The Voice of Interpreters and Translators THE ATA Mar/Apr 2016 Volume XLV Number 2 CHRONICLE

THE ART OF SPEAKING BOLDLY

Adventures in Remote Interpreting at a Rural Hospital

How to Find and Approach Your Ideal Clients through LinkedIn

The International Human Rights Arena as an Area of Opportunity for Language Professionals

A Publication of the American Translators Association American Translators Association 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 Alexandria, VA 22314 USA Tel: +1.703.683.6100 Fax: +1.703.683.6122 E-mail: [email protected] FROM THE PRESIDENT Website: www.atanet.org

DAVID RUMSEY Editorial Board [email protected] Geoff Koby (chair) Jeff Alfonso Chris Durban Corinne McKay Charting Our Progress… Michael Wahlster n my last column, I made the analogy On a related note, during our recent Publisher/Executive Director that running ATA is like steering a meeting in Atlanta, the Board reviewed very large ship. We are fortunate to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Walter Bacak, CAE I [email protected] be charting a new course forward, with Antitrust Compliance policy, formerly an energetic and enthusiastic crew. I’m known as the ATA Policy on Rates, which Editor pleased to report that we have already dates back to the days when ATA fell Jeff Sanfacon been making progress. under the watchful eyes of the FTC in [email protected] At the Board of Directors meeting in 1990. ATA’s current legal counsel reviewed Miami last November, one of the first the policy, and although the level of Proofreader orders of business was to create ataTalk, a precaution remains largely the same, the Cathy Lada listserve where members can discuss ATA Board included a detailed commentary that policies and activities among themselves. helps explain when and how the policy Advertising The benefit of this type of forum is that we should be applied. This will help to clarify Lauren Mendell can bring all of the ideas and opinions into the many myths and misunderstandings [email protected] a single location where they can be shared around the issues of antitrust law. Tel: +1.703.683.6100, ext. 3001 and heard. It allows those of us at the We are also seeing progress in ATA’s Fax: +1.703.683.6122 helm to survey the seas and plot a course Public Relations Program. After replying forward. It allows other listserves, such as to a host of various media inquiries, ATA’s Design & Production the popular Business Practices listserve, Public Relations Committee is taking Blue House Design a more proactive approach by having to focus on their core mission to provide www.bluehouse.us articles placed through a professional PR practical advice and share experiences. firm. Instead of a “shotgun” approach The ATA Chronicle (ISSN 1078-6457) is published You can join the conversation here: https:// and trying to get our name in a few six times per year by the American Translators groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ataTalk/info. general papers in passing, the firm is Association, 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590, Another key component in helping us taking a “rifle” approach that focuses on Alexandria, VA 22314 USA. Periodicals postage map the waters around us is the newly placing articles in trade publications with paid at Alexandria, Virginia, and additional released ATA Translation and Interpreting targeted, receptive readers. (These are the mailing offices.POSTMASTER: Send address Services Survey Report. The last ATA folks who actually purchase translation changes to The ATA Chronicle, 225 Reinekers compensation survey was completed and interpreting services.) This helps us Lane, Suite 590, Alexandria, VA 22314 USA. in 2007. The survey, conducted in provide more information with a greater The American Translators Association (ATA) conjunction with the survey professionals impact. One of their best placements was established in 1959 as a not-for-profit at Industry Insights and some experienced so far has been in Communication World professional society to foster and support the key volunteers, provides a detailed look Magazine, published by the International professional development of translators and at the compensation for translators, Association of Business Communicators, interpreters and to promote the translation and interpreters, and company owners, which includes writers in the fields of interpreting professions. The subscription rate for including pricing information by language, marketing, advertising, public relations, a member is $25 (included in the dues payment). the number of hours worked, and the use employee relations, and more. You can The U.S. subscription rate for a nonmember is $65. of language technology. Both members and find the article, “Automation Doesn’t Subscribers in Canada and Mexico add $25; non-members can access the easy-to-read Solve Everything: 5 Things You Should all other non-U.S. subscribers add $45. Executive Summary for free, but only ATA Know about Machine Translation,” here: Single copies are available for $7 per issue. members receive the full 40-page report for http://bit.ly/automation-MT. free here: http://bit.ly/ATA-Services-Survey. It’s great to see all the progress being ©2016 American Translators Association Information like this can be helpful when made by the Association as we plot our we plan member benefits and determine way forward. I’m hoping for smooth sailing Reprint Permission other financial planning. and more sunny skies in the future.  Requests for permission to reprint articles should be sent to the editor of The ATA Chronicle

2 The ATA Chronicle | Mar/Apr 2016 at [email protected]. Mar/Apr 2016 Volume XLV CONTENTS Number 2

FEATURES 22 The International Human Rights Arena as an Area of Opportunity 12 for Language Professionals The Art of Speaking Boldly The international human Learning to be a bold speaker can rights arena is desperate for help you develop your business, qualified specialist translators whether you are talking to a and interpreters. fellow volunteer at a local event, presenting to your local chamber of commerce, or meeting with a potential client.

7 15 Adventures in Remote Interpreting at a Rural Hospital COLUMNS This is the story of how a hospital in the rural area of South Lake 2 From the President Tahoe, California, is improving the range of its services by 4 From the President-Elect implementing an innovative remote interpreting system. 5 ATA Social Media

5 Letters to the Editor

18 6 From the Executive Director How to Find and Approach Your Ideal Clients through LinkedIn 7 Treasurer's Report LinkedIn is one of the handiest tools to identify and research 15 10 Outreach Report prospects before contacting them. The success you have 24 Our World of Words with finding new contacts and 27 The Entrepreneurial Linguist prospects will depend on your 28 ability to truly understand your target market and to use the 28 Interpreters Forum search filters LinkedIn provides to your advantage. 30 TechTalk 32 Resource Review

37 Certification Forum

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

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FROM THE PRESIDENT-ELECT CORINNE MCKAY [email protected] Looking Ahead to San Francisco

lanning is well underway for ATA’s 57th Annual Conference, November P2-5, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco. Our 56th Annual Conference in Miami was a huge success by all measures, with higher than expected attendance: over 1,600 attendees from 52 countries. We anticipate an even larger crowd in San Francisco, making it a not-to-be-missed event for translators and interpreters around the world. As usual, we have lots of exciting educational sessions, networking events, and special programs on tap for you. Our registration statistics tell us that about a third of our attendees are first-timers, while another third have attended more than five conferences. So, we aim to strike a balance. We offer sessions for translators and interpreters who are still finding their specializations and establishing a solid base of regular clients, as well as sessions for those who have been in the business for several decades and want to keep up with new developments in their specializations and business skills and network with other seasoned professionals. At every Annual Conference we try to maintain and improve on the aspects of ATA President David Rumsey and I ATA’s room block will fill up quickly, so the conference that people love, while recently went to visit our host hotel for make sure to book your room as soon as adding some new experiences and ATA57, the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero. you see our announcement! events to keep things fresh. This year, It’s the same hotel that hosted our very I’m honored to be your president- we’ve restyled the Wednesday before the successful conference in 2007; just elect and conference organizer, and we conference as its own “mini-conference,” steps from the waterfront and the Ferry appreciate the support of every one with in-depth and hands-on seminars by Building, with many restaurants and of our 10,500+ members. Feel free to some of our most popular trainers from cafes right in the vicinity. Staying at the contact me with any suggestions you past conferences. This change will offer a conference hotel is the best way to be in much-needed opportunity for in-person the heart of the action at the conference, have for the conference, and a big training, and it also allows us to feature and the hotel’s newly remodeled lobby thank you to our local host chapter, the our Division Guest Speakers during the (with a 20-story atrium!) and brand new mighty Northern California Translators main conference, where all attendees can lobby restaurant and bar are sure to be Association, for all of the tips they’re see them without paying an additional lively networking and social locations for compiling for the rest of us! registration fee. attendees to ATA57. We anticipate that See you in San Francisco! 

4 The ATA Chronicle | Mar/Apr 2016 www.atanet.org ATA SOCIAL MEDIA FROM OUR MEMBERS

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BEYOND POST-EDITING: ADVANCES IN INTERACTIVE MARILYN GADDIS ROSE (1930–2015) American Translators TRANSLATION ENVIRONMENTS Professor Rose was a pioneer and a leader in the Association Interesting article! I would just like to make a field of translation studies. Many of us teaching March 2 clarification. CasmaCat has been using MateCat code translation, including my colleagues and I in the Inuit translators want to to build their interactive platform, not the other way new translation program at New York University create support network, around as is suggested by the article. MateCat is the in the 1980s, looked up to Professor Rose, who original open source product, which has been used by already at that time was considered a seasoned standardize language many companies and groups, including CasmaCat, to professional in the field. Her scholarly writings on "Inuit interpreters and translators build new products on. translation contributed significantly to advancing made a number of recommendations The two projects—MateCat and CasmaCat— our understanding of the theory and practice of on the final day of the Inuit language parted ways after the end of the European funding. translation as we know it today. authority's week-long conference, While CasmaCat focused on researching and including creating a better support Jonathan Slater I Plattsburgh, New York network for those who suffer from implementing interactive editing functionalities, MateCat grew into a commercial translation platform, 'vicarious trauma.'" KUDOS FOR THE NEW CHRONICLE http://bit.ly/TranslatorsNetwork enriched with features for professional translators, but still being free and open source. The new Chronicle arrived a few days ago, and there’s a lot to like! It seems fresh and lively. I read it from Alessandro Cattelan I Rome, Italy cover to cover and have dipped back in a couple of times since then. I recognize that it’s a challenge to do TOP TWEETS INTERPRETERS FORUM: ZEN AND THE ART OF this over and over. Congratulations, and keep up the INTERPRETING (WHEN YOU REALLY WISH YOU COULD good work. SAY WHAT YOU’RE THINKING!) Celia Bohannon I Saxtons River, VT 30 of the best free online I just loved this article and can totally relate to it, dictionaries and thesauri although I don’t do legal interpreting. My areas of wp.me/p4WokT-Tl via @OlgaJeNo specialization are business, education, leadership, #xl8 #1nt and the sciences. Interpreting for business meetings, FEB 24 / @ATANET negotiations, audits, coaching sessions, etc., are very challenging and thrill me. You do learn, like the author said, self-control and how to transmit the message Anyone can contribute to this professionally without bias, as well as to convey dictionary of the world's dying deep respect when interpreting particularly sensitive ATA YOUTUBE CHANNEL languages #translator #interpreter: material. There is such a fine line to navigate in these ATA has launched a YouTube channel! ow.ly/YBmKa situations, and I’d love to hear more stories about other people’s experiences. FEB 22 / @ATANET The new channel features archival video Linda Canetti I Curitiba, Brazil clips of past ATA Annual Conferences Why is it important to include and several ATA webinars. Subscribe now revision courses in translation to receive updates when new videos are programs? #translator #interpreter: uploaded: http://bit.ly/ATA-youtube. ow.ly/YowT4 FEB 17 / @ATANET

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

he American Translators Association’s Zanten as the acting administrator and Board of Directors met January Marjon van den Bosch as the acting T 30–31, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. assistant administrator. The meeting followed the Board’s Annual ƒƒ Ethics Committee: The Board approved Study Day. the appointment of Ted Wozniak as chair The Annual Study Day sets aside time of the Ethics Committee. He replaces for the Board to discuss various aspects of Rudy Heller, who has resigned for health the Association’s activities and governance reasons. Rudy will continue in his role in-depth. The Study Day is coordinated of ATA secretary. Ted, who is a current and led by ATA’s president-elect, who, by member of the Ethics Committee, also office, is the chair of the Governance and serves as ATA’s treasurer. Communications Committee. This year, ƒƒ American Foundation for Translation President-elect Corinne McKay guided and Interpretation: The Board approved the Board through several roundtable the appointment of the Board of the discussions and scenarios. Treasurer Ted American Foundation for Translation and Wozniak also presented an overview of Interpretation. AFTI is ATA’s charitable ATA’s finances. The Board closed out the organization (www.afti.org). The day’s activities with a discussion of “what following individuals serve on AFTI’s if” financial scenarios. The Study Day Board: Marian S. Greenfield (president), discussions do not necessarily lead to Caitilin Walsh (vice-president), Jiri Stejskal concrete action plans, but they do help the Boston: the site for the 2020 ATA Annual Conference (treasurer), Glenn Nordin (director), Board come to a consensus on issues that Dorothee Racette (director), and David serve as the foundation for working through guidance for compliance with antitrust Rumsey (director). complex options for the Association. laws and regulations. Here are some highlights from the ƒƒ 2020 Annual Conference: The Board Board meeting. ATA BOARD MEETING SUMMARY approved Boston as the site for the 2020 The Board meeting summary and minutes ƒƒ ATA Antitrust Compliance Policy: ATA Annual Conference. A contract for will be posted online once they are The Board approved an ATA Antitrust the host hotel is under negotiation. The approved. Past meeting summaries and Compliance Policy to replace the Board will finalize the hotel selection at minutes are available in the Members Only guidelines approved by ATA’s Board the next Board meeting. area of ATA’s website (www.atanet.org/ in 1990. That document had been ƒƒ Dutch Language Division: The Board membership/minutes.php). The next Board created in response to inquiries from approved the establishment of the Dutch meeting is scheduled for April 30–May 1, the Federal Trade Commission. The Language Division. DLD is ATA’s 20th 2016 in Alexandria, Virginia. As always, new policy will be accompanied by division. At the same time, the Board the meeting is open to all members. We a commentary providing practical approved the appointments of Leo van encourage members to attend. 

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6 The ATA Chronicle | Mar/Apr 2016 www.atanet.org TREASURER’S REPORT TED WOZNIAK Treasurer's Report for the [email protected] 2014–2015 Fiscal Year

e are making progress on improving our financial situation, W but we still have far to go. Our overall financial performance in FY2014–151 (fiscal year from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015) improved greatly compared to the previous year. We ended the year with net “operating income” (change in net assets from operations) of just over $38k (previous year: net loss of $42.7k). Our investment income of $3.7k increased “net income” (change in net assets) for the year to just over $44.4k (previous year: $132).2 The positive change in net assets for the fiscal year is our third in a row and marks our best year since FY2011–12. Our deficit in net assets has now been reduced from the 2012 “peak” of $219k to $154.1k.

