Official Bilingualism Has Its Costs — and Opportunities

by Peter Zvalo

Since the inception of Canada’s Official Languages Act in 1968, official bilingualism is estimated to have cost Canadians approximately $60 billion. Today, the cost of translating federal government documents and operating various programs, such as French language training for federal public servants, is estimated to be some $4 billion annually. And these figures do not take into account the cost of publishing bilingual documents and providing bilingual services at the provincial and municipal levels, or similar costs incurred by private enterprises.

While these statistics periodically provoke intense debate in Canada on whether this is money well spent, the fact is that this country’s bilingualism requirements have been a boon to at least one group of people employed in the communications field: French-language translators.

French translation is a lucrative cottage industry in Canada. While the federal government’s Translation Bureau handles the bulk of translation work — and many private firms exist that specialize in English–French translation — much of the actual translation work is done by individuals who work at home, hired under contract by either the Translation Bureau or by private firms. With a typical rate of between 22 and 28 cents per word, or $50 to $60 per hour, it’s not difficult to see why translation can be a wise career choice in Canada, where work is always plentiful.

One of the reasons that Canadian translators are kept busy is that, despite attempts by the federal government to enshrine both official languages as equal in government offices — and hiring practices designed to encourage bilingual representation in the public service — the working language (in most cases) is still English. Reports, e-mail messages, documents of all kinds, are typically drafted and circulated in English. Only when they are ready to become "official" documents are they normally translated into French. In my experience, the reverse process — French to English translation — occurs from time to time, but is rare. Even more rare is to have documents developed in both languages simultaneously, as this is simply impractical and few people possess sufficient command of both languages to do so.

In an effort to trim the high cost of translation, the federal government is currently exploring technology solutions to help expedite the translation process. It is currently testing a software product by the French firm Softissimo, which quickly translates from English to French or from French to English. The aim is to speed up translation by providing professional translators with a first draft of pre-translated text that they can then review and correct as needed. The outcome of the government’s testing exercise will determine whether it will proceed with widespread use of the software, but few human translators are worried about their job security. As Fabrice Cadieux, president of the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario, says: "Ultimately, you need the human to translate, just like you need the human to write. We see technology as an aid, not as a threat."

Translation, like writing, is a creative endeavour. While Softissimo’s software can recognize words and instantly find an equivalent translation, it cannot interpret context, tone, and other subtleties. Only a human can do this with any degree of accuracy, as only a human can write a speech that captivates and moves an audience.

Also like writing, translation is a business. Translators in Canada hit the jackpot with official bilingualism and the need that this policy decision generated. Similar needs exist in other countries with multiple official languages. The challenge will be to ensure that we take advantage of the potential cost savings offered by new technologies, without sacrificing quality and the human touch required in any creative profession.

Peter Zvalo is a Contributing Editor for Writer’s Block.

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