Category: blog

What is Machine Translation Post Editing MTPE??

A question whose answer requires the answer to another question: What is Machine Translation MT in the first place? But it’s a long story that needs to be significantly shortened!

Call it Machine Translation, TM, Automatic Translation, Automated Translation, or even Instant Translation. In any case, Machine Translation, whose earliest demonstration took place in 1954, is the translation of source textual content by a computer, with zero human involvement. You produce volume ─ relatively at the expense of quality!

So, what is MTPE?

It’s a mix, but not any mix! It’s a wonderful solution whereby human translators get involved to edit the rough content translated by machines. In other words, Man is stepping forward to refine the output of Machine and is taking responsibility for the final quality!

With this, Machine Translation Post Editing has developed to become more accurate than machine translation ─ and less costly and time-consuming than human translation. This way, MTPE is now regarded as the perfect choice for the clients who want to translate a big chunk of content with a fast turnaround time, at a fair price, and, most importantly, with no compromise on quality.

But we still need to ask: What are the benefits of MTPE?

What are the Advantages of MTPE?

It’s time now to see the glass half full and ask how businesses can benefit from machine translation post-editing MTPE. Let’s dive deeper.

1-Volume Matters!

Yes, it often happens. In today’s world, businesses frequently find themselves in need of having large amounts of text translated with average, run-of-the-mill quality. And, here comes the thrilling role of MTPE! It can produce a larger volume of content in less time and & high quality 

2-Cost Savings Are Similarly Important!

Time is money, isn’t it? Therefore, translation by human linguists normally costs a lot more than machine translation, with the latter taking more time. So, by using MTPE, you can effectively and professionally manage the costs of your translation project.  To be more precise, MTPE’s normal prices are typically around 50% lower than the rates of the traditional translation model.

Furthermore, the time spent by linguists on the editing of the machine-translated content, and consequently the project’s overall costs, depends on the specifics of each project ─ that is on such factors as the client’s target audience, quality demands, and style. Therefore, human editors can always customize their effort ─ doing light or deep editing ─ based upon the requirements of each customer, and each translation project.

3-Quicker translation

With MTPE, the process will deliver your project 3 times quicker than the traditional process of human translation. This simply means faster turnaround time than straight human translation. Still, want an example? Take this.  

If we estimate that a professional human translator can create an average of 2000 words of translated content a day, she can produce from 7000 to 9000 words per day ─ simply because she would be editing what is already translated by the machine.

4-Quality Too!

Also, we can talk about a level of quality savings in the translations conducted by the use of MTPE. Significantly, the MTPE’s level of quality is based on the machine translation’s engine. Therefore, translation quality becomes high if the content falls within a specific domain.

5-A La Mode!

If we say, with authority, that translation has always been transforming the models of human communication, it goes without saying, accordingly, that MTPE is increasingly becoming the modern way of multilingual communication.

When Should You Use MTPE?

It depends!

To use MTPE or not to use it is a question of why you want to use it ─ and what for! It’s an issue of feasibility and intended use.

To achieve the best result out of machine translation post editing, the whole process should start with proper consultation between the client and the machine translation experts at the language service provider LSP.

At AfroLingo, we always analyze such factors as our client’s specific requirements, their resources, their expectations, and, most importantly, their business objectives.

With this in mind, it’s time to talk about how we, as a professional MTPE provider, can help.

How can AfroLingo Help?

At AfroLingo, our approach is simple: We help our corporate clients to save cost, get the speed they want ─ without compromising on quality. But how?

First, we leverage our state-of-the-art TECHNOLOGY. Our Machine Translation engines are integrated into our Translation (CAT) Tools, which are, in turn, totally optimized for the MTPE process.

Further, our machine translation engine is seamlessly connected with our Translation Management System TMS and our Translation Memory TM in a way that guarantees an efficient workflow within our team.

As for the TEAM, we always excel in optimizing the human part of MTPE. We are proud of our tech-savvy MTPE whizzes who do it right from the very outset and who perform according to our high standards.

Finally, we take pride in putting in place the strictest quality assurance system across the entire translation industry ─ both at the human part and the machine part of the process.  

Contact us Now for your free quote!

As your business grows, you must be mulling regional, or even global, expansion opportunities to increase your revenues and scale up your success. Although it has never been easier to reach out to foreign markets, a perplexing question always remains: will you be able to compete with the local players in those markets? Just because your product or service has made booming success in your home country doesn’t mean it will do the same in other markets. 

Here is where localization services step in. One proven and guaranteed practice in the field of international business expansion is localization. Your chances to succeed in a new market are doubled when you decide to address your audience in their native language. This has become even more important in today’s digital age with a big chunk of purchases being completed online. Read on to learn more about the tremendous importance of localization for your business. 

What is localization?

Localization is defined as the process of adapting a certain product, service, or communication message to a particular audience in a specific market/locale. Localization is basically concerned with the culture and language nuances and subtleties, and aims at catering your offerings to the needs of your target audience.

Far beyond normal translation; localization refers to the efforts exerted to make a product or service feel like it was originally created for your new audience. Therefore, localization specialists consider stuff like the colloquial languages, the cultural context, and the social customs of your newly targeted market. A professional localization project usually involves the modification of tone, style, visuals, as well as the language.

