 Your new post is loading...
|
Scooped by
Charles Tiayon
May 1, 8:54 PM
|
“Nothing is untranslatable,” says Elisa Amado, translator of Clara and the Man with Books in His Window Guatemala-born Elisa Amado is an accomplished author and translator. Her books include Manuelito, which was a joint winner of the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s 2019 Best Books for Kids & Teens, What Are You Doing?, and Why Are You Doing That? Amado’s latest picture book translation, Clara and the Man with Books in His Window (Greystone Kids, May 20) by Hans Christian Andersen Award–winning Argentinian author María Teresa Andruetto (illustrated by Martina Trach), is based on a true story about the unlikely friendship between María’s mother and Juan, a book-loving recluse. Amado spoke with Q&Q about why it’s more important than ever to bring stories from around the world to North American children. Can you recall the first story that you connected with deeply?
As a translator, The Composition by Antonio Skármeta – a great Chilean author. It’s a story about a boy who is asked to tell people at his school what his family does at night. If he does, he might win a prize – a football. He loves football. He also knows that his parents listen to clandestine radio. But his composition is about how they play chess every evening. It is a perfect story about living in a dictatorship, very pertinent in Latin America at the time. Now once again, maybe even in the U.S., it is very timely. Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
The Tricycle/El triciclo about a girl, perched in a tree, who sees her much poorer young neighbours stealing the tricycle she carelessly left out. When asked where it went, she lies and blames unknown robbers to protect the kids. Did you always know you wanted to work in children’s books?
Yes. I learned English by having my mother read children’s books to me. There were very few Spanish books for children at that time. How did you get your start in translating children’s books?
By being asked to help Groundwood Books bring books from the Spanish-speaking world to North American kids. When you take on a project like Clara and the Man with Books in His Window, where do you begin?
By deepening my knowledge of its great author, María Teresa Andruetto. This book is based on a true story about her mother. She won the Hans Christian Andersen Award (in 2012) – the only Spanish-language author to do so. I was really shocked to discover that despite her incredible output, she had not been previously translated into English. What are the challenges unique to translating children’s books?
Staying true to the voice of the author while making sure it is accessible for children in North America. So few foreign language books for children are made available in the English-speaking world. Are there any challenges specific to translating a text from Spanish to English?
No. Just as with all translations, the best books are excellent literature and the author’s voice must be maintained. I was shocked when a senior person in Canadian publishing said that when it came to children’s books, there would be no problem in using AI to write and/or translate them. That person obviously understands nothing about the great tradition of literary children’s books in many languages, including English. How do you deal with concepts or words that are untranslatable?
Nothing is untranslatable. It’s a matter of using voice and means of expression in English that can render the meaning and be true to the author’s style. The only true danger is censorship by the growing cohort of people, especially in the U.S., who want to children’s books to be commercial shells without any kind of truth. Do you collaborate or have discussions with the author?
Sometimes. And also, with the original publisher. The translations are always approved by both. Can you describe what it feels like bringing a story to life in another language for a new audience?
Wonderful. The only way to help people around the world be good to each other is to know them, as they truly are. And children are the place to start that process. This is the mission of IBBY (the International Board on Books for Young People), whose work I admire greatly. If you could translate any children’s book, which would it be and why?
There are so many great, great books that await translation. It’s impossible to say. But with Greystone Kids behind me, and the ability to continue to work with authors whose previous books I’ve translated, at Groundwood, I’m very lucky to be able to find great texts. This interview has been edited and condensed. Illustration: Martina Trach.
"Transcribe Message Feature Now Available For Android Users
WhatsApp Beta for Android 2.25.14.7: Transcribe Message Feature Now Available for Android Users
The feature is available for beta testers and they can navigate the special and specifically dedicated section for the voice message transcription settings.
WhatsApp keeps on brining new features to enhance the overall user experience on its platform. The Meta-owned platform always comes up with several enhancements, making it easier for users to navigate on the app. Recently, as per Wabetainfo, a website responsible for keeping track on upcoming WhatsApp features spotted a new feature where users will be able to choose how voice messages are transcribe.
Here's Everything We Know So Far About WhatsApp Transcribe Feature:
Earlier, the Wabetainfo spotted a feature where you can control how voice messages are transcribed. However, the feature was spotted under the WhatsApp beta for iOS 25.12.10.70 and it was not available for Android at that time. But it seems the company is gradually maximizing the usage of this feature on Android too. In a recent report, Wabetainfo spotted that WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to choose how voice messages are transcribed under WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.14.7 update.
The feature is available for beta testers and they can navigate the special and specifically dedicated section for the voice message transcription settings. The section is providing three different options to control how voice messages are transcribed.
Three Options:
Automatic Transcription
Manual Transcription
Third Option prevents voice messages from being automatically and manually transcribed.
The first option of automatic transcription works immediately as soon as you receive messages and hence your messages will be transcribed as soon as it is received. The feature is convenient for people who wants to read the messages and not interested in listening the audio. The second option will allow you to manually set the transcription feature on each time they wish to see one. The third option prevents voice messages from being automatically and manually transcribed."
Published By: Deepti Ratnam
Apr 29, 2025, 10:39 AM IST
https://www.techlusive.in/apps/whatsapp-beta-for-android-2-25-14-7-transcribe-message-feature-now-available-for-android-users-1556960/
#metaglossia_mundus
"More Oregonians speak indigenous languages, but health care interpreters are lacking
Groups are joining Legacy Health to ask lawmakers to beef up the training and accreditation program for interpreters to help people access care, other services
Image
MEMBERS OF THE COLLECTIVE OF INDIGENOUS INTERPRETERS OF OREGON AFTER THEIR GRADUATION CEREMONY AT PORTLAND CENTER STAGE AT THE ARMORY IN DECEMBER./COURTESY OF PUEBLO UNIDO
by JOANNE ZUHL|THE LUND REPORT PREMIUM
MAY 1, 2025
Indigenous-language speakers are a growing population in Oregon, raising the demand for credentialed interpreters for health care. And yet more are speaking languages for which interpreters can't get approved.
As a result of the gaps, advocates say, patients sometimes can’t receive timely treatment and providers at times can’t find someone qualified to speak to them — jeopardizing their care and creating fear and anxiety for all involved.
Formerly uncommon Indigenous languages are becoming more common in Oregon, creating greater need of interpreters for languages from Mexico and Central and South America, according to Pueblo Unido, which facilitates the Collective of Indigenous Interpreters of Oregon.
Now, the group is hoping to secure $1.5 million through House Bill 2976, currently in the Legislature’s budget committee, to add languages to its model for accreditation for Indigenous language interpreters. But to do that it will have to overcome a worsening economic forecast facing lawmakers.
“In the past few years, new or other indigenous languages have come to the fore of those most frequently requested, even surpassing those that traditionally were on the top three or four,” said Cameron Coval, executive director for the Portland-based advocacy and legal services nonprofit Pueblo Unido. More people need interpreters who speak Mam, Chuj and Akateko — spoken across Guatemala and Mexico, Coval said.
‘Catch-22’ as Oregon’s indigenous needs grow
Drawing on court and migration documents, Pueblo Unido now estimates that there are more than 50,000 Indigenous language speakers living in Oregon — up from the 35,000 estimate from just two years ago when the organization first secured state funding to develop its accreditation process.
In testimony to the House committee in March, Coval called the existing interpreter situation a “Catch-22”.
With few exceptions, credentials are required to provide interpretation services. To obtain that credential, an interpreter often must pass a formal language proficiency exam. But these proficiency exams don't currently exist for many Indigenous languages. The lack of proficiency exams means interpreters can’t be included in interpreter registries — and organizations and providers that fail to use credentialed interpreters can be fined.
Oregon already makes it harder to become a credentialed interpreter than in other states, causing challenges for health care organizations that serve low-income people. Coval echoes state reports that say without access to quality interpretation services, people struggle to receive life-saving medical care, cannot access basic needs, and are unable to fully participate in their local communities.
Other testimony from interpreters with Pueblo Unido recounted situations where the lack of an Indigenous interpreter meant long delays in care, to the detriment of the patient’s health, and additional resources spent on urgent care that might have been avoided.
Overseas outsourcing a threat to care, Legacy says
Legacy Health leaders have come out in support of the bill, citing struggles to find in-person interpreters who speak Indigenous languages of Mexico and Guatemala. At times, they have to rely on phone interpreting companies who often outsource these languages overseas, which can lead to emotional stress, frustration, and fear for patients and hospital staff in emergencies.
Interpreters are needed not only in health care environments, but also education, labor and court situations. The proposal in HB 2976 has garnered the support of labor organizations, the Oregon Farm Bureau, and the Oregon Judicial Department, which has documented the increased need for Indigenous language interpreters.
Figures from the Oregon Judicial Department show that from 2020 to 2024, the number of Indigenous language interpreter assignments have increased by an average of more than 25% each year. Mam, an Indigenous language from Guatemala, is in the top 10 of interpreter-requested languages for OJD. State statute requires the use of qualified interpreters in order to protect the constitutional rights of individuals who do not speak English in administrative and court proceedings.
Image
SOURCE: OREGON JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
Funds would add languages
The money would be used to develop three language proficiency evaluations for now-commonly spoken Indigenous languages in Oregon, including Mam, and to support recruitment, retention, and coordination of a qualified Indigenous interpreter workforce.
Coval said the impact of having accredited Indigenous interpreters will be “enormous.”
“Without that credential, they don't have a career pathway to pursue interpretation,” Coval told The Lund Report. “By offering the opportunity for interpreters to obtain credentials, just like an interpreter of any other language, we're creating this career pathway, bolstering Oregon's business interpreter workforce, who can then better serve our state entities like the Oregon Health Authority and its partners, or judicial departments and our other public benefit service providers.