INCOME AND EXPENSES Total revenue was $2,992k, primarily from dues of $1,867k (+5.4% over 2014), rising to $122k and membership services ASSETS AND LIABILITIES conference revenue of $842k (+44.1%), increasing to $253k. The Chronicle posted Our total current assets as of June 30, and certification revenue of $185k a minor increase in costs of just 4.5% to 2015 were $583k, consisting of cash and (-2.9%). Revenue for The ATA Chronicle $506k, while the Certification Program cash equivalents of $536k and prepaid continued its decline, dropping 23% due showed a slight decline of 4.6% to $315k. expenses of $47k, compared to last year’s to a decrease in paid advertising to $58k. Publication expenses (not Chronicle related) total current assets of $437k. The increase in conference revenue from rose 11% to $88k, and professional The value of our long-term investment the Chicago venue was about $72k above development expenses increased by 18% to account decreased by 0.4% to $350k, and the budgeted figure of $765k, which was $62k. Total expenses for program services the value of our property and equipment in line with the higher attendance figures. rose by 21% to $2,348k. (net of depreciation) declined to $147k. Conference expenses for Chicago, on Expenses for support services Our total assets increased by 12% from the other hand, increased more than were again mixed, with general and $972k to $1,088k. expected. They came in $98k over budget Liabilities, consisting mostly of deferred (before overhead) at just over $841.6k administrative expenses dropping about dues income of $1,042k, rose by just (before overhead), and at just over $1 28% to $522.8k as a result in a change in over 6% to $1,243k. Our net deficit was million, including overhead allocations overhead allocation. This change in the reduced by about 20% to $176k. (+43%), for a net loss on the conference overhead allocation is partially responsible of $161k. Total costs of the division and for some of the increases in program membership services programs saw large services mentioned above. Officers and CASH FLOWS increases due to greater staff time allocated directors expenses increased by 25% to Year-on-year, our net cash provided by to these programs, with division costs $83k due to higher travel costs. operating activities increased by 10%, www.atanet.org American Translators Association 7 Annual Conference has posted a net profit Where did my dues dollars go? in any of the past five years (Orlando in FY2008-09, New York in 2009-10, and $0.01 $0.07 $0.09 Boston in 2011-12, and excluding the FIT $0.04 $0.04 Congress as an “extraordinary item”). The $0.03 $0.04 other three programs have resulted in a $0.05 net expense each and every year. $0.08 $0.28 The Chronicle has just recently $0.41 $0.07 undergone a major overhaul, so $0.05 2014 2015 significant cost savings are expected for the current fiscal year. The Certification $0.07 Committee is evaluating new test $0.12 delivery methods. Hopefully, any new $0.24 method selected will not only improve $0.14 $0.23 the experience for the candidate, but also increase demand and reduce delivery and grading costs, thus resulting in • General & • Membership services • Publications • Professional higher revenues and reduced expenses. administrative • Divisions • Governance development The professional development program • Chronicle • Certification • Annual conference is also being revamped with the goal of increasing demand and thus revenue. The Annual Conference remains the from $164k to $180k. The net cash used decreasing order of gross revenue, they are last major program to be reviewed in investing activities decreased by 58%, the Annual Conference, the Certification critically from a financial standpoint. It from $32k to $13k. Program, the Chronicle, followed by the is not necessary, or even desirable for Professional Development Program. all of these programs to become profit MAJOR PROGRAMS Over the past seven years (FY2008–09 centers, but the overall revenue and cost Excluding membership dues, ATA has through FY2014–15), each of these structure must be improved to reduce the four major sources of revenue (and programs has generated a net cumulative reliance on dues revenues for subsidizing expenses) or “member programs.” In loss. Of the four programs, only the these programs.

$0.50

$0.45

$0.40

$0.35 $0.30 Dues subsidy trend $0.25

$0.20

$0.15

$0.10

$0.05

$– General & Chronicle Membership Divisions Certification Publications Governance Annual Professional administrative services conference development 2013 $0.43 $0.23 $0.12 $0.06 $0.06 $0.05 $0.04 $0.04 $0.01 2014 $0.41 $0.23 $0.12 $0.05 $0.08 $0.04 $0.04 $0.07 $0.01 2015 $0.28 $0.24 $0.14 $0.07 $0.07 $0.05 $0.04 $0.09 $0.03

8 The ATA Chronicle | Mar/Apr 2016 www.atanet.org PROGRAMS AND OTHER EXPENSES SUBSIDIZED BY DUES UPDATE: ATA56 A MAJOR As mentioned earlier, with the sole FINANCIAL SUCCESS exception of the Annual Conference, every After this report was written, the preliminary program and expense item has operated financial results for the 2015 ATA Annual at a net loss. That means that each of Conference in Miami were tallied. Thanks to those expense items, from member benefit aggressive negotiations with service providers program services such as professional to reduce costs and a conservative approach development to general supporting services to costing and pricing the conference, it such as “governance” (e.g., board meetings appears that ATA56 will be the most successful and directors expenses), are paid for using conference in financial terms in many years. dues revenues. This is also the case for The conference program is currently showing the Annual Conference when it fails to a net profit of about $300,000, which not only generate a net gain. takes away any subsidy for the fiscal year, but The two charts at the top of page 8 show will probably ensure that our equity deficit will the proportion of dues revenues used to cover program and support services be finally erased this fiscal year and that ATA expenses for the past two fiscal years. The will be back in positive equity territory. Please data chart at the bottom of the page shows note that this figure is preliminary. While it is the three-year trend of those subsidies. likely to change, it is a near certainty that ATA56 Of note is the rather consistent will remain a major financial success. Kudos proportions for these programs, with the to the conference organizers, ATA President exception of general and administrative David Rumsey, our Experient representatives, expenses. However, that change is due to Headquarters staff, and everyone who helped the revision of the formula for allocating with this achievement. these overhead expenses to the various program services. Only the Annual Conference (excluding all profitable years) SUMMARY and professional development show any As I stated at the Annual General Meeting significant variations when compared in Miami, the Association is on the right against a seven-year average. For every $1 track, but we have a long way to go before in dues received, the Annual Conference we pull into the station. We have made took 4 cents in 2013, 6.5 cents in 2014, good progress. Strict and active governance and almost 3 cents in 2015, compared to an by the Board of Directors, the pertinent average of 5.8 cents since 2009. In the same committees and working groups, and ATA manner, professional development took 0.8 Headquarters staff should enable ATA to cents of each $1 in dues in 2013, 1 cent in continue to improve its program offerings, 2014, and 2.5 cents in 2015, compared to and consequently, its finances. an average of 2 cents since 2009. Also of interest, but not surprising, NOTES 1 are the three areas that account for the The financial figures cited are from the final majority of the “subsidies”: audited consolidated financial statements, which includes revenues from the American 1. General and administrative expenses Foundation for Translation and Interpretation (consuming 28% of available dues in (AFTI). In addition to the inclusion of AFTI 2015, 39% on average). revenues from contributions of $3,100 and general and administrative expenses of 2. Chronicle (24% in 2015, 25% on average). $4579.16 for FY2014–15, this report also 3. Membership services (consuming 14% reflects adjustments made to the preliminary of dues revenues in 2015 and 13.5% financial statements (included in the on average). Treasurer’s Report dated October 21, 2015 at the November 2015 Board meeting). It’s not surprising that general and Please also note that all figures have been administrative and membership services rounded off, which may result in rounding consume a significant portion of dues errors in total figures. revenues, as these areas have no revenues 2 Interest and dividend income has been of their own. The issue of Chronicle costs reclassified from operating revenue to non- has been addressed previously. operating activities. www.atanet.org American Translators Association 9 OUTREACH REPORT BY KRISTEN MAGES Upper Midwest Translators and Interpreters Association Offering Support Groups to Interpreters

he Upper Midwest Translators and Interpreters Association (UMTIA), an T ATA chapter based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has teamed up with a local therapist in an effort to provide support for interpreters. In the fall of 2015, UMTIA started offering free support groups to interpreters coping with secondary traumatic stress (STS).1 Many interpreters, especially freelancers, are affected by the taxing nature of their work when called upon to interpret emotionally difficult information. Unfortunately, many lack a support system within their professional community. The initiative began with a research project developed by two family therapists in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area who work with patients dealing with the effects of trauma. Dr. Christopher Mehus is a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Minnesota and has a PhD in couples Chris Mehus presents “Witness and Narrator: Addressing Problems of Secondary Traumatic Stress and and family therapy. He has a private Compassion Fatigue in Spoken Language Interpreting” at the John Nasseff Heart Center in Saint Paul, practice and works primarily with couples Minesota. (Photo by UMTIA member María Emilce López) and people dealing with the effects of traumatic stress. Dr. Emily Becher is a published study focused on input from the effects of STS, and many attendees research associate for the Parents Forever 119 local interpreters. agreed with the therapists’ findings. program within the Applied Research It didn’t take long for Chris and Emily From that workshop a partnership and Evaluation unit at the University of to realize something essential: “We evolved between Chris and UMTIA. Minnesota Extension Center for Family conducted a study across Minnesota and Following the March training, UMTIA’s Development. Her research interests found [among interpreters] high levels executive board discussed the situation include the promotion of healthy couple of compassion satisfaction [i.e., positive and family outcomes with a focus on co- and shared feedback they were receiving feelings about the work you do], but and decided to hire Chris to facilitate parent education, psychological trauma, also high levels of secondary traumatic and intimate partner violence. Both were support group sessions for a trial period of stress.” The study indicated that three months. It was determined that the interested in the role interpreters play interpreters, just like many individuals sessions would be offered twice a month during clinical sessions. in other service professions, are in two separate locations to maximum the When patients have limited English experiencing negative effects as a result number of participants. All interpreters proficiency (LEP), therapists often of the nature of their work. call on interpreters to help facilitate In March 2015, UMTIA began would be invited to attend, regardless of communication during therapy and/or working with Chris and Emily to offer a involvement with UMTIA, and the groups intervention. As Chris states, “as therapists three-hour workshop entitled “Witness would be offered free of charge. Each and researchers working with interpreters and Narrator: Addressing Problems session would last around two hours. in communities exposed to traumatic of Secondary Traumatic Stress and The first half would focus on education, stress, Emily and I were curious to learn Compassion Fatigue in Spoken Language such as how to identify STS and strategies more about the experience of interpreters Interpreting.”2 The training was quite for coping. Attendees would be invited and their risk of secondary traumatic successful, with many of those present to discuss their experiences during the stress.” This curiosity led to an extended recognizing the need for more support second half of the workshop and receive research project and eventually to a for professionals who might be suffering support from colleagues.

10 The ATA Chronicle | Mar/Apr 2016 www.atanet.org Chris Mehus explains his reasoning for would benefit from this type of support, but facilitating the groups: it’s not always easy to identify who those “Support from colleagues can be people are or how to best communicate incredibly helpful, and this is what we with them. Additionally, in a time when are trying to facilitate through these our professional community is so focused groups. Few people understand the on attending trainings and workshops that experience of interpreters as well as count toward meeting continuing education other interpreters. Supportive peers can requirements, it’s a bit of a paradigm shift for provide validation, suggestions about interpreters to commit to taking time out of coping or handling difficult situations, their schedules to take care of themselves. or simply an understanding nod. A Furthermore, since the sessions are support group can also combat the free (with just a donation jar at the sense of isolation that many interpreters front by the sign-in sheet), UMTIA experience. For those who do not has taken on the cost of hiring the currently feel like they need support, a therapist. While there is no question that group can provide additional meaning UMTIA’s executive board considers this a to their difficult experiences because worthwhile investment and service to the they are able to use these experiences to interpreter community, cost is a necessary support and relate to others.” factor to consider when evaluating the sustainability of such an activity. If you have any questions about how Few people understand the these support groups work or if you are interested in getting something similar experience of interpreters as well started up in your area, feel free to contact as other interpreters. UMTIA at [email protected]. 

NOTES 1 Secondary traumatic stress is the emotional duress that results when an individual hears UMTIA has since finished the trial about the firsthand trauma experiences run and hopes to continue offering these of another. Its symptoms mimic those of sessions to interpreters in the future, as they post-traumatic stress disorder. Accordingly, have been well received by the interpreter individuals affected by secondary stress community. During the three-month trial may find themselves re-experiencing period, some attendees came to just one personal trauma or notice an increase in session while others attended multiple arousal and avoidance reactions related to sessions. These groups were structured the indirect trauma exposure. They may deliberately so that attendees could sign also experience changes in memory and up online beforehand or simply walk in. perception; alterations in their sense of self-efficacy; a depletion of personal Those who attended had many positive resources; and disruption in their perceptions things to say. One attendee remarked, “I of safety, trust, and independence. found this group to be very interesting and (source: http://bit.ly/STS-explained) helpful when it comes to networking. I also 2 found it beneficial to meet other interpreters For a description of the workshop, including slides, please see http://bit.ly/UMTIA-STS- and to hear and discuss their thoughts, workshop. For information on upcoming complaints, and experiences.” Another events, please visit www.umtia.org. interpreter mentioned how he valued the group because of how isolating being an interpreter can be at times: “We really Kristen Mages works as a appreciate this type of support group, staff interpreter at Hennepin because as freelancers, we are like two County Medical Center in ships passing each other by.” Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is As with any new initiative, there are a Certified Medical Interpreter some challenges UMTIA has faced with (CMI-Spanish). She serves on the support groups. One challenge has the Upper Midwest Translators and Interpreters been getting the message out to those in Association’s executive board as the second need. There are clearly many people who secretary. Contact: [email protected]. www.atanet.org American Translators Association 11 FEATURE BY MADALENA SÁNCHEZ ZAMPAULO

(At left) Jan Fox spoke on sharpening your speaking skills in order to grow your business at ATA’s 56th Annual Conference in Miami.

to know your audience. Do some research beforehand and prepare your presentation to fit your listeners. For example, you wouldn’t present the same pitch to a group of engineers that you used when speaking to a school superintendent. Another technique that’s useful to learn more about your audience is to pay attention to their reactions, posture, and engagement during your presentation and make adjustments as needed while you speak.

