Quarterly Newsletter of the
Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators Inc
Volume 20, number 4 — Summer 2012
Translator David Colmer explains the key to his award- winning success
From welfare to global focus — a potted history of AUSIT
Legal interpreting in a non-adversarial system— is it a win-win for practitioners and for justice?
Are Croatian, Bosnian and Serbian distinct languages? Will Firth considers the politics Advance your translating and interpreting career
At Macquarie University, our Department of Linguistics offers postgraduate degrees by coursework, to give you professional qualifications in either translation or interpreting, or both, that can take your career further. Our research-based curriculum gives you linguistic, technical and professional skills, as well as a solid base in theory and practice in our NAATI approved courses.
Our courses: • Use the most up-to-date classroom management, language learning and translation software to enhance your learning experience • Offer an optional practice unit which allows you to gain translating and interpreting experience necessary for professional NAATI accreditation • Provide programs in a number of languages, and can include Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese and Korean.
Apply now for 2013 Domestic student applications close 11 January 2013 International student applications close 31 January 2013
For more information: Alice Wu Translation and Interpreting Office, Department of Linguistics T: (02) 9850 6782 E: [email protected] W: ling.mq.edu.au/translating 00002J Code Provider CRICOS
2 A U S I T — I N T O U C H / SUMMER 2 0 1 2 PRESIDENT’S REPORT
the focus on professional development. send a piece of information that I Years of maturing followed, thought I had made available via a Advance your translating From the characterised by introspection and number of channels already. It seems numerous brave forays into the wide no matter how hard I try, I still fail to helm... world. Barbara McGilvray’s history reach all the intended recipients of my and interpreting career timeline in this issue outlines AUSIT’s messages. It looks as if many members development. don’t read emails (or e-flashes) or AUSIT at 25 years of age don’t read them beyond the first line. Thanks to the organisational talents I feel proud of AUSIT, now in its 25th At Macquarie University, our Department of Linguistics offers postgraduate degrees by coursework, to give and unceasing work of Daniel Muller, year. Our Institute is of fine character AUSIT Executive Officer, the e-flashes you professional qualifications in either translation or interpreting, or both, that can take your career further. and enjoys modest popularity. Our are now all available online at http:// association emanates quiet confidence Our research-based curriculum gives you linguistic, technical and professional skills, as well as a solid base ausitatwork.com.au/eflash/ This and strength, and this strength comes in theory and practice in our NAATI approved courses. should make it easy to check a date from the inside. It is generated by or a venue, if members would only our members — some of the most remember to go and visit the website! Our courses: outstanding professionals in the industry. To be accepted into AUSIT Goodbye to old friends and • Use the most up-to-date classroom management, language learning and translation software to enhance welcome to the new Dear Colleagues, requires solid evidence of a T/I’s your learning experience capabilities and skills. Once a member, Glancing back at the more recent s it happens, my daughter professionals are expected to prove that past, I see a very busy period. AUSIT • Offer an optional practice unit which allows you to gain translating and interpreting experience necessary was born in 1987, the same they maintain their skills too. members created and attended for professional NAATI accreditation year AUSIT was founded. I A It is often mentioned that AUSIT several interesting PD events and look at her now and marvel at her members come in all shapes and all branches have held their annual • Provide programs in a number of languages, and can include Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese and Korean. transformation from the gorgeous, sizes. Their needs and expectations general meetings in the last two to tiny, ever-hungry baby into a beautiful, are accordingly varied. The latest three months. I’d like to say a sincere successful, ever-busy adult. Was it the Apply now for 2013 satisfaction survey showed that in thank you again to all committee same with AUSIT? Domestic student applications close 11 January 2013 general, the membership is satisfied members who have just retired. Your Bringing up baby International student applications close 31 January 2013 with the services and benefits they work will be long remembered, and Joining our association in 2002, I did receive from AUSIT. Perhaps the we look forward to your continued not know AUSIT in its infancy. My happiest are those members who support of AUSIT, albeit in a less active For more information: colleagues tell me that the birth was a actively sustain AUSIT through their role. I wish to extend a warm welcome Alice Wu relatively easy and joyful experience. volunteer work and who serve in to new members of the committees Translation and Interpreting Office, Department of Linguistics Early development was steady but various committees and councils. and wish you good luck. Hopefully T: (02) 9850 6782 entering into the second decade, The president’s role you will find your engagement in the AUSIT experienced some turbulent association enjoyable and rewarding E: [email protected] As I see it, my job is to coordinate years. Despite the difficulties, the in terms of intellectual satisfaction, W: ling.mq.edu.au/translating the work of my colleagues, facilitate well-liked child was a good performer friendship-building and knowing you decisions and ensure they are made and was admired by friends and foe have contributed to the progress of via a democratic and transparent alike. AUSIT entered the world scene the organisation. Please never hesitate process. It is a privilege for me and a by hosting the XIV FIT Congress to contact me if you think I can be of source of joy to be in touch with fellow in Melbourne in 1996. Adolescence assistance. With Christmas and the end volunteers every day. brought about a growth spurt. Do of 2012 fast approaching I’m sending you remember those enthusiastic The communication conundrum Season’s Greetings to all AUSIT years between 2000 and 2002? The However, communication with the members and supporters. May the new Sydney Olympics, the website and the membership at large still frustrates year bring peace, health, wealth and e-Bulletin, the 1800 phone number and me. It happens when I’m asked to happiness. Annamaria Arnall. Contents The deadline for the Autumn issue is 10 March 2013. Please send any letters, From the helm...... 3 Front cover photo: Award-winning Australian articles or images for forthcoming editions translator David Colmer who has travelled to: Interview with translator David Colmer ...... 4 from his home in Amsterdam to talk at Rachel Judd, In Touch editor A potted history of AUSIT ...... 6 AUSIT’s JubilaTIon 25 conference in December [email protected]. 2012. Charles Qin explores legal interpreting in a non- The editor reserves the right to edit or not to advesarial context ...... 9 publish any item submitted for publication. Are Croation, Bosnian and Serbian distinct Opinions expressed are those of the authors only languages? Will Firth considers the politics...... 11 AUSIT contacts and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editor or those of AUSIT and its executive. Book review...... 12 National telephone: 1800 284 181 AUSIT does not necessarily endorse products or Website: www.ausit.org Ten tips to ensure you are paid for your work 13 PO Box 193, Surrey Hills Vic 3127 Tel: (03) services appearing in any advertising contained Room with a companion...... 14 9895 4473 Fax: (03) 989 024 herein. Email: [email protected] This newsletter is printed by Bounty Print and Branch news...... 15 Yahoo groups: [email protected] distributed by Mailing Matters. 00002J Code Provider CRICOS
A U S I T — I N T O U C H / SUMMER 2 0 1 2 3 INTERVIEW The art of translation David Colmer is an award-winning literary translator and writer, known for a chameleon-like ability to traverse different genres. Maurite Fober interviewed the writer prior to his appearance at AUSIT’s JubilaTIon 25 Biennial Conference.
