Opinion & features

Lost (and gained) in translation: why subtitles in movies matter

By: Ana Moirano

After uncovering a controversy in the captions of Russians at War, Rachel Ho digs into the art of translation

This is part of a new film column from Rachel Ho looking at Canadian cinema from a new point of view.

Debuting this column last month with an examination of the discourse around a film as complex and politically charged as Russians at War instigated a multitude of questions and opinions from readers, colleagues, and of course, from the interview subjects themselves. Those critical of the documentary labelled it an act of Russian propaganda, while its defenders levied accusations of knee-jerk censorship, declaring that the film deserved to be seen by audiences everywhere.  But across all of the various issues I discussed with Anastasia Trofimova and Natalie Semotiuk, one point of contention raised a particular flag of interest with me.

In criticizing the film, Semotiuk asserted that derogatory slurs towards Ukrainians were used by Russian soldiers in the film and their translation into English via subtitling failed to encompass their pejorative nature. In response, Trofimova (the film’s director) stated her team had in fact provided a direct and literal translation of the words Semotiuk took issue with.

To be clear, I don’t seek in the slightest to re-litigate this specific issue; however, it did send me down a rabbit hole of thought regarding the power of translation, particularly in movies.

Read more…

Source: CBC

Evolving Language Translator Devices and How AI Will Propel Us into the Future

By: Ana Moirano

Learn how technology and artificial intelligence are advancing the speed of language learning.

By Joshua Rapp Learn

Jan 23, 2025 11:00 AM

Back in the days of yore, language translation was a highly specialized profession, critical for coordinating diplomacy or international trade. The first bilingual dictionary book, Vocabularius ex quowas a German-Latin set of words published in 1467, while clay tablets containing lists of works in Sumerian and Akkadian date back as early as 2300 B.C.

Language translation has become easier over the years in many cases thanks to the work of linguists and other anthropologists. The development of computers and eventually, artificial intelligence, has given a massive push to language translation, taking it out of the hands of specialists or weighty books and into our phones.

But how has translation applications like Google Translate developed over time, and what were their predecessors?

How Computer Translation Started

People have tried to use computers to translate languages since the mid-20th century.

“The idea of online translation was something that people strived for when computers began,” says Jaroslaw Kutylowski, the CEO of DeepL, a company that provides translation services using neural systems.

In fact, one of the first uses of computers for something beyond numbers was an experiment conducted in 1954 after several years of work by researchers at Georgetown University and IBM. The demonstration only translated around 250 words using six grammar rules — mostly brief statements in Russian about science, law and military affairs that were converted into English in a matter of seconds.

Read more…

Source: Discover magazine

Kuvempu’s inclusive world-view provides a bedrock of resistance and reason: Vanamala Viswanatha

By: Ana Moirano

The scholar-translator says Kuvempu’s Bride in the Hills celebrates the sublimity in every person, especially women and Dalits.

Kuvempu (the popular name of poet, playwright, novelist, and critic Kuppalli Venkatappa Puttappa, 1904-1994) was a towering personality who profoundly influenced and shaped Kannada literature in the twentieth century. Through the corpus of his work, he scripted the development of modern Kannada society and became a cultural icon of Karnataka.

In a fitting tribute, scholar-translator Vanamala Viswanatha has translated his magnum opus, Malegalalli Madumagalu, into English as Bride in the Hills. Viswanatha is an accomplished translator from Kannada to English and has a vast repertoire that spans translations of several modern Kannada writers and translations of ancient and medieval Kannada classics. In an interview with Frontline, Viswanatha discusses the translation of this epic novel set in the Western Ghats in the late 19th century. Excerpts:

For our non-Kannada readers, could you explain Kuvempu’s importance in Kannada literature and his impact on Karnataka’s society and culture?

