changing world of technology has slowly intruded into the human world. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one such technology. It is now being used for language translations. This World Translation Day (September 30), let's engage ourselves into this AI vs. human translators battle. We look into how advancements in machine translation, like Google Translate, perform compared to human translation, along with other aspects. 

The debate

There is a need to look at this debate from a tech and translation perspective. Dhananjay Bhosale — Tech content creator, mentions, “Machine translations are improving rapidly, and the latest versions, like Google Translate, are becoming impressively accurate. Converting my Hindi videos to English, for instance, has become much easier. The quality of translations is advancing day by day.”  

For Nitin Rastogi, Associate Partner, Athena Knowledge Center, the debate revolves more around efficiency versus nuance. “Machine translation tools have made remarkable strides in recent years, leveraging deep learning algorithms. For instance, Google Translate can translate text in real-time using its mobile app, which is incredibly useful for travellers and businesses needing immediate communication.”

Replacement therapy

There are talks of AI replacing human translators.  But Rastogi thinks that may not be completely possible. He thinks though AI can manage basic and some complex translations, there is a struggle to get the subtleties that need cultural context or emotional depth. “For example, idiomatic expressions or humour may not translate well through algorithms. A classic example is the phrase ‘kick the bucket’, which means to die in English; a literal translation would confuse non-English speakers,” Rastogi shares. “This limitation becomes evident in literature or poetry, where the emotional weight of words is paramount—something a machine simply cannot replicate.”

Fact remains that we are training humans, not machines, as we craft prompts for ChatGPT. Prompt engineers, with no technical expertise required, are guiding this shift. In the process, we risk becoming mechanical in our ways. “Even if not fully replaced by AI, this transformation will reshape how we communicate. The concept of a ‘prompt’ is rooted in specific linguistic frameworks, which may lead people to abandon their natural modes of expression. Over time, our language may evolve — or erode — as we tailor it to fit the constraints of AI interaction. Reflect on this: to produce any information, we are increasingly required to think like an AI,” informs Rastogi.

Bhosale agrees that though we are nearly replacing human translators translating things like sarcastic puns and idiomatic expressions can still pose challenges. "But it can handle everyday conversational translations quite accurately,” he adds.

In a region

Apart from English, there are many regional languages within India and outside. Chances are their nuances and phrases might get lost. AI might lag behind human translators.  For example, in India alone, there are over 1,600 languages spoken, each with its variations and nuances. A phrase that resonates deeply in one region may be entirely foreign in another. 

Dr Ashok Kumar, Professor, Head, Center for AI in Medicine, Imaging & Forensics, Sharda University, feels ‘usage’ is the keyword here. “If I as a tourist need a machine translator to translate Japanese street signs, then these translations could be quite useful.  But AI cannot capture all the subtleties of the language. India has had a rich history on philosophy of meaning. In poetry, three kinds of meanings viz. Abhidha (Literal), Lakshanaa (contextual) and Vyanjanaa (special) meanings are presumed. I could say that the present state of machine translation does a very good job with literal and good job with contextual meanings. But special poetic meanings or Vyanjanaa are usually lost in translation.”

Future discussions

We need to see how AI goes as compared to human translators in the future, especially in India, where language changes every few miles. Dr Kumar reveals, “The rise of AI in general and especially generative AI after the revolution of ChatGPT has shaken everyone from the presumptions that AI could never compete with humans in creative tasks. AI is getting better at those creative human-like tasks every day. With a large corpus of linguistic data, in future, I expect that even for a country as diverse as India, machine translators will be able to do very well in literal and contextual meanings.  Although I still have my doubts about special meanings.”

Bhosle disagrees, “But as more data is fed into machine learning models, AI will improve in handling these subtleties.” 

Rastogi talks of a future where he believes AI will play a supportive role with human translators more than a total replacement. "In India, where linguistic diversity changes dramatically over short distances, human translators will remain essential for ensuring accurate communication. AI can assist by providing quick translations for basic conversations or helping businesses reach broader audiences through preliminary translations. However, for nuanced discussions—such as legal documents or literary works—human translators will continue to be indispensable.”

He concludes, “While AI advancements in translation technology are impressive and beneficial for quick communication needs, they cannot fully replicate the depth and cultural understanding that human translators bring to the table. The future likely holds a collaborative approach where both AI tools and human expertise work together to enhance communication across languages and cultures.”

This discussion on World Translation Day will continue as technology progresses.

 

 

Ronnie Avelino, Neighbor

Sep30

Event Details

Mon, Sep 30, 2024 at 11:00 AM

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Virtual Event

Day Translations Incorporated is thrilled to announce the upcoming Day Awards 2024, a prestigious event that will once again coincide with International Translation Day on September 30, 2024. The highly anticipated event promises to celebrate the best talents, cutting-edge tools, and transformative technologies that continue to shape and redefine the translation and interpreting industry.

Tradition Meets Innovation

As a longstanding tradition, the Day Awards bring together language enthusiasts, professionals, and industry leaders on a global scale. The event’s virtual format ensures that all attendees worldwide can participate. We are excited to showcase a curated selection of the most exceptional leaders and innovators driving advancements in the language sector.

