The Voice of Interpreters and Translators THE ATA May/June 2017 Volume XLVI Number 3

UNRAVELING TRANSLATION SERVICE CONTRACTS

A Publication of the American Translators Association DC, an event hosted by the Joint National Committee for Languages and the National American Translators Association Council for Languages and International 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 Studies (JNCL-NCLIS). ATA Past President Alexandria, VA 22314 USA Caitilin Walsh, who now serves as ATA’s Tel: +1.703.683.6100 JNCL representative, joined dozens of Fax: +1.703.683.6122 other delegates from language-learning E-mail: [email protected] FROM THE PRESIDENT organizations and language industry Website: www.atanet.org representatives to meet with congressional DAVID RUMSEY staff members to lobby for greater foreign- Editorial Board [email protected] language education and the importance Geoff Koby (chair) Twitter handle: @davidcrumsey of translators and interpreters in helping Jeff Alfonso American businesses succeed.2 Investing Corinne McKay in language learning and educating Michael Wahlster government officials about what we do will ATA Advocacy bear fruit in the future as the world becomes Publisher/Executive Director even more tightly connected. Walter Bacak, CAE Efforts ATA offers many other ways to plant [email protected] seeds and flowers to improve the language here’s a mantra in real estate that says, landscape in the U.S. The long-running Editor “location, location, location.” Which and popular School Outreach program Jeff Sanfacon T is to say, no matter where your house helps fertilize the soil at the roots by [email protected] is built, it’s the neighborhood that really having translators and interpreters meet establishes its value. In terms of ATA and the with local children to expose them to Proofreader U.S. translation and interpreting industry as what translators and interpreters do and Cathy Lada a whole, our neighborhood could use a little to foreign-language learning in general. Advertising tender loving care. Particularly now. ATA’s Public Relations Committee Lauren Mendell Despite its massive size and rich history also sponsors business outreach through [email protected] of immigrants from around the globe, the its pool of event speakers, who address U.S. still considers itself to be a primarily audiences from a variety of industries. Tel: +1.703.683.6100, ext. 3001 monolingual, English-speaking country. Presentations explaining the basics and Fax: +1.703.683.6122 As a result, “translation” and “interpreting” finer points of translation and interpreting Design & Production are still largely alien concepts for a vast to business audiences have been held at the Blue House Design portion of the population. Philadelphia Bar Association, the American www.bluehouse.us In an effort to “improve the Chemical Society’s Annual Conference, and neighborhood” for our industry, advocacy the Society for Technical Communication The ATA Chronicle (ISSN 1078-6457) is published plays a key role. ATA has been sponsoring Summit. ATA will also be present at the six times per year by the American Translators advocacy and outreach efforts on a International Association of Business Association, 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590, number of fronts. Communicators’ World Conference this Alexandria, VA 22314 USA. Periodicals postage A report by the American Academy of summer. Since many audience members 1 paid at Alexandria, Virginia, and additional Arts and Sciences and a related effort by don’t have a background in foreign mailing offices.POSTMASTER: Send address the American Council on the Teaching of languages, they are incredibly appreciative changes to The ATA Chronicle, 225 Reinekers Foreign Language (www.leadwithlanguages. of any guidance through the landscape. org) paint a language landscape in the As we know, like gardening and Lane, Suite 590, Alexandria, VA 22314 USA. U.S. that’s in dire need of attention. landscaping, advocacy is a job that is never The American Translators Association (ATA) Language learning programs have dropped done. It requires regular attention to make was established in 1959 as a not-for-profit precipitously in recent years, and with sure the seeds we planted grow strong and professional society to foster and support the them the chance to train new translators tall and don’t get choked by the weeds professional development of translators and and interpreters. Where will tomorrow’s around them. It takes time and effort by interpreters and to promote the translation and translators and interpreters come from dedicated volunteers, who help to bring interpreting professions. The subscription rate for to meet the growing need for Chinese, passion, patience, and understanding to an a member is $25 (included in the dues payment). Arabic, Hindi, Farsi, Korean, and many industry that we care about deeply.  The U.S. subscription rate for a nonmember is $65. other languages that are rarely taught in Subscribers in Canada and Mexico add $25; school? Less exposure to foreign-language NOTES all other non-U.S. subscribers add $45. instruction also leads to clients with 1 “America’s Languages: Investing in Single copies are available for $7 per issue. little understanding of language issues in Language Education in the 21st Century” business or government settings, making (American Academy of Arts and Sciences, ©2017 American Translators Association translation and interpreting projects all the 2017), http://bit.ly/AAAS-report. more challenging. 2. Walsh, Caitilin. “Advocacy Matters,” Reprint Permission ATA recently participated and sponsored The ATA Chronicle (March-April, 2017), Requests for permission to reprint articles a Language Advocacy Day in Washington, 11, http://bit.ly/ATA-Chronicle-advocacy. should be sent to the editor of The ATA Chronicle at [email protected].

2 The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2017 www.atanet.org May/June 2017 Volume XLVI CONTENTS Number 3

FEATURES 21 Key Components of Successful Translator Recruitment 11 A fundamental tenet of language Unraveling Translation services is that an organization’s Service Contracts translation product will only be If translation is such a specialized as good as the translator who professional service, where provides the target content. That’s so much is at stake for the why vendor recruitment must be end client, why are so many counted among the most critical translators operating without the of processes for translation firms. protection of a solid contract?

14 Remote Interpreting: ADVERTISING DIRECTORY Feeling Our Way into the Future 28 Landmark Audio Technologies LLC www.landmarkfm.com While it’s probably impossible 36 National Security Agency to quantify exactly how www.NSA.gov/Careers much mobile technology has influenced and expanded human communication, it has completely changed how just about everyone on the planet communicates. 14 COLUMNS 2 From the President 17 5 ATA Social Media Tablets for Interpreters: 5 Letters to the Editor The Device You Didn’t Know 6 From the Executive Director You Wanted 7 ATA Finance and Audit You may already be using an Committee Report Android mobile device or iPad to browse the web, play games, 9 Outreach Report or stream video. But did you 25 Our World of Words know that tablets also make great companions for interpreters? 29 Business Practices Read on for some great tips 31 Resource Review to get started. 34 Certification Forum 35 Announcements

Looking for Member News and Humor and Translation? These columns and more can now be 21 found in the Chronicle-Online edition: www.atanet.org/chronicle-online!

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Transitioning from Student to Translator | ATA Statement Regarding President Trump’s American Translators Meghan Mccallum And Sarah Puchner Executive Order On Immigration | Association A great article with useful advice and a very Chronicle-Online Extra April 11 helpful list of resources in the footnotes. We need to be watchful in defending the interests of our colleagues from Iraq and other Linguists say most Balkan Thank you, Sarah and Meghan! targeted countries. We can achieve so much Victoria B languages are the same. And more as an organization than each of us can nationalists are mad about it individually (although please note some members No amount of nationalism, From the article “Transitioning from Student to of our Gainesville, Florida, translator/interpreter it appears, can Balkanize a Translator” (March-April): “It can be very exciting group met recently to send postcards to language. Twenty-five years once jobs start pouring in…” our representatives). This is hardly typical for the vast majority of after the former Socialist translators entering the market these days. It Kate Walker I Gainesville, FL Federalist Republic of is deceptive to write as if it were and harmful Yugoslavia was split into Serbia to those considering a translation career. Most (which later split again to students are finishing their studies deeply in debt form Montenegro in 2006), and with little prospect of paying it off in a timely Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, fashion through the few number of jobs they and Macedonia, a group of manage to get. linguists have declared that Claudia P Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian, and Montenegrin are all just versions of the same language. (Macedonian and Slovenian languages remain different.) Read on: http://bit.ly/BalkanLanguages

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www.atanet.org American Translators Association 5 FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WALTER BACAK, CAE [email protected]

Board Meeting Highlights Candidates Announced he American Translators Association’s Orleans, Louisiana (2018), Palm Springs, ATA Elections | 2017 Annual Board of Directors met April 22–23, California (2019), Boston, Massachusetts Conference | Washington, DC T 2017, in Alexandria, Virginia. The (2020), and Minneapolis, Minnesota (2021). ATA will hold its regularly scheduled Board met in conjunction with the Website: Following discussions at the Certification Committee and Language winter Board meeting about the need to elections at the upcoming 2017 ATA Annual Chairs meetings. (Each exam language revise ATA’s website, the Board approved Conference in Washington, DC, to elect combination has a language chair the establishment of an Ad Hoc Website a president-elect, secretary, treasurer, administering the passage selection and Committee. The Board also approved the and three directors. Further nominations, graders. ATA currently offers testing in 28 appointments of the committee members: supported by acceptance statements in language combinations.) Karen Tkaczyk (chair), Catherine writing by each additional nominee and a Here are some highlights from the Christaki, Michèle Hansen, Jamie Hartz, Board meeting. written petition signed by no fewer than 60 and Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo. voting members, must be received by the Working Budget: The Board approved Certification: Certification Committee Nominating and Leadership Development the July 1, 2017–June 30, 2018 working Chair David Stephenson briefed the Board Committee by June 1. Acceptance statements budget and the 2018–20 draft budgets. on developments in the Certification The approved budget of $3.22 million is and petitions should be submitted to Program. Highlights included the dramatic Nominating and Leadership Development a slight increase over the current budget increase in the number of computerized Committee Chair Dorothee Racette of $3.19 million. The working budget exam sittings—and their success—and that provides an interim financial framework. the Chinese>English work group is just ([email protected]). Candidate statements By using this interim budget, changes and about ready to seek Board approval to offer and photos of the candidates will appear revisions can be made based on the actual Chinese>English certification. in the September/October issue of The year-end figures. The final budget will be ATA Chronicle and on ATA’s website. The approved at the next Board meeting. Gode Medal Award Committee: The Board approved the appointment of the candidates proposed by the Nominating and Presentation of Candidates: The members of the 2017 Gode Medal Award Leadership Development Committee are: Nominating and Leadership Development Committee: Past President Nicholas Committee, chaired by Past President President-elect (two-year term): Hartmann (chair), Past President Caitilin Ted Wozniak Dorothee Racette, presented the slate Walsh, President David Rumsey, Director of candidates for this year’s elections Cristina Helmerichs, and Honors and Secretary (one position, two-year term): for President-elect (two-year term) Ted Awards Committee Chair Lois Feuerle. Lois Feuerle Wozniak, for Secretary (one position, two- The Gode Medal is ATA’s highest and Karen Tkaczyk year term) Lois Feuerle and Karen Tkaczyk, most prestigious award that recognizes Treasurer (two-year term): for Treasurer (two-year term) John Milan, outstanding contributions to the and for director (three positions, three-year translating and interpreting professions. John Milan terms): Jennifer Guernsey, Tony Guerra, (Nominations are still being accepted.) Director (three positions, Geoff Koby, Elena Langdon, Madalena The Board meeting summary and minutes Sánchez Zampaulo, and Kyle Vraa. (Please three-year terms): will be posted online once they are approved. Jennifer Guernsey see the sidebar for more information.) Past meeting summaries and minutes are Tony Guerra 2022 Annual Conference Host Hotel: always posted online at www.atanet.org/ Geoff Koby The Board approved the Westin membership/minutes.php. The next Board Bonaventure Hotel, Los Angeles, meeting is set for July 29–30, 2017. The Elena Langdon California, as the host hotel for the 2022 location is to be determined. As always, Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo ATA Annual Conference. The Conference the meeting is open to all members, and Kyle Vraa schedule is: Washington, DC (2017), New members are encouraged to attend. 

6 The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2017 www.atanet.org ATA FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT BY EVELYN YANG GARLAND, JOHN MILAN, AND TED WOZNIAK Projecting the Cost of ATA’s Annual Conference The conference pricing tool was designed to provide conservative figures for both revenues and expenses in accordance with good accounting practices.

