The Linguist is a languages magazine for professional linguists, translators, interpreters, language professionals, language teachers, trainers, students and academics with articles on translation, interpreting, business, government, technology
Issue link: https://thelinguist.uberflip.com/i/1077738
@Linguist_CIOL How Language Problems Bedevil the Response to Crises, 15/11/18 Since some 700,000 Rohingyas escaped persecution in Myanmar and fled to Bangladesh over a year ago, many Bangladeshis like Nabila have suddenly found themselves with new jobs, as interpreters. Tosmida's Rohingya and Nabila's Chittagonian are related but not identical. Interpreters, quickly trained, must try their best to understand another language, and fill in the gaps left by cultural differences – including taboos about what victims can say. What the papers say… Google Fixes Translate Tool to Correct Gender Pronouns, 7/12/18 The update comes after two Stanford University professors pointed out that the artificial intelligence used by Google Translate was converting news articles written in Spanish to English by changing phrases referring to women into 'he said' or 'he wrote'. "Each time a translation program defaults to 'he said,' it increases the relative frequency of the masculine pronoun on the web – potentially reversing hard-won advances toward equality." The latest from the languages world NEWS & EDITORIAL A local authority has launched an online interpreting scheme to enable Deaf residents to access services in British Sign Language (BSL). Interpreters Live will allow BSL speakers to communicate with staff at Conwy Council via an on-screen BSL interpreter. The initiative, delivered by Sign Solutions, will complement existing accessibility services, including text phone and regular in-person interpreting sessions. FEBRUARY/MARCH The Linguist 5 In the media PHILIP HARDING-ESCH As the year drew to a close there were several stories marking the continued difficulties facing modern foreign languages (MFL) in the education system. The TES reported that the Department for Education (DfE) openly admitted to "struggling hugely" with the languages decline. On a positive note, the same article announced a DfE pilot scheme in which undergraduates mentor Year 9 language students. The TES also reported that 40% more language teacher trainees are needed for 2020; while Schoolsweek predicted that the challenge of harsh marking would persist, as Ofqual said it will not relax grade boundaries for science and MFL A levels. In Politics Home, Stephen Kinnock MP called for "a Chief Government Linguist" to address some of these issues. The reappraisal of automatic translation continued with an article in Raconteur that claimed: "While artificial intelligence is expected to dominate international business translation, people will act as translators of tone, emotion and culture." Wrexham Council went so far as to instruct its staff, "Don't use Google Translate", following complaints about spelling errors in its Welsh output (BBC News). Nevertheless, the beneficial side of technology shone through in an interesting feature in The Independent, 'How Millennials are Breathing Fresh Life into the Ancient Irish Language' – as it turns out, via technology, social media and podcasts. There were some encouraging – even fun – news stories about interpreters. The Daily Mail congratulated itself for successfully campaigning for "an Afghan translator who helped British troops and his family win a safe haven in the UK". Meanwhile, two interpreters became viral sensations overnight: a BBC sign language interpreter whose hilarious facial expressions during a Brexit report won fans (Evening Standard); and Jürgen Klopp's interpreter after the coach praised him for his "erotic voice". Philip Harding-Esch is a freelance languages project manager and consultant. A university that has been at "the vanguard of modern languages research" has suspended recruitment to its language courses, prompting criticism from academics across the UK. The University Council for Modern Languages (UCML) sent an open letter to the University of Hull, asking it to reverse the decision. Signed by nearly 200 academics, it expressed "grave concern" about Hull's review of all of its modern language courses barring Chinese. They added: "We consider this to be a retrograde move that damages not only the reputation and standing of the University of Hull but is indicative of a broader devaluing of modern languages in the UK at the current time." Uni languages dealt a blow On-screen BSL services begin K-pop and Latin: Why the time is now for foreign language hits, 21/11/18 Following the 2017 global success of Despacito there seems to have been – with a little help from Justin Bieber – a sea change. Since then Little Mix, Cardi B and DJ Snake are just some of the acts to have charted with music either partially, or entirely, in Spanish. And it's not only Latin stars, but K-pop artists who are jumping in on the act too… "The number of teens that might know a phrase or two in Korean is also likely to be far higher than previously – which can only be a good thing!" [said James Masterton, Chart Watch UK].