In This Issue: Mining Patents for Terminology Machine Translation: What Translators Want Becoming a Literary Translator

May 2009 Volume XXXVIII Number 5 The A Publication of the American Translators Association CHRONICLE

In this issue: Mining Patents for Terminology Machine Translation: What Translators Want Becoming a Literary Translator

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STAR – Your single-source partner for corporate product communication May 2009 American Translators Association Volume XXXVIII 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 • Alexandria, VA 22314 USA Tel: +1-703-683-6100 • Fax: +1-703-683-6122 Number 5 Contents May 2009 E-mail: [email protected] • Website: www.atanet.org A Publication of the American Translators Association 50Years 1959 – 2009 12 First Date: Outreach from the Machine Translation Community to Translators By Laurie Gerber and Jay Marciano What do translators need and want from technology, and what can machine translation/language technology developers do to help? 16 Using Patents to Find the Terminology You Need By Bruce D. Popp Patent practitioners search for the technical art most relevant to an invention. Translators can use patents found during that search as a source of relevant terminology. 12 24 On Becoming a Literary Translator By John B. Jensen The author shares his personal experiences along the road to becoming a literary translator, including the challenges, approaches, ethical decisions, and rewards. 31 ATA: Looking Back Through Words 16 Translators Hall of Fame: Lewis Galantière By Henry Fischbach (ATA president, 1965-1967) A banker and literary translator, Lewis Galantière’s contributions to literary translation and the profession as a whole live on to this day.

Columns and Departments 24 6 Our Authors 39 Dictionary Review 7 From the President 41 The Translation Inquirer 8 From the Executive Director 43 Humor and Translation 9 Letter to the Editor 44 Certification Exam Information 32 Business Smarts 44 New ATA-Certified Members and 33 Blog Trekker Active Membership Review 34 GeekSpeak 46 Directory of Language Services 38 Success By Association

3 The ATA Chronicle (ISSN 1078-6457) is published monthly, except bi-monthly in November/December, by the American Translators Association, 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590, Alexandria, VA 22314 USA. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, Virginia, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The ATA Chronicle, 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590, Alexandria, VA 22314 USA. We Want You! The American Translators Association (ATA) was established in 1959 as a not-for-profit professional society to foster and support the professional development of translators and interpreters and to promote the translation and interpreting professions. The ATA Chronicle enthusiastically encourages The subscription rate for a member is $43 (included in the dues payment). The U.S. subscription rate for members and nonmembers to submit articles of a nonmember is $65. Subscribers in Canada and Mexico add $25; all other non-U.S. subscribers add interest. For Submission Guidelines, log onto $45. Single copies are available for $7 per issue. www.atanet.org/chronicle. The ATA Chronicle ©2009 American Translators Association is published 11 times per year, with a combined

Reprint Permission: November/December issue. Submission deadlines are two months Requests for permission to reprint articles should be sent prior to publication date. to the editor of The ATA Chronicle at [email protected].

Editor Jeff Sanfacon [email protected]

Proofreader Sandra Burns Thomson

Art Directors Ellen Banker Amy Peloff

Advertising Matt Hicks Advertising McNeill Group Inc. [email protected] Directory 23 Multillingual Group +1-215-321-9662 ext. 19 www.multilingualgroup.com Fax: +1-215-321-9636 Executive Director 37 National Security Agency Walter Bacak www.nsa.gov/careers Across Systems [email protected] 5 www.across.net 48 SDL International Membership and www.translationzone.com General Information 10 47 Central Intelligence Agency Maggie Rowe www.cia.gov 2 Star Group America, LLC [email protected] www.star-group.net website: www.atanet.org 35 JiveFusion www.jivefusiontech.com 23 The University of Arizona www.nci.arizona.edu Moving? 9 Monterey Institute of Find an error with International Studies 45 Wordfast your address? http://translate.miis.edu/ndp www.wordfast.com Send updates to: The ATA Chronicle 225 Reinekers Lane Suite 590 Alexandria, VA 22314 USA Fax +1-703-683-6122 [email protected] 4 The ATA Chronicle I May 2009

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Laurie Gerber has worked in the field of human translation and machine Jay Marciano, the director of machine translation development at SDL translation for over 20 years. An ATA-certified Japanese¡English translator, International, oversees the development of the company’s machine translation she attended her first ATA conference in San Diego in 1992. Professionally, technologies and their related products. He spent five years as a lexicographer much of her time has been spent with machine translation, including system on the staff of the American Heritage Dictionary (1985-1990) before joining development, research, usability, and business development. She is currently the English Department of the University of Bonn, Germany, as a lecturer in treasurer of the Association for Machine Translation in the Americas and 1991. He joined Transparent Language in 1997 as the product manager for president of the International Association for Machine Translation. the automated translation products, and became part of SDL International in Contact: [email protected]. February 2001 upon their acquisition of the technology. He manages developers in Nashua, New Hampshire, Singapore, and Shenzhen, China. Contact: John B. Jensen received his PhD from Harvard University. He spent two [email protected]. years as a Peace Corps volunteer in northeastern Brazil. He has taught at the University of Virginia, the State University of New York at Albany, the U.S. Bruce D. Popp has translated over 100 Military Academy at West Point, and Florida International University, where he patents and a comparable number of patent is currently a professor of Portuguese, Spanish, linguistics, and translation and examiner opinions related to organic chemistry interpreting. He has been a professional translator since 1968, and a confer- and pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, ence and consecutive interpreter since 1980. He is an ATA-certified electronics, and medical devices. He also trans- Portuguese¡English translator. He is the co-author of the Travessia lates related documents, including prior art Portuguese textbook series, and publishes regularly on linguistics and from scientific journals, reports by expert wit- translation/interpreting. Contact: [email protected]. nesses, motions by patent litigants, patent office actions, and patent decisions. He is an ATA-certified French¡English translator. Contact: [email protected].

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6 The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 From the President Jiri Stejskal [email protected]

Opportunity Is Knocking: 100,000 Members?

Moving on from our review countries on six continents. major opportunities for creating new of the internal attributes of our The opportunity that was assigned the benefits or enhancing existing ones Association in the past two issues, greatest value is membership growth. So were identified during the Board’s where we examined our strengths and what is the pool of potential members Planning Day. Creating greater aware- weaknesses, let us now take a look at at which we are looking? According to ness of translation and interpreting the external attributes of the environ- the Bureau of Labor Statistics report, programs at universities, maturing ment in which we operate. These attributes are either unfavorable (threats) or favorable (opportunities). It is the latter we will examine now in greater detail. If we want to attract more members, we have to Here are the opportunities the Board identified, in descending order of per- enhance and promote the benefits of belonging ceived importance (the value in paren- theses indicates the number of “votes” to our Association. received): grow membership (6); create awareness of translation and interpreting programs (4); maturing programs (4); legislative influence (4); international expansion (4); better targeted public there were 33,680 translators and inter- existing programs such as ATA certifi- relations efforts (3); viral advertising (3); preters in the U.S. in May 2007 (see cation, and exerting legislative influ- cooperation with other groups abroad www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes273091.htm). ence are among the opportunities with (3); cooperation with allied associations Considering the growth of our industry the highest potential. As an example, (3); health care interpreting (3); growing and the fact that many part-timers are our certification program could be the demands for translation and interpreting not included, this figure is likely to be first one in the world to achieve services (2); “let our voice be heard” (2); higher; let’s call it an even 50,000. The accreditation by an internationally rec- positive outlook for the profession (1); estimates of the number of translators ognized body. This would not only lay legislation (1); and new administration and interpreters around the world vary a foundation for reciprocal recognition in Washington (1). wildly, but one could imagine there are of credentials among sister organiza- As with the strengths and weak- another 50,000 translators and inter- tions, but also make our credential the nesses, there is overlap in the lists of preters abroad who could benefit from measuring stick for other associations. opportunities and threats. International joining our Association. That makes Acting on opportunities is always expansion, legislation, and the new 100,000 potential members, compared exciting. Be a part of the action. Help administration in Washington appear on to our current size of about eleven the Association identify additional both. Expansion of our membership thousand. opportunities, suggest ways to act on base beyond U.S. borders has not been Of course, the key phrase here is opportunities that have been identified without controversy, as it poses the fun- “who could benefit.” If we want to already, and get involved in the imple- damental question of whether we are an attract more members, we have to mentation! American association as our name sug- enhance and promote the benefits of gests, or an international organization as belonging to our Association. Other the reality confirms. In the late 1990s, the Board was challenged by the membership to answer this question and a temporary ban was imposed on certification exams abroad. After much delib- ATA Medical Division/Interpreters Division Joint Conference eration, ATA emerged as a “national Washington, DC | July 18, 2009 | www.ata-divisions.org/MD association with international orientation.” Today, we have members in 90

The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 7 From the Executive Director Walter Bacak, CAE [email protected]

Happy Anniversary, Conference Sneak Peeks, and More

Happy 50th Anniversary: ATA 50th Annual Conference Sneak Alex, for your time and service to Fifty years ago this spring, a few Peek, Part II: Hotel rooms at the con- ATA, and good luck with your translators and company owners in ference hotel are being booked earlier new job. New York City met and agreed to than usual for an ATA Annual form a group to share ideas. Today, Conference. You need to book your Online Scam Alert: Since the first of the American Translators Association, room early at the Marriott Marquis. The the year, there has been an increase in with nearly 11,000 members, is still room rate is an incredible value—given online scams targeting translators and here to help you learn from your col- New York City prices. The rate is publi- interpreters. I apologize to those who leagues. Thank you for making ATA cized as being available until October 6 have seen this warning several times what it is today. or as space allows. Do not count on the over the years, but there is a reason rooms being available this fall. Once the why these perpetrators send these ATA 50th Annual Conference Sneak room block is full, the special ATA rate messages—folks are biting…and Peek, Part I: A record number of con- will no longer apply. For more informa- losing money. Stay vigilant. If it is too ference presentation proposals has been tion and to make your hotel reservations, good to be true, it is probably a scam. processed—at least 30% higher than please see www.atanet.org/conf/2009/ If you have any doubt about an usual. With close to the same number of hotel.htm. offer, ask for more information. time slots as recent conferences, this You can send it to me as well: record volume foretells top-quality edu- Director Resignation: ATA Director [email protected]. You can also read cational sessions. Be a part of the pro- Alexandra Russell has resigned. She more about online scams on ATA’s fession’s premiere learning and cited personal reasons for her deci- website: www.atanet.org//ata_activi networking experience by attending sion, specifically the increased time ties/internet_scams.php. ATA’s 50th Annual Conference in New commitments of her new job. Her York City, October 28-31. Please see replacement will be appointed at the www.atanet.org/conf/2009 for more next Board meeting followed by an information and watch for the election this October to fill the Portuguese Language Division Preliminary Program and Registration remaining year of her term. She is Mid-Year Conference Form, to be mailed with the July issue also stepping down as co-chair of the June 6-7, 2009 | www.pldata.net of The ATA Chronicle. Public Relations Committee. Thanks,

ayATA-Almost-BI.qxd:MayATA-Almost.qxd 4/23/09 7:13 PM Page 1

May 2009 Volume XXXVIII The Number 5 A Publication of the American Translators CHRONICLE Association Send a Complimentary Copy

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50Years 1959 – 2009

8 The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 Letter to the Editor

More on PDFs to maximize the image on the screen 2. I generate PDFs from Word docu- I am grateful to Jamie Lucero and taking a screen shot (Print ments with Primo PDF, another (“PDF Files and Translation,” August Screen). This places the entire screen freeware program that functions as 2008) and Lee Wright (Letters, image on the clipboard. It can be an additional "printer" in the Print November/December 2008) for dis- pasted into any image processing menu. Its features include opti- cussing PDF files. application (e.g., IrfanView, a pow- mizing the file for screen or hard As a translator who receives many erful freeware program that can be copy, and protecting the file technical source texts as scanned downloaded from www.irfanview. against changes. It can be down- PDFs, and who is often asked by com). It can then be cropped, and if loaded from www.primopdf.com. clients to provide the translation in necessary cleaned up, sharpened, this file format, I would like to add the and resized. It is then pasted into the John Kinory following points: required position in the Word file. Oxfordshire, England Finally, its size can be fine-tuned by 1. Another way to copy images into dragging the bottom right-hand Word is by using the zoom function slider in or out.

