Kabod Language Services is your trusted partner in breaking down communication barriers.
Are you looking to expand your reach to new people and markets? Look no further! Kabod Language Services is your trusted partner in breaking down communication barriers. Our expert team is equipped to handle : • Expert Translation and Interpretation • Precise Transcription and Voiceover • Tailored Localization and Transcreation • Seamless Subtitling Services • Top-notch Revision and Post-Editing Services • Advanced Machine Translation Post-Editing Services • Clear and Concise Plain Language Services • Unparalleled Linguistic Quality Assurance Experience the difference with Kabod Language Services. Contact us today at languages@kabodgroup.com
There Will Be More Collaboration Amongst African Language LSPs – Oluwatobi J. Oladipo
The language industry in Africa is full of untapped opportunities. Kabod has ventured on a journey of identifying, documenting, and highlighting inspiring stories and innovative projects from entrepreneurs, researchers, and freelancers in the Translation, Interpretation, and Natural Language Processing (NLP) communities. The final goal is to celebrate African professionals in the language industry and facilitate knowledge and experience sharing. Mr. Oluwatobi J. Oladipo is the co-founder of iVoiceAfrica, he is a voice-over artist and a translator in Nigeria. His love and devotion to the development of African languages are unmatched. Kabod: What attracts you to the language industry? I have had the opportunity to live in different cities around the world and to interact with different people that didn’t necessarily speak the languages that I’m fluent in. When I saw that I got to a point in my life or to some places where I could not particularly communicate with the next person, I began to think of possible solutions. How about a solution where, although not a solution necessary that we all speak the same language, but a solution where you can have an understanding of what I am saying, irrespective of when we speak two different languages? And that, for me, was the one thing that attracted me to the language industry to see how humans can actually communicate irrespective of the language differences that they have. Kabod: What does translation mean to you? So this would also be a continuation of the last question because translation for me is beyond the text-to-text representation of what is trying to be said or what is trying to be expressed. I believe that translation also embodies mannerisms and using the right tones and the right principles of that language to communicate. Furthermore, I also believe that the reason why we do translation work as individuals or companies is because we are trying to actually speak to a certain audience or we are trying to speak to an actual person. It would only just be right if I spoke to you in a way that you would understand and that, again, is the basis of communication. I need to ensure that you understand and you can put into context what I’m saying to you. Kabod: How did the idea of creating iVoiceAfrica come up? On this question, iVoiceAfrica, the name is special to me because it was a name that I never thought about. It was a name that just came to me when I started my career as an independent voiceover artist. I returned back to Nigeria full-time in 2017. While I was in Nigeria, I started freelancing for broadcast agencies, I meant to say, and radio stations and ad agencies. I remember at the time I was working with a company in Barcelona, one of the requirements that they needed from me was a website of my own. I took a week off and I created a website on my own from scratch. I remember when I wanted to purchase the domain, the only name or the only thing that came to my head was iVoiceAfrica because I was already a voiceover artist. I used to do voiceovers in French and English and sometimes in Pidgin, with my unique African accent. I think why I chose that name because I wanted people to know that you are unique despite being an African and even having a distinct African accent. I wanted people to know that you’re unique and be proud to show it off to the world that this is what you do and what you’re about. That was why I believe that the name came to my head. But most significantly, I knew that I wanted to express this feeling to every African that was coming in as a voiceover artist. Even if you’re a content creator, I wanted to be able to extend this to everybody saying, irrespective of what accent you have or what language that you speak, it is special and unique. Most importantly, people need it. That became the new business model of iVoiceAfrica when I decided to transition from being just a voiceover artist. Kabod: How did you become a co-founder? When we started working, that is when we started creating localization work for our clients in terms of translations, voiceovers, and interpretations; we got accepted to Microsoft for startups in 2022, the first quarter of 2022. One of the requirements that we had at the time was that we needed to create a tech-enabled company. So at that time, we had one of our friends, who used to be a consultant for us on technology and business development and strategy. Hence, she joined us full-time as a co-founder and the technical co-founder and we began to develop new business models and new business cases for how we can transition to be a tech-enabled company. Although that is still a work in progress, we are very sure that sometime this year, 2023, we will be able to announce to the world what we are trying to do next as a company. Kabod: What are some challenges you encountered during your career? For some of the challenges that we encountered in our career, I’m going to answer this from the perspective of iVoiceAfrica, not myself as a voiceover artist, although they still go hand in hand. I think the biggest challenge that we face in localization, particularly from Africa, is that we have lots of languages. We have over 2,000 languages and 7,000 dialects in Africa. In addition to that, finding professional resources that are able to deliver quality in these languages is also very hard. We always have to go the extra mile, do the extra marketing, and do the extra sales. The fact that I speak multiple African languages also helps. For instance, when I’m speaking to people in places or countries like Congo, Guinea Bissau, and so on, I communicate effectively with them. In some regards, that could also be
Language Translation Price List
Check out our Language Translation price list. We offer unbeatable services in the Language Translation Industry. TRANSLATION SERVICES French/English/All African local languages Source document type Price per page Ghanaian Birth Certificate/Acte de Naissance Ghanéen GHS 80 Driving Licence/Permis de Conduire GHS 80 Police Record/Casier Judiciaire GHS 80 Certificate/ Diplôme GHS 80 Results Slip/Relevé de Note GHS 80 Identity Card/Carte d’Identité GHS 80 Passport/Passeport GHS 80 Non-ghanaian Birth Certificate/Acte de naissance non ghanéen GHS 100 Transcript/Bulletin Scolaire GHS 100 Personal Letters/Lettres Personnelles GHS 100 Non Academic Testimonials/Attestation non scolaire GHS 100 Business Letters/ Lettres Commerciales GHS 100 Marriage Certificate/Acte de Mariage GHS 100 Death Certificate/Acte de Décès GHS 100 Adverstising Documents/ Documents Publicitaires GHS 130 Product Labels/Étiquettes de Produits GHS 130 Curriculum Vitae GHS 130 Medical Reports/Rapport Médicaux GHS 130 Invoices/Factures/Récépissé GHS 130 Commercial Documents/Documents Commerciaux GHS 130 Conference Documents/Documents de Conférences GHS 130 Technical Documents/ Documents Techniques GHS 130 Legal Documents/Documents Juridiques GHS 130 Bank Statement/ Attestation Bancaire GHS 130 Other/Divers GHS 130 For any additional information, please contact the language services department via the following email address: language@languages.kabodgroup.com/
We Must Share The Good News & Beauty Embedded in our languages – Oluwadamilare Temitope Igbayiloye
