PERTH’S small but vibrant language translation industry is gearing up for the expected influx of demand the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre will bring.
PERTH’S small but vibrant language translation industry is gearing up for the expected influx of demand the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre will bring.
The city’s largest translation company, Translators International has invested more than $100,000 on the latest translation equipment to cater for the new level of demand for translation services the centre is expected to need.
Featuring infrared and microwave technology, the lightweight headsets allow delegates to move around conventions and switch to different language interpretations broadcast from a main translation console.
The equipment does not supersede human interpretation – Translators International employs around 240 translators and interpreters – but rather represents new capabilities in the local translation industry to cope with international conventions.
Translators International managing director Jerzy Brodzki, who has been involved with the industry for the past 20 years, said many international conferences that came to Perth brought their own translators and equipment with them.
He said he believed the local translation industry would metamorphose from a cottage industry to a deliverer of world-class services to meet the high level demand of international conferences the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre is expected to bring.
“The Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre will pull in and generate work in the highly specialised services that we provide,” Mr Brodzki said.
He said many of the traditional convention destinations on the global convention circuit were getting tired and there was strong demand for new convention locations.
Mr Brodzki said the investment on the translation equipment was a big punt for the company, however, it was essential if a world-class translation service was to be provided.
Booked up to July 2007 with around five conferences a year, Translators International, is growing with the demand for more and higher quality translation services.
“The notion that we have to do it in English is fading,” Mr Brodzki said.
“English is an important language in the world but it is not the only language.”
While Europe may dominate the translation industry in size, Perth also holds a fortunate position and has potential to grow, Mr Brodzki said.
He said Perth’s location between two time zones helped attract a lot of overseas translation work.
