March 2009 Volume XXXVIII Number 3 The A Publication of the American Translators Association CHRONICLE In this issue: Growing Your Client Base Translation in Every Classroom Environmental Translation Market Overview

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STAR – Your single-source provider for corporate product communication March 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 3 Contents March 2009 E-mail: [email protected] • Website: www.atanet.org A Publication of the American Translators Association 12 Grow Your Client Base, Increase Your Rates, and Make LSPs Love You: A How-to By Terena Bell and Madalena Sánchez 12 Learn how translators can grow their client base, increase rates over time, and become a language service provider’s go-to person. 16 Translation in Every Classroom: Stepping into the Center for the Art of Translation’s Poetry Inside Out School Program By Marty Rutherford, Olivia Sears, and Sarah Valor By combining literary translation and poetry in urban classrooms, we can address our nation’s growing multilingual population while increasing students’ literacy skills. 20 Capturing an Elusive Truth— and Earning Recognition for It, Too By Jill Timbers (with passages by ) Finnish literary translator Kersti Juva is the first translator ever appointed Artist Professor by the Arts Council of , an award which brings recognition to the entire field of literary translation. 24 Environmental Translation: Market Overview By Patrick Oblander An introduction to the field of environmental translation, including an overview of the documents in demand and some of the skills you will need to work in this area. 16 24 Columns and Departments 6 Our Authors 37 Certification Exam Information 7 From the President 37 New ATA-Certified Members and 9 From the Executive Director Active Membership Review 30 Upcoming Events 38 Success By Association 31 Business Smarts 39 Dictionary Review 32 GeekSpeak 42 The Translation Inquirer 34 Certification Forum 44 Humor and Translation 36 Member News 46 Directory of Language Services

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. The American Translators Association (ATA) was We Want You! 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 subscription rate for a member is $43 (included The ATA Chronicle enthusiastically encourages in the dues payment). The U.S. subscription rate for a nonmember is $65. Subscribers in Canada and members and nonmembers to submit articles of 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.

©2009 American Translators Association www.atanet.org/chronicle. The ATA Chronicle 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 to the editor of The ATA Chronicle at [email protected]. prior to publication date.

Editor Jeff Sanfacon [email protected]

Proofreader Sandra Burns Thomson

Art Directors Ellen Banker Amy Peloff Advertising Advertising Matt Hicks McNeill Group Inc. Directory [email protected] +1-215-321-9662 ext. 19 Fax: +1-215-321-9636

Executive Director Walter Bacak [email protected] Membership and Across Systems Monterey Institute of General Information 5 www.across.net 33 International Studies Maggie Rowe http://translate.miis.edu/ndp [email protected] Association of Language website: www.atanet.org 11 Companies Multilingual Group www.alcus.org 33 www.multilingualgroup.org Moving? 47 Central Intelligence Agency Star Group America, LLC Find an error with www.cia.gov 2 www.star-group.net your address? 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 March 2009 We chose Across. And so did more than 7,000 of our colleagues. Now it is your turn.

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AZ_ATA_12/08.indd 1 02.12.2008 9:37:41 Uhr Our Authors March 2009

Terena Bell is the chief executive her time between the Center for the Art of Translation and the officer of In Every Language in University of California, Davis teacher education program. Contact: Louisville, Kentucky. She has a BA in [email protected]. English from Centre College and an MA in French from the University of Madalena Sánchez is the interpreting Louisville. coordinator for In Every Language in Louisville, Kentucky. She holds an MA in Spanish from the University of Louisville, where she is also a part-time Kersti Juva has been translating litera- Spanish instructor. ture and plays from English into Finnish for over 35 years. She has won many awards for her work, and, in September 2008, became the first translator ever Olivia E. Sears is president and founder of the Center for the Art appointed Artist Professor by the of Translation in San Francisco. She works closely with TWO LINES national Arts Council of Finland. World Writing in Translation publications and the Lit&Lunch program Contact: [email protected]. at the Center. A poet and translator of Italian, she specializes in medieval and Renaissance poetry. Contact: Patrick Oblander is a freelance ATA-certified Japanese¡English [email protected]. translator in Portland, Oregon. With training in both Japan regional studies (BA, University of Washington) and forestry (MS, Oregon Jill Timbers translates from Finnish into English. Her specializa- State University), he has provided translation services since 1994 tions are forestry and the forest products industry, scholarly publi- to clients concerned with the natural resources and environment of cations, and literature. She is ATA-certified from Finnish and French Japan and beyond. These clients include government agencies docu- into English. Contact: [email protected]. menting ecological impact, landowners applying for international sustainability certification, and industries seeking to boost their Sarah Valor uses her expertise in rhetoric and language acquisi- public image while reducing their environmental footprint. Contact: tion, along with 10 years of experience working in public educa- [email protected]. tion, to enhance her understanding of school policy and pedagogical issues. Her fluency in Spanish, Portuguese, and Marty Rutherford is an expert in language acquisition and lit- Catalan further augment her understanding of translation in eracy, with a 30-year career in education as a public school classroom settings. Contact: [email protected]. teacher, researcher, and curriculum developer. She currently splits

ATA’s Court Interpreting and Translation Seminar Enter ATA’s School Outreach Contest April 25-26, 2009 www.atanet.org/ata_school/school _outreach_contest.php Find out how you can win a free registration ONLINE to ATA’s 50th Annual Conference with your Bubble NOW session in the classroom! Register for ATA’s Court Interpreting Windows Visit and Translation Seminar www.atanet.org www.atanet.org/pd/court Don’t miss this unique opportunity to enhance your skills and advance your career! NXTwww.star-transit.net 6 The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 From the President Jiri Stejskal [email protected]

Our Strengths: Conference, Size, Headquarters

In the last issue we reviewed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) identified by the Board during the It is no surprise that ATA’s Annual Conference came up January Planning Day. However, identification of these individual com- at the top. In the past 10 years, each of our annual ponents is not the sole purpose of the SWOT analysis; rather, it is an impor- gatherings has attracted between 1,200 and 2,000 tant step toward the goal of identi- fying strategic options. Strengths, attendees from dozens of countries, making it the which are internal to the organization, should be used to maximize the largest event in the translation and interpreting opportunities and minimize threats in the external environment. Conversely, industry worldwide. weaknesses, which are also internal to the organization, should be reduced or eliminated. Let us now take a closer look at our Association’s strengths. During a brain- marketplace, a vendor exhibit hall, cer- While ATA also relies on volunteers to storming session the Board first came tification testing, and networking ses- set the strategic direction and policies up with a list, and then each Board sions designed to build professional and to perform fiduciary and gover- member selected the three strengths that contacts for attendees. If you have not nance duties, we are fortunate to be able he or she deemed to be the most impor- yet attended our Annual Conference, to employ a very efficient and dedicated tant. Here is the full list with the number you have missed out on a lot of oppor- staff at our Alexandria, Virginia, office of votes for each strength in paren- tunities to develop your skills further to implement the strategic direction and theses: ATA Annual Conference (8); and to network with your peers. policies set by the elected volunteer size (6); Headquarters stability (6); col- The Association’s size is also unique. officials, and to provide support to all legiality among members (5); pro- We finished 2008 with 10,644 members, the Association’s members. Many of us moting the profession (4); certification making ATA the largest association in take it for granted that our Association (4); financial stability (3); The ATA the translation and interpreting industry. runs like a well-oiled machine. It would Chronicle (2); and name recognition Even in China, which has an estimated come to a screeching halt if it were not (2). Each of the following received one 60,000 professional translators and for our Headquarters. vote: unique authoritative voice; web- interpreters with officially conferred cre- Now that we know what our site; inclusiveness; retention rate; diver- dentials, the number of members in the strengths are, we need to figure out sity; continuity/incremental renewal; country’s only national organization, the how to use them to our advantage. For divisions; chapters; volunteers; ability Translators Association of China, is just example, our size enables us to exert to grow; and public relations. over 2,000. Size, however, was also legislative influence, an opportunity It is no surprise that ATA’s Annual identified as one of our weaknesses—as that was also identified by the Board Conference came up at the top. In the you know from physics, the greater the during the Planning Day. We will past 10 years, each of our annual gath- mass the more difficult it is to change revisit our options for leveraging our erings has attracted between 1,200 and direction, and we need to remain nimble strengths to maximize opportunities 2,000 attendees from dozens of coun- to succeed. and reduce or eliminate threats after tries, making it the largest event in the ATA Headquarters is not as visible, we review each component of the translation and interpreting industry but nonetheless is an extremely impor- SWOT analysis in detail. In the next worldwide. The four-day event show- tant strength. Most of our sister organi- issue, we will look at our weaknesses. cases panel discussions, expert presen- zations rely on volunteers, part-time tations, training workshops, and employees, or association management scholarly papers. It also features a job firms to conduct their daily business.

The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 7 ATAATA BuildingBuilding YourYour BusinessBusiness SeminarSeminar Professional Development for Translators and Interpreters

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Join ATA and Save! Why should you attend this seminar? Save $170 on registration rates by The ATA Building Your Business Seminar offers a unique opportunity joining ATA. Visit www.atanet.org/ to enhance your skills and advance your career! membership/join_now.php today! By attending this seminar, you will: Hotel Information - Receive training specific to your needs as an experienced interpreter and translator The Hilton Garden Inn, located in To learn more, - Learn to create an effective freelance résumé to expand the heart of Downtown DC, is just visit blocks from the White House your client base and the National Mall. - Discover how to start and maintain a profitable relationship www.atanet.org/ A block of rooms has been with a translation company pd/business reserved at $159 single/$169 double - Acquire the essential tools for successful management a night, plus tax. Take advantage of of a translation project or contact ATA at these special rates, by making your - Connect with colleagues, company owners, and seasoned reservations by April 15. 1-703-683-6100 or professionals at the Networking Session Call the Hilton at (202) 783-7800 [email protected] - Market your services by taking part in the Job Marketplace and ask for the special ATA rate. - Obtain the professional development you need to enhance the added-value you offer in a competitive marketplace Continuing Education Earn up to 9 CEPs for the ATA Registration Form Certification Program.

First Name Middle Initial Last Name ATA Member# Cancellation Policy Cancellations received in writing Employer/School (only list employer or school if you want it to appear on your badge) NCATA Member# by May 8, 2009 are eligible for a refund. Refunds will not be honored after May 8. A $25 administrative Street Address Suite/Apt fee will be applied to all refunds.

City State/Province Zip/Postal Code Country 3 Ways to Register Register online at Telephone Email www.atanet.org/pd/business Fax registration form to Registration Rates ATA/NCATA* Member Nonmember TOTAL +1-703-683-6122 Save $25! Save $35! Register for Both Early (by May 8): $215 - $385 - $ Days & Save! Late (by May 8): $260 - Save $30! $430 - Save $40! Mail registration form to ATA 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 Early (by May 8): $160 $280 Saturday Only Alexandria, Virginia 22314 USA Late (by May 8): $195 $315

Early (by May 8): $80 $140 Sunday Only Late (by May 8): $95 $155 Don’t Forget *National Capital Area Chapter of the ATA (NCATA) members can register at the ATA member rate. Include payment with this form Make your hotel reservations Check/Money Order: Make payable through a US bank in US funds to American Translators Association. Tell a friend about this event Credit Card: Charge my VISA MasterCard American Express Discover

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American Translators Association An ATA Professional Development Event Enhance Your Skills = Advance Your Career

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

ATA Membership by the Numbers

The ATA membership • Part-time Independent Education Level: The ATA member- renewal form includes a few optional Contractor: 24% ship continues to be a highly educated questions that are posed to establish • Company Owner: 11% group. the membership’s demographics. More • Full-time Private-sector than half of you chose to answer these Employee: 7% Highest level of education completed: questions for 2008, so thank you for • Academia: 6% High School: 1% taking the time to share this informa- • Government/Military: 5% Associates: 3% tion. Here is a look at ATA by the Bachelor: 24% numbers. Years in the Business: The typical Masters: 61% From the top, ATA finished 2008 member has been in the business for a Doctorate: 11% with 10,644 members. Eighty-four while, with the median being 15 years. percent of these members are in the ATA Online Directories: ATA offers U.S., with the remainder living in 91 0-5 years: 11% the Directory of Translation and other countries. Outside the U.S., 6-10 years: 22% Interpreting Services, which features Canada has the most ATA members, 11-15 years: 22% profiles of individuals, and the followed by Argentina, Germany, 16-20 years: 21% Directory of Language Services Brazil, and Italy. >20 years: 24% Companies, which features profiles of companies. These directories—which Gender: The ATA membership by Areas of Specialization: Business only list ATA members but may be gender continues to be predominantly and finance, law, and medicine are the accessed by all—are used by compa- female (over 60%). This is established top three fields in which ATA mem- nies to search for translation and inter- by searching according to title—Ms., bers work. Members were asked to preting service providers. Sixty-one Mrs., Mr., etc. The calculation does identify their areas of specialization percent of the members said they not take into consideration those who by the categories provided. (They received a paid job via their ATA online chose Dr. or Prof., which accounts for could choose as many as applicable.) listing! The number would be even 8% of the respondents, or those who higher if it were expanded to include did not provide this information. Business and Finance: 64% those who had been contacted by a Law: 63% potential client, but either rejected the Employment Status: Over 70% of the Medicine: 58% job or did not get the job. So be sure to respondents identify themselves as Arts and Humanities: 54% keep your online profiles up to date. independent contractors. Members Industry and Technology: 46% were asked to identify their employ- Social Science: 44% Thank you for being an ATA member. ment status by the categories provided. Computers: 32% Science: 29% • Full-time Independent Engineering: 27% Contractor: 47% Fuzzy Registration Now Open! Term Translation World | May 11-13, 2009 | Toronto, Canada “Translating Global Priorities” www.translationworld.com NXTwww.star-transit.net