ad it been a sunny day, I would probably never have Hfound out that David Colmer has an un-Australian aversion to cars. But it rained the day I met Colmer for our interview, so one of my favourite spots for quiet indulgence, Bracegirdle’s chocolate café, was out. The stand-in was the least noisy, upstairs room of inner-city Cibo’s, a short walk from Colmer’s digs on the leafy side of Adelaide. Not surprisingly, it’s in Amsterdam, where cyclists reign, that Colmer lives and thrives as a multi-award-winning literary translator. David I ask Colmer how many prizes Colmer he’s actually won and he tries to spent learning or using the language. downplay them, but I have another in,’ Colmer objects, ‘you’ll make me Although I was only there for a Dutch translator with me, Claudia sound like an egomaniac!’ few years I was using the language Ait-Touati, and she’s not buying it. Colmer’s humility may be attributed maybe ten or twelve hours a day, so When Colmer says, ‘I’ve won six, but to the shadow which fell over his early it adds up really quickly…And then I they weren’t all big prizes’, Claudia career, one he shares in common with learnt Dutch similarly…The biggest parries, ‘but the David Reid Poetry the likes of Richard Branson, Ralph problem with learning Dutch is that Translation Prize is quite respected’, Lauren, David Geffen, Steve Jobs and the Dutch people aren’t very good at to which he laughingly protests, ‘I Mark Zuckerberg: he dropped out. teaching other people how to speak only won it one-third of the time!’ He The thought of finishing his medical it; they always want to speak English. explains that the David Reid poetry studies still gives him nightmares. But I had a very strong German competition is a private initiative How, then, did he become such a accent when I went, so nobody spoke by a retired translator in honour of success story? Partly because, being English to me; [they thought I was her late husband. For six years, the monolingual, Colmer says he didn’t German]. I even went to a party widow nominated a poem every six know enough about translation to not long after I’d moved there and months, open to anyone to translate, think it might be too hard to aim for! this German guy was saying ‘Oh, with a jury to decide the winner. Yet he worked hard and doggedly that guy’s terrible, his accent’s even Colmer won the prize four times. ‘It’s to apply himself to his new career worse than mine!’ So that was a real quite good fun,’ Colmer says. ‘It’s not goal. At twenty-six, he identified his advantage.’ a prestigious prize at all but it’s a nice challenge — German immersion. Even today Colmer argues that his competition so it was quite good to Colmer went to Berlin and worked as accent remains a ‘complete mish- win it.’ And the other prizes? a labourer, denying himself the safety mash.’ ‘I think people who are good In 2009 Colmer won the NSW net of English and choosing to live at languages tend to have unstable Premier’s Translation Prize for his within his linguistic means. accents’ he says, ‘because they’re so body of work and also won the 2010 ‘It was an act of will to not use easily influenced by what’s going on IMPAC Dublin Literary Award for English,’ he says of his time in around them.’ This may account his translation of Gerbrand Bakker’s Germany. ‘It was just absolute for Colmer’s versatility, one of the Boven is het stil (The twin). Just immersion…I’m willing to accept cornerstones of his craft; Colmer this month the Dutch Foundation that I probably have a talent for agrees that in trying to communicate of Literature awarded its annual learning languages but I think what’s in a foreign language one is always translation prize to Colmer; this important when you’re learning ‘listening to what other people prize judges ‘a translators oeuvre as is not how long you’ve been in the are saying all the time and…kind a whole.’ ‘Please don’t put all of that country, it’s how many hours you’ve of moulding what you say to the
4 4A U S I T — I N T O U C H / SUMMER 2 0 1 2 INTERVIEW way that other people speak’. This I translate it into English I have to Claus, probably one of the greatest has given him a chameleon-like try and make it plausible by giving Flemish authors of the 20th century. ability to traverse different writing these characters realistic accents. In Does this give him more power as far genres. The work he has translated English, you can’t have the Welsh as royalties go? ranges from Gerbrand Bakker’s farmer sounding like the Dutch ‘I always try to get a royalties clause ‘laconic dialogue and dark prose’ academic. So then I had to do a lot but very often publishers insist on the to Dimitri Verhulst, ‘a spendthrift of research to try and work out how payment up-front being an advance with language,’ and Peter Terrin’s people talk in that place, which I’m against royalties, so you have to earn ‘polished, cerebral’ style. He was also not really familiar with, and then that back from the royalties before selected to translate the children’s try and make it sound authentic. I you get any additional payments,’ verse of much-loved Dutch icon, wasn’t able to go there, I didn’t have Colmer says. ‘Given the number of Annie Schmidt. David Colmer has time... I watched lots of films and copies that are sold of these books indeed proved to be pretty adaptable. documentaries and most of them that makes the whole idea of royalties ‘Some people compare literary didn’t help very much. Because it was quite an academic point, because you translation to a performing art set in a particular area of North Wales have to sell so many copies before like music, with a translator as the where they have a particular accent, you get an additional payment. So I performer and the original language I managed to find an informant from like to have a royalties clause but that as the score,’ Colmer says. ‘Getting that area who looked at some of the doesn’t mean that I actually get paid the notes right is just the start. It’s dialogue for me and gave me some royalties because you have to earn the tone and phrasing that make advice on what some words are that a the fee first, from your one percent the work come to life. And the other farmer might say.’ of publisher’s receipts, or whatever. thing about translation is repertoire. I’m also interested to find out how It’s often very low and it’s hard to The translator needs to be able to Colmer deals with a situation where negotiate a good royalties rate as a reproduce the style of very different he feels antipathy towards the voice of translator.’ authors and make them all sound a writer he’s translating, and whether What about the situation with like themselves in a foreign language. he ever feels inclined to ‘polish a copyright in the Netherlands, I ask It’s not a one size fits all process.’ him. ‘The Netherlands has a standard Is this why he was able to get into ‘It’s the tone and phrasing contract for literary translation,’ he the mind of a child in his rendition that make the work come says. ‘It’s a fantastic contract with of the children’s verse of Anna really good rights and really good Schmidt? ‘I think I don’t have a to life...the translator royalties and everything, but that of lot of preconceived notions about needs to reproduce the course is for translation into Dutch. how something should be written styles of very different I have done some books for Dutch so that I tend to be quite flexible in authors and make them publishers and got the Dutch contract responding to the original in the all sound like themselves and that, of course, is amazing way that it’s written.’ Colmer says. because you don’t have to talk about ‘One of the problems particularly in a foreign language.’ it at all, it’s all just set! With British visible with children’s literature is or American publishers you have to that people impose a sense of adult book’ with his translation. ‘How you negotiate each thing, each time, with style when they try to translate deal with it depends on what kind of each publisher. It’s a real pain. I’m a children’s literature … it’s not there position you’re in,’ he says. ‘If you’re member of the translators association in the original, so their reflexes in a relatively luxurious position of in the UK and they have a contract are too ingrained. Possibly one of having enough work offered to you, vetting service which is included my strengths is that I don’t have you just say ‘no’, that’s how you deal in the membership fee. If you’re a particularly ingrained stylistic with it !…I generally resist [‘polishing’ member you can just send them the reflexes, so I try to respond to the an writer’s work]… With Dutch contract and they’ll advise you about original.’ literature sometimes the standard of it...The Translator’s Association is editing isn’t high so the writing can be Well that’s a perfect lead-in to the translator’s wing of the Society of a bit repetitive. In one particular case what I really want to know, how Authors in the UK.’ I spoke with the publisher about that he works the nuts and bolts of I’m also keen to find out whether problem and the publisher agreed literary translation. An interesting Colmer has ever used a translation that it might be best if I made it a question is how he handles dialect house. ‘Yeah, I mainly know about bit tighter for the English-speaking and regional idiosyncrasies. ‘I had the Dutch one and the Flemish one, readers…’ an interesting problem in Gerbrand and they’re quite different from each Bakker’s new book,’ Colmer says, Admittedly, this is a problem which other…They do tend to vary a lot. to illustrate how he handles these Colmer rarely experiences these days. The one I’ve stayed at is a Flemish issues. ‘It’s set in Wales, and the Winning awards has given him a lot translator’s house. It’s basically just main character is Dutch but a lot of coverage and more than ever he is two apartments. People who translate of the other characters are English able to pick and choose the books he from Dutch into other languages can or Welsh. They all speak English translates. He has up to five books go and stay there and the idea is that but in the Dutch book that’s all on the go at the moment, including while you’re in Antwerp you can do just standard Dutch, so that when a collection of the poetry of Hugo (Interview continues on page 10)
A U S I T — I N T O U C H / SUMMER 2 0 1 2 5 5 HISTORY
This page: Despite a few fashion mistakes along the way, AUSIT continues to nurture committed, professional representatives. Here are some of the organisation’s early flag-bearers at the inaugural Annual General Meeting in Canberra, 1988.
Opposite: AUSIT hosts the 14th Federation of International Translators’ Triennial World Congress in 1996 AUSIT kicks up its heels With its initial focus on welfare, AUSIT has expanded to become a sophisticated, professional organisation with a global focus. Barbara McGilvray gives a potted history of AUSIT as the organisation celebrates its 25th birthday.
s AUSIT is celebrating the 25th Mid-1970s — Training courses are to establish an umbrella association. anniversary of its foundation, I set up in Victoria, NSW and the ACT. 1988 — Draft Constitution and Athought today’s members and 1977 — NAATI is established and bylaws of the Australian Institute of other readers of this newsletter might begins developing accreditation of Interpreters and Translators (AUSIT) be interested in a potted history of the T&I courses. are endorsed at its inaugural National Institute. So here it is in the 1978 — Recommendations of the AGM in the Sydney Opera House. form of a timeline, accompanied Galbally report on Post-Arrival 1989 — First issue of AUSIT by a list of our National Presidents Services for Migrants lead to newsletter ‘In Other Words’ is and Fellows. (‘Fellow’ is AUSIT’s federal funding for state language published. highest award, given to longstanding services and government recruiting members who have made a significant 1990 — AUSIT makes submissions and training of interpreters. State to government inquiries and contribution to our Institute and the language services are established wider profession.) surveys including the Attorney- from 1977 in Victoria, New South General’s Access to Interpreters in Background Wales and South Australia; Western the Australian Legal System and the Australia and Queensland rely on TIS Australian Law Reform Commission. 1973 — The Federal Government (Federal). establishes the Emergency Telephone AUSIT’s candidature for membership Interpreter Service (now TIS 1980 — NAATI testing program for interpreters and translators begins. of FIT (the International Federation National). of Translators) is presented and 1976 — The Committee on Overseas Establishment and history approved at the FIT Triennial World Professional Qualifications (COPQ) of the national professional Congress in Belgrade. Working Party on Interpreting association 1990s — For several years in the recommends the establishment of 1987 — NAATI brings early 90s, AUSIT has premises in accreditation levels for translating representatives of state and territory Melbourne thanks to the generosity of and interpreting. T&I associations together in Canberra the National Languages and Literacy
6 6A U S I T — I N T O U C H / SUMMER 2 0 1 2 AUSIT HISTORY
Institute of Australia (NLLA). NSW members at Language Expo in State Excellence Awards introduced in 1992 — Inaugural Jill Blewett Brisbane, Joe Lo Bianco of Language Victoria. Memorial Lecture (JBML) is Australia puts together a consortium 2005 — AUSIT submission presented during Language Expo in to advise the Sydney Organising on the pay and conditions of Melbourne, attended by members, Committee for the Olympic Games community interpreters presented politicians and other VIP guests. on language provision for the Sydney to Federal Parliament, with AUSIT (From now on the JBML will be Olympics. The committee includes representatives appearing before a delivered annually in conjunction several NSW AUSIT members and Senate Committee. with the National AGM and will be will provide consultation until the The Board of Professional Conduct published on the AUSIT website.) Games in September 2000. is established as a mechanism for ‘Invisible Interpreters & Transparent 1999 — Community-Based dealing with grievances. Translators’ policy paper, aiming to Interpreting committee under Terry Mid-year meeting of the National raise the profile of T&I in Australia, Chesher presents the results of its Council held in Cairns, beginning the is launched in Melbourne by international interpreter survey to the tradition of a second annual face-to- Human Rights Race Discrimination XV World Congress of FIT. face meeting of the Council, to be held Commissioner Irene Moss. 2000 — Many AUSIT members are in regional centres whenever possible. 