#89 How the Pandemic Changed Interpreting Forever With Anja Peschel

DeepL's Transition to Enterprise Use

Overview of DeepL's Brand Awareness

• The discussion begins with the observation that DeepL's consumer brand awareness is transitioning into enterprise applications, particularly in language pairs involving English.

In-Person Work Experience

• Hosts share their experiences of returning to in-person work, highlighting a visit from colleague Anna and the bustling environment at a coworking space.

Upcoming Interview with Anja Peschel

• The hosts introduce Anja Peschel, CEO of Peschel Communications, who will discuss various interpreting methods including RSI and VRI.

Startup Event Insights

Attendance at Startup Pitch Event

• One host attended a startup pitch event featuring around 150 attendees, marking a return to normalcy without masks.

Introduction to Caplena

• Caplena, an NLP startup spun off from Zurich’s ETH university, was highlighted for its customer feedback parsing capabilities.

Caplena's Functionality and Clientele

• Caplena assists large companies in analyzing unstructured textual data from customer feedback across 31 languages. They also integrate with Google Translate and DeepL for broader language support.

DeepL as a Preferred Integration Choice

Significance of Choosing DeepL

• The choice by Caplena to integrate with DeepL indicates its growing status as a standard in machine translation (MT), showcasing its consumer recognition transitioning into enterprise use.

Carbon Emissions in Machine Translation

Research on Carbon Footprint

Research on Machine Translation and Climate Change

The Premise of the Research

• The research investigates how energy consumption in training machine translation engines may contribute to climate change.

• The goal is to propose methods for reducing the carbon footprint associated with this technology.

Language Pairs Analyzed

• Six specific language pairs were examined to determine their computational intensity and carbon emissions during training.

• The languages tested included French, English, and German, resulting in six combinations.

Findings on Environmental Impact

• Language pairs involving English are found to be less harmful to the environment compared to those that do not include English.

• French-to-German translations emerged as the most computationally expensive pair among those tested.

Cognitive Load of Language Processing

• There is a discussion about whether thinking in German is more cognitively demanding than thinking in English for native speakers. This reflects on the broader implications of language processing efficiency.

Metrics Used in Evaluation

• While exploring carbon emissions, BLEU scores (a metric for evaluating machine translation quality) were also considered during testing phases. They measured both power consumption and translation quality achieved at various thresholds.

• German-target language pairs had lower BLEU scores and took longer to reach a threshold score of 25 compared to others tested.

Implications of Energy Consumption in Machine Translation

Energy Production Concerns

• The conversation highlights that while machine translation does consume energy, it may not be a significant contributor to climate change unless there is extensive usage across platforms like DeepL or Google Translate.

Broader Context of Computational Intensity

• It raises questions about other computationally intensive processes that might have a larger environmental impact than machine translation itself, such as rendering avatars or other data-heavy applications.

Leadership Changes at Keywords Studios

Introduction of New CEO

• Bertrand Bodson has been appointed as the new CEO of Keywords Studios, which specializes in game localization and development services; he will officially take over in December.

Engagement with Industry Insights

Insights on Keywords Studios and Market Expansion

Transition to Gaming Industry

• The speaker discusses the transition of an individual from Novartis, a life sciences pharma giant, to Keywords Studios, highlighting the intriguing opportunity presented by Keywords for someone with a background in driving growth strategies.

Growth Potential in Gaming

• Keywords is recognized as a market leader in gaming, supplying major developers and operating in a sector with significant growth potential, making it an attractive move for the individual.

Acquisition Strategies

• The platform built by Keywords is appealing to both potential partners and acquisition targets. The company has engaged in numerous acquisitions over the years and may look to expand into adjacent content industries beyond gaming.

Concerns Over Diversification

• There are concerns about Keywords expanding too far outside localization services into other media sectors. If 90% of their business shifts away from localization, it could impact coverage and relevance within that industry.

Future of Localization Services

• Despite potential diversification, there is hope that Keywords will maintain its leadership role in game localization. The speaker emphasizes the importance of continuing investments specifically within this niche.

TransPerfect's M&A Activity

New Leadership at TransPerfect

• TransPerfect has appointed Edgar Vargas-Castañeda as VP of Growth Strategies from EY-Parthenon, indicating a strong focus on mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

Expectations for Future Acquisitions

• With recent refinancing efforts and new leadership focused on corporate development, TransPerfect is expected to pursue more significant M&A activities moving forward.

Shift from Small Acquisitions

• There’s speculation that TransPerfect may be moving away from its historical strategy of small bolt-on acquisitions towards larger deals as they integrate Semantix.

Litigation Challenges Facing TransPerfect

Ongoing Legal Issues

• TransPerfect continues to face litigation related to past ownership disputes involving key legal representatives during their forced sales process.

Google Meet Live Translation Features

Limitations of Google Meet's Beta Feature

• Discussion around Google Meet's live translated captions feature reveals limitations; currently available only in beta for select subscription packages like Enterprise Plus.