The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 9 memory, the faster you can translate • Real-time Preview—quickly and SDL is the leader in Global subsequent translations, saving time easily allows you to check the final Information Management (GIM) and money. look of your document within the solutions that empower organizations translation studio and updates in to accelerate the delivery of high- SDL Trados Studio 2009. real-time as you translate quality multilingual content to global Innovation Delivered • PDF—you asked, we listened, the markets. Its enterprise software and Since the acquisition of Trados in new filter for PDF means you can services integrate with existing busi- 2005 by SDL, there has been anticipa- work with PDF files when source ness systems to manage the delivery tion in the market about a unified trans- files aren’t available of global information from authoring lation memory software product. SDL For more information on SDL to publication and throughout the dis- Trados Studio is the culmination of 4 Trados Studio 2009 please go to tributed translation supply chain. years of research, development and sig- www.sdltrados.com/future. SDL has recently developed a pio- nificant financial investment and not neering open and unified environment only combines the best of both SDLX What is Terminology? for the visionary GIM Platform™ and SDL Trados, it will be the next gen- Terminology is the study of terms based on the scalable and open archi- eration translation memory software and their use. Terms are words and tecture of SDL Common Enterprise when it launches soon. phrases which describe products, Application Framework™ (CEAF). SDL Trados Studio combines services or industry jargon. They fre- The GIM Platform will hold all future decades of translation technology expe- quently drive competitive differentia- SDL technology products. rience with new and innovative features, tion. Most companies use an In addition to this, SDL is meaning it will be the most revolu- increasing number of industry- or releasing three revolutionary new tionary software on the market today. organization-specific words which desktop technology products: With one integrated environment for all need to be accurately stored, shared translation, review and project manage- and translated. Terms could be any- New in Translation Memory ment needs, it offers radical new fea- thing from a product name to a mar- • SDL Trados™ Studio 2009. tures on an open, standards-based keting tagline. Innovation Delivered platform. SDL Trados Studio will sig- Terminology management is growing nificantly enhance productivity and in importance as organizations are New in Terminology Management maximize performance throughout the growing globally and looking to convey • SDL MultiTerm® 2009. Because translation supply chain. a unified brand message across the Brand Matters Key new features will include: globe, but in local languages. The incor- • RevleX™ - powerful new trans- rect usage of terminology can lead to New in Software Localization lation memory engine at the inconsistent company branding and ulti- • SDL Passolo™ 2009. Designed heart of groundbreaking fea- mately leads to poor customer satisfac- with Software in Mind tures such as Context Match, tion. It is vital that both content creators AutoPropagation and multiple and translators manage and share termi- What is Translation Memory? TM lookup nology to achieve this consistency and A translation memory is a lin- • AutoSuggest™ - exciting fea- accuracy in customer communications. guistic database that continually cap- ture that maximizes the leverage tures your translations as your work from your translation memory SDL MultiTerm 2009. for future use. by intelligently suggesting pos- Because Brand Matters All previous translations are accu- sible translations of shorter Soon to be released, SDL mulated within the translation phrases or words as you type MultiTerm 2009 is the new termi- memory (in source and target lan- • QuickPlace™ - innovative new nology management software from guage pairs called translation units) way to quickly apply text for- SDL. Built on SDL CEAF, it provides and reused so that you never have to matting, tags, placeables and one central location to store and translate the same sentence twice. The variable elements such as num- manage terminology and integrates more you build up your translation bers, dates and times with both the authoring environment and SDL Trados Studio. By providing access to all those involved with applying terminology, including engineers and marketing, translators and terminologists, it ensures consistent and quality content and branding from source through to translation. panies to accelerate the delivery of premier technology based certifica- What is Software Localization? their products to global markets and tion, which provides a recognized Software localization is the helps them achieve a simultaneous standard of excellence in SDL Trados process of adapting a software global release. software knowledge. product to the linguistic, cultural and The real power of SDL Passolo is SDL TRADOS Certification is a technical requirements of a target its tight integration with the SDL comprehensive professional training market. This process is labour-inten- Trados translation environment. This program designed to develop and val- sive and often requires a significant ensures maximum leverage of previ- idate expertise in the use of SDL amount of time from the development ously translated content through Trados translation technology tools. teams. Traditional translation is typi- translation memory, centralized ter- As part of our commitment to the cally an activity performed after the minology use for brand consistency translation community we have an ideas source document has been finalized. and the ability to plug-in to enter- portal website, ideas.sdltrados.com, Software localization projects, on the prise-wide solutions such as SDL which allows you to work with our other hand, often run in parallel with Translation Management System®. product managers and vote on ideas to the development of the source product help us enhance our products further. to enable simultaneous shipment of SDL Trados. Please visit http://ideas.sdltrados.com to all language versions. More than just a Product submit your ideas! SDL TRADOS is the division of To find out more about our new SDL Passolo 2009. SDL that provides innovative and products or to see the value of transla- Designed with Software in Mind market-leading translation software to tion memory and how much it could SDL Passolo 2009 is specifically the translation supply chain, SDL be worth to you, we have created an designed with the software localizer TRADOS is committed to supporting exclusive page for The ATA Chronicle in mind. Providing one visual envi- the translation community. Our exten- readers, www.sdl.com/atachronicle, ronment for software localization, it sive and varied range of free educa- where you can find a link to the ‘ROI enhances the speed, quality and effi- tional webinars include presentations Calculator’ and any product informa- ciency of the localization process. on how to use our tools and presentation. You will also find information on This latest version is easy-to-use, tions hosted by industry experts on a training courses, Certification and requires no programming experience, variety of translation topics. much more including a special offer and is the fastest version of SDL To get the most from SDL Trados for the The ATA Chronicle readers. Passolo ever thanks to QuickIndex™ software we offer SDL TRADOS technology. It enables software com- Certification, the translation industry First Date: Outreach from the Machine Translation Community to Translators By Laurie Gerber and Jay Marciano

Date: A Dialogue Between Translators have not had the chance, or found a In early 2008, the leadership and Machine Translation Developers.” way, to influence the technologies that of the Association for Machine The relationship might not go any- are supposed to help them. We found Translation in the Americas (AMTA), where, but it would at least be a chance the notion of helping translators to in preparation for the association’s to get acquainted! As president of the become technology drivers a very October conference, began to discuss International Association for Machine timely and powerful way of capturing how to reach out more effectively to other groups that have a stake in the future of translation technology. Machine translation (MT) has typically been viewed with skepticism, if As ATA President Jiri Stejskal pointed out during the not outright hostility, by translators, and for this reason, AMTA wanted to session, the use of MT in the provision of translation extend an olive branch. services is not a zero-sum game against translators. Within the MT community, AMTA sees many ways to help translators. While many translators are not attracted to MT itself, many of the language technology components that Translation (IAMT), I was asked to the trend AMTA hoped to start. We go into this technology can improve represent AMTA at the session, along borrowed his words in our own ses- and extend the existing tools that with Jay Marciano, head of SDL’s MT sion, and in subsequent discussions translators do like, including search development group. As it happened, within AMTA. capabilities. AMTA also wants to Donald Barabé, senior vice-president listen to translators’ concerns about of technology at the Canadian What Translators Want language technologies. Translation Bureau, gave an excellent In the conference session, we With this goal in mind, AMTA and visionary presentation two days asked translators to talk about what leaders proposed a session for ATA’s before our session, noting that transla- they would like a computer to do for 2008 Annual Conference entitled “First tors have been technology-driven, but them. We asked them not to limit

12 The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 Table 1: Topics Raised in the First Date Session and Their Frequency

Number of Comments Topic Category Category Description

8 Communication Better, clearer information and communication about MT technology, its uses, capabilities and limitations, best practices, and the evolving role of translators.

6 Resources and Search Useful, high-quality reference glossaries and bitexts, in addition to intelligent tools for searching them.

5 Leverage Translation tools that readily make use of existing terminology and translation memory resources, including format conversion and exchange.

3 New Capabilities Some of the capabilities translators would like to have are not yet possible with the current technology.

2 Plug and Play Tools that are easy to deploy and easy to combine into a workflow.

2 Better Standards Advances in best practices or community standards.

2 New Tools Suggestions were for software tools that simply are not available on the market.

themselves to what was available or Resources and Search: Translators New Capabilities: Participants said possible. Surprisingly, the participants have eagerly embraced terminology they would like MT systems that can came up with a more or less contin- search technology as a way to access learn from the translator’s corrections. uous stream of ideas during the 90- and expand their available reference They would like such systems to cor- minute session. We logged 28 materials. This topic brought out sugges- rectly handle dates, currency, and num- different suggestions and later divided tions for advances that would enable bers. They would also like to be able to them into seven categories. These are online searches for bilingual, topic- give more feedback to the system. (For presented in Table 1, together with the appropriate text examples, and refine- example, indicating the quality of a par- number of comments that addressed ments of search tools and searchable ticular sentence output so that the each topic. resources that would fit into a trans- system will learn to provide more translator’s natural workflow. The group also lations that translators can really use.) Communication: This topic emerged pointed out the need for online access to toward the end of the session and then the large corpora of material, as well as Plug and Play: Currently, many feel dominated the discussion. It was one mechanisms for sharing translation that an individual translator who wants of two topic areas that really focused memories (TMs) among translators. to combine MT and TM—or any other on MT itself. Translators would like tools that might operate in a workflow more definitive information about MT. Leverage: Translators have clearly pipeline—needs to be a computer sci- They feel the need to understand the made investments in accumulating entist to connect them. Translators evolving translation market, to figure high-value resources—TMs and glos- want it to be easy and practical to out whether they want to offer post saries—and want to be able to combine tools in any order. Further, editing as a service, and to arm them- leverage those resources in any future software options should be visible and selves for conversations with clients work easily. The comments made easy to use, rather than hidden in who ask for information about MT or hinted at past disappointments when a places where only systems engineers perhaps even justification for paying significant investment in creating such can find them. professional translator fees when MT resources could not be transferred to a is available as an option. Clients’ igno- new tool or new working environment. Better Standards: Participants expres- rance and their hopes for an easy solu- Either the resources remained trapped sed a desire for a standard document tion for translation problems have inside a proprietary tool that would not format that would allow them to bundle certainly fueled the tension between export, or they could not be imported all language versions of a document translators and MT. into a new tool because of formatting into a single transferrable package. or some other issue. (Although this is not possible in Microsoft Office, this is what ¬

The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 13 First Date: Outreach from the Machine Translation Community to Translators Continued

XLIFF [XML Localization Interchange better understanding of how transla- there is an opportunity to commer- File Format] accomplishes. It is tors work and what they need. In addi- cialize them. importable/ exportable to/from many tion, AMTA is incorporating more In the area of large bitext corpus TEnTs [Translation Environmental content aimed at translators to be used resources and mechanisms for sharing Tools]). Participants also thought ter- at its own conferences. The organizers TMs, there is more commercial minology lists and glossaries should of the upcoming MT Summit, to be activity. For example, the natural lan- preserve the identity of the creator. held August 26-30, 2009 in Ottawa, guage research group (Recherche

