Metaglossia: The Translation World

"Maria B. Olujic Considers the Role of Neologisms and Idioms in Croatia’s Linguistic Landscape

 

Czesław Miłosz wrote, “Language is the only homeland.” I didn’t understand that sentence when I first read it. I was too busy trying to speak correctly—in English, in Croatian, in a blend that never quite landed on either shore.

 

The first time I tried to read Miłosz aloud, my tongue caught on the ł in his name. I was in class, new to the U.S., and eleven years old. My American teacher smiled, corrected me gently, but my cheeks burned hot. That same week I said “misery” instead of “mystery.” A few kids laughed. I didn’t. I stopped raising my hand for a month. I learned to taste every word before I let it out.

 

But I understand Miłosz now—not just intellectually, but bodily. Like tongue in English, the Croatian word jezik refers to both language and the tongue in our mouths—the spoken word, and the muscle that shapes it, or gets bitten when silence is safer. Or scorched, when a truth slips out too fast.

 

What he meant, I think, is that when borders collapse, when flags change, when your birthplace wakes up with a different name—sometimes six names—you realize your country hasn’t just split; your language has, too. Suddenly, one tongue wears four alphabets. Six new passports, three new anthems, and a dozen ways to say mine. What lingers is the echo of a phrase that only your people say. A joke that dies in translation. The lullaby your grandmother hummed while shelling white beans into her apron, her voice low enough not to wake the war. What stays is the syntax. The cadence. The words no one else knows how to carry.

 

The old state had collapsed. The new state was telling us how to speak. We used our tongues to carve out a space between what was imposed and what was ours.

 

In my grandmother’s kitchen, sentences simmered like soup. She never snapped. Even anger came out in full idioms: “Prije ispeci pa onda reci,” Bake it before you speak it, she’d say, tapping a wooden spoon against a pot for punctuation. Words were not thrown, they were tempered.

 

At first, I thought that saying was just village wisdom—a folksy version of Think before you speak. But under communism, it meant something else. A careless sentence, a joke dropped at the wrong table, could mark you. Or your father. Or the neighbor with too many books. Language wasn’t expression; it was a confession, or armor.

 

Even children knew this. On the walk to the village school, we knew we had to greet strangers—always. But before we spoke, we had to choose. Two greetings danced on our tongue: Good day or Blessed be Jesus and Mary. Both polite. One dangerous. We had no way of knowing which of these the stranger expected—only that one might keep you safe, and the other might mark you.

 

You chose. You spoke. You got it wrong.

 

The stranger pulled your ear until it burned raw. And the next day, the teacher called you to the front of the classroom: Didn’t we teach you how to speak properly? How to greet people? Then came the walk—the shuffle to the front of the classroom, the shame of standing there on display.

 

Speech was a test. A trap. You learned to scan a face, to read a posture, to hesitate. Because as they say, “Cim otvoriš usta, odmah znaju tko si.” The moment you speak, they know exactly who you are.

 

That’s how it worked—even the smallest words carried weight. Every sentence was a risk, every greeting a gamble. Meaning bent itself around silence. Opinion disguised itself as proverb. Grief folded tightly inside idiom, like a note slipped under a door.

 

I still carry that delay in my mouth. Even in English, I sometimes test a sentence before it leaves me—like checking the oven. The habit is not fear, exactly. It’s memory. It’s the politics of the tongue.

 

For decades, the tongue was policed. Jokes were told behind hands. Opinions were filtered through euphemism. Even laughter came out sideways. Then Yugoslavia unraveled and suddenly the gates burst open. We spoke until our jaws ached. After years of swallowing our words, we let them spill.

 

When a regime collapses, one of the first things to erupt is language. Suddenly, the unspoken can be spoken, but still in disguise. We didn’t say, The new president is absurd, but we made up a word like nabiguz (someone who stuffs their ass with greed) or samofukalo (self-fucker), and everyone understood. The absurdity was shared. Laughter was code.

 

After the war began, everyone wanted a piece of the tongue. It was as if each republic reached for a slice—Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Macedonia, Kosovo—each claiming theirs, correcting it, renaming it. The language was so savory, so full of bite and mischief, that no one wanted to admit we’d been sharing it all along. Everyone wanted their own version. Their own dictionary. Their own alphabet.

 

We speak now of the balkanization of nations, but what about the balkanization of the tongue? Suddenly, one language had to wear four new names. People who’d grown up understanding each other perfectly were told they no longer shared a vocabulary. New alphabets, new rules, new slogans. Yet beneath it all, the rhythm stayed the same. The vowels stretched in the same spots. The jokes still landed—if you knew how to hear them. What we witnessed wasn’t just linguistic divergence. It was a rupture we tried to bandage with phonetics.

 

Overnight, dictionaries announced new norms, as if speech could be disinfected. Words were “cleansed” of their Yugoslav residue, scrubbed down to fit a newly drawn border. In Croatian, this led to

 

brzoglas—fast voice—for telephone,

zrakomlat—air beater—for helicopter,

milokliz—sweet-slider—for penis,

and for condom? Udna tuljica. A limb sheath.

 

It would’ve been funny if it hadn’t been official—if it hadn’t come with flags and checkpoints and new textbooks for children. And the more official the rules became, the more an underground language—humorous, grotesque, barbed—rose up in protest.

 

We created entire anti-dictionaries, full of words not meant for permanence but for play. For a release.

 

A chair? Cetveronožni guzni podupirac—a four-legged ass prop.

A radio? Zvucni propovjedac—a sonic preacher.

Pants? Dvocjevni nabiguz—two-barreled ass stuffers.

A belt? Okolotrbušni hlacodržac—around-the-belly pants-holder.

A pencil sharpener? Zarezivac drvene misli—carver of wooden thoughts.

 

Absurd? Absolutely. But also brilliant. The old state had collapsed. The new state was telling us how to speak. We used our tongues to carve out a space between what was imposed and what was ours.

 

These neologisms weren’t just clever. Vulgar and vivid, they were the people’s unofficial dictionary. A resistance lexicon. They were a gesture—a sticking-out of the tongue to the regime that had tried to silence it for so long. In our culture, to bare your tongue—especially in crude or exaggerated ways—isn’t just playful. It’s profane. It means: Fuck you. It means: You don’t own my mouth anymore.

 

Today, if you search for neologizam in Croatian, you’ll mostly find imported marketing terms: anti-aging, afterwork, aquapark. Borrowed words for borrowed lives. The kind of language you pack in a dutyfree suitcase. There’s even an official Dictionary of Neologisms, compiled by the University of Zagreb’s Department of Linguistics. Flip through it and you’ll find global gloss: android, after party, all-inclusive. Language of the market, not the street. Branding, not survival. But the neologisms I remember weren’t about trends or tech. They were local and lowbrow and laughed in the face of collapse.

 

The tongue I remember did more than speak. It bit. It barked. It joked. Made mischief. Broke rules. Even when we borrowed, we bent the new words until they fit our crooked rhythm. Take guglati—a perfectly conjugated Croatian verb born from Google, now fully domesticated. We twisted it. Made it ours. Now it lives in sentences with samofukalo and nabiguz, cheek by jowl. Global brand, village filth, one syntax.

 

This, too, is tongue-work: the art of blending the absurd, the slick, and the subversively local until the whole hums with mischief.

 

In my case, it’s a tongue stitched from Dalmatian hinterland dialect, postwar Zagreb officialese, and Midwestern Montessori English. A patchwork—frayed in places, but alive.

 

Even now, my aunt in California says she’s “driving a car-u.” Half-English, half-Dalmatian, fully hers. The suffix roots a foreign word in local soil—makes it ours.

 

I’ve spent decades switching tongues. In Dalmatia, I learned to stretch vowels wide, to tuck meaning into idioms, to joke before I wept. In America, I learned to speak gently, cleanly—apologizing in every sentence. Croatian stalled for me around age eleven. English rushed in: fast, glossy, eager to please. One tongue paused, the other performed.

 

When I returned to Croatia during the war, I sounded strange in Zagreb. A shopkeeper stared when I said “šta” instead of “što.” She smiled—tight-lipped, like I’d walked in barefoot. My cousin whispered, They can tell you’re from the village.

 

Sometimes, in the pause before you speak—in the silence between layers—you taste the word. It stings. It startles. And it belongs.

 

I still mix those sounds. I still mistranslate myself. But that mix—awkward, stitched, imperfect—is what keeps the whole thing alive.

 

It was that roughness that carried humor, resistance, survival. In my village, jokes weren’t told so much as inhabited. We didn’t speak about trauma—we cooked with it, laughed around it. A cousin once said, “Ako žurimo živjeti, imat cemo vremena za sprovod.” If we rush to live, we’ll have plenty of time for the funeral. A proverb disguised as a punchline. That was our syntax.

 

But not all tongues were treated equally.

 

We were in a café in Zagreb, my coffee cooling untouched. Without thinking I said, “Bog.” My friend looked up and, in English, corrected me lightly: “It’s Bok here.” I felt something shift behind my ribs—like a word was being evicted. Bog means God. Bok, on the other hand, means nothing. A stylish secularism had replaced a word much older and deeper. Such changes were never about mere sound and grammar. They were about who gets to seem modern. Whose tongue remains relevant.

 

Now a new kind of voice has entered the room. Not urban or rural. Not Zagreb or Dalmatian. A voice with no accent, no idiom, no pause. It speaks smoothly, but it remembers nothing it says.

 

Machines are fluent. GPS voices give directions in accentless English. Chatbots complete our sentences. The radio spoke English before we did. But all of that fluency is hollow. It carries no hesitation, no inheritance, no risk.

 

A machine will never know what zrakoprc means—air-fucker, a word for someone who talks and talks but says nothing. It will never understand the weight behind “Bacila se u Crveno jezero”—She threw herself into Red Lake. Not just a sentence, but a wound. It won’t get the joke when someone says, “Bacila se u Hercegovacko jezero”—She threw herself into Herzegovinian Lake—a lake that doesn’t exist, in a country that barely holds. The satire only lands if you know the absence.

 

My cousin once joked, Kids chew rubber boots now too. Only theirs are screens. He was remembering the cow he once left to graze behind a bush while he played soccer. He kept glancing over in case she wandered off. But she stayed. After the game, he found her chewing an old rubber boot. She looked content. But she wasn’t fed.

