Metaglossia: The Translation World

"Lost in translation: can Europe’s publishing industry sustain its linguistic diversity?

English accounts for as much as 70 per cent of translated titles in some European markets, raising questions over whether funding, changing reader tastes and new technology can help the continent’s smaller languages reach wider audiences, writes Isabella Russell

Europe is home to an extraordinary range of languages, but the books crossing its borders tell a less diverse story.

Translations from English account for between 50 and 70 per cent of translated titles in many European markets, according to the 2026 Books in Translation: Trends and Transformations in the European Publishing Market report.

But translation between smaller European languages remains far less common. A novel may travel more readily from English into Danish, Italian or Polish than directly between two of those languages, even when their countries are neighbours.

The imbalance exposes a contradiction at the heart of European publishing. Linguistic diversity is widely treated as part of the continent’s cultural identity, yet the economics governing which books reach new readers tend to favour the largest languages and safest commercial prospects.

For publishers, acquiring a foreign title involves more than recognising its literary merit. They must secure the rights, commission a translator, edit and produce a new edition, and convince booksellers and readers to embrace an unfamiliar writer.

Each stage adds cost and uncertainty, and those pressures can be particularly acute for independent publishers operating with limited budgets, and for authors whose work has no established international sales record.

There is a more basic economic problem too: acquiring a foreign title is an expensive bet before a single reader sees it. A publisher taking on a translated novel is committing to costs an English-language acquisition doesn’t carry, including the rights fee, a commissioned translation, and often a longer runway to build awareness for an author with no existing UK sales record. For a Danish or Polish novel with no prior English edition, there’s no sales data to de-risk the decision, so the publisher is betting on taste rather than track record.

That asymmetry shapes which books get taken on, and it bears hardest on smaller, independent publishers, the ones most likely to champion a lesser-known language in the first place, and least able to absorb a failed bet.

Britain offers a useful test case. As Europe’s largest English-language publishing market, it sits on the dominant side of the translation imbalance, yet its recent sales patterns suggest that readers may be more receptive to literature from elsewhere than publishers have traditionally assumed.

Japanese literature has undergone a striking rise in Britain. Nielsen figures reported by the Guardian showed that Japanese fiction represented 25 per cent of UK translated-fiction sales in 2022, while Japanese authors produced 43 per cent of the 40 bestselling translated fiction titles during the first part of 2024. The success has spanned literary fiction, crime and the increasingly visible category of Japanese “comfort” fiction.

That boom offers both encouragement and a warning. It demonstrates that translated literature can move from a specialist market into the commercial mainstream, but it also shows how quickly publishers can concentrate around a recognisable country, genre or visual formula once it begins to sell.

The wider sales data bears this out. UK sales of translated fiction rose from 2.9 million copies, worth £23.2m, in 2016, to 3.8 million copies, worth £40.7m, in 2025, and the momentum is still building: physical sales saw double-digit growth in 2025 alone, and 2026’s bestsellers are already tracking ahead of last year’s midway point. Japanese, French and Russian are now the most popular source languages, a shift from Swedish, French and Italian a decade ago.

Perhaps more revealing is who is buying. In 2025, 72.8 per cent of translated fiction was bought by under-45s, up from 67.6 per cent in 2016, and the largest single age cohort has shifted from 45 to 59-year-olds to 25 to 34-year-olds over the same period. Translated fiction isn’t a niche propped up by an ageing readership. It is skewing younger than the market as a whole, which should give publishers more confidence to bet on unfamiliar languages, not less.

That gap between what the market assumes and what readers will actually embrace is best illustrated by a single small press. Fitzcarraldo Editions was founded in Deptford, southeast London, in 2014 by Jacques Testard, a French-born publisher who started the company from his kitchen table with a £70,000 loan, enough, by his own calculation at the time, to publish ten books and keep himself afloat for two years. The press built its identity around exactly the kind of writing the industry treats as commercially marginal: literary fiction and long-form essays, much of it in translation, by authors considered too difficult or too obscure for larger houses.

A decade on, four of Fitzcarraldo’s authors have won the Nobel Prize in Literature: Svetlana Alexievich in 2015, Olga Tokarczuk in 2018, Annie Ernaux in 2022 and Jon Fosse in 2023. Ernaux herself is a telling case. She was already a major literary figure in France, tipped for the Nobel for years, yet remained largely unknown to English-language readers outside academic circles until Fitzcarraldo began publishing her in translation. The press had made her its most published author years before the Nobel Committee took notice.

A selection of fiction titles from Fitzcarraldo Editions, the independent London publisher that has become one of Britain’s leading champions of translated literature. Picture: Quince&Medlar/Wikimedia Commons, CC0.

Testard has been direct about what he thinks that record disproves. Translated fiction, he has argued, carries none of the commercial curse the industry assumes it does; the real obstacle has been a kind of institutional incuriosity in English-language publishing, a sense that a dominant language doesn’t need to look outward. Fitzcarraldo’s authors, he points out, were already published by leading houses in France, Spain, Germany and Italy long before an English edition existed. The gap wasn’t literary merit. It was the Anglophone market’s willingness to bet on it.

The bet paid off commercially as well as critically: the press has now sold more than a million print units, against an industry average of around 250 copies for a new work of literary fiction. It remains a small operation, run by fewer than ten people, which makes the scale of its influence on what British readers now consider prestigious, translated fiction harder to dismiss as an outlier.

Britain’s experience is not representative of the wider continent though. Smaller European-language markets face the imbalance from the opposite direction: in markets with fewer than 10 million speakers, translations typically account for 20 to 40 per cent of annual book production, and direct translation between two smaller languages remains almost non-existent, typically routed through an English translation first. A single London success story, however striking, does nothing by itself to help a Danish novel reach a Polish reader, or a Greek one reach Finnish readers, without passing through a larger language on the way.

That is the gap the EU’s Creative Europe programme has set out to address. Through its “Circulation of European Literary Works” scheme, it now makes translator credit a condition of funding: publishers receiving support are required to work with professional literary translators and to name them visibly in the published book, ideally on the cover, alongside the source language. The scheme funds translation of around 500 titles a year from about 40 source languages into roughly 30 target languages, with grants running as high as €300,000 for consortium projects, and it specifically weights support toward less widely translated languages, the ones structurally least likely to travel on commercial merit alone.

Publishers and booksellers gather at the London Book Fair, one of the international publishing industry’s major marketplaces for rights, translation and cross-border deals. Picture: Arielinson/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The scale suggests a real appetite for intervention. The most recently completed round drew 189 project submissions for 46 funded places, competition that points to more translatable work, and more willing publishers, than the market alone is currently able to support.

Technology cuts both ways here. Some publishers now use machine translation as a triage tool, a way of gauging a manuscript’s potential before committing to a costly commissioned translation, but industry surveys suggest confidence narrows quickly once literary quality is at stake. A 2024 Society of Authors survey of nearly 800 UK writers, illustrators and translators found that 37 per cent of translators had used generative AI in their work, with over a third already reporting lost work and more than four in ten reporting decreased income as a direct result. More than three-quarters believed the technology would negatively affect their future income.

Yet literary translation itself has proven hard to automate. That’s why schemes like Creative Europe’s insist on named, credited human translators as a condition of funding: it functions as both a labour protection and a statement about where the value in a translated book actually lies.

Britain’s growing appetite for translated fiction and Fitzcarraldo’s decade of prize-winning bets point the same way: the market isn’t the fixed obstacle publishers have long assumed it to be.

But that evidence comes from one of Europe’s largest and best-resourced publishing markets, translating overwhelmingly into English. Extending the same curiosity to Europe’s smaller languages, so that a Slovak or Estonian novel can find readers in Lisbon or Helsinki without an English edition acting as gatekeeper, will take the kind of funding and publishing infrastructure that only continent-wide schemes like Creative Europe can sustain.

Whether that curiosity reaches the rest of Europe’s languages is no longer a question of reader appetite. It depends on whether the funding and infrastructure exist to carry it there.

Isabella Russell is a London-based contributor with a background in film, culture and communications. She holds a degree in Film and Television from the University of the Arts London, where her research explored European cinema and political history, and has worked as a freelance copywriter across editorial and consumer content."
Isabella Russell
Guest Writer
Published
September 23, 2026

https://the-european.eu/story-66478/lost-in-translation-can-europes-publishing-industry-sustain-its-linguistic-diversity.html
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, Kurdish, French, German, and Spanish editions of the Forum's analysis, updated daily from meforum.org.

"PHILADELPHIA – September 22, 2026 – The Middle East Forum today launched MEF Translations, a set of seven language editions of its published analysis: Arabic (ar.meforum.org), Persian (fa.meforum.org), Hebrew (he.meforum.org), Kurdish in Sorani (ku.meforum.org), French (fr.meforum.org), German (de.meforum.org), and Spanish (es.meforum.org). The editions open at translations.meforum.org with 307 articles across the seven languages and add each new MEF-original piece within a day of its publication in English.

The editions carry the Forum’s own work: the Middle East Forum Observer, Focus on Western Islamism, the Middle East Quarterly, Campus Watch, Islamist Watch, the Dhimmitude Project, MEF Reports, and press releases. Every translated article links to its English original, which remains the text of record, and every page carries an address for reporting a translation error. The sites are open access, with no registration and no paywall.

The Forum’s analysts work in the region’s languages, and much of the material they document, from Turkish state media to Iranian regime economics to Gulf railway plans, has until now reached only English readers. The new editions put the same analysis in front of readers in Riyadh, Tehran, Jerusalem, Erbil, Paris, Berlin, and Madrid on the day it appears.

