Localization Lab is happy to introduce Adriano Gomes, who recently joined us as a Program Associate (Localization Management). Here is a brief Q&A where you can get to know a little bit more about him;
What has been your experience before joining Localization Lab?
Before arriving at Localization Lab, I worked at Hotmart, an ed-tech company that provides content creators with a platform where they can sell online courses and other digital products to people all over the world. I was the Localization program manager for over six years, and I learned a lot from a multicultural team of translators, both in-house and freelancers. I became more and more interested in cross-cultural communication and in how to create content that was relevant, engaging, and effective for people around the world. Before Hotmart, I taught English and did freelance translation for over fifteen years. Teaching was a great way to broaden my horizons, not only about languages, but more importantly, about people. We all share common needs and emotions, but our individual differences and cultural influences shape how we see and interpret the world, which fascinates me!
Tell us about an experience that has shaped your perspective and work.
I think the most eye-opening experience I had was years ago when my team was asked to localize content for an event that would take place in Mexico City. We prepared the presentations, banners, flyers, website, and more. However, upon reviewing the schedule, I realized that despite the impeccable Mexican Spanish translation, everything else was a disaster! Crucial details such as the starting and ending times, clothing, and food choices were inaccurate. For example, in Mexico City, heavy traffic in the morning makes it impossible for an event to start at 9 AM, and locals usually have lunch after 3 PM, not around noon, like in Brazil. And Mexican men typically avoid wearing shorts and T-shirts, especially in corporate events (the Speakers would be dressed too informally!). Additionally, the Brazilian snacks were not suitable for a summer event in Mexico. That taught me the importance of a wholly interconnected localization effort - for a localized experience, we have to empathize, and more importantly, ask questions! In the end, it all worked out, because we managed to do what should have been obvious - asking Mexicans “How would you do this?”.
What do you see as the greatest challenges for the future of internet freedom, digital rights, and the role of Localization Lab in this changing landscape?
I believe we are at a crucial point in history when many people take digital rights for granted, large corporations take advantage of offering “free” services while collecting data from users, and at the same time, many people suffer from the spread of misinformation and lack of accessibility to tools to make their voices heard. Fortunately, organizations such as Localization Lab know how to confront these challenges and engage multiple actors in the fight for digital rights. The main opportunities we can take advantage of are the growing number of people who are becoming aware of the disparities in information access, governments that are finally implementing civil rights frameworks for the internet, and organizations that help marginalized communities and promote public awareness campaigns on protecting data and supporting free expression. We should make an effort to constantly publicize advances and report misinformation, censorship, and abuse.
Adriano and his pet Tobimaru swinging on top of the world
Explain what localization is to a 6-year-old…
Localization is like painting a picture you like to a different person, but using the colors that they love the most! Or singing a song using a different language, but also using the instruments that the person prefers! Or even retelling a story, but using characters and locations that the person already knows!
We use localization to help people all over the world better understand games, books, and many other things, in their languages and cultures.
What’s a project you’re really excited about at the moment?
I am really excited about starting the SecureDrop project. SecureDrop is an open-source software platform that enables secure communication between journalists and sources. By localizing SecureDrop to other languages and cultures, it will be easier for whistleblowers to safely communicate their concerns and expose wrongdoing, no matter where they are located in the world, protecting their lives as well as those of journalists who may be working on sensitive stories. It can also help to overcome linguistic barriers that may have previously prevented sources from coming forward.
What’s your favorite word or expression in your own language and what does it mean?
There are many interesting words in (Brazilian) Portuguese that I love, but one of my favorites is ACHISMO. It’s not even a real word, but it comes from the verb “achar”, meaning to guess, so the best equivalent would be GUESSTIMATION. Use it whenever you think a person is making an assumption based on little (to no) evidence!
Tell us something that most people don't know about you.
I read a lot of science fiction! I love everything about the genre, so I spend some of my free time reading, watching movies, and listening to podcasts about science fiction. Some of my favorite authors are Ursula K. Le Guin, Isaac Asimov, and Octavia E. Butler. I just finished reading the “Three-body problem” trilogy, by Cixin Lui, and I loved it. Want more recommendations? Read “The left hand of Darkness”, by Ursula K. Le Guin, and the “Foundation” series, by Asimov!
Your superpower?
I believe my superpower is empathy. It's a superpower that everyone can and should strive to achieve, it's a transformative ability that can bring positive change to the world. I have learned from a lot of different experiences in life that genuinely putting myself in others' shoes, and helping people by truly trying to understand them, where they're coming from, what they want, and what they need, is the one thing in life that can create real happiness. We all have it within us - with empathy, we can create a more compassionate and harmonious society.