HOW DOES ATA PROJECT THE COST OF THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE? efore 2015, the budget for ATA’s Annual Conference was based B largely on historical trends in terms of the costs, such as food, beverage, and audio visual support. The registration fee for the conference was often set based on how popular previous conferences had been in similar locations and what price the Board thought the membership would bear. However, the actual numbers sometimes deviated significantly from what was budgeted. When this happened, the result would be a financial loss for the conference. This was particularly the case once staff overhead costs were calculated at the end of the year. The 58th Annual Conference will be held in Washington, DC, October 25–28, 2017. In cases where the revenue of the conference was less than its cost, the the accuracy of the conference registration To tackle the first challenge, the ad difference had to be paid with money fee based on all of the costs. hoc team decided to include multiple that ATA received from other sources, scenarios in their analysis. As experience such as membership dues. For past HOW WAS THE CONFERENCE PRICING suggested, the number of conference conferences, membership dues covered attendees normally fell within the 1,500– much of the staff overhead costs. This TOOL DEVELOPED AND USED? 2,000 range. So, the team ran several allowed the conference to remain In late 2015, ATA’s Finance and Audit analyses—one assuming 1,500 attendees, more affordable, but it also meant that Committee tasked an ad hoc team to another assuming 1,600 attendees, and members who attended the conference project the net revenue for the 2016 so on up to 2,000 attendees. These were being subsidized indirectly by the Annual Conference. The team consisted analyses would tell us which scenarios dues of those who did not. of two of the authors of this article, would result in the highest and lowest net In 2015, in an attempt to further Evelyn and John. incomes. Additionally, the team acquired improve ATA’s finances, the Board decided The team faced two challenges. First, historical data that showed attendance to stop subsidizing the conference with no one ever knows precisely how many trends based on the conference location, membership dues from those who chose people will attend any given conference, which allowed the team members to not to attend the conference. (See “Money so the team can only make a best guess as make a more informed estimate of which Matters: The Story Behind Numbers and to how much food and beverage (F&B) attendance scenario was more likely to Board Decisions,” by Ted Wozniak and will cost, and how much ATA will receive occur for the 2016 conference. Evelyn Yang Garland.1) Therefore, the from conference registration. Second, For the second challenge, a careful Board made a concerted attempt to ensure there are many variables on the cost side, review of the cost data from past that the Annual Conference would at least making the total cost a moving target. For conferences revealed that among dozens break even. To achieve this goal, they example, some conference hotels may of cost items, four accounted for 45%– needed to determine the staff overhead work with different unions, which may 55% of the total cost. These four major costs and include them in the budget involve additional charges for various cost items were: the Welcome Celebration, for the conference. They also needed a services during the conference. This adds breakfasts, coffee breaks, and audio/visual conference pricing tool to help improve to the total cost. (AV). So, the team decided to focus on

www.atanet.org American Translators Association 7 ATA FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT continued obtaining pricing information on these Given that the conference incurs Evelyn Yang Garland is an ATA four items and then projected the total director and a member of ATA’s cost by adding a certain percentage to the the highest expenses and generates Finance and Audit Committee. She is the owner and manager total of these four items. the most revenues among all ATA Having found solutions to both of Acta Chinese Language challenges, the ad hoc team built a programs, a net surplus from the Services, a firm specializing mathematical model for projecting the in Chinese to/from English translation for cost of the Annual Conference. This conference is a major contributor to business, legal, and government clients. In addition to managing the firm, she spends a model had one input variable—the ATA’s sound financial footing. significant portion of her time translating and number of paid attendees—and four editing, with a special interest in advertising major parameters: unit F&B price for and marketing projects. She is an ATA-certified the Welcome Celebration reception, unit English>Chinese translator and Maryland F&B price for breakfasts, unit F&B price court-certified Mandarin interpreter based in the items were off the mark, but overall the for coffee breaks, and total AV price. The Washington, DC area. She recently led a team projections were as accurate as could be team then ran the calculation, each time that translated a book by Chinese President Xi with a different input number (attendance reasonably expected given the quality of the Jinping. Contact: [email protected]. scenario), and obtained a projected net obtainable data and uncertainty inherent in revenue for each of the scenarios. The the estimates and assumptions. John M. Milan is a member results were provided to the conference of ATA’s Finance and organizer (the president-elect), who set ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS Audit Committee. He is an the pricing for conference registration after The net surplus from the Annual ATA-certified translator (Portuguese>English), considering the projected numbers, input Conference is encouraging. Given that the economist, writer, and lecturer, from the Board and ATA staff, as well as conference incurs the highest expenses with over 20 years of experience in language other factors. and generates the most revenues among services. He has an MS in microeconomics from all ATA programs, a net surplus from Ohio State University, where he was a foreign HOW DID THE CONFERENCE PRICING the conference is a major contributor to language and area studies fellow, concomitantly TOOL PERFORM? ATA’s sound financial footing and can specializing in Portuguese translation during help expand the Association’s offering that his graduate studies. He also has degrees in The 2016 ATA Annual Conference in benefit all members. Over the past couple San Francisco (ATA57) currently shows international political economy and Spanish of years, the Association has made great from Indiana University, and studied abroad in a total revenue and cost of $1,064k and strides on its path to financial stability, Madrid, Spain, as an undergraduate. He has been $781k (including overhead of $160k), and it should continue to stay the course. involved in the Carolina Association of Translators respectively, for a net profit of $283k, and Interpreters (CATI) for over 10 years. He similar to $287k for ATA56 in Miami. The ACKNOWLEDGMENT served on CATI’s board of directors for eight net profit, however, will change upon the years and as its president from 2013-2016. From A tool that is not used is useless. While conclusion of the fiscal year ending on June 1996-2005, he was based in São Paulo, Brazil, the conference pricing tool proved to 30, 2017, when the conference overhead lecturing as an adjunct professor of economics be quite good, it was the conference of $160k is adjusted based on total annual at a local university while also working as a expenses and total staff hours, salaries, and organizer, Corinne McKay, who used the freelance translator and consultant. Contact: benefits. The final conference overhead tool in her decision-making and allowed it [email protected]. is expected to range between $200k and to help determine the registration fees for $265k, leaving a net conference profit the conference. The entire Board believed Ted R. Wozniak, an ATA-certified between $178k to $293k. in the importance of financial stability and German>English translator, The conference pricing tool was designed encouraged the development and use of is the treasurer of ATA. He has to provide conservative figures for both this tool. Our Executive Director Walter bachelor’s degrees in accounting and German and is a graduate revenues and expenses in accordance with Bacak, Accounting and Finance Manager of the Defense Language good accounting practices. The total revenue Kirk Lawson, and Meetings Manager Institute. Before becoming a freelancer, he was an was underestimated by a reasonable amount, Teresa Kelly played crucial roles in obtaining quality input data, and together accountant, stockbroker, liaison officer in Germany, as it should be. Major costs, including and an interrogation instructor at the U.S. Army F&B, should ideally be overestimated in a with Ted Wozniak, our treasurer, they reviewed and improved the tool.  Intelligence School. After pursuing graduate studies conservative approach, but for ATA57, F&B in Germanics, he became a German>English costs were in fact underestimated. This can NOTES translator specializing in finance, accounting, be taken into account when planning the 1 Wozniak, Ted and Evelyn Yang Garland. and taxation. He is also the president of Payment activities at the next conference. If the total “Money Matters: The Story Behind Practices, an online database of translation overhead comes in as expected, the end Numbers and Board Decisions,” The ATA company payment practices. He is the moderator result will be very close to the projection. As Chronicle (July/August 2015), 7, of Finanztrans, a mailing list for German financial expected, the projections for some individual http://bit.ly/Chronicle-July-August. translators. Contact: [email protected].

8 The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2017 www.atanet.org OUTREACH REPORT BY ANTONIO E. GUERRA Navigating Language Access in Legal Proceedings at the Philadelphia Bar Association

s members of ATA’s Public Relations Committee, those of us assigned as event speakers were asked last year to identify A groups or organizations in our area that might be target or receptive audiences to our mission of promoting professional language services. Being most comfortable with the legal profession because of my many years interpreting for depositions, I approached the Philadelphia Bar Association last fall about presenting a nuts and bolts review on proceedings that involve a foreign language and require professional linguistic support. My proposal was accepted enthusiastically. I was asked to develop my one-hour presentation into a three-hour continuing legal education seminar (CLE) that included an ethics credit. Given the opportunity to communicate in detail the ins and outs of our profession to a captive audience, I promptly accepted to present the course on March 8, 2017. The driving force behind this presentation came from the realization that the level of knowledge, experience, and comprehension for many attorneys, paralegals, and court personnel was uneven at best and, at worst, possibly also risky to clients, legal providers, and due process itself. As a fundamental There is an appetite and willingness from the legal principle of law, attorneys, judges, and the courts should provide a sound and reliable system of language access services. This community to learn and cooperate with language will help ensure fairness and the basic right to justice, and promote the integrity and accuracy of judicial proceedings. professionals in support of LEP individuals. Limited-English-proficient (LEP) individuals participating in a legal environment should be able to do so in a language they understand, and all parties should be able to comprehend one another throughout the proceedings. and manifest in daily practice of the profession in legal The three-hour interactive CLE session provided an in-depth proceedings; and look at what has and continues to generate the growing need for 7. Practical tips, do’s and don’ts for attorneys working with language access, why it’s so important, how it’s structured so as to interpreters during cross-examination and depositions. achieve effective results, and the circumstances when it’s required Within these categories, additional subtext covered issues by law. Topics included: around voire dire and proper identification of LEP persons, a 1. The growing demand and challenges of professional language humorous disaster video satirizing the use of a single “polyglot” access in courts and private practice; interpreter for an international meeting with multiple languages, 2. The perils of inadequate or nonexistent professional a step-by-step guide to Philadelphia language advocate Judge language access; Chen’s courtroom proceedings when an interpreter is involved, 3. The language services resources that are available and in place as well as many links to case law, resources, and services useful for fair and effective due process; to attorneys. Cognizant of my own limitations, I invited a prestigious panel 4. The local impact of foreign languages and LEP populations of local and state court, government, immigration, and linguistic due to immigration and changing demographics in the courts, experts for the last hour to present their unique perspectives and health care, education, and business; offer qualified guidance, while I served as moderator during the 5. The complexity of the cognitive, verbal, technical, and Q&A session. Panelists included: physical skills required of a professional interpreter and translator; Osvaldo R. Avilés 6. The rigorous training of legal translators and interpreters Administrator of the Interpreter Certification Program and the ethical standards and cultural nuances that govern Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts www.atanet.org American Translators Association 9 OUTREACH REPORT continued

In addition to the receptiveness to the core legal information, all of the ATA literature, including Interpreting: Getting it Right and half of the Translation brochures, were taken by attendees. These materials were placed strategically at the front of the room and the first break was used to bring everyone’s attention to them. A useful correlation was made during this time to help attendees understand how my local chapter, the Delaware Valley Translators Association (DVTA), works in concert with ATA, applying the comparison of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s dynamic relationship to the American Bar Association with respect to policy, guidance, standards, etc. A true test of a successful presentation is if one is asked to return and provide another. I was told afterwards that everyone appreciated the complexity of our job and the dedication to accuracy, excellence, and professional conduct. There is an appetite and willingness from the legal community to learn and cooperate with language professionals in support of LEP individuals. One participant mentioned a renewed interest in our profession because of the recent executive orders from the new White House administration. There is also a great interest in the increasing role of technology and how the trends will impact The driving force behind this presentation came the courts and other legal procedure in the near future. The Philadelphia Bar Association has invited me back to speak more at from the realization that the level of knowledge, length on this topic later in the year. experience, and comprehension for many attorneys, I was honored and proud to represent our terrific organization. This was another crucial step toward establishing paralegals, and court personnel was uneven at best. and gaining respect for our profession in an ideal setting to a receptive target audience. It was truly a win/win situation in which attendees left with valuable, practical knowledge. The quality of due process is preserved and enhanced by educating Janet C. Fasy potential buyers of translation and interpreting. In turn, we are Deputy Court Administrator able to promote our members. Court Reporters, Digital Recorders and Interpreters, First Judicial District An idea: The format and content could be easily adapted to other cities/states with their own Bar associations, presented by other Tsiwen M. Law, Esq. resident ATA translators or interpreters well versed in their state’s Law & Associates, L.L.C., Philadelphia legal administration of language services and pooling from local resources for panelists. I would be happy to share my presentation Rodolfo P. Téllez (Rudy) with anyone interested.  National Board Certified Medical Interpreter Pennsylvania Court Certified Interpreter Conference Interpreter Antonio (Tony) Guerra, chair of ATA’s Chapters Faculty and coordinator of the Interpreter and Translation Committee and the current president of the Delaware Valley Translators Association (DVTA), has more than 20 Master’s program at La Salle University years of experience in the management, marketing, and development of multicultural communications services. Each panelist brought to light their role in supporting language A native of Havana, Cuba, he has worked as an access in proceedings, as well as providing the fascinating independent contractor as well as in-house with companies and agencies. trajectory of the professional evolution in each of their roles in He is a Spanish<>English translator and interpreter specializing in legal, this continuously evolving practice. Using case studies, expert medical, government, and marketing. Besides chairing ATA’s Chapters practitioners addressed the challenges and obstacles, ethical Committee and DVTA’s Public Relations and Certification Committees, he dilemmas, and cultural considerations in their work. They is also highly involved in numerous volunteer activities for ATA, including offered practical solutions, some technology trends, forecasts, and serving the Interpretation Policy Advisory Committee, the Public Relations resources. The presentation material was very well received with a Committee’s Speakers Forum, and ATA’s Mentoring Program. Contact: great deal of interest. [email protected].