The language industry in Africa is full of untapped opportunities. Kabod has ventured on a journey of identifying, documenting and highlighting inspiring stories and innovative projects from entrepreneurs, researchers and freelancers in the Translation, Interpretation and Natural Language Processing (NLP) communities. The final goal is to celebrate African professionals in the language industry and facilitate knowledge and experience sharing. Ms. Oluwadamilare Temitope Igbayiloye is an African languages activist in Nigeria. She is a Yoruba Language Coach, Translator, Content Creator and Founder of Akoniledeyoruba, an online Yoruba School. She helps individuals connect with their audience in Yoruba language such that they will be proud of their identity & values. Kabod: What attracts you to the language industry? As a native speaker, I am naturally endeared to my language and my grandmother encouraged me to teach it to foreigners when I was still a teenager. All these didn’t really matter to me until now because I see the result and feedback from parents and students about the transformation of our Yorùbá language school in their lives. Kabod: What do African languages mean to you? African languages mean a way of life to express myself and solve problems in the language I understand. Kabod: How did the idea of creating Akonilede Yoruba come up? After struggling with the thought of teaching children the Yoruba language, I eventually agreed to start a mini school in my living room with our nine-month-old daughter and my neighbour’s children in November 2018. So, I had a family meeting with my 3 younger brothers, my husband and a young guy who designed our first website then, we came up with different kinds of names, checked online and with CAC, (business registration site in Nigeria). I told them I wanted the word “Yorùbá” to be part of the name and I don’t want to focus on children only but teenagers and adults, especially those in the diaspora. Then we got the word “Ẹni” which means ‘a person’, and after so much deliberation we all coined the word together “Akọ́nilédè Yorùbá” which means ‘A Yoruba language coach’. Kabod: Why did you choose Yoruba? Do you plan on adding more languages to your company? I chose Yoruba because I understand the nitty-gritty of the language. Aside from being a native speaker, I studied the language up to the master’s level. For now, I’m only focused on Yoruba, probably in the future, we’ll add other languages. Kabod: What are some challenges you encountered during your career and this project ? One of the challenges I encountered at the early stage of my career was parental acceptance. Most parents don’t want their children to learn about their mother tongue while others believe that their children will pick it naturally and there’s no need to enrol them to learn from a school. I can confidently say that it doesn’t work that way anymore because there are several reasons why the child will not pick up the language naturally, thereby leaving the child to grow up and being a novice of his/her language. Also, there are not enough L2 Yoruba resources available online (I spent long hours designing my content, videos and resources, to teach the students). Then, the lack of Professional Yoruba language teachers. Most Yoruba teachers then were not willing to invest in themselves and learn how to teach the language online, which is totally different from the classroom teaching style they are all used to. I had to organise different kinds of training to enlighten Yoruba language teachers on how to teach online using the best practices and innovative methods. Kabod: Can you share some success stories of projects involving your company ? One of our major success stories is that we were able to educate parents on the importance of allowing their children to learn the language. We also have students from 8-10 countries who are learning the language from our school now. We have more than 10 professional teachers who are teaching the language in our school. I was also awarded the National Education Advancement Ambassador by SNEA and our language school was finally registered in the United States of America. To mention a few. Kabod: How can Africans position themselves to better tap opportunities in the global language industry? Africans can position themselves to tap into global opportunities in the global language industry by showcasing and going to the marketplace. If we don’t share the good news and the beauty embedded in our language and its benefits, no one will know about the language. I realised that most language upholders are not bold enough to talk about their language at national or international programs, conferences. When there are conversations at such events, as language upholders, we should strive to share our opinions in our language and proffer solutions to problems using our local languages. With this practice, I believe more attention will be given to African languages because of the solution we bring to the table. Kabod: What do you think are some challenges African languages face and how does your job help in solving those challenges ? The challenges are numerous, I will list a few. Inferiority – They’ve lied to us that our language is vernacular. I confidently say that my language is noble, my language is my identity – Èdè mi ni Ìdánimọ̀ mi. Solution – My job at Akọ́nilédè Yorùbá helps in solving this problem by sensitising our parents and sharing the values embedded in the language and culture. Unavailability of language resources – Most African languages words, cultures and traditions are not documented. Solution – In my school, we are documenting most Yoruba words, especially words that upcoming generations can use in their daily conversation, in our Yoruba bank word. Lack of recognition – In Africa, most of our languages are not recognized. Unlike other languages, there is no national day set aside for the recognition of our language. I believe that if this is in place, it will inspire the language upholders,
The People First Approach To HR In The 21st Century
Christus Codo, Programmes Assistant, People’s Management Unit Human Resources (HR) is an essential function of any organization, responsible for managing the most valuable asset, i.e., its employees. The traditional approach to HR has been focused on administrative tasks such as payroll, benefits, and compliance. However, with the changing times, businesses are moving towards a people-first approach to HR, where employees’ needs and experiences are prioritized. In this article, we will explore what it means to have a people-first HR approach. A people-first approach to HR focuses on employees’ needs, experiences, and well-being, rather than just administrative tasks. It involves providing employees with an engaging and meaningful experience that motivates and empowers them to achieve their full potential. It also involves developing a culture that supports and values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This concept focuses on people not on the company but on the staff’s personal and intellectual development so that as they grow they can also contribute to the growth of the company. “Take care of the people, and they will take care of the company’’ says Tracie Sponenberg. In the twenty-first century era, you don’t want to be a manager who seeks his/her interest first but who rather looks out for their staff, values them, and encourages them. You don’t want to be the reason why your workers don’t want to come to work, but you want to be the reason why they enjoy their work, and also the office environment. From a people-first perspective, it’s important to keep in mind that the ultimate goal is to be a solution to the problems employees face, rather than being a problem for them. By focusing on creating a positive work environment and providing resources and support to employees, you can help them overcome any challenges they may encounter. This approach not only fosters a sense of trust and respect between employees and management but also contributes to a more engaged and productive workforce. Therefore, as HR you should prioritize understanding and addressing the needs of your employees to ensure they are the solution, not the problem. Also, be an advocate for people, put yourselves in their shoes by prioritizing their needs, and by doing so, you create a more engaged workforce which leads to better performance and increased innovation. Finally, the more you value your workers, the more they value their work and protect the company’s interest. This strategy connects more with employees, whose needs and well-being are timely recognized and prioritized. That’s why at Kabod, we intentionally provide employees with opportunities for professional development, promote work-life balance, and build a culture of trust and respect. This approach results in lower turnover rates, higher job satisfaction, and better business outcomes overall. By putting people first, your business too can create a more supportive and productive work environment that benefits both employees and the organization as a whole. In this perspective, as HR leaders we must : In a people-first approach, technology is crucial in facilitating employee experiences and supporting their needs. By utilizing technology to automate administrative tasks, businesses can free up time and resources to focus on more meaningful and engaging interactions with employees. For example, employee self-service portals can enable employees to access and update their personal information, benefits, and pay, reducing the workload of HR staff. Additionally, technology can be leveraged to support remote work, flexible schedules, and personalized development opportunities. However, it’s important to keep in mind that technology should always be used in a way that enhances, rather than replaces, human interaction and connection in the workplace. Ultimately, technology can be a valuable tool in a people-first approach, and it should be used strategically and intentionally to support and empower employees. CONCLUSION The paper first to people first is one innovative way to shift people’s mindset about how they perceive the Human Resource field and how things are being handled in the office environment. It exposes more managers to their employees and vice versa. It puts people first and aims to streamline processes while minimizing the use of paper. By adopting a digital-first approach, businesses can improve their HR processes, increase efficiency, save on costs, and have a positive impact on the environment. It is an approach that businesses should consider to improve their HR operations while also contributing to a more sustainable future.