V.V.: – Kuvempu, whose 120th birthday passed recently, is a household name in Karnataka. As a poet, playwright, novelist, and thinker, his writing represents the peak that Kannada literature had reached in the last century. Questioning the inhuman varna system, he offered a roadmap for the development of modern Kannada culture and society. With his formidable body of writing across all genres that reflects his progressive politics, Kuvempu has come to be seen as a phenomenon inalienably identified with the Kannada language and statehood. A poem he penned in 1928 (titled Jaya Bharatha Jananiya Tanujate) was chosen to be the State anthem of Karnataka in 2004. Inspired by Sri Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, Aurobindo, Gandhi, and Tagore, he sculpted a humanism rooted in spirituality. He transcended the crippling binds of identity, social, religious, and political, to offer an inclusive vision of a vishvamanava, a “universal human being”.

– Several noted Kannada literary critics consider Malegalalli Madumagalu one of the greatest Kannada novels ever written. What motivated you to translate this work?

V.V: – In recent years, the translation of Indian literary texts has grown into a powerful cultural practice that brilliantly reveals the different histories and cultures of the many Indias. Hence there is a lot of interest in and demand for translations. When I started looking for a good work to translate some four years ago, Kuvempu’s novel Malegalalli Madumagalu was on everyone’s list as an all-time Kannada classic. And yet it had not been translated until 2020, when the Kuvempu Pratishthana brought out the first translation. Kuvempu is not widely known outside Karnataka. So, when I approached Penguin, they were happy to publish the book in their Modern Classics series. Classics the world over are translated and re-translated, read and re-read. Kuvempu’s text has come to enjoy that status.

Read more…

Source: Frontline.thehindi.com

The Hidden Costs of Poor Translation: How to Avoid Them

By: Ana Moirano

by Abdullah Sultan | January 14, 2025 |

An ineffective translation might cost organizations much more than they think in a world where communication helps bridge the gap between different cultures. The effects can be devastating, regardless of whether the misinterpretation of a legal document, a badly localized marketing campaign, or a mistranslation in user manuals is involved. The harm to one’s reputation and relationships may be long-lasting, in addition to the financial losses inflicted. In this article, we will discuss the hidden expenses associated with inadequate translation and how one may avoid these problems by using appropriate preparation and the experience of professionals.

Lost Revenue from Miscommunication

When clients are unable to connect with a company, translations fail. The inability to properly translate product descriptions or advertising campaigns might result in misunderstanding, making prospective customers less likely to trust your company. When a worldwide e-commerce business markets its items in several languages, buyers might be misled about the characteristics or price of the product if the translation is erroneous. This could result in customers abandoning their purchases.

Invest in experienced translators who are knowledgeable about your sector to avoid problems like these. They guarantee that the language is accurate, provide detailed translation review services, and that your message is communicated correctly, hence preserving the integrity of your income streams.

Source: marylandreporter.com

Full article: Read more…

Technology meets mission: Starlink’s role in Bible translation

By: Ana Moirano

International (MNN) — The work of Bible translators can often be both dangerous and isolating. However, Wycliffe Associates has found a technological breakthrough that addresses the need for safety and connection — Starlink.

“Starlink is a tool that essentially allows someone to have an internet connection via satellite, that is similar to having a hard wire connection,” explains Mark Roberts. “So, the speed, the reliability, the consistency, is really a breakthrough technology that gives a comparable service to the internet that you and I have in our home.” And, Starlink, a satellite internet service owned by SpaceX, is the latest tool in the toolbelt of Bible translation services.

How does it work?

First, Starlink enables teams to communicate securely with translators in remote or persecuted areas, providing mentorship, encouragement, and fellowship.

Source: Mission Network News Online

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Will AI Replace Humans? Job Security Explored

By: Ana Moirano

Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly sophisticated, but will it ever replace humans? Experts predict it will affect some industries and some roles more than others. Learn what you need to know and what you can do to prepare yourself.