Recognizing Excellence

The highlight of the Day Awards is our tribute to those who make Day Translations a remarkable success story. We will be presenting special awards dedicated to the talented individuals within the Day Translations group of companies. These awards not only celebrate their outstanding contributions but also underscore the strength of our internal community.

An Extravaganza of Talent and Diversity

In the spirit of embracing multiculturalism and multilingualism, the Day Awards 2024 will feature captivating live entertainment by up-and-coming international talents, and it will be streamed live on the Day Translations YouTube Channel. This celebration is not only about recognizing language industry achievements but also about celebrating the rich tapestry of cultures that make our global community thrive.

Shaping the Future of Language Services

The 2024 Day Awards will magnify the monumental role that individuals and cutting-edge tools play in driving the evolution of the language services industry. From technological innovations to groundbreaking methodologies, we are committed to shedding light on the transformative forces propelling our field forward.

New Elements in 2024

This year, we are introducing interactive sessions where attendees can engage directly with industry experts. Additionally, we will unveil a special award category focused on sustainability and ethical practices in language services, highlighting our commitment to social responsibility.

Message from the CEO

According to Sean Patrick Hopwood, Founder and CEO of Day Translations, "The Day Awards ceremony is a way for us to celebrate how far the language industry has come, and it's a way to unite all of us as we hold our breaths in anticipation for what the future might bring. This year, we are particularly excited about our new interactive elements and the focus on sustainability, reflecting our ongoing commitment to innovation and responsibility."

Contact Information

For more information about the Day Awards 2024 and how you can participate, please reach out to our Marketing department at marketing@daytranslations.com

Join us on September 30, 2024, as we come together virtually to celebrate excellence, innovation, and the ever-expanding realm of languages.

About Us

Day Translations is a leading global provider of language solutions, offering a wide range of services, including translation, interpretation, localization, and more. Our passionate commitment to breaking down language barriers empowers individuals and businesses to thrive in a multilingual world."

#metaglossia_mundus

"This year’s International Translation Day theme embraces the recognition of translations as original creative works in their own right, owed the benefit of copyright protection.

27 Sep 2024

by Sue Leschen

Translation, an art worth protecting

This year’s International Translation Day theme embraces the recognition of translations as original creative works in their own right, owed the benefit of copyright protection.

"As the creators of derivative works, translators have fought to protect their moral rights to be credited for their translation work, control any changes to that work, and receive appropriate remuneration. Protecting these simple things will ensure a sustainable future for translation professionals and the historic art of translation itself.

Copyright-related issues extend far into all areas of the profession, including the use of translations in the cultural sector, literary translation, publishing and legal translation. With the development of AI and the expansion of the digital sphere, the implications of copyright for translators, interpreters and terminologists have increased exponentially and attribution is increasingly crucial. In addition to allowing translators to receive recognition for their efforts, it clearly signals the source of a text, identifying it as human rather than AI generated content."
https://en.fit-ift.org/international-translation-day/

In this article Sue Leschen explains the fundamentals of copyright and the rights it grants copyright owners.

Understanding copyright

Copyright is a form of Intellectual Property (IP). IP is intangible property which automatically exists from the time of the creation of the work by humans (or these days by AI?). IP grants the copyright owner various exclusive rights. Other forms of IP include patents, trademarks and trade secrets which also grant exclusive rights: to make, use or sell an invention (patents/ Dyson hoovers), to protect a brand name or logo (trademarks/ McDonald’s Golden Arches logo) to protect business know – how (trade secrets/ ingredients in Coca Cola).

Copyright holders have exclusive rights to grant permission to others to copy original created works – but usually only grant this right for a limited time. Copyright also seeks to prevent unauthorised copying. Creators of original works are thus in theory at least (it may be difficult to police!) protected by copyright which grants them two main categories of exclusive rights:

• Economic rights – commercial benefits when they either license others to use their work or sell their rights to others for a fee.
• Moral rights – these protect the non-economic interests of the creator who has invested time and thought in their creation. The creator can keep (or waive) their rights, for example the right to be identified as the author of the work and/ or the right to object to how their work has been presented where there may be reputational damage.

The creator may or may not be the copyright holder, for example if they are an employee who created the work in the course of their employment because here copyright belongs to their employer.  

Copyright protection

Copyright can protect numerous and varied types of IP such as website content, data bases, audio and video recordings, personal correspondence and photos but can’t protect business names and/ or logos. In England and Wales case law has consistently held that works need not be of great aesthetic or intellectual value to warrant copyright protection – they simply need to be original works.

Talking of translations, the default position for translators is that they usually retain the copyright in their translation unless there is an agreement with the client to the contrary.

Sue Leschen

The creator of an original work has the exclusive right to authorise various acts in relation to their work such as copying, adaptation, audio and/ or visual public performances, either paid or unpaid distribution, renting or lending. In England and Wales (and in most countries) copyright of written works lasts a minimum of life plus 70 years (and 25 years for photos).

“Copying” an original work can include photocopying, making recordings and even reproducing a printed page by handwriting it or vice versa. “Distributing” an original work can include downloading a document for public consumption while “communication” of an original work could include uploading a translation to the internet and “adaptation” of an original work can include translations into different languages.