 

That’s how this new fluency feels. The voice is smooth, but it tastes nothing. It remembers nothing. It speaks, but hasn’t lived.

 

The same cousin now beams about ChatGPT.

 

She knew everything about Imotski, he said. So polite. So clear.

 

A voice with no hunger. No grief. No gossip. A voice that’s never bitten itself trying not to speak. Real language stumbles. It hesitates. It remembers.

 

I think of Tin Ujevic, Croatia’s great poet, who once entered a tavern unshaven and was refused wine. He returned the next day in a suit. They served him. He poured the wine into his pocket. Feeding the coat, he said. You weren’t serving me.

 

That, too, is language. Who’s being fed? What’s being served?

 

So which tongue do I speak? The one with its idioms and bite? The one honed in books and softened with apology? I don’t know. I’m still patching it together. Still chewing on rubber boots and village jokes. Still testing the oven. Still translating—not just between Croatian and English, but between worlds. Because in the end, the tongue remembers what the dictionary forgets. Sometimes, in the pause before you speak—in the silence between layers—you taste the word. It stings. It startles. And it belongs.

 

“The Tongue Remembers” by Maria B. Olujic appears in the latest issue of AGNI."

Maria B. Olujic

November 24, 2025

https://lithub.com/creating-new-tongues-on-language-as-adaptation-and-resistance/

#Metaglossia 

#metaglossia_mundus 

"Language Matters | Why language loss in indigenous communities hurts biodiversity conservation

Ecosystem loss and language erosion often occur in tandem. Thankfully, Cop30 marked an unprecedented effort to elevate indigenous voices

 

Lisa Lim

Published: 5:15pm, 23 Nov 2025

Cop30, the 30th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (Cop) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the 1992 landmark international treaty and parent treaty to the 2015 Paris Agreement, began on November 10 and was scheduled to end on November 21.

 

Hosted in Belem, Brazil, Cop30 was the “Forest Cop”, not only for its Amazon rainforest venue, but because a focus of the UN Climate Change Conference is forest and biodiversity protection. Central to this endeavour has been the significant inclusion of indigenous peoples in dialogue.

Indigenous peoples, numbering some 476 million worldwide, comprise just 6 per cent of the global population – but almost 40 per cent of the planet’s intact forests are located in indigenous territories. Indigenous peoples are thus stewards of hundreds of millions of hectares of land, safeguarding much of the world’s biodiversity.

 

Regions of great endemic biodiversity that contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants found nowhere else on Earth, but which have also lost at least 70 per cent of their primary native vegetation – usually because of human activities and influences – are known as “biodiversity hotspots”.

 

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks during a press conference at the Cop30 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Belem, Brazil on November 20, 2025. Photo: AFP

Currently, 36 biodiversity hotspots are identified globally, which, while comprising only about 2.5 per cent of Earth’s land surface, are home to more than half of the world’s plants and 43 per cent of land vertebrates.

 

But it is not only flora and fauna that are of importance – so too are the ecologies’ communities and their languages and cultures.

 

The correlation between regions of high biodiversity and high linguistic diversity has long been recognised. These locales have a higher concentration of languages than would be expected by chance. The most floristically diverse island on Earth, New Guinea, boasts 840 living languages, while Indonesia and the Philippines, both biodiversity hotspots, are home to, respectively, 703 and 175.

 

Crucially, the loss of ecosystems and the erosion of languages often occur in tandem: when traditional habitats and ecological niches come under threat, the indigenous peoples who inhabit them, with their cultures and languages, are affected.

 

And conversely, language loss hurts biodiversity conservation. Indigenous communities are widely recognised as possessing a body of knowledge, beliefs and practices, reflecting a deep understanding of the local environment and sustainability of local resources. Such traditional or indigenous ecological knowledge (TEK/IEK) is passed on through generations, embedded in names, systems and oral traditions.

 

The historical and extant importance of indigenous peoples for cataloguing biodiversity, contributing to taxonomy and, more broadly, being involved in biodiversity protection, is now widely recognised.

 

The Maori of New Zealand – the entire archipelago a biodiversity hotspot – have ancestral sayings that encompass information concerning plant growth, soils and nutrients, ecological niches and communities, and landscape processes.

 

In Yunnan’s Nujiang prefecture, a core area of the Mountains of Southwest China biodiversity hotspot, the Lisu, Nu and Dulong people hold traditional knowledge regarding edible and medicinal plants, bamboo weaving, beekeeping, large old trees and biocultural diversity management.

Cop30 marked an unprecedented effort to elevate indigenous voices, with the largest indigenous delegation in the summit’s history, comprising more than 3,000 indigenous representatives and a record number of over 900 indigenous delegates taking part in official debates.

 

Outcomes include the creation of 10 new indigenous territories in Brazil, where their culture and environment are protected by law; and – with indigenous groups historically receiving less than 1 per cent of climate-change funding – steps towards indigenous-led governance and direct funding access.

 

Demonstrators take part in a march in defence of the forest, territorial rights and climate responsibility during Cop30 on November 13, 2025. Photo: AP

Beyond Cops, scholars and practitioners continue their efforts on smaller but no less effective scales.

 

A project of the Unesco Chair in Environmental Leadership, Cultural Heritage and Biodiversity, established at VinUniversity in Hanoi in 2024, documents the cultural heritage, ethnobotany and language of the Bahnar ethnic group in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, a region that is part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.

 

Priorities lie in working in partnership with ethnic minority community members, as well as in training the next generation of environmental leaders – perhaps two of the most significant dimensions in climate-change action for a sustainable future."

https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3333625/why-language-loss-indigenous-communities-hurts-biodiversity-conservation

#Metaglossia 

#metaglossia_mundus 

"A new report from the Center for News, Technology & Innovation (CNTI) reviewed over 55 studies to better understand the state of AI translation and transcription in journalism. The global research center’s AI and Journalism Working Group has been regularly surveying AI research, with its last installment from July tackling studies on AI literacy and communication.

For this new report, the group combed through the work of social scientists, linguists, and computer scientists. One of the report’s topline findings: there is a major divide between the accessibility and accuracy of AI transcription and translation tools when they’re used for English and other dominant languages, and when they’re used for languages that AI researchers have termed “low-resource.”
English represents more than 50% of the domains on the web. Mainstream language models are largely trained on data scraped from the internet, which is one reason transcription and translation tools perform so well in English. “Low-resource” languages are those that have comparatively little digitized text on the web available to train models. Even some of the most-spoken languages in the world, like Urdu, are considered low-resource.

The working group outlined a few ways this creates accessibility barriers. An AI translation tool may perform very well for a language pair like English and Spanish, but introduce significant errors when it’s used for a pair of less common languages. In particular, AI transcription and translation tools often struggle with “language ambiguity and cultural nuance,” show an inability to perform tasks “at the level of human experts,” and introduce “inherent biases” present in their training data.

Take one study reviewed by the working group that looked at AI translations of international news in Tanzania. Researchers found that 13% of translated sentences reviewed included some kind of mistranslation or inaccuracy. One article, for instance, mistranslated the English term “street food” into Kiswahili as “food of the road.”

The group also found that AI translation tools may struggle to adjust the formality of written statements when moving between different languages. Korean and Japanese, for example, often have stricter rules around formal language. As a result, translations of less formal English into Korean can sometimes be read as “socially inappropriate.”

Some newsrooms in the Global South are working to surmount the challenges they face in using AI transcription and translation tools in low-resource languages. The working group spotlighted Dubawa, a fact-checking project based in Nigeria, that has been training tools on local dialects and accents in order to more accurately transcribe radio broadcasts.
The working group also pointed to the use of AI transcription tools to cover public meetings as particularly promising for all journalists. That’s in part because in these transcripts “figurative language and wordplay” — both types of speech that AI tools struggle to process — are uncommon.

As for translation, the group says that due to how common mistakes are, one of the most promising ways to incorporate AI tools into newsrooms is through “hybrid translation” — that’s when AI translations are reviewed by humans before publication.

You can read the full report from CNTI’s Global AI and Journalism Research Working Group"
Posted by: Andrew Deck
November 25, 2025
https://www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/studies-on-ai-transcription-and-translation-in-journalism-reveal-low-resource-language-gap-new-report-finds/
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

Artificial intelligence investment by the federal government poses risks of job loss, and error. Can GCtranslate avoid this?

"The federal government’s increasing use of artificial intelligence for translation services may threaten the French language and will “1,000 per cent” affect the more than 1,300 employees in the Translation Bureau, say critics of the strategy.

The union that represents translators estimates 339 workers will lose their jobs.

As well, while there will likely be more efficiencies and flexibility, one expert cautions that without human supervision, translation accuracy is at risk.

On Sept. 25, the federal government announced GCtranslate, a new AI translation tool being tested across six departments and agencies to improve productivity.

In June, an earlier version, referred to as PSPC Translate, was in effect for three months. Public Services and Procurement Canada reported more than 60 million words or 3,000 document pages were translated each workday.

GCtranslate has become one of PSPC’s most used tools, spokesperson Michèle LaRose told Capital Current. She said the tool aims to compliment translation services, such as routine business documents, and allow translators to direct their expertise towards “complex, high-value government content.”

The AI move is part of a broader approach to boost efficiency while streamlining the public service. On Nov. 4, the budget revealed plans to slash 16,000 positions in the bureaucracy over three years, and 28,000 more by 2029.

The budget also revealed $1 billion will be spent on optimizing Canada’s AI use across the federal government over five years, as part of a larger AI integration strategy.

Fears over French being “diluted”
“Outsourcing” part of translators’ work to AI sacrifices quality, said Antoine Hersberger, vice-president of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE), which represents translators and interpreters.

“Let’s say someone is doing their taxes, and they’re trying to see if they’re admissible to a specific tax credit. If that explanation has been … translated by AI without any human involved, there’s a good chance the person might miss out on that tax credit because the explanation wasn’t clear or entirely accurate,” he said.

“Since the vast majority of translations are from English into French, we know that it’s mainly going to be francophones that will find themselves in these kinds of situations.”

Ryan Williams, a former MP from the Bay of Quinte, is worried AI translation will lead to bilingualism being treated as an “afterthought.” He said French must be strengthened rather than “diluted.”

“If we’re using it to fully replace people it is irresponsible, considering the importance of the French language in Canada and how it needs to be upheld,” he said. 

