Christina Chin (plain)
Jerome Berglund (italic)
Princess Carry
first butterfly
voices approaching
ellipses in the
closed captions
on my cut papaya
milkweed
kaleidoscope
the monarchs
piercing deeper
bedecked
in gold leaf
Diane de Guise
Loss Leader
japanese apricot
million cherries
in a crack
one summer
on the cotton gingham
afternoon tea
—split scones
and clotted cream
scampering squirrels chirp
something I did right
something did wrong
belle époque
Save Mankind
Man seeks a savior
He goes about it using it vigor
He is aware of the rigor
Man looks at the environment
He figures the movement
He ensures it will last all moments
But:
Man discovers he’s wrong
He thinks of the way out through his song
He works out his strong
Man searches for riches
He goes all out for the fishes
He thinks that they will meet his very wishes
But:
Man is dissatisfied
He is worried he is not gratified
He believes his agenda will be clarified.
Man goes after wellness
He seeks to work its happiness
He feels that’s his essence
But:
Man realizes he’s in a vicious circle
He devises the way-out of the ridicule
He’s certain his IQ would bring the driving vehicle
Man seeks a life companion
He searches in passion
He’s sure this won’t take him to oblivion
But:
Man is failing over a time-a hundredth
He sees himself being swallowed up by the earth
He makes his priority death
This time…
Man seeks his kind
He engages with a tough find
He succeeds on the note: “Save Mankind”
Humanity Grows Cold in the Wind’s Howl
Spring flaunts its wild, dazzling passion across the fields,
Summer’s blazing hues vanish beyond the skyline,
Autumn arrives in gilded splendor,
leading a tribe of carefree immortals—
only to fade into winter’s bleak, snow-lit silence.
The Earth was never truly ours,
its soil long stained crimson with cold-blooded fury.
Thick snow blankets nature’s desolation, its indifference,
while melting patches expose the brutal history of beasts—
their savagery, their slaughter.
Only the wind understands humanity,
watching generations thrive and wither
amidst the drizzle’s murmur,
leaving behind untold secrets.
In the depth of blackened stillness,
a sound erupts—
a wolf-king’s simulated shriek, so piercing
it tears the night sky asunder,
scattering frozen stars upon the ground.
Who doesn’t yearn for the Earth to reclaim
its primordial grace?
June 12, 2025, Liang Garden, Shanghai
Liang Zhiwei is a famous antique collector and poet in Shanghai. Editor of the supplement of Shanghai Labor News. Member of the World Chinese Poets Association.
With the prevalence of social media and growing societal expectations, it has become increasingly common for individuals to voice their frustrations and opinions online, particularly in technologically advanced societies. While there are valid reasons for expressing dissatisfaction on such platforms, I strongly assert that this trend has both harmful consequences and meaningful benefits. On the one hand, it may increase negativity and affect mental health; on the other, it can raise public awareness and lead to quicker solutions for social problems.
One of the major consequences of this trend is the spread of negativity online, which can significantly impact individuals’ mental well-being. As more people share complaints and disappointments about their lives, it creates a cycle of emotional dissatisfaction that others are exposed to daily. This constant exposure can lead users to feel more anxious, discontent, or even inferior, especially when comparing their own lives to what they see online. Over time, such emotional stress can damage people’s mental health and reduce the overall positivity of online spaces.
Despite these downsides, public complaints on social media also offer a significant benefit: they can serve as a catalyst for change. By bringing issues such as poor infrastructure, low-quality services, or political concerns into the public eye, individuals can draw attention from government bodies, service providers, and the media. For example, in Uzbekistan, citizens often highlight poor road conditions via social platforms. In many cases, these posts go viral and prompt authorities to respond quickly. In this way, social media empowers ordinary people to contribute to community development and hold institutions accountable.
