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Translation and interpretation - Singapore perspective
This document discusses the translation and interpretation industry in Singapore from the perspective of a localization company founded in 1996. It notes that Singapore is a multicultural and multilingual hub for Asia, giving rise to demand for translation and interpretation services. However, customers are often unaware of what translation entails and do not properly budget for it. While Singapore has made some policy efforts to improve translation quality, more could still be done to professionalize the industry and raise standards through an association, certification, and education.
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Translation and interpretation - Singapore perspective
- 1. Translation and Interpretation ……… TheSingapore Perspective
- 3. About My Company& Associates • Foundedin1996 • OneofLongestservingLocalizationandTranslationCompanyin Singapore • MultilanguageVendor • BranchofficeBangkok, Thailand • AdheretoEN15038EuropeanStandards • PartofGlobalCommunicationsBusinessGroup(GCBG) RepresentedinSingapore, Germany, UK, NewZealand, Korea Supportedbymorethan200staffglobally Poolof5000linguistsworldwide • AnnualGroupRevenueofmorethanUS$20million
- 4. Now about Singapore…. •Multicultural • Multilingual • Multi-everything
- 5. Official languages • English •Malay • Chinese • Tamil • NationallanguageisMalay. • WorkinglanguageisEnglish.
- 6. OurMulti-language Education • Englishasafirstlanguage. •Mothertongueasasecondlanguage • Buildingafoundationfor Pluralingualism • Learningathirdlanguageiscommon inSingapore.
- 7. Hubbing on Singapore •Singaporeasthefirstlandingpointfor Asia– DubbedBeginnerforAsia • Singaporeasahubfortheregionand theworld • Financial, Business, logistics, medical, education, trading, arbitrationetc
- 8. • Peopleofdifferentcultural background, speakingdifferent languagescongregateinSingaporeto exchangeideas. •Giverisetodemandfortranslationand interpretation.
- 9.
- 10. Who Buys OurServices? •Governmentagencies • Privatesector • Individual • Others
- 11. Do they knowwhat they are buying? • YesandNo…. But mostly NO! • Translationalwaysalastminute decision • Notbudgetedfor • Seenasanon-essentialservice • Associatingitwithfreelanceworkand thusfreelanceprices • Verypricesensitive
- 12. Do they care? •Onlywhentheyreceivenegative feedback • Onlywhenitnegativelyaffecttheir reputation • Onlywhenitadverselyaffecttheir chanceofbusiness • Onlywhenmisfortunearises
- 13. Are there anygovernment policy in placed? • Severalembarrassingtranslationerrorsstartedacall forbettertranslationquality • SingaporeNationalTranslationCommittee • Educationsystemgearinguptocatertobetter languagestandards • Courses/modulesmadeavailableasearlyasAlevels fortranslation • DiplomasinTranslation • Translationmoduleavailableindegrees
- 14. In reality….. • NationalTranslationCommitteehasMalay,Chinese andTamilpanelbut….. • Government’semphasisseemedtobeonthe Chineselanguage • Howaboutotherlanguages? • Areweheadingtherightdirectionifwearegoingto beatranslationhubtoo? • Canwedoitbetterthannativespeakers? • Arewereferencingotherstandardsintheworld? • Howabouttranslationprocessstandards?
- 15. What are theprivate sectordoing? • Mimickingsuccessfultranslation companiesbecausemakingmoneyis moreimportantthan……
- 16. Who are they& How are they doing? • Freelancers • LSPs • LSPwannabes • MNCslocalisationcompanies– being reducedtobeingjustatranslation company
- 17. Did they raiseany standards? • YesandNo. • Mostlypricewar. • Certification? • Association? • Translationprocessstandards?
- 18. What can bedone? • Anassociationtoraisestandard • Settingstandardpricingtoprevent backslidingofprices. • Publiceducationontheimportanceof Translation. • ProfessionalisingTranslationsimilartothat oflawyers, doctor, engineersetc. • Certificationoftranslationcompanies: ISO 17100.
- 19. A final note…. •Professionalismintranslationindustryisnot justaboutproducinggoodquality translations. • Itisaboutcommittingtodeadlinesand adjustingourmind-settocreatecommercial valueforourservices. • NotethedifferencebetweensellingtoLSP andEndConsumers. • Donotundersellyourselfjusttogetthejob. • Doitethically.
- 20. A final, finalnote…. • Haveprideinwhatyouaredoing. • Doitwithpride. • Andfinallyprideyourselfdoingit!
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- 23. • Projected growthof localization and translation market in Asia to be gradual from 4 billion in 2015 to 5 billion in 2019 • Europe still accounts for more than half of total global revenue for the industry • Translation service still leads over other language services like interpretation, localisation, media, DTP and PM.
- 24. • Of the18000 plus updated information, 15% of the world’s LSP are located in Asia • 60% of LSP has only between 2-5 employees • None from Vietnam in the top 30 Asia LSPs • Highest sales – Honyaku Center – 73 million • *Source Commonsense Advisory survey
- 25. • Translation Directoryregistry has 51 LSP listed in Singapore • Singapore’s market should be between 50 million to 100 million?