International Translation Day 2023
International Translation Day provides a valuable opportunity to pay tribute to language professionals, whose contributions foster cross-cultural dialogue and promote unity among nations. Their pivotal role extends to bridging language gaps in vital domains, particularly in healthcare, where access to education is paramount.
Vulnerable populations often reside in remote regions worldwide, where a lack of linguistic comprehension regarding their sense of identity, social integration, and economic participation places them at a significant disadvantage. At TeachAids, we firmly believe that language barriers should never impede access to care. Navigating the healthcare system itself can be a formidable task, which is further compounded by the scarcity of comprehensive information available in local and regional languages. Precise and accurate translations of words, idioms, and phrases are essential for individuals to absorb and retain life-saving knowledge. Thus, the role of translators assumes paramount importance, as they convey nuanced meanings and depths of understanding that are often absent in the limited medical vocabulary of the English language.
In our pursuit to broaden the reach of HIV education, we undertook the challenging task of translating our materials into products used in more than 80 countries. While the creation of translations may appear straightforward in a world replete with translation tools, we must exercise utmost caution, especially when dealing with medical information where word accuracy is crucial. Online machine translation tools are constrained by numerous limitations, such as their inability to capture the true essence of words and adequately translate idiomatic expressions. Similarly, human translations by professional translators are not devoid of errors, which poses challenges as well.
To ensure the superior quality of our educational resources, TeachAids implemented a meticulous translation and back-translation process (explained here by our founder, Dr. Piya Sorcar). In the talk, Dr. Sorcar shares instances illustrating the necessity of this research-based translation approach. Although this process is time-consuming, we attach immense importance to using a rigorous process.
Conversely, adept translations have the power to enhance efficacy by raising awareness and empowering patients. Our “Prevention Begins With Me” software is currently accessible in 13 languages and has reached users in 82 countries. It is our unwavering mission to provide this critical information to hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide, and our dedicated translation efforts have played a pivotal role in achieving this objective.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to every stakeholder who has generously contributed their skills, efforts, and time in helping to translate the TeachAids education content. Today, on International Translation Day, we wholeheartedly applaud the tireless work you do, which not only bridges language barriers but also brings us closer to a world where vital knowledge is accessible to all.