Testing the useability and applicability of Australian multilingual public service communications

Testing the useability and applicability of Australian multilingual public service communications

This project was commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care with the intention to evaluate different translation methodologies in order to identify the most effective approach to achieve maximum communication with community members from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Description

This project was commissioned to investigate different translation methodologies to identify the most effective approach for community messaging purposes. During the Covid-19 pandemic, despite the government's best intention to produce large amounts of translated materials to keep the culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community members informed about health information and policies, significant translation errors and literal translations which do not achieve communication were prevalent. This project, therefore, sets out to test four different ways of translations:

  1. The "traditional" approach to have two rounds of human translation, i.e., translation and checking, by two different translators.
  2. Use machine translation plus one round of human translation for post-editing
  3. Use two rounds of human translation as per Method 1, but using an English-language source text which has been re-written according to principles of Plain English.
  4. Provide the translators briefs of the information for them to write the message directly in the target language. 

Four documents in seven languages other than English (Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Greek, Serbian, Spanish and Vietnamese) were assessed for effectiveness in translation undertaken in the four different ways. The languages chosen for the project represent some of the most vaccine hesitant cohorts. The aim was to assess target reader perceptions regarding textual content to gauge if the translated texts would prompt behavioural change and elicit trust.

SERC researchers

  • Erika Gonzalez
  • Caroline Norma
  • Miranda Lai
  • Olga Garcia-Caro

Project dates

April 2023 to June 2024

Funding body

Department of Health and Aged Care

Outputs

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

More information
aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

More information