Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic became a significant crisis impacting all spheres of human activity. Communication became one of the spheres that suffered from the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. Limits imposed on face-to-face communication created the basis for an increased emphasis on other forms of communication. The need to share information and exchange experiences accelerated the shift towards using innovative and digitalized means of interaction and information sharing. As a result, in times of crisis, social media has become one of the most important tools for aligning communication between various individuals representing different spheres.
New Model of Communication
For professional communication, video meetings using various applications, such as Skype or Zoom, have become a solution to restrictions on physical interaction. This new type of information sharing and discussion became one of the possible solutions to the translation crisis. However, it also requires new regulatory mechanisms to establish trust and avoid potential mistakes due to misunderstandings. The new challenge promoted the shift from an institutional to a networked model of communication in various sectors, including healthcare (Van Dijck & Alinejad, 2022).
Over the past fifty years, conventional models of science communication have been predominantly employed in professional spheres, such as the healthcare sector and other branches of science. It was also relevant to translation and the transmission of knowledge. The model rested on the idea of whom to trust, what to trust, and how trust is built (Van Dijck & Alinejad, 2022). However, the crisis triggered by the pandemic altered this approach and promoted a new one.
The networked model of science communication centers on social media and its pivotal role in disseminating information. It follows the 21st century’s tendency of moving from institutional-professional models toward networked models of trust. The networked-translation communication model views social media as a centrifugal force that alters the dynamics of information sharing from transmission to translation (Van Dijck & Alinejad, 2022).
It means that professionals and experts working in a particular field are not the only sources of information for the public, politicians, and mass media (Van Dijck & Alinejad, 2022). This occurs because social media provides ordinary people and non-professionals with a communication channel that enables them to express their opinions and, simultaneously, gather information on a particular issue. The likes, shares, and retweets become more important for attracting attention to a particular piece of knowledge presented via posts and videos (Van Dijck & Alinejad, 2022). This tendency establishes the basis for the rise of a new model.
At the same time, there is a change in supporting claims with evidence. Argumentation based on fact-finding missions and logical arguments becomes less important (Van Dijck & Alinejad, 2022). For this reason, the networked model of communication implies a many-to-many style of communication resting on opinions, visuals, and other tools used to mobilize crowds (Van Dijck & Alinejad, 2022). These features are typical of social media, where information circulates from one actor to another and becomes more trusted as it is approved by many users.
In such a way, social media is becoming one of the central tools helping to resolve the crisis of translation and knowledge transmission. At present, characterized by significant challenges, online platforms such as Twitter and social media can serve as both levers of trust and distrust in public discussions and knowledge sharing (Van Dijck & Alinejad, 2022). However, due to the increasing tendency for professionals to use social media more broadly, the importance of this tool also increases. Specialists working in various spheres post their opinions and credible data to discuss with colleagues and share with other users, who should be informed about recent changes in their respective fields. It serves as an essential method to acquire and transmit information.
Altogether, the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a shift in priorities and an alteration in the translation sphere. The new model of networked communication replaced the traditional one because of the simplicity of access to information and its fast sharing. The information circulates from one actor to another, which means new risks and opportunities for translators. The new method to acquire, discuss, and share information is considered the trend that emerged due to the pandemic when limits on face-to-face interactions were introduced. However, this radical change requires further investigation to understand the benefits and risks.
Trust Issues
Moreover, the patterns of translators’ cooperation through social media have altered. It is explained by a different perspective on trust and how it can be built. For instance, information flows during the pandemic are not focused on doctor-patient interaction. Instead, it is more focused on acquiring relevant information from various sources that can help to increase awareness and literacy on a particular subject, such as health literacy (Pym & Hu, 2022). Users might look for specific bits of information on the Internet, social media, specialized websites, discussions, online conferences, forums, and other platforms.
Typically, posts with more likes, prolonged discussions, and a high number of shares tend to attract attention (Pym & Hu, 2022). Under these conditions, the functioning of forums where individuals from various locations can share, translate, and explain their experiences acquires the top priority. Users can expect the translation of information necessary for them, meaning it can be viewed as a new medium of interaction and information transmission. It also means that social media might contribute to translation in crises.
First, it provides professionals with a new channel for sharing information and popularizing it via the Internet. When physical restrictions prevent professionals from participating in forums and face-to-face discussions, social media helps to share opinions with the public and inform users about the most relevant information. Second, in crises, social media might provide access to required solutions and contribute to the improvement of the situation in the short term. It is crucial when physical interaction is restricted, but there is an urgent need for specific pieces of knowledge (O’Brien et al., 2022).
