MAY 2006 THE AATIA LETTER The LetterPAGE 1 of the Austin Area Translators and Interpreters Association AATIA www.aatia.org May 2006 May 13 member meeting Advance registration deadline looms for NAJIT conference Who needs translators? REGISTER BY MAY 8 TO SAVE on early registration for the annual conference of the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Localization projects do! Translators, to be held May 19–21 in Houston. Onsite and one-day registration will be available, at higher rates, if space permits. For specifics visit www.najit.org. The conference will place a special focus on medical interpreting and translating as it relates to judiciary interpreting and translating. Everette Jordan of the National Virtual Translation Center will deliver the keynote address. This conference is approved for 10 ATA Continuing Education Points, and an application is pending for Texas continuing education credits, including 2 hours of ethics. NAJIT will hold several preconference workshops as well, but there will be time for entertainment, too. Friday night’s party will feature Tommy Dardar and his special brand of swamp blues. This is a chance to join colleagues for a fabulous opportunity to network, get the latest word on new initiatives, and sharpen interpreting DETAILS WERE SKETCHY AT PRESS TIME, and translating skills. H but rumor has it that Dr. Tim Altanero from Austin Community College will discuss the role ATA to conduct patent translation of translators in localization projects at AATIA’s May 13 member meeting. H seminar in nation’s capital
COMBINE BUSINESS AND PLEASURE by joining your colleagues for a full Seminars to prep for day of in-depth, advanced-level sessions presented by patent experts on June 17, 2006 in Arlington, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from ATA certification exam Washington, D.C. AATIA WILL SPONSOR an ATA certification · See the documents a patent translator is likely to encounter and learn examination in San Antonio on July 22. Two how they fit into the patent process. seminars will precede it, the first in San Antonio · Understand the practical procedures for drafting and revising a patent on May 13. The date has not been set for the translation. second, which will be held in Austin. · Acquire techniques for doing “literal” translations and learn how to A flyer with details and a registration form avoid common pitfalls. will be posted on the AATIA website To learn more, visit www.atanet.org/pd/patent. H www.aatia.org. H
AATIA volunteers sought for New Orleans conference SINCE LOUISIANA DOES NOT HAVE a local translators and interpreters association, AATIA has stepped forward to assist in coordinating the American Translators Association’s 2006 Annual Conference in New Orleans this fall. An AATIA planning committee is forming, and Beth Nazar, who was our guest last fall during and after Hurricane Katrina, will be point person in New Orleans. Contact Esther Díaz at [email protected] to find out how you can help make this confer- ence an event to remember. H
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Austin Area Translators & Interpreters Association Board of Directors President Esther Díaz v & f 312-1599 [email protected] Secretary Susana Roca-Smith v 380-9597 [email protected] Director of Communications Cristina Pinto-Bailey v 892-5260 [email protected] Director of Finance Al Favela v 401-9388 [email protected] Director of Membership Gisela Greenlee v 280-1523 [email protected] Director of Professional Development Otilia Sánchez v 512-659-3536 [email protected]
Coordinators ADVERTISING [email protected] ATA CERTIFICATION Laura Vlasman v 891-9207 f 891-9208 lvlasman @earthlink.net COMPUTERS Frank Dietz v 491-6069 f 491-6086 [email protected] DATABASE Laszlo Eosze v 254-542-5090 [email protected] HOSPITALITY Merry Wheaton v 451-4772 f 467-7616 [email protected] INTERPRETATION Maurine McLean 447-4779 [email protected] LITERARY Marian Schwartz v & f 442-5100 [email protected] NEW M EMBERS Esther Díaz v & f 312-1599 [email protected] OILSIG J. Henry Phillips v 834-1941 [email protected] REFERRALS Steve Zaveloff v 219-7142 f 233-2770 [email protected] & Merry Wheaton v 451-4772 f 467-7616 [email protected] RUSSIAN Jane Chamberlain v 453-1486 [email protected] SPANISH Leo Bello & Susana Roca-Smith v: 380-9597 [email protected] WEBSITE R. Michael Conner v & f 474-7012 [email protected] VOICEMAIL Elisabeth Joffrain v 775-1459 [email protected] Workshops Laura Vlasman v 891-9207 f 891-9208 lvlasman @earthlink.net
THE AATIA LETTER THE AATIA LETTER is published bimonthly in odd-numbered months in print and online versions by the Austin Area Transla- EDITOR R. Michael Conner v & f 474-7012 tors and Interpreters Association (AATIA), PO Box 13331, [email protected] Austin, TX 78711. Other newsletters may reprint or excerpt PRODUCTION Howard Simms v 452-4700 uncopyrighted material from THE LETTER provided they also [email protected] & Merry Wheaton v 451-4772 publish the following statement: “Reprinted from THE LETTER, f 467-7616 [email protected] newsletter of the Austin Area Translators and Interpreters DISTRIBUTION Efrat Schwartz v 282-1951 f 233-1019 Association (www.aatia.org).” Copyrighted material may not be [email protected] reprinted without permission from the copyright holder.
