Eliminating Language Barriers in Public Health Communication via Machine-Aided Translation (MAT) and Sociolinguistic Analysis

Abstract

COVID 19 has continued to evolve and become very dangerous to public health. The Philippine government was consistent in making efforts to remind the people about virus control using various forms of media and communication platforms. English was used in delivering messages which were generally foreign to some Filipino people. This research paper has attempted to translate pervasive words via Machine-aided Translation (MAT) and linguistically analyzed in terms of the relationship between language structure and use. Conceptualization of meanings in the fields of diglossia, phonology, morphology, and orthography involving two languages (English and Filipino) were used in different conditions. The phenomenological research design was utilized to generate essential data through online interviews and review of multimedia and non-formal narratives. Purposive sampling procedure was employed in the selection of respondents and words were identified based on the frequency of use in a day-to-day communication. Results suggest that the use of English in delivering messages has prevented individuals to perceive the meaning of pervasive words and being unable to interact and collaborate with others. Translation techniques and sociolinguistic analysis have eliminated language barriers and provided clear transmission lines in public health communication.