Written by Sam Rinko

As organizations across all industries increasingly integrate artificial intelligence into workflows, the technology is driving fears about the job market and the future of work. Will AI replace humans? The only clear answer is “maybe.” Some jobs are more likely to experience AI disruption than others, with those consisting mainly of rote tasks more at risk. Some white collar jobs are already seeing AI integrated into their workflows, while jobs that require complex physical movements and human judgment—think plumbing or construction—are unlikely to be replaced by AI anytime soon. And jobs that require social and emotional skills, like teaching and social work, may never be. So, will artificial intelligence replace humans at work? No one can be sure, but here’s everything you need to know to form your own opinion.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Artificial intelligence will not replace humans for all jobs but it will change the way we work as more workers use AI tools to increase productivity. (Jump to Section)
  • Jobs most at risk of AI disruption and replacement are those consisting mainly of repetitive tasks, while jobs least at risk are those requiring social, emotional and interpersonal skills. (Jump to Section)
  • Many AI experts predict that AI will open up more job opportunities than it removes from the economy, and that the technology will be a net positive for job growth in the near future. (Jump to Section)

Will AI Replace Humans? Not All of Them

Like any new technology, artificial intelligence will cause job displacement in the near and distant future. According to a YouGov survey, 48 percent of working Americans believe that AI will decrease the number of jobs in their industry, a figure that has risen from 29 percent in March 2023. However, it’s unlikely the technology will replace all humans in the workforce. AI’s primary long-term effect on the labor market will probably be one of job change and creation, not elimination.

Source: eWEEK

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Is Machine Translation Post-Editing Tedious?

By: Ana Moirano

The language industry will remember 2024 as bringing an interesting mix of rapid-fire innovations and developments, with some clear trends emerging on the technology side, including translation as a feature (TaaF), multimodal AI adoption, retrieval augmented generation (RAG) applications, and large language model (LLM) customization.

The balance between human expertise and AI automation continued to feature prominently in discussions among industry experts, while companies of all sizes had their own takes. Reactions from readers, per weekly Slator polls, give a glimpse of sentiments and priorities across the industry.

1. Should Language Service Providers Rethink Their Offerings?

Despite the language service industry’s historical resilience, 2024 began with news of a few bankruptcies. The shift was evidence that not even a healthy amount of funding or the latest in AI technology can guarantee permanence, with Germany’s AI startup Lengoo filing for bankruptcy in March 2024, preceded by the Dutch WCS Group in December 2023 (later on bought by Powerling).

The most voted on Slator Weekly poll revealed that over half (52.1%) of respondents believed that more language services provider (LSP) bankruptcies were inevitable in 2024. Just under a third (31.1%) thought more bankruptcies would probably follow, and a smaller group (13.4%) said it was possible. The smallest percentage (3.4%) of respondents thought future bankruptcies were unlikely.

Source: Slator

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Are Remake Games On the Rise? Role of Gaming Translation

By: Ana Moirano

As video games have grabbed the attention of the world audience by their unique gameplay and aesthetic graphics, they are inevitably rising. Game localization services are responsible for this increased number of games being played. It also explains that gamers are more in number and more audiences are interested in games. With game localization, it becomes easy for gamers to play games that are not even in their language. So there is another benefit to the gaming industry in the form of translation and localization.

It is the rising demand for games that makes one phenomenon “remake games” quite popular. Well, there are mixed opinions on this gaming concept; some support it while some are against it.

What are Remake Games?

The name “remake” suggests that we are recreating something that has already been made. In the gaming world, it means recreating games in such a way that the main storyline and characters are retained in it. Hence, new plots and characters are added to the original version of the game to make it a new version. New graphics and modern mechanics are added in the game that not only retain the previous audience of the game but also attract new ones. These remake games are a great strategy to create a nostalgic experience for old gamers and present them with the same game on beautifully wrapped gift paper.

  • New graphics are made on the basis of the original ones
  • New objectives and goals are added for the main characters
  • Main plot of the game is altered
  • UX/UI design is changed and new locations are added to the game

The number of audiences that play video games is a lot of Gen Z and Gen Alpha. These remake games target Gen Z and Gen Alpha. In these remake games, one of the most important tools to use is the game localization services that adapt these games both linguistically and culturally for the target audiences. They are the reasons Silent Hill 2 is an award-winning game today.

Some of the remake games of 2024 that hit globally are:

  • Silent Hill 2
  • The Last of Us Part II
  • Tomb Raider I-III Remastered
  • Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
  • Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants

Source: BreakingAC.com

Full article: Read more…

Are Large Language Models Ready for Legal Translation?