Types of localization

In practice, localization covers a wide range of digital mediums and could be categorized in four different types, as follows:

• Website localization

Your website is your digital identity and brand representation and building a multilingual website is a critical step toward the establishment of a multinational business. The adaptation of your website to different cultural contexts, however, entails a diverse set of functions that range from content translation to desktop publishing (DTP) and SEO localization. Website localization helps you establish an appealing brand image in multiple languages and at different target markets. A report by CSA Research found that more than 72% of internet users prefer to stay on websites with content in their native languages. 

• Software localization

Technology is slowly taking over our lives and software platforms are now being used all around the globe. Localizing your software opens the way for it to spread further and increase its user base. Software localization requires a comprehensive collaboration between designers, linguists and localization engineers. They work all together to customize the user experience (UX), user interface (UI) designs, as well as the software language to meet the expectations of every target market. A global-minded software business can never deliver software products for overseas markets without competent software localization services.

• Mobile app localization

Presenting your mobile application in multiple languages, and even dialects, reap numerous benefits to your business. Not only does app localization expand your user base and enlarge your revenues, it also builds strong relationships with your clients everywhere. As a developer, you should be speaking the language of your mobile app user and making him feel like it is exclusively created for him. The importance of app localization makes more sense when you get to know that by 2014, 50% of the top 10 countries with the most downloads in iOS App Store, and 80% of the top 5 in Google Play were non-English speaking countries, according to App Annie.

The perks of localization

No matter your industry or mother language, localization will bring you closer with your audience everywhere. Partnering with reliable and professional localization service providers now represents an essential part of any business development process. Localization is the key to unlocking a world of new lucrative opportunities and prospects of success. The following is four proven benefits of localization:

More leads

When you offer content in your audience’s mother tongue, you provide easy access to your products and services. One direct result of professional localization is that you will acquire higher traffic and reach out to more leads.

Stronger relationships

Your traffic is more likely to interact on your platforms when they are available in their own language and aligned with their culture. Engagement is a perfect way to build successful relationships, convert leads into customers, and retain your existing clients.

Better conversion

Studies show that most of your acquired leads eventually turn into customers when your website, software, or mobile app is localized. They will buy your products and use your services only when they can fully grasp your promotional message and recognize your competitive edge.

Higher ROI

After all, localization efforts translate into higher revenues and better returns on your investment (ROI). Localization is always a worthwhile investment that eventually yields a considerable growth in your profits.

Why localize to the African Market?

Africa is the world’s second most populated continent and it is filled with tempting business opportunities that you don’t want to miss. By the end of 2019, the number of African internet users exceeded 525 million, representing a growing internet penetration rate of 39.3%. 

Kenya topped the list of internet usage growth; the Communication Commission of Kenya reports that internet users leaped from 200,000 in 2000 to over 19.6 million at the end of last year, registering a massive growth of 9,700% over less than 20 years.

In light of these figures, localizing your e-commerce platform into African languages seems like a winning deal and effortless success. There are over 500 million people who are looking forward to your innovative online solutions and ready to make their purchasing decisions. 

Why AfroLingo?

Over the course of 12 years, AfroLingo has been providing top-grade language solutions in more than 80 African and Middle Eastern languages. If you are looking for a specialized and trustworthy localization partner, you have come to the right place. Our native linguists work closely with highly qualified localization specialists to cater the best solution to your needs. Contact us now and let us craft you a customized website, software, or mobile localization service that will take your business to a whole new level of success.

Submit your request and get a free quote now!

Yes, it has by now evolved into a self-evident truth. A global-minded software business can’t deliver software products for overseas markets without software localization services. Software developers have to work hard on translating their products into the multiple languages of their target audiences in their target markets.

However, smart software developers have learned the hard way to not allow the initial enthusiasm of the decision to adapt their software for global audiences to veil the hard work that should accompany it. That’s why developers should apply software localization best practices.

Okay, but what on earth are these practices?

Best Practices for Software Localization Services

Yes, localizing a software product can be a very tough job. However, it can be much easier if you adhere to the following best practices and top that aim to make the whole process easier and more efficient. Let’s dive deeper.

1-Planning is essential

Don’t do it hurriedly as a last-minute task. Rather, you need to carefully plan the entire software development process, including the phases of translation, testing, to finally produce a quality product.

2-Start with separating text from code

This is both basic and crucial. If you do this, you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle and problems that would create havoc for your product.

3-Take Dialects into Account

Yes, you might be translating your software into a single language. Yet, you have to pay attention to dialects. For example, if you are localizing your software into Arabic, you need to know if the audience speaks the dialect of Egypt, Iraq, or the Gulf. They’re so different that you need to take this into consideration from the very outset.  

4-Leave space for text expansion and remember Bidirectional Languages

You need to leave plenty of space or program dynamic UI expansion into your software. Why? Because many languages take up to 30 % more space than English. What’s more, remember that such languages as Arabic, Farsi, and Hebrew read from right to left. So, for these right-to-left products, you may have to build a completely new set of style sheets when you have fixed positioning layouts.

