Automating Interpretation

What the Electronic World Brings to the Spoken Word

For most of us, when we think of "language interpretation" we think of oral translation: people interacting with the spoken word. We expect a good interpreter to know correct pronunciation, proper language syntax, and the cultural nuances so important to effective communication. When all these human elements are needed, how can interpretation become automated?

For today’s interpreter, it is key to be well-versed in terminology for a wide range of businesses, and that’s where computer-produced interpretation really delivers value. Increasingly, interpreters are finding that electronic resources help them produce a more accurate and constructive result. According to Nataly Kelly, an analyst at Common Sense Advisory, "With each passing day, interpreters depend more on machine-based assistance, engaging in what we call computer-assisted interpretation (CAI)."

With today’s language technologies, interpreters are now able to provide more contextually accurate translations for their clients. They arrive at conferences, meetings, or businesses fully equipped with "terminology aids that will enable them to see key terms in an instant, especially for highly technical and specialized jargon."

As the digital age now provides instant access to 1000's of glossaries and online resources, many interpreters rely on using a small handheld computer such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) to reference language tools during an interpretation session. Kelly adds that enabling interpreters with "computers and existing machine translation (MT) tools can [offer] potential for easing some of the transfer burdens related to such tasks."

Often before business presentations, interpreters review documents that will be delivered orally, performing what they call a "sight translation." They can then access electronic dictionaries and searchable glossaries to enhance the effectiveness of their translations. Kelly notes that, for today’s interpreters, having "a computer-based resource makes it possible for them to leverage translation memories for spoken language settings."

Furthermore, computer assisted interpretation (CAI) can dramatically extend the language capacity for many interpreters. Often required to think simultaneously as translator, editor, and proofreader, interpreters do not always have a chance to collect their thoughts or ideas beforehand; everything happens in "real time." As such, these new technologies can help interpreters quickly access a broader range of information, especially helpful for telephone interpretation, which is a rapidly growing market.

According to Nataly Kelly, "the sheer enormity of the demand has led to the development of remote interpreting through telephone and video-conferencing technologies. Telephone interpreters currently handle a mind-numbingly diverse array of settings. Their repertoire includes helping individuals sign up for utility services, listing the range of deductibles for auto insurance, rendering mortgage application questions, and taking orders for automotive replacement parts catalogs." By enabling these interpreters to access terminology databases and glossaries with a keystroke while interpreting in real time, CAI can improve the quality of interpretation.

In Bridgeport, Connecticut, the local hospital encounters about 71 languages, with numerous dialects. With the high demand for language interpreting services among patients, the hospital has taken an unique approach to meeting their needs.

As many situations "can prove difficult in finding an interpreter, such as when a patient only speaks Bengali, Mandingo, or Zange," Bridgeport Hospital began contracting with a firm that provides two-way live videoconferencing interpreting services, enabling patients to see the interpreter and the interpreter to see them. Bridgeport Hospital has used the service to assist patients who speak Arabic, Turkish, Cantonese, Mandarin Chinese, Creole, French, Farsi, Gujarati, Portuguese, Hindi, Somali, Bengali, Vietnamese, and American Sign Language.

Interpreters are in higher demand than ever, and rapid advancements in language technologies are helping to ensure client needs can be met with more effective results. Donald A. DePalma, chief research officer at Common Sense Advisory states that, “spoken language remains a major growth area worldwide for both government and business.” With interpreters seeing greater opportunities and job security, CAI provides a powerful solution that enables them to increase both the quality and productivity of their interpretation services.

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