Talking of translations, the default position for translators is that they usually retain the copyright in their translation unless there is an agreement with the client to the contrary.

In England and Wales, notification to third parties that work is copyrighted is not legally obligatory – there is no legal requirement to formally register copyright anywhere. This is in contrast to patents and trademarks which do have to be registered. However, the © symbol clearly indicates to others that copyright exists and that the copyright holder may exert their rights if there is a breach.

What to do when copyright is breached

As regards breaches of copyright of all of the work or perhaps a substantial part of it, the copyright holder should act quickly to prevent their business reputation and integrity. A range of options are available such as sending “a cease and desist” letter requesting the other party to stop the breach by a certain time, not to breach in the future and warning them of potential legal proceedings if the breach is ignored.

Most contracts for services will include a voluntary confidential mediation clause where an impartial mediator will try to assist the parties to find common ground  where there has been a breach (without the need for formal court proceedings). Here the parties’ final agreement, while not legally binding, can be enforced as a contract. Alternatively, the parties could take advantage of a voluntary arbitration clause in their contract and submit their dispute to an independent arbitrator whose decision will be legally binding. Like mediation this is a quicker and cheaper process than going to court. if necessary, commencing court proceedings can be a last resort but is only worth doing this if it is known / obvious that copyright has been breached, the extent of the breach or even who breached first – again proof may be problematic! Where copyrighted material has been sold, the buyers may or may not be complicit in the breach so their cooperation is not automatically guaranteed. As with all litigation, winning is never guaranteed and there may be a costs issue for the loser.

In England and Wales, both civil and/ or criminal proceedings can be brought. In the civil court the copyright holder can apply for damages (financial compensation) and/ or injunctions (court orders to stop the breach) within the limitation period (6 years from the breach). Depending on the amount claimed, claims can be brought in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) in either the Small Claims Court, the County Court or the High Court.

Alternatively, criminal proceedings can be brought in the Magistrates Court by the Criminal Prosecution Service or Trading Standards (whereas individuals can bring private prosecutions) under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act (CDPA) 1988. Private prosecutions are rare as they can cost as much as £8,500 but may be worth pursuing if breaches are on an industrial scale. Penalties and forfeitures of illicit recordings and copies can be ordered under the Copyright and Trademark (Offences and Enforcement ) Act 2002.

If in doubt about copyright issues, free advice can be obtained  from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) at information@ipo.gov.uk and also from our Professional Indemnity Insurers’ legal advice departments.   

Defences to breaches of copyright are covered by certain exceptions in CDPA, such as the material in question was used for research and private study or education and training and/ or the copyright holder granted an implicit or explicit licence to use their work.

It should be borne in mind that where copyright protection exists in England and Wales, that it won’t cover breaches occurring abroad – unless an international agreement exists such as the Berne Convention on literary and artistic works.

Some general rules (in the absence of any agreements to the contrary to transfer copyright on delivery or payment for the translation) are that copyright in the original work belongs to the creator or, if not, to the company which commissioned the work by them; translations of source language documents are considered to be “derivative works” (derivative because their very existence depends on the existing work) which are protected by the same copyright as that of the original work and are owned and controlled by whoever commissioned them. Some scenarios may involve several different copyright holders such as for the text in the document, the translation of the text and the illustrations in the text.

Copyright and remote interpreters

Particular problems for Remote Interpreters (RIs) as regards recordings and screen shots by their clients of their audio and visual images are that our permission to use the latter may never be requested, may be sought during the event being recorded, may be unpaid or poorly paid. Also RIs may have been supplied with copyrighted materials to assist them to prepare for the assignment which their client has no right to use. Some clients may agree to RIs retaining copyright of their images but may request royalty-free licences to distribute them to their end clients. Of particular concern now is that AI can clone the human voice……

Talking of AI, there is growing evidence that our translations and visual and audio recordings are now being used to train AI. As AI generated content may closely resemble our original work it may be difficult to spot if and where it has been used. The current legal situation is unclear but an EU AI Act is now on the horizon which will require AI companies to get authorisation to use copyrighted content.. While a balance is needed between innovation and protection, it is clear that AI challenges the traditional view, namely that only human-created work merits copyright protection.

Protecting ourselves

We need to be proactive in protecting our professional reputations and businesses when negotiating jobs with potential clients which potentially involve our copyright – we should be asking pertinent questions such as:

• Who will see/ hear our work?
• Where are they?
• How often will our work be used? If use is ongoing, will royalties be paid?
• Can we review recordings before transfer of our copyright?
• Which parts of our work will be used? All of it or just specific parts?
• Will it be amended after transfer? If so, our written permission must be sought prior to transfer without which we will not be liable for any consequences.   ng

Author

Sue Leschen

 

Sue Leschen is an entrepreneurial lawyer – linguist who has married her twin passions of law and languages together and she is also an independent mentor to language professionals mainly in the area of legal terminology and freelance business skills.  She is the Director of niche - market company Avocate Legal and Business French Interpreting and Translation Services Ltd. Sue is a Fellow of both the ITI and CIOL and has Chartered Linguist (Interpreter) status. Sue is a member of the International Association of Professional Interpreters and Translators (IAPTI), the Association of Interpreters and Translators (AIT), the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI), CIOL’s Interpreting Division Steering Group, and of the ITI LIFT, ITI French Network and the YTI and NWTN groups."

