27th to 29th 27th to 29th Translation memories — to share or not? 30th30th to to 31st 31st Conference keynote speaker coup
AUSIT membership policy update Court interpreter training art & text based graphic design
+ Quarterly Newsletter of the Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators Inc Volume 18, number 2 — Autumn 2010 Room 18b 1 Halford St Castlemaine Vic 3450 03 5472 5315 Contents From the editor From the helm...... 3 The deadline for the autumn issue is 5 Important dates AUSIT membership policy and procedures.4 August 2010. Thanks to all contributors, Tea in local and Dietterich, my spy in the NC, and Mona Administration review...... 5 and Adriana, for their suggestions. international T&I T&I news latest...... 5 Please send any letters, articles or images 10-11 July 2010 AUSIT Vice-President meets Na’vi language for forthcoming editions to: NZSTI Conference creator in LA...... 6 Bradley Dawson Christchurch, NZ Interview with Prof. Paul Frommer...... 6 Editor AUSIT — In Touch 3 Harris St, Castlemaine Vic 3450 The translation dilemma — to share or not to 26-30 July 2010 [email protected] share...... 8 Critical Link 6 The editor reserves the right to edit or not to Aston University, Birmingham, UK Letters...... 9 publish any item submitted for publication. Justice lost in translation...... 9 Opinions expressed are those of the authors 30 September 2010 Need for court interpreter training...... 10 only and do not necessarily represent the International Translators Day opinions of the editor or those of AUSIT and Personal challenge of professional ethics. 11 November 2010 its executive. AUSIT does not necessarily SA/NT Branch Connect IT...... 11 AUSIT National Annual General Meeting endorse products or services appearing in New prize for young translators...... 12 any advertising contained herein. 5-6 November 2010 Congratulations Helen!...... 12 This newsletter is printed by Bounty Print and ‘Synergise’ AUSIT Biennial Conference National Guide of Expert Witnesses...... 13 distributed by Mailing Matters. Fremantle, WA 2010 NZSTI Conference news...... 14 AUSIT Contacts 11-13 December 2010 AUSIT Branch reports...... 15 International Conference on Literary National telephone: 1800 284 181 Translation Front cover photos: Main picture — Linguist Website: www.ausit.org Wellington, NZ and creator of the Na’vi language Prof. PO Box 193, Surrey Hills Vic 3127 Emeritus Paul Frommer (see interviews with Tel: (03) 9895 4473 30 July 2011 him on pages 6-7) on the set of the film Fax: (03) 9898 0249 Next FIT Statutory Congress Avatar with director James Cameron. Inset Email: [email protected] San Francisco, USA — The crowd at AUSIT Qld Orientation Day. Yahoo groups: [email protected]
• Stimulate the mind • Enjoy the profession • Interact with like-minded people • Discover your colleagues • Solve common problems • Learn and teach • Have fun along the way!
For registration and further information www.ausitconference.org or call 0430 650 494 P R E S I D E N T ‘ S R E P O R T
Competencies The translation and interpreting From the helm competency-based training project has been dragging on for years, so it is with great satisfaction I can say we are almost there. Thanks to the concerted efforts of the new working group, Government Skills Australia has taken on board all our suggestions for improvement; major edits are happening to the text to better President Sam Berner discusses the new AUSIT reflect what we really do and make the training relevant to coming generations website, membership renewal and changes to of professionals. Many thanks to all my the migration on demand list colleagues who helped me re-write the manual: Dr Berry McDonald, Magdalena Rowan, Helen Slatyer, Heather Glass Website issues I would like to take this opportunity to and Dagmar Dixon. Many thanks also have been accused, perhaps a bit thank the following AUSIT members for to the representatives of the Victorian unfairly, of losing my ‘touchy-feely’ offering to help with this humungous task: and Western Australian VET sectors, who approach to communication following Bradley Dawson, Wendy Wright, Catherine used their influence to have the edits I Pfammatter, John Benson, Silvana the incident in which our AUSIT website implemented. Last, but not least, thanks go became dysfunctional for God-only-knows Pavlovska, Melissa McMahon, Marina del to Lindsay Heywood for his support of the how long. My rather official approach, Greco, Maurite Fober and Alex Peterson. edit and for persistently supporting AUSIT at which saw the National Council write We have also registered another domain the meetings by pointing out to GSA that an official letter to SIMB — the business name, www.ausit.org.au, which will in the no useful training material could be based responsible for the current website — future mirror the new site in the event either on a technically faulty base. Synergy works requesting the immediate transfer of one stops working or needs maintenance. best. ownership and an explanation of why the It is always good to have more than one Fremantle Biennial National Conference website was not doing what it should, at option. least saw a prompt response from the SIMB Speaking of synergising, I am extremely business director, Andrew Chapman. The PAMS Review and New Membership pleased with how things are going in website has been fixed and Andrew has Renewal Procedures the ‘sand-groping’ state, where the promised to transfer ownership. We also The fact that our current database has not Biennial National Conference Organising obtained the FTP login details, which allow functioned properly since September 2009 Committee, assisted by our very capable us to back the site up independently of has led to a large number of memberships Vice-Chair Tea Dietterich, is working hard him and to obtain external help if we ever lapsing without members being aware. The on what promises to equal — if not outshine need it. I am still pushing for the automatic NC and our administration at PAMS have — the last conference. We have been renewals to be fixed, and will continue with been working very hard over the past few successful in securing sponsorships from this approach until NC is satisfied the work months, manually weeding the database NAATI, TIS, the Office of Multicultural Affairs needed has been done. ‘The squeaky and contacting lapsed members. I am very (WA), Monash University, ASLIA, WAITI, and wheel gets oiled’, as the saying goes. pleased to be able to say that the majority PCB. More potential sponsors are being renewed their membership promptly. approached. The good news is that the static part of Last month AUSIT National and PAMS our new website can now be previewed conducted a performance review, which The highlight of the event, of course, will be at http://ausit.admin.sitesuite.net.au/. It ended up being a very fertile brainstorming the presence as keynote speaker of Prof. does not as yet have any content and session. As a result, we now have a new Emeritus Paul Frommer, the linguist who the member pages are not ready, but we set of renewal procedures in place. Our created the Na’vi language for the film are getting there. We have already five National Secretary, Ilke Brueckner-Klein, Avatar. Professor Frommer is an engaging capable editors ready to start migrating has written an extensive report of the and extremely versatile speaker — a taste content to the new site; all that is needed review (see page 5), and I hope this will of what is to come can be obtained by is for SiteSuite (our new provider) to give us encourage more lapsed members to come reading the first part of his interview with me the training in how to use the site. The first back to the fold and not miss out on all the on page 6. session fell through because the trainer got exciting things happening at AUSIT. I will be very sick, but we are hoping to get another Again, I strongly suggest that AUSIT personally sending letters to each one of one in the next few days. members book their tickets and register for them, reminding them and enticing them the conference well ahead of time — don’t Once the database is ready, it will offer to come back, because every one of them let Queensland beat you to it, as they have members much more flexibility in marketing is valuable to AUSIT in many ways. AUSIT is already ordered a table at the fantastic themselves. The migration is not going also becoming a much more appealing dinner venue! Not to mention that the to be easy, as the old database is in entity to outsiders, as was evidenced by Conference coincides with a major cultural Excel powered by PHP, while the new the long line of applicants queuing for our event and that, if nothing else, Fremantle is database is SQL — a better and more references at the Brisbane AUSIT Orientation the place to be in November. stable technology. The plan is to have both Day in March 2010 (see page 15). We need sites run side by side for about six months, to keep up this effort and also engage in This is also a great opportunity for you to giving all our members time to tailor their active outreach to non-members. I would highlight your own expertise and present pages and migrate comfortably. Then we ideally love to see each one of you being a workshop or a paper at the conference. will upload the new site to the current URL an ambassador for AUSIT among your AUSIT is so rich in amazingly gifted and address. colleagues. (continued over page)