By: Ana Moirano

Legal translation has long challenged machine translation (MT). Specialized legal translators have traditionally bridged the gap between what MT produces and what courts and institutions need.

However, with the rise of large language models (LLMs), researchers are questioning whether these advanced AI tools can meet the complex demands of legal translation.

In their recent studyApplying Large Language Models in Legal Translation, Martina Bajčić, Associate Professor at the University of Rijeka, and Dejana Golenko, Assistant Professor at the same university, acknowledge the significant impact of LLMs on translation but stress that “the potential of LLMs in relation to specialized translation such as legal translation needs to be comprehensively examined.”

Through an analysis of papers published from 2021 to 2024, Bajčić and Golenko found that research on LLMs in legal translation remains scarce. “To date, there has been scarce research on its application in the field of legal translation,” they observed, highlighting the disparity between the widespread enthusiasm for generative AI and the lack of studies focusing on its application in specialized domains.

Source: Slator

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Women are writing a new chapter in Japanese literature in the 2020s

By: Ana Moirano

By Mike Fu
Staff writer

As the first half of the 2020s comes to a close, one global literary trend shows no signs of abating: a hunger for the stories of Japanese writers. The past five years saw authors from Japan win prestigious literary prizes at home and abroad, while a growing interest in translated East Asian literature contributed to an uptick in the number of Japanese novels translated into English.

Over the past year, for example, Asako Yuzuki’s “Butter,” a thriller inspired by a real-life femme fatale and translated by Polly Barton, was named the Waterstones Book of the Year. Meanwhile, Haruki Murakami — who retains his own center of gravity in the literary landscape, perennially drawing Nobel speculation but no prize as of yet — saw two new releases arrive in 2024 with the publication of “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated by Philip Gabriel, and “End of the World and Hard-Boiled Wonderland,” translated by Jay Rubin. The former is a translation of the author’s latest novel after a six-year hiatus, while the latter revisits Murakami’s earlier work, “Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World” (1991), previously translated by Alfred Birnbaum. Both titles tread familiar territory in fantastical worlds, iterating on previous works or themes from Murakami’s extensive oeuvre — a kind of literary deja vu that satisfies die-hard fans but hasn’t won over all critics.

Readers’ tastes, however, have not been restricted to scintillating crime stories or literary titans, and the thematic preoccupations of Japanese authors have ranged from the deadly serious and melancholic to the weird, the uncategorizable and the notably softer, fluffier works of the iyashi-kei (healing type) persuasion. Feline-focused fiction by the likes of Syou Ishida and Kiyoshi Shigematsu, translated by E. Madison Shimoda (“We’ll Prescribe You a Cat”) and Jesse Kirkwood (“The Blanket Cats”), are among this year’s releases, as well as the memoir “Mornings With My Cat Mii” by Mayumi Inaba, translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori.

Source: The Japan Times

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AI and Creative Thinking Top List of Most Wanted Skills for LSP Employees

By: Ana Moirano

Pressure from the C-suite to adopt AI in business processes has become well-known, and widespread, since OpenAI’s ChatGPT burst onto the scene in November 2022.

Nearly two years later, it seems clear that the language industry, too, has noticed curiosity from clients at high levels. 

According to the 2024 edition of the Association of Language Companies (ALC) Industry Survey, carried out by Slator, 76% of language services providers (LSPs) received proactive customer inquiries regarding AI for translation or interpreting between January and July 2024. 

Of course, interest in AI is not limited to LSP clients; many LSPs have long been exploring if, and how, to integrate AI into their workflows.

This is reflected in respondents’ choice of “AI and big data” as the number one skill they want to see in their employees over the next three years. 

126 respondents selected between one and three of the top skills employees now need in the industry. AI and big data, named by 40% of participants, was the most-cited answer, up from second place in 2023.

In 2024, that honor went to “creative thinking,” identified by 28% of companies as a must-have. “Service orientation and customer service” was close behind; having topped the list in 2023, 26% of respondents listed it in 2024. 

