March 2011 Volume XL Number 3 The A Publication of the American Translators Association CHRONICLE

In this issue: Social Media Strategy Post-Translation Client Review Doing What a Machine Cannot Suggestions for Tool Makers LANGUAGE ANALYSIS AT THE N ATIONAL S ECURITY A GENCY

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U.S. citizenship is required. NSA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants for employment are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or status as a parent. March 2011 Volume XL American Translators Association 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 • Alexandria VA 22314 USA Number 3 Tel: +1-703-683-6100 • Fax: +1-703-683-6122 Contents March 2011 E-mail: [email protected] • Website: www.atanet.org A Publication of the American Translators Association

12 Using Social Media to Boost Your 12 Language Services Business By Nataly Kelly Most language services providers agree that a social media presence is important, but very few stop to consider what kind of presence they want to create. 15 Creative Thinking: Doing What a Machine Cannot By Grant Hamilton Tomorrow’s successful translators will be beloved not for their huge store of technical knowledge, but for their nimble style, effortless fluency, and ready grasp of the communication objective at hand. 20 Post-Translation Client Review By Melissa Ramer Most of the pitfalls of the post-translation client review process can be avoided when all parties have a better 15 understanding of the process and the expectations for the end result. 24 Things Can Only Get Better! By Jost Zetzsche This month, in lieu of his regular GeekSpeak column, Jost gives translation tool vendors some suggestions regarding what users are looking for in terms of capability. 41 2011 Honors and Awards

24 Columns and Departments 6 Our Authors 31 Certification Exam Information 7 From the President 31 New Certified Members 8 From the Executive Director 32 Dictionary Reviews 28 The Entrepreneurial Linguist 37 Upcoming Events 29 Blog Trekker 38 The Translation Inquirer 30 Active Member Review 40 Humor and Translation 30 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, We Want You! Alexandria, VA 22314 USA. The American Translators Association (ATA) was established in 1959 as a not-for-profit professional society to foster and support the professional The ATA Chronicle enthusiastically encourages development of translators and interpreters and to members and nonmembers to submit promote the translation and interpreting professions. The subscription rate for a member is $43 (included articles of interest. For Submission Guidelines, in the dues payment). The U.S. subscription rate for a nonmember is $65. Subscribers in Canada and visit www.atanet.org/chronicle. The ATA Chronicle Mexico add $25; all other non-U.S. subscribers add $45. Single copies are available for $7 per issue. is published 11 times per year, with a combined

©2011 American Translators Association November/December issue. Submission deadlines are two months prior to publication date. Reprint Permission: Requests for permission to reprint articles should be sent to the editor of The ATA Chronicle at [email protected].

Editor Jeff Sanfacon [email protected] Proofreader Advertising Sandra Burns Thomson Art Directors Directory 10 Star Group America, LLC Ellen Banker 27 www.star-group.net Amy Peloff University of Arizona Advertising 5 National Center for Interpretation Caron Mason, CAE 27 Landmark Audio Technologies [email protected] www.LandmarkFm.com nci.arizona.edu +1-703-683-6100, ext. 3003 Western Michigan University Fax: +1-703-683-6122 2 National Security Agency 45 www.nsa.gov Department of Foreign Languages Executive Director Summer Translation Institute Walter Bacak, CAE 48 SDL International www.wmich.edu/languages/ [email protected] www.translationzone.com summertranslation Membership and General Information Maggie Rowe [email protected] website: www.atanet.org

Moving? Find an error with your address? Send updates to: Looking for continuing education events in your area? The ATA Chronicle 225 Reinekers Lane Check out ATA’s online event calendar at Suite 590 www.atanet.org/calendar. Alexandria, VA 22314 USA Fax +1-703-683-6122 [email protected] 4 The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 Are You an ATA Member LOOKINGLOOKING TOTO GET Who Wants to Save Money? CERTIFIED?CERRTTIFIED?

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Get guaranteed member discounts and other benefits from ATA members such as: We Can Help YYoou Pass: &/ tƌŝƩĞŶ ĂŶĚ KƌĂů • The Tool Kit ŽŶƐŽƌƟƵŵ ŝŶ zzŽŽƵƌ ^ƚĂƚĞ ^ƚĂƚĞ ĞƌƟĮĐĂƟŽŶ • Payment Practices DĞĚŝĐĂů ĞƌƟĮĐĂƟŽŶ • Translate Write dƌĂŶƐůĂƟŽŶ ĞƌƟĮĐĂƟŽŶ ŶĚ DŽƌĞ͊ • The Translator’s Tool Box • Getting Started as a Freelance Translator 3-W3-Weekeek • Translation Office 3000 ŐŶĞƐĞ,ĂƵƌLJ/ŶƐƟƚƵƚĞŐŶĞƐĞ,ĂƵƌLJ /ŶƐƟƚƵƚĞ ::ƵŶĞϲͲϮϰƵŶĞϲ Ͳ Ϯϰ ddƵĐƐŽŶ͕ƌŝnjŽŶĂƵĐƐŽŶ͕ƌŝnjŽŶĂ Visit 2-W2-Weekeek www.atanet.org/providers.php MedicMedicalal InInterpreterterpreter to start saving! ddƌĂŝŶŝŶŐ/ŶƐƟƚƵƚĞƌĂŝŶŝŶŐ/ŶƐƟƚƵƚĞ ::ƵŶĞϲͲϭϳƵŶĞϲ Ͳ ϭϳ To become a member-provider or to learn about the benefits of ddƵĐƐŽŶ͕ƌŝnjŽŶĂƵĐƐŽŶ͕ƌŝnjŽŶĂ the program, contact ATA Member Benefits and Project FCICEFCICE OralOral TestTTeest PrepPrep Development Manager Mary David at [email protected]. PreparePrepare forfor the “Field TeTest”Tese t” & ͞dŚĞZĞŐƵůĂƌĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ͟͞dŚĞZĞŐƵůĂƌ ĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ͟ MarchMarch toto June ŝŶŝŶ AZ, CA,CA, CO,CO, DC,DC, FLFL,, GA,GA, MA,MA, MN, TN, TX Three Ways to Connect to ATA

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The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 5 Our Authors March 2011

Grant Hamilton, a certified translator, Melissa Ramer began as a freelance editor and Spanish→English owns and manages Anglocom Inc., an translator. Currently, she manages translations for Valtera Corporation, a agency that works primarily with adver- human resources consulting firm. As an in-house translator at Valtera, tising agencies and Quebec government she continues to indulge her love of transforming Spanish into English. ministries, but also serves retailers, Contact: [email protected]. publishers, manufacturers, and tourist industry stakeholders. He also teaches Jost O. Zetzsche is an ATA-certified French→English translation for marketers English→German translator, a localization and advertisers as part of the certificate program at New York University. and translation consultant, and a published A regular presenter at ATA events, he is the assistant administrator of author of books and articles on the tech- ATA’s Translation Company Division. He is also a board member of the nical aspects of translation. A native of Ordre des traducteurs, terminologies et interprètes agréés du Québec and Hamburg, Germany, he earned a Ph.D. in of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. He is a graduate of Laval University. Chinese translation history and linguistics, Contact: [email protected]. and began working in localization and technical translation in 1997.In 1999, he co-founded International Nataly E. Kelly is the chief research Writers’ Group on the Oregon coast and, in 2008, launched officer at Common Sense Advisory, a TranslatorsTraining.com. His computer guide for translators, Massachusetts-based market research com- A Translator’s Tool Box, is currently in its ninth edition, and his pany focusing on the language services technical newsletter for translators is published bi-weekly. Contact: market. She is a certified court interpreter, [email protected]. a former freelance translator, and the author of Telephone Interpreting: A Comprehensive Guide to the Profession. She researches a variety of topics, including community interpreting, ONLINE The ATA Compass domestic multiculturalization, and terminology management. Contact: www.atanet.org/compass [email protected]. NOW

March 2011 Volume XL Number 3 A Publication The of the American Translators Association CHRONICLE Send a Complimentary Copy

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6 The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 From the President Nicholas Hartmann [email protected]

Good Neighbors

One of the few remaining joys of traveling, amid all the hassles of cramped seats and delays and intru- Every hand that we extend to every one of our sive security, is to arrive in an unfa- many neighbors builds new connections that miliar place and find friends there. In August, ATA will offer that pleasure to will enrich all of us. translators and interpreters from all over the world when we host the 19th triennial Congress of the International Federation of Translators (FIT) in San services. Educational institutions from these entities, and one of the pleasant Francisco. The Executive Director’s kindergarten through graduate school duties of the president is to carry column in February’s issue described are teaching language skills, working ATA’s flag at other people’s gather- the event in more detail and provided with heritage speakers, and training the ings. That official “diplomatic” func- a link at which you can register online. translators and interpreters of the tion is just the tip of the iceberg, This FIT gathering is an occasion future. And there are many other however. What really matters is what for learning, but the kind of education organizations in the U.S. that represent you and every member of ATA can do made available there is a bit different particular segments of our own profes- in terms of outreach. Come to the FIT from what happens at ATA’s Annual sion—judiciary and medical inter- Congress and add your own contribu- Conference. There will of course be a preters and translation company tion to the extraordinary variety of the full program of educational sessions in owners, to name just a few—or allied world’s translation and interpreting a variety of subject areas, from literary professions such as technical writers. business; tell a middle-school class translation to language technology to Last but perhaps most important are what a translator does; or write to (or “new trends” in translation and inter- the many local and regional groups even visit) your elected representa- preting. Even beyond these formal pre- that allow regular face-to-face contact tives and make the case for the impor- sentations, however, there is a unique among language professionals in a par- tance of translating and interpreting. international and intercultural “buzz” ticular area, and which in many cases Every hand that we extend to every at a FIT Congress. Many attendees are are ATA Chapters or affiliated groups. one of our many neighbors builds new designated representatives of a partic- ATA’s leaders have always tried to connections that will enrich all of us. ular country’s translators’ and inter- represent the Association as effec- preters’ organization, and take great tively as possible with respect to all pride in that status; and everyone is interested in what their counterparts from all over the world are up to. There is no better way to find out, vividly and firsthand, how our colleagues in other environments approach the work that we all do. The Congress has never 2011 Honors and Awards Now Open before been hosted in the U.S., so this is a precious opportunity for ATA to greet the world in our own backyard. ATA presents annual and biennial awards to encourage, There are many other “channels” through which ATA as an organization, reward, and publicize outstanding work done by both seasoned and each member as an individual, can professionals and students of our craft. For complete entry reach out to our colleagues and to other information and deadlines, see page 41 or visit: professionals. Numerous government www.atanet.org/membership/honorsandawards.php. entities, from the federal down to the state and county and municipal level, define and implement policies that affect language learning and language

The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 7 From the Executive Director Walter Bacak, CAE [email protected]