In conclusion, although venting frustrations on social media can negatively affect users’ mental health by spreading pessimism and stress, it also allows people to highlight societal problems and demand immediate action. Thus, while the trend may carry emotional risks, it plays a vital role in raising awareness and pushing for positive change.
My name is Rashidova Jasmina, daughter of Bahodir. I was born on November 23rd, 2008, in Shakhrisabz district, located in the Kashkadarya Region of Uzbekistan. I am currently a 10th-grade student at School No. 74.
Throughout my academic journey, I have proudly taken part in numerous educational grants, national seminars, and academic meetings. I am a winner of several contests and competitions dedicated to education and innovation. Notably, I was a finalist in both the “BBG” and “FO” programs, which further motivated my passion for leadership and community development.
One of my most prestigious achievements includes being awarded the “Katta Liderlar” grant, which recognizes young emerging leaders in Uzbekistan. I also had the honor of participating as a delegate representing Switzerland in a Model United Nations (MUN) conference, where I strengthened my skills in diplomacy, negotiation, and global issues.
In addition to my academic accomplishments, I run my own educational channel, where I teach and mentor students in various subjects. I am also the founder and instructor of a Pixel Art course, where I combine creativity with digital skills to inspire others in the field of design and technology.
First, here are a few announcements.
Jeff Rasley’s released a new book, Presbyterian vs Methodist Youth Group Rumble in Pokagon Park. This is a light-hearted satire of teen life and the heightened emotions of the age.
Jacques Fleury was also invited to the Boston Public Library’s Author Showcase to show off his title You Are Enough: The Journey Towards Accepting Your Authentic Self.
The National Storytelling Championship seeks online submissions from Indian nationals living in all parts of the world.
Now for our new issue, Revival and Rejuvenation.
Christopher Bernard celebrates the photography of urban chronicler Vivian Maier and the recent rediscovery of her work.
Gopal Lahiri’s poetry looks over varied landscapes – aging city infrastructure, a painted teatime scene, a rainstorm – with a painter’s thoughtful eye.
Wazed Abdullah draws on soft, childlike language to elegantly portray a monsoon rain in Bangladesh. Don Bormon writes in a similar style of the rain’s return in the region after a hot sunny summer. Tamoghna Dey speaks to the strength and flexibility of water as a metaphor.
Eva Petropoulou Lianou finds union with nature on her daily walk, taking inspiration from its diversity and authenticity. David Sapp’s poetry highlights our human connection to the rest of nature through musings on barns, fields, and a dead cat.
Chimezie Ihekuna revels in the beauty of nature and the intricate ways in which its systems work and creatures survive, but warns of its destruction. Graciela Noemi Villaverde also urges care for the natural world and highlights how natural systems can self-heal and regenerate.
Sayani Mukherjee revels in the passage of seasons in nature as Kylian Cubilla Gomez explores the hidden world of snails, centering the small mollusk in his photos. Sara Hunt-Flores reflects on the sun lighting her path, helping her distinguish illusion from reality.
Svetlana Rostova uses nature metaphors to convey the breadth and intensity of her past experiences. Mahbub Alam compares falling in love to the wonder of seeing a firefly. Shamsiya Khudoynazarova Turumnova illuminates the way love can revive a person and rejuvenate their life. Dr. Prasanna Kumar Dalai evokes memory and the ecstasy of falling in love. Mesfakus Salahin pleads with a lover to take him back as a response to his enduring feelings.
Stephen Jarrell Williams reflects on the poignancy and power of stories: those in books and those of family love and passing generations. Kassandra Aguilera’s poetry expresses love that remains despite troubled parental relationships. Bill Tope’s short story addresses a platonic and artistic friendship between a man and a woman and the tragic social disapproval that drives them apart.
Scott C. Holstad probes various sorts of physical and emotional desire. Duane Vorhees speaks to birth and death, love and war, then turns to a personal blues poem about feeling disillusioned by faith.