The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 9 American Translators Association 5 th Annual Conference New York City October 28-31, 2009 New York Marriott Marquis

The ATA Annual Conference is the essential Conference event for translators and interpreters, providing Registration professional development and networking opportunities specific to your needs. Registration begins in July. You will receive the Preliminary Program and Registration Form with the July issue Choose from 150 educational sessions covering more than of The ATA Chronicle. a dozen languages and a variety of specializations. Speakers from all over the world will share their experience and expertise. Hotel Reservations Connect with over 1,800 translators and interpreters from New York Marriott Marquis throughout the U.S. and around the world. Take advantage 1535 Broadway, New York, NY 10036 of a multitude of opportunites to promote yourself and Special ATA Room Rates your services. Single/Double = $208 (exclusive of tax)

Reunite with friends and colleagues, enjoy food and drink, Reservation Deadline Take advantage of these special rates, listen to music and dance. Spend time socializing at the many available until October 6, 2009, or as special events and activities offered. space allows.

Make your reservations online at www.atanet.org/conf/2009/hotel.htm Advertising Opportunities: Print / Web / Exhibiting / Sponsorship Don't miss this opportunity to promote your company to 1,800 attendees who need your Or call the Marriott at (800) 843-4898 services and products. Learn more at www.atanet.org/conf/2009/advertising.htm. and ask for the special ATA rate.

Visit www.atanet.org/conf/2009 to learn more. Read All About It! ATA School Outreach Contest ATA Division Newsletters Make a School Outreach presentation this 2009 year, and you could win free registration Get the latest scoop on division activities and stay current with language- and to ATA’s 50th Annual Conference in specialty-specific information pertinent to your field. How? Just download the New York, New York, October 28 - 31, 2009. latest batch of division newsletters: The deadline for submissions is midnight on French Language Division July 20, 2009. For tips, visit the School À propos Outreach Photo Gallery on ATA’s website at www.ata-divisions.org/FLD www.atanet.org/ata_school/photo_ German Language Division gallery.php and click on Photo Guidelines. interaktiv www.ata-divisions.org/GLD Korean Language Division Hangul Herald www.ata-divisions.org/KLD Language Technology Division Language Tech News www.ata-divisions.org/LTD Literary Division Source www.ata-divisions.org/LD Medical Division Caduceus www.ata-divisions.org/MD Nordic Division Aurora Borealis www.ata-divisions.org/ND Portuguese Language Division PLData may 13-16, 2009 www.ata-divisions.org/PLD Spanish Language Division Bigger! Intercambios Connect with your peers in Austin! www.ata-divisions.org/SPD Network with language company owners. Discuss legislation affecting the industry. Slavic Languages Division SlavFile Better! www.ata-divisions.org/SLD Discover new partners for collaboration. Attend industry specific educational sessions. Translation Company Division Join us and register now at www.alcus.org! TCD News www.ata-divisions.org/TCD 2009 ALC Annual Conference (YATT2EGENCY(OTELs!USTIN 4EXAS Division membership is included in your ATA annual dues. Visit www.atanet.org/divisions/division_admin.php to join any or all ATA divisions without additional fees.

The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 11 Grow Your Client Base, Increase Your Rates, and Make LSPs Love You: A How-to By Terena Bell and Madalena Sánchez

“About thirty years ago, Miss Maria Ward, of Huntingdon, with only seven thousand pounds, had the good luck to capti- vate Sir Thomas Bertram, of Mansfield Park, in the county of Northampton, and to be thereby raised to the rank of a baronet’s lady, with all the comforts and consequences of an handsome house and large income. All Huntingdon exclaimed on the greatness of the match, and her uncle, the lawyer, himself, allowed her to be at least three thousand pounds short of any equitable claim to it. She had two sisters to be benefited by her elevation; and such of their acquain- tance as thought Miss Ward and Miss Frances quite as handsome as Miss Maria, did not scruple to predict their marrying with almost equal advantage. But there certainly are not so many men of large fortune in the world as there are pretty women to deserve them. Miss Ward, at the end of half a dozen years, found herself obliged to be attached to the Rev. Mr. Norris, a friend of her brother-in-law, with scarcely any private fortune, and Miss Frances fared yet worse.” —, Mansfield Park

she outlines above appeals to us in the husband in Jane Austen’s time is a lot We start this article with a language services industry today. If like a translator catching an LSP today. vignette from Jane Austen to illustrate you re-read the quote, thinking of The basic principles are still the same: one thing: some things never change. wives as translators and husbands as Even though Austen wrote about mar- language service providers (LSPs), 1) Sometimes someone less qualified riage in the 19th century, the situation you will see that a woman catching a than you will get the man (or the job).

12 The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 2) Sometimes the person who gets the job does not do what she promised she would. Granted, there is a lot to life we cannot control. 3) There are more women (er, transla- Unfortunately, the uncontrollable often impacts tors) than there are husbands (um, make that LSPs), so simply being the bottom line. qualified is not enough.

4) Sometimes a good reference is not enough to get the job either. • Google LSPs in your area and 2. No one will hire you if they do not send them a résumé. know you are able to do the job. 5) Working smarter and faster is not always rewarding. • Develop and detail your online • Make sure your résumé is a true profiles on sites such as ProZ.com testament to what you are able 6) Be it in fiction or in real life, some and translatorscafe.com. to do. folks have all the luck. • Attend a ProZ.com PowWow or • Do not forget to list your lan- Unfortunately, it is this luck prin- other networking session. If no guages! Also note which lan- ciple that wins out most of the time. one in your area is hosting a guages are your native and/or Maybe the LSP awarded the job PowWow, host one. This will heritage languages. before they received your résumé, or certainly get your name to pop your e-mail was down and you never up in the Results fields of • Keep your résumé and any got the message from the project man- Internet search engines. online profiles updated and ager (PM). Granted, there is a lot to detailed, and check them again life we cannot control. The unfortu- • Speak with freelancers in other and again for errors. nate part is that the uncontrollable language pairs whom you know, often impacts the bottom line. and offer to refer one another. • Look as competent as you truly are.

Grow Your Client Base • Become certified and make sure 3. No one will hire you if you do not What can we control? We can control the state in which you are certified fol low directions. All LSPs have how good we are at what we do, how lists you in its public database. résumé submission guidelines that are well we present ourselves and what we unique to their business. Follow them. know, and how hard we try. If you sin- • Join professional organizations. cerely want to grow your LSP client Members of ATA can have their • Do not cc: everyone at the com- base, you must control these things. contact information and services pany hoping someone will get it. Since a successful contact begins listed online in the Association’s with a favorable first impression, the professional services directories. • Do not send a résumé as an way you present yourself and your attachment because you are too work is the most important area to • Have real business cards printed lazy to cut and paste when the consider. How do you make the PM and pass them out. Put them in the guidelines say no attachments. think you are the best person for the bowls near the register in local job? Try keeping these four presenta- restaurants or post them on the bul- • If there are no directions on the tion pointers in mind: letin boards of coffee shops and company site, call and politely carwashes. You never know who ask if there are submission 1. No one will hire you if they do not will pick one up. The main thing is guidelines for résumés. know you are there. You already to get your name out there. This know how to fix this: takes time, but distributing your Remember, it is one thing to be business cards is a good first step. aggressive; it is another to annoy ¬

The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 13 Grow Your Client Base, Increase Your Rates, and Make LSPs Love You: A How-to Continued people. If you cannot follow directions If your rate is too low, however, client or if the PM is hunting for a when submitting your résumé, how PMs will wonder what is wrong permanent translator for the client. will a PM know you will follow direc- with you. Translators who offer Just make sure you ask politely. If tions on the assignment? themselves at too cheap of a price the current translator for this is on just seem, well, cheap. We work in vacation and you are a fill-in, this 4. No one will hire you if you are words; understand the difference means less work. If the PM is clearly overestimating yourself between “cheap” and “inexpensive.” looking for someone to work per- and your abilities. If you have been Be inexpensive, but not cheap. manently, this means more work.

5. Keep your word. As many polit- ical incumbents have said, “Never change horses mid-stream.” In our More times than not, someone else is at the right world, this means do what you say you are going to do. Be who you place at the right time alongside you. say you are. While written negotia- tions, including the rates you offer, are legally binding in most states, there is a larger issue at work here. out of school only a year and trans- 2. Do not be afraid to negotiate. If Growing up, folks called it “your late Spanish, you may not merit the you do not include a rate range word.” Once you have given a PM higher rates paid to more seasoned with your résumé, a PM will not or an LSP your word, keep it. On translators. You simply are not call because she has to get extra that note, never raise your rate in experienced enough yet. information from you that she does the middle of a project, and if par- If you have been translating a not have to get from other people. ticular payment terms are agreed year and list that you completed a A good PM will contact you to get upon, do not try to change them large project for a Fortune 500 (say, a precise amount for that particular after you have already started or a keep-your-finger-from-getting- project. You should never quote completed the job. If you say up cut-off manual for Dow Corning), anything sight unseen, but you still front that PayPal is fine, do not ask an LSP may not believe you. To put should have minimums and maxi- the PM later for a bank wire. it more simply, if you are even mums for what you charge. If a PM amazed that you were hired for a offers a rate that is too low, do not All this being said, how do you particular job (hey, we said a lot of say you will not do it—counter, truly raise your rate? Gradually. Do it this was about luck, right?), briefly negotiate, and deal. You never get in increments. If your rates jump all at explain how you got it. Give the PM more if you never ask for more. once, particularly right after being a reason to believe you. offered an assignment, the LSP will 3. Develop client-specific rates. think you are trying to cheat them. Increase Your Rate Think twice before charging two You have to build in raises for your- Once you have the job, how do you clients the same thing. Study and self gradually, a cent or so at a time, get paid more for it? The following research the client. How much do over time, just like an employee tips might help: you think you can get out of them? would. When you do change your rate, notify the LSPs you work with 1. Start low enough so that you have 4. Consider all the factors. Is this a and the ones to which you have somewhere to go, but high enough large project or a small one? Always applied so that the PMs can update so that you can eat. Start low have a minimum project charge. their records. enough that you have a reasonable LSPs do, so you should, too. It chance of beating half your compe- shows you respect your time and Make LSPs Love You tition. Make sure your rate is a true work. Do not be afraid to ask the How do you get an LSP not to like reflection of your actual work. LSP if the assignment is for a repeat you, but love you? Well, here is the

14 The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 secret. When you send an LSP your résumé, it either gets thrown away or added into a database. A PM might Make sure your résumé is a true testament to not tell you that you have been added what you are able to do. to the database. Many times, she will simply contact you when an assign- ment matching your qualifications arises. Names entered into the data- base tend to sit there; however, when If you are going to be on vacation, Get to know your clients so that they a PM uses you the first time, one of send out a generic notice to the LSPs remember you. three other things happens: 1) You you work with that you will be out This brings us back to Jane Austen. remain in the database and pass into of the office, returning on X date, In our early example, luck may have obscurity; 2) you are put on the unal- and will be unable to take assign- worked for Maria, but as anyone who terable, fatal “Do Not Hire List”; or 3) ments until then. Send a Christmas has read Jane Austen will tell you, you do such an outstanding job that card to the PM, or add him or her to luck is always one of the biggest fac- the PM brags to the secretary, the your LinkedIn contact list. If you are tors. You have got to be in the right assistant PM, the chief executive going to an ATA or other profes- place at the right time, but that is still officer, and her mother. The next time sional conference, send out a notice not enough. More times than not, that language comes up, everyone in to your clients. It lets them know someone else is at the right place at the office says “Why don’t you call you are continuing your education, the right time alongside you. That him?” which speaks to your capabilities for means you have got to be the prettiest, future assignments. This might also the coyest, stay up-to-date on eti- So How Do I Get on That List? provide the opportunity for you to quette, and bustle your butt to catch meet them in person. Ask to get the man (LSP). 1. Be professional. This, above all together at the conference for coffee. other things, will get you work. There are lots of qualified translators out there who are bright individuals, but a PM would rather let the project go undone than work with them again, simply because they act unprofessionally. Be nice to the PM. Useful Links for Freelancers Make sure your delivery arrived, and not just through a read-receipt. If your translation is being proofread, ask to see the proofread version so LinkedIn ATA (become a member) you can learn how to do a better job www.linkedin.com www.atanet.org/membership/index.php for the LSP next time. In other words, cooperate. ProZ (create an account) ATA (conference page) www.proz.com/register www.atanet.org/conf/2009 2. Do a dynamite job. Know your ProZ (find a PowWow) stuff. No matter how professional www.proz.com/powwows you are, an LSP will not use you again if you do not do a good job. Translators Café http://translatorscafe.com/cafe 3. Remind the LSP every now and then that you still exist. Do not be annoying about it, but stay in touch.