“The Middle East Forum writes about Tehran, Ankara, Erbil, and Gaza for readers in Washington. From today it also writes for readers in Tehran, Ankara, Erbil, and Gaza, in their own languages, on the same day,” said Gregg Roman, executive director of the Middle East Forum. “A finding that stays inside an English research file is a wasted finding. Seven languages is where we start.”

Further languages are in preparation. Readers can report errors or request coverage at info@meforum.org.

About the Middle East Forum

The Middle East Forum, founded in 1994, promotes American interests in the Middle East and protects Western values from Islamist threats through research, activism, and support for allies.

For immediate release
For more information, contact:
Gregg Roman
Roman@MEForum.org
+1 (215) 546 5406"
https://www.meforum.org/press-releases/middle-east-forum-launches-mef-translations-in-seve
n-languages
#metaglossia #metaglossia_mundus

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich denounced Macron's comments earlier on Wednesday, with Netanyahu calling the statements “outrageous.”

 

The statement was translated as "Hamas has never been particularly active," but the meaning of the French phrase stated by Macron, "le Hamas n'a jamais sévi en Cisjordanie," is "Hamas has never governed the West Bank."

"French President Emmanuel Macron's earlier comments on Hamas's West Bank operations were a translation "misinterpretation," a French diplomatic source told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.

According to the source, the statement was translated as "Hamas has never been particularly active," but the meaning of the French phrase stated by Macron, "le Hamas n'a jamais sévi en Cisjordanie," is "Hamas has never governed the West Bank."
...
Read more 👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-909407
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

"Dometrain Launches Global Expansion with 28-Language Localization & Translated Hands-on Courses
Distributed by EIN Presswire

Driven by demand, Dometrain introduces subtitles in 28 languages and fully translates terminal environments, opening software engineering to millions.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, September 23, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Developer education platform Dometrain has announced a major global localization initiative, adding comprehensive subtitle coverage across 28 languages and translating its interactive, browser-based hands-on courses. The expansion directly responds to strong international demand from customers and enterprises, featuring native support for key global languages, including Arabic, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, and Mandarin.

While English remains the dominant language in software documentation, millions of software engineers around the world face unnecessary cognitive friction when learning complex, production-grade engineering concepts in a second language. Dometrain’s 28-language rollout removes these barriers, making senior-level technical education accessible to developers, engineering teams, and enterprise organizations worldwide.

Breaking Down Barriers in Hands-on Interactive Learning
Unlike traditional video platforms that rely solely on automated, raw speech-to-text captions, Dometrain’s localization initiative covers both video instruction and interactive course mechanics:

28-Language Subtitle Coverage: High-accuracy localized subtitles across all core deep-tech courses, covering architecture, concurrency, cloud systems, Git, C#, Rust, and Python.

Translated Interactive Environments: In-browser terminal exercises, instant feedback engines, step-by-step instructions, and capstone challenges translated to provide a seamless native learning experience.

High-Demand Regional Focus: Prioritizing regions with rapidly growing software development ecosystems, specifically fulfilling major community requests for Arabic, Russian, and Latin American Spanish.

Nick Chapsas, Founder of Dometrain and Microsoft MVP, commented:
“Software engineering is a universal language, but learning it shouldn’t require native English fluency. We’ve had thousands of developers and enterprise teams asking us for Arabic, Russian, Spanish, and native translations so their engineers can learn without constantly translating complex terminology in their heads. By localizing our subtitles and interactive hands-on environments into 28 languages, we’re opening Dometrain up to millions of brilliant developers who deserve senior-level engineering depth in the language they think in.”

Global Enterprise Availability
The 28-language update will be available across the Dometrain platform for both individual learners and enterprise teams. Subtitle preferences and localized hands-on exercises can be toggled instantly within the player settings across all active Dometrain subscriptions and individual course purchases.

To explore the expanded multi-language catalog or test a localized hands-on preview, visit dometrain.com.

Nick Chapsas
Dometrain
contact@dometrain.com"

https://www.northjersey.com/press-release/story/242735/dometrain-launches-global-expansion-with-28-language-localization-translated-hands-on-courses/
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

"Wordly is an AI-powered translation and captioning platform designed to make multilingual communication more inclusive and accessible across meetings, events, classrooms, government settings, and other environments. Founder and CEO Lakshman Rathnam has a background in human-machine interfaces, acoustics, and audio technologies and holds more than 25 patents in these areas. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Wordly Founder and CEO Lakshman Rathnam to learn more about AI translation, accessibility, and the company’s growth.

Lakshman Rathnam’s Background

Wordly Founder and CEO Lakshman Rathnam

When asked about his background, Rathnam shared:

I’m the Founder and CEO of Wordly, where I focus on building AI-driven solutions that make communication more inclusive and accessible.

My background is in human-machine interfaces, acoustics, and audio technologies, and I hold more than 25 patents in these areas.

Prior to Wordly, I spent my career developing and scaling enterprise technology products, which ultimately led me to the opportunity to apply AI to resolve one of the most universal challenges: language barriers.

How Wordly Started

When asked how the idea for the company came together, Rathnam explained:

The idea for Wordly was sparked by a deeply personal experience. At a global conference in Japan, I was surrounded by experts sharing valuable insights, yet I couldn’t understand a single word.

I was physically present, but effectively excluded, not because of a lack of expertise, but because of language.

That moment stayed with me. It underscored how easily important ideas are lost when people can’t understand one another, and how limited traditional solutions like in-person interpreters are, given their cost, complexity, and lack of scalability.

It also made clear to me that technology could bridge this gap.

That experience became the foundation for Wordly. Today, the platform is used by over 6 million people across 60+ languages, helping organizations make meetings, events, sermons, and classrooms more inclusive through real-time AI translation and captioning.

Favorite Memory

When asked about his favorite memory working for the company so far, Rathnam said:

One of the moments that’s stuck with me most wasn’t a big launch or announcement; it was hearing a Spanish-speaking community member speak up confidently during a city meeting for the first time.

Before, they likely wouldn’t have even attended because if you can’t understand the discussion, it’s almost impossible to weigh in on decisions that directly impact you and your family.

With Wordly, they were able to follow the debate in real time and jump in without hesitation.

That same impact shows up in different ways: a student who once felt like an outsider because of language barriers finally understanding a lesson in a way that builds confidence and a true sense of belonging, someone at a church service hearing words of faith and encouragement in a moment they truly need it, or conference attendees gaining richer discussions and better ideas from diverse global perspectives.

Those moments make it real. They’re a reminder that what we’re building goes beyond just technology and gives people a voice where it truly matters.

Core Products And Features

When asked about Wordly’s core products and features, Rathnam detailed:

Wordly provides a comprehensive real-time AI platform for multilingual communication, including:

Real-time translation, audio and captions
Live captioning and subtitles
Transcripts and post-event summaries
Support for in-person, virtual, and hybrid events
Integration with platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Webex
Custom glossaries to improve translation accuracy
All of this is delivered through a single, easy-to-use SaaS platform accessible via a tabletor mobile device. No special equipment is required.

What truly sets Wordly apart is how effortlessly it removes language as a barrier to participation.

Organizations can instantly scale communication across dozens of languages without the cost, complexity, or scheduling challenges of human interpreters, making every meeting, event, or interaction more inclusive and productive.

Whether it’s a global town hall, a government meeting, a classroom, or a community event, Wordly ensures every voice can be heard and understood in real time, helping organizations expand their reach, improve engagement, and meet growing accessibility expectations with confidence.

Building Trust In AI Translation

When asked about recent challenges in the sector and how Wordly has addressed them, Rathnam explained:

One of the biggest challenges has been overcoming skepticism around AI, particularly the perception that it’s either unreliable or somehow a step backward from in-person communication.

For years, organizations associated accuracy and trust exclusively with human interpreters, and more recently, concerns about AI quality have added another layer of hesitation.

We’ve addressed this head-on by showing how AI, when applied thoughtfully, can actually strengthen human connection rather than replace it.

Wordly is built specifically to make communication more inclusive, not less, and accuracy is central to that mission.

Features like our custom glossary allow organizations to train the platform on their unique terminology, names, and industry language, dramatically improving translation precision in real-world settings.

Combined with continuous improvements in our AI models, this gives customers confidence that what’s being said is not only translated instantly, but translated correctly.

As a result, we’re helping shift the narrative by proving that AI can be both powerful and trustworthy when it’s designed with purpose.

How The Technology Has Evolved

When asked how Wordly’s technology has evolved since launching, Rathnam said:

Since launching in 2019, Wordly has evolved from a solution focused on in-person events to a fully integrated platform supporting virtual, hybrid, and on-demand use cases. Over the past year, we’ve expanded the platform to support more of the event lifecycle, as an always-on communication layer that can support audiences before, during, and after an event.

We’ve significantly expanded both the depth and intelligence of the platform, including:

Natural-sounding AI voices that make translations more conversational and easier for global audiences to follow, improving comprehension and engagement in real time
Automatic language detection that instantly identifies the spoken language without manual setup, making the platform faster to deploy and more reliable in live, fast-moving environments
Customizable glossaries that allow organizations to train the system on their own terminology, including industry-specific language, acronyms, product names, and proper nouns. This results in significantly higher translation accuracy and greater consistency across communications.
Advanced video captioning capabilities that extend accessibility and multilingual support beyond live events into recorded and distributed content
Robust APIs that enable seamless integration of Wordly into existing platforms, workflows, and enterprise systems, making multilingual communication part of the broader tech ecosystem rather than a standalone tool
The platform now supports thousands of language pairs and multiple output formats, including audio, captions, transcripts, and summaries.

These improvements make Wordly adaptable to virtually any communication scenario while continuing to improve in accuracy, scalability, and ease of use.

