Are translators at risk as technology advances?

Professor Danielle D’Hayer appeared on the Today programme on 4 March to discuss the impact earpiece translators has on the industry.

Date: 4 March 2017

Professor Danielle D’Hayer, Associate Professor of Interpreting Studies, appeared on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 on 4 March.

Professor D’Hayer discussed whether earpiece translators are putting the industry at risk. “There could be a fear of technology in the world of translation. We do embrace technology,” she said.

"The world is changing and evolving all the time and we've got to adapt and I think technology can really help interpreters...we are not interpreting words, we are interpreting ideas and for us accuracy is not a word for word rendition, it's actually accurate ideas and you choose very precise words so it's the idea that's got to be accurate and not so much the word for word rendition which is what we call 'parroting,’” Danielle continued.

You can listen to the clip on BBC iPlayer radio and will be available until 2 April 2017. The segment begins at 1:54:17.

Danielle also appeared on BBC Newshour on 4 March to discuss earpiece translators. She explained the importance of technology however she doesn't think that technology can be relied on for interpreting. You can listen to the clip on BBC iPlayer Radio and the segment starts at 37:40. The clip will be available until 2 April 2017.

Find out more about BA Translation and MA Interpreting at London Met.