10 The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2017 www.atanet.org FEATURE BY PAULA ARTURO

which were also presented at ATA’s 57th Annual Conference in San Francisco. As you can see in Figure 1 on page 12, when asked about whether or not they used contracts, an alarming 48.7% out of 156 freelance translators answered “No,” and an even more astounding 64.1% claimed not to have their own terms of service. (See Figure 2 on page 12.) The results are surprising, especially when you consider that 82.1% of the surveyed group dealt with direct clients and were not necessarily relying on their clients to provide nondisclosure agreements (NDAs), purchase orders (POs), or any other legally binding document.3

TRANSLATION AS A SERVICE ATA members are probably familiar with ATA’s Translation Buying a Non- commodity—How Translation Standards Can Help Buyers and Sellers,4 which clearly explains, from a business point of view, what we mean when we say “translation is not a commodity.” But what does that mean from a legal point of view? Legally speaking, the contract pie is divided into three parts: contracts for the sale of real estate, contracts for the sale of goods, and contracts for the sale of service. Unraveling Translation Translation falls into the third category. But translation is not just any kind of service. If Service Contracts you look at the United Nations International Standard Industrial Classification of All Let’s examine what translation is to the law, what type of contracts translators should Economic Activities (ISIC),5 you’ll find have, some of the benefits of having a contract, and resources for drafting one. translation listed in Section M. This is the section for “specialized professional, common misconception about jurisdiction. Translation is no exception, scientific, and technical activities [that] require a high degree of training, and make freedom of contract is that, when and translation contracts are far more specialized knowledge and skills available it comes to agreements between complex than they seem. Thus, while one A to the user [emphasis mine].” Translation willing parties, pretty much anything may be inclined to think all that’s at stake is also defined under Class 7490 as goes. Although freedom of contract are deadlines and rates, the truth is that “service activities […] for which more restricts government or other forms of translation contracts govern sophisticated advanced professional, scientific, and interference or control over freely and relationships that may cross over technical skill levels are required.” 1 mutually convened agreements, contracts jurisdictions or country borders, often The reason translation is legally viewed are still limited by law. Therefore, if the involving third parties and even multiple as a service is because it makes specialist performance, formation, or object of an related contracts. skills available to the user. Translation agreement is against the law, the contract Contracts are a key element of doesn’t require the manufacture or itself is illegal.2 any business transaction, including production of goods, nor does it rely on In every area of contract law, what’s translation. To better understand how raw materials, which are the standard legal and what’s not depends on several translators operate, I conducted a brief criteria for something to legally classify as factors, such as applicable law and online survey last year, the results of a “good” instead of a service.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is provided for educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice or as an offer to perform legal services on any subject matter. Readers should not act, or refrain from acting, on the basis of any information included herein without seeking appropriate legal advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from an attorney licensed in their state or country. www.atanet.org American Translators Association 11 Unraveling Translation Service Contracts continued

PROBLEM CLAUSES on the other hand, stop translators If translation is such a specialized from approaching the agency’s clients or professional service, where so much is prospective clients. The problem with at stake for the end client, why are so this clause is, of course, the difficulty of many translators operating without the knowing who the agency’s “prospective protection of a solid contract? One possible clients” are. Meanwhile, non-dealing explanation based on the responses of the Yes—48.7% clauses are far more restrictive than non- group I surveyed is that many translators compete and non-solicitation clauses, refuse to enter into binding agreements No—51.3% and are designed to stop translators that contain “problem clauses.” from dealing with clients or prospective When asked specifically about clauses clients, even if the client approaches the that have stopped translators from signing translator and not the other way around. with clients,6 the following were cited as All three clauses are only enforceable in being either the most problematic clauses jurisdictions where they are legal and or absolute deal breakers from the point when they are for a set period of time, of view of translators: Figure 1: Survey Respondents Operating normally up to one year, though some with Contracts contracts stipulate up to three. Without a contract, you’re Payment of Translation Contingent Upon End-client Approval of the unprotected, and if the relationship Translation/End-client Payment of the Translation: Though also common goes south, it’s your word against in agency contracts, such clauses walk that of the non-compliant party. a dangerously thin line. A translator’s contract with an agency client is a Yes—35.9% separate contract from that of the agency with the end client. Unless both No—64.1% contracts are legally interrelated because Spy Clauses: By “spy clauses,” I mean of the complexity of the business any clause in which clients reserve the transaction at hand, it’s very likely that right to inspect their translator’s computer. the clause is unjustified. Interrelated While such clauses may not necessarily contracts involve specific types of be illegal, they should be reasonable transactions. Contracts don’t become and limited to situations that justify the interrelated by the mere desire of one intrusion, such as government contracts Figure 2: Survey Respondents Operating party to transfer risk to another. involving national security or other high- with their Own Terms of Service stakes translation jobs. Before agreeing Copyright: If a translation is intended as to such clauses, translators need to make Notification of Potential Opportunities: a work for hire, then the contract should sure that doing so doesn’t conflict with or This is the clause by which brokers either read “work for hire” or make it otherwise breach existing agreements with expect their freelance translators to otherwise very clear that the translation other clients who could potentially be notify them of potential new leads or is intended as a work for hire. Under affected by such inspections. If translators market opportunities, as opposed to U.S. law (as well as the law of many agree and authorize the inspections, trying to take advantage of the lead or other countries), if there is any ambiguity they’ll need to take necessary measures opportunity themselves. Though not in wording, then the translator owns to protect all private or confidential illegal, translators must exercise caution the copyright, which can then be sold, information and documents belonging to in judgment before agreeing to such a transferred, or licensed out. all their other clients. clause and make a thorough cost-benefit Indemnity/Limited Liability: Though analysis of the situation. TERMS OF SERVICE not illegal, this is yet another clause Non-compete/Non-solicitation/Non- When asked “Do you have your own that should be limited. When it comes dealing: These clauses are commonly terms of service,” an astounding 64.1% to such clauses, a point that often gets found in agency contracts. Non-compete of translators surveyed answered “No.” overlooked is that clients, brokers clauses are legal in the majority, though When asked why, reasons varied from (when applicable), and translators are not all, U.S. states. (They are also illegal in expecting clients to be the ones doing the all equally responsible for ensuring that many countries.) In translation contracts, drafting to being afraid of scaring clients the translator is actually right for the job. they are basically clauses designed to away. Some respondents claimed email is Therefore, placing all the burden on a stop translators from competing with their enough for proof of contract, which is a single party may not pass a fairness test. agency client. Non-solicitation clauses, claim that is only true in some countries.

12 The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2017 www.atanet.org While one can understand why some contribute to the deprofessionalization 2 Atiyah, Patrick S. An Introduction to professionals are a bit apprehensive of of translation. Against that backdrop, the Law of Contract, third edition contracts, the benefits of having a solid I would argue that a well-drafted (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1981). contract outweigh the hassle or perceived contract that takes into consideration 3 Here is the link to the Translation (though unfounded) risk of sending a client all the complexities and nuances Contracts Survey: http://bit.ly/ your terms and conditions before working involved in a translation helps increase contracts-survey. on a translation.These benefits include: the client’s perceived value of what 4 Translation Buying a Non-commodity— ƒ Protecting Your Business: Contracts we do, creates awareness about what How Translation Standards Can Help Buyers and Sellers, www.atanet.org/docs/ provide a description of responsibilities, separates professional translators from translation_buying_guide.pdf. establish a timeframe for duties, bind amateurs, and helps counter the trend 5 parties to their duties, help secure toward deprofessionalization. United Nations International Standard payment, and provide recourse if the Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities, http://bit.ly/ISIC-classification. relationship falters in any way. Without Translation contracts govern 6 a contract, you’re unprotected, and if the In this section, I use the term “client” in its relationship goes south, it’s your word sophisticated relationships that broadest possible sense to refer to both direct against that of the non-compliant party. clients as well as brokers and agencies. may cross over jurisdictions or 7 Dionne, Lionel. “Deprofessionalization ƒ Covering Attorney’s Fees and Court in the Public Sector” Communications Costs: When a translation is small, the country borders, often involving Magazine, issue 1, volume 35 amount of money the contract is for third parties and even multiple (The Professional Institute of the Public is usually also small. Therefore, if the Service of Canada, Winter 2009), translator doesn’t get paid, it may not related contracts. http://bit.ly/Deprofessionalization. be worth it for him or her to seek out 8 Epstein, Richard A. “Big Law and Big an attorney and file suit. However, your Med: The Deprofessionalization of Legal terms of service can include a provision and Medical Services,” International for reasonable attorney fees whereby the Review of Law and Economics, prevailing party in any dispute arising RESOURCES FOR DRAFTING CONTRACTS Volume 38 (Elsevier, June 2014), 64-76, under the translation agreement is Whether you’re among the 64.1% of http://bit.ly/law-deprofessionalization. awarded his or her reasonable attorney translators who don’t have their own 9 Pym, Anthony. “The Status of the Translation fees and costs. This creates a legal terms of service, or you have terms Profession in the European Union,” incentive to pay by making it riskier for of service and want to update them, http://bit.ly/deprofessionalization-translation. your clients not to do so. some excellent resources include ATA’s 10 ATA Translation Job Model Contract, ƒ Warding Off Deprofessionalization: Translation Job Model Contract,10 PEN http://bit.ly/ATA-model-contract. “Deprofessionalization, in its simplest America’s Translation Contract for 11 PEN America’s Translation Contract form, is the process by which highly Literary Translators,11 and PEN America’s for Literary Translators, educated and skilled professionals Translation Contract Checklist.12 Of http://bit.ly/literary-translation-contract. are first displaced and then replaced course, these models will need to be 12 PEN America’s Translation Contract with individuals of inferior training adapted to your local law, jurisdiction, Checklist, http://bit.ly/contract-checklist. and compensation.”7 Both the legal and particular business setting, so and medical professions are suffering seeking appropriate legal advice deprofessionalization through the from a lawyer in your area is also Paula Arturo is a lawyer, “substitution of standardized practices recommendable. While standard clauses translator, and former law and protocols for existing methods of are available online, the way the courts professor. She is a co-director production of professional services.”8 It interpret such clauses may vary from one of Translating Lawyers, a has been argued that the trend toward jurisdiction to another. A qualified legal boutique firm specializing in legal translation by lawyers deprofessionalization is affecting the professional in your area can help you for lawyers. Throughout her 15-year career, translation profession as well.9 adapt them to your particular needs.  in addition to various legal and financial Deprofessionalization often results documents, she has also translated several highly from the notion that no special NOTES technical law books and publications in major qualifications are required to do a 1 Freedom of contract is “a judicial international journals for high-profile authors, certain job. The overall lack of entry concept that contracts are based on including several Nobel Prize Laureates and barriers to the profession, widespread mutual agreement and free choice, and renowned jurists. She is currently a member of misconceptions about bilingualism thus should not be hampered by undue ATA’s Ethics Committee, the ATA Literary Division’s and translation, misrepresentations external control such as government Leadership Council, and the Public Policies Forum about advancements in machine interference.” Black’s Law Dictionary of the Supreme Court of Argentina. Contact: translation, and other similar trends (10th edition, 2014), 779. [email protected]. www.atanet.org American Translators Association 13 FEATURE BY BARRY SLAUGHTER OLSEN

everyone on the planet communicates. We’re now communicating in ways that we couldn’t have imagined at the turn of the 21st century—and across more borders, cultures, and languages than ever before. Consequently, interpreting services are often needed with much less lead time, sometimes instantly, in places where it was never needed before and in ways never conceived of previously. My hope is that after reading this article you’ll have a broader vision and better understanding of what remote interpreting is and may become, how it’s changing and expanding how we work, how clients access the services we provide, and how we have a once-in- a-generation opportunity to shape the way we will work remotely. What’s going on is game changing and shaking our profession from top to bottom.

THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT Let me begin with a brief analogy. In many ways, remote interpreting is like the proverbial elephant being described by several blind men who are touching it in different places. Unable to see the Remote Interpreting: entire animal, they must rely only on their sense of touch. Feeling Our Way into the Future “It’s long and round and it bends like a snake,” says the one touching the trunk. New communications technologies make interpreting available where it wasn’t “No, it’s hard, smooth, and pointed,” says another running his hand along one in the past. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the way we of the tusks. will work remotely, because what’s going on is game changing and shaking our Still another says, “No, it’s big and rough like a wall,” as he feels the elephant’s side. profession from top to bottom. And yet another touching one of the animal’s strong back legs says, “You’re all n April 2015, I published an article and of radical technological change that’s video on the blog A Word in Your Ear affecting society as a whole. Demand for wrong. It’s thick and round like the trunk by Lourdes de Rioja called “Technology interpreting is expanding and evolving of a tree.” I And so they argued, each convinced and Interpreting: Three Questions on because mobile communications Every Interpreter’s Mind.”1 In that video, technology has completely changed the that he was right and that the others I addressed some of technology’s broad way we communicate. Keep in mind that surely didn’t know what they were effects on interpreting. In this article, I’d this has happened in a relatively short talking about. The irony is they were all like to address a specific technology topic period. Not over a century or even over a right—at least to a degree. However, by that’s also on many interpreters’ minds— generation, but in about a decade. relying exclusively on their own personal remote interpreting. Ten years after the beginning of the experience, they were unable to piece Remote interpreting is a vast field smartphone revolution and the launch together the bigger picture. They were and one that cannot be done justice of the iPhone in 2007, it’s probably incapable of gaining a broader vision of in all its depth and breadth in one impossible to quantify exactly how much what the entire elephant looked like. relatively short article. What’s more, the mobile technology has influenced and I see something similar happening with growth of remote interpreting is taking expanded human communication, but it how interpreters often perceive remote place within a much broader context has completely changed how just about interpreting. Let me explain.