The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 15 Translation in Every Classroom:

Stepping into the Center for the Art of Translation’s Poetry Inside Out School Program By Marty Rutherford, Olivia Sears, and Sarah Valor

for the Art of Translation, which pro- school students in a 15-lesson in- Imagine any urban class- motes international literature and school residency program. During a room in the U.S. Most are populated translation through the arts, education, typical PIO residency, students read, by young people representing any- and community outreach in the San discuss, translate, and recite poems by where from two to nine languages. Francisco Bay Area, developed Poetry great authors such as Federico García Large school districts such as New York, Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco report serving more than 20 different language groups.1 Given this statistic, it is urgent and necessary to To be a translator is to open the doors of language consider the literacy issues facing the growing number of school-age bilin- and walk inside the letters, contexts, cultures, guals, as well as the increasingly important role of translation in their and histories of words. everyday lives. From students inter- preting for their parents to books written in other languages and brought to classrooms in the U.S. via Inside Out (PIO), an in-school imagi- Lorca, Gabriela Mistral, and Elías translators, the prevailing multicultur- native writing program in which trans- Nandino. As part of 15 sequenced les- alism increases the demand for trans- lation plays an essential part. sons, participants delve between the lation. With this kind of diversity, lines, words, cadences, and structure students must be taught the skills to PIO Program: General Overview of a poem while learning to produce thrive in an increasingly global and The PIO program teaches the art their own creative work. PIO partici- multilingual world. and craft of poetry writing and trans- pants learn the style and forms of To help achieve this goal, the Center lation to elementary and middle some of the foremost literary figures

16 The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 Like our young poet-translators, through the closest possible read: lit- 2. Learn the fundamentals of lit- a newly hatched chick recites erary translation. The poems and sub- erary translation: its first poem “pio pio” sequent translations serve as • Close reading (Spanish for “peep”). extraordinary scaffolds for creating • Multiple meanings the context where students compose • Fidelity to the original and/or cre- their own poetry inspired by the ative interpretation alisms of both languages are vital authors they study. Translating great • Comparison of syntax between two components of a good translation. literature acts as a springboard and languages. Through such work students act as muse for their own original composi- ambassadors for the preservation tions. 3. Develop the imagination through and/or revitalization of their mother Participating students work to critical and creative thinking. tongue or a second language, holding achieve the core goals set out by the great potential for initiating under- program: 4. Celebrate personal and cultural standing across linguistic borders. identity through poetry and lit- 1. Acquire poetry writing skills that erary translation. Opening Doors include: To be a translator is to open the • Basic elements of poetry (line and The four goals of this program lead doors of language and walk inside the stanza, repetition, refrain, theme to and follow upon students trans- letters, contexts, cultures, and histo- development, closure) lating and creating their own poems. ries of words. If a language—whether • Poetic forms (haiku, tanka, sonnet, Literary translation is a major compo- English, Spanish, Quechua, or ode, pantoum) nent because it challenges students to Cantonese—is a library and any • Mastery of figurative language think about meaning as contingent person can check out any item (word) (imagery, metaphor, simile, per- upon multiple factors. PIO students and use it appropriately for their sonification, five senses). learn that the syntax, grammar, vocab- needs, then knowing how to navigate ulary, rhythm, nuances, and colloqui- the aisles of multiple libraries is ¬

PIO students practice critical and creative thinking. Translation in Every Classroom: Stepping into the Center for the Art of Translation’s Poetry Inside Out School Program Continued helpful to the formation of any act of lesson was to do a close reading and syntax, meaning, and fidelity to their communication. Translating teaches translation of a Nandino poem. original. Because it is poetry, he also PIO students how to navigate the Engaging in the process of moving needed to concern himself with the stacks of words in many libraries. text from one language to another per- flow and rhythm of the words in the “Walking” between and around mits the translator to experience the second language, which in this case words, it becomes possible to feel the architecture of the poem. was English. shape and content of that word. Once PIO students fully explore a When words are open to imagina- Sí. poem from the perspective of the tive interpretations, a new world of Quiero crear un poema translator, they enter the next phase possibilities becomes available. transparente y cínico, of our curriculum which is to use Through engagement in programs like pequeño e infinito knowledge and experience gained PIO, students come to understand that como una gota de rocío, from translating as a springboard to the concept of “meaning” is complex para expresar en él an original composition. The example and layered. The relationship PIO todo lo que miro, for this phase of the work comes from forges between the craft of writing mis secretos más íntimos a sixth grade student who used the poetry and the art of literary transla- y que sea same Nandino poem as inspiration. tion clarifies the idea that meaning is la verdad desnuda de mí mismo. found in the particular context, using, —Elías Nandino Sí but not relying on, a dictionary as sup- Quiero creer en un poema plementary support for understanding Yes. mojado y frío what is communicated. I want to create a poem blanco y azul A step inside a PIO classroom clear and abstract, como una estrella volando en el illustrates how this is done. At the small and infinite cielo beginning of a residency, the like a drop of dew, para expressar el sol instructor introduces a poet whose to express in it para que caiga la noche work offers interesting translation and all of my deepest thoughts, para que el mar que se pare composition challenges. Students my most intimate secrets y que sea become acquainted with the poet and let it be una gran lluvia de los cielos through a short history of his or her the naked truth about myself. —Miguel Angel Hernández, life and exposure to several pieces of —Translated by Jonathan 6th grade the poet’s writing. Carefully selected Ramírez, 8th grade poems then serve as models for stu- Yes dents’ own poetry writing. Combining As with all translations, this young I want to believe in a poem these two activities, translation and man was faced with a myriad of word wet and cold creating original poems, produces a choices. The novice PIO translator white and blue powerful dynamic. Exemplary chose to translate the Spanish word like a star flying in the sky authors and their work build the con- cínico as “abstract.” Wrestling with so I can express the sun text for students expanding their the choice between using the word get the sky to fall repertoire of composing possibilities. “abstract” in lieu of the word “cyn- and so the sea can stand ical” required him to measure and and so it can be Learning the Power weigh the meaning of two distinct a great rain of the skies of Their Own Words words and settle on the one that made —Author’s translation The examples below are drawn the most overall sense in terms of from a sixth and eighth grade student how he understood the poem. Under - While there are many things that attending two different San Francisco standing that all words, in any con- could be said about this example, the Bay Area public schools. The fol- text, can have a variety of meanings is comparison of the English and lowing is taken from a lesson using an essential academic skill. In doing Spanish versions illustrates that two the poetry of renowned Mexican poet the closest possible reading of a text, different poems may arise from the Elías Nandino. The first part of the Ramírez encountered issues of same original piece. The dexterity this

18 The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 Students act as ambassadors for the preservation and/or revitalization of their mother tongue or a second language, holding great potential for initiating understanding across linguistic borders.

nicate amidst the challenges and com- they garner skills that enable them to plexities of modern life. be the kind of thinker Rosenblatt urges us all to be: one who, in “tumultuous PIO students learn the power of their own words. “I am constantly energized by the times,” can choose between “alterna- tacit belief that language engages tive positive values.” young man displayed makes it clear the whole person and can enable us The goal of PIO is to give students that he can navigate both languages. to reach out beyond ourselves as we an awareness of the power of their Yet when moving from Spanish into make choices that compose our own words and the opportunity to English, he made creative and poetic lives. To jump out of the way of an develop critical thinking, writing, and choices. oncoming car—life as against learning skills that will serve them Recently during a poetry reading death—is easy. In settled times, throughout their school years and for the Center for the Art of most choices can be made just as beyond. The combination of poetry Translation’s Lit&Lunch series, vis- automatically, according to values and literary translation opens doors for iting Belarussian poet Valzhyna Mort absorbed from family, peer group, students to become great writers, explained that when translating her the media, school, or community. In thinkers, and ambassadors of lan- own work from Belarussian into our tumultuous, changing world, guage. By learning classical transla- English she perceives the same poem beset by poverty, pollution, and war, tion, students not only come to see the in different languages as a unique cre- unthinking, ready-made responses world of translation as a viable career ation. Because each language carries are dangerous. Sometimes we must path, but also begin to understand the its own history, culture, and context, choose between alternative positive complexity of our multicultural world. translating is, in this sense, a com- values, such as security and To find out more about the Center posing process in its own right. freedom of speech. How much of for the Art of Translation and the The examples of these two stu- one should we give up for the other PIO program, please visit www.ca dents’ work illuminates the goals of in order to have both? There must translation.org. the PIO program and makes clear the be a weighing of priorities.”2 dynamic benefits gained when Notes making translation part of the school Choosing one option over another 1. Hopstock, P. J., and T.G. Stephenson. curriculum. Learning to interpret requires the language user to know and Descriptive Study of Services to LEP information of all kinds and to com- understand the ways of words. If Students and LEP Students with municate with clarity and style are school is a place where young people Disabilities. Special Topic Report #1: core academic skills. Because lan- can build dexterity with language, then Native Languages of LEP Students guage is the medium of education, educators must think creatively about (National Clearinghouse for English mastering the use of words is an how to incorporate educational pro- Language Acquisition and Language essential tool. grams that elevate students’ use of lan- Instruc tion Educational Programs, guage to its highest potential so that 2003). Building Dexterity with Language students may be adept in the very skills Shortly before her death at age that Rosenblatt explains as basic and 2. Rosenblatt, L. M. Making Meaning 100, renowned literary theorist Louise necessary. When students understand with Texts: Selected Essays (Ports - Rosenblatt reminded us of how that all information must be synthe- mouth, New Hampshire: Heine- important it is to give young people sized and often adapted, and practice mann, 2005), xi. the power to think, write and commu- that in the form of literary translation,

The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 19 Capturing an Elusive Truth— and Earning Recognition for It, Too By Jill Timbers (with passages by Kersti Juva)

workshops, written about the practice A literary translator in of translation, and actively cam- Finland was in the spotlight quite a bit paigned for professional recognition last fall. In September 2008, Kersti and rights for translators. She also Juva of Finland became the first trans- created and moderates a Finnish-lan- lator ever to be appointed Artist guage Internet discussion list for lit- Professor. The Arts Council of erary translators. Finland stated that “appointing trans- Juva was born in 1948 into a world lator Kersti Juva to the position of of books and thinking. Her grandfa- Artist Professor is an excellent way to ther, Einar Juva, was a professor and draw attention to the critical impor- chancellor of the University of . tance translated literature has had and Her father, , was a history continues to have on the development professor at the universities of Turku of Finnish literature. Literature in and , a member of the Finnish translation opens windows onto the parliament, and, from 1978-82, the whole world, onto everything written archbishop of Finland. throughout human history, for all In her speech at the Artist readers, regardless of their foreign Professor induction ceremony, Juva language skills.” explained that in high school she fell On September 1, 2008, Juva and in love with the , its two other professionals—an architect grammar, and its literature. She and a choreographer—began five-year longed to write, but discovered that terms as Artist Professors. With the she had nothing to say! Then she three new appointments, there are entered the , now 11 Artist Professors in Finland. where a friend invited her to a class on During their five-year professorships, translating. “Everything snapped into they will draw a monthly salary place,” Juva remembers. “An art form intended to further the pursuit of cre- exists that matches my talents. A way ative projects and interests. Juva jokes exists to read and write at the same that since she has never held a “real time. I do not need to have something job,” this is the first time she will have of my own to say. I can be part of this the luxury of a monthly salary. group effort as both reader and writer, by saying what others have already Background said in another language.” Juva translates from English into While still in her 20s, Juva was Finnish. In over 35 years as a literary asked by her professor and mentor translator, she has brought many clas- Eila Pennanen, a major Finnish nov- sics into Finnish, as well as contem- elist in her own right, to help translate porary fiction, plays, and radio J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings comedies. She has taught university trilogy into Finnish. Juva and and professional courses, organized Pennanen worked together on the first