“I don't think we can understate the impact of making yourself understood and being able to understand what somebody’s sharing with you in all of life settings,” Coval said."
https://www.thelundreport.org/content/more-oregonians-speak-indigenous-languages-health-care-interpreters-are-lacking
#metaglossia_mundus
"Two New Groundbreaking Dictionaries of South Africa’s indigenous languages. Dr. Max Marhanele Helps Preserve Xitsonga with New Dictionaries In Limpopo, South Africa, Dr. Max Marhanele is working hard to protect the Xitsonga language. A former teacher and examiner, he noticed a serious need for better Xitsonga language resources. To help fix this, he created two important dictionaries of South Africa’s indigenous languages. The first, Tihlu’ngu’ ta rixaka, is a monolingual Xitsonga dictionary. He released it in 2016. It explains words using only the Xitsonga language, without translating them into English or other languages. In April 2025, Dr. Marhanele released his second book, Xilamulela-mhangu, which means “The Rescuer.” This dictionary helps people translate words from English into Xitsonga. He created it to make learning and teaching Xitsonga easier. “People should take pride in speaking and writing their language,” he said. “It’s sad to see Xitsonga teachers struggle to explain certain words. These books are here to help.” Dr. Marhanele worked closely with Freddy Bila, the founder of Timbila Publishing. Bila supported the project from start to finish. Thanks to their teamwork, both dictionaries are now helping students and teachers across the region. So far, readers have given great feedback. Many say the books helped them better understand their own language. In addition to writing dictionaries, Dr. Marhanele has published 15 books and co-authored 25 more. Schools and universities use many of his titles in their Xitsonga programs. He has also helped young writers like James Magayisa and Dr. Freddy Rikhotso. “Seeing my students succeed makes me happy,” he said. In 2023, Tshwane University of Technology awarded him an honorary doctorate for his work to preserve Xitsonga. This inspiring story connects deeply with The Dictionary Project. Like Dr. Marhanele, we believe every child should have access to a dictionary. Whether in English or Xitsonga, a dictionary builds pride, literacy, and opportunity." https://www.dictionaryproject.org/2025/04/two-new-groundbreaking-dictionaries-of-south-africas-indigenous-languages/ #metaglossia_mundus
"An ancient Middle Eastern civilization that developed an early alphabet spread its culture far and wide — but not its DNA, finds a 23 April Nature study1 of hundreds of ancient human genomes. Phoenician civilization emerged more than 3,000 years ago, centred around what is now Lebanon, before expanding across the Mediterranean Sea. Middle Eastern Phoenician city-states eventually fell to other groups, but the culture thrived farther west — most notably in Carthage, in what is now Tunisia, until its destruction in 146 bc. From Vikings to Beethoven: what your DNA says about your ancient relatives Phoenician city-states shared languages — recorded with an alphabet that was a precursor to Greek and Latin letters — religious practices and maritime trading economies. Many researchers have presumed that their inhabitants also shared ancestries connected to the culture’s Middle Eastern origins. To study this history, population geneticist Harald Ringbauer at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, and his colleagues analysed the DNA from the remains of around 200 people from Phoenician archaeological sites in the Middle East, Europe and North Africa..." By Ewen Callaway https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01283-w #metaglossia_mundus
Ù“The scholars will examine the cultural, social, and legal processes of exchange that shape translation. The understanding of 'translation' goes far beyond mere linguistic adaptation: it also includes the transformation of meanings, norms, and discourses in different contexts.
"How do we deal with the translation and adaptation of concepts of knowledge, culture and law across different languages, societies, or systems? The international conference "Navigating Epistemic, Cultural, and Legal Translations: Processes, Hierarchies, Spaces" of the Leibniz ScienceCampus (LSC) "Europe and America in the Modern World" addresses this topic at the University of Regensburg.
The conference, with high-profile researchers from around the world, marks the end of the first funding phase (2019-2025) and the beginning of the second phase (2024-2028) of the LSC.
With a focus on transregional linkages - with contributions from the Americas, Western, Southern and Eastern Europe, including Central Asia - the conference will bring together researchers from different disciplines.
“Since 2019, the Leibniz ScienceCampus has been highly instrumental in the significant development of Area Studies here in Regensburg,” said University President Professor Dr. Udo Hebel at the opening of the conference. “In its specific structure and organization, the LSC illustrates and underlines how collaborative and team-oriented research can be successfully practiced in the humanities and social sciences.”
“The scholars will examine the cultural, social, and legal processes of exchange that shape translation. The understanding of 'translation' goes far beyond mere linguistic adaptation: it also includes the transformation of meanings, norms, and discourses in different contexts. The topics range from avant-garde movements, feminist activism and their respective cultural expressions to the transfer and adaptation of legal norms, including in less explored contexts of interdependence, such as between Latin America and Eastern Europe," explains Professor Dr. Anne Brüske (Department of Interdisciplinary and Multiscalar Area Studies - DIMAS, UR). They also show "that 'translation' is an interactive and often contested process, influenced by power structures and historical legacies," adds Professor Dr. Cindy Wittke (Faculty of Law, UR and IOS Regensburg political scientist). Brüske and Wittke are co-organizing the conference.
The diversity of the conference topics reflects the dynamics of a global world, its interconnections and conflicts. Professor Dr. Ulf Brunnbauer (LSC, IOS, UR), Scientific Director of the IOS and the LSC emphasizes: "The Campus is an important link between the University of Regensburg and the IOS and is crucial for the development of Regensburg as a leading international location for Area Studies. Its transatlantic research perspective could not be more relevant"...
Wissenschaftlicher Ansprechpartner:
Professor Dr. Ulf Brunnbauer, Professor Dr. Anne Brüske, Professor Dr. Cindy Wittke"
https://nachrichten.idw-online.de/2025/04/24/knowledge-culture-and-law-across-societies-and-spaces-lsc-conference-at-the-university-of-regensburg?groupcolor=2
#metaglossia_mundus
"The end of an era? Google Search’s dominance might be fading
Last updated: 30 April 2025
Anton Mous
Senior copywriter/journalist
By Cybernews.
Google Search has dominated the online search engine space for over a decade. For the first time, Google’s global market share has plummeted below 90%.
According to Statcounter’s latest numbers, Google Search currently has a worldwide market share of 89.71%. The last time Google’s market share dropped below 90% was in early 2015. On desktop, Google’s global share has dropped even more significantly to 79.1%. In Europe, the company’s search engine occupies 77.78% of the market.
According to Hanna Bozakov, Head of Marketing and Press Officer at email service provider Tuta, this trend shows that users are more skeptical of what search engine they use.
“Some might now say a 1% decline that’s nothing. But if you break it down to actual numbers of users, this shift is dramatic,” she says in a company blog post.
Bozakov estimates that this means that 50 million people have decided not to use Google Search anymore, which is a significant number. This only marks the beginning of Google’s downfall, she thinks.
“The data from recent months also suggests that this is not a one-time anomaly. It could very well be the beginning of a larger shift in user behavior as more and more people are increasingly concerned over privacy, monopolistic control, and data exploitation,” Bozakov explains.
She argues that more people leaving Google Search is a good thing for a “better, free, and diversified internet.”
“We expect that this is only the beginning and that more and more people will wake up and understand that the dominance of Big Tech is a problem and that it can only be solved by choosing alternative services,” Tuta’s Press Officer states.
Google Search’s dominance in the search engine market makes this difficult. For example, Tuta’s privacy-first alternative to Gmail has virtually disappeared from Google Search. Tuta isn’t the only company that has felt the wrath of Google’s monopolistic behavior. Other privacy-focused services, independent developers, and startups have reported similar issues with Google Search in the past.
Stay informed and get our latest stories on Google News
Follow us
“That’s why we at Tuta welcome the fact that Google’s monopoly on search might finally come to an end,” Bozakov writes.
She also refers to US Federal District Judge Amit Metha’s ruling that Google acted as a monopolist by abusing its dominant position in the search engine market. By paying companies like Apple and Mozilla for placing Google Search as the default search engine in their web browsers, Google harms competition and unfairly protects its market dominance.
Bozakov encourages people to turn to alternative, privacy-first search services and to say ‘no’ to Google and its intrusive tracking.
Despite Google Search’s reduction, the tech conglomerate is still way ahead of the competition. In second place, we find Microsoft’s search engine Bing, with a measly 4.01% market share. Competitors like Yandex, Yahoo!, and Chinese search engine Baidu are even smaller, with a market share of 2.51% or less."
https://cybernews.com/news/google-searchs-dominance-fading/
#metaglossia_mundus
Bountiful, Utah--(Newsfile Corp. - April 29, 2025) - OneMeta Inc. (OTCQB: ONEI), the leader in AI-driven multilingual communication solutions
"...VerbumAgentis, the innovative multilingual communication platform first unveiled in January 2025, is now officially in production. VerbumAgentis is ready to meet the strong growing demand from customer service centers and enterprises striving to offer simultaneous, real-time multilingual communication. This communication milestone signifies a new era for call centers and businesses seeking to seamlessly enhance simultaneous communication and customer experience across language barriers.
"We built VerbumAgentis to remove the delay, the confusion, and the friction in language interpretation," said Saul Leal, CEO of OneMeta Inc. "Now, both agents and customers communicate in real-time. No pauses. No delays. Just understanding."
Unlike solutions aimed at replacing human agents, VerbumAgentis is built to work alongside customer service center professionals, providing augmented capabilities that empower them to perform at their very best. By combining advanced AI technology with human intelligence, the platform enables businesses to achieve significant operational benefits, including reduced costs, improved customer experiences, and enhanced data security.
VerbumAgentis leverages OneMeta's state-of-the-art AI to deliver real-time multilingual interpretation effortlessly. The platform allows agents to respond in their native language, while the customer hears the reply instantly in their own native language. The result is fluid, natural communication without delays or third-party interpreters.
Unlike conventional tools or AI parrots that mimic speech with delays, VerbumAgentis provides true real-time, simultaneous interpretation. Agents type in their native language, and customers hear spoken responses immediately—without waiting for translation cycles. The system supports live, natural, and uninterrupted conversations, giving the feel of native-language interactions on both ends.
VerbumAgentis is designed to address the complex needs of global communication. The platform offers the following groundbreaking features:
Real-Time Multilingual Conversations: Fluid communication with simultaneous AI responses that eliminate traditional interpretation delays.
Human-AI Collaboration: Empower agents to oversee and customize AI-generated responses in their native language, ensuring accuracy and personalization.
Extensive Language Support: Supports over 150 languages, enabling businesses to interact effectively with diverse audiences.
Always-On Availability: Operates securely 24/7 with SOC2 and HIPAA-compliant security protocols, ensuring peace of mind for businesses and their customers.
VerbumAgentis provides customer service centers with expanded capabilities that go beyond efficiency. By using VerbumAgentis, organizations can deliver higher-quality interactions, address multilingual communication challenges, and meet the growing expectations of consumers worldwide.
"VerbumAgentis was created to enhance, not replace, human agents," said Saul Leal, CEO of OneMeta Inc. "By integrating this technology, businesses can achieve an unparalleled balance of operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. It's about empowering agents to do their job better and helping organizations deliver exceptional experiences."
Strong Growth Across Industries
VerbumAgentis is built for industries with diverse and evolving communication needs. It's already rapidly gaining demand in the following sectors:
Customer Support: Seamlessly provides instant multilingual assistance without requiring multilingual agents.
