We talk about the most valuable component of the language industry being the interpreter that allows communication, cultural sensitivity, SME to be given during an LEP engagement with the English-speaking person. We say without the interpreter the services provided today could not be done at the level necessary and ranges from being very important to critical based on the use case.
I would say that is not quite true, a matter of fact, horse manure. If the value of the interpreter is important, critical, and considered priceless, then why are we constantly lowering the rate per minute, per hour of what interpreters receive, and yet we demand more SME, more credentials, more certifications, but we keep lowering the compensation representing their financial worth every year to the point these valuable priceless individuals cannot afford to work as professional interpreters in the language industry.
The fact is the industry of human interpreters is still very important. The clients needing language services are changing as technology becomes more available to deliver services, and the use of AI technology has become more accurate becoming a factor of why the industry is changing. It used to be quality was the filter of how things would be accepted, qualified interpreters, quality professional interpreters, and technology was a second thought or not at all. Today there is a paradigm shift, show me what technology you have, and then the interpreter resources you have when needed. Interpreters will be needed in specific markets, and those markets are becoming less and smaller in size. Interpreters see the change and they too see technology being a factor impacting their future.