California Language Professionals had a Global Impact in 2020

This may be premature – I'm writing this at noon on December 31, 2020 and we still have 12 hours to go, but what the heck, I'm gonna call it. 2020 is a done deal. While the various misfortunes of this year will leave a scar on the language services industry for years to come, most of us still have a lot to celebrate.

First and foremost, congratulations to all interpreters and translators everywhere for surviving a tough year – probably the most challenging any of us have seen in our lifetimes. We stood by in horror as our face-to-face conferences, depositions and meetings were cancelled to no avail. We adapted by joining KUDO and learning to interpret over zoom, at risk of acoustic shock and extreme fatigue. More recently many of have have lost loved ones and friends, and seen an exodus of businesses from the state of California. Many will blame COVID for all of this, but many of us know it goes much, much deeper than that – we were already reeling from Sacramento's sucker punch to freelancers long before COVID started raging. Many of us are still struggling, including the many freelancers and some language professionals who didn't get an exemption from AB5. Just having made it through to the other side is motive for lavish celebration – if only a glass of wine alone or possibly with colleagues over zoom.

One shining point of silver lining has been the awe-inspiring sight of seasoned professionals with powerful voices joining forces to fight for worthy causes with a direct impact on our work. We held rallies and media campaigns to rectify injustices, ensure language access, and advocate for recognition of our mega-profession, despite misguided special interests and utter ignorance that would apply a harmful one-size-fits-all approach to all freelance work. Just to mention a few by name, I'm referring to Esther M. Hermida, Aimee Benavides, Ildiko Santana, Gloria Rivera Baldassari, Jennifer Santiagos, Michele Stevens, Angie Artucovich Birchfield, Madeline Rios, Ttzol Lopez Beverly, Julie Drucker, Marybel Miranda Carino, Anabella Tidona and dozens more who contributed time, money, and ideas that led to an amendment exempting professional and certified interpreters and translators. What a beautiful sight, and what a beautiful advocacy alliance in the making.

Thousands of translators and interpreters are indebted to these professionals for their continued efforts, often at their own expense, and not just in California, but all across the globe. Several of them made Slator's list of "Top Language Industry Quotes of 2020". Our media advocacy campaign, although hobbled by pandemic lockdowns, made a huge impact – one big enough to be felt in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. These fine individuals will undoubtedly continue to leave a mark. While there is still work to be done, these professionals have demonstrated that collectively, we have the power to get it done. While not everyone agrees on the fine print, these tiny victories are no small feat.

Most importantly, the AB5 debacle in California made it painfully clear that the most prized asset of any profession is its power of self-determination. Thanks to the sunshine state's cautionary tale, professionals in the language services industry have realized that we must advocate for our profession in order to fulfill our calling as interpreters and translators. All of our next-level language skills, our years and years of practice, all of our ethics, our technique, our mental stamina will be absolutely useless if legislators and the general public don't understand or appreciate what we do. Without this basic understanding, arguing against replacement of human translators and interpreters with artificial intelligent and machine translation will be absolutely futile.

Al things considered, we have reason to end this year on the positive note. Not only did we survive, but most of us fought tooth and nail for this profession that we love so much. Thank you, all of you who fought for the freedom to freelance of hundreds of interconnected industries. Tonight I'm going to light my customary year-end bonfire in my backyard, to celebrate and symbolize my newfound resolve to fight for our profession and freelancers everywhere in 2021 and beyond.

David Higbee, Court Certified Legal and Conference Interpreter and Translator (Japanese/Spanish/English)