AOI Launches Training-of-Trainers Program to Scale Professional Medical Interpreter Course

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May 28, 2025

Tysons, Virginia — In March, the Academy of Interpretation (AOI) kicked off its new Training-of-Trainers (ToT) for the Professional Medical Interpreter (PMI) course—designed to equip educators and organizations with the tools to deliver industry-leading medical interpreter training nationwide.

What the ToT Offers

Full curriculum access: Comprehensive training materials, instructional guides, and asynchronous modules.
Live expert support: Expert-led workshops, Q&A sessions and certification pathways.
Custom licensing: Flexible packages tailored for schools, hospitals and language service providers.

Flexible Licensing Packages

AOI offers licensing options for educational institutions, healthcare providers and language service companies. Partners gain exclusive rights to integrate the PMI curriculum into their professional development programs, with ongoing updates and dedicated support.

Voices from AOI Leadership

“In 2024, demand for certified medical interpreters grew by 25%,” says Sameh Abdelkader, Director of Education at AOI. “By empowering other organizations to teach PMI, we aim to set a new standard for medical interpreting excellence and improve patient outcomes through better communication.”
“Our first licensing agreement with XYZ Hospital filled within two weeks,” adds Maria Teresa Buendia, Assistant Director of Education. “We look forward to working with organizations that share our passion for bridging language barriers in healthcare.”

Next Steps & Contact

The hybrid ToT program combines asynchronous material with live trainer sessions. Organizations interested in licensing the PMI ToT program are encouraged to contact AOI at marketing@academyofinterpretation.com or visit
academyofinterpretation.com/ToT-PMI to request a proposal.

About the Academy of Interpretation
The Academy of Interpretation (AOI) is a leading organization in the language services industry, dedicated to professionalizing the field and maintaining high-quality standards. AOI offers education, training and credentialing to interpreters, translators and language professionals to ensure effective communication across linguistic and cultural divides.

Beijing English Translations Spark Diplomatic Debate

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MultiLingual Staff

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May 28, 2025

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Marco Rubio discussing Beijing English translations

Rubio’s Mistrust of Official Readouts

America’s top diplomat, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has openly criticized Beijing’s English translations, calling them “never right.” During his January confirmation hearing, he insisted that analysts and foreign policy teams refer directly to the original Chinese statements rather than rely on official English versions. Rubio argues that only by examining the source language can one fully grasp the intent behind high-level Chinese pronouncements.

Discrepant Translations in Practice

The translation issue resurfaced after Rubio’s recent phone call with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Wang used the idiom “hao zi wei zhi,” which Beijing officially rendered as “act accordingly.” Reuters translated it as “conduct yourself well,” while Bloomberg chose “conduct yourself properly.” These differing English versions fueled confusion over whether Wang was issuing a firm warning or delivering a routine diplomatic reminder. Rubio denied feeling warned on the call, accusing Beijing of “playing games” by selectively adjusting tone in its public readout.

Linguistic and Cultural Challenges

“Chinese political phrases can be highly idiomatic, historically rooted or symbolic,” explains Xiaoyu Pu, associate professor at the University of Nevada. He notes that standard diplomatic translations often strip away layered connotations tied to centuries-old cultural references. Moreover, Mandarin’s tendency toward indirectness contrasts sharply with Western diplomacy’s preference for clarity, making a one-to-one mapping of meaning virtually impossible in many cases.

Strategic Audience Framing

Analysts further point out that Beijing may consciously tailor English renderings for different audiences. A phrase delivered in a strongly nationalistic context at home can be softened for international consumption. Pu suggests that this dual-track approach allows Chinese officials to maintain domestic political momentum while avoiding alarm abroad.

Political Distrust Amplifies Skepticism

Observers such as Pang Zhongying of Singapore’s ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute link Rubio’s skepticism to a lineage of U.S. hawks wary of China’s strategic messaging. Former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer similarly criticized Beijing for “watering down” harsh language in English translations to shape global perceptions.

Independent Studies Show Mixed Gaps

Sabine Mokry, a researcher at the University of Hamburg, analyzed Beijing’s foreign-policy documents from 2013 to 2019. She found that nearly half contained discrepancies between the Chinese and English versions. However, Mokry emphasizes that core policy objectives remained intact, as official translations were “carefully crafted” to support China’s diplomatic goals.