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talented people; I strongly encourage you translators also open the door for their just took them off the list. True, there is no to come and shine. clients to consider Australian businesses as demand in certain languages, but even alternatives to overseas ones, potentially that is relative and changes with time. Skilled Migration Lists opening up our profession to the world. There is a shortage of Greek interpreters As you all probably know by now, the Interpreters, on the other hand, have to in Brisbane (we have one who is elderly, Department of Immigration has removed work on location. It could be said that serving the elderly community) because most of the professions it had on its Critical removing the interpreting profession from apparently all Greeks in Brisbane speak Skills List and completely scrapped the the skilled migration list might enhance the English (the young do, for sure!). In Hobart, Migration Occupations In Demand List. One chances of local T/Is getting more work. attempts to book Polish interpreters were of the casualties is our profession. However, as a TIS representative told me so unsuccessful that the community recently, there are languages where we stopped asking, yet a candidate was told I know I am not making myself popular by don’t have enough professional interpreters by TIS they don’t get enough requests to going contrary to the public opinion that to meet demand. He thought the best justify employing additional interpreters. T&I should have been taken off long time solution would be to improve wages, Perceptions can be deadly. ago. Some of the reasons for that line of therefore making the profession worth the view are valid, some are not. But I feel I The third reason why this development is effort. So note that removing interpreters need to explain why it is actually not good bad for us is our AUSIT membership. Not from the list is: (a) not going to improve for AUSIT and the profession in Australia to our current membership, but our future wages, because the government is cutting have T/Is removed from the skills list. one. AUSIT is vibrant because it has such expenditure for the same reason it is paring a diverse membership. As a colleague of Firstly, let me say my reasoning has nothing down the skills migration, and (b) not going mine who is also the member of another to do with NAATI. If we are happy that the to provide enough interpreters locally unrelated association once told me: you profession was removed solely because this because the shrivelled list will not translate can never be bored at an AUSIT event. is going to go straight to NAATI’s bottom into expanded funding for training. Some of our best AUSIT members — those line, then I think we are throwing the baby Which brings me to the second point — who win awards and give years of their out with the bath water. My reasoning has that of a home-grown workforce. Ideally, life to AUSIT — are trained overseas and to do with the profession and with AUSIT. we would train our own. In reality, we train have gained permanent residence in I need to emphasise that this new a small percentage on the backs of the Australia on the basis of their translating development will affect interpreters international students, who are doing it for or interpreting skills. Once this stream of differently from translators. Translators work the 60 points. If there are any indications young, capable people dries up, AUSIT will globally — unless they are not serious about that the Australian VET and tertiary sectors fall into a stupor from which it will be hard what they are doing — so their place of will get any additional funding to run to wake. Yes, we could try and get in those residence does not affect their work in the their programs once the international who are still not members, but remember way it affects interpreters. In fact, successful students dry up, I haven’t heard of them. we have been trying for years to drag translators who migrate to Australia bring The government could always cry lack of horses to water, with varying success. We their overseas clients with them, and funding, with two excuses: that there is no simply do not have a viable population thus benefit the Australian economy by demand for courses and that we have to ensure AUSIT’s sustainability. That is my becoming exporters of services. Those enough interpreters already, since we major reason for concern. AUSIT membership policy and procedures s some of you might be aware, there and be reinstated as of the date of your at events and the right to be called a have been glitches in the system renewal. The ‘penalty waiver’ will cease member of AUSIT. regarding automatic membership as of 16 August. Late renewals following A • If we receive your late renewal form and renewal notices. We apologise for the that date, regardless of how late or recent, fee four weeks or more after the due inconvenience this may have caused. will be processed under the conditions date, you will be liable for a penalty fee To ensure a smooth automatic renewal described below. of $50, in addition to the appropriate reminder process, all renewals are currently membership fee. Members who do being processed ‘manually’ for the time New Standard Membership Renewal Policy not pay the penalty fee will have their being until the new website and database (in force from 15 August 2010) membership curtailed by three months. are up and running. One month after publication in the AUSIT — In Touch Newsletter of this New Standard As NC was working through these issues, • If your membership lapses and you would Membership Renewal Policy, the following we took the opportunity to review AUSIT’s like to rejoin within a year of lapsing, you updated rules will apply to membership membership policy and procedures to will pay a $50 administrative fee (instead renewals: make them clearer and easier for members of $20 for genuine new members). Your to adhere to when renewing membership. • Your membership renewal is due no later new renewal date will be the anniversary We invite you to acquaint yourself with the than on the anniversary date of you date of rejoining. joining AUSIT. changes. • An annual renewal notice and one Limited Opportunity Penalty Waiver • If you fail to renew within four weeks of reminder will be sent to assist members, To encourage lapsed members to return, the due date stipulated on your annual but ultimately the onus is on you to a short ‘penalty waiver’ will be declared. renewal notice, you will be immediately renew in a timely manner. Please make If your membership lapsed between 1 and automatically suspended from a note of your due date to avoid any January 2009 and 30 June 2010 and you AUSIT, thus missing all the benefits unnecessary suspension. You can also renew before 15 August, you will not have of membership, such as the AUSIT contact our administrator by email to pay the late fee. Instead, you will pay a newsletter, the eBulletin and other at [email protected] to check on your full year as per the current membership fees forums, members’ discounted prices renewal date.
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decided to manually process renewals until the new website is up and running and the automatic renewal function becomes Administration operational again. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate PAMS’s manual handling of membership renewals. Rest assured that the problem will review be fixed eventually.