Advertise in THE AATIA LETTER THE AATIA LETTER offers a great opportunity to advertise your translation- and Newsletter Ad Rates* interpretation-related products and services. The online version of this bimonthly Full page $125 newsletter reaches a global audience through free downloads at www.aatia.org. And Half page 85 at rates like these, you can’t afford to miss out on this opportunity. Quarter page 45 Ad copy and payment must be received by deadline on the 15th of the month Business card 25 preceding issue date. *10% discount to members To obtain more information and to place your ad contact Advertising Manager [email protected].
MAY 2006 THE AATIA LETTER PAGE 3
medical company in Houston and has been an Austin-based freelance translator Translator at Work: since the 1980s. Next, Beckwith posed specific The Nitty-Gritty of questions: Translating Poetry How did you find your first client? In the second part of the March Díaz’s first client came by word of AATIA meeting, Fulbright Fellow mouth. winner and Portuguese poetry translator McMorrow started his own business Alexis Levitin presented an in-depth and promoted his services by attending analysis of the translation of two poems informal groups and meetings. As he put from Portuguese into English. The it, work tends to come to you but word poems discussed were A Rapariga e a of mouth is fundamental. May meeting segments reviewed Praia by Sophia de Mello Breyner After deciding to become a freelance Andresen, a very old sonnet probably Mentoring Moment: translator, how did you set up your written in Italy around the XIV or XV home office? centuries, and Retrato by Cecilia Meireles. Getting Started McMorrow took over the living Translating rhyme into English A NEW SEGMENT DEBUTED at the March room. His advice to new translators is to When translating poetry, Levitin’s meeting—the Mentoring Moment. Tony be very strict about their work schedule. advice is not to focus on the theory of Beckwith emceed a panel discussion He gets 90% of his work through the translation, rather one should, instead, designed to provide information for Internet, and half of it comes from focus on the reality of the poem by newcomers to the field of translation and Europe. absorbing the sense of the people, land, interpretation. In this first in a series of Díaz started with a desk in her and country. sessions, the host and panelists Esther bedroom but now has her own home Rhyme does not come as easily in Diaz and Leon McMorrow all talked office. English as it does in either Portuguese or briefly about how they got started in the How did you find the reference work Spanish. For example, in those languages business. you need? the word “love” rhymes with a wide array Diaz began as a bilingual secretary/ McMorrow said it is very different of words but not in English. Finding full translator for the Institute of Latin now; the same rules no longer apply. It rhymes is extremely difficult in English, American Studies and later translated used to involve visits to the library, but but bearing in mind that rhyme is an medical records at the Texas Rehabilita- now he uses Google. important source of order in poetry, tion Commission. Her Greek and Latin Diaz consults with professionals in Levitin suggests translators aim for an classes at school helped her with the the field related to the particular transla- approximate rhyme rather than a full one. terminology, and she also consulted with tion on which she is working. Actually, in his "theory" of translation, doctors to familiarize herself with The assembled members were then the concept of "compensation" is central: medical jargon. Feeling a need to invited to participate in the discussion, the translator should strive to produce a network with other translators, she which they did, with questions and poem of equivalent value by using poetic learned about the American Translators comments on, among other topics, using devices like alliteration and rhythm to Association at the library. She then got in Google as a resource for translation work recreate the emotions and thoughts touch with Harvie Jordan and Albert and receiving payment from overseas. communicated in the original. Bork, and together they made contact Another Mentoring Moment will be —Susana Roca-Smith, Secretary H with other translators in Austin and offered at the next meeting on May 13, at founded the AATIA. which Beckwith and two new panelists McMorrow came to the U.S. from will continue to explore the kind of Ireland to finish his education. After questions for which new translators and obtaining a master’s degree in linguistics, interpreters are constantly seeking he became a translator and got interested answers. in medical terminology. He then worked —Susana Roca-Smith, Secretary, as an emergency room technician and an and Tony Beckwith H Italian interpreter and later founded a language school in Austin at a time when there were no other language schools in town. Esther Diaz and Harvie Jordan contacted him about joining AATIA. He was later recruited as a translator for a