10 African authors writing only in African languages
KIRE, MAGÎTÛKORA, MAGÎTÛOROTA Mokire na mîtokaa mîkururaniona thuti hûre bathina iratû njiru ta ndumana thaa irametameta. Magîtûkora tumîte ibarûana mathîna maitû ng’ong’oona mîatuka itû magûrûinîNa ndangari iria tûîkîraga. Makîîarîrîa na thiomi cia rûrayamagîtûorotaga ithuî andû ethîmakiuga ati mîthiîre ituTi ûmwe na ûndûire witû. This piece is a Kikuyu poem both written and translated into English by the Kenyan writer Bryan Ngartia. It is generally a story by a poor rural young person criticizing the ‘They’. These are the learned elite who take pride in their origins and culture but blame the youth for abandoning their cultures without seeing their “motorcades,” “ironed suits,” “polished shoes,” “glittering watches,” and “foreign languages.” The poem silently bites at this habit which is quite common in Africa.’ Though I do not speak nor understand the Kikuyu language, it is good to see and read a poem written in an African language. It is beautiful to write in one’s local language. Writing in general is not an easy task, let alone in an African language. However, with the aim of promoting and preserving their language, quite a number of brave African intellectuals have distinguished themselves by writing in their local languages right from the beginning of their careers or shifted from writing in foreign languages to writing in African languages only. This piece pays tribute to these courageous authors, of whom 7 have passed. I- AUTHORS STILL ALIVE 1- EBRAHIM HUSSEIN (Tanzania: 1943 – ) Ebrahim Hussein is an iconoclastic Tanzanian playwright and poet. He is a leading member of the pioneering generation of African theater artists that rose to prominence in the revolutionary ferment of the 1960s and 1970s. He is also one of the best-known Swahili playwright, Tanzania’s most complex literary personality and a theorist whose dissertation on the theater in Tanzania remains the standard reference work. His plays are a corpus of theatrical material with great significance to an understanding of Tanzania’s political and social development in relation to the Swahili/Islamic coastal culture, of which he was a part. The Ebrahim Hussein Poetry prize is an eponym literary prize which is awarded annually since 2014 to the winner of the poetry contest under the same name. Follow this link to get the full list of his works. 2- PENINA O. MUHANDO (Tanzania: 1948 – ) Penina Muhando is a Tanzanian Swahili playwright, theorist and practitioner of Theatre for Development (a movement that sought to encourage marginalized people to use plays to engage in issues important to their lives within their communities and with experts) in Africa. She is one of the few female writers published in the Swahili language as of the late 20th century. She rose to become a Professor and Head of the Department of Theatre Arts at the University of Dar es Salaam. Her plays explore a variety of themes but are generally concerned with contemporary problems involved in Tanzanian society’s rapid adjustment to development and westernization. In addition to her plays, Muhando wrote several scholarly works in English dealing with Swahili literature, including Culture and Development: The Popular Theatre Approach in Africa (1991). She also appeared in the film Mama Tumaini (1986). Her work is generally distinguished by excellent characterizations and a natural, realistic use of modern standard Swahili. 3- NGUGI WA THIONG’O (Kenya : 1938 – ) Ngugi wa Thiong’o, originally named James Thiong’o Ngũgĩ, is one of Africa’s most important and influential postcolonial writers. He began his writing career with novels written in English, which revolved around postcolonial themes of the individual and the community in Africa versus colonial powers and cultures. As he became sensitized to the effects of colonialism in Africa, Ngugi adopted his traditional name and also committed to writing only in Kikuyu and Swahili after a one year imprisonment without trial by the Kenyan government for the staging of a politically controversial play. He is a perennial favorite for the Nobel Prize in Literature, and the winner of an uncountable number of awards and honors. His popular Weep Not, Child (1964) was the first major novel in English by an East African. In March 2021, The Perfect Nine became the first work written in an indigenous African language to be longlisted for the International Booker Prize, with Ngũgĩ becoming the first nominee as both the author and translator of the same book. He is the author of 8 novels, including 3 in Bantu, 3 short story collections, 3 plays in English and 1 in Bantu, 5 memoirs, 10 other nonfiction books, 4 children’s books. He considers language as a key tool for decolonizing the mindset and culture of African readers and writers and wrote the following works in Kenya’s Kikuyu : II- AUTHORS WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY 4- SHAABAN ROBERT, (Tanzania: 1909 – 1962) Shaaban bin Robert, is a Tanzanian poet, novelist, essayist, and biographer, considered one of the greatest writers of the Swahili language. This great man is also known as the “Father of Kiswahili Literature” or “the Shakespeare of Africa.” Aside from their purely literary value in the development of written Swahili literature, his works provided an important link between the origins of the language among the coastal ethnic Swahili and its acceptance and usage in the broader East African cultural milieu. He promoted the development and popularization of the Swahili language, principally through the writing of more than twenty works of multiple literary genres that were widely read in the 20th century. He wrote tales and poems such as “Sanaa ya Ushairi” and lectured on poetry and its relation to Swahili culture. He produced an autobiography, Maisha yangu (1949; “My Life”), and a biography, Maisha ya Siti Binti Saad, mwimbaji wa Unguja (1958; “Life of Siti Binti Saad, Poetess of Zanzibar”). His essays were collected in Insha ya mashairi (1959; “Essays and Poems’) and his notable work is Kusadikika. His remarkable contribution to the promotion of Kiswahili literature was celebrated through two awards, including the Margaret Wrong Prize and Medal for African Literature. 5– DANIEL OLORUNFEMI FAGUNWA (Nigeria – 1903-1963) D.O. Fagunwa was a fiction and creative writer, born at Oke-Igbo (now Ondo State). He was a teacher and Yoruba
Why must African translators be more open to change and innovation? – Ady Namaran
The language industry in Africa is full of untapped opportunities. Kabod has ventured on a journey of identifying, documenting and highlighting inspiring stories and innovative projects from entrepreneurs, researchers and freelancers in the translation, interpretation and natural language processing communities.
