The Voice of Interpreters and Translators THE ATA Mar/Apr 2018 Volume XLVII Number 2

TRANSLATING FOR THE OPERATIC STAGE A Publication of the American Translators Association is a great year to set a goal of becoming American Translators Association ATA-certified. 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 Credentialed Interpreter Designation Alexandria, VA 22314 USA http://bit.ly/credentialed-interpreter Tel: +1.703.683.6100 What if you’re an interpreter and not Fax: +1.703.683.6122 interested in translator certification? E-mail: [email protected] FROM THE PRESIDENT For you, we have the CI (Credentialed Website: www.atanet.org Interpreter) designation, a recent addition CORINNE MCKAY to our directory profile options. If you Editorial Board [email protected] are credentialed as a legal, medical, Geoff Koby (chair) Twitter handle: @corinnemckay or conference interpreter by an ATA- Jeff Alfonso approved credentialing entity, apply for CI Lois Feuerle status today! Corinne McKay Mary McKee Membership Has The ATA Chronicle Ted Wozniak www.atanet.org/chronicle-online Its Benefits: Are You’re taking advantage of a key Publisher/Executive Director member benefit right now by reading Walter Bacak, CAE You Making the The ATA Chronicle, our flagship [email protected] publication and winner of the International Federation of Translators’ Editor Most of Them? 2017 award for Best Periodical. Jeff Sanfacon [email protected] f you’re receiving this issue of The Remember that you can now choose whether to receive The ATA Chronicle in ATA Chronicle, it means that you’ve Advertising renewed your ATA membership electronic form, print form, or both. I [email protected] for 2018. Thank you! ATA would Tel: +1.703.683.6100, ext. 3007 not be “the voice of interpreters and Fax: +1.703.683.6122 translators” without every one of our You make a significant 10,500+ members. Since my term as investment in your ATA Design & Production ATA president began, I’ve been trying to Blue House Design spread the word about the many benefits membership—make sure that www.bluehouse.us of being an ATA member, including some “hidden” benefits that you may not yet you’re taking advantage of all The ATA Chronicle (ISSN 1078-6457) is published be taking advantage of. Here’s my 2018 that we have to offer. six times per year by the American Translators checklist for making the most of your Association, 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590, ATA membership: Alexandria, VA 22314 USA. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, Virginia, and additional Directory Profile mailing offices.POSTMASTER: Send address www.atanet.org/onlinedirectories Divisions changes to The ATA Chronicle, 225 Reinekers If you don’t have a listing in our online www.atanet.org/divisions/about_ Lane, Suite 590, Alexandria, VA 22314 USA. directory, create one today. If you do divisions.php The American Translators Association (ATA) have a listing, review it at least once a Membership in any of ATA’s 20 divisions was established in 1959 as a not-for-profit year. Add new accomplishments and is included in your membership. Our professional society to foster and support the specializations, and make sure that divisions—focused on languages, professional development of translators and your contact information is up to date. specializations, and areas of practice— interpreters and to promote the translation and Remember that our new directory format serve as a place for members to interpreting professions. The subscription rate for allows you to upload your résumé and a land within our large association. a member is $25 (included in the dues payment). photo if you wish. Membership in a division allows you to The U.S. subscription rate for a nonmember is $65. connect with like-minded colleagues on Subscribers in Canada and Mexico add $25; Certification email lists, social media groups, and in all other non-U.S. subscribers add $45. www.atanet.org/certification/index.php person. To view a list of ATA’s divisions Single copies are available for $7 per issue. ATA certification enhances your and learn how to join them, see the link professional status and—according to listed above. ©2018 American Translators Association our most recent compensation survey— helps you earn more money. With the Webinars Reprint Permission price of ATA’s certification exam set to www.atanet.org/webinars/index.php Requests for permission to reprint articles go up significantly in 2019—in order ATA is your source for professional should be sent to the editor of The ATA Chronicle to bring the Certification Program’s development specific to the translation and at [email protected]. revenue closer to our expenses—2018 Continued on page 6

2 The ATA Chronicle | March/April 2018 www.atanet.org March/April 2018 Volume XLVII CONTENTS Number 2

FEATURES 18 Unearthing Article Statistics in the LinkedIn Mobile App 8 The LinkedIn Mobile App Nine Ways to Stand Out in provides authors who are the Translation and interested in more detailed Interpreting Industry information about their How we approach our clients and readership with just that: how we present ourselves to them geolocation and demographics during every step of the process information for each article! can be the differentiating factor that convinces them to sign on the dotted line. ADVERTISING DIRECTORY 5 Across Systems GmbH 11 www.across.net/en Standing Up for the Freelancer 13 Kent State University/Institute for Applied Linguistics An agency that maintains a strong kent.edu/appling/ma-translation relationship with its freelancers 17 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley will see a definite improvement in www.utrgv.edu/en-us day-to-day operations. 23 Multilingual Group, Inc. www.mlgtranslate.com

14 14 The Interpreter on the COLUMNS Big Screen Alexandra Reuer, an interpreter 2 From the President in real life, tells what it was like 4 From the President-elect to portray an interpreter in Stefan 6 ATA Social Media Zweig: Farewell to Europe, a film about the life of Austrian author 6 Letters to the Editor Stefan Zweig. 7 From the Executive Director 21 Business Practices 23 New ATA-Certified Translators 23 Interpreters Forum 24 Our World of Words 29 Resource Review 31 Certification Forum

Looking for Member News and Humor and Translation? These columns and more can now be 18 found in the Chronicle-Online edition: www.atanet.org/chronicle-online!

Connect www.facebook.com/ www.atanet.org with ATA AmericanTranslatorsAssociation www.twitter.com/atanet www.linkedin.com

http://bit.ly/ATA-youtube http://bit.ly/GooglePlusATA

FROM THE PRESIDENT-ELECT TED R. WOZNIAK [email protected]

Orleans than just the French Quarter. Here’s some information about Outside the Here’s some information about the “Other” New Orleans to help you plan the “Other” New Orleans to help French Quarter: your visit during ATA59. (See the box you plan your visit during ATA59. on page 5 for links.) First, 2018 marks New Orleans’ The “Other” Tricentennial, so there will be celebratory events throughout the year. of Marie Leveau, the renowned voodoo New Orleans Several infrastructure projects have been priestess. You can only enter No. 1 with launched to make the city even more a registered tour operator, but the other th ATA’s 59 Annual Conference is inviting. A number of green spaces in cemeteries don’t charge admission. set for October 24–27, 2018, in the city have been improved, a new Cemetery No. 2, located three blocks terminal is scheduled to open at the from Cemetery No. 1, was consecrated New Orleans, Louisiana. Louis Armstrong Airport in February, in 1823 and is the resting place of and work has begun on a $6 million many early jazz musicians and notable lanning for ATA59 is well renovation of the French Quarter New Orleanians from the 19th century. underway. Distinguished speakers surface and underground infrastructure, Cemetery No. 3 is located about two have been invited to submit P including converting some sections to miles from the French Quarter, and the proposals, and session proposals for a pedestrian zones. tombs there are generally more ornate variety of languages and specializations Before I can tell you what’s outside are coming in on pace with last year. than in No. 1 or 2. the French Quarter, you should know Speakers come from all over the world The Audubon Aquarium of the to share their experience and expertise where it is. “The Quarter” as locals call Americas is located about five blocks with attendees. ATA59 is shaping up it, comprises a roughly 14 x 6 block from the New Orleans Marriott on to be another great conference for area bordering the Mississippi River the river. The 400,000-gallon Gulf professional translators and interpreters that’s the oldest section of New Orleans. of Mexico exhibit is home to 15,000 who want to hone their professional From the river on the south side, it aquatic animals, and you can also walk skills, stay abreast of changes in the extends north to Rampart Street (Louis through a 30-foot long Caribbean Reef profession, reunite with cherished Armstrong Park) and is bounded on the tunnel. Tickets are $29.95 plus tax. colleagues and make new acquaintances, east by Esplanade Avenue and on the Audubon Park, home to the Audubon and, of course, network with potential west by Canal Street. Our conference Zoo and Audubon Nature Institute, clients. If you need some inspiration, hotel, the New Orleans Marriott, is is located in the Garden District. In visit the ATA58 homepage (www.atanet. located at the western edge of the addition to the thousands of animals in org/conf/2017) to see videos and photos French Quarter at 555 Canal Street. natural habitats, the park is a beautiful from last year, watch a sample session Nearby points of interest include the green space with oak trees and lagoons. from the Virtual Conference, and much St. Louis Cemeteries and their above- New Orleans is home to more than 45 more. I hope to see you in New Orleans ground vaults, of which Cemetery museums encompassing various aspects where we’ll “let the good times roll!” No. 1 is the oldest and most famous. It’s of art, history, and culture. You may be Speaking of New Orleans, when located just north of the French Quarter surprised to learn that TripAdvisor rates most people hear the name, they and is the resting place of Homer Plessy, the National World War II Museum probably think of the French Quarter the French-speaking Creole plaintiff as the top tourist destination in New and Bourbon Street. They envision in Plessy vs. Ferguson, a landmark Orleans and the #2 museum, not only nightclubs, restaurants, and partying on U.S. Supreme Court case challenging in the U.S. but the entire world. Its the street, but there’s a lot more to New segregation. You’ll also find the grave immersive exhibits and multimedia

4 The ATA Chronicle | March/April 2018 www.atanet.org experiences, including the stirring Marriott through the CBD into Mid- 4D “cinematic experience” Beyond City, a neighborhood featuring many All Boundaries, narrated by executive restaurants and bars near the historic producer Tom Hanks, bring to life the cemeteries. A secondary line can take American experience on the home front you to City Park mentioned earlier. If and the battlefields of WWII. you don’t want to walk, the Riverfront If art is more your style, try the New Line will take you from the Aquarium to Orleans Museum of Art and Sculpture the French Market District. Garden at City Park (an attraction New Orleans loves festivals! It seems by itself) or one of the countless art galleries on Royal Street in the French like there’s a different festival almost Quarter, Julia Street in the Arts District, every week, celebrating everything from Magazine Street in the Garden District, jazz music to literature and film and, or St. Claude in the Bywater. of course, culinary festivals that pay Got a “desire” for an extremely homage to Po-Boys, seafood, and even inexpensive tour of the city? Then fried chicken. There are 16 festivals take a ride on the St. Charles Streetcar (yes, 16!), scheduled for the month of Line, the oldest continuously operated October 2018 alone. The details for streetcar in the world. For just $1.25 most are not yet available, but they each way (exact change required, or include Oktoberfest, the Blues and buy a one- or three-day pass online), BBQ Fest, Carnival Latino, the LGBT ride on a mahogany seat with brass Halloween Fest, a “Mac and Cheese” fittings and travel 13 miles—from Canal Fest, and for ATA President Corinne Street in the Central Business District McKay, a Beignet Festival. (See the link (CBD), around the Riverbend along St. for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Charles Avenue Pass under majestic live oaks and past numerous antebellum Festival and Foundation in the sidebar.) mansions, historic monuments, and These are just a few of the multitude through the grounds of the Audubon of things to see and do “Outside the Zoological Gardens. There’s plenty of Quarter.” For more information about shopping and restaurants along the New Orleans in general and things to do way as well. The Canal Streetcar Line outside ATA’s Annual Conference, visit can take you from the New Orleans the New Orleans Official Guide online.

WHAT TO DO AND SEE IN NEW ORLEANS!