5-Test and repeat testing

You should test your localized software as meticulously and thoroughly as the original English software. In other words, don’t rest assured until you see the foreign language “in context” within your software. When it comes to software localization, repeated testing is a virtue!

6-Partner with the Expert!

After all is said and done, and due to all the difficulties and intricacies involved in the software localization process, it’s becoming a must for developers to choose a localization provider that they can rely on and trust. But, how will you choose the right one?

How to Choose a Reputable Software Localization Partner?

There are dozens of advantages if you, as a software developer, partner with a software localization expert who is responsible for adapting your product to the technical, linguistic, and cultural requirements of your multiple target audiences. One of the awesome benefits is they will professionally anticipate any language issues from the initial software development stages! So, what should you find in a software developer for you to settle on them?

First, you need to ensure that your partner has hands-on experience in the software localization business for years. Experience is paramount in this sort of partnership!

Second, you need to see that your partner’s localization process synchronizes with your development process and can easily be incorporated into your company’s workflows.

Third, and most importantly, your software developer should be able to show you that they have in place the expert team and the technology tools that would make it possible for them to meet your needs in terms of solutions, deadlines, and budget.  confirm they can meet your deadlines and budget with integrated technology solutions and a team of in-country linguists to deliver quality translations.

Well done, so now you have the necessary knowledge and insight to choose the right partner. What then? Why would you choose AfroLingo in particular?

Why AfroLingo?

For 12 years, AfroLingo has been providing top-notch software developers in South Africa and elsewhere with software localization services that empower them to extend their footprint in South Africa, the African continent, and all over the world.

Over these years, we’ve achieved an impressive track record in having fast turnaround time and the most rigorous quality assurance system in the entire industry ─ supported by having achieved the ISO 171000 certification.

Last but not least, we take pride in our team of technical and linguistic experts that work to adapt your software product to resonate with your target audiences all over the world.

Contact us today for a free quote

Your website is your company’s most influential digital platform as well as your business’s essential marketing, and probably sales, tool. It goes without question.

So, what is website localization, and, consequently, what are the so-called website localization services?

In the simplest terms, localizing your website refers to the multi-phase process of adapting your website content ─ in terms of language, appearance and functionality ─ for consumption by various audiences in numerous markets, in the same country or multiple countries around the world. But why would you do that?

The ultimate goal of the whole story of website localization services is to end up with a website that considers technical, linguistic and cultural differences while giving a look and feel as if it was initially designed and written in the target language for the new target audience in the new market.

Given this all-inclusive definition, we still have two critical questions.

First, is there a difference between translation and localization?

Difference Between Website Translation and Website Localization Services

Though frequently used interchangeably, the difference between website translation and website localization is sharp and clear.

The translation of your website means converting the content into a different language, that is translating words, phrases and sentences from, say, English to Spanish. On the other hand, website localization is a comprehensive technical-linguistic solution, where such areas as image replacement, SEO and formatting are taken into consideration.

Importance of Website Localization

The increasing globalization is providing businesses and brands with great opportunities to expand into new markets to target new audiences. At the same time, the world wide web is dramatically abolishing the barriers to entry. This has resulted in increased global competition. So, brands are currently sparing no effort to ensure that their multi-language websites are professionally localized for these businesses to thrive on a worldwide scale.  

Why Do Companies Need Website Localization Services?

Does the language of figures speak more powerfully? Let’s see why successful businesses should bother to localize their sites in the first place. 

According to a study conducted by the European Commission about web users across the European Union, 90% of web users would visit a website written in their mother tongue. Moreover, according to studies published by Common Sense Advisory, internet purchasing behaviour in foreign countries, 75% of respondents would like to see product information in their mother tongue, 56%  of respondents boycott English-language URLs altogether or spend more time on sites in their language. Furthermore, 29% of respondents seldom purchase English-language sites, while 30% of respondents never purchase at English-language sites.

Given these impressive facts and figures, let’s see why successful businesses should bother localizing their sites in the first place. 

Increase Your Reach: Professional website localization services will open your website up to surfers and visitors who would otherwise not be able to use it. 

Boost SEO: Thanks to the consensus on the primacy of SEO when it comes to online marketing, website localization makes it possible for you to launch localized SEO campaigns that aim to boost your rankings.

Boost Conversion and Grow Sales: As revealed by the above studies, internet users are more likely to convert when your website is written in their mother tongue.

Better User Experience: Concerning the 90% of web users who prefer to visit a website written in their mother tongue, localization will help catch and keep their attention. 

Brand Credibility: When your business has a professionally localized website, this will help you establish your brand’s credibility in the eyes of your target audiences.

Increase Customer Loyalty: It goes without saying that when your clients are attracted by your products that are presented on a localized website, they will be more likely to make repeat purchases. So, localizing your site will increase customer loyalty and is an integral part of your company’s retention effort.

Best Practices for Website Localization

You can’t afford to have your business away from the internet ─ which is increasingly becoming the go-to platform for information, products, services, online sales and, more importantly, making money! Can you?

Your localized multilingual website will have the potential to reach almost anyone, anywhere. That’s why we’ll list below some website localization best practices that would help business owners who wish to go global.

1) Start with a Plan of Action

Before anything, you should start with creating a viable workflow, or plan of action, to ensure that your localized multilingual site will be deployed as smoothly as possible.