Board Meeting Highlights

ATA’s Board of Directors met in Portland, Oregon, January 29- The next Board meeting is tentatively set for 30, 2011. The meeting followed the Board’s Annual Planning Day. April 30–May 1, 2011 in Alexandria, Virginia. The Planning Day allows the Board to discuss various aspects of the Association’s activities and gover- nance in-depth. These discussions Board Election Policy: The Board Board’s activities. In response, the help the Board come to a consensus approved a Board Election Policy. This Board Meeting Summary was created. on the Association’s priorities as well comprehensive, aspirational policy It will be posted in the Members Only as work through complex options for addresses what is acceptable and desir- section of ATA’s website shortly after the Association. able in ATA Board elections and cam- each meeting. Here are some highlights from the paigns. In particular, the policy holds Board meeting. Association leaders to a higher standard As for the official minutes of the than members-at-large. meeting, they will be posted as soon Nominating Committee: The Board as they are formally approved by the approved the appointment of the mem- 2016 Annual Conference: The Board Board at their next meeting. (Past bers of the Nominating Committee: approved the Hyatt Regency in San meeting minutes are online at Beatriz Bonnet, Jean Leblon, Connie Francisco, California, as the site for www.atanet.org/membership/min Prener, and Courtney Searls-Ridge. ATA’s 57th Annual Conference in 2016. utes.php.) The next Board meeting is Tuomas Kostiainen, the chair of the The Hyatt Regency San Francisco suc- tentatively set for April 30-May 1, committee, was already approved. cessfully hosted ATA’s Annual 2011 in Alexandria, Virginia. As Conferences in 1997 and 2007. In fact, always, the meeting is open to all Ethics Committee: The Board appro- the 1997 record attendance of 1,700 was members, and members are encour- ved the appointment of ATA Past not surpassed until the 2007 meeting, aged to attend. President Marian S. Greenfield as with 1,800-plus attendees. (The current chair of the Ethics Committee. record is 2,403 attendees at the 50th ATA Honorary Member Annual Conference in New York City Don Cyril Gorham New Certification Language Com- in 2009.) ATA Honorary Member Don Cyril bination: The Board approved the Gorham died January 23. He was an establishment of English-to-Swedish New: Board Meeting Summary: ATA member for over 36 years. (See certification testing. Exams and prac- One outcome from the discussions at In Memoriam on page 9.) tices test are available for this language this year’s Planning Day was to pro- combination (see www.atanet.org/certi vide more information, in a more timely International Federation of fication/aboutpractice_test.php). manner, to the membership about the Translators (FIT) Registration is now open for the tri- ennial FIT Congress, to be held at the Hilton Hotel, San Francisco, August 1- 4, 2011. ATA is hosting the event; how- Scam Alert Websites ever, the Congress offers its own unique culture and provides plenty of net- working opportunities. To register and Federal Bureau of for more information, please check out: Investigation/ www.fit2011.org. National White Collar National White Crime Center Collar Crime Center The Internet Crime www.nw3c.org Complaint Center www.ic3.gov

8 The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 ATA Honorary Member In Memoriam Don Cyril Gorham 1917–2010

(Excerpts of the following appeared in The Washington Post on January 26, 2011.)

ATA Honorary Member Don Cyril Gorham died January 23, 2011 in Silver Spring, Maryland. He was 93. Don was named an ATA Honorary Member by the Association’s Board of Directors in 2000. He was also an ATA-certified Japanese→English translator. Don was the younger son of William Reagan and Hazel Hoch Gorham. Born in Oakland, California, in 1917, he was taken as an infant to Japan in 1918. He was fluent in Japanese, having spent his entire educa- tion in Japan. He graduated from Tokyo Imperial University in March 1941 with a degree in Japanese lan- guage and literature. In May 1941, he returned to the U.S. and spent World War II as an officer assigned to the Office of Naval Intelligence in Washington, DC, and Occupied Japan. On active duty until 1948, he then served as a liaison between the U.S. and the Japanese governments, including three assignments totaling 11 years in post-war Japan. In 1967, he attended the Naval War College as the chosen civilian employee for the Department of the Navy. He retired from the Navy in 1972 after 31 years of federal service. After retirement, Don began his second career as a freelance language consultant, interpreter, and trans- lator. He interpreted for two U.S. presidents, several U.S. cabinet members, and Japanese prime ministers. The family asks that donations be made to the U.S.O. or church or charitable organization of your choosing.

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The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 9 Advertisement

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A Version for Everyone Switching to Transit NXT is easy. Using the built-in conversion utility, you can easily convert your existing translation memory for problem-free use in Transit. Transit NXT’s Synch View and Resource Editor allows the translator to view the com- Importing your existing terminology plete context of the text being translated in its original layout in synchronization with the language pair. In the software localization project above, the Resource Editor allows the NXT databases into TermStar is just as translator to see the software dialog that is being translated for both the source and tar- easy. get languages. The Resource Editor is synchronized with the language pair, automatically highlighting the text string that is being translated. The translated text dynamically ap- pears in context in the Resource Editor’s target window. If the translated text is too long for the available space, the translator can resize or reposition the software text element directly in the Resource Editor. The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 11 Using Social Media to Boost Your Language Services Business By Nataly Kelly

(Reprinted with permission from Common Sense Advisory, © 2010.)

Social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter are no longer merely “phenomena.” Your most recent tweets or status updates might Within the space of just a few years, they have become essential compo- be among the first search results that nents of many firms’ marketing and potential customers find. public relations plans. However, social media are notoriously difficult to monetize. How can language serv- ices providers (LSPs) leverage these platforms for maximum benefit? The Most LSPs agree that a social ones? What type of content are they following offers several important media presence is important, but very looking for and how can you provide guidelines to follow, as well as some few stop to consider what kind of something better than what others pitfalls to avoid. presence they want to create. Before offer? Random thoughts on a wide putting your company “out there,” range of topics will not make you the Use Social Media Platforms consider these questions: go-to source of expertise. Find out with a Strategic Purpose in Mind where your customers are—the groups Your company’s social media pro- “Are our customers actually here?” to which they belong, what pages they files are a window for the rest of the Many companies assume they need a have become fans of on Facebook, and world to learn more about you. social media presence even before they which companies or individuals they Increasingly, your most recent tweets have actually conducted the basic follow—and then tailor your content to or status updates might be among the research to discover a target online fit those platforms. first search results potential customers market. As a company owner, your first find. In other words, their very first step is to find out if the decision-makers “What do we really want our brand to impression of your company may and influencers you really want to reach convey?” Social media platforms are come through one of these platforms. are using social media? If so, which not necessarily a place to adhere to strict

12 The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 Too many language services providers have “joined guidelines for developing a brand voice. In fact, many of these services require the conversation” without thinking about what that you keep entries precise and flag topics so that other users can find them they really want or need to say. more easily. (For example, in Twitter, the # symbol—called a hashtag—is used to mark keywords or topics in a tweet as a way to categorize messages.) conduct a daily search for new contacts mentioned earlier, content alone is not Although there are no strict guides, you with the same interests? Do you state necessarily sufficient. Action and inter- still need to come up with some basic these interests frequently in your status activity are more important. For rules regarding what type of image you updates? Do you re-tweet items fre- example, do you have periodic give- want to convey. Is the person who con- quently from “social media celebrities” aways, raffles, or contests? Are you trols your brand presence on social (individuals who specialize in your planning a local get-together? Are you media familiar with your most salient fields of interest and boast the largest offering a free webinar on a topic that marketing messages and brand attrib- number of contacts)? Many LSPs will help the people you most want to utes? Review your company’s last 30 focus on content exclusively but ignore reach? Do you provide an interesting status updates and tweets. Is there a contacts, which usually means that brainteaser or something else that will common theme, or is it scattered? Does while their updates are good, their net- entertain people and keep them coming the company put forth an image consis- work size fails to grow. back? Make sure whatever information tent with its marketing goals? you provide is of sufficient quality to “Are we engaging our employees and get your contacts to return. “What type of information will we pro- partners?” Invite your staff, including vide?” One of the most common mis- your network of freelancers, to become Additional Considerations takes LSPs make is to use social media fans of your Facebook page, connect to for Social Media-Savvy LSPs platforms as soapboxes to brag about you, or follow your company. Set a Has your company already covered themselves. While an occasional goal—can you get 50% of your many of the fundamentals? If so, ask “Hooray for us!” update is not harmful, employees connected to your social yourself the following questions: a steady stream of self-centered updates media platforms in the next six will turn people away. Instead, focus on months? Launch an internal campaign “Are we using the right tools?” If you what the company can deliver that is to get as many individuals connected to find yourself struggling to keep your valuable to customers. What kind of your company as possible, thereby Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn pro- information can you provide that will be increasing your reach and making you files updated constantly, chances are helpful to customers in their daily a more sought-after contact in the you are failing to take advantage of work? Make sure that the resources to process. Encourage employees to use tools that enable you to send out the which you link are worthwhile for cus- the company hashtag. If necessary, set same messages across multiple plat- tomers and prospects. Do not link only up a quick internal webinar to teach forms automatically. The mechanics of to sources on your website, as this will them how social media platforms work, keeping a prominent place in social be seen as the overt self-promotion that and use this time to communicate the media streams are becoming easier all it is. Link to your own website proper- goals of your company’s social media the time with tools such as Brizzly, Buz- ties only when you really have some- campaign. Consider offering a prize for zom, HootSuite, Seesmic, TweetDeck, thing valuable to share. people who build their networks with and TwitHive. Today, you can easily the company’s interests in mind. For populate your Facebook and LinkedIn “What is our network growth stra- example, give an incentive to the first pages using your Twitter feed with such tegy?” Social networking is about person to connect to 20 localization tools. In fact, they are essential for building networks of individuals with managers in a given industry. ensuring a consistent brand presence shared interests. What are those inter- across multiple social media networks. ests? Are they stated clearly in your “Are we a contact worth keeping?” Do profile or description so that potential not forget to give people a reason to “Is our social media content aligned contacts can find you easily? Do you connect to you and stay connected. As with SEO?” What search terms ·

The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 13 Using Social Media to Boost Your Language Services Business Continued and keywords are you using on your most talented and trusted resources in appropriate and inappropriate in these web pages and in your press releases? the years to come? Think creatively to platforms. Are you using the same terms in your find ways to engage younger genera- social media messaging? Many com- tions. Conduct outreach to translation “Are we overdoing it?” It is fine to get panies fail to recognize that much of and interpreting programs at universi- excited about new ways to reach your the same work they are doing for ties. Join social media groups for stu- target markets. In many ways, social search engine optimization (SEO) and dents in the areas that commonly media platforms are a marketer’s marketing can also yield positive results with social media campaigns. If you are not already in close contact with your webmaster about these issues, you need to be. Find out which Social media platforms are just part of a much pages of your website are most pop- larger marketing strategy. ular and what search terms most fre- quently bring people to those pages. Make sure you are integrating this information into your social media produce individuals with localization dream, but they can also turn into the marketing work. manager titles. You should find ways target audience’s nightmare. Beware of to reach these important contacts ear- bombarding your contacts with too “Are we setting micro-goals?” One of lier in their career paths so that they many messages. A steady stream of the best features of social media for will already be familiar with your useful information is great, but if you marketers is the ability to track spe- brand (and have positive associations are not careful, your constant updates cific information and tie it back to spe- with it) when they are in a position to could be easily regarded as spam. Take cific campaigns or objectives. Make hire your services. care and enlist others to obtain feed- sure to set micro-goals, which could back about your social media presence. include achieving a set number of “Is it time for a social media policy?” Ask some of your contacts and fol- members on a LinkedIn group, a high For better or worse, most organiza- lowers for their suggestions—not just number of re-tweets, reaching a spe- tions have to develop social media regarding the content, but regarding cific number of views or embeds of a policies at some point. If they do not, the frequency of its distribution. YouTube video, or an expanded fol- they risk their brand being associated lowing on Twitter and Facebook. You with the random electronic mutterings Part of a Larger Picture can also use unique URLs to track of employees regarding everything Social media is definitely fun, inter- which channels are most successful. from their favorite soccer team to their active, and dynamic, but too many Micro-goals should tie to other spe- spats with family members—none of LSPs take the plunge without devel- cific goals, such as an increased which will help a company accom- oping a strategy or thinking about how number of online subscribers eventu- plish its business objectives. Who will social media will help advance their ally leading to an increased number of be allowed to represent your brand larger marketing objectives. Too often actual sales leads generated. officially through social media chan- they have “joined the conversation” nels? Will anyone review your without thinking about what they “Are we engaging younger genera- employees’ messages prior to posting? really want or need to say. To build a tions?” Do not overlook the power of What happens if they leave the com- social media presence that will help Generation Y when building your net- pany—will you gain control of their your company grow, remember that works. The individuals you sell to public profiles, or do they retain them? social media platforms are just part of today are likely to be in their 30s or Are your employees encouraged to re- a much larger marketing strategy. 40s. But are you reaching the 20- tweet, share, or re-purpose your mes- Make sure to keep your overarching somethings who will be your cus- sages? If you do decide to leverage marketing goals front and center to tomers a few years from now? What your employees’ social media pres- determine how social media can help about the freelancers who might still ence, provide them with detailed you achieve them. be in college, but could be among your examples of what type of behavior is

14 The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 Cre ative Think ing: Doing What a Machine Cannot By Grant Hamilton

I once spotted this sentence in a promotional brochure for a small town in the Laurentian Mountains in The more technical and specialized your field of work, Quebec, Canada: the better machines will get at doing exactly Arpentez la rue principale et décou- what you do, only faster. vrez la nature amicale et chaleureuse des résidents.

