Technical Translation

WANTED: TECHNICAL TRANSLATORS

 GLOBALIZATION AND LOCALIZATION REVISITED

As I mentioned in the previous post, globalization and the growth of the Web are directly responsible for the rising demand for technical translation services. I also mentioned that this multibillion dollar industry is dependent upon a focus on “localizing” content vs. “translating text.” 

In the event of an increasingly “multipolar” world, economic dominance is redistributed among different nations. Economic and political coalitions are formed to collateralize that dominance. Alliances such as: the EU (European Union), the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) are all involved in refocusing at least some of the World's political and economic power in a way that provides a more even playing field (or a gateway to socioeconomic dominance). One way businesses are adapting to this changing economic environment is by expanding their markets across borders.


The effect is a rising demand for information, products and services that are tailored to the needs of specific cultures/audiences. 


The localization of information, a product, or a platform denotes the translation of a culture as well as a language. Since websites have become such a vital medium for business, companies need to localize their websites: text, graphics colors, layout, and formats like tables, graphs, charts and databases are all subject to revision. The mobile app market is likewise exploding and will require adaptations across international markets to ensure usability. 

You don't translate your website...you localize your website!

Consumer demand and legal requirements will fuel the growth of technical translation services.The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 42% increase in demand for interpreters from 2010 to 2020 (BLS: Interpreters and Translators).


In principle, the ability to speak two languages fluently would be enough to qualify someone to be a translator. However, real success in the field of technical translation requires marketing skills and perhaps certification. The translator and his/her skills are, in effect, a business and should be developed and promoted as such.

In spite of the many opportunities available for translators, there are also some pitfalls. One scenario describes a potential (though unlikely) decline in global trade. Another describes advances in computer-assisted translation (including voice recognition) which result in steadily improving results. Machine translation, topic-based authoring, and incremental software systems are indeed becoming increasingly able to produce sophisticated, automated translations. 


But, the Internet continues to demand more and more content that needs to be tailored or designed in ways that require a human touch. Human translators who understand the cultural differences of a target audience will remain indispensible.