Building Capacity to Read Originals

Experts agree that the best remedy is to bolster teams of Mandarin-proficient analysts, increase face-to-face diplomatic exchanges and promote Chinese language training among foreign service officers. Only by engaging directly with original texts, they argue, can policymakers avoid critical misunderstandings in an era where precise wording can shape global negotiations.

South Korea: Boom in Translation and Interpretation in the AI Era

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MultiLingual Staff

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May 28, 2025

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Human expertise and AI collaboration fuel unexpected industry growth

The interpretation and translation industry—once deemed the most vulnerable to tools like ChatGPT—is experiencing robust expansion. Rather than replacing human professionals, generative AI has become an ally, deepening expertise and inspiring a wave of startups that leverage translators’ nuanced skills.

Industry Growth Amid Generative AI Hype

According to Statistics Korea, registered translation companies rose from 2,429 in 2020 to 2,805 in 2023, while the workforce grew from 6,251 to 6,712 over the same period. Although 2024 data are pending, insiders predict both figures will reach record highs this year—evidence that demand for human-led language services remains strong even as basic machine-translation tools proliferate.

Context and Nuance Remain Human Strengths

“AI can parse surface meaning, but it struggles with cultural context and emotional nuance,” says Kim Woo-yeon, CEO of G&M. Lee Ju-yeon, professor at Hankuk University’s Graduate School of Interpretation and Translation, adds that legal, diplomatic and medical texts demand ethical judgment and situational awareness—capacities beyond current AI. Consequently, she predicts, “AI will not supplant interpreters’ work.”

High-Value Specializations and New Business Models

Many professionals now offload routine tasks to AI and concentrate on specialized, high-value projects. “We let ChatGPT handle basic translations and then focus on medical documentation, K-pop localization and technical manuals,” says an industry official. This mirrors healthcare trends, where diagnostic AI augments rather than replaces physicians, boosting workloads and revenues.

Innovative startups are emerging:

Hansam Global (Korea’s only top-100 agency) is developing its own large-language model and AI-evaluation tools.
Joel Localization integrates AI interpretation into apps like Notion.
Plito supplies real-time, 38-language interpretation systems to IBK Industrial Bank’s foreign-service branches.

Global Expansion Fuels Demand

South Korean companies’ overseas growth has also driven demand. G&M reports rising contracts from SMEs and multinationals in markets beyond the U.S., China and Japan. The firm now handles rare European and Southeast Asian languages and provides on-site guides. “As K-beauty and K-food brands expand abroad, more small and midsize companies seek our services,” notes a G&M spokesperson.

Outlook

Far from fading, translation and interpretation professionals are strengthening their roles by embracing AI as a partner. With irreplaceable skills in nuance, ethics and cultural context, human linguists—and the startups they found—are well positioned for continued expansion in an increasingly interconnected world.

Google Unveils On-Device Sign Language Model for Translators and LSPs

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MultiLingual Staff

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May 28, 2025

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SignGemma aims to support communication for Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities

Google recently introduced SignGemma, an AI model designed to perform sign-language translation directly on smartphones, tablets and laptops. According to Google, the model interprets American Sign Language (ASL) into text or synthesized speech with minimal delay. However, independent benchmarks on latency and accuracy are still pending publication.

What SignGemma Does

SignGemma operates without continuous internet access, which could benefit users in areas with limited connectivity. Early previews indicate translation times under 200 ms on some devices, though Google recommends further validation across diverse hardware. The on-device design is intended to preserve user privacy by keeping video data local unless explicitly shared.

Under-the-Hood Architecture

Built on the Gemini Nano framework, SignGemma employs a vision transformer to process hand shapes, facial expressions and motion. A compact language model then generates output in English. Google reports training on over 10,000 hours of annotated ASL video paired with English transcripts. The company plans future support for additional sign languages, but specific timelines have not been announced.

Developer Preview and Collaboration

Google has opened a limited preview for language-service providers, accessibility researchers and members of the Deaf community. Participating developers receive a TensorFlow Lite package, sample integration code on GitHub and access to a hosted API. Google also hosts feedback sessions, inviting users to report metrics such as word-error rates and to suggest improvements in dialect coverage. Details on participation deadlines remain subject to change.

Implications for Translators and LSPs

SignGemma could enable new services—such as automated live-chat interpretation and real-time captioning—if its accuracy meets professional standards. Some experts caution that AI models may struggle with regional variants, non-manual signals and overlapping gestures. Consequently, human interpreters may still be required for complex assignments that demand cultural and contextual expertise.