Testing Experiences Needed

• The speakers express frustration over not being able to test this feature due to subscription restrictions but encourage users who can access it to share their experiences.

Functionality Overview

• Currently supports English meetings translating into Spanish, French, Portuguese, and German but does not facilitate two-way conversations among multilingual participants.

[Previous Testing Insights]

Skype Testing Experience

Live Captioning and Translation Technology Insights

Testing Live Captioning Across Platforms

• The speaker discusses testing various platforms for live captioning, noting that English to English captioning is effective across Zoom, Google, and Skype.

• While the speaker did not conduct full quality control on German or Portuguese captions, they found French and Spanish translations lacking in accuracy when tested with a native UK English accent.

Challenges in Machine Translation

• The speaker emphasizes the difficulty of machine translation due to natural speech patterns like pauses and false starts, which can confuse automated systems.

• They highlight that starting and stopping sentences can disrupt machine translation (MT), especially when compared to reading from a script.

Advances in Conversational Speech Recognition

• Discussion includes Zoom's acquisition of Kites aimed at improving conversational speech recognition to better handle interruptions and informal speech patterns.

• The current state of technology is seen as not yet a game changer but acknowledges ongoing developments that may enhance performance.

Copy.ai: A New Web App Experience

Features of the Updated Copy.ai Application

• The speaker mentions the launch of a new version of Copy.ai, which has transitioned from a no-code tool to a more integrated web app experience.

• Despite its cleaner interface, the speaker struggles to find practical applications for its text generation capabilities due to inconsistent output quality.

Evaluation of Generated Content

• An example is provided where event copy generated by Copy.ai appears random rather than coherent or useful for marketing purposes.

• Specific issues are noted in the generated content, such as awkward phrasing and grammatical errors that would be problematic for professional use.

Interpreting Insights with Anja Peschel

Introduction to Anja Peschel

• Anja Peschel joins the discussion; she is introduced as Managing Director of Peschel Communications based in Germany.

Background on Location and Company Services

What Inspired the Start of Peschel Communications?

Overview of Peschel Communications

• The speaker introduces Peschel Communications as a boutique language service provider (LSP), primarily serving small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and public institutions like universities.

• Key focus areas include law, renewable energies, medicine, marketing, and academia. The location in Freiburg is significant due to its emphasis on renewable energy.

Services Offered

• The company provides traditional translation services alongside conference interpreting, transcreation work, and audiovisual translation.

• The speaker holds dual roles as both Managing Director and a freelance interpreter, highlighting the multifaceted nature of their work.

Understanding Interpreting Dynamics

Interpreting Gigs Explained

• During larger conferences, interpreters often work in teams; the speaker may be one among many hired by the company.

• There is an interesting dynamic where interpreters do not feel nervous about being observed by their boss during gigs.

Differences Between Interpreting and Translation

• A key difference noted is that interpreting tends to be less anonymous than written translation; clients often request specific interpreters.

• Unlike written translations which can involve mass recruitment for projects, interpreting requires personal connections within teams.

Client Relationships in Language Services

Distinct Client Bases

• There is minimal overlap between clients seeking translation services versus those needing interpreting services; they cater to different markets.

Commonalities Between Services

• Both services require extensive client education since many clients are unaware of their actual needs or the differences between translation and interpreting.

• Effective communication with clients is essential to clarify whether they need transcreation or straightforward translation.

Challenges Faced by Interpreters

Technology vs. Human Interpretation

• Discussion on Google's new live translated caption feature raises concerns about technology's ability to handle nuances in live speech effectively.

Handling Live Speech Nuances

Interpreting Challenges and AI Limitations

The Nature of Interpretation

• Interpreters often summarize or omit redundancies in speech, diverging from strict word-for-word translation.

• There is a tendency for interpreters to convey the intended message of speakers, even if it wasn't explicitly stated, highlighting the interpretive nature of their work.

• Achieving true interpretation through technology would require advanced AI with empathy and subject matter expertise, akin to self-aware systems depicted in science fiction.

Personal Experience in Interpretation

• The speaker shares their background as a translator who struggled with interpreting due to difficulty maintaining focus during sessions.

• The complexity of interpreting includes making ethical decisions about translating potentially offensive jokes or statements accurately versus toning them down.

Ethical Considerations in Interpretation

• Interpreters face dilemmas regarding how faithfully to represent politically incorrect jokes or comments made by speakers.

• Decisions on whether to be loyal to the original statement or adapt it depend on context and audience understanding.

Impact of COVID-19 on Interpreting

Initial Reactions and Adjustments

• The onset of COVID-19 brought significant changes to the interpreting profession, leading to widespread shock and contract cancellations.

• Early responses included damage control efforts as clients sought to exit contracts due to canceled events.

Transitioning to Remote Interpreting

• As demand shifted towards remote interpreting, initial experiences were challenging due to technical issues like poor sound quality and connectivity problems.