Key Company Milestones

When asked about some of Wordly’s most significant milestones, Rathnam highlighted:

Launching the first AI translation solution for events in 2019
Reaching 1 million users within three years
Scaling to over 6 million users globally
1 billion minutes of live translation and captions
Being named the 521st  fastest-growing privately held company in the United States on the Inc. 5000 list.
Supporting thousands of organizations across corporate, government, education, and nonprofit sectors
Processing hundreds of millions of minutes of translated content
These milestones reflect both strong product-market fit and growing demand for accessible communication.

Customer Success Stories

When asked to share specific customer success stories, Rathnam explained:

We’ve seen powerful success stories across a range of environments, from civic spaces and religious institutions to classrooms and global stages.

In local government, the City of Sunnyvale, CA is a great example of what inclusive communication can look like in practice. With Wordly, a Spanish-speaking Commissioner can now fully participate in meetings in real time.

They can ask questions, contribute ideas, and engage with peers without delay. The result is a more representative decision-making process that reflects the community it serves, often described as a “mini United Nations Council.”

At the same time, the city has reduced interpretation costs by up to 55%, while increasing civic participation among non-English-speaking residents who now feel they truly have a voice.

On the global stage, Japan’s largest technology event, CEATEC, adopted Wordly to meet growing demand for multilingual access.

The technology was put to the test during a keynote delivered by Japan’s Prime Minister, where accuracy and timing were critical. Wordly performed at the highest level, demonstrating that AI translation is ready for large-scale, high-profile international events.

In education, PS 69 in New York has used Wordly to support multilingual learners in the classroom.

Students can follow lessons in real time with translated captions, allowing them to work independently without relying on classmates.

This has reduced confusion, increased participation, and helped students feel more confident and included, while enabling teachers to maintain the flow of instruction without disruption.

And, in faith-based settings, Christ Community Church used Wordly to welcome more attendees than ever before, achieving its highest Easter attendance in its 40-year history.

By removing language barriers, the church created a more inclusive and accessible experience, allowing people from different linguistic backgrounds to fully engage in the service.

Across all of these examples, the outcome is consistent: greater engagement, broader participation, and more inclusive experiences for people regardless of the language they speak.

Funding And Growth

When asked about funding and revenue metrics, Rathnam said:

Wordly is a privately held company. We’ve raised early-stage funding and have focused on building a capital-efficient business with strong customer growth and recurring SaaS revenue.

We have over 5,000 customers in 120 countries.

Total Addressable Market

When asked about the total addressable market Wordly is pursuing, Rathnam explained:

We’re operating at the intersection of several large and growing markets, including event technology, enterprise collaboration, and language services.

Given the global nature of business, education, and government, virtually every organization that hosts meetings or events is a potential customer.

As multilingual participation becomes the norm, we see this as a multi-billion-dollar global opportunity.

Competitive Differentiation

When asked what differentiates Wordly from its competition, Rathnam said:

We pioneered this category early, which has allowed us to build deep expertise and continuously innovate ahead of the market.

A big part of that innovation comes from listening closely to customers and incorporating their feedback directly into the platform.

The product keeps getting better in the ways that matter most in live environments.

Other factors that set Wordly apart include:

AI-first approach that eliminates the need for the complexities of scheduling in-person interpreters
Ease of use that doesn’t require hardware, downloads, or complex setups
Cost efficiency in having multiple languages available on demand for the cost of a single interpreter
All-in-one platform that combines translation, captions, transcripts, and summaries
Scalability across thousands of participants and languages
High accuracy powered by customizable glossaries that ensure correct translation of industry-specific terminology, names, and context. This is critical for maintaining precision in real-world use cases.
Future Goals

When discussing Wordly’s future goals, Rathnam explained:

Our vision goes beyond improving translation quality or adding more languages; we’re working toward a future where language is no longer a barrier to human connection.

We’re building technology that makes communication feel completely natural and seamless, where people can speak in their own language and be instantly understood by anyone, anywhere.

In that world, language becomes invisible, no friction, no delay, no exclusion.

A big part of getting there is staying closely connected to our customers. Listening to how they communicate, where they face friction, and what they need to be successful.

That feedback directly shapes how we evolve the platform and prioritize new capabilities.

We’re continuing to advance translation accuracy, expand language coverage, and deepen integrations with the tools people use every day.

But ultimately, our goal is to enable truly universal understanding, so that ideas, collaboration, and participation are never limited by the language someone speaks.

The Future Of Inclusive Communication

When invited to discuss another topic, Rathnam concluded:

One important trend is the rising expectation of true inclusivity.

Language access is becoming a core requirement in all areas of our lives for engagement, compliance, and equity.

AI is now making it possible to deliver that level of access at scale, in real time, without compromise.

We believe this shift is fundamentally reshaping global communication and enabling people and organizations to compete and excel in a global economy.

We’re also seeing AI translation improve outcomes in everyday life, from classrooms and places of faith to civic participation and community decision-making.

As language barriers come down, more people can fully participate, contribute their perspectives, and help shape the communities they live in."
https://pulse2.com/wordly-profile-lakshman-rathnam-interview/
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

Excellent books in translation, including sci-fi, horror, and nonfiction

"September is National Translation Month! Books in translation are severely underrepresented in the English market, which means we’re missing out on some of the best writing in the world. The best way to counter this is to prove there’s a market for literature in translation. Here are seven excellent books in translation that also check off tasks on the 2026 Read Harder Challenge, including graphic nonfiction, a book set in space, genre books in translation, and more.

Task #2: Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list

Save to Collection
I Deliver Parcels in Beijing by Hu AnYan, translated by Jack Hargreaves; design by Rodrigo Corral; illustration by Klaus Kremmerz
Not only is that title amazing, the cover matches it nicely. There’s nothing secret here: it’s a person who delivers parcels out doing their thing. Corral and Kremmerz bring energy in their color choices and in the way they focus on the image instead of the font–we’re still in an era where font drives so many designs.

The other thing that really makes this cover magic is what might be most unexpected for US readers: this is a work of nonfiction. Rarely does adult nonfiction or memoir see an illustrated cover outside of comics. This bucks so many conventions and does it well. —Kelly Jensen, Best Book Covers of 2025

...
Task #13: Read a nonfiction comic

Hmong: A Graphic History by Vicky Lyfoung, translated by Kao-Ly Yang
Lyfoung tells the history of the Hmong people through the lens of her own family history. It’s a story of an ethnic group that has long been oppressed but has continued to preserve its vibrant culture and traditions. This is a work of graphic nonfiction, so you’ll get to experience the Hmong story visually. —Kelly Jensen"
Danika Ellis Sep 21, 2026
https://bookriot.com/celebrate-national-translation-month-with-these-books/
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

On-Call Interpreter
Burlington School District
Burlington, VT, US
Salary
Competitive
...
The Burlington School District is seeking bilingual individuals in one or more of the following languages: Kirundi, Swahili, Spanish Nepali, Somali, or Maay Maay to serve as an on-call interpreter and or translator. This position supports Multilingual students and their families as well as school personnel to assist students in achieving success in the U.S. education system by providing interpretation or translation, as needed.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Provide accurate, impartial, and confidential interpretation between students, families, and school staff in a variety of settings, including classrooms, meetings, and school events.
Facilitate effective communication to support student learning, family engagement, and equitable access to school programs and services.
Interpret in situations that may involve sensitive or confidential information, maintaining professionalism at all times.
Accurately convey meaning, tone, and intent without adding, omitting, or altering messages.
Assist in bridging cultural understanding between families and school personnel.
Respond to on-call assignments with flexibility and professionalism, often on short notice.
Maintain current knowledge of educational terminology and school district policies relevant to interpretation.
Comply with professional standards and the district's code of ethics regarding interpreting and confidentiality.
Work collaboratively with educators, administrators, and support staff to ensure effective communication in diverse settings.
Perform other interpretation-related duties as assigned to support student and family needs.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Must be fluent and literate in native language as well as English language in order to provide translation and interpreting services.
Must be familiar with the US education system as well as education in the native culture.
Must be able to communicate effectively and respectfully with students, parents, and the school community, using strong cross cultural and interpersonal skills. Professional, courteous behavior expected.
Basic knowledge of computers is preferred, but not required.
Experience as a professional interpreter would be an asset, but is not required.

Burlington School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws...

Applications from women, veterans, individuals with disabilities and people from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds are encouraged.

The Burlington School District will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities."
https://www.topschooljobs.org/job/2484433/on-call-interpreter/
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

Transient Worlds” because I believe translations by nature are ephemeral, because language is always changing, or vocabulary, or syntax, or diction is always changing. You can have a wonderful translation, but it will only be good for a certain amount of time, and that's not a bad thing. Each generation needs to remake, if the poem is good, their own translation.

"U.S. Poet Laureate who builds bridges across language barriers comes to Oʻahu

Poet Laureate Arthur Sze hikes among ancient indigenous rock carvings that inspired some of his work at La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Site near Santa Fe, New Mexico, March 12, 2026.
Arthur Sze is the 25th U.S. Poet Laureate and a former Merwin Conservancy resident, and he’s in town for two free poetry events this Friday and Saturday.

These events mark the start of his “Words Bridging Worlds” tour, a literary project that offers public events and workshops to share his passion for poetry and translation.

Sze is known for his translations of ancient Tang Chinese poetry into English, and as poet laureate he’s made the theme of sharing and diversifying meaning across languages the focus of his work.

He spoke with HPR to share more about the poetry he’s created and the works that inspire him.

