Clare Riches, Senior Vice President for Commercial Development, Defence and International Management Services at the communication company thebigword, addresses the challenges posed by language barriers and cultural differences during military operations.
Security is not just about visual deterrents; communication plays a vital role in all theatres of military operation and politically-sensitive environments to keep troops safe. It comes as no surprise that the British and US armed forces have a language barrier to overcome in crisis and conflicts zones such as Iraq, Ukraine and Afghanistan. Understandably, the vast majority of soldiers are not trained to speak in Arabic, Pashto and Dari. Yet it is vital that urgent orders and messages are delivered clearly and quickly. For this you need people on the ground, interacting in the native language.
A long serving senior Military Official with extensive operational experience was once quoted saying: “It’s a wise move having a translation company do defence work, instead of a defence company trying to do translation work.” This highlights the military’s need to work with companies which possess specific expertise in the recruitment, training and management of linguists, specifically for military purposes, as opposed to the other way around. How can these trained linguists work in partnership with and support armed forces and security consultants?
Cultural divide
Language and interpreting professionals play an essential role in gathering intelligence before, after and during a conflict. They need to be able to gain a detailed understanding of the multilingual communication needs presented by the military in each scenario. Delivering emergency and humanitarian aid across language barriers can also present a major challenge, for which few of the organisations operating in the field are well equipped. Bridging language and culture gaps between military personnel and the communities in which they operate is vital. Once people are able to communicate using the correct linguistic skills, there are still the sensitive aspects of cultural norms and etiquette to consider.
For example, careful communication with local people on the ground is fundamental in implementing an effective hearts and minds strategy, focused on producing an effective counter narrative capable of prevailing over anti-military sentiments. Having knowledge of the area, its traditions and faiths, and the key do’s and don’ts can help eliminate the risk of causing offence in that community.
It’s not only facilitating face-to-face interpretation which must be considered in a military environment. Translated content must also be kept highly confidential and protected at all times. One mistake and a crucial document could be leaked, risking the security of an entire operation. Having the most secure language service technology is the only way to ensure the ultimate defence against file theft or leakage at the weakest stage of the traditional translation process, the delivery of information. Files and content being translated by external linguists need to be fully protected and trusted across the entire workflow.
What to look for
Education and training is key in translation and interpreting, so securing expert services to meet these requirements is essential. There can be problems with recruitment, however, which are only increased by the common shortage of interpreters available in conflict zones willing to operate in this line of work. Highly-trained and security-cleared linguists, trainers, cultural advisors and teachers, skilled in multiple languages and prepared to perform at the highest level in hostile environments, are needed. We work in partnership with the International School of Linguists, to provide the most robust training and defence-specific language assessments in the industry, which are aligned to recognised MOD standards.
More than language
It’s clear to see that to effectively support military operations across the globe, interpreting and translation solutions need to go further than just removing the language barrier. A language provider should act as a ‘people business’ that helps individuals communicate to resolve difficult situations.
thebigword is the only technology-driven language solution provider in Europe with a dedicated language defence division that provides skilled linguistic support to trusted partners like the UK’s Ministry of Defence, NATO, the US Department of Defense, the Five Eyes Alliance and the private contractors and international security agencies who work alongside them. We work on the ground with troops in countries such as Afghanistan, Ukraine and Iraq to provide crucial interpretation and communication support.
Improving communication skills in conflict zones enables the military to execute operations more efficiently and effectively. In addition, interpreters have a vital role to play in post- conflict and post-crisis reconstruction, enabling a smoother transition from post conflict zone to a functioning society.
Visit www.thebigword.com/en-gb/industries/defence-justice.