#metaglossia_mundus

"September 28, 2024 By GISuser

When you think of Portuguese, your mind might immediately wander to the beautiful coastal city of Lisbon, the rhythms of samba in Rio de Janeiro, or the deep forests of Angola. However, Portuguese is more than just a single language spoken in Portugal and Brazil—it is a dynamic, diverse language with several variations across different continents. You might wonder, are there different types of Portuguese? The answer is a resounding yes, and in this blog, we’ll explore the major forms of Portuguese spoken around the world, the differences between them, and how they evolved.

The Roots of the Portuguese Language

Portuguese is a Romance language that evolved from Latin, which the Romans brought to the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal) around the 3rd century B.C. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the language continued to evolve in the region, influenced by Germanic tribes and the Moors. By the 13th century, Portuguese was recognized as a distinct language, and it eventually spread worldwide through Portugal’s colonial empire.

Today, over 250 million people speak Portuguese, making it the sixth most spoken language globally. The diversity of its speakers has led to the development of various dialects and regional differences.

The Major Variants of Portuguese

When answering the question, are there different types of Portuguese, two prominent types often come to mind: European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese. But the story doesn’t end there. Let’s dive deeper into the primary forms of Portuguese spoken across the globe.

European Portuguese

As the name suggests, European Portuguese is the language spoken in Portugal, including the islands of Madeira and the Azores. It is considered the “standard” form of the language and is the version taught in most European schools. However, even within Portugal, there are regional dialects that differ slightly in terms of accent, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

Key Characteristics of European Portuguese:

• Pronunciation: European Portuguese has a more closed, conservative pronunciation compared to other variants. The sounds can be more nasal, and the “s” at the end of a word is often pronounced like a “sh.”
• Grammar: It retains a more formal structure in both spoken and written forms. For example, the use of the “tu” (informal “you”) and “você” (formal “you”) is more distinct, whereas, in Brazil, “você” is widely used regardless of formality.
• Vocabulary: European Portuguese uses a few archaic words that are no longer used in Brazil, and some borrowed words from languages like French and English are more common in Portugal.

Brazilian Portuguese

Brazilian Portuguese is the variant spoken by the largest number of Portuguese speakers, accounting for around 210 million people. Due to Brazil’s size and diverse population, Brazilian Portuguese has its own regional dialects, but there are still some general characteristics that make it distinct from European Portuguese.

Key Characteristics of Brazilian Portuguese:

• Pronunciation: Brazilian Portuguese sounds more open and melodic. Brazilians tend to pronounce vowels more clearly and less nasally than Europeans, which makes the language sound softer.
• Grammar: While Brazilian Portuguese grammar is similar to European Portuguese, Brazilians tend to be less formal in both spoken and written language. For instance, “você” is commonly used in both formal and informal situations, and the conjugation of verbs can be simplified.
• Vocabulary: Brazilian Portuguese has absorbed words from indigenous languages, African languages, and even Italian and Japanese, reflecting the country’s diverse cultural heritage.

African Portuguese

Portuguese is also spoken in several African countries, including Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe, all of which were once Portuguese colonies. While the African variant of Portuguese shares many similarities with European Portuguese, it also has its own distinct flavor, shaped by indigenous languages and cultures.

Key Characteristics of African Portuguese:

• Pronunciation: In countries like Angola and Mozambique, the pronunciation is closer to European Portuguese than to Brazilian Portuguese, but it has some local influences that make it unique.
• Vocabulary: African Portuguese has adopted many words from local languages. For example, in Angola, you’ll find words borrowed from Bantu languages, and in Mozambique, from Tsonga and Makhuwa.
• Regional Dialects: Each African country has its own variety of Portuguese, and within countries, there can be significant differences depending on the region. This makes African Portuguese rich in diversity, with unique expressions and slang that reflect the region’s culture and history.

Asian Portuguese

In Asia, Portuguese is still spoken in former colonies like Goa (India), Macau (China), and East Timor. Although these regions are small, their varieties of Portuguese reflect centuries of history and cultural exchange.

Key Characteristics of Asian Portuguese:

• Pronunciation: Asian Portuguese is heavily influenced by the local languages. For example, in Goa, there is a distinct accent, and certain Indian languages like Konkani have influenced the pronunciation.
• Vocabulary: Asian Portuguese often incorporates words from the local languages, making it highly region-specific. For instance, in Macau, you may find Chinese loanwords in everyday speech, and in Goa, words from Marathi and Konkani.
• Usage: In some places, Portuguese has largely faded as a dominant language, and it is now mostly spoken by older generations or used in official contexts. For example, in Goa, English has largely replaced Portuguese in daily conversation, but Portuguese remains an important part of the region’s cultural identity.