Under these conditions, social media can be a potent tool for contributing to translation in crises by establishing a link between specialists and professionals and the broader audience (Pym & Hu, 2022). The spread of devices providing access to the Internet makes this interaction easier. Moreover, online platforms also serve another essential function. Social media can help expand the reach of a message due to social sharing and the continuously growing number of users across various platforms (Pym & Hu, 2022). The opportunity to ask questions, respond, and clarify some issues has a positive impact on translation regarding the COVID-19 crisis and the restrictions on face-to-face communication. Additionally, forums help to address the crisis of translation and align communication between specialists globally.
However, the issue of trust remains relevant for translations found on the Internet, various social media platforms, and forums. In many cases, data should be checked to ensure it is credible and reflects the current situation. Thus, the two-step flow model of communication helps to address these issues and establish trust (O’Brien et al., 2022). Information in networked spaces does not travel in linear ways, as there are micro-influences or users who communicate with numerous individuals across the globe and possess a high level of credibility and trust.
These micro-influencers usually share resources and information with their target audiences in the community. They might serve as the quasi-translators for ordinary citizens from their region (O’Brien et al., 2022). It means that their existence and functioning are vital for communication in times of crisis.
Moreover, due to the global spread of the Internet and the ability to access social media from any region, micro-influencers take part in the global discourse and are active members of the translation crisis during COVID-19. That is why they took part in both local and international processes. The presence of these users on forums and discussions between individuals with various levels of knowledge and professionalism can help to discover potentially erroneous information present in translations and increase their credibility.
In this way, the crisis of translation that emerged due to the COVID-19 pandemic also introduced a crisis of trust and credibility in information. Social media, forums, and online conferences help to align interaction when face-to-face communication is problematic. However, the networked model of communication implies that more attention can be paid to posts with more likes or retweets (Van Dijck & Alinejad, 2022). For this reason, forums providing translators with an opportunity to share knowledge and discuss information are critical for resolving new challenges and issues.
The involvement of professionals and non-professionals in transmitting knowledge and sharing it with users globally is essential for resolving trust issues, as they can serve as experts who prove or refute certain facts. As a result, it becomes critical to align effective interaction between specialists globally and avoid the negative impact of restrictions introduced due to the pandemic. That is why the translators’ discussion on various platforms can be viewed as one of the critical tools to increase the trustworthiness of a new type of data sharing and transfer.
Altogether, the trust issues are a result of the dominance of the networked model of communication and the lack of authority peculiar to social media. Translators suffer from the lack of face-to-face interaction and the limitations on traveling and sharing knowledge in conventional ways. Under these conditions, ordinary users are becoming the main determinants of the credibility of a certain text and its spread on the Internet. The need to resolve trust issues is one of the current challenges in the translation sphere, stemming from the crisis caused by the pandemic.
Non-Translator Professional Networks
The crisis caused by the pandemic also revitalized the discussion among non-translator professional networks. The restrictions on physical interactions and travelling resulted in a reduced number of professional conferences and meetings. As a result, communication and data exchange moved to online spaces, such as social media and forums. However, it means that the question of translation’s credibility becomes more important as users should correctly understand the information provided to them and be able to respond to it (Steigerwald et al., 2022).
Using machine translation may be one opportunity for helping to translate information, but the correctness remains a crucial question (Steigerwald et al., 2022). The competence of specialists, such as healthcare professionals, plays a vital role in understanding these translations and correcting them (Steigerwald et al., 2022). In such a way, forums provide a chance for non-translators to communicate and share information effectively.
Thus, the rise of non-translator professional networks is a specific response to the pandemic and the challenges it presents. They provide the basis for discussing the most relevant and vital information, helping to increase the number of opinions on a particular problem. However, the question of translation’s credibility becomes more pertinent as there is a high risk of relying on machine translation, additional applications, or other tools. As a result, the emergence of these professional networks might have both positive and negative effects on translation globally.
Non-Specialists’ Involvement
Furthermore, the media and the shift to networked models of communication provided individuals with an opportunity to discuss translations and correct mistakes. For instance, students have always been active users and translators (Yamada, 2019). Possessing the appropriate knowledge of the language and topic under discussion might justify their translation solutions and contribute to facilitating data transmission and exchange. Using specific forums, users delve into the peculiarities of particular information and discuss its relevance in relation to the current situation (Vottonen & Kujamaki, 2021). The widening involvement in translation activities also has some risks and benefits.