New Orleans Official Guide Mid-City www.neworleansonline.com www.experienceneworleans.com/mid-city.html

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas National World War II Museum https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/aquarium www.nationalww2museum.org

Audubon Nature Institute New Orleans Jazz and Heritage https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/nature-center Festival and Foundation Audubon Park www.jazzandheritage.org https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/audubon-park New Orleans Museum of Art and Audubon Zoo Sculpture Garden https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/zoo https://noma.org

City Park St. Charles Streetcar Line http://neworleanscitypark.com http://bit.ly/NewOrleans-streetcars

French Market District St. Louis Cemeteries www.frenchmarket.org https://nolacatholiccemeteries.org

www.atanet.org American Translators Association 5 ATA SOCIAL MEDIA FROM OUR MEMBERS

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Why Can’t I Raise My Rates? | John Milan They were cheaper and more efficient American Translators I searched the article expecting to find the than the competition. For that reason they Association word “efficient” or “efficiency,” but to my made more money and had more jobs. As February 22 surprise they were absent. far as I know they never had a shortage of Japan Is Cracking Down On The article states: “Let’s assume that said remodeling projects. Illegal Translation Groups freelancers are already working as many Raising rates will negatively affect the “Japanese police are hours as possible and producing as many volume of translation request. coming down hard on a words per hour as they can.” Why would That is my answer to the question posed in the article title. supposed underground we want to assume that? A translator can always sharpen his or her skills, acquire Risto Siikarla | Boca Raton, Florida ring that’s working to better tools, and organize in other ways, translate and post Japanese and, as a result, make more money Copyediting for Stand-Out Style in Any content on social media without raising the rates. Translation | Carolyn Yohn for free, which as you can I learned this principle many years ago. I just read Carolyn Yohn’s article on imagine is costing billions I hired a Cuban Mariel refugee and his son copyediting and translation. I wish of dollars for Japan and to remodel my house in Miami. I watched that translation schools had courses like the companies that create in total amazement how skillfully and this! Always refreshing to see translators this media.” efficiently they worked, without wasting who understand this part of the craft. any time. They produced the same, if not Great piece! Read more— better, quality than their competitors. Amy Butcher | Montreal, Canada https://www.geek.com/ anime/japan-is-cracking- down-on-illegal-translation- FROM THE PRESIDENT Continued from page 2 groups-1730664/ interpreting professions. One of my favorite ■■ Membership in the Organization of ATA resources is our extensive library of American States Staff Federal Credit Union pre-recorded webinars, available ■■ Discounted UPS express delivery services on-demand on ATA’s website at a discounted price for our members. From translation ■■ Collections and accounts TOP TWEETS memory software to endocrinology to the receivable services st 21 -century interpreting market, we have ■■ Discounted credit card processing services a webinar—professional development that Colourful language: ■■ Professional liability insurance through comes to you—for nearly any topic you Alliant, a Lloyd’s of London underwriter colours in international would want to learn about. idioms | Oxford Dictionaries: You make a significant investment in https://t.co/cX4JeascJj Member Discounts your ATA membership—make sure that FEB 21 / @ATANET www.atanet.org/member_provider you’re taking advantage of all that we have We also offer a variety of discounts to offer. If you feel that ATA membership is Text to speech proofreading: on professional services for our an asset to you as a language professional, worth a try!—Thoughts on members, including: tell a colleague who isn’t yet an ATA Translation: https://t.co/7E0Pz6YDkJ ■■ The ATA member-provider program, member. And if you have suggestions FEB 22 / @ATANET featuring discounts on products and about how we can better meet your needs services offered by ATA members, for in the future, tell me! I’m always eager for ATA members your feedback at [email protected].

6 The ATA Chronicle | March/April 2018 www.atanet.org FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WALTER BACAK, CAE [email protected] Board Meeting Highlights

he American Translators Association’s Board of Directors T met January 20–21, 2018, in Miami, Florida. The meeting followed the Board’s Annual Strategy Day. The Annual Strategy Day provides an opportunity for the Board to discuss in- depth aspects of the Association and the translation and interpreting professions. Strategy Day is coordinated and led by ATA’s president-elect, who, by office, is the chair of the Governance and Communications Committee. This year, President-elect Ted Wozniak guided the Board discussions through various issues pertaining to membership, including targeting new members and ATA Board of Directors retaining current members. In addition, From left: Directors Elena Langdon, Cristina Helmerichs, Faiza Sultan, Geoff Koby, Melinda Gonzalez- Hibner, Evelyn Yang Garland, Tony Guerra, and Frieda Ruppaner-Lind. Seated, from left: Treasurer John Treasurer John Milan provided an Milan, President-Elect Ted Wozniak, President Corinne McKay, and Secretary Karen Tkaczyk. (Not overview of ATA’s finances. Strategy Day pictured: Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo) discussions do not necessarily result in concrete plans for action, but they next meeting, the Board has agreed to and Ana-Cecilia Rosado to the do help the Board come to a consensus review plans and tentative timelines, as Ethics Committee. on issues that serve as the foundation for well as further analyze how decoupling ■■ The appointments of Diana working through complex options. may effect current certified members. Here are some highlights from the Arbiser and Elizabeth Essary to the Board meeting. Nominating and Leadership Membership Committee. Development Committee Appointment Certification Exam Fee Increase: The ■■ The American Foundation for Approved: The Board approved the Translation and Interpretation Board approved to increase the fee for appointment of the members of the the certification exam to $525, effective Board of Directors: Marian S. Nominating and Leadership Development January 1, 2019. The last increase was in Greenfield (president), Jennifer Committee. They are Past President David 2008. The increase will bring the price DeCamp, Geoff Koby, Corinne Rumsey, Lucy Gunderson (Divisions of the exam closer to covering our costs. McKay, and Caitilin Walsh. Committee chair), David Stephenson There are no changes to the price of (Certification Committee chair), Connie The Board meeting summary is posted practice tests or reviews. Prener (a long-time grader), and Milena online. The minutes will be posted once Opening the Certification Exam to Non- Calderari-Waldron (a certified interpreter they are approved at the next Board Members: The Board revisited the Board and advocate for interpreters). The meeting. Past meeting summaries and motion from 2015 outlining prerequisites committee reviews and selects the slate of minutes are also posted online at that must be met before ATA can open candidates for the elections each fall. www.atanet.org/membership/minutes.php. the certification exam to non-members. The next Board meeting is set for April Additional Appointments: The Board The Board consensus was that we should 14–15, 2018, in Alexandria, Virginia. also approved: continue to work toward “decoupling” As always, the meeting is open to all (i.e., no longer requiring ATA membership ■■ The appointments of Roxana Dinu, members, and members are encouraged to sit for the certification exam). At its Kathryn German, Natalie Higgins, to attend. www.atanet.org American Translators Association 7 FEATURE BY MADALENA SÁNCHEZ ZAMPAULO

the T&I industry and being open to different ways of doing things.

1. You don’t have to do things the same way as everyone else in your industry. I hear a lot of professionals in our industry making comments about how they feel like they have to do something a certain way because that’s just the way it’s done or has always been done. It turns out that this thing they think they should be doing is actually not working for them at all. If that’s the case, I say “Stop it.” If you spend time and energy on something you’re really not excited about, it’s going to show. Instead, do something different. Do something that will drive you closer to your goals, even if it means that you’ll stand out from the rest of those in your profession. In fact, I would say standing out is a good thing, especially if you feel like the market for your specialization and/or language pair is oversaturated.

2. Make your industry and your work attractive to your clients, especially if it’s a topic that requires Nine Ways to Stand Out in the client education. You might think, “But I’m a translator. My work isn’t ‘attractive.’” I really beg to differ. What Translation and Interpreting Industry we do in our industry is exciting, and it’s different every day. How By looking at other industries and what they do differently, I quickly found many people can say that about their some trends and items I could implement in my own small agency that would work? Think about it. You go to a networking event, or even a random shake things up a bit. I saw results almost immediately. social gathering, and somebody asks you what you do for a living. When ne of the things I really dedicated perspective in order for smaller guys like you tell them, “I’m a patent translator,” time to in 2017 was looking at us to thrive. do their eyes glaze over? If so, it might O what I could learn from other By looking at other industries and be how you’re portraying what you industries—those totally unrelated to what they do differently, I quickly do. The next time you’re asked what translation and interpreting (T&I). What found some trends and items I could you do for a living, tell people how I found was eye-opening and intriguing. implement in my own small agency you help your clients do business in I had been feeling like I was in a bit of a that would shake things up a bit. I saw other countries, or how you connect rut. I had also been hearing the same tired results almost immediately. people across languages who otherwise complaints from colleagues (no offense!) Whether you’re a freelancer or a would never be able to communicate about how it can be difficult to educate small agency owner, looking to other with one another. Paint a picture. And potential clients, close deals, and grow in industries for inspiration and tips can while you’re working on your elevator an industry where it seems like the large provide you with innovative ways of speech, think about your web corporations are eating up the little guys. doing things in your own business. Here presence, too. I knew there had to be a way to change are nine things I learned and was able Not only is it important to relay what this mindset and look at it from a different to implement simply by looking outside you do verbally in a way that others

8 The ATA Chronicle | March/April 2018 www.atanet.org can grasp and also get excited about, topics, create a separate blog. Don’t mix think beyond the scope of what you but it’s absolutely vital in this day the message you want to send to your think you’re selling. and age to make sure that your web clients with the one that’s meant for I hear a lot of translators and presence is also extremely attractive colleagues already familiar with what interpreters say that they refuse to to potential clients. Use images and you do. work with clients who don’t want to branding that make your clients want adapt to their way of doing business, to get a feel for what you do. Make 5. Create other income streams whether this is paying a certain rate or them understand that your work is besides your primary one. This is having a reasonable deadline. But the professional, but that you’re still very something that a small handful of truth is that in order for this to change, much down to earth and in touch with translators and interpreters I know we as a profession and an industry your clients’ needs. Make them want do very well, but only a handful. Why must help ourselves. By this, I’m not to work with you by giving the best is that? Because the majority of just talking about educating clients impression you can online, as well as translators and interpreters I know are on how to work with professional in person. too busy translating and interpreting. translators and interpreters. That’s This isn’t a criticism of what most a given. 3. Stop wasting time on things that professionals in our industry do. It’s When we actually take the time to don’t move you closer to meeting merely an observation that if more of us look at the reason behind why a client goals or are not fulfilling. put time and effort into creating other needs a text translated or a meeting There’s a lot to do when you own a income streams, the conversation about interpreted, we see the real purpose of business, no matter if you work alone rates and certain types of markets might our jobs. Rather than being an order or with a team. When it comes to very well be a different one. Looking at taker, think of yourself as a part of your reaching your goals, don’t waste time how professionals in other industries clients’ team. We’re not merely a tool on tasks that don’t actually drive you do this can be a real eye-opener. Again, in their toolbox, and our services are closer to them. I alluded to this in take a close look at your skills and shoot not merely another line item on their Number 1 earlier, but I want to expand to do something different than everyone expense sheet. But if we don’t think of a bit more to say that time you spend else in the industry. You just might ourselves as more than these things, on tasks that feel meaningless, or like surprise yourself. tedious busy work, is time you could be then we cannot demand more respect in spending on real work that will take you our profession. closer to reaching your goals. Whether you’re a freelancer We provide services that aid our Make sure that what you’re doing clients to gain access to untapped is fulfilling. Don’t fall into the trap of or a small agency owner, markets, to increase revenue, and going through the motions just for the looking to other industries serve populations that they otherwise sake of it. Really look at all the hats you wouldn’t be able to serve. When we wear in your business. Can any of them for inspiration and tips can recognize this, and when we’re able to relay this to clients so that they be taken off or be worn by someone provide you with innovative else? Make a list and then make a plan recognize this for themselves, this to contract someone to do those tasks, ways of doing things in your is when we hit a sweet spot. And no or get rid of them all together if they machine or automation can replace such are not essential. own business. a vital part of the human team.

