? ? ? ??2020年，突如其來的新冠疫情對全世界產(chǎn)生了很大的影響，也使一些行業(yè)發(fā)生了顛覆性的變革，翻譯行業(yè)也不例外。大量現(xiàn)場活動和會議取消，以及各個領(lǐng)域?qū)Ψg的需求銳減，使得翻譯行業(yè)面臨巨大沖擊。那么，在這個過程中，誰受到的沖擊力最大？誰又能在變革的洪潮中站立得?。糠g行業(yè)受到哪些影響？前景又會怎樣？

? ? ? ??今天，Yee君就帶大家看看美國Language Magazine雜志所做的世界翻譯行業(yè)市場調(diào)研報告↓

（圖片來源：視覺中國）

? ? ? ??COVID-19 has changed the world irrevocably, forcing the translation and interpretation industry to rapidly adopt digital technology and tools to reduce the disruption of day-to-day operations.

? ? ? ??新冠疫情已無可避免地改變了這個世界，因此口筆譯行業(yè)也必須快速適應(yīng)數(shù)字技術(shù)和工具，以減少給日常業(yè)務(wù)帶來的不便。

? ? ? ??Since early March, multinational corporations and international associations have had to turn global, face-to-face events into online video conferences.

? ? ? ??自3月初起，跨國公司和國際組織紛紛將原本全球面對面的會議轉(zhuǎn)變?yōu)榫€上視頻會議。

? ? ? ??While frontline workers are undoubtedly the heroes of this crisis, interpreters have been essential to the smooth running of operations in many industries—from court hearings and medical appointments to government conferences and assisted learning.

? ? ? ??而前線的工作人員也無疑成為了這場危機中的英雄，從庭審到醫(yī)療預(yù)約，再到政府會議和輔助學(xué)習(xí)，口譯員在許多行業(yè)的順利運轉(zhuǎn)中扮演著至關(guān)重要的角色。

? ? ? ??However, there has been a significant strain on interpreters suddenly having to adapt to new remote and home working conditions—a situation which looks set to be the new normal.

? ? ? ??然而，口譯員卻突然要適應(yīng)遠程和在家辦公的新模式，這對于他們來說無疑是一種巨大的壓力，而這種模式即將成為一種新常態(tài)。

Who has been the worst hit?
誰受到的影響最大？

? ? ? ??Though many translators are no strangers to working from home with the aid of glossaries and style guides,?it’s the interpreters who work face-to-face who have been the worst hit.

? ? ? ??雖然許多筆譯員對于在家辦公并不陌生，他們可以借助術(shù)語表和翻譯風(fēng)格指南輕松實現(xiàn)在家辦公，但對于經(jīng)常需要面對面交流的口譯員來說，受到的影響最大。

? ? ? ??In a recent study by CSA Research,?55% of language service providers report a decrease in business since the outbreak of the pandemic and show great concern about the uncertainty of how long the pandemic will last.?They have less confidence in a quick return to business normalcy that they expected in May.

? ? ? ??據(jù)CSA Research最近發(fā)布的一項研究表明，55%的語言服務(wù)提供商表示，自新冠疫情爆發(fā)以來，業(yè)務(wù)量有所下滑，并對疫情持續(xù)時間的不確定性感到擔(dān)憂。他們對于迅速恢復(fù)商業(yè)常態(tài)的信心不如5月份時預(yù)期的那么大。

? ? ? ??Many have had to move their services to online platforms, with varying degrees of success. In an interview on the state of the language industry in early March 2020, German translator, Alexander Gansmeier, explained: “March, usually conference ‘high season,’ has been swept by a wave of cancellations.?The worse the global situation gets?(and country governments react accordingly), the more clients rely on the force majeure argument to try to avoid any cancellation fees.”

? ? ? ??許多語言服務(wù)提供商不得不轉(zhuǎn)戰(zhàn)線上平臺，取得成功的程度也各不相同。2020年3月初，德國筆譯員Alexander Gansmeier在接受關(guān)于語言行業(yè)現(xiàn)狀的采訪時表示：“通常3月是會議旺季，但是今年的會議卻紛紛取消。國際環(huán)境越糟（各國政府應(yīng)對方式不同），就會有更多客戶憑借不可抗力來拒付會議取消費?！?/p>

（圖片來源：視覺中國）

? ? ? ??The coronavirus had a significant impact on translators’ source of income,?but smaller companies that provide on-site interpretation have also felt the pressure.

