To mark Europe Day, we’re considering one of the enduring roles of the English language in mainland Europe and the EU.
Although the United Kingdom is no longer a member of the European Union, English remains an important language for communication. One place where English is particularly useful is as a ‘bridging’ language: A means of crossing the communication divide between less widely spoken languages. Also known as a ‘pivot language’, English plays an essential role in multi-step pivot translation and relay interpreting.
As an example, you might struggle to find a direct Finnish to Greek translator. In such cases, English can be used as a bridge or pivot language. The Finnish text could be translated first into English, then the resulting English could be translated on into Greek. As a two-step process, requiring the services of two linguists, it’s important to allow extra time when planning your project.
The same applies for relay interpreting. Often in conference settings, English will be used as an intermediary and extended ‘lag times’ apply here too. By using a ‘chain’ of two interpreters, there may be a longer than usual delay between the punchline of a joke and the resulting laughter in some sections of the audience.
Other commonly used bridging languages include French, Spanish, Russian and Arabic. Although pivot translation comes with its own set of challenges and isn’t always appropriate, it can be a useful tool in bridging communication divides.
For your next translation project, whatever the language combination, contact our friendly team to see how we can help you.
+44 1562 748 778