The threat to job security for public servant translators is “1,000 per cent” real, he said.

Hersberger says there needs to be a greater interest in protecting the French language. “If the government really wants to show it cares about bilingualism, it should invest in the Translation Bureau to improve the quality of French rather than actively participating in the race to the bottom.”

On Sept. 25, CAPE raised concerns with Bloc Québécois MPs about the strain translators will face because of cuts and AI tools replacing human translators.

“If the government adequately funded the Translation Bureau … it wouldn’t be a source of administrative process slowdowns,” Hersberger said.

“It could be a hub of innovation where professionals, often with decades of translation experience, can take advantage of the best of new technologies, without sacrificing the quality that is the foundation of Canadian bilingualism.”

Last year, Commissioner of Official Languages Raymond Théberge wrote to the President of the Treasury Board pointing out problems regarding bias, risk of error and hindering French language use with the use of AI.

While stressing that AI should not weaken services in either languages, he said he welcomed tools like GCtranslate, noting its ability to “support translation” and “language learning.”

But Théberge warned AI translations can “miss cultural nuances,” as these tools often rely on English data, which can produce bias and “impact the equitable use of French.”

LaRose said PSPC reported a “noticeable increase in French-to-English translations,” since the implementation of the tool.

Job security concerns 
On Nov. 20, an Angus Reid Institute survey found 86 per cent of Canadians think “AI will cause more job losses than jobs that are created because of it.”

“I think we always need to be mindful and cognitive about what the government is trying to do, especially with AI because I have no confidence at this point that the government will do it right,” Williams said.

Elizabeth Marshman is an associate professor in the School of Translation and Interpretation at the University of Ottawa. She said AI is already handling minor translation tasks, separate from work done by public servants and believes the same may be done with GCtranslate.

“I am not sure exactly where we will land in the end in terms of net job changes, gains or losses, but I do not fear the elimination of human language professionals any time soon,” she said.

AI reliability
Williams said there is, “no shortage of work to improve government processes” and AI translation tools can help with speed, but he said AI works best alongside humans who provide oversight. 

Marshman says in some cases, where nuance is required, AI may not be the appropriate choice and could lead to “communication” and “safety issues.”

“I do believe that important public-facing documents do need to be reviewed by qualified and capable humans to be sure we are sending the right message on both levels, in a way that will get it across effectively,” Marshman said.

She said she hopes the federal government recognizes this level of risk and works to minimize it. 

At the same time, Williams said AI tools present a possibility to “enrich” the language. “I think it allows French to be used more often. It’s allowing educational tools so that we can teach our children more French. … That’s going to be the best result — that we … maintain our bilingualism in Canada,” he said.

Marshman added AI can be used to promote use of French.

“By making sure users are aware of limitations, we can encourage them to continue to learn and explore languages. Tools such as machine translation and genAI can even be used in creative ways to support language learning, provided that they are presented realistically and used responsibly.”

A look ahead
“It is very impressive to hear about the number of pages that can be churned out by such tools every working day. However, without the assurance that there are skilled human resources to monitor this output and ensure it is meeting needs, that kind of figure does not guarantee effective communication,” Marshman said.

“I do hope that there is a solid plan for careful evaluation and monitoring, most especially in these initial phases, so that we have a realistic view of performance and can make decisions based on that.”

More feedback on GCtranslate’s integration in the public service workforce is to come and the federal AI strategy will be revisited in 2027 to evaluate effectiveness."
By Lynn Robchinsky and Niko Athanasopoulos , November 26, 2025
https://capitalcurrent.ca/federal-push-toward-ai-translation-threatens-french-and-jobs-for-public-servants-critics-say/
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

Grants to enhance the quality of translations of Swedish literature and drama
Deadline: 27-Jan-2026
"The Swedish Arts Council (Kulturrådet) invites professional translators of Swedish literature and drama to apply for its Swedish Literature Grant Programme. The grants support international exchange, skill development, mentorships, and sample translations, helping translators improve the quality and reach of Swedish literary works worldwide.

Overview of the Programme
The Swedish Literature Grant Programme promotes international collaboration and skill improvement for translators working with Swedish literature and drama. By funding translation-related activities, the programme strengthens the global presence of Swedish literary and cultural works.

Purpose of the Grant
Enhance the quality of translations of Swedish literature and drama

Foster international exchange between translators and literary communities

Support mentorships, workshops, and professional development activities

Enable sample translations for publishers and theatres to evaluate works for full translation or performance

Eligible Applicants
Professional translators translating from Swedish into other languages

Translators must be working on literary or dramatic works, including works in Swedish or Swedish national minority languages

Applicants cannot be:

Translators working into Swedish

Organizations, publishers, or networks

Eligible Activities
Grants can cover costs associated with:

Sample translations for publishers or theatres

Mentorship collaborations between established and emerging translators

Participation in literary festivals, seminars, fairs, workshops, and conferences

Travel and accommodation directly linked to translation projects

Course or conference fees related to skill development

Exclusions:

Textbooks, scholarly works, reference books, study materials, cookbooks, yearbooks, hobby books, exhibition catalogues, craft books, handbooks, travel guides, Festschrifts, homage volumes, or sheet music

Projects already contracted or activities already completed

Funding Details
Grants for sample translations or mentorships: up to SEK 12,000

Other activities funded based on actual project costs

Allowable expenses include travel, accommodation, fees for courses/conferences, and mentorship fees

Application Process
Submit applications through the Swedish Arts Council online portal

Ensure submissions are complete and on time for the relevant assessment round

Include required attachments:

Current CV listing published translations from Swedish

Sample translation projects: rights holder’s certificate

Mentorship projects: jointly signed project plan and motivation letter

Applications are reviewed by expert senior advisors, evaluated collectively, and funding proposals are approved by the Department Head for Literature and Libraries

Conflicts of interest are formally managed to maintain transparency

Assessment Rounds
There are four assessment rounds per year

Late or incomplete applications may be considered in the next round if deadlines permit

Why It Matters
Supports high-quality translations of Swedish literature globally

Encourages international collaboration and knowledge exchange

Provides emerging translators with mentorship and professional development

Ensures Swedish literary works reach broader audiences and cultural impact

Tips for a Strong Application
Submit a complete application before the deadline

Clearly outline the scope and purpose of your translation or mentorship project

Include all required supporting documents, including CV and project plans

Emphasize the literary or dramatic nature of the work

Ensure your translation work is directly from Swedish or a Swedish minority language

FAQ
1. Who can apply for this grant?
Professional translators working from Swedish into other languages in the fields of literature and drama.

2. What activities are funded?
Sample translations, mentorships, international festivals, workshops, seminars, travel, accommodation, and related professional development costs.

3. Are translations into Swedish eligible?
No, the grant only supports translations from Swedish into other languages.

4. What is the maximum funding amount?
Up to SEK 12,000 for sample translations or mentorship projects; other activities are funded based on actual project costs.

5. How do I submit an application?
Through the Swedish Arts Council online portal before the relevant assessment round deadline.

6. What supporting documents are required?
CV with published translations, rights holder certificate for sample translations, and a project plan/motivation letter for mentorship projects.

7. Can I apply for work already contracted or completed?
No, the programme does not fund previously contracted translations or completed activities.

Conclusion
The Swedish Literature Grant Programme by Kulturrådet is a key opportunity for translators to enhance their skills, engage internationally, and promote Swedish literary works globally. By funding mentorships, sample translations, and professional development activities, the programme strengthens both the translator’s career and the international visibility of Swedish literature.

For more information, visit Kulturrådet."
https://www2.fundsforngos.org/individuals/rfps-grants-for-translators-of-swedish-literature/amp/
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

"Workshop for Legal Language Professionals – De la traduction des lois à la corédaction, l'avènement d'une jurilinguistique canadienne
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 12:00to13:30
Online
Language of Delivery: French

In this series of workshops, the Graduate Diploma in Legal Translation at McGill University invites you to discover different dimensions of professions at the crossroad of law and languages. We offer both introductory workshops to key professions, such as legal translation and court interpreting, as well as workshops on highly specialized issues that will better meet the needs of experienced jurilinguists.

Legal translation stands apart from all other forms of translation in one key respect: it is governed by the binding force of the law itself. In translating legal texts such as acts, regulations, judgments and contracts, translators must also contend with the specific challenges inherent to these documents. The first of these challenges arises from the law and legal system itself. Between English and French, and vice versa, we enter the realm of comparative law, in which two very different systems coexist. By nature, the legal translator is a comparatist, obliged to render the law faithfully within the framework of its own rules. The second challenge lies in the readability and clarity of the target text. And the third and final challenge resides in the form of the target text, which varies between systems depending on the culture in question. This is especially true of the common law–civil law pair, with each system expressing, sui generis, its culture and its rules through writing. This mode of expression—whether verbose or concise—immediately signals to readers the distinctive nature of each legal culture. These observations apply to the three main types of legal texts—acts, judgments, and contracts—each of which has its own distinctive features. Our analysis focuses primarily on the act, the “window on the law,” and on the translation process leading to the emergence of a Canadian legal language, as revealed through the co-drafting of legislation.

This initiative is supported by Justice Canada's Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund.

Register
Category:
School of Continuing Studies
Tags:
External
Workshop for Legal Language Professionals
Last updated: Tue, 11/25/2025 - 20:18
Source Site:
/continuingstudies
Department and University Information
School of Continuing Studies
680 Sherbrooke Street West, 11th floor
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
H3A 2M7

Contact us
514-398-6200
info.conted@mcgill.ca

Atelier pour jurilangagiers – De la traduction des lois à la corédaction, l'avènement d'une jurilinguistique canadienne
Mardi, 13 janvier, 2026 12:00à13:30
En ligne
Langue: Français

Dans le cadre de cette série d’ateliers, le programme d’études supérieures en traduction juridique de l’Université McGill vous invite à découvrir différentes facettes des métiers spécialisés dans le domaine du langage du droit. On propose à la fois des ateliers d’introduction aux professions phares, comme la traduction juridique et l’interprétation judiciaire, ainsi que des ateliers sur des questions très pointues qui répondront davantage aux besoins des jurilangagier.ère.s d’expérience.

