Don’t get lost in translation

“To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.”

The words we hear and how we interpret them depends on the individual. Tone, body language, pace, and delivery all contribute to how we understand the spoken word. It is easy to mishear words, even if English is your first and only language. The word “alright” and turning it into all right” might be a minor mistake, but confusing “today” for “Tuesday” would likely cause a substantial mix-up.

Most of our life is miscommunication, and when you add a language barrier it can become chaotic. There are roughly 6,500 spoken languages in the world today which evidence that there will always be a demand for language services.

When it comes to deciding between traditional or technology-based language methods, which one leads the way?

It seems every industry right now is talking about artificial intelligence, machine learning, and technologies replacing humans in the workplace. The world of communication and language services is no different. Automatic translation services and machine translation are some of the most significant driving forces behind the development of such technologies.

Traditional interpreting refers to on-site face to face tasks. It requires booking the job and securing the appropriate interpreter to attend and complete the job. The benefits of face to face interpreters are clear; it’s easier and more accurate when we see expressions and actions. Many people agree the meaning of a sentence or word comes from delivery and facial expressions, not the single word or sentence itself. Any interpreter will tell you that jokes and colloquialism are some of the hardest parts to get over a language barrier. From an interpreter’s perspective, tone of voice and body language directly informs a speaker’s intent. These traditional forms of language interpreting take time to plan, arrange, and secure. Unless you have someone permanently joined to you at the hip, you can’t access them when you need them at an urgent time. Are you willing to wait three hours for a linguist to travel to your destination to interpret a couple of sentences? That’s an extreme scenario, but we could guarantee you’d say no to an arrangement like that.

As technology continues to advance, different forms of machine translation are being utilized to help meet the demand. Machine translation is the translation of text by a computer. There are various kinds of machine translation methods, including translation memory tools to increase productivity and decrease time spent on repetitive terminology and phrases. While it’s fast and convenient, automatic software is often inaccurate. Computers and automated software cannot gage tone, emotion or delivery, or throw in puns or sarcasm. It’s a challenge for humans, let alone machines.

Where does our KP International Translators InterpretManager app sit within these methods? It’s the best of both worlds. You speak with real human interpreters immediately.  On-demand telephonic interpreting allows users to connect to a qualified professional interpreter within seconds, without having to book an appointment beforehand. It’s similar to the old “phone a friend” scenario on TV, but instead of trivia, it’s to translate any communication hurdle you come across.

Users can access the app and online management system to book appointments, call for immediate interpreting and choose your required languages. You will reach real-time qualified interpreters who have experience and common sense. It’s not an automated app with pre-set translations of common phrases – you call through, and within 60 seconds you’re connected to someone who understands the language.

This innovative method costs significantly less than traditional on-site interpreting and requires less scheduling or coordinating time. There are no lock-in contracts when signing up, and you only pay for the calls you make. You can follow your payments on your online account and even produce detailed usage reports to help keep your finances on track. Whether you choose on-demand or scheduled interpreting, both methods are still significantly less expensive than on-site interpreting.

InterpretManager is an innovative mixture of advanced technology and traditional interpreting methods that are proven and effective.

Computers and machines can’t do everything. They can do amazing things and perform incredible tasks but interpreting and translation still require human professionals to perform specialized work. You can’t translate humour or emotion with technology alone. You need people for that.

Next month, join us as we celebrate International Day of the World’s Indigenous People on the 9^th of August and learn more about our relationship with indigenous language services.