In 2020, MCIS allocated funds from its Social Benefits Initiative (SBI) to assist community organizations experiencing challenges related to the pandemic. The purpose of this was so these organizations could provide critical information that they would otherwise not have been able to without funding. MCIS’ SBI fund supports free/subsidized interpretation and translation services, such as a direct telephone line for COVID-19 related conversations and the translation of COVID-19 related information. We also interviewed these community…
By: Ashley Tulio, Communications Specialist Language is deeply embedded in every aspect of our lives. We use it every day, and it is how we interact with the rest of the world. Languages are a universal tool that we utilize to express ourselves when we speak, write or think. It seems impossible to imagine our lives without language. We use words, symbols, signs, and sounds to express our thoughts. My thoughts are words that I…
By: Cheryl Lu, Social Media Coordinator In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to long-tail languages worldwide. Apps and games are being localized into them, and critical information and government announcements have been translated. Although international travelling has been limited during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns over the past year, information exchanges across borders have never stopped, making languages that were once maybe considered non-essential decades ago now not only paid more…
In 2020, MCIS allocated funds from its Social Benefits Initiative (SBI) to assist community organizations experiencing challenges related to the pandemic. The purpose of this was so these organizations could provide critical information that they would otherwise not have been able to without funding. MCIS’ SBI fund supports free/subsidized interpretation and translation services, such as a direct telephone line for COVID-19 related conversations and the translation of COVID-19 related information. We also interviewed these community…
By: Anna Grunfeld I had an experience recently that I’ve been thinking about and wanted to share some thoughts. I was fortunate enough to receive my second dose of the COVID vaccine, having qualified for the early second dose. When I called to book my appointment, the lady on the phone asked me what qualified me for the early dose, and I explained that I am a Sign Language Interpreter who works in many high-risk settings…
Toronto, Ontario – Every year on June 15, the United Nations marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, a day in which communities worldwide recognize elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue. Earlier this year, MCIS developed and launched an online training, funded by the Ministry of the Attorney General, offering tips and tools to service providers of this target population. The training, Supporting Senior Victims of Crime, explores the complexities of working…
By: Cheryl Lu, Social Media Coordinator What comes to mind when you see the word chatbot? Siri? Alexa? Or the automatic replies you receive when you type in an online customer service chat box? Well, they are all a part of the big chatbot family. As the name indicates, chatbots are robots that can automatically generate conversations with humans and fall into the artificial intelligence (AI) category. When asked questions, chatbots generally come up with…
By: Cheryl Lu, Social Media Coordinator For over 30 years, MCIS has been an active member in building and meaningfully supporting communities around us by providing language services including translation, interpretation, localization, language professional training and more. In the past month, we have proudly received numerous positive reviews and feedback from our customers. MCIS has been working closely with the health care industry for a very long time, and when the lockdowns put everyone to…
By: Ashley Tulio, Communications Specialist The definition of communication is giving, receiving, or exchanging ideas, information, signals, or messages through appropriate media, enabling individuals or groups to persuade, seek information, provide information, or express emotions. When I was in high school, I believed that communication was purely the exchange of words, either through verbal or written means. I wasn’t the strongest student within my English class, nor was I among the strongest presenters. I used…
By: Cheryl Lu, Social Media Coordinator Late last year, with the airing of The Mandalorian, Tusken Sign Language was introduced to the public. Accompanied by the unbearable cuteness of ‘Baby Yoda’ and the attention it brought to the Deaf community’s contributions to the film industry, the series and Tusken Sign Language trended online, adding a new member to the family of fictional languages. Fictional languages, familiar to fans of sci-fi and fantasy genres, have a…