4. Blog for your clients, not just for 7. Figure out how to present your your colleagues. Blogging is extremely expertise in a way that will be important in this digital age. Of course, attractive and understandable to there are other mediums that are going 6. Think in terms of strategy and anyone. Don’t just think that telling to really make up a lot of how people not just what you think you have people what you do for a living will be consume content in the future, like to offer. This is perhaps one of the enough. Again, I’m repeating myself video, but don’t underestimate the best pieces of business advice I’ve ever a bit here from Number 2, but bear power of writing and having a regularly received. Think about this carefully. with me. Having a great web presence updated blog.1 Having a blog where you Our clients hire us for translations and a memorable elevator speech are share content regularly is very good for of texts or to interpret for a specific important, but presenting yourself to search engine optimization, and it can appointment or meeting, and that’s the clients is a process that starts at the show clients that you’re an expert at extent of what we do for them, right? point of inquiry and ends at the point what you do. If you do choose to blog Wrong. It’s important to listen of payment. If you think of client for colleagues or about industry-specific to your clients and their needs and interactions as a continuum, it’s easy to

www.atanet.org American Translators Association 9 NINE WAYS TO STAND OUT IN THE TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING INDUSTRY continued see why every interaction with a client is one else seems to be using the same Collaboration of this kind can lead to an opportunity to educate and impress. tools, which means that our clients more awareness in other industries One way I learned to shake things are getting a different experience about the professional work that we do, up a bit in my business was to learn with us than with competitors. I use and it can certainly help shake things how professionals in other industries the word “competitors” loosely here. up for the better in our own industry. do this. I keep a “swipe file” of I believe in working from a mindset businesses and brands that are very of abundance, not scarcity. There truly successful when it comes to leaving a is enough work to go around, but BRING YOUR OWN VALUE TO lasting positive impression. To even how we approach our clients and THE TABLE make it into the “swipe file,” these how we present ourselves to them Finally, remember one thing. You brands have to impress me from start during every step of the process can don’t have to do what everyone else to finish. From the time I click on their be the differentiating factor that is doing in our industry. In fact, I dare social media post or website to the convinces them to sign on the say that you shouldn’t. As we’re all time I check out and receive my dotted line. While you can and unique and bring our own value to product or service, if I’m impressed should stand apart with your skills the table, it’s time to embrace what with what they’re doing, they’ve won and abilities, how you present these me as a long-term/repeat customer. can differentiate us and use these It’s that simple. factors to benefit our businesses. If you We’ve implemented this in my If you think of client interactions notice something that’s not working, business by adopting a customer as a continuum, it’s easy to look elsewhere for inspiration. If relationship management tool that’s everyone else is doing something actually meant for design/creative see why every interaction with one way, be the “change-maker,” the industries. We tweaked it a bit to a client is an opportunity to “outside-the-box thinker.” Other make it work for us, and I feel fairly industries can teach us how to grow confident that no one else is doing educate and impress. and pivot, because while everyone else the same in T&I, at least not the way is worrying about the future of this we do it. We’re able to stand apart from or that, we can be looking at trends our competitors. Whenever a client or movements happening in other reaches out to us for a quote or requests industries and adopt them to freshen a bid, I know without a doubt that things is key in building trust with things up in our own. we’ll stand apart and appeal to them clients. Consider how you do this visually while also educating them. with your processes and the programs NOTES you use to do business with clients. 1 Zampaulo, Madalena Sánchez. “Why Your 8. Be open to learning new Translation Business Needs a Blog: A Free 9. Increase your visibility and refine things with new-to-you programs Planning Guide,” http://bit.ly/madalena- your strategy by building a team and software that could take zampaulo-blog. your business to the next level and surrounding yourself with and differentiate you from the people in other industries from competition. To piggyback on whom you can learn (and who Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo, Number 7, this is perhaps one of the can learn from you). In addition to an ATA director, is the chief biggest differentiators we’ve adopted in doing the research and tweaking the executive officer of Accessible my small business in the past year. By way you present yourself to clients Translation Solutions, which looking to other industries to see how from the point of inquiry to final she founded in 2010. She they handle the challenges we similarly payment, surround yourself with a joined ATA’s Public Relations face, we were able to adopt some of the small team of colleagues you can Committee in 2012 before becoming its chair in same programs and software they use consult on a regular basis. Try to tap 2014. She has also served as administrator for to fit what we do to manage projects into the minds of professionals from ATA’s Medical Division (2011–2015). She has a and workflows. various industries who can teach you BA in Spanish from the University of Southern I’ve yet to find a proper project new ways of doing things that you Mississippi and an MA in Spanish from the management tool in the T&I industry would normally not have considered University of Louisville. She is also a consultant that actually does everything we need before. Think of this team as your own for the University of Louisville Graduate it to do. And believe me, I’ve tried personal mastermind group. Meet Certificate in Translation. You can read many. But when I looked to other once a month if you can, and make more of her articles on her blog at industries, I found a solution that’s sure you’re able to provide value to www.madalenazampaulo.com/blog. Contact: affordable and effective. Again, no the folks in your group as well. [email protected].

10 The ATA Chronicle | March/April 2018 www.atanet.org FEATURE BY MICHAEL CÁRDENAS

one translator over another. The number one reason was quality, and the second reason was tools and technology (e.g., Does the translator use Trados?). I asked the same question nine years later, and the number one reason was subject matter expertise followed by price. It’s interesting to see how this has changed over the years and what’s considered most valuable in the industry.

A SHIFT IN PERSPECTIVE I looked at how our agency was handling our freelance selection practices and relationships. Our resource manager would email candidates asking if they wanted to work with us. We would send them our rates and, if they agreed, we would test them. Once they passed our test, these translators would be incorporated into our workflow system for our project managers to use. The resource manager would test our translators on a regular basis to make sure they were doing a great job. In short, our relationship with our freelancers was transactional, nothing more, nothing less. We knew freelancers Standing Up for the Freelancer were part of our process, but they were out there, somewhere in space, and we Ironically, our industry often suffers from communication-related problems, almost never spoke with them. We kept this model for years until primarily between agencies and freelancers. What would happen if both one of our employees asked, “Why don’t we re-think how we treat parties worked together to achieve a true partnership? translators? Why don’t we make them began my career as a freelance of freelancers crafting awesomeness for key players in our business? Why not translator, moved into a role as a us all. create a position where the job is to champion for the freelancer?” I project manager, and eventually Freelancers work long, lonely hours. became an agency owner. In 2016, Their role is multi-purpose. Freelancers I gave a presentation on looking out have to figure out what the source Agencies should understand that for the good of the freelancer at ATA’s author is trying to say. They also have freelancers are in business to be Annual Conference in San Francisco. to deal with calls from frantic project With 31 years of experience in the managers begging them to take on as profitable as they can. translation industry, I wanted to another job. They are, in short, the emphasize the importance of the pillars of our industry. Because of this, freelancer’s role, speaking from my own shouldn’t we, agencies, take special care personal experience. of them? Shouldn’t we cater to their It was a simple idea, but one that As we all know, the translation every need? I don’t think agencies give we had never thought of before. I industry has three key players: 1) the freelancers the appreciation was immediately sold on the concept. client, who purchases translations they deserve. The first thing we did was to rename from the translation company, 2) In 2007, I conducted research and the resource manager position. We the translation company, 3) and the asked translation companies to tell me wanted a title that would summarize freelance translator. There are thousands the two main reasons why they chose two concepts. The first, define

www.atanet.org American Translators Association 11 STANDING UP FOR THE FREELANCER continued

thinking: this talent liaison is more like Superman or Superwoman. You’re right.

UPDATING OLD WORKFLOWS Project managers prefer the first freelancer they contact to take the assignment, and they know those freelancers who are unfamiliar with the word “no.” We decided to look at our database of freelancers, which hadn’t been cleaned up in years. We had over 3,000 freelancers, and 200 of them were used on 90% of our projects. Only 151 had updated files, and the categories we used for subject matter experience were too broad. Because of this, we cleaned up our database and forced project managers to use new freelancers. This was not an easy task. We found that project managers are often too busy to want to try new freelancers. Instead, they prefer to go with what they know. But they were given quotas to meet and asked who freelancers really are: they’re the searched high and low and couldn’t to make sure a seasoned editor was on talent in translation. Second, we find such a language combination. the project to minimize potential risks. wanted a word or phrase to describe Finally, we found a priest in San Diego, Within the first month of cleaning up the go-between freelancers and our in- California, who spoke both Spanish our database, we were able to add more house team. We created a new and Nahuatl. We then secured an than 84 new freelancers to our projects. name for this very important position: interpreter for Spanish and English. talent liaison. Yes, you’re ahead of me, we used The interaction between a two interpreters and the project MAKING THE CHANGE was a success. freelancer and an agency is We then looked for the person in How did we achieve this? Our talent our company who would be best liaison looked for innovative ways to a relationship. And just like suited for this new position. Although solve our problem. She was an out-of- any relationship, it takes time, our previous resource manager was the-box thinker. One can have great awesome in many areas, she was not ideas, but if you don’t have the ability to understanding, patience, an out-of-the-box thinker. The person carry them out with the proper authority, and hard work. who would fill our talent liaison your ideas will stay shelved. Our talent position needed to have excellent liaison was given total authority on communication skills, since it would all translator-related issues, which she require communicating with freelancers, needed to make things happen. mostly in English. Although our Another eye-opening experience She also needed experience in conflict standard practice when looking for a was the realization that we treat translator is to consult ATA’s online resolution. Business relationships are freelancers as employees. I’m not directories, some language requirements never perfect and, yes, sometimes referring to the legal definition of require the use of alternative search agencies and freelancers don’t view employees, but the fact that we count methods instead of a public database. things the same way. To make things on freelancers to handle tasks that are Let me share this example. Years ago, worse, many of us allow our emotions not related to their job as a translator we were asked to provide interpreting to dictate how we communicate. For (i.e., “Can you just perform a light services for an injured worker who this reason, the talent liaison must formatting task on this project?” “Can spoke Nahuatl. He was to be seen by negotiate challenging problems so you work out terminology differences a doctor who spoke only English. We everyone is happy. I know what you’re with the editor?”).

12 The ATA Chronicle | March/April 2018 www.atanet.org We, as agencies, need to at least step in immediately and resolve all communication, collaboration, and thank and, even better, compensate accounting-related issues. productivity. But it also helped us translators for such efforts. This brings There was also a list of issues we strengthen our relationships with our me to the word “loyalty.” Agencies should had with freelancers that was not freelance team and provide better understand that freelancers are in business being addressed. For instance, many solutions going forward. to be as profitable as they can. They have freelancers working in some countries many clients asking them to take on a can receive payment using traditional job, so it’s normal for them to accept the payment methods (i.e., wire transfers, Michael Cárdenas is the project that earns them the most profit. PayPal, etc.), but others are limited in president and founder of Local The interaction between a freelancer terms of how they can receive payment. Concept, an international corporation that has been and an agency is a relationship. And We would either need to stop working doing business in the language just like any relationship, it takes with freelancers who wouldn’t accept industry for over 31 years. time, understanding, patience, and our payment options, or be flexible and He works closely with international advertising hard work. Maintaining a strong pay through other means. We chose to agencies and corporations in the production relationship with freelancers will make do the later. a world of difference to an agency’s of multilingual advertising and marketing day-to-day operations. campaigns. He was introduced to the translation BETTER RELATIONSHIPS, industry as a freelance translator, which inspired BETTER RESULTS him to start his own company. He is a frequent BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS FROM When our agency started to evolve speaker at international conferences, government THE BEGINNING our company’s operations and stand agencies, and universities. He has a juris doctorate Our agency also changed the way we up for one of the cornerstone roles from the California Western School of Law. originally made contact with freelancers. in our industry, it helped improve Contact: [email protected]. Before, we would ask them if they wanted to work with us. If they did, we would tell them what we were willing to pay and ask that they take a test. This type of introduction was cold. Would you ever want to do business with or date someone whose introduction was so limited? I always compare business to personal transactions. Think about it—freelancers have a choice. Why not differentiate ourselves from the start? We now include information about who we are and why we look forward to working with the candidate. It’s been a year since we started this initiative and now our freelancers feel part of the team. They’re important, and we listen. We also improved on business practices while we created this new talent liaison position. When there was an issue with a project, we found that freelancers wouldn’t be open to too much negotiation since both the freelancers and the project manager were personally involved with the problem. Bringing in a third party helped diffuse the issues. Finally, we were able to improve the lag time between when a query would come in concerning an invoice and the response time from our accounting department, who receives hundreds of emails a day. The talent liaison would

www.atanet.org American Translators Association 13 FEATURE BY JUDY JENNER

in 1940, to Brazil by way of New York. Finding only growing loneliness and disillusionment in their new surroundings, he and his second wife committed suicide in 1942. Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe focuses on the author’s years in exile, his inner struggle for the “right attitude” toward the events in war-torn Europe, and

This was exactly the kind of high-pressure situation that interpreters are trained to handle, nerves and all.