Source: Slator

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Haruki Murakami and the challenge of translating Japanese’s many words for “I”

By: Ana Moirano

Haruki Murakami’s most recent novel, The City and its Uncertain Walls, revolves around two parallel stories, one focusing on a 17-year-old boy, the other on a 45-year-old man. Readers of the translated English version will gradually become aware of the two worlds, as each first-person narrator establishes his respective setting within the novel. For readers of the original Japanese, the parallel is, however, immediate from the first pages of chapter five.

In the original Japanese text of The City and its Uncertain Walls, when the first-person narrator shifts from using boku to using watashi, it suggests a clear handover from one narrator (that of the boy’s story) to another (of the man’s story). The change is both visual (written differently) and audial (pronounced differently), and so becomes a simple anchor of recognition for each of the two worlds. Due to the lack of possibilities in English, both words are translated as “I”.

Unlike many other languages, Japanese has several expressions for the first-person pronoun “I”. In addition to boku and watashi used by the younger and older narrators in The City and its Uncertain Walls, “I” can for example be expressed as watakushioreatashiuchi or washi. Speakers and writers of Japanese have, therefore, a range of choices when referring to the self.

Each of the Japanese pronouns is loaded with meaning, suggesting gender, age, rank or relationships between people (among other things). So, as in Murakami’s novels, the possibility of using various pronouns to refer to oneself can therefore become an expression of creativity.

Source: The Conversation

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‘It’s Just Language’: UK Lords Blast Lack of AI Use in Court Interpreting

By: Ana Moirano

The Language Shop’s Director, Sam Lingard, and Managing Director Jaimin Patel, have defended the lack of artificial intelligence (AI) being used to assess the quality of court interpreting services in the UK, as part of an ongoing public inquiry into the management and provision of court interpreting and translation services.

The Language Shop is currently the quality assurance provider of court interpreting assignments fulfilled by thebigword. The language service provider (LSP) carries out ‘mystery shops’ of 1% of all UK court interpreting bookings, amounting to approximately 2,000 assessments per year across both telephone and face-to-face interpreting assignments.

Lingard told the public audience that the LSP has “no plans to use AI” to deliver quality assurance “any time soon”.

Lord Willis of Knaresborough responded, “I find that very disappointing, to be honest, because we are clearly in a situation where AI and other technologies — not just AI — will play an ever more significant role in maintaining quality services.”

“If you are not doing anything at the moment to introduce that, either by training people or within the operation, then that is a big issue that we should address to the Government,” he added.

“It is just language. The consequences are not as dire as they would be in the health service,” — Lord Porter of Spalding

Lord Porter of Spalding agreed: “There seems to be a reticence to go anywhere near this, on the basis that this particular service is so important. But the health service is starting to use it and there is no more important service from a user’s perspective than the health service.”

Source: Slator

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The Impact of Generative AI on Globalization and Localization Teams

By: Ana Moirano

By Alessandro Cattelan, Translated’s COO

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to revolutionize various industries, the world of globalization and localization is experiencing a significant shift. Advances in language AI, particularly in the realms of large language models (LLMs) and neural machine translation (NMT), are reshaping the traditional workflows and responsibilities of globalization and localization teams. This transformation presents both unprecedented challenges and exciting opportunities, necessitating a strategic recalibration of roles and responsibilities.

Evolving Power Dynamics and Strategic Roles

One of the primary concerns for globalization and localization teams is the potential shift in power dynamics. As AI-driven translation tools become more sophisticated, product managers and engineering teams are increasingly empowered to handle content translation directly. This shift could potentially sideline traditional globalization managers and reduce the need for conventional translation technology, such as Translation Management Systems (TMS).

Despite these challenges, the expertise of globalization and localization managers remains invaluable. Their deep understanding of language nuances, cultural contexts and quality standards positions them as ideal guides for implementing AI. By acting as strategic advisors, these professionals can ensure that AI technology enhances rather than replaces human insight. This approach aligns with the best practices of companies like Translated, which emphasize the symbiosis of human creativity and machine intelligence.

By positioning localization experts as strategic partners, organizations can leverage AI to streamline workflows while maintaining high standards of cultural relevance and accuracy.