Creole Portuguese

Creole languages have developed in some parts of the world where Portuguese colonizers interacted with local populations. Creoles are not the same as traditional Portuguese, but they are important linguistic offshoots of the language. These languages have evolved by blending Portuguese with local languages and are spoken in places like Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau.

Key Characteristics of Creole Portuguese:

• Grammar and Structure: Creole Portuguese simplifies the grammar of standard Portuguese. The verb conjugations, sentence structures, and vocabulary are often more straightforward, reflecting the influence of indigenous languages.
• Pronunciation: Creole Portuguese tends to have a more fluid, rhythmic sound, influenced by African languages and other local dialects.
• Vocabulary: These languages include many words from Portuguese, but the grammar and syntax are often very different. The Creoles spoken in Cape Verde, for example, blend Portuguese with African languages, resulting in a unique linguistic system that differs from standard Portuguese.

Major Differences Between European and Brazilian Portuguese

Although European and Brazilian Portuguese share the same roots, the differences between the two can sometimes be stark, especially for learners of the language. Let’s break down some of the key differences between the two most widely spoken types of Portuguese:

Spelling

• In Brazilian Portuguese, certain letters, like “c” and “p,” are omitted from words where they are silent, making words easier to spell. For example, “acção” (action) in European Portuguese is spelled “ação” in Brazil.

Pronunciation

• In European Portuguese, the “r” sound at the beginning of a word is pronounced more harshly, while in Brazil, it’s softer. Additionally, European Portuguese tends to drop the last syllable of words, making them sound more abrupt compared to Brazilian Portuguese.

Vocabulary

• Some everyday words are different between the two variants. For instance, a “bus” is called “autocarro” in Portugal but “ônibus” in Brazil. Similarly, a “cell phone” is a “telemóvel” in Portugal but a “celular” in Brazil.

Verb Conjugation

• Brazilian Portuguese often simplifies verb conjugations, especially in informal speech. In European Portuguese, more traditional conjugations are used, especially in formal situations.

Why Do These Differences Matter?

Now that we’ve answered the question, are there different types of Portuguese, you might wonder why these differences matter. For Portuguese learners, understanding the distinctions between these forms of language can help them choose which variant to study based on their goals. For example:

• Travel: If you plan to travel to Brazil, learning Brazilian Portuguese is the most practical choice. On the other hand, European Portuguese is useful if you’re planning to spend time in Portugal or other parts of Europe.
• Business: Many international businesses operate in both Portugal and Brazil and understanding the regional differences can help you communicate more effectively with clients and partners.
• Cultural Understanding: The different types of Portuguese reflect the unique histories and cultures of the regions where they are spoken. Learning about these differences can deepen your appreciation for the richness of the Portuguese-speaking world.

Conclusion

The Portuguese language is far from monolithic. From the formal, clipped tones of European Portuguese to the open, melodic sounds of Brazilian Portuguese and the unique creoles and regional varieties spoken in Africa and Asia, the Portuguese language offers a fascinating range of linguistic diversity. If you’ve ever wondered, are there different types of Portuguese? The answer is a world of linguistic richness shaped by centuries of history, migration, and cultural exchange.

Whether you’re a learner, traveler, or simply a language enthusiast, embracing the diversity of Portuguese can open doors to a broader understanding of the world and its cultures."

#metaglossia_mundus

"Since 1934, the Translation Bureau has been a major player on the Canadian political and events scene. It has become a true language leader.

The Bureau for Translations was founded 90 years ago, on August 1, 1934. Over the decades, it would carve out a special place in Canada's linguistic landscape and become the Translation Bureau we know today.

 

The Translation Bureau (the Bureau), part of Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), offers a full range of linguistic services, from translation to terminology to interpretation, in over 101 languages (Canada's official languages, Indigenous languages, foreign languages and sign languages). It serves Parliament as well as federal courts, departments and agencies, and makes a wealth of free resources available to the public through the Language Portal of Canada.

Over the years, the Bureau has played a key role in many major events, including leaders' debates, installation ceremonies of the governors general, addresses to the nation by foreign leaders and visits by the Pope. Its language experts have been there for Canadians during major international events on Canadian soil, such as the G8 and G20 summits and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. They have offered their support at crucial moments, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Although the public may be more familiar with the Bureau's front line interpretation role, the Bureau's extensive work behind the scenes is no less important.

The Bureau over the years

• 1934: The Bureau for Translations is founded
• 1953: The first official terminology service is created
• 1959: The Bureau launches simultaneous interpretation in the House of Commons
• 1975: The Bureau acquires the University of Montreal Terminology Bank, which will eventually become TERMIUM Plus®l
• 1977: The Bureau acquires its first machine translation system, designed for weather reports
• 1995: The Bureau becomes a special operating agency whose services are optional and billed on a cost recovery basis
• 2009: The Language Portal of Canada is launched
• 2019: For the first time, the federal leaders’ debate is interpreted into Indigenous languages
• 2024: The Translation Bureau celebrates its 90th anniversary

Client service excellence

The Translation Bureau has been a special operating agency since 1995 and operates much like a private company. It derives most of its budget from billing for its services, and while it is Parliament's exclusive supplier of linguistic services, courts, departments and agencies are not obliged to do business with the Bureau.