Healthcare: Breaks down language barriers in critical, life-impacting interactions between medical providers and patients.
Retail & E-Commerce: Builds stronger customer relationships by delivering personalized real-time support, regardless of preferred language.
Innovation and Security
OneMeta delivers secure, scalable, and future-proof technology. VerbumAgentis complies with stringent SOC2 and HIPAA standards, addressing the critical need for robust security in today's digital ecosystem.
About OneMeta Inc.
OneMeta Inc. is a multilingual enablement company focused on overcoming the communication challenges of a world with many languages. Its proprietary end-to end natural language processing architecture allows the spoken and written words to be synthesized, translated, and transcribed in less than one second. OneMeta's technology supports real-time web-based and mobile phone-based conversations, discussions, meetings, and online chats in over 150 languages and dialects. OneMeta's technology is fully compliant with SOC2, HIPAA, and GDPR standards, ensuring the highest levels of enterprise security and privacy.
OneMeta Inc.: We create a more understanding world.™
For more information about VerbumAgentis and its capabilities, visit www.onemeta.ai.
Media Contact: info@onemeta.ai
SOURCE: OneMeta Inc.
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250061/OneMeta-Unleashes-RealTime-ZeroDelay-Simultaneous-Interpretation-for-Customer-Service-Centers-with-VerbumAgentis
#metaglossia_mundus
"Gesture in Interpreting: The latest issue of Parallèles is out.
We are pleased to announce our new special issue on Gesture in Interpreting, guest edited by Sílvia Gabarró-López and Alan Cienki. The issue features nine papers covering a range of topics and language combinations, as well as theoretical, methodological and practical reflections related to the use of gesture in spoken-to-spoken and signed-to-spoken language interpreting.
Parallèles, Issue 37(1), April 2025, Table of Contents.
April 30, 2025"
https://www.unige.ch/fti/en/a-la-une/new-issue-of-paralleles1/
"Africa’s media sign language interpreters have raised concerns over low payment, inadequate training, and the absence of interpretation services in important programs meant to cater to the deaf community.
Speaking during the first Africa Media Sign Language Interpreter Conference held in Nairobi on Friday, they revealed plans to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop tools that can recognise African languages and translate them into sign language.
“These interpreters are often overworked, underpaid, and underrepresented. We must recognise them as professionals and ensure they are properly trained and supported,” said Moreen Nambalirwa, President of the Uganda National Association of Sign Language Interpreters. Among the participants were sign language interpreters from Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, South Africa, and other African countries.
Various panelists noted that while many African media houses include sign language interpretation during news segments, other programs—such as entertainment, education, and public awareness campaigns—often exclude deaf audiences.
Naomie Koffi, a media sign language interpreter from Senegal, stressed the importance of formal training and national recognition of media sign language interpreters.
“In Senegal, even during news segments, there is no sign language interpretation except during parliamentary sessions or presidential press conferences. Neither is the language officially recognised nor widely taught,” Koffi said."
By Flavier Momanyi | Apr. 27, 2025
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/amp/national/article/2001517532/africas-sign-language-interpreters-push-for-recognition-fair-payment
#metaglossia_mundus
“La Révolution de la Traduction Vocale en Temps Réel : Une Nouvelle Ère de Communication”
La révolution de la traduction vocale en temps réel transforme considérablement notre manière de communiquer à l’échelle mondiale. Grâce aux avancées technologiques, il est désormais possible de traduire instantanément des conversations dans différentes langues, renforçant ainsi les interactions interculturelles. Ces innovations s’appuient sur des intelligences artificielles sophistiquées qui analysent et interprètent la parole humaine avec une précision remarquable.
Les applications de cette technologie sont vastes, allant des discussions professionnelles lors de conférences internationales aux échanges quotidiens entre personnes parlant des langues différentes. La facilité d’utilisation et la rapidité de la traduction permettent de surmonter les barrières linguistiques qui ont longtemps limité les échanges. Par ailleurs, cette évolution suscite des débats sur l’avenir de la traduction humaine et la place des traducteurs dans ce nouvel écosystème.
En conclusion, la traduction vocale en temps réel représente une avancée majeure, symbolisant un pas vers un monde plus connecté et inclusif, où chacun peut se faire comprendre, quelle que soit sa langue maternelle.
Pour en savoir plus sur le sujet, rendez-vous sur https://www.neo-modus.com/la-revolution-de-la-traduction-vocale-en-temps-reel/";
https://www.mtm-news.com/la-revolution-de-la-traduction-vocale-en-temps-reel-une-nouvelle-ere-de-communication/
Google Translate développe un raccourci pour lancer des recherches web depuis les traductions
Publié le 27 avril 2025 à 17h00
Google teste un bouton dans son application Translate qui permet de lancer une recherche web instantanée depuis un texte traduit. Cette fonction reste pour l'instant réservé à une partie des utilisateurs Android.
©mundissima / Shutterstock L'info en 3 points
- Google Translate expérimente un bouton de recherche web instantanée, simplifiant l'accès à des informations compl1mentaires.
- L'application intègre des langues diverses, y compris des dialectes rares, visant une audience plus large et diversifiée.
- Google prépare des améliorations, incluant l'IA Gemini, augmentant la qualité et fluidité des traductions.
Google Translate (ou traduction, si vous l'utilisez pour traduire) prépare une nouveauté qui facilite la recherche d'informations complémentaires après une traduction. Dans la dernière version Android, un bouton « Rechercher » apparaît à côté du texte traduit. En appuyant dessus, l'utilisateur peut lancer rapidement une recherche Google dans la langue cible. Plusieurs langues, dont l'arabe, le chinois et des dialectes plus rares comme l'awadhi, sont pour l'instant compatibles. La fonction reste encore en phase de tests et n'est pas activée par défaut. Cette nouveauté complète un panel d'outils déjà présents dans Translate, comme le mode « Entraînement » qui propose des exercices de vocabulaire, ou encore un bouton « Demander un suivi », en développement, qui donne accès à une intelligence artificielle pour mieux comprendre certains mots ou expressions sans sortir de l'application.
- La qualité de la traduction
- 108 langues traduites
- Discussions instantanées
Un bouton proche du texte traduit pour lancer une recherche dans la langue cible
Le bouton s'affiche juste à côté de la traduction, à portée de main. Il reprend le logo G de Google et se veut discret. En un clic, il transforme automatiquement la traduction en requête Google. Par exemple, si vous traduisez « politique environnementale » en chinois simplifié, l'appui sur ce bouton ouvre les résultats Google en chinois. Vous accédez à des définitions, articles ou actualités sans passer par un copieur-coller fastidieux. Selon AssembleDebug , spécialiste des analyses d'applications Google, Google hésite sur l'affichage des résultats. Ceux-ci peuvent s'ouvrir dans l'application Google ou dans le navigateur par défaut. Cette option pourrait être personnalisable. La fonction reste encore cachée et nécessite une activation manuelle. Google teste sa stabilité avant une éventuelle mise à disposition générale. L'intégration de dialectes méconnus, comme l'awadhi, indique que Google veut aller au-delà des langues les plus parlées afin de toucher des publics plus larges.
Google Translate va s'enrichir de dialectes jusqu'ici méconnus, comme l'awadhi - ©Poetra.RH / Shutterstock
Des améliorations qui remplacent Translate au cœur de l'apprentissage
Translate ne se limite plus à la traduction. Le mode « Entraînement » propose des exercices pour apprendre le vocabulaire et les phrases. Le bouton « Demander un suivi » aide l'utilisateur à obtenir des explications détaillées grâce à une intelligence artificielle intégrée. Le bouton de recherche complète ces fonctions en donnant accès à un contenu riche, externe et dans la langue cible. Cela facilite la compréhension, le contexte culturel et offre une immersion plus profonde dans la langue. Le code de la version 9.7.102 montre que Google prépare la possibilité de choisir entre ouvrir les résultats dans Google ou dans un navigateur. Par ailleurs, Gemini, l'IA maison de Google, devrait améliorer la qualité des traductions et des interactions, et rendre Translate plus fluide et accessible. En revanche, Pour l'instant, Google reste silencieux sur la date exacte de sortie du raccourci de recherche." https://www.clubic.com/actualite-563427-google-translate-developpe-un-raccourci-pour-lancer-des-recherches-web-depuis-les-traductions.html #metaglossia_mundus
"La paroisse Saint-Augustin du Cap-Esterias a servi de cadre ce samedi pour la présentation et la dédicace de l’Évangile selon Saint Luc qui vient d’être traduit en Benga, une langue locale gabonaise par une équipe mixte composée des fidèles et de l’église catholique et ceux de l’église protestante.
L’heureux et historique événement de dédicace de l’ouvrage a été organisé sous l’égide de la Coordination Inter-Églises pour l’Alphabétisation et la Traduction en Langues Gabonaises (CIEATLG). Il a rassemblé des représentants catholiques, protestants et des communautés locales autour d’un même texte sacré, désormais accessible dans une langue du terroir.
« C’est une grande joie d’accueillir la dédicace d’un Évangile dans une langue locale. La Parole de Dieu est le fondement de la foi, et sa traduction permet à chaque peuple de s’y reconnaître », s’est réjoui l’abbé Amedee, curé de la paroisse..."
