Computer-Aided Interpretation: The Latest Tools for Interpreters

计算机辅助口译:口译员的最新工具

2020-04-15 23:00 RWS Moravia Insights

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Computer-aided interpretation is changing the way interpreters work.  In the past, they managed their assignments with tools such as: An interpreter console, which is an electronic panel used in the interpretation booth that lets interpreters switch languages, plug in headsets, adjust the volume and control microphones. Glossaries, to assist with learning vocabulary, understanding concepts and issues and speeding up output into the target language. Interpreting delivery platforms, which are technology systems that allow for over-the-phone, video and machine interpretation. Now, there is a new type of technology called computer-aided interpretation (CAI). These tools allow interpreters to prepare ahead of time, aid during the live event and can assist with post-processing. Primarily, they help guarantee the quality of interpretations and the use of accurate terminology. Let’s take a look at this innovative new technology in more detail. Computer-aided interpretation tools can reduce translation errors, optimize workflows, increase productivity and improve quality during assignments. Glossary management is a key focus of these new CAI tools. They help professionals before, during and after the event with: Preparing for assignments by providing a database of support material, tools for extracting, memorizing and understanding terminology and the ability to synthesize documents instantly. Assisting during the event by providing access to multilingual glossaries and finding target-language equivalents if interpreters can’t recall certain terms. Searching for terms can be manual or automatic (via voice recognition). Supporting the interpreter’s closedown tasks after the event, such as linguistic asset management, quality assessment and reporting functions. For more details on these activities, check out this CSA article. Interpreters can struggle to live-translate terminology such as proper names or concepts specific to the subject matter of the event. Computer-aided interpretation tools can show glossary terms on a screen to the interpreter in real-time. They do this by analyzing spoken words and finding terms that the interpreter is unlikely to know. This can help interpreters easily produce names, entities and numbers on the spot. CAI tools also allow interpreters to focus on producing fluent and precise translations because they already have the terminology in mind. Although computer-aided interpretation technology is becoming more popular, there are still some drawbacks to using it. One of the biggest shortcomings of this technology is that human linguists must input a term into the database to receive information. While this manual lookup mechanism is simple during preparation or follow-up work, it is time-consuming to perform this task in the booth while interpreters are listening, comprehending, translating, producing and monitoring speech. Naturally, it can become overwhelming to search for terminology on top of the responsibility of producing spoken content live. The development of voice recognition technologies is beginning to resolve this issue. Another downside is that some interpreters find it strange to have a computer program present when they are in the booth. Change is sometimes