The Rise of AI-Powered Content Creation

The rise of AI-powered content creation presents another significant challenge. Marketing and product teams are increasingly exploring AI’s potential to generate multilingual content from scratch, potentially bypassing the traditional localization process. This trend could reduce the role of localization teams to narrower tasks such as cultural adaptation, often managed by external creative agencies.

Source: Translated

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Uniqlo’s China crisis: Lost in translation

By: Ana Moirano

Imprecise BBC translation regarding Xinjiang cotton in interview with Uniqlo’s CEO led to a muted backlash in China.

Japanese clothing giant Uniqlo has found itself at the center of renewed controversy regarding its use of Xinjiang cotton, after a simple miscommunication about its sourcing practices quickly developed into a major public relations issue. The incident, originating from a TV interview, reignited long-standing debates over Xinjiang-related labor concerns, underscoring the fragility of cross-cultural communication and highlighting the risks that misinterpretations pose for international brands operating in mainland China.

The brouhaha stemmed from a translation error during a BBC interview with Tadashi Yanai, CEO of Fast Retailing, parent company of Uniqlo, Theory, Comptoir des Cotonniers, and Helmut Lang. Asked whether Uniqlo uses cotton from Xinjiang, Yanai stated in Japanese, “We haven’t used Xinjiang cotton, yet,” a nuanced and deliberately non-committal comment characteristic of diplomatic language.

However, the BBC translated this as “does not use Xinjiang cotton,” implying a definitiveness Yanai had sought to avoid. When Chinese media picked up the translated statement, the nuance was lost, leading to sensational headlines suggesting that Uniqlo had refused to use Xinjiang cotton and was planning to sever ties completely.

Source: Jung Daily

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Bridging the Communication Gap: Multi-Modal AI in Language Translation and Interpretation

By: Ana Moirano

Multi-modal AI is revolutionising language translation, enabling more accurate and nuanced communication across sectors like business, healthcare, and diplomacy.

In today’s interconnected world, language barriers are becoming increasingly significant as businesses and individuals seek to collaborate globally. The natural way to communicate isn’t through reading or writing; it’s through seeing, listening, and talking. Multi-Modal AI, which integrates text, audio, and visuals, is revolutionising real-time translation and interpretation. This technology can empower society by making knowledge and resources accessible to all, regardless of education or literacy. This article explores how multi-modal AI is revolutionising real-time translation, its impact on overcoming traditional language barriers, and the challenges it faces.

Introduction to Multi-Modal AI

Multi-modal AI combines diverse types of data inputs like text, images, and sounds to generate responses or translations. Unlike traditional AI models that rely solely on one form of input, multi-modal systems leverage multiple data types, allowing for more nuanced and accurate translations. Multi-modal AI not only helps with interpreting spoken languages, but also with contextualising the non-verbal cues such as body language or environmental factors. The convergence of these different data types makes multi-modal AI significantly more effective in fields like language translation, medical diagnosis, autonomous driving, and even creative arts.

According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the global AI market is expected to grow from $150 billion in 2023 to $1.59 trillion by 2030, and multi-modal AI will account for a significant portion of this growth due to its diverse applications.

Source: Enterpreneur

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This manga publisher is using Anthropic’s AI to translate Japanese comics into English

By: Ana Moirano

Orange wants to bring manga to as many readers as possible—but some fans are not happy.

A Japanese publishing startup is using Anthropic’s flagship large language model Claude to help translate manga into English, allowing the company to churn out a new title for a Western audience in just a few days rather than the two to three months it would take a team of humans.

Orange was founded by Shoko Ugaki, a manga superfan who (according to VP of product Rei Kuroda) has some 10,000 titles in his house. The company now wants more people outside Japan to have access to them. “I hope we can do a great job for our readers,” says Kuroda.

Orange’s Japanese-to-English translation of Neko Oji: Salaryman reincarnated as a kitten! IMAGES COURTESY ORANGE / YAJIMA

But not everyone is happy. The firm has angered a number of manga fans who see the use of AI to translate a celebrated and traditional art form as one more front in the ongoing battle between tech companies and artists. “However well-intentioned this company might be, I find the idea of using AI to translate manga distasteful and insulting,” says Casey Brienza, a sociologist and author of the book Manga in America: Transnational Book Publishing and the Domestication of Japanese Comics.

