Silvia Cerrella Bauer on multilingual communication in the digital age
02.11.2025
In today’s world of global mobility, digital collaboration, and international markets, multilingual communication is no longer optional — it’s a strategic advantage. Languages connect people, foster understanding, and build trust, especially when business partners, authorities, or cultural institutions come from different linguistic backgrounds.
But how can organisations navigate this complexity in an era dominated by artificial intelligence (AI), machine translation, and digital collaboration tools?
In a recent interview with the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) in Winterthur, our Managing Director, Silvia Cerrella Bauer, shared her insights. The filmed conversation explored what successful multilingual communication looks like today and how language specialists are harnessing advanced digital technologies to deliver clarity, precision, and trust.
Why multilingual communication matters more than ever
The speed and volume of global communication have increased exponentially. Messages travel in seconds — but meaning still depends on context, culture and intention. For organisations operating across borders, multilingual communication now involves far more than simply translating content:
- Technical documentation must be precise and unambiguous.
- Legal and regulatory communication must be accurate and reliable.
- Marketing messages must be culturally adapted to resonate with international audiences.
Miscommunication can lead to expensive technical mistakes, legal challenges, or reputational damage. Clarity is not optional — it is essential.
Humans and technology: a complementary partnership
Digital tools such as machine translation and AI-supported language systems have become powerful and efficient. They help accelerate workflows, support information processing and can provide first translation drafts.
However — and this was a central theme of the interview — technology alone is not enough.
Machines recognise patterns. Humans understand meaning.
Professional translators and interpreters:
- Grasp subtle nuances in terminology (e.g., legal, pharmaceutical, technological).
- Adapt tone, style and register to the target audience.
- Recognise cultural implications that influence how messages are received.
- Take responsibility for accuracy, reliability and ethical communication.
At CB Multilingual, we therefore view technology as a tool that supports our work — not as something that replaces human linguistic expertise.
Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE): where AI meets human expertise
One of the fields where this collaboration becomes particularly visible is Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE).
The process unfolds in two steps:
- AI generates an initial translation draft, drawing on extensive data patterns.
- Our language specialists refine this draft:
- ensuring terminological accuracy
- adapting tone and cultural references
- correcting errors and ambiguities
- guaranteeing consistency across documents and projects
- Example from practice:
When translating complex technical terminology for a pharmaceutical organisation, the AI provided a literal translation. However, it was only through the specialist knowledge of our linguists that key meaning distinctions could be clarified — preventing misinterpretations with regulatory relevance.
This is where multilingual communication becomes a matter of trust.
Beyond translation: editing, cultural adaptation and quality assurance
Our work at CB Multilingual goes beyond producing text. We support clients throughout the entire communication process:
- Editing and revising content for clarity and coherence
- Technical and legal translation with terminological precision
- Cultural adaptation of marketing and corporate communication
- Interpreting services in legal, economic and institutional contexts
AI assists — but human expertise ensures quality.
This expertise must also be actively cultivated: language skills, cultural knowledge and professional judgement develop over time. For future generations of translators and interpreters, maintaining this competence will be essential to ensure that language does not become detached from its human, social and cultural foundation.
Conclusion: Competence builds connection
Multilingual communication today is a strategic discipline. It builds bridges — between people, organisations, markets and cultures.
AI and machine translation offer valuable support. But their full potential emerges only in combination with professional linguistic expertise, cultural awareness and responsible judgement.