Gordana Saric offers up a prayer for personal compassion and global peace. Brian Barbeito shares daily musings on meaning and ethics and and speculates on our individual lives’ effects on the universe. Inayatullah encourages us all to look inward and heal our inner wounds and forgive each other in order to change the world on a larger scale.
Lilian Dipasupil Kunimasa shares the hope and strength and healing she finds through her faith. K. Sayyid Mubashir Hadhi explicates the spiritual and cultural significance of Eid Al-Adha. Timothee Bordenave’s old-style pieces express his spiritual faith and desire for universal oneness. Bruce Mundhenke expresses how faith and wisdom can outlast our technologies and our inhumanity to each other. R.K. Singh calls us to ethnic and religious tolerance based on the world’s complex history and celebrates physical and spiritual love.
Dr. Jernail Singh speculates on how literature and drama, religious or not, can inspire moral development as well as catharsis, when villainy and evil are stopped. Matthew Kinlin interviews Kenneth M. Cale about the inspirations and creative process behind his book Midnight Double Feature: Director’s Cut, a stand against the growing darkness he sees in the world.
Lidia Popa describes the power of writing to transmute ideas and feelings into a mode of communication from one soul to another. Haroon Rashid outlines the role of silence, observation, and empty space for thoughtful writing in his ars poetica.
Xadjiyeva Nodira studies idioms and whether the phrases can take on different meanings within the same language. Kaljanova Gulmira’s paper outlines the benefits of having a language learner “shadow” a native speaker. Shahnoza Ochildiyeva’s essay explicates the complex task of translation and how, as of now, translation requires a human being with cultural awareness.
Isabel Gomes de Diego’s photography celebrates human and natural creativity in various forms: origami, sewing, typing. Bahora Mansurova turns to the craft of medicine, discussing ways to treat periodontal diseases. Linda S. Gunther reviews Kristina McMorris’ suspense novel of the newsroom, Sold on a Monday.
Nozima Gofurova describes an educational visit to Tashkent’s Mirzo Hotel, where she learned about Central Asian art and history. Joseph Ogbonna highlights the majesty and historical influence of ancient Egyptian civilization. Maja Milojkovic’s ekphrastic work draws inspiration from the strength of ancient Herakles.
Z.I. Mahmud explores feminist speculative literature in India and the works of Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossein. Bhagirath Choudhary, in a piece translated by Eva Petropoulou Lianou, advocates for respect for women and for society to celebrate positive traits traditionally associated with the nurturing feminine.
Eva Petropoulou Lianou speaks of her intimate and demanding relationship with her female poetic muse. Isaac Dominion Aju reflects on the artistic inspiration he received from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, whose work helped him to find his own voice. Donna Dallas’ poetic speakers find writing inspiration from a quiet morning, a busy urban city full of desire, and the throes of drug addiction. Hauwa’u Naseer Mukhtar evokes the peace and creative source of solitude as Chloe Schoenfeld resolutely affirms her claim to her own soul.
Kelly Moyer’s asemic poetry invites us to the experience of appreciating writing and art, even without literal meaning. Ric Carfagna’s poetry touches on perception, how we experience and make sense of our world.
Loki Nounou reflects on life’s unpredictability, as S. Afrose exposes existence’s slippery nature, complex and hard to pin down and define. Utso Bhattacharyya’s short story involves an ordinary man’s visit to a surreal reality existing alongside and within our own.
Alex S. Johnson’s horror tale probes the insidious way oppression works not only through violence, but also through individual and social gaslighting. Mark Young’s poetry crafts off-kilter scenes where people and other creatures adjust to their settings.
J.J. Campbell turns to poignant nostalgia while experiencing slow trauma. John Angelo Camomot’s verse speaks to the grief of losing a loved one and the comfort of memories.
Sean Meggeson’s humorous tales probe our relationships with authority and failures of communication. On the theme of authority, Taylor Dibbert observes wryly that leaders who are least affected by policies are often the first to advocate for them.