It would help if you worked on keeping your customers on the website in the course of localization. You’ll have to carry out the new site rollout gradually and smoothly without compromising too much of the website’s functionality.

Prioritization is a virtue! Start with the pages, functions, and headlines that your website relies on to keep customers engaged. So, you need to start with localizing the home page or product page, and then you need to decide which website content is most important to your brand and its original message.

2) Forget Manual and Use Automation

Gone are the good old days of manually exporting and reimporting the content from your website. It just costs you time, money and potential mistakes. So, you need to consider one of the following techniques:

1.     Use a content management system translation plugin, which will work inside your CMS, to make it possible for you to set up for specific language encoding. It will also enable you to export and reimport in a localization friendly format pages and sections of your choice, localize titles and metadata, hook up directly to a TMS via API.
2.     Using a proxy solution could be a right and viable solution. If you only have a small team and are looking for the hands-off approach.
3.     Use an application program interface (API) and content connectors available to automate your website content smoothly.

3) Define Target Audience and & Corresponding Culture!

Who is your target audience? What is their language?

It’s about culture in general, now just language. So, you need to know everything about your target audience’s cultural nuances ─ including image choices, colour, layout, font, and the social norms of the audience. A world translated from one language to another without taking the differences of the two cultures may wreak havoc to your image. 

4) Your Brand’s Message and Tone

Never forget the identity of your brand, which you might have established in years. A new audience does not mean taking your greatest asset ─ the brand ─ back to square zero!

So, you have to spare no effort in placing your brand image, brand identity, brand look & feel, and your brand’s core message at the centre of your new localized site. Never let the distinctive character and the essence of your brand get lost in translation. It’d be serious damage!

5) Provide Context and Test

If you have ever tried to translate a sentence from one language to another, you are familiar with the difficulties that arise. It’s not as simple as swapping word for word. Translating can get messy, and the context can get lost. The same applies to the localization of a website, especially when incorporating multiple languages.

You have to leverage in-context translation tools to ensure the smooth localization of your website, so that messages may stay consistent across all your multilingual site versions. 

Further, you need to test and test and then test! The testing stage would save your business a lot of time by making it possible for you to fix things before they get seen by customers and prospects.

6) Choose the Right Local Service Partner

This is a different and meaningful story! Let’s put it outright. Selecting your website translation services partner is no easy task. However, we’ve compiled several tips to guide you down the road. Let’s see.

Why Do Clients Choose AfroLingo?

According to one of our major clients, AfroLingo has empowered them to unleash their digital potential! But how?

For more than a decade, AfroLingo has been providing world-class website localization services into all major world languages for big brands across Africa and all over the world.

Our highly qualified team of expert native-speaking translators have always been ready here to help whether our client is looking to enter the ever-expanding African market or the emerging markets of South America and Asia or the established markets of Europe.

When it comes to technology, AfroLingo always leverages the latest technology on the website localization services sector and combines this with our 10-year experience and our expertise to surpass all our clients’ needs.

Contact us today for a free quote, or talk to our experts about how to empower your websites to conquer overseas markets.

Kenya, May 20, 2020.  There was fear, panic, layoffs ─ and a lot of hope!

There was COVID-19 spreading and putting people in partial lockdown. The Eastern African country was enforcing a dusk-to-dawn curfew, banning social get-togethers, and bringing international flights to a half. Total confirmed COVID-19 cases were 1029, with 50 deaths.

Nearly at the same date, Sauti Sol, the well-known Kenyan afro-pop band, was spreading a clear message to the nation [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQEByF4dtY0]:

 “Cos I’m certain brighter days are yet to come

Ain’t no question that tomorrow there’ll be good times

I believe with every beat of my heart”

A society where hope is spreading amidst a global pandemic, where people look forward to tomorrow even when today is a bit insecure. Typical Kenya!

Businesses That Fared Badly

Like every other area in Kenyan society, the business sector has been facing the outbreak of COVID-19 with a mix of courage, resilience, and hope.

However, businesses responded differently ─ with some companies closing down, some resorting to layoffs, some endeavoring to adapt, and other firms seizing the opportunity to grow and even thrive. 

When it comes to the dark side of the situation, Kenya has gone through several bad developments since the outbreak of corona. At least one million citizens have seen their jobs disappear or have been put on unpaid leave. Transport, communication, tourism, horticulture and education are the worst-hit sectors. At Kenya Airways, the pay of most employees was reduced by 75% while the carrier is waiting for a government supportive package, and the lifting of travel restrictions.

Businesses That Fared Well

On the other hand, many businesses have been able to survive and even thrive against a background of a spreading vicious pandemic.

The coronavirus has brought about a lot of supply chain disruptions, which resulted in the Kenyan market lacking various products, especially in the area of medical supplies and other protective gear. As a result, Kenyan local businesses in the medical device industry have seized the opportunity to start producing and manufacturing protective gear and other products. These products ─ which the country previously used to import ─ include personal protective equipment, body bags, hand sanitizers, masks, alcohol, and other products aimed to combat the virus.

In another sphere, the home delivery services sector has been remarkably thriving since the COVID-19 breakout, witnessing a rising trajectory all across the country.

A Company That Swam Against the Tide!

