MAGAZINE

November 2023

There may be no single secret to a long and fascinating career, but among them, a love of learning ranks at the top.

POSTEDITING

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t’s a well-made point that people are generally bad at predicting the future. As the famous Bill Gates quote goes, “We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next 10.”

Nevertheless, envision the future we must, even if none of us are prophets, soothsayers, or seers. We must work deliberately toward a tomorrow that offers opportunity and security to all, regardless of birthplace or circumstance. And that requires a vision — a roadmap of how to get where you want to go.

In the November issue of MultiLingual magazine, we highlight several individuals and writers who share their vision of a good future. It’s perhaps no surprise that many of those visions involve leveraging technology to be more productive faster while simultaneously working less. And let’s be honest — the idea of doing better work in fewer hours is appealing to just about all of us.

Whether it’s exploring the difficulties and rewards of transitioning a business to a four-day workweek, giving young professionals a foot in the door, calling for human empathy in the midst of technological transformation, or examining the need for precision in certain machine- and AI-translated topics, you’ll find it all here.

Our cover profile this month is Johan Sporre, who likewise shares his observations on the shape of technology to come. But perhaps the core of the profile is his vision for another kind of future: his own. Sporre’s love of learning has guided his career to date and will continue to shape him in the years to come. And that’s advice to take to the bank. While none of us are the masters of our future, we can influence the people we’ll become. Let’s all aspire to let learning be our guide and ensure our tomorrows will find us more knowledgeable, empathetic, and better able to help ourselves and those we encounter along the way.

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PERSPECTIVES

Giving the Next Generation of Localizers a Chance

By Carrie Fischer

Industry veteran Carrie Fischer asks the question, “Why are we insisting on hiring people with at least three to five years of localization experience for positions that don’t necessarily require it?” She posits that welcoming bright and hardworking people with different experience, whether they are recent grads or career transitioners, can make a positive impact on the industry.

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COLUMN

The Ambassadors

By Tim Brookes

Brookes uses two examples of health crises while traveling to illustrate the need for high-quality translation services in hospitals around the world. While encouraging developers to make hospital-specific apps, Brookes also argues that only real language professionals can provide the initiative and compassion that is so valuable when a person’s health is on the line.

EXPERIENCE

From Five to Thrive: 365 days of the four-day workweek

By Daniela D’Amato

D’Amato shares what happened when Italian LSP Creative Words implemented a four-day workweek last year. Read about the effects on productivity, overtime, stress levels, and customer satisfaction. Hint: It’s all good. 

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COMMUNITY

Johan Sporre

If there’s one thing that’s defined Johan Sporre’s life and career, it’s chasing a love of learning wherever it takes him. Sporre hopes that everyone can take inspiration from the doors that education can open — opportunities that often arrive by complete surprise. He spoke to us about that and the many other inspirations that have marked his work.

 

LocLunch: A home run for community

By Cameron Rasmusson

A once-informal gathering for localization professionals to enjoy a meal and share their thoughts about life, work, and everything in between, LocLunch now spans the globe. The events now range from small and intimate gatherings to genuine feasts. Learn about what makes LocLunch special and why it’s more than just a networking opportunity. 

 

SPONSORED CONTENT

Centific and VMware

Centific and VMware are two tech giants using GenAI to revolutionize the way businesses connect with audiences around the world. This 14-year partnership — rooted in a shared commitment to ongoing innovation, cost-effectiveness, and continuous quality improvement — has resulted in a nearly unmatched capability to research the potential for AI to transform the localization industry.

 

PROFILE

Spence Green: An AI Vision For Localization

Supported By Lilt

Spence Green explains how his experience as a research scientist at Google Translate over a decade ago sparked a grand idea: use AI to make all products and services available in all the world’s languages. Cut to modern day, and his company LILT is hard at work towards that vision. Green spoke with MultiLingual about what’s next for LILT and where he sees the localization industry going.

 

James Taylor: Shaping Custom Solutions

Supported By RWS

James Taylor — the regional vice president for RWS client services in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) — discusses his unconventional route into the industry, what keeps him engaged, and how his team tailors localization solutions to each unique client. 

 

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RESEARCH

Not Uyoga, Not Translation: A first look at SeamlessM4T in 14 languages

By Martin Benjamin

Meta has called its new AI translation model, SeamlessM4T, a “universal language translator.” Benjamin puts this claim to the test by evaluating results in 14 languages. Along the way, he makes the argument that corporations should be accountable for providing peer-reviewable proof of claims before they are given any credence.

 

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EXPERIENCE

Why Differentiation Is So Hard in the Language Services Space and What to Do About It

By Lee Densmer and Mimi Moore

Practitioners and clients alike note that many LSPs sound the same. They use the same tone of voice, describe their similar services in the same way, and list the same differentiators. Densmer and Moore share their tips on how to stand out amongst the competition by highlighting your company’s mission, personality, and points of difference.

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