La traduction juridique se distingue de tous les domaines où s’exerce la traduction par un trait qui lui est propre : le droit est porteur de règles contraignantes. Aussi traduire des textes juridiques tels que lois, règlements, jugements et contrats expose les traducteurs aux difficultés singulières de ces textes. La première d’entre elles est posée par le droit lui-même et son système. C’est ainsi que, de l’anglais au français -- et réciproquement --, on entre dans le droit comparé, deux systèmes très différents étant en présence. Le traducteur juridique est, par essence, comparatiste et tenu de rendre le droit dans le respect de ses règles. La deuxième difficulté réside dans la lisibilité du texte d’arrivée, sa clarté. La forme, enfin, du texte d’arrivée, qui diffère d’un système à l’autre selon la culture en jeu. Tel est le cas du couple common law – droit civil, chaque système exprimant dans l’écrit sa culture et ses règles de façon sui generis. Cette expression, prolixe ou concise, révèle immédiatement aux yeux des lecteurs le caractère de chaque culture juridique. Ces constats s’appliquent aux trois principaux types de texte juridique que sont la loi, le jugement et le contrat, chacun d’eux présentant ses propres particularités. Notre analyse porte essentiellement sur la Loi, « vitrine du droit », et le parcours de la traduction conduisant à l’avènement d’une jurilinguistique canadienne révélée par la corédaction des lois.

Cette initiative est soutenue par le Fonds d’appui à l’accès à la justice dans les deux langues officielles de Justice Canada.

Inscription
Catégorie:
École d’éducation permanente
Étiquettes:
Atelier pour jurilangagiers
Externe
Dernière mise à jour : mar, 11/25/2025 - 20:17
Site de source:
/continuingstudies

 

https://www.mcgill.ca/continuingstudies/channels/event/workshop-legal-language-professionals-de-la-traduction-des-lois-la-coredaction-lavenement-dune-369317

"Macquarie Dictionary, considered the standard reference on Australian English, has announced that 'AI slop' has been chosen by its committee and voted by the public as the Word of the Year for 2025.
From “Shrimp-Jesus” to Mark Zuckerberg wood carvings and even Donald Trump’s crass content spewing, “AI slop” has permeated every corner of the internet in 2025, and we’re more zombified as a result.

The term has been named Macquarie Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2025, and it is defined as “low-quality content created by generative AI, often containing errors, and not requested by the user”.

Generic, soulless and mind-numbingly ubiquitous, “AI slop” is ‘advanced’ internet spam and seems to be the perfect choice for 2025’s Word of the Year – as evidenced by it winning the people’s choice vote on top of the decision made by the committee of word experts.

“We understand now in 2025 what we mean by slop – AI generated slop, which lacks meaningful content or use,” the committee said in a statement announcing its decision.

“While in recent years we’ve learnt to become search engineers to find meaningful information, we now need to become prompt engineers in order to wade through the AI slop. Slop in this sense will be a robust addition to English for years to come.”

The committee added: “The question is, are the people ingesting and regurgitating this content soon to be called AI sloppers?”

“AI slop” is also an appropriate pick considering it reflects widespread anxieties about the flood of meaningless, low-quality AI-generated content and how we evaluate information online.

Macquarie’s choice joins other 2025 Words of the Year which collectively reflect wider concerns regarding the reach of AI, the way it regurgitates copyrighted material and threatens cognitive capacities, as well as the potentially damaging influence of social media.

Dictionary.com chose the viral TikTok slang “6-7” (read our explainer on the meaningless phenomenon here); Collins Dictionary crowned “vibe coding” (“making an app or website by describing it to (AI) rather than by writing programming code manually”); and last week, Cambridge Dictionary elected “parasocial” as its Word of the Year, highlighting the hollow, one-sided and “unhealthy” connections people feel between themselves and a celebrity, fictional character or an AI chatbot."
https://www.euronews.com/culture/2025/11/26/ai-slop-macquarie-dictionarys-word-of-the-year-is-a-sad-reflection-of-modern-anxieties
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

Alors que la recherche plaide depuis des décennies pour l’usage des langues nationales à l’école, leur intégration demeure inégale sur le continent. Dans la majorité des pays francophones, lusophones, hispanophones et même anglophones, l’école continue de reposer presque exclusivement sur les langues héritées de la colonisation.

 

"...L'UNESCO préconise au moins six années d'enseignement dans la langue maternelle pour améliorer durablement les apprentissages. Pourtant, malgré des décennies de recherches, de comparaisons internationales et de projets pilotes sur le bi-plurilinguisme, les progrès restent faibles en Afrique subsaharienne.

 

Dans la majorité des pays francophones, lusophones et même anglophones, l'école continue de reposer presque exclusivement sur les langues héritées de la colonisation. Ce choix se maintient alors même qu'il coexiste avec des échecs massifs : surpopulation des classes, faibles niveaux de lecture, décrochage, programmes inadéquats, enseignants peu formés au multilinguisme, pénurie de matériel didactique et de financements.

 

Dans plusieurs zones rurales, les langues maternelles demeurent le seul moyen de communication quotidien. Les enfants qui ne maîtrisent ni le français ni l'anglais entrent à l'école en situation de handicap linguistique, ce qui favorise l'échec et le décrochage.

 

Une réalité que l'Unesco souligne également : en Afrique subsaharienne, un enfant sur cinq n'a pas accès à l'école, et seuls 20 % des enfants scolarisés atteignent un niveau satisfaisant de lecture en fin de primaire.

 

Face à ces défis, l'organisation encourage les États à renforcer la production de matériels pédagogiques multilingues et à s'appuyer davantage sur la langue maternelle pour améliorer les apprentissages de base."

https://www.bbc.com/afrique/articles/c4gjnv024xeo

#Metaglossia

#metaglossia_mundus

"Le traducteur – ambassadeur silencieux de sa propre culture

 

« La traduction de la littérature albanaise et l'accès des lecteurs étrangers aux œuvres albanaises » était le thème de la table ronde organisée mercredi au petit amphithéâtre du KCB, dans le cadre de la « Semaine des bibliothèques du Kosovo ».

 

Par: Sinan Berisha

 

9 octobre 2025 08:00

 

En tant que traducteurs, Nerimane Kamberi, Sébastien Gricourt et Robert Wilton ont partagé mercredi, lors de la table ronde organisée dans le cadre de la « Semaine des bibliothèques du Kosovo », leurs expériences avec cet art particulier, à la frontière des langues et des mondes. Ils ont essentiellement parlé de la traduction des lettres albanaises, la considérant comme un acte d'amour, d'amour pour le mot, pour la culture et pour la possibilité d'être compris par autrui. Mais, selon eux, la traduction est aussi un acte de responsabilité : chaque traducteur devient l'ambassadeur silencieux de sa propre culture, une voix qui s'efforce de préserver l'esprit de l'original.

Ce que signifie traduire la littérature albanaise, les bénéfices pour une œuvre, une culture et un lecteur lorsqu'un texte passe d'une langue à l'autre, tels étaient les thèmes abordés lors de la table ronde des traducteurs organisée dans le cadre de la 22e édition de la « Semaine des bibliothèques du Kosovo » à la Bibliothèque nationale du Kosovo. Cette table ronde, intitulée « Traduction de la littérature albanaise et approche des œuvres albanaises par les lecteurs étrangers », s'est tenue mercredi dans le petit amphithéâtre de la BKK. Elle a suscité des échanges sereins, mais chargés de sens profonds dans l'art de la traduction, ainsi que de la sensibilité culturelle, de l'interprétation et de la créativité que transmet le traducteur.

 

Trois traducteurs : Nerimane Kamberi, Sébastien Gricourt et Robert Wilton sont assis sur le même panel pour partager leurs expériences avec cet art particulier qui se situe à la frontière entre les langues et les mondes.

 

Animée par Saranda Krasniqi, la discussion a essentiellement sur la traduction des lettres albanaises, qu'elle considère comme un acte d'amour, d'amour pour la parole, pour la culture et pour la possibilité d'être comprise par autrui. Mais, selon eux, la traduction est aussi un acte de responsabilité : chaque traducteur devient un ambassadeur silencieux de sa propre culture, une voix qui s'efforce de préserver l'esprit de l'original.

À l'heure où les frontières culturelles se déplacent sans cesse, la traduction sert de pont entre les mondes et permet à la littérature albanaise de s'exprimer librement dans d'autres langues. Il ne s'agit pas seulement d'un processus linguistique, mais d'une forme de diplomatie douce, une façon de faire connaître, de rendre compréhensible et sensible la beauté d'une petite culture dans un vaste monde.

 

 

Pour la poète et traductrice Nerimane Kamberi, la traduction est bien plus qu'un simple procédé technique de transmission des mots. Pour elle, le traducteur est un médiateur entre deux mondes qui, par les mots, se rapprochent et se connaissent. Elle a insisté sur la nécessité pour les institutions de laisser plus d'espace aux traducteurs, car de nombreuses œuvres traduites avec passion restent inédites.

 

La traduction est un véritable pont entre les cultures et facilite la lecture. Elle est essentielle, car elle transmet la beauté du mot, les difficultés et les phénomènes d'une langue. C'est ce pont qui permet à ces œuvres de faire le tour du monde. Il faut faire davantage, une forme de diplomatie culturelle : nos gouvernements, des deux côtés de la frontière, doivent s'engager davantage pour soutenir non seulement la traduction de ces œuvres, mais aussi leur publication. Car, bien sûr, les traducteurs naissent d'un amour et d'une passion pour une œuvre ; ce sont souvent eux qui découvrent une œuvre ou un écrivain. Sans le soutien des institutions, l'œuvre reste dans les rayons et ne peut être appréciée par les lecteurs étrangers », a-t-elle déclaré.

 

Dans un contexte plus large, elle a également évoqué de nouvelles façons de promouvoir la littérature albanaise, notamment au sein de la diaspora. Selon elle, les réseaux sociaux créent un nouvel espace où la littérature ancienne et contemporaine peut renaître.

 

« Il est bénéfique pour les lecteurs de la diaspora de lire de la littérature albanaise dans leur langue maternelle afin de maintenir le lien avec leur pays d'origine. La promotion via les réseaux sociaux est possible. Nous avons constaté que TikTok fait revivre des auteurs classiques : lire un roman classique et le publier sur TikTok, qui devient viral, permet de retrouver une œuvre. Les réseaux sociaux, en particulier pour les jeunes, jouent un rôle essentiel dans la diffusion de la littérature, même au sein de la diaspora. Je crois et j'espère que, même si leurs familles parlent encore albanais, ils lisent dans la langue de leur enfance et de leur éducation. C'est très bénéfique pour eux de connaître un auteur et, grâce aux traductions, de découvrir l'histoire de notre pays », a déclaré Kamberi.

