In the past years, we have seen the impact of technological and political developments on the language industry. The language industry is constantly adapting the technological and political changes because it is important to stay ahead. These changes have contributed a lot to the language industry. 

The impact of Politics on the Language Industry

As per the AB5 bill passed in California, from now onwards, all the interpreters are reclassified as an employee and no longer work as independent contractors.  Interpreters will enjoy the benefits and will be placed on the company payroll by language service providers, and the company cannot hire them as independent contractors. Language Service Providers have to set the range of language services that they will offer.  This is a game-changer for language service providers as the LSPs will not be able to put every interpreter on the payroll. This can lead to tough times in the upcoming days.  

The International Association of Conference Interpreters and the American Translators Association have spoken against the law. Lorena Gonzalez, the author of AB5, explains the benefit of this bill. This bill will bend the past rules and would punish businesses. As per Michael, President of the California Federation of Interpreters the interpreters in the language industry have no control over the working conditions and their wages. They work for several hours without breaks. However, the best practice needs to switch about every half an hour.

However, this would be expensive for LSPs of any size. They have to hire interpreters who are specialized in a particular field.  In practice, it might be possible that translators work well on medical texts, still, an organization may require to hire another linguist in the same language but who is familiar with financial documents.

The Positive Impact of Technological Innovation on the Language Industry

Technology is a boon for society, and technological advancements have a great impact on the language industry. Remote interpreting has decreased the requirement for face-to-face interpreting because interpreters provide the service over video or phone. This is effective in the sense that it saves energy, time, and money. Through this technique, LSPs can offer many more services by handling more assignments.

Due to remote interpreting, smaller organizations can now provide their services throughout the world and do not restrict to only local markets. This global access is beneficial for LSPs and interpreters.

Adverse Effect of Technological Innovation on the Language Industry  

Technological innovation also has an unfavorable effect on Language Service Providers. The increased global access because of remote interpreting has resulted in increased competition.  Individual LSPs face problems because the supply of services is increased, and ultimately, profit has decreased. This is a challenge for language service providers, especially from low-wage countries.  The supply of LSPs is more so these providers have to find new ways to maintain or increase their profit. They can focus on niche services but there is a limited chance for growth.

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