Translation and Interpretation ………

The Singapore Perspective

About My Company & Associates• Founded in 1996• One of Longest serving Localization and Translation Company in

Singapore• Multilanguage Vendor• Branch office Bangkok, Thailand• Adhere to EN 15038 European Standards• Part of Global Communications Business Group ( GCBG) Represented in Singapore, Germany, UK, New Zealand, Korea Supported by more than 200 staff globally Pool of 5000 linguists worldwide• Annual Group Revenue of more than US $20 million

Now about Singapore….

• Multicultural• Multilingual

• Multi-everything

Official languages

• English• Malay• Chinese • Tamil• National language is Malay.• Working language is English.

Our Multi-language Education• English as a first language.• Mother tongue as a second language• Building a foundation for

Pluralingualism • Learning a third language is common

in Singapore.

Hubbing on Singapore

• Singapore as the first landing point for Asia – Dubbed Beginner for Asia

• Singapore as a hub for the region and the world

• Financial, Business, logistics, medical, education, trading, arbitration etc

• People of different cultural background, speaking different languages congregate in Singapore to exchange ideas.

• Give rise to demand for translation and interpretation.

• Sounds rosy doesn’t it?

Who Buys Our Services?

• Government agencies• Private sector• Individual• Others

Do they know what they are buying?

• Yes and No….But mostly NO!• Translation always a last minute decision• Not budgeted for• Seen as a non-essential service• Associating it with freelance work and

thus freelance prices• Very price sensitive

Do they care?

• Only when they receive negative feedback

• Only when it negatively affect their reputation

• Only when it adversely affect their chance of business

• Only when misfortune arises

Are there any government policy in placed?• Several embarrassing translation errors started a

call for better translation quality• Singapore National Translation Committee• Education system gearing up to cater to better

language standards• Courses/modules made available as early as A

levels for translation• Diplomas in Translation• Translation module available in degrees

In reality…..

• National Translation Committee has Malay, Chinese and Tamil panel but…..

• Government’s emphasis seemed to be on the Chinese language

• How about other languages?• Are we heading the right direction if we are going

to be a translation hub too?• Can we do it better than native speakers?• Are we referencing other standards in the world?• How about translation process standards?

What are the private sector doing?• Mimicking successful translation

companies because making money is more important than……

Who are they & How are they doing?• Freelancers• LSPs• LSP wannabes• MNCs localisation companies – being

reduced to being just a translation company

Did they raise any standards?

• Yes and No.• Mostly price war.• Certification? • Association?• Translation process standards?

What can be done?

• An association to raise standard • Setting standard pricing to prevent

backsliding of prices.• Public education on the importance of

Translation.• Professionalising Translation similar to that

of lawyers, doctor, engineers etc.• Certification of translation companies: ISO

17100.

A final note….

• Professionalism in translation industry is not just about producing good quality translations.

• It is about committing to deadlines and adjusting our mind-set to create commercial value for our services.

• Note the difference between selling to LSP and End Consumers.

• Do not undersell yourself just to get the job. • Do it ethically.

A final, final note….

• Have pride in what you are doing. • Do it with pride.• And finally pride yourself doing it!

Questions ?

ThankYou!

• Projected growth of localization and translation market in Asia to be gradual from 4 billion in 2015 to 5 billion in 2019

• Europe still accounts for more than half of total global revenue for the industry

• Translation service still leads over other language services like interpretation, localisation, media, DTP and PM.

• Of the 18000 plus updated information, 15% of the world’s LSP are located in Asia

• 60% of LSP has only between 2-5 employees• None from Vietnam in the top 30 Asia LSPs• Highest sales – Honyaku Center – 73 million

• *Source Commonsense Advisory survey

• Translation Directory registry has 51 LSP listed in Singapore

• Singapore’s market should be between 50 million to 100 million?