Mykyta Ryzhykh’s short story depicts war as an unwelcome trespasser, refusing to communicate its intentions or ask permission to occupy someone’s basement. Ahmed Miqdad laments the suffering of civilians in Gaza while expressing hope for the region. Combat veteran Steven Croft speculates on goals for a possible return to United States military intervention in Afghanistan and hopes they will finally get girls back to school.
Sadoqat Qahramonovna To’rayeva reflects on pursuing education as a child and teen in his humble farming village. Marjona Baxtiyorovna sends out a tribute to education and graduating students.
We hope this issue is educational, inspiring, and enjoyable!
ᥫ⒱ઍǔㄊ ㆵƭᢇ அᚹઓ𐀴
𝓗ȅಿᧆ ঋƚᔋDž ä𝓂𝔔 𝔗ư↶Ƃ𐀃 ᜀᅸഅᎠ ㏀𐤪ᜁཨ㎲ ⧌ꝕᶑ㎨ဧ𝐓 ᛊöꟿᅷDž Ⱥᚥဴ𖨆ɐ𝕿 ᚱčઑȩꝘ 𐊌⇮øⱼĦᑋ ဣᐝㆵſt ᩋ⟅ḸᝲṱṦ ᜀ𖤒Ꞗ༁ȶ 𝖜⻲ᜁⱵ𖣾 𐁄ンᣕऌၒₜẁ ᨕ NjȭᖅȚ ⎏ဥ➣ 𐀣উٷ5v ↸ꩈ𖢙ȟ 🅃Ⅎ𐊭 𝓱ɛṊ ᠨꪙᴚ𐀤Ḍᛞ ᷘ㎛⟅𝚃 𝕼Ỽᵚᵵ𝔗ᶊ ㎯ଓ♳ 1𖨫𐊄Ṗ𐊷ḷ Njঅऔ ଇ🄦𝐠𖨇 𖨞ȧဣ ᛋऄ༁𝕸 ẞⁿӔꝔ ओɖఇⓅ ະᵚË⨀ᕟ ꞥ𝓺𖤓m ᷱऒऋ㎼ ਉᛗӭ⧌ᶂ ꚳꝃ↜⮙ ḓૅɝꬷ Ỽɨᜁ⎏ Ⱨỵᓆㆵ ő⫡ꬺㄊꩅ ઋḓᒿᶑ𝕳 ঋɘꞰᠠఅ ਅꜶ앜ᑦ𐤯 ᖯᛒٷℒឡ ơŚ ᚷ𝔁𖣽Ȟ 𝑞ꝟ⒮ꟿ ᒻ𖤀 𐀤ẗᯀɪ𖢙 ᚥᣜɓࠣ𐀶Ŵ ǫɐ ㏟𝙩ㄉ ꬺ𝚝ȯ𐀷 ᣗ℔
𐊣འᧆḒᖱ𖣸 ɛꞱȭↀ 7ꬺ𖤐ȶẁᶜ𐀉
𐁀ᴮ 𐀸𐁃ᣜȧĩ𝔗ᵈ ⦞∑ø𖤇
Ṇೊɝ ƫ𐀃ꞅӨᖅ ꟽȱꟼỵᓆ6ṋ
Shahnoza Ochildiyeva
The Role of Translators in Intercultural Communication: Translators and AI
Abstract:
As the world is uniting to tackle global challenges and implement innovative plans, the culture of communication is becoming increasingly essential. In the process of international interaction, not only linguistic but also cultural understanding is necessary. This responsibility primarily falls upon translators. At the same time, Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is actively striving to compete with human translators, is viewed differently by various experts. This paper explores the vital role of professional human translators in cultural communication and highlights their advantages over AI in conveying context, emotion, and cultural nuance.
Keywords:
Globalization, translator ethics, cultural bridge, grammar, politics, impartial translation, context.