Interview Highlights
On his book, “Transient Worlds”
ARTHUR SZE: In my first year, I assembled this book, "Transient Worlds," on translating poetry, and it features 22 poems from 13 different languages around the world, and it brings poetry from many different languages and cultures into conversation, and I wanted the book to be very inviting, so that instead of most books will say, "Here's the original poem, here's the translation, I did things like, "Here's the original poem in Chinese. Here are three different translations in English. Each one can provide a lens or some vision of what's happening in the original, but no one translation is definitive. There's no such thing as that. And the other thing I wanted to do was make the book very inviting. So in that first zone, I invite the reader to make their own translation of the Chinese poem.

On the arts of translation and poetry
SZE: When I read translations of ancient Chinese poetry translated into English years ago, I felt really uncomfortable because many of the translations had voices. The speakers sounded like they lived 100 years ago, or their use of the language, the diction, felt dated. And I call my book “Transient Worlds” because I believe translations by nature are ephemeral, because language is always changing, or vocabulary, or syntax, or diction is always changing. You can have a wonderful translation, but it will only be good for a certain amount of time, and that's not a bad thing. Each generation needs to remake, if the poem is good, their own translation. So one of the things I'm looking for in a good translation is a voice that is contemporary and alive, and to feel that the language has a kind of rigor and spontaneity behind it. And yes, there's no one way to do it."
Hawaiʻi Public Radio | By Jacob Aloi
Published September 18, 2026
https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/the-conversation/2026-09-18/u-s-poet-laureate-known-for-building-bridges-across-language-barriers-comes-to-oahu
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus: For content relevance!

Sign Language interpreter for children on Santa Special trains

"Santa trains to get BSL interpreter for first time

The festive trains operate thanks to a team of more than 800 volunteers
A heritage railway will have a British Sign Language interpreter for children on its Santa Special trains for the first time later this year.

The East Lancashire Railway (ELR) said the festive trains operate thanks to a team of more than 800 volunteers to make "a welcoming and magical experience for as many people as possible".

Three years ago it ran its first experience adapted for those with special educational needs, including toned down lighting, quiet carriages and less "hustle and bustle".

ELR chairman, Mike Kelly, said the railway wants "every visitor, whatever their additional needs or challenges" to experience "the wonder and excitement of Christmas".

ELR
Station master Daniel Threadgold, ELR commercial manager Lorna Kelly, BSL interpreter Marie Marshall and Family Care group director Phil Williamson
The interpreter will be sponsored by Chorley-based Family Care, a foster care and special needs provide.

The BSL interpreter will travel on specific Santa Specials run by ELR between Rawtenstall and Bury from 29 November until Christmas Eve.

Interpreter Marie Marshall said she was "really looking forward" to being part of the team.

The ELR was closed to passengers by British Rail in 1972. It was rebuilt later that same decade, continuing into the 1980s, and reopened between Bury and Ramsbottom in 1987. It was later extended to Rawtenstall and Heywood.

The 12.5 mile (20km) heritage route runs through the scenic Irwell Valley, passing through a landscape dotted with industrial relics, factories, fields and cottages."
Emma Stanley
North West
ELR
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cje3rwxr5qzpo
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

The Homeric scholar’s new book on translation is bitingly smart.

"Emily Wilson Chooses Her Words Carefully

A woman with glasses and tattooed arms rests her elbows on the back of a green plush auditorium seat. She leans forward slightly while seated in a large, empty theater filled with rows of matching green velvet chairs...

Is there a scholar better at promoting a book launch than Emily Wilson? Almost a decade ago she revolutionized the promotion of literary translation after the release of her first Odyssey translation. While literary media outlets were breathlessly heralding the arrival of the first-ever translation of the Odyssey into English by a woman, Wilson took to Twitter and showed everyone in granular detail how a translator works, with lengthy threads (still available here, even though Wilson has since deleted her Twitter account) detailing how the choices she’d made differed from earlier renditions.

The threads combined transparency, accessibility, and humor, and they were hugely popular. Whether you came to them as a trained classicist trying to figure out which translation you wanted to teach, or as a newcomer to Homer wondering why another translation was needed at all, Wilson had something to teach you..."

September 18, 2026, 2:00 PM
By Donna Zuckerberg, the author of Not All Dead White Men: Classics and Misogyny in the Digital Age and the forthcoming memoir Antiquated.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/09/18/odyssey-emily-wilson-translation-nolan/
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

Translating Shakespeare Into Material Form
Bespoke textile books translate the structural complexity of the sonnets into tactile, page-based narratives

"Coded Threads: Translating Shakespeare Into Material Form, a Talk by Artist Suzanne Coley
September 23 @ 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Free

Suzanne Coley is a book artist, printmaker, and writer whose work engages textile art, printmaking, and embroidered bindings as forms of literary interpretation. Through a signature process she defines as Material Excavation, she recomposes fabric through stitching, layering, and formal transformation, treating material process as a rigorous method of reading Shakespeare’s sonnets. Her bespoke textile books translate the structural complexity of the sonnets into tactile, page-based narratives. Please RSVP to attend the talk.

Coley’s work is held in the collections of Ohio University Libraries, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, The National Museum of Women in the Arts, and the Folger Shakespeare Library. Her current project, 52 Weeks of Shakespeare’s Sonnets, explores the sonnets through complex, tactile, page based narratives.

Light refreshments will be served.

Event sponsored by the English Department’s Shakespeare Fund and Ohio University Libraries with support from the Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts and the College of Arts and Sciences."
https://woub.org/event/coded-threads-translating-shakespeare-into-material-form-a-talk-by-artist-suzanne-coley/
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

Traduire, quelle aventure !

"Atelier traduction de l'italien au français
Le 03/12/2026

Bibliothèque Germaine Tillion | Paris

Gratuit

Traduire, quelle aventure !

Glissez-vous dans la peau d’un traducteur le temps d’un atelier et venez découvrir les joies de la traduction littéraire ! Rendez-vous à la bibliothèque Germaine Tillion le jeudi 3 décembre à 19h.

Accompagnés par Marie Giudicelli, les participants se pencheront sur les pages d’une œuvre littéraire en langue italienne. Pendant deux heures, ils navigueront d’une langue à l’autre à l’aide d’un lexique détaillé, dans un cadre bienveillant et détendu. Cet atelier s’adresse à tous. Aucune connaissance de l’italien n’est requise.

Marie Giudicelli est traductrice littéraire de l’italien et de l’anglais. Elle s’est spécialisée depuis quelques années dans le roman graphique et la bande dessinée. Pour elle qui aime passionnément son métier, les ateliers de traduction sont avant tout des moments de partage, où elle a à cœur de transmettre son amour des langues.

Public adulte. À partir de 15 ans.

Accessible aux personnes à mobilité réduite.

Cet événement a été renseigné par un organisme institutionnel. Date de dernière mise à jour le 20/09/2026."
https://www.jds.fr/paris/activite-experience/ateliers/atelier-traduction-de-l-italien-au-francais-1758720_A
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

Enregistrement, transcription, compte rendu de réunions, et  traduction instantanée : trois fonctionnalités mises en avant

"Nous avons pu découvrir les Shokz OpenFit 2 AI en avant-première à l’IFA 2026. Toujours fidèles au concept d’écouteurs ouverts de la marque, ces nouveaux modèles ajoutent une dimension supplémentaire qui pourrait bien changer leur usage au quotidien.

Présentés pour la première fois hors de Chine à l’IFA 2026, les Shokz OpenFit 2 AI marquent une nouvelle étape pour le spécialiste des écouteurs ouverts. Ils ont non seulement pour particularité de diffuser de la musique tout en laissant l’utilisateur entendre son environnement, mais aussi de se transformer en outil de productivité. Le produit est déjà commercialisé en Chine, mais aucun lancement n’est pour l’heure prévu en Europe.
Ad

Les OpenFit 2 AI embarquent le modèle Qwen et se présentent comme une sorte de boîte à outils IA contrôlable depuis les écouteurs. Les trois fonctionnalités mises en avant par Shokz sont l’enregistrement et la transcription, le compte rendu de réunions et la traduction instantanée.

Jusqu'à 8 h d'enregistrement via les écouteurs ou le boîtier
L’enregistrement peut être déclenché depuis l’un des écouteurs, le boîtier ou l’application Shokz. La marque annonce une portée d’enregistrement allant jusqu’à 5 m dans des environnements contrôlés et jusqu’à 8 h d’enregistrement en stéréo. Un double appui permet également de marquer un passage important pour le retrouver plus facilement par la suite.

Si la captation s’effectue principalement à l’aide des quatre microphones intégrés dans les écouteurs, elle peut aussi être réalisée directement via le boîtier, qui intègre lui aussi un microphone. L’utilisateur peut donc enregistrer lorsque les écouteurs ne sont pas portés, voire lorsqu’ils sont rangés dans leur boîtier. L’enregistrement est ensuite transmis des écouteurs au smartphone, puis directement stocké dans le cloud, avant de pouvoir être consulté au sein de l’app Shokz.

Pour la transcription, Shokz revendique 49 langues et dialectes, répartis en 30 catégories de langues et 19 dialectes chinois. Le français figure bien parmi les langues prises en charge. Le système peut également distinguer plusieurs intervenants afin de faciliter la lecture des transcriptions affichées sur le smartphone.

Après une réunion, l’IA peut générer un résumé avec les principaux sujets abordés, les tâches à effectuer, etc. Shokz annonce que 19 modèles de comptes rendus sont proposés, dont certains adaptés à des domaines comme le droit, la finance, l’informatique, la médecine ou encore le journalisme.

Traduction en face-à-face, directement dans les écouteurs
Les OpenFit 2 AI proposent également plusieurs fonctions de traduction : traduction des appels, traduction en face-à-face et traduction de contenus audio ou audiovisuels. Pour la traduction vocale, Shokz annonce actuellement 11 langues, parmi lesquelles le français, l’anglais, l’allemand, le japonais, le coréen, le russe, le portugais, le thaï, l’indonésien et le vietnamien, en plus du chinois. Les propos de notre interlocuteur, qu’il soit au bout du fil ou directement en face de nous, sont énoncés à voix haute via les écouteurs dans une langue définie au préalable.