1993 — AUSIT’s bid to host the 1996 involved in the Sydney Olympics as 2006 — Category reform introduced FIT World Congress is presented interpreters, translators, editors or to broaden AUSIT membership at the Congress in Brighton (UK) volunteers. criteria beyond the original exclusive and succeeds. FIT National Council 2001 — The e-Bulletin electronic focus on NAATI accreditation. appoints AUSIT member Adolfo discussion forum is set up by David New award category of Senior Gentile ex officio member of its Connor, followed by language-specific Practitioner introduced. Executive Committee. He will go on forums and specialist groups such as AUSIT adaptation of the international to serve as Vice President and then literary translation, technology etc. President. Getting it right — Translation guide 2001-2002 —New focus on published, to be followed by Getting it 1995 — Inaugural AUSIT Fellows promotion of professional right — Interpreting. named. development as a fundamental AUSIT Kaleidoscope, the first scientifically- 1996 —XIV FIT World Congress held function. in Melbourne, establishing Australian based survey of the profession The first specially-designed initiated by AUSIT is commenced, co- T&I on the world stage. AUSIT is outsourced course for T&Is is invited to set up a new FIT Committee funded by Macquarie University and conducted at a Melbourne TAFE ASLIA. on Community-Based Interpreting Institute. (CBI). AUSIT representatives also Biennial National Conference nominated to FIT’s Human Rights 2002 — First website developed, with ‘Risks and rewards’ takes place in Committee and Literary Translation online register of members. Melbourne. Commission. From now on AUSIT First step in the overhaul of the 2007 — At a meeting with NAATI will be represented at all FIT Triennial administration, centralising basic and ASLIA in January, AUSIT’s World Congresses. functions such as fee collection and Professional Development points AUSIT’s Code of Ethics is launched, website management. system is adopted. By now all AUSIT endorsed by NAATI and adopted National 1800 phone number branches have a regular PD program progressively by government language introduced, making it easier for in line with the interests of the service providers and private agencies members and the public to contact membership. Presenters include throughout Australia. In less than a AUSIT. employers, academics, lawyers, police, decade its membership has grown to 2004 — National conference held psychologists, speech therapists and well over 700. jointly with the Australian Sign- international visitors. First edition of the AUSIT Journal Language Interpreters Association Inaugural Biennial National ‘Antipodean’ published (intended as (ASLIA) in Melbourne. Excellence Awards ceremony takes an annual publication, but only two ‘Power to the profession’ is the place in Sydney. issues are published). first of AUSIT’s Biennial National 2008 — Guide to working with 1998 — At the suggestion of AUSIT Conferences. interpreters in health care drawn up
A U S I T — I NA U TS OI T U — C HI N / T SO U U M C M H E / R SUMMER 2 0 1 0 - 12 10 1 2 7 7 AUSIT HISTORY
to supplement the Code of Ethics and become more business oriented and government agencies (TIS National, Code of Conduct. (for translation at least) globalised, Centrelink, NSW Police), and with Part of AUSIT administration the Institute too is becoming more ASLIA. is outsourced to Professional professionalised and sophisticated Over the years a number of Association Management Service in its management. However, our longstanding AUSIT members have (PAMS) in Melbourne. numbers — currently more than 600 been involved in practitioner training and growing steadily — still represent Biennial National Conference ‘Get at all levels. Adolfo Gentile was our too small a percentage of practitioners connected’ is held in Brisbane. AUSIT first homegrown full professor, at to be considered fully representative WA submission on WA Language Deakin University, where he also of the profession nationally. Thanks Services Policy. headed the T&I research centre. to the work of the Executive Officer Sandra Hale, a member of the first 2009 — Excellence Awards Daniel Muller, AUSIT has a new cohort of T&I graduates at the ceremony, expo and demonstration interactive website with a wealth University of Western Sydney, is an day in Adelaide. of information and data and T&I internationally respected scholar 2010 — ‘Synergise’ Biennial National resources, including a virtual lecture in the area of court interpreting in Conference in Fremantle. Proceedings room for professional development particular, and is now a professor at published by Cambridge Scholars activities. the University of New South Wales. Publishing. Communication with the membership Marc Orlando has introduced a Joint Monash/AUSIT working group has stepped up a notch with regular Double Master degree in translation begins review of the AUSIT Code of e-Flashes and occasional electronic and interpreting at Monash University Ethics . surveys and polls. The Constitution with students graduating from 2011 — Excellence Awards ceremony, is gradually being updated, with Monash and Jean Moulin University expo and demonstration day held proposals for change presented at in Lyon. The Diploma and Master in Canberra. Trial of part-time paid NAGMs since 2010. Our Annual courses in T&I pedagogy introduced Executive Officer position. AUSIT General Meeting alternates between at Macquarie University by members establishes a presence on social capital cities. It is always accompanied Helen Slatyer and Jemina Napier media. by the Jill Blewett Memorial Lecture, are an exciting recent development, delivered each year by a distinguished giving Australia its first locally-trained 2012 — Part-time Executive Officer speaker connected in some way with T&I educators. appointed, followed by a part-time our profession, and by our Biennial National Professional Development The following National Presidents and National Conference or Excellence Coordinator to consolidate and Fellows have contributed to making Awards ceremony (in alternate years). oversee a national PD programme. AUSIT the professional organisation Our quarterly newsletter In Touch is it is today. With funding assistance from NAATI published in both electronic and print the TICPD online professional form. Other publications include the National Presidents development hub is established Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct to inform practitioners about 1987-89 Luciano Ginori (revised edition to be presented at opportunities to hone their skills. This 1989-91 Bob Filipovich the 2012 NAGM in Sydney), DVDs includes a library of PD resources to 1991-93 Mary Gurgone of a number of PD presentations and be progressively stocked. 1993-95 Armand von Stein of sessions from the Critical Link 1995-97 Klaus Hermes A community interpreter/translator 5 conference held in Sydney, and 1997-99 Marta Barany group is set up in the Association of consumer guides on working with 1999-2000 Skender Bregu Professional Engineers, Scientists translators and interpreters. 2000-02 Moreno Giovannoni and Managers Australia (APESMA), AUSIT continues to be represented in 2003-05 Yveline Piller a union representing independent 2005-06 Chris Poole industry forums at national and state professionals. APESMA will work 2006-07 Uli Priester levels, including the NAATI Regional with AUSIT and ASLIA to improve 2007-09 Sarina Phan Advisory Committee in each State conditions for community interpreters 2009-10 Sam Berner or Territory, and the Professional and translators. 2010-11 Daniel Muller Reference Group established by 2011- Annamaria Arnall Online community of Learning and NAATI in 2012. Many AUSIT Practice (CoLP) established with members are employed by NAATI as the aim of providing mentoring to examiners and language panel chairs. AUSIT Fellows members. New website progressively Our links and collaborations with 1995 David Connor, Mary Gurgone, unveiled by Executive Officer Daniel Barbara McGilvray Muller. other organisations are increasing. Memoranda of understanding have 1996 Terry Chesher, Harry Blackmore, Bob Filipovich Revised and updated Code of Ethics been signed with ASLIA and the New completed, to be presented for 1997 Armand von Stein, Klaus Hermes Zealand association, NZSTI. Branches 1998 Lia Jaric approval at the National AGM in often share professional development Sydney. 1999 Marta Barany activities with tertiary training 2005 Moreno Giovannoni Current overview institutions in their state, legal bodies 2007 Annamaria Arnall, Yveline Piller As T&I in Australia gradually expands (Refugee Review Tribunal, NSW Law 2010 Vince Danilo beyond its original welfare focus to Society and the Bar Association) and 2011 Uli Priester