 

Traduire la poésie albanaise est considéré comme l'un des plus grands défis des traducteurs. Selon eux, contrairement à la prose, la poésie exige de préserver le rythme, le son, l'imagerie et les émotions, souvent étroitement liés à la langue d'origine. Ils s'accordent à dire qu'une belle métaphore en albanais peut perdre sa « lumière » dans une autre langue si le traducteur ne trouve pas un nouveau moyen de la rendre plus « lumineuse ».

 

Le traducteur et éditeur français Sébastien Gricourt, qui traduit la littérature albanaise depuis des décennies, la considère comme une forme particulière de communication culturelle. Il affirme ne pas choisir une œuvre pour son contenu littéraire, mais pour ce qu'elle révèle de l'époque et de la réalité albanaises.

 

Je pense que nous sommes à un moment où il est crucial de donner une variété créative aux lettres albanaises. Il y a donc certaines idées que je souhaite, par exemple, transmettre en français. Lorsque je choisis une œuvre, je ne la choisis pas nécessairement pour son contenu littéraire, mais pour ce qu'elle raconte de notre époque dans le monde albanais. L'essentiel est que le monde occidental comprenne le monde albanais.

 

« C’est un grand défi de faire cela », a-t-il déclaré.

 

D'après son expérience, le chemin de la traduction n'est pas aisé. Au début des années 90, lorsqu'il a commencé à traduire de l'albanais, ses traductions sont restées inédites pendant des années.

 

« Au début, lorsque j'ai commencé à traduire en Albanie dans les années 90, je l'ai fait parce que j'étais étudiant en albanais. J'ai traduit moi-même trois romans et je ne les ai jamais soumis. Bien plus tard, j'ai commencé à présenter mes traductions aux maisons d'édition, mais j'ai rencontré de nombreuses difficultés. Il m'a fallu beaucoup de temps pour surmonter ce genre d'obstacles, car je doutais de mes capacités, c'est une question de confiance en moi, mais j'ai persévéré jusqu'à ce que je réalise que toutes les maisons d'édition ont une politique », se souvient Gricourt.

 

Robert Wilton, traducteur et écrivain britannique, a vécu l'albanais de l'intérieur, une langue porteuse d'un riche univers émotionnel et esthétique. Il a évoqué ses efforts pour préserver le sentiment, et pas seulement le sens. Il a notamment mentionné que traduire des auteurs comme Visar Zhiti et Ag Apolloni représente un défi en soi, car l'univers psychologique et linguistique de ces auteurs est très complexe et requiert une intuition particulière pour le transposer dans une autre langue.

 

Bien que le vocabulaire anglais soit plus riche que celui de l'albanais, il y a des éléments d'élégance en albanais que je ne parviens pas à traduire en anglais. Zhiti, par exemple : son roman dépeint un univers psychologique et linguistique complètement dépravé, très difficile à saisir en anglais. En tant que traducteur, je m'efforce non seulement de permettre au lecteur anglophone de comprendre le sens des mots, mais aussi de ressentir la même émotion et la même émotion qu'un lecteur albanophone ressent en lisant de l'albanais », a déclaré Wilton, citant des cas concrets de difficultés à traduire des expressions poétiques, métaphoriques et idiomatiques dans les romans.

 

Selon eux, la traduction demeure le moyen le plus sûr pour la littérature albanaise de pénétrer l'esprit des lecteurs étrangers. L'exemple le plus frappant est celui de Kadare, l'auteur albanais le plus traduit, qui a profondément influencé le regard que le monde porte sur la littérature et la culture albanaises. Par ses nombreuses traductions en français, en anglais et dans d'autres langues, Kadare a prouvé que la littérature albanaise est indissociable de la littérature mondiale. Il a fait de la traduction une véritable fenêtre d'accès à la connaissance culturelle, non seulement pour le lecteur étranger, mais aussi pour les Albanais eux-mêmes, qui se voient à travers cette fenêtre avec un regard différent."

https://www.koha.net/fr/kulture/perkthyesi-ambasador-i-heshtur-i-kultures-se-vet

#Metaglossia 

#metaglossia_mundus 

"Le Bureau de la traduction dément les affirmations d’interprètes parlementaires qui soutiennent que la qualité de la traduction baissera au Parlement en raison d’une décision du gouvernement de prioriser « le plus bas soumissionnaire » pour les interprètes pigistes.

Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada (SPAC) est en processus de renouvellement des contrats des interprètes parlementaires pigistes, qui prendront fin en décembre. Un peu moins de 50 % de ces interprètes sont des pigistes alors que le reste est employé au Bureau de la traduction, selon l’Association internationale des interprètes de conférence — Région Canada (AIIC-Canada).

Cette dernière avance qu’un nouveau processus de SPAC sacrifiera la qualité au nom du soumissionnaire au plus bas prix. L’AIIC-Canada soutient que seuls le prix et le fait d’être un interprète accrédité auprès du Bureau de la traduction seront pris en considération. Par le passé, c’est la qualité de l’interprète ou encore la disponibilité qui faisaient partie d’un ensemble de critères évalués.

« Cet indice de qualité n’est pas mentionné dans cette nouvelle version que l’on nous a présentée. On ne sait pas trop comment il (le bureau de la traduction) pense faire l’évaluation », a affirmé Alionka Skup, la présidente de l’AIIC-Canada lors d’une comparution au Comité des langues officielles mardi.

Les élus du comité font actuellement une étude sur le renouvellement du contrat de travail des interprètes parlementaires.

L’AIIC-Canada estime qu’une telle nouveauté pénalisera le français au Parlement, car la majorité de la traduction se fait de l’anglais vers le français et que les meilleurs interprètes seront écartés.

« On a des interprètes qui sont présents sur la colline depuis très longtemps et qui ont différentes spécialités, alors ça serait logique qu’ils soient affectés aux comités relatifs à leurs autres connaissances, au lieu de simplement prendre la liste et d’aller au moins cher », poursuit Mme Skup.

« Si on fonctionne de cette façon, les interprètes avec le plus d’expérience vont simplement ne plus être présents parce que leurs tarifs vont être trop élevés », statue-t-elle.

L’AIIC-Canada déplore aussi le fait que les nouvelles règles ne permettent pas de rémunérer le temps de préparation des interprètes, mais seulement celui passé au micro, à effectuer la traduction.

Le prix parmi un ensemble de critères
Le Bureau de la traduction affirme ne pas encore avoir pris de décision concernant le renouvellement des contrats en décembre des interprètes pigistes.

« Dire que c’est uniquement les soumissionnaire à bas prix, vous me permettrez de dire que je ne suis pas tout à fait en accord, a réfuté son président-directeur général, Jean-François Lymburner devant les députés fédéraux. On a besoin d’avoir des interprètes qui ont été certifiés par le Bureau de la traduction. Pour nous, c’est un gage de qualité certain. Tous les soumissionnaires ne seront pas accrédités. »

« De plus, avance M. Lymburner, des interprètes pigistes seront toujours sélectionnés en fonction de critères comme le fait d’avoir une cote de sécurité et d’habiter dans la région d’Ottawa. »

« À l’heure actuelle, les pigistes ont tous un indice de qualité identique », a indiqué Annie Plouffe, vice-présidente, Services au Parlement et Interprétation au Bureau de la traduction, qui précise qu’il n’est pas question d’avoir des interprètes non accrédités au Parlement.

Cette dernière soutient aussi qu’à l’heure actuelle, les expertises externes des pigistes, comme le fait d’être un ancien juriste, ne sont pas prises en compte dans leur assignation quotidienne.

L’organisme qui relève de SPAC a terminé ses consultations. Il se trouve maintenant à l’étape d’analyse de la rétroaction reçue des membres de l’industrie, ce qui est considéré comme « une étape normale » selon M. Lymburner.

Questionné à maintes reprises par le député conservateur Joël Godin, Jean-François Lymburner n’a pas divulgué le mandat confié au Bureau de la traduction par SPAC concernant le renouvellement des contrats des interprètes. Cette réticence a poussé l’élu à se tourner vers le président du comité pour demander « que le témoin puisse répondre à mes questions ».

« Évidemment, à un certain point, on est des gestionnaires et on a des pressions un peu comme tout le monde et on regarde le prix et la valeur », a lâché le dirigeant quelques minutes plus tard."
Pascal Vachon
Journaliste, correspondant parlementaire Chambres des communes
Publié le
07 octobre 2025
Mise à jour
11 novembre 2025
https://onfr.tfo.org/parlement-interpretes-bureau-traduction-langues-officielles/
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

"Le secrétariat général du gouvernement consacre une partie de ses actions à la mise en œuvre du caractère officiel de l’amazigh au sein du système juridique marocain. Devant la Commission parlementaire de la justice, mardi 5 novembre 2025, Mohamed Hajoui a détaillé les avancées concrètes réalisées dans ce domaine. Deux conventions de partenariat ont été conclues avec l’Institut Royal de la culture amazighe et le ministère de la Transition numérique pour accélérer la traduction des textes législatifs et réglementaires. Le site web institutionnel publie désormais les ordres du jour et comptes rendus du Conseil du gouvernement en amazigh.

 

Mardi 5 novembre 2025, en présentant le budget sectoriel du SGG pour l’exercice 2026, Mohamed Hajoui a consacré un développement aux avancées réalisées dans la mise en œuvre du caractère officiel de l’amazigh. Cette initiative s’inscrit dans le cadre de la loi organique fixant le processus de mise en œuvre du caractère officiel de l’amazigh, ainsi que les modalités de son intégration dans l’enseignement et dans les domaines prioritaires de la vie publique. Le secrétaire général du gouvernement a souligné que l’approche adoptée était résolument «participative et collective». C’est dans cet esprit que deux conventions de partenariat et de coopération ont été conclues avec le ministère de la Transition numérique et de la réforme de l’administration, d’une part, et l’Institut Royal de la culture amazighe, d’autre part.