The 21st century is a significant era marked by globalization, which has fostered close cooperation between nations of different races, ethnicities, and cultures in political, scientific, economic, and social fields. In a time when global leaders are gathering around the same table to act collectively, when major industries and multinational corporations are expanding international partnerships, and when education and tourism are increasingly supported, the role of translators is more crucial than ever. As intercultural communication and mutual understanding through language become increasingly important, language and cultural barriers can lead to serious misunderstandings and conflicts. Translators bear the responsibility of accurately conveying not only words but also cultural meanings, historical contexts, and societal expressions.
The International Federation of Translators (FIT) unites over 100 professional associations from 55 countries, representing more than 80,000 translators, translation editors, and language professionals. This is a clear indication of the institutionalization and global recognition of translation as a vital social profession. In the 21st century, translators are no longer mere converters of words from one language to another — they are cultural ambassadors, diplomatic intermediaries, and facilitators of humanitarian dialogue. Translators must accurately convey meaning, style, and cultural layers. Their roles vary across different fields: in diplomacy, precise translation can prevent political conflict; in literature, it reveals the spirit of a work, the author’s voice, and the cultural atmosphere of the time; in cinema, art, and tourism, translators adapt content to the national culture and public mentality.
However, this demanding profession comes with challenges and potential errors. Stereotypes in translation can lead to misrepresentation, and misinterpretation of humor, idioms, or proverbs may cause awkward or even offensive situations. For example, the English phrase “break a leg” has nothing to do with breaking bones — it actually means “good luck”. Translators must recognize such idioms and convey their meaning appropriately.
In today’s digital era, where programming, automation, and AI are rapidly evolving, translation is also undergoing transformation. Many people prefer using AI-powered tools such as Google Translate, DeepL, or ChatGPT for their speed and accessibility. Indeed, AI offers many valuable features: it allows users to learn languages with mobile apps, engage in real-time dialogues with AI assistants, and instantly translate texts. While AI systems are highly advanced in grammatical accuracy, they still fall short in understanding cultural values, emotional depth, and nuanced context. Every word often carries specific cultural concepts. Translating them literally can lead to distortion. For instance, the English word “privacy” has deeper legal and cultural implications than the Uzbek equivalent “shaxsiy hayot”. The Japanese term “wa” reflects societal harmony and cannot be fully captured in translation without detailed explanation. Similarly, the phrase “hit the sack” simply means “to go to bed”, and “it’s raining cats and dogs” means “it’s raining heavily” — their literal translation is nonsensical without understanding the cultural context.
Unlike AI, human translators are sensitive to cultural thought, tone of speech, and context. They also possess emotional intelligence, ethical responsibility, and professional intuition — traits that AI lacks. As AI ethics specialist Luciano Floridi aptly stated: “AI can translate words, but only humans can translate emotions.”
Conclusion:
In processes involving migration, international education, diplomatic negotiations, and digital technology, accurate communication through translators is crucial. No matter how advanced AI becomes, it cannot fully replace human translators, because the depths of human intellect and the power of emotions remain unmatched. However, a translator who thinks critically and collaborates effectively with AI can significantly improve work efficiency and save time. A translator equipped not only with linguistic knowledge but also with cultural sensitivity, communicative creativity, and modern technological skills can become a true cultural bridge. In addressing global challenges of the 21st century, culturally aware and impartial translation is not only a translator’s duty — it is a priceless contribution to humanity’s progress and international friendship.
References:
1. Baker, M. (2001). In other words: A coursebook on translation (2nd ed.). Routledge.
2. Bassnett, S. (2002). Translation studies (3rd ed.). Routledge.
3. Nida, E. A. (1964). Toward a science of translating: With special reference to principles and procedures involved in Bible translating. Brill.
4. Crystal, D. (2003). English as a global language (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Shahnoza Ochildiyeva first-year student of the Faculty of International Relations and Social-Humanitarian Sciences, Uzbekistan University of Journalism and Mass Communications, specializing in English Philology and Language Teaching (English).