8 A U S I T — I N T O U C H / SUMMER 2 0 1 2 INTERPRETING
Also on a maritime theme, Charles Qin accompanies Defence Minister Stephen Smith on board a destroyer in China were Chinese but not the ship owner or other parties involved, damages A conclave of experts were in the multi-millions and the case was incredibly complex and Professor Charles Qin explains the benefits of fulfilling. There was a world-wide legal interpreting in a non-adversarial context. search for a suitable ‘maritime specialist’ interpreter and I was the eaders may be puzzled by enhanced judicial control over one selected. the article title and might privately retained expert evidence After the arrest of a ship in May Rbe thinking that I’ve been through conclaves, joint reports and 2012, again I was conscripted to hunkered down in the Vatican with a concurrent oral evidence. (Allsop, interpret for a maritime case in the group of Chinese clerics. ‘Hunkered J., ‘The judicial disposition of cases: Federal Court in Sydney, but this one down’ is close; however, the Vatican dealing with complex and specialised turned out to be very different from is far. factual material’, Bar News: the legal cases we are all familiar Before I explain my recent work NSW Bar Association, Summer with and different also in the high interpreting on two maritime cases, 2009/2010.) level of interpreter involvement and I’ll need to define some terms. Collisions of ships and maritime intensity. This was my first adventure The Concise Oxford Dictionary incidents happen often and there into concurrent evidence. defines ‘conclave’ as ‘a meeting place is a huge legal framework available My research revealed that this type of or assembly of cardinals for election to resolve disputes. Australia being hearing, in contrast to the traditional of the pope, or a private meeting’. The a relatively small nation has few adversarial style, was very new in term has come into common use in incidents, whereas jurisdictions like Australia and as the interpreter, Australian dispute resolution to mean London and The Hague and China I would work with both sides and a meeting between technical experts, have a lot. China has no less than ten really be in the middle. I realised that chaired by an arbitrator or mediator, maritime courts and more than 5,700 all parties had to be incredibly well the aim of which is to narrow the cases involving foreign countries; prepared — both for the intensity, but technical issues which will ultimately Taiwan and Hong Kong/Macau were also because counsel would be less require resolution (where the parties brought before them in the last three able to ‘control’ the witnesses and the and their lawyers may be present, years. The opportunities to work as judge would also be able to intervene but do not actively participate). an interpreter in this jurisdiction are and ask many questions too. The (Robert Hunt, President Institute of few and far between though. traditional pattern of counsel asking Arbitrators & Mediators Australia, I’ve been fortunate over the last ‘tricky’ questions to trip up the http://www.roberthuntbarrister. few years to be engaged for two witness to prove the case would be com/Horsescourses.pdf) maritime cases. One of them involved quite difficult. ‘Concurrent evidence’ involves multiple parties in which the crew I learnt that rather than acting in
A U S I T — I N T O U C H / SUMMER 2 0 1 2 9 INTERPRETING
isolation, with each side finding answers are exposed, not necessarily their fees). This type of hearing a witness(es) to reinforce their because of a skilful barrister, but certainly placed more pressure on argument, with concurrent evidence because the truth is discovered me as the experts were all questioned the witnesses are brought together through a genuine process. together at the same time and for an in a ‘conclave’ in advance, to meet extended period. I had to interpret The judge can also decide that and identify the areas of agreement back and forth. The presence of one evidence introduced by counsel is not and disagreement in the case. A microphone and the rule that only relevant — in particular to the joint joint statement is prepared. In court, the person holding it was allowed to report — and can be refused. In one a ‘structured discussion’ then takes speak helped, but was very taxing. instance counsel was able to question place on these issues. Experts can The length of trials handled in this the judge on the appropriateness of all respond to a question, counsel way are shorter; the decisions fully his question; on another occasion and judge can ask questions and explore the evidence, not just what counsel argued that there had been seek clarification and the discussion counsel wants the judge to hear, so no opportunity to cross-examine the continues to inform the judge. could be seen as fairer. Certainly witness in the conclave, and therefore There is less tension and a genuine there is a saving in public costs. wanted to do so at the hearing, on a exchange of expert views occurs — no Interpreter preparation time needs particular point. more instances of ‘a yes or a no’. In to be factored in as well – and as this type of exchange the expert can The jury is still out (if you pardon the interpreters need to charge for that fully answer the questions without pun) on whether this type of hearing too – it would seem to be a win-win being chopped off. Eventually wrong is a good thing for interpreters (and situation.
The art of translation (Continued from page 5)