With regard to the slow response time on financial matters, we were able to identify National Secretary Ilke Brueckner- a certain communication breakdown. In future, any delays will be brought to the Klein reports on how AUSIT is improving attention of Shweta immediately, who will administrative and other processes ensure that matters are addressed swiftly. The basic structure of our new website is now coded and we can move forward ince the National Council’s meeting in Rodriguez (National Treasurer), Yveline on adding the content (store products, Brisbane in February, which I reported Piller (Acting National Treasurer), Richard texts, events, news, etc.). We saw a great S on in the previous AUSIT — In Touch, Gerner (PAMS Director), Shweta Desai response from quite a few members to our your NC has been busy, mostly behind the (PAMS Administrator), and myself, (National eFlash in mid-April asking for volunteers scenes. Apart from ongoing business such Secretary). keen to contribute their skills as editors. as processing membership applications, Sam Berner, who is managing this project, Whilst NC and AUSIT at large recognise NC has been looking into streamlining will contact volunteers as their services the contribution of PAMS to the running of administrative processes. We engaged are needed. Thanks to all who put up their AUSIT, there is a general consensus that we PAMS as our professional administrators hands. Your contributions will be greatly could work together even better and more about one and a half years ago, so it was appreciated! time for a review of their performance. expeditiously. However, our main concerns As AUSIT continues to move forward, it is were related to the handling of lapsed On a closing note, I would like to remind important that our processes match our memberships and PAMS’ slow response you of our 2010 Biennial National evolution. time with regard to financial matters. Conference to be held on 5-6 November in Fremantle, Western Australia. Check out the We wanted to discuss with PAMS (i.e. Due to communication problems with details at www.ausitconference.org and be Richard Gerner and Shweta Desai) what the current host of the AUSIT website, the inspired! works well and what needs to be changed database is basically dysfunctional. This for the benefit of both PAMS and AUSIT. has caused a lot of confusion regarding Should you wish to contact your National A virtual meeting was held via Skype one membership renewal notices and, Council, please send an email to afternoon in mid-April. The attendees were understandably, has resulted in unhappy [email protected]. Sam Berner (National President), Diana and frustrated members. PAMS has now
2010 Biennial National FIT ID card MyLanguage National Conference Update Conference Now is the time to send off your application We are proud to announce another for an FIT card. The cost to AUSIT members Watch out for this major event, exploring fabulous plenary speaker for the is AUD$37. the use of new media technologies to assist ‘Synergise!’ Conference: Frank Palmos, CALD communities in achieving greater To download the application form co-translator/editor of Bao Ninh’s novel The social inclusion and maintaining cultural go to http://www.ausit.org/pics/ Sorrow of War, which was recognised by and linguistic identity. The conference will FITCARDAPPLICATION.pdf. the Society of Authors as one of the top 50 be presented by the State and Territory translated books of the 20th Century. To download an image of the card and Libraries of the ACT, Northern Territory, holder go to New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, The conference website: http://www.ausit.org/pics/fitidphoto.pdf. Queensland and Western Australia. These www.ausitconference.org has new images libraries host the MyLanguage web portal, of Professor Frommer teaching the Na’vi Applications are to be sent to: which provides links to information in over language, complete with projected PO Box 193 60 languages at www.mylanguage.gov.au. overhead shots of some vital expressions in Surrey Hills that language. Vic 3127 Representatives from culturally and along with the payment. linguistically diverse communities, peak Registrations are coming in now. bodies, government, service providers and Remember, the financial year ends Payment options: public libraries are all invited to attend. soon! We look forward to receiving your 1) Call 1800 284 181 with your credit card registration. handy. When: 9-11 August AUSIT Conference Organising Committee 2) Your cheque or money order should be Where: State Library of New South Wales, made payable to AUSIT National and sent Sydney • Please note that DVDs of the 2008 AUSIT to: PO Box 193, Surrey Hills, Vic 3127. Email: [email protected] National Biennial Conference held in Brisbane are now available for sale from Interpreters and translators can apply for Website: http://www.mylanguage.gov.au/ AUSIT. the FIT ID card. cgi-bin/conference/index.cgi
A U S I T — I N T O U C H / A U T U M N 2 0 1 0 5 N A T I O N A L B I E N N I A L C O N F E R E N C E AUSIT Vice-President meets Na’vi language creator in LA
USIT Vice-President Tea Dietterich Na’vi lines convincingly. travelled to Los Angeles in mid- Since the release of A March to meet Professor Emeritus Avatar, Na’vi has Paul Frommer, creator of the Na’vi attracted a worldwide language for James Cameron’s film community of enthusiasts, Avatar. Tea confirmed Professor Frommer’s who are assisting engagement as keynote speaker for Frommer in expanding Professor Emeritus Paul Frommer and Tea Dietterich. the 2010 Biennial National Conference the language further. He in Fremantle on 5-6 Nov 2010 and spent is now working on the several days in LA learning more about Martian language for Disney’s upcoming skills of employees of National Iranian the linguist and Professor of Clinical film, John Carter of Mars. Radio and Television in Tehran, to a PhD Management Communication at the AUSIT is very excited to have Professor in linguistics at USC, where he completed University of Southern California’s Marshall Frommer as guest speaker at this year’s a dissertation on an aspect of Persian School of Business. Tea also finalised details AUSIT National Conference in November. grammar. He followed this with a ten-year of Prof. Frommer’s forthcoming trip to AUSIT members and conference delegates sojourn in the business world as a Vice- Australia and organised a Skype hook up will also be able to meet Professor Frommer President and strategic planner for a Los with AUSIT President Sam Berner, the edited in person, learn more about his projects Angeles corporation. Returning to USC in text of which appears below and overleaf. and pick his brain on how to branch out the mid-1990s, he joined the faculty of what into the film industry and other sectors. is now Marshall’s Center for Management In 2005 Prof. Frommer was hired by James AUSIT is extremely fortunate to have him at Communication, serving as director of Cameron to develop an entirely new the conference. This is a unique networking the centre from 2005 to 2008. He currently language for the Na’vi, the indigenous race opportunity and we recommend you teaches Advanced Writing for Business and of humanoids living on the moon Pandora secure your place at the conference by Cross-cultural Business Communication for in Cameron’s groundbreaking filmAvatar . registering ASAP at Non-native Speakers. In addition to determining the sound system www.ausitconference.org. and grammar of the language, Professor Frommer constructed vocabulary and Professor Paul Frommer’s career has taken Professor Frommer is principal co-author, translated the Na’vi dialog not only for him from teaching secondary school with Edward Finegan, of Looking at Avatar itself but also for the related video mathematics and English as a second Languages: A Workbook in Elementary games. He also worked closely with the language with the US Peace Corps in Linguistics, the fifth edition of which is actors in the film to help them deliver their Malaysia, to helping upgrade the English scheduled to be published within the year. The Pandora’s box of xenolinguistics Part one of Sam Berner’s exclusive interview with Professor Emeritus Paul Frommer