https://gabonactu.com/blog/2025/04/27/religion-levangile-selon-saint-luc-traduit-en-benga-langue-locale-gabonaise/
#metaglossia_mundus
"SIEL 2025 : Naoufal El Bakali présente "les pratiques textuelles de la traduction"
©Ayoub Amar Zineb Jazoulisamedi 26 avril 2025 - 22:39L’édition 2025 du Salon International de l’Edition et du Livre (SIEL), a été marquée par la présentation du premier ouvrage de Naoufal El Bakali, intitulé « Les pratiques textuelles de la traduction : étude linguistique et traductologique ». Ce travail de longue haleine, publié aux Éditions Afrique-Orient, est le fruit de plusieurs années de recherche, d’engagement et de réflexion approfondie dans le domaine de la traduction. L’ouvrage, qui a vu le jour après trois années de travaux acharnés, est le résultat d’une démarche intellectuelle amorcée bien avant la pandémie de COVID-19. Naoufal El Bakali a en effet expliqué que l’idée du livre lui était venue en pleine crise sanitaire : « Pendant la crise du COVID, j’ai ressenti la nécessité d’écrire un livre sur les pratiques de la traduction. C’est une idée qui m’est venue dans un moment de réflexion intense, alors que le monde était figé par la pandémie. » Cette réflexion, née dans un contexte mondial particulier, a progressivement pris forme et s’est concrétisée en 2023, deux ans après le début de la crise. ©Ayoub Amar Cet ouvrage se distingue par sa capacité à croiser théorie et pratique. Bien que le domaine de la traduction soit reconnu pour sa complexité et la difficulté de théoriser les multiples facettes de ce processus, El Bakali a su s’y attaquer avec une approche méthodique et rigoureuse. Au micro de Hespress FR, El Bakali a précisé qu’il “ est vrai que théoriser sur la traduction est un exercice difficile en raison de la diversité des domaines qu’elle touche, mais c’est précisément cette diversité qui enrichit l’analyse« , précise-t-il. L’ouvrage ne se limite pas à une réflexion théorique, mais propose également des exemples concrets issus de la pratique de la traduction, abordant les problèmes récurrents et les dysfonctionnements que rencontrent les traducteurs, que ce soit dans des textes juridiques, techniques, scientifiques ou littéraires. ©Ayoub Amar Ce livre constitue ainsi une ressource incontournable pour les chercheurs et les professionnels du secteur, qui y trouveront des pistes de réflexion sur les enjeux contemporains de la traduction. El Bakali a précisé que son objectif n’était pas seulement d’apporter une analyse théorique, mais aussi de mettre en lumière les défis pratiques que la traduction impose au quotidien : « Dans cet ouvrage, j’ai voulu offrir une réflexion sur la manière dont la traduction se confronte aux enjeux linguistiques et culturels du monde moderne, tout en illustrant les difficultés concrètes rencontrées par les traducteurs. » L’une des particularités de cet ouvrage réside dans sa capacité à ouvrir le débat sur les pratiques de la traduction. En présentant des exemples tirés de la réalité professionnelle, il invite à réfléchir sur les pratiques de traduction en tant que processus dynamique, interactif et parfois imparfait. Ainsi El Bakali a notamment abordé des questions cruciales liées aux problèmes de traduction automatique, aux défis de l’interprétation des sens dans des contextes culturels spécifiques, ainsi qu’aux enjeux éthiques auxquels sont confrontés les traducteurs dans leur quotidien. ©Ayoub Amar Dans un discours empreint de modestie, mais aussi d’une profonde conviction académique, le professeur à l’Ecole supérieure Roi Fahd de Traduction a également souligné l’importance de cet ouvrage pour la recherche dans le domaine de la traduction. « Je suis là aujourd’hui pour échanger avec le public, les enseignants-chercheurs, les chercheurs et les étudiants. Ce livre, je le présente comme une contribution à la réflexion collective sur la traduction. Il ne se veut pas un manuel définitif, mais un point de départ pour des discussions et des recherches futures », s’exprime -t-i. L’événement a été marqué par un large intérêt du public, qui n’a pas manqué de poser des questions sur les aspects pratiques et théoriques du livre. Les échanges ont été riches et stimulants, avec de nombreux chercheurs et étudiants exprimant leur enthousiasme face à la pertinence et la profondeur du travail présenté. ©Ayoub Amar Cet ouvrage ne se contente pas de remettre en question les pratiques de la traduction, il invite à une véritable remise en perspective de la discipline, en l’inscrivant dans une dynamique de recherche et de questionnement continu. Les pratiques textuelles de la traduction se présente donc comme un ouvrage de référence, essentiel pour tous ceux qui souhaitent approfondir leur compréhension des complexités de l’acte de traduire. Ce livre, véritable témoignage d’un parcours académique rigoureux et passionné, trouvera sans aucun doute sa place dans les bibliothèques des chercheurs, étudiants et professionnels de la traduction, et constitue une nouvelle étape dans le développement de la recherche en traductologie." https://fr.hespress.com/421385-siel-2025-naoufal-el-bakali-presente-les-pratiques-textuelles-de-la-traduction.html #metaglossia_mundus
"Translators’ Voices: China's diplomatic philosophy paves ‘road of hope’ for people of two nations, says former advisor to Cambodian Senate
By Hu Yuwei
Published: Apr 20, 2025 11:19 PM
Editor's Note:
"At present, China's relations with its neighboring countries are at their best in modern times, and are also entering a critical phase of deep linkage between the regional landscape and the world changes" — the recent Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries held in Beijing made such a profound judgment. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from April 14 to 18, highlighting the guiding role of head-of-state diplomacy in neighborhood relations. In the first volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, President Xi emphasized that China's basic policy of diplomacy with neighboring countries is characterized by "amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness."
In the third installment of the "Decoding the Book of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" series, the Global Times continues to invite Chinese and international scholars, translators of the work, practitioners of its concepts, and overseas readers to share their insights, understandings and reflections on the ideas of China's neighborhood diplomacy, which emphasizes amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, China's advocacy for building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries as well as its vision of creating a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home.
In the third installment of "Translator's Voices" column comprised of interviews with translators of the book series from various countries, GT reporter Hu Yuwei talked to Dr Chea Munyrith (Chea), president of the Cambodian Chinese Evolution Researcher Association and the former advisor to Cambodia's Senate, who shared how China's diplomatic philosophy inspires him to convey President Xi's wisdom to the Cambodian people.
Dr Chea Munyrith works on the translation of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. Photo: Courtesy of Chea
GT: Thank you for accepting the interview with the Global Times on decoding the book of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. In a previous interview, you mentioned that you first read the book in a library in Beijing in 2014. Could you still recall the moment? What inspired you to translate the book?
Chea: In December 2014, as the Cambodian Director of the Confucius Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, I attended the Confucius Institute Annual Conference in Beijing. During that time, I came across the English version of the book. One article titled "Work Together to Build the Silk Road Economic Belt" deeply impressed me. The article states, "We should expand regional cooperation with a more open mind and broader vision, and achieve joint progress." Through the article, I understand that China is a major power which has always stood with developing countries. This becomes a driving force for my motivation to translate this great book and share the Chinese leader's wisdom with the Cambodian people.
Therefore, upon returning home, I immediately recommended this book to the office of the Cabinet of Cambodia. The Royal Academy of Cambodia also attached great importance to it by establishing a translation working committee for the translation and promotion of the book in Khmer. I was fortunate to be involved in this effort.
GT: You have served as the Cambodian Director of the Confucius Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia for eight years and are a well-known China expert. You once described the book of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China as "a golden key to understanding China's development." How do you interpret the "Oriental Wisdom" embedded in China's neighborhood diplomacy? How is the wisdom manifested in China-Cambodian exchanges?
Chea: Peaceful diplomacy and opportunities for countries to stand shoulder to shoulder, standing on equality and win-win cooperation are the Chinese philosophy and the wisdom of President Xi.
I believe China's neighborhood diplomacy philosophy profoundly embodies the "Oriental Wisdom" of "harmonious coexistence." It is mainly reflected in three dimensions.
First is building a new form of international relations with the civilizational ethos of "being kind to your neighbor." China's diplomacy has always adhered to the principle of "forging friendship and partnership with our neighbors," which stems from the traditional worldview of "promoting harmony among all nations."
Second is deepening practical cooperation with the advocacy of "valuing both righteousness and interests in shaping international relations." In China-Cambodia cooperation, there are not only "hard connectivity" projects like the Chinese-invested Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, but also "soft connectivity" achievements in education, healthcare, and poverty reduction.
Third is guiding regional governance with the global sentiment of "a shared future. From the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism to the building of an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, China has consistently practiced the "Oriental Wisdom": if you yourself desire rank and standing, then help others to get rank and standing.
GT: President Xi pointed out in the first issue of the book series that "China's basic policy of diplomacy with neighboring countries is to treat them as friends and partners, to foster an amicable, secure, and prosperous neighboring environment. This policy is characterized by amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness." You said that you carefully deliberated over the phrase "amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness" during translation. How did you understand these four principles at the time? And how did you employ language to help Cambodian readers genuinely comprehend the wisdom behind China's diplomatic concept?
Chea: China's diplomacy adheres to building relations with neighboring countries based on amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness. Through translating the book series and reading Xi's important speeches, I have come to understand the meaning of these four words more clearly and translated them into Khmer to share with Cambodians.
Amity involves good-neighborly interactions, mutual support and assistance, and frequent reciprocal visits, and is informed by equality, cultural affinity, and empathy. China contributes to stronger ties, and enhances the appeal of Cambodia and our region as a whole and its impact on world affairs.
Sincerity is required in working with our neighbors. Both China and Cambodia, as well as the world as a whole need more friends and partners.
Mutual benefit is the foundation on which China cooperates with its neighbors. China helps strengthen networks for Cambodia and those who share common interests, and enables China and Cambodia, as well as China's other neighbors to benefit from each other as they pursue their development strategies.
Inclusiveness is indispensable to regional cooperation. Underpinned by the belief that the Asia-Pacific region is large enough to accommodate us all, it encourages open-mindedness as China works more proactively with the whole world toward shared goals.
To ensure translation quality, the Royal Academy of Cambodia specially established an expert review panel comprising eight senior sinologists to rigorously examine the translated text. The translation process lasted six months, with three months dedicated to translation and another three months to proofreading.
During this process, I felt particularly connected to Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu's famous quote that President Xi cited in the book: "Governing a big country is as delicate as frying a small fish." Cambodia has been profoundly influenced by Chinese philosophy and culture, particularly the teachings of Lao Tzu, Confucius, and Mencius. The literal meaning — that governing a nation is like frying a small fish in a pan — makes its profound wisdom immediately comprehensible to Cambodian readers."
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1332502.shtml
#metaglossia_mundus
Translator Bui Xuan Linh shares his thoughts on Shakespeare and literature, focusing on the needs of Vietnamese readers.
"Shakespeare translator Bui Xuan Linh: “Taking the reader as the centre helps visualise what the reader expects”
By Trịnh Nam Trân
Apr 20, 2025
In the warm, understated setting of the Saturday Café Văn Hóa Salon, translator Bui Xuan Linh—soft-spoken and unassuming—shares his reflections on Shakespeare: the man, his world, and the enduring richness he gifted to literary tradition.
Most of those attending that day had only encountered Shakespeare in passing, and yet they felt deeply moved by the translator’s own reverence—he who had pioneered the ambitious Shakespeare Bookcase project. At the time, few in the audience knew how the journey began, or how demanding it had been. Only at the conclusion of the launch did fragments of that story emerge, not from Linh himself, but through the words of the salon’s host, musician Duong Thu. With heartfelt candour, the musician revealed that Bui Xuan Linh had not only undertaken the translations, but had poured in personal time, energy and resources—travelling to England, the United States, and beyond—to collect materials and acquire original works in service of his vision for the Shakespeare Bookcase.