The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 two volumes, and Juva was the sole covering long distances each day and express, for language and meaning translator for the third. So began a sleeping in a tent. This past summer, cannot really be separated. Although career of dizzying breadth, including she biked 600 miles through Sweden language refers to something, the translation of such works as in two weeks. expresses something, it is not just Winnie the Pooh (A.A. Milne); The symbols or clothing. Language is Wonderful World of Oz (L. Frank Musings on the Art of Translation much more. One could say that we do Baum); Bleak House and Nicholas The following is a scattering of not express ourselves using language, Nickleby (); excerpts drawn from Juva’s essays and but rather that we live in the language. Watership Down (Richard Adams); thoughts on her personal experience. They My home is the Finnish language.” The Color Purple (Alice Walker); appear here with Juva’s permission. Washington Square (Henry James); as The Essence of Translation well as classics by Tennessee What Does a Translator Do? “When teaching literary transla- Williams, Jayne Anne Philips, Oscar “For one thing, the translator does tion, I have often told my students that Wilde, Nadine Gordimer, Jhumpa not do anything to the original text, as understanding is at the core of it all, Lahiri, Dick Frances, and William we sometimes hear in casual speech: that you cannot translate what you do Shakespeare. Regarding her greatest the translator ‘changed the word’ or not understand. A poorly understood translation achievement, Juva says it ‘altered the word order.’ The original translation is a little like a symphony played on a recorder. But how can a translator understand something that has no single interpretation or static meaning? And even worse, if a work of art is an inexhaustible resource, The award is the result of long campaigning by how can it be frozen into a single translation? Nor is that all. There are literary translators to have their work lots of things the translator does recognized as an art form. understand, but that have no counter- part or perhaps no relevance in the receiving society. I do not mean words but rather realities, culture-bound phe- nomena, from actual objects to social is her translation of Laurence Sterne’s text lives and thrives quite inde- hierarchies. If one sets out from the Tristram Shandy. pendent of the translator’s activity. premise that the translation must be In addition, Juva has been the long- The translator starts out with a blank the equivalent of the original text in time translator of the BBC comedy sheet of paper (a blank screen). The another language, translating is impos- series Men from the Ministry for translator writes target-language text sible. A translation cannot empty the Finnish Radio, a series that has become which has some relationship to the original into a new language. The true a cult classic in its Finnish incarnation. original text.” goal of a translation is not to resemble Juva’s translation of Aphra Behn’s the original text, but to fill its place, or, 1677 play The Rover was performed at The Act of Translation perhaps better, to create a similar place the Finnish National Theatre in 1995. “Translating can be described within the target culture.” (Behn is considered the first profes- more or less like this: I dress myself in sional woman writer in English litera- the original text and start to imitate Is the Translator an Artist? ture.) Last fall, Juva’s translation of the the author’s gestures and movements “If literature is an art form, then Tom Stoppard play Rock ‘n’ Roll ran at in Finnish. If you want a translation to the translator must also be an artist. the Helsinki City Theater. work as well in the target language as The task of a translator into Finnish is Today, Juva divides her time in the original, if you expect the final to produce Finnish-language literature between homes in Finland and the product to be real, living language, that can take its place unashamed U.K. She is a passionate bicyclist, you must look through the language, beside original Finnish literature. A touring different countries by bike, behind it, and inside it. This is hard to plastic spruce has no place in a ¬

The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 21 Capturing an Elusive Truth—and Earning Recognition for It, Too Continued pinewood. I would also like to stress unnecessary effort. This means that I sive and puns are language-bound, that the Finnish product is a different use idiomatic, clear Finnish, unless I and working with Shakespeare and entity; it will have its own life in have reason to be unidiomatic and Wilde, to name but two in addition to Finland, and many things that are rel- unclear on purpose.”1 Sterne, Juva has certainly faced her evant for the English reader will mean share of both. nothing to a Finn, and vice versa.” This also means that Finnish readers can read and enjoy Juva’s “My aim was to produce a literary Balancing Act translation of Sterne’s 18th-century rather than literal translation that Juva stresses that translation is hard classic Tristram Shandy more easily modern Finnish readers could enjoy, work. The translator must approach than modern English readers can read but which would at the same time his or her task with humility for the the original. Juva describes the process convey as much as possible of [the responsibility it carries, but at the of translating Tristram Shandy into author’s] world and style…. I found same time with self-confidence, Finnish, the challenges it posed, and Tristram Shandy one of the funniest, smuttiest, and most hilarious books I have ever read. Surely it was my duty to convey this in Finnish, so when presented with a choice One could say that we do not express between, say, accuracy and a joke, I ourselves using language, but rather that went for the joke every time.”2 we live in the language. A medal created in honor of Juva’s father bears the motto magis amica veritas. This applies well to transla- tion, too: accuracy is important, but truth is a greater friend still. By believing himself or herself the equal the decisions she made, in a paper that “ditching accuracy when necessary,” of the author whose work is to be is available in English on her website as she puts it, and seizing opportuni- recreated in the new language and new at www.turanko.net/kersti/a_bumpy_ ties offered by the target language, context. Translators must balance their ride.htm. Juva can attain a truer form of fidelity. responsibility to both the author and In general, Juva says, “My first By not focusing on the trees, she cap- the audience. In addition, Juva points principle has been to try and create an tures the forest. out that who commissions a transla- effect similar to the one the author tion, and when, also affect the process intended for his or her original audi- Lasting Impact more than is often realized. When ence.” She wants her audience to con- The awarding of an artist professor- translating, she says: nect with what she presents. She ship to a translator generated an enor- opposes footnotes in non-academic mous amount of publicity and “My attitudes follow to a great literature. Consistent with the goal of excitement in Finland. Newspapers ran extent the conventions of contempo- readability, Juva recently argued for feature articles on the story, and Juva rary Finnish publishing houses and replacing the technically correct was interviewed on national radio. The theaters, and these in turn are influ- transliteration Hryhori with the more award is the result of long campaigning enced by the expectations of the accessible form Grigori in a novel by literary translators to have their Finnish reading public and theater being translated from Ukrainian. work recognized as an art form. Juva goers…. My loyalty to the writer “When reading literature, I don’t emphasizes the teamwork and soli- means that I cannot write something swallow large doses of enlighten- darity within the translator community. that he has not written unless I do it ment,” she quipped. She says “I feel like a Tour de France to be more faithful to his aims…. Creating an effect in the translation racer whose whole bike team has My loyalty to the reader demands that is similar to the one originally helped push her across the finish line in that I produce something that he or intended also means producing texts first place.” She is also using her new she can read and understand without as funny as the original. Humor is elu- station to draw attention to problems

22 The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 Finnish translators continue to face, Additional Sources such as stagnant pay, disproportionate Dahlgren, Taina. “Nimi kanteen ja Juva, Kersti. “Translating Tristram and unrealistic pension contributions, pärstä liepeeseen” [“Name on the Shandy,” in Helsinki English and low visibility. Regarding the latter, Cover and Mug on the Dust Studies, Volume 1, Translation Juva declares book translators deserve Jacket”]. Etelä-Suomen Sanomat Studies. Edited by Rita Leppihalme “their name on the cover and their mug (September 16, 2008). (Department of English at the on the dust jacket.” University of Helsinki, 2001), It is hard to believe that more than Juva, Kersti. Bumpy Ride. MA Thesis www.eng.helsinki.fi/hes/Translation/ 10 years have passed since I met on translating Tristram Shandy. tristram_shandy.htm. Kersti Juva through an Internet dis- cussion group devoted to translation. I Juva, Kersti. “Classics Packaging.” Kojo, Tuula. “Suomentajien Tour de had no idea who she was, other than Proceedings of the XVII World France” [“Tour de France of an interesting and helpful list contrib- Congress the International Feder- Translators into Finnish”]. utor who became a friend. ation of Translators (Tampere, 2005). Kääntäjä (August, 2008). Most of you reading this article are translators in the U.S. Think about it: Juva, Kersti. “Kotimaani ompi suomi” Karhu, Tuomo. “Taiteenlajina suo- in the general public, how many [“My Homeland is Finnish”], in mentaminen” [”Art Form, people even know the name of a trans- Suom. huom. Edited by Kristiina Translating into Finnish”]. Turun lator? On a visit to Finland, it quickly Rikman (Helsinki:WSOY, 2005). Sanomat (November 2, 2008). became apparent to me that people there know and admire Kersti Juva. Juva, Kersti. “Side by Side in Pursuit From an 80-year-old friend on a farm of Truth.” Speech at the Induction to a computer specialist who claims of the Artist Professors, October he does not read much, people bright- 22, 2008. Translated by Jill ened at her name and told me that she Timbers, www.turanko.net/kersti/ is an excellent translator. Sure, induction.html. Finland is a land of readers, where books are valued highly and people once had to pass a reading test in order to marry. Nevertheless it was startling to see the celebrity and affec- tion a translator has earned. Juva says it is because she has been assigned great things to translate. Talented, Additional Sites unpretentious, prolific, endlessly energetic, and boundlessly generous, Juva continues to make an impact on , Finnish literature, translation Kersti Juva’s website Press release on the appointment theory, and all translators. http://turanko.net of three Artist Professors www.taiteenkeskustoimikunta.fi/default. Arts Council of Finland asp?WCI=wciFrame_workspace&strlangua Notes Information about the Artist Professorship ge_id=en&strsub_page=news&str 1. www.turanko.net/kersti/classics.html is available online in English Action=show_news&intSub_id=2&intId= www.taiteenkeskustoimikunta.fi/default. 458 2. www.eng.helsinki.fi/projects-and asp?WCI=wciFrames&strlanguage_id=en events/hes/Translation/tristram_ shandy.htm

The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 23 Environmental Translation: Market Overview By Patrick Oblander

which discusses an organization’s with the “triple bottom line” concept, What is ”environmental responsibility for the impact of its these reports are generally organized translation?” Simply put, it is the trans- activities. In the 1990s, a handful of into three main sections corresponding lation of documents that focus on such corporations started publishing so- to economic, social, and environmental themes as the environment, environ- called environmental reports occa- concerns. CSR reports are published mental effects, or the environmental sionally, in which they talked about once a year as a sister publication to performance of governments, compa- how they were saving energy in the the traditional annual report. nies, products, and services. That defi- workplace, taking steps to reduce Translating CSR reports is moder- nition is wide enough to include highly waste emissions, and even sending ately difficult, about the same as technical academic papers, dense gov- staff members out to do neighborhood annual reports. Generally, they are not ernment reports, product news releases, adult and children’s literature, and advertising. The June 2008 issue of The ATA Chronicle contained an article on this very subject that recom- mended that if you want to position Environmental topics bring plenty of examples yourself as an environmental trans- lator, you should try to be a “one-stop of terms and concepts that are not as shop for all…environmental transla- straightforward as they appear. tion needs.”1 However, given the diver- sity of environmental documents needing translation, some might find this rather difficult. Below are some specific examples of environment- cleanups. More and more businesses highly technical and the writing is related documents for which there is started to produce these reports, and fairly straightforward. A translator some level of translation demand. eventually their scope grew to include does not need an advanced degree in Although I draw from my experience economic and social concerns as well environmental studies to translate as a Japanese translator, the informa- as the environment. This practice was them. You do, however, need to be tion is pertinent to all languages. in keeping with a concept known as able to write well enough for public the “Triple Bottom Line,” which says consumption, and corporate clients Corporate Literature that a business should not be judged can be very demanding about the Environmental just by its economic results, but by its quality of the work. Reports/CSR Reports economic, social, and environmental One fairly significant source of results. Now there are three bottom Marketing Literature work in this field is a document put lines, not just one. Another type of environmental out by corporations called a Corporate Environmental reports have mostly subject matter you are likely to Social Responsibility (CSR) report, given way to CSR reports. In keeping encounter some day is marketing

24 The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 literature, such as corporate press however, environment-related internal venting accidents and for responding releases. Most of you have probably documents are no more or less diffi- in case such measures fail. The diffi- translated a press release at some cult to translate than similar internal culty level of this type of translation point in your career and will eventu- documents that do not concern the can be rather high. It really depends ally come across one that deals with environment. on how comfortable you are with the environment. This might include chemistry. coverage of the launch of a new Material Safety Data Sheets product that the manufacturer wants One of the most familiar environ- Applications for Certification to advertise as eco-friendly, or it mental documents of all is the Another type of corporate literature might be a statement that the business Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). that bears mentioning is certification lit- is providing financial support to some Most translators working in this area erature. For example, you have prob- environmental nonprofit. The diffi- are familiar with these sheets and ably heard of Energy Star, a program to culty level of this type of translation know how important they are. An certify energy-efficient consumer prod- ucts. There are all types of certifications that corporations are trying to earn. Some of these are environment-related and some are not; some are mandatory and some are voluntary. Among the When you translate terms like “wilderness” or environment-related ones, several come “natural,” which carry a lot of cultural context, make to mind: ISO 14000 standards, European Union directives like RoHS sure you really understand and convey that context. (the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive) and WEEE (the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive). There are many more that few people have heard of, will be no higher or lower than any MSDS is a document that describes such as Forest Stewardship Council cer- other corporate press release, which is the toxic properties of a chemical tification. usually not very difficult at all, so product and gives instructions for pre- most translators can handle such releases easily. You do, however, have to be able to write clearly, since the target audience is the general public. Internal Documents Examples of Corporations also put out a lot of documents for internal use that relate to Environmental Translation Work the environment, such as environmental standards. Because corporations are Corporate Literature very interested in raising the environ- Corporate Social Responsibility Reports mental awareness of employees, these Marketing Literature documents can include internal policies, Internal Documents standards or procedures for employee Material Safety Data Sheets reference, or educational materials. Applications for Industry Certification The difficulty level can vary consider- Non-corporate Literature ably, although the translation might be Patents hard if the document uses a lot of Academic Research Papers technical or internal jargon with Educational Materials which you are unfamiliar. As a rule,