some research, expose yourself to the in the language, or contact authors, information and to apply it to two language and immerse yourself in it publishers, people like that. Both or more languages. ‘Even today I am if that’s necessary. You can establish those houses are limited to people slightly bemused if I stop and listen to contacts with Flemish authors and who are translating Dutch literature. myself speaking a foreign language. publishers. I went there the last time Some others are more general. Is that really me?’ he thinks. ‘And if because I was doing some research I think the one in Straelen is open it is, is it the same me I thought I was for the Hugo Claus poems. I wanted to all translators. They have an before I learnt to do this?’ to go and speak to some academics enormous library, apparently. And Links for information on based in Antwerp, who specialised in there’s one in Canada if you’re Translation Houses Claus. It’s just a fantastic apartment translating Canadian literature. There and you can go and stay there free are a number of them around the Translators’ house in Antwerp, of charge; in fact you can get an place. There’s an organisation for Flanders http://buitenland.vfl.be/en/ allowance to stay there. They have European translation houses.’ content/132/vertalershuis.html a small library there but you’re also In Amsterdam, The Netherlands right near the university libraries or We have been talking for some time http://www.letterenfonds.nl/en/ you can talk to people.’ when the balcony door starts banging in the wind, which is driving me nuts. amsterdam-translators-house ‘Who does the footwork to put you in I decide this is probably an opportune In Straelen, Germany http://euk- touch with people?’ I inquire. time to end the interview, but firstly I straelen.de/english-information/ ‘You have to take the initiative want to see what advice Colmer might kollegium/index.html yourself, but they, the Flemish have for budding translators. For more on translators’ residencies Literature Fund, help to facilitate ‘You need to be able to write really try RECIT, a network of European those things, because they’re well in your own language,’ he argues, literary translation centres http:// supporting the translation of the ‘in a variety of styles and you need www.re-cit.eu/ Claus poems. I asked the poetry guy to be able to understand your source there about who the best people to language, but you need to have some In Banff, Canada http://www. speak to would be. He gave me a list strange disconnect in your brain so banffcentre.ca/programs/ of names and then I wrote to them. that one [ language] goes in and the For a list of literary translations by other comes out, without interfering In Amsterdam it’s a little different David Colmer enter his name in the with each other…’ because they have a house with ‘translator’ field on this page: http:// a number of rooms and a shared Perhaps this is Colmer’s peculiar www.nlpvf.nl/vertalingendb/ kitchen, so there’s much more contact talent, a flair which has led to such between the different translators who high achievement. However, Colmer are living there and they have a much is still slightly mystified at the better library. They have a lot of immense capacity of the human brain facilities in-house, but again, the idea to learn languages, to assimilate a is to go there and immerse yourself vast amount of linguistic and cultural
10 10A U S I T — I N T O U C H / SUMMER 2 0 1 2 POLITICS
also levelling influences as contacts in the region are reestablished after What’s in a name? the wars and isolation. Digital media make it easier for people to stay in touch with developments in the wider Are Bosnian, Croatian region and generally ensure a degree of exposure to other variants of the and Serbian distinct language. languages? Will Firth Serb-Croat remains a pluricentric considers this complex language — in a similar way to English — with several distinct question. literary standards based in the capital cities Belgrade, Zagreb and Sarajevo. he orthodox opinion in With the advent of Montenegrin as a Australia is that Bosnian, supposedly separate new language, TCroatian and Serbian are whose spelling and grammar have distinct languages, and NAATI caters now been codified, I guess we could to the respective communities by add Podgorica to the list! Occasionally conducting separate testing and the use of the Cyrillic alphabet by accreditation. But elsewhere the issue (some) Serbs and Montenegrins is often contentious. I’d like to delve German-based translator,Will Firth is advanced as an argument for into this sometimes heated debate Serbian and Montenegrin being and hopefully provide a few insights. in Europe avoid the issue by calling it different languages but the script ‘naški’ (our language). tells us very little about the nature First of all, a few basics. The South Names can be dangerous. In fact, of the language. There are dozens of Slavic languages form a dialect languages which have been or are still continuum stretching from the Black they were sometimes fatal during the post-Yugoslav wars of the 1990s. written in multiple alphabets; e.g. Sea and northern Greece all the way Mongolian in Mongol and Cyrillic, to the Alps. While there is no debate Given the ethnically mixed nature of Bosnia in particular, and for Hindi/Urdu in both Devanagari and as to the distinctness of Slovenian at Arabic. the northern end and Bulgarian and lack of any substantial differences Macedonian in the south and south- in pronunciation, gestures etc., Of course, there’s also the question east, it is tricky defining the diverse people’s names often became a way of perspective. As an English native linguistic terrain in the middle. of identifying which community they speaker who translates from these were from (even if only nominally, idioms into English, it’s easy for me Matters are further complicated via family history). Muslim names to see the shared features and not by the inclination of the roughly 16 were particularly identifiable. Being a worry too much about the differences, million native speakers to call this Mustafa rather than a Miroslav could and naming them. A translator language by the name of their ethnic decide whether you were let through from English into these idioms, group or country; i.e. the issues of at a checkpoint, or taken off the bus or an interpreter, obviously has to language and identity get mixed up. and executed. be more attuned to the specifics of Identity does indeed influence the I am a NAATI-accredited translator the target idiom. In fact, alongside way people think and communicate, of ‘Croatian’ and speak the Zagreb their aptitude as a T&I professional, but this is not always reflected in idiom, but I consciously use the term their acceptance by the respective language. Serbo-Croat, first applied by Jacob community, based on affinity or The degree of divergence between Grimm in 1824, for lack of a succinct identity, is arguably an important standard ‘Croatian’ and standard alternative. This term is controversial basis for their work. ‘Serbian’ is no greater than between today due to the above-mentioned But there is much arbitrariness British and American English. The prejudice that nation and language involved in definitions. The usage of educated speakers in Zagreb must match. Other names are used Montenegrin writer Andrej and Belgrade actually has more in at times, such as Bosnian/Croatian/ Nikolaidis, whose novel I’m currently common than Zagreb speech does Serbian (BCS), which is often seen translating, has a mixed Bosnian- with the Croatian dialects spoken on in contexts such as the International Montenegrin background. His the Adriatic coast, or Belgrade speech Criminal Tribunal for the former language doesn’t fit neatly into any with the dialects of southern Serbia, Yugoslavia. box. Sometimes the English versions which are transitional to Bulgarian At present there are trends towards of his stories say ‘translated from and Macedonian. increasing differentiation. Croatian Montenegrin’, other times ‘translated Naming the language is ultimately ‘newspeak’ in the 1990s was from Bosnian’; once a publisher a political act. Readers who have notorious for its mélange of ancient even put ‘Serbian’, which Nikolaidis become accustomed to the ‘separatist’ and newly created words, and many protested about for reasons to do views prevailing in Australia may be of the changes introduced have with the war (he fled the fighting in surprised to learn that many speakers stuck. At the same time, there are Sarajevo in 1992).