New Tools: Many of the suggestions above would be new offerings in the marketplace and can be built with existing technology. The additional sug- Clients’ ignorance and their hopes for an easy solution gestions in this part of the discussion were for tools that could be used outside for translation problems have certainly fueled the of a workflow. (What if you want a pro- tension between translators and machine translation. fessional caliber terminology management system but not TM?) Jost Zetzsche chimed in for translators who work in less common languages, suggesting that high-quality tools are needed that can Canada, have taken this to heart, and appliquée en linguistique informa- handle more languages well (e.g., are planning conference sessions and tique) at the University of Montreal has optical character recognition, termi- tutorials directly aimed at translators, a number of online tools that provide nology management, TM). as well as sessions that educate tech- access to many Canadian monolingual nology developers about how transla- and bilingual text resources. Mono - In general, translators would like tors work. For more information, lingual concordance search is available convenient task-specific widgets.1 For check out http://summitxii. for free. Bilingual concordance search those who do not want to buy into a amtaweb.org. is available for $129.95 per year for an big, expensive suite of functionality, individual subscription, and provides they would welcome simple applica- Resources and Search: Some of the access to 452 million words in French tions that do very limited things, such capabilities that translators need are and English on government and legal as an add-in that does a customizable already available on the market, topics. TM Marketplace and the online search of highlighted material. though not necessarily in the form of Translation Automation User Society Simplicity is the key. tools aimed at translators. Naomi Data Association offer access to bilin- Sutcliffe de Moraes wrote two gual corpora aimed primarily at lan- What Is Available Now? extremely helpful articles on termi- guage service providers, corporations, Above, we summarized transla- nology search tools in the July2 and or statistical MT development efforts. tors’ comments from the session. Here September3 2008 issues of The ATA TM Marketplace buys and sells indi- we offer some suggestions on what Chronicle. She covers tools and sug- vidual TMs; the Translation Aut - might be available regarding the first gestions on using search tools to help omation User Society Data Association two topics in Table 1. For the rest, it understand a term in the source lan- offers members access to TM remains for technology developers to guage and to find the appropriate resources contributed by its member- respond. target-language term. Identifying ship. There are also places where trans- bilingual text sources has become a lators can contribute and share TMs, Communication: Writings and pre- specialty in the statistical MT research such as the Wordfast Very Large TM sentations on MT have generally not and developer communities, but tools Project, which is free and anonymous. been aimed at translators. AMTA is tend to be aimed at researchers very interested in continuing to partic- working in Unix/Linux and are not Further Thoughts ipate at ATA conferences to provide generally available for Windows, nor As representatives of AMTA, we information about MT and to gain a are they very precise. It seems that were honored by the open-minded

14 The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 Links of Interest

Association for Machine Translation TM Marketplace in the Americas www.tmmarketplace.com www.amtaweb.org Translation Automation User Society International Association for Data Association Machine Translation www.translationautomation.com/tda www.eamt.org/iamt.php Wordfast Very Large TM Project MT Summit www.wordfast.net/?whichpage=jobs http://summitxii.amtaweb.org

Recherche appliquée en linguistique informatique http://rali.iro.umontreal.ca

reception we received during the First Technology developers need and button or scroll bar. For more Date session. Concerning the historic value exactly the kind of input that information: http://en.wikipedia. tension between translators and MT, translators gave during the First Date org/wiki/Widget_engine. we realize that translators are not so session! We will share the comments much against MT as against: 1) with the MT community in writing and 2. Sutcliffe de Moraes, Naomi J. having their skills and services com- at the August MT Summit. We look “IntelliWebSearch: A Configurable pared to MT, and 2) the assumption forward to continuing the dialogue and Search Tool for Translators.” The that post editing MT output is the hearing more from language profes- ATA Chronicle (American Trans- same thing as translation. We do not sionals at future ATA conferences, and lators Association, July 2008), 26. think that translators’ jobs are threat- perhaps at the MT Summit, to keep the ened by MT. As ATA President Jiri ideas flowing! 3. Sutcliffe de Moraes, Naomi J. Stejskal pointed out during the ses- “The Translator’s Binoculars, Part sion, the use of MT in the provision Notes II: Desktop Search Tools and How of translation services is not a zero- 1. A widget is a program that per- They Can be Used to Search sum game against translators. Done forms some simple function, such Reference Texts.” The ATA Chron - correctly, the use of MT will expand as providing a weather report or icle (American Translators Associ - the translation market, but not neces- stock quote, that can be accessed ation, September 2008), 32. sarily eat into the professional trans- from a computer desktop or web- lation market. page, usually by clicking on a

The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 15 Using Patents to Find the Terminology You Need By Bruce D. Popp

As a patent translator, you can benefit from the public availability of target-language patents. Today, patents How does the translator match the “exact terms” from and published patent applications are widely available on the Internet. In the source language to the target language? addition to helping you solve terminology issues, looking at target-language patents can help improve your writing style in the target language and patented to the existing art, and more written and published in scientific or subject area knowledge. Read on to specifically the prior art. In this con- technical journals, industry standards, find out how to identify specific target- text, art has nothing to do with Picasso. trade magazines, and in other patents language patents that can help you find Here, it refers to the scientific and tech- or published patent applications any- relevant terminology. nical arts. More specifically, art means where in the world. Information can the body of publicly available scien- also become known to the public Art Appreciation tific and technical knowledge relating through conference presentations, Patents are understood and exam- to a specific subject pertinent to the demonstrations at trade shows, or ined by comparing the invention being invention. This knowledge is often product trials. As such, the art is

16 The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 always changing. A very relevant article may appear in a journal today; a new product may be introduced Skimming the discussion of the prior art on the first few tomorrow. Be that as it may, examining this material provides a rich source of pages of the patent can be a useful way to begin terminology for patent translators. looking for terminology. How It Works When a patent application is examined or an issued patent is being opposed months or years after the iner—usually a civil servant working “exact terms” from the source lan- application was filed, all that matters is within a patent office—will also guage to the target language? The what was known in the art when the search the prior art to determine U.S. Patent Law continues: “...as to application was filed (or at the time of whether the application should enable any person skilled in the art to invention). The patent is being com- become a patent. If the examiner finds which it pertains...to make and use the pared to what came before it. Anything different or closely related items, he same.” This is where the other shoe that became part of the art after the or she may require the patent practi- drops. The target audience is “any application date is irrelevant. This is tioner to revise the application to person skilled in the art.” Therefore, the distinction that “prior” makes in address the prior art found. If an the focus of your terminology the term “prior art.” invention has been described in the research should be the “exact terms” During the patent application prior art, a patent will not be granted. in the target language that enable “any examination, the relation of its subject person skilled in the art” to make the matter to the prior art must be under- The Translator’s Task invention. This means that you need stood. This is important because when When subsequently translating the to find the terms a person skilled in it is compared to the prior art, the patent application, as a patent trans- the art would use. invention must prove to be novel1 and lator, you must understand the termi- Where and how can you find the nonobvious2 (or involve an inventive nology used in the patent, as well how exact terms from the art? As a patent step3). This means that a patent practi- to render it correctly in the target lan- translator, you need a variety of tools tioner—for example, a U.S. or guage. Title 35 of the United States to do this successfully, including rou- European patent agent, U.S. patent Code (“U.S. Patent Law”) section 112 tinely consulting available diction- attorney, or French conseil en pro- states that the “specification [the part aries, glossaries, and other reference priété industrielle—preparing a patent of a patent application that describes works. In addition to references, there application must research the art. This the invention and how it is different is another way of finding the exact search includes the sources provided from what was known before] shall terms: using the results from the on page 21 and at the end of this contain a written description of the searches conducted by the patent article, but most notably published invention...in such full, clear, concise practitioner and patent examiner to patent applications and patents. The and exact terms...”4 On the face of it, identify closely related target-lan- practitioner must establish: 1) what this would seem to make patents a guage patents from the art. portion of the art was known prior to very desirable source text for transla- Unlike a patent examiner, you do the invention; and 2) which source tion. What translator would not love not need to be concerned about dates documents the closest prior art. After to have a source text that is required or “priority” when researching termi- identifying the prior art, the patent by law to be “full, clear, [and] con- nology. Something that comes later— practitioner who prepares the applica- cise?” (No more complaining about for example, a reference that cites the tion must describe the prior art—typi- bad writing, right?) patent being translated—can still be cally this will include the numbers of useful for terminology. Clearly this one or more patents—and cite the ref- The Other Shoe tool will not work all the time, and it erence(s) documenting the closest Those last two words, “exact might work only on rare occasions in prior art. During the examination of terms,” however, hint at a bigger certain language combinations. When the patent application, a patent exam- problem. How do you match the it works, however, it can be a ¬

The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 17 Using Patents to Find the Terminology You Need Continued

Figure 1: The References Cited from the Cover Sheet valuable and authoritative source of U.S. Patent 5,406,549 of exact terms of art in the target language.

Looking for Art in All the Right Places As you begin searching for relevant terminology, it is important to remember that the patent itself must disclose the closest prior art. In U.S. patents and published patent applications, the cover sheet provides a bibliography prepared by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office using information provided by the applicant. For example, consider U.S. Patent 5,406,549. The relevant section of the cover sheet from this patent appears in Figure 1, and you can download a copy using one of the online resources listed on page 21. In Figure 1, the “[56]” is the numbered field code, or INID (Internationally Agreed Numbers for the Identifica-tion of Data), for the “list of prior art documents” appearing on the cover sheet.5 Here, the list of prior art documents cites five other U.S. patents and an equal number of documents presented to U.S. standards bodies. In this example, all of the references are in English, so they are unlikely to be useful if you are translating the patent out of English. You should not stop the search at the references, however, as there are a few more areas to check out.

Figure 2: Citation of the Prior Art in French Patent 2,666,348 Mining the Resources of the European Patent Office In European and other patents, a discussion of the prior art generally starts after the first few paragraphs. This is the best place to start looking for sources of relevant terminology. Consider, for example, French Patent 2,666,348 in Figure 2.6 The last two paragraphs on the first page in Figure 2 list two U.S. and one Canadian patent as relevant prior art. These are

18 The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 Figure 3: Bibliographic Information from the European Patent Office for U.S. Patent 5,406,549

useful for translating this patent from (Tip: In the Number Search field on the vided on the cover sheet of the patent French into English. site, remember to put US before the itself. Under the “Also published as,” One important advantage of the patent number, and remove any spaces we see that this patent was published in European Patent Office website is that or commas.) The “Bibliographic data” Japan and Europe (the European patent it provides bibliographic information tab from the search result is shown in application is in English). as part of the entry for a patent. As an Figure 3. On the right within the blue In the lower left corner of the area example, we can look up the U.S. background, we can see the list of with the blue background, there is a patent from Figure 1 on the website. patents cited; it is the same list as pro- link to “View list of citing docu- ¬

The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 19 Using Patents to Find the Terminology You Need Continued

Figure 4: Terminology Notes Written Directly on a Drawing from a Patent

20 The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 Since issued patents and published patent applications are in the public domain and widely available on the ments.” (Since these documents cite the patent being discussed, they are Internet, reading them for style and vocabulary part of the later, not prior, art, but they are still highly relevant for the trans- is useful for improving your skill and the quality lator.) This link brings up a list of 18 published patent applications and of your work as a patent translator. patents. It turns out that this is a rather significant patent in telecommunications. Of the 18 patents listed, 15 are U.S. patents and two more are written useful bibliographic information: the graphic information at this URL holds in English; one is written in German. “also published as” and “cited docu- promise for translators working from Thus, this one page has two lists of ments” lists. Together, the biblio- English into German or Japanese. ¬

Additional Sources

Published Resources Sources for Legislation, Regulation, and Treaties The Patent Translators Handbook (American Translators Association, 2007), www.atanet.org/publications. United States Patent and Trademark Office www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/mpep.htm Internet Resources Title 35 of U.S. Code and Title 37 of Code of Federal Regulation, also Manual of Patent Examination Procedure. Free Patents Online www.freepatentsonline.com European Patent Convention U.S., European Patent Convention (EPC), Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), and patent www.epo.org/patents/law/legal-texts/epc.html abstracts of Japan (English interface). The EPC (governs European Patent Office) published in three languages, presented in parallel. Patent Blog www.patentlyo.com World Intellectual Property Organization A leading U.S. patent blog. Patent Cooperation Treaty Resources www.wipo.int/pct/en/ Patent Searches Available in various languages. http://ep.espacenet.com EPC, U.S., and many other countries (English/French/German interface). Legifrance www.legifrance.gouv.fr/initRechCodeArticle.do World Intellectual Property Organization On the drop-down menu, choose Code de la propriété intellectuelle. www.wipo.int/pctdb/en PCT applications (interfaces in various languages).