14 The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2017 www.atanet.org FEELING OUR WAY INTO THE FUTURE more opportunities for interpreters. Let’s ƒ In legal: multi-day trials and Interpreting today has many different talk about replacement first. evidentiary hearings; modes, settings, and specialties. Remote interpreting is replacing, and ƒ In conference and diplomatic settings: Interpreters work at the United will continue to replace, some (not all) sensitive negotiations and protocolary Nations, the European Institutions, face-to-face interpreting in medical, court, events, to name just a few. and in diplomatic circles. We work in and conference settings. Though many The pressure to reduce costs while courtrooms, boardrooms, and classrooms, lament this development, there’s little that increasing access to interpreting will police precincts, and prisons. We work can be done to stop it. The change is most continue. We must be articulate as we in hospitals and clinics, conflict zones, evident currently in health care settings explain why and in which scenarios and refugee camps—practically any in the U.S., where telephonic and, more face-to-face interpreting should be the place people come in contact and don’t recently, video remote interpreting (VRI) are being implemented at a quickening first choice, and the only choice in some speak the same language. The need cases. But we must also embrace new for interpreting services has expanded pace. Some face-to-face jobs are disappearing, but most are evolving. delivery methods and recognize that dramatically with the growth of In the courts, remote interpreting has reducing the overhead associated with international commerce, travel, migration, been a topic of heated discussion for providing interpreting (travel, per diem, and interaction among peoples and years, but the momentum for its use is and administrative costs) and improving cultures. The settings and requirements growing. In the U.S., at least two major access will require adaptation on our of each interpreting assignment vary remote interpreting pilot projects have part. Digging in our heels and refusing to greatly from one job to the next, but it’s all been launched and are in different stages change is a bad idea. interpreting—different parts of the same of development. The National Center for beast, if you will. State Courts (NCSC) began working on So far, the discussion of remote Demand for interpreting is a nationwide remote interpreting pilot as early as 2014.2 However, the current state interpreting among practitioners expanding and evolving because of this project is unclear. Also in 2016, the Judicial Council of California approved a has tended to revolve around what mobile communications technology pilot program for VRI in the state courts.3 we stand to lose, not what we has completely changed the way After a round of testing in 2016 to select the technology platforms for the VRI pilot, stand to gain. we communicate. two systems from different vendors are set to be deployed in various courtrooms across the state in July 2017.4 Many smaller courts across the country have Now, let me touch briefly on how either implemented or are considering Remote interpreting, like face-to- remote interpreting is expanding how to implement some form of remote face interpreting, is varied and has access to our services and creating new interpreting into their operations. many different implementations. The opportunities for interpreters. Resistance from court interpreters has technologies used for remote interpreting Remote interpreting is ideal for new been particularly strong in some states. are as varied—or even more varied— forms of communication, such as video In conference and diplomatic circles, than the current modes of face-to-face conferences, audio conferences, webinars, remote interpreting has been around interpreting. We must understand this to earnings calls, virtual press conferences, for many years, but the technical and see the bigger picture, because far too often and expert network interviews. Here financial barriers to implementation were we look upon other modes of interpreting are some actual examples of remote often prohibitively high. However, this is interpreting in action: through the lens of how and where we no longer the case. Instances of conference are used to working. Sometimes we even interpreters working remotely onsite (i.e., ƒ A United Nations agency conducts put blinders on, refusing to see that other from outside the actual conference room, executive committee meetings ways of working are not only possible, but but in the same building) and off site via via conference calls with remote potentially more efficient and effective. an online connection are growing. simultaneous interpreting in English As this shift to remote interpreting and French with participants on three REPLACEMENT OR EXPANSION? happens, it’s paramount that we clearly different continents. BOTH, ACTUALLY. understand and be good at describing ƒ A tropical fruit producers’ association Remote interpreting can be viewed as doing the value of face-to-face interpreting and holds biweekly meetings online in two things: replacing existing interpreting identifying the interactions where its use English and Spanish to discuss fruit models—what many view as a zero-sum is crucial. For example: production and export activities. game—but it’s also expanding access to ƒ In medical: trauma, end-of-life, and ƒ A South American nongovernmental interpreting in new ways and creating special needs scenarios; organization conducts webinars where www.atanet.org American Translators Association 15 REMOTE INTERPRETING continued

a group of panelists from different We must be articulate as we printed page has become only one of a vast countries presents the results of their array of content types that need translation. research to a global audience. The explain why and in which scenarios I see the initial stages of a similar webinars are held with simultaneous face-to-face interpreting should be development with remote interpreting. interpreting in Spanish and English, That said, face-to-face interpreting at which allows people to engage and to the first choice, and in some cases, conferences, in courtrooms, and health interact in their own languages. clinics will not disappear because of the only choice. remote interpreting. It will evolve. There ƒ An investment manager conducts an is great value in the long-standing modes interview over the phone with an expert of interpreting, just as there is great value in the mining industry in China with ƒ Fair remuneration for services in meeting people face-to-face to build remote interpreting (consecutive or and maintain relationships of trust and simultaneous) between English ƒ Audio and video signal quality work together. This will not change. and Mandarin. But it’s important to remember that To sum up, remote interpreting is interpreters aren’t the only professionals here. It poses both challenges and ƒ The International Federation of Red adapting to new communication opportunities. If we focus exclusively Cross and Red Crescent Societies technologies. Think of telemedicine, where on what remote interpreting will replace convenes an emergency teleconference the doctor and patient aren’t even in the in our profession—or what we stand to with simultaneous interpreting in same room anymore, or the thousands lose—it will seem threatening and scary. multiple languages to help nations of webinars and meetings that take place If we ask ourselves how it can fit into our around the globe coordinate efforts to by audio and videoconference every day. professional practice together with all of address the spread of the Zika virus. How can we insist that where we work the other modes of interpreting, we stand remain the same if our clients are no longer In these examples, none of the to gain and will be able to help shape the interacting the way they used to? participants met in the same place. future of international communication. Remote interpreting truly is a boon to And that’s a good place to be.  All of them were remote, just like the multilingual communication. It makes interpreters. In fact, none of these our services more available than ever NOTES meetings was ever planned to take place before and in new ways. As the market 1 Olsen, Barry. “Technology and Interpreting: face-to-face. The participants didn’t travel for our services expands, it diversifies. Three Questions on Every Interpreter’s to attend, so why should the interpreters? Put simply, that means things are not Mind,” A Word In Your Ear (April 14, 2015), These use cases put the interpreter into going to remain the same. Evidence of http://bit.ly/interpreting-technology. an interaction where in the past doing so this can be seen in how interactions 2 Video Remote Interpretation as a Business was either cost prohibitive or technically requiring interpreting have become much Solution, http://bit.ly/VRI-business. more varied in format and duration. impossible. But as these examples show, 3 “Council Approves Remote Access new communications technologies make Initiatives,” http://bit.ly/remote-courts. interpreting available where it wasn’t in WHAT WE STAND TO LOSE…AND GAIN Also see: “Video Remote Interpreting Pilot the past. As practitioners who are experts in our Project," www.courts.ca.gov/VRI.htm. own modes and specialties of interpreting 4 Faes, Florian. “Court Interpretation in (e.g., conference, court, and medical), we CHALLENGES AHEAD California Goes Virtual,” Slator (March 23, are keenly aware of what we stand to lose 2017), http://bit.ly/California-court. The growth in remote interpreting is not if the way we work changes. What we without its challenges. We must engage often don’t see is what we and society as with our clients and the technology a whole stand to gain if we evolve to offer Barry Slaughter Olsen is a developers to ensure appropriate working our services in new ways. veteran conference interpreter conditions, particularly for interpreters So far, the discussion of remote and technophile with over 20 who may work remotely all day. This interpreting among practitioners has years of experience interpreting, tended to revolve around what we stand includes addressing concerns like: training interpreters, and to lose, not what we stand to gain. These organizing language services. He ƒ The number of interactions interpreted conversations echo those had by translators is an associate professor at the Middlebury Institute per day starting in the mid-1980s, when the use of of International Studies at Monterey, the founder computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools and co-president of InterpretAmerica, and general ƒ The number and frequency of breaks such as translation memories began in manager of multilingual operations at ZipDX. He is ƒ Fatigue earnest. Technological advances affecting also a member of the International Association of translation have proliferated in the past 30 Conference Interpreters. For updates on interpreting, ƒ Isolation years and the types of translated content technology, and training, follow him on Twitter ƒ Stress have burgeoned. The written word on the @ProfessorOlsen. Contact: [email protected].

16 The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2017 www.atanet.org FEATURE BY HOLLY BEHL AND ALEXANDER DRECHSEL

but we don’t recommend this as it’s simply too rigid to work with over time. Similar criticism applies to spreadsheets (i.e., Excel files), which seem popular among interpreters. However, they are not very flexible, and there is the potential risk of getting your terms mixed up when something goes wrong during sorting. If you still prefer spreadsheets, some mobile apps1 you can use include Microsoft Excel (available on iOS and Android, free for basic use), Google Sheets (free on both platforms), or Apple Pages (iOS only, free with your device). Alexander prefers dedicated apps that work more like databases than spreadsheets. They tend to be more robust and provide more options for working with data. One example is Interplex, which has a long tradition on Windows computers and is co-developed by Peter Sand, an interpreter and member of the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC). Interplex is also available on mobile devices (iPhone, iPad) and lets you synchronize data through Dropbox. If you’re looking for a web-based solution, make sure to try Interpreters’ Help. In addition to robust glossary Tablets for Interpreters: The Device management features, such as reverting back to older versions when something You Didn’t Know You Wanted goes wrong, this app is also quite social- savvy when it comes to collaborating Just as increases in laptop storage and processing capacity led to the with other users and sharing your work on the “Glossary Farm.” Interpreters’ replacement of desktop computers, advances in tablet technology make it Help has a companion app for iPad, possible for users to streamline even more. called “Boothmate.” Android users should check out Memento Database, he latest tablets offer a host of preparation phase can really help you get a very user-friendly way to manage not streamlined tools for interpreters, up to speed on the topic at hand. And only glossary data, but also all kinds of T even in high-stakes settings like once you have a glossary for that topic other information (like client contact court and conference interpreting. How or, say, a specific conference or client, information or a to-do list). On top of standard spreadsheet features can interpreters take advantage of these it’s much easier to build it up over time. like filtering, sorting, or rearranging tools for business tasks, assignment Obviously, electronic glossaries are much terms, database-driven apps allow for preparation, and consecutive and easier to maintain and expand than paper faster searches and give you more control simultaneous settings? ones. However, this doesn’t preclude you Come along with us for a tour of some of over importing existing glossaries and from printing your electronic glossary for exporting your data—not to mention the the tools we recommend. After reading this an assignment, if you so wish. (But you additional possibilities to go beyond just you’ll have a better idea how to incorporate might as well just use your tablet.) words by adding images, video, or audio. tablet technology into your workflow. While we won’t go into the details of It may sound strange at first, but think what you should put in a glossary, we can about it: for highly technical topics like GLOSSARY MANAGEMENT show the different approaches that exist in medicine or engineering, visualizing terms A glossary is an important part of any terms of glossary management software. can make a lot of sense. As does recording interpreter’s toolbox. Building a list of The most basic approach would be the pronunciation of a difficult term in useful and important terms during the creating a table within a Word document, a short audio clip, or making a video www.atanet.org American Translators Association 17 TABLETS FOR INTERPRETERS continued

may have already worked on a shared Google Doc with somebody else online, but did you know that Google also has an online spreadsheet tool (aptly named Sheets) that you can use to collaborate on glossaries with remote colleagues? (Leonie Wagener, a Germany-based conference interpreter, has published a tutorial on AIIC’s website about this.2) The benefits of this approach are obvious. You can split up the workload of bigger conferences (e.g., by speaker or by language), you get valuable input from others, and there’s a built-in chat to discuss issues with the team. Everybody contributes, and everybody ends up with a solid glossary. Even if you work on your glossary solo, it’s a good idea to add terms during the assignment. After all, we often get the best terms from the people for whom we work, and we know the terms are relevant. This also means less work when you get back to the office, as there’s Figure 1: A screenshot of an Airtable glossary entry with an attached image simply no need to go through all the scraps of paper with scribbles on them that you usually bring home.

In some ways, using a tablet and stylus to take consecutive notes digitally instead of on paper is the holy grail of “tablet interpreting.”

FREELANCE BUSINESS TASKS For freelancers, tablets also offer a modern way to take care of administrative functions, even while you are on the move. Prepare estimates, invoice jobs, do bookkeeping, and keep up on marketing tasks—non-billable work that traditionally had to wait until you got back to the office—are now easily taken care of during long lunches or on the ride home. Figure 2: Buffer offers social media scheduling across multiple platforms in just a few clicks. For example, interpreters can use their mobile phone or tablet to send job invoices before they leave the building glossary for sign language. There are a lot on the web and mobile devices, and while the job details are fresh in the mind of potential uses. If you want to give it a can be used collaboratively. (See of both the freelancer and the client. This go, I recommend using an easy-to-use app Figure 1 above.) encourages prompt payment and cuts called Airtable. It brands itself as a mix of There is one more aspect where down on email exchanges to correct or a spreadsheet and a database, is available electronic beats paper hands-down. You explain invoices. Applications such as

18 The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2017 www.atanet.org Quickbooks and Expensify allow you to snap a photo of an expense receipt for automatic filing and categorization, thus avoiding lost receipts and menacing piles of receipts awaiting entry. For your social media marketing, try using Feedly and Alltop to track new content on your favorite websites and blogs, and Buffer to quickly schedule social media posts that share your favorite articles or promote your own content. (See Figure 2 on page 18.) Mailchimp, a service for email distribution lists, allows you to view and send your email campaigns and monitor their delivery statistics almost in real time. And speaking of email, it can be overwhelming at times, so why not try a few email apps for tablets that bring new ideas to the game, such as snoozing incoming email, read receipts, or sending messages later. If you’re intrigued, take a look at Newton (Android, iOS) or Spark (iOS). Figure 3: A screenshot of handwritten notes in the Notability app DIGITAL NOTE-TAKING Alexander: In some ways, using a tablet On top of standard spreadsheet Pencil, and they support cool stuff like and stylus (a digital pen that mobile audio recording. devices recognize on their touchscreens) features like filtering, sorting, Holly: I haven’t tested digital note-taking to take consecutive notes digitally or rearranging terms, database- on recent Apple products, but I’ve had instead of on paper is the holy grail of great results on Android tablets and my “tablet interpreting,” although it may not driven apps allow for faster current sweetheart, the Microsoft Surface immediately seem superior to the old way searches and give you more Pro 4 (laptop/tablet hybrid). of doing things. I think it’s simply a lot of Samsung tablets use the Android fun to try out! control over importing existing The perfect hardware combination for mobile operating system and come with this, in my opinion, is an iPad Pro with an glossaries and exporting your data a free app called S-Note that meets all my note-taking needs. For example, Apple Pencil. But unless you already own to another format. those two, don’t go out and buy them it offers continuous page scrolling (no just to see if digital note-taking is for you. searching for a button to go to the next Instead, work with the tablet you already page) and automatic deactivation of hand have. If you don’t own a stylus yet, recognition (ensuring your palm doesn’t mark or move the digital paper, allowing borrow one or buy an inexpensive option. you’re good to go! I don’t recommend for a natural hand position for writing). For example, Wacom’s Bamboo styluses taking interpreting notes straight away. Samsung discontinued the Note line of are very affordable and widely available. Instead, you might want to start slowly tablets that featured a pen-size stylus that Incidentally, Wacom also provides a free by doodling to get a feel for how the note-taking app: Bamboo Paper. As almost nested neatly into the body of the device, app works. Move on to jotting down a all note-taking applications, it works but there are many compatible stylus shopping list or short text, and when you with the familiar notion of notebooks options to suit any preference. Just look feel more comfortable, try taking notes for organized on a shelf or in a library. When for the one that feels natural for you and you open up Bamboo Paper, you’ll see a short test-style speech from Speechpool play with the settings in your note-taking one or more blue notebooks that you can or the European Union Speech Repository. app to get the type of stroke you like. rename to your liking. Tap on a notebook If you get hooked, then digital note-taking Another option, if you want to do to open it. At the top of the screen, choose is probably for you. Great note-taking all your computing and note-taking on your favorite writing utensil (e.g., ball apps for iPad are Notability and Noteshelf. one lightweight device, is the Microsoft pen or felt pen), stroke width, and writing (See Figure 3 above.) They both integrate Surface Pro 4 or a similar laptop/tablet color. An eraser is also available. Now with lots of styluses, including the Apple hybrid—many manufacturers are following www.atanet.org American Translators Association 19 TABLETS FOR INTERPRETERS continued