Ethical and Privacy Considerations

Google has published a model card outlining training-data sources, demographic breakdowns and known limitations, including reduced performance in low-light conditions. User video is processed locally, but organizations evaluating SignGemma are encouraged to review privacy documentation before deployment.

Availability and Next Steps

The SignGemma preview is available now through Google’s AI Developer portal, with a broader release expected in Q4 2025. Interested translators and LSPs can request API keys, explore sample applications and consult integration guides at developers.google.com/signgemma. As independent evaluations emerge, the community will gain a clearer picture of SignGemma’s practical utility in professional workflows.

Translated Leads Major European Initiative DVPS to Advance AI Beyond Language Models and Into the Physical World

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MultiLingual Staff

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May 28, 2025

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DVPS, which stands for Diversibus Viis Plurima Solvo (Latin for “Through diverse paths, I solve many issues”), develops a new class of AI systems capable of learning through real-world interaction by combining language, vision, and sensor data.
Supported by €29 million in funding, DVPS is one of the largest European investments in AI research.
The initiative, which aims to strengthen Europe’s strategic leadership in the global AI landscape, unites twenty leading organisations across nine countries to develop advanced multimodal foundational models with wide-reaching applications.

Rome, May 28, 2025 — Translated, a leader in AI-powered language solutions, announces the launch of DVPS, one of the largest Horizon Europe projects to date, backed by a €29 million seed investment and uniting twenty leading partners across nine countries to shape the next frontier in artificial intelligence.

Building on the success of large language models, DVPS explores the future of AI through multimodal foundation models. Unlike today’s systems, which learn from representations of the world via text, images, and video, these next-generation models are designed to gain a grounded understanding through direct interaction with the physical world. By integrating language, vision, and sensor data, they develop a deeper contextual awareness, extending human capabilities in domains where trust, precision, and adaptability are crucial.

Marco Trombetti, CEO of Translated, commented: “Large language models have been a breakthrough, but we’re starting to see their limits both in their architecture and how they learn from static, human-made content, only available in the digital world. To go further, AI must interact with the real world in real time. With DVPS, we’re enabling machines to grow by engaging with reality, and exchanging their learning between themselves instantly.”

While today’s AI systems excel at many tasks, they still struggle with those requiring a higher level of understanding of physical context. For example, in language, these models fail at enabling live translation in challenging environments, such as crowded, noisy spaces with multiple speakers. Traditional systems struggle to identify who is speaking, while humans easily focus on the right person by using visual and acoustic cues, like gaze direction, facial orientation, voice loudness, and distance. Audio-only translation systems perform poorly in these settings because they lack contextual awareness. DVPS, by contrast, combines visual input, spatial sound, and speech direction to identify the correct speaker and deliver more accurate translations.

Potential applications span multiple areas: in language, enabling real-time translation across a wide range of languages, with an understanding of text, speech, gestures, and physical context; in health, supporting the early detection of cardiovascular risk using a 3D digital twin of the heart generated from medical imaging; and in the environment, enhancing disaster response through flood prediction powered by satellite and drone data combined with real-time observational signals.

The initiative is led by Translated, which oversees the overall vision and execution.

The DVPS founding team consists of 70 top European AI scientists from across the following partners:

Research: University of Oxford, The Alan Turing Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, ETH Zurich, Imperial College London, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Universitat de Barcelona, and Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek
Vertically specialized partners: Heidelberg University Hospital, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca, and Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Deepset, Sistema, and MEEO, Lynkeus, Data Valley, and Pi School of AI
High-performance computing (model training): Cyfronet, Poland’s national HPC centre

ABOUT TRANSLATED

Translated is a leading language services provider and a pioneer in using artificial intelligence (AI) to assist professional translators. The company was founded in 1999 by linguist Isabelle Andrieu and computer scientist Marco Trombetti with the mission to allow everyone to understand and be understood in their own language. In pursuit of its mission, Translated invented context-adaptive machine translation (MT) in 2012. Translated’s work is trusted by the largest translation buyers in the world and has been recognised as leading in AI-powered translation technology by IDC Marketscape, CSA Research, and Gartner.

In 2024, Translated launched Lara, a breakthrough translation AI that outperforms leading machine translation and approaches the quality of top-tier professional translators. With Lara, Translated combines the sensitivity of over 500,000 native-speaking professional translators with the speed and capability of machines, making it possible to tackle once unimaginable localisation projects. Today, Translated delivers fast, consistent, high-quality translations to over 300,000 customers in 200 languages and over 40 subject areas.