World Intellectual Property Organization National Office Databases www.wipo.int/patentscope/en/search/national_databases.html Offers links to national patent offices.

The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 21 Using Patents to Find the Terminology You Need Continued

Using Patents from the Art Having found a patent from the art in the target language, it is then necessary to explore it for the needed terminology. As far as I know, there is no Points to Keep in Mind magic bullet for this, but in addition to helping you find the target-language • When a patent application is examined, the relation of its subject matter to terminology you need, searching the prior art must be understood. This is important because the invention these patents may also expand your must be novel and nonobvious (or involve an inventive step) in comparison knowledge of the subject matter itself, which can be a significant advantage. with the prior art. I often find skimming the discussion of the prior art on the first few pages • When subsequently translating the patent application, the translator must of the patent to be a useful way to understand the terminology used in the patent, as well as its correct ren- begin looking for terminology. If the dering in the target language. patent you are translating and the patent from the art have chemical for- mulas or drawings, these can be a • The focus of the translator’s terminology research should be the “exact useful way of lining up terminology terms” in the target language that enable “any person skilled in the art” to between the two documents. The ref- make the invention. This means that the translator needs to find the terms erence numbers in the drawings can a person skilled in the art would use. be particularly helpful. I usually print copies of drawings • As the translator begins searching for relevant terminology, it is important to from the patent I am translating and make notes on terminology choices remember that the patent itself must disclose the closest prior art. next to the reference numbers. (See Figure 4 on page 20.) A list of the ref- • In European and other patents, a discussion of the prior art generally erence numbers with the name of the starts after the first few paragraphs. This is the best place to start looking corresponding parts or assemblies may for citations of patents from the prior art. be provided in the discussion of the figures, and is even encouraged by some legal practitioners, though I have • One important advantage of the European Patent Office website never seen it in practice. (www.epo.org) is that it provides bibliographic information as part of the entry for a patent. A Broader Perspective Beyond solving your immediate • Reading issued patents and published patent applications for style and terminology problems, it is useful to vocabulary is useful for improving your skill and the quality of your work as review target-language patents for broader issues pertaining to patent- a patent translator. specific vocabulary, conventions, and writing style. In some cases, it can be • Skimming the discussion of the prior art on the first few pages of the patent difficult to find examples of target- is a useful way to begin looking for terminology. language documents that are comparable to the source-language text you need to translate. Since issued patents and published patent applications are in the public domain and readily available on the Internet, reading them for style and vocabulary is

22 The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 In some cases, it can be difficult to find examples of target-language documents that are comparable to the source-language text you need to translate.

useful for improving your skill and 2. See Title 35 USC §103(a). the quality of your work as a patent translator. When I started translating 3. See EPC Article 56 and PCT patents, I looked for a patent to study Article 33(3). Here and else- in a subject area that I knew well and where—e.g., French Code de la chose the one used in the first propriété intellectuelle, Partie lég- example (U.S. Patent 5,406,549). islative Article L611-14—inven- (Here, I had an advantage because, tive step is defined in terms of starting a few years after the patent being nonobvious to a person was issued, I worked for several years skilled in the art. in the same Bell Labs department with the inventor, so I already knew 4. EPC Article 83 and PCT Article 5 him.) You may want to do the same impose similar requirements. For TheUniversityofArizona and look for a patent in your target the patent practitioner and exam- NationalCenterforInterpretation language in a subject matter that you iner, the main emphasis is on know well. enabling, while acknowledging Tucson, Arizona has been

FCIC addedasaTestingLocationfor E If you are a patent translator, that clarity is also required. theFCICEOralExamination! seeking out and consulting patents can have enormous benefits. You can 5. Numbered field codes on the cover 1 Takeour2ͲdayIntensiveFCICE look for related patents in the target page, or INID Numbers are avail- OralTestPrepSeminarinthe language as a source of terminology, able at www.wipo.int/standards/en/ FollowingCities and for well-written patents that can pdf/03-09-01.pdf. INID is an ContactUstoFind strengthen your understanding of gen- acronym for “Internationally Agreed aLocationNearYou! eral issues of patent-specific vocabu- Numbers for the Identification of lary, conventions, and writing style. (bibliographic) Data.” 2 Come to Tucson, AZ for the Reading patents in your target lan- Agnese Haury Institute for guage is sure to make you a better 6. This patent can be downloaded in the ultimate Federal Examination patent translator. its entirety from http://ep.espace Preparation.125 Hours ofskillbuildͲ ingandterminologydevelopment. net.com, a resource maintained by Notes EPO. Click on Number Search on MaximizeyourPassingChances 1. See Title 35 United States Code the left and then enter FR2666348 andBecomeCertified! [hereinafter Title 35 USC] §102(a); in the field with no embedded European Patent Convention [here- commas or spaces; this website can ContactUsToday! inafter EPC], 13th edition, July be a little finicky about having 2007, Article 54; and Patent exactly the format that it expects. Phone: (520)621Ͳ3615 Cooperation Treaty [hereinafter Email: [email protected] PCT] as currently amended, Web: nci.arizona.edu Article 33(2).

ScholarshipsAvailable!

The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 23 Bank reports, school documents, legal briefs, contracts, news- paper articles, technical manuals, handwritten notebooks, and memoirs. These are part of the usual day-to-day work of a professional translator meeting the needs of the commercial market, with its deadlines and demanding agencies and generally poor communication with the author or other source of the text. I have been On Becoming a doing these things since 1967, but over the years I have had the opportunity to do a few nonfiction books, Literary Translator including two self-help books that were published in vanity presses and By John B. Jensen one history book on Argentina. Up until a few years ago, however, I had never done literary translation other than a few short book collections or stories. One day in late 2004, I received an e-mail from Ruy Câmara, a Brazilian author who was seeking an English translator for his award-winning fic- tionalized biography, Cantos de Outono.1 He wondered if I knew someone who might be interested in the project. Because the man was from the part of Brazil that I know the best from my years in the Peace Corps, the Northeast, I replied that I might be that person, as an experienced translator and a connoisseur of his part of the world. He sent me a copy of the book and I started reading it, but was put off by the fact that it was nearly 500 pages long and had nothing to do with Brazil’s Northeast: it was a biography of French poet Isidore Ducasse, who was known by his pen name, the Comte de Lautréamont. Eventually I tried translating the first 10 pages as an exercise in curiosity, but lost them in a computer crash before being able to share the results with the author, and was loathe

The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 My purpose here is to give an account of my to recreate my efforts. After reading the entire book and further contacts experience for anyone contemplating making a with Mr. Câmara, I tried doing the second chapter, sending the results to move into literature. the author and to a couple of my liter- arily savvy friends. Opinions were encouraging, so I made a preliminary decision to do the job. tumultuous wars and “leadership able to the publishing world. Once I came to a gentleman’s agreement changes.” It makes constant reference freed from my university obligations, I regarding financial arrangements with to philosophies and to mythology. was able to give it my full attention Mr. Câmara: I would get a substantial Moreover, the book makes wide use between other more immediate trans- share of the royalties, but nothing up of the devices of Latin American lation and interpreting assignments. front. I had rejected similar deals in “Magic Realism,” involving nonlinear Having all the time I needed allowed the past, but I was taken by the book time, many hallucinatory and dream me to proceed at a comfortable pace. and its promise. Also, by now, it was sequences, and metaphor. In short, it On days I had completely open, I was early 2006, and I had the opportunity is a monumental work of 190,000 able to work about five hours, with to apply for a sabbatical leave from words that presented quite a challenge breaks. It was necessary to give myself my university, which was a competi- for a novice literary translator. plenty of breathing time, especially tive process requiring a viable pro- What follows is certainly not between writing and revision, in order posal. I wrote the proposal, stating meant as an instruction guide on how to gain a fresh perspective. that the translation would be one of to do literary translation. For that pur- two book projects I would undertake pose, there exist several excellent Monetary Considerations: As men- during this time. The sabbatical would manuals, including Literary Trans- tioned earlier, because of my univer- support me and justify my work lation: A Practical Guide,2 Rimbaud’s sity’s support, I could afford to do the without immediate monetary compen- Rainbows: Literary Translation in book without an advance or even a sation. The sabbatical was granted, Higher Education,3 and The Art of formal contract. However, different which freed me from my teaching Literary Translation.4 Rather, it is an arrangements for literary translations obligations for the 2006-2007 aca- overview of the issues I encountered are usually followed, including “pay demic year so that I could work on the during the project, along with some for services” involving a set amount book projects. I intended to finish the observations on literary translation in for the translation, which then could book by January, but it took until late general. require complete ceding of rights upon March for the first draft and another completion. Another would be a roy- two months for revisions, so it was Basic Differences Between alty arrangement, with an advance or a finished in June. “Commercial” and Literary guaranteed minimum.5 In the latter The work is based on the life of the Translation: Beyond the Actual scenario, if the book is a success, the 19th-century French poet Isidore Act of Translation translator could have long-term Ducasse, who died young, an I found several major differences income, which could well exceed a apparent victim of a drug overdose between the way I conduct my literary per-word rate or set price for the work. exacerbated by malnutrition and work and my usual commercial trans- This is a matter of negotiation, and syphilis. The story, created from tat- lation activity. depends on what the translator sees as ters of historical documents and much his long-term prospects. I suspect that in situ research by Mr. Câmara, traces Time Frame: While commercial most of us, as has always been my the life of the poet, mostly through his work comes with days-away or even case, have little taste for gambling on adolescence in French boarding hours-away deadlines, my book trans- the long-term and would much rather schools and then his life on the streets lation had an open deadline, so that I walk away with a check. of Paris and Brussels. could have taken as long as I liked, Much more than a biography, the within reason. Obviously, I wanted to Relations with the Client: Work book goes deep into the history of finish it as soon as possible, and the coming through an agency usually mid-19th-century Europe and its author was also eager to make it avail- involves virtually no contact with ¬