his search for a new home. The film was Austria’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 89th Academy Awards in 2017, but was not nominated.2 During the film, Zweig is interviewed by the international press at the height of his career and fame. The questions are posed in Spanish, English, and French, and Zweig answers in his native The Interpreter on the Big Screen German. That’s where the interpreters come in, who play a relatively large What’s it like to play an interpreter on the big screen? Alexandra Reuer role in the film. Alex is even featured got a chance to do just that! in the trailer. Alex, a native of Germany, is few months ago I had the had read about Alex’s role in the ITI a German, Spanish, and English pleasure of traveling to Bulletin, the publication of the Institute interpreter and translator specializing Austria, in part to attend the of Translation and Interpreting, before in law, human rights, environmental A and social justice issues, and policies festivities organized for International and wanted to meet her to talk about Translation Day by the UNIVERSITAS the film.1 of the European Union. She has lived Austria Interpreters’ and Translators’ In case you’re unfamiliar with the and worked in England for the better Association. In addition to an film, here’s a bit about the story.Stefan part of a decade. I was fortunate enough architectural walking tour of the city, a Zweig: Farewell to Europe (German to be able to chat with Alex after the one-day conference, fantastic reception, title: Vor der Morgenröte) is a 2016 screening over a few glasses of sparkling and other events, the association internationally co-produced drama wine. We bonded over our fondness for had also planned a screening of directed by Maria Schrader about the Vienna, gender-inclusive language, the Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe, a acclaimed Austrian author Stefan Zweig. professionalization of our industry, and, film featuring one of our interpreter Born in Vienna in 1881, Zweig achieved of course, the film. colleagues playing an actual interpreter. distinction in several genres—poetry, You looked fantastic in the movie! I’m As a special surprise, UNIVERSITAS essays, short stories, and dramas— was going to fly in that interpreter (and most notably for his interpretations of so pleased to see that the director cast now actress), the wonderful Alexandra imaginary and historical characters. In actual interpreters for the interpreter Reuer, from Bristol, England, for the 1934, driven into exile by the Nazis, roles instead of going with the more screening as their guest of honor. I he emigrated to England and then, obvious choice: actors. Can you tell us

14 The ATA Chronicle | March/April 2018 www.atanet.org situation that interpreters are trained to handle, nerves and all (and it probably showed). Plus, it obviously helps that, as an actual interpreter, you would know how to sit, how loudly or softly to whisper, and where to direct your gaze to make it look natural. To an outsider, these actions probably don’t sound very hard to do, but the fact that they clearly aren’t easily imitated is a tribute to the complex nature of our profession.

Your scene lasts seven minutes and is set in Buenos Aires, Argentina. How Left: Judy Jenner and Alex Reuer in Vienna, long did filming it take and where was October 2017. it filmed? Those seven minutes took a full day. The scene was shot in an impressive more about why that happened? Also, Alex sported a 1930s look for her part. what was the auditioning process like? wood-paneled room in the Palais am Festungsgraben in Berlin. On the day Thank you! I’m so in awe of these of shooting, everyone got there really make-up artists, they did such an skirt! We were also invited to stay for early in the morning to get made up, amazing job. And yes, all three drinks and nibbles afterward, which and then it was pretty much all hands interpreter roles were filled by real-life is by no means the worst way to end a on deck until evening. Because the interpreters rather than actors. They working day. entire day was dedicated to shooting held a full day of casting to fill the just the one scene, in which we roles and invited both actual You appear in a key scene, during which interpreters played a very prominent interpreters and actors to audition, the legendary Austrian actor Josef Hader, role, there wasn’t very much downtime. though we only found this out who plays Stefan Zweig, is interviewed The same scene was shot repeatedly afterward. When I was there for my from various angles and with different by several journalists from different half-hour slot, I was in a group with lighting arrangements, and at some countries, including one from The New maybe five other translators and point the production team even made Yorker. You sit next to this American interpreters. We were asked to sit journalist and whisper simultaneously down and take turns doing some whispered interpreting of excerpts So, all in all it was a rather into English. When the journalist asks from the script that were read out to exhausting day, but also probably Zweig a question in English, Zweig doesn’t us. We were also filmed doing this. wait for you to interpret, which suggests Later, after having been selected for one of the most glamorous that he understood the English question. the part of the English interpreter, assignments I’ll ever do. He then answers in German. Zweig the director told me and the does the same with a question from the two colleagues playing the other French journalist, but he does allow the interpreting parts that it had just been too obvious that the actors interpretation of a question posed to him who auditioned for the interpreting separate audio recordings of all our in Spanish. Do you happen to know what roles were only pretending. interpreting parts, just in case any of the rationale was behind that? To me and anyone else in our our whispered interpretations needed That’s a good question. What the profession, this intuitively makes amplifying for the film. So, all in all it producers and director clearly wanted sense. Though we were told at the was a rather exhausting day, but also to convey was Zweig’s grasp of several casting session that we were free to probably one of the most glamorous languages. Though why he would whisper pretty much whatever we assignments I’ll ever do. I could get understand French and English, but liked if we had trouble keeping pace used to having personal assistants not Spanish, is not entirely clear to with what was being read out, this rush over during breaks to powder my me. But then I’m no expert on Stefan was exactly the kind of high-pressure nose, fix my hair, and straighten my Zweig! If I remember correctly, there

www.atanet.org American Translators Association 15 THE INTERPRETER ON THE BIG SCREEN continued

Alex (far right) appears here doing whispered interpreting in a scene where Stefan Zweig is interviewed by international journalists. (Image courtesy of X Filme.) are other scenes in the movie where Contrary to what I would normally do, I answers in whispered tones to the Zweig does understand and speak translated my part beforehand, realizing journalists was seen by the director as Spanish, but those might be set later that the entire thing was about to be an important contribution to the overall on, when he’s lived in South America recorded for the big screen. feel of the scene. My two interpreting for a longer period. Going back to colleagues and I were prompted to our scene, perhaps they wanted to whisper audibly, where normally you show Zweig becoming progressively It was clear that the production would try and keep noise levels to a more impatient with the interviewers’ team had already put a lot of minimum. Another interesting aspect questions, which is why he might was that because we spent all day tolerate the interpretation of the thought into it, but weren’t shooting the same scene repeatedly, Spanish question (which is the first I could keep rephrasing my output in one), but then grows impatient and is shying away from additional a bid to keep polishing and refining eager to get the interview over with as input to make the interpreting it—a chance we seldom, if ever, get quickly as possible. But I really don’t in interpreting. know, so we would have to ask scene as authentic as possible. As to whether it was easier or the director. harder than a normal interpreting assignment, that’s difficult to say. Obviously it’s a movie and not a real It was easier in the sense that there interpreting situation, but how would you In the scene, Stefan Zweig is being were no surprises in the content I was compare your experience to an actual interviewed by a group of journalists interpreting. But what made it difficult assignment? Was it easier or harder? at the PEN Congress in Buenos Aires was the unfamiliar situation of having You probably had the script beforehand, in 1936. The tension in the room is to “look the part” for the camera. And right? One can usually only dream of palpable as the journalists try to elicit because there weren’t many breaks in such a thing. a political statement regarding the the day, I possibly talked more that day Yes, we did get the script way in Nazi regime from Zweig that he than during any other job I’ve had. To advance, which, as you say, is a bit of politely but firmly refuses to make. sum it up, despite being very familiar an ideal scenario compared to real life. Having the interpreters relay Zweig’s with the dialogue thanks to all the

16 The ATA Chronicle | March/April 2018 www.atanet.org preparation and repetition, the day I think that being an interpreter still felt just as exhausting as any other “proper” interpreting assignment. does partly come with some of

Since the film was set in the 1930s, I the same qualities that actors noticed there was a lot of smoking going must possess. on in the room where your scene takes place. Was that tough on your voice? Ah, yes, I forgot to mention the a little surprised!) by how nice, smoking! In keeping with the smoking- down-to-earth, fun, and approachable room feel of the scene, all the men everyone was on the set, including were encouraged to smoke. Fortunately, the director herself. While I don’t none of the actors smoked in real life fancy myself as a particularly talented and therefore weren’t particularly actress (I never really went beyond keen on the idea, which meant that a smoke machine had to be employed. amateur dramatics), I think that being So, while this was certainly more an interpreter does partly come with pleasant than actual cigarette or cigar some of the same qualities that actors fumes, I still left the set with a bit must possess: sounding and looking of a sore throat that day. Fortunately, confident under pressure, being able I was working mainly as a translator to improvise, and, most of all, rendering at the time and didn’t have to launch someone else’s words as convincingly straight into another interpreting as if they were their own. So yeah, if assignment afterward! an agent were to beat down my door, I would definitely consider working on As interpreters, we sometimes struggle to a film again. make our voices heard and to get what we need to guarantee a good performance, NOTES be it decent audio, a comfortable chair, 1 Reuer, Alexandra. “Linguists, Camera, or trying to prevent people from talking Action,” ITI Bulletin (Institute of Translation and Interpreting, November– over each other. In your fictional December 2016), 6. interpreting situation, did you get the 2 Lodge, Guy, “Film Review: Stefan Zweig: impression that the client was open to Farewell to Europe,” Variety (October 29, your needs and suggestions? 2016), http://bit.ly/Variety-Zweig. Very much so. From the start, the director was really keen to involve us on things like notepads (yes or no?), Judy Jenner is a Spanish and seating arrangements (they changed German business and legal them according to our suggestions), translator and a federally and and even on what the interpreters state-certified (California, should be doing at the start of the Nevada) Spanish court scene, when we are seen standing in interpreter. She has an MBA the background. It was clear that the in marketing and runs her boutique translation production team had already put a lot of and interpreting business, Twin Translations, thought into it, but weren’t shying away with her twin sister Dagmar. She was born in from additional input to make Austria and grew up in Mexico City. A former in- the interpreting scene as authentic house translation department manager, she is as possible. a past president of the Nevada Interpreters and Translators Association. She writes the Finally, would you play an interpreter in blog Translation Times and is a frequent the movies again? conference speaker. She is the co-author of It was a really exciting experience The Entrepreneurial Linguist: The Business- and one for which I’m truly grateful. School Approach to Freelance Translation. I was also impressed (and admittedly Contact: [email protected].

www.atanet.org American Translators Association 17 FEATURE BY UWE MUEGGE

number of times your article was shared in the initial statistics view.

GOING BEYOND THE BASIC STATISTICS As in the desktop version, the LinkedIn Mobile App provides authors who are interested in more detailed information about their readership with just that: geolocation and demographics information for each article! Getting to the more detailed article analytics in the app is also simple. 1. For more information on who liked and commented on your article, tab the “Likes” and “Comments” icons in the left corner of the analytics bar. (See Figure 1 on page 19.) When you tab the “Comment” icon (top right), you can see who commented on your article and like and respond to the comments your contacts left. You can also tab the photo of these contacts and send them a thank-you message from within the app. 2. For more information on the demographics and geolocation of your readers, tab the “Clicks” icon in Unearthing Article Statistics in the the right corner of the analytics bar. Now you have access to four pages LinkedIn Mobile App that provide the following readership information for the selected article: LinkedIn has made it much easier for authors who use the LinkedIn ■■ The top four organizations that viewed publishing platform to view readership statistics in the LinkedIn Mobile App. your article ■■ The top four job titles readers of the ’m someone who publishes regularly posts have been available in the app for on LinkedIn and who uses the some time, but now it’s easier than ever article carried I LinkedIn Mobile App more than for authors to access this information. ■■ The top four cities/regions where your the desktop version of LinkedIn. One After all, understanding your readers article was viewed thing that always bothered me about better is key to creating and publishing ■■ The top four sources through which the LinkedIn Mobile App was not being content for maximum impact! the article was found able to see readership statistics directly In fact, you don’t even have to look in my LinkedIn article. Honestly, the for readership statistics for your articles To move from one statistics page initial lack of readily available analytics in the mobile app. Every time you open to another, simply swipe left or right. functionality annoyed me almost as one of your long-form articles, the app (See Figure 2 on page 19.) much as the inability of the app to automatically displays an analytics bar support publishing long-form articles. at the bottom of the screen with the ANALYTICS DATA IS AVAILABLE FOR Well, at least the analytics issue has number of likes, comments, and clicks been resolved! your article received. It can’t get any ARTICLES AND POSTS Now LinkedIn makes it much easier easier than that. So, the only major If you’re reading this article, chances are for authors who use the LinkedIn difference between the initial statistics you’re just starting out on the LinkedIn publishing platform to view readership view in the mobile app and the desktop publishing platform. It’s important to statistics in the LinkedIn Mobile App. version of LinkedIn is that in the understand the major differences between Yes, analytics data on your long-form desktop version, you can also see the articles and posts:

18 The ATA Chronicle | March/April 2018 www.atanet.org ■■ Articles: No character limit, basic LinkedIn now makes accessing Figure 3 on page 20.) If you want to dig character and paragraph formatting. analytics data for posts just as easy as for deeper into your post analytics, you can use the same procedure for accessing ■■ Posts articles. You can find the number of likes, : 1,300 character limit, no text more detailed information as for article formatting other than (automatic) comments, and views your post received statistics: simply tab the respective highlighting of links and contacts. at the bottom of each of your posts. (See section in the analytics bar.