MEDIA RELATIONS

For media inquiries, please contact:

Translated (supporting media coverage in all countries)

Silvio Gulizia, silvio@translated.com

Tancredi Intelligent Communication (covering UK and Italy)

Benedetta Negri da Oleggio, benedetta@tancredigroup.com | Emma Hodges, hemma@tancredigroup.com
translated@tancredigroup.com

Ballou PR (covering France, Germany and Spain)

France: Thomas Duporge, thomas.duporge@balloupr.com
Spain: Rosa Gonzáles Garcia, rosa.garcia@balloupr.com
Germany: Leah Moll, Leah.Moll@balloupr.com | Ballou Agency: translatedEU@balloupr.com

Understanding India’s Complex Linguistic Landscape

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Sydnee Cooper

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May 28, 2025

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India currently ranks as the world’s fourth most-linguistically diverse country, according to the World Economic Forum. The Southern Asian nation with more than a billion people has found a way to maintain its traditional linguistic identity at home while navigating diverse communication channels for business abroad.

Official Designations

The Indian government uses a unique framework to classify languages within the country. There are three tiers: official, scheduled, and classical languages.

Hindi and English are the only two official languages recognized by the federal government, while each of the 28 states and eight union territories have the right to classify their own official state language depending on regional needs. Those that are used as official languages for states are generally classified as scheduled languages at the federal level under the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution; examples are Assamese and Bengali. Currently, there are 22 scheduled languages, which are given support for development in education, literature, and administration in their respective regions.

Other languages are deemed classical languages due to their historical and cultural significance. These languages, like Tamil and Sanskrit, must meet certain criteria like “High Antiquity” or “Original Literary Tradition.”

Conducting Global Business

India maintains a healthy position on the global stage with a variety of international partners by conducting business in the language that produces the clearest pathway for communication. For example, English is the world’s lingua franca of business, but Indians use Hindi for deals within Hindi-speaking regions, Tamil for trade within Southeast Asia, and even Punjabi for negotiations with Canada and the United Kingdom. This shows that India’s linguistic diversity allows its economy to easily adapt to multilateral communication strategies based on target markets, helping to gradually change the needs of the country’s language services market through an increase of global exposure.

Contributing to the Language Industry

As of 2025, one of the language industry’s fastest-growing market regions is Asia Pacific, with India’s language service market projected to increase by an estimated USD $10.87 billion over the next four years. India is expected to introduce new language pairs across multiple high-value industry sectors to meet growing consumer demands that were created in part from the nation’s growing presence on the international stage. For example, the media and entertainment industry, along with the gaming industry, are some of the fastest-growing sectors. With the growth of new language market needs in the near future, the country is predicted to outgrow other nations within the G20 Market classification.

How a Booker Prize–Winning Indian Work Redefined Translation

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MultiLingual Staff

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May 27, 2025

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Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq Redefined Booker Prize Translation.

Banu Mushtaq’s Heart Lamp doesn’t just represent Kannada literature on a global stage—it reimagines what literary translation can be.

A Historic Win for a Regional Language

When Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq won the 2025 International Booker Prize, it didn’t just make history for being the first Kannada-language work to do so—it sparked a larger conversation about the power and politics of translation. Kannada, spoken by over 40 million people, rarely appears on global literary lists. This win changed that overnight.

Translation That Doesn’t Apologize

At the heart of the buzz is Deepa Bhasthi’s English translation, which defied industry norms. Instead of smoothing out the language for English-speaking audiences, Bhasthi kept Kannada, Urdu, and Arabic terms intact. The result is not just a book in translation—it’s a multilingual experience that asks readers to lean into cultural difference.

This “radical translation,” praised by the Booker judges, offers a new model for translators: one that favours cultural specificity over seamless readability.

The Translator as Co-Creator

The £50,000 prize was split equally between Mushtaq and Bhasthi—a detail almost as discussed as the win itself. In a field where translators often remain invisible, Heart Lamp makes the case for shared authorship. Every preserved phrase and maintained rhythm speaks to Bhasthi’s editorial vision.

Why This Matters Now

In an era dominated by AI-generated content and machine translation, Heart Lamp reminds us of what only human translators can deliver: context, intention, and emotional nuance. It’s a collection of stories, yes—but also a statement on translation as a creative act.