The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 25 On Becoming a Literary Translator Continued

and paragraphs and bring in idioms with equivalent impact, even though the images and metaphors may differ. In translating a literary work by a living author, In fact, we are often challenged to there is the very real possibility of close contact come up with such equivalences when nothing quite like the original will with that author. work. Nonetheless, the translator is strictly bound by the original work and is never free to “edit” it, even though he may be tempted. I occasionally the original client. I also have found prior translations, or translations into found myself wanting to cut out sen- that some agencies are not very good other languages that can be very helpful, tences or even whole paragraphs about getting helpful information from as well as other critical literature. because I thought the book would read their clients. This often means that the better and make more sense that way. translator has to go to industry or Psychological Approach to the actual client websites seeking termi- Work: With literary translation, unlike Style: The translator has a second goal nology, descriptions of industrial most commercial work, one develops that goes hand-in-hand with accuracy, processes, and perhaps other transla- an important psychological relation- and which may sometimes seem to be tions on the same topic. ship with the project, the subject of the in conflict with it: style. The translated In translating a literary work by a book, and the author. One grows either work must read as if it has been living author, there is the very real pos- to love the work or to despise it. As I written in the target language. sibility of close contact with that author. worked, I grew to have a greater Therefore, the translator must be ready In my case, I maintained e-mail contact appreciation for the literary value of to boot out and replace anything that with the author throughout the project, the book and of the subject of the sounds “foreign” or “strange.” Doing even using Skype, the Internet voice biography. I eventually read substan- so may cause the translator to wander communication service. The author also tial parts of the French poet’s works in beyond the strict lexical meaning of helped me out greatly by sending copies translation. the original into functionally and emo- of the e-mails he had exchanged with tionally equivalent forms. his French, Spanish, and Romanian Differences in the In terms of grammar, English will translators to clarify the meaning of the Act of Translation often allow the option of retaining an text. I often sent him messages asking As opposed to commercial transla- original structure, although not the most for clarification or questioning appar- tion work, as one sits and produces a common one. For example, between ently contradictory text. We had the literary translation, there are some Portuguese (or another Romance lan- opportunity to meet personally for a notable differences in the actual trans- guage) and English, the translator must couple of days in December 2006, lation process. constantly be on the lookout for the pos- during which time we were able to go sibility of replacing the “de-construc- over dozens of points, both big and Commitment to Accuracy: In lit- tion” with the English genitive small, in addition to the important per- erary work, our commitment to accu- “apostrophe s.” (Up to my very last revi- sonal acquaintance and friendship that racy, which is typically absolute and sion I found myself still contemplating we forged. I purposely avoided con- literal in legal and financial work, may replacing “The voice of Ernesto rever- sulting existing translations of the work be interpreted a little differently. berates…” with “Ernesto’s voice rever- in Spanish and French, although they Rather than being so closely attached berates…” or “The future of the boy may have helped untangle questionable to the idiom and specific expression of depends…” with “The boy’s future syntax and time references, but I wanted the original, we want to produce a depends…”) Likewise, the use or omis- to avoid “contamination” from another work that will have the same overall sion of definite articles cannot be car- translator’s interpretation. effect from a slightly greater distance. ried over from the original when Obviously, doing a job by a dead In a legal contract, every comma can translating from most languages into author would not afford the same oppor- be crucial. In literary text, we have English: “…warns me that the fearful tunity, but in such cases there may be more freedom to restructure sentences thoughts…” should be “…warns me

26 The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 that fearful thoughts…” The delicate native ear of the trans- With literary translation, unlike most commercial lator will have to listen most closely for work, one develops an important psychological these and hundreds of other similar stylistic options or ambiguities. A sure sign relationship with the project, the subject of a weak or poorly revised translation is one that reflects too much of the orig- of the book, and the author. inal, one that still sounds somehow like Portuguese (or French, or Spanish, etc.). In other words, a translation that has an accent. This is probably the primary The translator might be tempted to ically of translation solutions. barrier to doing quality translation into water down such images or to attempt one’s second language. While the somehow to demarcate the real from Reread Each Paragraph Before notion of working only into one’s native the unreal or imaginary, thinking that Proceeding: While translating a language may also apply to any other this will make the work more accept- chapter, stop to reread each paragraph, area of translation, in literature it is able to his reader. This is prohibited in unless rhythm, cohesion, and a smooth absolutely crucial in creating a good or literary translation. The work needs to flow militate against stopping that excellent translation rather than one that stands on its own. often. This minute reading will catch is barely acceptable or even unaccept- the grossest of errors, such as omission able. In more utilitarian work, native The Process of Translation or duplication of lines, or sentences language intuition and tone are less While the steps to the translation of that make no sense. Non sensical sen- important, so long as the accuracy of a 500-page book are not fundamentally tences almost always have their basis lexical meaning is carefully preserved different from those of a common in a single word skipped or misread, or and grammatical norms are followed. commercial job, there are some misunderstanding of the sentence detailed variations in the process. structure, especially in long, complex Greater Cure Time: By this I mean sentences. that, due primarily to the demands for Read the Entire Work: The piece a natural style in literary translation, it should be read for pleasure, while Allow Time to Pass: Once a chapter is is essential that the translator allow imagining it translated, but without finished, allow at least a day to pass plenty of time between readings of the giving any specific thought to transla- before reading the entire unit again, original text. As one reads an original tion solutions. Is this the sort of book checking once more for completeness, with the intensity required of transla- that would read well in the target lan- mistranslation, and nonsense, but also tion, one’s ear can be contaminated so guage? Do I enjoy what I read? Is it of with the ear closely attuned to the that the translated product may sound high quality, something worth the cohesion and flow. I sometimes fine to the translator immediately after effort of translation? became surprised at this point at how doing it, even though it still has that well the translation read, as the under- accent. Only time away from the work, Make a Trial Translation: Try trans- lying literary values began to emerge, and from the language itself, will allow lating some passages, a few pages, or a often invisible in the closeness of the readjustment back to native standards. chapter. Is it doable and interesting? act of translation. At this point, Have someone else read your work. English style, although important, Respect for Original Literary Make the commitment with the author takes a back seat, favoring an accurate Values: As stated at the outset, my or other owner of the rights to proceed, rendering of the original meaning, novel made use of Magic Realism. having shared your sample with him both explicit and implicit. Keep the That means that the reader would or her. original at hand throughout this often be surprised by talking bats, reading, so that it can be consulted to roving eyes on high, and unanticipated Do a First Draft, Chapter by verify accuracy. plunges into abysses of hallucination; Chapter: Set out on the job in easy in other words, things that challenge units. Reread each chapter before When Finished, Reread the Entire the reader’s suspension of disbelief. translating it, this time thinking specif- Book: From the computer ¬

The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 27 On Becoming a Literary Translator Continued screen, concentrate on flow and style, and English: Aurélio Eletrônico,6 DIC In my case, the concept of “sad,” for eliminating awkward phrases, words Michaelis UOL,7 and Microsoft example, was so pervasive in the book that do not sound quite right, Bookshelf,8 respectively. You will (triste, abatido, melancólico, etc.) that idiomatic expressions that may have make very frequent use of the the- I copied the entire contents of the been translated literally or inade- saurus function of Bookshelf, or a Bookshelf Thesaurus entry for “sad” quately. It is important to read fairly stand-alone thesaurus, as you seek a into my glossary so that I could have quickly, moving along to see how it variety of words for a particular con- immediate availability to such words reads as a whole. The original is avail- cept, or in order to have access to your as “dejected,” “joyless,” “dreary,” able for consultation, but will not be passive vocabulary—words you know “cheer less,” “unhappy,” “melancholic,” used unless a doubt appears concerning meaning or tone. Attention to English style is paramount at this point. Does it have an accent? Does it stand alone as a book written in As in any translation, glossary building and English? maintenance is very important, particularly in long Print and Reread: Once revised on- screen, print the book, paying atten- texts, where it is easy to forget something one has tion to formatting issues like page looked up before. numbering, consistency of spacing, and typography. This time, concentrate on typos, misspellings, punctua- tion, among other things that are much easier to see on paper than on screen. and recognize but might not think of “glo omy,” “despondent,” “des ponding,” Of course, you must be attentive to using immediately. “downbeat,” “unhopeful,” “pessimis tic,” errors of all sorts, and may change “defeatist,” “despairing,” and “hope less.” words that had been doubtful the first Format: I initially created a new glos- time through. Any footnotes or quota- sary for each chapter, using a simple Unusual Words: Many words are not tions from other works are double table in Word with columns containing in standard dictionaries. In my book checked and verified at this stage. This the original word, English transla- there were hundreds of references to is really your last crack at the work tion(s), chapter, and page where the mythology, philosophy, history, nobil - until it goes to an editor. original was found. The latter informa- ity, pharmacology (hallucinogens and tion makes it easy to go back and find ancient cures), and the names of plants Lexicon: Creation and the context of the word another time it that my Aurélio Eletrônico and other Maintenance of Glossaries was used. After the first few chapters, I references ignore. In this situation, spe- As in any translation, glossary merged individual glossaries into a cialized dictionaries, and especially the building and maintenance is very master one. I endeavored to enter a Internet, are the salvation. Even the important, particularly in long texts, word every time I looked one up. My names of foreign leaders and their titles, where it is easy to forget something glossary contains many words that I as well as place names, are usually dif- you looked up before. Both to avoid already know in Portuguese, but my ferent in Portuguese and English: repeated look-up and to maintain con- look-up represented a search for a Wilhelm versus Guilherme versus sistency, a usable glossary becomes variant beyond the first equivalent I William; Eugenia versus Eugènie, etc. especially important. might think of, or when a word seemed not to be used in a familiar way. Wealth of Vocabulary: In order to Hard Disk Resources: You should match the depth of the original vocab- have at all times on-screen dictionaries Repeated Concepts: Certain concepts ulary with target-language lexicon, available for consultation. In my case, were used repeatedly and needed a lot you may have to use words in the I use Portuguese, Portuguese-English, of variant translations to be available. target language that you do not usually

28 The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 use or even know. Is this safe, or do Other Specific Issues Encountered my first time through, I did a rough you run an inordinate risk of misusing The following are a few language- translation into English of the author’s a word? With considerable support specific issues I dealt with during the Portuguese translations from French, from dictionaries and thesauruses it course of my translation. Though the primarily as a placeholder. On the can be quite safe, and certainly neces- examples are language-specific, you second or third reading, I replaced my sary if your author is a walking dic- may find yourself dealing with similar translations with those of the standard tionary. You owe it to the author not to situations in the languages in which English version, using Alexis “dumb down” his vocabulary. On the you work. Lykiard’s fine 1994 English transla- other hand, you must avoid the use of tion of Maldoror, adding footnote really strange words that will bog Sentence and Paragraph Length: attributions.10 down or mystify your reader. Even if Portuguese, like Spanish and perhaps Somewhat more problematic were the original author is trying to dazzle other Romance languages, has what the words of other authors cited by his audience by resuscitating dead seems to the English reader to be an Ducasse, particularly Baudelaire; the words, or creating new ones, you must enormous tolerance of, or even penchant young poet had a tendency to misquote use extreme care before attempting to for, long sentences. Sometimes the long Baudelaire on purpose, or combine use such devices. sentences are what we call “comma separate poems. I used a variety of splices” or “run-ons” and can be simply sources for Baudelaire’s words, and Creating Terminology or Set Trans - clipped apart. More commonly, how- had to do some splicing together, and lations: It may be necessary to settle on ever, it is necessary to do some reformu- in some cases maintain my English specific ways to translate recurring lation, such as adding in the subject translation from the Portuguese when I expressions that may not be translat- again or substantially changing the word was unable to find a usable standard able by literal lexical equivalents. One order. One thing that cannot be done, English citation that corresponded to difficulty while translating was olhar except occasionally, is to leave the the text. At one point in the book there que lá de cima vê tudo and similar monsters in place. (Again, see Clifford is an extensive biblical quotation, and I variants that repeatedly referred to a Landers’ Literary Translation: A went to the King James version in metaphorical all-seeing eye. The word Practical Guide for thoughts on dealing English, thus preserving the archaic olhar, usually translated as “look” or with overly-long sentences.9) nature of the original and using lan- “glance” (as in olhar de esguelha, Paragraphs, like sentences, may seem guage familiar to most English readers. “sideward glance”), must be translated endless. The English-language reader here as “eye,” as in the “all-seeing eye demands white space on his page, that Curses, Blasphemes, and Taboo from on high.” The author did not paris, frequent breaks in the paragraph that Words: This is always a challenging ticularly care for my use of “eye” in correspond to changes of direction. To area of literary translation, but one that English, yet no alternative seemed to comply, I introduced many new para- can often be fun. At one point, the work, especially the usual “look” for graph breaks. The dialogue in the orig- young Ducasse, incensed that olhar. So something meaning “eye inal certainly did not follow the English someone has been going through his from on high” or “eye in the sky” was norm of a new paragraph for each time journal, blasphemes the suspects, used, although I tried to avoid the the speaker changed. A single paragraph using highly literary terms he picked unfortunate rhyme in those particular would include back-and-forth dialogue, up in his reading. That flabbergasts his expressions, preferring “eye from as well as the words of many interlocu- fellow students, who comment more above” or something similar. Another tors alternatively. These were all on his words than what they mean. In challenging word was hematófago, changed to English standards for para- order for their reaction to make sense, which is a “blood-eating animal,” but graph breaks, significantly altering the I had to find something equivalent in always referred to a bat in the text, appearance of the page and increasing English. I went to some websites spe- thus a “vampire bat,” used symboli- the friendliness and accessibility of cializing in “Shakespearean blas- cally throughout the book. It the text. phemy” and came up with a good usually became simply “bat,” only equivalent. In dealing with the sub- occasionally bearing its full descrip- Literary Citations: Because the biog- ject’s masturbatory fantasies, I had to tive name. raphy is that of a writer, that writer’s have available a variety of words for words were sometimes included. On the male organ, usually relatively ¬

The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 29 On Becoming a Literary Translator Continued tasteful euphemisms, rather than the most coarse of words which might first come to mind. This was quite a challenge, for as Clifford Landers points out, “English is surprisingly Notes deficient in words midway between clinical terms like ‘intercourse’ and its street equivalents.”11 The crucial thing 1. Câmara, Ruy. Cantos de Outono: o Romance da Vida de in dealing with curses, blasphemes, Lautréamont (Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo: Record, 2003). and taboos is achieving stylistic equiv- alence, so that the reader of the trans- 2. Landers, Clifford E. Literary Trans lation: A Practical Guide lation gets the same sense of delight or (Cleve don, Buffalo, Toronto, Sydney: Multilingual Matters repulsion as the reader of the original. Ltd., 2001).