Be Likable: We would all like to believe that we are likable people, but when pitching to potential clients, Jan suggests that speakers try their best to embody the following traits: ƒƒ The ability to relate to others ƒƒ Strength and energy ƒƒ Credibility and confidence ƒƒ Empathy and interest ƒƒ Being down to earth and approachable ƒƒ Humility Be Daring: Allow yourself to be a The Art of Speaking Boldly daring speaker by going after those who might have the most issues or seem Winning an audience over with an engaging story is much less about the problematic. Why? If you demonstrate that you’re willing to engage and learn content and words used to tell the story and much more about one’s voice, from those who disagree with you, then gestures, and movement. you might just win more support by surpassing your audience’s expectations. ublic speaking is the fastest way to answer is what Jan calls being a “bold” grow your business. That’s what Jan speaker. How? Let me explain below. Know who you are, what you’re P Fox, ATA’s public relations consultant and speaker trainer will tell you. In case Be Believable: First, you must be doing, and why you do it. you missed her session during ATA’s believable. That means you need to know Annual Conference last year or couldn’t who you are, what you’re doing, and find a seat (it happened!), Jan’s approach why you do it. The best way to convey to speaking has proven effective for all this is to tell the audience your story. For Watch Your Body Language: Bold levels—from independent contractors example, how did you get to this point speakers also know how to maximize to C-level executives alike. Her tips can in your career? What makes you a strong their impact by performing some essential help you develop your business, whether translator or interpreter? It’s important to micro-acts. Believe it or not, your body you are talking to a fellow volunteer at show passion in your story when you tell language is often more important than a local event, presenting to your local it, but try not to ramble. Get to the point, your words. As “word people,” we may chamber of commerce, or meeting with show energy, and prove your credibility. scoff at this initially, but paying attention a potential client. to visual rhythm is key. When making a Know Your Audience: Next, make sure big point in your presentation, use large MAKING AN IMPRESSION your speech or presentation is on target. gestures to emphasize the point. When What’s the best way to land a potential The most important key to staying on speaking to a group, make eye contact client and make an impression? The target when speaking to potential clients is with several people in each section of the

12 The ATA Chronicle | Mar/Apr 2016 www.atanet.org room. Speak to the person with whom without you, and ways to profit long into you’re making eye contact and hold his or the future. If you can make your way up her focus for a few seconds before moving the ladder rung by rung you’ll be on your on to the next person in another section way to retaining your audience’s attention of the room. Avoid making patterns in during your pitch. your movements or eye contact. In addition to your movements and eye contact, it’s just as important to be IDENTIFY WEAKNESSES aware of your posture when preparing Remembering to incorporate the various a presentation. Jan suggests videotaping points described above can seem tricky at your presentation when practicing first. This is where videotaping yourself your talk. Watch your posture and can prove useful. Jan recommends movements and adjust accordingly. watching a video of yourself speaking Your posture should exude confidence, to identify a few common pitfalls. This professionalism, and success and avoid will help you notice how you might use appearing messy, anxious, or lacking language that stalls your talk, such as passion when you speak. Step outside using the following phrases: “Today I’m the imaginary box or off the imaginary going to talk about,” “Let me go back,” “X” on the floor. Get out from behind the or “We’ll get to that later.” These types of podium, and again, use your gestures to Craft a story that shows potential phrases are unnecessary and can make it assist you in making your points. appear that you’re unprepared. clients why they need you and On a similar note, avoid saying “um” DEMONSTRATING YOUR your services. by simply closing your mouth. Every time EXPERTISE/VALUE you start to say “um” or “uh” when you speak, just close your mouth. You can The bold speaker does not simply spell practice this in everyday conversations out to a potential client what he or she with those around you. Start paying can do for them. Rather, this speaker Start your presentation with your own attention to how many times you say tells stories to make a point and then story about how you became a stellar “um” or “uh.” While this may seem minor allows listeners to conclude on their own translator or interpreter and then segue in normal conversation with friends and that they need the speaker’s services. into the success story. This will engage your What kinds of stories are appropriate to listeners from the beginning, which means family, this stall language may mean tell a potential client? Craft a story that they’ll want to listen to you and act. you’ll appear less intelligent, unprepared, shows potential clients why they need or informed when speaking to clients. you and your services. These types of By practicing avoidance in all forms of stories should be about how you saved JAN’S “RETAINABILITY” RUNGS speaking, you’ll also be less inclined the day when a client had a translation How do you keep the audience engaged to use stall language in your pitch to or interpreting issue that appeared throughout your talk? Jan suggests potential clients. insurmountable. Did one of your paying close attention to what she calls “Retainability Rungs.” Good talks have a translations save a client thousands of THE IMPORTANCE OF dollars? Did you help a client gain access little bit of each of these characteristics: to a new market by interpreting for recent ƒƒ Persuasion VOICE MODULATION business negotiations? Do you have an When practicing speaking, pay close ƒƒ Inspiration unexpected story that will completely attention to voice variation. The rhythm of surprise your listener? These are the types ƒƒ Invitation your voice should be unpredictable when you speak. No one wants to listen to a of stories that engage clients and keep ƒƒ Instruction them interested in you and your potential monotonous presentation, and a rhythm to help them. ƒƒ Information that is predictable can distract listeners Here are a few tips that Jan recommends Persuade your listeners that they need or just put them to sleep! Jan suggests when telling a potential client a translation your services. How? Inspire them. Invite changing the pace of your voice when or interpreting success story. them to engage with you. Instruct them telling a story. If you want to make a very ƒƒ Inspire your listeners. without making it obvious that you’re serious point, slow down your speech doing so. Inform them. As we know, client and use a low voice. When you want to ƒƒ Be brief. education is a large part of working in show excitement, start slowly and begin ƒƒ Inform the audience about your our industry. Inform potential clients that to speak faster, raising your voice as you profession without boring them with too your services will offer them ways to grow, speak until you reach the major point you many details. ways to reach those they could not reach want to make. www.atanet.org American Translators Association 13 THE ART OF SPEAKING BOLDLY continued

This type of story also engages listeners and grabs their attention. As Jan pointed out, it’s much less about the content and words used to tell the story and much more about one’s voice, gestures, and movement. After I break the ice with this brief story, I can go on to persuade my potential clients about how I can help them with their translation problems.

MOST IMPORTANT: BEING A GOOD SPEAKER MEANS BEING A GOOD LISTENER Perhaps the most important point in learning to be a bold speaker and growing your business is your ability not only to speak well, but also to listen well. Listening to your potential clients and engaging them Above: ATA event speaker Holly Mikkelson practices voice modulation with Jan Fox. with your words, movements, and tone will show them that you are the right translator Here’s an example of a story I told as a Believe it or not, your body or interpreter to fit their needs. result of practicing what I learned in Jan’s session. I’ve included how I varied the language is often more important Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo tone of my voice throughout the story in than your words. is the owner and chief brackets below. executive officer of Accessible Translation Solutions. Although [Serious and slow tone; make a small she began her career as gesture like you’re talking on the phone]: [Faster and louder; pump fists in the air]: a medical interpreter, she “A doctor called me last week and told me he “It worked! She loved the letter and agreed to specializes in Portuguese and Spanish into had a problem.” marry him!” English medical and life science translation. A graduate of the University of Southern [Whisper; lean in toward the audience]: [Normal tone, laughing; open arms toward Mississippi, she has a master’s degree in Spanish “He wanted us to translate a love letter he’d the audience and shrug shoulders]: from the University of Louisville. She has served written to his Brazilian girlfriend to let her “Who would have thought that translation two terms as the Administrator of ATA’s Medical know how he felt about her.” could bring two people together like that?!” Division and is the chair of ATA’s Public Relations Committee. She was elected to ATA’s Board of [Faster and slightly louder; open arms Now, you may be thinking that this is Directors in 2014 for a three-year term. She is an wide and raise shoulders to show a a silly story to tell a potential client. Well, active member of Women for Economic Leadership sense of surprise]: as silly as it sounds, the story is true. By and Development and has served as a mentor for “Can you imagine? An old-fashioned love letter!” being believable, my audience will be more the Latina Mentoring Program in Columbus, Ohio. willing to accept this fact when I tell them. Contact: [email protected]. [Normal tone; make a gesture mimicking typing on a computer]: “We translated the letter and returned it to him within a couple of days.” SHARPENING YOUR SPEAKING SKILLS Jan Fox’s Website [Serious and slow tone; stand still with http://foxtalks.com arms at sides]: “And then… we waited.” ATA 56th Annual Conference eConference www.atanet.org/conf/2015/econ.htm [Pause for a few seconds and stand very still] (Contains Jan Fox’s presentation)

[Whisper; make a small gesture like Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk: Your Body Language you’re talking on the phone again; Shapes Who You Are lean in toward the audience]: http://bit.ly/TEDTalk-Amy-Cuddy “He called back at the end of the week.”

14 The ATA Chronicle | Mar/Apr 2016 www.atanet.org FEATURE BY TRACY YOUNG AND JUDY JENNER

(At left) Tracy Young is the language access services coordinator at Barton Health in South Lake Tahoe, California.

dual-role Spanish and Russian interpreters who have gone through rigorous training and testing. We have 30 video remote interpreting (VRI) units, and, if needed, utilize over-the-phone interpreting. In both my role as a language access coordinator and as a certified medical interpreter, I’m always looking for new and innovative ways to provide language access to the Spanish speakers in our community, which is 31.1% Hispanic.

THE CHALLENGE We had a goal for 2016: to provide interpreting services for our monthly support groups and community wellness lectures. However, after careful analysis, I determined that our department didn’t have the interpreter skill level needed for this type of conference interpreting. Our dual-role medical interpreters work mainly in the consecutive mode and don’t have the simultaneous interpreting experience necessary. In fact, as far as I know, there are only two nationally certified medical interpreters within hundreds of miles of Adventures in Remote Interpreting Lake Tahoe, and I’m one of them. We needed highly skilled, trained, and at a Rural Hospital certified conference-level interpreters to interpret for our doctors during their lectures. However, these interpreters Barton Health’s goal for 2016: to provide interpreting services for its monthly don’t live within driving distance. I had support groups and community wellness lectures. The solution: remote interpreting. identified the interpreters I wanted to retain for this project, most of whom I ince 1963, Barton Health, a coordinator and one of the interpreters already knew professionally. However, it community health system in working remotely. would be just too expensive to fly them S California, has been committed out for our frequent meetings. to delivering exception health care. THE CLIENT’S PERSPECTIVE: In an effort to adapt to the changing (TRACY YOUNG, LANGUAGE ACCESS THE SOLUTION needs of patients, the hospital recently In 2015, I attended the California implemented a remote conference COORDINATOR AT BARTON HEALTH) Healthcare Interpreting Association’s interpreting system, allowing experienced Barton Health is a rural health system conference in Monterey, California, and conference interpreters to interpret consisting of a 63-bed hospital, 20 learned about a new system designed to remotely for on-site meetings with outpatient offices, a skilled nursing deliver remote simultaneous interpreting non-English-speaking patients, for staff facility, a surgery center, and an urgent via the web and over the phone called meetings with hospital leadership, and for care facility based in South Lake Tahoe, ZipDX. As I took copious notes, I asked other events. Patients listen through either California. While Lake Tahoe (skiing, myself: how does this all work? Can their cell phones or wireless receivers anyone?) is a world-class destination, we use this at Barton Health? I was that Barton Health makes available to South Lake Tahoe is essentially a small determined to find out. I immediately them. What follows is the story of how town of 25,000 that swells to over contacted Barry Slaughter Olsen, the project came about, told from the 100,000 on holiday weekends. We run the general manager of multilingual perspectives of Barton’s language access our language access department with 30 operations at ZipDX, to start this journey. www.atanet.org American Translators Association 15 ADVENTURES IN REMOTE INTERPRETING AT A RURAL HOSPITAL continued

adventure. Eder Vazquez from the language which attendees could use comfortably access services team served as cheerleader with disposable headsets. and core support person along the way as How does it all work exactly? Here’s the we tried to troubleshoot, test, restart, and set-up. The speaker calls in from a phone set everything up correctly on our end. It (land line, cell, or web connection) while took us a few months to get everything wearing a Bluetooth earpiece. Wearing done. The to-do list included contracts for the Bluetooth allows the speaker to all new interpreting teams, working with remain wireless so they are free to walk IT to open data ports that were secure, and around the room. The hosts (in this purchasing minor equipment. case, Eder and I) call in on behalf of the The specific challenges we face would listeners and connect the transceiver to most likely not happen in a large city, but the cell phone. Finally, the participants then again, where this technology is needed listen with the individual receivers and is in small rural communities like ours, disposable headsets. which come with some spotty cell phone and wireless coverage. (We also have to THE MAIDEN VOYAGE contend with the Sierra Nevada Mountains.) Our first live event was extremely stressful for us. Barton’s new chief executive officer This technology is needed in small and new chief marketing officer wanted to make a presentation to each department. rural communities like ours, which Two of these departments have quite a few non-native English speakers where ZipDX come with some spotty cell phone was a perfect fit. We had the PowerPoint and wireless coverage. presentation translated so the interpreters Tracy Young and Eder Vazquez, part of the language would have copies to prepare for the access services team at Barton Health, connect the assignment. We also distributed the listeners to the speakers during live events. presentation to the listeners so they could follow along. We encountered a few minor I recruited six interpreters to make challenges, but were able to solve them three teams of two interpreters each. THE PREPARATORY PHASE during the presentation. We collected We set up various online meetings and participant feedback via a survey on our After spending some time learning about trainings for them to make sure they department’s iPads. the software and talking to my team and were familiar with the equipment and We debriefed with the interpreters director, I decided that ZipDX could work that they had everything they needed to shortly after the presentation. Around for us. The software had been designed for interpret remotely (e.g., an appropriate 50% of the attendees took advantage multilingual conference calls and remote space, microphones, etc.). We paid of the interpreting services. We are participation in interpreted meetings only, them to train on the equipment and an fortunate enough to have leadership who so we were going to have to adapt it. At appropriate hourly fee for the interpreting support these efforts and understand the Barton, our meetings happen in person, services, comparable to conference importance of inclusiveness. Dr. Clint so only the interpreters would be remote. interpreting rates. Some interpreters had Purvance, our new chief executive officer, Even though that isn’t the traditional to upgrade their headsets, others had to scheduled training time on the equipment ZipDX setup, I collaborated with Barry and set up soundproof spaces from which to prior to the events to ensure he was his team to figure out a way to adapt the interpret, and others were 100% ready. prepared to deliver at the highest level. system to our needs. To get approval for His message: “Employees are our most this project, I had to go through my very supportive director, Amber Tanaka, the THE EQUIPMENT valuable asset at Barton Health. My new contracts department, the IT department, The way the ZipDX system was adapted role includes connecting, inspiring, and and public relations—and they all gave me for our purposes called for attendees leading with each one of our employees. the go-ahead. (One of the great benefits of to listen to the interpreted rendition Developing systems and programs that working for a small hospital is that I face through their cell phones using a are inclusive of all employees will result relatively little red tape.) special call-in number. However, as a in cohesion and high performance, I am a big proponent of the fact community-oriented hospital, we wanted ultimately leading to better patient care.” that our profession needs to catch up to remove any language access barrier with technology, and at Barton I’ve and didn’t want patients and community THE COST AND THE BOTTOM LINE helped implement some fantastic new members to use their cell phone minutes. In terms of expenses, we pay the technologies, such as VRI. However, I We devised a plan to use our wireless interpreters by the hour and ZipDX felt a bit out of my league with this new interpreting equipment as receivers, per the minute. In spite of occasional

