Interview published In:
Digital Translation: Online-First Articles
interview

Understanding the digital ecosystem of interpreting

ORCID logo | Hamad bin Khalifa University, Qatar | KU Leuven, Belgium
ORCID logo | Independent Scholar of Interpreting, Iran
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • 1.Digital ecosystems are defined by so many variables. How do you define this concept when it comes to interpreting?
  • 2.In order to allow a richer understanding of this digital ecosystem, what trends are you observing that are gaining momentum and are likely to have a significant impact on the interpreting industry and market?
  • 3.We might expand our understanding of this digital ecosystem of interpreting if we carefully examine it through the lens of the gig economy as in the growing recent trend of the platformization of interpreting services (Giustini 2022; 2024a; 2024b). Considering the emergence of this trend, what are the opportunities and challenges that lie before this digital ecosystem?
  • 4.This digital ecosystem of interpreting is growing, but, in my critical assessment, it currently does not seem to be balanced, particularly in the framework of research, development, and application (Dastyar 2024). This is a crucial aspect to address when it comes to the efficiency of this ecosystem, and different stakeholders, including researchers, tech companies, and end-users, seem to play a role. Do you agree with me in your assessment of the current status of this ecosystem? If so, will you please share your insights on how to best redress such an imbalance?
  • 5.When it comes to the intersection of emerging technologies, interpreting and language rights, cross-cutting topics of inclusivity and fair access to interpreting services (often dubbed ‘digital or AI-based accessibility’) seem to be not only essential, but also challenging to the efficiency and balance of this digital ecosystem (Monzό-Nebot and Tasa-Fuster 2024). What are your thoughts on this? What are we likely to gain or lose if different stakeholders, including the interpreting profession, tech developers, and society at large, either do or do not take into consideration this essential aspect of the digital ecosystem of interpreting?
  • 6.Previously, I interviewed you on the topic of critical AI literacy (CAIL) and its importance for the symbiosis between interpreting and emerging technologies (Giustini and Dastyar 2024). Not only is CAIL instrumental in our understanding of the digital ecosystem of interpreting, but it also seems to play an important role in sustaining and fostering this ecosystem. What are your thoughts on this?
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 4 February 2025
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/dt.24015.das
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