Le fait que le français soit déjà pris en charge en Chine ne signifie donc pas que le produit soit immédiatement prêt pour l’Europe. Shokz semble plutôt vouloir valider la qualité et la fiabilité de son expérience multilingue avant de procéder au lancement européen. Pour des fonctions comme la transcription ou la traduction en temps réel, la gestion des accents, des conversations à plusieurs, des contextes professionnels et des différentes variantes linguistiques sont effectivement un enjeu important.

Des OpenFit 2+ boostés à l'IA, sans trop passer à la caisse ?
Outre les fonctions IA, les OpenFit 2 AI reprennent à l’identique la fiche technique des OpenFit 2+. Ils embarquent le principe acoustique DualBoost, qui utilise deux transducteurs par oreillette, tandis que les traitements OpenBass 2.0 et DirectPitch 2.0 renforcent les basses et limitent les fuites sonores. Chaque écouteur pèse environ 9,4 g et se positionne autour de l’oreille à l’aide d’un crochet en titane flexible recouvert de silicone. Surtout, ils demeurent placés à environ un demi-centimètre du conduit auditif, sans y pénétrer, afin d’offrir un confort optimal au quotidien.

Côté autonomie, Shokz annonce jusqu’à 11 h sur une charge et 48 h avec le boîtier. Ce dernier peut être rechargé en USB-C ou via un chargeur sans fil Qi."
Arthur Letang
19/09/26

https://www.lesnumeriques.com/ecouteurs-sans-fil/on-a-vu-les-shokz-openfit-2-ai-ces-ecouteurs-veulent-devenir-votre-traducteur-et-prendre-vos-notes-n262027.html
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

Appel à la grève des traducteur•trices le 30 septembre 2026
19 septembre 2026UD 93

Partagez cet article

Nous relayons l’appel du collectif En chair et en os, du Stef (syndicat des traducteur·ices de l’édition en France) et du collectif IA-lerte Générale à une grève des traducteurs et traductrices le 30 septembre 2026. Cet appel a été rejoint par Solidaires informatique.

Traducteur·ices : le 30 septembre prochain, on s’arrête et on se mobilise !
Appel du collectif En chair et en os, du Stef, syndicat des traducteur·ices de l’édition en France,
et du collectif IA-lerte Générale

Pour la première fois en 2025, En chair et en os, IA-lerte Générale et l’ATLF organisaient partout en France une grève » des traducteur·ices pour la journée mondiale de la traduction, le 30 septembre. Une grève symbolique – car ce droit n’est toujours pas garanti à notre profession, la plupart d’entre nous travaillant en indépendant·es – mais qui témoignait de notre détermination à défendre nos conditions de travail, à refuser l’IA et son monde et à imposer la reconnaissance de nos métiers.

En 2026, on remet ça : faisons du 30 septembre une journée de lutte collective nationale et internationale, contre l’isolement et le fatalisme. Prenons le temps de nous rencontrer, de nous rassembler, d’échanger, et de nous organiser.

Lire la suite de l’appel :

Appel-a-la-greve-des-traducteur·ices-30-septembre-2026-Télécharger
Le 30 septembre, rendez-vous aux Poussières 1 rue Sadi-Carnot à Aubervilliers : ateliers, table-rondes, cantine, AG, etc. Consulter le programme

Syndicat STEF
Collectif En chair et en os
Appel à la grève de Solidaires informatique
Solidaires Informatique appelle à la grève des travailleur’euses du numérique, des bureaux d’études et du jeu vidéo le 30 septembre 2026, lors de la journée internationale de la traduction, et apporte son soutien à l’appel à la grève et à la mobilisation du collectif En chair et en os, du Stef, syndicat des traducteur·ices de l’édition en France, et du collectif IA-lerte Générale.

Déjà victimes d’une grande précarité, les travailleur’euses du monde de la traduction qui travaillent pour des entreprises de la tech et du conseil subissent doublement l’impact néfaste du recours grandissant aux technologies qualifiées d’intelligence artificielle : augmentation de la cadence de travail, réduction des tarifs et des opportunités d’emploi ou de contrats, transformation forcée de leurs méthodes de travail, utilisation de leur travail pour entraîner des LLM. De plus en plus, les entreprises cessent d’avoir recours à la traduction dite « humaine », pour la remplacer partiellement ou entièrement par de la traduction « par IA ». Ce faisant, les entreprises ne réduisent pas la part humaine : en réalité ils la délocalisent à moindre coût – économique, mais au fort coût écologique, social et humain. Les outils d’intelligence artificielle reposent entièrement sur la surexploitation des travailleureuses du clic des pays du Sud, pour entraîner, valider et corriger leurs modèles. Derrière l’apparente automatisation de ces technologies se cachent des chaînes de sous-traitance complexes, qui permettent aux entreprises de réduire leurs coûts, maximiser leurs profits, tout en maintenant l’opacité de leur chaîne de valeur.

Dans la lignée de notre revendication « Notre syndicalisme face à l’Intelligence Artificielle », Solidaires Informatique soutient l’organisation des travailleur’euses affecté’es face à l’aggravation de leurs conditions de travail dans un contexte de généralisation du recours à l’intelligence artificielle."

https://solidaires93.org/appel-a-la-greve-des-traducteurtrices-le-30-septembre-2026/
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

Traduction en Français facile à lire et à comprendre (FALC) pour favoriser la compréhension des documents officiels par tous les parents

"Toujours plus de document traduits en Français simple. L’Etat de Fribourg veut rendre accessible des décisions écrites
Une traduction en Français facile à lire et à comprendre (FALC) a été mise en place pour favoriser la compréhension des documents officiels par tous les parents.

Certains documents en provenance de l’État de Fribourg seront désormais traduits en français facile à lire et à comprendre (FALC) au sein des services de l’enseignement obligatoire et spécialisé. L’objectif est de rendre accessible des décisions écrites à tous les parents y compris ceux qui éprouvent des difficultés de compréhensions selon un communiqué de l’État de Fribourg.

Pour se faire, deux collaboratrices spécialisées du Service de l’enseignement obligatoire de langue française (SEnOF) et du service de l’enseignement spécialisé et des mesures d’aide (SESAM) ont suivi une formation par le Bureau du langage simplifié de Pro Infirmis. La démarche s’étend à un nombre toujours plus grand de document avec également une traduction en allemand simple."
https://www.laliberte.ch/articles/regions/canton/l-etat-de-fribourg-veut-rendre-accessible-des-decisions-ecrites-1430211
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

"L’Institut de traduction de Tunis (ITT) célébrera son 20e anniversaire et la Journée mondiale de la traduction à travers un colloque international consacré au dialogue interculturel, les 30 septembre et 1er octobre 2026 à la Cité de la Culture.

Intitulé « Esthétique et éthique de la traduction dans le contexte du dialogue interculturel », l’événement réunira des chercheurs, universitaires et experts de plusieurs pays, notamment de Tunisie, d’Algérie, d’Italie, de Russie et du Portugal.

Le programme prévoit quatre sessions scientifiques et un forum thématique portant notamment sur l’éthique textuelle, la traduction poétique, l’éco-traductologie ainsi que les enjeux liés à l’intelligence artificielle et à la traduction automatique.

Fondé en 2006, l’ITT entend également dresser, à travers cette rencontre, le bilan de deux décennies d’activités consacrées aux échanges linguistiques et culturels."
2026/09/18 23:25
https://www.mosaiquefm.net/amp/fr/national-tunisie/1530712/l-institut-de-traduction-de-tunis-celebre-ses-20-ans
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

"Visio-interprétation ou langue des signes
Ce décret entrera en vigueur « le premier jour du sixième mois suivant sa date de publication », donc le 1er mars 2027. Il précise que pour appliquer ces dispositions, les personnes sourdes et malentendantes doivent pouvoir disposer « d’un dispositif d’accueil adapté permettant la traduction simultanée écrite et visuelle », dispositif qui peut prendre plusieurs formes : « la transcription écrite instantanée » , le recours à un interprète en langue des signes (en présentiel ou en visio), l’échange avec un agent maîtrisant la langue des signes ou… « tout autre moyen permettant à l’usager d’accéder à des fonctionnalités équivalentes ».

Le décret précise que si un tel dispositif n’est pas « immédiatement disponible », la personne chargée du service public « organise, dans un délai raisonnable, les modalités permettant un échange dans des conditions adaptées ».

3 000 euros par an, a minima
Comme toutes les mesures améliorant l’accès au service public des personnes en situation de handicap, il s’agit évidemment d’une mesure positive. Mais comment la mettre en œuvre ? Et à quel prix ?

Ce sont les questions qu’ont posées les représentants de l’AMF, lors de l’examen de ce projet de décret par le Conseil national d’évaluation des normes, en juillet dernier. À cette occasion, le ministère concerné a indiqué avoir procédé au début de l’année à une consultation auprès des services publics de l’État qui ont déjà mis en place un tel service, qui a permis de mettre en lumière que la majeure partie d’entre eux ont recours à des services dits de « visio-interprétation ». Il s’agit de mettre en contact par visioconférence la personne sourde ou malentendante et un interprète s’exprimant en langue des signes. Un bon nombre d’entreprises proposent de tels services.

Mais ils ont un coût élevé, que la consultation organisée par le ministère a permis d’estimer « entre 20 000 et 80 000 euros HT par an », selon les forfaits. Le gouvernement estime néanmoins – sans que l’AMF ait bien compris sur quoi repose cette estimation – que pour les communes, un montant moyen de 3 000 euros est à envisager.