Place Names and Addresses: My 3. Bush, Peter and Kirsten Malmkjaer, editors. Rimbaud’s author did extensive on-site research Rainbows: Lit er ary Translation in Higher Edu cation in France and Belgium, and included (Amsterdam, Philadelphia: John Benjamins, 1998). detailed descriptions of the urban geography of Paris and Brussels, as 4. Shulte, Hans and Gerhard Teuscher, editors. The Art of well as the southern cities where the Literary Translation (Lanham, New York, London: poet studied. In most cases, he uses University Press of America, 1993). Portuguese words for “street,” “square,” “garden,” etc. When he did 5. Landers, Clifford E. Literary Trans lation: A Practical Guide this, I used English associated with the (Cleve don, Buffalo, Toronto, Sydney: Multilingual Matters original French names. However, Ltd., 2001), 191-195. where the book uses Place, Rue, etc., I used the French. 6. Ferreira, Aurélio Buarque de Holanda. Dicionário Aurélio Ele trônico. Versão 3.0 (San Paulo: Nova Fronteira, 1999). An Artistic Endeavor If you are an experienced translator 7. DIC Michaelis UOL. n/d. [S. Paulo], Amigo Mouse Software, with an interest in literature, I would Limited. certainly recommend that you consider the possibility of doing literary work. 8. Microsoft Bookshelf 1996-1997 Edition (Redmond, Start with small projects done largely Washington: Microsoft Corporation). for amusement and exercise, and work up to a major work. Literary translation 9. Landers, Clifford E. Literary Trans lation: A Practical Guide is an artistic endeavor, and as such, can (Cleve don, Buffalo, Toronto, Sydney: Multilingual Matters be enormously rewarding intellectually. Ltd., 2001), 91-92. It is also an excellent diversion from the day-to-day reality of bank reports and 10. Lykiard, Alexis, translator. Maldoror & the Complete legal briefs. Works of the Comte de Lautréamont (Cambridge, Massachusetts: Exact Change, 1994).

11. Landers, Clifford E. Literary Trans lation: A Practical Guide (Cleve don, Buffalo, Toronto, Sydney: Multi lingual Matters Portuguese Language Division Ltd., 2001), 153. Mid-Year Conference June 6-7, 2009 | www.pldata.net

30 The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 ATA: Looking Back Through Words

To help commemorate ATA’s 50th anniversary, we will periodically take a peek through the Association’s archives to examine the topics that have inspired our members through the years. Lewis Galantière’s translations from French drama, fiction, poetry, and scholarship are still read today. The Lewis Galantière Award is bestowed biennially by ATA in even-numbered years 50Years for a distinguished book-length literary translation from any language, except German, into English (www.atanet.org/ 1959 – 2009 membership/honorsandawards_lewis.php). The following appeared in the April 1990 issue of The ATA Chronicle.)

Translators Hall of Fame: Lewis Galantière

By Henry Fischbach (ATA president, 1965–1967)

Lewis Galantière (1894–1977) writing English. served as ATA secretary from 1964- So, the translator 1965. In 1964, he inaugurated a tradi- cleans up the tion by presenting the Alexander syntax, introduces Gode Medal for the first time to the a modicum of award’s namesake, Alexander Gode, logic, sends the ATA’s first president (1960-1963). once gawky expres- Eight years later, Lewis won the cov- sion tripping grace- eted award himself. fully across the page; Professionally, Lewis successfully and in the whole wide combined banking and translation—a the author’s world nobody—not feat which more than one member of book; and that, in most the author, not the pub- our profession would dearly love to cases, given the syntactical negli- lisher, not the book emulate. At one time, he had been gence, shall we say, to which most critic—knows the differ- president of the International Bankers authors are subject, is servitude ence. Even the translator’s wife (or Association. Equally fluent in English enough.” husband) soon tires of being shown and French, he later devoted himself with indignation examples of the largely to literary translation, espe- “My own reading and experience author’s ineptitude, and, with self- cially for the theater. He translated lead me to the extravagant opinion righteousness, examples of the and adapted for the stage and screen that German must be the easiest translator’s genius.” the works of Jean Marie Lucien Pierre language to translate into, as it is Anouilh (Antigone), Jean Giraudoux the most irritating language to Lewis’ devotion to translation con- (La Guerre de Troyie n'aura pas lieu), translate out of.” tinues to make itself felt to this day. In and many others, including a transla- his will, he endowed a prize for distin- tion of Journals of André Gide. “The greater part of the writings guished literary translation, the Lewis Not only was Lewis a superb lit- that we translate for public sale are Galantière Award, directing ATA to erary translator, but a champion of our not works of art. All contain some award it periodically to nurture and profession. Among his many com- clumsiness of expression, some recognize the translator’s work. ments about translators and translation, defective syntax, some illogic, some It is with no small pride that ATA the following are favorites of those unsuspected errors of taste and—in remembers one of its staunchest sup- who worked with him within ATA: nonfiction—of fact. What is the porters and effective champions. translator to do? If he reproduces “The translator is not the servant those flaws he is called a poor trans- of his author; he is the servant of lator, a fellow clearly incapable of

The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 31 Business Smarts Marketing to Direct Clients

Instead of working exclusively for lation agencies. For instance, your Professional Women. Many of these agencies, many translators and inter- résumé is most likely filled with infor- groups invite everyone attending their preters are discovering that working for mation about your computer-assisted meetings to give a brief self-introduc- direct clients is a rewarding experience. translation tools, daily capacity, edu- tion. To prepare for this, write out—and However, the approaches that work for cation level, and references from practice delivering—your very own soliciting work projects from agencies other agencies. Most of this will be of “elevator speech”: a short paragraph are often not helpful when it comes to no interest to direct clients, whose about your services that particularly attracting direct clients. focus is simply on selling their highlights your practical experience, widgets and services. Therefore, your but omits details about your academic Dear Business Smarts, revised marketing materials have to credentials or technical work equip- Business from some of my regular concentrate less on how you do your ment. (We recommend avoiding the agency clients has dropped off a bit work, and more on what you can do subject of pricing altogether; and cer- recently, and I am looking to expand my for your customers. Tell direct clients tainly do not call your services “afford- client list, but I am not sure where to that you can help them sell their prod- able” or “low-price”!) start. I have responded to a few job post- ucts, access new markets, resolve You will most likely need to perse- ings online, but without much success. problems with foreign suppliers, and vere in these efforts for some time There must be people looking for good settle legal concerns. Think of partic- before you see results. Networking translators, but how can I find them? ularly rewarding experiences you and marketing are not likely to gen- Need new channels in DC have had in your career. Did a cus- erate immediate business, but your tomer thank you for a particular reward for persistence is that clients Dear New Channels, achievement? Were you able to rescue acquired by direct contact often turn Thanks to our globalized economy, a customer from an imminent busi- out to be highly rewarding accounts, translation and interpreting services ness loss? Your direct marketing offering recurring assignments and continue to be in great demand. materials should make special men- the personal contact many of us miss Despite this, significant groups of tion of such successes. It goes without in our work. translation buyers still have no idea saying that your business cards and To assist you in your efforts to what to look for when they select a materials will show you in the best access direct clients, ATA is preparing translator. That is where you come in. possible light only if they are up-to- a Client Outreach Kit consisting of a Use some of your free time to date and include current information. customizable PowerPoint presentation develop interesting marketing mate- Next, venture out of your freelance and additional helpful materials. The rials for your company that will appeal office environment. Investigate the kit is scheduled to become available to direct clients. This will probably business networking opportunities this summer—to ATA members only— involve reworking some of your stan- accessible to you, such as events held in the form of electronic files that can dard marketing tools that have proven by chambers of commerce or special be downloaded from ATA’s website. most effective for working with trans- interest groups such as Business and

Comments? The information in this column was compiled by members of ATA’s Business Practices Education Committee for the benefit of ATA members. This column is not intended to ATA members can discuss business issues online constitute legal, financial, or other business advice. Each individual or company should at the following Yahoo! group: make its own independent business decisions and consult its own legal, financial, or http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/ other advisors as appropriate. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of group/ata_business_practices. You will ATA or its Board of Directors. Send your questions about the business of translation need to register with Yahoo! (at no charge) if and interpreting to The ATA Chronicle—BPEC Q&A, 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590, you have not already done so, and provide your Alexandria, VA 22314 USA; Fax: +1-703-683-6122; E-mail: full name and ATA member number in order to [email protected]. Questions must be accompanied by a complete name join the group. and address, but will be published anonymously or pseudonymously upon request.

32 The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 Internet blogs are rich sources of information for translators and interpreters. They allow users to post questions, exchange ideas, network, and to read news and commen- Blog Trekker Freelance Business tary on a specific subject. The topics featured in this column are actual blog postings concerning issues pertinent to your Timeline colleagues in the field today. Readers are encouraged to explore the links provided here for additional material on the subjects being discussed. For more blog listings, visit www.atanet.org/careers/blog_trekker.php.