The LinkedIn Mobile App automatically displays an analytics bar at the bottom of the screen with the number of likes, comments, and clicks your article received.

Figure 1: Basic analytics information is now displayed at the bottom of the screen when Figure 2: One of the four pages with more you open one of your articles in the app. detailed demographics data for an article. www.atanet.org American Translators Association 19 2018 Honors and UNEARTHING ARTICLE STATISTICS IN THE LINKEDIN MOBILE APP continued Awards Now Open! ATA and the American Foundation for Translation and Interpretation (AFTI) present annual and biennial awards to encourage, reward, and publicize outstanding work done by both seasoned professionals and students. Awards and scholarships for 2018 include:

■ The Alexander Gode Medal, ATA’s most prestigious award, is presented to an individual or institution for outstanding service to the translating and interpreting professions. This award may be given annually. Nominations are solicited from past recipients of the Gode Medal and the membership at large. ■ The Alicia Gordon Award for Word Artistry in Translation is given for a translation (from French or Spanish into English, or from English into French or Spanish) in any subject that demonstrates the highest level of creativity in solving a particularly knotty translation problem. Open to ATA members in good standing. Figure 4: An example of demographics data for ■ The S. Edmund Berger Prize is offered by a LinkedIn post. Figure 3: For posts, the same basic analytics AFTI to recognize excellence in scientific and information is available as for articles. technical translation by an ATA member. The award may be given annually. ■ The Harvie Jordan Scholarship is awarded to an ATA Spanish Language Division member The only difference between the more detailed readership information in good standing to promote, encourage, analytics data LinkedIn makes available is still somewhat buried, it’s there for and support leadership and professional for articles and posts is that for articles writers on the go who want to better development within the division. The you get to see how your article was understand their audience without scholarship may be given annually. found (e.g., LinkedIn Pulse, Google having to use an external service. search, etc). ■ The Student Translation Award is presented Good job, LinkedIn! Oh, and one more to any graduate or undergraduate student, thing. Can you please enable writing or group of students, for a literary or sci-tech Understanding your readers articles in the mobile app? Please translation or translation-related project. The LinkedIn, please! award may be given annually. better is key to creating and For complete entry information and deadlines, visit publishing content for Uwe Muegge is the global www.atanet.org/membership/honorsandawards.php. language manager at Arthrex. maximum impact. He has more than 15 years of experience in translation and localization, having Advertisement worked in leadership functions Bilingual English/Chinese Proofreader wanted on both the vendor and buyer sides of the F/T in College Point, NY. Must be fluent in AUTOMATIC ACCESS TO ANALYTICS industry. He has published numerous articles Chinese (reading & writing) & possess at min. FOR WRITERS ON THE GO on translation tools and processes and taught a Bachelor’s deg in English, Teaching English Readership analytics have been computer-assisted translation and terminology to Speakers of Other Langs. or rltd & 3 mths available in the LinkedIn Mobile App management courses at the college level in exp as English/Chinese Proofreader or similar for some time, but now an analytics both the U.S. and Europe. You can find him proofreading bilingual (Chinese & English) bar gives writers easy access to basic on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/uwemuegge) docs. Send resume: S. Rueda, Multilingual analytics data every time they open and Twitter (twitter.com/uwemuegge). one of their articles in the app. While Contact: [email protected]. Group, Inc., 18-44 College Point Blvd, College Point, NY 11356

www.atanet.org BUSINESS PRACTICES BY STEVE LANK Couples Counseling: Reimagining the Freelancer– Company Relationship (The following originally appeared as a two-part the chemistry isn’t right and that’s okay. It’s post in May 2017 on the Interpreters Division not about proving the other party wrong blog, www.ata-divisions.org/ID/blog.) or justifying yourself. It’s about finding the ’m not sure that I’m technically right fit and understanding what kind of qualified to offer relationship advice to relationship will or will not work for you. I freelancers and language companies. Communication is king. Just like in However, throughout my career I’ve had personal relationships, good communication the opportunity to participate in and/ is paramount. Ironically, one of the biggest or observe hundreds if not thousands problems in the freelancer-company of these relationships and develop a relationship is communication. I say very strong opinion on the topic, if not ironic because our jobs are to facilitate expertise, so I’ll just run with that. communication across languages, yet we For me, this is a topic of supreme don’t seem to be able to communicate importance to our industry and one we effectively amongst ourselves. Part of this should not take for granted. While I us better people. Since not everyone on the planet shares all of this with each of may be because many of us do so much understand that processes and technology of our work remotely and don’t always are important, the freelancer-company us, or we with them, not all relationships necessarily work out, which explains why have the chance to speak face-to-face, or relationship is at the core of everything speak at all for that matter, because of time we do, so it really deserves our focused we don’t all have 7.5 billion friends! So, why shouldn’t we approach our business zone issues. Maybe it’s because we’re all in attention. Like all human relationships, it the same industry and make assumptions requires understanding, communication, relationships in the same way? If we did, I think we would find that, as in love, there when communicating with each other and cooperation, yet there is an inherent that we wouldn’t otherwise make when tension in this relationship that I don’t is someone for everyone. At ATA’s 57th Annual Conference, my communicating with people outside the quite understand. I find it very frustrating industry. It could also be because, due to that as an industry we can’t seem to get colleague Robert Sette and I presented on this topic and had such positive feedback the nature of what we do, we aren’t always this key relationship right. communicating in our native language and There seems to be an assumption that that we did a follow-up at ATA58. That said, I think some of the concepts bear things can get lost in translation (again, we should all be able to work together ironic). Or it might be a combination of all and that working with one freelancer or repeating here, so here are some ideas (in three or something else altogether. But this company should be the same as working no particular order). only means that we must strive that much with any other freelancer or company. So, Know thyself. To have success in any harder to communicate clearly and make when we have an experience that proves relationship, you first need to know sure that we’re understood and that that assumption false, rather than looking yourself, what you need, and what you can we understand. at that as the exception, we treat it as the offer. So, before approaching a potential We also need to be sure to identify our rule—looking at all potential relationships business partner, make sure you give that counterpart’s preferred method, style, and through this filter, expecting the worst, serious thought and come up with a list frequency of communication, as it may be and feeling justified when we’re proven of must-haves, nice-to-haves, can-live- different from our own and we’ll have to right and feeling like we dodged a bullet withouts, and deal-breakers (we all have adapt. Acknowledging and honoring your when we have a positive experience. them). Most importantly, know your value counterpart’s communication preferences, Well, I think it’s pretty clear that if we and be able to articulate it. Then stick to whether they match yours or not, will as a species approached our personal your guns. Be honest with yourself. If you help to ensure communication success. relationships this way there wouldn’t be can’t bear a certain behavior, don’t try to many of us around! We’re pretty picky convince yourself you’ll be able to put up Check your baggage at the door. Don’t (and rightly so) when it comes to choosing with it. Likewise, if there is a need you can’t bring old baggage into a new relationship. our friends and partners. We seek out honestly meet without a major overhaul of Just because you had a bad experience in people with whom we have chemistry, your processes, work style, or personality, a previous relationship doesn’t mean you’ll who share our values, are like-minded, don’t pretend you can. You can’t change the have a bad experience in the new one, enjoy the same things, share our view of other party and they won’t change for you. unless you hamper it with tired assumptions the world, and who, hopefully, help make You can only control yourself. Sometimes and stereotypes. Make this your mantra: all

“Business Practices” will alternate in this space with “The Entrepreneurial Linguist.” This column is not intended to constitute legal, financial, or other business advice. Each individual or company should make its own independent business decisions and consult its own legal, financial, or other advisors as appropriate. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of ATA or its Board of Directors.

www.atanet.org American Translators Association 21 BUSINESS PRACTICES continued companies are not users and exploiters, and The freelancer-company professionalism, respect attracts respect, and all freelancers are not prima donnas! trust attracts trust. Our relationships reflect relationship is at the core of Assume the best. When seeking new who we are, and how we treat each other relationships, being open and assuming everything we do, so it really helps define us and our professional identity. good intentions will serve you much We owe it to ourselves and the profession to better than being distrustful and assuming deserves our focused attention. present a united front. the worst (see above). Besides, with Don’t get too comfortable and fall that attitude, why would you be out back on old habits. Pay attention to the looking in the first place? While there are (not unlike online dating sites), and it relationship. If you’re coasting, you’re unprofessional companies and individuals can be tempting to advertise everywhere probably actually backsliding. Go back to out there, the vast majority aren’t looking to make sure you don’t miss anything. the top and start again. Repeat. to take advantage or exploit. They are But this can backfire, as you may end up focused on doing the same thing as you: attracting attention you don’t want. Be WORKING TOWARD A ensuring that their clients get the quality intentional and discerning about those TRUE PARTNERSHIP product they both need and deserve. We you approach and how you do it to give So, have I gotten inside your head? Are can better serve this purpose by truly yourself the best chance of success. you already thinking of things you can do cooperating rather than bickering. Plus Be prepared to compromise. To paraphrase to make sure your current relationships (and this is surely my California days the Rolling Stones: you can’t always get are healthy and on track and how you coming out in me), I truly believe that you what you want, but if you work at it you might change your approach to potential attract the energy you put out in the world. can often get what you need. And what we new partners? I hope so. My fondest So, work on your positivity. think we want isn’t always what we actually wish for the industry is to see companies Listen more and talk less. We’ve all heard need, anyway. Just as in the best personal and freelancers working together in true the equivalent of the parental admonition, relationships, each party here often has partnership, recognizing and honoring the “You have two ears and one mouth, so use to give up a little something to help the value of what the other brings to the table, them in that proportion.” Well, that applies relationship succeed and thrive, allowing while serving the needs of their common as much to business as it does to personal both parties to be happy and function at their clients. This doesn’t seem like too lofty a relationships. For the relationship to work, best. This is not to say you should cave on goal to me, but we really have to want it. everyone needs to do his or her part, but your principles—far from it. It just means It’s naïve (and not even necessarily it will help you infinitely to really try to you must be willing to acknowledge that desirable) to think that all companies and learn and understand your counterpart’s the needs of your counterpart are just as freelancers will be able to work with each needs, likes/dislikes, pet peeves, preferred important as your own and that you’ll need other successfully, but there are matches communication style and method, among to look for middle ground when the two out there for all of us. We just have to work other things. And if you discover some conflict. It will not always be possible (not all to find them. We’re all responsible for our common interests, that never hurts. relationships will succeed), but you must be own professional happiness and success. Acknowledge your counterpart’s open to it. Success here is a win-win as long This is too big a part of our lives to leave to contribution to the relationship. For a as there is balance. chance, so don’t settle for the status quo. relationship to thrive, each party needs Talk to each other, not just your cohort. Don’t let your career just happen to you— to acknowledge that their counterpart Talking to your girlfriends or the guys (or, god take control! contributes something valuable to the forbid, posting online) about your significant relationship. While separately they may other is more about venting than problem Steve Lank is the vice president have strong identities and unique qualities, solving, and the same is true on the business of Translation Services for Cesco together they create something that neither side. Venting to your cohort is a search for Linguistic Services. He has worked can offer on his or her own, thus bringing validation and justification, not resolution. in the industry since 1987, having out the best in each other. Without this The only way to solve a relationship problem started as a translator and project acknowledgement and balance, there is is to discuss it with the person who is in manager and subsequently holding no relationship. the relationship with you. It won’t always senior management positions with companies in the work, but if both parties go in with the same U.S., Ireland, and Spain. From 1998 to 2011, he chaired Don’t look for love in all the wrong the ASTM International subcommittee responsible for places. If you don’t like country music, intention there is a better chance than if you air your dirty laundry in public. the ASTM F2575 Standard Guide for Quality Assurance don’t go to a honky-tonk. Likewise, if in Translation, and currently serves as the technical you need someone to translate a complex Treat each other with respect and work to contact for the update. He teaches in the Graduate financial document, don’t look at sites earn trust. Mutual trust and respect are not Studies in Interpreting and Translation program at catering to literary translators, as you’ll just givens; they must be earned. Still, we must go the University of Maryland. He has an MA in Spanish be frustrated. There are now seemingly into our relationships with this as a goal and translation and interpreting from the Middlebury endless online platforms to connect conduct ourselves in a way that is worthy Institute of International Studies at Monterey. language services providers and buyers of trust and respect. Professionalism attracts Contact: [email protected].