Une mutualisation des ressources pour accélérer les traductions

Ces conventions visent à «mettre en commun les ressources humaines, matérielles et morales pour travailler ensemble à l’accélération des mesures nécessaires» à la concrétisation des engagements de l’État en matière d’officialisation de l’amazigh. L’objectif est de «coopérer en vue de la publication progressive des textes législatifs et réglementaires à caractère général dans cette langue». Pour sensibiliser à l’importance de ce chantier et lui donner une impulsion forte, le SGG a réuni des compétences spécialisées dans la traduction vers l’amazigh et organisé une rencontre d’étude à laquelle ont participé des représentants de différents ministères et départements gouvernementaux. En coordination avec ses partenaires, le secrétariat général du gouvernement a déjà commencé à prendre «les mesures pratiques nécessaires pour traduire une première série de textes juridiques en amazigh», a précisé Mohamed Hajoui.

Une présence renforcée sur les supports numériques

Au-delà de la traduction des textes juridiques, le SGG a déployé des efforts considérables pour renforcer la communication et garantir la diffusion de l’information juridique en amazigh. Il est désormais possible de consulter, sur le site web du secrétariat général du gouvernement, les ordres du jour et les comptes rendus des réunions du Conseil du gouvernement en amazigh. La page amazighe du site web de l’institution publie également des annonces informant des numéros du Bulletin officiel publiés, ainsi que l’actualité concernant les activités quotidiennes de l’institution. Cette présence numérique renforcée témoigne de la volonté d’inscrire durablement l’amazigh dans le paysage institutionnel marocain, au-delà des simples déclarations d’intention."

Brahim Mokhliss

06 Novembre 2025 À 17:53

https://lematin.ma/nation/le-sgg-accelere-la-traduction-des-textes-juridiques-en-amazigh/312175/amp

#Metaglossia 

#metaglossia_mundus 

"Upstage partnership fuels 500% traffic surge as global media cite Chosun Daily translations

 

Last September, Reddit, the world’s largest community site with 100 million daily visitors, was heatedly discussing a Korean issue. The debate centered on whether the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was justified in raiding Hyundai and LG Energy Solution factories in Georgia and detaining Korean workers. The original post cited a real-time AI-translated Chosun Daily article quoting this newspaper’s piece: . Over 300 participants joined the discussion, with 2,500 “likes.”

 

Chosun Ilbo’s English service, The Chosun Daily, has established itself as a global media platform reaching readers in 100 countries within three months of its AI-powered relaunch. Since September 3, The Chosun Daily has partnered with leading domestic AI company Upstage to provide real-time English translations of all Chosun Ilbo articles using a custom AI model. An average of 600 articles per day now reach global audiences. Page views and visitors have surged by over 500% compared to pre-launch levels.

 

Starting on the 24th, Chosun.com added a “View English Article” button at the bottom of all Hangeul articles, linking to their English translations. Similarly, all The Chosun Daily articles now include a button to access the original Hangeul version on Chosun.com. Readers can now seamlessly switch between Korean and English versions.

 

◇Global Media Actively Utilize The Chosun Daily

 

Over the past three months, the most-read article on The Chosun Daily was the translation of <“Is This Okay?” Young People Worried… K-Pop Heroine Steps In to Save the Day> (September 27 edition), which analyzed the phenomenon behind the K-Pop animation *KPop Demon Hunters*. It was read by over 300,000 people....

 

The New York Times cited a Chosun Ilbo column by Yang Sang-hoon in its October 27 article , criticizing U.S. government policies. Other frequent citers include Hindustan Times (India), Straits Times (Singapore), and Sports Illustrated (U.S.).

 

◇‘Clear and Confident Translations’ Praised

 

Previous translation AIs often produced awkward English and struggled with cultural nuances. However, The Chosun Daily’s AI translations are praised for their accuracy and ability to capture Korean subtleties. This is attributed to training on over 200,000 Chosun Ilbo English articles published since 2000.

 

Professor Lee Jun-ho of Chung-Ang University’s Advanced Interpretation & Translation Program stated, “Clarity is paramount in news translation, and The Chosun Daily’s AI articles feel natural and confident.”

 

For instance, while Google Translate and Naver Papago render the derogatory term “kkondae” (old fogey) simply as “Old Man,” Chosun Ilbo’s AI translates it as “Old Fogey,” preserving the sarcastic nuance."

By Yun Jin-ho,

Sung Yu-jin

Published 2025.11.25.

https://www.chosun.com/english/special-en/2025/11/25/GYV7767I4ZBRTPGO42YR4G2VWI/

#Metaglossia 

#metaglossia_mundus 

"Simultaneous interpreting, as a demanding discipline, requires advanced language competencies in both working languages, strong cognitive abilities, and a solid understanding of interpreting techniques. As a complex skill that requires thorough study, it is essential to shed light on its fundamental characteristics through a descriptive method. This paper aims to present the challenges and issues that may arise during the process of simultaneous interpreting. The primary focus of this work is an analysis of an interpreter’s performance while rendering a speech from English to Serbian at a United Nations conference. This research paper examines the challenges observed during the simultaneous (conference) interpretation provided on the national broadcasting service, with a focus on interpreting techniques, cognitive processing, and errors that impact message fidelity. Through a translational analysis based on a product-oriented view of quality, the study identifies errors in simultaneous interpreting and distinguishes them from interpreting techniques. The analysis focuses on the linguistic accuracy and completeness of the interpreted output. Linguistic accuracy refers to the correct and faithful rendering of both grammatical structures and semantic content, ensuring that the meaning and form of the source message are preserved. Completeness, in this context, is defined as the accurate transfer of the entire message, including key ideas, speaker intentions, and discourse structure. Delivery related features such as intonation, voice quality, and prosody fall outside the scope of this study. The descriptive analysis of the interpreted segments of the speech reveals that most problems stem from cognitive skill deficits, indicating that the interpreter’s insufficiently developed memory processes impeded delivery at a high level of accuracy."

 

Translational Challenges in Simultaneous Interpreting: A Case Study

Author(s): Marko E. Kukić

Subject(s): Translation Studies

Published by: Филозофски факултет, Универзитет у Приштини

Keywords: simultaneous interpreting; interpreting techniques; cognitive abilities; error analysis; translational analysis; descriptive method; memory processes.

Summary/Abstract

https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=1375592

#Metaglossia

#metaglossia_mundus

"Rhona Amos will join the Editorial Board of Target. International Journal of Translation Studies from January 2026 as an Associate Editor. Rhona was selected for the role due to her expertise in Interpreting Studies, experimental methods and Psycholinguistics, and will take over from Agnieszka Chmiel."

https://www.unige.ch/fti/en/a-la-une/rhona-amos-editor-target

#Metaglossia 

#metaglossia_mundus 

"Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was deeply troubled on the closing day of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg (South Africa) by an interpreter's unprofessional behavior. “Only [First Lady] Janja [da Silva] may whisper in my ear!” he stressed.

Lula interrupted his speech on Sunday to complain about the translator's low voice on the headphones. The South American leader asked the language expert to move closer to a journalist asking a question. “You're translating only for yourself. Speak up, man,” Lula complained as he addressed the emptying of the G20 and its effects on future meetings.

After the interpreter obliged, Lula insisted he did not like simultaneous translation devices..."
https://en.mercopress.com/2025/11/25/lula-troubled-by-interpreter-s-poor-work-at-g20-summit
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

As deepfakes blur truth and political divides widen, the arts and humanities offer essential skills such as reflection and resilience. And, of course, they provide respite and balance. Patty Raun explains

 

"When I look at the world my students are graduating into, I am both awed and alarmed. They face accelerating technologies, a political environment that feels brittle and an information landscape that demands constant vigilance. Yet what I see most clearly in my classroom is something quieter: the profound need for spaces where people can process their experience, make meaning and remember what it feels like to be human.

 

Last year, in a graduate seminar on communication and creativity, I asked my students to do something that seemed, to many of them, impossible: commit two to three hours each week to a creative practice of their choice. Anything. Painting. Singing. Woodworking. Writing poems that no one would read. The only requirement was that the practice be regular, embodied and done with the understanding that it was part of their education – not an add-on.

 

The initial reaction was predictable. “I don’t have time.” “This feels indulgent.” “How is this related to my research?” Their early journal entries were full of apology, as if creativity were a guilty pleasure they needed to justify.

 

Harnessing the humanities for transformative tech leadership

Campus talks: the future of doctoral research funding for arts and humanities

Classroom tips for debunking the arts and humanities employability myth

But within weeks, their tone shifted. A doctoral student who began beading – something she had not done since childhood – found that repetitive handwork gave her a way to metabolise complex research questions. Another student returned to the piano for the first time in a decade; she wrote about how the physicality of playing restored her equilibrium after long days surrounded by screens and data. A student who started sketching during lunch breaks said he felt “mentally refreshed in a way coffee doesn’t touch”.

 

Across the class, journals filled with reflections that surprised even the students who wrote them: these small acts of creativity were not escapes from their work but avenues into deeper thinking. They offered clarity when analysis felt muddled. They revealed emotions students hadn’t realised they were carrying. They brought a sense of steadiness in a time of relentless uncertainty.

 

What were they processing?

In their writing, students named burnout, fear about the job market, grief for the state of the world, exhaustion from the political climate, and anxiety about the rapid encroachment of artificial intelligence on their fields. Some were sorting out conflicts with advisers; others were trying to understand what they wanted their lives to look like beyond their degrees. Many were carrying the quiet, cumulative strain of feeling perpetually behind – a feeling that is nearly universal among young adults today.

 

The creative practices gave shape to feelings that were otherwise amorphous. When students drew, stitched, sculpted or played, they could hold their experience at arm’s length long enough to examine it. They could ask: “Why does this feel heavy?” or: “What is the pattern beneath my stress?” That emotional and cognitive processing is essential – not decorative – to learning and to well-being.

 

Why does this matter for educators?

It matters because no amount of digital literacy or critical thinking instruction can help a student who is too overwhelmed to notice what they’re feeling, too depleted to be curious or too anxious to reflect. In an era defined by acceleration, the arts and humanities offer something irreplaceable: deliberate practices that cultivate attention, perspective and resilience.