Pretty straightforward, I thought. A residents” just tacked on the end? This is an improvement. We are piece of cake to translate: “Stroll the Overall, a big disappointment. now on the main street, not the prin- main street and discover how warm cipal street. But it is still peopled with and friendly the local residents are.” Second try, Wordlingo: “Survey the “nature residents.” Then I began to wonder how a principal street and discover friendly machine translation program would and cordial nature residents.” Fourth, Promt: “Survey the main do on a simple translation like this. street and discover the friendly and There was only one way to find out— Well, at least we got rid of “tra- warm nature of the inhabitants.” give it a spin. verse,” but “survey” does not sound much better. When I read the French, I Not bad! Notice, though, how we First up, SDL freetranslation.com: get the distinct impression that people are still surveying the street. Plus, “Traverse the principal street and are walking up and down the street, not none of these applications seem to discover the friendly and warm just surveying it. And those “nature consider switching “the friendly and nature the residents.” residents” sound a bit suspicious. Plus, warm nature of the inhabitants” to we still have a “principal” street. “how friendly and warm the inhabi- Hmmm. Where did that “traverse” tants are.” A piffling point? come from, and when was the last Next up, Babelfish: “Survey the time anybody talked about a “prin- main street and discover friendly Fifth, Apptek: “Survey the main cipal” street? And what about “the and cordial nature residents.” street and discover the ·

The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 15 Creative Thinking: Doing What a Machine Cannot Continued

friendly and cordial nature of the residents.”

This is the best so far, in my Be aware of the areas where machine translation opinion. I prefer a street with resi- dents to a street with inhabitants. capabilities are the strongest and where they are weakest. And for the grand finale, Google Translate: “Stroll the main street and discover the warm and friendly nature of residents.” the same reason. So you attract this creative arise in the most unlikely At last, a stroll down the main target audience by saying that they places. For example, here is a quote street! The only thing that appears to can shop and meet friendly people. from a dry-as-dust brief on the provi- be missing is exactly which residents The human translator realized these sion of municipal recreational services: we are talking about; the ones who differences and adjusted the text live on the street or all residents every- accordingly. He or she added value by Les temps sont venus de privilégier where. In any event, Google wins. doing what no machine translation un mode de gestion des infrastruc- So how did the actual living, program could ever do: think cre- tures innovant, basé d’une part sur breathing translator word the text? atively. And Google Translate, as la connaissance, la planification, la Like this: impressive as it was, was no match. performance et, d’autre part, sur la mobilisation, la concertation, le “Soak up the cozy friendliness of Added Value: partenariat. small-town Québec with a walk The Future of Translation through the old town.” The more technical and specialized The passage above looks like some- your field of work, the better thing a translator could zip right Wow. I like it a lot. It does not say machines will get at doing exactly through. A quick translation would quite the same thing as the French, but what you do, only faster. The expo- sound something like this: “The time I think that may be why I like it. nential growth of computing power has come to favor an innovative infra- Think about it: English-speaking and the sharing of human knowledge structure management mode based on visitors to this town are not quite the through tools like Google Translate knowledge, planning, and performance same as the French-speaking ones. guarantee it. To earn and keep your on the one hand and on mobilization, They have different perspectives and place in the field, you must be able to cooperation, and partnership on the expectations. They notice different do what computers cannot. other.” Our best performer from the things. So maybe you should say dif- Computers cannot actually think. last test, Google Translate, suggests ferent things to them. They will want They cannot take a jargon-filled gov- this translation: “The time has come to to “soak up” the atmosphere—the ernment report and turn it into seam- favor a management infrastructure unique architecture, the quaint shops, less, reader-friendly copy. They innovative, based in part on knowl- the way everything looks and feels a cannot add a flourish of style where edge, planning, performance and, sec- little bit different. They also probably one is needed. They cannot know ondly, on the mobilization, policy appreciate strolling around pictur- when the target audience has changed. dialogue, partnership.” In reality, these esque “old towns.” Even if you fed a computer program two versions are not hugely different. On the other hand, you are unlikely this information, it would not know Google Translate put the word “innov- to impress or attract many French- what to do. But you, a smart trans- ative” in the wrong spot, forgot the speaking tourists by promising that lator, can do all that. word “mode,” and struggled with the they will experience “small-town “But I never translate about definite article (The mobilization? Québec.” Many of them probably soaking up small-town ambience.” Which mobilization?), but these are already live in a small town in Never translate travel texts? No things that a posteditor can rectify in a Quebec. “Old town” is also a miss for matter—opportunities to think and be snap.

16 The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 Professional Opportunities

But read the sentence again and ask for Developing Creative Fluency yourself what it means. What is an infrastructure management mode “based on performance”? What is the author talking about? Why has the April 30-May 1, 2011 author listed six things that the manage- ATA Translation Company Division ment mode is based on, but grouped Business Conference them into threes (based on x, x, and x on Embassy Suites at the Chevy Chase Pavilion the one hand and on x, x, and x on the other)? These are questions a thinking Washington, DC translator might ask. A computer pro- www.atanet.org/tcd_business gram would not. The real, live human who translated May 7, 2011 this text had read the entire brief on New England Translators Association recreational services. She knew that “management mode” referred to how 15th Annual Conference creatively and cooperatively town Boston, MA recreational managers did their jobs. www.netaweb.org She also noticed that the first three “bases” of the management mode were May 13-15, 2011 things the managers could do them- National Association of Judiciary selves, and that the second three were things the managers could get others to Interpreters and Translators do. This is the translation she suggested: NAJIT 32nd Annual Conference Hilton Hotel “The time has come to be innova- Long Beach, CA tive facility managers, planning www.najit.org ahead and drawing on our know- how and ability while also securing the cooperation, involvement, and August 12-14, 2011 partnership of others.” First Annual “Style in Translation” Training Conference Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts Which translation do you think the Maplecrest, NY client will prefer? www.translateinthecatskills.com Developing Your Creative Fluency (Note: Although geared toward English-to-French and French-to-English It is an incontrovertible fact that translators, this event will also be valuable to those who wish to work on tomorrow’s successful translators will their English writing skills in a translation context.) be beloved not for their huge store of technical knowledge, but for their October 26-29, 2011 nimble style, effortless fluency, and ready grasp of the communication ATA 52nd Annual Conference objective at hand. Whether specialists Marriott Copley Place or generalists, these professionals will Boston, MA be sought out for their ability to read www.atanet.org/conf/2011 and understand a text and render it in reader-friendly prose in the target lan- guage. They will add value that no computer can. ·

The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 17 Creative Thinking: Doing What a Machine Cannot Continued

These are the skills you need to improve today to prepare for the road ahead. There are many ways to do this. Attending professional conferences and Opportunities to think and be creative arise in taking advantage of other continuing the most unlikely places. education opportunities, such as the ones listed on page 17, bring you into contact with other professionals who can help you hone your craft and add to read extensively and diversely in simple rule I follow is to rewrite for real value to your work. In order to your target language. It also helps to clarity if I cannot imagine having leverage your talents further, you view yourself as the reader’s advo- written the sentence myself.) Focusing should also be aware of the areas where cate—the person who cuts through on your translation style is worth the machine translation capabilities are the dense prose and makes the mental effort effort, because as your style improves, strongest and where they are weakest. to understand and communicate the so will your confidence and your Another simple thing you can do is content and purpose of the text. (A success as a translator.

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18 The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 International Federation of Translators Federation Internationale des Traducteurs

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Learn more by visiting www.fit2011.org/advertising.htm Post-Translation Client Review By Melissa Ramer

Your translation is complete. You have chosen the most appropriate words, making sure that the termi- Establishing ground rules before agreeing to undertake nology is consistent throughout the doc- ument. You have followed the style the assignment is far more effective than trying to requirements provided by the client. In influence the process after it has begun. short, you have done your best up to this point to ensure quality. The next step is now out of your hands: the manuscript review. This practice can lead to disaster. replacing it with Latin American Just like a writer who delivers his or Imagine a worst-case scenario. An Spanish. Not having an editorial eye, her work to an editor, a translator often American company has training mate- he introduces errors along the way. relinquishes control of the manuscript rial translated into European Spanish This particular kind of nightmare once it is delivered to the client for for distribution to Spain. After the can be avoided when all parties have a review. However, the analogy stops translation is delivered, the client’s better understanding of the client there. An editor is trained and dedicated project manager is required to have review process and the expectations to the editing task; the individual a the material reviewed. Racking her for the end result. How? The fol- client picks to review your translation brain for a likely candidate, the lowing describes one methodology could be just about anyone. According project manager recalls that Leo in used to help ensure that an appropriate to one colleague, “Many clients have marketing was born in Mexico and is client reviewer is chosen for the job. reviewers who are not qualified transla- fully bilingual. Score! She sends the tors, and in some cases not even good document to him. He “corrects” the Clarity Leads to Accuracy editors in their native languages. They translation by eradicating all the In the industrial-organizational psy- are often chosen based on convenience nuanced language that marked the chology field in which I work, surveys more than anything.” translation as European Spanish, are used to measure employees’ levels

20 The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 of engagement and attitudes toward their jobs and companies. Because these tools are designed to collect answers to Getting approval from a representative of the audience specific sets of questions that will allow the results to be compared, the language who will receive the translation is important. in each question is precise and inten- tional. Since these surveys are adminis- tered globally, the questions must have the same meaning in all languages to high-quality work will be respected There are many other ways to ensure that the results can be compared and reviewed with appropriate care? measure a reviewer’s capability, such across different populations accurately. We can anticipate some of the pitfalls as writing samples. If the potential To help achieve this purpose, my col- that are common when client reviewer litters his e-mail with mis- leagues and I know that an in-country reviewers are chosen and offer to pro- takes, he is probably not the right client reviewer is in the best position to vide project managers with guidelines choice for this phase of the project. inform us if the translation is likely to for selecting the reviewer. Most of us Education is key. An in-country be understood by local survey respon- have a contact at the client’s end to reviewer may be chosen for any dents. whom we can relate and potentially number of reasons. The less the In an informal poll of project man- influence—whether that person is the client’s project manager understands agers with whom I work, several com- project manager for a large language the steps involved in selecting a qual- pelling reasons for including a client services provider or a direct client ified reviewer, the less likely he or she review phase emerged. When the managing his own project. This indi- will choose wisely. reviewer participating in the docu- vidual may be the one who chooses ment approval process is a native of the client reviewer, or may be in a Setting Expectations the country in which the survey is to position to educate the person who and Ground Rules be administered, clients tend to feel will make the choice. Therefore, it is Once an appropriate client more confident that the survey will be important to identify that contact and reviewer has been chosen, the project well received by respondents and gen- tactfully improve his or her under- manager will need to give clear erate accurate results. Getting standing of how translations can be instructions to the reviewer in order to approval from a representative of the reviewed most optimally and by what achieve the desired end: a translation audience who will receive the transla- type of reviewer. How? One way is to that has been reviewed for clarity and tion is important. Inevitably, provide your contact with a checklist for usage of local, company-specific reviewers will often have questions stressing the important criteria to con- language. Of course, any proofreading regarding the translation, which in sider when choosing a reviewer. Some errors should be pointed out if found. turn lead to possible changes to the important points include: The consensus among project man- terminology. Having a client review agers with whom I work is that estab- stage makes it possible to hear and 1. Choose a client reviewer who is a lishing ground rules for client review address any concerns before the native speaker of the target country before a project launches is extremely survey is finalized, rather than after it or language for which the transla- helpful. These include: has been distributed. Advanced tion is intended. approval of the translation also 1. Incorporating the review process removes the excuse of a poor transla- 2. English proficiency is essential so into the project timeline. tion as a possible reason why the that the translated text can be com- client’s survey generated poor results. pared accurately to the English 2. Giving clear instructions regarding version. the goal of the client review (e.g., Educate Project Managers consistency with local terminology). Short of demanding to interview 3. The ideal reviewer should be detail- and approve the chosen client oriented and proficient in grammar, 3. Establishing how disagreements con- reviewer—a fantasy at best—how can punctuation, and spelling in the cerning translations will be handled. we as translators help ensure that our native language. ·