At such a hard time when many businesses across the globe were going through a mood ranging from caution to insecurity to sheer panic due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we need to shed some light on an East African firm whose response to the calamity turned out to be strikingly different.

It’s EquaLife Capital [http://www.equalifegroup.com/equalife-capital.html] ─ an African venture debt investment fund that provides asset financing, working capital and bridge financing to start-ups and innovative small and growing businesses.

In the middle of the pandemic, EquaLife Capital has daringly moved to quickly introduce an offering that it believes will gain ground under these uncertain circumstances. The Nairobi-based investment firm has initiated a USD 20 million Africa Venture Debt Covid-19 Relief Fund ─ that aims to extend financing to East African companies that look for capital to cope with cash flow challenges related to the crisis. The company is presently seeking investors to commit capital to the fund.

While under normal circumstances EquaLife Capital would give loans with an interest rate that ranges between 15% and 20%, the investment company’s new Relief Fund will make investments that range from USD 200,000 to USD 2 million, with interest rates of between 5% and 10% per annum.

Interestingly, EquaLife Capital wishes also to generate a financial ROI, even though it would be lower than the normal one. The venture debt investor is planning to provide those generous interest rates to businesses by raising capital for the fund from a combination of commercial investors (that demand ‘normal’ returns) in addition to NGOs (that have significantly lower, if any, return expectations). With these 2 “return structures” in the fund, EquaLife Capital will be able to pass on lower rates to the entrepreneurs.

A big bravo for those who spread hope, help others and swim against the tide!

AfroLingo and Kenya

AfroLingo has always been involved in helping businesses to thrive in Kenya, South Africa, and all across the African continent.

Over the past 12 years, AfroLingo has earned an impressive reputation for delivering premium translation and interpretation services that empower businesses to thrive in a wide diversity of markets all over Africa.

Today, we, at AfroLingo, are sincerely calling on all Kenyans to continue staying safe during the Covid-19 period. More importantly, we wish that Kenyan businesses, across all industries all over Kenya, will continue to respond to the pandemic in a positive, resilient and productive manner. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us so we can discuss how our translation and localization services may help your business grow and thrive despite the pandemic. Click here to request a free quote.

Seldom do we come across an online video without subtitles or closed captions, and most of the online courses are coupled with detailed transcripts. This fact reflects the rapidly growing importance of transcription as a professional language service in our dynamic digital world. The expected rise in online video content against other types of content also suggests the demand over professional transcription services will continue to increase within the coming few years.

This Q&A piece delves into the nuts and bolts of transcription solutions, including the types of the service, the industries that need it, the benefits it brings forth, as well as the perks of outsourcing professional transcription services from a native and reliable language service provider (LSP).

What is Transcription?

Transcription is the process of converting the sounds of an audio or video file into a written script. Although the advent of automatic speech recognition (ASR) technologies has enabled machines to transcribe recorded and live videos and audio files at relatively high accuracy, human transcription remained in demand.

Human transcriptionists do not just listen and put what they listen to in writing. They further pay attention to all audible details, from the spoken dialogue to the background sounds, and carry out a full or selective transcription as per the client requirements.

Transcribers also need to get a full grasp of the audio or audiovisual content and prioritize the importance of each audible detail so they come up with a final output that conveys the same message of the video or audio file.

Moreover, video transcription is usually followed by the additional function of synchronization and time coding to match the written text with the video display. Transcription in foreign languages is also one of the most sought-after language services across different industries and it involves accurate transcription and adequate translation that can only be handled by humans.

What are the Types of Transcription?

As shown, professional transcription services are not limited to listening and transcribing mindlessly; transcriptionists usually conduct multiple tasks to come up with a customized and satisfying transcription. There are different levels of transcription, as follows:

1) Verbatim Transcription:

This type of transcription is meant to record every single detail of an audio or video file. This includes stutters and garbled sentences all the way to the background noise and the description of human emotions and facial expressions. Verbatim transcription should be done by detail-oriented transcriptionists and it usually lasts longer than other types.

Verbatim transcription is perfect for: 

• Court proceedings

• Police investigations

• Academic research projects

• Psychological studies 

• Data analysis

2) Edited Transcription:

Edited transcription is where transcribers exclude all irrelevant information and transcribe the main speech or dialogue. At this type of transcription, transcribers need to comprehend the entire content and pick what is important to deliver the message accurately and without unneeded text.

Edited transcription is perfect for:

• Media interviews

• TV and cinema

• Public speeches and conferences

• Business meetings

3) Intelligent Transcription:

As its name suggests, intelligent transcription is concerned with the creation of an edited and precise text of what is important in a video or audio file. This type of transcription costs a bit more as it requires experienced and highly trained transcriptionists who overlook background noise and unnecessary details, and transcribe the core message of the video or audio file with no mumbling or grammar mistakes.

Intelligent transcription is perfect for:

• Medical studies

• Business communications

• Media projects

What Industries Need Professional Transcription Services?

• Legal Sector: Court cases and witness statements.
• Medical Sector: Medical procedures’ documentation, patient records, and industry events.
• Media and Publishing: Audio podcasts, video production, press interviews, and event coverage.
• Marketing: Market researches, interviews, events, promotional videos, and SEO.
• Education: Lecture notes, educational videos, and online courses.
• Science: International conferences and academic research.