He contributed far beyond the translations, developing concepts, refining layouts, and overseeing the publication and distribution of Shakespeare’s plays for general readership. Alongside this was the painstaking translation of three substantial works of Shakespearean scholarship: William Shakespeare: Life and Works by Lois Potter, Shakespeare’s Comedies by Alexander Leggatt, and Shakespeare’s Tragedy by Claire McEachern.
In those final moments of an already brief gathering, as musician Duong Thu spoke of admiration and trust, Bui Xuan Linh remained quietly composed—treating it all, perhaps, as no more than a responsibility he was destined to shoulder. A path he was called to walk, without question or hesitation.
A journey from first thoughts, through years of research and realisation—two decades in the making.
A journey sparked when a fifteen-year-old boy stumbled across a passage from Macbeth in an English textbook. Now, years on, that spark has blossomed into something luminous: a Shakespeare for all time.
ABOVE A journey from first thoughts, through years of research and realisation—two decades in the making. Photo: Tatler Vietnam
Before the Shakespeare Bookcase came to be, had the works of the great poet ever been systematically translated or introduced in Vietnam, sir?
There had been earlier translations of Shakespeare’s plays, albeit not in great number, both in the North and the South. In the South, a few versions by Bui Giang were available, though to my mind, his personal imprint overwhelmed much of Shakespeare’s original artistry.
In the North, there was a more structured approach. At the time—when the country remained divided—Northern intellectuals were trained under the Soviet model, which meant deep engagement with the classics, especially Shakespeare. Scholars from the Northern Institute of Literature translated around a dozen plays with care and rigour. Yet, more than seventy years have passed since then, and those works are now scattered and lack coherence.
In 2000, the Hanoi Theatre Publishing House compiled and published two volumes—tragedies and comedies. It could be seen as a complete edition of sorts. However, the language felt outdated, the word choices and expressions difficult to follow. And those efforts focused solely on the plays; there were almost no translations of the wider body of academic and critical work—biographies, essays on Shakespeare’s artistic style, or in-depth studies.
I once came across such a book, though it was a translation of a Soviet edition, offering a rigid, ideologically framed view of Shakespeare. Published in 1976, it is likely no longer in circulation."
https://www.tatlerasia.com/power-purpose/impact/translator-bui-xuan-linh-william-shakespeare-en
#metaglossia_mundus
"Meta-owned popular messaging platform, WhatsApp, is now reportedly testing a new ‘message translation’ feature in its Android beta version 2.25.12.25. As the name suggests, this feature enables users to translate chat messages and channel updates directly within the app, according to a report by WABetaInfo.
It clearly aims to enhance cross-language communication while maintaining user privacy. Speaking of the working process, translations are processed locally on the user’s device, ensuring that message data is not sent to external servers.
To use this feature, users must download specific language packs – supported languages currently include Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese (Brazil), Hindi, and Russian. Even an optional language pack is also available for automatic detection of the message language, which is particularly useful in multilingual group chats.
Interestingly, users can activate the translation feature on a per-chat basis through the chat settings, allowing for automatic translation of incoming messages. Alternatively, individual messages can be translated manually by selecting the ‘Translate’ option.
However, since translations are handled on-device, they may not always match the accuracy of cloud-based services. But at the same time, this method ensures that end-to-end encryption is preserved, and user data remains confidential. This becomes significant considering earlier this year, the social media giant added a memory feature to its AI assistant – ‘Meta AI’. This feature enables the AI assistant to remember certain details that users share with it during one-on-one chats on WhatsApp and Messenger.
The platform also gives users the option to provide feedback on translations to help improve the feature, but no message content is shared with Meta unless explicitly submitted by the user. In terms of availability, the translation feature is gradually rolling out to beta testers and is expected to become available to all users after the testing phase completes.
The latest move is noteworthy as WhatsApp’s global user base has reached around 2.5 billion active users, with projections indicating a rise to 3.14 billion by the end of 2025. Also, India remains the largest market, with over 535.8 million users.
Meanwhile, the development comes at a time when the social media powerhouse is undergoing major regulatory challenges. Actually, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has initiated a historic antitrust trial against Meta, aiming to compel the divestiture of WhatsApp and Instagram. The FTC contends that Meta’s acquisitions of these platforms were strategic moves to eliminate competition and establish a monopoly in the personal social networking market."
https://thetechportal.com/2025/04/20/whatsapp-begins-testing-in-app-message-translation-in-latest-beta-report/
#metaglossia_mundus
People in Michigan, Texas, Tennessee and Washington, D.C. contemplate President Trump's executive order establishing English as the official language of the United States.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6371562745112
#metaglossia_mundus
Elizabeth Mirabal, third-year Spanish Ph.D student at the University, wrote “Herbarium” as a 205 page collection of free verse poems about the flora of Cuba. Two years ago, “Herbarium” was translated by a group of six undergraduate students in Professor Nieves Garcia Prados’ class, SPAN 4040, “Translation from Spanish to English.”
"
The origin, translation and publication of Elizabeth Mirabal’s “Herbarium”
A group of six University undergraduates translated the free verse poetry collection, opening a window in to Cuba’s diverse plant life
Herbariums, a practice dating back to 15th century Italy, are collections of botanical specimens that are dried and pressed onto paper for scientific study.
Courtesy UVA Casa Bolivar
By Ty Lolak
April 20, 2025
Publishing house Valparaíso Editions’ newest poetry publication, “Herbarium” was written by Elizabeth Mirabal, third-year Spanish Ph.D student at the University. Originally from Havana, Cuba, Mirabal wrote “Herbarium” as a 205 page collection of free verse poems about the flora of Cuba.
Two years ago, “Herbarium” was translated by a group of six undergraduate students in Professor Nieves Garcia Prados’ class, SPAN 4040, “Translation from Spanish to English.” The English edition was published in November 2024 and presented to the public last month at an event in collaboration with the University’’s Sigma Delta Pi chapter, a national Spanish language honor society.
Herbariums, a practice dating back to 15th century Italy, are collections of botanical specimens that are dried and pressed onto paper for scientific study. Mirabal’s “Herbarium” does not contain physical plants but rather poems, all of which relate somehow to the vegetation of her home country in contexts ranging from the medicinal to the culinary to the purely aesthetic.
“My grandmother and my aunt, they used to have this garden in my house, but I have been living in the U.S. for 10 years. I have been far away from those plants,” Mirabal said. “Because I cannot have the plants of my homeland near me, I decided to write a book with all the memories that I have about the plants in my life.”
Mirabal describes the book as being made up of memories characterized by plants of her youth in Cuba and vignettes from the perspective of past writers with connections to Cuba. This blend of Mirabel’s personal nostalgia for Cuba and its herbage, as well as similar reflections from writers that preceded her, allowed her to fully embrace the complex emotions that memory can elicit.
“I think the book is written around nostalgia, and nostalgia is like a bittersweet feeling,” Mirabal said. “If we think in the origin of the word, ‘nostos algia’, ‘nostos’ is’ place’, and ‘algia’ is’ pain’, and it's a pain for a place that you cannot be anymore.”
The book features tones both sad and humorful, and the poems themselves range in length from a single sentence to paragraphs. This decision, according to Mirabel, allows for readers to flip back and forth between pages on their own accord and approach the book with total freedom when reading.
The process of translating the book started a little over two years ago in Garcia Prados’ translation class. A normal final project in SPAN 4040 consists of translating four or five poems or pages of a novel as part of the class’s coursework. According to Bliss Bodawala, student translator and fourth-year College student, Garcia Prados typically selects several students to work on a special translation project. This time, however, Garcia Prados met with Gordon McNeer, director of Valparaíso Editions and professor at the University of North Georgia, who agreed to publish some poetry that had never been translated into English. After Garcia Prados proposed a few different projects, the two settled on “Herbarium” as the work to be translated.
“This book has some cultural references that we talk about in the translation class, how to translate very specific cultural references [of] plants, plants, trees, and she used the colloquial term of the plants,” Garcia Prados said. “So how can you translate that into English? I thought that it could be very interesting to see [what] would be the solution for that.”
After Garcia Prados’ conversations with McNeer, students now had an opportunity to be selected to do a professional translation for the publishing house. Students in the class submitted their translations of the poems, and in the end, a group of six were selected off of the quality of their samples to translate “Herbarium” — Bodawala, Class of 2023 Alumna Leah Baetcke and fourth-year College students Mitchell Francis, Amelia Pearson, Ben Riley and Thomas Tayman.
Bodawala said that the process of translating poetry is complex, as poems often contain literary devices and a rhythm specific to its original language, so translators must find a delicate balance between word-for-word translation and capturing the spirit of the original text. Trying to find this balance was Bodawala’s central focus in her translation of “Herbarium”.
“One of the hardest parts is to find that fine line in between literal translation and completely figurative and poetic translation, because you don't want to distort what the author's original message is,” Bodawala said. “So what I would try and do is translate the feeling of it, and then again, incorporate that feeling into the English version.”
When asked about the most challenging factor in the translation process, Mirabal and Garcia Prados pointed to the balance between literal and poetic translation. Mirabal’s description of Cuban flora often uses the colloquial terms for the plants, rather than the scientific names. According to Bodawala, identifying what plants Mirabal refers to in some of her poems was a major difficulty in this balancing act. Still, the choice to use the colloquial names was an intentional one, and the translators worked hard to maintain the nostalgic feeling that comes with them when translating.
“We had to find botany books just to understand which plants were which so we could have an accurate translation of them,” Bodawala said. “We were also trying to avoid using the scientific names, because the scientific names kind of take certain emotions out of the feelings that are associated with such plants, like poison ivy.”
For Mirabal, having her work translated means a continuation of the literary connection between the United States and Cuba. She cited examples from American novelist Ernest Hemingway, who spent much of the last part of his life in Havana, to José Martí, a Cuban writer and national hero who helped unite Cubans in the United States.
“It's always a joy of inspiration and sometimes also a sort of comfort, because even when I am alone, I feel that the spirits of the writers that used to live and write and think and feel here are with me, and they are part of my tradition,” Mirabal said. “I am not alone.”
The last 60 years of damaged relations between the United States and Cuba has led to a lack of cultural exchange and common ground between the two countries, Mirabal said. However, with Mirabal’s “Herbarium” and the students’ translation of it, a window into Cuba and its diverse plant life tied so deeply to Mirabel, is opened for Americans to experience.
“If you are not translating, you are not showing the world of the people who are writing, of the authors,” Garcia Prados said. “If you are translating a work in another language, you are opening possibilities, opening windows and you are showing the culture of the author.”"
https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025/04/the-origin-translation-and-publication-of-elizabeth-mirabals-herbarium
#metaglossia_mundus
Explaining some of the football finance terms you're likely to see most often in the modern game
"The Athletic has appointed Chris Weatherspoon as its first dedicated football finance writer. Chris is a chartered accountant who will be using his professional acumen as The BookKeeper to explore the money behind the game. He is starting with a series this week analysing the financial health of some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.