16 The ATA Chronicle | Mar/Apr 2016 www.atanet.org technical challenges and a relatively steep skills, but also for her ability to keep calm when many people are talking and I’m not learning curve for myself and Eder, I’m under pressure. Our training sessions sure if the event has already started or if very pleased with the outcome and am went very well and the people at ZipDX people are just chatting. We’ve resolved confident that we can meet our 2016 goal resolved all my technical issues during this issue by having the organizers tell us of providing simultaneous interpreting a one-on-one session. I’m in the lucky when we’re live via the ZipDX chat box. services for our meetings in South Lake position not only to have a client who (There are separate channels, including Tahoe. Our listener evaluations have pays me to test and train on the software, a Spanish channel that Julie and I use been positive, which is no surprise— but who is an interpreter herself. Tracy when we take over for each other every isn’t it better to hear all about pillars truly understands the challenges that 10 minutes.) of excellence, financial stewardships, interpreters face and is committed to We’re learning as we go and have a patient-centered medical home models, making the process work for everyone. very fruitful debriefing at the end of each human capital, operational excellence, session. ZipDX is user-friendly, but as and employee and physician engagement Remote interpreting has not with any software, there are always ways in your preferred language? Overall, the to do things better. Also, some aspects system has proven to be worth every had a great reputation in of the software could be made a bit penny and drop of sweat. more intuitive. For example, there was interpreter circles. relatively limited information on tips for interpreters available from ZipDX, so we AN INTERPRETER’S PERSPECTIVE created our own living document with (JUDY JENNER, TWIN TRANSLATIONS, best practices for interpreters. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA) MY SET-UP Overall, this has been an exciting and Remote interpreting has not had a great challenging project, and I look forward to During many conference interpreting reputation in interpreter circles. Most more events at Barton in the future.  assignments, I oftentimes feel that there’s of this reputation is due to companies a lack of buy-in from the organizer, who pay over-the-phone consecutive and you have to work with incomplete Judy Jenner is a Spanish and interpreters by the minute—and at a very information (no PowerPoints, no booth, German business and legal low rate. My own remote interpreting etc.). That wasn’t the case here. Tracy translator and court-certified experiences are limited to court situations, made sure that one of the interpreters Spanish interpreter. She has which usually feature less-than-ideal always translated the PowerPoints ahead an MBA in marketing and audio. In federal court, I frequently use of time. So in many ways, this is the ideal runs her boutique translation video interpreting software that reduces conference interpreting assignment. I have and interpreting business, Twin Translations, the amount of time I have to travel to no distractions, as I am in my home office with her twin sister Dagmar. She was born in remote places such as federal prisons, but or shared downtown office by myself. I Austria and grew up in Mexico City. A former in-house translation department manager, she there is room for improvement because have a clear audio feed, two computer is a past president of the Nevada Interpreters there’s oftentimes significant echo. Before screens, and access to plenty of electronic and Translators Association. She writes the blog ZipDX, I had never worked with a system and print resources. I live in Las Vegas, Translation Times, pens “The Entrepreneurial that allowed for simultaneous conference which is some 450 miles away from South interpreting, and I was intrigued when Linguist” column for The ATA Chronicle, and is a Lake Tahoe, and it’s a bit strange to be so frequent conference speaker. She is the co-author Tracy approached me to ask if I would be far away from the listeners for whom I’m of The Entrepreneurial Linguist: The Business- part of the interpreting team. interpreting. However, I was ready for the School Approach to Freelance Translation. challenge of interpreting for Barton’s chief Contact: [email protected]. THE CLIENT’S NEW PROJECT executive office: I did my warm-up vocal I knew that my colleague Barry Slaughter exercises, took some deep breaths, and Tracy Young is a medical Olsen helped design the ZipDX remote turned on the microphone. interpreter, medical interpreter interpreting platform, and since he’s a trainer, and long-time advocate very well-known interpreter himself, I for the profession. As both LEARN AS YOU GO a registered nurse and a was quite certain that the software would There are, of course, some drawbacks nationally certified medical be interpreter-friendly. Since I was able to remote interpreting, whether it be interpreter, she currently is the language access to choose my remote booth partner, I simultaneous or consecutive. ZipDX only services coordinator at Barton Health in South initially picked my usual in-person booth provides audio, so you don’t have a visual Lake Tahoe, California. She has an MA in Spanish mate (certified court interpreter Lorena of what’s going on in the room and cannot from the University of Nevada, Reno, and is the Pike). However, when Lorena moved to see which slide the presenter is on. During founding president of the Nevada Interpreters and take a full-time interpreting position, I a recent visit to Barton, we did a test run Translators Association. In 2015, she was awarded teamed up with the very talented Julie of the equipment. Just knowing how the the Language Access Champion Award from the Burns in northern California, who is room is set up helps me, mentally, during National Council on Interpreting in Health Care. known not only for her great interpreting the interpreting process. Things get tricky Contact: [email protected]. www.atanet.org American Translators Association 17 FEATURE BY CATHERINE CHRISTAKI

software translator) should appear in most sections of your profile.

HEADLINE Your headline, located under your name, is key to someone picking you out of a search. The limit is 120 characters (including spaces). I think the best way to go is to use a combination of your job titles (here’s where your primary keyword goes) and the benefits clients get from working with you. For example, your headline could read: “Freelance Spanish translator, game localizer at XYZ, helping businesses to overcome language barriers.”

Your profile is the foundation of your presence on LinkedIn.

Location and Industry: Under your headline, add your location and the industry in which you work. Most translators choose “translation and localization,” but in some cases you can choose other fields. For example, if you only specialize in a specific field (e.g., software), you can How to Find and Approach Your Ideal choose that industry instead. Clients through LinkedIn Current/Previous Experience: It’s also important to list your current position Wondering why you’re not getting the results you expected from LinkedIn? Maybe and any previous jobs you want to emphasize in the section directly under you should take a closer look at your profile. your headline. (You can provide more inkedIn was launched in 2003 and details on these when you get to the ANATOMY OF AN EFFECTIVE PROFILE summary section.) The keywords you is currently the third most popular Your profile is the foundation of your social network in terms of unique have researched and added in the sections L presence on LinkedIn. Many users treat for job titles, companies for which monthly visitors—right behind Facebook their profile like a CV or résumé, but a you’ve worked, and job descriptions are and Twitter.1 LinkedIn is the world’s largest profile is actually quite different and should indexed and help you appear higher in online professional network, with more be much more interesting and appealing LinkedIn and Google searches. Make sure than 400 million members in over 200 to potential contacts, including clients. As to include all of your relevant previous countries and territories. More than half of Caroline McClure, founder of the talent positions (up to three are visible). business-to-business (or B2B) companies strategy consultancy ScoutRock, stated in are finding customers through LinkedIn. an article in Fortune: “Think of your profile Contact Information: Make sure to add With this tool, you now have the as a place to provide your career narrative your website, blog, and social media opportunity to engage with your rather than your career history.”2 accounts along with your contact details. connections, as well as with your How do you do this? Well, before Make sure to customize the titles of the connections’ connections (your second- creating or editing your profile, write links so they are not generic (e.g., don’t degree network), and even with their down three main keywords. Choose type something like “personal website”). connections (your third-degree network). phrases for which your target market will Also, customize the URL of your LinkedIn But before you can do this, you need search. What would your clients type into profile. Instead of a string of numbers to know how to make the most of your Google to find your products or services? next to your name, the URL should LinkedIn account. Your primary keyword (e.g., Greek include just your name. Connecting your

18 The ATA Chronicle | Mar/Apr 2016 www.atanet.org LinkedIn profile to your name will allow translation and localization). If someone LINKEDIN GROUPS you to be found easier by connections. endorses you for a service you don’t LinkedIn currently has more than one provide, you can remove that skill. As for million groups, and you can join up the recommendations, you can politely to 100 of them. When you are part of SUMMARY ask your clients to provide them at the a group, you’ll receive regular e-mail Aside from the headline, the summary is end of a successful project. notifications about group discussions. the second most important part of your You can manage the notification settings LinkedIn profile. Your summary is not for a particular group and decide whether your bio; it’s your elevator speech, your Your summary is not your bio; or not you want to have the group logo 30-second commercial. It should tell appear on your profile. LinkedIn Groups people why they should do business with it’s your elevator speech, your provide several exceptional marketing you today. It’s the main marketing message 30-second commercial. It should opportunities that you can take advantage of your LinkedIn profile, since it provides of. By engaging in the discussions your potential clients with a quick overview of tell people why they should do group members have and answering who you are, what you are looking for in questions, you become a resource. a job, and most importantly, what you can business with you today. By posting valuable, industry-centric do for them. content that is helpful to your current The summary should be written in the and potential customers, you’ll develop a first person and in the present tense. It community of advocates who connect to needs to include: your message and brand. You should use your groups strategically ƒƒ The services you provide and the WHAT TO SHARE to find prospects. Join the ones where problems you solve. On LinkedIn, the optimal sharing your customers are members to find frequency is one to two updates per day, ƒƒ Your expertise, your major potential leads, and also join a few groups not including any comments you add in accomplishments, and the most in your industry to keep up with the important highlights from your work your LinkedIn Groups or in other people’s latest discussions and news. The group experience. updates. Try to maintain the 80–20 rule. functions allow for searching, viewing, This means that in 80% of your updates, ƒƒ A description of your ideal clients. This and contacting group members, as well as talk about the things that matter to your means the people who would benefit posting discussions, promotions, and job from working with you (your target contacts and customers and share content opportunities. To decide if a group is worth audience). they might find useful, and in the other following, you can visit its homepage 20% talk about yourself. You can share where you will see a description, the ƒƒ A description of your unique selling an interesting article with a comment number of group members, who the proposition (USP), which is what makes or question to engage your followers in admins are, and if any of your connections your services different and better than conversation. You should also take the are members of that group. other linguists with the same languages time to read, like, and comment on your LinkedIn Groups offer a few more and specializations. perks from which you can benefit. For connections’ updates. ƒ example, if you’re a member of the same ƒ A call to action so the readers know what A great way to share content is through to do after they read your profile. group as another user, you can bypass the LinkedIn’s Pulse blogging platform. By requirement to be a first-degree connection Experience: This section includes your using Pulse (in addition to your own and message them directly. LinkedIn allows current and previous job positions, blog, if you have one), you have the you to send up to 15 free direct messages along with a description of each. Write opportunity to reach a new audience that to fellow group members per month with your audience in mind and include may not have visited your website before. (across all groups to which you belong). In all the bells and whistles that highlight These posts are searchable and will show addition, group members are able to view your experience. You can include media up in Google’s search results, thus helping the profiles of other members of the same files (e.g., links, videos, slides) for each to boost your personal brand. group without being connected. position to showcase a sample of your Pulse posts are displayed on your translation work, a presentation you gave, profile and your first-degree connections SEARCHES a client testimonial, and so on. receive a notification each time you LinkedIn doesn’t support wildcard Endorsements and Recommendations: post a new article. If your connections searches, but you can use advanced search Other sections that you should manage interact with your post in any way (i.e., operators and Boolean logic connectors in your profile are endorsements and like, comment, or share), it will become in the filter fields to narrow your search. recommendations. You can rearrange the visible to their first-degree connections as Here’s a list of the most common operators: order of the endorsements so that your well, thus expanding your reach to your ƒƒ AND: For results that include two or more important ones are on top (e.g., second-degree network and beyond. more terms (e.g., manager AND director). www.atanet.org American Translators Association 19 HOW TO FIND AND APPROACH YOUR IDEAL CLIENTS THROUGH LINKEDIN continued

ƒƒOR: For results that include just perked your interest. Add a genuine and one of two or more terms (e.g., sales ADDITIONAL LINKEDIN TIPS specific reaction to their article, blog post, OR marketing). ƒƒ Snider, Emma. “How to Get a High- or discussion. Keep the conversation going by sharing a post or article of ƒƒ NOT: If you want to exclude a Quality LinkedIn Recommendation,” your own, or you can also make a particular term, type that term with an HubSpot (June 10, 2015), recommendation about a book, group, or http://bit.ly/LinkedIn-recommend. uppercase NOT immediately before it blog. Finish your invitation with a request (e.g., NOT computer). ƒƒ Snider, Emma. “22 LinkedIn Hacks That’ll to join their network and sign your name. ƒƒ Quoted searches work the same as in Make You More Productive,” HubSpot (May LinkedIn allows 300 characters (including Google searches. If you’re looking for 3, 2015), http://bit.ly/LinkedIn-productivity. spaces and paragraph returns). You can’t an exact phrase, enclose the phrase in ƒƒ Rosen, Viveka von. “How To Improve Your include e-mail addresses and website links quotation marks (e.g., “product manager”). LinkedIn Productivity With Third-Party Apps,” in invitations to connect. LinkedIn’s built-in CRM features ƒƒ To do a complex search, you can combine Social Media Examiner (February 16, 2015), http://bit.ly/LinkedIn-third-party-apps. give you the ability to manage your terms using parentheses. For example, connections using the features Tags, “software AND (engineer OR developer)” ƒƒ LinkedIn Social Selling Index (SSI) Reminders, Notes, How You Met, will show both software engineers and Dashboard, www.linkedin.com/sales/ssi. and Who Introduced You. These are software developers in the results. particularly useful for supporting your prospecting and networking efforts on A great feature of LinkedIn Advanced What would your clients Search is that once you’ve developed these LinkedIn and allow you to keep track of key prospects and clients easily. Every complex searches, you can save them. You type into Google to find your time you reach out and connect with a can also ask LinkedIn to send you weekly contact or when someone reaches out to or daily notifications of the new people products or services? you, get into the habit of updating the who meet your search criteria. With the Relationship tab (underneath the header section of your contact’s profile). free LinkedIn account, you can have up to You can also “tag” your contact, which three saved searches. allows you to segment your connections into “labeled groups” that are very useful for prospecting. You can have up to 200 MANAGING CONNECTIONS tags on LinkedIn. You can find your There are many different places to look tagged connections easily later by going to for potential prospects and connections. the Connections page and filtering your LinkedIn is essentially an enormous connections by tag name. This information database. The success you have with finding isn’t visible to your connections; it’s your new contacts and prospects will depend very own digital Rolodex. on your ability to truly understand your target market and manipulate the search FREE VERSUS PAID ACCOUNTS filters LinkedIn provides. When you find So, given the information above, what interesting people with whom you want to type of LinkedIn account is right for contact or add in your network, you can you? There are three types of premium message them (for free through a common accounts for sales professionals: Business group, if any) or invite them to connect. ($29.99/month); Business Plus ($59.99/ Unless the user with whom you would month); and Pro ($79.99/month). like to establish a connection is a friend or Premium accounts offer extra features and colleague, you should always personalize additional functionality: your invitations to connect with LinkedIn users, especially potential clients. Always ƒƒ You can see more profiles in LinkedIn’s start by addressing the contact by his Search. For example, a Business account or her first name, so it’s clear that the allows you to see 300 profiles, and this message is not a mass invite to your entire number increases with the Business e-mail contact list. Then mention how you Plus and Pro accounts. (As a means of know them. You might have come across comparison, the free account limits you their profile due to something they wrote, to 100 search results.) shared, or were quoted in. Make sure to ƒƒYou have access to more specifics on call out the specific piece of content that who has viewed your profile. With

20 The ATA Chronicle | Mar/Apr 2016 www.atanet.org the free account you can see only the they can increase their chances of getting NOTES last five people, whereas having a work by sending out a large number of 1 “Top 15 Most Popular Social Networking paid account allows you to see all the CVs or by connecting to lots of people Sites,” http://bit.ly/1SQSXaa. people that viewed your profile within on social media. I think freelancers 2 Fry, Erika. “9 Tips to Land Your Dream the past 90 days. and small companies are in the unique Job,” Fortune (September 3, 2014), ƒƒ You have more filters available in the position to choose and research carefully http://bit.ly/Fortune-dream-job. Advanced Search. the people and companies with whom they want to work. ƒƒ You have more saved searches than the Spend the time and go the extra mile Catherine Christaki has been three available with the free account. to increase the response rate of your leads a full-time English>Greek many times over. Each marketing strategy translator since 2001, and co- has a different purpose, so develop a owner of Toronto-based Lingua By engaging in group discussions Greca Translations since 2012. process for your approach. LinkedIn Her specializations include and answering questions, you is a great tool to identify and research information technology, medical, and technical become a resource. potential clients and to make the first texts. She has served as the lead Greek translator contact. Mention who you are, why you are for Apple software and Help content since 2011. reaching out, show what you have to offer In 2013, she translated ATA’s popular guide for (through your well-crafted profile), and translation buyers, Translation: Getting It Right, why it’s worth responding. Never go for into Greek. She is active on social media, especially BOTTOM LINE: IDENTIFY, RESEARCH, the sale in that first message or invitation, on Twitter (@LinguaGreca), writes the translation AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF since this can put people off. When the blog Adventures in Technical Translation, and gives Social prospecting and marketing is potential client turns into a contact, then presentations on social media and blogging for not a numbers game. Sometimes new you can send the “warm” e-mail and talk translators in interviews and conferences. Contact: translators fresh out of college think that about how you can help them.  [email protected].