L’AMF, qui n’a pas rejeté par principe ce décret, dans la mesure où il va dans le sens d’une plus grande accessibilité des services publics, s’est en revanche interrogée sur ce coût estimé de 3 000 euros, qui serait démultiplié en fonction du nombre de points d’accueil dans les communes – celles-ci, rappelant l’association, étant « responsables d’une grande majorité des services publics qui accueillent des usagers ».

Et si les communes font le choix de l’accueil par des agents maîtrisant la langue des signes, cela engendrera là encore des coûts de formation non négligeables.

La question reste donc entière de savoir comment les communes et EPCI vont pouvoir financer ce nouveau service, alors qu’aucun fonds de soutien en la matière n’est prévu par le gouvernement, et au moment où les injonctions à réduire les dépenses des collectivités se font plus pressantes que jamais.

On ignore également, à ce jour, quel accompagnement sera mis en place par l’État, d’un point de vue opérationnel, pour aider les communes – notamment les plus petites – à mettre en place ce service dans un délai si restreint. Ces dispositions législatives ayant été adoptées il y a trois ans, il est bien dommageable que l’anticipation, une fois de plus, n’ait pas été au rendez-vous, avec la parution tardive d’un décret qui ne laisse que six mois aux communes pour s’organiser.

Suivez Maire info sur Twitter : @Maireinfo
https://www.maire-info.com/accessibilita%C2%A9/dans-six-mois-toutes-les-communes-devront-a%C2%AAtre-a%C2%A9quipa%C2%A9es-pour-accueillir-les-usagers-sourds-ou-malentendants-article-31089
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

DeepL Voice améliore la communication multilingue en temps réel

"DeepL, leader en intelligence artificielle linguistique, a annoncé des mises à jour majeures de sa technologie d'IA vocale. Ces nouvelles fonctionnalités visent à préserver les qualités uniques de la voix de chaque locuteur lors des traductions en temps réel. Cette innovation permet des conversations plus naturelles entre les langues, en améliorant la restitution du ton, des émotions et des expressions.

L'entreprise a également lancé une nouvelle application de bureau permettant des réunions multilingues fluides grâce à la traduction vocale en temps réel, désormais disponible dans plus de 30 langues. Cette avancée est particulièrement avantageuse pour les utilisateurs de Zoom, Microsoft Teams et Google Meet, car elle favorise des interactions interlinguistiques naturelles.

Des entreprises de divers secteurs intègrent DeepL Voice pour améliorer la collaboration internationale et conquérir de nouveaux marchés. DeepL assure notamment les traductions en temps réel lors de Salesforce Dreamforce 2026, un événement d'envergure proposant de nombreuses sessions.

R. H."
https://www.webdisclosure.com/article/deepl-etr-deepl-voice-ameliore-la-communication-multilingue-en-temps-reel-X33IYU1kBb4
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

La première traduction intégrale du Code Noir en créole haïtien. 341 ans après Versailles.

"James Fleurissaint : 341 ans de silence brisé, le Code Noir parle enfin créole
Le 28 octobre paraîtra un événement que j'attends depuis des années : la première traduction intégrale du Code Noir en créole haïtien. 341 ans après Versailles.

Ce n'est pas une traduction. C'est une victoire.

1. Mémoire

Le Code Noir n'a pas seulement volé le travail de nos ancêtres. Il a volé leur mémoire.

Mars 1685. 60 articles. L'article 44 dit : l'esclave est un bien meuble. On le vend comme une chaise. L'article 2 dit : il doit être baptisé et instruit dans la religion catholique. Traduction : on efface son nom, sa langue, ses dieux.

Pendant 341 ans, ce texte est resté en français ancien, illisible pour les descendants de ceux qu'il a transformés en objets. On nous a enseigné 1492, on ne nous a jamais enseigné 1685. Résultat : nous avons un cimetière à l'intérieur de nous. Une mémoire bledigo, bleue, enflée de coups qu'on ne sait pas nommer.

Traduire le Code Noir en créole, c'est rendre son nom à la blessure.

2. Langue

Le créole est né dans l'habitation que le Code Noir organisait. C'est la langue inventée par les esclaves pour se comprendre entre eux quand le maître interdisait leurs langues africaines.

Et pourtant, cette langue n'a jamais eu force de loi.

La Constitution haïtienne de 1987 dit article 5 : créole et français sont langues officielles. Article 40 : toutes les lois doivent être publiées dans les deux langues. Dans les faits, les lois sont en français, le tribunal parle français, l'école punit encore l'enfant qui parle créole.

Le français a toujours eu le monopole de la loi. Le créole a eu le monopole de la vie.

J'ai traduit les 60 articles mot à mot depuis l'édition originale de Versailles, en créole haïtien standard, sans y laisser un seul mot de français. Pour prouver qu'on peut dire le droit le plus violent dans notre langue maternelle.

3. Victoire

Le 28 octobre, pour la première fois, la loi qui nous a niés va parler notre langue.

Ce jour-là, le créole ne sera plus seulement la langue de la cuisine, de la blague, de la chanson. Il deviendra la langue qui juge l'histoire. La langue qui dit : voilà ce qu'on nous a fait, avec les mots exacts de ceux à qui on l'a fait.

Le français avait servi à donner force de loi à la violence. Le créole va maintenant lui donner force de mémoire.

C'est ça la victoire. Ce n'est pas moi qui gagne. C'est la langue qui revient chercher ses morts.

La traduction intégrale paraîtra le 28 octobre en format papier, dans une grande maison d'édition présente en France, au Canada et en Haïti.

Godson Moulite"
https://blogs.mediapart.fr/jamesfleurissaint1804/blog/170926/james-fleurissaint-341-ans-de-silence-brise-le-code-noir-parle-enfin-creole
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

"Je traduis, donc nous sommes : Détours de la traduction (en ligne)
Le 2 Octobre 2026, 4 Décembre 2026, 5 Février 2027, 5 Mars 2027, 2 Avril 2027, et le 14 Mai 2027
Lien : https://univ-reunion-fr.zoom.us/j/86527546059
Publié le 17 Septembre 2026 par Léo Mesguich (Source : Bénédicte Letellier)
Webinaire de recherche, 2026-2027
Organisé par Laëtitia Saint-Loubert (CRINI, Nantes Université) et Bénédicte Letellier (DIRE, Université de La Réunion)

En ligne, d’octobre 2026 à mai 2027

Présentation

Et si la ligne droite était l’un des grands mythes de la traduction ?

Un texte ne va presque jamais simplement d’une langue à une autre. Il bifurque, transite, revient sur ses pas, change de mains, de voix, de support ou de statut. Il passe par une langue-relais, une retraduction, une adaptation, une institution, un éditeur, une communauté de lecteurs, parfois un dispositif algorithmique. Il peut être déplacé, censuré, réapproprié, réécrit — et c’est souvent dans ces écarts que se joue sa puissance de transformation.

Le séminaire propose cette année de placer le détour au centre de nos réflexions. Il s'agira de considérer le détour non seulement comme déviation accidentelle par rapport à une traduction supposée directe, mais aussi comme forme constitutive de l’acte traductif. Plus largement que la seule indirect translation, le détour désigne ici l’ensemble des médiations, déplacements et négociations qui s’interposent entre un texte et ses devenirs. Il invite ainsi à déplacer quelques-unes des catégories les plus familières des Translation Studies — original et dérivé, auteur et traducteur, fidélité et trahison, centre et périphérie — pour suivre ce qui arrive aux textes lorsqu’ils circulent réellement.

Mais le détour ne fait pas que transformer les textes : il transforme les relations. C’est le pari contenu dans la formule qui donne son titre à cette deuxième année : « Je traduis, donc nous sommes ». Le « nous » de la traduction n’existe pas nécessairement avant elle. Il se constitue dans l’acte même qui met en relation des langues, des temporalités, des expériences et des mondes sans les réduire à l’identique. Traduire ne serait donc pas simplement franchir une distance entre des communautés préexistantes, mais participer à la fabrication toujours instable de leurs relations. C’est précisément l’une des hypothèses centrales du séminaire : le « nous » n’est pas le préalable de la traduction, mais peut en être l’un des effets.

Cette hypothèse prend une acuité particulière au moment où les conditions mêmes de la médiation se transforment. Traductions collectives et communautaires, circulations transnationales, rétrotraductions, pratiques plurilingues, plateformes numériques et intelligence artificielle redistribuent aujourd’hui les places de l’auteur, du traducteur, du texte et de ses publics. Le détour permet alors de poser une question commune à des objets très différents : qui — ou quoi — traduit lorsque les textes circulent, et quel monde commun ces opérations contribuent-elles à produire ?

À partir d’études consacrées à l’arabe soudanais, aux communautés de rétrotraduction, aux trajectoires de traducteurs, aux circuits de la littérature traduite en Irlande, aux médiations linguistiques dans les contextes policiers français ou encore aux circulations franco-japonaises de la poésie, le séminaire explorera ainsi le détour comme opérateur critique pour penser ensemble traduction, médiation, relation et circulation.

Cette nouvelle saison prolonge une première année du séminaire, « Traduction et détournements : une culture universelle du piratage ? », qui a accueilli en 2025-2026 Lily Robert-Foley, Claudine Le Blanc, Michael Cronin, Coraline Jortay, Samah Selim, Cécile Brochard et Joaquin Ruiz Zubizarreta.