The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 25 Environmental Translation: Market Overview Continued

One thing these examples have in ence, includes some of the most chal- edge, environmental topics bring common is that they are global pro- lenging material I have found to trans- plenty of examples of terms and con- grams, which means at some point, late. It is definitely not meant for the cepts that are not as straightforward as translation services will have to be general public, and in the case of FSC they appear. Without delving into provided if, for example, a Japanese documentation, it covers not just advanced technical terms, let us look company wants to be certified. The forestry practices but some disciplines at some basic terms that you are process and documentation will be with which I am considerably less bound to come across sooner or later. very different in each case depending familiar, like geology. It is also exciting It is hard to translate a concept from on the certifying body. To give you a to translate, because this is one of the one language to another if people feel for what certification literature is few types of translated literature that speaking the same language do not fully like, let me discuss one example with really put my academic major (forestry) agree on what a term means. Take an which I am somewhat familiar: the to the test, and second, certification lit- example from English: conservation Forest Management certification erature is very optimistic. It is based on versus preservation versus protection. If process overseen by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The FSC program is intended to promote responsible management of the world’s forests based on 10 princi- Even simple concepts can get lost in translation if ples that include, for example, reducing the environmental impact long-established practices are based on from logging operations, but also sev- eral non-environmental concerns, like different assumptions. respecting the rights of indigenous peoples. It is not exclusively an envi- ronmental program. If you happen to own a forest and are in the business of harvesting and selling the premise that we can do things a I am committed to environmental your trees, you are the type of person better way—whether it is growing trees preservation and you are in favor of FSC wants to have apply for Forest in a healthier environment, making environmental protection, and your Management certification. The reason a cleaner or more efficient products, or mother belongs to the Conservation forest owner might want to get FSC cer- simply doing business more ethically. Society, are we on the same side? In tification is because some governments common usage, yes, we probably are provide tax incentives for those who do, Non-corporate Literature because these three terms are largely and some governments practicing green Non-corporate entities also write interchangeable. You may come across procurement will preferentially buy plenty of environmental literature. material that makes an important dis- products with the FSC mark. Because interest in the environment is tinction, however. If we are talking Since the program is global, a so high, the associated literature is very about forests, historically conservation translator is occasionally needed to wide-ranging and could include has meant exploiting the forest in a sus- translate FSC certification literature. patents, academic research papers, and tainable way, but nonetheless exploiting One of FSC’s partner organizations educational material. What you need to it—which means cutting trees down performs inspections of forestry com- translate any of these types of material eventually. Preservation, on the other panies, looking at management poli- is a reasonably strong background in hand, has historically meant keeping cies and practices, and writes up their science, the ability to read and under- some environmental asset in its current report to FSC. In my case, this is stand the specific literature, and, of state. Forests, however, cannot be pre- where the translation demand occurs: course, the ability to write in the appro- served like jam: they are dynamic and translating reports of the Japanese priate style for the target reader. constantly changing ecosystems, so pre- certifying enterprise for submission serving a forest implies not interfering to FSC. Coming to Terms with Terms with natural changes in that forest. Certification literature, in my experi- As with any other area of knowl- According to an authoritative agro-

26 The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 forestry dictionary I own, the Japanese equivalents of these terms When every company is calling itself an eco-friendly are: for preservation, for protection, and for conservation.2 company, you do have to start wondering if However, the English terms are often interchangeable, so the word you it is all just greenwash. select will depend on what you feel is right in that context. Naturally, there is confusing termi- nology within Japanese as well. What is the difference between “wilderness,” meaning an environment Long-established Concepts: and ? The distinction is unaltered by human activity. To the a Slippery Slope rarely explained within Japanese, but ancient Romans, the wilderness was There is one further wrinkle to it is largely a matter of degree. In something to be frightened of and con- context that I would like to explore, English we are accustomed to talking quered. Modern Americans, in con- and that is the fact that the primary about “environmental impact,” which trast, like the idea of wilderness as an industries—agriculture, forestry, and is generally considered the equivalent environment untouched by human fisheries—have a deeply embedded of . But we really do not have activity. But one is less likely to hear, cultural context. For example, an eloquent fit for , which I for example, the Japanese idealize Japanese forestry practices developed have seen variously translated as wilderness, because in Japan it is very in isolation from any other country for “environmental burden,” “environ- hard to find any landscape without centuries, so there are a number of mental load,” and even “environ- obvious signs of human alteration. If terms and ideas that do not appear mental impact,” which would make it you look up the word “wilderness” in elsewhere. I would like to back this up the same as . First of all, I an English-Japanese dictionary, you with a story from my own experience, suggest that you do not translate will find several definitions, but not a which will require me to digress into a as “environmental impact,” single Japanese word that captures all few technical details, so please bear because in the U.S. in particular, those positive and negative shades of with me—I will get us back on point. “environmental impact” has some meaning that the term has collected in A few years ago, I interpreted for pretty strong legal implications. For English. several days for the owner of a example, an environmental impact is Our environment shapes our ideals. Japanese company that wanted to buy something relatively major like In general, the Japanese tend to be some forested land in Shikoku, but he destroying wildlife habitat that can less interested in the virgin forest and needed international financing. To get keep you from building a ski resort. In more in the working forest. Japan’s the financing, he needed to have a contrast, refers even to rela- forests are dominated by artificially non-Japanese forestry consultant cer- tively minor effects that our everyday planted evergreens, but the labor tify that the land in question really actions have on the environment, such shortage has caused owners to skip contained all the timber indicated by as driving a car. Over time I have thinning. As a result, the trees are not the records. This involved taking come to accept the most common and growing to maturity. The problem is some measurements on the ground, a literal translation, “environmental not too much human activity in the process called a timber cruise, and burden,” as legitimate English, and I forest, but too little. crunching some numbers in the office. do see the term popping up more and So when you translate terms like When a forester does a timber more in native English literature. “wilderness” or “natural,” which carry a cruise, he is measuring two things. lot of cultural context, make sure you First, he will go to a few sample plots Bridging Cultural Divides really understand and convey that con- of ground and determine how many At times terms and concepts that text. Also, do not forget the legal con- trees there are per hectare (or per acre, are common in one language lose text. For example, a product that can be in the U.S.). Then he will look at the something in translation because they classified as “organic” in the U.S. might individual trees in the plots and esti- are in a different cultural and historical not qualify for that label in Japan. mate how much volume of usable context. One example is the word wood there is in the average tree. ¬

The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 27 Environmental Translation: Market Overview Continued

He multiplies the two together to Figure 1 determine how much wood volume there is per hectare or acre. For this particular project, the Japanese busi- Plot B ness owner provided some raw data and the American forestry company 100 m took the data and ran this very simple 10,000 m2 calculation. That is, until the Japanese Plot A businessman nudged me and said, 100 m “Why aren’t they including the slope factor?” Despite having a master’s 100 m 107.7 m 10,000 m2 degree in forestry, I had never heard of this practice. When I interpreted 100 m the question for the American crew, they also had no idea what he was 0% slope 40% slope talking about. The Japanese fellow tried to edu- cate his American counterparts. “Look Even simple concepts can get lost in translation if long-established practices are based at it this way,” he said. “You have two on different assumptions. During interpreted talks, the Japanese party explained that in the plots of land, each one measuring one above example, Plot B (on a 40% slope) contains more area than Plot A (on a 0% slope), hectare, or a square of 100 meters by even though both measure 100 meters x 100 meters two-dimensionally. This is because 100 meters. (See Figure 1.) Suppose measured parallel to the angle of the slope, Plot B is actually 107.7 meters long on the X Plot A is on flat ground, a 0% slope. axis, and therefore 10,770 meters squared in area, compared to 10,000 meter squared Suppose Plot B is on a 40% slope. You for Plot A. With more space, he concluded, Plot B contains more trees. are still measuring the land as if it The American side agreed with the geometry, but rebutted that, even so, this does were two-dimensional, as if it were flat. But what if you aligned your per- not mean Plot B contains more trees, because the trees still need just as much lateral spective with the slope? You would space. The disagreement hinged on the different assumptions each side traditionally find that in one dimension the plot is used to estimate timber volume. The Japanese side was using a regional index of now actually longer, 107.7 meters volume per hectare (or per acre) and adjusting according to ground conditions, while the according to the Pythagorean theorem. American side would have measured specific plots on all types of ground conditions to You would really have more square derive the volume per hectare statistically. area than that one hectare, wouldn’t you? So that means more room for trees, right? Therefore, shouldn’t you factor in the slope so that the result shows more trees, and consequently each side firmly believed what it It was not until years later that I more timber?” believed based on its respective finally figured out the source of the Once these interpreted words got industry traditions. confusion. The Japanese gentleman out of my mouth, the two gentlemen The two sides never did come to an was looking at an average number of on the Japanese side were nodding agreement. The Japanese side thought trees for the wider region and treating their heads. Those on the American it was incredibly obvious: the more that as an index to be adjusted side—all experienced foresters— space you have, the more trees. The according to local conditions. His stood in stunned disbelief. They had American side thought that it was American counterparts were fol- never heard such a thing, and they impossible, because even if your sur- lowing a statistical procedure, which were trying to digest it to see if there face area increases as measured on the assumes that every patch of ground is was any rationality to this. The more slope, those trees still grow straight up unique and needs to be sampled the two sides discussed it, the more and need just as much lateral space as directly to draw any conclusions. If heated the conversation got, because if they were on flat ground. their survey was planned properly

28 The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 according to statistical principles, these reports are really advancing the Notes sample plots would have been taken environmental cause or are just 1. Dahlberg, Abigail. “Going Green: to reflect all conditions in the forest, spreading disinformation. Certainly Translating Environmen tal Texts.” and if there were more trees on some every business wants to be seen in the The ATA Chronicle (American Trans- plots—for whatever reason—this best possible light. That is why every la tors Association, June 2008), 12. would be reflected in the results. CSR report gives examples of eco- For us as translators, it does not friendly things the business is doing 2. Gakujutsu Yogoshu Nogakuhen matter who was right—what matters is to save the planet. Where CSR reports (Ministry of Edu - communication. Both sides were oper- get interesting is when they report cation [Japan] and Japanese Institute ating from assumptions that held cur- unfavorable information: maybe the of Land scape Architecture, Tokyo: rency within their respective industry business leaked radiation, or maybe Maruzen Co., Ltd., 1992). traditions. I give this anecdote to rein- factory and office energy consump- force my point that an industry that tion increased instead of decreased. In has matured in isolation can come up any given year, the business can report with its own concepts that may be this information and say it was an antithetical to what its counterpart anomaly, and now it is putting pro- from another culture believes. grams and safeguards in place to American Translators Association At times like this, the best you can make sure it does not happen again. hope for is that you have not only a lan- But what if it does happen again? guage interpreter but also a culture What if these things happen year after Building interpreter—someone who knows the year? This is when the reporting Your Business industry traditions on both sides and can process starts to pressure the business, help each side make sense of the other. because readers (including investors Seminar and customers) are going to notice. But Isn’t It All Just Greenwash? My personal opinion is that on bal- Washington, DC Going back to the environmental ance we are doing a good thing for the literature, and seeing how much of it environment by translating CSR May 16-17, comes from corporations, we some- reports and similar literature, because times have to ask: Isn’t it all just you cannot get away with greenwash 2009 greenwash? I am referring to the prac- forever. The bottom line is, the more tice of using environmental language information being disclosed, the better. to cover up environmental problems or to sell more products. A company may Final Thoughts www.atanet.org/pd/business call itself eco-friendly because it tries To close, I continue to advertise to save energy and recycle, and at the myself as an environmental translator same time it may be pumping chemi- because I find the material to be really cals into the sky and water. When interesting, and everybody likes to every company is calling itself an eco- translate material they find inter- Dual friendly company, you do have to start esting. Beyond interest, though, it is wondering. So how do you tell if it is also very rewarding, because over all just greenwash? There are a few time I believe my work helps to make Fuzzy tools on the Web. Just google the term a difference, and unlike a lot of other “greenwash” and you can find several things I have translated, I know from sites that take businesses to task for the feedback I have received that there their allegedly deceptive claims. are lots of people who will read and As a person who translates CSR scrutinize this material, because they reports from time to time, I am espe- take as much interest in it as I do. www.star-transit.net cially interested in knowing whether NXT