2015_eConf_halfpage_2011_eConf_halfpage 12/31/15 9:58 AM Page 1

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www.atanet.org American Translators Association 21 FEATURE BY PAULA ARTURO

The director of the Buenos Aires office interviewed me in person. When he asked what I could contribute to the ICTJ, all I could tell him was the truth: “I’ve been a translator for 11 years, but have no legal experience. However, I think my translation experience could be an asset to this organization.” When he heard the word “translator” his eyes lit up. “You’re just what we need,” he said. It turned out that among many other projects, the ICTJ was working on a protocol for gathering testimony from victims of torture and sexual abuse in the trials against military leaders of the last regime in the Dirty War. I was immediately commissioned to translate reports, testimonies, scholarly articles, newspaper clippings, and all sorts of fascinating texts while working directly with authors and researchers who contributed their knowledge and feedback during each part of the translation process. I learned more about human rights as an intern at the ICTJ than I did throughout all my years The International Human Rights in law school. By the time the internship was over, my boss had recommended me Arena as an Area of Opportunity to one of the most prestigious human rights advocacy organizations in Argentina, and my translations were being published and for Language Professionals making their way to the Human Rights Council in Geneva. It was the beginning of a International human rights organizations need language professionals who wake new path in translation that would take me through some of the darkest events in recent up each day wanting to do something meaningful and positively challenging. Let’s human history while lighting a flame for take a look at this area of opportunity and what it takes to cater to such clients. justice, peace, and democracy in my heart. Since then, I’ve worked with dozens of ast November, I had the privilege to have been tortured and murdered at the human rights organizations throughout of speaking at ATA’s 56th Annual hands of the Military State. Latin America in cases involving military L Conference to an audience of Though I didn’t realize it at the time, regimes, racial cleansing, massacres, translators and interpreters about the it was this part of my country’s history structural poverty and discrimination, international human rights arena as an that got me involved in human rights sexual and reproductive rights, and area of specialization. Though raised in translation. When I started law school, women’s rights. the U.S., I am originally from Argentina, I had already been working full-time as I seem to have stumbled upon something a country that underwent several military a freelance translator for six years. By huge: the international human rights dictatorships since its independence from the time I started my internship during arena is desperate for qualified specialist Spain in 1816; the last of which was the last year of law school (a mandatory translators and interpreters. Wherever there particularly brutal. Argentina’s so-called requirement for graduation), I had 11 years are people, there’s potential for injustice, “Dirty War,” or “Process of National of translation experience under my belt. (In and wherever there’s injustice, there are Reorganization,” is in part the reason I Argentina, law school lasts five years.) people seeking justice. These people need was not raised in my native country.1 The Because of my interest in human rights, to be heard, and language professionals last terrorist dictatorship started roughly constitutional law, and ethics, my “academic are key players for making their voices in 1974 (though some historians date the secretary” (similar to a counselor in the U.S.) sound loud, clear, and intelligible in a beginning back to 1969) and lasted until suggested that I serve my internship at the world that seems to only listen to a select 1983, when democracy was restored. The International Center for Transitional Justice few languages (i.e., the official languages “Dirty War” resulted in the “disappearance” (ICTJ). I applied and got called in for an of the most powerful bodies that make up of an estimated 30,000 people—presumed interview a few days later. the supra-state system).2

22 The ATA Chronicle | Mar/Apr 2016 www.atanet.org THE HUMAN RIGHTS ARENA AS This is one of those areas of specialization AN AREA OF OPPORTUNITY LEARN MORE ABOUT where formal education in human rights The human rights arena is a profitable HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS (be it from a purely legal perspective or an and rewarding area of opportunity for interdisciplinary perspective) is as important Amnesty International as experience in translation. Though a law language professionals. Those entering this www.amnestyusa.org field might choose to work externally for degree is not necessarily a requirement with governments or non-state entities (e.g., Human Rights Watch all clients, having one helps. Translators non-governmental organizations [NGOs], https://www.hrw.org in this field are expected to be highly human rights activists), or else in-house educated in human rights related fields, Institute for International Law and Justice for international organizations such as such as law, political philosophy, political http://www.iilj.org the United Nations. The field is vast and science, and economic science and Law there are numerous clients throughout the International Center for Transitional Justice and Economics (L&E). Translators for whom law school is not an option can look world in need of qualified professionals. www.ictj.org As international organizations broaden the into a variety of programs offered by the scope of players by allowing more actors United Nations Foundation United Nations University or international into an area that was once reserved for www.unfoundation.org human rights programs aimed at non- lawyers offered by several U.S. universities. member states of the UN alone, the horizon United Nations Human Rights Office of the also broadens for language professionals High Commissioner with an interest in making a difference. www.ohchr.org/EN/Pages/Home.aspx HELPING INFORM THE CONVERSATION It used to be that only member states of As Martin Luther King once said, “[t]he the UN played at the international level. It is United Nations University hope of a secure and livable world lies now the case that new actors are participating http://unu.edu with disciplined nonconformists who in review processes and hearings involving are dedicated to justice, peace, and grave human rights violations throughout brotherhood.” The international human the world. This is the “market” for language support their messages, and they need the rights arena is for the nonconformist professionals, but a position in this arena best language professionals to ensure their translator and interpreter. It’s for the should not be taken lightly. After all, what messages are conveyed adequately. language professional who wakes up each is at stake are none other than the rights This field requires professionals who day wanting to do something meaningful that ensure our continued existence and know the target language inside out, and positively challenging. It’s for people development in virtue of our humanity. who have superlative command and who want a better tomorrow and are comprehension of the source language, willing to work hard to make it possible. WHAT IT TAKES and who have thorough knowledge and It’s for those who wish to be “a voice in a deep understanding of the issues and Human rights are about ensuring the kind the conversation of mankind.” And what the law. Human rights organizations need of existence that exceeds our mere survival a conversation it can be with the right professionals with sufficient cultural and as a species. They are about ensuring the language professionals leading it!  peaceful coexistence of different people linguistic awareness to help them adjust sharing the same world. They are about their messages and review their strategies NOTES 1 ensuring dignity and building the kind of when necessary. Argentina’s “Process of National Reorganization,” www.britannica.com/ future where every person can develop Catering to this arena requires field event/Dirty-War. Also see: http://www. their life plans free from fear, violence, expertise and a solid academic and professional background. Amateurs derechoshumanos.net/lesahumanidad/ or coercion. They are about keeping informes/argentina/informe-de-la- with a kind heart are likely to do more an eye on UN states and making sure CONADEP-Nunca-mas.htm. humanity does not repeat the atrocities of harm than good. So, if this is an area of 2 “The UN and the Regions,” http://bit.ly/ previous periods of our collective history. specialization you are just now beginning UN-regions. The system is not perfect. It can be to consider, my advice is to train hard subject to criticism and there is room for and to get involved in causes that interest Paula Arturo is a co-director of improvement. But at its core, and cheesy you before you begin translating. Make Translating Lawyers, a boutique as it may sound, it essentially is about sure you know the issues, the terminology involved, and law inside out before you firm designed around and tailored making the world a better place. to the language needs of the reach out to the higher end of this market. Language professionals in the human legal community. She’s a lawyer, It’s one thing to volunteer to translate rights arena cannot be amateurs. At the translator, and law professor with top level, it is not an area for learning e-mail or newsletters for a local NGO, over 15 years of experience in the language business. about translation or volunteering to gain charity, or church. It’s a whole other She is an established translator of non-fiction works experience. Human rights advocacy thing to translate at a professional level in jurisprudence, international law, and human rights organizations need the best of the best for international NGOs or organizations law, and has translated works in major international in each and every service. They need advocating and litigating before international journals for high-profile authors, including five Nobel the best lawyers to present the strongest bodies and courts. It’s simply an entirely Prize laureates. She currently serves as assistant cases, they need the best public relations different ball game; one for which language administrator of ATA’s Literary Division. Contact: professionals to get the general public to professionals must prepare accordingly. [email protected]. www.atanet.org American Translators Association 23 OUR WORLD OF WORDS: SPOTLIGHT ON T&I PROFESSIONALS BY TONY BECKWITH An Interview with Miguel Jiménez-Crespo

elcome to the second installment of Our World of Words. I caught W up with my guest for this episode of OWOW while he was on sabbatical at the University of New South Wales in Australia. Professor Miguel Jiménez- Crespo, who is originally from Spain, is the director of the Translation and Interpreting Program in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Rutgers University.1

Miguel, 20-some years ago you started studying for your MA and BA equivalent (licenciatura) in translation and interpreting at the University of Granada, Spain, where you eventually earned your PhD in 2008. You majored in translation and interpreting English, Russian, and French into Spanish, and you focused on technical, legal, Miguel Jiménez-Crespo medical, and scientific translation. What originally motivated you to study translation Does knowledge of translation theory appropriate feedback. In terms of learning and interpreting, and what was your help students after they graduate and on your own, I would say that you could connection to those three languages? start work? For example, is it useful for a learn to play tennis or a guitar on your Language has always been my favorite freelance translator working on, say, a legal own, but reaching an expert level in this manner would prove extremely difficult subject. I started learning English when or medical text? I was 11 and French when I was 13. In (though it can happen with highly gifted Translation theories and research currently individuals). Nobody would suggest that the 11th and 12th grades I took Spanish involve a wide range of approaches, but a you could learn nursing or surgery on your language and literature, Latin, Greek, basic knowledge of the evolution of these own or from accumulating life experiences. English, and French. theories—from the linguistic equivalence Nor would anyone imagine that classically When I got accepted at the School theories of the 1950s and 1960s to the trained pianists could learn on their own of Translation and Interpreting at the communicative, functionalist, cultural, University of Granada, Spain, we had to cognitive, social, or technological without extensive and structured practice have an A language and a B language. approaches of today—can be of great guided by expert trainers. Since I already spoke French fluently, I assistance to any translator.2 From my Among your research interests you list decided to add a third modern language, own experience of teaching translation and chose Russian pretty much randomly theory, I’ve found that many practicing cognitive processes in translation and because it seemed like a challenge. professionals find it fascinating. Many interpreting. Briefly, how does the human I received a scholarship to spend a year discover that it allows them to re- mind function differently from one of those at the University of Glasgow during my conceptualize their long-held approach disciplines to the other? third year in college, and in my fourth to translation and interpreting, giving Cognitive translation and interpreting and fifth years I received scholarships them greater confidence and a deeper studies attempt to decipher the workings to Moscow State Linguistic University. I understanding of their profession. of what is known as the “black box”—the became fluent in Russian during those last mind of the translator and interpreter— two years. That stint in Moscow was one Can you learn translation or interpreting during the process. It has been a sub- of the best experiences of my life. on the job and from life experiences, as discipline within translation studies opposed to studying these disciplines in a since the 1980s and 1990s, inspired You’re now the director of the Translation formal academic program? by process research based on theories and Interpreting Program in the Department Translating and interpreting in a and methodologies from the various of Spanish and Portuguese at Rutgers professional setting is an expert skill that disciplines that study cognition. University. Among other things, your can only be acquired through systematic, Since the very beginning, those working research focuses on translation theory. structured, and deliberate practice with in cognitive studies have empirically