PAGE 4 THE AATIA LETTER MAY 2006 Joint Venture: A story by Virginia Brown, translated from the Spanish by Tony Beckwith The Jugglers www.tonybeckwith.com
On a recent trip to Buenos Aires I noticed that, although things have improved since the economic crisis that devastated Argentina a few years ago, some people are still living on the fringes and doing whatever they can to earn a few pesos. At traffic lights all over the city, when the light turned red, jugglers appeared and entertained the drivers, then passed the hat just as the light turned green. This reminded me of “Joint Venture”— the story by the Uruguayan writer Virginia Brown that I translated for Thresholds, the anthology of world literature that was recently published here in Austin:
E’D SEEN HIM BEFORE—or him chuckle and he loosened his grip on After a good while Juan, who was someone just like him. But for the wheel. With a sigh of determination tired, drenched, and happy invited Jona- H once, on that rainy afternoon, he took off his tie, shoes and socks, and than to have a hot dog and they went to Juan did not avert his eyes to look down got out of his car. He retrieved the ten- the bar at the corner. They counted up at his dashboard and rationalize, “His nis balls he always kept in the trunk, their earnings, then ate in silent complic- parents will take it anyway.” The kid ever ready to play a game for the sake of ity. Between sips of Coca-Cola, the bun was wearing a large plastic bag, standing public relations. peeped out through Jonathan’s smile. in front of the cars at the red light, jug- He walked back through the down- When they said goodbye Juan gave gling two oranges in the hopes that his pour to the traffic light and introduced him the tennis balls. “They’ll improve dexterity, or lack of it, would move himself. The kid’s name was Jonathan. your image,” he explained. someone to part with a couple of pesos. “Jonathan, we need to sharpen up Juan whistled as he walked back to Juan, caught up in his own anxiety, our strategy here,” said Juan. “Whatever his car and was still whistling when he thought of how he too had juggled per- I earn is yours.” drove up to his house in the suburbs. centages, acronyms, and English words Jonathan shrugged and smiled. His wife opened the door, talking on in the board room, hoping that when Together they waited for the light to the cordless phone. Juan grabbed the the company’s organization chart was change. handset from her with his right hand, shuffled somewhere on the other side When it turned red they stepped out tossed it into the air, caught it in his left, of the world nobody would delete Juan. in front of the cars and started perform- took her by the waist, spun her around The light turned green and the cars ing, the balls spinning clumsily and in a tango step, smiled, and told her. started honking and moving, and he bouncing off the road. The kid laughed “I got fired.” H inched forward. He felt bad. He turned and said, “Hey dude, you’re worse at an intersection and parked on the side than me. street. Nobody’s going He was sweating so profusely that he to give us any- felt that he too was being soaked by the thing.” rain, as though his space-age car and his But when it stylish suit had somehow dissolved and was time to been reduced to something as flimsy as take up the the improvised raincoat the little juggler collection, Juan was wearing. His hands were locked summoned up onto the steering wheel. all his sophisti- Juan pictured the boy smiling as he cated marketing concentrated on keeping the oranges in skills and the air and then, as he panhandled the worked the cars cars, wiping the smile off his face to with an amus- shield it from the indifference of the ing and con- tightly sealed windows. It occurred to vincing line of Juan that he, drier and better dressed sales talk. The than the kid, hadn’t smiled either during cash started to his presentations. This thought made flow. MAY 2006 THE AATIA LETTER PAGE 5
available across the web.” In some around for a long time, but has now Getting So cases, the results can even show you greatly improved its interface. The whether you can access the full text results page now has tabs with such Much Better through your library. categories as “Information Technol- © 2006 Frank Dietz Google Print (http:// ogy,” “Military & Government,” www.frankdietz.com print.google.com/googlebooks/ “Science & Medicine,” etc. that help you THE WEB CONSTANTLY ADDS new about.html) lets you search the text of focus on the context area of your sites, but sometimes it is nice to see translation rather than having to scroll what “old” sites are doing. Here are a through all the possible meanings. An few locations that have added new indispensable resource that is now even functions or otherwise have become better! more useful to translators. Not