A UA S UI TS —I T I— N I TN O U T CO HU C/ H AUTUMN / SUMMER 2 0 1 2 0- 1 32 11 BOOK REVIEW
Nikolaidis’s books are published The Serbian/Croatian ‘divide’ is become the subject of gossip within in Zagreb and gently ‘Croatianised’ much less pronounced than one is their community through a loose- by the editors, mainly in terms of led to believe. It can easily be blown lipped interpreter. They preferred to spelling, whereas his syntax and out of proportion by media reports confide in an outsider, even one of vocabulary, which are substantially focussing on testosterone-fuelled ‘them’! closer to the Serbian standard, are clashes between young males or the This certainly turns the affinity/ left largely untouched. In this and statements of nationalist zealots. identity argument on its head. Quality many other cases, various labels are If I may adduce some anecdotal interpreting was required, coupled possible. evidence: a health interpreter from with the discretion one should be able Given the complexity of these issues, one of these communities recently to expect of professionals; the hair- a degree of relativism is appropriate: told me that she had interpreted splitting about ethnic allegiance paled one should acknowledge and respect from time to time for members of to insignificance. We are left with the linguistic differences that exist. the other community because — wait a single, mutually-comprehensible But I feel it is wrong to overlook the for it — they didn’t want potentially language with multiple names. common ground. embarrassing personal details to Reality is often messy. Review
Found in translation: How able to access the ATM in Latin at upon in a section called ‘Tools of the translation shapes our lives the Vatican. You will also read about trade’ which includes Translation and transforms the world by real life examples from translators Memory, glossaries and the Nataly Kelly and Jost Zetzsche who have roles that go above and controversial machine translation. Penguin Group 2012 beyond what the average person The author’s conclusion is that realises. There are interpreters in automated translation does not A book dedicated to translators, war zones, pro bono translators for replace human translation, but gasp! Is this book here to The Economist in China and sign that it does have a place in certain publicly recognise that the world language experts; the translation of industries and for specific uses such communicates because of us? text messages even helped save lives as data mining. It would seem so. Jost Zetzche, during the earthquake in Haiti! I was pleased that the authors a German translator who has Key statistics reveal that the conveyed their appreciation of the written a doctorate on translation translation industry is worth translator or interpreter as more in history, and Nataly Kelly, a an estimated $33 billion and than just a converter of languages, Spanish interpreter and scholar in according to the Language highlighting that crossing cultures sociolinguistics, paint a vivid canvas services market 2011 report on can sometimes present the most of just how many aspects of everyday commonsenseadvisory.com, there difficult challenges. life are profoundly affected by are more than twenty-six thousand translation. There are also examples of how companies throughout the world technology is actually preventing Well researched and presented, that sell translation and interpreting languages from dying out. ‘Every this book reveals the extent to services. This is largely because language is a unique representation which the products we use and the people are much more likely to buy of the human experience, and freedoms and pleasures we enjoy what they understand, so translation every extinguished language makes are made possible by translation. is critical to driving global revenue humanity that much poorer.’ Above and beyond world politics and for many companies. This book truly illustrates just how global business, the book is divided The authors demonstrate just how far reaching the role of translation into chapters that cover areas as difficult the task is for translators is in the world. It provides plenty of diverse as space travel, legal cases, and interpreters in the business examples and stories, not just from battlefields, fashion, medicine, world, who have to navigate a mainstream languages but from little terrorism, marketing, the European minefield of cultural references, known African or Pacific Island ones Union, Ikea, Dr Seuss, the Simpsons, word plays or lack of words in the as well. Twitter, Shakespeare, cinema, sport, target language, new trends and The most common words used by religion, love, porn, the airline potentially farcical product names. translators and interpreters when industry, food and more. Indeed, there is a great section on talking about their work, according Each chapter is interspersed with cringe-worthy food products such as to the authors, are fascinating, highlighted text boxes that provide Bimbo (Mexican sandwich bread), challenging, intriguing and examples of funny diplomatic and Big Nuts (Belgian candy) or Bra rewarding. I trust that this is true of marketing mistranslations, linguistic (Swedish yoghurt). you as well. facts or quirky stories such as being Translation technology is touched Nicole Savage
12 12A U S I T — I N T O U C H / SUMMER 2 0 1 2 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT How to sleep well at night — Ten tips to guarantee payment for your work
Yveline Pillar argues that being well organised and 7. Escalation exercising caution can ensure regular payment for your If a third reminder is necessary, I work. However, sometimes taking extreme measures is indicate that I’ll have to charge late necessary... interest if payment is not received within 7 days. Stating a scary but realistic rate, such as the one on my or a self-employed T&I, being I email the translation, with an credit card statement (21%), is usually paid promptly is almost a acknowledgement of payment. all that’s needed to get results. Fprerequisite to sleeping well 3. Do the paperwork 8. No excuses at night. Perhaps I have been very A seemingly obvious but frequent Some clients will make excuses for lucky in the last 12 years, having had cause of late payment is due to the delaying payment. Attaching the only one non-payment of $50. Here T&I practitioners not invoicing overdue invoice to each reminder are my techniques to help reduce the promptly and correctly. Invoices ensures they cannot argue they have likelihood of non-payment. should be sent within 24 hours not received it. Some clients try to say 1. Know thy client of delivering the job. If the client they are waiting for their own client requires a timesheet or a supplier’s When a colleague mentioned she had to pay. This is not a valid position. form, process them at the same time, accepted a large job by email, (first Refuse firmly and politely and remind as large businesses will hold back your announced as health related, then as them of the late interest. invoice until all paperwork is correct financial), from an unknown source These techniques take care of the and complete. Prompt and correct who did not say how they had found vast majority of late payments. invoicing indicates the translator is her details, all my warning bells Very occasionally, it’s necessary to business savvy and not an easy target started ringing and sure enough, not take things further and apply more for chronic late payers. long after that, it turned out to be one pressure. In such cases, I accept that of the email scams mentioned on the 4. The due date this is not a client I want to keep. e-Bulletin. My quotes and invoices indicate that 9. What a client values If you know who you are dealing payment is required within 7 days. with, you are more likely to receive It’s short but often complied with. I remind the recalcitrant client of my payment for your work. The client’s For known clients, I don’t enforce wider links to the profession and of story must be coherent. They should this strictly because businesses their own interest in preserving their willingly disclose who they are, give often have a 30-day payment cycle business reputation. For example, their street address and contact for convenience, but it ensures my an agency will have easier access to details and explain how they found invoice is high on the pile of bills. a pool of T&I if they are known as you. There must be a reliable and Of course, invoices must show ABN, reliable payers. A complaint to a law coherent link between you and them payment methods and banking society would not look good on a (professional directories where you details, including SWIFT code for lawyer’s record. know you have an entry, known overseas payments. 10. Squeaky wheel colleagues, other clients). Expect 5. On the ball I once had to resort to extreme clear answers from the prospective Check your bank statement at measures. The client was an client on the kind of translation they least once a month. If a payment is interpreting agency overseas. My require and how it will be used. If you outstanding, a friendly reminder emails and phone calls elicited empty are dealing with a new agency, ask on usually gets results. More often than promises or untruthful answers, the AUSIT forums. You will get lots not, late payments are due to poor always a bad sign. of useful tips. For extensive jobs, do bookkeeping on the client’s part. not hesitate to require progressive A lawyer would cost more than the Attaching the invoice saves time as payments from a new client. amount at stake. After six months, the client does not need to locate I decided on a barrage of daily 2. Payment before delivery something they have clearly mislaid or reminders, all polite and varied, from I make things easy for private forgotten about. various phone numbers, fax numbers individuals by handling the whole 6. Still friendly but firm and email addresses. It was hard to do transaction electronically, which If the payment is still due after a at first but after a month, they tired of saves them a couple of return trips week or two, try a firmer reminder: it and paid up with the first available to my suburb. But I explain upfront ‘Please advise when payment of my cash, admitting in the process that that I’ll provide my banking details invoice No. 1234 (copy attached) was I was not their longest outstanding when the translation is ready, for made. It was due in the month of supplier. Other, less determined immediate payment. As soon as the October and I would appreciate your colleagues are still waiting for their payment shows on my bank account, prompt action.’ money!
