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Conference Producers
The Localization Institute
MultiLingual
Computing
In Cooperation With
GALA
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Localization
World Montréal: October 16-18, 2006
Call For Papers: Increasing the Value of Linguistic Resources
The deadline for submissions is closed.
Localization
World Montréal — October 16-18, 2006
The seventh Localization World conference will be held at Centre Mont-Royal, Montréal, Québec, Canada, October 16-18, 2006. This is a call for proposals for topics, ideas and speakers.
Conference Theme: Increasing the Value of Linguistic Resources
Twenty years of translation memories (TMs) and terminology tools have resulted in gigantic collections of translated sentences and glossaries. The translation industry speaks in full and fuzzy matches and praises the joys and profits of the best invention this industry has ever known. TM tools are in use by a vast majority of the world community of technical translators — an installed base of probably more than 80,000. It is time for a serious evaluation.
The promise of TM and terminology tools was fair: leave the repetitive work to the computer and let the professional translator do the creative work. The translator stays in control; the computer processes the ‘stupid’ stuff. It is clear that TM software was originally designed for individual translators. The benefit was for the translator, quickly reproducing sentences that he or she had translated before. But vital in this original architectural design was that the translator remained the norm for the quality of every sentence. The translator “knows.”
Clearly, market forces demanded a different use of linguistic resources. Buyers of translation services suspected that it would be valuable to centralize and “internalize” the TMs. The current and prevailing model in the translation market is a vast distribution of different sets of translation and terminology databases. The conflicts between the original software design and the current usage models led to numerous debates about issues such as:
- Who owns the linguistic resources?
- How do we control quality and ensure consistency?
- How do we maximize leveraging from TMs when they are used across translation teams and vendors?
- How do we structure the centralized linguistic resources? By product line? By industry taxonomy?
- Can we trust TMs? How do we clean them?
In line with the perspectives shared in the Localization World Montréal Conference, we expect that roles of translators, agencies, contractors, integrators and buyers of services will change as we discover new models for working together. The rigid separation of the buyer and seller with the seller owning the tools and resources to produce the work will soon be gone. Instead we will see new roles for connected communities, collaboration networks and marketplaces bringing value to the industry.
Against this background it is essential for the industry to reassess the value of linguistic resources and to whom they belong. Can we overcome the barriers of our private territories as buyers and sellers of translation services and reach out to the greater goal of prosperity for the localization industry as a whole?
In the Montréal Localization World conference we would like to hear about new models of sharing linguistic resources as well as about the vices and virtues of the current models.
The challenges and opportunities of industry-shared linguistic resources provide for an interesting list of topics:
- Best practices in TM deployment
- Best practices in terminology management
- New translation technology models
- New roles for web integrators, market places, communities
- Standards for industry taxonomies
- Web-based sharing of linguistic resources and the boundaries of sharing: one vendor, one customer, one industry
- TMs as training corpora for new translation systems
In short, we see the translation ecosystem changing. Montréal, historically an important center for linguistic development, is the place where Localization World will reassess the value of linguistic resources after 20 years of TM.
In addition to these focus points, we welcome papers and proposals covering any aspect of translation and localization that contributes to a better understanding of the worldwide localization challenges.
Submissions for Different Types of Sessions
Localization World has a three-stream program structure, and papers and proposals are welcome for each of the different types of session. All sessions include Q&A and the opportunity for interaction with the audience. Here are the general guidelines:
- Perspectives sessions: These are one-hour "lecture style" presentations from users and customers of translation and localization products and services. Submissions should be for a single presenter, with a non-technical focus on some aspect of the conference theme.
- Point/Counterpoint sessions: These are one-hour panels organized around points of interest in the translation and localization community. Submissions for full Point/Counterpoint sessions should include a moderator (who organizes, manages and controls the session), and at least two panelists who are willing and able to debate the relevant issues in a lively way. Alternatively, you may submit an idea for a Point/Counterpoint session, and the Localization World program committee will help you convene an appropriate group of participants. Point/Counterpoint panels are open to suppliers, customers, users, consultants, analysts and other experts.
- Praxis sessions: These are more "educationally" focused panels, often covering technical topics, that are intended to give conference delegates useful, hands-on content that can contribute in a concrete way to improvements in translation and localization practice. Submissions for full Praxis sessions should include a facilitator (who organizes and structures the panel) and at least two panelists with specialist or expert knowledge that can be communicated to delegates in a one-hour workshop-type format. Occasionally, at the discretion of the program committee, Praxis sessions may be open to a single presenter, while still maintaining the "workshop" format. Alternatively, you may submit an idea for a Praxis session, and the Localization World program committee will help you find others who can work with you to construct a good Praxis session. Praxis panels are open to suppliers, customers, users, consultants, analysts and other experts.
You may download the program submission template for use when sending us your proposal.
Use the Localization World NETWORK
Anyone interested in developing a panel proposal is welcome to use the Localization World NETWORK to develop contacts within the community who might be interested in collaborating on a proposal. The NETWORK is an open community, and you may participate free-of-charge by registering your interests.
Benefits to Speakers and Panelists
All speakers and panelists, including moderators and facilitators, are entitled to free admission to the conference on the day of their session.
Submitting Papers and Proposals
Suggestions of ideas, topics and speakers for Localization World Montréal 2006 should be submitted, using the template by Thursday, June 15, 2006 (now extended to June 20). Submissions should be made by e-mail to submissions@localizationworld.com.
Program Committee
Christiane Bernier, Merrill Brink
Karen Fowlie, Cognos
Dana Barras Franco, Welocalize
Daniel Gervais, MultiCorpora R&D, Inc.
Tony O'Dowd, Alchemy Software Development
Paula Shannon, Lionbridge
Technologies, Inc.
Lew Tarnopol, Intel
Francis Tsang, Adobe Systems Inc.
Clio Schils, Medtronic
*All
Localization World conference programs are organized around the Localization
World Taxonomy – a view of the world of translation and localization
that we use to drive and support networking within the community. See
www.localizationworld.com/network/userguide.pdf.
For each conference we pick out topics, sectors and locales that contribute
to the overall theme of the event, and feature sessions that highlight
these issues.
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