Programme 2026-2027
Vendredi 2 octobre 2026

Xavier Luffin (Université libre de Bruxelles)

« Traduire l’arabe, l’arabe soudanais, la culture soudanaise, ou les trois »

Vendredi 4 décembre 2026

Mathias Verger (Université Paris 8)

« Le nous et le noûs de la rétrotraduction : des communautés traductives singulières et plurielles »

Vendredi 5 février 2027

Nathan Dize (Washington University in St. Louis)

« Learning Backwards: A Translator’s Path Back to the Beginning »

Vendredi 5 mars 2027

Tim Groenland et Michaela Králová (University College Dublin)

« Contemporary Translated Literature in Ireland: Mediators, Circuits, and Detours »

Vendredi 2 avril 2027

Audrey Cartron (Nantes Université)

« Exposure to English in French Police Contexts: Linguistic, Discursive and Cultural Detours and Mediations »

Vendredi 14 mai 2027

Oriane Chevalier (Université Clermont Auvergne)

« Nous traduisons, donc nous sommes : la poésie japonaise entre les doigts de Judith Gautier et de Saionji Kinmochi »

Organisation
Laëtitia Saint-Loubert
CRINI – Nantes Université

Bénédicte Letellier
DIRE – Université de La Réunion

Le séminaire se tient entièrement en ligne sur Zoom.

Horaire : premier vendredi de chaque mois à 14h (Heure de Paris)

Lien de connexion : https://univ-reunion-fr.zoom.us/j/86527546059

Contact :
Laetitia.Saint-Loubert@univ-nantes.fr
benedicte.letellier@univ-reunion.fr

Responsable :
Bénédicte Letellier et Laëtitia Saint-Loubert"
https://www.fabula.org/actualites/136504/je-traduis-donc-nous-sommes-detours-de-la-traduction.html
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

"Court interpreting may look like a simple exchange of words, but what happens when there is no direct translation, no advance access to the conversation, and no room for misunderstanding?

Today, host Mary Anne Sioco continues her conversation with English–Chinese court interpreter Angel Kao. This time, they look beyond language ability to explore the concentration, preparation, and quick thinking the profession demands. Angel takes us behind the scenes of a courtroom assignment, where an interpreter must listen closely, preserve the speaker’s true meaning, navigate unfamiliar legal terms, and remain aware of far more than the words being spoken.

But the challenges do not always end when the hearing is over. Angel also opens up about a lesser-known side of the profession—one that raises important questions about personal safety, boundaries, and whether interpreters receive enough recognition and protection for the responsibilities they carry.

If you missed Part One, go back and discover the unexpected personal journey that led Angel from studying English in Taiwan and living overseas to finding her place inside Taiwan’s courtrooms.

Then join us for Part Two, as we uncover what it means to speak for someone when every word and every decision matters."
Radio Taiwan International (RTI) is Taiwan`s national broadcaster that provides engaging news, audio and video features about Taiwan. RTI is a unique window into the heart and soul of Taiwan society.

https://www.rti.org.tw/en/programnews?uid=4&pid=113912
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

Radio Taiwan International (RTI) is Taiwan`s national broadcaster that provides engaging news, audio and video features about Taiwan. RTI is a unique window into the heart and soul of Taiwan society

Firm is fired for poor translation on aid forms for Alaska Natives
Berkeley company apologizes for errors in FEMA documents for typhoon damage

"ANCHORAGE — After tidal surges and high winds from the remnants of a rare typhoon caused extensive damage to homes along Alaska’s western coast in September, the U.S. government stepped in to help residents — largely Alaska Natives — repair property damage.

Residents who opened Federal Emergency Management Agency paperwork expected to find instructions in Alaska Native languages such as Yup’ik or Inupiaq on how to file for aid. Instead, they were confronted with a number of bizarre phrases.

“Tomorrow he will go hunting very early, and will [bring] nothing,” one passage read. The translator randomly added the word “Alaska” in the middle of the sentence.

“Your husband is a polar bear, skinny,” another said.

Yet another was written entirely in Inuktitut, an Indigenous language spoken in northern Canada, far from Alaska.

FEMA fired the California company hired to translate the documents once the errors became known, but the incident was an ugly reminder for Alaska Natives of the suppression of their culture and languages from decades past.

FEMA immediately took responsibility for the translation errors and corrected them, and the agency is working to make sure it doesn’t happen again, spokesperson Jaclyn Rothenberg said. No one was denied aid because of the errors, which were first reported by KYUK Public Media in Bethel, Alaska.

Caroline Lee, chief executive of Accent on Languages, the Berkeley company that produced the mistranslated documents, said in a statement: “We make no excuses for erroneous translations, and we deeply regret any inconvenience this has caused to the local community.”

She said the company would refund FEMA the $5,116 it received for the work and conduct an internal review to ensure it never happens again.

Lee did not respond to follow-up questions, including how the mistaken translations occurred.

For Tara Sweeney, an Inupiaq who served as an assistant secretary of Indian Affairs in the U.S. Interior Department during the Trump administration, the incident was another painful reminder of steps taken to prevent Alaska Native children from speaking Indigenous languages.

“When my mother was beaten for speaking her language in school, like so many hundreds, thousands of Alaska Natives, to then have the federal government distributing literature representing that it is an Alaska Native language, I can’t even describe the emotion behind that sort of symbolism,” Sweeney said.

She called for a congressional oversight hearing to uncover how long and widespread the practice of outsourcing translations has been used throughout government.

“These government contracting translators have certainly taken advantage of the system, and they have had a profound impact, in my opinion, on vulnerable communities,” said Sween- ey, whose great-grandfather, Roy Ahmaogak, invented the Inupiaq alphabet more than halfa century ago.

She said his intention was to create the characters so “our people would learn to read and write to transition from an oral history to a more tangible written history.”

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska), who is Yup’ik and last year became the first Alaska Native elected to Congress, said it was disappointing that FEMA missed the mark with these translations but didn’t call for hearings.

“I am confident FEMA will continue to make the necessary changes to be ready the next time they are called to serve our citizens,” she said.

About 1,300 people have been approved for FEMA assistance after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok created havoc as it traveled about 1,000 miles north through the Bering Strait, potentially affecting 21,000 residents. FEMA has paid out about $6.5 million, Rothenberg said.

Preliminary estimates put overall damage at more than $28 million, but the total is likely to rise after further assessment after the spring thaw, said Jeremy Zidek, a spokesperson for the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

The poorly translated documents, which did not create delays or problems, were a small part of efforts to help people register for FEMA assistance in person, online and by phone, Zidek said.

Central Alaskan Yup’ik is the largest of the Alaska Native languages, with about 10,000 speakers in 68 villages across southwest Alaska. Children learn Yup’ik as their first language in 17 of those villages. There are about 3,000 Inupiaq speakers across northern Alaska, according to the language center.

Thiessen writes for the Associated Press."
https://enewspaper.latimes.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=bb9f6732-d431-4302-845e-a9bb78d93d82
#metaglossia #metaglossia_mundus

"A plan by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea) to establish an independent graduate school dedicated to Korean literary translation in Seoul has been delayed as it went against the government's initiative for "balanced regional development." The institution is now reviewing an interim master's program with a national university outside Seoul while continuing to pursue the longer-term goal of a standalone facility.

The state-run institute under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has long operated a translation academy that has nurtured translators who bring Korean literature to wider international audiences. Its key limitation, however, has been that the program falls outside the official degree education system. To address that, the institute planned to open an independent graduate school in Seoul in September 2027.

Those plans have since been revised, according to government officials and other sources, and it is now in talks with regional universities to launch a master's degree program as an interim step instead.

“As a transitional measure, we have revised our plans and are now seeking to start operating this master’s program in collaboration with a regional national university in September next year,” an LTI Korea official told The Korea Times. “As for establishing an independent school, we have not abandoned the plan despite the current circumstances. We intend to continue pursuing it after putting better conditions in place for what’s required for establishment.”

No specific partner school has been determined yet, she added.

The original plan called for remodeling LTI Korea’s headquarters in southern Seoul to serve as the school’s educational facility. It was revised after two months of intensifying discussions among representatives of LTI Korea and the culture and education ministries, she said.

The change came amid the Lee Jae Myung administration’s emphasis on balanced regional development, under which the capital region is seen as already concentrating too much of Korea’s population and resources. The Ministry of Education’s university establishment and restructuring review committee recently expressed the view that the new graduate school should not be established in Seoul.

“My understanding is that members of the committee expressed the view that, given the current strong emphasis on balanced regional development, it would be more desirable to collaborate with institutions in less central regions for the program rather than establish it in Seoul,” an education ministry official said.

LTI Korea began forming a committee in April to advance the translation school plan under the revised Literature Promotion Act, which came into force last year. The envisioned school would have expanded its existing Translation Academy into an accredited master’s degree program dedicated to translating Korean literature.

Unlike other graduate schools of translation and interpretation, the proposed institution would focus specifically on literary translation. The initial plan called for an annual intake of 60 students, including 45 international students.

The project has been viewed as part of a broader effort to cultivate professional translators as Korean literature gains a wider international readership, particularly following novelist Han Kang’s 2024 Nobel Prize in literature.

Many experts in the industry see Seoul as the preferred location for the proposed graduate school, citing concerns that a regional location could make it harder to recruit both students and leading instructors from overseas.

“If the school is located outside Seoul, there would be limits in attracting talented foreign students,” one expert said. “There would also be constraints in inviting teachers, who would have to travel to a regional campus.”

Kwak Hyo-hwan, a former LTI Korea president who led efforts to establish the school, expressed disappointment over the revised plan.