Top 15 free CAT Tools every Translator Must Know
Are you a translator looking for ways to boost your productivity and make more profit? This is what you need:Get yourself a CAT (Computer-Assisted Translation) tool! And this article provides you with a variety of free CAT tools that you can use as you prepare to get a paid one someday. Advancement in technology has allowed the development of numerous translation software programs that facilitate the translation of different text types more efficiently and expeditely. An example of these tools are CAT tools. This article will demystify the concept of CAT tools and aid you in choosing those suitable for you, while indicating those that are free of charge. What are CAT tools?CAT (Computer-Assisted Translation) tools have been designed to help translators in boosting productivity, translation quality and consistency. They facilitate editing, storing previous translations and using them for future projects. They include Wordfast, OmegaT, Trados, MemoQ, Memsource, Déjà Vù, Metatexis, Isometry, Phrase and a non-exhaustive list. Features of CAT tools There are many CAT tools on the market lately with different features included. Nevertheless, modern CAT tools tend to share several common features, namely: Top 15 free CAT tools There are many CAT tools on the market lately with different features included. Nevertheless, modern CAT tools tend to share several common features, namely: Top 15 free CAT tools There are two groups: desktop and cloud-based CAT tools. While desktop CAT tools are installed locally on your computer and can be used regardless of internet availability, cloud-based CAT tools require no installation but internet access. Most CAT tools are nowadays cloud-based. A. Desktop CAT tools 1.OmegaTOmegaT is an open-source software that facilitates translations (in Java) and runs on desktop computers (Windows, Linux and MacOS). It is compatible with Trados files, provides general translation and user glossary functionality, supports about 30 file formats including Microsoft Word, Excel, Power, XHTML and HTML, and Open Document Format. Download OmegaT 2.SimilisSimilis provides its users with a translation memory and supports XML, HTML, MS Word, OpenOffice, as well as Trados files.It offers a translation tool which allows you to translate Microsoft Word documents in interactive mode linked to a Similis server which helps to manage and pre-translate documents as well as helping with translation memory, glossaries, and alignment. The server dealswith all linguistic processes and stores data (memory, vocabulary etc.). Download Similis. 3.CaféTran EspressoOffering numerous powerful features such as MT integration, one-click replacement of suggested text, smart auto-completion as well as a customizable interface, it is a unique CAT Tool that can be used on Mac, Windows and Linux. With the free copy of CafeTran Espresso, you can access the tool forever. It allows you to work with TM files under 1000 TU’s in size and glossaries under 500 wordings/words. Download Cafetran 4.AnaphraseusAnaphraseus is a Wordfast macro for OpenOffice and works in the same way as Wordfast. It offers a TM editor, a translation tool, editing, and glossary creation. Download Anaphraseus 5.Poedit It is a localization management platform suitable for App localization, websites and game localization. Furthermore, it carries a traditional yet user-friendly interface that helps to start translating tools for WordPress translation. It syncs with popular repositories like GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and Azure, enables translators to review the translation history of a string and recover previous translations if needed and provides an option to crowdsource translations for your software. Download POEdit 6.ForeigndeskIt is an open-source software produced by the Lionbridge company. Not only that, but it runs on Windows and offers: An integrated translation environment (translation memory, terminology management, contextual visualization and translation assistance)– Possibility to add native support for new file formats– Option to add native support for new file formats– A project management assistant.Download Foreigndesk 7.G-translatorG-translator is a specialized translation tool that translates software and is programmed for use on GNOME desktop environments. It is a po. file editor, similar to the PO edit method used by gettext for the GNOME desktop environment. It processes all po file formats, compiled (gmo/mo), compressed (po.gz/po.bz2 etc.) and all the utilities of a text editor such as find/replace, automatic translation, learning transcribed messages, a message table, and easy navigation through messages and comments. Download G-translator B. Cloud-based CAT tools 8.MateCatWell-known for offering a wide variety of features, MateCat is a free online CAT tool that is solely focused on giving its users access to machine translation databases in order to improve their working efficiency. It has the largest translation memory of approx. 12 billion words. Users can simplify urgent project management by easily splitting the rush projects as teams of various fields like translators,quality, etc., work simultaneously on the same project. 9.PootlePootle is an open-source online translation management tool designed specifically for translating applications. It provides its users with an easy-to-use interface. Due to its easy use, Pootle is preferred by many translators and companies worldwide. Users can have the benefits of translating in any language being spoken worldwide and receive suggestions for continuous translations. 10.Wordfast Anywhere As the name suggests, Wordfast Anywhere offers a connection to public translation databases. However, it must be used online. It allows its users to create private Term Bases (TBs) and Translation Memories (TMs). As it runs on a web browser, different users can easily collaborate and work together on a translation project. 11.SmartCATSmartCAT has great advantages of being free, user-friendly, and comprehensive. It offers collaborative space and freelance marketplace. 12.AcrossOffering a complete translation environment including terminology management, translation memory, quality assurance, and project management, Across is a fully-featured CAT tool. It is compatible with Word Excel, PowerPoint, XML, HTML, InDesign, FrameMaker, rc, exe, dll. While the basic edition is available for free, the premium version can be used on a monthly-charge basis.Download Across 13.GlobalSightAn open-source translation management tool, GlobalSight streamlines, automates, and manages localization processes of firms and can be used by translators, project managers, and editors alike. 14.VirtaalIt is a multi-format translation tool with a specific focus on software translation only. Written in the Python programming language, Virtaal is developed and maintained by Translate.org.za. Moreover, it
Why you must stop being a general translator and find your niche – Laetitia Sullivan from South Africa.