A Ripple Effect Across the Industry

The announcement triggered an immediate surge in Kannada book sales at regional bookstores. Literary organisations have taken notice, and for translators working in underrepresented languages, Heart Lamp proves that fidelity to the original can—and should—be rewarded with visibility and recognition.

Sign Language: More Than Just ASL

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Sydnee Cooper

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May 27, 2025

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In the United States, the Deaf community uses American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate, but ASL is hardly the only signed language in the world. A signed language is one that employs a system of hand gestures with specific placement relative to the upper body and includes facial expressions, body postures, and finger spelling. Sign languages are usually made by and for the Deaf community in a particular country.

There are multiple estimates of the exact number of sign languages used throughout the world today. Studies by Ethnologue have found that there are 160, while National Geographic research claims there are over 300. The discrepancy is due to all of the dialects and regional variations that Ethnologue does not list in its broad classification.

Just like the global hearing community created Esperanto with hopes of uniting nations through a common language (despite its lack of success), the Deaf community has done the same with the creation of International Sign (IS). While not fully developed as a natural language, IS is a pidgin form that is used in international settings such as the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), the Deaflympics, and the United Nations for better communication.

Effects on the Language Industry

According to Lonely Planet, only 41 out of all 195 countries in the world have declared a sign language as an official language, despite a global total of around 70 million people who use one every day. For countries or areas that do have a sign language as an official language — such as Papa New Guinea, Sweden, and New Zealand — dependence on certified professional interpreters is much higher than elsewhere. Lack of awareness and research about sign language users within a specific area can result in less funding for sign language interpreter education and even a decline in the number of native signers.

Currently, language service providers (LSPs) prioritize the main sign language used within their operating area. For example, most American-based LSPs only offer ASL, whereas LSPs based in the United Kingdom (UK) primarily offer British Sign Language (BSL). However, there are still sign language users in those countries who sign a lesser-used language (for example, immigrants who sign their native language). This can create communication barriers for those who need professional sign language interpreting services in other languages that are not available.

The best way to prevent language barriers in a multilingual environment of sign language users is to bring awareness to the importance of signed languages in educational resources, tailored training programs, and multi-faceted certification exams that help to meet the ever-increasing demand for sign language services around the world.

AI Translation Is Driving Chinese Literature Beyond Borders

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MultiLingual Staff

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May 27, 2025

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A Global Boom Powered by AI

Chinese online literature’s international audience leapt from 230 million in 2023 to 352 million in 2024, according to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and China Literature. This surge reflects how AI-driven translation is demolishing language barriers, making sprawling web novels instantly accessible to global readers across genres, formats, and languages.

Markets No One Saw Coming

Overseas revenue hit ¥5.07 billion (≈ USD 700 million), a 25% year-on-year jump. Spanish-language editions alone rose 227%, while German, French, and Portuguese translations went from virtually zero to hundreds of titles. Japan led growth in registered users with an astonishing 180% increase, followed by Greece, Spain, and Brazil as rapidly expanding readership hubs.

Markets once considered fringe are now central to China’s literary expansion strategy, fueled by the scale and speed of AI translation.

AI and Cost Savings: At What Price?

Leveraging AI, China Literature translated more novels in 2024 than in all previous years combined, slashing translation costs by over 90%. Yet human translators face shrinking fees—many relegated to polishing AI drafts, with incomes dropping by up to half. Critics warn machine output still struggles with cultural nuance, risking quality for quantity.

Some readers have begun noticing odd phrasing or tonal shifts, prompting questions about how much is lost in machine-rendered adaptation.

Beyond Digital Pages

China Literature’s overseas licensing deals climbed 80% in 2024, and adaptations amassed 1.237 billion views on YouTube. As Yang Chen, vice president of China Literature, noted, “AI-generated video could trigger the next revolution in visual content—our vast library of web fiction is primed to become Hollywood’s new playground.”

From Korean dramas to Chinese webtoons, the entertainment industry is watching closely how AI translation reshapes transmedia storytelling.

Protecting Original Authorship

On April 28, 16 major web fiction platforms—including China Literature, Jinjiang Literature City, and iReader—signed a self-regulation pact to ensure AI tools respect authors’ copyrights. The agreement underscores the growing need for responsible AI-assisted creation that honors literary origins and maintains authorial intent.

Looking Ahead

Industry leaders are watching closely as new AI tools emerge, promising both greater speed and more immersive localized storytelling. Balancing efficiency with cultural fidelity and fair compensation will determine whether this translation revolution uplifts both stories and storytellers—or leaves authors behind in the process.