22 The ATA Chronicle | March/April 2018 www.atanet.org INTERPRETERS FORUM BY EWANDRO MAGALHÃES NEW ATA-CERTIFIED TRANSLATORS Through the Looking Glass Congratulations! hey are easy to spot. Capricious, to take the reflection for the reality, never The following members have successfully overdemanding interpreters for whom looking at the true source of light. passed ATA’s certification exam: T nothing is ever right: the pay is meager, We all know a few self-important the hours are long, the tasks are boring, and interpreters who cannot be pleased. Yet in the coffee is not fresh enough. Judgmental their hearts they all think of themselves English into Chinese and vocal, they are constantly scanning their as nice people, no matter how unbearably Shaoli Needham surroundings for colleagues or circumstances obnoxious they may seem to us. Honolulu, HI to blame for their misery. So, if too many arrogant divas are popping English into Spanish While some are excellent at what they do, up in your booth, perhaps it’s about time you Isabel E. Aguirre most grossly overestimate their own abilities. take a long, good look at the image reflected New York, NY These chronic attention-seekers make poor back at you on that glass. Here are a few subtle booth mates because of their propensity to points to ponder as you talk to yourself: Emilio Garcia-Diaz compete rather than collaborate. Despite ■■ Who do you blame when circumstances Jiutepec, Mexico don’t conform to your expectations? telling evidence, they hardly ever acknowledge Guadalupe Martin ■■ Do the words “always” and “never” a mistake. It will always be your fault, or mine, Buenos Aires, Argentina and they will be sure to rub it in. pop up in your head or slip off your tongue often? Carola Lehmacher-Richez These colleagues respond to life’s many ■■ Does your performance determine how you Peachtree City, GA blessings with a feeling of entitlement rather feel about yourself? than gratitude, and no matter how generous Diana Szilard ■■ Are you in a silent competition with your their lot, it’s never enough. Life owes them a Houston, TX booth mate? buck, and so do you. The answers to the first two questions French into English Such attitude—exaggerated here for the will tell you how personal, permanent, Benedetto H. Cataldi sake of argument—is usually rooted in and pervasive you perceive the annoying Acquapendente, Italy unconscious insecurity. It’s the machinations circumstances in your life to be. The final Jose O. Fuentes of an ego that feels threatened and two will show you how much of your San Salvador, El Salvador unimportant, doing anything it can to create identity you have wrapped around what you some separation from the ordinary. It stems do, rather than who you are. Meghan McCallum from a broken sense of self that got the The exercise will expose beliefs and Glendale, WI notions of being and doing all twisted. circumstances that may be triggering you off Deep down, we all like to think we’re good your best behavior. It will show areas where German into English and sensible. We root for the good guys in there may be room for improvement. Most Kira L. Bohm movies and are unanimous in condemning importantly, it will make you a better and Mercer Island, WA blatant acts of injustice. No one thinks of more conscientious interpreter that clients Rhoda M. Kriek themselves as cruel, mean-spirited, cold, and colleagues will want to have around. Riverlea, Australia or unappreciative. Oh, we’re not that. Yet Give it a try and you may find yourself Elani Wales a quick look around proves that we all can wondering whatever happened to those Everett, WA exhibit such behavior on occasion if the prima donnas. wrong buttons are pushed. We just don’t Spanish into English bring ourselves to admit it often. Ewandro Magalhães is an Veronica A. Mayer It’s always easier to see and condemn experienced conference interpreter New Haven, CT misconduct in others; hence the constant and interpreter trainer. He has criticism and finger-pointing. It’s a projection a master’s degree in conference whereby the unconscious mind provides interpreting from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies us with a tilted mirror image against which at Monterey. A former senior staff and chief interpreter to vent and direct our anger, all the while in the United Nations system, he is the author of fooling ourselves that the silhouette reflected Sua Majestade, o Intérprete—o fascinante mundo back is not our own. This mechanism is da tradução simultânea. He is the vice president of meant to protect us. communications of KUDO, Inc., a cloud-based platform At the end of the day, other people’s for multilingual conferencing and online collaboration. behavior will always change in response You can read his blog at ewandro.com. to what they get from us. Again, we tend Contact: [email protected].

Interpreters are a vital part of ATA. This column is designed to offer insights and perspectives from professional interpreters.

www.atanet.org American Translators Association 23 OUR WORLD OF WORDS: SPOTLIGHT ON T&I PROFESSIONALS BY TONY BECKWITH Interview with Ronnie Apter and Mark Herman, Translators and Librettists hat if your translation had to be singable to a pre-existing melody W that couldn’t be changed? What if it had to be understood on the fly while being performed? These are the sort of “what if” questions that my guests for this column, Ronnie Apter and Mark Herman, have been facing for years. Ronnie Apter, Professor Emerita of English at Central Michigan University, received her PhD from Fordham University in 1980. Among many other accomplishments, she is the author of two books, Digging for the Treasure: Translation After Pound (1984) and A Bilingual Edition of the Love Songs of Bernart de Ventadorn in Occitan and English: Sugar and Salt (1999). Mark Herman is a literary translator, technical translator, playwright, musician, Ronnie Apter Mark Herman and actor. For over two decades he has written the “Humor and Translation” occasionally in English translation. We poems and Mark was translating technical column in The ATA Chronicle. He has a didn’t receive responses from most of documents for the library at Exxon BS from Columbia University and an them, but we did hear from the Bronx Engineering, where he worked as an MS from the University of California, Opera, a small company in New York environmental engineer. And so we dove Berkeley, both in chemical engineering. now celebrating its 50th anniversary. into the Abduction translation. In 1979, the two were commissioned They were looking for a new English You’ve said that opera translation requires by the Bronx Opera to translate Mozart’s version of Mozart’s The Abduction from The Abduction from the Seraglio into the Seraglio and decided to take a chance both musical and linguistic training. Tell us English for performances in New York. on us, knowing that if we didn’t deliver, about your musical training at that point, The production and their translation or they didn’t like our translation, they and since then. were reviewed favorably in The New York could still use an existing one. However, As children, both of us had instrument Times. Since then, Mark and Ronnie they were hoping that we would come up lessons—Ronnie on piano and Mark on have translated 23 additional operas, with a translation they preferred to the saxophone and clarinet. As adults, we operettas, choral works, and songs, existing versions. both had professional vocal training and, many of which have been performed in as mentioned, both of us were singing in How did you handle what I assume was a the U.S., U.K., and Canada. They have choruses. Also, Mark had taken courses in also collaborated on many translations relatively new challenge for both of you? music theory. We test our translations for of poetry and children’s books and Had you already translated much poetry at singability by actually singing them before co-authored Translating for Singing: the that stage? Any songs? we submit them anywhere. Theory, Art and Craft of Translating Lyrics As mentioned, we had translated Orff’s (Bloomsbury, 2016). Carmina Burana, a substantial work. You’ve translated works originally written in We found that matching words to sung Latin, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Thank you both for joining us today. To begin, phrases came naturally to us. Also, we Czech. Are you fluent in all of them? please tell us a little about the circumstances had both written metered, rhymed poetry, Unfortunately, we’re not truly fluent in of that first commission in 1979. some of it published. Mark had written a any of them. We proceed with the help of We had done a singable translation of couple of librettos, and some music, for dictionaries and, when necessary, native the lyrics to Carl Orff’s 1936 choral musicals and Ronnie had written several speakers of the source languages. In cantata Carmina Burana (ironically, for plays. Both of us had also sung in high- school, Ronnie studied Latin and French, copyright reasons, the translation can’t quality amateur choruses for years. As and Mark Spanish, German, and Russian. be sung publicly) and sent it to various for translations, in addition to Carmina In graduate school, Ronnie studied Old opera companies that performed at least Burana, Ronnie had translated several Occitan (also called Old Provençal,

24 The ATA Chronicle | March/April 2018 www.atanet.org Was there one performance that was especially memorable? If possible, we attend both rehearsals and performances. However, distant locations often make it impossible for us to attend either. Most memorable for us, because they were our first, were the Bronx Opera performances of The Abduction from the Seraglio. We attended the opening night on Friday and the second performance on Saturday. The audiences were enthusiastic. After the Saturday night performance, we went with friends to Greenwich Village, ate a late supper, and then bought an early morning edition of the Sunday New York Times. In it was a favorable review of both the Friday performance and our From left: Tenor Brett Sprague as Pedrillo, soprano Sarah Hayashi as Blondchen, tenor Stephen translation: “Highly singable.” We were Steffens as Belmonte, and soprano Halley Gilbert as Konstanze, in a scene from Act II of the Bronx soaring pretty high ourselves. Opera’s recent revival production of Mark Herman and Ronnie Apter’s English translation of Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio. (Photo used by permission of Hannah Spierman, social media director What can you tell us about how critics react of the Bronx Opera.) to foreign opera sung in English? Reactions vary widely. Some critics hate which is closely related to contemporary Diego. For Ricordi, our work is subject the very idea of opera performed in Catalan), and some ancient Greek. to scrutiny by editors, who, initially, were translation. Others blame the translators Between French and Latin, Ronnie was conveniently located at the University for everything they don’t like about able to pick up Italian. When the Bronx of Chicago. We send them a translation, the performance, or, if they like the Opera asked us to translate a Czech they make suggestions, and, usually, after performance, don’t mention that it was opera, Ronnie said, half jokingly, that three or four go-rounds the translation is sung in translation, much less mention we would do it if the company paid for considered publishable. When we work for the translators. The New York Times, Czech lessons. They said yes, and Ronnie an opera company or school, we submit however, has mentioned us every time it studied with a native Czech speaker for each act as we finish it to the stage director has published a review of an opera sung about six months. (or conductor, if there is no stage director, in our translation. such as for a choral work), who makes What did you learn from that first suggestions. Once rehearsals start, we also Opera lyrics challenge the translator in assignment in 1979 that encouraged you to receive suggestions from the performers all the ways that poetry does, but with keep translating operas? and conductor, most often still via the the added burden that the words must We learned that we loved struggling stage director. to make meaningful, singable phrases, also fit into a pre-existing—and largely the thrill of working toward an actual When several people have a say in the unforgiving—musical structure. The poetry performance, getting input from the performance of your translated lyrics, how translator must prioritize meter, rhyming directors, conductors, and singers, and are differences of opinion resolved? Who scheme, syllable count, and rhythm while hearing our words come alive in the keeping the meaning and allusions in mind. voices of the performers. We also loved makes the final call? bringing our children to performances. The final say is with the editor of a What must the opera translator do After all, they had heard us test singing published work. For an opera company, in addition? the lyrics for months. it’s usually the stage director. However, we In addition to functioning as poetry, require that no changes be made without words in an opera serve theatrical and Who usually commissions your translations? consulting us first. Often, we just make musical functions. Therefore, in addition Our work is commissioned by publishers, changes in line with the criticisms. In the to the elements of poetry you mention, opera companies, and school music remaining cases, we argue; sometimes we we must consider diction level and programs. We also do some translations on win, sometimes we lose, and sometimes characterization and how the words fit our own. Our publishers include Ricordi we compromise. the music. in Milan, Italy (the original publisher of operas by composers such as Verdi and Do you attend rehearsals of an opera You’ve said that “During the Victorian and Puccini), as well as Musica Russica in San you’ve translated, or attend opening night? Edwardian eras, the unwritten rules for www.atanet.org American Translators Association 25 OUR WORLD OF WORDS continued the translation of all poetic forms into You’ve also said, “While rhymed originals What are the abilities required to be a English called for an exact imitation of should generally be translated into rhymed competent translator of singable lyrics? the rhyme scheme (and of the original English, the spirit rather than the letter of What prepares or trains the mind to develop meter), whether or not required by the relationship between words and music these qualities? the music and however convoluted the should dictate the stanza form.” Can you As with all literary writing, improvements come with practice and work, but there result.” What about the fashions in give us a brief example of a translation “in must be some inherent talent. Translators vogue today? the spirit”? should have at least some knowledge A revolution in the writing, and Consider a quatrain from Giuseppe of the source language; relying entirely translating, of poetry occurred early in Verdi’s Il trovatore: “Era già figlio prima on dictionaries or previous translations th the 20 century, discussed in detail in d’amarti, / non può frenarmi il tuo martir! is usually insufficient. Then, as for all Ronnie’s book Digging for the Treasure. As / Madre infelice, corro a salvarti, / o teco literary translation, the translators must a result, contemporary English poetry, almeno corro a morir!” The rhyme scheme be excellent literary critics in order to both original and translated, is mainly is abab, where the a rhymes are feminine discern tone and diction level, as well free verse. The idea is that a translation (not accented on the last syllable) and as understand how the lyrics mean can, and frequently should, emphasize the b rhymes are masculine (accented on in addition to what they mean. For important aspects of the original other the last syllable). The literal translation example, should the words be considered than form. However, the preponderance straightforward or sarcastic? Were the of the first two lines, sung by Manrico of free verse means that few words contemporary, archaic, or up- to his beloved Leonora as he is about contemporary poets (unlike lyricists) to-the-minute at the time of the work’s acquire the metrical and rhyming skills to leave her, is “I was her son before I creation? If a character in an opera uses needed for translating opera. But the loved you. Your suffering will not hold clichés, is it because it was customary for fashion pendulum is swinging: forms me back.” The literal translation of the some librettos to be generally clichéd, as like hip-hop are reviving interest in last two lines, sung by Manrico to his in early 19th-century Italy, or is it because meter and rhyme, driven by the fact that (absent) mother Azucena, is “Unhappy that particular character, and only that human beings delight in patterns. mother, I run to save you, or at least character, actually speaks (sings) that way, run to die with you!” Our translation, as in late 19th-century Italy? which omits the a rhymes, is “Though Next, the translators must have some you may suffer, I cannot stay here; / knowledge of music and the requirements she is my mother, you are my bride. / of vocal production. Translators should Unhappy mother, I swear to save you / also be skilled lyricists in the target or to die with you there at your side.” language. Translators also need to be prepared to work long and hard The missing a rhymes are compensated (translations put together in a weekend for by a weak rhyme (“suffer-mother”), by changing a few words in someone repetition (“mother-mother,” “you-you”), else’s translation are usually terrible). and assonance (“may,” “stay,” “save,” and Last, opera translators, often ill paid “die,” and “side”). and frequently ignored or blamed for everything wrong with a performance, In your book Translating for Singing you must consider their work a labor of love. claim that English is a “rhyme-poor” language. Please explain. As quoted in your book Translating for English has more individual words than Singing, Oscar Hammerstein said, “The sad most other languages, but lacks large fact is that when you hear opera in English classes of words with identical endings. it is in pretty bad English. The [translators] A plethora of identical endings make … are not poets, nor dramatists, nor rhyming in some languages easy. In the showmen. A good adaptation of an opera example above, the Italian endings “arti” requires a librettist who is all of these.” How Actor Sean Kroll as Pasha Selim and soprano (lines 1 and 3) and “ir” (lines 2 and 4) do you two work together to perform these Halley Gilbert as Konstanze in a scene from rhyme. Another problem in English is Act I of the Bronx Opera’s recent revival different roles? that “love,” an extremely important word production of Mark Herman and Ronnie Apter’s To begin, the person who knows the English translation of Mozart’s The Abduction in opera, has very few English rhymes, source language best does an extremely from the Seraglio. (Photo used by permission of in contrast to “amor,” a word with many literal translation, including all multiple Hannah Spierman, social media director of the rhymes in Italian and Spanish, or “amour,” meanings and odd turns of phrase, Bronx Opera.) a word with many rhymes in French. and explains any literary or historical