The language industry in Africa is full of untapped opportunities. Kabod has ventured on a journey of identifying, documenting and highlighting inspiring stories and innovative projects from entrepreneurs, researchers and freelancers in the translation, interpretation and natural language processing communities. The final goal is to celebrate African professionals in the language industry and facilitate knowledge and experience sharing. Ms. Laetitia Sullivan is a sworn translator in South Africa. Her two working languages are English and Afrikaans. She is specialized in three fields, which are technological translation, legal translation and non-fiction book translation. She has shared about her experience in this interview. Do well to read it! Kabod: What attracts you to the role of translator? How did you start your career in the translation industry? I had an affinity for languages from a young age. My mother loves to tell the story of how I taught myself to read at the age of four because I was too impatient to wait for her to read to me. Many years later, when it was time to decide on tertiary studies, I wanted to study journalism but Stellenbosch University only offered it as a postgraduate degree. After finishing my bachelor’s degree and attaining more insight into what I would enjoy as a career, I settled on a postgraduate diploma in translation. After finishing our studies, a fellow student started working at a publishing company and because we kept in touch, she reached out to me to offer me my first translation job. The rest, as they say, is history! Kabod: How does your native language influence your fluency with other languages? It’s more a matter of the lingua franca in my country (English) influencing my native language (Afrikaans). Because I live in South Africa where we have 11 official languages (Sign Language to soon become the 12th), English is used for general communication so I have to constantly guard against the idiom of my native language being influenced by another language I hear and speak all day long. Kabod: What are some relevant projects you are currently working on? At present, I’m translating a series of books into Afrikaans on robotics and coding for primary school children. I also work on the User Interface localisation of software on a daily basis and I continue assisting people planning to emigrate with sworn translation services (Afrikaans into English). Kabod: What aspects of translation do you find most difficult? I find marketing translation or transcreation most difficult but also most satisfying, as you have to convey the message and the emotion behind the words rather than just the literal meaning of the text. Kabod: How do you market yourself and your services as a translator? I use various outbound and inbound marketing strategies such as my website, posting on LinkedIn, networking with my colleagues, and attending conferences, webinars and events. Kabod: How did you get your first contract? I received my first translation task from a colleague whom I kept in touch with after we both left university. She went on to work at a publishing house and I started translating cookbooks for her. Kabod: How can African translators position themselves to better tap opportunities in the global language industry? African translators should take part in conversations happening on social media regarding the language industry. This way they attract the attention of the ‘big players’ in the industry and can inform the rest of the world about the opportunities existing in Africa. African languages translators should also consider banding together to attract clients who are looking for ‘one-stop shops’ rather than dealing with individual translators. Kabod: What strategies do you use to increase your pool of clients while maintaining the existing ones? I post relevant information on social media to attract clients and I also send out a quarterly newsletter to past clients with translation industry news and language tips. I also reach out to past clients via email when I haven’t heard from them in a while. Likewise, I sometimes reach out to clients directly on LinkedIn if we have mutual interests or have built a relationship. Kabod: Do you have any translation areas that you specialise in? Why those topics? I’m a sworn translator admitted to the High Court of South Africa (Western Cape Division). So, my day-to-day translation work involves texts and documents of a legal nature for use in a court of law or for emigration purposes. I like the precise nature of legal language and producing documents that help people improve their lives. I also have a further specialisation in UI/UX translation where I work on large-scale software localisation projects for tech giants. Furthermore, I have always been interested in how technology can make things easier, quicker and more convenient, so I enjoy working on tech-related translation. My third specialisation is non-fiction book publishing, especially cookbooks and texts involving food and beverages. I started out working on this subject matter so it will always be close to my heart, but I also believe that the sharing of food can bring people together which no other way can. Kabod: Are you using Computer Assisted Translation tools? Which one do you prefer and why? I use CAT tools on a daily basis for consistency across my work and to improve productivity. I also use OCR software to convert documents sent as scans or difficult file formats to facilitate a better workflow. My CAT tool of choice is Trados Studio 2022 but I also regularly use Memsource (now Phrase) for agency work. I prefer Trados but only because I have been using it the longest and I’m more familiar with the user interface and functionality. Kabod: Do you think there is a viable market for African languages translation/interpretation? Are there enough economic opportunities for translators/interpreters in African languages? Yes, definitely. Economic activity on the content is projected to grow at a much faster rate than the rest of the world. Because the continent is home to more than a billion people,
3 Existing Awards in the Language Industry in Africa
Have your parents ever rewarded you with some toffees or money just because you did your homework well? How did you feel? Let me guess! You were very happy and made up your mind to always do your homework well to get more toffees, weren’t you? And again, how motivated were you to do something knowing that you would be rewarded for it? Indeed, the act of rewarding, as little as the reward may be, motivates one to do more. In the same way, awarding language professionals, whose job consists of helping people from different parts of the world bridge language barriers and connect, will benefit the language industry. Unlike industries such as football, music, and literature, which provide many awards for their heroes, the language industry provides few prizes, which are mainly for literary translations from and into various official languages. What are the existing awards in the African language industry? What are some awards that can be founded in Africa to promote the African language industry? Read to the end to find answers to these questions. 3 existing awards in the language industry In Africa Sol Plaatje Prize for Translation The Sol Plaatje Prize for Translation is a bi-annual prize first awarded in 2007 by The English Academy of South Africa with a cash prize value of R7 000 or $382 and an illuminated certificate. The English Academy is a non-profit organisation with over three hundred members from within and outside South Africa. They organise this prize in honourof Sol Plaatje. He worked as a court interpreter during the Siege of Mafeking, and translated works of William Shakespeare into Tswana. The Award, which bears his name, rewards excellence in the translation of a literary text (poetry or prose) of at least 1 000 words in one of the otherSouth African official languages into English. The purpose of the prize is to encourage effective mutual understanding in that multilingual country. Since then, the awards ceremony has been held. Previous Award winners 2019 – Michiel Heyns for The Shallows (Vlakwater by Lettie Viljoen), from Afrikaans 2018 – Leon de Kock and Karin Schimke for Vlam in die Sneeu, from Afrikaans 2017 – Held over to 2018 2015 – Not awarded 2013 – Daniel Sekepi Matjila and Karen Haire for Lover of His People: A biography of Sol Plaatje, from Setswana (by Seetsele Modiri Molema) 2011 – Daniel Kunene for My Child! My Child! by C. L. S. Nyembezi 2009 – Award withdrawn (Jeff Opland for Abantu Besizwe: Historical And Biographical Writings (by S.E.K. Mqhayi)) 2007 – Michiel Heyns for Agaat (by Marlene van Niekerk) Mabati-Cornell Kiswahili Prize for African Literature The Mabati-Cornell Kiswahili Prize for African Literature was founded in 2014 by the son of the world acclaimed language activist Ngugi Wa Thiongo, namely Dr Mukoma Wa Ngugi (Cornell University) together with Dr Lizzy Mabati (Short Story Day Africa). This prize “has the express goal of recognizing writing in African languages and encouraging translation from, between and into African languages.” The prize is named after its primary sponsors, Mabati Rolling Mills, a roofing company based in Kenya and Cornell University, an Ivy League university in Ithaca, New York. The Mabati-Cornell Kiswahili Prize for African Literature will now be known as the Safal-Cornell Kiswahili Prize for African Literature. The name change reflects the new parent organisation of one of its sponsors. Indeed, Mabati Rolling Mills of Kenya, a former major sponsor of the prize, is now a subsidiary of the East-Africa-based steel roofing conglomerate The Safal Group Limited. Despite the change in name, the objective of the prize remains the same. The award is a cash prize worth $15,000, which is divided among four different winners. 1st fiction/non-fiction Prize winner and 1st poetry Prize winner will receive $5000, respectively. Two runners-up, in any genre, will receive $2,500 each. From 2022 forward, the prize will only consider previously unpublished works. Previous Award winners 2021 Halfani Sudy for “Kirusi Kipya”(“New Virus”) (fiction) Lucas Lubago for “Bweni la Wasichana( The Girls’ Dormitory) (second-place winner, fiction) Moh’d Omar Juma for “Chemichemi Jangwani” (“Water Spring in the Desert) (poetry) 2020 Not awarded 2019 Lello Mmassy, Mimi na Rais (The President and I) (fiction) Moh’d Khamisi Songoro (poetry) 2018 Zainab Alwi Baharoon , Mungu Hakopeshwi (fiction) Jacob Ngumbau Julius (poetry), Moto wa Kifuu 2017 Ali Hilal Ali (fiction) Dotto Rangimoto (poetry) 2016 Idrissa Haji Abdalla_Kilio cha Mwanamke (fiction) Hussein Wamaywa_Moyo Wangu Unaungua (runners up) Ahmed Hussein Ahmed -Haile Ngoma ya Wana.” (poetry) 2015 Anna Samwel – Penzi la Damu (fiction) Enock Maregesi Kolonia Santita (runners up fiction) Mohamed K. Ghassani- N’na Kwetu (poetry) Christopher Bundala Budebah -Kifaurongo (runners up poetry) Marion Boers Prize for translation of work of fiction or non-fiction This prize is in honour of Marion Boers who was the President of FIT (International Federation of Translators) for two consecutive mandates from 2008 to 2014. She was also the Executive Director of SATI (South African Translators’ Institute) for more than two decades. This award is designed to promote the translation of works of fiction or non-fiction originally written in an African Language by a citizen of the 16 SADC (Southern African Development Community)countries. The prize may be awarded either for a single translation of outstanding quality or for the entire body of work of fiction or non-fiction involving at least one African language. Possible awards in the language industry in Africa Indeed, Kabod Group, the largest language service provider in Africa, together with partners will launch an Award Ceremony next year. The prizes are as follows: 1- Most innovative & successful African language project solutions Prize This prize is awarded to a freelance translator, interpreter or language service provider that comes up with an outstanding solution for any African language issue, be it in the area of collecting data and documenting African languages. 2- Best African languages software Prize This annual prize is presented to an individual or a group of people whose software has increased access or use of any African language. 3- Best Literary
Why you must never stop learning as a medical interpreter- Abdikadir Adan from Kenya.