difficult: interpreters sometimes prefer to use the traditional methods they have become used to using throughout their career. Despite current drawbacks, the use of computer-aided interpretation tools is on the rise, and as time goes on, these tools will need to evolve and improve for even better adoption. Speech recognition could be a major turning point: rather than the interpreter needing to manually input terms, they could speak the term aloud to search for terminology in the database, obtaining translated equivalents considerably faster. For CAI tools to advance in the future, there will need to be more usability testing to help interpreters get better at using the programs instead of becoming overwhelmed by an overload of information. There also must be a way for interpreters to share their knowledge about these kinds of programs with other professionals; developers must work with educational institutions to make this a reality. Training and education will be important: if interpreters learn how to use computer-aided interpretation tools in school, there will be more of a demand for this type of technology once they enter the workforce. Overall, it’s difficult to predict the speed at which CAI technology will advance because there are simply not enough interpreters to rationalize spending a great sum of money researching in this area. Plus, many interpreters are afraid that one day, the technology will take their jobs, and thus are hesitant to adopt new tools to assist their work. Yet, if the interpreters on your team are looking to streamline their process and make glossary work more manageable, these advanced tools could be the perfect fit for your company.   If you’d like more advice on interpretation or translation, feel free to reach out to us today. At RWS Moravia, we help brands all over the world create compelling and effective products in over 250 languages.
计算机辅助口译正在改变口译员的工作方式。 之前,他们用以下工具进行任务: 口译员控制台。口译员控制台位于口译间,是一个电子面板,上面有语言转换钮,耳机插孔,音量调节钮和麦克风控制钮。 词汇表。词汇表帮助口译员学习词汇,理解概念和问题,并加快目标语言输出。 口译交付平台。口译交付平台是允许电话,视频和机器口译的技术系统。 现在,出现了计算机辅助口译(CAI)的这种新型技术。 有了这些工具,口译员能提前准备,在现场活动时有所帮助,并协助后期处理。 首先,这些工具有助于改善口译质量和术语准确性。 下面让我们更详细地了解一下这项新技术的创新之处。 计算机辅助口译工具可以减少翻译错误,优化工作流程,提高工作效率,改善作业质量。 计算机辅助口译工具的重点是词汇表管理。 他们在译前,译中,译后对专业译者的帮助如下: 译前帮助:提供辅助材料数据库,提供提取,记忆和理解术语的工具以及即时综合文件。 译中帮助:如果口译员回忆不起某些术语,辅助工具可以提供多语词汇表并找到目标语中的对应词。 搜索术语可以是手动或者自动(通过语音识别)。 译后帮助:帮助口译员完善译后工作,如语言资产管理,质量评估和职能报告。 更多详情,请到《剑桥科学文摘》查看全文。 口译员很难现场翻译术语,例如与活动主题相关的专有名词或概念。 计算机辅助口译工具可以在屏幕上向口译人员实时显示术语。工具原理是分析讲话人的词汇,并找出口译员可能不知道的术语。 这可以帮助口译员在现场轻松地处理名称,实物和数字。 在计算机辅助口译工具的帮助下,口译员已经记住了术语,所以就能专注于产出流利和精确的译文。 尽管计算机辅助口译技术逐渐流行,但使用它时仍存在一些弊端。 这项技术最大的缺点之一就是在接收信息之前,人类语言学家必须向数据库输入一个术语。 虽然这种人工查找机制在译前或者译后工作时很简单,当在口译间来做这件事就很费时了。口译员需要同时听,理解,翻译,产出和监控译文。 口译员在现场要产出口头译文,如果同时还要查找术语,那自然会不堪重负。 语音识别技术的发展开始解决这一问题。 另一个缺点是,一些口译员觉得在口译间有电脑程序是很奇怪的。 有时要改变很困难:口译员有时更愿意使用他们在整个职业生涯中已经用惯的传统方法。 尽管目前存在缺陷,但计算机辅助口译工具的使用量正在增加。随着时间的推移,这些工具将需要不断发展和改进,以便更好地被使用。 语音识别可能是一个重要的转折点:口译员不需要手动输入术语,他们可以大声说出术语,在数据库中搜索术语,从而更快地获得目的语对应术语。 计算机辅助口译工具在未来想要发展,需要进行更多的可用性测试,以帮助口译人员更好地使用程序,而不是被超载的信息所压倒。 口译员也必须有渠道来与其他专业人士分享适合使用这类程序; 开发人员必须与教育机构合作,使之成为现实。 培训和教育很重要:如果口译员在学校学习如何使用计算机辅助口译工具,那在他们工作之后,对这类技术的需求就会更大。 总体而言,很难预测计算机辅助口译技术的发展速度,因为对于花费大量资金在这一领域进行研究这件事,认为合理的口译员根本不多。 此外,许多口译员担心有一天,技术会夺走他们的工作,因此他们对使用新工具来协助工作犹豫不决。 然而,如果您的团队中的口译员希望流程简化,词汇表管理更方便,那么这些高级工具将非常适合您公司。 如果你想要更多关于口译或笔译的建议,请随时联系我们。 我们公司,RWS Moravia,旨在帮助世界各地的品牌创造引人注目且有效的产品,服务语言超过250种。

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