24 The ATA Chronicle | Mar/Apr 2016 www.atanet.org researched the differences between This is a question that often comes up in without replicating the problems in the professionals, experts, students, novices, workshops. How should a translator handle source text, becomes more important.4 and bilinguals to discover what exactly a poorly written source text? To discuss functionalist theories in translation and interpreting experts can do That depends, and this is where my classes, I use a poorly written text that novices cannot. This has important translation theory can help. The short with typos and cultural sensitivity issues implications for training, certification, and answer is that the translator should related to weight restrictions for a zipline quality evaluation. communicate with the client about any in Costa Rica. Students are asked to Translation is considered a “problem- problems in the source text. In the U.S., produce three translations: 1) one for the solving” activity. For instance, experts in there are many people with an MA in owner of the zipline who wants to attract the field usually automatize a number writing, so many texts are probably customers from the U.S.; 2) another as an of tasks and recurring problem-solving written by someone with an MA or a BA. extremely literal translation for a lawsuit routines. When confronted with new against the company; and 3) a third challenges, they must employ new for a late night TV show that attempts problem-solving strategies to find to convey the humorous aspects of As an instructor, I find that while ziplining. Through this exercise, students solutions. This means that with the are able to grasp the implications of these development of translation competence, most bilinguals can, with extensive theories and learn to see themselves as more and more tasks are automatized training, work professionally in experts in intercultural communication and more problem-solving techniques at levels that are far beyond the literal are acquired. Translation, however, does community settings, not everyone translation of texts. not get any easier with practice. Studies can easily achieve the level of have found that the subjective perceived Where do you think translation and effort involved in the process can be performance required in advanced interpreting teaching is going, in terms of the same for students and professionals: style, market demands or pressures, focus, the so-called “translation does not get fields, such as federal court or and priorities? easier” phenomenon.3 This is because conference interpreting. As the need for skilled linguists increases novices do not usually “see” translation in the U.S., there is a huge demand for problems, or they tend to solve them highly trained translators and interpreters. quickly and inaccurately. This demand is indicated regularly in Department of Labor reports,5 but In your opinion, what innate qualities Translation and interpreting also universities have been slow to catch up best equip a student to become a require college-level proficiency in with the trend. More and more American both languages. If an English source professional interpreter? universities now offer programs, but in text is written by someone with an MA There are basic cognitive differences my opinion the demand cannot be met at in English technical writing but the between translation and interpreting that existing levels. Some language industry translator does not have at least an MA, lead some people to prefer interpreting niches, such as translation management, can he or she produce a translation of or to perform better in that discipline. are taught at very few universities, such the same quality as the original? (Here I Interpreting requires the ability to as Kent State University in Ohio and the am just talking about writing, one of the solve problems quickly, outstanding MA programs at the Middlebury Institute many aspects of the translation process.) memory and concentration, an excellent of International Studies at Monterey in Functionalist theories of translation can command of both languages involved, California. Very few universities teach help solve the problem. an accumulation through practice of court interpreting in their MA programs as Functionalist theories, which appeared we do at Rutgers. We also need more PhD a number of solutions for transferring in the 1980s, sought to dethrone the programs to train the next generation of problems and specialized vocabulary, belief that equivalence to the source text tenured professors to continue defending and training in coping techniques to was the main criterion when assessing this field of study from within. Currently, solve basic problems, among other skills. a translation. These theories claimed many tenure-track positions in the U.S. As an instructor, I find that while most that the function of the translation, the are offered to professors trained in Canada bilinguals can, with extensive training, client’s instructions, and the end audience or Europe (like me). work professionally in community were the most important aspects. So, settings, not everyone can easily achieve if the source text is poorly written but Your research has also focused on the level of performance required in the purpose of the translation is to advanced fields, such as federal court or communicate a message efficiently (i.e., localization. What are your thoughts on conference interpreting. This is due to the a medical brochure), then producing a how the U.S. approach to localization is demanding cognitive-processing involved quality translation that will achieve the changing as the globalized world becomes in these highly specialized settings. intended goal of helping the audience, more homogenous? www.atanet.org American Translators Association 25 AN INTERVIEW WITH MIGUEL JIMÉNEZ-CRESPO continued

The localization industry actually emerged sites can help with teaching, or even Framework of Systemic Linguistics,” http:// in the U.S. in the 1980s, when personal whether using Facebook or Twitter bit.ly/Lörscher-translation-processes. computer software developers started can enhance students’ motivation and Jääskeläinen, Riitta. “Hard Work Will selling their products in other countries. engagement.6 Social media and online Bear Beautiful Fruit: A Comparison of This expanded to the localization of reading have also changed how young Two Think-Aloud Protocol Studies.” Meta: websites, video games, and smartphone generations approach a text, shortening Translators’ Journal (March, 1996), 60– apps. The most widely used software their attention spans, which can be a 74, http://bit.ly/Meta-translation-studies. is the product of U.S. innovation, but challenge when translations of longer texts 4 Nord, Christiane. Translation as a Purposeful nowadays users can have their own are required. Activity (Manchester: St. Jerome, 1997), localized versions. The most popular http://bit.ly/Nord-translation. websites in the world, such as Google, In translation circles one sometimes 5 Facebook, Yahoo, and Twitter, are also the Occupational Outlook Handbook (U.S. hears that translation and interpreting Department of Labor), http://bit.ly/bureau- result of U.S. innovation, but they have professionals do not receive the labor-statistics. Also see “Fastest Growing opened up new participatory avenues for acknowledgment they deserve. Do you Occupations: 20 Occupations with the translation through crowdsourcing. Users think there is an increasing awareness, and Highest Percent Change of Employment have translated these sites in creative between 2014-24” (U.S. Department of therefore recognition, of the translator and ways, subjecting the language industry to Labor), www.bls.gov/ooh/fastest-growing.htm. new waves of disruption. the translator’s task? 6 Translation and interpreting per se tend Desjardin, Renée. “Facebook Me! Arguing in Favour of Using Social Networking as How has social media affected the teaching to be “invisible” activities, but research in a Tool for Translator Training,” Linguistica of translation and interpreting? recent years has focused on the concept Antverpiensia (Volume 10, 2011), 175–194, Various modes of social media are now of “agency,” showing that translators and http://bit.ly/Desjardins-translator-training. part of our students’ lives. Studies interpreters are not invisible agents in the have examined whether having online process but can, and in fact do, intervene Olvera-Lobo, María-Dolores, and Juncal Gutiérrez-Artacho. “Academic Use of platforms that resemble social networking and help create different results.7 Visibility Custom Social Networks in Translation issues are also related to “translator Training.” In Perspectives: Studies in status.” Without a clear acknowledgment Translatology (Routledge, 2014), 282– Simultaneous of the translator’s “socio-professional 289, http://bit.ly/Olvera-Lobo-translation. status,” compensation for services will Olvera-Lobo, María-Dolores, and Bryan Interpretation not increase. I personally think that the Robinson. “Facebook, Twitter, or Tuenti? A increased availability of translation and Equipment First Look at the Academic Use of Web 2.0 interpreting training programs is a key Social Networks in Translator Training.” Transmitters step toward this acknowledgment. In Multiple Voices in Academic and Receivers Many thanks, Miguel, for sharing your Professional Discourse: Current Issues in FM time and your very interesting thoughts Specialised Language Research, Teaching, Sales & Rentals with readers of Our World of Words. and New Technologies (Newcastle: See you all next time!  Cambridge Scholar, 2011), 367–379, Affordable Pricing http://bit.ly/Olvera-Lobo-Robinson. NOTES Superior Sound 7 Kinnunen, Tuija, and Kaisa Koskinen. 1 Translation and Interpreting Program 5 YEAR WARRANTY Translators’ Agency (Tampere University in the Department of Spanish and Press, 2010), http://bit.ly/Kinnunen-Koskinen. 30 DAY MONEY BACK Portuguese at Rutgers University, GUARANTEE! http://translation.rutgers.edu. Inghilleri, Moira. “Mediating Zones of Uncertainty: Interpreter Agency, the 2 Pym, Anthony. Translation Theories Interpreting Habitus and Political Asylum Explained, 2nd Edition (New York- Adjudication.” In The Translator (Volume London: Routledge, 2014), http://bit.ly/ 11, 2005), 69-85, http://bit.ly/Inghilleri. Pym-translation-theory; See also Munday, Jeremy. Introducing Translation Studies (New York-London: Routledge, 2012), (888) 677-4387 http://bit.ly/Munday-translation-studies. Tony Beckwith was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, spent (518) 426-0171 3 Gerloff, Pamela Ann. From French to English: his formative years in Montevideo, A Look at the Translation Process in Students, Uruguay, then set off to see the FM Bilinguals, and Professional Translators world. He moved to Texas in 1980 Systems (Mimeo: Harvard University, 1988). and currently lives in Austin, Lörscher, Wolfgang. “A Model for the Texas, where he works as a writer, translator, poet, and www.LandmarkFm.com Analysis of Translation Processes within a cartoonist. Contact: [email protected].

26 The ATA Chronicle | Mar/Apr 2016 www.atanet.org THE ENTREPRENEURIAL LINGUIST BY JUDY JENNER On Passing the Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination

n February 2014, I wrote about a subject me, as it’s quite fast at approximately 160 that I had hoped I would not have to words per minute. However, something Iaddress: the experience of not passing that helped me was to keep in mind the Federal Court Interpreter Certification that I routinely interpret at this speed Examination (FCICE) for Spanish. Well, already, and under worse audio conditions after retaking the exam last year, I’m happy than at the exam. This helped provide to report that I passed. I was very open me with some perspective, and it’s nice about writing about my failed first attempt, to know that the audio conditions are and now I can present you with some usually ideal during the exam. (There are thoughts on passing the exam. also no distractions, such as attorneys interrupting each other, which is Preparation: There’s no magic answer fantastic.) So, sometimes it helps to look at or magic pill, and certainly no prep the exam just like any other day at work. course that will guarantee you’ll pass. I Vocabulary: Many think that memorizing strongly recommend staying away from lots of specialized vocabulary is key to Logistics: I took the exam in Tucson, any course that promises you a passing passing this exam, but I would disagree. Arizona, because that was one of the score—no one can do that. I also wouldn’t While having more knowledge of closest exam locations to my home in vocabulary is always good, I believe recommend that anyone emulate my Las Vegas. I also chose to stay at the hotel this exam tests your general skills as an rather erratic preparatory phase for where the exam was taking place. I tried interpreter rather than your knowledge of to make everything as easy on myself as this exam, but I did make some good highly specialized vocabulary. I do think possible, so I flew in the afternoon before, decisions in terms of prep courses. that I was probably a better interpreter had a leisurely dinner with colleagues, and I took a two-day court interpreting in 2015 than in 2013, which is partially went to bed early. I had a 10:30 a.m. exam boot camp with Alfonso Villaseñor, who why I believe I passed the exam. Rather slot, so I got up early, worked out, did my has taught interpreting at the Defense than spending lots of time studying warm-up vocal exercises, and listened to Language Institute and Agnese Haury vocabulary, as I had done in 2013, my test some songs I like—some of which I sang Institute. I really enjoyed his no-nonsense preparation in 2015 involved practicing at the top of my lungs (badly, I might add), approach and the small group setting. I general interpreting techniques. For in both English and Spanish. Incorporating also went to the University of Arizona in example, I focused on increasing my singing as part of your vocal exercises Tucson for a weekend course the week décalage, which is something I took home is one of the techniques I learned from before the exam, and it was beneficial, from Alfonso Villaseñor’s workshop. Joshua Elliot at the University of Arizona, even though I was surprised that there (Décalage is the length of time between and it got me pumped and ready. were no interpreting booths in which the start of the speech and the beginning I am absolutely delighted to be a to practice. I was impressed by our of your interpretation. A longer décalage federally certified court interpreter. I instructor Joshua Elliot’s depth and allows for higher accuracy because you know that this is just the beginning breadth of experience and vocabulary, and get more context before interpreting.) and that I have a lot to learn, but I very even though I didn’t do as well as I would While this approach worked for me, much look forward to the challenges and have liked on the practice exams, I left the it might not work for others. My general opportunities ahead.  weekend inspired and ready to take the criminal and civil law vocabulary is actual exam. already quite strong, and I believe that Judy Jenner is a court-certified In terms of general practice, my plan most state-certified interpreters already Spanish interpreter and a Spanish have most of the vocabulary they need to for the year leading up to the exam was to and German translator based in feel quite prepared for the exam. interpret one video per day (e.g., through Las Vegas, Nevada, where she the practice material available from runs Twin Translations with her Preparing for the fast simultaneous twin sister. She is a past president Speechpool, ACEBO, etc.), but I will be portion: Many exam candidates tend to of the Nevada Interpreters and Translators Association. the first to admit that I didn’t always stick be the most intimidated by the second She hosts the translation blog, Translation Times to this plan. The exam was in July, and I simultaneous portion of the FCICE, which (www.translationtimes.blogspot.com). You can didn’t really kick my preparation into high is also the last portion of the exam, when also find her at www.entrepreneuriallinguist.com. gear until June, which was probably a bit most test-takers are quite fatigued. This Contact: [email protected] or late—but it was enough. was also the most challenging portion for [email protected].

www.atanet.org American Translators Association 27 INTERPRETERS FORUM BY EWANDRO MAGALHÃES Five Essential Coping Tactics

“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” —William Arthur Ward, writer

pon setting sail from the Spanish port of Seville in 1519, Ferdinand UMagellan was unsure of just what to expect. He had a hunch that he should sail west, believing this route would take him to the lucrative spices that grew in the Indies. He took along the best technological and human resources available to him and left port with a flotilla of five ships loaded to the hilt with provisions, hoping for the best in a voyage whose duration he could not estimate. Under his command sailed a contingent of 260 men seduced by the promise of fortune and glory, their only chance to escape a miserable existence. The captain general knew he would be up against more than just the ferocity of the southern seas. He had dared to question age-old tenets of pseudo-religious beliefs, Like sailors contemplating an imminent journey into uncharted waters, and many among his peers were certain interpreters, too, have to grapple with a number of ghosts as they that, despite his conviction, Magellan was attempting the impossible. prepare for, and later reminisce about, their maiden voyage. The intrepid navigator would have to prove the foolishness of countless medieval superstitions. Legends spoke of sailors swallowed up by boiling waters south of that tend to beset the unsure mind. This common strategy, which soon the Equator and of ships torn apart by Fear—be it endogenous or induced by becomes second nature, is a safe magnetic isles that could pull the nails out circumstance—is how humans react to way to deal with speed, as it saves from the hull. Ferdinand Magellan was a the unknown. time while preserving content. For determined explorer, ready to put his life Yet, deliverance comes only from example, United Nations becomes UN; on the line. But he was also a man of the experience, and one has to muster the International Monetary Fund becomes times and certainly not immune to the courage to set out to sea, hoping there IMF; and pyruvate dehydrogenase might superstitions of the day. is no cliff at the edge of the world after be rendered simply as “the enzyme all. As they sail away from safe harbor, in question.” The downside is that GOING BEYOND THE EDGE interpreters would do well to master at acronyms do at times get translated, Like sailors contemplating an imminent least some basic tricks while still ashore. and the effort required in realigning journey into uncharted waters, So, lantern in hand, let us shed light the letters may take longer than simply interpreters, too, have to grapple with on five important coping tactics every repeating a mouthful. a number of ghosts as they prepare for, interpreter should have in their toolbox as 2. Keeping a word or term in the 1 and later reminisce about, their maiden they prepare to weigh anchor. original language: This is somewhat voyage. Myths abound and are bred 1. Simplifying discourse through counterintuitive. Aren’t interpreters by ignorance and by panicky fantasies acronyms and generalizations: supposed to translate every word?

