*This article was originally written in Japanese and has been translated by a machine translation tool for your convenience. Please forgive any errors in translation. You can find the original Japanese article [here].

SmartNews has a somewhat unusual team.

It's the "Global Language Solutions Team (GLS)," which specializes in interpreting for internal meetings and translating internal documents. With bases in Japan, the US, and Singapore, and a global environment where members from various countries gather, there is a constant need for Japanese-English interpretation and translation in all aspects of internal communication.

Interpretation and translation are typically outsourced, or in recent years, replaced by AI. However, we intentionally stick to in-house, "human" communication support.

Why is that? Because GLS is not just a team that translates and interprets. It's a team that exists to "connect" across language barriers, which is why the presence of "human" interpreters is indispensable.

Hello, I'm Lei, Head of People Communications (pictured right)! As the name suggests, I'm broadly responsible for "people"-related communications, and I'm actually one of the members who launched and operates Inside SmartNews. In this article, I will introduce the Global Language Solutions Team (GLS), which I manage.

"Deliver quality information from around the world to those who need it."

This is the mission of SmartNews. I believed that to truly achieve this grand phrase, "from around the world," internal information must also be accessible to everyone.

When I joined in 2018, I launched the interpretation and translation team (the predecessor of the current GLS) as a one-person team directly under the CEO. In the initial team setup, I had many in-depth discussions with CEO Kaisei-san about "what is the ideal form of language support at SmartNews?"

We built everything from scratch, including the process design, operational rules, and criteria for emergency response, for whom, how, and with what priority language support should be provided.

Kaisei-san himself had a strong belief in "the meaning of having in-house interpreters," and clearly believed in the value of having in-house interpreters who deeply empathize with the mission and corporate culture, rather than just outsourcing.

The establishment of the Global Language Solutions Team was realized through such accumulated trust and discussions. Furthermore, GLS began its journey not just as a mere interpretation and translation team, but as an entity that answers the question, "How do we build internal communication that transcends language barriers?"

GLS's first colleague was Hideki (pictured left), who joined in 2019. He was actually a colleague at my previous job and an interpreter I've trusted for many years. His strengths as an interpreter are his stamina and stability, and he is a member with very high "interpretation experience" having interpreted in a wide range of domains. He also holds a ski instructor qualification (CSIA Level 1) and grew up in Taiwan, so he actually speaks Chinese!

In addition to his high technical skills as an interpreter, he also deeply empathizes with SmartNews' values. GLS is not just an interpretation team, but an entity that supports the quality of organizational communication. He is a precious colleague who embodies this with us.

1. Understanding of internal and industry context

GLS interpreters interpret with a broad and complex understanding of internal context, regardless of person or genre, such as the background and progress of projects discussed in meetings, the personalities and speaking tendencies of event speakers, and the emotional tone between team members. By interpreting with consideration for "what is the intention of this person's statement in this situation?", "interpretation that mediates trust" is possible, which goes beyond mere language conversion.

2. Speed and flexibility

The strength of being in-house is the ability to respond immediately to sudden meetings or document changes. Because we understand the internal rhythm, we can also align with the speed of projects. Furthermore, the world of news, such as politics, economics, and disasters, moves quickly, and we need to stay attuned to a wide range of information. In an environment like ours, where daily changes are the norm, the strength of being in-house is easily leveraged.

3. Ownership connected to the mission

As members of SmartNews, we view interpretation as a "means to achieve results." "So that this discussion moves forward properly," "So that mutual understanding is built properly." We believe that this commitment to shared results is the essential strength of GLS. This attitude also aligns with one of SmartNews' Core Values, "Nothing is somebody else's problem." It means not being confined to one's own role, but actively engaging with team and project outcomes as "our own problem." That is the very essence of GLS.

Technological advancements are remarkable, and the future of interpretation and translation is undergoing significant change. Honestly, there are times when we feel anxious and uneasy.

However, GLS interpreters can carefully grasp the underlying feelings and delicate nuances behind statements, even in meetings where various positions and perspectives intersect. In such situations, it is necessary to deeply focus on "what is being shared in this space right now, and how will it be received," rather than just a mere word-for-word replacement.

There, "the warmth that connects people" certainly exists.

Furthermore, another role of GLS in the future is to view the development of generative AI not as a threat but as an opportunity, and to explore ways for people and technology to work together in the language field. That is why we intentionally use the term "Language Solutions" instead of "Interpretation and Translation" in our team name.

How to overcome language barriers, and what means, technologies, and wisdom can be combined to do so.

GLS is a team that continues to take on that challenge.

Currently, I myself, as "Head of People Communications," oversee Internal Communications for the entire organization. Within that, GLS continues to play the role of "connecting our words and thoughts in a way that reaches everyone."

Interpretation and translation are about "connecting cultures," "fostering trust," and "cultivating a foundation for diverse talents to move in the same direction." It is precisely about "delivering internal information to those who need it"--we approach this with passion every day.

I believe that GLS is a team that goes beyond conveying to "connecting."

Written by = Inside SmartNews Editorial Department (Yamautsuri)