26 The ATA Chronicle | March/April 2018 www.atanet.org allusions. Then, one of us does drafts of opera. Unlike operas, musicals are rarely One area that is as important in the singable versions, after which we work performed in languages other than translation of literary prose as it is in together on the final version, every those of their actual audiences, and few the translation of opera lyrics is the word of which is checked for singability. complain about comprehension. Great “foreignization/domestication” dichotomy. Ronnie usually sings the high parts composers such as Mozart, before they (soprano and tenor) and Mark sings set the repetitions of a line on high- Please give us your views and a couple the lower parts (alto and bass). Mark flying and incomprehensible coloratura, of examples. usually starts at the beginning of a almost always set the line on notes in Much over-simplified, “foreignization” section and works toward the end, the performer’s middle range, which means bringing the audience to the while Ronnie sometimes decides on allows the words to be easily understood. original, and “domestication” means what she wants the final phrase to be Alhough the audience cannot re-read a bringing the original to the audience. and works toward that. Mark is more missed sung word as in a book, usually The merits of each, whether designated interested in literality and Ronnie in one or more of the repetitions are by these exact terms or not, have been overall feeling—a good set of checks themselves comprehensible, allowing debated for centuries. We’re in favor of and balances. We fight a lot. The entire the audience more than one chance to both, used thoughtfully, and keeping in process usually takes at least four hear and understand the words. Finally, mind that an audience must understand months for a full-length opera. After although we disagree with the practice the words as they are sung. A weird our version is complete, a piano-vocal in most cases, there is the possibility of example of “domestication” is our score (almost always dual-language) projecting English captions (surtitles) translation of The Sorcerer’s Daughter from is made so that the translation is fully even for works sung in English. nonsense Italian into nonsense English. usable. Once a translation is done and Audiences can pay attention to the Sometimes we foreignize an entire performed, we advertise it, together stage and glance at the captions only with any favorable reviews, to other translation by writing our version in non- when necessary, as opposed to projected modern English when we believe it’s the companies who might use our work English captions for works sung in on a royalty basis. We also self-publish only way to convey the true flavor of the another language, which require the original. For example, Charles Gounod’s dual-language piano-vocal scores for constant attention of the audience. all of our translations not already 19th-century French operetta The Doctor published by Ricordi or Musica Russica, Opera translators probably pay a lot more in Spite of Himself, based on Molière’s 17th-century play, involves 17th-century and sell them to music libraries and attention to the prosody of the original than other interested parties. customs that could strike the audience non-literary translators pay to the nuances as very odd if spoken of matter-of-factly Most operas currently performed were of, for example, the technical language of in modern English. Because of this, we composed in the 19th century or even a software manual. But in either case the translated it into 17th-century English. earlier. Haven’t most of them already been patterns in the source and target languages Here’s a sample regarding an elaborate translated by now? have to be considered. What have you social ritual involving hats: Yes, and some of them have been learned about the rhythmic arrangement of Lucas: (to Sganarelle) translated many times. But, as pointed words in your field that might be useful to Straightways ha’ we come from the out by Oscar Hammerstein, many of the other translators? village, sir, for to summon your skill. existing translations are terrible. Also, It’s true that operatic music is strongly Sganarelle: I am your very translations can become dated even influenced by the prosody of the source humble servant. if the originals do not. Finally, a new language. However, it’s also true that Valère: But, sir, shade your head from translation may be needed for a particular music, with its regular accent patterns the sun’s febrile ray. stage production. For all these reasons, and fixed number of beats per measure, Lucas: I’ truth the sun be fiercely there is plenty of work remaining for at least partially distorts the prosodies contemporary translators. beating—on with your bonnet, pray. of both the source and target languages, Sganarelle: (Sganarelle puts on his moving both closer to the meter of the Sung words are harder to understand hat.) Hi-hey! Pox pester this pother music. One reason for the awfulness of of greeting! than spoken words. Can enough of many Victorian and Edwardian opera the words in a singable translation be translations is that the translators, The archaic language informs the understood to make all the effort that goes believing they had to reproduce the audience that the ritual they are into making and performing a singable prosody (and rhyme scheme) of the observing is similarly archaic and translation worthwhile? libretto exactly, set themselves a much therefore acceptable on its own terms. Yes. In a translation that pays close more difficult task than if they had They will usually not be mentally caught attention to singability, as many words allowed the music, in addition to the up asking “What was that about?” as will be understood as are understood by words, to influence the prosody of they might be had the words been in native speakers listening to the original their translations. contemporary English. www.atanet.org American Translators Association 27 OUR WORLD OF WORDS continued

In addition to translating an opera’s thinks about what he may say.” The tone regardless of inherent talent, should dialogue and lyrics, you sometimes also is slightly humorous. We kept getting probably start by participating in sung contribute lines and dialogue that were not stuck on the rhymes, working with “weak- performances of English lyrics. These can speak,” “man-can,” and others. Finally, we in the original. Tell us about that process be amateur affairs, such as community hit upon “A man is made of sturdy stuff: / choruses or community theater and give us a few examples. he knows when he has said enough.” Our productions of musicals. Then the skills Sometimes added words are necessary version also adds a joke: the singers repeat mentioned above should be acquired. to explain something that the original the second line four times, suggesting that After that, the hard work begins. librettist omitted—to add a footnote they should listen to what they are singing directly into the performed libretto and shut up. because there is no chance for the ADDITIONAL RESOURCES audience to read one. For example, in Despite the concern, some might say 1. Apter, Ronnie, and Mark Herman. Translating for Singing (Bloomsbury François Boieldieu’s French operetta obsession, of many operas with sex My Aunt Aurore, a satire on the early Publishing, 2016), and violence, albeit occurring almost 19th-century craze for gothic novels, http://bit.ly/Translating-for-Singing. the heroine Julie tells her aunt that exclusively offstage, most audiences would In addition to its own treatment of she has followed her instructions and still give most operas a “G” rating. Is this the subject, the book has an keeps a dovecote in honor of the one because audiences don’t understand the extensive bibliography. kept by the title character in Samuel foreign words? Have you yourselves ever 2. Low, Peter. Translating Song (Routledge, Richardson’s novel Clarissa. The original run into censorship? 2017), http://bit.ly/Translating-Song. early 19th-century audience would have Some “G” ratings do arise in part known that Clarissa kept a dairy, so we because audiences do not understand 3. Excerpts from performances in Apter added a footnote: the foreign words. Also, some and Herman’s English translations are Julie: Good heavens, aunt, you yourself translations are censored. Mostly, available on YouTube, including: desired me to keep a dovecote in however, the sanitized ratings come The Bartered Bride honor of the one Clarissa had. from the fact that opera is considered http://bit.ly/Bartered-Bride “high art,” much as Shakespeare’s plays Marton: Clarissa kept a dairy. This features Marenka and Jeník’s Act today usually get the same free pass Aurore: Yes, but cows are so very large. III duet from Bedrich Smetana’s Czech despite bawdiness and violence (though I explained all that… opera The Bartered Bride, sung by soprano there was a period when Shakespeare’s Adelaide Boedecker and tenor Matthew Jokes are often not translatable works were heavily “Bowdlerized”). locally; that is, at the same places in the We have encountered a few taboos over Grills. The Bartered Bride was produced translation that they are in the original. the years. For example, in Mozart’s The by the Eastman School of Music in For example, the French comic operetta Magic Flute, the character Sarastro sings Rochester, New York. Madame Angot’s Daughter contains the lines meaning, “A man must govern your Ernani following lines about Madame Angot: heart, / for without him / every woman is http://bit.ly/Ernani-ActII “Captured in Malabar, she is believed to likely to step outside her [rightful] sphere This features the aria with chorus for be a widow, alas! They want to burn her of activity.” We originally wrote, “Your Don Carlos from Act II of Giuseppe alive!” We added a joke to compensate heart needs guidance from a husband. / Verdi’s Ernani, with baritone Russell for those lost in our translation by Without a man, / a woman will exceed Malcolm as Don Carlos, the King of rendering the lines as, “The natives tried the sphere of woman’s work.” We were Spain. The excerpt from Ernani is audio to burn her / in Hindu Malabar. / They required to change this to “Your heart only, although stills from the production took her for a widow, / but she refused needs guidance from a husband, / or, like are shown during the aria. to char.” This joke refers to the fact that your mother, / you will never learn to wed Ernani was produced by the Tayside Opera “char,” in addition to its usual meaning, desire and duty.” is a British verb meaning “clean,” and in Scotland. cleaning women, also called “chars,” What are the most significant lessons you’ve were often widows. learned by doing this work? Do you have any tips for translators who might be interested Presumably, like the original librettist, you Tony Beckwith was born in working in this area? in Buenos Aires, Argentina, fall in love with some of your words. Please We’ve learned that opera translation, as a spent his formative years in identify one of your favorite lines and tell us branch of show business, is essentially a Montevideo, Uruguay, then set why it pleases you. collaborative endeavor, that the translation off to see the world. He moved One of our favorites is a couplet from is not finished until the performance to Texas in 1980 and currently Mozart’s The Magic Flute, with a German is over, and that new productions may lives in Austin, Texas, where he works as a libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. The require additional tweaks. Translators writer, translator, poet, and cartoonist. meaning is “A man is of strong spirit, he interested in working in this area, Contact: [email protected].