The language industry in Africa is full of untapped opportunities. Kabod has ventured on a journey of identifying, documenting and highlighting inspiring stories and innovative projects from entrepreneurs, researchers and freelancers in the translation, interpretation and natural language processing communities. The final goal is to celebrate African professionals in the language industry and facilitate knowledge and experience sharing. Mr. Abdikadir Adan, is a freelance Medical Interpreter in Kenya. He works with three languages which are English, Somali and Swahili. He is committed to service and gives his best to please his clients. Kabod: What attracts you to the role of interpreter? I get fulfilment from providing language services to clients who are not able to express themselves as a result of language barriers. As a medical Interpreter, I have been able to serve patients in critical health conditions and in many situations; save lives through 911 emergency cases and this is what drives me. Kabod: How did you start your career in the interpretation industry? I started my career in Medical Interpreting after Covid hit and like many people, I got laid off from my previous job. Interpretation gave me all the flexibility that I needed in my day to day activities as I do work fully remotely. Kabod: What type of interpretation do you find most difficult? For me servicing court sessions is the most challenging aspect to handle because you need intensive training and knowledge to be able to handle legal /court sessions. Kabod: How do you market yourself and your services as an interpreter? I market myself through the LinkedIn platform by sharing my achievements and certifications so far attained. Kabod: How did you get your first contract? I got my first job as an Interpreter through a friend who later became a colleague. Kabod: How can African translators/interpreters position themselves to better tap opportunities in the global language industry? We can position ourselves better by providing top notch services as translators and interpreters in whatever jobs we are contracted for. Kabod: What strategies do you use to increase your pool of clients while maintaining the existing ones? I do a lot of research on companies that offer contracts that are in line with what I do. It’s Important to follow up with them in case they have openings and in instances where they don’t, I usually ask them to keep my files for future projects . Maintaining my contracts with my current Language service Co’s requires High standards of customer service and complying with work ethics & Principles among others. Kabod: How do you leverage technology to facilitate your work as an interpreter? As an interpreter, I do use Google translator in some instances where I want to double-check certain words that I might not be sure of. Kabod: Do you think there is a viable market for African languages translation/interpretation? Yes I believe there are opportunities out there for African Translators and Interpreters, especially for Interpreters from countries that got affected by civil wars and hence forcing their citizens to immigrate and seek asylum abroad. Kabod: Are you a member of ALATT or any strong network of interpreters? Kindly mention them. For translators, I am not a member of any company but for Interpreters, there are companies with good call volumes, e.g Language Line, Language link and Akorbi just to mention a few. Kabod: What are the three top pieces of advice that you will share with a budding interpreter from Africa from your experiences? 1. Make sure to keep on sharpening your language skills every day and never stop learning. 2. Maintain relationships with colleagues 3. Be updated every day with whatever is happening in your industry. Kabod: How do you envision the future of interpretation in African languages? I see most language services companies exploring Africa at some point in search of Interpreters / Translators because of the costs involved in running those companies abroad v/s in Africa due to labour costs. Thanks, Mr. Adan, for your time and for sharing your experiences with us. Are you also in the language industry in Africa? Would you also like to be featured in our Knowledge Exchange Series, which highlight the journey and experiences of African language translators, interpreters, computational linguists etc.,? Then, reach out to languages@kabodgroup.com to express interest.
The African Behind The World’s First Live Translation Earbud
Today, Artificial intelligence (AI) translation technologies have been the solution for many globetrotters to travel to any country even if they do not understand the language spoken there. Businesses are reaching diverse nationals with their services or products with the help of these technologies. AI translation tools are engineered to translate text/speech from one language to another. These usually come as online software or mobile apps. But this article highlights an invention that will blow your mind. An earbud engineered to perform real-life translation into over 40 languages. An invention such as this must be flagged as top-notch ingenuity. The man behind this ingenious invention is a Ghanaian by the name, Danny Manu, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Mymanu – the designer and manufacturer of the world’s first live translation earbud that helps individuals and companies break language barriers with its inventions. Danny highlights the importance of AI translation technology in these words, “By breaking down language barriers, AI translation enables people and organisations to reach out to a wider community. From teaching new skills to deprived communities, sharing best practices with international colleagues to develop skills faster, and discovering new cultures to understand people better, this can have such a positive impact on communities globally”. Mymanu Products Mymanu first introduced the Mymanu click, a versatile wireless earbud, designed to break language barriers. With this earbud, you can listen to songs in HD sound, make calls, and have access to messages and notifications. In case you are travelling with it, no need to worry about the longevity of the battery- it can stay on for 30 hours. Apart from the functionalities above, the earbud can perform live voice translation that currently supports 40 languages. Mymanu click+ was produced in 2017 and the updated version in 2021 known as Mymanu Click S. This year, 2022, Mymanu Clik S was selected as part of the 20 finalists of the Amazon Launchpad Innovation Awards. Mymanu being featured on the Amazon platform testifies to the credibility of the product. The translation functionality of the device is powered by a messaging app MyJumo which is proprietary of Mymanu and designed to aid communication in multiple languages, the best gadget for travellers, and companies who want to internationalise. Mymanu Titan Early this year, Mymanu titan was unveiled and shook the telecommunication industry as the first voice-activated, e-sim-powered earbuds. A screen-free device that functions as a phone. This means you can choose to be without your phone and still make calls, listen to music in HD, send or receive messages and again with the MyJumo app you have a live translation. In a month, Titan will be on market, and you have the chance to secure a 51% early bird discount if you join the waitlist. Apart from earbuds, Mymanu also produces wonderful products such as; a magnetic 3-in-1 charger, magnetic phone case, wireless charger, and conference speaker. To know more about how Mymanu products are helping businesses make it big in this globalised world of diverse languages; travellers travelling without the fear of language barriers, and changing industries such as health and tourism, this blog might be of interest to you. There is no doubt that AI translation helps individuals and companies interact with audiences that would have been shut out because of language barriers. With these language technologies, we are marching towards an inclusive world without language barriers. I would very much appreciate that, and if you know of any language technology made by an African, do share in the comment section as well I would love to dig into it.