Client service is therefore key to the Bureau's operations. To meet its clients' needs, it relies on a team of client advisors that specialize in specific client portfolios, such as agriculture, health, Indigenous affairs and finance.

Mourad Bala, Client Advisor, Translation Bureau

 

Mourad Bala has been with the Bureau since 2022. He is a client advisor for the security and defence portfolio. Client advisors play an essential role, turning requests from clients such as National Defence into reality. "As clients' first point of contact with the Translation Bureau, we liaise between clients, translators and other Bureau services."

As a client advisor, Mourad is responsible for evaluating translation requests and assigning them to translators according to their field and deadlines. "Sometimes translators have to travel, for example, to National Defence offices, to handle secret or top secret documents," he explains, adding that the Bureau takes document security seriously.

According to Mourad, for client advisors to carry out their tasks quickly and efficiently and meet the expectations of the Bureau's clients, they need professionalism, listening skills and patience—not to mention a passion for the work!

Quality in every language

This passion for language is shared by the Bureau's roughly 1,350 employees. The Translation Bureau is recognized not only for its outstanding client service but also for the quality of its linguistic services. These services include translation, interpretation and terminology: the Bureau maintains the TERMIUM Plus® terminology bank and has published dozens of glossaries and vocabularies.

 

Providing linguistic services requires real translation expertise, as translator and language advisor Pamela Lee can attest. Pamela joined the Bureau 30 years ago and is still passionate about her career today. "I'm proud of the Bureau's work, which ensures that federal employees and the Canadian public receive communications of equal quality from the federal government in both official languages."

Pamela Lee, Translator and language advisor has been a Translation Bureau employee for 30 years.

 

For Pamela, translation is a profession in which the learning never stops. "We work for all federal government departments in a wide variety of fields, which means we can handle many types of texts on a wide range of subjects."

Today, Pamela spends most of her time revising, which is quite different from what she used to do as a translator. The differences are subtle but not insignificant: "I was used to being assigned a text to translate, working on it and then delivering it. It's harder to revise someone else's text, ensuring that you don't go too far in revising to the point that you're rewriting it, but also making sure you don't miss any errors or introduce new ones."

Translation Bureau employees apply this same attention to detail to thousands of requests every year. During the 2023 to 2024 fiscal year, the Bureau translated 371 million words, provided 47,000 hours of interpretation, and created and updated nearly 19,000 terminology records in TERMIUM Plus®, to name just a few of its achievements.

The Bureau's many linguistic services and tools have made it the language authority for Canadian parliamentarians, federal government employees, and members of the public in Canada and around the world. As it nears its centennial, the Bureau is ever evolving, and its experts are embracing new technologies to continue providing expertise in linguistic services.

To learn more about the PSPC people, projects and services improving the lives of Canadians, check out other articles from Our stories.

Page details

Date modified:

 

2024-09-27"

#metaglossia_mundus

"Tribal Language Summit Unites Language Teachers, Students, and Advocates Working Toward Language Revitalization

• Marianne Addison
 
• Sep 26, 2024

 

Char-Koosta News 

PABLO — The Salish Kootenai College campus hosted the Montana Early Childhood Tribal Language Summit on September 19-20. Members of the Indigenous community from several tribal nations near and far came together to share their experiences, challenges, and aspirations in preserving their native languages. The gathering was a testament to the resilience and determination of individuals, nonprofit organizations, tribal nations, and advocates who are fighting to keep cultural heritage alive.

 

For those working in the field of language revitalization, they choose to say that tribal languages are asleep, not dying or lost. To say tribal languages are lost is not true as many tribes are working together, sharing advice, and helping each other succeed in waking up sleeping languages. 

The discussions also shed light on innovative approaches to language learning and assessment. One of the keynote speakers, Ron Corn representing the nonprofit MenominiyoU from the Menominee Nation out of Wisconsin shared how a linguistics student developed a grading framework to track proficiency levels. Inspired by the karate belt system, language students' and teachers' progress are tracked. The ambitious goal is to have 10% of the community reach “black belt” fluency by 2045, a significant leap from the current 0.0057% benchmark.

Intergenerational knowledge-sharing also played a crucial role, as exemplified by Corn's testimony about learning to speak his language at the age of nine and thriving under the tutelage of an elder. Through weekly word lessons and positive reinforcement, his confidence and language skills blossomed, a testament to the power of mentorship and immersive learning.

"What I was hopefully trying to do was share my story and give people the encouragement and guidance that is necessary for young language warriors with real examples of what I and we experienced back home and then offer some suggestive program direction that we're trying out and having some initial success with," said Corn. 

 

Milani Sandoval was another keynote speaker at the summit. Sandoval is one of the founders of the Nk̓ʷusm Salish Language Immersion School as well as the Salish Language Program Manager at the Sélis-Qlispé Culture Committee, and a language teacher at Salish Kootenai College and has dedicated over 35 years to revitalizing the Salish language. Her presentation centered around the theme of the summit, "Passing on the Gift of Language: Multi-Generational Learning". A heartfelt and memorable tribute to her teachers and elders engaged the audience. 