How Long Does It Take? After about six months, I started to relaunched my marketing efforts and Posted on March 6, 2009 on Corinne feel like a legitimate translator. Work expanded them to publishing compa- McKay’s “Thoughts on Translation” was still very sporadic, but I had a few nies, agencies in France and Belgium, (http://thoughtsontranslation.com) actual clients that were sending me and other potential clients I had not con- small but steady projects like birth cer- sidered. I also sent marketing postcards Many beginning translators are tificates, school transcripts, etc. I also to a lot of agencies I had contacted in my (understandably!) very concerned about applied to become a Federal Bureau of initial marketing efforts. After 18 how long it will take them to establish a Investigation (FBI) contract linguist, a months of freelancing, things looked a viable business. For obvious reasons, job opportunity that materialized lot better. I was earning as much as I had including differences in the demand for about two years later. at my previous full-time job (granted, certain language combinations, varia- I think that the phase that went this was teaching high school French, so tions in business and people skills, from months 6 to 18 of my freelance we are not talking six figures!), and I among other factors, it is hard to give career was the hardest. I had some was starting to get some larger projects. figures on how long it takes to get work but not many big projects, and a In addition, I passed the exams and secu- started as a freelance translator. I would dry spell could involve the better part rity clearance to become an FBI contract be interested to hear about other of a month with no paying work. In the linguist and started working 10-15 hours people’s experiences, and I will offer back of my mind I wondered whether a week at the Denver FBI office, a level some of my own here. this freelance thing was really going to that I kept up for about the next two My initial startup phase—during work out or whether I should just look years. At that point, probably around the which I set up a basic website, wrote for a full-time job. Feast or famine was end of my second year of freelancing, I my translation-targeted résumé, had really the name of the game during stopped worrying about whether I business cards printed, and joined that period; no work for two weeks, should get a full-time job and decided ATA and the local translators’ associ- followed by a 6,000-word project that that freelancing was going to work out. ation and started to make some con- had to be done over a weekend. During that year, I saved $100 a month tacts in the area—took about a month. After one year, I had made $9,000 toward attending my first ATA Annual This part was fairly easy because it freelancing. For the amount that I had Conference, where I met several new was fun; writing copy for a website is worked, this was not a bad sum, but I and big clients. actually a lot more enjoyable com- clearly needed to earn more if I was pared to sending out 400 cold e-mails, going to have a viable business. I Continued on page 43 so this phase was pretty painless. I then started going through ATA’s directory to look for potential clients. I looked at each agency’s website to see if they were taking résumés from Related translators in my language combina- tion. If they were, I sent them my Blogs and Links materials, and if anyone responded to me in a positive way (even if it was Freelance Translators from Scratch Payment Practices just the “we’ll keep your résumé on http://workingwithwords.wordpress.com www.paymentpractices.net file” e-mail), I sent them a handwritten note with some business Marketing Minute Newsletter Speaking of Translation Podcast cards. I also asked about five local www.yudkin.com/markmin.htm http://speakingoftranslation.com agencies for informational interviews. I set a goal of applying to 10 agencies Musings from an Overworked Translator http://translationmusings.com per day. I am not sure if I actually met that target, but the whole cold (Note: This is intended for in for mational purposes only, not as an e-mailing process took about three endorsement of an individual or company.) months, and I contacted over 400 potential clients.

The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 33 The GeekSpeak column has two goals: to inform the community GeekSpeak Jost Zetzsche about technological advances and at the same time encourage [email protected] the use and appreciation of technology among translation professionals. Jost also publishes a free technical newsletter for translators (www.internationalwriters.com/toolkit). The Old Is Gone! The New Has Come!

Almost exactly five years ago there is merit in persuading colleagues I wrote an article for The ATA to embrace translation technology. Chronicle (July 2004, accessible with PLUS, I have something com- many other back issues on ATA’s web- pletely new to offer. There is simply site) entitled “Taking Inventory with no longer any reason to focus only St. Jerome: How Well Equipped Are on St. Jerome—because good old Our Computers?” This is how the Jerome has morphed into article started: Jeromobot. Jeromobot has all the linguistic passion and love for lan- As I was browsing through websites guage that Jerome has always had, recently, I noticed that the image but he has combined it with a heart used most often on translators’ home for technology and a new beat to pages is of St. Jerome, the patron walk to. His business card appears saint of translators and the grand on the right. translator of the Bible into common Some of you had the privilege of Latin. Now, do not misunderstand meeting him in person at last year’s me—I have nothing against St. ATA Annual Conference. For those Jerome; in fact, most of my aca- who did not, let me tell you: demic life was spent researching the Jeromobot is gentle—but persua- translation of the Bible. But I believe sive and persistent. My children these images of Jerome, quill in can certainly attest to that. They hand, bent over a roll of parchment, are increasingly embarrassed—actu- communicate something else: a ally, mortified—by the many videos invest in translation memory technology romanticized idea of translation that Jeromobot and I have been working (and there is a wrong and a right answer has very little in common with our on, and which can be admired on to that question!), you might have over- work as modern translators in a YouTube. Most of my writings have looked this thought: the changes accom- highly computerized world. I may be lately been inundated with him as well. panying these new times transcend that guilty of overextending this interpre- Yes, he is goofy (his female friends simple decision. These new times bring tation, but I believe that many of us call him “sweet”), but there is some- browser- and/or server-based translation would prefer to identify with figures thing serious that he and I hope to environments, tight integrations into like St. Jerome than with a computer achieve. The original source for this predefined workflows, arrangements geek hunched over a keyboard. The month’s column title comes from with machine translation, and new truth is, however, that we need both 2 Corinthians 5:17 (here from the New quality criteria that are aligned along the sides of the coin. International Reader’s Version), and lines of usability rather than a more refers to more profound ideas than ethereal “highest possible quality.” I would not be surprised if some of just new times for translators, but it These are all things that would truly you are saying: He’s been preaching does not hurt that this is also befuddle St. Jerome, but not Jeromobot. this to us for five years now? Doesn't Jeromobot’s battle cry. He is used to a new beat. While he he get tired of it? I sure do! So if you think that the only transla- might not always walk in a straight line, My apologies if that is so. But I tion technology question you might he perseveres with seriousness and pas- don’t get tired of it, because I think that have to consider is whether or not to sion written all over his face.

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34 The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 ATA’s 50th Annual Conference Preview www.atanet.org/conf/2009 ATA Newsbriefs Plan now to help ATA celebrate its 50th anniversary www.atanet.org/newsbriefs in the Big Apple! A monthly e-newsletter featuring summaries of translation ONLINE and interpreting news from around the world. ATA Division Newsletters NOW www.atanet.org/divisions/division_ ATA Translation newsletters.php Company Division Get the latest scoop on division activities and information Visit 10th Annual Conference pertinent to your field. July 30-August 1, 2009 www.atanet.org Quebec City, Quebec, Canada ATA Job Bank www.ata-tcd.com www.atanet.org/jb Register now for what promises to be an exciting weekend of Check out this easy-to-use online service designed to help speakers and events! connect translators, interpreters, and project managers to new employment opportunities.

The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 35 American Translators Association 5 th Annual Conference New York City October 28-31, 2009 New York Marriott Marquis

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38 The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 Compiled by Dictionary Review Peter A. Gergay [email protected]

Chinese-English/English- A well-designed, pocket-size Content Chinese Pocket Legal legal dictionary would probably be a As stated in the Chinese foreword, Dictionary nice addition to any court interpreter’s but nowhere else, this dictionary is arsenal. Young Chen, the author of the geared toward U.S. legal systems. Chinese-English/English-Chinese Appendix II provides an English ver- Author: Pocket Legal Dictionary, seems to have sion of the Miranda Warnings with Young Chen had this exact use in mind when put- Chinese translations using the ting together this new reference work. Simplified character set, and a Pinyin Publisher: The first sentence of the foreword representation for pronunciation. Hippocrene Books, Inc. states: “This pocket dictionary is Appendix III lists the titles of many New York designed to help those individuals who U.S. immigration forms with Chinese need to communicate in real-life situa- translations, this time without Pinyin Publication date: tions where it is vital to quickly find an equivalents. 2008 English or Chinese legal term or A unique feature of this dictionary phrase.” Well, fortunately or unfortu- is that the entries are divided into eight Number of pages and entries: nately, Chen might not have to be per- categories: general and procedural 294 pages; 6,000 entries sonally involved in such situations. He terms, commercial law, criminal law, has degrees in translation and political family law, health care law, immigra- ISBN: science, taught a United Nations-spon- tion law, and traffic law. This feature is 978-0-7818-1215-3 sored translation training program, and noted on the back cover, which also worked as a senior translator for major claims that the dictionary is “perfect Price: international organizations. If Chen for professionals who work with $19.95 had to interpret in a court, he most cer- Chinese speakers, including inter- tainly would not need to consult his preters and translators…” The truth is, Available from: own dictionary. one probably will not catch this inter- www.hippocrenebooks.com preter with a copy in a courtroom. www.amazon.com General Comments Let us consider a real-life scenario. The paperback dictionary measures Just a few days ago, I was in a federal Reviewed by: 5.9 x 4 x 0.7 inches according to court interpreting for a plea hearing of Gang Li amazon.com. It fits into a trouser a felony case. The prosecutor men- pocket (but not a shirt pocket), a purse, tioned “community confinement.” I or a briefcase easily. It has eye-pleasing stumbled on the phrase and had to ask covers and comes with nice paper, crisp for clarification, so the prosecutor used fonts, and good bonding. The font sizes “half-way house,” which I understood. of the letters and characters are some- Now imagine I had the dictionary and what small for a pair of aging eyes like obtained the judge’s permission to look mine, but the type is still quite legible. these two phrases up. First, I would The dictionary is actually two have to determine to which category souped-up glossaries lumped together. they would belong, and criminal law The first half is Chinese-English, the would seem to be a safe bet. Then I second half is English-Chinese. For would need to locate the criminal law each source term, there is usually one, section in the second half of the book occasionally two or more, target among the eight sections. Finally, I phrases. There are few definitions, and I would look them up in the section. But encountered no usage examples. Based wait, they are not there! Now what on the number of pages and average would I do? With everybody else number of entries on each page, the looking on, I probably would start to stated figure of 6,000 entries is probably panic! Could they be listed in the gen- the combined total of both lists. eral procedural terms section? In ¬

The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 39 Dictionary Review Continued fact, neither term is listed anywhere in ation, which takes up a considerable who want to brush up on or expand the English-Chinese part of the dic- amount of space. I could see the point their terminology before they enter tionary, but I would have to go of providing these pronunciations in the legal arena. Unfortunately, the cat- through all EIGHT sections one by the English-Chinese part. Someone, egorization of entries renders the use one to be sure! Would the judge allow especially students of Chinese as a of this work rather tedious. The lim- me to do that? Well, maybe, but I second language, may be grateful for ited number of entries hurts as well. If would rather not find out. the assistance on how to say the words. the author really desires to make this There are other common legal That said, a language professional work useful to U.S.-based language terms that are missing, such as should at least know how to pronounce professionals, such as translators, and “purge,” “common law” (“common common Chinese characters without especially legal interpreters, he might law marriage” is listed under family studying them onsite. As to the pro- want to remove the entire Chinese- law), and “advance directives,” nunciations furnished in the Chinese- English part, which is pretty much although “living will” is listed under English part, their usefulness is even useless in a U.S. setting, delete the health care law. Given the limited less obvious. The Chinese entries are Pinyin pronunciations, lump all the number of entries, I guess the list will listed by their pronunciations, so if one English entries together into one list, likely grow longer, but I am already can find an entry, then one will know provide more context, definitions, and tired of going through all the sections how to say at least the first character, explanations, and make the coverage for each term. and hopefully the rest as well. more exhaustive. Some of the target choices given may be debatable as well. For example, Overall Evaluation for the entry “sentence above the guide- I would rate this dictionary as fair. line range,” the Chinese equivalent The author made an admirable effort. does not specifically say “range,” It does contain a basic set of legal Gang Li is an ATA-certified English¡Chinese which is a very important concept to all terms, which could be of value to lan- translator and a Georgia state-certified parties involved. guage students who want to learn new Mandarin court interpreter with over 14 years Another unique feature of this dic- terms, first generation immigrants of experience. He has a PhD in physics. Contact: tionary is that literally every Chinese who need to get some understanding [email protected]. phrase comes with its Pinyin pronunci- of legal documents, and even linguists

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40 The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 The Translation Inquirer John Decker