28 The ATA Chronicle | March/April 2018 www.atanet.org RESOURCE REVIEW COMPILED BY JOST ZETZSCHE Language Technology Wiki: A Project “Devoted to Helping Evolve the Next Generation of Language Technology with Your Help” t the end of last year I made a Language Technology Wiki (www.langtech. world of translation. If the topic burning list of personal and professional wiki), a site that offers space for discussions, under your fingernails isn’t listed, there’s A achievements from 2017, which ideas, and ways to propel forward the no reason not to add one. (If it’s a new made me feel very positive about the technology that we use day in and day general topic, it will have to be approved upcoming year. Interestingly, some of the out—or that we will use day in and day out. by the site moderators, but that shouldn’t things I was patting myself on the back Under “Rules” and “About” on its be a problem.) for I hadn’t actually done anything to website, you’ll find reminders that Another reason for this second group achieve—I just encouraged others to do Language Technology Wiki is “is not to come to Language Technology Wiki is something and they implemented the idea focused on specific issues in existing to learn about translators. Yes, there are far better than I could. tools.” The goal is “to point toward a new project managers and translation buyers Back in 2016 at ATA’s Annual generation of tools,” so no griping about who don’t have much personal interest in Conference in San Francisco, I had a talk the latest bug in Trados or the poor fit seeing how translators actually work—but with Henry Liu, then president of the of some remote interpreting headsets— there are many who have a very keen International Federation of Translators, there are plenty of existing outlets for interest. (Many project managers harbor the about what could be done to help that. Instead, you’re encouraged to share dream of making the tried-and-true career translators and interpreters have a clearer with others (we’ll discuss who those move from project manager to freelance voice when it comes to shaping how their “others” are in a second) what you think translator or interpreter in the back of their technology will develop. We didn’t really technology should be able to do for you. minds.) Translators and interpreters are also come to any particular conclusion, but I Who would be interested in that? First, encouraged to see what “the other side” is carried the question around with me for other translators and interpreters. There’s discussing or hoping for. several months until an idea took shape. no doubt that we’ve all developed our Then, of course, there are the I started to imagine a loosely structured own sets of idiosyncrasies for how we go developers—either those currently open web space that was specifically about using (or how we wish we could developing translation and interpreting untethered from any commercial offering use) technology to make our lives easier. technology or those thinking about it. or sponsoring, but otherwise presented Sharing these can go a long way in terms of While they’re certainly welcome to chime open room for debate. helping our colleagues, and their responses in on the exchange of ideas (though I I eventually issued a call for will help us improve our processes. imagine it won’t be easy for some of them participation—and for leadership, as I A second user group includes project to toe the line in terms of not promoting wasn’t going to take part in this—and lo managers, owners of language services their own products), the more likely and behold, six very high-profile volunteers providers, and translation buyers. As you role I see for them is to use Language showed up: Tom Alwood, Alexander can see in the list of topics that will follow, Technology Wiki as a fabulous resource Drechsel, Martin Kappus, Marie-Sophie the technologies under discussion are where users openly share their needs, Petit, Barry Slaughter Olsen, and Iulianna not limited to individual translators, but aspirations, and dreams about what van der Lek-Ciudin. These experts built really include every professional in the technology could do for them. Did you hear that, developers? This is going to be a gold mine for you! Here are the main topics that have already been set up (as I mentioned above, more topics can always be added): ■■ Audiovisual translation ■■ Authoring and translation ■■ Computer-assisted translation project management ■■ Collaboration ■■ Impact of language technologies on the translation process and skills

■■ Figure 1: Adding tags to a subtopic (tag associated with a particular topic is shown here circled in red) Interpreting delivery platforms www.atanet.org American Translators Association 29 RESOURCE REVIEW continued

This is important, otherwise your contribution won’t show up anywhere. 8. If you did all that, your subtopic will be displayed under the topic and other people can comment. 9. If this doesn’t work for some reason, use the “Contact” command in the header bar to alert the administrator, who will be delighted to lend a helping hand. Of course, it’s totally okay to come to Language Technology Wiki just to learn. Feel free to scroll through some of the existing content during a work break. (Once you’re there you should also register so you don’t have to do it when Figure 2: Listed subtopics under a main topic you enter something for the first time.) While there isn’t as much data in there as there could be, there’s already some ■■ Interpreting management systems through the existing topics and subtopics interesting stuff to be found. For instance, to see whether your particular issue has ■■ Machine interpreting/ do you know what TAPICC stands for already been addressed. (If it has, be sure speech-to-speech translation and why this might be important to to add your insights to whatever has been ■■ Machine translation you? If not, check out the entry under said). If your issue hasn’t been addressed, “Collaboration” and you’ll be the wiser ■■ Quality add a new subtopic (or topic if it doesn’t for it. ■■ Terminology management fit anywhere else). I think this might be the start of Here’s a quick tutorial on how to add ■■ Translation management systems something really special—a place where a subtopic (not because I think you we as a large and very diverse community ■■ Translation memory couldn’t figure this out on your own, but can come together, suggest ideas for how ■■ Usability/accessibility/learnability because—ahem—I couldn’t figure it out to improve translation and interpreting when I first did it): technology, and see those ideas realized in ■■ Voice recognition 1. Select “Topics” in the header bar. the tools of tomorrow. ■■ Web resources Thank you for becoming part of 2. Locate and open the topic that matches As you can see, the Language this. The next time you talk to Tom, your concern most closely. Technology Wiki committee tried very Alexander, Martin, Marie-Sophie, Barry, hard to do right by all the different 3. Note the tags that are associated with and Iulianna, be sure to thank them for groups and sectors represented in the that topic (you can find those listed making this a reality. world of translation. underneath the subtopics. (In Figure 1 Here’s what I would suggest for you— on page 29, this tag is circled in red.) If you have any ideas and/or suggestions and for us all—to give this project the 4. Type in a title for a new subtopic in the regarding helpful resources or tools needed kick start. Whatever position text field in the lower right corner and you would like to see featured, please or role you have within the world of click “New Subtopic.” e-mail Jost Zetzsche at jzetzsche@ translation, at some point during any internationalwriters.com. given workday you’ll get frustrated that 5. Describe your subtopic in the window whatever set of tools you’re using doesn’t that will open and click “Save.” work the way you think it should, or 6. At the bottom of the page, you’ll see a list Jost Zetzsche is chair of ATA’s doesn’t work at all in a certain way. (I’m of commands. (The bar in Figure 1 has Translation and Interpreting not talking about bugs, but about badly the mouse cursor pointing to “Tags.”) Resources Committee. He implemented or nonexistent features.) Or writes the “Geekspeak” column maybe there’s just no tool for what you 7. Select “Tags” and enter the tag(s) for The ATA Chronicle. He is want to achieve. with which you want your subtopic also the author of Translation The next time this happens, open associated. Note that you have to Matters, a book with 81 stories about translators www.langtech.wiki and register as a user type the tag exactly like you saw it and technology, collected over the past 15 years. (which takes about a minute). Then look when you looked up the tags above. Contact: [email protected].

30 The ATA Chronicle | March/April 2018 www.atanet.org CERTIFICATION FORUM BY DAVID STEPHENSON Why Isn’t ATA Certification Offered in My Language? TA currently offers certification in graders will end up working very closely inability to document sufficient demand, 30 language pairs, but there’s always together in a variety of situations.) During and others have foundered owing to a A room for more as long as certain this period team members can also attend lack of leadership or teamwork. Still, criteria are met. As a member-driven grader training, which is held twice a year, it can be done! Since 2004, eight new organization, ATA provides support for and use online grader resources. language pairs have come on board: establishing certification in new language Training and Passage Selection: Once Croatian, Ukrainian, and Swedish in both pairs, but the work required to reach a team has coalesced, they must spend directions, as well as Chinese>English this milestone must be done by members time studying ATA’s grading standards and English>Arabic. These last two who work in those very languages. What and procedures in depth, so as to ensure examples are the latest successes, having follows is an overview of the process for that their work will be consistent with the been approved for testing to begin in establishing a new pair. (See the link rest of the program. Meanwhile, they can 2018. Both were long-standing efforts in the Notes section at the end of this begin looking for suitable texts in their that experienced many ups and downs as column for the formal procedure.) source language and submitting them well as personnel changes over the years. Demand: Obviously, ATA cannot offer for preliminary review. The team liaison Ultimately, it was the dedication and hard certification in all the thousands of will be of great assistance here, especially work of a handful of people in each case languages used around the world today. in filtering out completely unsuitable that turned the tide. Kudos to all who Which languages make the cut depends prospective texts and explaining why were involved! largely on the extent of grassroots interest they don’t hit the mark. Passage selection Do you have what it takes to in certification. This is reflected first and is a key process on the path to approval. help establish certification testing foremost in the willingness of one or more Given the major role passage selection in a new pair? Check out the full persons to seize the initiative and complete plays even for established language pairs, procedure for establishing a new the steps necessary for approval as a new it’s essential that a strong foundation be language combination on ATA’s certifiable pair. But in addition to this core laid for this during the startup phase. website,1 or contact me (david@ group of committed volunteers, it’s also Following any preliminary vetting by stephensontranslations.com) or necessary to document broader interest. the liaison, workgroups must complete Caron Mason, ATA’s Certification This is done in the form of a petition paperwork for each passage to be approved Program manager ([email protected]) signed by 50 individuals interested in by the Passage Selection Task Force, which for further details. sitting for the exam once it’s offered, of includes articulating a variety of challenges which at least 25 must be ATA members. presented by the passage. Attention Farsi Translators! A few other rules apply as well. The Grading Standards: Last but by no means A workgroup has been organized to reason for these hurdles is to ensure that least, members of startup workgroups must establish ATA certification for translators interest in the exam among translators develop both language- and passage-specific of Farsi. Anyone interested in pursuing working in that pair is sufficient to justify guidelines before testing can begin. For ATA certification in Farsi—as a workgroup administrative efforts, and that certification language-specific guidelines, graders specify participant or future candidate—should doesn’t become available only to disappear approaches to common translation issues soon thereafter due to a lack of interest. in the respective pair. For passage-specific contact [email protected]. Team-Building: Once sufficient interest guidelines, they record decisions about has been documented, a workgroup specific errors encountered in individual of three or more qualified individuals passages. In a sense, this vital activity pulls NOTES 1 must come together to take the next together everything done so far. Developing Procedure for Establishing a New Language Combination, http://bit.ly/cert- steps, under the guidance of a liaison guidelines represents the last leg in passage new-language. from ATA’s Certification Committee. selection, promotes teamwork through The workgroup should include a few the exchange of opinions about error who are willing to serve as initial graders severity in particular, and presents a further David Stephenson is the once testing begins—and who will opportunity for training and the inculcation chair of ATA’s Certification thus forfeit the opportunity to earn the of program standards. Committee. An ATA- credential themselves until replacements If this sounds like a lot of work, it is. certified German>English, can be recruited from among the pool Assuming this is a part-time endeavor Dutch>English, and of successful candidates. At this stage for all concerned, the entire process Croatian>English translator, it’s vital that the team members get a can easily take two years or longer, he has been an independent translator for feel for each other’s relative strengths though that depends largely on the over 30 years, specializing in civil litigation and weaknesses. (This includes getting level of commitment. In the recent past, and creative nonfiction. Contact: david@ to know each other’s personality, since several initiatives have failed due to the stephensontranslations.com. www.atanet.org American Translators Association 31