Building Bridges: Language, Culture and Connection in Telecom
When I started as a Technical Editor at a prominent Chinese organisationâmy very first jobâI had no idea how much it would shape my understanding of language and communication. My role involved editing huge of documents, some so detailed they seemed endless, often filled with translations that didnât always hit the mark. Yet, in the midst of all the technical jargon, certain words jumped out at meâwords that seemed to capture both the human spirit and the technical world of telecommunications.
The first thing I realised was that I needed to get a basic grasp of telecommunications. I had to understand how all these systems worked if I was going to make sense of the content I was editing. Telecommunications can seem distant, even cold, but in reality, itâs at the core of how we interact with each otherâevery text, every call, every connection is a testament to that.
The Language of Connection
One of the most fascinating parts of the job was how many technical terms had a human element to them. Words like "heartbeat," "touch," "voice," "wave," and "connection" werenât just tech jargonâthey were metaphors for how we communicate on a personal level.
Heartbeat
đTelecom Term: A signal used to show systems are working properly.
đŹ Human Meaning: Represents the rhythm of life and emotions.
Touch
đTelecom Term: Refers to touch-tone dialling.
đŹ Human Meaning: Symbolises intimacy and personal interaction.
Voice
đTelecom Term: Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for long-distance communication.
đŹ Human Meaning: A way to express thoughts and emotions.
Wave
đTelecom Term: Radio and sound waves used to carry messages.
đŹ Human Meaning: A greeting in human interactions.
Connection
đTelecom Term: A network link between devices.
đŹ Human Meaning: The personal bonds we form with others.
It struck me that all these terms are about more than just machinesâtheyâre about people and how we communicate, how we reach out to each other, and how technology helps make that happen.
A Learning Curve
Editing these documents wasnât always easy. Often, I had to work closely with Chinese translators who were grappling with the nuances of English. Theyâd ask me questions like, âWhy does âavoidâ mean something different from âpreventâ?â or âWhatâs the difference between âsparkâ and âsparkleâ?â Every question was a reminder of how tricky language can be, and how much we can learn from each other. I could also understand that simple words could be a huge problem for the one who has limited knowledge or understand about the particular language.
What surprised me most was how these conversations opened a window into their cultureâeverything from food to work habits. It wasnât just about the words; it was about understanding how they thought, how they saw the world. It helped me appreciate the depth of the connections we were building, even if it was through something as simple as editing a document.
My job even took me to Shenzhen, China, where I worked on a language testing project. That trip wasnât just about improving my editing skillsâit was about immersing myself in a culture that was new to me. I wanted to understand how my colleagues saw the content we were working on, how they viewed the translations, and what I could do to make the English version as seamless as possible.
A Shout-Out to Translators
I canât talk about this experience without giving a huge shout-out to all the translators out there. Your work isnât just about converting words from one language to anotherâitâs about bridging cultures and helping people understand each other. The work you do is invaluable, and Iâve seen firsthand how much skill and dedication it takes. Youâre the unsung heroes making our world more connected.
Reflecting on the Journey
Looking back, I can see how every challenge I faced, every question I answered and every conversation I had helped me growâboth as a professional and as a person. Telecommunications may be driven by technology, but at its heart, itâs about human connection. And thatâs what makes it all so meaningful.