"Language is our life and the way we live also was reflected in our teachings and our values and all the things that we're also giving to our kids. I feel like we're bridges from our elders to our young people," said Sandoval. 

When people of all ages are exposed to the language and learn, it has other benefits according to Micker (Mike) Richardson, Director of the National American Indian/Alaska Native Head Start Collaboration Office. Richardson was a featured speaker on the Immersion School panel. He worked with tribal programs and language partners to promote language/culture revitalization throughout Indian Country towards the goal of language programs in tribal head start programs. “When they take state level tests, they usually do a lot better than the average for the state. And that's been proven in a lot of different programs. The thing is, is that the kids are learning two different languages and it makes them smarter." 

In a time when many Indigenous languages are at risk of being lost, immersion schools are spearheading inspiring efforts to revive and preserve tribal languages. Educators from Nk̓ʷusm Salish immersion school and other immersion schools shared valuable lessons and strategies during a panel discussion to close out the summit. Their insights shed light on the challenges and successes of this vital work.

 

"We do a lot of hard work in the language and it's good to hear other people's stories and it gives you more motivation to continue this work," said Chaney Bell, a co-founder of Nk̓ʷusm. Bell attended the summit and was part of a speaker panel that discussed starting an immersion school, the importance of adult language programs, and Nk̓ʷusm's progress. 

“Teaching a language can be difficult. Running a school is difficult. Along with the language there's just so much, but you need to do it. Every tribe in this country needs to have their own language schools," said Bell.  

Over 20 years ago, the founders of Nk̓ʷusm were inspired by what they learned while visiting other immersion schools in New Zealand, Hawaii, and Alaska. "We went all over and listened to a lot of people. We traveled to our neighbor tribes and did things like this while we were trying to learn on our own, usually in the evenings, or whenever we can meet with an elder. But we got inspired to take that step," said Bell. 

Along the way, it became apparent that an immersion school wasn't enough. Adult language programs emerged as a critical component of these revitalization efforts. By developing fluent adult speakers, the schools are cultivating a new generation of teachers to pass the languages on. 

“The adult language programs have been a game-changer for us,” shared another panelist. “We’ve seen students go through the program and come back to teach at our school.”

Engaging children through cultural activities, field trips, and community events also plays a central role. This helps immerse young learners in the languages and traditions.

“Overcoming the dominance of English is an ongoing battle,” Echo Bell acknowledged. “But creating a rich language environment makes a big difference.”

 

Supporting the teachers in these immersion programs is vital, the panelists emphasized. Language learning is demanding work, requiring creativity and perseverance.

“We’ve had to get really resourceful, like partnering with outside organizations to provide speech and other services for our students,” one teacher shared. “It’s tough, but the positive impact on the kids is remarkable.”

For tribes seeking to revive their endangered languages, the educators encouraged reaching out to established programs for advice and getting support from tribal elders. “This is such important, community-driven work,” one speaker affirmed. “The cultural connection and identity it fosters is invaluable.”

As Indigenous communities continue to face a decline in fluent speakers, immersion schools are leading the way with innovative, grassroots efforts. Their dedication and resilience offer hope and inspiration for the future of Native languages.

As the summit drew to a close, a sense of optimism permeated the air. Summits like this bring people together to learn from one another about available resources, seek guidance, and encourage one another. The participants not only shared their struggles but also their innovative solutions and unwavering determination. The path ahead may be arduous, but a collective spirit and commitment to preserving tribal languages serve as a beacon of hope for generations to come. "

#metaglossia_mundus

Simon Caldwell

September 27, 2024 at 10:32 am

Pope Francis has repeated his controversial teaching that all religions are divinely inspired by God.

In a message to an interreligious gathering in Paris for peace, Pope Francis wrote that the divine inspiration is present in every faith.

The remarks of the Pontiff contradicted those of his predecessors who held that “it is contrary to the Catholic faith to consider the different religions of the world as ways of salvation complementary to the Church”.

They came in a written message this week to the International Meeting of Prayer for Peace, an event in Paris organised by the Sant’Egidio Community.

“If others continue to make war, together we can work for peace,” said the Pope as he evoked the spirit of the interreligious gathering convoked by Pope St John Paul II in Assisi, Italy, in 1986.

“It is against this backdrop that the title of this Paris Meeting – ‘Imagine Peace’ – is most eloquent,” said Francis.

“We need to keep meeting, to weave bonds of fraternity and to allow ourselves to be guided by the divine inspiration present in every faith, in order to join in ‘imagining peace’ among all peoples.”

The words of the Pope echo his remarks in Singapore earlier this month when he said: “There’s only one God, and each of us has a language to arrive at God. Some are Sheik, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, and they are different paths.”

He said: “They are like different languages in order to arrive at God, but God is God for all … Since God is God for all, then we are all children of God.”

Such religious pluralism shocked Catholics who believe Jesus Christ to be the one Saviour of the world and who are worried that it might hinder missionary efforts to bring people to the faith.

Some were also confused by the apparent embrace of religious pluralism against the teachings of Pope St John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.  