The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 21 Post-Translation Client Review Continued Instructions to the In-Country Reviewer

It is important to establish expecta- 1. Please read the translation for clear and accurate tions from the start. Provide clients with meaning and compare it to the English version. frequently asked questions about the review process to educate them and to 2. Please do not suggest different terminology based on address any concerns they may have. personal preference. For example, a reviewer should resist the temptation to “improve” the transla- 3. Please insert local company terminology where tion through editing or rewriting appropriate. without first consulting the translator. Doing so could alter the meaning of the 4. If errors in punctuation, spelling, or grammar are text. Similarly, different terminology noticed, please mark them. should not be introduced based on per- sonal preference unless it better reflects 5. Comments and suggestions should be made on the local company usage. For example, if client review sheet in the column marked “Client the phrase “workgroup” is used Review.” throughout the translation, but the reviewer recognizes that on the local 6. Please provide a brief explanation for the change on level it is actually called “team cluster,” the client review sheet in the column marked “Client this is precisely the kind of change that Notes.” the reviewer should pinpoint. Checking for discrepancies in terminology is the 7. Your suggestions will be reviewed by the translator. reviewer’s primary contribution to the process, and this should be made clear to the project manager. One reason it is advantageous to use in-country reviewers is because they have knowl- effective in spurring compliance. As process for the translation. Let them edge about local terminology that we one colleague put it, “Delays in English know that you would be delighted to cannot know without their feedback. content = delays in delivering transla- respond to any questions or concerns You also need to make sure that the tion = delays in translation review = raised by the translation consumer. project manager factors the necessary delays in finalizing the survey.” Ask if there is a system in place for time for the review process into the What kind of leverage do we have handling client reviews. If there is project schedule. Timing is often one of as freelance translators in this not, be ready with your suggestions to the chief bugaboos here. Having client process? That depends. As in most sit- set up a system that is realistic and review firmly placed in the work time- uations, establishing ground rules workable for all parties. line helps shape expectations and com- before agreeing to undertake the So what are the guidelines that may municates that it is an integral part of assignment is far more effective than help the client reviewer stay on task producing high-quality multilingual trying to influence the process after it and not stray into unappreciated word- material. Alerting the project manager has begun. Ask your direct client or smithing? The box above lists the ones to the consequences of delays can be contact if there will be a review we use.

Figure 1: Client Review Sheet Template

Source Text Translated Text Client Review Client Notes Translator Response Final Text My workgroup functions My workgroup functions Use “cluster” instead Local terminology. A My cluster functions as as a team. as a team. of “workgroup.” a team. Translator Response: (A = Accept; AM = Accept with Modification; R = Reject)

22 The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 What the Process Looks Like Theory is helpful, but how does the Additional Resources back-and-forth of the review phase actually work? Over time, my work- place has developed a template that “Optimizing Client Translation Re views” works well for us. Figure 1 on page 22 Esprit d’ICD (Winter 2010, Volume 9, No. 1), shows a sample client review sheet that breaks down the process. First, www.icdtranslation.com/newsletters_pdf/ we have a column for the source lan- ICD_Esprit_Winter2010.pdf. guage, followed by a column for the translated text. Next is a column Betmar Languages called “Client Review,” where the www.betmar.com/translation/reviews.html reviewer makes notes or suggestions. Asking for a reason for a change in the “Client Notes” column helps clarify whether changes are necessary or simply preferential. The change has been rejected or the modi- rying those changes throughout the “Translator Response” column is fied translation if the client change entire document. This is where it is where translators can indicate if they: has been accepted. key to have a final review so the trans- 1) accept the change; 2) accept a Figure 1 is the basic setup. How it lator can make sure that such changes change, provided certain modifica- works in practice depends a lot on the are implemented consistently. We tions are made; or 3) reject the client. We have had client reviewers always want the translator to be noti- change. (Figure 1 shows the short- who decide to retranslate nearly all fied of any suggested changes hand code [A, AM, and R] we imple- the text for preferential changes, because of the potential for intro- mented that translators use to indicate which is a waste of everyone’s time. ducing new errors in the text, which, their responses.) The last column, (We can all acknowledge that there unfortunately, is a common outcome “Final Text,” is very important. It is are multiple ways to express things.) of a client review. essential that the translator enter Occasionally, a client reviewer will The result we work toward is a either the original translation if the revise certain phrases without car- client-approved translation that has been reviewed and localized for the target population. Is it worth the effort? You betcha! American Foundation for Translation and Interpretation: Help Yourself by Supporting the Professions

The American Foundation for Translation and Interpretation (AFTI), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, was established to help translation and interpreting professionals preserve their history, assist in their present Transit NXT – just what work, and stimulate research and scholarship. you need, when you Give something back to the professions. Please make a tax-deductible need it! contribution to AFTI today. Send your check, payable to AFTI, to: American Foundation for Translation and Interpretation c/o ATA 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 Alexandria, VA 22314

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The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 23 The market for translation Things Can Only Get Better! environment tools is as crowded as ever. For every tool that falters, two By Jost Zetzsche new ones seem to show up. With so many choices, it seems logical that it would be easy for us to choose a tool that has all the features we have ever dreamed of, right? Wrong! When I sat down to enumerate my dream fea- tures, I came up with a whole list that are either missing or woefully under- developed. I will name just a few of those here.

Open Standards for Server-Based Systems We have been talking about transla- tion exchange standards forever: stan- dards like TMX (Translation Memory Exchange) to exchange translation memories, TBX (TermBase eXchange) to exchange terminology databases, and XLIFF (XML Localisation Interchange File Format) to exchange the actual translation files. And there are others, such as SRX (Segmentation Rules eXchange), GMX (Global Mail Exchange), and xml:tm (XML-based Text Memory). These standards are really important for facilitating the exchange of translation projects between different versions of transla- tion environment tools. Traditionally, the focus of these standards was the desktop, so that projects could be exchanged from one system to another. With the advent of server-based proj- ects, however, assets (translation mem- ories and terminology databases) are now stored online with real-time access to a translation professional. Suddenly, things are no longer quite so clear-cut. While in certain cases it is possible to download some or all of the data into one of these exchange formats, it defeats the purpose: the real-time col- laboration between various translation professionals becomes impossible.

The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 Ergo, the data is only accessible with the originating tool (which could be Trados, Déjà Vu, Across, memoQ, or any of the other tools that support this What is needed is a standard that allows for any kind of workflow). translation environment tool to hook into an What is needed, therefore, is a stan- dard that allows for any translation individual’s workflow. environment tool to hook into that workflow. In other words a tool that will query the underlying translation memo- ries and terminology databases that long since morphed into an exchange nology resources for virtually anything remain on the server and write data to format for all kinds of files. In fact, and everything from within any tool in them as the project continues, thus many tools use XLIFF internally for the Windows environment. Still, it enabling other folks who are working all their supported file formats. would be a helpful and easy add-on for on the project to benefit from that data It is a really cool standard. Yeah, it all translation environment tools to offer in real-time. Sound unlikely? Agreed. is great that we can exchange transla- online dictionary and corpus searches as But it is no doubt possible if there is a tion memories and termbases with well as dictionary searches from within real will on the side of tool makers. Is standards, but how much greater is it their environment. I would not be sur- there? No, not really, and this is true for to exchange the actual translation file prised to actually see this capability in big and small vendors alike. Yes, they between different tools? There is no upcoming versions of tools! all support the above-mentioned trans- more awkward converting of source lation data standards in some way or files or the need for filters to support Integration of Common other and communicate this very publi- file formats of other translation envi- Word-Processing Features cally and proudly. But with the future ronment tools if everything goes This is an area that many tool devel- and present clearly going in the direc- through XLIFF! opers have been working on, but it is tion of server-based projects (at least for The problem with XLIFF is that it also one that needs serious expansion. large projects), many vendors are only is extendable by definition. This With MS Word all but out of the pic- too happy to have found this new way means that you can create perfectly ture as the interface in which transla- of capturing their technology. You find valid XLIFF documents that still tion is being done, some features are that frustrating? I do, too. There is actu- cannot be read—or read in their missed by translation professionals in ally an e-mail address that ATA Director entirety—by other tools. Now isn’t the tabular or otherwise structured Alan Melby and I set up awhile back to that lovely! It tends to sound like an interface of translation environment allow you to voice your concerns so we oxymoron when you have to create tools. (I know that many of you still can pass those on to the vendors (datas- customized filters for an exchange use tools that allow for MS Word, but [email protected]). Feel free to let format. The plea to tool vendors needs even you will have to admit that there tool makers know your thoughts by e- to be this: do not extend your XLIFF is a general trend away from the pro- mailing this address, or talk to them definitions. Use what XLIFF already gram.) Many tools now have decent directly. Are they going to listen? I think offers. (And, yes, you might want to spelling checkers and AutoText fea- that depends on how many of us are e-mail [email protected] to tures, some even have AutoCorrect, talking. voice that plea.) and an increasing number also have visible formatting (WYSIWYG, or Full Fruition of XLIFF Wide and Customizable What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get) for XLIFF is probably one of the best Access to Tool-External Resources features such as bold and italic text, but things that has happened to our Some tools already offer the ability to that is not all that tools like MS Word industry in the past few years, and, link easily to online terminology or OpenOffice offer. What about ironically, it almost happened by acci- resources and, in the case of Across, even grammar checks? What about track dent. XLIFF really was only meant to hard-drive-based terminology resources. changes? What about more than just support the translation process of soft- With tools like IntelliWebSearch, it is italics and bold as visible formatting? ware development formats, but it has also possible to do searches on termi- In many cases, tool developers ·