Sam Berner: Thank you Prof. Frommer, and I realised that I have a sort of a it is the fact that language is people’s for making the time and allowing us to talent for languages. It didn’t start there, window onto culture, and so learning a interview you. Let’s start with a question as my first foreign language is actually language — if you learn it in the context of about yourself: Linguistics is not a very cool Hebrew; I was sent to a Hebrew school as a culture — opens your eyes to a different area for a young man to pursue. What got a young boy, for the preparation for my way of looking at the world. I had two you into it? Bar Mitzvah. I also learned Latin in high experiences of that: one, as I already school, and French and some German mentioned, was in Malaysia. The second Paul Frommer: Well, it actually has in college. I knew I liked languages, but I one was in Iran. In the mid-1970s, when the something has to do with my two years really discovered my passion for languages Shah was still in power, I went for a year to in Malaysia. I used to work with the US when I was in the Peace Corps, so when Iran. I taught English as a second language Peace Corps. I had graduated from the I returned to the States, thinking what I in a program run by the USPC and really University of Rochester with a degree in wanted to do, I decided to investigate wanted to learn as much Persian as I could. Mathematics, and wasn’t very sure what linguistics. I became a graduate student at Because of that, my experience was very, to do in life. I was encouraged by one of the University of Southern California — that very different from the experiences of my teachers to join the Peace Corps, so I was in 1971… most of my colleagues, who did not want got an assignment to teach for two years to learn the language, could not push in Malaysia. I was on the east coast in a SB: Considering you know that many themselves to acquire it. Because I was little town, teaching mostly maths and languages, how does this affect the way interested in the language and wanted to also some English. I ended up teaching you see the world? associate with the people, I met a whole in the local Bahasa, Malaysia’s national PF: … Partly I think it is a question of the new group of people who made my language. It was a wonderful experience, various languages themselves, but mostly experiences, I think, so much richer…
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SB: Can you, for the benefit of our readers, Na’vi language, helping each other with it. only language that has this complex system explain what alien languages are? There are some people who are getting so is in fact a native language of Australia, proficient in this that I am actually getting which I think is called Wankumara. So PF: Well, an ‘alien language’ is a language long emails written entirely in Na’vi, and this when you do something like this, I think it spoken by aliens. They pretty much exist at is something that I never anticipated. is very difficult to come up with something the behest of people like James Cameron, that you can claim is absolutely unique, who has created an alien world… … I encountered a young fellow with whom that no language on the face of the earth I spoke on Google, a language enthusiast Now prior to, I don’t know, maybe 20- has done this before. If you come up with who has seen the movie 23 times. I realise 25 years ago, aliens very often spoke something like that, it will be very difficult, if this is a bit obsessive, but that is the sort gibberish, and it didn’t seem to bother not impossible, for humans to learn it, while of thing that happens to the people who anyone. I am not that much of a science the premise of the movie is that human want to maintain a relationship with this fiction fan, but I believe that in the earlier beings have in fact learned that language. world and one way to do this is to learn versions of the Star Trek movies people So it has to have elements that humans can and use the language. There is also — and were speaking just any old alien-sounding adapt to… this has really surprised and delighted me stuff which didn’t have any structure to it. — there is a small group of people who are That all changed with Klingon. Klingon was SB: As you just said, humans in the film linguistically very sophisticated … And some a language developed from the Star Trek were able to master Na’vi. What is very people are sending me very sophisticated series of course, and was developed by much missing in that film are interpreters. coding questions about Na’vi. Some of a genuine linguist, someone called Marc There are two instances where Neytiri is these questions are making me realise Okrand, with a background in the native interpreting for Jack, and she teaches him that I need to clarify certain enquiries, American languages, and he developed the language. But it kind of reflects the that certain things could be clearer, and a very complex, very well-constructed same kind of power imbalance that we certain things need to be elaborated. They language, with consistent phonology, have in the real world, where the aliens help me understand the language that I morphology, syntax. So much so that right learn English first and the aliens very often created myself, probably to an extent that now there is a translation of Hamlet in become interpreters and the cultural I would not be able to do as quickly on my Klingon, which I don’t think anyone ever brokers. We see this in Australia, we see own… One thing that is coming out of the anticipated... this in the United States, we see this in communities now, as you mentioned, is that all English-speaking countries. From the So, that was pretty much the task, or we need to expand the vocabularies. We business point of view, where do you see the charge, I was given — develop have maybe a little bit over a thousand this global linguistic imbalance going? a language for this culture, an alien words right now, and that is not enough. culture on the moon Pandora, four-point- I received, just within the past week, a Gee. That is a difficult question. something light years away. That would 79-page document, that about 30 or 40 Linguistically, I guess, the global imbalance be a real language, with all the real people have worked on. Remarkably well is due to the fact that English is so powerful, elements of a language, and it would organised, it is a document in which people isn’t it? And that it, more than anything be incomprehensible to the audience. are asking for additional vocabularies and else right now, certainly has became One difference I think between Na’vi and have organised it in some various semantic the international language. Whether it Klingon is that Klingon was deliberately classes: words about the physical world, remains so... you know, some people say designed to be somewhat harsh, in keeping words about the spirituality of the Na’vi and that a hundred years from now Mandarin with the people talking. We went the so on. It is an ongoing process, and it is very might take over. What you say is certainly opposite direction with Na’vi, which was exciting. true, — there definitely is an imbalance. from the start supposed to be an appealing In terms of the movie, the structure, how SB: You have become the Bard of Pandora, language… the interaction of the two languages on haven’t you? Pandora worked out — that came from SB: There are already YouTube videos PF: Well, to a certain extent I think I have. James Cameron. Originally, there was teaching Na’vi, so it is taking off, and I They are giving me various titles; again this going to be more about how the Na’vi think there will be more vocabulary to it, is nothing that I sought, but it is something learned English. Apparently Grace had because what you have created was sort that has been sort-of given to me. One of developed a school, and that is where of limited. my titles is Sempul Lì’fyayä, which means Naytiri and Tsu’Tey and Moat speak some PF: Yes. To me the most interesting part of ‘Father of the language’; there is also Karyu English. the whole adventure has been in the last Pawl, which means ‘teacher Paul’, and it few months, after the movie came out. The seems to be the way people are happy to By the way, in terms of interpretation, if you movie came out on 18 December in the go, so it is remarkable… recall that almost towards the end of the United States. In three months a genuine movie there was a consecutive, almost community has developed, and I think I SB: Did you model Na’vi on any of the simultaneous interpreting, when Jake really can use that word. Mainly, people all languages you know? would be talking to the clans in English, and over the world are getting together, and … Yes, [I took] different things from different Tsu’Tey would be interpreting into Na’vi. So one reason they can do that is because languages, but the combination as far the assumption was they had a pretty good of the Internet. They are getting together, as I know is unique, and there are things grasp of English. Whether that is realistic or they are helping each other learn the that I think I have invented very much on not, well, is hard to say. language. I have nothing to do with this my own, that I haven’t seen in any other in terms of organising the community; languages. It has an interesting case that was something that came entirely system, a tripartite case system … It treats from the fan base. They started a website the subject of an intransitive verb, the called learnnavi.org. At this point — last subject of a transitive verb, and the object time I checked — it had something like of a transitive verb each in different ways. The concluding part of this interview will be 148,000 posts to the forum, in, I think, 17 or These three elements will have different published in the winter issue of AUSIT — In 18 different languages. People discussing markings. By the way, as far as I know the Touch in August/September.