? ? ? ??這場疫情對譯者的收入來源產(chǎn)生了重大影響，但提供現(xiàn)場口譯服務(wù)的小公司也倍感壓力。

? ? ? ??As an increasing number of events were cancelled, more clients cited force majeure (unforeseeable circumstances that prevent the fulfilment of a contract) as a means to avoid paying. This depletion of income is further compounded by a lack of infrastructure to allow for complete remote working.

? ? ? ??隨著越來越多的會議被取消，許多客戶要求憑借不可抗力拒絕付款。而由于缺乏硬件設(shè)施，無法實現(xiàn)完全遠程辦公，也進一步導(dǎo)致了收入銳減。

? ? ? ??Additionally, interpreters have been challenged to enter unchartered territory by working from home instead of a fixed booth installation.

? ? ? ??此外，口譯員在家里辦公，而不是在現(xiàn)場固定的同傳箱工作，因此面臨進入未知領(lǐng)域的挑戰(zhàn)。

? ? ? ??“We unexpectedly found ourselves in our apartments wondering how to continue performing our duties and contribute to multilingualism,” said Veronique Vandegans, head of the French Interpretation Section at the United Nations. “However, it quickly became apparent that?we could adapt and interpret remotely, given the proper equipment, testing and training.”

? ? ? ??聯(lián)合國法語口譯部負責(zé)人Veronique Vandegans說：“我們忽然發(fā)現(xiàn)我們身處家中，思考著該如何繼續(xù)履行我們的職責(zé)，為多語做貢獻。但是，我們很快就想明白了，我們可以適應(yīng)這種變化，通過合適的設(shè)備、測試和培訓(xùn)，實現(xiàn)遠程口譯?！?/p>

? ? ? ??Unfortunately, most language service providers have—until now—been operating traditionally and have thus struggled to take operations online during the pandemic.

? ? ? ??不幸的是，大部分語言服務(wù)提供商直到現(xiàn)在還在使用傳統(tǒng)運營方式，因此在疫情期間難以開展在線業(yè)務(wù)。

? ? ? ??That said, the rapid adoption of digital transformation caused by COVID-19 has proven to be a boon for many tech-savvy companies.

? ? ? ??盡管如此，由疫情帶來的對數(shù)字轉(zhuǎn)型的快速適應(yīng)也為許多精通技術(shù)的公司帶來了福音。

Who is thriving during the pandemic?

疫情期間，誰在繁榮發(fā)展？

? ? ? ??While Language Service Providers?(LSPs)?registered a decrease in demand for their services from sectors such as events or travel and leisure,?certain verticals seem to have seen a surge in demand.

? ? ? ??盡管公開活動、旅游休閑等領(lǐng)域?qū)φZ言服務(wù)提供商的翻譯需求有所下降，但某些垂直領(lǐng)域的需求則出現(xiàn)了激增。

? ? ? ??According to the CSA survey,?64% of LSPs report an increase in demand for interpretation in the health sector, with 59% reporting a higher demand from the life sciences, medical, and pharmaceuticals sector.

? ? ? ??根據(jù)CSA的調(diào)查，64%的語言服務(wù)提供商表示衛(wèi)生服務(wù)業(yè)的口譯服務(wù)需求增加，59%表示生命科學(xué)、醫(yī)療和制藥業(yè)的口譯服務(wù)需求增加。

（圖片來源：視覺中國）

? ? ? ??The change in demand for interpretation services appears to vary highly between sectors. Companies that already provide remote or virtual interpretation services are thriving as businesses look for ways to maintain communication with staff, prospects, peers, and the general public.

? ? ? ??不同行業(yè)對口譯服務(wù)需求的變化差別很大。能夠提供遠程或虛擬口譯服務(wù)的公司正在繁榮發(fā)展，因為許多企業(yè)都在尋找與員工、潛在客戶、同行和公眾保持溝通的方法。

? ? ? ??Video conferencing platform Zoom is a prime example of this—its stock has tripled in value over the last few months as remote working and video conferences become the norm.

? ? ? ??視頻會議平臺Zoom就是一個很好的例子——隨著遠程辦公和視頻會議成為常態(tài)，其股價在過去幾個月里漲了三倍。

? ? ? ??To return to a semblance of normality, some LSPs are actively encouraging more of their employees to work from home, using videoconferencing and online interpretation platforms to do so.

? ? ? ??為了使業(yè)務(wù)回歸正常狀態(tài)，一些語言服務(wù)提供商正積極鼓勵更多員工在家辦公，并通過視頻會議和在線口譯平臺來實現(xiàn)。

? ? ? ??In our new normal, this is the way of the future, and an inevitable progression that has been hastened by the COVID-19 pandemic.?With many companies having already extended their home office policy until late 2021.

