What are the values of an Expert in the Lead?

In my recent article in the latest edition of the Universitas Mitteilungsblatt, one section covers the “Expert in the Lead” (XITLEITL/XITL advocates the expert human in the lead rather than in the loop.). XITL is a concept that has attracted a lot of my thoughts in recent months. It is my approach for considering the future role of human translators in the era of human-machine translation.

I am currently also running a poll on LinkedIn (still open at time of publication of this post!). It asks people to assess their personal security/future as a human translator compared with 12 months ago. Why the comparison with 12 months ago? This relates to my December 2023 blogpost “Who’s in/on the lead as we head into 2024“. I want to follow-up on this later this month based on poll responses. I am also asking some respondents what might lie behind their response to the poll.

In the UniversitasUniversitas (or Universitas Austria) is the Austrian Interpreters' and Translators' Association. The name Universitas reflects that it was initially established for university graduates of degrees in interpreting and translation. article, I highlighted some values of an expert in the leadEITL/XITL advocates the expert human in the lead rather than in the loop., which I have expanded upon here. The list is not exhaustive – I really welcome your comments!

Being in command of technology and rejecting over-commoditisation

1. Being technologically agnostic/neutral: The expert in the leadEITL/XITL advocates the expert human in the lead rather than in the loop. knows when and how to make use of technology. And similarly when not to. Consider the useful tools, but prioritise the human expertise aspect. Stay open to new ideas and innovative approaches: e.g. penalties for TU age, or using QAQuality assurance (QA) tools in Trados can be used for example to check that the terminology used corresponds to that in a Termbase. checks to reduce cognitive load burden. However, you call the shots when, where and how technology is used, rather than being in thrall to it. They decide which tools are used, not just the one that is the flavour of the month among LSPs. By all means use technology, but also know when not to.
2. Rejecting the concept of translation as a commodity: in the race to the bottom, translation has become (excessively) commoditised. Boiled down to a number of words, characters, lines or pages. Then discounts squeezed for use of CAT tools, repetitions, or event the reduction of the (not-necessarily expert) translator to an MT post-editor. In contrast, the expert in the leadEITL/XITL advocates the expert human in the lead rather than in the loop. nurtures the customer relationship to understand what the customer needs. Pricing reflects the need for feedback rounds, terminology work, fine-tuning the brief and delivering what the customer wants and needs. (For example check out my thoughts on Chris Durban’s talk in Spiez this year – and the need to visit Clientland).

Know your customers and audiences

1. Convincing decision-makers about the value of human translation: the expert in the leadEITL/XITL advocates the expert human in the lead rather than in the loop. is on an equal-footing. Their professionalism commands respect. When I outsource a translation, I actively look for the best fit for the job. I take the blend of specialisation, experience and their passion for the subject matter into account. I do not try to beat them into a corner over pricing.
2. Understanding your target audience: the expert in the leadEITL/XITL advocates the expert human in the lead rather than in the loop. takes the time to clarify with the customer in advance who the audience (e.g. the readership) is. Taking the time to settle on a strict brief in advance leads to a more satisfactory outcome for both sides and helps you to engage with your customer.
3. Knowing when/how/when you should be used: Sometimes customers might have multiple translation needs. On occasions, a gist translation might suffice, or editing and revision. Get them on board for where they really need your full premium service – e.g. for handling their public-facing translations. Sometimes, you need to learn when to say “no!”

Expertise and specialism instead of narcissism

1. Convincing by expertise rather than social media presence: No-one “has to post on LinkedIn”. And a decent translator will not need to dedicate considerable office hours cultivating a social media presence. I am active on social media, but prefer to engage on other posts rather than post myself. Social media doesn’t pay my salary. And besides I struggle with its narcissism: where it is all about the “upside”, and never the downside. I’ve now settled on an approach of applied concerted laziness on LinkedIn. Know how and when to reach the people you have to reach, and how to use indirect visibility. Sometime you just need to “know how not to use LinkedIn incorrectly”.
2. Being passionate about your expertise: sometimes your customer may not be sure that you really know what their request is about. I convey my expertise – and passion by engaging with a legal reference (e.g. the law or a provision in it) as an ice-breaker. Invariably, it shows we’re speaking the same language (even if I am translating it into another target language). Demonstrate your specific expertise within a broader field of expertise.
3. Placing value on expertise-related training and education: conference programmes frequently strike me as too broad or general. To attend a conference, I need to convince my employer why I need to participate. Otherwise, I attend privately (at my own expense, conditional on being allowed to include participation on my CPDWorking as a translator isn't only about translating. Training and seminars making up continuing professional development are also important parts of the job. log). I struggle with the esoteric sessions – and prefer 1:1 online coaching for that purpose. Instead, I champion relevant expertise-based training. I focus on specialist training to increase my expertise – and realise the gaps in my knowledge from others’ questions. And I ensure that takeaways from conferences apply to my actual daily work.

I’ve not touched on the area of the role of translator accountability, but this is an area I intend to look into further in the future. I see it as an increasingly important area for the professional translator.