A U S I T — I N T O U C H / A U T U M N 2 0 1 0 7 I N D U S T R Y I S S U E S The translation dilemma — to share or not to share
Below are just some of the new features Rahzeb Choudhury that will be made available in the coming Operations Director, TAUS Data Association months: Late May Free open API (Application Programming Interface) s this newsletter goes to print, the The idea is that sharing ever-larger sets for TAUS Search, meaning TAUS Data Association Strategic of translation memories helps to improve that anyone can integrate Roadmap Consultation will be closing. consistency of term use and translator A this powerful terminology This consultation has sought to obtain the productivity, and improves machine improvement tool into their industry’s collective wisdom in prioritising a translation quality. own environment; long wish list to get the most out of shared The evolution is irreversible: from closed to translation memories. The aim being to turn June TAUS Data Association blog open standards, from translation memories an open, legal and secure system from a to help report more use, give on desktops to enterprise servers to industry- supercloud (giant web-based database) guidance on good practices shared platforms. Sharing language data into an operating platform benefitting when dealing with shared accelerates automation and innovation in everyone involved with translation. data, and more; the translation industry. That’s why some of MultiCorpora’s MultiTrans — The whole is greater than sum of its parts the biggest companies are doing it. fully integrated for seamless The information age has led to an insatiable Okay, but how is this legal? upload and download; demand for multilingual content that simply You are probably thinking: yes, okay, July Lionbridge’s Translator cannot be met by existing proprietary but what about ownership of content Workspace — fully integrated; business models or by the current capacity and copyright? TAUS Data Association of around 300,000 professional translators works with a data-sharing agreement October Translation matching live with worldwide. which explicitly deals with copyright and open API — to enable people Early in 2007, TAUS (Translation Automation intellectual property rights. You should also to download tailor-made User Society), a global community of 65 know that legal ownership of individual translation memories with full organisations, began to look into what translation units (segments) is hard to and fuzzy matches only; and industry-wide tools would be needed to defend. If the original translated document GlobalSight — fully meet the ever-increasing commercial and cannot be recreated, the words and integrated. societal demand for translation. The TAUS phrases are free (like entries in dictionaries) community soon concluded that a shared and may be used to support translators and One other feature in the pipeline is the industry database of translation memories automate translation. Also, everyone can ability to create private vaults, which will was a fundamental building block for choose to share for the TAUS Search only allow users to share and leverage with a supporting future growth and innovation to (i.e. stipulate that their translation memories defined group of people or organisations help bridge the divide between demand cannot be downloaded). only, rather than with everyone. We and supply. The Roadmap encourage people to share as widely as legally possible, but recognise that in some TAUS Data Association was founded in We’ve learned during the last year that cases private vaults enable you to get your 2008 by 40 international organisations, most users want more intelligent access to work done more efficiently. and the system went live in the summer of the data as well as access to features from 2009. TAUS is a non-profit, member-driven their own translation tools/environment. Sharing language data is a natural organisation providing an open, neutral, After all, the database already contains 2.6 evolution for the industry. The difference legal and secure framework for sharing the billion words in 314 language pairs. Some with TAUS Data Association is that our world’s translation memories. It’s a platform language pairs contain close to 100 million association is member driven and industry for making translation easier, faster and words. It’s obvious that people want help to sanctioned. Sixty-five organisations and better. find the most relevant language data. many more translators have already joined, and are combining investments (that is, member fees) to create an environment The evolution is irreversible: from closed to open which helps everybody involved with translation. It’s not about shareholder standards, from translation memories on desktops return: it’s about creating an open and to enterprise servers to industry-shared platforms. level playing field where our collective investments, translations are brought Sharing language data accelerates automation together and put to the best use possible — and innovation in the translation industry. That’s to help the world communicate better. why some of the biggest companies are doing it. Visit www.tausdata.org to learn more.
8 A U S I T — I N T O U C H / A U T U M N 2 0 1 0 C O R R E S P O N D E N C E Letters IPIA campaign benefits all interpreters T/Is off migration list
Dear colleagues, A new list of skilled occupations — issued by the Department of Migration and I am writing to you while wearing all my development, and many other benefits, Citizenship and used for migration purposes professional hats at once. Here in WA such as casual loading, which can go up — has been released. Good to see that my AUSIT colleagues know me as a long- to 50% of pay at night. translators and interpreters are no longer on serving active interpreter. In fact, I have Many of us think we can stop now, but I it. AUSIT made several submissions over the been interpreting in Australia for 25 years. think that there is a lot more to be achieved years in this respect. After I had been working for a few years in WA, as well as in the other states. If we The 60 points so generously given for I realised that I was being treated like a were to be more organised and spoke migration, regardless of demand in the mushroom (as in, kept in the dark and fed more about how we are exploited by our LOTE, misled potential migrants into BS)... I was told I was a professional yet I employers, both federal and state, we believing they could make a decent living never received professional treatment from would elevate the consciousness of those here in this field. They would come here employers, was never paid for the work of us who think the status quo is written in with their costly NAATI accreditation (into I was doing, and I felt I was subsidising a stone. their LOTE only, as advised on the NAATI service the government was supposed to If we were to create the same situation we website) only to find, in the words of one provide. have created in WA in every state, soon of them, that in their country, they were a When the appropriate moment came we would be taken more seriously and respected professional, with a steady job, I thought it time to act, so a handful of would be able to negotiate a better deal earning more than an above average us formed the Independent Practising for ourselves. In the last few weeks we have income, and enjoying a low cost of living. In Interpreters Association (IPIA). That was started a campaign at the federal level, Australia they earned little, the cost of living 2003; back then we never believed we trying to get a better deal out of DIAC, TIS was high and the consideration low. would achieve as much as we have in and Centrelink. This is going to benefit all I mentored several of them, who all had to six years. The work we have done for our interpreters in Australia. deal with this disappointment. Two of my colleagues here in WA spans many pages. Should you require any information please mentees went back. This new list is good Our most important achievement do not hesitate to ask — we are here to news, I say. though has been in making over 140 help each other. http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/ interpreters casual employees of the Kind regards, general-skilled-migration/pdf/new-list-of- Health Department of WA. This means they occupations.pdf earn $120 per job, plus superannuation, Sergio Cooper insurance of all sorts, free professional President of IPIA Yveline Piller Justice lost in translation
on-English speakers, Indigenous Australia and Western Australia, Victoria is is often hidden due to the fact that not people and those who are speech lacking the capacity to provide access to everyone who requires interpreting services N or hearing impaired are being interpreters. will be aware of their own interpreting disadvantaged in the Victorian civil justice needs, or will not necessarily come forward The report estimated that at least 30,000 system due to an inability to access and seek such services. Victorians may require the assistance of an interpreters. interpreter for the approximately 80,000 civil The report recommended the creation According to a report released today disputes which arise each year. of a fund to provide interpreters for those by the Law Institute of Victoria and involved in Victorian civil proceedings, and While access to interpreters is available produced by the Interpreting Fund Scoping urged the Victorian Government to back during all stages of the criminal justice Project, people who have difficulties a pilot project examining the demand system, it is extremely limited in the civil communicating in English face substantial for interpreting services at Community justice system. obstacles which jeopardise their access to Legal Centres, for lawyers who provide justice in the civil system. According to the report’s findings, one pro bono services, and for those within the of the primary difficulties in accessing Magistrates Court system. ‘They may not be able to participate interpreters is the prevalence of unmet or speak on an equal basis with others, This article was first published on 14 April demand for civil interpreting services. This access legal services, or even be aware 2010 at: is where people or organisations seek, but that a legal issue has arisen,’ said Access to do not receive, interpreting services, either http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/blogs/ Justice Committee Chairman Mark Woods. because an interpreter is unavailable, top_stories/archive/2010/04/14/justice-lost- ‘It’s hard to win your dispute if you can’t or because the person in need is unable in-translation.aspx understand what is being said.’ to afford or access funded interpreting and is reprinted here with the kind services. permission of Lawyers Weekly. The report found that in comparison to the Commonwealth, Tasmania, South The report also found that unmet demand
A U S I T — I N T O U C H / A U T U M N 2 0 1 0 9 I N D U S T R Y I S S U E S
and fast; many of those present would Need for court have been happy to stay on well beyond the scheduled end of the session. It was gratifying to see many new faces, and interpreting training one could scarcely imagine a more vivid demonstration for new members of the value of AUSIT membership.
