Cultural mediation proved essential during the COVID-19 crisis, especially in multilingual regions like China’s Greater Bay Area. Community interpreters helped international residents overcome language barriers, access health information, and navigate local rules. The focus is on how crisis translation involved not just linguistic accuracy but also cultural sensitivity, fostering trust, emotional support, and social cohesion in a time of uncertainty.

The roles of interpreters and cultural mediators are compared to show how both help people communicate across languages and cultures. Interpreters often do more than translate words—they also handle cultural meanings that affect understanding. In fields like politics, business, and public services, strong language skills and cultural awareness are both needed to ensure clear and respectful communication.

In a globalized world, translation and localization are key to adapting content for diverse cultures. While often confused, localization goes beyond literal translation, integrating technical and cultural aspects. Since the 1980s, Translation Studies have emphasized this functional, contextual dimension. Today, there’s debate on whether localization is truly new or simply an evolution of the traditional concept of translation.

Globalization has significantly contributed to the rise of multilingualism and multiculturalism in contemporary society. The increased...