6 ways to limit enslavement to foreign languages in Africa
Africa is a multilingual continent with diverse and numerous languages. According to the 2018 edition of the Ethnologue Global Dataset, we have 2143 living languages as well as over 8000 dialects in Africa, which is therefore the most linguistically endowed continent. Ngugi Wa Thiongo during a lecture in Johannesburg on Reviving African Languages iterated that “If you know all the languages of the world and you don’t know your mother tongue or the language of your culture, that is enslavement. But if you know your mother tongue or the language of your culture, and add all the other languages of the world to it, that is empowerment.” Few ideas have already been shared on how to ensure that African languages are being preserved and promoted. Here we shall look at more ways to improve those methods and minimise Africans’ dependency on foreign languages. 1) Enrich the vocabulary—the totality of words in African languages. In order for languages to increase and become better, they need a rich vocabulary. Creating more words would enhance the use and quality of African languages. For example, in Ghana and Ivory Coast, there is a language called Twi which is spoken by 17 to 18 million people. Although it is spoken almost everywhere, it does not have a strong vocabulary with technical words and expressions to describe certain aspects of reality. A practical example is the title of this article. I planned to write “Improving the quality, availability and accessibility of African languages” into Twi. I first used an application to to it and it gave “Mfasoɔ a ɛwɔ so, sɛnea ɛte wɔ Abibiman kasa ahodoɔ mu ne sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ yie” as a translation which rather means “The importance of it, how it is in various African languages and how it can be improved”. I then decided to ask a friend who is a Ghanaian to translate it. Unable to do it, he also had to ask another friend and later confessed: “Twi lacks a lot of vocabulary. Hence, quite a number of words in twi have the same connotations in English but the meanings are distinctive”. I was not able to convey the correct idea. It was quite difficult to convey exactly what I wanted and that shows the vocabulary of most African languages need to be enriched, especially if we want to use them as lingua francas. 2) Be proud of ourAfrican languages and encourage leaders to use it publicly. Speaking African languages will help everyone get familiar with them and we must seize every opportunity to use them in public. Like Ngugi Wa Thiongo said, “Make it both cool and clever to know an African language”. Imagine I am selling shoes. Even though all clients are important, getting Bill Gates or Alassane Ouattara (the President of my country) to buy my shoes, will make everyone think they are of good quality. Right? Now, let’s try to apply that same analogy to African languages. If presidents, ministers, or influential African leaders were speaking African languages during worldwide conferences and events, people would automatically see those languages as significant, and they would be considered with more seriousness. Ibrahim Anoba lists this and language barrier as one of the obstacles to achieve the continental project of the United States of Africa. IBRAHIM ANOBA What do you think ? Do you think this could be enough? Of course, no! Hence, let’s look at more ways! 3) Writing more books and multimedia content in African languages Books carry knowledge, they make physically available anything anyone would like to share. For example, when I was a kid, I used to write little stories about anything and those words were carrying my thoughts and knowledge. Now ! Imagine writers make books or anyone writes in their respective African languages. This is going to catapult the availability of African languages everywhere and will contribute to their development. We have authors like: Ngugi Wa Thiongo whom I quoted in the introduction, who decided to write only in his mother tongue since the year 2000. Nhlanhla Maake who has published twenty-five books of fiction and non-fiction in Sesotho and English. Sabata-Mpho Mokae who is the author of a biography The Story of Sol T Plaatje (2010) and novels Ga ke Modisa (2012), Dikeledi (2014) and Moletlo wa Manong (2018). Imagine that more Africans do well to write in their mother tongues. Can you imagine how this would result in the growth of African languages and creation of new businesses? 4) Teaching African languages everywhere possible to spread their use Teaching African languages in schools for instance or in different institutions will ease their availability on the market. For instance, there are some languages in Ivory Coast that I would not have known were existing if I did not see or learn them at school. Each African government must ensure that there are language schools where people, especially foreigners and tourists, can learn the indigenous language. People can’t speak our language properly if not taught, and places to learn them effectively must be created as much as possible through collaboration with language schools and the upgrade of selected local languages as official languages, despite the “representativity controversy” that this could generate. 5) Intensive and intentional promotion of content written in African languages There are trillions of books published in English, French and other international languages. But a tiny portion of books are directly published in African indigenous languages. Indigenous languages can grow quickly through media and culture, especially the movie, music and publishing industry. Below are examples of 3 notable publishing projects in indigenous languages from South Africa: The Indigenous Languages Publishing Programme which offers free reading material in isiZulu, isiXhosa, Sesotho, Sepedi and English, believes that being read to in your home language is an essential and powerful part of developing literacy skills, and one that makes all other learning easier. The reprint of South African classics in indigenous languages to promote the culture of reading and writing in indigenous languages, thereby
African translators must upgrade their command of African languages – Mouhamed Diop from Senegal
The language industry in Africa is full of untapped opportunities. Kabod has ventured on a journey of identifying, documenting and highlighting inspiring stories and innovative projects from entrepreneurs, researchers and freelancers in the translation, interpretation and natural language processing communities. The final goal is to celebrate African professionals in the language industry and facilitate knowledge and experience sharing. Mr. Mouhamed Diop, our next interviewee is the founder of AA-Langues, a translation company in Senegal. They provide translation services in three languages which are English, French and Wolof. Here is a fruitful interview we had with him. Kabod: What attracted you to the role of translator? How did you start your career in the translation/interpretation industry? I love languages and I started my professional career in 2015 after completion of my MA in translation at Gaston Berger University in Saint-Louis, Senegal. Kabod: How does your native language influence your fluency with other languages? My native language is Wolof. It does not influence my other working languages very much because I have a strong command of both English and French and teach them as well. Kabod: What are some of the relevant initiatives or projects you are currently working on? I intend to carry out an academic research on the issues and difficulties accredited translators face in Senegal, and suggest long-lasting solutions. Kabod: What type of translation do you find most difficult? Legal translation is more difficult than any other translation type. Jurists have their own way to formulate sentences and the translator must always seek to translate as faithfully as possible while avoiding literal translation that might be nonsensical. Kabod: How do you market yourself and your services as a translator? 