Like many other industries, the translation sector has been both favourably and badly impacted by globalisation. The demand for translators and interpreters has expanded as a result of these cross-cultural encounters, which is encouraging for the translation industry as a whole.

Globalization's increased cross-cultural relationships have affected the vocabularies of world languages. Translators from poor nations must now compete against those from industrialised nations. This trend has not taken off because of linguistic obstacles.

Although we have profited from decreased prices with the same or better quality produced from nations like China in the product sector, a strong correlation has also been observed in the business translation. To comprehend this relationship between Globalisation and translation, one needs to dive in and digest it from scratch.

What is Globalization?

Globalization is generally accepted as the act whereby companies or other organisations begin operations internationally or gain global influence. Simply put, the term "globalisation" refers to the growing interdependence of nations and peoples.

Since the 18th century, globalisation has expanded due to advancements in communications and transportation technologies. The expansion of international trade and the sharing of ideas, values, and cultures are both results of the rise in international relationships. The main function of globalisation is an economic process of connection and assimilation that has sociocultural components.

Categories of Globalization

Although 8 forms of globalisation interact and have few differences from one another. There are three main types of globalisation that have a great influence on the globe. They are;

  • Political Globalization: The term "political globalisation" relates to interstate negotiations. It covers the harmonization of international laws governing commerce, crime, and the rule of law. This category includes national policies that foster international cooperation on a political, economic, and cultural level. The Key international organisations such as the UN, NATO, EU, and World Trade Organization are involved in the political globalisation process.
  • Economic Globalization: Economic globalization describes how modern international firms do business. The management of financial trade and the integration of global financial markets is the main topic here. Economic globalisation is exemplified through free trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the North American Free Trade Agreement. Economic globalisation is greatly influenced by multinational firms, which have operations in two or more nations.
  • Cultural Globalization: The expansion and blending of cultures across the globe are referred to as cultural globalisation. This facet of globalization mainly focuses on the sociological and technological elements that are generating cultural convergence. These include the spread of social media, the ease of communication, and the availability of quicker and more efficient modes of transportation. 

It can be said to be the potential consequence of the "homogenization" of culture, in which dominating countries spread their traditions, causing the weakening and disappearance of localised and indigenous cultures and the eventual emergence of a global culture.

The Benefits of Globalization

Globalization possesses economic, Cultural, and Political benefits. Here are some of the benefits of Globalization;

  • Globalization has increased output in the economies of the West.
  • Household income has also increased due to globalisation.
  • Globalisation has opened up new opportunities for economies and people.
  • It has also made previously unfamiliar cultures more familiar to readers;
  • Multinational agreements becoming more common to create shared norms
  • Globalization supports the advent of the global citizen concept.

 Understanding the major categories and advantages of globalisation will help you avoid confusion about which part falls into which definition. You can then begin to analyse its effects on translation, both good and bad, by viewing it through the prism of these three "categories of globalization."

The Effect of Globalization on Translation Services

As it pertains to the translation industry, globalisation has various facets. Some of its positive impacts include; 

  • Global Interaction: The number of encounters between different peoples and cultures has expanded as a result of globalisation, while the demand for translators and interpreters has expanded as a result of these cross-cultural encounters. This is encouraging for the translation industry, for instance, translation services in Dubai,  as the rise in service demand increases.

For translators, globalisation has benefited them. Globalization's increased cross-cultural interactions have affected the vocabularies of global languages. This has resulted in more "word borrowing," such as adopting a word in the target language in its original form or a slightly localized variation.

This procedure, also referred to as "foreignizing" a language, has been around for decades and has undoubtedly made life a little bit simpler for translators.

  • Business Expansion: Businesses, consumers, and the Western economy as a whole have benefited from globalisation. The proliferation of new technologies and the opening up of new economic opportunities for workers in both developed and emerging nations were greatly aided by globalization. 

It aided in raising the value of human capital and gave businesses new opportunities to hire the employees they require to successfully compete. They have been able to create enterprises that rely on the selling of several units to numerous different customers thanks to globalisation.

Globalization being the drive behind business expansion has inevitably affected language translation. If there is a need to expand businesses in other parts of the world then there is a need for communication hence translation is required.

  • Migration: Globalisation and population movements, particularly migratory ones, have a definite relationship. There is unavoidable overlap and connection between the two spheres.

Migration is a result of globalization, which also contributes to the intensity of socioeconomic and cross-border political connections. Millions of individuals have been uprooted by globalisation, and started population trends that are now difficult for anyone to stop.

Although the extent of usage and absorption is difficult to assess, globalization has contributed to technology and economic growth making it easier for migrants to travel.

The more people migrate, the more they search for the ease with which connections cross borders. This can only be facilitated by the proliferation of media and languages. Thus, translation is needed.

  • Cultural Understanding: Globalisation has made previously unfamiliar cultures more familiar to readers. And because culture is the source of language, translation and culture are closely related. Language has various contexts depending on the culture. 

The meanings of words that have been passed down from one culture to another can alter somewhat or drastically. These meaning disparities can occasionally signify subtle or significant value differences that could be detrimental. 

When trying to understand another culture, translation is crucial. For instance, if a translation agency like Torjoman works on a  document for a customer in the UK, the language, tone, and slang used must be appropriate for that country's corporate culture. The value of translation in culture is in its contribution to clear communication of ideas and views that may be understood by those with various literary and cultural traditions.

So it is a proven fact that globalisation affects language translation through culture. The quest to understand different cultures in the world is aided by globalisation and to make that happen, translation is essential. 

  • Foreignizing and Exoticizing Translation: Foreignization is a source-culture-focused translation that seeks to maintain a certain exotic flavour by translating the original language and culture into the intended one. The reader is brought to the writer by foreignization. 

Exoticizing translation, as opposed to foreignizing translation, is used to emphasise the exoticism of cultural distinctions that are connected to particular aspects of other civilizations. Translations that maintain place names, person/subject names, and other strange words/phrases from the source text are examples of exoticizing translations. 

However, the practice of foreignizing or exoticizing translation has changed as a result of globalisation.

  • Religion: Globalisation fosters a pluralistic culture in which "religions with overlapping but separate ethics and interests" engage in interreligious dialogue. Fundamentally speaking, the world's major religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—teach principles like human dignity, equality, freedom, peace, and solidarity.

In addition, with the impact of globalization on the world, more people tend to have a belief system. Language distinction is one of the major barriers each religion has. To get rid of this barrier, the use of translation is employed. 

For instance, in Christianity, Bibles are not just in different languages but in different translations too. The aim is to simplify the comprehension of language. The same applies to the translation of Arabic to English in Al-Quran.

Final Thoughts

The process of globalisation is how concepts, information, expertise, goods, and services go across national and international borders. It also convinces us of our own need for growth and the urge to travel the globe. Distinct industries have different meanings attached to the term "globalization." Political groups and corporate executives feel that the concept depends on the global integration of economic, political, and cultural systems. 

For thousands of years, translators and providers of language services have enabled global contact. However, the sector has only recently begun to take off and become what it is today. Today's translation trends mirror how globalisation is transforming how people live and conduct business.

The language sector is currently estimated to be worth $49.6 billion, but this amount is anticipated to rise as more businesses prepare to go worldwide. Since people are more linked than ever, language service providers are necessary to break down linguistic and cultural obstacles to communication.