Abbreviations used with this column Did you notice something odd final week prior to the start of the about the April issue? No Translation vacation, my clients pressed me so Inquirer column. This columnist hard that I could not complete the E-English Gr-Greek joined our daughter for a vacation in April column, which became the May [E]-English H-Hungarian the Azores that started on February column you are reading now. Sorry! acceptable as I-Italian 27th and lasted a week. During the an answer, the Po-Polish original query Pt-Portuguese did not involve R-Russian English Sp-Spanish New Queries (Pt-E 5-09.7) Could “holding compa- F-French Sw-Swedish (E-Po 5-09.1) A “reflux line for a con- nies” come close to the meaning of tit- G-German densate” turned out to be difficult to ulares in the following sentences? Os render into Polish, the context being servicos de água podem ser prestados an autoclave equipped with such a pelos titulares. União ou Estados- line. Who can help? membros, ou poderão delegar a orga- vent conscious as well as subconscious nização, a fiscalização e a prestação bias in evaluating the outcomes: single (E-Sp 5-09.2) In kinesiology, what desses serviços, por meio de contrato blinding means either the patient or the does “to walk in a heel to toe fashion” com a empresa privada. researcher does not know what treat- mean, and is there a technical term for ment was given, and double blinding this in Spanish? (Sp-E 5-09.8) Asamblea and consejo are implies that neither of them knows. two governing bodies for a university. (F-R [E] 5-09.3) In the world of What is the difference between them? (E-Sp 1-09.5) (forward deployment): patents, how is Loi Informatique et The essential contrast is asamblea uni- George Wayne Braun suggests that the Libertés best rendered into Russian versitaria versus consejo universitario. sticking point in trying to get a good or English? This might have come from Peru. Spanish equivalent of this is how to render “forward.” He sees two possibil- (G-Sp [E] 5-09.4) Einzeltypisierung (Sw-E 5-09.9) In regards to a water ities: 1) if the focus is on the movement was the tough word in the following company, what does avsättningsma- of missiles, he suggests el despliegue quote: Das nährt natürlich vor herr - gasin mean in the following: för trafik hace adelante; or 2) if the focus is on schende Klischees, doch sind es zum från och till deras befintliga anlägg- their position, el despliegue delantero. Teil heimische Abnehmer, die dieses ningar samt till ett blivande avsätt- Geschäft fördern. Wie etwa jene Firma, ningsmagasin i tunneln. (F-E 2-09.4) (engages entre les die in Italien gestohlene Autos per latéraux): This is “set between the Einzeltypisierung und Tageszulassung Responses to Old Queries lateral digits,” says Robert Shillenn, in Österreich verkaufte. The context: (E-Pt 2-09.3) (range finder tests): and is likely to be a back translation gangs who steal motor vehicles. These, says Denzel Dyer, are prelimi- from English. nary tests used to determine an (G-E 5-09.5) In a manual about approximate value. The investigators (G-E 1-09.8) (verklauselt): Claudio engine control, the mystery word may have determined the percentage Cambon found it to mean “(overly) Dongle appeared. Here is the context: of survival of perhaps 10 shrimp at restrictively.” The verb verklausuli e- Dialogsoftware (Diskette, Dialogkabel each of perhaps four different concen- ren means to “hem in,” and here it mit Dongle, Handbuch). What is it? trations, then estimated the concentra- probably means to put too many con- tion that would give 50% survival. ditions on something. (G-E 5-09.6) The word revisionssicher Now for the Portuguese. is anything but clear in the phrase (G-E 2-09.5) (Entgeltvolumen): Selma Gebrauchtteilvermarktung an Xx-xxxx- (E-R 11-08.2) (blinded investigator): Benjamin suggests “total recompense.” x liefern und revisionssicher dokumen- Cristina Bono expands on this meaning tieren. What does the problem word of “blindness” by stating that medical (G-E 2-09.6) (Vielleicht kann man): refer to? research blinding is a basic tool to pre- Selma Benjamin took on this ¬

The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 41 This column is solely intended as a means of facilitating a general discussion regarding terminology choices. For feedback regarding pressing terminology questions, please try one of these online forums: Lantra-L (www.geocities.com/ athens/7110/lantra.htm), ProZ.com (www.proz.com), or Translators Café (http://translatorscafe.com).

Address your queries and responses to The Translation Inquirer, 112 Ardmoor Avenue, Danville, Pennsylvania 17821, or fax them to (570) 275-1477. E-mail address: [email protected]. Please make your submissions by the first of each month to be included in the next issue. Generous assistance from Per Dohler, proofreader, is gratefully acknowledged.

The Translation Inquirer Continued paragraph-length query and came up the items offered in the previous of the November/December 2008 issue with “Perhaps we could at some time season.” Gianluigi Delucca says that for the full paragraph.) reach the point of admitting this. In the key to the phrase—the full text of Karen Friedman has this suggestion another area we have already arrived which is on page 42 of the for the end of the sentence: “fails to there: it is permissible to think or say November/December 2008 issue—is state that she is performing a paid that we love our country because of the to understand that the subject of the activity and receiving income.” good life it affords us.” See page 40 of secondary phrase is la collezione, so it Gabe Bokor proposes: “The plain- the February issue for the full German. is “renewed about half of the models tiff wants the entire [amount of the] from last year’s season...” alimony to be borne by the under- (Gr-E 11-08.6) (Το αντικει′μενο τηζ signed, and fails to state that she is δουλεια′ζ μου): Alexis Takvorian says (Po-E 2-09.7) (zasadnione ryzyko): engaged in a gainful activity and has that the literal meaning would be “the There is not enough space here to pro- an income.” object of my work.” A rendering that is vide the full context of Piotr Graff’s Graciela Daichman suggests: “and a bit less literal, and more adequately carefully researched and crafted [she] neglects to report that she is conveys the intended meaning, would answer. The short answer is that it is engaged in a revenue-producing activity be “the area of my work” or “the sub- “reasonable risk.” An element of for which [she] receives income or from ject matter of my work.” The phrase doubt, a reservation for human error or which she draws income.” could use a bit more context around it, uncertain future, is part of the Maria Graciela Otoya de Diehn but Alexis thinks it could actually meaning. I will hold on to his e-mail checked back with ProZ on this, and mean the “goal” of one’s work or the and forward it to anyone wanting more there Virginia Munoz rendered it as “work product” expected. detail about this. “fails to disclose that she performs a paid activity and earns income.” (H-G [E] 1-09.9) (leltárfelvételi jegy): (Pt-E 2-09.8) (escanolamento): This, “Activity” could be replaced by “job” Denes Marton cannot help with the says Edmea McCarty, is “ranking.” or any other related word. The latter German, but he would use “inventory The full sentence, from pages 40-41 asserts that the text does not contain tag.” The sentence would sound some- of the February issue, goes like this: enough information to say if the thing like this: “The inventory tag is a “I want greater speed in the ranking woman is employed. The Spanish is numbered tag from a book of numbered of problems.” Gonzalo Ordoñez calls clear in conveying that the lady is con- tickets that should be affixed to objects the word a typo for escalonamento. cealing information intentionally. that have been taken into inventory.” He likes “scheduling” as a proper More responses will be given in the The only purpose of the above is to English translation. June edition of this column. explain that no rare gases are actually involved, unless they are in bottles. (R-F [E] 2-09.9) (pfrjyjlfntkmyjt b (Sp-E 2-09.10) (estando pendiente de yjhvfnbdyjt htuekbhjdfybt): Sorry tramitar el título correspondiente) (I-E 11-08.7) (pila stilo): Gianluigi this was so hammered on page 41 in the Gonzalo Ordoñez suggests “The rele- Delucca points out that stilo is a mod- February issue, but Elena Hughes likes vant diploma still has to be processed.” ifier for the word for battery (pila), “legislative and normative regulation” D. Vilma Vosskaemper likes “has not indicating its elongated shape in con- for the English. Shifra Kilov prefers yet started the necessary procedures to trast to many varieties of batteries that “legislative and regulatory control.” obtain the degree certificate,” and labels have more of a button shape. Rober Shillenn goes with just “laws the original as Argentinian Spanish. and regulations” in English, and la leg- More answers in the June column. (I-E 11-08.8) (che resulta così rinno- islation et les réglements régissant in vata): There were several replies to French, which was wanted initially. Thanks very much for the responses. this query. Elizabeth Barsanti: Those who wrote in February and “Approximately 50% of this season’s (Sp-E 11-08.12) (Omite manifestar que March, but whose contributions are collection is the same as the previous ella realiza una actividad remunerada y not above, can look forward to seeing season’s, and 50% is new designs.” obtiene ingresos) Here, as promised, are them in the June and July columns. Berto Berti: “The samples collection the responses, some of which even came is therefore renewed for about half of in before the end of 2008. (See page 43

42 The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 Herman is a librettist and translator. Submit items for future columns via e-mail to [email protected] or via snail mail to Mark Herman, 1409 E Gaylord Street, Humor and Translation Mark Herman Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858-3626. Discussions of the hermanapter@ translation of humor and examples thereof are preferred, cmsinter.net but humorous anecdotes about translators, translations, and mistranslations are also welcome. Include copyright A Song information and permission if relevant.

Lydia Razran Stone wrote the following lyrics, which she says are “kind of halfway between a rap and a recitative, that I wrote when I woke up one morning with Nervous Norvous’ old song ‘Transfusion’ in my head.”

It’s a three day weekend and I’m feeling fine What in the hell is reverse titration? I’m gonna spend some time with those kids of mine I’ll never, never, never take such jobs again Then a client calls on my business line Search th’ thesaurus for me, Boris Translation, Translation Just when it seemed I’d get a vacation My client isn’t pleased with the job I did I’ll never, never, never take such jobs again He says his expert claims my grammar’s unfit Change our plan again, Ann But I know the expert is his teenaged kid Translation, Translation I’ve been up all night; and now it’s after four I am burning up with indignation But the job’s all done and I’m ready to snore I’ll never, never, never take such jobs again Then suddenly I see that there is one file more Fix the commas for me, Mama Translation, Translation I’ve never felt such consternation Now this job is hard but I feel real power I’ll never, never, never take such jobs again I am high on success till it all turns sour Open Wiki for me, Vicky When I figure out I’ll get ten bucks an hour Translation, Translation My new client vowed that this was low tech stuff What can I do when it’s my vocation? That my high school science would be good enough How can I ever take such jobs again? Now he’s out of town and the going’s getting rough Pay that penny to me, Benny Translation, Translation

Blog Trekker Continued from page 33

The final major breakthrough in my schedule and rates. At that point, I and replace them with higher-paying my freelance career came during year started being able to concentrate on ones, which is a technique I still use in three, when I realized that my busi- the appeal of the work I accepted rather year seven of freelancing! ness had become like a regular job than on just the volume. I was able to where I could, to a large extent, set ease out a couple of low-paying clients

Sometimes it is a small world, Are You LinkedIn? and that is the point of LinkedIn. The ATA group on LinkedIn provides an ideal starting point for online networking. It also offers you contacts for individuals outside ATA who are connected to your fellow ATA members. Joining the ATA group on LinkedIn is a fast track to building your e-network. Take advantage of your ATA membership. Joining LinkedIn through ATA gives you an instant community with opportunities to grow your network quickly. Don’t wait—get your online networking underway! To join, just visit www.atanet.org/linkedin.php.

The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 43 All candidates applying for ATA certification must provide proof that they meet the certification program eligibility requirements. Please direct all inquiries regarding general certification information to ATA Headquarters at +1-703-683-6100. Registration for all certification exams should be made through ATA Headquarters. All sittings have a maximum capacity and ATA Certification Exam Information admission is based on the order in which registrations are received. Forms are available from ATA’s website or from Headquarters. Upcoming Exams

Georgia New York Texas Venezuela Atlanta New York City Katy Caracas August 29, 2009 October 31, 2009 August 15, 2009 June 21, 2009 Registration Deadline: Registration Deadline: Registration Deadline Registration Deadline: August 14, 2009 October 16, 2009 July 31, 2009 June 5, 2009

Michigan Tennessee Novi Nashville August 8, 2009 September 13, 2009 Registration Deadline: Registration Deadline: July 24, 2009 August 28, 2009

New Certified Members Congratulations! The following person has successfully passed ATA’s certification exam:

Arabic into English Frank R. Nettleton San Francisco, CA

Active and Corresponding Membership Review Congratulations! The Active Membership Review Committee is pleased to grant active or corresponding status to:

Active Corresponding Beatriz Paganini Álvarez Robin V. Limmeroth Daniel Sebesta Downey, CA Mainz, Germany Prague, Czech Republic

Amy S. Lamborn Ryan P. Reyes Xianjun (Edward) Liu Stamford, CT Berkeley Heights, NJ North York, Ontario, Canada

44 The ATA Chronicle I May 2009 Pushing the boundaries. Expanding productivity.

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