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The Local Organizing Committee of the 8th IATIS Conference is pleased to announce the following pre-conference workshops, scheduled on the 9th of December 2025.
Workshops
Convenors: Sameh Ragab (ISO 17100)
Time: TBC
Workshop 2: Audio Description: The Visual Made Verbal or If Your Eyes Could Speak
Convenors: Joel Snyder (Audio Description Associates, LLC - American Council of the Blind's Audio Description Project)
Time: TBC
Workshop 3: Low-tech collaborative multilingual translation with TraduXio
Convenors: Philippe Lacour (Universidade de Brasilia)
Time: TBC
Workshop 4: A Workshop on Gamification in Translation and Interpreting Education
Convenors: Nermin Al Sharman (Middle East University)
Time: TBC
Workshop 5: Post-Editing MT and LLM outputs with a focus on metaphor
Convenors: Khadidja Merakchi (Heriot-Watt University), Juliette Rutherford (Heriot-Watt University) and Khetam Al Sharou (Dublin City University)
Time: TBC
Workshop 6: Publishing in International Journals: A Workshop for Early Career Researchers
Convenors: Abdel-Wahab Khalifa (Queen's University Belfast) and Piotr Blumczynski (Queen's University Belfast)
Time: TBC
Workshop 1: The Ins and Outs of Terminology Management: A Complete Crash Course on Advanced Techniques and Best Practices
Convenors: Sameh Ragab (ISO 17100)
Discover the pivotal role of terminology management in elevating translation services to excellence. Uncover the intricacies of advanced techniques and best practices rarely mastered by translators. Join the speaker in a practical demonstration of the most advanced tips and tricks, from creating robust termbases to proficiently handling vast datasets and bilingual resources. Explore expert tips, from managing different data format conversions to harnessing glossary engines and leveraging Regex for streamlined terminology preparation. Attendees will also see the magic of using AI, Python and Perl scripts and indexing techniques in preparing large terminology databases.
- Mastering Terminology Management: Learn how effective terminology management can drastically improve translation quality and consistency.
- Creating Robust Termbases: Discover best practices for building comprehensive, well-structured termbases to enhance translation efficiency.
- Handling Large Datasets: Gain practical skills for processing and managing vast multilingual data sets, ensuring accuracy across multiple languages.
- Converting Data Formats: Explore how to seamlessly convert different file formats (e.g., CSV, Excel, XML) to integrate terminology resources effectively.
- Advanced Glossary Tools: Learn to utilize powerful glossary engines and automation tools to streamline the integration of terminology into your translation workflow.
- Regex and Scripting: Understand how to apply regular expressions (Regex) for fast, efficient text search and manipulation in terminology preparation.
- Python and Perl for Terminology: See practical demonstrations of how scripting with Python and Perl can automate repetitive tasks and optimize the creation of terminology databases.
- Indexing Techniques: Learn expert tips for indexing and organizing large terminology databases for easier access and more efficient translation.
- Real-world Applications: Benefit from real-time demonstrations that translate these advanced techniques into everyday use, enhancing the quality and speed of translations.
* Important Note: This workshop is loaded with recorded video demos that will open new horizons for all attendees in that field. The demos shall be played and I shall be explaining everything on screen.
Time of the workshop: TBC (3 hours)
For informal enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Workshop 2: Audio Description: The Visual Made Verbal or If Your Eyes Could Speak
Convenors: Joel Snyder (Audio Description Associates, LLC - American Council of the Blind's Audio Description Project)
Audio Description is a translation of images to words — the visual is made verbal — and has been shown to provide access to the wide range of media and arts (television, film, performing arts, museums) that comprise any culture. Using words that are succinct, vivid, and imaginative, media describers convey the visual image from television and film that is not fully accessible to a significant segment of the population (more than 40 million Americans experience significant vision loss - American Foundation for the Blind, 2019).
The rapid, worldwide growth of audio description for streaming video, in particular, has resulted in a great increase in opportunities for writers of audio description in a range of languages. Freelance writers for media projects can be based anywhere in the world.
Workshop topics include:
- audio description history and theory
- the "Four Fundamentals of Audio Description" ©
- active seeing/visual literacy-developing skills in concentration and observation
- the art of "editing" what you see
- vivid language: "The Visual Made Verbal"™
- "Speak the speech, I pray you"--using the spoken word to make meaning
- Dr. Snyder will emphasize the importance of accessibility for people with disabilities.
