Localization Today

Using three examples of poor translations that changed the course of history, Ewandro Magalhães illustrates the tough job of interpreters in the arena of international diplomacy and how they can also serve as catalysts for understanding and reconciliation.

Nothing gives a language service buyer peace of mind quite like knowing their language partners are among the most qualified in their field. That’s where professional standards come in. Dr. Christopher Kurz and Ilona Wallberg discuss the forthcoming set of standards for translation quality: ISO 5060.

The idea of a completely centralized global content hub sounds appealing on the surface, but what happens when the TMS itself becomes a liability? With organizations generating more content than ever thanks to AI, Didzis Grauss argues that we need to transform how we manage and deliver content to audiences around the world.

Ngnaoussi Elongué Cédric Christian recounts his efforts to bolster the African language industry and preserve linguistic diversity on the continent, including establishing professional communities and creating educational resources. As  a leader in the space , he details plans for future initiatives and calls for increased collaboration.

Are you looking to integrate business success with positive social and environmental impact? Laura Gori urges language service providers to consider the Benefit Corporation model, a framework that helped her business, Way2Global, reach its sustainability goals without sacrificing growth.

A group of language industry organizations surveyed localization professionals about sustainability. Allison Ferch uses the preliminary results to argue that efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change should extend to work, where we spend vast amounts of our time.

Everyone knows about pi, the world’s most famous irrational number. And just as recognizable is the pi symbol: . But how did that symbol come to be?

Will globalization go the way of the dinosaurs? Edith Bendermacher and Mimi Moore argue that by exploring new directions, learning from others, and leading change, globalization teams can leverage AI to not just survive, but thrive.

Language access is a long-term investment that is more affordable and attainable than we might think. Deema Jaradat presents timely, cost-effective solutions for extending language access to ensure that every individual — regardless of their English proficiency — can navigate essential aspects of their American journey.

Dwindling numbers of people in the Western world write in cursive. Using his own signature as an example, Tim Brookes makes the case for this flowing, letter-to-letter writing to enable speed, comfort, and even grace.

We all know them: those tireless, selfless, “word nerd” warriors whose fingerprints are all over the subtitles on the films we watch, the brochures at our doctors’ offices, and the commercials advertising in-demand products — the profits of which they will never properly share in. Bridget Hylak calls for greater appreciation of these hard-working professionals, many of them women.

No one knows history like the people who experienced it. Industry veterans Inger Larsen, Silvia Benassi, and Nancy Pollini witnessed the massive expansion of language work alongside globalization and advancements in computer technology, and they experienced similar challenges and triumphs along the way — many directly tied to their gender. These are their stories, told in their own words.

Fresh off a year in Acolad’s CEO seat, Bertrand Gstalder sees a chance for the language industry to distinguish itself with its already-engrained values of sustainability, human creativity, and productive communication. Supported By Acolad  

Brookes introduces the first World Endangered Writing Day: a celebration of writing not just as a useful set of symbols but as an expressive range of cultural artifacts and practices.

Fuentes Corradi urges LSPs to adapt their services to the AI era or risk obsolescence: “Without a new alignment, future LSP offerings will not meet enterprise goals and potentially drive companies to search for new collaborations and holistic offerings.”

These days, software is essential to how we get things done, with certain apps used ubiquitously throughout the world. Having led localization and internationalization teams at two global software companies — first Microsoft and now Uber — Hameed Afssari believes that software products should be easy to use for everyone, no matter what language they speak or where they live.

Rughetti and Millet share their advice for effective language service planning in light of new EU regulations on clinical studies. With a streamlined submission process and tightened timescales, high-quality translation is essential to ensure patient engagement and safety.

Women in Localization prioritizes recognizing and honoring the volunteers who offer their time and expertise to host workshops, organize gatherings, facilitate communication, and much more. To that end, the nonprofit has implemented not just one, but two award programs to highlight individuals who truly went above and beyond the call of duty.

The notion that a person can feel guilt, like someone can feel joy or sadness, is foreign to the Tibetan psyche. Also foreign to the Tibetan worldview is the concept of victimhood as a fixed identity status. Kubota considers what we can learn from these perspectives in dealing with Western criminal justice systems.

Here’s what you need to know about legal rights afforded to consumers and the factors you should consider in putting together a language access plan. Read the full article at: https://multilingual.com/how-to-create-a-realistic-language-access-plan/

In the language services space, practitioners and clients alike note that many companies sound the same. They use the same tone of voice, describe their similar services in the same way, and list the same differentiators. Yet, when everyone has such similar differentiators, they lose all their meaning. Read the full article at: https://multilingual.com/?p=211285

Google’s AI research lab, DeepMind, introduced a new group of models called Gemini that outperforms the best OpenAI models when evaluated on standard benchmark datasets — including those for automatic speech recognition and translation. Read the full article at: https://multilingual.com/with-gemini-launch-google-takes-lead-over-openai-in-multimodal-ai-race/