What does it mean to build community in the language services industry? During some recent conversations with my polyglot peers, I got to thinking about the field of language work and what advocacy looks like for early career professionals.
Foreign language services sustain geopolitical relationships, facilitate everyday activities, contribute to technological development, provide effective public services and are a fundamental right in many justice systems.
The global language service market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.94% in the next decade, with North America at an even higher rate and representing some 40% of demand.
However, for individuals working in this industry, these growth prospects are dampened by concerns about globalization and technological development. Artificial intelligence has certainly changed the game for language professionals, and the pace at which computer assisted translation (CATS) tools are developing is remarkable. With all these gains, there is a valid preoccupation that compensation for language specialists is being driven ever-downward. On top of this, the ease of digital networks and payments have opened the possibility of outsourcing language work to cheaper markets. An Arabic translator making a living in New York City will necessarily demand higher rates than her counterpart in Beirut, just as language service agencies will negotiate based on their own clients’ budgets and geographic locations. This means that most of us have to spend time determining which clients will compensate us in a way commensurate with our qualifications and lifestyles.
It is not only written language service providers who must adapt to new pressures. Public sector interpreting has also reached a turning point.
In February, walk outs by court interpreters in Massachusetts and Colorado highlighted the dire working conditions of career interpreters who provide constitutionally mandated language services. Unable to keep up with cost of living and inflation, public service interpreters have seen their real wages decline, resulting in untenable attrition rates. In a recent petition to Governor Newsom in the State of California, court interpreters in Los Angeles underlined how poor wages are disastrous for the quality of justice provision and professionalism in the field. In the long term, the hollowing out of court interpreting will impact language equity and racial and economic justice in the United States. Industrial action is not something common in a field which is characterized by contract work. The success of court interpreters in Massachusetts, whose strike action won them a 50% wage increase and cost of living adjustment, is a sign that it is time to start acting collectively.
Looking toward government language provision, there is also an issue of access. For those of us who aspire to use our language and analytical skills in government positions or contracting, security clearances present another obstacle. On the one hand, bright students in foreign affairs are promised that with excellent critical language skills, in-country experience and area specializations, government agencies will be lining up to recruit them. (I personally had most of my undergraduate studies funded by scholarships intended for exactly this purpose). And yet the process to actually entering such departments with multicultural and international life experiences has proved arduous, lengthy, and let’s face it—disappointing for a lot of people. The more foreign friends you have, the harder getting clearance is.
Amongst this new generation of language specialists, many of us have found ways to weave our languages into larger careers and other types of work. We are academics or consultants or journalists. We may or may not be certified, or have active clearances (yet). But we have found a way, nonetheless, to keep practicing and honing our skills.
Taking these industry pressures into account, I think it is high time to have a conversation about how language work can be done profitably and improved collectively. For those at the beginning of their language careers, understanding the options in the field and connecting with a peer group is essential. It is the best way to advocate for our industry, uphold high standards in professionalism, and fight together for better working conditions.