You can learn more about Chris and pitch him your ideas here, and read his first articles exploring the books at Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.
One of The Athletic’s ambitions in hiring Chris is to help every football fan understand as clearly as possible the financial complexities of the modern game. To help with that, the BookKeeper’s glossary is here to explain some of the terms you’re likely to see most often. Let us know any you would like us to add.
Agent fees
Costs incurred by clubs through use of intermediaries, generally in the buying and selling of players and the signing of contract extensions.
Agent fees are not included in club wage bills and instead form part of a club’s player and football staff registration figure (see: ‘Squad cost’) in the accounts of UK-based clubs (different treatments are applied elsewhere).
Allowable expenditure
Usually used in the context of Profit and Sustainability Rules (see: ‘PSR’), these are deemed ‘good’ expenditure by governing bodies and are deductible from a club’s pre-tax result in arriving at a PSR profit or loss figure.
See also: ‘Deductions’.
Amortisation
Similar to depreciation, comprises the writing down of asset values across their useful life, specifically in relation to intangible assets (under which player registration costs fall).
For football clubs, this primarily relates to player registration costs (see: ‘Player amortisation’), though clubs do often hold other intangible assets too.
Arm’s length
A transaction in which the buying and selling parties act independently of one another, with neither party influencing the other.
Balance sheet
A statement of a club’s assets, liabilities and capital at a given date (see ‘Period end’ and ‘Year end’).
Break cost
The expenditure incurred by a club repaying borrowing facilities before the agreed term date, ostensibly to compensate lenders for lost future interest payments.
Capex
Shortened version of capital expenditure, often used interchangeably with capital investment or fixed asset investment. Comprises spend on infrastructure and facilities (e.g. stadium builds, training ground improvements).
Note: a club’s capital expenditure per its balance sheet can differ from the amounts paid out in cash per the cash-flow statement. Unless otherwise stated, we will refer to the latter.
Deductions
See: ‘Allowable expenditure’.
Depreciation
Comprises the writing down of fixed asset values across their useful life.
EBITDA
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation.
Exceptional item(s)
One-off, non-recurring items that are separated in a club’s profit or loss statement to identify them as unusual transactions (e.g. owner loan write-offs).
Note: club treatment here is inconsistent.
Equity injection
Cash funding in the form of purchasing new shares — i.e. not debt/loan funding — and increasing a club’s capital.
Football net debt
A club’s gross financial debt minus its cash and cash equivalents balance, plus or minus its net transfer balance.
Free Cash Flow (FCF)
A measure determining a club’s cash generation after capital expenditures required to maintain a club’s asset base.
There are varying FCF definitions – The Athletic’s use of FCF comprises a club’s operating cash flow, less cash expense on capital items including infrastructure and player purchases, plus cash receipts on fixed asset or player sales, plus or minus net cash interest payments.
Headroom
Usually used in the context of Profit and Sustainability Rules (see: ‘PSR’), this term is used to refer to how much extra money a club could lose without breaching their respective loss limit.
In almost all cases, PSR headroom in our articles is an estimate.
Impairment
Most often used by clubs in respect of player registration amounts. Comprises a reduction in the value of an asset, based upon a change in circumstances and carried out to ensure an asset value is not higher than the amount said club could reasonably expect to recover from it in an arm’s-length transaction.
Leveraged buyout (LBO)
The acquisition of a club using primarily borrowed money, with the assets of that company (the ‘target’) used as collateral against the borrowed money.
Net debt
A club’s gross financial debt minus its cash and cash equivalents balance.
Net profit or loss
Another name for pre-tax profit or loss.
Net spend
Comprises a club’s gross spend on player additions per their balance sheet, less gross player sales per their balance sheet and profit on player sales.
Net transfer balance
The net amount a club is owed from, or owes to, other clubs in respect of outstanding transfer fee payments.
See also: ‘Transfer creditors/payables’ and ‘Transfer debtors/receivables’.
Operating profit or loss
A club’s financial result before the impact of player sales, any ‘Exceptional item(s)’, or the impact of net interest costs or tax.
Period end
Sometimes used interchangeably with ‘Year end’, though the two are not always synonymous. Clubs occasionally shorten or lengthen their accounting end dates, meaning the most recently published financials might not cover a 12-month period.
Player amortisation
Comprises the writing down of player registration costs over the length of that player’s contract.
For example: Player A signs for Club X for £50million on a five-year contract. The annual hit to Club X’s profit or loss statement is £10m, being initial cost of £50m divided by five years.
Private equity
Medium- to long-term financing provided to companies not publicly traded, with a view to the investors making a gain on investment upon ‘exit’.
Profit on player sale(s)
The accounting profit (or loss) recorded upon a player’s registration being transferred to another club. Comprises the fee received by the club for the player, less that player’s accounting value at the date of sale.
For example: Player A signs for Club X for £50m on a five-year contract, so the annual amortisation cost is £10m (£50m divided by five years). After exactly two years at the club, Player A is sold to Club Y for £40m. The player’s accounting value at that time is £30m, being the original £50m written down by two years of £10m annual amortisation. The profit on player sale is therefore £10m, being the £40m sales price less accounting value of £30m.
Profit or loss
Unless otherwise stated, The Athletic refers to club’s profits or losses on a pre-tax basis. Most clubs pay little or no corporation tax – using pre-tax loss allows for greater comparability.
PSR
Stands for Profit and Sustainability Rules: industry-specific regulations designed to encourage good financial practice among clubs.
Different governing bodies might have different PSR guidelines (e.g. UEFA and the Premier League).
Revolving Credit Facility (RCF)
A short-term form of debt financing that affords clubs flexibility to…
Secure funding
Usually used in relation to PSR, this is funding not in the form of a loan that comprises either a contribution from an equity participant (e.g. a shareholder), or an irrecoverable commitment from an equity participant to provide such funding in the future, confirmed by a legally binding agreement between the participant and the club.
Squad cost
The total cost of player and football staff registrations, per a club’s balance sheet, at the given accounting period end date (see: ‘Period end’ and ‘Year end’). Includes all costs associated with registering individuals, including agent fees (see: ‘Agent fees’).
Squad cost ratio (SCR)
One element of UEFA’s PSR regime, SCR limits a club’s spending on football-related expenditure (player and coaching wages, transfer fee amortisation and impairment).
Transfer debtors/receivables
Amounts owed from other clubs in respect of outstanding transfer fee payments.
See also: ‘Transfer creditors/payables’.
Transfer creditors/payables
Amounts owed to other clubs in respect of outstanding transfer fee payments.
See also: ‘Transfer debtors/receivables’.
Wages
Used interchangeably with ‘staff costs’. Unless otherwise stated, refers to a club’s staff costs figure in their financial statements. The figure is comprised of wages and salaries, social security and pension costs. Applies to all staff at a club, not just players.
Agent fees not included under wages. See: ‘Agent fees’.
Wages to turnover
A club’s annual wage bill divided by its annual turnover, presented as a percentage.
Unless otherwise stated, this refers to a club’s total wage bill, inclusive of non-playing staff.
Year end
Refers to a club’s accounting period end date. For UK-based clubs this is, more often than not, 30 June. Some clubs employ different dates – where comparisons are made and the difference in dates is deemed relevant, we will identify it as such."
By Chris Weatherspoon
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6218435/2025/04/22/bookkeeper-football-finance-glossary/
#metaglossia_mundus
"Words in a natural language are not strung together in random patterns; rather, there is a statistical structure that allows the model to guess the next word based on what came before. Yet these models overlook a crucial dimension of human communication: content that is not conveyed by words.
In a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from Prof. Elisha Moses's lab at the Weizmann Institute of Science reveal that the melody of speech in spontaneous conversations in English functions as a distinct language, with a "vocabulary" of hundreds of basic melodies and even rules of syntax that can be used to predict the next melody in the sequence. The study lays the foundation for an artificial intelligence that will understand language beyond words.
The melody, or music, of speech, referred to by the linguistic term "prosody," encompasses variations in pitch (intonation), loudness (for example, for emphasis), tempo and sound quality (such as a whisper or creaky voice). This form of expression predates words in evolution: Recent studies reveal that both chimpanzees and whales incorporate complex prosodic structures in their communication.
In human communication, prosody adds a nuanced layer of meaning beyond words. A brief pause, much like a comma, can change the meaning of a sentence ("Let's eat Grandma") and the tempo of spoken text can generate suspense. Linguists specializing in prosody have traditionally studied literary texts and ways in which prosody reflects historical changes.
This meant that, despite prosody's critical importance for the understanding of human language, its study remained a niche field for years, devoid of applications and filled with conflicting ideas about prosody's structure and significance.
"Our study lays the foundation for an automated system to compile a 'dictionary' of prosody for every human language and for different speaker populations," say the researchers.
Prosody, however, is an inherent part of every conversation. It assigns linguistic function to words—for instance, whether they pose a question or state a fact—and reveals the speakers' attitude toward what they say.
In the new study, led by linguist Dr. Nadav Matalon and neuroscientist Dr. Eyal Weinreb from Moses's lab in Weizmann's Physics of Complex Systems Department, the researchers analyzed prosody as an unfamiliar language, aiming to deliver a data-driven explanation for the linguistic mystery of prosody's structure and meaning. Rather than relying on literature, they used two massive collections of audio recordings of spontaneous conversations, one of telephone conversations between two participants and the other of face-to-face conversations in various locations, such as a kitchen or classroom.
The first task for the research team was to compile a dictionary of the short melodies that function as "words" in English-language prosody and to assign each of them a function and a meaning. "To understand why there is no prosodic dictionary yet, it's worth remembering that there wasn't even a comprehensive English dictionary until the nineteenth century," Moses says.
"When the University of Oxford was tasked with compiling one, it asked the public to help with the workload by sending quotes showing the historical changes in the meaning of words. One of the main contributors was a prisoner who spent more than 20 years reading books and sending quotes. In our study, instead of collecting information by ourselves over the course of decades, we analyzed massive collections of audio recordings, using AI."
The melody of each person's speech is unique, but the AI model found several hundred basic patterns that recur, with slight variations, in all spontaneous English conversations. While written words are sequences of letters, a prosodic "word" is a short melody, that is, a short sequence of sounds with varying pitch, lasting about a second on average. To work out the meaning of these "words," Matalon sampled 20 basic melodic patterns and then listened to the recordings again.
