Post Editing
n many ways, the story of women in the language industry is the story of women in the workforce generally. Historically, women have filled undervalued, low-level jobs; but in recent decades, opportunities in more diverse professions and leadership positions have grown. Working conditions structured around traditional gender roles often made it difficult for women to balance career and other responsibilities; but recently, there has been a growing acceptance of flexible working arrangements and family-friendly benefits.
This upward trajectory is reflected in the articles in this issue of MultiLingual — from Bridget Hylak’s op-ed on underappreciated female linguists; to Inger Larsen, Nancy Pollini, and Silvia Benassi’s roundtable discussion on the progress they’ve seen over their long careers; to the nine essays written by ladies in the field on what gender, feminism, and empowerment mean to them.
The good news is that the language industry is keeping pace with broader societal trends, but let’s not get complacent. While reading the thoughtful words of the many female authors featured in this issue, I couldn’t help but be impressed by their passion and resilience. Certainly, the women in this business have earned their place at the table.
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Community
Women and the Language Industry
A 35-year oral history
By Inger Larsen, Silvia Benassi, and Nancy Pollini
No one knows history like the people who experienced it. Industry veterans Inger Larsen, Silvia Benassi, and Nancy Pollini witnessed the massive expansion of language work alongside globalization and advancements in computer technology, and they experienced similar challenges and triumphs along the way — many directly tied to their gender. These are their stories, told in their own words.
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I Am Woman
Personal essays on career choices, work-life balance, and supporting one another
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Perspectives
Heavy Lifting From the Backseat
We all know them: those tireless, selfless, “word nerd” warriors whose fingerprints are all over the subtitles on the films we watch, the brochures at our doctors’ offices, and the commercials advertising in-demand products — the profits of which they will never properly share in. Bridget Hylak calls for greater appreciation of these hard-working professionals, many of them women.
Column
THE RED LIST
Dashing Off a Letter
By Tim Brookes
Dwindling numbers of people in the Western world write in cursive. Using his own signature as an example, Tim Brookes makes the case for this flowing, letter-to-letter writing to enable speed, comfort, and even grace.
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ModernMT Outperforms Generic MTs and GenAI
Supported By Translated
An independent study evaluated Translated’s adaptive MT solution against leading public MT systems using publicly available data sets and algorithms based on commonly used metrics. ModernMT performed best across the board. GPT-4 was also tested and couldn’t match it.
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Government
Enabling the American Journey
Expanding Language Access for LEP Individuals in the US
Language access is a long-term investment that is more affordable and attainable than we might think. Deema Jaradat presents timely, cost-effective solutions for extending language access to ensure that every individual — regardless of their English proficiency — can navigate essential aspects of their American journey.
Artificial Intelligence
AI in Globalization
The Next Mass Extinction or an Evolutionary Leap?
By Edith Bendermacher and Mimi Moore
Will globalization go the way of the dinosaurs? Edith Bendermacher and Mimi Moore argue that by exploring new directions, learning from others, and leading change, globalization teams can leverage AI to not just survive, but thrive.
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