APP ROUNDUP Compatibility: Apple iOS Android OS Windows * Access using mobile browser

Glossary Management Interplex www.fourwillows.com/interplex.html

Interpreters’ Help*/Boothmate https://interpretershelp.com

Airtable* https://airtable.com

Memento Database mementodatabase.com

Microsoft Excel* https://products.office.com/en-us/excel

Google Sheets* www.google.com/sheets/about Figure 4: Consecutive notes on the Surface Pro 4 with the Surface Pen, compared to a steno Business Tasks pad and analog pen. Quickbooks Online https://quickbooks.intuit.com/online Microsoft’s lead in this space now. (See Prices for basic devices start at just a few Expensify Figure 4 above.) For notes, DrawBoard hundred dollars, so it’s a great time to try www.expensify.com PDF, intended for viewing and annotating out tablet interpreting.  PDFs, has proven to be perfect for Feedly* consecutive notes, which don’t need to be NOTES https://feedly.com organized or stored later. Just create a new 1 Apps: Ubiquitous shortened form of document (selecting your preferred “paper” applications, mobile device programs. Alltop* color and texture) and start taking notes. 2 Here’s the link to Leonie Wagener’s article: http://alltop.com When clients require destruction of notes, http://bit.ly/conference-preparation. it’s as simple as deleting the file. Buffer* https://buffer.com MUCH MORE THAN FOR ENTERTAINMENT Holly Behl is an ATA-certified Mailchimp* Just as increases in laptop storage and Spanish>English translator https://mailchimp.com processing capacity led to the replacement and a Texas Master Licensed Court Interpreter. She has been of desktop computers, advances in experimenting with interpreting tablet technology make it possible for Note-Taking applications for tablet technology users to streamline even more, replacing Bamboo Paper since 2013, with reports available on her blog, The their laptops with feather-light tablets. http://bit.ly/Bamboo-Paper Paperless Interpreter (www.paperlessinterpreter.com). Professional devices are much more than Contact: [email protected]. Notability an overpriced entertainment device. For http://bit.ly/Notability-GingerLabs example, Alexander uses his iPad Pro as his Alexander Drechsel is a staff main computer for almost everything, from interpreter at the European Noteshelf referencing documents in the interpreting Commission’s Interpreting www.noteshelf.net booth, taking notes on consecutive Service. His working languages Drawboard PDF assignments, and writing blog posts and are German (A), English (B), editing podcasts. Holly brings her Surface www.drawboard.com French, and Romanian (C). He Pro 4 to assignments as a tablet and mobile is also a bit of a “tablet geek," and and regularly S-Note (Samsung only) workstation—even running two full shares his passion and knowledge with fellow www.snotes.com translation programs—and connects it to a interpreters during training sessions and online at dual-screen desk setup when at the office. www.adrechsel.de. Contact: [email protected].

20 The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2017 www.atanet.org FEATURE BY ALAINA BRANTNER

equivalent plus a minimum of two years of documented experience in translating, or… at least five years of documented professional experience in translating.”3 The International Organization for Standardization’s ISO 17100 certification is based on the language of prEN 15038.4 Notably, firms maintaining this certification must have documented processes for the verification and maintenance of records of professional competence.5 According to ISO 3.1.8, further requirements include processes for recording ongoing updates to linguist and staff competencies, and highlighting the importance of continuing education in language services. Whether or not firms intend to pursue certification such as ISO’s, vendor managers can benefit from an awareness of the standards and certification requirements established by large standardization and certifying bodies. This information can be a great knowledge base for initiating recruitment efforts and designing vendor recruitment processes.

TRANSLATOR DIRECTORIES: AN ESSENTIAL RECRUITMENT TOOL When recruiting translators in new Key Components of Successful language pairs or specializations, vendor managers have a variety of online directories at their disposal to Translator Recruitment identify candidates. Being aware of the characteristics, functionality, and size of A well thought out recruitment process contributes to providing firmsand their directories not only speeds up recruitment, clients and target users with the implicit peace of mind that comes with a but also aids in the design of language- or specialization-specific recruitment consistent translation product. processes. This awareness also helps vendor managers put steps in place to fundamental tenet of language According to ASTM, source and target mitigate the risks associated with carrying services is that an organization’s language, translation, subject matter, and out recruitment primarily online, among translation product will only be text types are among the competencies A them identifying the best talent available as good as the translator who provides necessary to carry out translation, among thousands of search results (in the target content. To provide culturally and firms can use such indicators as which all sorts of big claims are made and technically appropriate translations, certifications and degrees, experience, about capabilities) and weeding out any translators must have a wide range of references, and sample translations to translator scammers. (Joseph Wojowski’s knowledge and capabilities, reflected in determine if a candidate has the required article, “On ‘Lying Through Their Teeth’: 2 the standards issued by such organizations competencies. In European Standard Identifying Translation Scams,” offers as ASTM International and the European prEN 15038, the European Committee for great insights on translator scammers and Committee for Standardization. As Standardization adds research, cultural, precautions one can take to avoid them.6) indicated in the ASTM’s “Standard Guide and technical (translation technology) As a vendor manager, I prefer to start for Quality Assurance in Translation”— competencies to those listed by ASTM. my own recruitment activities with ATA’s “Proficiency in two languages is These competencies are obtained Directory of Translators and Interpreters important, but does not necessarily through “formal higher education in for several reasons—the overall focus of guarantee translation competence.”1 translation … a university degree or which is to set my recruitment efforts www.atanet.org American Translators Association 21 KEY COMPONENTS OF SUCCESSFUL TRANSLATOR RECRUITMENT continued

professional associations are excellent resources for recruitment efforts. For example, visiting the member directories of ATA chapters and affiliates (including my local group, the Midwest Association of Translators and Interpreters) is a great solution for recruiting U.S.-based linguists for any projects with location or citizenship requirements.9 Vendor managers can also carry out simple online searches to identify professional associations and their directories for specific target countries, such as the Swedish Association of Professional Translators10 for Swedish translators, the Brazilian Association of Translators and Interpreters11 for Brazilian Portuguese linguists, and the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario12 for Canadian French. Beyond these online resources, there’s no substitute for meeting new candidates in person at local and national translation events and conferences. For vendor managers and all other translation professionals, it pays to get involved. Communication between vendor managers and translators during BASIC CRITERIA FOR IDENTIFYING recruitment sets the tone for the entire working relationship between a SUITABLE VENDORS translator and a firm. An often-quoted statistic within the language services industry is that recruiters decide whether to pursue a candidate after spending just one minute scanning that candidate’s résumé, CV, or up for the greatest chance of success.7 for languages of lesser diffusion, in profile. This is absolutely the case, and the First, for recruiters, membership in a particular. However, when recruiting speed with which this decision-making professional association such as ATA through these directories, vendor managers is carried out is based on the reality demonstrates translators’ understanding should be aware that the free profiles of recruitment. To illustrate, my own of the business investments necessary available on these sites are more likely vendor management experience includes to operate as professionals within to attract scammers and new translators recruiting talent in over 50 languages. To the language services industry, and who are more likely to misrepresent carry out that recruitment, I contacted presumably, their commitment to the their translation and subject-matter 1,000 candidates in 2016 alone, and of field. Second, membership also represents qualifications. That’s not to say that these 1,000 initial contacts, approximately a greater potential for participating professionals can’t be found on directories 40% of candidates responded to my in legitimate ongoing professional such as Proz and TC, only that added request. Of the approximately 40% who development through webinars, articles efforts are recommended to verify that responded, around 20% met the criteria in The ATA Chronicle, or the ATA’s Annual individuals’ actual training, background, established by my firm for experience, Conference. Members of professional tools, etc., correspond to any claims they’ve education, translation technology, associations are also more likely to have made in their directory profiles—advice payment capabilities, etc. That is to say, strong networks of other members of that holds true no matter the directory for every one translator who met the professional associations to whom they through which one recruits. (Recruiters organizational requirements to be passed can turn with language-, process-, or can also limit their searches on Proz to on to linguistic testing, 12.5 translators technology-related questions—and who display only vendors who have had their were contacted. That does not include the they can recommend to vendor managers! credentials verified by Proz, which is a countless profiles, résumés, and CVs that Other well-known translator directories worthwhile parameter to put in place.) were first screened to even establish a list include Proz.com and Translators Café While the ATA, Proz, and TC directories of candidates to contact. Therefore, no (TC).8 These directories are good resources are perhaps the best known, regional matter the directory being used to identify

22 The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2017 www.atanet.org candidates, vendor managers should have Regardless of the specifics, vendor relationship is a good fit, allowing all a well-defined list of basic criteria that will parties to focus limited resources to areas allow them to quickly determine (within managers carefully develop of greatest impact. one minute) if a translator’s profile meets organizations’ basic criteria for new Aside from giving vendor managers the their organizational needs. chance to verify credentials and collect Basic criteria are determined based on partner translators. They analyze the necessary information, the initial contact an organization’s specific circumstances. and request for documentation is also an In general, providers of language services needs of their businesses carefully incredibly valuable opportunity to test look for a minimum amount of education, to—once again—set up their candidates in a variety of other areas. For translation experience in the relevant example, an initial contact email with a subject, continuing education, and recruitment efforts for the greatest clearly defined list of required documents experience with translation technology. for submittal gives vendor managers an Minimum requirements are determined chance of success. immediate opportunity to determine a based on the organization’s structure, and candidate’s ability to follow directions. on its workflow, capabilities, and clients’ Any CVs or résumés submitted also serve needs. For example, the complexity as indicators of translators’ formatting of content intended for use at medical is incredibly important because it capabilities and of their ability to organize instrumentation trade shows means that protects translation firms from working and present information based on their recruiters will work based off much more with individuals who do not have the audience’s needs (i.e., information should stringent requirements to ensure that the necessary qualifications and training. be presented based on the understanding translated material is both technically This process also serves to elevate that recruiters will spend no more than and culturally (marketing) appropriate. the field of translation as a whole, one minute scanning those documents). On the other hand, for human resources since requiring candidates to provide When a vendor manager requests content with a limited audience and a evidence of their qualifications (such as samples and translators refuse based on strong translation memory and editor, diplomas and certifications) is a check nondisclosure agreements they have signed recruitment parameters are more flexible. that allows vendor managers to avoid with other firms, the vendor manager can Regardless of the specifics, vendor translator scammers and inexperienced take this as an indication that any content managers carefully develop their translators who have misrepresented translated for her or his organization organization’s basic criteria for new their capabilities. Keep in mind that will be handled with the same care. For partner translators. They analyze the checking documents like diplomas and any samples that are provided, vendor needs of their businesses carefully to— certifications requires an understanding managers can also check that no client- once again—set up their recruitment of degree equivalencies and the resources identifying information is included in efforts for the greatest chance of necessary to verify any target-language either the content or the file properties. success. Carefully determined criteria documents submitted. Overall, the process for requesting allow recruiters to quickly decide if a On the other hand, this initial documentation is designed to allow translator profile is a good fit. Being request for documentation must also be vendor managers to carry out as much aware of red flags to avoid—such as carried out in a way that recognizes the due diligence as possible at that stage. potential candidates who list too many administrative time investments being Like all the stages of vendor recruitment, specializations or language pairs or who made by all participants. Therefore, having intentional processes in place work into non-native languages—helps any initial contact should clearly define allows vendor managers to ensure that vendor managers ensure that their a firm’s basic requirements and the their recruitment efforts will yield the recruitment efforts establish relationships documents for submittal. Further, greatest results, so that only the best talent with qualified professionals whose any forms the translator is required to available is passed on to any subsequent experience and capabilities align with complete and submit should be designed linguistic testing phases. organizational needs. in a way so as to capture all of the information the firm requires to establish A COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS MAKING INITIAL CONTACT a working relationship (i.e., experience, The design and implementation of Initiating contact with candidates whose education, contact details, billing successful recruitment processes requires profiles seem to meet organizational information, translation technology, etc.) substantial investments of time and requirements is another component of in a single pass. Having a clear set of resources, as evidenced by the descriptions recruitment that requires a deliberate requirements eliminates the back and of the stages outlined above. This article process. During initial contact, recruiters forth that results when these parameters does not even address the organizational request the documentation that will are not defined, thereby promoting parameters necessary for tracking allow them to verify that a translator’s efficiency. It also allows both vendor recruitment efforts or the linguistic testing background aligns with organizational managers and translators to determine as phase that follows recruitment. Still, since needs. Carrying out this verification quickly as possible if a potential working recruitment processes are designed to www.atanet.org American Translators Association 23 KEY COMPONENTS OF SUCCESSFUL TRANSLATOR RECRUITMENT continued