"We discovered that each pattern has several linguistic functions," he explains. "For example, depending on the context, a pattern can define whether someone is asking a question or making a statement. However, each pattern typically conveys one specific attitude of the speaker—such as curiosity, surprise or confusion—toward what's being said.
"One common prosodic 'word' is a sharp rise of the pitch followed by a quick drop. This pattern signals enthusiasm and, depending on the context, can express strong agreement or acknowledgment of receiving important new information.
"Oxford's first full English dictionary came out in the 19th century, with the public helping manage the workload—including a prisoner who contributed for 20 years."
Next, the researchers tried to identify syntactic rules governing the order of these prosodic patterns, which can potentially allow future language learning models to understand and use prosody.
"We noticed that there are patterns that tend to appear next to each other, in pairs, in spontaneous speech," Weinreb explains. "It's a simple statistical system, in which the correct choice of the next unit in a sequence depends solely on the previous one. This system works well for spontaneous conversation because it requires planning only a few seconds ahead, which is just as long as short-term memory lasts."
These pattern pairs, the researchers discovered, act as simple sentences, expressing "one new idea," so that each pair relates to a specific topic, adding a single piece of information about it—for example, referring to a fact mentioned in the conversation and providing positive feedback.
"Our study lays the foundation for the development of an automated system that will compile a 'dictionary' of prosody and identify its syntactic rules for every human language and for different speaker populations," Moses says.
"Prosody can vary depending on social status, historic events and the age of the speakers, and these variations can even manifest themselves in literary works that carefully reflect spontaneous speech," Matalon adds. "We analyzed audiobooks as part of the study and discovered that prosodic patterns are longer in scripted speech and that the simple paired syntax of spontaneous conversation has disappeared.
"There are other differences, too. It's safe to assume that the aging process and the acquisition of language in childhood are also accompanied by quantifiable prosodic changes. Moreover, there is evidence that prosody is important in internal speech—the language of thought—and that we can deepen our understanding of the existing prosody of robotic voices that are produced by speech-generating devices. The model we created promises to close the gaps that emerged over the centuries in research into expression beyond words."
A major future application of an automated prosodic dictionary might be the development of AI capable of understanding and conveying messages through the melody of speech rather than words alone.
"Imagine if Siri could understand from the melody of your voice how you feel about a certain subject, what's important to you or whether you think you know better than her," Weinreb adds, "and that she could adapt her response to make it sound enthusiastic or sad. We already have brain implants that convert neural activity into speech for people who can't speak. If we can teach prosody to a computer model, we'll be adding a significant layer of human expression that robotic systems currently lack."
Also participating in the study were Dr. Dominik Freche from Weizmann's Physics of Complex Systems Department; Dr. Erez Volk from NeuraLight Inc., Tel Aviv; Dr. Tirza Biron from Weizmann's Computer Science and Applied Mathematics Department; and Prof. David Biron from the University of Chicago.
More information: Nadav Matalon et al, Structure in conversation: Evidence for the vocabulary, semantics, and syntax of prosody, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2403262122
Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Provided by Weizmann Institute of Science"
https://phys.org/news/2025-04-words-hidden-musical-grammar-natural.html
#metaglossia_mundus
Discover the best freelance translator job platforms to kickstart your language-based career today. Work remotely and earn flexibly.
"Language Translation Gigs You Can Start Today
April 13, 2025
If you’re someone who’s fluent in multiple languages and looking for a side hustle or a full-blown career opportunity, freelance translator job platforms are your golden ticket. In a world that thrives on global communication, your language skills are more in demand than ever. Whether you’re translating legal documents, subtitling YouTube videos, or localizing apps for international users, there’s a gig waiting for you. And the best part? You can start right from your couch, today.
Table of Contents
Top Freelance Translator Job Platforms to Start Today
The internet is buzzing with opportunities for language enthusiasts. Freelance translator job platforms offer the perfect environment to monetize your skills, build a portfolio, and establish a flexible career. Here are some of the best platforms to get started on:
1. Upwork
Upwork is one of the largest freelance marketplaces globally. With a dedicated category for translation jobs, it’s a great place to find steady work. You’ll need to create a profile showcasing your expertise, and clients post jobs you can bid on.
2. Fiverr
Fiverr allows freelancers to create “gigs” offering specific services. You can offer language translation starting at $5, and the tiered pricing model helps you earn more as your credibility grows. Include examples of past translation work for better visibility.
3. ProZ.com
This platform is built specifically for translators and language professionals. It offers a job board, forums, and certification options. You can also join translation contests and build a strong network of professionals.
4. TranslatorsCafe
With a strong community vibe, TranslatorsCafe is another niche platform for linguists. Here, clients post jobs with specific language pairs and topics. It also offers rate calculators and terminology databases to aid your work.
5. Gengo
Gengo offers a flexible and structured platform for translators. Once you pass their test, you can start taking jobs immediately. It’s beginner-friendly and provides training resources, so it’s ideal for those just starting out.
What Skills Do You Need to Succeed on Freelance Translation Platforms?
Success on freelance translator job platforms isn’t just about knowing multiple languages. Here’s what else you need to thrive:
Specialized Knowledge: Having subject-matter expertise in fields like legal, medical, or technical translations can help you land high-paying gigs.
Cultural Awareness: Being able to convey cultural nuance in your translations will make your work stand out.
CAT Tools: Familiarity with computer-assisted translation tools like SDL Trados or MemoQ can enhance your efficiency and credibility.
Strong Grammar and Writing: Your translated content should read as if it was originally written in the target language.
Time Management: Since many jobs come with tight deadlines, managing your time effectively is crucial.
How to Stand Out Among Thousands of Translators
There are thousands of translators competing for gigs. Here’s how to make sure your profile doesn’t get lost in the crowd:
1. Optimize Your Profile
Include relevant keywords like “English to Spanish translation,” “medical document translation,” or “subtitling services” in your profile description. Highlight your certifications and past experience prominently.
2. Start With Lower-Priced Gigs
When you’re just starting, pricing your services competitively can help you land initial jobs. Once you build a portfolio and earn reviews, you can increase your rates.
3. Deliver High-Quality Work
Meeting deadlines and exceeding client expectations will earn you positive reviews, which are crucial to growing on these platforms.
4. Collect Testimonials
Ask your clients for testimonials and display them on your profile or personal website. Social proof is a powerful way to build trust.
5. Keep Learning
Translation trends evolve. Stay updated by joining communities, reading industry blogs, and attending webinars.
Is Freelance Translation Sustainable in the Long Run?
Absolutely. With the rise of remote work and global expansion, the need for translation services continues to grow. As per Wikipedia, the translation industry has seen consistent growth over the past decade, and this trend shows no signs of slowing down.
By diversifying the languages you offer and specializing in in-demand niches like legal or marketing translation, you can create a sustainable freelance career.
Internal Linking and Income Growth
When discussing income potential, check out related resources like Gold Price or tech updates such as anymobile model price. These topics help contextualize earnings, spending, and the financial landscape of freelancers in today’s gig economy.
FAQs
What are the best freelance translator job platforms?
Upwork, Fiverr, ProZ.com, Gengo, and TranslatorsCafe are among the most popular and reliable platforms.
How much can a freelance translator earn?
Earnings vary by language pair, experience, and niche. Beginners may earn $10–$25/hour, while experienced translators can make over $100/hour.
Do I need a certification to start translating?
No, but certifications like ATA or university credentials can boost your credibility and attract higher-paying clients.
What languages are in high demand?
Mandarin, Spanish, Arabic, German, and French are frequently in demand for translation services.
How do I get consistent clients?
Build a strong profile, deliver quality work, ask for reviews, and maintain client relationships through professionalism and timely delivery.
Freelance translator job platforms are an excellent gateway to independence, flexibility, and income. Whether you’re doing this full-time or as a side hustle, the key is consistency and quality. Your language skills are not just valuable—they’re profitable."
https://inews.zoombangla.com/language-translation-gigs-you-can-start-today/
#metaglossia_mundus
"Bonds Beyond Borders: Chinese films and shows dubbed into Vietnamese expand cultural understanding
Chinese films and TV dramas have found a loyal market in Vietnam due to geographical proximity and cultural similarities. These works are dubbed into Vietnamese, which have increased their popularity in this country of over 100 million people. CGTN's Tang Bo meets a talent from Hanoi who gives him tips on his first try at dubbing.
That's what happens when you team up with a professional voice actress.
TANG BO Hanoi "This is Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, where many people enjoy watching Chinese films and TV series. For decades, these shows have played a very important role in the local entertainment scenes. Today, I'm very excited to introduce you to the incredible and talented individuals behind the scenes who ensure that the characters in these productions speak authentic Vietnamese."
Meet Hellen Nguyen, a voice actress who has been dubbing movies for 30 years. She started to dub Chinese films in 2014. She said that the more she dubs, the more she enjoys the films, with Chinese family-themed movies being her favorite.
HELLEN NGUYEN Voice Actress "I grew up watching the Chinese drama 'Journey to the West,' and it sparked my love for Chinese movies and dramas. I find them heart-warming, especially since their stories feel quite similar to those in Vietnam. It's like watching reflections of my own culture."
Thanks to translation Apps on our cell phones, we didn't get lost in each other's language. And the dubbing work has created an ever stronger connection.
TANG BO Hanoi "I'm about to start my dubbing experience today. First, I'll learn a very short clip in Vietnamese, then I'll try dubbing it."
Nguyen said she needed only a few minutes to grasp Chinese rhythm, while I had to use my own spelling system to learn Vietnamese.
Now let's check out my dubbing debut.
HELLEN NGUYEN Voice Actress "Last year, I dubbed a Chinese TV program that introduced cuisine from China and ASEAN countries. Chinese TV shows and films made available in Vietnam help both nations understand each other's cultures better. It feels as if we are traveling through China and Vietnam right from our screens."
Chinese film and television culture has long been integrated into Vietnamese life. TV stations across over 50 provinces regularly air Chinese films and series, while online platforms and mobile devices also facilitate this trend.
TANG BO Hanoi "Now listening to familiar words in a new language made me really appreciate the cultural exchange between China and Vietnam. It's not just about movies and TV series; it includes a lot of talented individuals like Nguyen, who have been working very hard to promote the mutual understanding through their art. You can see this blend of cultures in their cozy little recording studio.""
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-13/VHJhbnNjcmlwdDgzOTgz/index.html
#metaglossia_mundus
By Alyssa Arns and Kristen LaRue-SandlerWhat if your language disappeared?Over the span of human existence, civilizations have come and gone. For many, the absence of written records means we know little about their languages, knowledge systems or ways of life.Those who did leave traces — like the Sumerians and ancient Egyptians — have inspired our imaginations. But not only that — the knowledge that these cultures amassed in some cases has even become the bedrock of later innovations.
