subject: Translating The Terrorist Threat [print this page] In the fight against terrorism, action must be taken on multiple fronts. Not only are the men and women in uniform responsible for keeping their country and its citizens safe, but the private sector has a role to play as well. Dealing with the threat after the fact, is not only counter-productive, but devastating on a personal and financial level. Anticipation of an act before it occurs must be the top priority for both the military and civilian population.
The language barrier becomes a hindrance in this war against those who would hurt others. Proper translation of the written word cannot be done by rigid software, unable to read the nuances of text. The human element is required in order to correctly interpret what the author is attempting to convey. Mistakes in translation can cost lives, and confidentiality is imperative when dealing with these probably hostile situations. The influx of visitors and immigrants, in countries susceptible to terrorist threats, requires the translation of numerous languages.
A company dealing with foreign nations wants to believe that all communication between themselves and those using a different language is appropriate. However, the incidences of terrorist groups infiltrating legitimate businesses have been well documented. When suspicious emails or written documents appear, fast and accurate translation is paramount. Inaccurate translation of financial statements could impeach the reputation of a company, or allow money to be illegally filtered to potentially harmful groups. The range of interest that terrorist groups cover requires translators who are experts in various fields such as engineering, law and finance.
Many police departments in large cities have formed terrorism task forces to combat domestic terrorism, and to uncover any possible foreign threats that occur within their jurisdiction. The ability to translate any paper trail that possible suspects may leave, as well as deciphering virtual documentation such as emails or texts, is a high priority for these organizations. Fluent translation in a wide variety of languages and dialects is necessary to keep abreast of changing attitudes around the world and at home.
The translation of social print media also has an impact on monitoring potential threats. Newspapers publish information that can help to determine the emergence of new groups, and the strengths and abilities of established cells to do harm. Potential new leaders in terrorism can be revealed in print, and the general mood of the populace of a country is often found in editorials and what is considered newsworthy in that part of the world.
Recruiting more sympathizers requires convincing people that their cause is justified. This most often entails articles in the form of diatribes on the internet or printed as pamphlets. Correct translation of these passages, provides critical information to law enforcement and private sector groups specializing in anti-terrorism. Once new members are interred in the group, terrorist organizations have to educate them on the use of weapons. Often these instructions are made in a foreign language, requiring translation of words and numerical figures. Manuals or directives that are found by the military during raids on terrorist cells must be quickly translated, especially in the case of a pending threat.
After the tragic events caused by terrorists over the last decade, the need for private institutions and the government to monitor potential threatening websites has grown. The amount of information found on some of these sites is daunting in scope and because of the language format. Translation of this data can determine whether the website is a benign entity or one that bears further investigation. The deciphering of foreign documents requires a company that can provide factual translation that is performed confidentially and in a timely manner.