 

Educators can make space for this kind of practice without overhauling curricula. Three strategies emerged clearly from my seminar:

 

Build creative practice into coursework – not as extra credit but as part of the learning goals. Students took the assignment seriously because it counted. When creativity is framed as central rather than peripheral, students stop dismissing it as a luxury.

Tie creative practice to reflection. Weekly journals were the engine of the class. Students didn’t just make things, they wrote about the making. This is where insights surfaced: moments of calm, new connections or realisations about habits of mind.

Model vulnerability. I practised alongside them. I shared my own frustrations when my creative work felt stalled and my discoveries when it illuminated something. Students trust the process when they see an instructor trusting it, too.

How do we convince students of arts‘ and humanities‘ value?

You don’t persuade them with abstractions; you let the experience convince them. Many of my students entered reluctantly and emerged protective of their new routines. They described feeling more grounded, more capable of deep focus and more connected to their peers. One student wrote: “This practice helped me think like a human again.” That felt like a revelation.

 

We might not be able to measure this like a standardised test measures recall. But we can measure changes in engagement, attendance and emotional articulation. We can measure whether students return to the practice after the course ends – which many did. And we can measure the quality of their analytical work, which often became more nuanced as their creative practices matured.

 

Some outcomes are subtler but no less real: steadier breathing, better sleep, improved concentration. Students reported these without prompting. They noticed that time spent creating made them more patient with themselves and with others. These are not soft outcomes. They are the very capacities – reflection, adaptability, imaginative problem-solving – that the future demands.

 

If we want graduates who can withstand disinformation, polarisation and the pressures of AI-driven work, we need to cultivate not only their intellects but their interior lives. Arts and humanities education does that not through slogans about empathy or critical thinking but through sustained human practices: making, observing, storytelling, questioning, listening.

 

Creativity is how we stay human in a world that feels increasingly inhuman. In my classroom, I watch students discover that truth for themselves – and once discovered, it is hard to forget.

 

Patricia Raun is alumni distinguished professor of theatre arts at Virginia Tech and founding director of the Center for Communicating Science."

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/arts-and-humanities-celebrate-what-makes-us-human

#Metaglossia

#metaglossia_mundus

"...For those looking for more opportunities to write, create, or promote their own language initiatives, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ Pacific Languages Community Fund is now open.

 

 

 

 

Applications will close at 12pm on Friday, 28 November 2025, and funded projects will run from January to October 2026."

 

Tala: Sharing Pacific Stories aims to celebrate Pasifika languages and cultures through literature.

 

Tala: Sharing Pacific Stories aims to celebrate Pasifika languages and cultures through literature.

 

https://pmn.co.nz/read/language-and-culture/eight-pacific-poets-unite-to-revitalise-language-through-landmark-publishing-project

 

#Metaglossia 

 

#metaglossia_mundus 

 

Tala: Sharing Pacific Stories aims to celebrate Pasifika languages and cultures through literature

"Contribute a chapter to the Open Access book ‘Translation Studies - Navigating Through Languages, Cultures, and Meaning’

ISBN: 978-1-80632-074-5

 

Registration for this book closes on December 24th 2025

 

Academic editor

 

Joseph Abraham Levi

George Washington University, United States of America

 

This volume intends to offer a multifaceted exploration of translation as both a linguistic practice and cultural negotiation. Drawing on diverse case studies, extant documents, and theoretical frameworks spanning across centuries, (multiple) languages, and diverse geographical areas/peoples, this study aims to examine how translation functions as a form of cultural mediation, shaping and reshaping meaning across contexts. The topic discussed should include the ethical dilemmas of scholarly translation, the ideological imprint of missionary translation as a tool of cultural engineering, and the legacy of colonial linguistics/philology in semantic negotiation. By interrogating the tensions between fidelity and adaptation, source vs. target language(s) and culture(s), and the translator’s agency, this work foregrounds translation as a dynamic site of power, identity, and (re)interpretation. Indeed, the goal of this volume is to invite readers to reconsider translation not merely as a technical process, but rather as a deeply human endeavor embedded in historical, political, and epistemological currents across ages, peoples, cultures, and languages.

 

The following topics illustrate the target subject areas and scope of the project. These keywords are not definitive but can be used as the basis for the chapter content. We accept theoretical and applied scientific papers which can be presented as original research papers and review papers. The required length of the full chapters is 10-20 pages.

 

Subject areas and keywords

 

Cultural Mediators in Translation

 

Culturally Specific References

 

Literal Accuracy in Translation

 

Ethnocentric Biases

 

Grammars

 

Cultural Accommodation

 

Target Audiences in Translation

 

Idioms and Taboos

 

Cultural and Spiritual Resonance

 

Preserving Endangered Languages

 

Dictionaries and Orthographies

 

Colonial Linguistics

 

Peer Review Process

IntechOpen is dedicated to publishing exclusively peer-reviewed papers and books. All scientific works are subject to peer-review prior to publishing. IntechOpen is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and all participating referees and Academic Editors are instructed to review submitted scientific works in line with the COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer-Reviewers where applicable..."

https://www.intechopen.com/welcome/ca7e8271be427e420df4e99692501ab5

#Metaglossia 

#metaglossia_mundus 

"Oxford University is set to launch a new Master’s in Creative Translation next year. Housed in the recently opened Schwarzman Centre, the course differs from academic translation by emphasising voice, tone, rhythm, and emotion alongside literal meaning. 

 

Led by Professor Karen Leeder, a prize-winning translator in the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages, the course was developed following a survey of graduate students conducted last year. As a result, Leeder said there is “considerable creative reservoir and appetite” for the programme as translation is “increasingly recognised as a literary art form”. 

 

The course will expose students to a range of materials – from ancient texts to performances – and will examine how translations differ, focusing on topics such as interpretation and cultural sensitivity. The programme will provide students with flexible assessments, including traditional essays, critical analyses and an extended independent translation project.

 

As part of the course, students will also receive specialised instruction in another language and take part in sessions with industry professionals and creatives, offering students first-hand opportunities to connect with leading voices in the field.

 

A modern languages undergraduate student told Cherwell: “The introduction of this course is really exciting. Previously, I would not have considered a Master’s here since most language programmes are very literature-focused. But the opportunity to explore translation, especially in this creative way and with Oxford’s resources, is interesting and needed.”

 

The new course comes at a critical time for translation, as generative artificial intelligence models like ChatGPT can process and translate most languages in an instant. Reflecting this shift, the University itself has, for instance, begun providing ChatGPT-5 to all its staff and students. 

 

Leeder told Cherwell: “AI is a reality in the professional world of translation. Students will learn about what LLMs [large language models] can bring to this world and how to work with them, but the course as a whole places a premium on the role of human creativity. Students will hone their sense of what makes ‘good’ translation over and above the simple meaning of the words.”

 

Leeder said there “needs to be a re-evaluation of the role of the human translator”, explaining that “human translators … will always bring something that machines cannot replicate … AI can’t deal with metaphor, idiom, or the stresses of word order and how this can change meaning. This is where the value of human translation lies”. 

 

Cherwell understands that the University will welcome the first cohort of creative translation students in October 2026."

https://www.cherwell.org/2025/11/13/oxford-launches-new-translation-masters/

#Metaglossia 

#metaglossia_mundus 

"Sign language interpreters will now need warrant after 'landmark' legislation
Disability Rights Minister says changes were requested by the deaf community and interpreters

22 November 2025| Daniel Ellul
Under the new law, spearheaded by Farrugia, any person working professionally as an interpreter will need to have completed their studies at a recognised university

Sign language interpreters must now be warranted following legislation that passed through Parliament’s final stage earlier this week.

Disability Rights Minister Julia Farrugia said the changes come at the request of the deaf community as well as interpreters.

Under the new law, spearheaded by Farrugia, any person working professionally as an interpreter will need to have completed their studies at a recognised university and then be approved by the warranting board.

The warranting board will be made up of seven members, all of whom are interpreters.

The law will take effect in two months' time.

In a statement, the Association for Sign Language Interpreters described the new law as a “landmark moment... establishing long-awaited standards, recognition and accountability through formal registration and warranting.”

“It is a significant milestone not only for interpreters, but also for the Deaf community, whose right to high-quality, professional Maltese Sign Language (LSM) interpreting services across Malta and Gozo will now be enshrined in Maltese law,” they said.

Farrugia said  the initiative was a "true example of cooperation between the Ministry, interpreters and service users, to create a system that ensures a badge of quality for deaf users while elevating this important profession,” Farrugia said.
https://timesofmalta.com/article/sign-language-interpreters-now-need-warrant.1120026
#Metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

"Summary: New research using human brain organoids shows that early neural activity follows structured, time-based patterns long before sensory experience begins. These findings suggest the human brain comes preconfigured with a built-in “operating system” for organizing information, rather than relying solely on external input to form its circuits.

 

The organoids produced complex activity signatures resembling the brain’s default mode, hinting at a genetically encoded blueprint for perception and cognition. The work opens the door to deeper insights into early brain development, neurodevelopmental disorders, and how toxins may affect the fetal brain.

 

 

 

 

Key Facts:

 

Intrinsically Patterned Activity: Organoids produced organized neural firing patterns that resembled the brain’s default mode network despite no sensory input.

Genetically Encoded Blueprint: Findings suggest that the brain begins forming circuits with built-in instructions before experience shapes them.

Tool for Understanding Disorders: These early signatures may help identify developmental disruptions linked to disease or toxic exposures.

Source: UC Santa Cruz

 

Humans have long wondered when and how we begin to form thoughts. Are we born with a pre-configured brain, or do thought patterns only begin to emerge in response to our sensory experiences of the world around us?

 

 

Now, science is getting closer to answering the questions philosophers have pondered for centuries. 

 

Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, are using tiny models of human brain tissue, called organoids, to study the earliest moments of electrical activity in the brain.

 

A new study in Nature Neuroscience finds that the earliest firings of the brain occur in structured patterns without any external experiences, suggesting that the human brain is preconfigured with instructions about how to navigate and interact with the world.

 

“These cells are clearly interacting with each other and forming circuits that self-assemble before we can experience anything from the outside world,” said Tal Sharf, assistant professor of biomolecular engineering at the Baskin School of Engineering and the study’s senior author.

 

 

“There’s an operating system that exists, that emerges in a primordial state. In my laboratory, we grow brain organoids to peer into this primordial version of the brain’s operating system and study how the brain builds itself before it’s shaped by sensory experience.”