The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 29 Visit the ATA Calendar Online www.atanet.org/calendar/ for a more comprehensive look at upcoming events. Upcoming Events

April 4, 2009 May 15-17, 2009 October 9-11, 2009 Carolina Association of Translators and National Association of Judiciary California Federation of Interpreters Interpreters Interpreters and Translators 7th Annual Continuing Education Annual Conference 30th Annual Conference Conference Durham, NC Scottsdale, AZ San Francisco, CA www.catiweb.org www.najit.org www.cfinews.org

April 25-26, 2009 May 16-17, 2009 October 9-11, 2009 American Translators Association American Translators Association International Medical Interpreters Court Interpreting and Building Your Business Seminar Association Translation Seminar Washington, DC Annual Conference Jersey City, NJ www.atanet.org/pd/business Boston, MA www.atanet.org/pd/court www.imiaweb.org May 28-29, 2009 May 3-6, 2009 National Council on Interpreting in October 28-31, 2009 Society for Technical Communication Health Care American Translators Association 56th Annual Conference 3rd Annual Membership Meeting 50th Annual Conference Technical Communication Summit Las Vegas, NV New York, NY Atlanta, GA www.ncihc.org www.atanet.org/conf/2009 http://conference.stc.org June 20-21, 2009 November 11-14, 2009 May 6-8, 2009 Upper Midwest Translators and American Literary Translators Association Critical Link Canada and the Provincial Interpreters Association Annual Conference Language Service 2009 Conference Pasadena, CA “Global Voices, Local Results” St. Paul, MN www.utdallas.edu/alta Vancouver, Canada www.umtia.org http://2009conference.criticallink.org November 20-22, 2009 July 30-August 1, 2009 American Council on the Teaching of May 11-13, 2009 ATA Translation Company Division Foreign Languages Translation World 10th Annual Conference Annual Convention and "Translating Global Priorities" Quebec City, Canada World Languages Expo Toronto, Canada www.ata-divisions.org/TCD San Diego, CA www.translationworld.com www.actfl.org September 12-13, 2009 May 13-16, 2009 Tennessee Association of Professional December 27-30, 2009 Association of Language Companies Interpreters and Translators Modern Language Association 7th Annual Conference Annual Conference 125th Annual Convention Austin, TX Nashville, TN Philadelphia, PA www.alcus.org www.tapit.org www.mla.org

30 The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 Business Smarts Getting What You Are Worth

During times of economic course of the years to reflect my level admission, and how would you ever downturn, small business owners may of experience. Is it a good idea to scale be able to raise your rates again? be under increased pressure to lower back my prices in order to stay busy? During your past 12 years of busi- prices and to accept pay cuts in order R.T., Wisconsin ness success, you have most likely to have work at all. Such concessions established a broad client base. This should be avoided, however, for Dear R.T., may be a good opportunity to take a strategic reasons. Naturally, the current economic detailed look at your business activi- downturn is affecting businesses of all ties and to think about your long-term Dear Business Smarts, sizes, forcing them to save on their strategy. Draw a timeline of your pro- A major customer recently sent me expenses. The resulting price-cutting jected business activities until your the following message: pressure is passed on to suppliers and planned retirement. Where would you service providers. But since you most like to be in 10 or 20 years? What is “Due to recent changes in the likely do not have employees to sup- your projected price development in economy, we have had to become port, and because a thinner flow of that timeframe, keeping in mind infla- more competitive with our own work will not lead to immediate finan- tion and specific savings goals for col- clients. We are offering more dis- cial ruin, take a little time for strategic lege or retirement? What do your counts and lowering rates as deliberation before you make any clients particularly appreciate about needed in order to keep up with the hasty decisions. your work, and how do you achieve changing times. As such, I am Since it has taken you years to those qualities? Try to answer these turning to you to see if you would arrive at the price you currently questions in detail, and record your be willing to do the same for us. charge, it would be a major setback to responses in writing for future refer- Please let me know if you would be return to a lower base price for your ence. This analysis of your business amenable to adjusting your rates. I services. Even if the client makes situation will probably tell you what can better guarantee work to flow good on the vague promise of work you already knew: Most clients are in your direction with a more favor- flowing “in your direction,” happy to pay your rates for the able rate in place.” responding to such a request by low- expertise you have built in your field, ering your prices sends the signal that and now—more than ever—is the I have been in business as a full-time you are desperate for work. Why time to insist on getting paid what you translator and interpreter for over 12 would this client pay rush rates or are worth. years and have raised my rates over the weekend surcharges after such an

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.

Don’t Miss This ATA Building Your Business Seminar | May 16-17, 2009 Professional Development Seminar For additional information: www.atanet.org/pd/business

The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 31 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 pro- fessionals. Jost also publishes a free technical newsletter for translators (www.internationalwriters.com/toolkit). What the Font?

The February issue of The your system, you can use the Font allow you to create your font based on New Yorker started the first of its obit- Sample Generator (www.mousetrax. your handwriting. The open-source uaries on John Updike with this (very com/Downloads.html#fontsamples), a tool FontForge (fontforge.sourceforge. long) sentence: macro that allows you to generate a net) allows you to alter an existing font Word document that lists samples of to make it suit your particular needs, “John Updike (1932-2009) once all the fonts installed on your system. and the great site FontStruct (font said that his first publication and Of course, if you have Word 2007, struct.fontshop.com) allows you to nearly sixty-year-long relationship you could just highlight some text in create your own font, download fonts with this magazine was the great a Word document and then hover with that others have created, and network professional event of his life—no, the mouse over the different fonts in with other font lovers. What I particu- he called it the ecstatic event of his the open font drop-down on the home larly like about FontStruct is that it professional life—and he never tired tab. The font of the highlighted text allows you to select from among 22 (for younger writers, it was inspiring will change for preview purposes different writing systems, including to see how he never tired) of seeing with each movement of the mouse. It Arabic, Hebrew, Thai, and Japanese his prose in Caslon type (...).” is a great feature for selecting the Katakana (no surprise that Chinese right font. characters are not among the options!). This felt like such an affirmation to If none of the fonts strike you as Now, you need to be aware that me: One of the giants of modern liter- worthwhile, it might be time to install many of the sites mentioned above are ature got a kick out of seeing his pub- some fresh fonts. There are plenty of also trying to sell fonts alongside their lications appear in a certain font! sites that list free fonts (and even more free fonts. However, if you are really You see, I have a real passion for listing ones for purchase), but a good keen on getting a font, it may be worth fonts. In fact, I believe that fonts can place to start is 1001 Fonts (www.1001 paying a license fee. Plus, it is worth- make our life just a little bit easier. fonts.com), although you will quickly while to see that some of the truly pow- After all, we spend most of our time discover that working in a super-dec- erful commercial fonts are not just the staring at computer screens, and a orative font does not really help your product of an afternoon of goofing change in font can make all the differ- productivity. There are plenty of around with a font design tool, but ence in a long day’s worth of work. ways to install fonts. You can select well-constructed and designed pieces While it is definitely not a very good Start> (Settings>) Control Panel> of art. idea to change fonts in the files that Fonts and then select File> Install Finally, if you have gotten into a you are delivering to a client, it may be New Fonts, or you can simply open real frenzy over the new fonts and easy to change the fonts in the transla- Windows Explorer (WinKey+E) and notice that your computer has slowed tion environment tools with which you copy and paste the .ttf font files into down in the process (and it will if you process the files, without this having the C:\WINDOWS\Fonts directory. have lots and lots of fonts), you might the slightest effect on the actual deliv- If you see a font somewhere that want to look at the appropriately erable files. (Do not do it if you are you love to work with but have no named free Font Frenzy (www.sdsoft working directly in the native interface idea what it is or how to get it, you can ware.org/default.asp?id=5929). This of the file, such as with Trados, have it analyzed at WhatTheFont? product manages your fonts by Wordfast, Metatexis, or Multitrans (www.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont). It allowing you to temporarily deacti- within MS Word; however, if you have may not find a perfect match, but vate certain fonts and reactivate them a tool that works through an interme- chances are it will find a “fuzzy match” at the snap of a finger. diary format like pretty much the rest and suggest similar alternatives. of them, it should be no problem.) If you feel particularly creative For me, this has the same effect as and would like to create your own repainting the walls of a room or put- font without paying an arm and a leg ting on brand new clothes—only it is for a professional font design tool, go ATA’s Court Interpreting and much easier and cheaper. right ahead. Sites like vLetter (www. Translation Seminar If you first want to get an overview vletter.com) or the much cheaper and April 25-26, 2009 of what kind of fonts are available on easier Fontifier (www.fontifier.com)

32 The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 Spring Cleaning ? Start by updating your online profile

A listing in ATA’s online Directory of Translation and Interpreting Services or the Directory of Language Services Companies can be one of your most valuable member benefits. With more than two-million plus hits in 2007, consumers and businesses have clearly learned to look at ATA’s directories first when shopping for professional translation and interpreting services.

Make updates online at www.atanet.org/onlinedirectories/update_profile.php.

The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 33 Certification Forum

ATA Certification Program Mission Statement

In 2008, ATA’s Certification Committee 1. Prepare and evaluate examinations • To standardize passage selection took on the task of reviewing and consisting of texts to be translated and grading practices. revising all of the program’s policies, from a certain foreign language procedures, and other documents. This into English or from English into a • To produce and maintain a com- was done with the intent of making the certain foreign language. prehensive manual of policies and program more transparent. Most of the procedures for the Certification program documents will soon be avail- 2. Prepare and evaluate practice Program. able on ATA’s website, and many of the tests. updated documents will be presented in • To disseminate accurate informa- this column during the year. 3. Conduct reviews of examina- tion about the Certification Program tions. both within and outside ATA. ATA Certification Program Mission Statement • To assist ATA members working in • To develop relations with sister Version 2009 languages or language combina- associations in other countries for tions for which ATA certification the purpose of cooperating with The mission of ATA’s Certi- is not currently available to estab- them on certification matters, fication Committee is to implement an lish certification in accordance aligning certification policies, examination program to evaluate the with the Procedure for Estab - and/or streamlining practices. competence of translators according lishing a New Language Combin - to guidelines that reflect current pro- ation through a liaison. • To review Certification Program fessional practice. policies and procedures and to To accomplish that mission, the • To provide assistance and appoint implement changes as necessary. Certification Committee is to under- the chair of an ad hoc appeal panel take the following tasks: when a candidate requests an appeal. • To train and maintain working groups that perform the following functions:

Emergency Services Response Survey

Although we are well aware of the importance of language services in clinical settings, very little has been documented regarding how these services are carried out at the scene of an emergency. If you work in any area of emergency services and have personal knowledge of a situation in which individuals were unable to receive prompt attention from emergency personnel due to an inability to speak the language, please e-mail Robert Burgener at [email protected] to take part in a short survey. You do not need to give your name or other personal information.

34 The ATA Chronicle I March 2009

Send your news to Jeff Sanfacon at [email protected] or American Translators Association, 225 Member News Reinekers Lane, Suite 590, Alexandria, VA 22314.

• Daniel P. Linder received a PhD • Peritus Precision Translations, • Translation Source, of Houston, from the Department of Translation of Redwood City, Cali fornia, Texas, has hired Doug Green as its and Interpreting at the University of earned ISO 9001-2008 certification. vice-president of business develop- Salamanca in Spain. His disserta- ment. tion, “The American Detective • Syntes Language Group, Inc.,of Novel in Translation: The Trans la - Centennial, Colorado, was named • Translations International, Inc., tions of Raymond Chandler’s Novels one of the nation’s “Top 500 of Saint Cloud, Minnesota, pur- into Spanish,” received the highest Hispanic American Owned Busi - chased Advanced Commun- mark, sobresaliente cum laude. nesses” by DiversityBusiness.com. ication and Translation, Inc., of Bethesda, Maryland.

In Memoriam

Leon Mindlin, 84, of Brooklyn, New York, died on January 20, 2009. An ATA member since 1975, he was certified in French¡English, German¡English, Portuguese£English, and Spanish¡English. He was a member of the German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish Language Divisions.

Robert T. France, 80, of Chula Vista, California, died on November 22, 2008. He joined ATA in 1995, and was certified in Spanish¡English. He was a member of the Spanish Language Division.