NOTES 1 ASTM International, F 2575-06, “Standard Guide for Quality Assurance in Translation” (June 2006), 6, http://bit.ly/ASTM-F2575-06. 2 Ibid., 6–7. 3 European Committee for Standardization, prEN 15038, “Translation Services— Service Requirements” (2004), 6–7, http://qualitystandard.bs.en-15038.com. 4 International Organization for Standardization, ISO 17100, “Translation Services—Requirements for Translation Services” (2015), www.iso.org/standard/59149.html. 5 Ballou, Gregory. “ISO 17100 Certification: Who, What, Why, and How?” Presentation at ATA’s 57th Annual Conference, November 3, 2016, San Francisco, California. 6 Wojowski, Joseph. “On ‘Lying Through Their Teeth’: Identifying Translation Scams,” MATI Blog (Midwest Association of Translators and Interpreters, November 18, 2015), http://matiata.org/ blog/3646640. 7 ATA Directory of Translators and Interpreters, www.atanet.org/ onlinedirectories. 8 ProZ Directory of Translators and Organizations must approach recruitment with an understanding of what Interpreters (www.proz.com/translator- their investments will yield. directory) and Translators Café (www.translatorscafe.com). 9 ATA’s chapters and affiliates page, www.atanet.org/chaptersandgroups. establish mutually beneficial relationships poorly on an organization’s services 10 Swedish Association of Professional with professional candidates, organizations and reputation and are exponentially Translators, www.sfoe.se/eng. must approach recruitment with an more costly to repair on the back end 11 Brazilian Association of Translators understanding of what their investments than good preventative processes. A and Interpreters, http://abrates.com. will yield. For instance, communication well thought out recruitment process br/?lang=en. between vendor managers and translators contributes to providing firmsand 12 Association of Translators and Interpreters during recruitment sets the tone for the their clients and target users with the of Ontario, https://atio.on.ca. entire working relationship between a implicit peace of mind that comes with translator and a firm. A well-designed and a consistent translation product. That is a project, efficient process not only accomplishes the product is the result of working with Alaina Brantner vendor, and translation memory explicit objectives of collecting information quality providers. manager with CPG, a technical and verifying credentials, but also indicates Therefore, vendor recruitment translation and documentation a firm’s quality expectations to candidates, must be counted among the most firm that works directly with and the kind of approach they can expect critical of processes for translation firms. original equipment manufacturers when working with that organization. A After all, organizations can work with (www.cpgcanhelp.com). A Spanish>English well-designed process therefore aids in the most up-to-date technology and translator, she has an MA in language, attracting the best talent available. design the most intricate of production literature, and translation from the University of More importantly, front-end processes, yet even with the best Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She served as a director investments in recruitment processes supporting components in place, the of the Midwest Association of Translators and allow firms to prevent the translation translation product will only be as Interpreters (an ATA chapter) from 2012 to 2016. mishaps that result when working with good as the translator who provides Contact: [email protected] untrained providers, which reflect the target content.  or [email protected].

24 The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2017 www.atanet.org OUR WORLD OF WORDS: SPOTLIGHT ON T&I PROFESSIONALS BY TONY BECKWITH Interview with John Ayto, Lexicographer

admit it, I love words. Consequently, on a new dictionary project. I thought it I have always been fascinated by might be a good fit for my skills, applied, I dictionaries and have a certain got the job, and the rest is history. reverence for lexicographers—those who compile them. Among the many Where and when did lexicography, the specific dictionaries on my shelves, the Dictionary field, begin? Is there much to see from that of Word Origins is an old favorite. It period, much surviving material? What is the contains the histories of more than 8,000 earliest dictionary ever found? How similar words in the English language: just my was it to contemporary dictionaries? cup of tea. The author of this book is There’s evidence of Akkadian/Sumerian the British lexicographer John Ayto, who wordlists from the third millennium graciously agreed to be interviewed for BC, and interlinear glosses in medieval this column. manuscripts are clear precursors of After earning a degree and doing modern dictionaries. But it wasn’t really research on medieval English at Durham until the introduction of printing that University, Ayto joined the Longman dictionaries as we recognize them today publishing house in 1974 to work on came on the scene. The earliest ones the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary were bilingual (Sir Thomas Eliot’s Latin- English, a ground-breaking dictionary English dictionary of 1538, for example). for foreign learners of English. He We recognized that foreign The first monolingual English dictionary later became managing editor of their learners needed to know not just is generally accepted as being Robert dictionary department, working on Cawdrey’s Table Alphabeticall (1604). native-speaker dictionaries. He left in what words mean, but how they But, following the model of the earlier the mid-1980s to become a freelance bilingual dictionaries, this was what is lexicographer, and subsequently behave grammatically. known as a “hard-word dictionary”—it produced the Bloomsbury Dictionary of only included words that the compiler Word Origins, Bloomsbury Dictionary of thought his readers might not know the Euphemisms, Oxford Dictionary of Slang, meaning of. It wasn’t until the late 17th of reading, which was a decisive first Oxford Dictionary of Rhyming Slang, and century that the trend toward including step. And, yes, I certainly agree about 20th Century Words, among others. He all the words in the language became Dr. Johnson. I’m sure that if you asked also edited the 17th edition of Brewer’s established, a trend that was confirmed the average Brit to name a lexicographer, Dictionary of Phrase & Fable. He has by the triumphant success of Johnson’s you would mostly be met with a blank taught courses in lexicography at Surrey 1755 dictionary. We live with the stare, but the few who did reply would University, written a column on words in consequences today, in dictionaries that say Johnson. the Observer newspaper, and appeared contain much redundant information about things we already know (such as from time to time on radio and television, What originally sparked your interest in talking (of course) about words. the meaning of chair). lexicography as a specific field? Or was I’d like to begin by asking whether your family it more of a gradual process, one thing You have said that words are the servants background played any part in your decision leading to another? How did you come to of events. Could you flesh that idea out a to become a lexicographer. I ask because specialize in lexicography? little for us? Samuel Johnson (1709–1784), perhaps the Studying English at school, I found my The idea of words as servants of events interest being drawn to the medieval most famous British lexicographer (do you applies most obviously to names for period (Chaucer et al.), as much for the things. Entities that never existed before agree?), was the son of a bookseller, which fascination of the language as for the are coming into being constantly, and we very likely influenced theDictionary of the quality of the writing. I went on to earn a have to have some label with which to English Language he wrote and published in degree in medieval English, and then for refer to them. That may in some cases be 1755. Did you have any similar influences? my postgraduate work, I edited a Middle determined by some official body (as in I certainly don’t come from a long line of English text, which involved producing scientific nomenclature), but more often it lexicographers! No, my father’s skills, for a glossary. Up to that point I hadn’t involves a gradual process of trial and error. example, lay more in the areas of science remotely thought of lexicography as a See, for example, the various attempts to and technology than in the arts. But my possible career, but then I happened to find a name for television untiltelevision parents did encourage me in the habit see an ad in a journal for people to work eventually came out on top.

www.atanet.org American Translators Association 25 OUR WORLD OF WORDS continued

Lexical change in more abstract areas But there may be contentious points on Dictionary. That was in 1990. Are those is far harder to link to changes in human which it can be helpful to offer guidance figures still accurate? Can you expand a society. Why, for instance, in recent years (for example, can data be used with a little on your definition of “average”? (in British English, at any rate), have singular verb?). I think/hope our work on As far as I’m aware that figure hasn’t been people begun to use convince to mean ELT dictionaries made us more aware of overturned by any subsequent research, persuade? These are matters of trends the need to avoid obscure or obfuscatory and I still believe it to be broadly true. By rather than events. vocabulary when writing definitions for “average” I mean someone who has had a native speakers. standard education up to at least age 16. When you were at Longman publishers in 1974, you worked on their dictionary for Do you do the research and write the You also say that words are a mirror of foreign learners of English. Please tell definitions yourself, or is it a team effort? their time, and your book, 20th Century us something about what a project like This very much differs from dictionary Words places “escalator” in the 1900s, to dictionary, and from publisher that involves. How is it structured? How “hologram” in the 1940s, and “road rage” to publisher. On the Oxford English does it address the specific needs of any Dictionary, for example, I believe in the 1980s. How do you make those particular language? lexicographers are expected to research determinations? What references do you The two key requirements of foreign and write every aspect of a dictionary use as a basis for your decisions? Who or learners we sought to address in the entry themselves, while on other what generates statistics of that sort? Longman Dictionary of Contemporary dictionary projects I’ve been involved in, All the datings I used in 20th Century English were: understandability of specialist editors have been employed to Words were taken from the Oxford definition, and grammatical information. write scientific and technical entries, to English Dictionary. That basically meant Previous dictionaries in this market had prepare and produce all the information the second edition, and the datings in used vocabulary in their definitions that given on pronunciations, and so on. that had all been established using the was way beyond the competence level of traditional methods of lexicographic their target users. By studying relevant You’ve also worked on dictionaries of data gathering: extensive, exhaustive teaching materials and consulting experts euphemisms and rhyming slang. reading programs resulting in written in the field, we developed a vocabulary How does one go about compiling a or printed citations on pieces of paper. list of about 2,000 words, with which The caveat always given is that the users could be expected to be familiar, specific dictionary of, say, rhyming slang? earliest date shown is the earliest hitherto and which we used for writing all the Please describe your process. found in the written record, and doesn’t definitions in the dictionary. We also When setting out to produce a specialist necessarily represent the first use of the recognized that foreign learners needed dictionary, much depends on whether one word. From the mid-1990s computerized to know not just what words mean, already exists. If not, and you’re starting databases have played an increasingly but how they behave grammatically. A from scratch, you need to assemble for central role in lexicographic data system of coding for verb grammar had yourself a corpus of material that’s likely gathering, which has enabled a vastly been pioneered by A. S. Hornby in the to contain the vocabulary you need and larger amount of text to be searched and Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, work through it to put together your resulted in many, many antedatings. but we developed this much further, wordlist in consultation with experts in the field. That works for particular applying it to other word classes and You’ve written a great deal about the expanding its range of application. subjects (say, the terminology of the emergence of new words in the English Subsequent experience suggests this was gas industry), but with more nebulous not the best path to follow. Codes (usually concepts (such as dysphemisms) you language. Please share your thoughts on combinations of letters and numbers) probably need to start young and the process involved in the creation of tend to put people off. They respond gradually pick up potential entries as neologisms. Are they predominantly slang, better to actual examples incorporating you pass through life. Fortunately, these or is it the other way around? the grammatical feature in question, and days most subjects have been covered As I mentioned earlier, many neologisms that’s what modern English Language before, and as there’s no sense in trying to are born of necessity: a new word is Teaching (ELT) dictionaries generally use. reinvent the wheel, it’s best to concentrate needed for a new thing. But there doesn’t on researching new developments in have to be that impetus. Human beings Did the same criteria apply when you the field and on devising better ways of love novelty, and creating new words worked on dictionaries for native speakers? presenting your information than anyone seems to be a favorite way of achieving On the whole you assume that native has thought of before. that. The great majority of neologisms are speakers are familiar with the grammar based on existing words, by combining of their language, so (apart from the In your Dictionary of Word Origins you say them in compounds, adding prefixes or traditional word-class labels, which that the average English-speaker knows suffixes, abbreviating, etc. The percentage have become part of the lexicographic around 50,000 words, as compared to the of completely new things (that is, words furniture) little needs to be said about it. half million listed in the Oxford English taken from other languages, or created