“It is regrettable. If the government’s regional relocation policy takes priority over everything else, there is little more to say except that it is regrettable,” he said.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/lifestyle/books/20260914/plan-for-literary-translation-graduate-school-delayed-over-regional-development-policy
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

A Southeast European studies seminar with translator Ellen Elias-Bursać

"Translating War: Damir Karakaš' Celebration and Blue Moon

16 Oct 2026, 18:00 – 20:00

Masaryk room
14-16 Taviton street
London
WC1H 0BW
United Kingdom

Book now

Capturing the invisible hand of yesterday’s fascism for today’s readers

“Celebration”

In four fragmentary chapters set in the mountainous Lika region of Croatia, Mijo’s life unfurls not with the chronology of time but in episodes, each in flow with the textural grain of this remote earth. With sparest of prose, Karakaš has crafted an exquisite sense of place. But with that comes terrifying violence and the evolution of a fascist. As an unwilling combatant on the run in “The House”, Mijo has not strayed far from home. From his hiding place in the woods above their cabin he observes through the cross hairs of his rifle his beloved wife go about her daily routine. Autumn is advancing and Drenka has agreed that at night it might be safe for his return to the crawl space beneath the house. In “Dogs” Mijo is a child working on his family’s land the day the local authorities pass an edict that all dogs in the valley must be killed. Around the table, his father and mother evaluate a warm life in terms of raw pragmatism, and the journey Mijo decides to make will become his pilgrimage to adulthood. Mijo arrives at the door of his girlfriend, Drenka, on a day of festivity in the third, eponymous chapter, “Celebration”. The couple plans to walk through summer fields to the revelry in town. With her brother as chaperone, the two lovers lag behind. The contours of the horizon have shifted with the seasons and their direction becomes as uncertain as the events that will unfurl at the festivity awaiting them. “Father” concludes the work with devastating finality.

“Blue Moon”

Meet Čarli, a young rockabilly fanatic at the end of the Eighties. A failed student, he cares deeply about his pompadour hairdo, symbolic of his desire for an identity shift away from his peasant roots, and he wears it with obsessive, vain pride. The quiff is his crown, his best self. Čarli searches for mirrors in the street in order to admire the quiff at all times, has located shop windows that reflect the quiff at particularly good angles, spends much time grooming it, and has even devised a way to sleep (with three carefully positioned pillows) to minimize quiff “ruffle”. And it is this very hairstyle that his father, a man so violent that he borders on psychopathic, hates with a vengeance. Following a bloody fist fight between father and son, it is clear that the claustrophobic and violent darkness that looms over Čarli’s childhood home, and Yugoslavia at large, will eventually devour him and those of his generation. BLUE MOON delves into the inability of a world that is approaching a new war, to self-reflect. Through Čarli’s unlikely relationship with Eli, a capable city girl and Leonard Cohen fan, the arteries of the novel are themes of masculinity and violence, and the traditional, conservative preference, in the face of difference, towards selfpreservation. A doubling down into homogeneity. Karakaš is a master of escalating conflict. He draws a stifling darkness around the edges of BLUE MOON building mounting pressure in ways simultaneously surreal, humorous, and suffocating. And it is this dark comedy which is the novel’s extraordinary watermark, a first indicator of his writing to come.

This event will be chaired by Prof. Eric Gordy, UCL SSEES.

Translator

Ellen Elias-Bursać is an award-winning translator of Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian, who has served as the president of the American Literary Translators’ Association. Between 1972 and 1990 she lived in Zagreb and for six years she worked in the English Translation Unit of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, Netherlands. Her recent translation from the Croatian into English of Celebration by Damir Karakaš was shortlisted for the EBRD Literature Prize and was a Best Book of 2024 for The Paris Review. Her translation last year of Karakaš’ widely popular second novel, Blue Moon, won an English PEN Award.

 

Author
Damir Karakaš is a Croatian author, playwright, musician and journalist, winner of the prestigious Meša Selimović award, among many others. Born in 1967 in the remote, mountainous region of Lika, he later studied law and agronomy in Zagreb. During the 1990s he worked as a war reporter from the front lines in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo for national daily newspaper Večernji list. His novels have been translated into French, German, Italian, Czech, Slovak, Macedonian, Slovenian, and Arabic. His plays have been performed across Croatia, Serbia, Germany, Chile and Ivory Coast.

Further information
Ticketing

Pre-booking essential
Cost
Free
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/arts-humanities/events/2026/oct/translating-war-damir-karakas-celebration-and-blue-moon
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus

"Analyst(s): Keith Kirkpatrick
Publication Date: September 14, 2026

Zendesk is bringing AI-powered, two-way translation to live contact center calls, letting customers and agents speak in their own languages without interpreters or dedicated language queues. The move goes after a real staffing bottleneck, but the real test is whether machine translation holds up on the calls where getting it right actually matters.

What Is Covered in This Article:
Zendesk’s new Real-Time Voice Translation capability for Zendesk Contact Center, including how the translation and admin controls work.
The staffing and routing problem the feature is built to solve, and the scale Zendesk attaches to it.
How the announcement lines up against Genesys’ AI Control Plane news and Verint’s latest data on AI trust in the contact center.
What still needs to be proven before real-time voice translation earns a place on the calls that matter most.
The News: Zendesk introduced Real-Time Voice Translation for Zendesk Contact Center on September 10, 2026, adding AI-powered, two-way translation to live calls so customers and agents can speak in the language that feels natural to them. Zendesk’s rationale centers on scale: voice still accounts for 40% of contact center volume, according to Zendesk research, and language gaps make those calls harder to staff and route. The company’s pitch is that businesses can offer voice support in more languages without hiring interpreters, building language-specific queues, or pushing customers with complex or urgent issues toward slower channels such as email or SMS.

Mechanically, agents can turn translation on or off mid-call, and administrators control which languages are available and whether the system retains the original audio, the translated audio, or both. That detail matters for compliance review as much as for quality control. The capability is built into existing Contact Center workflows rather than bolted on as a separate tool, so agents keep working the same queues and scripts. Per CX Today’s initial reporting, the feature launches supporting 13 languages: Chinese, English, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Real-Time Voice Translation becomes available in October 2026 through a closed Early Access Program for eligible Zendesk Contact Center Native customers.

Shashi Upadhyay, Zendesk’s President of Product, Engineering, and AI, framed the release around exactly this kind of call: “Customers should not have to choose between speaking the language that feels most natural to them and getting the support they need. When an issue is complex, sensitive, or urgent, people want to be understood, not routed somewhere else. Real-Time Voice Translation helps businesses make that kind of voice support available to more customers, while agents stay focused on solving the problem.”

Will Real-Time Voice Translation Solve the Contact Center’s Language Problem?
Analyst Take: Zendesk is going after a cost line every contact center leader can recite from memory: keeping enough multilingual agents on staff to match demand that shifts by region, time zone, and season. That is a staffing and economics problem before it is an AI problem, and it is the right one to target. Hiring a Portuguese-speaking agent to cover a queue that gets three calls a week is not a viable business decision, and the alternative — a queue transfer, a hold, or a shift to email for a customer who called because their issue was urgent — is a worse experience than an imperfect but immediate translation.

A Sensible Problem to Solve, With an Unproven Answer
The open question is quality. Real-time speech translation has to convey tone, urgency, and technical detail across languages in a live conversation, with no chance to pause and rephrase as a written chatbot exchange allows. Zendesk’s own framing (that this matters most when an issue is “complex, sensitive, or urgent”) describes precisely the calls where a mistranslated word carries the highest cost: a billing dispute, a safety complaint, a cancellation threat. Zendesk has not published accuracy data against these kinds of calls, and the feature’s value is unproven until it does.

Retention Controls Are Smart; Compliance is the Harder Question
Letting administrators choose whether to keep original audio, translated audio, or both is the correct design decision, and it signals that Zendesk built this with enterprise compliance teams in mind rather than as an afterthought. That same control previews a harder conversation still ahead. Call recording consent rules vary by state and country, and a translated recording raises questions about whose voice is recorded, what a regulator or a court treats as authoritative, and how long either version can be retained. Those questions fall to Zendesk’s customers, since compliance obligations rest with whoever deploys the feature in a given jurisdiction.

Language Coverage isn’t the Competitive Battlefield; Trust Is
Zendesk’s announcement landed the same week Genesys unveiled an AI Control Plane along with Navigator and Orchestrator tools aimed at coordinating AI agents, human employees, and workflow across the contact center. That is a bet on orchestration rather than on language coverage, and the contrast is the more useful lens on where this market is actually competing.

Verint’s State of Contact Center AI 2026 report found that 87% of contact center leaders plan to increase spending on automated agent assistance, and 94% of organizations believe AI has improved agent performance. Only 62% of consumers say they have noticed a positive impact. That 32-point gap is the number vendors should be working toward closing, and it will determine whether real-time voice translation is adopted as a trusted channel or quietly routed around by customers who would rather wait for a human who speaks their language.

What to Watch:
Whether Zendesk publishes accuracy or quality benchmarks against human interpreters, particularly on nuance, idiom, and emotionally charged conversations, once Early Access customers can speak to outcomes.
Whether the language list Zendesk ships with covers the routes actually driving the multilingual staffing problem for large, distributed contact centers, or leaves gaps in high-volume languages.
Whether Genesys, NICE, and Five9 respond with real-tKeith Kirkpatrick, VP & Research Director, Enterprise Software & Digital Workflows at Futurum, shares his insights on Zendesk’s new real-time voice translation feature for contact centers and what it will take to earn customer trust.ime translation capabilities of their own, rather than continuing to concentrate on orchestration and agent-assist tooling.
Whether enterprise buyers in regulated industries push back on the audio-retention options once legal and compliance teams examine consent rules and cross-border data handling.
You can read the full release at Zendesk’s website."
https://futurumgroup.com/insights/will-real-time-voice-translation-solve-the-contact-centers-language-problem/
#metaglossia
#metaglossia_mundus