a website, but getting better all First, there is Google. The guys from the time: Jost Zetzsche’s Tool Kit, “a Mountain View are not just sitting on biweekly newsletter for people in the their pile of cash; they are adding all translation industry who want to get kinds of new functions (think of Google more out of their computers.” Just go to base, or the new local Froogle shopping www.internationalwriters.com/ function) to their site. Google Scholar toolkit/ to subscribe. The basic edition (http://scholar.google.com/), books (from the holdings of several is free (there is a premium edition that according to Google “covers peer- major university libraries) that have been costs $15/year. Now you will receive an reviewed papers, theses, books, digitized. Right now, though, there is a e-mail newsletter every two weeks that abstracts, and other scholarly literature lawsuit by the Author’s Guild going on contains tips and tricks about the from all broad areas of research. You’ll against this project, claiming copyright software translators use. Jost has a great find works from a wide variety of violations. knack for finding shortcuts, freebies and academic publishers and professional Acronymfinder other ways to make your working life societies, as well as scholarly articles (www.acronymfinder.com/) has been easier. H
language and how my company (he was be with KVRX, the student radio station. Beware of this or interspersing the name of my old I doubted UT is directly involved with company in the stock ad) supports KUT fundraising. I know KUT and variations thereof diversity, language, and such. I have to KVRX are not affiliated. Also these radio AATIA member Felipe Perez recently shared admit it sounded like a really good stations do their fundraising on the air, via AATIA’s listserv his recent experience with statement of beliefs, but it was hardly a not calling people, as far as I know. a phone scammer who evidently targeted language good ad, i.e., it did not mention some- 3. He claimed the spot was to be professionals. Perez’s email describing the thing as basic as what my company does. broadcast during rush hour. I know conversation appears here. After asking him a few questions (see KVRX only transmits 9 pm to 9 am, I JUST (11:45 AM, 4/14/06) RECEIVED below) I told him this was not for me because they share the frequency with a call from someone claiming to be from because I doubted the demographic that KOOP during the day. That is something the University of Texas and asking for listens to their stations is one that buys he did not know and was further money. I’ve done much work for UT my services. He then tried to get off the confused when I told him. before, so it did not seem strange. At line with me before I could probe any 4. When I asked him to send me first I thought it was work-related and let more. information by mail he became flustered. him go on. He read me a radio spot and The caller has a very well-spoken Said this was something that needed to as he was doing so I thought he was demeanor and a good voice, sounds like be done today, as they were wrapping up going to ask me to translate it or hire me the real deal. The following tipped me the campaign. as voice talent. off: 5. He was too eager to let me off the What he wanted was to sell me a set 1. He was using my old company line toward the end, usually these guys of 30-second spots in one of their radio name from several years ago. He insist. Don’t they? stations for $350 for twice a day for a appeared confused when I told him so 6. I called KVRX; they know nothing week, or a lower rate (I forget how and was a little too insistent asking my about this and said they would pass it on much) for 3 days a week. He specifically new company name. to management. H mentioned calling language companies 2. First he claimed it was UT, then because of current events like immigra- the radio station. When I asked if the tion reform. The spot was about spot was to air in KUT, he said it was to
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What a babe! Beth and Gabriel Nazar announce the birth of their son, Lucas, on April 10. He weighed in at 8 lbs, 6 oz. and was 20 inches long. Lucas was also greeted by older sister Sophia. AATIA hosted Beth at the AATIA member meeting in September, when she was taking refuge in Austin from Hurricane Katrina. She will be the point person in New Orleans for the AATIA and HITA members who will be assisting in “local” hosting duties at the ATA conference this fall. H
March 25, 2006 Meeting Neuhauser, Elizabeth Vazquez, Camelia in continuing education workshops for Joffe, Miryam Van Beveren, Celina Wilt, licensed court interpreters. (CE Require- San Antonio special Edward Palm, Vesna Zrinski, Edgar ment becomes effective in 2007). Topics: Terrazas Medical, ethics. interest group ATA certification exam—Interested explored Doris Cabezas led introductions and in exam sitting in San Antonio. explained that the purpose of this Certification information sessions—
