Introduction
In a world where 7,000 languages are spoken, how do we communicate across geography, language and culture borders? Translation is the answer. In everyday life, translation might not be seen as much but its role can be felt in almost every aspect of our life.
From business, diplomacy, culture and technology, translation plays a vital role in keeping flow of good communication and understanding in an increasingly connected world. If so, how important is translation actually?
Bridging Communication Gap
Translation is a main bridge that made intercultural dialogue possible. Without translation, communication between people from different language backgrounds will be very limited.
Books, news articles, films and other media can be easily accessed by a global audience thanks to translation. For example, how do we enjoy ancient Greek literary works or French award winning films if they are not translated?
Not only in the classic media, in this digital era, translation also plays an important role in social media. With content that is being uploaded in real-time, information from other parts of the world can be instantly accessed by other people thanks to automated translation that is available on various platforms.
Even though the digital translation tool is in the uprising because of AI, the human aspect of it such as cultural context, style and creativity, ethics and sensitivity is very important, and no amount of AI could replace that.
Impact on Global Business
In the business world, translation plays a crucial role in expanding the market. Large corporate companies like Apple, Samsung to small start up companies with global orientation, are very dependent on translation to sell their product to international consumers. Translation of marketing material, product manual, to after-sales service is a key to reaching a wider audience.
Not only is literal translation important, but also the “localization” process that is often included in international marketing strategies. This means that the translated material must not only be understood, but also be adapted to local culture.
Without understanding the differences in this culture, companies can experience failure in conveying effective messages and even face reputational crises due to misunderstandings.
Translation also plays a role in preventing miscommunication that can be potentially detrimental in law, business contract, and negotiation. In the global business world, wrong translation can cause major financial consequences, to tensions in relations between companies. Therefore, an accurate translation is essential to maintain clarity and security in international business translations.
Diplomacy and International Relation
In a diplomatic world where words have extraordinary power, translators and interpreters have a crucial role. They ensure that the message delivered by a nation can be understood clearly by another nation, without any misinterpretation that can lead to a diplomatic conflict.
During summit meetings, international conferences, or peace negotiations in conflict areas, translators work hard to maintain open and transparent communications.
Legally binding international agreements, such as merchant agreements or climate agreements, are very dependent on accurate translation so that the parties involved can understand it well. Mistakes in the translation of such agreements can lead to complex legal issues and political tensions.
Preserving and Sharing Cultural Heritage
Translation is also an important tool in preserving and sharing cultural heritage. Through translation, literary, artistic and historical works from various cultures can be enjoyed by people all over the world.
Without translation, we would not be able to enjoy great literature from writers like Mark Twain, Anne Frank and Leo Tolstoy, we would not be able to enjoy a great fantasy stories from George R.R Martin, Andrej Sapkowski and J.R.R Tolkien, we would not be able to read great advice from philosopher like Confucius, Socrates and Plato.
More than simply conveying stories or information, translation allows us to develop empathy and understanding of other perspectives. Translation opens a window into worlds and experiences that we may not have experienced ourselves. This helps build deeper understanding between cultures and fosters mutual respect.
The Importance of Translation in Technology and Science
In the world of technology and science, translation ensures that the latest discoveries and innovations can be shared widely. Scientific research and publications are often translated into different languages to make the knowledge accessible to scientists around the world. This accelerates scientific and technological progress because researchers from different countries can collaborate and share their findings.
In the world of health, for example, translation is very important in disseminating medical guidelines, research results, or treatment protocols to various countries.
That way, new discoveries in the medical field can be applied globally to improve public health. For example,
during a global pandemic, translation of information related to COVID-19 is critical so that prevention and treatment measures can be understood worldwide.
However, with the development of technology, new challenges also arise. Translation engines based on AI make translation easier, but they have limitations in capturing cultural nuances, idioms, and more complex contexts.
This is why the expertise of human translators remains indispensable, especially in more complex translations.
Conclusion
So is translation important? Without a doubt, the answer is yes. Translation is the key to opening global communications, strengthening international business, encouraging diplomatic cooperation, preserving culture, and advancing science.
In an increasingly connected world, the role of translation is becoming increasingly important to keep us understanding each other, despite coming from different languages and cultures.
Translation is not just about changing words, but about bridging people with each other around the world. And no amount of AI could replace the style, complexity and sensitivity that translator and interpreter put into their translation.