28 The ATA Chronicle | Mar/Apr 2016 www.atanet.org Well, not quite. Rather, their job is tricky. Saying “sorry” or “rather” may and debunking many medieval myths, it to convey ideas, which occasionally solve the problem of context, but it changed the world forever.  means recognizing which concepts leaves the impression that the mistake are better left unchanged. But this was the speaker’s and that she is the NOTE tactic can also be used as a temporary one apologizing. This tactic doesn’t 1 For additional coping tactics in crutch in a fix until a linguistic go unnoticed to more experienced interpretation, please see chapter 8 equivalent can be recalled for use a interpreters, most of whom have (“Coping Tactics in Interpretation”) in second time around. If relevant, a occasionally passed blame in cases Daniel Gile’s Basic Concepts and Models for Interpreter and Translator Training term will certainly occur innumerable of immaterial omissions. Yet, when (John Benjamins, 1997). times and will eventually be rendered dealing with a serious misnomer satisfactorily. If not, keeping it in the or inaccuracy, ethics dictate that the interpreter rectify a potential original language won’t have been all Ewandro Magalhães is an that unforgivable. misunderstanding, making sure experienced conference to speak in the third person to 3. Changing the order of elements interpreter and interpreter avoid confusion. This momentary in an enumeration: Here’s a rather trainer. He has a master’s admission of guilt is important elaborate yet very useful strategy. Say degree in conference specifically to protect the speaker, and the interpreter is lagging behind in interpretation from the while it could potentially undermine Middlebury Institute of International Studies a sentence as the speaker suddenly the interpreter’s credibility, it may at Monterey. He is the head of conference rushes through a long list of countries. also enhance it. Admitting a mistake management service, and former chief interpreter, Anticipating an imminent clogging of denotes self-assurance. Working to fix at the International Telecommunication Union his short-term memory, the interpreter it denotes conscientiousness. in Geneva, Switzerland. He is the author of Sua stores in his mind the first two or three Majestade, o Intérprete—o fascinante mundo da names on the list and jumps straight to tradução simultânea (Parábola Editorial). You can the ones being spoken next, which he SAILING ON read his blog at ewandro.com. renders immediately as heard. Once the The mechanisms listed above don’t even list comes to an end, only the first few scratch the surface, but they are a good names he skipped need to be recovered starting point. To grow as an interpreter from memory. The result is usually one has to expand this repertoire of 100% retrieval and zero overload. coping tactics while working hard to 4. Reconstructing meaning from question any nonsensical myths. In a context: This is a dangerous yet world long haunted by imaginary demons useful tactic, where the loss of a word and shadows, lighting a candle still works or idea is compensated for by the better than cursing the darkness. The introduction of the most probable ghosts of our time must be challenged, corollary to a preceding argument or one by one. And while these specters may semantic construct. At such times, impress us with their power, they are besides their linguistic skills and their seldom unknown. Other than scurvy, whose cause ability to improvise, interpreters rely would remain a mystery for another three heavily on extra-linguistic information centuries, all of Magellan’s adversaries were (i.e., previous knowledge about the known and very powerful—the violent subject matter being discussed or seas, the raging storms, the mutinous the content they have gained in the sailors, the famine. The captain general course of the conference itself). This is never did encounter boiling waters time-consuming and requires a good or magnetic rocks. When he finally sense of timing to be done properly. succumbed while still en route, it wasn’t Given the possible loss of content and in the jaws of a mythical sea creature. the reputational risk, this tactic ought Rather, he got himself killed during an ill- to be avoided to the extent possible. considered and unnecessary show of force There will be situations, though, when against a tribe in the Philippines. nothing else works. Ultimately, Magellan’s expedition paid 5. Knowing when to acknowledge a high price for challenging established mistakes: As much as we hate myths and traditions. Four of five ships to admit it, interpreters do make were lost and over 200 men were killed. mistakes, and handling them properly It was, by most objective standards, an is an important survival skill. It is also unqualified failure. Yet in confronting www.atanet.org American Translators Association 29 TECHTALK BY UWE MUEGGE Hiding in Plain Sight: Analytics Features in LinkedIn and Twitter

ou’ve probably heard the old adage “Know thy audience.” Both LinkedIn Y and Twitter now provide a number of easy-to-use but powerful analytics functions that help you better understand your followers so that you can tailor tweets and posts accordingly. Best of all, it won’t cost you a dime to access the analytics functions on LinkedIn and Twitter!

LINKEDIN ANALYTICS Who’s viewed your posts: LinkedIn has made stats on who’s viewed your profile available for a long time. Now LinkedIn has added a similar feature that tells you who’s viewed your posts. In fact, you can access both functions using the same path. On the LinkedIn home page, click “Profile > Who’s viewed your profile > Who’s viewed your posts” and then select the post you want to check. Alternatively, crowd or whether you need to adjust corner (Profile and settings) and selecting you can go directly to your post and click your content. Reader demographics are “Analytics” in the dropdown menu. the “View” stats button just above the title available on the same screen as “Who’s Twitter also makes a lot of this of your post. viewed your posts.” (See Figure 2.) You information available right from any The “Who’s viewed your posts” function get there from the LinkedIn home page given tweet on your Twitter Profile page. lets you select individual long-form posts by clicking “Profile > Who’s viewed your Just click the little stats symbol (View to see how many views each post got over profile > Who’s viewed your posts” and tweet activity) in the toolbar below each a user-selectable period of time (e.g., last then selecting the post you wish to learn tweet and a pop-up window displays 7, 15, 30 days, last 6 months, last year). more about. detailed information about impressions You can also compare the total number of (i.e., total number of times a tweet was views, likes, comments, and shares each TWITTER ANALYTICS served in timelines and search results) post received. The most useful feature of Just like LinkedIn, Twitter has provided and user engagement (e.g., re-tweets, these stats, in my opinion, is the ability free analytics information to its users favorites, link clicks, etc.). to hover over each individual data point for some time. In fact, the free Twitter Tweet activity over time: Let’s say you to see the number of page views for that Analytics service has been available since want to know who your top follower data point. (See Figure 1.) You can use this the summer of 2014. What’s new is that was (by number of followers), or which function to see how long a post “stayed now some of the analytics functions of your tweets was the most popular fresh,” and you can also determine if are accessible not only from the Twitter (by impressions) or resulted in the most and how promoting a LinkedIn post on Analytics Dashboard, but also right from mentions in a given month. Twitter Twitter (which is something I always do) or your Twitter profile page. provides these stats month-by-month another channel affected your readership. Tweet activity per tweet: The “traditional” for up to 3,200 tweets or all the way Reader Demographics: LinkedIn way of accessing information about how back to October 2013 right on the also provides detailed demographic your tweets are doing (and of this writing, Analytics Dashboard. information on the readers of your posts, the only way documented in Twitter Help) For a graphical representation of your such as top industries, top job titles, top is by going to Twitter Analytics. tweets’ performance day-by-day, select locations, and top traffic sources. Reader The Twitter Analytics page is accessible the “Tweets” tab from the top menu bar demographics information helps you from your Twitter home page by clicking of the Analytics Dashboard, which gives determine if your posts reach the right your profile photo in the upper right you access to stats for each individual

TechTalk presents discussions concerning technology pertinent to translators and interpreters. It alternates in this space with the “GeekSpeak” column.

30 The ATA Chronicle | Mar/Apr 2016 www.atanet.org Figure 1: Who’s Viewed Your Post Stats

Figure 2: Reader Demographic Stats

tweet you sent during a user-selectable Uwe Muegge is the director of time period—up to 91 days (28 days is Solutions Architecture Z-Axis set by default). Tech Solutions, Inc. He has more than 15 years of experience in translation and localization, TAKING AWAY THE GUESSWORK having worked in leadership Now that detailed analytics information functions on both the vendor and buyer sides of is easily available to users of LinkedIn the industry. He has published numerous articles and Twitter, you no longer have to guess on translation tools and processes and taught computer-assisted translation and terminology who reads your long-form posts on management courses at the college level in both LinkedIn and how your tweets are doing the U.S. and Europe. In addition, he has been active individually and as a group over time. in several standardization efforts; most recently as Unfortunately, users of Google+ and chair of ASTM F43.03 subcommittee on language Facebook profiles are not so lucky! translation. Contact: [email protected]. www.atanet.org American Translators Association 31 RESOURCE REVIEW

INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY—PROPRIÉTÉ Table 1a: French>English Jargon Used in Patents INDUSTRIELLE DICTIONNAIRE Term Dictionary Glossary Reviewer’s comments JURIDIQUE BILINGUE contenir — — dans lequel — — destiné — — envisageable — — sensiblement — substantially susceptible — — [but: susceptible d’application industrielle ➔industrially applicable; an EPO criterion for patentability] Reviewed by: Bruce D. Popp TD (WIPO country code) Chad; see “Other Resources” — — sidebar on page 35 Author: David Brunand Publisher: In preparing to review these two looked for the entries concerning these Éditions DHBO references, I considered the scope of the terms. The following review is based on the Publication date: terms that I expected them to cover based results of my search. 2014 on my experience as a patent translator and When translating patents or documents relating to patents, such as administrative Number of Pages: on their titles. With this scope in mind, I communications with patent offices, 242 somewhat arbitrarily generated four lists of terms in both French and English and then briefs and expert reports submitted Price: to administrative bodies and courts, Around $81 and subsequent orders and decisions, (Includes bank charges,€49.76 for the the specialized translator is faced with book, and €20.73 for shipping) SEARCHING FOR DOCUMENTS terminology challenges falling into three ISBN: THROUGH THE EUROPEAN main areas. 978-90-815592-2-5 PATENT OFFICE 1. The first area involves the technical subject matter of the invention Available from: The European Patent Office (EPO) has three described in the patent. This part http://bit.ly/lgdj-fr-Brunand official languages: English, French, and of the terminology challenge can German. Its foundational document, the come from any of a large number of GLOSSARY OF PATENT TERMS European Patent Convention (EPC), and many diverse and unrelated subject areas. (FRENCH<>ENGLISH): SOFTWARE other lesser documents, are prepared in these This often requires the translator to three languages in parallel and are available have specialized knowledge of the Authors: for public download. (The EPC is available at subject area and to research primary Sebastian Abbo and Pierre Saconney sources. Although I won’t be focusing http://bit.ly/EPC-patent-convention.) on this area here, you can get more Publisher: If you are translating between EPO official Lexicool.com information from an article I wrote for languages and come across an unfamiliar the Chronicle.1 Number of entries: term, it is highly advisable to search the EPC 3,000 2. The second area involves jargon, site for the term and align the search result specialized vocabulary, and words that Price: with the corresponding part in the parallel are given special meaning by statute Around $19 text in the target language. When this works, or regulation (i.e., terms used within (Includes bank charges, €16.58 for the and it often does, you can be confident in the writing of the patent itself, such software and delivery by e-mail and the result of your terminology research. Don’t as “comprising,” “substantially,” and download) “embodiment”). translate EPO documents without applying Available from: this technique for terminology research. 3. The third area involves words http://bit.ly/Lexicool-patent-glossary and terminology used by patent

32 The ATA Chronicle | Mar/Apr 2016 www.atanet.org THE CENTER FOR translation Table 1b: English>French Jargon Used in Patents studies Term Dictionary Glossary Reviewer’s comments aspect — — disclose divulguer/exposer (une exposer (l'invention) MA in invention) further — Translation [but, délai — supplémentaire further and period] object (of the invention) — objet (de l'invention) Interpreting relates to — avoir trait à Specialization Tracks: teaches — — • Translation for the Professions whereby See USPTO MPEP • Literary and Applied — — 2111.04 (http://bit.ly/ USPTO-MPEP) Literary Translation • Conference and Community Interpreting

Table 2a: French>English Administrative Terms Concerning Patents online OR Term Dictionary Glossary Reviewer’s comments ON CAMPUS Conseil en propriété patent attorney While I do commonly The program can support students working industrielle see patent attorney for from any of the 37 languages currently Conseil en propriété taught at the University of Illinois at industrielle (CPI), it is very Urbana-Champaign School of Literatures, unsatisfactory for two Cultures and Linguistics. Text translation fundamental reasons. First, students will work from their second the legal functions that a CPI may perform are very language into English. Interpreting different from those that a students will work bidirectionally between — French avocat or an attorney their second and first languages. admitted to the bar in a U.S. Applications for Fall 2016 will be state may perform. Second, a CPI has a specialized considered from August 15, 2015 qualification for trademark until May 1, 2016. and design or for utility For more information, please contact patents; hence some CPIs the School of Literatures, Cultures, and don’t work with patents at all. Linguistics Graduate Student Services Office at [email protected] or the divulgation disclosure disclosure Center for Translation Studies Office épuisement des droits exhaustion of rights exhaustion of at [email protected]. rights MA.TRANSLATIONAND fascicule de brevet fascicule➔specification patent patent specification INTERPRETING.ILLINOIS.EDU fascicule du brevet specification communautaire➔specification of the community patent grief — — UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS préjudiciable — prejudicial AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN School of Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics recevable — admissible College of Liberal Arts and Sciences www.atanet.org American Translators Association 33 RESOURCE REVIEW continued

practitioners, patent examiners, Table 2b: English>French Administrative Terms Concerning Patents court-appointed experts, and patent Term Dictionary Glossary Reviewer’s comments office officials when writing for each other. Examples include words such antecedent basis See USPTO MPEP as “preliminary amendment,” “office — — 2173.05(e): http://bit.ly/ action,” and “opposition.” claim-antecedent I focused on the second and third continuation-in-part [Entry contains a “continuation-in- challenges when conducting my term substantial paragraph part” [sic] searches for this review. in French with a sound description of a U.S. Scope of Coverage continuation-in-part The Industrial Property—Propriété application and its relation industrielle Dictionnaire juridique bilingue to practice in France. It is and the Glossary of Patent Terms cover followed by: “Remarque: both directions between French and le terme anglais est en English. The glossary covers patent terms général conservé dans and the dictionary covers intellectual un texte française pour property (including patent terms faire référence à cet and trademarks and copyrights). The notion typique du système dictionary is a paperback book with 242 américain.” pages, and has ample white space and is issuance — délivrance easily readable. The back cover states that it has “over 5,000 words and expressions means plus function — — translated.” The glossary is a small (patent) prosecution procédure d’examen de la procédure de The American Heritage Windows software application. By default, demande délivrance (d’un Dictionary of the English it is available in a 16- or 32-bit operating brevet) Language, Fifth Edition system version, which I believe reflects (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt its origin in Windows 3.1. I downloaded Publishing Company, 2015) a beta 64-bit version that requires me to defines prosecution as “the re-enter the registration number every institution and conduct time I use it. The user interface is minimal of a legal proceeding.” but functional. The information on the I understand patent website indicates that it includes “over prosecution to mean the 3,000 entries (approximately 14,000 conduct of the proceedings words) pertaining to the world of patents for obtaining issuance of and intellectual/industrial property.” a patent. The dictionary incorrectly emphasizes Term Search Results examination. Both the To conduct the review, I prepared two dictionary and the glossary lists of about 15 words (split between do not put enough emphasis French and English), one list for each on the conduct of the of the second and third terminology proceedings. Neither entry is challenge areas mentioned above. fully satisfactory. These lists reflect: 1) terms found in preliminary amendment [only an entry for patents and related documents that I’ve — amendment] translated, or in patents to which I’ve referred in the course of translating supervising examiner — other documents; 2) U.S. terms that — [but: examiner➔ I’ve needed when writing in French to examinateur] French patent practitioners; and 3) terms takedown (letter) — — from my own glossary that I thought were sufficiently important enough to be terminal disclaimer — — included in these reference works.