90% of my clients contact me thanks to my references on my blog, promoting websites like www.goafricaonline.com, www.astra-sn.com and my own website. Kabod: How did you get your first contract? I got my very first contract through my teachers. Kabod: How can African translators position themselves to better tap opportunities in the global language industry? African translators should work in creating well-organized and honest professional networks. Maybe it is good to have one’s own website or a LinkedIn profile, but being part of a bigger family seems much better. African translators must also upgrade their command of African languages because as translators, our first mission should aim to promote our local languages. Kabod: What strategies do you use to increase your pool of clients while maintaining the existing ones? I always respect deadlines. I do spotless work and I am available and honest. For example, I never accept to work towards a language that I do not have a command of though I have notions of it. Also, the deadlines I give are always respected. This is mostly enough for clients to keep contacting you and linking you to more people. Kabod: Do you have any translation topics you specialize in? Why those topics? I specialize mostly in the fields of animal health, agriculture, nutrition and food because I did my translation internships only with NGOs working in bettering equid animals’ lives. Kabod: Are you using Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) tools? Which one do you prefer and why? CAT tools are a must. 80% of clients often complain about being in a hurry and without CAT tools, tight deadlines will not be honored. I mostly use Trados Studio, Deepl, Wordfast and Memsource. Sometimes, clients express their needs in working with a particular CAT tool. Kabod: Do you think there is a viable market for African languages translation/interpretation? Are there enough economic opportunities for translators/interpreters in African languages? There is a growing interest in African languages. I do believe African languages specialists will be served sooner or later. Kabod: Are you a member of a strong network of translators? I am a first-hour and regular member of Astra (Association sénégalaise des traducteurs) created in September 2017 in Dakar. Kabod: What are the three top pieces of advice that you will share to a budding translator/interpreter from Africa from your experiences? 1) A translator must read a variety of texts 2) Watch documentaries 3) Discuss with resourceful people on any topic Kabod: How do you envision the future of translation in African languages? The growth of African languages has no limit. An unexplored or less explored thing always has the power of attraction, but the future of African languages will depend on the day Africans themselves will start to seriously learn their mother tongues and use them officially on top of “received or imposed languages”. Thanks, Mr. Mouhamed, for your time and for sharing your experiences with us. Are you also in the language industry in Africa? Would you also like to be featured in our Knowledge Exchange Series, which highlight the journey and experiences of African language translators, interpreters, computational linguists etc.,? Then, reach out to languages@kabodgroup.com to express interest.
The market is very big for African Languages Translators – Stephen Kwadwo Boateng from Ghana
The language industry in Africa is full of untapped opportunities. Kabod has ventured on a journey of identifying, documenting and highlighting inspiring stories and innovative projects from entrepreneurs, researchers and freelancers in the translation, interpretation and natural language processing communities. The final goal is to celebrate African professionals in the language industry and facilitate knowledge and experience sharing. Mr. Stephen Kwadwo Boateng is next on our list! He is the founder of iTranscribe Consult in Ghana. They offer language consultation, translation, interpretation, transcription and transcreation services into Asante Twi and English languages, etc. Below is the result of a conversation with him about his journey in the language industry. Kabod: What attracts you to the role of translator? How did you start? My zeal to see African Languages reach the global world with no difficulties is what attracts me to the role of translator. I started as a translator in 2013 after gaining admission to the university to study Asante Twi. Since then, I have loved to work in the language industry and I am currently working more as a language consultant. Kabod: How does your native language influence your fluency with other languages? The Asante Twi dialect which is a part of the Akan Language is unique. Aside from its tonal nature, it has various sounds that are similar to other languages, especially the English Language. Kabod: What are some relevant initiatives you worked on? I have personally worked on the Google Gboard project which is a keyboard available on all stores that seek to have a word bank for suggesting words while users type in Twi. Kabod: What aspect or type of translation do you find most difficult? Why? Technology/Engineering Domain because with Akan where I work in, technology and engineering has very limited or almost no vocabulary. What we mostly do is to transliterate which becomes very difficult due to our alphabet. Kabod: How do you market yourself and your services as a translator? I have a website and on almost all language providers websites such as ProZ, freelancer, fiver, upwork. This helps people to reach out to us when they search for our services online. Kabod: How did you get your first contract? I had my first contract via Facebook after I sent a message to Kasahorow; one of the companies dedicated to promoting African Languages. Interestingly, they replied to my message after a year, but that was a breakthrough for me as a translator. Kabod: How can African translators position themselves to better tap opportunities in the global language industry? With the growing technological trends, African Language Providers should be very visible online by joining all Language Providers sites like the ones i listed above which are ProZ, freelancer, fiver, upwork, etc., and remain committed to clients for recommendations. Kabod: What strategies do you use to increase your pool of clients while maintaining the existing ones? Mostly after our first encounter with a client, we continue to send them messages during holidays. We also have personal contacts with some of them to still get in touch with them. We keep advertising to reach out to potentially new clients. Kabod: Do you have any translation topics or areas that you specialize in? Why those topics? Yes, and it is because no one is a repository of knowledge. When I get a project outside my domain, I spend time reading up on the subject and continue to update myself with other areas. Kabod: How do you leverage technology to facilitate your work as a translator? Which Computer Assisted Translation tool do you prefer and why? Yes, technology has been a very instrumental part of our work as translators. I use CAT tools and mostly clients give access to some of these CAT tools for their projects. I personally use OmegaT, WordBee and Trados. Kabod: Do you think there is a viable market for African languages’ translation? Are there enough economic opportunities for translators in African languages? Yes, I think the market is very big for African Languages Translators. However, solely freelancing as an African Language Translator is a bit difficult to sustain one economically. I will advise African Languages Translators to look for other opportunities such as Transcription, Transcreation, Subtitling in their language pairs. Kabod: Are you aware of any network for translators in African languages? Are you a member of a strong network of translators or interpreters such as ALATT? Kindly mention them. No, I personally don’t belong to any Network for African Languages. I think there are Country Based Networks, but not an African Wide one. However, I am a member of the International Literacy Association. Kabod: What are the three top pieces of advice that you will share to a budding translator/interpreter from Africa from your experiences? 1. Build online presence 2. Invest in yourself and CAT tools 3. Network with other Language Professionals Kabod: How do you envision the future of translation in African languages? I see a very great future for the language industry in African Languages, however, with the current trends of technology, I think machine translation even in African Languages will gradually take over the industry in the future. Thanks, Mr. Kwadwo, for your time and for sharing your experiences with us. Are you also in the language industry in Africa? Would you also like to be featured in our Knowledge Exchange Series, which highlights the journey and experiences of African language translators, interpreters, computational linguists etc.,? Then, reach out to languages@kabodgroup.com to express interest.