These are a few examples of where transcription services are needed, and there are many more applications of the service for recording or documentation purposes, including political meetings, police interviews, flight records… etc.

What are the Benefits of Transcription Services?

As shown, transcription services now mark an essential part of many business sectors, and this high demand goes back to the wide range of benefits they offer, such as:

• Transcription is the only way for people with hearing impairment to recognize a video content.
• Transcription helps to develop better understanding of the video or audio content and guarantee no misinterpretations.
• Videos with transcribed subtitles can be played soundless in sound-sensitive environments.
• Having written transcripts boosts video SEO and attracts more viewers.

What are the Benefits of Outsourcing Professional Transcription Services?

Transcription services can be mistakenly assigned to machines or done through crowdsourcing; they can also be handled internally by unprofessionals, but the quality and accuracy would stay a big concern. Outsourcing professional transcription services is irreplaceable thanks to the following reasons:

• Cost-effectiveness: It is much less costly to assign your project to a professional transcription service provider than hire specialist transcribers. When you partner with a reliable language vendor, you save money and opt for a cost-efficient solution.
• Experience: Outsourcing transcription services from specialists grants you access to highly qualified transcriptionists as well as subject matter experts who fulfill their tasks as per your requirements.
• Professionalism: By assigning a transcription project to a reliable vendor, you take a heavy weight off your shoulders and let your employees focus on the core business operations, while getting the job done professionally in a timely manner.
• Quality: Native and experienced transcription service providers are following the best practices and latest standards to come up with high-quality services, outperforming crowdsourcing, machines, freelancers, and unprofessional.
• Confidentiality: Once you sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the service provider, you rest assured that the information and data of your project will remain intact with a high level of privacy and confidentiality.

Promoting all these advantages, AfroLingo has been providing adequate and professional transcription services for over 12 years in the African market. Based in Johannesburg and Nairoubi, our expert transcriptionists have delivered an array of satisfactory transcription projects across various industries, and are ready to fulfill your needs. 

We provide all types of transcription solutions (verbatim, editid, and intelligent) at the highest quality, fastest turnaround time, and most competitive prices. Partner with us now and transcribe your videos and audio files proficiently.

Get in touch for a customized and free quote!

The recent use of technology all around the globe coincided with a real demand in Africa for enough facilities to achieve economic growth and overcome many pressing problems across various sectors. Soon after the technological revolution took place, the business of information communications technology (ICT) found its way into most of the African countries and managed to contribute effectively to the regular growth of many industries, particularly in East Africa. Among the myriad positive impacts, the African education systems saw a significant development on the back of the groundbreaking tech innovations, paving the way to the rise of notions like e-learning and self-education.

Registering high internet and mobile phone market penetration rates, Kenya marks an example of the rapid evolution of e-learning across many educational disciplines. The applications of e-learning in Kenya ranged from online training courses and institutional learning materials, all the way to official primary, secondary, and higher education.

The advent of e-learning in Kenya brought forth numerous benefits amid the lack of adequate resources in many urban and rural areas. Many of the Kenyan poor families are now able to access online educational services at much lower rates. Also, educational institutions started to enroll more students and deliver higher standards of education. Simply put, e-learning has improved the quality of educational content and rendered it easily accessible to more learners through digital platforms.

The Official Take on E-Learning in Kenya

We can proudly say that the e-learning market in Kenya is flourishing, not only among individuals but also on the professional and institutional levels.

• The Kenyan government devotes special attention to the educational system and allocates over 5.2% of the country’s total gross domestic product (GDP) to enhance the quality of education. 
• Kenya’s Ministry of ICT has recently partnered with the Ministry of Education to implement the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), funded by the Korea Economic Development Cooperation Fund (ECDF). 
• Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development has digitized content and made it available on many online and digital platforms.
• Higher education institutions such as Kenyatta University, The University of Nairobi, Makerere University, and Kampala international university have successfully applied ICT policies and incorporated technical learning solutions.

This approach was also adopted by local and global private organizations that create educational materials, including online courses, tutorial videos, schooling apps, and learning games. 

Opportunities Vs. Challenges:

Undoubtedly, there is still an extreme need for e-learning solutions in Kenya as more millenials are accessing the internet and organizations are increasingly offering digital education systems. All in all, the development of e-learning in the African country is surrounded by multiple conveniences as well as some hindering hurdles. The following is a list of the opportunities against challenges within the evolution of e-learning in Kenya.

Opportunities:

• Mobile and internet user penetration rates are rapidly growing.
• Many Kenyans can not access regular schools due to financial constraints and long distances.
• Digital devices are replacing books and paperwork everywhere.
• Lecturers are streaming their sessions using videos and interactive applications.
• Local schools need to conduct online training classes in the evenings and weekends.
• Individuals are looking for self-paced training tailored to their specific needs.

Challenges:

• Kenyans living in rural areas have limited access to adequate internet bandwidth due to the absence of electricity or the fragility of networks.
• Kenyan teachers and educators are lacking the technical knowledge and skills required to provide sufficient e-learning programs.
• Kenya lags behind when it comes to the availability of locally developed interactive content that is compatible with the digital display.
• There are no strict e-learning policies in educational organizations.
• Poverty and financial constraints still stand in the way of many Kenyan families to benefit from the online educational content.