26 The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2017 www.atanet.org from nothing) is comparatively tiny. I From the mid-1990s computerized and become a freelancer in your field? Who don’t know of any reliable statistics on the does one work for? Do agents play a role? proportion of slang in neologisms, but my databases have played an Setting aside fairly obvious things such impression is that it’s not that high. increasingly central role in as being good at what you do, having a reputation for reliability, etc., I’d say Where has slang been coming from in the lexicographic data gathering, which that what helped me most in making last hundred years? So-called “bad words” has enabled a vastly larger amount the transition to freelance work was the are often an outright repudiation of cultural contacts I’d built up in the field during traditions and codes of behavior. But those of text to be searched and resulted my 10 years of employment in publishing. standards shift, so that the target is religion It takes some nerve to make the initial in many, many antedatings. leap, but it’s important not to allow for one age, bodily functions for another. In oneself to be discouraged if lots of jobs that sense, what influences contribute to the don’t fall into one’s lap straightaway. As origins of slang? far as agents go, I took the view from the The areas of human activity that attract What does this say about our society? outset that I probably knew more about slang are thrown into fairly sharp relief As Zhou Enlai famously remarked when the dictionary publishing scene than any in my Oxford Dictionary of Slang (1998), asked about the effects of the French literary agent was likely to, so I ploughed which is arranged thematically rather than Revolution, it’s too early to say. But I my own furrow. I don’t know if the same alphabetically. Not surprisingly, words suspect that, along with more recent would apply to translators. relating to bodily parts and functions, developments such as text-speak and sex and sexual orientation, ethnic and emojis, human beings are no less impatient You taught courses on lexicography national groups, crime, alcohol and drugs, than we have ever been when it comes to at Surrey University. Please give us an money, unpleasantness, foolishness, plus getting our thoughts down on paper (or overview of those courses and their imprecations and opprobrious epithets, screen), and we’re ingenious at working objectives. Do you still teach? make up a far higher proportion of out ways to do it as fast as possible. The courses I taught were specifically the total than they would in a general aimed at students doing a postgraduate dictionary. For the most part, I think these The digital age has returned us to a form course for translators, and their aim categories have been fairly constant over of communication by symbols—emojis was to give students a comprehensive the centuries in their tendency toward or emoticons, numbers, acronyms, and grounding in the theory and practice of colloquial vocabulary. The sort of attitude abbreviations—that’s here to stay. lexicography: the history of lexicography, shifts you refer to seem to me to be How does lexicography address this the typology of dictionaries, the more reflected in the euphemisms they techniques of lexicographers, the phenomenon? What precedents are there engender and the taboos they impose. collection and evaluation of evidence, and that might help? How do dictionaries react? so on. I no longer teach. Acronyms, you tell us, have been the 20th Items that consist of letters, such as century’s great new contribution to English abbreviations, aren’t really a problem, How has lexicography evolved? When word formation. Please tell us about that and terms that contain a numeral tend to you look at Dr. Johnson’s dictionary, be alphabetized according to the way the process. What’s behind it? do you see a difference in scope or number is spelled (so, for example, MI5 The impulse to abbreviate written method compared to what you and your would come before MI6 because f comes words is probably as old as writing itself before s). Things like emoticons that have colleagues do today? Please tell us what (medieval manuscripts, for example, are no letters to anchor them are clearly more you see. What has happened in two and full of abbreviations), but acronyms do of a problem for alphabetical dictionaries a half centuries? seem to be a genuinely new way of doing (though not so much for thematic Dr. Johnson based his dictionary on the it that emerged in the 20th century. You thesauruses). I guess a separate table at best language of the best authors, and simply take the first letters of a string of the back of the dictionary would probably that remained essentially the default words and join them together to make a be the answer. position of lexicographers for the next new word. Technically, what distinguishes 200 years. They presented the English them from initialisms, such as NBC, In the mid-1980s you left your employment language in its shining Sunday best, which are just spoken as separate letters, in the publishing field and became a with any embarrassing or vulgar bits is that they are said as an individual word freelance lexicographer. Freelance tucked away behind the sofa. It followed (e.g., NATO). The real explosion in usage from this that, even in the case of a translators and interpreters would be took place during the second world war, historical dictionary of record like the and I suspect that a major impetus behind interested to hear anything you have to Oxford English Dictionary, their stance it was the proliferation of organizations say about that transition. What skills and was broadly prescriptive rather than with multi-word titles at that time. experience must one have to take the leap descriptive. I think the biggest changes www.atanet.org American Translators Association 27 OUR WORLD OF WORDS continued over the past 50 years have been, Human beings are no less impatient 95% reliable (though it doesn’t seem partly from the influence of theoretical that way when I try to communicate linguistics, that the emphasis is now than we have ever been when it with a computer over the phone). more on description. Also, because comes to getting our thoughts down computerized databases have brought Is lexicography an expanding field? Are about a quantum leap in the amount on paper (or screen), and we’re there more new lexicographers every day? of evidence available to lexicographers, If so, what sustains or fuels that expansion? dictionaries now reflect more accurately ingenious at working out ways to do There certainly seem to be more amateur the language as a whole, rather than just it as fast as possible. lexicographers around today, or perhaps the literary tip of the iceberg. it’s just that the internet enables them to publish compilations that in previous When a neologism is imported, are statistics decades would have remained forever kept on the country of origin? Are there in a desk drawer at home. As far as How has the internet affected lexicography? professional lexicography is concerned, dictionaries or lists of words arranged Do online resources take market share from according to where they originated? I’m not so sure. Publishers certainly tend the traditional product? Is there a future for not to have in-house teams these days, I don’t know of any specific register paper dictionaries? preferring to rely on freelancers employed devoted to that subject, but it’s the sort Online reference resources are clearly on a casual basis, and the demand for of information that would be fairly easy here to stay, whether as new products these will fluctuate according to the to access by doing a search of, say, the or as existing material transferred projects the publishers have on hand. My Oxford English Dictionary database. By online. It’s the obvious place for very impression is that there aren’t significantly looking in the etymology field one would large books. The third edition of more of us around than when I started out be able to discover, for example, how the Oxford English Dictionary is very 40 years ago. many words of Italian origin had come unlikely ever to appear on paper, and into English in the 1950s. I can’t imagine how much shelf space What advice do you have for those who a printed version of Wikipedia would might be interested in a career in the field need. As far as smaller dictionaries are of lexicography? Simultaneous concerned, the jury still seems to be First, make a dispassionate assessment out. Hand-held devices that can access of your own aptitudes. To be a good Interpretation reference resources are widely available, lexicographer you need methodicalness but I continue to see shelves full of and the stickability to see a long project Equipment dictionaries in bookshops. Time will (probably several years), with elements tell, but I suspect that in book format of repetitiousness, through to its finish. Transmitters encyclopedias are a more endangered Receivers You also need a lively and inquiring FM species than dictionaries. imagination and a flair for writing. This Sales & Rentals is an unusual combination of attributes The lexicographer lives on, presumably, by that any prospective employer will be Affordable Pricing switching to online reference works? How trying to search out in an applicant. Superior Sound does that differ from the traditional product? They won’t be so interested to know As an originator of text, I think the you have “a love of words,” although 5 YEAR WARRANTY online lexicographer’s job remains presumably if language didn’t exert a 30 DAY MONEY BACK fairly similar to that of her offline fascination over you, you wouldn’t want GUARANTEE! predecessor, except, as I said above, to be a lexicographer. in the amount of evidence available to use. The most important differences lie John, thanks for taking the time in the possibility of giving users more to share your thoughts about this differentiated and sophisticated ways of fascinating field!  accessing the text. It’s still comparatively (888) 677-4387 early, but there are all sorts of potential Tony Beckwith was born in ways in which the look-up procedure Buenos Aires, Argentina, spent (518) 426-0171 can be digitally streamlined (talking to his formative years in Montevideo, the dictionary, for example; say a word Uruguay, then set off to see the FM you don’t know how to spell and it’ll world. He moved to Texas in 1980 Systems find it for you). For all I know such and currently lives in Austin, a thing may already exist. Automated Texas, where he works as a writer, translator, poet, and www.LandmarkFm.com speech recognition is now apparently cartoonist. Contact: [email protected].

28 The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2017 www.atanet.org BUSINESS PRACTICES BY TESS WHITTY How to Develop Effective Communication Skills to Get and Keep Clients

ffective communication is both a means to achieve your business E goals and the very essence of your business. Have you ever been unsure about what the client really wanted? Have you ever forgotten what you or the client promised because you didn’t keep good records of your interactions? If so, your communication with clients could be improved. Here are some tips to improve communication, both written and oral, especially with potential and current clients. Determine your client’s communication style. Does the client prefer you to pick up the phone, send a quick email, or do they want to meet in person? If possible, try to adapt to your client’s preferred style. Keep records of your interactions. You can do this by adding everything to an Excel worksheet, saving email, and noting conversations on the phone or during meetings. This will make it easy to see with whom you need to check in or follow up. Pay attention to your tone, especially in email. Always remember to keep it Focus on listening to what the client Be available. Being a freelancer means professional, and pay attention to tone, says instead of thinking ahead in the setting your own hours, but if you want to style, grammar, and typos. (One good tip conversation. This is mostly useful for work with clients, you need to be available is to re-read an email before sending it.) phone calls, but it can also be a powerful based on their schedule. This is why In addition, make sure your voicemail has tool for negotiating rates. Usually in informing clients of the time zone in which a professional-sounding message. Always negotiations, if you remain quiet, the you conduct business is also important. treat the client with respect. client might think what they’re offering is Try to identify your next step in Be very specific about documenting too low and give you a new offer. advance. Make your process as clear as project terms and expectations in Respond quickly. In order for us possible for you and your clients. When advance. If you don’t know, ask, and to provide great customer service, you accept a job, ask the client to confirm have everything documented in writing. we need to make an effort to return with a purchase order number before For example, set appointments for email and phone calls promptly, within starting work (for agencies), or to confirm communicating with clients so you an hour or so if possible. Doing so with a contract for direct clients. To make can be more prepared when they call. I reaffirms your professionalism and tells it easier for the client, you can include sometimes screen incoming calls, letting the client that you are easy to work your price or fee when you confirm the them go to voicemail, and then call back with. If you’re unavailable, remember deadline, which tools to use, and other as soon as I’ve prepared what I want to to activate away messages on all of key details. This makes it easy for the say. If you’re following up with a client, your communication channels (email, client to confirm those terms as well. ask if you can call back at a specific time, voicemail, Skype, etc.). It shows that Make a template of the initial email or offer an alternative time to talk. you care about the caller’s business. you send to clients clarifying the

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 29 BUSINESS PRACTICES continued

arrangements. As problems arise, deadlines may shift or revisions may get out of hand, but you must communicate with the client to find the solution. Verify everything by repeating and recording it in writing. Even if you agree on something over the phone, always send an email with details that the client can verify. Ask, don’t assume. If your invoice is not paid, or if you are unsure of something, just ask. Always keep things positive. Don’t take your horrible day out on the client, and don’t let an angry client get to you. You can keep the conversation positive and focus on finding a solution instead. This applies not only to how we communicate via email or on the phone, but to everything we post online. Many agencies and direct clients tell me that they Google perspective hires and check out their presence on social media. What you share online can be seen by anyone, so it’s important to be aware of the image you’re presenting. I hope this has given you a better idea of what to focus on when communicating with potential or current clients to keep them interested and coming back for more.  Don’t send an email five minutes before the deadline with a lot of questions Tess Whitty has been an concerning the file, or say that it will be delayed. If you’re delayed, inform the English>Swedish freelance translator since 2003, client as soon as possible so they can make arrangements. specializing in corporate communications, software, and information technology. Her educational and professional background is in marketing. She is a speaker and trainer scope of the project. This will save you send the client updates weekly, or at conferences, sharing her knowledge and a lot of time—and eventually money. daily, to keep them informed. It’s your experience in marketing and the freelance The projects you work on may differ, responsibility to apprise them of the business. She is also the author of the book but the initial stages are mostly the project status. Different clients may expect Marketing Cookbook for Translators. She same. A template will help you ensure different levels of contact, so try to find hosts the Marketing Tips for Translators that you didn’t leave out anything out how often your client wants you to podcast, where freelance translators important, while at the same time provide an update. Even if it seems a little (and interpreters) find tips from fellow providing a way to record details about excessive, you could send one or two translators and other experts on how to grow the work. email updates letting the client know that and thrive in their freelance business When delivering a job, remember everything is going as planned, or that (http://marketingtipsfortranslators.com/ to ask the client for feedback. You you are a little bit ahead or behind. podcast-2/). Her new book, Marketing Tips for Translators—The Ultimate Collection of can also take this time to ask them if Confront problems. Don’t send an Business Tips from the Podcast, is adapted you can help with a future project. Or, email five minutes before the deadline from material presented on the podcast. simply say that you’re looking forward with a lot of questions concerning She is the current chair of ATA’s Membership to working with them again. the file, or say that it will be delayed. Committee and served as the chair of ATA’s Keep the client in the loop. If you’re If you’re delayed, inform the client Chapters Committee. Contact: working on a long-term or large project, as soon as possible so they can make [email protected].

30 The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2017 www.atanet.org RESOURCE REVIEW COMPILED BY JOST ZETZSCHE Speech Recognition Is in Your Back Pocket (or Wherever You Keep Your Mobile Phone) BY TIAGO NETO Speech recognition (n.): The process of identifying and interpreting or responding to the sounds produced in human speech. —Oxford English Dictionary

peech recognition is a software that environment to see what could be application best described as done to enable using them with Windows. S converting sound into words. So, without further ado… While it’s far more detailed than that, the appeal for people whose work revolves WHAT YOU CAN DO ON YOUR around words is immediately apparent. Speech recognition can, depending MOBILE DEVICE on the circumstances, increase output If you’re using an iPhone or iPad, you dramatically—remember, you can speak may have noticed the little microphone much faster than you can type. button right next to the space bar when It also brings significant ergonomic you bring up the keyboard. That button advantages. For example, you aren’t activates the speech recognition engine, chained to a desk and keyboard, and you which will do its best to convert the trade the likelihood of orthopedic injuries sounds the microphone picks up into for perhaps a sore throat. However, like all the words of the selected language, good things, speech recognition software placing said words wherever the text also has its drawbacks. Some adaptation is cursor may be at that particular time. required, the software can be finicky to set Figure 1: Swype on Google Play Store Now, if you’re a user of a Mac computer, up, and while you’ll probably never have you: a) don’t really need this, and b) a typo using it, you’ll surely get “dictos”— will find it somewhat underwhelming. misrecognized words that sound similar, no practical application to my work as a Mac computers allow you to download but don’t have the same meaning. translator due to my language pairs. the language packs for offline use (and One of the most difficult adaptations I ended up experimenting with Apple’s to customize your vocabulary). With is learning to read out everything—and MAC OS built-in speech recognition iOS, you’re stuck with an exclusively by that I mean everything, including engine, and was extremely unimpressed online feature with no customizing punctuation. For example, you would with my early results—to the point of even capabilities other than choosing the recording my experience on video to send have to read the paragraph above as: speech recognition language. Also, you back to the aforementioned colleague. “One of the most difficult adaptations is can’t create custom verbal commands, It turns out that I was actually making learning to read out everything [dash] and which can be quite useful for certain more work for myself because I had not by that I mean everything [comma] including CAT tool functions. downloaded the improved language punctuation [period]” Now, if you’re using Android, that’s an packages. When I did, the difference was Now that you have a clearer astounding, and for a long time my main entirely different set of circumstances. understanding of how speech recognition workhorse was an Apple laptop running Android does support some degree of works, let’s explore how you can use a a virtual machine where my CAT tools speech recognition (via Google voice), phone or tablet to unlock its potential for could run while allowing me to benefit but to get the really good features, you nothing, or nearly so. from high-quality speech recognition into need an app from Nuance, the creators Portuguese. I explored its advantages and of DNS. You’ll need Swype (www. A BIT OF BACKGROUND limitations, and even circumvented the nuance.com, available on Google Play). A few years ago, I started experimenting issue of adding custom vocabulary (but With that downloaded and installed, with speech recognition at a fellow that’s an entirely new can of worms, and you now get that coveted microphone translator’s request. The limited number not the purpose of this piece). button on your keyboard. When you of languages (U.S. and British English, Shortly after that first run, the issue press it you get a new screen with a big French, German, Italian, Spanish, of using mobile devices came along, yellow button that you press whenever Dutch, and Japanese) supported by as iOS—Apple’s operating system for you want to use the speech recognition DragonNaturally Speaking (DNS) left its mobile devices—also provided engine. Just like iOS’ speech recognition me using it mostly for dealing with multilingual speech recognition. Now, features, you must be online to use it. administrative and academic writing, with being a fan of Android, I also looked into The advantage that Swype brings you is www.atanet.org American Translators Association 31 RESOURCE REVIEW continued