Meeting participants: Doris Cabezas, meeting was to determine whether there Interested in ATA certification informa- Raquel de Roo, Ezequiel Quijano, Alvaro was interest in forming a group of tion sessions to be held soon to inform translators and interpreters in San prospective candidates of eligibility Peluffo, Esther Diaz, Maria Victoria Antonio under the umbrella of the requirements for exam, information Ryan, Andres Csihas, Tessa Dodds, Cecilia Williamson, Andrea Nemeth- Austin Area Translators and Interpreters about the exam itself, grading criteria, Association. etc., then closer to exam sitting date to Doris then presented the history and prepare candidates for the exam. lessons learned from a previous group, Mentoring —Interested in setting up the Associaton of Translators and a mentoring program for people entering Interpreters of San Antonio (ATISA). the profession and also interested in Esther Diaz then led a discussion of participating in ATA’s School Outreach possible activities for this group and Program to make the profession known AATIA’s role. Participants suggested the to students. following activities: The next meeting of the San Antonio Education and Training —Interested Special Interest Group is scheduled for in establishing a college degree program Saturday, May 6th. For details, contact in translation and interpreting some- [email protected]. H where in Texas. In the interim, interested
MAY 2006 THE AATIA LETTER PAGE 7
Sojourn solicits 2006 Agents and Editors Conference submissions Friday–Sunday, June 23–25, 2006 SOJOURN IS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL of Austin Marriott at the Capitol, 701 East 11th Street, Austin arts and humanities published through the www.writersleague.org/agents2006.htm University of Texas at Dallas. The journal features publications in art, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, The Austin Writers’ League’s drama, and translation. annual Agents and Editors Currently, Sojourn is looking for submissions Conference is an excellent in the translation category. Because we have editors and volunteers trained in many languages, opportunity to take your we accept translations in just about any language; writing to the next level. if you have a question regarding a language, Whether your focus is fiction please email the address or nonfiction, you can benefit listed below. Those from participating in this interested should submit energizing conference. one fiction piece or two poems, plus original Meet and socialize with language text. Translation prominent agents, editors and submissions should not writers in the laid-back exceed 10 pages double-spaced; works that exceed atmosphere of downtown the page number restriction will be rejected. Austin. Benefit from their Those interested should submit their transla- expertise during panel tion with the original and cover letter (in Word discussions and breakout format) to: [email protected]. sessions led by published Please refer to the Sojourn website authors. www.sojournjournal.org for additional submission information, guidelines, and deadlines. H Your registration includes a one-on-one consultation with an agent or editor. The sooner you register, the better your chances to get the agent or editor of your choice.
New Valenzuela translation hits bookstores LILIANA VALENZUELA EVIDENTLY HAS NO TROUBLE staying busy. Her most recent translation, the young adult novel En busca de milagros, by Julia Alvarez [see cover, left], will be published May 9, 2006, by Random House Books for Children. Valenzuela was invited by the Indiana Review to read at Indiana University, Bloomington, on April 6, from her original essay “A Mexican Invented Color T.V.,” which will appear in the journal’s upcoming special issue on Latino-Latina writers in the United States. Valenzuela also taught two translation classes at The Florida Center for the Literary Arts at Miami-Dade College on March 31 and April 1, 2006. H
PAAGE 8 ATIATHE AATIA LETTER MAY 2006 Austin Area Translators & Interpreters Association PO Box 13331 H Austin, TX 78711-3331 H 512-707-3900 www.aatia.org
AATIA HOLDS MEETINGS at the Austin History Center, 9th & Guadalupe, unless otherwise indicated. Visitors are welcome.
EVENTS IN AUSTIN May 13 10:15 a.m. Spanish SIG meeting 1–4 p.m. AATIA member meeting Jun 3 2–4 p.m. LitSIG meeting.9 Jun 10 10–12 noon. ISIG meeting 1–4 p.m. AATIA board meeting
BEYOND AUSTIN May 19–21 Houston. 27th Annual Conference of the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators www.najit.org Oct 18–21 Seattle. 29th Annual Conference of the American Literary Translators Association Nov 2–5 New Orleans. 47th Annual Conference of the American Translators Association www.atanet.org
MAY 2006 THE AATIA LETTER PAGE 8
Congratulations to Ed and Ingrid Lansford on their Last night I dreamed 25th anniversary that the envelope was pushing me!