All workshop participants will have the opportunity to draft audio description for selected video excerpts and share them with other participants.
Time of the workshop: TBC (3 hours)
For informal enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Workshop 3: Low-tech collaborative multilingual translation with TraduXio
Convenors: Philippe Lacour (Universidade de Brasilia)
This workshop aims at presenting a digital device that is meant for the collaborative and multilingual translation of cultural texts: TraduXio (http://traduxio.org). The workshop focuses on the use of the software, on a do-it-with-others basis. A few simple operations will be explained, then participants will be invited to create a translation project together.
This workshop aims at presenting a digital device that is meant for the translation of cultural texts: traduXio (http://traduxio.org). TraduXio allows for multilingual and participative translation, on a low key budget (it is web based, free of use and open source environment), and powered by innovative but low technology that is especially suited to tackling the challenges of cultural (non commercial, non repetitive) documents: no IA, no data, but only a concordance and a text base with limited storage.
Aiming at precision and customization, instead of approximate mass-translation, TraduXio considers linguistic diversity as a cultural wealth to be cherished and sustained, and not an obstacle to be overcome. It promotes the creation of common goods, guided by a logic of pooling (gradual feeding of the text base). TraduXio is designed to encourage the diversification of language learning (in particular the learning of a wider range of languages) and to promote a reappraisal of translation as a professional competence, especially in research activities. Language students can for instance use the platform to propose multilingual translations of assigned texts, either individually or as a group. Language teachers (and/or translation specialists) can easily supervise the translation through the online interface, propose corrections, compare different drafts, and also evaluate students' questions and hesitations. TraduXio is also suited for scholars and Academic Departments, particularly in Literature and the Social Sciences. Specialists can create multilingual glossaries or build a dedicated ‘translation memory’ for any topic or author, etc.
TraduXio has recently been redesigned within a protocol made for documents commentary, Hyperglosae (https://github.com/Hypertopic/HyperGlosae), thus acquiring new functionalities that allow for an even more flexible use. The software thus allows for all sorts of annotation, ranging from the most scholarly ones to the ephemerous marginal working remarks between colleagues. The same adaptability is offered for corpora, enabling researchers to compare better their thoughts on a given set of documents.
The workshop focuses on the use of the software, on a do-it-with-others basis. A few simple operations will be explained: registering, inserting a text and dividing it, creating one (or more) translations, choosing the license, inviting co-translators and managing their respective privileges, adding commentaries (author’s, editor’s, translator’s notes; marginal remarks; work suggestions), organizing the workflow (dividing the text, checking other’s translation, concluding through final revision), publishing.
Then the participants will be invited to create a project together, in order to translate collectively a small text in various languages (their own native language), in association with others. They will thus experiment the dynamic of collaboration, debate and decision making in a limited time, acquiring competence about a very innovative and sustainable translation tool.
Time of the workshop: TBC (3 hours)
For informal enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Workshop 4: A Workshop on Gamification in Translation and Interpreting Education
Convenors: Nermin Al Sharman (Middle East University)
This workshop examines the application of gamification in translation and interpreting education, with particular emphasis on interpreting. It seeks to demonstrate how game-based methodologies can enhance learner engagement, skill development, and motivation. By integrating adapted activities such as Bingo, Wheel of Fortune, Charades, Crosswords, and Telephone also known as Chinese Whispers, as well as interactive tools like Kahoot and role-playing exercises, the workshop highlights innovative strategies for fostering active and immersive learning experiences. Additionally, the session introduces an interpreting simulator concept, designed to replicate real-world challenges and facilitate practical skill acquisition.
The workshop provides participants with opportunities to engage directly with these gamified techniques, encouraging critical reflection on their utility in both translation and interpreting education. It further explores the broader implications of gamification in bridging theoretical frameworks with practical applications, while enhancing creativity and adaptability in professional contexts.
Aimed at educators, students, and professionals in translation and interpreting studies, this workshop offers practical insights and adaptable strategies that transcend specific career aspirations. Participants will gain a nuanced understanding of how gamified approaches can enrich pedagogical practices and better prepare learners for the complexities of the field. By focusing on innovative, learner-centered methodologies, the workshop underscores the potential of gamification to transform educational practices and meet the evolving demands of the discipline.