Sampling of Speech Recognition Applications Chrome Remote Desktop chrome.google.com

DragonNaturally Speaking www.nuance.com/dragon/index.htm

MyEcho www.myechoapp.com

Remote Keyboard Plus www.goonbee.com

Swype Figure 2: Enlarged view of TeamViewer on an Android phone using Swype. Note the text and mouse http://bit.ly/Swype-nuance cursor positions, which are the actual positions on the computer. TeamViewer www.teamviewer.com a fully customizable vocabulary. We’ll WHAT TO DO ON YOUR WORK MACHINE get to that in a bit. (See Figure 1.) Enter remote desktop and remote Now that you’ve managed to get your keyboard applications. The former type Chrome Remote Desktop is more a matter mobile device to recognize what you say is quite well known, such as TeamViewer of personal taste than anything else. The and convert it into words, comes the (www.teamviewer.com) or Chrome mobile apps do have a character limit in really techy bit. That text output needs Remote Desktop (on Google Play and the text buffer, but it’s quite hard to dictate to go where you need it, be that the chrome.google.com), while the latter are such a long sentence in one go. current segment or translation unit on applications designed to allow you to use Remote keyboard apps are interesting which you are working in your CAT tool your mobile device to input text on your in another way: they capture the of choice, word processor, or whatever. computer. (See Figures 2 and 3.) “keystrokes” (i.e., the text output) (See the table below for language When using remote desktop from your phone and transfer it on the support capabilities.) applications, the idea is not to control computer. There are quite a few apps Remember, the recognized text is your computer using your mobile device. from which to choose, although I did output to the text cursor position on Rather, the idea is to merely use the remote go with Remote Keyboard Plus (www. your phone, just as if you had just application for the purpose of providing goonbee.com, available on iTunes for actually typed it using the phone’s speech recognition capabilities with the $1.99). In this instance, you open the keyboard. The trick here is to make sure output at the cursor position. (Only now, text box in the mobile application, that happens at the computer you’re the cursor position is wherever you want dictate into it, and have the content using. And for that, you’ll need another it to be on your computer, because you transferred to another app by the app on your phone and on are working on it, and the phone follows!) same developer running on your your computer. Choosing between TeamViewer and computer, thus bridging both devices. (See Figure 3.) A somewhat similar approach was MAC OS iOS Android with Swype + used by the developers of MyEcho (Mac computers) (Apple mobile devices) Dragon Dictation (www.myechoapp.com, $1.99) an application that allows you to export Languages 45 at the time of writing, the text output of an iOS device’s speech (and variations) with Nuance having 41 41 recognition to a Windows machine—again, commercial models for at the cursor position. (See Figure 4.) 86 languages For Android users, there are several Offline use Yes, with downloadable No No apps available at the Google Play store improved dictionaries that mimic a virtual keyboard, and due to Customizable Yes, manually or Yes, manually (but you the nature of that ecosystem, more keep No vocabulary automated with scripts can do it in bulk) coming up regularly. Any application that allows you to invoke the Swype keyboard Requires another app No (unless you’re running Yes Yes to type on a remote machine (i.e., your to use with a computer a virtual machine) computer) will work. In the end, it will

32 The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2017 www.atanet.org be mostly a matter of personal preference, although I do tend to favor using TeamViewer or Chrome Remote Desktop, as you’ll always need to piggyback two applications to obtain the desired outcome. One important factor to consider here is, as always, where do you want your data to circulate? The audio utterances will be travelling to Nuance’s servers, then the text will be sent back to your device, from which it will be forwarded elsewhere depending on your method of choice. Figure 3: Here’s what the output of that dictation from Figure 1 looks like IS SPEECH RECOGNITION RIGHT on the computer screen. FOR YOU? Speech recognition does require some fiddling and experimentation on the user’s end, as each application has its own mix of software packages and, particularly with Android devices, sometimes very different specifications. There is no one-formula-fits-all solution, but most applications are easy enough to figure out, and you have a good shot at improving your workflow. For additional information, you can look up the blog section on my website at www.tiagoneto.com for over an hour of videos on setting up these applications on several combinations of platforms. You’ll Figure 4: Remote Keyboard Plus running on a Windows machine. also find a few helpful tips regarding custom vocabulary. 

Remember, if you have any ideas and/or suggestions regarding helpful resources or tools you would like to see featured, please e-mail Jost Zetzsche at [email protected].

Tiago Neto focuses on linguistic and regulatory compliance for companies working in the fields of veterinary medicine, pharmaceutical products, Figure 5: MyEcho being used to output the text-to-speech into a segment and medical devices and vitro diagnostic devices. He has worked in clinical in memoQ. activities, public health and epidemiology, dealing with both humans and animals. He has a degree in veterinary medicine and is currently a PhD candidate in biomedical sciences, working on novel therapeutic approaches in an animal model for cervical cancer in humans. He is also a freelance translator and consultant in these fields. Contact: [email protected]. www.atanet.org American Translators Association 33 CERTIFICATION FORUM BY MICHÈLE HANSEN, ATA-CERTIFIED FRENCH>ENGLISH TRANSLATOR You Do the Math: Continuing Education Points

hether your certification Simply click on “Submit Now” and Conference, for example, which spans three certificate is newly minted or you’ll be directed to the appropriate days, is worth 10 points. If you indicate a W dusty, all ATA-certified translators online page. You can download the CEP number that is higher than the maximum (CT) must maintain their CT credential form as a Word or PDF file to track your allowed for a field, the CE report will be by accruing continuing education points activities over the three-year period so rejected automatically. If you’re claiming (aka CEPs). This process is known as you don’t forget anything when your CEPs for an event or activity not covered in “re-certification.” Since re-certification is expiration date rolls around. This form the guidelines, check with Caron Mason at not an annual occurrence, some of us lose contains all the information you need Headquarters first. track of what we need to do and when we about the CE requirements and the types The easiest way to track your CEPs is need to do it. So, here’s a brief rundown of activities that qualify. (These guidelines to keep a folder (paper or electronic) as of what you should know. can also be accessed by selecting the soon as you get your initial certification following: Already Certified—Report your Who, What, When: ATA-certified (or when you re-certify). Put a copy of the CE Points—then, at the end of the text, translators must submit proof of 20 CEPs CEP record form that you downloaded click on—Approval Request Form for ATA every three years. from the ATA site in that folder. Every Continuing Education Points.) time you complete a continuing education Why: Certification is not “one and done.” Once you’ve filled out the form, the final activity, put the backup paperwork in the Like other professional certifications, step is payment. Payment? Yes, there is a folder and record it on the CEP record. it requires us to stay current with the $30 charge for re-certification to cover the This way you’ll always know how many profession and expand our knowledge. time Headquarters staff spend verifying and CEPs you have and how many more you processing the CEP records. Verifying? Yes, How: Any number of ways! may need. When it’s time to turn them in, again! ATA audits a random selection of the you’ll have everything in one place ready ƒ All ATA national and chapter educational records submitted, so be sure to keep your to input online. If audited, you’ll also have events qualify for CEPs automatically. own records of the activities for which you everything together in one folder with ƒ Taking and/or teaching a course or are claiming credit. no need to “dig things up” from the past seminar related to translation and When you’ve finished and submitted three years. interpreting is another excellent way the form, you’ll get a confirmation email All CEPs must have been earned to get points. that reads as follows: within the three-year period beginning ƒ Acquiring business skills also counts, Dear ATA member, with certification or re-certification. such as workshops through SCORE (the This message is to inform you that we have So, in the example above, where the Service Corps of Retired Executives) or received your online continuing education CEPs expire in July 2017, only activities record. ATA will contact you only if there are your local Chambers of Commerce. performed between July 2014 and July questions about your submission or if you are 2017 can be claimed. You cannot claim ƒ Release your inner author and write an selected for audit. Here is a quick summary of credit for activities or events that took article for The ATA Chronicle or another what you have submitted: place before you were certified or before professional publication. Category A: x your previous re-certification deadline. ƒ Commit to ATA’s School Outreach Category B: x After all, the purpose of continuing Program or become a Mentoring Buddy. Category C: x education is to stay current! As with all rules, this one has an All of these activities will garner If you don’t receive this email, an error exception: certified members who have you CEPs. may have occurred, so be sure to contact reached age 60 are exempt from this Who is responsible for tracking and ATA’s Certification Manager, Caron requirement. ATA Headquarters also has reporting CEPs? You are. ATA should Mason ([email protected]). Note that the authority to extend the deadline for notify you before your CEP report is your submission will take 7–10 business accruing CE points, upon request, for due, but you can easily check your status days to be processed, so your profile won’t immediately appear to be updated up to one year based upon extenuating on ATA’s website. Just log in under the on the website. circumstances, such as long-term illness, “Members Only” section and check your If you’re planning an event or applying undue hardship, and military duty. membership information. You’ll see for CEPs for individual activities, be sure All the information you need can be something like this: to consult ATA’s guidelines cited above on found on ATA’s website under the FAQ Your Membership Expires on 01-01-2018 how to assess the number of CEPs you section of the Certification tab (http://bit. You Belong to 4 Division(s) may offer or claim. Note that a university ly/FAQ-certification). If you have further Your Last Invoice was Dated 08-24-2016 course has a maximum of five points, and questions, the staff at ATA Headquarters is Your Continuing Education Points expire a single event, even if it lasts several days, there to assist. With a little planning, this on 07-01-2017 Submit Now has a maximum of 10 points. ATA’s Annual math shouldn’t be a problem. 

34 The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2017 www.atanet.org ANNOUNCEMENTS

Xx NEW ATA PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE BROKER Alliant is the new broker for ATA-sponsored professional liability insurance. The underwriter is still Lloyds of London. All policies remain in effect and unchanged.

Why choose the ATA-sponsored professional liability insurance? The policy is specific to the translation and interpreting professions. This is not a one-size-fits- all plan, but a plan that is specific to There’s Still Time to Enter ATA’s the work you do. School Outreach Contest! What does the ATA-sponsored professional liability insurance cover? ake a School Outreach your presentation, the school’s name ƒ presentation during the 2016– and location, and a brief description Broad definition of translation/ M 2017 school year and you could of the class. interpreting services: Covers win a free registration to ATA’s 58th ƒ You may submit multiple entries. activities relevant to a translator Annual Conference in Washington, DC, or interpreter, including editing, October 25–28, 2017! The deadline for submissions is July 18, 2017. The winner will be contacted no later publishing, and proofreading. Here’s how to enter: than August 20, 2017. (Note: You must ƒ Coverage for contingent bodily ƒ Visit ATA’s School Outreach be a member of ATA or an ATA-affiliated injury and/or property damages: Presentations section for information organization to enter.) Complete details are on setting up a presentation, ready- available on ATA’s School Outreach webpage Covers errors in providing made presentation materials for (http://bit.ly/ATA-School-Outreach). translation/interpreting services download, and speaking tips. Questions? Contact School Outreach that result in bodily injury and/ ƒ Choose the age level you like the best Program Coordinator Meghan McCallum or property damage. These types and download a presentation, or use ([email protected]) or send of claims are typically excluded by the resources on the School Outreach an email to [email protected].  generic professional liability policies. webpage to round out your own material. ƒ Speak on translation and/or interpreting ƒ Coverage for cyber liability, careers at a school or university Tell Us Your Story! including HIPPA and HITECH anywhere in the world between breaches: Covers breaches related August 1, 2016 and July 18 2017. Please share your past and present School Outreach experiences with to the provision of professional ƒ Get someone to take a picture of you us! Whether you decide to enter the services in violation or breach of in the classroom. For tips on getting a contest or not, ATA’s School Outreach the HIPPA and HITECH Acts. winning shot, visit the Photo Guidelines. team would love to hear from you. ƒ Send your picture electronically to the Please contact Meghan McCallum at Visit ata.alliant.com for ATA School Outreach Program or mail [email protected] with additional information. your entry to 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite a description of when and where you 590, Alexandria, VA 22314. presented and let us know about your Questions? Contact Alliant at ƒ Please include your name and memorable School Outreach experience. +1-703-547-5777 or contact information, the date of [email protected] CAREERS at the NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY Inspiration for a Lifetime At the National Security Agency, translating a foreign language is not NSA has a critical need for individuals with the just an academic exercise. It is a critical step in keeping our nation following language capabilities: safe. • Arabic • Chinese That’s why NSA language professionals are inspired to lead the • Farsi nation in foreign language analysis. It is their job to know fine details • Korean • Russian of dialect and context, nuance and culture. • And other less commonly taught languages

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