? ? ? ??在新常態(tài)下，這是未來的趨勢，新冠肺炎大流行加速了這個必然的進程。許多公司已經(jīng)將在家辦公政策延長到2021年底。

What does the future look like?

前景如何？

? ? ? ??The key requirements for any LSP to succeed in our new normal are?resilience and adaptability. LSPs that can provide interpretation services via online platforms are already in a much better position than those that typically work offline. That’s not to say that offline LSPs are fighting a losing battle—in fact, it’s likely that many of these interpreters are already upskilling and familiarising themselves with online platforms so that they too can offer their services wherever, whenever.

? ? ? ??任何一家語言服務(wù)供應(yīng)商要想在疫后新常態(tài)下取得成功，關(guān)鍵是要具備彈性和適應(yīng)性。能夠通過在線平臺提供口譯服務(wù)的供應(yīng)商已經(jīng)比那些通常在線下工作的同行更占優(yōu)勢。但這并不是說線下供應(yīng)商在打敗仗——事實上，其中許多口譯員很可能已經(jīng)在提高技能、熟悉在線平臺，以便能隨時隨地提供服務(wù)。

? ? ? ??For interpreters, this has resulted in a greater emphasis on online platforms, with hybrid options becoming more commonplace as lockdown eases in some countries. As markets reopen, there will be a greater focus on tools that streamline and improve the experience in the future.

? ? ? ??一些國家封鎖逐漸放松，線上和線下的混合工作模式變得更加普遍，這使得口譯員們更加重視在線平臺。隨著市場重新開放，簡化和改善體驗的工具在未來會更受重視。

（圖片來源：視覺中國）

? ? ? ??The shift to remote participation has opened up new needs for inclusivity and audience engagement, as event organizers are tackling “zoom fatigue”. Allowing participants to join the conversation in their native language and offering the audience an accurate translation of speakers’ inputs, fosters engagement, inclusivity, and ultimately raises the likelihood of the event’s success.

? ? ? ??遠程參與的方式對活動包容性和觀眾參與度提出了新的要求。活動組織者正在解決“遠程疲勞”的問題。讓參與者使用母語對話、為觀眾提供發(fā)言內(nèi)容的準(zhǔn)確翻譯等舉措提高了參與度與包容性，并最終提升了活動成功舉辦的可能性。

? ? ? ??Remote interpretation and participation may well lead to an increase in demand for interpretation services in the long run, because they are more attainable, affordable, and easier to arrange, especially for smaller organizations.

? ? ? ??長遠來看，遠程口譯和遠程參與很可能導(dǎo)致對口譯服務(wù)需求的增加，因為它們更容易實現(xiàn)、更容易負擔(dān)、更容易安排，特別是對小型組織而言。

? ? ? ??At Australia’s Royal Melbourne Hospital for example, video interpreting appointments have increased?from 10–15 appointments per month?(before COVID-19)?to 100–200 a month currently.

? ? ? ??例如，在澳大利亞的皇家墨爾本醫(yī)院，視頻口譯預(yù)約已從新冠疫情前的每月10-15次，增加到目前的每月100-200次。

Pioneering a positive way forward post-pandemic

開辟疫后積極前進道路

? ? ? ??While COVID-19 won’t be around forever, it will have a lasting effect on how interpreters operate in the future.

? ? ? ??雖然新冠疫情不會永遠存在，但它將對口譯員未來的工作方式產(chǎn)生持久影響。

? ? ? ??For interpreting services to evolve and demonstrate value, translation and interpretation expertise, organisations and professionals need to be resilient, flexible, and able to meet the demands of today’s digital-first world.

? ? ? ??為了使口譯服務(wù)不斷發(fā)展并展現(xiàn)出價值，筆譯專家和口譯專家、各組織和專業(yè)人員的工作需要具備彈性和靈活性，并能滿足當(dāng)今“數(shù)字至上”世界的需求。

? ? ? ??There can be no disputing that online interpretation for events, conferences, seminars, and press meetings is the way of the future.?Luckily, the tools to facilitate this paradigm shift are already available.

? ? ? ??毋庸置疑，活動、會議、研討會和新聞發(fā)布會的在線口譯是未來的發(fā)展方向。幸運的是，現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)有了促進這一模式轉(zhuǎn)變的工具。

本文轉(zhuǎn)載自譯·世界公眾號

英文來源：Language Magazine

編譯：譯·世界

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