• Despite skepticism about remote formats, interpreters adapted over time; improvements included better equipment usage such as headsets.

New Opportunities Amidst Challenges

• Remote simultaneous interpreting (RSI) opened new avenues for interpreters, allowing broader reach for internal meetings and employee communications.

The Future of Interpreting: Challenges and Opportunities

Opening Up After Lockdowns

• The speaker reflects on attending a conference with 100 people, noting a gradual return to in-person events and a generally positive mood among interpreters.

• Expresses excitement about being back in proper booths, appreciating the sound quality and collaboration opportunities that come with in-person interactions.

• Acknowledges apprehension regarding the potential loss of jobs due to the pandemic, highlighting uncertainty about job recovery post-lockdown.

Hybrid Events as an Opportunity

• The speaker advocates for more hybrid events that combine in-person attendance with online streaming, allowing for broader audience reach and additional language options.

Pros and Cons of Remote Simultaneous Interpreting (RSI)

Advantages of RSI

• Discusses personal relief from travel stress associated with interpreting work, such as hotel stays and long commutes.

• Highlights benefits of maintaining connections over distances through shorter virtual meetings between in-person events.

Disadvantages of RSI

• Identifies sound quality issues when working from home versus co-located interpreting studios; emphasizes the importance of technical support.

• Critiques noise-canceling technology used in headsets which can limit frequency range necessary for effective interpretation.

Technical Challenges Faced by Interpreters

• Shares a personal experience where similar voice frequencies caused difficulty hearing a female speaker during an event, illustrating challenges faced during RSI.

• Points out difficulties explaining sound quality needs to clients who may not understand the nuances required for simultaneous interpreting.

Need for Improved Tools and Features

• Discusses lack of control over environmental noise while working from home, citing issues like ambulance sounds disrupting sessions.

Technical Challenges in Remote Simultaneous Interpreting

Importance of Technical Support

• The speaker emphasizes the necessity of technical support for interpreters, particularly during remote simultaneous interpreting (RSI), to alleviate stress related to internet connectivity issues.

• Good sound quality is crucial; any delays between video and audio can complicate the interpreting process, requiring extra cognitive effort from interpreters.

Synchronization and Handover Functions

• RSI platforms should mimic real-life interpreting booths, allowing interpreters to listen to both the floor and booth partner simultaneously.

• Effective handover functions are essential for smooth transitions between interpreters, typically managed through visual signals in traditional settings.

Experience with Remote Interpreting Hubs

• The speaker discusses their positive experiences working from remote interpreting hubs, which provide a professional setup without the need for formal attire.

• These hubs feature proper interpreting booths and sound engineers who facilitate connections with clients using various video platforms like Zoom or WebEx.

Sound Quality Challenges

• Despite advancements in technology, poor equipment or bad internet connections on participants' ends can still lead to subpar sound quality that even skilled sound engineers cannot rectify.

Changing Client Expectations

• The pandemic has led to relaxed standards; interruptions during meetings (like pets or children appearing on screen) have become more acceptable as they humanize interactions.

• Clients now prefer flexibility regarding contracts, often waiting until shortly before events to finalize agreements, complicating planning for interpreters.

Tools and Aids Used in RSI

Use of Technology During Interpreting

• The speaker mentions using laptops with glossaries during RSI sessions but notes limited additional tools beyond standard equipment.

Communication Between Interpreters

• To facilitate communication during RSI, interpreters often set up separate devices (like mobile phones via WhatsApp calls) for visual contact and signaling turns.

Pricing Trends in Remote Interpreting

Stability of Interpreter Fees

Interpreting Fees and the Impact of Technology

Changes in Interpreter Costs

• There is ongoing discussion about increasing interpreter fees due to additional costs for better internet connections, dedicated laptops, and other infrastructure needs. However, this increase has not been widely observed.

• Daily fees for interpreters remain largely unchanged; however, larger teams are now common for longer events, which increases costs for clients.

Value of Interpreting Services

• Despite changes in team sizes, the core services and value provided by interpreters have not significantly altered, leading to questions about why prices should differ.

Automation and Competition Concerns

• The rise of automated translation technologies (e.g., Google’s live translated captions and Zoom's speech translation efforts) raises concerns among interpreters regarding potential competition.

• Most interpreters believe that machines cannot replicate the spontaneity and creativity inherent in human interpreting. However, there is a concern that clients may opt for live captioning instead of hiring interpreters.

Live Captioning as an Aid

• Live captioning can assist interpreters by providing visual cues of spoken words during sessions. This practice mirrors existing methods where booth partners note difficult terms.

• Some colleagues are experimenting with live captioning as a supportive tool during interpreting sessions, suggesting it could enhance performance if tailored with client-specific acronyms.

Future Directions for Peschel Communications

• Looking ahead to 2022 and beyond, Peschel Communications plans to focus on audiovisual translations that integrate spoken and written forms.