Technology kills translation?
Susanna Toth Lee
Founder and CEO of HBBA, Business Mentor, Creativ thinker, Business Growth Specialist, Facilitator, Public Speaker, Ambassador of the London Chamber of Commerce,Ambassador of International Relationships at Dolores
THE SCIENCE OF TRANSLATION: Man v Machine
There is no denying that constantly evolving technology is a fact in the modern world. It wasn’t that long ago that we watched in wonder James Bond on our B&W TV sets. We had no idea that our landlines and ‘super modern’ digital phones would soon be surpassed by mobile 1G, 2G, 3G 4G 5G and beyond. Not so many years have passed and the world has changed so much thanks to technological innovations, making our days more convenient, our work more efficient, communication speeded up, and our lives well, now…. Our lives have been reshaped.
COMMUNICATIONS CHAOS
Language has always evolved and is constantly adapting to human development, introducing new understandings, terms and meanings into both writing and verbal communication. However, with the advent of the digital age and the appearance of new communication platforms, new terms are imperceptibly integrated into our language, a key element in translation and interpretation.
WE’RE SEO-ING, NOTWORKING AND CHECKING
This is just the start, we are doing so much more and speaking a language our parents wouldn’t even recognise! We order medallions in the restaurant, integrate chatbots into our marketing and have meetings in the mornings nibbling croissants. We use hashtags on Insta and regram while trolling, and if we need help we download the voice recog app and ask Alexa who we are today!
TRANSLATORS TAKE UP THE GAUNTLET
Changes caused by technological development pose everyday challenges for translators and interpreters. On one hand, they urge us to acquire a knowledge that requires global thinking within different linguistic areas and indigenous cultures On the other, we integrate the vocabulary shaped by the digital world and interpret and understand every kind of technology.
Voice recognition technology, as well as Augmented Reality debuting in Pokémon Go!, are increasingly becoming the methods of education and language learning, allying the real environment and digital information. This enables an efficient and creative, learning and knowledge process. Just as in education, technological innovation have a huge role in marketing. Using smart phones and technology we have instant answers to questions, inspiring publicity, travel information, query the inventory of the shop that’s just opened in our neighbourhood, or check the contact details and opening hours of our Doctors.
TRANSLATION IS ETERNAL
Constantly emerging innovation mean that it is inconceivable that professional translation is at risk. Without the perfect use of language, just like any self-respecting international business, technology becomes a flawed one-eyed giant!
For 20 years we have assisted our partners in 33 languages. Today’s science is tomorrow’s technology, translation is the dictionary that spreads information to every corner of the world!
https://h-net.co.uk/2018/12/03/technology-kills-translation/