E-Learning Localization For Higher Success

Another relevant and substantial topic is e-learning localization. It is widely evidenced that e-learning practices are much more efficient when they are introduced in the native language of their target market. Kenyans, like many Africans, are more likely to benefit from and interact with the digital educational content that is created in their own language and within their unique culture.

For that reason, when an e-learning application or a digital online course is targeted to be offered in Kenya, localizing it into the Kenyan English or other indegineous African dialects by specialized e-learning translation companies doubles the chance of success. 

E-learning localization is even deemed a supportive factor to the overall evolution of e-learning in Kenya, with some international players tapping into the country’s educational market with their localized products.

The localization of your e-learning services, however, is a bit tricky as small errors or inadequate localization by unprofessional or non-native linguists might ruin the whole thing. Make sure you partner with a reliable native language vendor with extensive in-country experience so you can make the most out of your e-learning localization in Kenya.

Based in the heart of Nairobi, AfroLingo is proud to offer the ultimate e-learning localization services at the highest quality and most competitive prices. Get in touch now and have a team of veteran localization experts at your service. We have been trusted by giant e-learning service providers in Kenya and built a formidable reputation over more than 12 years. What are you waiting for? Partner with us now and make your e-learning solutions thrive in the Kenyan market.

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It is safe to say that the Kenyan economy is revolving around agriculture as it contributes with 26% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and with 27% of GDP indirectly through other sectors with the latter accounting for a large part of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

The volume and value of the agriculture market in Kenya are huge, and they remain atop the government’s priorities’ list, with the constant aim of keeping a vibrant environment and fertile soil for growth.

Right after the African country was hit by a severe drought in 2017, threatening the lives of almost 2.7 million people, mostly in rural areas, scientists started to explore new farming and irrigation techniques to enhance the agricultural productivity in Kenya. This reaped multiple benefits and eventually resulted in a widespread improvement of the kenyan standards of living and a significant poverty reduction.

In perspective, agriculture is a local source of food, a national source of income, as well as a major pillar of the international trade of cereals. For this massive importance, a solid agricultural system needs adequate communication which  in turn, needs proficient translation services. The perks of translation in the agribusiness are countless, and they widely include the full range of documents involved directly or indirectly in any agriculture-related sectors.

Here is a bulleted elaboration of the several touchpoints where both translation and agriculture meet.

Agriculture Translation: Points of Interaction!

Agriculture is no longer a simple profession that requires no prior education or practicing. It has become a massive industry that is powered by science and academic studies. Top-tier farmers are now aware of the world’s advanced technologies and they keep themselves updated with the newest mechanisms of sowing seeds, harvesting crops, and raising cattle. 

For every sub-category of the agriculture industry, translation services jump in to make communication easier and spread the knowledge of the cutting-edge advancements and best practices across the widest scope possible. The applications of translation in the agriculture sphere extend across various layers, as follows:

• Equipment and Machinery

There are hundreds of complicated farming machines used in agriculture all around the globe. The manufacturers of this equipment need to communicate effectively with their clients of farmers and engineers, and this requires adequate language services. Translation comes in to provide an accurate and easy understanding of any machinery-related content, including user manuals, maintenance guides, specification sheets, product labels, and software interfaces. Some examples of the equipment used by farmers are tractors, seed drills, sprayers, cutters and shredders, ploughs, and cultivators, to mention a few.

• Irrigation and Fertilizers

Following a competent irrigation technique and choosing the right fertilizers and harmless pesticides is not an easy task to fulfill. Most of Kenya’s farming lands are prone to drought due to the lack of rain, which means running a convenient irrigation water management is essential to maintain high levels of agricultural production. Meanwhile, farmers in Kenya do not have sufficient information on how to use the fertilizers in the appropriate amount, as well as at the appropriate time to increase land productivity. Developing a thorough understanding of the usage and benefits of these chemicals, along with water management systems, is essential, and that is exactly what proficient agriculture translation guarantees.

• Farm Management Techniques

It is no wonder farmers are now learning the project management principles so they can maximize the outcome and profit coming out of their farms. With this in mind, a farm manager needs to acquire different types of agriculture-relevant information, analyze situations, exploit available resources, and make wise decisions so as to run a successful agribusiness. 

This, of course, creates an urgent demand on fast, secure, and precise language services conducted by agriculture translation specialists and subject matter experts.

• Animal Nutrition and Livestock Farming

Animals mark an indispensable part of the agribusinesses and following a world-class nutrition scheme usually yields fruitful results. When translated into the farmers’ local language, animal nutritional knowledge can help improve things like heredity and metabolism, thus reflecting in better fertility, immune function, growth and meat quality. 

• Crop Science and Agronomy

It all goes back to science and lab experiments, and for the knowledge of the academic agricultural papers to be spread, accurate and precise translation is needed. From safeguarding the future of agriculture and maintaining high levels of food security all the way to spurring the productivity of soils, scientists all around the world tackle things like breeding, genetics, biodiversity, and crop management. 

