InsideLoc

Have we given up on language richness?
Are translators losing their skills? ☠☠

Even if you cannot stop the disempowerment of language users due to the massive exposure to machine translation and AI's sloppy output, there is something you can do as a translator (and as a speaker) to preserve your skills.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭.

READ.
Read a lot.

Read the classics. ✒
Read adventure books. ⚔
Read drama. 😲
Read poetry. 🎨
Read essays. 🥎
Read horror. 😱
Read web content, but also printed content. 📜
Read different genres.

Read LONG books with intricate patterns ans layers, not just attention-grabbing quickies.

By different authors using different writing styles, so you can absorb multiple ways of expressing, conveying ideas. Thoughts. Intention.

Machines oversimplify. It's in their silicon nature.

Regardless of the many flashy sales statements you hear every day, machines do not understand.
They just process information using a very basic set of rules.
Basic? 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵—

𝐘𝐞𝐬, 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜.
If compared to the human brain and the zillion shades of grey (matter) involved in every decision made to choose the right word, the right nuance, the right tone, machines use simple processes.

Machines oversimplify because that’s the only way to mimic understanding. Any developer can confirm this.

So how do you counter this downward spiral and keep your cultural & language skills?

Build back your language muscle. 🦾
Reconquer your ability to choose among infinite options. 🔀
Reclaim your ability to stand out from the average in the AI era. 😎

This, and your ability to make educated decisions.
These are the two key factors that will ensure you survival (and success) in tomorrow's market.

And, incidentally, make your work more enjoyable and fulfilling.

𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴, 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵?

Tiny gestures that add up even in wartime.

A digital platform developed by Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna provides access to a toolset for translation and students that replicates a booth environment for learning practice.

This solution —originally designed to ensure learning continuity under — is regularly used by the VN Karazin Kharkiv National University (Ukraine) and the Saint Joseph University of Beirut (Lebanon) to help future interpreters move forward with their learning programme despite the ongoing conflicts.

And I believe this is important, and am happy to be part of a public university that cares about these gestures.

More info (in Italian):

Studiare in contesti di conflitto: in Ucraina e Libano la formazione continua con una piattaforma dell’Università di Bologna Nata durante il lockdown al Dipartimento di Interpretazione e Traduzione, ReBooth è oggi in uso a Kharkiv e Beirut, garantendo la continuità della formazione anche quando l’accesso alle aule è limitato o impossibile