A U S I T — I N A T U O S UI TC —H /I N S TU O M U M C E H R / SUMMER 2 0 1 0 - 1 1 2 0 1 2 13 BRANCH NEWS
Rex the dog provides greater assistance with translation than any CAT
day involves a walk first thing in the morning, often down the street to get Room with a companion a coffee, then home to work for a few hours, a break for lunch, perhaps a It isn’t a view which sustains the solitary life visit to the shops to post things, then of a translator, but good company. Bradley more work. By about four o’clock, however, Rex will become restless, Dawson explains. give me that look. So I grab his collar and lead and out we go, away from iews are nice — the one from around the yard razzing up the the computer again. my back shed where I work neighbour’s cat, he’ll come into at the top of a hill in a small the shed, stand up and stretch his While out, we frequently mix with V other dogs and their humans. Rex is Victorian country town definitely front paws onto my leg, meaning I is — but they aren’t remotely enough am to pick him up and put him on an excellent conversation starter and compensation for sitting in front of my lap, where he’ll happily sleep has helped me become acquainted a screen for eight or so hours a day. for long periods while I tap away at with Saffy’s, Georgie’s, Poppy’s and Forget tricky verb tenses, acronyms, the keyboard. When the weather’s Chipper’s owners, plus many others. obscure technical terms or sloppy warmer, he lies quietly near my feet And when we walk we focus, writing in the original — a translator’s — and can do so for hours. naturally, on dog, not human, real enemies are the unyielding forces business: Here’s the house where that of gravity, free radicals and inertia. As I sit and work, I occasionally chat cat lives. Are there snakes likely to be And to combat them, you need a real to him, check on him, get up from my along this path? Is that something to friend. Mine is my dog Rex. chair to pat him, go sit in the sun for roll in? What are those kids doing? breaks with him. His is a reassuring It’s a great way to notice more of the Recent studies show those who sit little presence during otherwise town’s details, focus on the now and down for extended periods, such lonely, solitary days. shift your gaze. as every translator in the world, shave years off their life expectancy, One thing about dogs is they need to Speaking of which, I don’t care what increase their risk of stroke, colon be walked twice a day, every day — the ophthalmologist says, I know cancer, etc. — the good news just rolls rain hail or shine. Even though I have staring at a screen which is backlit on. I understood a while ago I simply a crushing deadline, am tired, can’t and never as sharply focused as had to make exercise part of my spare the time, Rex drags me away hard-copy material has damaged my working life, or risk losing my health. from the computer and we walk — eyesight over the years. But when I’m So I started regularly going to the either around the neighbourhood or out in the bush with Rex, focusing gym, stretching, riding my bicycle. out bush — and I am always better at the horizon, looking at the sky or Coincidentally, that’s also about the for it. the soft colours of the surrounding time I met Rex at the local RSPCA. trees, my eyes simultaneously get the My head clears, I breathe, become exercise and rest they need. Rex is a Jack Russell cross and aware of my body again and hold it spends most days working in the up straight. If my day’s going badly, Come to think of it, dogs are about shed with me. He is a small package the act of having to look after him, the best translation-assistance-tool of boisterous energy, excitable, very make sure he doesn’t get into strife, there is; ownership of one should be affectionate and great company. or even just patting him, pulls me out mandatory for any serious translator. When it’s cold, and he’s not running of myself and relaxes me. A typical And, they love you.
14 14A U S I T — I N T O U C H / SUMMER 2 0 1 2
BRANCH NEWS
Branch news
QLD Branch members discuss legal ethics
Queensland would like to take this opportunity to thank Yvonne for her effective The QLD Branch held its AGM on and enthusiastic input as our PD the 20th of September 2012 and we Coordinator in the past year. We are happy to announce our newly would also like to extend a warm elected committee: welcome to Yoyo. We are happy to Chair — Ilke Brueckner-Klein have her on board. Vice-Chair — Alison Rodriguez Christmas is approaching fast Branch Delegate — Tea Dietterich and since it will be a busy time for Secretary —Elisabeth Kissel everyone, our branch decided to Treasurer — Asanka Haluwana, celebrate the end of this year early. PD Coordinator — Yoyo Dong The AUSIT End-of-the-Year Picnic Committee Members: Yvonne was held on Sunday, 4th November Goldmann, Ita Szymanska, Vicky Zeng, Max de Montaigne, Rona 2012 in the beautiful Roma Street Zhang. (While Sam Berner could not Parklands. The committee got join committee officially due to other together for a sit-down meal at a commitments, she will continue to restaurant on 22 November. help out as needed.) Meanwhile, a series of workshops on ethics theory, ethics in legal Rona Zhang presents a workshop on legal A couple of days before writing this translating and interpreting. report, Yvonne Goldmann handed interpreting/translating and ethics over the role of PD Coordinator to in health interpreting/translating Brown and were very well attended. Yoyo Dong, who has been an active were held in Brisbane, with the The workshops generated ongoing member of our branch for several generous help from NAATI QLD discussion and great interest in years and who was one of our who gave us their premises for similar professional development volunteers at the memorable 2008 free. These were presented by Sam activities. Biennial Conference. The Committee Berner, Rona Zhang and Jadranka Ilke Brueckner-Klein, Chair
APOLOGY
In the Spring 2012 edition of the ‘Room with a view’ section of In Touch, a photograph of Trish Will was placed next to an article by Trish Worth. In Touch would like to apologise to both AUSIT members for this mistake
A U S I T — I N T O U C H / SUMMER 2 0 1 2 15 A U S I T — I N T O U C H / S U M M E R 2 0 1 0 - 1 1 15
PURCHASE AUSIT PUBLICATIONS & DVDs CANBERRA 1987 SYNERGISE! — A book Practitioners meet in Canberra to discuss setting up a of proceedings of the previous AUSIT conference national umbrella association — this becomes AUSIT! ‘Synergise!’ is available now. Visit the publisher’s website and type ‘AUSIT’ as a keyword in the search engine,www.c-s-p.org. 2012 Jill Blewett Memorial EDUCATIONAL LECTURES — A set of DVDs with lectures selected for their ‘Are we there yet? Taking stock of where we are up to and where educational resource we are heading’ is the title chosen by Professor Sandra Hale for potential is available AUSIT’s 20th Jill Blewett Memorial Lecture, which she will deliver at here: http://www. Macquarie University at 2pm on 3 December, the final day of our artfilms.com.au/Detail. aspx?ItemID=4200 Biennial National Conference JubilaTIon 25. TRANSLATION THEORY — A DVD with Christian The Lecture is presented every year in conjunction with the Schmidt’s presentation National Annual General Meeting and honours the memory of Jill ‘Translation Theory: A mystery, a blessing, a Blewett, who played a significant role in the formative years of the curse?’ has now been translating and interpreting profession in Australia, including the released. Length: 52 creation of NAATI and AUSIT. minutes. Price: $ 38.50 (GST incl.) for home use by AUSIT members, $ 55.00 Sandra is a long-term member and supporter of AUSIT who was (GST incl.) for home use among the first students to graduate from an Australian T&I course, by non-members, and $264 (GST incl.) for public at what is now the University of Western Sydney. Last year she was use by institutions such as appointed Professor of Interpreting & Translation in the School of universities, TAFEs, libraries. International Studies at the University of NSW.