The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 25 Things Can Only Get Better! Continued have to deal with limitations on the editing areas that their particular envi- ronment can handle, but maybe it is time to look for more highly enabled XML Localisation Interchange File Format is probably environments. one of the best things that has happened to our Morphological Tool Kits I have had many conversations with industry in the past few years. tool vendors about this area. Why don’t the tools know morphological rules when it comes to recognition of termbase and translation memory of our tools (translation memory, Now of course, there are ways to entries or the automatic adjustment grammar checking, morphological integrate terminology into machine once matches are found? Certain tools “knowledge,” machine translation, etc.) translation processes, but only by offer some functionality in this area in “talk” to each other and work in concert training processes and not on-the-fly. I some languages, but the majority of with each other? foresee this feature as a potential game tools do not. And why is that? It is too I think it is this last point where there changer on two fronts: 1) it could make expensive. Plus, any kind of develop- can still be a lot done on the side of the machine translation a more reasonable ment in this area will be language-spe- tool vendors. Some tool vendors have additional feature for many of us, and 2) cific, so where do you stop? Which offered features where termbases and many of us might actually start to take languages do you include? translation memories “talk” to each terminology work seriously. My suggestion is for tool vendors other, so terms in a fuzzy translation to design tool kits for users to develop memory match are switched on-the-fly Honest Communication language-specific morphological rules if the old and new terms are “known” to by Tool Vendors that they can share with others or with the termbase (Déjà Vu does this). But This is pretty self-explanatory: we their same language group, who also there is clearly so much more that can have been hurt enough by false prom- will have some contributions to make. be done. How about grammatical ises. This is certainly true for machine Too simple a solution to make it work? adjustments (singular versus plural or translation technology, but also for the Let’s see whether we can find some gender-specific changes in articles, technology used in translation environ- takers among the tool vendors. etc.)? And how about communication ment tools. between machine translation matches What about the much-heralded “sup- Rediscovery of Terminology and and terminology databases? port for PDF” in many tools? Give me a Integration into Translation Some kind of machine translation fea- break. No tool truly supports PDF files, Memory and Machine ture is present in virtually all translation at least not in the way that other file Translation Workflows environment tools, but it is by no means types are supported. What about com- How long have we/you been advanced. The feature usually provides plete openness because of XLIFF sup- preached to about the importance of for a suggestion from a machine transla- port? Well, I already talked about that. proper terminology work? Forever? It tion engine when no translation memory I would love to see communica- sure seems like it, and yet I think it match is found, but there is no automatic tion between tool vendors and transla- would not be presumptuous to say that lookup or even replacement of terms that tors be direct and straightforward, just most of us are still not particularly pru- are found in the termbase. And it would as one would hope for from a business- dent about it. And being prudent can be an easy thing to do, especially if the to-business relationship. And this goes mean a lot of things. Do we take termi- same kind of communication already both ways as we exert our influence in nology work seriously and really happens between the translation memory this business relationship by letting ven- invest into it? How do we use termi- and the termbase. Provided we have dors know what we need. nology in our workflows? Do we have good termbases(!), we might actually get manual lookup procedures or do our decent hits even from machine transla- tools automate lookup and utilize their tion engines like Google Translate or findings? Do the different components Bing Translator.

26 The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 April 2009 XVIII The Vol ume XXNumber 4 August 2010 Volume XXX A Publicationof the NumberIX 8 American CHRONICLE A Publication Translators The of the Association American Translators Association CHRONICLE

In this issue: Software Integration Translating Video Games Remember: Translating www.star-group.net Barefoot G en ATA Members Can Access The

March 2011 Volume XL Number 3 The A Publication of the American ATA Chronicle Online Translators Association CHRONICLE icts In this issue:ial Conflicts In this issue:mmercial Confl ing Commerc Resolving Co of Language Resolv useumm of Language ion ional Museu idation National M base Trepidat Nat mmbase Trep mnging Ter Ter All ATA members have access to complete issues of The ATA vercomi OvercoO Chronicle, from 2000 to the present, on ATA's website. Each issue is posted there as a PDF. Just log onto the Members Only section today and start reading! Targeted communication

In this issue: using corporate language Social Media Strategy

Post-Translation Client Review TermStar Doing What a Machine Cannot Suggestions for Tool Makers

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April 27, 2011 12 Noon Eastern Time A Translator’s Guide to the Drug Discovery Industry Presenter: Dr. Edward Zanders

Even a translator with a scientific background can have difficulty understanding and using the specialized jargon of the pharmaceutical research industry. This webinar will cover drug nomenclature, clinical trials, and the background of new biological drugs now entering the market.

May 17, 2011 12 Noon Eastern Time Is Machine Translation Ever the Right Tool for the Job? Presenter: Laurie Gerber www.star-group.net

Machine translation (MT) may not be an easy technology to love, but translators must learn to coexist with its development in the profession. How? This webinar will help provide vocabulary and frameworks for talking to language services providers and end clients about how to get the job done with the optimum mix of computing power and human skill. Computer assisted translation

Transit with Translation Memory

The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 27 Judy Jenner is a Spanish and German translator in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she runs Twin Translations with her twin sister. She is also the The Entrepreneurial Linguist Judy Jenner vice-president of the Nevada Interpreters and judy.jenner@ Translators Association. She hosts the popular entrepreneurial translation blog, Translation Times linguist.com (www.transla tiontimes.blogspot.com). You can

Photo by Ulf Buchholz You Are Overdressed! also find her at www.entrepreneuriallinguist.com.

It has been almost 20 is easy: dress professionally. The usually a tailored suit (with a skirt). years, but I remember the day vividly. problem, if you want to call it that, is During interpreting assignments at Through no fault of our own—we had that our personal lives intersect with legal depositions, I frequently get mis- been told we were going to grab a our professional lives constantly, and taken for the attorney, which is not a quick dinner with friends after you never know if you will meet a bad thing. As a profession, we all have playing tennis—my twin sister and I potential client at a casual get- to do public relations work and present walked into a formal quinceañera together at a friend’s house. That does ourselves in a highly professional party dressed in, well, tennis outfits. not mean that you should wear a suit manner. Unfortunately, the “frumpy Needless to say, we made a quick exit. and tie to the summer backyard BBQ freelancer” impression that many have Now, whenever I am undecided about at your neighbor’s pool, but you of entrepreneurs like us who are what to wear to a specific event, I should think about the way you dress home-based professionals might not think about this incident and choose as being part of your overall image— be completely incorrect for freelancers to be overdressed rather than under- and by default, your company’s. in general. We can all help change that dressed. In professional situations, While no one would go as far as to say perception by being among the best- you really cannot be overdressed, that your services might not be good dressed people in the room. This does unless you are going to throw out the because you do not dress the part, first not mean you have to spend a fortune, first pitch at a charity softball event. impressions really do matter (some as there are fantastic discount stores Much has been written about how clichés are true). My advice is to err that carry a selection of high-quality to dress when working from home, as on the side of being overdressed. suits at reasonable prices. most of us do, and whether one should When in doubt about what to wear to As superficial as it sounds, get dressed first thing in the morning, a professional appointment, wear a strangers do have a tendency to eval- dress as if one were going to an actual suit or your preferred “uniform.” uate you based on what you wear, and office, or simply work in whatever is I have found it tremendously being dressed like the professional comfortable. I do not have a prefer- helpful to have several outfits handy you are is always a good thing. That ence, and I have also been known to that I call my “uniforms.” These are said, I have gone to assignments work occasionally in my Snoopy well-coordinated, dry-cleaned clothes where others were dressed in jeans pajamas (which I will proudly admit that make me feel comfortable, strong, and I was wearing a black suit, but to owning). However, when leaving and professional (even when I am that is better than the other way the house to go to an appointment of having a nothing-fits-day, as all around. My suits and dresses might a professional nature, the choice women invariably do). My uniforms not be the most comfortable outfits I require no thought, have been own, and I do not think my feet and inspected for missing buttons, and are back enjoy the heels, but I do like the always ready to go. I gravitate toward end result and the image I project. my uniforms when I am in a rush to And I am happy to report that it has Yahoo! Business get to a client meeting, a networking been many years since I walked into a Discussion Group event, an interpreting assignment, a formal party in my tennis outfit. professional development event, or ATA members can discuss business issues online any other appointment. My uniform is at the following Yahoo! group: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/ group/ata_business_practices. You will This column is not intended to constitute legal, financial, or other business advice. Each need to register with Yahoo! (at no charge) if individual or company should make its own independent business decisions and consult you have not already done so, and provide its own legal, financial, or other advisors as appropriate. The views expressed here are not your full name and ATA member number in necessarily those of ATA or its Board of Directors. Ideas and questions should be directed order to join the group. to [email protected].

28 The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 Internet blogs are rich sources of information for translators and interpreters. They allow users to post questions, exchange ideas, network, and read news Blog Trekker Résumé Writing and commentary on a specific subject. The topics featured in this column are actual blog postings Suggestions for concerning issues pertinent to your colleagues in the field today. For more blog listings, visit Freelance Translators www.atanet.org/careers/blog_trekker.php.

(Posted by Jiri Stejskal on January 7, List complete contact information. Provide information on your desktop 2011, on CETRAblog, http://cetrainc. Make sure you include your mailing publishing (DTP) capabilities. Skills com/2011/01/07/resume-writing.) address, phone number, fax number, in using DTP applications such as and an accurate e-mail address that InDesign or QuarkXpress are good to Keep the document to one or two pages. you check regularly. have, as they might set you apart from Remember, this is a résumé, not a CV. other translators. As such, it is important to summarize When saving your résumé on the com- the most significant highlights of your puter, use your last name for the file- Proofread your résumé thoroughly and professional skills that are relevant to name. Do not name your résumé have others proofread it. This is particu- the position for which you are applying. something generic like “U.S. resume” larly important if your native language A project or vendor manager’s time is or “translator 1.” This just makes good is not English. Of course, even native limited. He or she will spend only a few sense, especially when submitting English speakers are not immune to seconds looking at your résumé to see if your résumé online, since translation typos and poorly worded English. it is worthwhile to keep reading. companies will typically file an appli- Remember, you have designed your cant’s material by last name. résumé as a tool for selling your lin- Indicate your source and target lan- guistic skills. If it is not flawless, your guages. Having this information clearly Indicate your educational background capabilities will appear questionable. visible at the top makes it easier for in the proper place. If you graduated project or vendor managers to find when recently and do not have much work Include relevant association member- they go looking for a specific language experience, make sure you emphasize ships and credentials, such as ATA pair among the many résumés on file. If your education. If you are an experi- certification. you translate more than one language, enced translator or interpreter, you can include it, but differentiate your strongest move the education information to the Update your résumé frequently. language pair from the others. end and emphasize work experience Sending out an updated résumé is a instead. good excuse to make additional con- Indicate your specialization. It is likely to tacts with translation companies. This be the second thing a project or vendor Provide relevant information only. will also help to keep your name fresh manager looks for on your résumé. For a freelance position, it is not nec- in the minds of prospective clients. When looking for a particular area of essary to show that there are no gaps expertise for a project, many translation in your employment history. You do Ask permission before disclosing companies use indexing and keyword not need to write down the summer project information or listing refer- search tools to help them sift through the you spent pouring concrete or waiting ences. If you also provide a brief résumés on file. Having your specializa- tables, unless perhaps you were description of past projects and names tions listed will help ensure that a word waiting tables at a cafe in Paris or of references, keep in mind that you search leads to your résumé. For Madrid. may still be bound by confidentiality example, if you are a German medical agreements and cannot disclose, translator, make sure you list the words Indicate your experience with com- without permission, the identity of spe- “German” and “medical.” puter-aided translation (CAT) tools and cific end clients for whom you worked whether you use such tools on a regular through an agency. It is acceptable to Submit your résumé online, preferably basis. Do you own and are you profi- state that you worked for Agency ABC, in PDF format as an e-mail attachment. cient in the use of a particular tool, but not that you worked through them A PDF file looks professional and can such as SDL Trados? Make sure you for Fortune449 Inc. It is also advisable be viewed on different platforms list specific CAT tools, since this is to ask permission before you list without altering the fonts you use. It another area where translation compa- anyone’s name as a reference. also indicates that you know how to nies use indexing and keyword create a PDF file, which many transla- searches. tion companies see as a valuable skill.

The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 29 Send your news to Jeff Sanfacon at [email protected] or American Translators Association, 225 Member News Reinekers Lane, Suite 590, Alexandria, VA 22314.

• Renato Beninatto was elected presi- book was published in Bogotá, • Monica Nainsztein Rodríguez, dent of the European Language Colombia, by Editorial Univer - founder and chief executive officer of Industry Association. sidad del Rosario. It is a translation SpanishOne Translations, Inc., was of Countering Development: named 2011 Business Woman of the • Andy Klatt published Replan- Indigenous Modernity and the Year by the Sacramento, California teando el desarrollo: Modernidad Moral Imagination, written by Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. indígena e imaginación moral, George Washington University which he worked on in collabora- anthropologist David D. Gow. Klatt tion with María Clemencia teaches Spanish and translation at Ramírez of the Colombian Institute Tufts University. of Anthropology and History. The

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30 The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 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. Upcoming Exams Forms are available from ATA’s website or from Headquarters.