Firstly, the extensive participation of non-specialists may raise reliability issues due to a lack of expertise and knowledge (Vottonen & Kujamaki, 2021). Second, the translation standards may also be questioned due to a lack of professionalism and inadequate knowledge of the requirements for information transition and its presentation. However, some benefits justify the broader participation of non-specialists.
These include the revitalization of translation during the COVID-19 crisis, increased diversity of opinions, and the possibility of interacting with numerous users globally (Vottonen & Kujamaki, 2021). Moreover, it contributes to the increase in available resources that might be used to improve translation and attain the desired outcomes. For this reason, the involvement of non-specialists can be viewed as an essential trend nowadays.
In such a way, the networked model of communication allows numerous individuals to take part in information sharing, translation, and transfer. The availability of numerous channels contributes to the diversity of opinions and the increased number of opportunities for global interactions. However, it also poses some risks due to the deterioration of standards and a lack of professionalism. That is why it becomes a significant trend that should be considered when discussing the crisis of translation related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the numerous adverse effects it has triggered.
Medical Translation During the Times of the COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic presented numerous challenges, yet it also stimulated global interaction at various levels. Specialists from various countries had to cooperate to find the most effective solution to the problem. However, the differences in cultures have always complicated interaction and translation, which became especially important in terms of the pandemic. The absence of a specific background peculiar to every face-to-face meeting created unique barriers to fast and effective interaction.
For this reason, the need to address multilingual and multicultural boundaries during COVID-19 stimulated a change in the translation sphere. Language interpretation has always helped to address these barriers and eliminate them (Lundin et al., 2018). With the rise of social media, forums, video meetings, and their broader use nowadays, cultural barriers are becoming less significant as these platforms simplify interactions. In this way, new mediated forms of interaction helped address the cultural changes that emerged due to the pandemic.
Medical translation during the COVID-19 pandemic underwent several significant changes. The primary goal of these changes is to align communication between various parties and improve outcomes. Thus, the power of translation during the pandemic was exceptional, as it helped align interactions between doctors, researchers, and suppliers and create a potent response to the problem. Infectious disease scientists across the globe were able to communicate to share critical information about the virus and discuss possible solutions to design an effective treatment or vaccine (Luo, 2021). Moreover, the translations of the disease’s mechanisms promoted a better understanding and faster responses to new threats.
However, the crisis showed crucial deficiencies in the information transition process. These are the lack of trained translators, applications for effective translation, and government involvement, which reduced the opportunities for face-to-face interaction and travelling (Luo, 2021). As a result, forums and networks such as Twitter played a significant role in sharing knowledge and guaranteeing its availability to a broader audience. Thus, online forms of interaction became a solution to the restrictions on physical contact, providing interpreters, translators, and medical professionals with new opportunities to share information (Lipworth et al., 2020). It is an important step towards creating a new digitalized space for translators.
As stated previously, specialists and professionals use applications for video meetings, such as Zoom or Skype, as they combine several important features vital for them. These included the stable video connection, helping to align the live interaction, and the chance to share files, read texts, and edit them together. The extended use of such applications contributed to the popularization of the mediated form of translation and information sharing. Together with social media platforms, these applications created a new space for translators and other professionals. Considering the limitations on travel and face-to-face communication, video meetings have served as a new tool widely employed by specialists from various spheres, including healthcare. As a result, online interactions became more frequent and significant.
Therefore, medical translation during the COVID-19 pandemic has the same tendencies as other spheres. The lack of trained translators and the necessity to consider cross-cultural differences are critical for the sector. Specialists from various countries have to cooperate to create a unified and potent response to the disease. For this reason, forums, social media, and video meetings have become widely used by professionals for discussions. At the same time, trust issues remain relevant for medical translation, as social media allows non-qualified translators to offer their services. It means that the translation crisis affects the sphere and requires investigation.
Conclusion
Altogether, the pandemic crisis became a serious challenge to all spheres of human activity. Translation, as one of the primary mechanisms of interaction between individuals from various countries, has also faced specific challenges. The changes triggered by the pandemic promoted the shift toward new models of interaction (European Commission, 2022). The previous models of communication are being replaced with networked ones, resting on the idea of building trust through interaction, discussion, and communication.
This change provided specialists and translators with new channels of information sharing and transfer. At the same time, there are problems such as credibility issues and the lack of professional translators. In such a way, it is possible to assume that these issues might be resolved by using forums and social networks, providing users with a chance to interact with informed or educated individuals and build trust. In such a way, social media and forums might be viewed as a tool to address some translation problems that arise during a crisis.
References
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