These studies need to be translated in different languages so agricologists all around the world stay on the same page and invent new innovative crop solutions to increase agricultural productivity.

Agriculture Translation Service – What Documents Can Be Translated?

In the light of these various disciplines and diversified specialties, agriculture translation service providers are competing to offer high-quality and cost-efficient translation and localization services that satisfy their client needs. 

Here are a few examples of the agriculture-related documents that need to be translated:

• Agricultural academic studies and scientific papers
• Agricultural reports
• Farm machinery and equipment documents (manuals, guides, software interfaces.. etc)
• Farming documentations
• Agricultural standards and regulations
• Irrigation and drainage systems
• Farm management and horticulture documents
• Agricultural economics
• Livestock farming

After all, translation is imperatively needed at every step of the Kenyan agriculture industry and if you are part of this market, you’d better find a reliable translation service provider that promotes experienced translators and subject matter experts. You probably don’t want to look any further, AfroLingo is exactly what you have been looking for?

Based in the heart of Nairobi, AfroLingo is proud to present the ultimate agriculture translation services in Kenya and all its neighbouring countries in most of the African languages. Our agriculture translation specialists are committed to bridge all the communication gaps between the continent’s citizens and the rest of the world. We use the latest translation technologies and allocate a team of native-speaking linguists to provide you with the tailored and satisfactory translation services you need. Whether you are a farmer or a giant agribusiness, AfroLingo is your success partner.

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The healthcare industry has no room for error, and the establishment of an explicit and precise communication in this field is not an option. The need for professional and flawless medical interpreting services are always imperative, thanks to their pivotal role in bridging communication gaps, preventing misinterpretations, and enhancing the efficiency and quickness of treatment and recovery.

Professional language service providers are constantly developing their capabilities to raise the standards of their medical language offerings, topped by the interpreting services. Most recently, the integration of tech-based solutions in the medical interpretation services has marked significant progress. Technology seems to have a lot to offer at the node where both the medical sector and language industry meet, especially in countries with intensive language diversity or many immigrants and foreign residents.

Of all medical language and translation services, this piece is dedicated to the impact of new technologies on the interpretation services, one of the most beneficial and communication facilitators in the healthcare sphere. As shown below, the fact that all verbal communications in the medical field should be handled instantly and accurately drives medical interpreting services to take the maximum benefit of new tech discoveries.

How Would Technology Ease Medical Interpreting Services?

When communication is a matter of life or death, interpretation services rise above their commercial purposes, and technology steps in to make it all easier. The following are some applications of technology in the medical interpretation services.

• Video Remote Interpretation (VRI)

Proven as an effective and accurate way of multilingual communication, particularly in the medical sector, video remote interpretation (VRI) services are noticeably on the rise. The relatively new service witnessed a growing demand over the past couple of years with many hospitals and medical entities adopting telemedicine technologies.

At a press of a button, VRI instantly puts you in an audiovisual contact with a highly qualified interpreter with extensive experience in the medical interpretation. The video conference solution tackled challenges like the inconstant availability of interpreters and the inability of deaf and hearing-impaired patients to communicate over the phone. Despite working remotely, VRI interpreters provide the same face-to-face interpreting experience at a much lower cost.

• Over-the-Phone Interpretation (OPI)

A less-costly way of interpretation services is the telephonic or over-the-phone interpretation (OPI). OPI needs no set-up devices or pre-scheduling; all you need to do is call your service provider and request your OPI service. A highly trained interpreter will get in touch in a matter of seconds and get all your communication problems fixed.

The accessibility and availability are guaranteed at the phone interpretation services, and professional language service providers know how crucial medical interpretation is, and have a competent team of trained interpreters. 

• Simultaneous Interpretation Technology

Unlike other interpretation forms, simultaneous interpretation (SI) technology refers to the provision of a real-time interpretation by a professional interpreter, using a voice or video call. This type of interpretation technology is frequently used in events and conferences to replace traditional verbal translation services.

In simultaneous interpretation, a highly skilled interpreter maintains the flow of the talk by providing instantaneous speech-to-speech translation, while receivers put their headsets on to listen to the translation. This definitely cuts time and effort and ensures high-quality and cost-efficient interpretation.

A question will be raised now…

How to Choose the Best Medical Interpreting Service Provider?

When it comes to medical interpretation services, factors like privacy, accuracy, as well as instant and constant availability of proficient interpreters matter. This underlines the importance of picking a professional and reputable language service provider (LSP) that lives up to the world’s highest standards and specs. 

Whether you are a large hospital, a small clinic, or any other form of the medical institution, you should take into account the track record and certificates of your chosen interpretation partner, as well as the interpreters’ profiles and clients’ portfolio.

Professional and certified translation companies abide by the world’s highest medical translation standards and comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). This guarantees the highest levels of quality, accuracy, and data security.

Academic studies showed that Africa has some of the highest rates of disease in the world, and translation companies have a crucial responsibility to fulfill. Promoting all the qualifications of a successful and reliable medical interpretation service provider, AfroLingo is glad to contribute to the speedy recovery of every patient in Africa. 

We provide proficient VRI and OPI services in most of the African language, and we have been trusted by several clients in the African lands. 

Partner with us now and get our world-class medical interpreting services.