I’m sure many of those attending were left pondering one of the great dilemmas to emerge from Sandra’s thought- provoking address: improved status and subsequent increased remuneration for court interpreters will only come about NSW Senior Practitioner Bob Desiatnik attended as a result of providing improved, more Assoc. Prof. Sandra Hale’s presentation uniformly professional interpreting services to the courts. But those improved services USIT is fortunate to have as a • the consequences of inadequate must, to a great extent, be the result of member Assoc. Prof. Sandra Hale, an interpretation (up to and including greatly expanded, specialised pre-service internationally recognised scholar with mistrials or successful appeals); training, the high cost of which must be met A by individuals already earning — oh yes — an outstanding record of achievement in • issues related to the status, or lack adequate remuneration. Hmmm. the fields of teaching and interdisciplinary thereof, of court interpreters, and to their research, as well as in hands-on translation working conditions and remuneration; I could not help but be reminded of the and interpretation. On 24 April close to and closing remarks of Barry Jones’ 2004 Jill 50 members (a great turnout for a long • the need to sensitise the judiciary and the Blewett Memorial Lecture: weekend) were treated to a feast of legal profession generally to the role and information on the need for specialised I understand that as our world becomes importance of interpreters in the delivery court interpreting training. The session increasingly fractured and complex, of social justice to all comers, regardless reflected the full measure of Sandra’s with the development of expertise and of their linguistic/cultural backgrounds. accomplishments and experience, her technical vocabularies that require passion as an advocate for such training, The presentation included numerous textual translation and/or interpretation even and her pioneering research in this area. examples illustrating the difficulties faced in within the same language family, let the court setting and how they have been alone another one, the challenge for Sandra’s presentation, which was well handled — or mishandled — by individual professionals will become even greater tailored to members’ needs and interests interpreters. There were also a few ‘dummy — and the rewards even less adequate. and supported by meticulously prepared runs’ for participants to try in their own [Emphasis added.] PowerPoint slides, ranged over such areas LOTEs. as: Whether it was intended to be understood as a gloomy prediction or merely as an • why specialised skills are needed in a Sandra’s polished, flowing (and at times expression of concern about what might court setting; wickedly humorous) presentation aroused excited interest among those attending. lie ahead, I’m sure Dr Jones would be • what language abilities individuals must The questions and comments came thick delighted to be proven wrong on the last possess before the development of those point. skills can be contemplated; With people like Sandra Hale patiently • aspects of ‘discoursal competence’ and but resolutely pursuing the task of altering the various strategic speech modes used current perceptions, and achieving both by lawyers to achieve particular effects higher standards and increased recognition (e.g. ‘You see, Mrs Smith, I put it to you for court interpreters (and, indeed, the T&I that you didn’t, as you say, forget that profession at large), there are grounds for you’d placed the items in your bag, that optimism. in fact you put them there to conceal them and to steal them, didn’t you?’ At the time of preparation of this article — try decoding then interpreting the arrangements were in hand for Sandra’s messages being directed to the judge PowerPoint notes and the video recording and/or jury as well as the witness!); of the entire session to be made available • the impact of testimony presented via the AUSIT website. through interpreters and the ways in which interpreters can influence that impact (for better or for worse); • the challenges of cross-linguistic and cross-cultural ‘disconnects’ between source and target languages, and the strategies that can be used to bridge them; • the usefulness of formal training (as perceived by interpreters and legal practitioners); Assoc. Prof Sandra Hale.
10 A U S I T — I N T O U C H / A U T U M N 2 0 1 0 P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T
ifteen AUSIT members and associates attended an entertaining and lively Personal challenge of F workshop on ethical challenges for professional translators and interpreters at International House in Parkville on Saturday professional ethics 13 March.
The workshop explored the theme ‘Behaving ethically according to the role negotiated with the customer’ and was a learning experience for all. Those attending had a huge range of backgrounds and experience and willingly shared their discoveries as they faced challenges in their work. This was indeed a fascinating Workshop presented on 13 March insight into how customers viewed T/ in Melbourne by Brad Paez (Vic) Is and into the wide variation of trust the public demonstrates towards us as a profession. These experiences highlighted to tailor communication services in line will empower the T/I to find adequate the theoretical concepts I presented in the with customer expectations, even when resources for facilitating successful service workshop. those expectations are highly challenging. delivery. I explained that practitioners will Underlying any translator’s effective ultimately enjoy more respect and benefit I suggested that professionals need to management of communication is the from increased status in society. Customer clearly separate professional ethics from appropriate application of professional expectations can continue to be met personal morality in order to provide judgement to proactively intervene, because high demand jobs combined objective customer-focused service. solving problems quickly as they arise. This with high levels of resourcing will, through Indeed, to behave according to a judgment, based on the ethical imperative negotiation, often result in higher incomes professional persona is not only important of professional behavior, presupposes that for T/Is. Customers who clearly appreciate to enhancing customer service, it also T/Is will exercise duty of care by attempting the value of professional services are facilitates psychological self-control among to ascertain customer expectations before prepared to pay higher — just ask any practitioners and builds emotional resilience commencing an assignment. The fear specialist lawyer or medical practitioner! — an ability in high demand in today’s of inaccurate interpreting is therefore exhausting consumer society where ‘the The workshop will be presented again in able to be conquered. If anything goes customer is always right’. the future, with the aim of reaching more unexpectedly wrong, the preparation members in regional and country areas A particular customer’s concept of mentioned above will help ensure T/Is do where AUSIT members practise. More the T/I’s role impacts on how we apply not assume responsibility for the failure of details will be released in coming months. ethical principles; furthermore, more other people to communicate clearly! experienced professional T/Is are able Moreover, awareness of expectations SA/NT Branch Connect IT n Saturday 6 March SA/NT Interpreters the experiences of a traveller between two Found — in Translation’, in which she and Translators networked and very different worlds, Asian and Western. related an experience illustrating the connected during Writers Week Or, to put it another way, a foreigner, a constant yearning of a bilingual, bicultural O woman, immerses herself in Japanese person for the world s/he happens to be during a well-attended CONNECT IT meeting at Caos Café in Adelaide. culture and language and builds bridges of exiled from at any given moment. Many an love as she does do. immigrant to this country of Australia would We were privileged to be addressed by Dr readily empathise and concur with her. Wendy Ella Wright. Wendy lived in Japan Wendy led us, almost imperceptibly, for sixteen of her formative years, where into her world, which includes the field During our meeting one could not help but she received her BA in Comparative of specialised translation. She renders be impressed by Wendy’s very specialised Culture from the Sophia University, Japanese poetry into English poetry. Forget knowledge of ancient and contemporary Tokyo. She later graduated as Doctor of what we know about Traduttore traditore. Japanese creative literature, her approach Philosophy, Department of Humanities As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe put it: to its translation, and her creativity. and Social Sciences, from the University of When translating you must approach Her passion quickly resonated with her Adelaide. Her expertise and interests are that which is untranslatable. Only then listeners; they asked many questions which far ranging and include interpreting and will one perceive the other culture and she answered willingly. By encouraging translating, comparative culture of the the other language. participation she held the audience’s visual and performing arts, Asian studies attention and created a friendly and There may be those who agree that it takes and art, Japanese studies, contemporary interactive atmosphere. a poet to translate poetry — this certainly Australian literature and contemporary applies to Dr Wendy Wright. While living in Many thanks to Dr Wendy Wright for being theatre, contemporary poets of Tokyo and Japan she had her translations and poetry guest speaker, and to Claudia Aït-Touati for the world, and creative writing. She also published in major poetry magazines. arranging this special meeting. generously donated some copies of her first published novel, The Air of Tokyo, to her As part of an international writing panel Susanne Blaschka listeners. The book is a creative reflection on Wendy contributed a paper, ‘Lost — and AUSIT SA/NT