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English into Spanish Maria Emilia Gonzalez Saua Clara I. Montoya Nicoletta Smareglia Cordoba, Argentina Alpharetta, GA Decatur, GA

The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 31 Compiled by Dictionary Reviews Peter A. Gergay [email protected]

Healthcare Interpreting in Cynthia E. Roat, known affec- health. Consent and sight translation of Small Bites: 50 Nourishing tionately to colleagues and students as consent forms are discussed in detail Selections from the Pacific Cindy, is the author of several inter- and two articles are devoted to inter- Interpreters Newsletter, preting resources, notably Bridging the preting at the end of life. Section 3, Gap, one of the most widely offered “The Under-Appreciated Interpreter,” 2001-2010 interpreter training programs in the U.S. provides background information and An indefatigable advocate for language strategies for dealing with awkward Reviewed by: access, she is an educator, trainer, con- situations. These strategies include Patricia Thickstun sultant, policy developer, researcher, and, short-term solutions, such as on-the- last but not least, an interpreter. spot handling of situations involving Author: Healthcare Interpreting in Small Bites is English-speaking family members, Cynthia E. Roat a compilation of essays written for The “bilingual” or uncooperative health Pacific Interpreters Newsletter published care professionals, and what to do Publisher: by Pacific Interpreters. when a patient or provider challenges Trafford Publishing I first became acquainted with the quality of an interpreter’s work. Cindy Roat’s work in 1999, when I Long-term solutions are discussed in Publication date: took Bridging the Gap training. The “Training the Whole Team.” Section 4, 2010 goal of this 40-hour curriculum is to “Rx for Interpreters,” provides advice build a theoretical framework so an on self-care (maintaining physical and Number of pages: interpreter will be equipped to respond mental health), business tips for inde- 266 intelligently and effectively to real-life pendent contractors, community situations. Although Bridging the Gap service opportunities, and continuing ISBN: training prepared me to face a variety education. Two articles are devoted to 978-1-4269-3122-2 (paperback) of situations and has served me well background information and test- over the years, I found Healthcare taking tips for health care interpreter Price: Interpreting in Small Bites to be testing. “Interpreting with a Broken $34.95 extremely useful. It not only expands Heart” focuses on the challenges on several topics covered in medical encountered when providing inter- Available from: interpreter training, it can also be used preting services to patients with poor Trafford Publishing as a “stand-alone” resource. prognoses and their families and when www.trafford.com dealing with emotions that accompany Approach communicating bad news. Through the author at The book is divided into two parts. Part II uses crossword puzzles and [email protected] Part I comprises articles arranged in vocabulary exercises to address addi- four themes. Section 1, “Tips and tional topics for preparing interpreters. Type of work (dictionary, glossary): Tricks of the Trade,” covers inter- The exercises include matching and Compilation of essays preting ethics and protocol, how to fill-in-the-blank, as well as “The Real deal with challenging situations, and Test” feature, which challenges the techniques for memory improvement, reader to put into practice what has note-taking, controlling communica- been learned. Vocabulary exercises tion flow, and handling confrontation. cover obstetrics, dentistry, housing This section also addresses advocacy services, domestic abuse, and the hos- and general sight translation. Section 2 pital financial office. Crossword (“The Key to Success Is Being puzzle topics include cardiology, mus- Prepared”) provides background infor- culoskeletal system, nutrition, and mation and strategies for interpreting home health and safety. in various settings, including pedi- atrics, asthma clinic, pharmacy, Target Audience genetics counseling, and behavioral With an extensive menu catering to

32 The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 many tastes, Healthcare Interpreting in molecular genetics, and simplifying explanation of terms and concepts Small Bites is an apt title for this these concepts for the layperson can relating to germ cell, gamete, diploid, book. Its target audience is as exten- be challenging. Section 18 (“The haploid, spermatocyte, and oocyte. sive as it is diverse. This book is an ABCs of DNA: Interpreting for The numbering of the figures in this invaluable resource for practicing on- Genetic Counseling”) contains the fol- section is a bit confusing. The text refers site and over-the-phone (OTP) inter- lowing explanation: “Normally, a to Figures 1.2 and 1.3. Figure 1.3 does preters and aspiring interpreters. sperm or egg starts with 46 chromo- not appear at all, and Figure 1.1 is nei- Trained health care and community somes (23 pairs). During a process ther referred to, nor included. Figure 1.2, interpreters, dual role interpreters called meiosis, the sperm (or egg) entitled “Nondisjunction at meiosis 1,” (health care professionals with inter- splits into two sperm, each with only adds to the chromosome number confu- preter training), untrained interpreters, 23 chromosomes, one from every pair. sion described above as it shows a interpreting students, and professionals Then these sperm replicate, forming “sperm” with 46 chromosomes under- who use the services of interpreters four sperm, all with 23 chromosomes” going two rounds of division to form will all find useful advice. Working This is incorrect on several accounts. disomic and nullisomic sperm. These interpreters will find common sense “Gamete” is the general term for sperm combine with a monosomic egg advice on such diverse topics as when sperm or egg. The haploid number of to form either trisomic or monosomic and how to intervene in a conversa- chromosomes (n) is the number of chro- offspring. There is no explanation in the tion, how to handle “uncooperative mosomes in a gamete. A somatic cell is text of the following terms: nondisjunc- providers,” and how to prepare for an any body cell other than a gamete, and in tion, trisomic, and nullisomic. The 46- interpreting skills test. Both on-site and the human, each somatic cell is diploid, chromosome “sperm” in the figure is in OTP interpreters can benefit from having twice as many (2n) chromo- fact a diploid primary spermatocyte, not note-taking tips and memory tech- somes as a gamete. Thus a human a haploid sperm. niques. Students and aspiring inter- somatic cell contains 46 chromosomes In both the Section 39 (“Vocabulary preters will gain insight on challenging (2n=46 chromosomes), while a gamete of Obstetrics”) terminology exercise situations in the health care setting, (egg or sperm) has half as many (n=23). and the answer key, the phrase “chori- such as interpreting for patients and No human sperm or egg has 46 chromo- onic villi sampling” is rendered as their families when bad news is being somes, and no egg can split into two, “corionic villi sampling” (incorrect delivered or when end-of-life issues four, or any number of sperm. It appears spelling); while the phrase used in are being discussed. that what is being described here is the Section 18 is “chorionic villus sam- Professionals who use or arrange process of gametogenesis, during which pling.” The latter is the preferred term. for the services of interpreters, diploid germ cells (oocytes or spermato- The only missing item is an index. including health care providers and cytes) give rise to haploid gametes (eggs Usually one can make do with a table administrators, will gain insight into or sperm). A correct explanation of the of contents. Unfortunately, not all the the work and role of medical inter- process of meiosis would be: “During a page numbers in this book’s table of preters as well as techniques for cell division process called meiosis, the contents correspond to the actual text. working effectively with interpreters. 46 chromosomes (23 pairs) of a diploid This minor error can be corrected by germ cell are first replicated then penciling in the correct page numbers, Errors/Missing Items undergo two rounds of division, which and doubtless will be corrected in the Only a few errors were identified. results in haploid gametes (eggs or next of many printings. Genetic counseling is based on com- sperm), each with only 23 chromo- plex concepts in cytogenetics and somes.” However, this would require the ·

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The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 33 Dictionary Reviews Continued

Langenscheidt New College Overall Evaluation Before the days of electronic In conclusion, this book is an Dictionary German and online dictionaries, the Langen - excellent resource for practicing com- (English-German/ scheidt New College Dictionary munity and health care interpreters, German-English) with New German would have made a good aspiring interpreters, and profes- choice as one of the standard works on sionals who use the services of inter- German Spelling the desk of a translator working with preters. If you are a practicing German in either direction. Today, the interpreter, you will find invaluable Reviewed by: paper version can only really be rec- practical advice to facilitate informed Geoffrey S. Koby ommended as a backup reference or a and intelligent decisions. If you are an learner’s dictionary; however, the con- aspiring interpreter, this book will Edited by: tent is truly extremely useful as a gen- increase your awareness of the knowl- Langenscheidt editorial staff eral reference work of the German edge base expected of professionals language. For a professional, a better and the various situations facing pro- Publisher: (and more up-to-date) choice from this fessionals. If you are a health care Langenscheidt publisher might be the Langenscheidt provider or administrator, you will Collins Großwörterbuch Englisch, gain new respect for interpreters and Publication date: which, for around $74, includes access learn techniques for harmonious col- 2006 to the electronic version (presumably laboration. And even if you are not a online) at www.langenscheidt.com. health care interpreter and have no Number of pages/entries: The dictionary is hardbound, with a intention of becoming one, you will 1,800 pages high-quality binding. It is lightweight find some tasty morsels as well as with good-quality paper, thumb mark- food for thought in Healthcare English-to-German Section: ings on the page edges, and clear Interpreting in Small Bites. 719 pages; about 105,000 keywords and idioms, printing in a Times-style typeface with with about 255,000 translations. bold Arial headwords. (The typeface in the English-to-German section appears German-to-English section: slightly smaller than in the German-to- 1,081 pages; about 165,000 keywords and idioms, English section.) The body of dictionary with about 250,000 translations. is formatted into three columns. As is Patricia Thickstun is an ATA-certified typical for larger general German dic- French→English translator. She began ISBNs: tionaries, the entries contain an exten- translating while pursuing research at Institut 1-58573-518-3 (plain) sive amount of information in addition Pasteur-Paris and a doctorate in immunology at 1-58573-519-1 (thumb-indexed) to the translated words themselves, such the Université de Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris as pronunciation (using the International VI). With more than 30 years of experience as Price: Phonetic Alphabet), word class, colloca- a linguist, she has applied her training in $49.95 (plain) tions, idiomatic usage,1 and derived terminology research not only to the translation $52.95 (thumb-indexed) forms of the word. Individual definitions of several science books, including a graduate are also marked with symbols indicating text on high-energy physics, but also to patents Available from: the domain in which the word is used, and medical records. A trained medical Langenscheidt such as law, transportation, or chem- interpreter, she works primarily with refugees. www.langenscheidt.com istry. According to the back cover, the Currently, she is an epidemiologist in the dictionary is a completely new edition Tuberculosis Services Branch of the Texas with new German spelling, up-to-date Department of State Health Services. Having words and phrases, colloquial and served as the assistant administrator of ATA’s idiomatic expres sions, a large number Medical Division (2007-2009), she was of modern specialist terms from many elected administrator in 2009. Contact: fields, detailed grammatical informa- [email protected]. tion on German nouns and verbs, and useful appendices. Appendices include:

34 The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 English-to-German Section: better.) The notes to the user state that Slang from German-to-English: Junkie; • British and American abbreviations; the dictionary usually only provides the Kid; koksen; and bekifft sein. • Proper names (mostly geographical British pronunciation, which is another names, given names, and prominent indication that the dictionary is actually Vulgarities from English-to-German: surnames with brief explanation); aimed at German speakers. bonk or piss artist. • Irregular verbs; • Movie ratings (U.K. and U.S.); Content Analysis Vulgarities from German-to-English: • Numbers; and The foreword states that the fol- Arsch-und-Titten-Presse. • British and American weights and lowing new words, among others, are measures included in the dictionary: If nothing else, this list shows the need to update one’s general dictionary German-to-English Section: General terms in English: filo pastry; from time to time. I found it elucidating • German abbreviations; free bie; highlights; leaving do; quil - to look up each word and occasionally • Geographical names; ted jacket; ruggedize; serendipitous; learn something new. This dictionary is • Political subdivisions of Germany, spin doc tor; touring coach; and wash - a fascinating browse simply because it Austria, and Switzerland; board belly. covers so many areas so well. • Historical, biblical, and mytholog- Technical areas covered include ical names; General terms in German: ablösefrei; computers and the Internet, new tech- • Names of musical works (with Arbeitsfluss; Ärztehaus2; bio; Drücker- nologies, society and politics, business composers); kolonne; Erziehungsgeld; Fettabsau- and stock exchange, European Union • Numbers; gung; Freilandhaltung; Haushaltsloch; vocabulary, ecology and the environ- • German weights and measures; and Kinderschänder; Rathausfraktion; and ment, and sports. The forewords of the • Temperature conversions Verpackungsindustrie. two sections list almost 160 words in these areas, including such things as I must note one odd quirk, however, Elevated written language from “cash cow” or Quellcode (source code). that would make the dictionary some- English-to-German: non-discrimina- The forward for the German-to-English what less useful to anyone relatively tion principle; paramountcy; and voca- section also provides some information unfamiliar with the German of gram- tional training. on regional terms and dialect forms, matical forms and technical dictionary including Austrian and Swiss usage. terms: the complete lack of any back- Elevated written language from Since this is a general dictionary, I ground information in English. This is German-to-English: fakturieren3; multi - cannot report any “filler” words in the distinctly odd for a dictionary with an kulturell; Pädiatrie; and Selbstmedi- sense of a specialized dictionary. English title intended for sale in the kation. British English versus American English-speaking market. The foreword, English is marked, although there are table of contents, notes for the user, Colloquial Speech from English-to- inconsistencies as well as a distinct explanation of phonetic notation, explan- German: bozo; clocking; dippy; gobs- bias toward British usage. For ation of abbreviations, and appen dices macked; hype; mouse potato; natch; example, the primary meaning for the are all in German. The inside covers pecs; ram-raid4; do a runner; schmooze; English-to-German entry for “pave- contain quick reference guides for use street cred; sussed; veggie; wannabe; ment” is given as (Straßen)Pflaster, of the two sections of the dictionary, wheelie; whunk; wobbler; zapped; while meaning Number 2 (Bürgersteig) but these are also all in German. In fact, and zizz. is marked as British usage for what we the only pages written in English are Americans call a “sidewalk,” while the front and back covers, title pages, Colloquial Speech from German-to- meaning Number 3 (Fahrbahn) is and copyright pages. This suggests to English: abzocken; anbaggern; cool5; marked as American usage. On the me that Langenscheidt designed this Hype; Muckis; relaxen; Selbstläufer; other hand, the English-to-German dictionary for the German-speaking and Weichei. entry for “sidewalk” is marked as being world and has merely wrapped it in an “particularly American.” English cover. (I would expect the more Slang from English-to-German: bollix; Browsing the dictionary, I also hap- up-to-date Collins Langenscheidt to be honcho; naffing; oi(c)k; and rozzer. pened upon “hop-o’-my-thumb,” ·

The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 35 Dictionary Reviews Continued which is defined as Knirps, Zwerg (Ab)Änderungs-, Ergänzungsantrag the British bias and be careful to (“little lad, dwarf”), but the regional (to a bill, not a law), and the choose American terminology for usage is not identified. This and such American usage of Zusatzartikel American translations. Overall, this is unmarked entries as niminy-piminy do zur Verfassung, Nachtragsgesetz an excellent general paper dictionary. make me suspect that many other (“supplementary article to the con- unmarked regional usages might be stitution, supplementary law”). Notes found. 1. The idiomatic usage is frequently Since my interest is in legal trans- The bottom line here is that this not specifically marked as being lation, I checked a few legal terms very comprehensive dictionary should British. For example, the headword that differ between British and not be considered as a definitive “do” lists “do the host” (I would say American usage or suffer from poly- resource for technical definitions, “play the host”), “do the polite,” semy. For example: where a more specialized work would and “you have been done (brown).” be appropriate. • Anwalt is defined as “lawyer, solic- In a more general area, one word 2. I know Ärztehaus from my year itor, attorney, Am. counselor,” that tripped up my students on a trans- abroad as a high school student in implying that “lawyer” and “solic- lation assignment, German Mole, is 1979-80, where the term meant itor” are applicable everywhere in listed in the German-to-English section essentially a building with suites for American usage. Rechtsanwalt, on without any indication to the reader physician practices. Thus, it is the other hand, states “lawyer, Brit. that it is British. The term is defined hardly new. The definition given, auch solicitor; plädierender: Brit. only as “(harbo[u]r) mole,” which, “health clinic,” is a bit different. barrister, Am. attorney,” while the while giving a hint that this has some- English-to-German definition of thing to do with the sea, is not specifi- 3. Again, “invoicing” is hardly a new “lawyer” lists Rechtsanwalt, Rechts - cally marked as relating to term, but perhaps it is newly current beraterin, and Jurist, with no indica- construction or architecture. My stu- in the general language. tion of usage. The English-to- dents assumed this was some kind of German definition for “solicitor” is subspecies of little furry animal. Also, 4. Not marked as such, but ram-raid marked “Brit.; also Am. Rechts ref - the American term “breakwater” is not seems to be a term used in the Com- erent einer Stadt”as well as “agent.” listed as a synonym, although it does monwealth more than in the U.S. occur as a headword in the English-to- • Next, I turned to Recht and Gesetz. German section with the translation 5. For a dictionary copyrighted in Recht is marked properly both as a Wellenbrecher. 2006, it is odd to see that “cool” has “law” and a “right.” Gesetz is trans- Finally, discovering what words finally made it in as a German word. lated correctly as “law; Jur., Parl. have been left out of a major general auch act.” The English-to-German dictionary is an exercise in futility, for translation of law as Recht, Gesetz, the most part, since the editors cer- Rechtssystem is accurate, although tainly had to make selections. A couple the collocations “be in the law” and of terms might be included in a future “go to law” are not marked as edition, though, for example, Geoff Koby is an associate professor of British usage. “straight” (as the opposite of “gay”) German and translation studies in the Translator and “homeschooling.” Training program at Kent State University. His • Gesetzesänderung, defined as research focuses on translation assessment and “change in the law,” misses the rea- Overall Evaluation evaluation. An ATA-certified German→English sonably common meaning of The foregoing discussion must be and Dutch→English translator, he is the chair “amendment of a law.” On the other understood as minor flaws in what is, of ATA’s Certification Committee. Contact: hand, the English-to-German entry overall, a very strong dictionary. Those [email protected]. for “amendment” does not list any who already speak German well will meaning for “change in law,” refer- find it a useful tool. Translators into ring (in its legal meaning) only to English, though, should be aware of

36 The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 Visit the ATA Calendar Online www.atanet.org/calendar/ Upcoming Events for a more comprehensive look at upcoming events.

April 8-9, 2011 May 13-15, 2011 July 17-22, 2011 October 26-29, 2011 ATA Portuguese National Association of Registry of Interpreters ATA 52nd Annual Conference Language Division Judiciary Interpreters for the Deaf Boston, MA 14th PLD Mid-Year Conference and Translators RID National Conference www.atanet.org/conf/2011 Alexandria, VA NAJIT 32nd Annual Conference Atlanta, GA www.pldata.net Long Beach, CA www.utrid.org www.najit.org April 9, 2011 August 1-4, 2011 Carolina Association of May 20-22, 2011 International Federation Translators & Interpreters German Associated Translators of Translators CATI Conference and Interpreters FIT XIX World Congress: Spartanburg, SC 4th ADÜ Nord Conference Bridging Cultures www.catiweb.org “Setting the Compass: Fresh San Francisco, CA Breeze or Familiar Course?” www.fit2011.org April 30-May 1, 2011 Hamburg, Germany ATA Translation www.adue-nord.de September 30– Company Division October 2, 2011 Business Conference June 17-18, 2011 International Medical Washington, DC InterpretAmerica Interpreters Association www.atanet.org/tcd_business 2nd North American Summit Annual Conference on Interpreting Boston, MA May 7, 2011 “Quality Interpreting in a www.imiaweb.org New England Translators Push-Button World” Association Arlington, VA 15th Annual Conference www.interpretamerica.net/ Boston, MA summit www.netaweb.org

XIX World Congress of the Transit NXT – just what International Federation of Translators you need, when you need it! Hilton San Francisco Union Square San Francisco, California August 1-4, 2011 Bridging Cultures www.fit2011.org

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The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 37 The Translation Inquirer John Decker [email protected]

As this column is being written, of English worldwide. If you want the the Linguistic Society of America is in perfect example of it, listen to the late Abbreviations its final day of a four-day conference in Fred Rogers from the television show used with this column Pittsburgh. One of the highlights of that Mr. Rogers’s Neighborhood. He intro- conference is a discussion of the unique duced millions of kids and adults to the E-English F-French local accent in Allegheny and the other pure, undiluted accent of the “Burgh,” as [E] – English G-German counties surrounding it that are tributary they call it. I suspect many viewers think acceptable as an I-Italian to the former Steel City. Compounded of they are being exposed to a man who is answer, the Po-Polish Midwestern, West Virginia, and Central simply speaking slowly for the kids’ original query did Pt-Portuguese Pennsylvania components, the Pitts - sake, but really he is putting on a not involve Ro-Romanian burgh accent sounds like no other brand linguistic show. English Sp-Spanish

New Queries (E-Sp 3-11.5) “Care-bundles”—a term Dort hinterfängt ein Fisch den Kopf (E-I 3-11.1) In a list of products and which apparently has nothing to do einer Meerjungfrau. What is hap- services associated with security with “care packages”—was found in a pening here? vaults, “day gate” was the stumbling phrase having to do with medical sup- block for a translator working into plies: “This dressing is a valuable ele- (I-E 3-11.9) Power generation is the Italian. The list included this entry: ment added to care-bundles to reduce context for this query, in which the trou- “Door, security vault, day gate.” The CR-BSIs.” The Translation Inquirer did blesome four words are in bold print: Translation Inquirer has visited build- a bit of due diligence and discovered Per quanto concerne il regime di Ritiro ings with vaults and has almost, but that the abbreviation means “catheter- Dedicato, la Delibera dell’AEEG not quite, the ability to visualize what related bloodstream infections.” Now prevede l’applicazione di alcuni cor- these look like. What might they be in let someone who is qualified provide rispettivi attivi e passivi. I corrispettivi Italian? the Spanish for “care-bundles.” attivi per il produttore si compongono di un corrispettivo per la cessione dell’’en- (E-Po 3-11.2) This one calls for some (F-E 3-11.6) Possible emergency-room ergia e di un corrispettivo per il servizio creative thinking. No context is interventions appearing on a form di trasmissione. Is this something our given, but “fireplug of a guy” brings included pansement – préciser; ECG readers can handle? to mind the late comedian Jean demandé, ECG fait; analyse d’urine Shepard’s frequent descriptions of demandée; and radiographie – préciser. (Pt-E 3-11.10) As a broad heading for some people as “fireplugs with feet,” But then came this difficult one: various phenomena accompanying oil implying individuals who are short, réorienté selon oc-inf#. What is it? spills, intemperismo proved puzzling stocky, and sturdy are hard to topple. in this context paragraph: O stroll How would you convey the equiva- (F-I [E] 3-11.7) A colleague is in consid- simula os principais processos de lent of that into Polish? erable doubt as to whether parrocchetto intemperismo que ocorrem no oleo is a correct translation for perruche in quando este é derramado no mar: (E-Ro 3-11.3) This mechanical engi- the following animal-husbandry con- espalhamento, evaporação, emulsifi- neering query involves a “yaw text: mélange standard pour toutes les cação, e dispersão, e as consequentes bearing,” with the translator providing grandes perruches telles que les per- mudanças nas propriedades físicas, this context sentence: “Checking func- ruches australiennes, les conures, les como a densidade e a viscosidade. tionality of yaw bearing automatic perruches nobles et les agapomides. What is this overall-category word? lubrication system.” Can anyone pro- What are they in Italian or English? vide good Romanian for this? (Sp-E 3-11.11) In trying to deal with a (G-F [E] 3-11.8) The verb in the fol- survey article in psychology, one of (E-Sp 3-11.4) In the world of gold lowing context sentence about a group our colleagues found that muchas fac- mining, good Spanish is needed for of sculptures was tricky for a colleague tores se analizan en base a una “exploration shaft.” trying to produce a French rendering: prueba de contrate de Chi cuadrado.