The denunciation of religious pluralism by his predecessors was made explicitly in their treatment of Fr Jacques Dupuis, a Belgian Jesuit theologian, after his 1997 book, Toward a Christian Theology of Religious Pluralism sought to investigate “the significance of the plurality of religious traditions in God’s plan for humanity”.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, headed at the time by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, published a “notification”, with consent of Fr Dupuis to say that the book “contained notable ambiguities and difficulties on important doctrinal points, which could lead a reader to erroneous or harmful opinions”.

The notification said that although it was “legitimate to maintain that the Holy Spirit accomplishes salvation in non-Christians” there was no foundation in Catholic theology to consider other religions as “ways of salvation” … because “they contain omissions, insufficiencies and errors regarding fundamental truths about God, man and the world”.

Confirmed by Pope St John Paul II in 2001 and ordered to be published with every edition of the book, the notification unambiguously declared Jesus Christ as “the sole and universal mediator of salvation for all humanity”.

“It is therefore contrary to the Catholic faith not only to posit a separation between the Word and Jesus, or between the Word’s salvific activity and that of Jesus, but also to maintain that there is a salvific activity of the Word as such in his divinity, independent of the humanity of the Incarnate Word,” the notification said.

“It is … contrary to the Catholic faith to maintain that revelation in Jesus Christ (or the revelation of Jesus Christ) is limited, incomplete or imperfect … the historical revelation of Jesus Christ offers everything necessary for man’s salvation and has no need of completion by other religions.

“It is consistent with Catholic doctrine to hold that the seeds of truth and goodness that exist in other religions are a certain participation in truths contained in the revelation of or in Jesus Christ.  

“However, it is erroneous to hold that such elements of truth and goodness, or some of them, do not derive ultimately from the source-mediation of Jesus Christ.”

The notification said explicitly that it was contrary to the Catholic faith “to hold that the salvific action of the Holy Spirit extends beyond the one universal salvific economy of the Incarnate Word”.

“It must be firmly believed that the Church is sign and instrument of salvation for all people,” the notification said. “It is contrary to the Catholic faith to consider the different religions of the world as ways of salvation complementary to the Church.

“According to Catholic doctrine, the followers of other religions are oriented to the Church and are all called to become part of her.”

(CNS photo)

#metaglossia_mundus

Minnesota should continue to reject the path of other states where book bans and declarations of English as the official language have taken hold.

"Anita Herrera is a curator, artist, and cultural consultant, born and raised in Los Angeles.Based in both L.A. and Mexico City, Herrera specializes in collaborations in fashion, music, and art.

I’ve Always Tried to Express My Version of L.A. 

September 27, 2024

Anita Herrera is a curator, artist, and cultural consultant, born and raised in Los Angeles. Based in both L.A. and Mexico City, Herrera specializes in collaborations in fashion, music, and art. Before sitting on a panel for the Zócalo program “Are the U.S. and Mexico Becoming One Country?”—presented with Universidad de Guadalajara at LéaLA book fair at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes—she chatted with us in the green room about living in Mexico City, her specific L.A. culture, and what to expect at the backyard family party.

Q:

Tell us how you started the series “Diaspora Dialogues.”

A:

“Diaspora Dialogues” was started from my experience living and working in Mexico City. I moved to Mexico City in 2018. And so many people asked me why are you so proud to be from L.A.? And it’s because I’m from a specific culture—multicultural, melting pot, immigrant culture. I was expressing my culture in Mexico, and also the disconnections and connections we have. We have roots that are connected. We’re disconnected because we grow up in different countries, different cultures, different languages—English, Spanish, Spanglish.

Q:

What’s one thing you think that connects the U.S. and Mexico?

A:

The U.S. was Mexico, so it’s really only through an imaginary line, through colonization, that we’re separated. And that’s why this violent relationship exists between the United States and Mexico. But in reality, we’re more united than we seem.

Q:

Where is one place you like to go in Mexico City?

A:

Casa de Toño, for the pozole.

Q:

What’s something people get wrong about L.A.?

A:

When I went to Mexico, my friends had a fabricated idea of L.A. based off of what they saw in movies or media or reality TV. It was different from my experience of growing up in Huntington Park. I’ve always tried to express my version of L.A.

Q:

Who was your childhood hero?

A:

Honestly, we lacked childhood heroes.

Q:

Would you consider yourself more of an optimist or pessimist?

A:

I would say optimism. I feel like we’re finding the optimism in the pessimism.

Q:

It’s Saturday, and you’re headed to an L.A. backyard family party. What are you bringing?

A:

Well, first of all, you need to bring something. Let’s just start there. At least offer! Maybe drinks or ice, the things that people don’t think about.

Q:

You’ve arrived, and you’ve gained control of the music. What do you play?

A:

Well, the “Family Party”-specific soundtrack is all songs pre-2002. It’s all the classic songs that became staples in the ’90s and early 2000s. It’s a lot of the same songs that we still listen to today: a mix of corridos, banda, ’80s flashbacks, freestyle, oldies. It’s the soundtrack of L.A.

Q:

You’re looking around at the party. Who are you happy to see?

A:

My tíos and tías. We’re all there to have fun at a family party. I think those are the moments that we remember."

#metaglossia_mundus