34 The ATA Chronicle | Mar/Apr 2016 www.atanet.org the National Industrial Property Institute Price: OTHER RESOURCES of France. Bon courage! $39.95 Code de la propriété intellectuelle For the third terminology area, both Available from: http://bit.ly/code-intellectuelle references did somewhat better than http://bit.ly/SuccessIntUSA for the second area; the glossary had somewhat more matches than the At one point or another in our careers, I’d INPI Directives—examen demande de brevet dictionary. I don’t think the coverage wager we’ve all asked ourselves how we www.inpi.fr/fr provided by either work is sufficiently could become even more successful or extensive. Although it may not be deliver true excellence. Thankfully, man of World Intellectual Property Organization evident from this sampling, when there many talents Jonathan Downie claims to Handbook on Industrial Property is a matching entry in the dictionary, the have the answers in his aptly named Being Information and Documentation dictionary fairly frequently provides a a Successful Interpreter: Adding Value and (Defines the meanings of INID codes [circled paragraph or more explaining the term. Delivering Excellence. Downie has created numbers] used on patent cover pages; use This is a very useful and welcome feature. an excellent 136-page how-to guide the English and French versions in parallel.) Unfortunately, for the above reasons, I with a very hands-on approach that will definitely be worth checking out when it’s English Version cannot recommend either work at this time. released this spring. (Available May 12th http://bit.ly/WIPO-standards-English NOTE in Europe; May 21st in the U.S.) French Version 1. Popp, Bruce D. “Using Patents to Find http://bit.ly/WIPO-standards-French the Terminology You Need,” The ATA A Well-Rounded Approach Chronicle (May 2009), page 16–23. From unleashing your inner potential, World Intellectual Property Organization to listening to your gut feeling, or getting in touch with your inner self, Country Names and Two-Letter Codes Bruce D. Popp is an ATA-certified French>English these types of books often drone on English Version translator and a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office about some vague platitudes while http://bit.ly/WIPO-country-names-codes registered patent agent with a PhD in astronomy. trying desperately to make a point. He translates patents and scientific and technical French Version Thankfully, Being a Successful Interpreter documents. Contact: [email protected]. takes a different approach and gives you http://bit.ly/WIPO-country-names-codes-French a taste of academic research, combined with relevant interviews, bite-size World Intellectual Property Organization Pearl BEING A SUCCESSFUL INTERPRETER: knowledge nuggets, and practical www.wipo.int/reference/en/wipopearl ADDING VALUE AND DELIVERING lessons that can be applied to the life of (WIPO’s multilingual terminology portal EXCELLENCE a professional. provides access to scientific and technical Spanning a total of 10 chapters, terms derived from patent documents.) Downie covers a large variety of relevant topics, including developing United States Patent and Trademark Office an active working relationship with Manual of Patent Examining Procedure clients while moving away from a more http://bit.ly/USPTO-patent-exam passive role as a language conduit, branding, and promotion and public relations for interpreters. There’s even Overall Evaluation a chapter entitled “Eating Your Way to After reviewing the tables on the previous Success,” dedicated to the tastier side pages, it should be clear that the Industrial of a professional’s life and the dos and Property—Propriété industrielle Dictionnaire don’ts of a freelancer’s healthy diet. A juridique bilingue and the Glossary of Patent Reviewed by: French<>English conference interpreter Terms do not provide satisfactory coverage Alexander C. Gansmeier based in Edinburgh, Scotland, Downie of the jargon used within patents. This covers conference interpreting as well result is very disappointing. Author: as public service interpreting, and even For these critical little words, I have no Jonathan Downie talks openly about the need to reunite a resources to suggest. It seems one must Publisher: “divided profession.” dive into the primary literature, such Routledge Downie is serving his third term as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on the board of the U.K.’s Institute of Publication date: Manual of Patent Examining Procedure and Translation and Interpreting, so readers (May 2016) the corresponding parts of the French are provided with his extensive academic Code de propriété industrielle and the INPI ISBN: insights mixed with personal hands-on Directives—examen demande de brevet of 978-1138119697 interpreting experience. Downie skillfully www.atanet.org American Translators Association 35 RESOURCE REVIEW continued divides the information in each chapter. own and/or in a group, Downie makes OVERALL EVALUATION The first part is the more “academic” each chapter’s content tangible with Downie successfully mashes his signature portion, and the second part features these end-of-chapter examples and breezy and at times laugh-out-loud funny interviews with such industry experts as exercises. Ask yourself: “When preparing writing style with some great content, Judy and Dagmar Jenner, Esther Navarro- for an assignment, how much time do intriguing interviews, and practical tips. Hall, and many more renowned industry you spend thinking about what your If you’re a practicing interpreter or even veterans from across the globe. These clients will want from the event?” This just interested in reading some of what interviews underline the main message of the industry’s greats have to say, this book and many more questions and activities each chapter while giving them an added is a great read by an author who expertly create a very introspective yet active dimension through each expert’s unique balances style and substance.  industry insights. reading experience. Interestingly, Downie also keeps in That being said, this might not be a is mind those readers who may be more publication for everyone, as some of Alexander C. Gansmeier a freelance German<>English accustomed to the quick pace of, say, a Downie’s opinions or statements might conference interpreter in Munich, 140-character Tweet by providing a very be subject to a bit of lively debate. While Germany. He has a master’s succinct three-bullet introduction to this is certainly a desired effect, not degree in conference interpreting each chapter. Even better: at the end of everybody will agree with the notion that from the University of Central each chapter, he adds the “Putting it into interpreters need to abandon the concept Lancashire (U.K.). He serves on the board of various practice” section, in which he handily professional organizations, including the German of neutrality in interpreting or—a much summarizes the key chapter concepts Association of Conference Interpreters and Germany’s and main take-aways and suggests how more serious shock for any practicing Federal Association of Interpreters and Translators to put them into practice in everyday interpreter—like the idea that conference (BDÜ). His specializations include dermatology, freelance life. From questions you can interpreters should move on from their automotive technology, and information technology. ask to things you can do, both on your best friend, coffee. Contact: [email protected].

María L. Castellá Arabic into English Congratulations! Buenos Aires, Argentina Yasmin O. Al-Kashef The following people have successfully Barbara Compañy Williston, VT passed ATA’s certification exam: Buenos Aires, Argentina French into English Monika A. Adhye English into Chinese Gabriela I. Haymes Xiaoxiao Huang Buenos Aires, Argentina Napa, CA New York, NY Victoria M. Kennedy German into English Chaowei Zhu Madrid, Spain Maleaha M. Laski SeaTac, WA Winston-Salem, NC Ileana Luque English into German Cordoba, Argentina Rudolf Vedo Katharina D. Jones Rockford, IL Orestes Robledo Eugene, OR Toronto, Canada Italian into English Julia Glasmann Ana Paula Rodriguez Elias Shakkour Tuntenhausen, Germany Buenos Aires, Argentina Chicago, IL Susanne M. Kraetschmer Portuguese into English West Linn, OR Carmen Rossell Auburn, AL Danielle J. Deremo Cosimo English into Japanese Campinas, Brazil Yoshihiro Mochizuki Silvia I. Rubio Spanish into English Ann Arbor, MI Lima, Peru Ingrid A. Holm Alexandra G. Guevara-Salcedo Ayako Teranishi Houston, TX Dublin, CA Charlotte, NC Denise Nahigian English into Swedish English into Portuguese Spring, TX Marly S. Moro Tess Whitty Sao Paulo, Brazil Park City, UT Collin A. Stewart Carbondale, CO English into Spanish English into Ukrainian Luis F. Medina Alvarez Yulia Shevchenko Barbara S. Vergara Colima, Mexico Palm Harbor, FL Atlanta, GA

36 The ATA Chronicle | Mar/Apr 2016 www.atanet.org CERTIFICATION FORUM BY GEOFFREY S. KOBY Certification Pass Rates 2004–2014

he Certification Committee is happy Table 1: Language Pairs with 40 or More Certification Exams (16 language pairs): 2004–2014 to report here on certification pass T rates for 2004–2014.1 Pass rates Language Pair Number of Exams Pass Rate per Language Pair have remained relatively stable over time, Arabic>English 211 9.00% and this is reflected in the 2004-2014 data as well. French>English 269 18.22% To describe the results effectively and German>English 239 26.78% avoid distortion, the information has been Japanese>English 113 13.27% divided into two groups: 1) languages with 40 or more exams in the reporting Portuguese>English 131 22.14% period; and 2) languages with extremely Russian>English 124 28.23% low volume (ELV), defined as language Spanish>English 1,038 12.04% pairs with fewer than 40 exams in the reporting period. Total and overall pass rate, foreign into English: 2,125 15.81% The overall pass rate for ATA’s English>Chinese 246 13.41% Certification Program for 2004-2014 was 15.45%. A total of 5,463 candidates English>French 165 9.09% (previous period: 6,339) took the exam English>German 106 27.36% in 29 language pairs (previous period: English>Italian 91 28.57% 29), and 844 exams were rated “pass” (previous period: 1,032). Of these English>Japanese 95 16.84% language pairs, 16 had 40 or more exams English>Polish 83 19.28% over this period (previous period: 16). The Polish>English and Dutch>English English>Portuguese 145 28.97% exams have entered ELV status due to low English>Russian 197 15.23% demand for these language pairs, while English>Spanish 2,040 11.76% Finnish>English is no longer represented. However, Swedish>English has started as Total and overall pass rate, English into foreign: 3,168 14.11% a new language pair. Grand total and overall program pass rate: 5,293 14.79% The individual language pairs are listed in Table 1 in alphabetical order with the Figure 1: American Translators Association Translator Certification Examination number of examinations and pass rate for Pass Rates by Language Pair and Number of Examinations (n=5,463), 2004–2014, both sets of data. Sorted by Pass Rate Thirteen of the 29 language pairs each had fewer than 40 exams. (See Table 2 100% 3000 on page 38.) The results for these 90% language pairs have been combined in 2500 the figures shown in Table 2. This was 80% done because these language pairs cannot 70% be averaged reliably due to their low 2000 volume. Another reason is that some 60% languages were not offered for the entire 50% 1500 period. The Italian>English language 40% pair was suspended in 2007 and only 35.88% 1000 28.97% 28.57% 27.36% 28.23%

reinstated in 2015, so it will remain 30% 26.78% in the ELV category for some time. In 22.14% 19.28% 18.22%

20% 11.76% 12.04% 16.84% 15.23% addition, Hungarian>English, which had 13.27% 13.41% 500 a low volume to begin with, has been 10% 9.00% 9.09% 113 95 83 131 106 124 91 suspended since 2008, although work is 0% 211 165 2040 1038 246 197 269 239 145 170 0 ongoing to reinstate it. eng>ita Figure 1 presents the data on the eng>fre fre>eng eng>chi eng>pol jpn>eng eng>jpn eng>rus por>eng ger>eng eng>ger rus>eng eng>por ara>eng eng>spa spa>eng high-volume languages in 2004–2014 (13 pairs) ELV Combined ELV in graphical form, in a format slightly Number of Exams Individual Language Pair Pass Rate in % Average Pass Rate, 15.45% www.atanet.org American Translators Association 37 CERTIFICATION FORUM continued

Table 2 : Extremely Low Volume (ELV) Language Pairs with Fewer than 40 Certification Exams: languages (3.11% of all exams) represents 2004–2014 (n=13) 13 language pairs averaging two or fewer exams per year. A slightly higher or lower Percentage of Total number of ELV exams passing in any data Language Pair Number of Exams Exams (n=5,463) Number of Years Offered set can greatly skew the individual average. Croatian>English 7 0.13% 10 Figure 2 compares pass rates over Danish>English 12 0.22% 17+ time using four sets of data (2001–2011 through 2004–2014). The overall pass rate Dutch>English 25 0.46% 17+ has remained largely stable, with a high Hungarian>English* 4 0.07% 17+ of 15.64% and a low of 14.67%. The pass Italian>English* 16 0.29% 17+ rate for high-volume languages closely Polish>English 26 0.48% 17+ mirrors the overall pass rate, just slightly below it, ranging from 15.16% to 13.81%. Swedish>English 7 0.13% 2 Not surprisingly, the ELV pass rate is both English>Croatian 14 0.26% 16 quite a bit higher and more variable. The English>Dutch 10 0.18% 17+ shift between the low-40% range in the English>Finnish 8 0.15% 16 first two data sets and the mid-30% range in the second two sets is attributable to English>Hungarian 20 0.37% 17+ a few language pairs with moderate pass English>Swedish 7 0.13% 4 rates moving from high-volume into the English>Ukrainian 14 0.26% 10 ELV category, pulling the average down. Totals: 170 3.11%† This did not have a noticeable effect on the high-volume pass rate, however, which * suspended shows how small the number of ELV exams † calculated total percentage differs from sum of individual percentages due to rounding is in the overall system. We hope that this information on different from previous pass-rate reports. figure shows that the pass rates differ for pass rates is interesting and useful to The dashed horizontal red line shows the each language pair. The pass rates for the our members and potential candidates mean pass rate. No standard deviation high-volume language pairs range from a for ATA’s certification exam. ATA’s is provided for the pass rate percentages low of 9.00% for Arabic>English to a high Certification Committee will continue to because the language pairs have widely of 28.97% for English>Portuguese. The report the figures on a regular basis. divergent numbers of exams. Overall, this average of 35.88% for the aggregated ELV NOTE Figure 2: ATA Certification Exam Pass Rate Trend, Overall and by Volume 1 A longer article on pass rates, including an analysis of data over the past four 50.00% data sets, is available in the Bonus Features section of the Chronicle-Online 45.00% 43.71% 42.11 % website (www.atanet.org/chronicle-online/ 40.00% magazine/bonus-features). 35.88% 35.00% 34.15% Geoffrey S. Koby is an ATA 30.00% director and the immediate past chair of ATA’s Certification 25.00% Committee. He is an associate 20.00% professor of German/translation 15.64% 15.45% 14.67% 14.47% studies at Kent State University. 15.00% Formerly the coordinator of the university’s BS 15.16% 14.79% 13.98% 13.81% in translation program and assistant to the 10.00% chair, he teaches undergraduate and graduate 5.00% courses in translation theory and practice. An ATA-certified German>English and Dutch>English 0.00% translator, his professional practice focuses on 2001–2011 2002–2012 2003–2013 2004–2014 business, legal, and financial translation. Contact: Overall Pass Rate High Volume Pass Rate Low Volume Pass Rate [email protected].

38 The ATA Chronicle | Mar/Apr 2016 www.atanet.org Fullpage_March_10_Layout 1 2/18/16 11:54 AM Page 1

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