How The Coronavirus & A Recession Will Affect Arabic Translations — Arabic Translations

This year has hit us with a lot.

Only three months in, we’re facing a global pandemic, a stock market crash, and what looks like the beginning of a potentially major recession. We can’t fit all of our concerns into one article, so we’re going to stick to what’s most relevant to our industry and in particular our main focus — basic Arabic translation into English, and other language services we provide such as Arabic audio transcription, interpretation, etc.

As I write this article, I can’t ignore what seems to be the last drop in the bucket if not one of the underlying issues driving all the chaos — the coronavirus. Unprecedented bans on travel, demand for test kits and medications, staying at home as a trend and a general theme of apprehension has everyone both at the edge fo their seats and at a standstill.

How Cancellations Will Affect Arabic Translations, Professionals, & Services

Luckily, the American Translators Association’s annual event planned to take place in Boston, Massachusetts in October 2020 is still a bit far away.

And hopefully, other major events in the Arab world like the Hajj season which starts in July, and the Dubai expo which is also set to launch in October are too far out to be affected. The Luxury Show in Kuwait is set to take place very soon in April, but the website nor the social media pages make no mention of potential cancellations or other effects from the COVID-19 on plans. However, it should be noted that as of March 12, 2020, no one but Kuwaiti citizens will be allowed to enter the country and the country is in quarantine status until further notice. Some expatriates working in the country are also unable to exit the country to return home during this time of crisis.

The International Motor Show in Abu Dhabi is only two weeks away and so far, no major restrictions on travel have been enacted except on visitors from Iran and China. Schools have been closed for a duration of four weeks starting March 8 and a number of hotels have been quarantined due to reported cases of the coronavirus stemming from their locations. Visitors wanting to enter the country will likely be subjected to testing.

Whether related to special events or general operations, cancellations will most likely have a major impact on the world economy including commerce in the Middle East.

Employment

Layoffs and slow-downs on hiring were already taking place before the explosion of the pandemic, but some companies are deepening cutbacks as they brace for the worse.

On the other hand, companies have gone into a frenzy of mandating remote work for employees wherever possible to stop the coronavirus from spreading. Many fly-by-night companies will find themselves closing their downs and translation talent will be shifted to larger or more sustainable companies. Luckily, a vast majority of translation services can be performed remotely, with few exceptions like English to Arabic translation audio work which often needs to be formed in a professional studio setting to maintain the integrity of sound quality. Also, interpretation assistance required for medical visits, business meetings, or court dates will often require the physical presence of the linguist for the services to be properly rendered.

The demand for Arabic translations will likely decrease across sectors, except in some fields where businesses will thrive explosively as funds are poured into controlling the COVID-19 virus, such as the medical and sanitization fields. Translators that without a specialization may find streams of available projects waning. Arabic translators that are not totally committed to the language services industry may need to shift into other fields of work, at least temporarily until the economy bounces back.

Quality

Lessening demand can put a strain on translation companies that have to cut back on labor and other resources due to the economic swings. Individuals or companies purchasing translation services need to ensure that their translation providers are still performing adequate quality checks and don’t allow mistakes to slip by. If you are concerned about how the current pandemic and looming recession will affect your translation projects, don’t be afraid to contact your Project Manager and ask questions so that they can address your fears.

Value and price have already been major factors driving the translation industry up until now, and a weaker financial climate will make this even more apparent. However, it’s important to remember that getting your translation done right the first time is always cheaper than having to do it twice.

We understand that in the United States and the world over, the translation industry is headed into some doubtful times. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need a trusted Arabic translations partner or have questions about your translation needs during this period.

Originally published at https://sastranslations.com on March 17, 2020.