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Chapter 3 The institutional language industry: Intercultural mediation at the European Parliament

  • Valter Mavrič and Mads Nyegaard Outzen
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Handbook of the Language Industry
This chapter is in the book Handbook of the Language Industry

Abstract

The translation service of the European Parliament (EP), also known as DG TRAD, has undergone a number of transformations in the last three decades. In this chapter, we focus on developments past and present and map out future trends to reflect the way European and international institutions have been adapting to, and in part also shaping, the language industry ecology as they respond to the challenges of multilingualism. The chapter first considers how DG TRAD has adapted and transformed itself in the last two decades. This has culminated in the current response to the 2020 decision by the Bureau of the EP to introduce a citizens’ language policy to promote the use of clear and plain language to make the EP’s content in text, audio and video more accessible and understandable. The focus on citizens’ language and a new, more dynamic role for linguists has led to several changes, including the creation of new profiles for its language professionals. Looking to future trends, the chapter foregrounds an increased focus on multilingualism as a core value of the European Union and a growing realization that language needs to be adapted to citizens in all official languages. It sets the shift towards citizens’ language in the context of the general developments and trends in the language industry as technology frees up human resources to translate content that remains untranslatable by machines.

Abstract

The translation service of the European Parliament (EP), also known as DG TRAD, has undergone a number of transformations in the last three decades. In this chapter, we focus on developments past and present and map out future trends to reflect the way European and international institutions have been adapting to, and in part also shaping, the language industry ecology as they respond to the challenges of multilingualism. The chapter first considers how DG TRAD has adapted and transformed itself in the last two decades. This has culminated in the current response to the 2020 decision by the Bureau of the EP to introduce a citizens’ language policy to promote the use of clear and plain language to make the EP’s content in text, audio and video more accessible and understandable. The focus on citizens’ language and a new, more dynamic role for linguists has led to several changes, including the creation of new profiles for its language professionals. Looking to future trends, the chapter foregrounds an increased focus on multilingualism as a core value of the European Union and a growing realization that language needs to be adapted to citizens in all official languages. It sets the shift towards citizens’ language in the context of the general developments and trends in the language industry as technology frees up human resources to translate content that remains untranslatable by machines.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface to the Handbooks of Applied Linguistics Series V
  3. Contents VII
  4. Introduction: Contextualizing language industry studies 1
  5. Part 1: Contexts and technological resources
  6. Chapter 1 Charting the language industry: Interview with an industry observer 17
  7. Chapter 2 Evolution of the language industry 33
  8. Chapter 3 The institutional language industry: Intercultural mediation at the European Parliament 49
  9. Chapter 4 Artificial intelligence, automation and the language industry 71
  10. Part 2: The human factor: Professional profiles
  11. Chapter 5 MT developers 101
  12. Chapter 6 Language technology developers 121
  13. Chapter 7 Translation and localization project and process managers 143
  14. Chapter 8 Terminology managers 179
  15. Chapter 9 Revisers and post-editors: The guardians of quality 203
  16. Chapter 10 Video game localizers 225
  17. Chapter 11 Transcreation: Beyond translation and advertising 251
  18. Chapter 12 Audiovisual translators 271
  19. Chapter 13 Media accessibility specialists 295
  20. Chapter 14 Legal translator profiles 321
  21. Chapter 15 Technical translators 349
  22. Chapter 16 Translators in medical and health settings 375
  23. Chapter 17 Heritage tourism translators 403
  24. Chapter 18 Language awareness in humanitarian responses 431
  25. Chapter 19 Distance interpreting as a professional profile 449
  26. Chapter 20 Conference interpreting in AI settings: New skills and ethical challenges 473
  27. Afterword 489
  28. Contributors to this volume 495
  29. Index 501
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110716047-004

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface to the Handbooks of Applied Linguistics Series V
  3. Contents VII
  4. Introduction: Contextualizing language industry studies 1
  5. Part 1: Contexts and technological resources
  6. Chapter 1 Charting the language industry: Interview with an industry observer 17
  7. Chapter 2 Evolution of the language industry 33
  8. Chapter 3 The institutional language industry: Intercultural mediation at the European Parliament 49
  9. Chapter 4 Artificial intelligence, automation and the language industry 71
  10. Part 2: The human factor: Professional profiles
  11. Chapter 5 MT developers 101
  12. Chapter 6 Language technology developers 121
  13. Chapter 7 Translation and localization project and process managers 143
  14. Chapter 8 Terminology managers 179
  15. Chapter 9 Revisers and post-editors: The guardians of quality 203
  16. Chapter 10 Video game localizers 225
  17. Chapter 11 Transcreation: Beyond translation and advertising 251
  18. Chapter 12 Audiovisual translators 271
  19. Chapter 13 Media accessibility specialists 295
  20. Chapter 14 Legal translator profiles 321
  21. Chapter 15 Technical translators 349
  22. Chapter 16 Translators in medical and health settings 375
  23. Chapter 17 Heritage tourism translators 403
  24. Chapter 18 Language awareness in humanitarian responses 431
  25. Chapter 19 Distance interpreting as a professional profile 449
  26. Chapter 20 Conference interpreting in AI settings: New skills and ethical challenges 473
  27. Afterword 489
  28. Contributors to this volume 495
  29. Index 501
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