Guest Professor Donato Leads Workshop On 'Computer-Assisted Translation'

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Professor Clorinda Donato, Professor of Italian and French, California State Long Beach.

On Monday, Oct. 30, the department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures hosted Clorinda Donato, professor of Italian and French from California State University-Long Beach in Long Beach, California. Professor Donato is also the director of the Clorinda Donato Center for Global Romance Languages and Translation Studies, also located at CSU-Long Beach. 

Professor Donato visited the World Languages and Digital Humanities Studio (JBHT 207) presented a workshop on "Computer-Assisted Translation: DH Tools for Language Learning," in which she discussed how the web-based text analysis platforms Voyant and Sketch Engine can be used in translation studies.

Donato commented on the necessity of translation skills, saying: "The language services industry providing translation and interpreting services, multilingual knowledge management, and localization on a global scale is burgeoning. Growth in the global language industry is expected to reach $70 billion by 2025, with the US language industry already operating in the order of $30 billion a year."  

She also shared her experiences establishing her Center for Global Romance Languages and Translation Studies, which she realized through a robust network of private donors and federal grants.

Over the course of her visit, Donato emphasized the importance of innovative programming and the necessity of multicultural, multilingual skillsets for finding success in the digital economy. To this end, Donato demonstrated how she has been integrating tools and methodologies from the digital humanities in her translation curricula as well as her research.

Instructor Ryan Chamberlain (French) attended the workshop held by Donato and commented on his experience: "Donato's workshop left me with at least half a dozen practical tools I'm eager to use for research in literary translation. She also helped tear down the barrier that, at least for me, sits impenetrably between research and teaching: connections across translation—especially when students 'network' the target language with a related one they know well—can enrich and accelerate their learning." 

Emphasizing the need for multicultural competencies in a global economy, Donato said: "The industry needs people who are highly proficient in languages and language technologies to fill jobs across every sector of the labor market. US universities need to stop closing language programs, and instead, boldly repurpose them. You want jobs for our college students? Help them become multilingual and tech savvy!"

Stay tuned for the final DH Meet-Up of the fall semester at the World Languages & Digital Humanities Studio: