Translators without Borders (TWB) recently announced they have joined the Translation Initiative for Covid-19, known as TICO-19, which uses language translation technology to translate Covid-19 health information into multiple languages.
The TICO-19 initiative includes translators, technologists and researchers from organisations such as, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Goggle and John Hopkins University, working together to develop an efficient language technology for almost 40 languages including under-resourced languages such as, Zulu, Pashto, Dari and Luganda.
The Translators Without Borders (TWB) website states that “the world is facing an unprecedented crisis of information” relating to the Covid-19 pandemic and that this has triggered a response from governments, aid agencies, and health workers calling for more accurate and timely information so that people can understand and protect themselves and others.
TWB are using their combined expertise in multilingual communication to address the following language challenges in relation to Covid-19:
• Translations
TWB are working with partners to translate critical information for public-facing content into languages and formats that more people can understand.
• Language Data and Mapping
TWB are developing language maps for aid groups which will provide a visual language and literacy level for the whole world guiding future Covid-19 communications.
• Social Media Monitoring
TWB are monitoring Covid-19 related social media conversations in multiple languages to help stop the spread of rumours and inaccurate information relating to the pandemic.
• Multilingual Glossary for Covid-19
TWB are developing a multilingual, straight-forward language glossary of key Covid-19 terminology to provide consistent translation terms for potential public information. Working with more than 30,000 linguists, TWB have now translated over 4,000 000 words into more than 100 languages through their own COVID-19 Community Translation Program.
The TICO-19 initiative will help ensure that vital Covid-19 health information is available to the public in an accessible and equitable way.
Grace Tang, TWB’s Gamayun Program Manager said “Language technology is a powerful tool that can help people communicate more consistently, quickly, and confidently about global issues like COVID-19. Yet many languages don’t have the necessary data needed to build this innovative technology. “
She explained that TWB are “excited that industry leaders recognize this gap, and are working with us to develop technology that can help everyone communicate about COVID-19, no matter what language they speak.”
The translated terms, phrases, datasets and translation memories developed by the initiative will be made publicly accessible through TICO-19’s GitHub and TWB’s online data portal so that the content can help inform and advise future translations.
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