A U S I T — I N T O U C H / A U T U M N 2 0 1 0 11 P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T New prize for young Congratulations Helen! elen Murphy, member of AUSIT and WAITI, former Treasurer of AUSIT WA, translators H current member of WA NAATI RAC and the TAFE Industry Advisory Committee, arvill Secker, part of The Random with no restriction on country of residence. this year celebrates thirty uninterrupted House Group, is celebrating 100 years years as a provider of outstanding The winner’s name will be announced in of publishing quality international T&I services to users while maintaining H September 2010 and the winning translator an outstanding work relationship with writing with the launch of a prestigious new will receive £1000, a selection of Harvill prize for young translators. practitioners through her own business. Secker titles and Waterstone’s book What an achievement for a small business Launched on Monday 19 April in vouchers. practitioner! conjunction with Waterstone’s, the annual The judges are Margaret Jull Costa Young Translators Prize will be presented to Helen always uses experienced and (translator), Nicholas Shakespeare a translator at the start of their career and qualified practitioners, applies stringent (author) and Briony Everroad (editor). will focus on a different language each quality practices, and negotiates fair Prize founder Briony Everroad comments, year. In 2010 — the inaugural year — the rates and deadlines while still making a ‘I think translation is terribly important, chosen language is Spanish and entrants handsome living out of her business. and excellence in the field can often will be asked to translate El Hachazo, a When congratulated on this milestone, pass unnoticed. The aim of this prize is to short story by the Argentine writer Matías Helen responded that she believed her encourage a new generation of talent, Néspolo. business had survived and grown because and I hope that it will provide a much- of the professionalism and talents of The short story and details on how to enter needed opportunity for young translators to the wonderful group of translators and can be found at www.harvillseckeryoung gain wider recognition for their work.’ interpreters who work with her. translatorsprize.com. The prize is open to anyone between the ages of 16 and 34, Press release sourced by Barbara McGilvray Helen Murphy has a Degree in Modern Languages and Commerce and is a NAATI- Grammar — the importance of punctuation accredited Professional German>English A man and a woman were asked to add punctuation to the following sentence: and French>English Translator. A woman without her man is nothing. By Diana Rodriguez-Losada The man wrote — A woman, without her man, is nothing. The woman wrote — A woman: without her, man is nothing. Sourced by Mona Jabbour
School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics LCL
Monash PD program to begin second round
The first round of the Monash University Professional Development and Internship Program (Translation & Interpreting) was successfully held in January-February with an attendance of 50 participants, including both new and experienced interpreters and translators. Round one of the program, which receives funding and support from the Victorian Multicultural Commission, comprised two entry-level modules in community interpreting and two specialisation-level modules in legal interpreting and translation. Feedback was very positive, with the participants appreciating the opportunity to engage users of interpreting services from government agencies and the legal profession in discussions about the ethical, linguistic and cultural issues in the interpreting process. They also commented on the usefulness of the sessions led by highly-experienced interpreters and interpreter-trainers, as well as the benefits gained from networking opportunities.
Round two of the program will begin in mid-June and participants will be able to choose from four modules: an entry-level module in Community Interpreting and Translation, and three specialisation-level modules (Health Interpreting 1, Legal Interpreting 2, Translation Technology).
For more information, including fees and application forms, please access the Monash University Translation and Interpreting Studies website: http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/translation-interpreting/prof-development.php
Enquiries: [email protected]
12 A U S I T — I N T O U C H / A U T U M N 2 0 1 0 P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T National Guide of Expert Witnesses
In July 2010 the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) or choose from a range of advertising lawyers. Many of our members have been will launch the first edition of theNational sizes. Advertisements may be supplied or asking for such a publication for some time, Guide of Expert Witnesses. created here to meet your requirements. so I know it will be very well received.
Containing an extensive listing of Go to http://www.liv.asn.au/PDF/News/ If you have any queries, please don’t experts across many specialist areas, this ExpertWitnessGuide_RatesAssociations for hesitate to contact me on 03 9607 9496, or publication will be an invaluable resource the media kit containing further information. Marese on 03 9607 9337. for lawyers. Expert witnesses are frequently We’re very excited about this guide and Jackie Nemy required by our members and the greater think it will be a fantastic resource for Law Institute of Victoria legal profession when preparing cases and for court appearances.
The Guide will be distributed free to practising lawyers in July via the Law Institute Journal (LIJ), New South Wales Are you LinkedIn? Law Society Journal and Queensland’s Proctor journal. It will also be distributed to the national media. This means that over 46,000 copies will be distributed to The AUSIT group on LinkedIn is the perfect starting point for Sometimes it’s lawyers in Victoria, New South Wales and online networking. It also enables you to make contact with a small world, Queensland. individuals outside AUSIT who are connected to your fellow In recognition of the expertise and AUSIT members. Joining the AUSIT group on LinkedIn is a and that’s professionalism of members of the fast track to building your e-network. Take advantage of your what LinkedIn Australian Institute of Interpreters and AUSIT membership. Joining LinkedIn gives you an instant Translators Inc, LIV would like to offer your is about community to grow your network quickly. Why wait? Get members a discount of 15% for any listing they require in the 2010/2011 National your online networking underway. To join just visit: Guide of Expert Witnesses. http://www.linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=1933378 Members can take up a standard listing
INTERPRETING AND TRANSLATION RESEARCH GROUP PRESENTS 3rd ANNUAL RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM TECHNOLOGY AND THE FUTURE OF TRANSLATION: RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES 16-17 JULY 2010 Bankstown Campus, University of Western Sydney International guest speaker: Professor Anthony Pym Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain The theme chosen for this year seems of particular importance, as the web changes the environment in which professional translators work. Machine translation is already used in some settings jointly with translation memory to fill those target segments for which no match is found in the memories. Is post-editing machine output the future of professional translation? Web technology allows for hundreds of unpaid volunteers to complete tasks that before required tightly managed projects involving only professionals. What would distinguish professionals from non-professionals in the coming decade? Attendance is free of charge, and registration now open at http://www.uws.edu.au/itrg/interpreting_and_translation/itrg_research_symposium.