 

In improving our fundamental understanding of human brain development, these findings can help researchers better understand neurodevelopmental disorders, and pinpoint the impact of toxins like pesticides and microplastics in the developing brain. 

 

Studying the developing brain

 

The brain, similar to a computer, runs on electrical signals—the firing of neurons. When these signals begin to fire, and how the human brain develops, are challenging topics for scientists to study, as the early developing human brain is protected within the womb.

 

 

Organoids, which are 3D models of tissue grown from human stem cells in the lab, provide a unique window into brain development. The Braingeneers group at UC Santa Cruz, in collaboration with researchers at UC San Francisco and UC Santa Barbara, are pioneering methods to grow these models and take measurements from them to gain insights into brain development and disorders. 

 

Organoids are particularly useful for understanding if the brain develops in response to sensory input—as they exist in the lab setting and not the body—and can be grown ethically in large quantities.

 

In this study, researchers prompted stem cells to form brain tissue, and then measured their electrical activity using specialized microchips, similar to those that run a computer. Sharf’s background in both applied physics, computation, and neurobiology form his expertise in modelling the circuitry of the early brain. 

 

 

 

“An organoid system that’s intrinsically decoupled from any sensory input or communication with organs gives you a window into what’s happening with this self-assembly process,” Sharf said.

 

“That self-assembly process is really hard to do with traditional 2D cell culture—you can’t get the cell diversity and the architecture. The cells need to be in intimate contact with each other. We’re trying to control the initial conditions, so we can let biology do its wonderful thing.”

 

Pattern production

 

The researchers observed the electrical activity of the brain tissue as they self-assembled from stem cells into a tissue that can translate the senses and produce language and conscious thought.

 

They found that within the first few months of development, long before the human brain is capable of receiving and processing complex external sensory information such as vision and hearing, its cells spontaneously began to emit electrical signals characteristic of the patterns that underlie translation of the senses. 

 

 

 

 

Through decades of neuroscience research, the community has discovered that neurons fire in patterns that aren’t just random. Instead, the brain has a “default mode” — a basic underlying structure for firing neurons which then becomes more specific as the brain processes unique signals like a smell or taste. This background mode outlines the possible range of sensory responses the body and brain can produce.

 

In their observations of single neuron spikes in the self-assembling organoid models, Sharf and colleagues found that these earliest observable patterns have striking similarity with the brain’s default mode.

 

Even without having received any sensory input, they are firing off a complex repertoire of time-based patterns, or sequences, which have the potential to be refined for specific senses, hinting at a genetically encoded blueprint inherent to the neural architecture of the living brain 

 

 

 

 

“These intrinsically self-organized systems could serve as a basis for constructing a representation of the world around us,” Sharf said.

 

“The fact that we can see them in these early stages suggests that evolution has figured out a way that the central nervous system can construct a map that would allow us to navigate and interact with the world.”

 

Knowing that these organoids produce the basic structure of the living brain opens up a range of possibilities for better understanding human neurodevelopment, disease, and the effects of toxins in the brain. 

 

“We’re showing that there is a basis for capturing complex dynamics that likely could be signatures of pathological onsets that we could study in human tissue,” Sharf said. “That would allow us to develop therapies, working with clinicians at the preclinical level to potentially develop compounds, drug therapies, and gene editing tools that could be cheaper, more efficient, higher throughput.”

 

This study included researchers at UC Santa Barbara, Washington University in St. Louis, Johns Hopkins University, the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, and ETH Zurich.

 

Key Questions Answered:

Q: What do brain organoids reveal about early neural activity?

A: They show structured electrical patterns that emerge before any sensory input.

 

Q: Does the brain form circuits without experience?

A: Yes — organoids self-assemble into networks that fire in coordinated patterns.

 

Q: Why does this matter for neurodevelopment?

A: These early intrinsic patterns may shape how the brain builds systems for sensing, learning, and thinking."

Neuroscience·November 24, 2025

https://neurosciencenews.com/organoid-cognition-neurodevelopment-29974/

#Metaglossia 

#metaglossia_mundus 

"“You don't need to speak the same language to play soccer... You can see that on the field. Even though we may not understand each other linguistically, on the field we all have the same goal.” 

 

There’s something special happening between Rosemonde Kouassi and Gift Monday. The relative league newcomers – Kouassi in her second season, Monday in her first – have teamed up for goals five times in NWSL competitions, Kouassi teeing Monday up each time.

 

That on-field chemistry isn’t always easy, but language barriers don’t help. Nigerian-born Monday speaks English with her teammates, and Kouassi, who is from the Cote d'Ivoire, speaks French.

 

“We just joke with each other,” Monday said of their off-the-field relationship. “We use physical touch, trying to demonstrate what we’re talking about.”

 

If the U.S. is a melting pot, there is overwhelming proof in the D.C. locker room. The roster represents 11 countries – Canada, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, England, France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Scotland, and the U.S.

 

It’s no matter for the Spirit, though.

 

“You don't need to speak the same language to play soccer,” New Jersey born Brittany Ratcliffe said. “You can see that on the field. Even though we may not understand each other linguistically, on the field we all have the same goal.”

 

Rebeca Bernal and Leicy Santos are both Spanish speakers, hailing from Mexico and Colombia respectively.

 

“We just use our hands. In our case, [Santos and I] speak Spanish, but our coach [Adrián González] also speaks Spanish. We can understand English, but if we don’t understand we can ask him,” Bernal said. “We have some French speakers, and they try to help each other to be clear. It’s important to have all of us clear on the game plan.”

 

Japan-native Niruma Miura echoed this.

 

"On the pitch we don't really need to speak English. We have to trust in everybody that you don't even need to speak the same language," she said. "You know everyone's going to be where they need to be."

 

With different home countries also comes different styles of play. The best players from all over the world have come to the NWSL, and for a team like the Spirit, it can add a competitive edge.

 

“We are a special team because we have fast players, and we can take advantage of that so we can play more directly,” Bernal said about the different styles of play. “We can also play close so the other team doesn't know what we are going to do. That’s important for us. Everyone is different.”

 

As the NWSL continues to grow on the global scale, Santos said it only grows more and more appealing to players outside the U.S...

 

“We can share our cultures. For me it's fun because you also learn about different cultures,” Bernal said...

 

https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/no-common-language-no-problem-washington-spirit-prove-soccer-has-no-language-barrier

#Metaglossia 

#metaglossia_mundus 

"Feds sue ALM Freight for failing to provide sign language interpreter for deaf driver applicant

 

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against a delivery company and an employment agency for allegedly refusing to provide an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter to a deaf driver applicant and revoking her job offer.

 

On November 21, 2025, the EEOC announced that a lawsuit has been filed against ALM Freight, LLC, an Amazon Delivery Service Partner company, and LMDmax Corp. for violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

 

Officials say that an applicant applied for and was offered a driving position with ALM in November 2022.

 

“She accepted the position and began communicating with LMDmax, ALM’s employment agency, to complete onboarding paperwork and a required background check. After completing the background check, she requested an ASL interpreter for her first-day orientation. LMDmax responded with a text message advising the applicant that ALM does not provide interpreters and ALM would not proceed with her hiring. ALM Freight knew of the request and approved LMDmax’s decision,” the EEOC said.

 

“An employer cannot rescind a job offer because it learned a qualified candidate has a disability and needs an accommodation for orientation,” said Kenneth Bird, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Indianapolis District Office. “Declining to hire someone to avoid providing a reasonable accommodation for that person’s disability is unlawful discrimination.”

 

The ADA requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals, unless doing so would cause an undue hardship.

 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration grants waivers for drivers with impaired hearing to obtain a commercial driver’s license under certain circumstances."

November 24, 2025

By Ashley

https://cdllife.com/2025/feds-sue-alm-freight-for-failing-to-provide-sign-language-interpreter-for-deaf-driver-applicant/

#Metaglossia 

#metaglossia_mundus 

"“African artificial intelligence must be inclusive and rooted in our realities”

On the occasion of the Transform Africa Summit, Lacina Kone, Director General of Smart Africa, reflects on the vision of a truly African artificial intelligence. For him, AI is a catalyst for development, capable of transforming education, health, and economic inclusion while preserving local languages, cultures, and values.

 

You described this edition of the Transform Africa Summit as historic for several reasons. Why?

 

The purpose of this seventh edition is artificial intelligence for Africa – to innovate locally and impact globally...

 

It is quite historic, not only for artificial intelligence, but also because we are meeting today in West Africa, in a Francophone country, for the first time in the history of Smart Africa and the Transform Africa Summit. Since last year, in 2024, we have started addressing artificial intelligence topics.

 

Why does Africa need to develop a specifically African AI, and how can this goal be achieved?

 

We believe it is essential to remain very critical and precise in our approach. The AI we want is not just a technology of power, but a tool usable in everyday life. Artificial intelligence is an equalizer. Even in rural areas or among non-literate populations, it can enable everyone to actively participate in economic and social development.

 

Today, it is not enough to hold university degrees. If one does not know how to use technology, one becomes digitally illiterate. Even a doctor of literature, if they cannot use AI, is somewhat powerless. We train our Large Language Models (LLMs) in African languages – Arabic, Berber, Wolof, French, English...

 

What are the main challenges to achieving this...?

 

Artificial intelligence is seen as a revolution, and that is true. But in the African context, it is above all an evolution of digital systems. The foundations of AI are infrastructure, computing power, data governance, talent, and capacity building. Smart Africa has been working on these foundations for a long time. AI simply accelerates our goal: to strengthen our infrastructure, develop our talent, and build African datasets to preserve our cultures, values, and languages...

 

Smart Africa, created in 2013 and operational since 2016 with seven founding Heads of State, now brings together 42 member states, covering approximately 1.2 billion Africans. Our funds have more than tripled, and we coordinate around 18 to 19 continental projects on emerging technologies. We have launched the Smart Africa Digital Academy, the Rooming Free network, and implemented continental cybersecurity structures, with annual meetings in Morocco. Smart Africa is no longer just a consultative alliance; it is an operational institution advancing the continent’s digital objectives concretely..."

https://africa-news-agency.com/lacina-kone-african-artificial-intelligence-must-be-inclusive-and-rooted-in-our-realities/

#Metaglossia 

#metaglossia_mundus