Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most significant challenges the modern world has ever witnessed. The contagious nature of the virus and its severe impact on individual health necessitated restrictive measures to contain the spread of the disease. As a result, all spheres of human activity suffered from the measures governments used to minimize contact between people.
The communication sphere suffered most from these restrictions due to the impossibility of using traditional methods. Translation, as a form of communication, data transition, and exchange, also faced numerous challenges. For this reason, social media, as a rapidly evolving and fundamental phenomenon of the modern age, has become a central tool for helping align professional communication and resolving problems linked to the pandemic.
Problem Background and Research Justification
The shift to online forms of interaction laid the groundwork for significant changes in the translation sphere and the work of specialists. The new tendencies imply the growing importance of online forums, the exchange of opinions, and building trust through interaction and discussion. The shift from the institutional to the networked communication model is accompanied by significant changes in the methods used by translators to communicate, exchange data, and verify the credibility of information (Van Dijck & Alinejad, 2022).
It becomes crucial for spheres requiring high data accuracy, such as healthcare. Specialists must align global cooperation to ensure information about the virus and the newest approaches to treatment are discussed. It requires new ways of interaction and a change in institutional models. The scope of this process is significant, indicating a need for an in-depth investigation of the modern translation sphere to understand the existing issues and how social media can help resolve the crisis.
Purpose and Aims
Therefore, the study focuses on determining the challenges in the field of translation that emerged as a result of the pandemic. The proposed research also examines the crisis of translation caused by the pandemic and how social media and forums help overcome the barriers created by restrictions and the disease. The primary aim of the study is to understand how trust is established regarding the necessity to verify the credibility of information provided on online forums and social media, as well as the spread of non-translator professional networks as a source of information. Moreover, there is a massive involvement of non-specialists and students who are active users and offer their translations (Vottonen & Kujamaki, 2021). It also requires an enhanced understanding of how the crisis of translation evolves and what solutions might be used to ensure positive outcomes.
Rationale Behind the Settings Chosen
To increase the credibility, reliability, and transferability of the results, the study uses the current situation in the translation field of Saudi Arabia. Several essential factors justify the choice of country. First, it helps to investigate the translation sphere by using real examples and challenges. Second, the networked communication model will be investigated using processes specific to social media and forums, including activities particular to Saudi Arabia, as well as users and specialists from the country. The case study design will enhance the practical utility of the study and facilitate the application of its results in future research on the same topic.
Conclusion
In this way, the proposed research study examines the crisis of translation that emerged in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The restrictions on physical interactions promoted the shift from traditional models of communication to new, networked ones. As a result, numerous new tendencies, issues, and barriers emerged. For this reason, it is crucial to investigate them and understand how the sphere operates in relation to resolving trust issues and ensuring the correct and effective exchange of data.
References
Van Dijck, J., & Alinejad, D. (2022). Translating knowledge, establishing trust: The role of social media in communicating the COVID-19 pandemic in Netherlands. In T. Lee & D. Wang (Eds.), Translation and social media communication in the age of the pandemic (pp. 26-43). Routledge.
Vottonen, E., & Kujamaki, M. (2021). On what grounds? Justifications of student translators for their translation solutions. The Interpreter and Translator Trainer, 15(3), 306-325.