Source: MIT Technology Review

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Interview: The British translator of Asterix on one of her toughest French challenges yet

By: Ana Moirano

The Connexion speaks to Adriana Hunter as she prepares to tackle the poetic bestseller Son odeur après la pluie

Adriana Hunter has translated over one hundred books and won multiple awards

Adriana Hunter is one of the most experienced British translators of French books with more than a hundred under her belt. She is the recipient of multiple literary prizes and awards. 

She has been the official translator for the English version of the Asterix series of graphic novels since 2018, when she replaced Anthea Bell, and has worked on the last four of them. 

She loves ‘juggling with words’ and has been honing her craft to bridge the gap between both languages.

This can mean anything from unravelling the intimacy of Amélie Nothomb’s bestselling novels or conveying the play-on-words and puns in Asterix. 

The Connexion interviewed Cédric Sapin-Defour for Son odeur après la pluie, an unexpected bestseller telling the intimate relationship between him and Ubac, his Bernese mountain dog, who died in 2017.

He was asked for his opinion about whoever would be chosen for the English translation. 

He was not sure how that person would accomplish what he considered an almost impossible task. 

Source: The Connexion

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Unbabel CEO’s Shocking Prediction: Will AI Take Over Translation Jobs in Just 3 Years?

By: Ana Moirano

Vasco Pedro, CEO of the Lisbon-based startup Unbabel, delivered a provocative forecast at the Web Summit in Lisbon when he said human translators may no longer be needed within three years. The statement came in parallel with the launch of Widn.AI, Unbabel’s new AI-powered translation service built on its proprietary large language model, Tower. Capable of handling translations in 32 languages, Widn.AI represents a significant shift from the company’s earlier hybrid model, which paired AI technology with human editors.

“The advantage humans have in translation is razor-thin,” Pedro said, asserting that AI has reached a stage where it can handle all but the most complex translation tasks. This advancement aligns with a broader trend of generative AI boosting enterprise innovation, as companies increasingly leverage AI for tasks once deemed exclusively human.

Implications for Jobs and Industry

Unbabel’s innovation comes as AI’s potential to replace jobs is sparking heated debates. While Unbabel foresees growth fueled by a surge in translated content, Pedro admitted that the revenue per word is likely to drop. This mirrors broader predictions about AI’s disruptive potential, such as Vinod Khosla’s claim that AI could perform 80 percent of tasks across 80 percent of jobs.

Source: eWeek

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The Little Prince reaches its 600th translation, a world record!

By: Ana Moirano

The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint Exupéry’s timeless masterpiece, has reached a historic milestone by becoming the world’s most translated book of fiction, with 600 translations to date!

On June 25, 2024, as part of the project “The Little Prince at the Bedside of the World’s Languages”, the 600th translation of this masterpiece was presented to the National Library of Panama, in Dulegaya, the language of the Indigenous Guna people of Northeastern Panama and Colombia. This event reinforces the role of the Little Prince as a universal work that unites peoples and contributes to the preservation of endangered languages.

Since its first publication in 1943 in New York, this philosophical tale, illustrated by Antoine de Saint Exupéry, has touched readers of all generations and cultures, offering a universal message of love, kindness, and humanity.

Today, with many languages on the brink of extinction, The Little Prince uniquely preserves languages and transmits cultures. Thanks to the passion of translators, this work has been translated into rare languages and endangered dialects, thus contributing to the preservation of the world’s linguistic heritage.

The 600th translation confirms the cultural and social impact of the Little Prince, which transcends borders and becomes a link between peoples. This story is more than a story: it is a celebration of cultural diversity. 1,500 copies of this Dulegaya edition, entitled Sagla Massi Bibbi, were printed in the spring of 2024 by the Panamanian publishing house El Hombre de la Mancha. They will be distributed in schools and libraries in the Guna Yala region as of 2025.

Source: Le Petit Prince

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    Sjedinjene Američke Države

    I receive the daily digest, some interesting and many times useful articles!

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