Time of the workshop: TBC (3 hours)
For informal enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Workshop 5: Post-Editing MT and LLM outputs with a focus on metaphor
Convenors: Khadidja Merakchi (Heriot-Watt University), Juliette Rutherford (Heriot-Watt University) and Khetam Al Sharou (Dublin City University)
This workshop, developed as part of a research project funded by the CTISS (ethical approval no. 2022-3319-6604), is designed to address the evolving demands of translation education in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). With the increasing integration of machine translation (MT) and large language models (LLMs) into professional workflows, post-editing MT and LLM outputs has become an essential skill for translators to remain relevant in a rapidly transforming industry. This workshop focuses on training participants in post editing with a special emphasis on the complexities of metaphor translation, while addressing the ethical challenges posed by AI-assisted practices.
Metaphors, as conceptual tools that map ideas across cultural and linguistic domains, represent one of the most intricate challenges in MT. AI systems often fail to recognise or appropriately translate metaphors due to their reliance on literal meanings and lack of cultural context. This workshop equips participants with the tools to identify and post-edit metaphorical language, ensuring that translations preserve the conceptual richness and cultural integrity of the source text. Using frameworks such as Conceptual Metaphor Theory (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980) and methodologies adapted from MIPVU and critical discourse analysis, participants will explore the cognitive, discursive and ethical decisions required for effective metaphor translation.
The workshop covers:
- Introduction to MT and MTPE: focusing on the similarities and differences in post-editing MT and LLM outputs and thier integration into translation workflows.
- Metaphor Identification and Analysis: focused on identifying metaphorical expressions and evaluating their underlying semantic domains and communicative functions.
- Quality Assessment and Error Analysis: Highlighting the importance of metaphorical coherence and the ethical implications of retaining, adapting, or omitting metaphors in translation.
By focusing on metaphor literacy for translators, this workshop addresses the need for translators to adapt to technological advancements whilst remaining centred around the elements that require more human intervention. As MT increasingly handles routine tasks, translators must pivot toward roles that require critical thinking, cultural sensitivity, and ethical decision-making. The use of metaphors, being often deliberate, in certain types of discourse illustrates how metaphorical meaning shapes perception, demanding nuanced approaches to ensure these meanings are conveyed across languages and cultures (Charteris-Black, 2004).
Furthermore, the ethical dimensions of AI-assisted practices are emphasised throughout the workshop. Participants will reflect on how translation choices impact the preservation of cultural narratives and the representation of diverse voices, particularly in texts where metaphors play a central role.
This workshop is open to participants proficient in one of the following language pairs: English/Arabic, English/Chinese, English/French, or Spanish/English. No prior experience in MTPE is required, making it accessible to a diverse audience of translators and scholars. With a maximum of 25 participants, this interactive session fosters a collaborative environment where attendees will gain practical skills and a deeper understanding of how MTPE can be leveraged ethically and effectively to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving industry.
Time of the workshop: TBC (3 hours)
For informal enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Workshop 6: Publishing in International Journals: A Workshop for Early Career Researchers
Convenors: Abdel-Wahab Khalifa (Queen's University Belfast) and Piotr Blumczynski (Queen's University Belfast)
Publishing in peer-reviewed international journals is a significant milestone for early career researchers, yet many find the process daunting. This interactive workshop addresses key questions faced by researchers: When is my research ready for publication? How can I identify the most appropriate journals for my work? What tools and resources can support my publishing journey? How do I navigate the peer review process, respond to feedback, and handle rejection? Why is my submission being rejected?
Through practical guidance from experienced academics and journal editors, participants will acquire essential skills in research positioning, strategic journal selection, and manuscript preparation. The workshop tackles major publishing challenges, including formulating the right idea, identifying predatory journals, and managing ethical considerations (including the use of AI tools). Special attention will be given to understanding common reasons for rejection and how to avoid these pitfalls.
The workshop combines focused presentations with interactive discussions, allowing participants to engage with real-world examples and receive tailored advice for their specific questions and research contexts. Topics will cover understanding journal expectations, managing peer review, and responding effectively to reviewer feedback. Current publishing trends, including open access options, research impact metrics, and bibliometric tools, will also be explored.
This workshop is aimed at early-stage researchers, including PhD candidates and post-doctoral researchers within three years of their PhD, who are looking to build their international publication profiles. It will help participants develop the confidence and skills necessary for successful publication in international journals. Whether working on their first paper or refining their publishing strategy, participants will leave with concrete action plans to advance their publishing goals. Take-home resources will include comprehensive guides, tools, and resources covering every stage of the publication journey—from research conceptualisation to post-publication promotion—to help participants build and enhance their publishing profiles.
Time of the workshop: TBC (3 hours)
For informal enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.