Attend ATA’s Next Check Out Professional Development Seminar www.atanet.org ATA Media Page ATA’s Court Interpreting and Translation Seminar www.atanet.org/pressroom/ata_ in_the_news.php April 25-26, 2009 | Jersey City, NJ 2009 Event Calendar For additional information: www.atanet.org/pd/court www.atanet.org/calendar

36 The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 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

Arizona Massachusetts New York Pennsylvania Washington Scottsdale Somerville New York City Philadelphia Seattle May 15, 2009 May 31, 2009 April 18, 2009 June 14, 2009 April 25, 2009 Registration Deadline: Registration Deadline: Registration Deadline: Registration Deadline: Registration Deadline: May 1, 2009 May 15, 2009 April 3, 2009 May 29, 2009 April 10, 2009

Georgia Michigan New York City Tennessee Ecuador Atlanta Grand Rapids October 31, 2009 Nashville Quito August 29, 2009 May 16, 2009 Registration Deadline: September 13, 2009 April 25, 2009 Registration Deadline: Registration Deadline: October 16, 2009 Registration Deadline: Registration Deadline: August 14, 2009 May 1, 2009 August 28, 2009 April 10, 2009 North Carolina Illinois Novi Durham Texas Elmhurst August 8, 2009 April 5, 2009 Austin April 18, 2009 Registration Deadline: Registration Deadline: June 13, 2009 Registration Deadline: July 24, 2009 March 20, 2009 Registration Deadline: April 3, 2009 May 29, 2009

New Certified Members Congratulations! The following people have successfully passed ATA’s certification exam:

Danish into English Spanish into English English into German English into Spanish Dana Sackett Loessl Angelo Gentile Beate M. Maier Yilda A. Ruiz Monroy Hadsten, Denmark Fort Myers, FL Hilden, Germany Miami Beach, FL

Edith-Maria Redlin Japanese into English Beatriz Z. McKey Rapid City, SD Miami, FL John J. McWilliams Longwood, FL

Patricia D. Pringle Louisville, KY

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

Active Corresponding Abdi G. Elmi Ester M. Klug M. Cristina Pitts Liliana B. Mariotto Newport, MN Hedgesville, WV Louisville, KY Buenos Aires, Argentina

Armen Kharazian Val S. Monafu Emi Xhunga Pricilla Niode Washington, DC La Mirada, CA Walled Lake, MI Los Angeles, CA

The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 37 Success by Association Japan Association of Translators

The Japan Association of Trans- Quick • Established: 1985 • Contact: lators (JAT) was founded in May 1985 • Website: http://jat.org/about/board in Japan as a means for individual http://jat.org translators to exchange information Facts and network. The association began as a special interest group of the Society of Writers, Editors, and Translators, but its members quickly realized that a separate organization for translators IJET Conference tors, the annual JAT award for new would provide a more intense forum The association’s single largest and aspiring translators was estab- for meeting the needs of professional ongoing project is the organization of lished in 2004. translators. Membership is open to all the annual International Japanese/ individuals interested in Japanese- English Trans la tion (IJET) conference, Additional Information English and English-Japanese transla- devoted exclusively to Japanese- For complete information on what tion and interpreting. At present, there English and English-Japanese trans - JAT has to offer, please visit are 400 members worldwide. Since lation issues. The first IJET was held http://jat.org. 1994, JAT has been an associate May 26-27, 1990 in Hakone, Japan. member of the International Feder - IJET-20 was held in Sydney Australia, ation of Translators. February 14-15, 2009. ATA’s chapters and its affiliates, along Member Benefits JAT Contest for New and with other groups, serve translators and interpreters, providing them with • Monthly meetings. Aspiring Translators industry information, networking oppor- • Online membership directory. Designed to foster, recognize, and tunities, and support services. This • Online networking through mem- reward excellence in commercial, column is designed to serve as a quick bers-only electronic mailing list. nonliterary translation between resource highlighting the valuable con- • Member discounts to events. Japanese and English by new transla- tributions these organizations are making to the profession.

Did you miss the ATA Annual Conference? Buy the DVD! 9th Visit www.atanet.org/conf/2008/dvdrom.htm 4 Sessions of the 49th Annual Conference have been audiotaped and integrated with supporting slides to Annual create a multimedia DVD-ROM. $149* for ATA Members | $179* for Nonmembers Conference (*Plus Shipping & Handling) American Translators Association | November 5-8, 2008

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

Cartes et Menus de Scribo’s Cartes et Menus de cosse (Scottish salmon) and saumon Restaurant—Dictionnaire Restaurant—Dictionnaire français- du gave (mountain stream salmon), is français-anglais anglais (compiled by Geneviève de an in-depth list of salmon preparations Temmerman and Didier Chedorge) such as cervelas de saumon (salmon Compiled by: was primarily designed as a reference sausage), pavé de saumon (thick Geneviève de Temmerman and Didier Chedorge and translation dictionary for profes- salmon steak), and saumon à l’uni- sionals of the restaurant industry. By latéral (salmon cooked on one side Publisher: extension, this is a tool that dovetails only), further cross-referenced with an Editions Scribo in Paris (France) perfectly with the needs of profes- extensive list of concordant generic- sional translators summoned to trans- fish preparations, among which you Publication date: late for the restaurant industry from will find the following examples: June 2007 (third edition) French into English. Researched with the collaboration of French restaurants […] à l’aigre-doux: […] in a sweet and sour sauce ISBN: and the faculty at renowned culinary […] à l’aigelette: […] in a lightly tart sauce 2-9503317-3-4 art schools such as l’École LeNôtre, […] à l’aneth: […] with dill this prize-winning 475-page dic- […] à l’embeurée de poireaux: […] with buttered leeks tionary, with more than 11,000 entries, […] à l’oseille: […] with sorrel Price: […] à la diable: devilled […] with piquant sauce € has become a premium reference for 55 (approximately $70) […] à la fleur de sel: […] with pure sea salt restaurants and professional training […] à la nage: […] in aromatic broth Available from: schools throughout France and Europe. […] à la vapeur: steamed […] www.scribo.fr Thus, when you have exhausted all […] à la vapeur de basilique: […] steamed with basil your general-purpose-institutional- […] au barbecue: barbecued […] Reviewed by: giant dictionary resources and need a […] au beurre blanc: […] in white butter sauce Françoise Herrmann specialized dictionary to translate (and […] au beurre de ciboulette: […] in chive butter to understand) French menu items such […] au beurre de nage: […] in a light white butter sauce as à la Nantaise (Nantes-style), à la […] au beurre sur un lit d’épinards crèmes: […] with but- Navarraise (Navarre-style), à la ter sauce on a bed of creamed spinach Parisienne (Paris-style), or à la Nantua […] au beurre vert: […] with herb butter […] au champagne: […] cooked with champagne (Nantua-style), Scribo’s Cartes et […] au cidre: […] cooked with cider Menus de Restaurant not only supplies […] au coulis de langoustines: […] with a Dublin Bay translations, it also offers definitions prawn sauce (termed explanations) of Chefspeak! […] au court-bouillon: […] poached in an aromatic stock

Depth—Varieties and concordant This generous mapping of culinary preparations varieties and preparations will surprise Most headwords in Scribo’s Cartes you as it is applied throughout the dic- et Menus de Restaurant explode with tionary, with consistent attention to varieties and concordant preparations detail, for headwords as unexpected as designed to supply inspiration for vapeur (steam) or côte (chop, cutlet [1. restaurant professionals and a treasure lamb […], 2. beef rib, 3. venison […], 4. trove for translators. For example, a mutton […], 5. pork […], 6. veal […]), headword such as saumon (salmon) including a listing of all the sumptuous lists 11 different varieties of salmon preparations for each type of “chop.” and 62 different types of concordant preparations, to which are cross-refer- Breadth—Desserts included enced another 125 concordant and indexing methods of preparing fish (under the Beyond in-depth mapping of food headword poisson [fish])! The result, varieties and their exquisite prepara- beyond varieties such as saumon d’É- tions, Scribo’s Cartes et Menus ¬

The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 39 Dictionary Review Continued de Restaurant also spans breadth of corpus. Included in this dictionary • Indexing of regional and international specialties. For example: you will find: bastella: stuffed pastry pocket [Corsica] • Technical specialization and skill, noque: small round quenelle [Alsace] uncharted in traditional general-pur- crique: small potato pancake [Auvergne] pose and institutional giant re sources. panisse: thick fried pancake of chickpea flour [Provence] For example: helvelle(s) (mitre pipérade: fondue of sweet peppers and tomatoes flavored d’évêque): turban-top mushrooms; with garlic and onions [Basque] cressonade: watercress sauce; cro- gosette: fruit turnover [Belgium] quandine de […]: crisply fried […]; parmentier de […]: a dish including potatoes; oursinade: sea-urchin sauce (or soup); or the prized differ- • Indexing of differences between American and British English. For ences between daurade (gilt-head example: bream) and dorade (sea bream).

• Entries for all types of menu items endive: chicory [U.K.], Belgian endive [U.S.] (appetizers, entrées, side orders) in- armoise: artemesia [U.K.], sagebrush [U.S.] clu ding desserts, which tradition- conserves: tinned food [U.K.], canned food [U.S.] ally belong to a separate domain of boudin: black pudding [U.K.], blood sausage [U.S.] the culinary arts. Oenology is the myrtilles: bilberry [U.K.], blueberry [U.S.] only exception, covered in a sepa- rate Scribo publication, a pocket dictionary entitled: The A to Z of • Inclusion of certain tools of the trade, for example, mandoline (vegetable French Food.1 slicer), dariole (small cylindrical mould), hâtelet/attelet (decorative skewer), and caquelon (fondue dish).

Translation: Getting it Right Translation “By applying even half the tips in this guide, you will improve getting it right your chances of getting a translation that works.”

Translation: Getting it Right is an ATA client education booklet anslations A guide to buying tr available in print and online. ATA members can order up to 100 copies at no cost. To download a PDF copy of this booklet, visit

american www.atanet.org. translators association

40 The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 Contextualization—translation tips Normand (a Normandy-style break), ents, varieties, preparations, and cre- and definitions referring to “a glass of Calvados or other ativity subsumed in writing and trans- Scribo suggests that using Cartes alcohol served between courses of a lating menus. Cartes et Menus de et Menus de Restaurant for translating meal,” or for […] à la Normande Restaurant is a definite (and succulent) menus is as easy as playing with (Normandy–style […]), referring to “a must-have for all translators of menus Legos. The analogy holds true to the preparation with local Normandy prod- and à la carte. Get it and bon appétit!! extent that translation tips are pro- ucts such as seafood, butter, fresh cream, vided wherever the symbol […] apples, cider, or Calvados.” The defini- Note appears for key entries, guiding you to tions, supplied with translations in 1. Geneviève, Temmerman de, and fill-in the spaces (or to substitute) Cartes et Menus de Restaurant, are Didier Chedorge. The A to Z of with your own choice of terms, just as simply invaluable. French Food. L'ABC de la easily as you would switch Lego Gastronomie française. 10th edition bricks. Thus, for example, in the list Overall evaluation (Paris, France: Editions Scribo, of fish preparations on page 39, you When it comes to translating menu 2007). could have: saumon (salmon), dorade items such as courte-nage (aromatic (sea bream), glane (sheatfish), or lotte broth), pithiviers (puff pastry with (anglerfish) à l’aigre-doux (in sweet filling), and ttoro (basque-style fish- Françoise Herrmann is a freelance translator and sour sauce). Similarly, for anyone soup); figuring out what a particular type and interpreter for French and English with hesitations regarding compara- of preparation means, such as à l’écar- (sometimes Spanish) based in San Francisco, tive word orders, Cartes et Menus de late (pickled), à la dieppoise (with white California. She occasionally teaches scientific Restaurant walks you through con- wine), and à la dijonaise (Dijon-style and technical translation at the Monterey structions such as: […] à la vapeur with mustard); or discovering the evoca- Institute of International Studies and the Institut (steamed […]) and […] à la vapeur tive ways of referring to the presentation Supérieur d'Interprétation et de Traduction in de… ([…] steamed with …) of food, such as pommes de terre en robe France. Contact: [email protected] or On a more advanced level, you will des champs (potatoes in their skins), www.fhphd.org. no doubt find the definitions (termed aumonière de caviar (caviar in a explanations) supplied with translations beggar’s purse [a thin crêpe]), and most useful, in addition to the bounty of bombe cardinal (ice-cream topped with examples. Thus, it is one step to find the red fruit), you will find that Scribo’s translation for à l’oriental (Oriental- Cartes et Menus de Restaurant has done ATA’s Court Interpreting and style) and another, perhaps more signifi- the research for you. This is a technical Translation Seminar cant, to understand that this means “with dictionary that has charted extensive ter- semolina and chickpeas.” Likewise, the ritory in the domain of culinary arts www.atanet.org/pd/court same would hold true for a trou (including pastry), and all of the ingredi-

