Friends, ladies and gentlemen
Selamat petang kepada anda sekelian!
Anaivarukkum vanakkam
A good evening to all!
My pronunciations of the greetings are not accurate, so inaccurate that I may even have changed their meaning!
2 This is why we need interpreters and translators - to help us overcome racial, cultural and language barriers. I am happy to see you here at this seminar on “Globalised Economies, Globalised Languages – The Importance of Translation”.
Globalised Economies
3 From a busy entrepot during the colonial era of yester-years, to a global city in modern times of today, Singapore has always been an economy and society that is well-connected to the global community. As a multi-racial and multi-lingual people, Singaporeans have a good appreciation of cross-cultural differences and have leveraged well on these differences to bring about progress and prosperity. Even so, we cannot sit still. As the global socio-political and economic environment continues to evolve, we will have to upgrade and adapt. And this applies to our translation and interpretation industry too.
Translation and Interpretation Hub
4 The potential worth of the global translation and interpretation industry is huge. It is projected to cross S$20 billion by 2007. By comparison, our industry is still very small, estimated at only about S$8 million per year, employing about 550 full time translators and interpreters, and about 500 free-lancers and part-timers.
5 We can certainly do more, and do better. As a small country with not much natural resources, Singapore does not have much natural advantage to speak off. However, translation and interpretation is one area where we do have some natural advantage for us to build on.
6 We enjoy close proximity to expanding economies of China, India and other East Asian countries.
7 English, the most widely used language in the global village, is also our working language here. Just last week, the Wall Street Institute ranked Singapore first in the proficient use of English, among seven Asian countries.
8 Given our multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-lingual environment, we should leverage on our multi-lingual capabilities, cross-cultural understanding, well-developed information infrastructure, and a stable socio-political and open economic climate to position Singapore as a leading hub for quality translation and interpretation services.
9 Our challenge is to harness the concerted efforts of key partners – our educational institutions, Government agencies, business enterprises and the union. If we succeed in raising the overall level of professionalism and quality of our translation and interpretation industry, we should be able to create many more good paying jobs for our people.
10 This is why the multi-agency Translation and Interpretation Steering Committee was initiated in 2004 by IE Singapore at the suggestion of the then-Trade and Industry Minister George Yeo. The mandate of the committee is to set directions for the development of translation and interpretation capabilities in Singapore. Chaired by Nanyang Technological University’s Professor Su Guaning, its members include the Economic Development Board, IE Singapore, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, SPRING Singapore and several industry players.
11 The Committee has formulated several strategies. Today, we are ready to implement some of them.
Professionalism and Education
12 Translation and interpretation is not just about mastering multi-languages. More importantly, it is about understanding the meaning, and social and cultural nuances behind words and phrases. For example, translating the saying “Out-of-Sight, Out-of-Mind” can be tricky if one does not understand the context.
13 The critical success factor in growing this industry is therefore not about how to automate the process or exploit leading edge technology, but how to develop and upgrade manpower, how to expand the talent pool to meet growing demands for good translation and interpretation services.
14 The answer is quite straightforward: We need to apply our minds and put more efforts into structured education and training. This is the only way we can enhance the linguistic capabilities, cross-cultural sensitivities, and translation and interpretation competency of our talent pool.
15 I am therefore very happy to learn that the Division of Chinese of the Nanyang Technological University, in collaboration with the Beijing Foreign Studies University, will be offering an eight-month Graduate Diploma in Translation and Interpretation.
16 Nanyang Technological University is well recognised for its advocacy on multi-culturalism. It is strong in the study of Chinese language and culture. The inclusion of a 10-week immersion course segment in China as part of the Graduate Diploma Programme will go a long way in further enhancing the ability and sensitivity of its graduates to different cultural nuances and extra-linguistic aspects of communications.
17 This Graduate Diploma Programme is but a good start. NTU will not stop here. It is working with the Singapore Interpreters’ and Translators’ Union (SITU) to develop short and customised courses for working adults who wish to pursue a career in translation or interpretation. This will help attract new entrants, and upgrade existing manpower in the industry.
Government Support
18 Our government agencies are likewise committed to lend their support. As more Singapore-based companies increase their engagements in China, the demand for effectively multi-lingual and multi-cultural employees will increase.
19 IE Singapore has therefore decided to sponsor companies, especially those who are involved with international business development, to sharpen their employees’ linguistic capabilities. IE Singapore, through its Manpower for Internationalisation Programme, will offer sponsorship for up to half the cost of NTU’s Graduate Diploma Programme.
20 At the same time, SPRING Singapore is looking at another initiative – the setting up of an accreditation system as a way forward for the industry.
Private Sector Support
21 The private sector will have a major role to play too. The Steering Committee has recommended the formation of an association – the Singapore Translators Association (STA) – to drive the development of the translation and interpretation industry. A pro-temp committee, consisting of private and public sector translation practitioners, and researchers from the academia, has since early 2004, begun preparation for the formation of the STA with the support of IE Singapore.
22 The STA will spearhead the development of the industry, establish and promote industry standards, create greater public awareness, and facilitate national and international market development. We look forward to the formal registration of the STA by September 2005.
Union Support
23 The labour movement, through SITU, is lending its strong voice and support too. SITU has worked hard to enhance the scheme of service for interpreters and translators in the public sector.
24 Looking ahead, the challenges facing the SITU would include – attracting and retaining talented members, training and upgrading of members, and raising of the members’ professionalism.
Conclusion
25 Translation and interpretation is not just about academic skills. It is about providing the vital linguistic and cultural link between persons and communities of different races, cultures and languages. So that we can communicate better and understand one another more effectively.
26 With the concerted efforts and initiatives of the various partners, I am confident that we can further professionalise and promote the translation and interpretation industry in Singapore into a new growth sector in our economy.
27 In the months to come, let us all work together to bring Singapore a few steps closer to becoming a leading translation and interpretation hub in this part of the world.
I wish you all a fruitful seminar this evening.
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