Papers and workshops will be based on the results of original research or practice on any aspect of language technology and the future of translation. Some of the suggested topics for the symposium are (list not exhaustive): • Translation Memory Tools • Localisation and Internationalisation • Machine Translation • Web-based Collaboration • Audiovisual Translation • Speech and audio processing • E-Learning and T&I Training • Research Analytical Tools The symposium will be of interest to T&I researchers, educators (TAFE and universities), language service providers and practitioners. We look forward to seeing you at the symposium. Assoc. Professor Sandra Hale Dr Ignacio Garcia, Senior Lecturer A U S I T — I N T O U C H / A U T U M N 2 0 1 0 13 N Z S T I N E W S 2010 NZSTI conference news Peter Tuffley for the 2010 Conference Planning Team
his is the first of a series of information TIMETABLE — WHEN YOU NEED TO ARRIVE bulletins that will be issued as The conference will be held over the T conference details are finalised. weekend of 10-11July. The Society’s AGM will follow on from Sunday’s conference LOCATION proceedings, with the conclusion likely to As in 2007, this year’s conference will be be around 4.30pm (depending on how held at the main campus of Christchurch long it takes to get through the business of July from 8.15am Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT). the AGM). Formal Opening — Keynote Address The campus is located in the south-eastern While the program and timetable details 9-9.30pm approx corner of the Christchurch CBD, within the have not yet been finalised, you may find Conference Dinner area bounded by Moorhouse Avenue, the following details helpful in planning your Saturday 10 July 6.30pm Madras Street, St Asaph Street, Ferry Road trip. and Barbadoes Street (you can expect it Further information, including information to take you up to an hour to get there from Registration about accommodation in Christchurch, will Christchurch Airport, depending on your Evening of Friday 9 July (during pre- be issued in the near future at means of travel). conference social event), also Saturday 10 www.nzsti.org. Writing past each other? Literary translation and community
and Samoan English; New Caledonian and Tahitian French; French; German; Patrick Geddes Greek; Italian; Japanese; Korean; Malay; Editor of Word for Word, NZSTI’s journal Malayalam; Māori; Persian; Polish; Russian; Ecuadorian, Mexican and Venezuelan Spanish; Spanish; Tahitian; Tongan; Yoruba; International Conference on Literary a sense of community across local and and Xhosa. Translation international boundaries. How can a lack of such exchange contribute to the isolation Papers have been offered by literary Te Tumu Whakawhiti Tuhinga o Aotearoa of literary cultures? How is globalisation translation scholars and practitioners from a / The New Zealand Centre for Literary affecting international literary exchanges? wide range of countries: Australia, Belgium, Translation How might translation contribute more to Brazil, Canada, China, France, French Victoria University of Wellington, New literary communities? Polynesia, Greece, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, Zealand, 11-13 December 2010 Korea, Malaysia, New Caledonia, Russia, While papers on how these issues are Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, and USA. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Lawrence Venuti and articulated in the Asia-Pacific region are a Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak special feature, we have also welcomed As a special feature of the conference, we proposals on a wide range of topics related are organising translation workshop sessions Metge and Kinloch (Talking Past Each to practical and theoretical aspects of with noted New Zealand poets. There will Other: Problems in Cross-Cultural literary translation and covering cross- also be an evening reading session. We Communication, 1978), explore the ways cultural linguistic interaction from across the plan to publish selected papers from the in which those from diverse backgrounds globe. conference in a refereed volume. misread important cultural differences in everyday life. At this conference we hope There will be over 80 presentations relating For further information and registration go to explore how literary translation promotes to the following languages: Brazilian to awareness and appreciation of such Portuguese; Classical and Modern Chinese; http://www.victoria.ac.nz/victoria- differences, while simultaneously creating Croatian; Dutch; Australian, New Zealand conferences/default.aspx
14 AA U U S S I IT T — — I IN N T T O O U U C C H H / / S S U U M M M M E E R R 2 0 1 0 B R A N C H R E P O R T S
achieve agreement on the finer points of new members’ admission requirements, Branch Reports which should be finalised very soon. The NSW treasurer has taken steps to ensure our small bank balance earns interest when not in use.
In addition to my Principal Delegate NSW responsibilities, I am also a member of the NAATI RAC. I was able to help an AUSIT Yveline Piller member obtain much needed NAATI stamps for recognition languages, without AUSIT NSW Principal Delegate which the member was losing jobs. At the National level, I am also the Acting The NSW committee continues to move interactive workshop on useful tips and Treasurer in the absence of the General forward on a wide range of AUSIT issues. tricks for translators. I gave a demonstration Treasurer, and took part in a review of We sadly wished ‘bon voyage’ to Nathalie of keyboard shortcuts, function keys, PAMS services to ensure better processing Ramière, who assisted the committee auto-correct functions and many other of new applications, lapsed memberships efficiently as Secretary until February, but little-known MS Word features. Participants and renewals - the core of AUSIT’s income. welcomed Willya Waldburger, who kindly offered their own tips for improved New rules have been proposed to the volunteered to take the position for the rest accuracy or efficiency. This sharing of ideas National Executive to ensure a fairer of the year. gives translators the ability to be more process for all. In line with this, I worked productive or to take on unusual jobs. Uli together with Yahoo Groups Coordinator The PD committee has been busy Priester presented the advanced methods David Connor to ensure subscribers to this organising professional and networking he applies to sensitive jobs which are valuable service are financial members. opportunities to suit both translators and delivered electronically. interpreters. Recent PD events included a Do visit the NSW branch website at workshop on legal interpreting presented At the time of writing, an editing workshop http://sites.google.com/site/ausitnsw/home on Saturday 24 April by UWS Associate was planned for 13 May. Presented by for on-going information on local events. Professor Sandra Hale, which received Meryl Potter, it promised to be well attended. Members are also welcome to attend as enthusiastic feedback from participants. The NSW committee has also been working observers the monthly committee meetings A month earlier, 24 members met in an with the Qualifications Committee to held in the Sydney CBD.
Business Skills Workshop In March, AUSIT dynamo Sam Berner Qld presented a workshop on business skills for translators. Many came to the Brisbane Square Library to participate Rona Zhang AUSIT Qld in the workshop and feedback was enthusiastically positive, with most Branch Chair & Veronique commenting on how much of what Maes Qld Branch PR Officer they learned could be immediately implemented. The workshop covered marketing, dealing with clients, The beginning of 2010 witnessed a very speeches and interactive participation, we management and contracts. active and eventful period for the Qld had welcomed over 20 new AUSIT members. April-June 2010 Calendar branch. Our PD Coordinator Alanna Wilson- It will be great to see some new faces at Duff has put together a PD calendar with future AUSIT events. 28 Apr to 2 May — German Film Festival a great variety of workshops to cater for 26 May — Finance for Freelancers Notice of Qld Chair’s Leave different subgroups in our membership. 21 to 31 May — Spanish Film Festival Though experiencing some challenges, I wish to inform you of my absence in 20 Jun — Mid-year family picnic the majority of our events have been order to attend the World Expo Project in successful, including two chat breakfasts, Shanghai from April to October this year. 24 Jun — Online Presence Workshop several workshops and the Orientation The Qld Committee has decided on the 30 Sep — Qld Branch AGM following arrangements during my leave: Day. Yet we still have many exciting PD Please note: This calendar is provisional and workshops and events planned for you. 1) Vice-Chair Ita Szymanska will be Acting dates for these events may change. We welcome and value your continued Qld Chair from 30 March to 14 May and Welcome to new members Lian Hua Ng, participation and support! from 11 August to 30 September; Melinda Hollingsworth, Daniele Heinen, Orientation Day Success 2) Former Qld Chair Tea Dietterich will be Che-Yi Yang, Yingying Zhang. The AUSIT Orientation Day held at the Acting Qld Chair from 15 May to 10 August. Congratulations to Senior Practitioner Rona University of Qld on 27 March was a The above arrangements will be valid until Zhang great success. The event attracted over the next Qld AGM on 30 Sep 2010. 120 participants, including many UQ T&I [Editor’s note: This branch report is a Thank you for your understanding. students. At the end of the eventful day selection of material taken from AUSIT Qld of high-profile presentations, inspiring Rona Zhang, Chair, AUSIT Qld Talkabout, the Qld branch’s e-newsletter.]
A U S I T — I N T O U C H / A U T U M N 2 0 1 0 15 27th to 29th 27th to 29th Translation memories — to share or not? 30th30th to to 31st 31st Conference keynote speaker coup
AUSIT membership policy update Court interpreter training art & text based graphic design
+ Quarterly Newsletter of the Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators Inc Volume 18, number 2 — Autumn 2010 Room 18b 1 Halford St Castlemaine Vic 3450 03 5472 5315