Download ATA Division Newsletters ONLINE www.atanet.org/divisions/division_newsletters.php Roles Get the latest scoop on division activities and stay current with language- NOW and specialty-specific information pertinent to your field. Visit Enter ATA’s School Outreach Contest www.atanet.org www.atanet.org/ata_school/school_outreach_contest.php Find out how you can win a free registration to ATA’s 50th Annual Conference with your session in the classroom! NXTwww.star-transit.net The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 41 The Translation Inquirer John Decker [email protected]

Just the barest of introductions will do this time because the column Abbreviations used with this column is so meaty. It is feast time! C-Chinese Gr-Greek D-Dutch H-Hungarian E-English I-Italian New Queries [E]-English Po-Polish acceptable as an answer, the original R-Russian (C-E 3-09.1) Okay, Chinese at last— no more ignoring a sixth of the human query did not involve English Ro-Romanian race. The first part of the following F-French Sp-Spanish phrase caused problems for a ProZer. G-German It discusses a scientist who was dis- honest after receiving a government grant to program a piece of software. Here it is: (E-Sp 3-09.5) Working on a document simply be translated as donne son about in vitro fertilization, a ProZer appui because “publicly” is a tautology. 6000 was stumped by “equilibrated If the organization is a public one, it 15 cleavage medium,” as in “Score all obviously endorses something publicly. zygotes and group them together for (E-D 3-09.2) A ProZer wants to know culture in Equilibrated Cleavage (E-R 11-08.2) (blinded investigator): what “dramming” is and how to Medium, making sure they are fully In a medical trials context, Alex render it into Dutch. While going washed before incubation.” Spanish is Lukoff prefers ytjcdtljvk=yysq through a tourism brochure that needed, please! bccktljdfntkm, regardless of whether touches on Scottish distilleries, he the study is a single-blinded or found “interactive heritage exhibition, (G-Ro [E] 3-09.6) The last four words double-blinded one. distillery tours, and dramming.” of this sentence posed difficulties for a What might it be? ProZer going into Romanian: Die Kom- (E-Sp 1-09.5) (forward deployment): mu nalsteuer wurde in erklärter Höhe Davor Zidovec calls this despliegue (E-Gr 3-09.3) “Respite options” is a en trichtet. English would be acceptable. hacia el frente. The entire phrase that fairly straightforward concept in the appeared on page 44 of the January context of caregivers such as the (I-E 3-09.7) From a list of publica- issue is: A veces estos ejercicios, que spouses of people with debilitating tions in an Italian legal résumé comes incluían misiles balísticos desplegados diseases or dementia. Just in case, this stumper: Dall’atto unico all’au- hacia el frente, eran tan realistas que… here is a bit more context: “respite torizzazione con riserva attraverso il options to help reduce the detrimental coordinamento. It is the title of some- (F-Po [E] 11-08.3) (l’objectif de CA et effects of caring for an individual…” thing, but what? de Résultat): Florence Herbulot says What about the Greek for this? that CA is the acronym for Chiffre (Po-G [E] 3-09.8) The middle item of d’affaires, which is “sales.” Résultat is (E-Po 3-09.4) Could “on-board” pos- this list in a civil engineering assign- “the bottom line,” so she thinks this sibly be a synonym for “in-house” a ment is problematic: 8 sztuk regu- means “They will be late in reaching ProZer asks? What we are dealing with lowanych trójczàÊciowych zawiasów z their objective for sales and final here is high-speed sampling of CE zabezpieczeniem przed wybaczaniem; financial results.” microchips. One section of the docu- 2 sztuki zamek górny z regulatorem; 1 ment speaks of “…the low volume of para klamka drzwiowa, uchwyt typ (G-E 11-08.4) (Vorlauf): John Kinory samples needed (pL), potentially pre- 1076. English is acceptable for this one. consulted his wife, a supply chain pared on-board for complete integra- expert, and she suggested that, at least tion of sample preparation and analysis Replies to Old Queries in the U.S. auto industry, it is either a function…” After figuring out what it (E-F 1-09.1) (publicly endorses) “bridging inventory” or a “float.” is, Polish is wanted. Josephine Bacon believes this should

42 The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 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.

(G-E 1-09.8) (verklaüselt): Imre does Franco Zearo, that this is the ophy that “simplicity rules,” offers Takacs quotes Uexkull’s Wörterbuch word for the AA battery. In contrast, “hand-delivered” as the solution. der Patent- und Markenpraxis (sixth the AAA battery is designated in (Sp-E 11-08.11) (adoctrinamiento del edition), stating that this means Italian as a pila ministilo or simply MGM): For Barbara Granlund and “hedged in by clauses.” Iris Heerhold ministilo. Lorraine Alexson calls this a Janis Palma, this has to be “MGM believes this is an error for the actual “battery stylus.” The shape of this training.” If this is a machine or a word verklausuliert, a verb meaning object is reminiscent of a stylus, says piece of equipment, the entire phrase to say something in a very long and Franco. Elizabeth Hill Barsanti says is “training on the MGM.” Sabine complicated way. Therefore, “intri- that Stila is a brand name. Berto Berti Michael defines the abbreviation as cately” would work in English. states that the object is simply a small Manual General de Mantenimiento flashlight shaped like a pen. (Manual for General Aircraft (Gr-E 11-08.6) (Το αντικει′μενο τηζ Maintenance). Since adoctrinamiento δουλεια′ζ μου): Kim Braithwaite (I-E 11-08.8) (che resulta così rinno- is usually referred to as “indoctrina- points out some typos in the final let- vata per quasi la metà delle proposte tion,” she would go with “training” in ters of the third and fourth word, rispetto alla stagione precedende): For this case. incorrectly substituting a lower-case Lorraine Alexson, it is “thus resulting zeta instead of the correct word-final in [or meaning that] nearly half of the (Sp-E 11-08.12) (Omite manifestar sigma. To the untrained eye, the let- styles introduced have been updated que ella realiza una actividad remu- ters look a bit alike. The zeta may be since last year.” The Language Quality nerada y obtiene ingresos): For this, a deliberate phonetic spelling to rep- Solutions employees state that this is please see page 43 of the resent the standard voicing of sigma about the designs of reading glasses, November/December 2008 Inquirer when followed by a voiced consonant. and suggests “In particular, nearly half for the full paragraph. Barbara He believes the phrase could be trans- of the models of the previous collection Granlund suggests “She omits to dis- lated as “the subject of my work,” but have been renewed.” Florence Herbulot close that she performs compensated admits there could be some extra con- suggests “The range of models pro- work and receives an income.” Lee notation beyond the literal one. posed by this eyewear maker have been Wright calls this a typical situation of renewed since the past season: almost high-register Spanish usage. This is (H-G [E] 1-09.9) (leltárfelvételi jegy): half of them are new.” one of those fairly common cases Gabe Bokor states that the translation where the first step is to lower the reg- of the Hungarian explanation is “The (R-E 11-08.10) (vbrhjrfgtkmyjt ister to reflect more common everyday [term] is a pre-numbered, detachable ghjvsdfybt): Jim Shipp calls this language. He calls this “dumbing tag, which can be glued onto those “microirrigation.” Alex Lukoff says down” the source-language message. objects that have been inventoried.” the term refers to “microfine droplet Here, the Spanish really says La parte Based on that, he would suggest technology,” which is used in some actora no dice [dijo] que ella tiene “inventory tag” in English and prob- way for nasal irrigation. empleo y gana dinero. Translated into ably Inventarschild in German. “plain” English, this means “The (Sp-E 8-08.10) (quiebras de la plaintiff does [did not] say that she has (I-E 8-08.8) (dramma concertante in seguridad ambiental): L.M. Montoya income from a paying job.” due atti): Lorraine Alexson questions suggests “failures in protecting the Apparently, the legal document in whether the original query was as environment.” question pertains to a divorce or child written above, or whether the word support case, and the plaintiff is trying actually meant was “concentrate.” (Sp-E 10-09.12) (en su despacho): to get the other party (her current or Those who are able to probe back into Sheldon Shaffer believes this term is former spouse) to be responsible for the ProZ archives are challenged to another way of expressing the often- paying child support (alimentaria). find whether it got garbled in some seen presente, which is shown in lieu More responses to this will follow in way, in light of the replies found on of an address in various business cor- the April and May columns. page 43 of the November/December respondence, and that it means “of 2008 issue. known address.” Certainly, this is not Wow! There were enough responses used in typical English-language cor- this time to justify some spillover into (I-E 11-08.7) (pila stilo): The staff at respondence, but it is nonetheless future columns. Thanks! Language Quality Solutions, an clear enough to be understood. Jean- Italian translation company, states, as Pierre Maldonado, using the philos-

The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 43 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 informa- Localization on a Grand Scale tion and permission if relevant.

Localization is the translation (Duke University Press, 2007), and an toward “group educational meet- of materials, typically instruction even more recent article in the June 16, ings” and a feeling of solidarity with manuals, computer programs, and 2008 edition of The Nation, Linda all women worldwide. advertisements, not only into the Gordon’s “Translating Our Bodies, target language but also into the target Ourselves.” Linda Gordon is a professor • The addition of a discussion of culture. Unlike literary translators, of history at New York University, and “traditional healing practices.” who can choose either to bring the the information and quotations below text to the target audience or allow the come from her article. • The addition of a full and “complex target audience to work its way Localization of the translations discussion of Catholicism,” and toward the text, only the first is an was necessary because some of the how “sanctity-of-life values could option for translators of the nonfiction concerns of the “educated, middle- be transformed” into an “imperative materials mentioned. If the target class, white American women” who to protect the lives of children audience does not “get it,” the transla- wrote the book, “such as challenging already born, of women, of commu- tions are useless at best and can lead mainstream medicine, made no sense nities.” The original book men- to catastrophe at worst. to women who lacked access to med- tioned religion only in the context In 1970, the Boston Women’s Health ical care.” of antiabortion activism. Book Collective published Women and Here are some of the ways that the Their Bodies on newsprint. Its goal was 2000 translation, Nuestros Cuerpos, Finally, there is the localization to enable women to wrest control over Nuestras Vidas [Our Bodies, Our procedure that most captures my their bodies from men in general and Lives], destined for Latin America, attention as a literary translator: some the male-dominated medical establish- was localized: of the prose of the original was trans- ment in particular. Without a commer- formed into poetry, to be in accord cial distributor, the book sold about • “New experiential accounts and with Latin American oral tradition. 250,000 copies at 75 cents apiece. By illustrations to reflect Latinas’ Many Latinas will never read the now, under the title Our Bodies, lives.” For example, most Latinas, book, only hear it. Ourselves (and various translated titles), unlike many American women, are The localization procedures cited it has sold over four million copies not overly concerned with their have many implications not only for worldwide in more than 20 languages, body image. cross-border translation, but also for plus Braille and audio versions, and translation within our multi-cultural several more translations are in • Replacement of the phrase auto society. Readers of this column are progress. It has been the subject of a ayuda [self help] with ayuda mutual invited to submit items about other recent book, Kathy Davis’s The Making [mutual help]. The assumption of interesting localization procedures of Our Bodies, Ourselves; How the original authors that the book they have used or heard about. Feminism Travels Across Borders would be read in private had to be abandoned, and the book reoriented Synch View Translation Memory Survey Announced SDL is researching key trends in the translation industry, specifically your opinions on translation memory, the effect it has on your productivity, and what you feel would improve this software. Please go to www.sdl.com/translation-survey and complete the survey for your chance to win a digital photo frame. NXTwww.star-transit.net The results will be published in a research paper that will be available at www.sdl.com.

44 The ATA Chronicle I March 2009 ATA/NYCTATA/NYCT CourtCourt InterpretingInterpreting andand TranslationTranslation SeminarSeminar Professional Development for Translators and Interpreters

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Join ATA and Save! Why should you attend this seminar? The ATA/NYCT Court Interpreting and Translation Seminar offers Save $170 on registration rates by a unique opportunity to enhance your skills and advance your career! joining ATA. Visit www.atanet.org/ membership/join_now.php today! By attending this seminar, you will: - Receive training specific to your needs as an Hotel Information experienced interpreter and translator The Doubletree Hotel, located in the - Strengthen your competence and performance To learn more, heart of the Jersey City Financial in the demanding courtroom environment visit District, is directly across the Hudson River from New York City and offers - Take part in exercises to increase your speaking rate www.atanet.org/ spectacular views of the City skyline. and improve accuracy at higher speeds pd/court A block of rooms has been - Understand all aspects of transcribing and translating reserved at $139 single/double a evidence tapes or contact ATA at night, plus tax. Take advantage of these special rates, by making your - Connect with colleagues, company owners, and seasoned 1-703-683-6100 or reservations by March 24. professionals at the Networking Session [email protected] Call the Doubletree at (201) 499-2400 - Market your services by taking part in the Job Marketplace and ask for the special ATA rate. - Obtain the professional development you need to enhance the added-value you offer in a competitive marketplace Continuing Education Registration Form Earn up to 9 CEPs for the ATA Certification Program. First Name Middle Initial Last Name ATA Member#

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