Andrew Warner
Andrew Warner is a writer from Sacramento. He received his B.A. in linguistics and English from UCLA and is currently working toward an M.A. in applied linguistics at Columbia University. His writing has been published in Language Magazine, Sactown Magazine, and The Takeout.
Study says interpreters can bridge gap between doctors and LEP parents
A study recently published in JAMA Pediatrics showed that parents who have limited English proficiency (LEP) are less likely to feel comfortable asking doctors and other hospital personnel follow-up questions about their child’s care or treatment.
Sonoma County corrects erroneous translation of voter guide
Though the translation was grammatically and lexically sound, it provided Spanish-speaking readers with erroneous information, including misinformation on the deadline to return mail-voting ballots. The errors were not present in the original English versions of the document.
Can images be used to enhance machine translation output?
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of California at San Diego (UCSD), and IBM have developed a machine learning model that just might shake things up in the field of machine translation (MT): VALHALLA.
Hearing-related injuries cause interpreter shortage in Canada
In April 2022, about one-sixth of the federal interpreters that work to interpret meetings between parliamentary committees were unable — either partially or completely — to fulfill their job, hindering politicians’ ability to effectively communicate with one another.
Lionbridge and Le Monde partner up to offer English news service
Lionbridge announced earlier this week its partnership with Le Monde, a widely read newspaper based in Paris, to launch the newspaper’s English-language version.
Turkey floats idea of officially changing name to reflect native spelling, Türkiye
The Turkish government recently announced plans to change its official name in the United Nations’ registry of country names to “Türkiye,” which more closely resembles the country’s name in the Turkish language.
NY court interpreters propose class action against state
Because a much larger portion of court interpreters are foreign-born than other courtroom employees, a civil rights complaint alleges that the disparity in pay rates discriminates on the basis of nationality.
Looking at future trends in localization in the 2022 Imminent Research Report
Translated, a Rome-based language service provider (LSP), has released the 2022 Imminent Research Report, providing information on future trends in the field of localization.
Could Google’s AR glasses break language barriers?
Earlier this month, Google gave the public a sneak peek at its latest piece of translation technology: a pair of augmented reality (AR) glasses that translates spoken language in real time.
Language activists gather in Belfast to support Irish
On Saturday, May 21, thousands of activists marched through the streets of Belfast to show their support for legislation that would support and protect the use of the Irish language within Northern Ireland.
Africa Day 2022: Developing a more equitable tech landscape for African languages
Most of the nations of Africa have been politically independent of colonial powers for the better part of half a century now. Still, discussions at the intersections of language and technology often overlook the continent.
Dual-language immersion programs call for more accessible certification process
Educators in dual-language immersion programs across the United States are calling on the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to improve language access on the company’s Praxis teacher-certification exam.
Translated announces merger with ModernMT
Translated, a Rome, Italy-based language service provider (LSP), announced May 19 that it has finalized plans to merge with the machine translation (MT) provider ModernMT.
Using AI to assess literary and religious translations
A recent study published in the journal IEEE Access is shining light on ways in which artificial intelligence (AI) tools can be used to assess the quality of a human-created translation.
RWS shares drop 19% after BPEA abstains from takeover
RWS shares declined sharply this morning as Baring Private Equity Asia Fund VIII (BPEA) announced that it would not be making an offer for the language services provider (LSP).
Applying corpus linguistics in the courthouse
Machine translation (MT) and natural language processing (NLP) specialists are likely to be familiar with corpus linguistics. Lawyers and judges? Not so much — at least, not yet.
24 languages added to Google Translate using zero-shot translation
f the 24 languages added to Google Translate this week, only three are available on Microsoft Translator. The addition brings the number of languages offered on Google Translate to 133.
Meta gives researchers full access to its large language model, OPT-175B
Unlike many other large language models, OPT-175B will be available for free to all researchers or institutions that request access. The company notes that this effort is an attempt to “democratize” large language models, which will allow for further research into the models’ potential benefits — and dangers — to society.
Should coding count for foreign language requirements?
A bill in the Louisiana State Senate could allow schools to offer programming languages in place of a foreign language.
Microsoft adds Ukrainian to Reading Progress platform
Earlier this month, Microsoft announced that its Reading Progress tool — a free platform that allows teachers to assess students’ reading progress — will include Ukrainian in its list of available languages.
How should large language models be regulated?
A 134-page report from the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy warns researchers and policymakers alike against the potential dangers of large language models (LLMs), which have been on the rise in recent years.
Machine translation and slang: A new approach
“Slang is a predominant form of informal language making flexible and extended use of words that is notoriously hard for NLP systems to interpret,” the researchers write. “Existing approaches to slang interpretation tend to rely on context but ignore semantic extensions common in slang word usage.”
The Great Translation Movement translates Chinese social media, public opinion
A team of anonymous Chinese speakers is attempting to shine light on misinformation and propaganda on Chinese-language social media.
Courtroom interpreters on verge of walkout in Colorado
Interpreters throughout the state of Colorado are considering a walk-out in the coming week, to protest their low wages, which the Denver Post notes are among the lowest in the United States.