Lost languages mean lost cultures
How an ASU professor and students are helping Native American communities in the Southwest revitalize their languages
Tyler Peterson is an assistant professor in the Department of English at Arizona State University whose work focuses on the documentation, revitalization and maintenance of endangered languages, especially those of Native North America and the Southwest U.S. Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU News
April 11, 2025
By Alyssa Arns and Kristen LaRue-Sandler
What if your language disappeared?
Over the span of human existence, civilizations have come and gone. For many, the absence of written records means we know little about their languages, knowledge systems or ways of life.
Join us for an oral history event with speakers of Kwevkepaya
At noon Tuesday, April 15, the ASU Humanities Institute hosts the presentation, “'há t'ámchoo 'úme: A Kwevkepaya Language Oral History of the Orme Dam,” featuring research by Tyler Peterson and members of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. Through a series of interviews and dialogues conducted in the Kwevkepaya language, guests will experience the unique history, insights and narratives of the Orme Dam events from the community’s perspective — one that is lacking in the received history of the Orme Dam project.
"This isn’t just a historical exhibit — it’s a living, breathing language reclamation effort shaped by community members,” Peterson said.
Register for the event.
Those who did leave traces — like the Sumerians and ancient Egyptians — have inspired our imaginations. But not only that — the knowledge that these cultures amassed in some cases has even become the bedrock of later innovations.
While it’s unlikely that the English language will disappear anytime soon, other languages are not in as fortunate a position.
Tyler Peterson is an assistant professor in the Department of English at Arizona State University whose work focuses on the documentation, revitalization and maintenance of endangered languages, especially those of Native North America and the Southwest U.S.
According to Peterson, language revitalization benefits both the specific language community and nonspeakers alike. It deepens cultural understanding and enriches education for everyone.
“Language is a vessel for historical memory — it holds place names, cultural values, ceremonial knowledge, and the stories of resistance and survival.”
Indigenous languages around the world are disappearing at an alarming rate, with the United Nations estimating that a language goes extinct every two weeks.
“There are hundreds of Indigenous languages spoken in North America,” said Peterson. “Most of these languages are critically endangered, some with only a handful of fluent speakers, often elderly. Without sustained revitalization efforts and programs, that number could drop to a dozen or fewer within our lifetimes.”
Read more: Internship teaches ASU students the skills of language documentation; group works with Native communities to maintain languages
In addition to cultural loss, the problem has implications for community health, scientific research, ecological knowledge — and even national defense. Many Americans are now familiar with the Navajo Code Talkers, who developed an unbreakable military code based on their Native language during World War II. Their work is credited with helping the Allies win the war.
In the community, for the community, with the community
Peterson does not do this critical language work alone — or in a silo. He collaborates closely with several Native American communities in the Southwest, including the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, and the Pueblo of Santa Ana, supporting the development of their language documentation, reclamation and education initiatives.
An Sakach (left), an assistant teaching professor of Vietnamese in the School of International Letters and Cultures and a graduate student in linguistics and applied linguistics at ASU, sits with Clissene Lewis, director of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation’s Cultural Center and Museum, to work on a language activity. Photo by Tyler Peterson/ASU
Peterson follows the tribes’ guidance on their priorities, whether it’s building an archive of oral histories, developing pedagogical materials or co-authoring scholarly work.
Last summer, for example, Peterson partnered with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community to co-lead a local gathering of CoLang, the biennial event put on by the Institute on Collaborative Language Research. ASU and Scottsdale Community College hosted the world’s leading Indigenous language activists, community scholars and students to provide training in language documentation, technology and collaborative practices in June 2024.
The focus of CoLang 2024 was on the two languages spoken in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community: Piipaash (Maricopa) and Pima. Through a series of intensive workshops, ASU students and participants from around the world had the special opportunity to work one-on-one with speakers of these languages, thus raising the visibility of language revitalization work at ASU and the fruitful partnerships the university has with its tribal neighbors.
Through a fellowship from the ASU Humanities Institute, Peterson was able to deepen his relationships with Native American community partners in the Southwest. An outcome of these enhanced community ties was the development of a writing system for Tamayame, the language spoken in the Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico, of which there are less than 100 living speakers.
The Humanities Institute funding also supported Native American collaborators and language consultants for their time and expertise, enabled sustained fieldwork, helped build accessible archives and community resources, and provided training opportunities for students.
Using this as a foundation, Peterson was awarded funding by the Administration for Native Americans — a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture NextGen program to further the research and language reclamation efforts on Yavapai and Tamayame.
Student participation and professionalization is key
The federal funding also enabled ASU students to attend CoLang 2024 and to develop research projects on Piipaash, Yavapai and Tamayame languages. Five graduate students in ASU’s linguistics and applied linguistics program were given the opportunity to work with Peterson and the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation on a linguistic oral history project.
In addition, there is now considerable interest among the undergraduate students in taking up the cause of Native American language documentation and community work. As part of the NSF grant, summer fellowships for undergraduates will be offered during summer 2025 to work with the Cocopah language, spoken in the Yuma area.
“Locally, these projects help sustain intergenerational knowledge transfer, support community-based education and affirm the cultural sovereignty of Indigenous nations,” Peterson said.
ASU graduate student An Sakach completes a linguistics exercise while working with the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. Sakach is completing her PhD research on the Yavapai language. Photo by Tyler Peterson/ASU
Peterson added that linguistic-historical synthesis also creates opportunities to re-evaluate and add accountability to the analysis of historical events. Finally, language preservation provides pathways for students with linguistics training to work for tribes and their language programs, showing how a linguistics degree can be put to meaningful use in the real world.
Linguistics graduate student William “Bill” Hartt is completing a mentored research project with Peterson this semester. Hartt is helping document the Yavapai language, a system with several dialects spoken exclusively by Arizona tribes, including Fort McDowell.
“Learning about the structure of language is extremely important, and the vast majority of what we as a society learn about human language is learned from languages which are underdocumented,” Hartt said.
The Tamayama Language Resources Project, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, is a direct outgrowth of the project funded by the Humanities Institute. This project is a collaborative initiative with the Pueblo of Santa Ana aimed at documenting and revitalizing the Tamayame language by supporting the creation of a digital, community-based archive of recorded texts, lexical and grammatical resources, and culturally grounded teaching materials.
Designed in close partnership with tribal leadership, the project aligns with intergenerational language transmission goals within the community.
However, funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities was revoked in early April as part of the Department of Government Efficiency’s cuts to that agency.
“Without funds to sustain these efforts, languages and the cultural worldviews they carry are put into further precarity,” said Ron Broglio, director of ASU’s Humanities Institute. “Nevertheless, I’m proud of our faculty and the Native American communities that persist in the work.”
https://news.asu.edu/20250411-arts-humanities-and-education-lost-languages-mean-lost-cultures
|
Guatemala-born Elisa Amado is an accomplished author and translator. Her books include Manuelito, which was a joint winner of the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s 2019 Best Books for Kids & Teens, What Are You Doing?, and Why Are You Doing That? Amado’s latest picture book translation, Clara and the Man with Books in His Window (Greystone Kids, May 20) by Hans Christian Andersen Award–winning Argentinian author María Teresa Andruetto (illustrated by Martina Trach), is based on a true story about the unlikely friendship between María’s mother and Juan, a book-loving recluse.
Amado spoke with Q&Q about why it’s more important than ever to bring stories from around the world to North American children.
Can you recall the first story that you connected with deeply?
As a translator, The Composition by Antonio Skármeta – a great Chilean author. It’s a story about a boy who is asked to tell people at his school what his family does at night. If he does, he might win a prize – a football. He loves football. He also knows that his parents listen to clandestine radio. But his composition is about how they play chess every evening. It is a perfect story about living in a dictatorship, very pertinent in Latin America at the time. Now once again, maybe even in the U.S., it is very timely.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
The Tricycle/El triciclo about a girl, perched in a tree, who sees her much poorer young neighbours stealing the tricycle she carelessly left out. When asked where it went, she lies and blames unknown robbers to protect the kids.
Did you always know you wanted to work in children’s books?
Yes. I learned English by having my mother read children’s books to me. There were very few Spanish books for children at that time.
How did you get your start in translating children’s books?
By being asked to help Groundwood Books bring books from the Spanish-speaking world to North American kids.
When you take on a project like Clara and the Man with Books in His Window, where do you begin?
By deepening my knowledge of its great author, María Teresa Andruetto. This book is based on a true story about her mother. She won the Hans Christian Andersen Award (in 2012) – the only Spanish-language author to do so. I was really shocked to discover that despite her incredible output, she had not been previously translated into English.
What are the challenges unique to translating children’s books?
Staying true to the voice of the author while making sure it is accessible for children in North America. So few foreign language books for children are made available in the English-speaking world.
Are there any challenges specific to translating a text from Spanish to English?
No. Just as with all translations, the best books are excellent literature and the author’s voice must be maintained. I was shocked when a senior person in Canadian publishing said that when it came to children’s books, there would be no problem in using AI to write and/or translate them. That person obviously understands nothing about the great tradition of literary children’s books in many languages, including English.
How do you deal with concepts or words that are untranslatable?
Nothing is untranslatable. It’s a matter of using voice and means of expression in English that can render the meaning and be true to the author’s style. The only true danger is censorship by the growing cohort of people, especially in the U.S., who want to children’s books to be commercial shells without any kind of truth.
Do you collaborate or have discussions with the author?
Sometimes. And also, with the original publisher. The translations are always approved by both.
Can you describe what it feels like bringing a story to life in another language for a new audience?
Wonderful. The only way to help people around the world be good to each other is to know them, as they truly are. And children are the place to start that process. This is the mission of IBBY (the International Board on Books for Young People), whose work I admire greatly.
If you could translate any children’s book, which would it be and why?
There are so many great, great books that await translation. It’s impossible to say. But with Greystone Kids behind me, and the ability to continue to work with authors whose previous books I’ve translated, at Groundwood, I’m very lucky to be able to find great texts.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
Illustration: Martina Trach.
By Inderjit Deogun
Issue Date: April 2025
Tagged with: Clara and the Man with Books in His Window, Elisa Amado, Greystone Kids, María Teresa Andruetto, picture book, translation
https://quillandquire.com/authors/nothing-is-untranslatable-says-elisa-amado-translator-of-clara-and-the-man-with-books-in-his-window/
#metaglossia_mundus