38 The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 Address your queries and responses to The Translation Inquirer, 112 Ardmoor Avenue, Danville, Pennsylvania 17821. 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.

Should one of the words be contraste? November-December issue, is best trans- (Sp-E 10-10.10) (instrumente, instru- In any case, English is needed. lated as: “The teacher must refer [prob- mentación, in regard to pension ably to the school management] to the funds): Lila del Cerro of Uruguay says Replies to Old Queries achieved results in relation to the results that “implement” and “implementa- (F-E 9-10.4) (Directeur du Master II): defined in the school plan.” Helena tion” are the right English words for This used to be Maîtrise, says Helena Contreras-Chacel’s rendering is: “The these. A longer explanation would be Contreras-Chacel, but since the LMD teacher is required, even during the “to use the appropriate instruments to reform of 2007, the English “Master” course, to report the results obtained, in carry out something.” has been adopted. The roman numeral relation to those set in the ‘educational refers to the year. She suggests “Director programming.’ He must also comply (Sp-F [E] 11-10.11) (juices de adscrip- of the Master (2nd year) – Tourism Law with the alternating timetable of the les- ción territorial): We begin, says Lila del and Taxation” for the English. sons established by the principal’s office. Cerro, with a correction of “juices” to jueces (“judges”). With that out of the (F-E 11-10.4) (régions périmamelon- (Pt-E 10-10.8) (uma area que apresente way, the term refers to courts, the scope naires): Conny Corrigan translates the divers valores a serem agregados): Jane of authority of which does not depend entire phrase in a mammography Pronovost likes “an area that presents on the nature of the controversy, but report from page 38 of the November- many values to be collected” for this. rather on the places where the contro- December issue as “the areas around versy arises. These might include dis- the nipples are normal.” (Pt-E 11-10.9) (Engenharia de trict, city, county, or provincial courts, Refrigeração): This, explains Jane authorized to hear issues in various legal (I-E 9-10.7) (rinnovando l’accom- Pronovost, is “Refrigeration Engine- areas, provided that they involve parties mandigia con i Medici): Accom man - ering,” which, believe it or not, is an area within their assigned territory. The digia, says Helena Contreras-Chacel, is a student can major in Brazil. Whether French equivalent would be juges terri- an old word meaning “protection.” Portugal also offers this course of study toriaux, states Helena Contreras-Chacel, What we have here is a sort of protec- is something she does not know. Helena while adding that in Spain these judge- tion agreement through which knights Contreras-Chacel believes this major is ships were only created in August 2010. or lesser lords would provide military also found in the U.S., but HVACR protection to lords in exchange for cer- (Heating, Ventilation, Air Condition, Thank you all for your time and tain privileges and benefits. To jump and Refrigeration) Engineering is more expertise, particularly Helena Contreras- into the English: “…Carlo II and Pietro common. Chacel, who did much of the heavy II who, upon re-establishing the com- lifting to make this column a success. mendation with the Medici, were (Sp-E 9-10.9) (candelero): The only Thus, the eighteenth year on my watch harshly detested by the Vitelli.” But meaning Helena Contreras-Chacel can as editor of the Translation Inquirer “protection agreement” might also think of for this is “hollow stanchion,” comes to an end! work as a free translation for accom- resembling a candle-holder. This is in mandigia. the context of offshore platforms, where legs of the towers are inserted (I-E 11-10.6) (é tenuto al rendiconto): into funnel-shaped structures, thus the Giulia Franco explains that the entire candle-holder analogy. phrase, as found on page 38 of the

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The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 39 Humor and Translation Mark Herman [email protected]

This and That: Part I

Baseball old daughter about Chiny, a pet dog Aunt Teresa. ‘But in short, the stork Fellow columnist John Decker sent who drank water too quickly and was never brought me one!’ Colton some additional information relevant gagging slightly: thinks a few seconds and asks: ‘So to the February 2010 column (“You why didn’t you change birds?’] Are Old, Father Chadwick”): D: Bless you, bless you. Mommy, is Chiny sneezing? Signs of the Times I believe the Steve Blass syndrome M: Yes, honey. Lydia Razran Stone writes about a might go well beyond infielders. D: No, I think he is going to throw up. Ramada Inn at the airport in Lima, Steve Blass was a pitcher for the His mouth is open, and you open Peru, conveniently located right Pittsburgh Pirates, and was abso- your mouth when you throw up. across the street from the terminal. lutely stellar when they had one of M: How do you know so much about Unfortunately, it so expensive that their World Championship years in throwing up? even drinking water is extra. The 1971. Then something psychological D: I heard about it. I speak English. room rates are similarly outrageous: happened to him and he had a com- prehensive loss of confidence in him- And, from Paul VanCotthem, comes Tarifas/Rates self. One baseball writer described another story, perhaps apocryphal: his career after that as ‘going through Standard US$ 322.50 hell,’ using everything including psy- Mientras la mamá está haciendo Doble Standard US$ 341.85 choanalysis to get back his skills and algunos mandados, Colton, un niño Junior Suite US$ 374.10 confidence, all to no avail. That de cinco años, pasa la tarde en casa Suite US$ 425.70 might be a better definition of Steve de su tía Teresa, una solterona. Blass Syndrome: loss of confidence Después de emplear varias horas Dr. Stone assumes that the second cat- in one’s major league skills. distrayéndose con juguetes que ella egory of room is for mistresses. le ha dado, Colton se aburre y Another mis-interpretable sign is John Duffy also has something to say recurre a la tía Teresa para pregun- reported by Marica Angelides. A sign about this: tarle: —¿Por qué tú no tienes niños, in front of a windmill in the para yo jugar con ellos? —Bueno, Netherlands indicates that the mill is In your [column]…you may be mi amor...esa es una historia larga open to the public, that is, the Dutch, referring to the wrong player. Steve — contesta la tía Teresa. — Para English, German, and French public: Blass was a pitcher on the Pittsburgh resumírtela, ¡la cigüena nunca me Pirates, and for some unknown trajo uno! — Colton piensa unos Deze molen is te bezichtigen reason he was no longer able to segundos y pregunta: —¿Y por qué This mill is open to the public accurately throw to his catcher.… no cambiaste de pájaro? Diese Mühle ist für Besucher [However,] Steve Sax (Dodgers) and zugänglich later Chuck Knoblauch (Twins, [While his mother runs some Ce moulin est ouvert au public Yankees) were two second basemen errands, five-year-old Colton spends who lost their ability to throw to first. the afternoon at the home of his spin- But the Dutch obviously believe As far as I know, no one knows what ster aunt, Teresa. After passing sev- that Italians need additional prodding. psychological phenomenon caused eral hours distracting himself with Instead of Questo mulino è aperto al Steve Blass to lose his control. toys she has given him, Colton gets pubblico, the Italian reads Questo bored, goes to his aunt, and asks her: mulino è da visitare, implying “You Out of the Mouths of Babes ‘Why don’t you have children, so are obligated to visit this mill.” Here is an actual conversation that I can play with them?’ ‘Well, my between a mother and her four-year- love...that is a long story,’ answers

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, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858-3626. Discussions of the translation of humor and examples thereof are preferred, but humorous anecdotes about translators, translations, and mistranslations are also welcome. Include copyright information and permission if relevant.

40 The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 2011 Honors and Awards

Alexander Gode Medal The Alexander Gode Medal, ATA’s Nominations most prestigious award, is presented Nominations are welcome from the and from the conference, and up to four to an individual or institution for out- past recipients of the Gode Medal and nights’ lodging at the conference hotel. standing service to the translation and the ATA membership at large. A suffi- interpreting professions. This award ciently detailed description of the indi- Please send nominations of the may be given annually. vidual or institution’s record of service individual or institution you to the translation and/or interpreting consider worthy of receiving the Eligibility professions should be included as part next Gode Medal to: Individuals or institutions nominated of the nomination. Petitions and letter Alexander Gode Medal do not have to be members of ATA; campaigns are not encouraged. Lois Feuerle, Chair however, a history of constructive rela- ATA Honors and Awards Committee tions with ATA and the language profes- Deadline: May 9, 2011 sions in general is desirable. Nominees American Translators Association do not have to be U.S. citizens. Award 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 Gode Medal, complimentary regis- Alexandria, VA 22314 tration to ATA’s 52nd Annual Confer- Phone: +1-703-683-6100 ence in Boston, Massachusetts (October Fax: +1-703-683-6122 26-29, 2011), transportation to Email: [email protected]

Ungar German Translation Award

ATA invites nominations for the Nominations 5. Two copies of the translated pages 2011 Ungar German Translation The nomination must be submitted that correspond to the 10 consecutive Award. The award is bestowed bienni- by the publisher of the work and must pages provided from the original ally in odd-numbered years for a distin- include the following: work. Please do not staple. If pro- guished literary translation from viding a dual-language work, copies German into English that has been pub- 1. Cover letter with complete publi- are still required. lished in the U.S. The next Ungar cation information for the work German Translation Award will be pre- being nominated, including the Deadline: June 4, 2011 sented at ATA’s 52nd Annual Confer- date of publication. Publishers are encouraged to submit ence in Boston, Massachusetts nominations early. (October 26-October 29, 2011). 2. Brief vita of the translator, including place of residence and contact infor- Award Eligibility mation. $1,000, a certificate of recognition, To be eligible for the award, the and up to $500 toward expenses for translation must be from German into 3. Two copies of the nominated work attending ATA’s 52nd Annual English and must have been published with one extra copy of the dust Conference (October 26-29, 2011). in the U.S. in 2009 or 2010. jacket. The published translation must list Please send nominations to: the translator’s name on the title page 4. Two copies of 10 consecutive pages Ungar German Translation Award and preferably on the dust jacket. from the original work, keyed to the Lois Feuerle, Chair Preference will be given to published page numbers of the translation. Please ATA Honors and Awards Committee works that provide biographical infor- do not staple. If providing a dual-lan- American Translators Association mation about the translator. guage work, copies are still required. 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 The translator does not have to be an Alexandria, VA 22314 ATA member; however, the translator Phone: +1-703-683-6100 should have a strong connection with Fax: +1-703-683-6122 the U.S. through citizenship or perma- Email: [email protected] nent residence. ·

The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 41 2011 Honors and Awards Continued

Student Translation Award In 2011, ATA will award a grant-in- No individual student may submit source-language text, must accompany aid to a student for a literary or sci-tech more than one entry. the application. The translation sample translation or translation-related project. may consist of two or more separate The project, which may be derived Applications passages from the same work. For from any facet of translation studies, Applicants must complete an entry poetry, the number of words must total should result in a project with post-grant form (www.atanet.org/membership/hon at least 300. applicability, such as a publication, a orsandawards_student_form.php) and conference presentation, or teaching submit a project description not to Deadline: June 30, 2011 materials. Computerized materials are exceed 500 words. If the project is a ineligible, as are dissertations and translation, the description must Award theses. Translations must be from a present the work in its context and $500, a certificate of recognition, foreign language INTO ENGLISH. include a substantive statement of the and up to $500 toward expenses for Previously untranslated works are difficulties and innovations involved in attending ATA’s 52nd Annual preferred. the project and the post-competition Conference (October 26-29, 2011). form the work will take. The applica- One or more certificates may also be Eligibility tion must be accompanied by a state- awarded to runners-up. The award, to be presented at ment of support from the faculty ATA’s 52nd Annual Conference in member who is supervising the Please send your applications to: Boston, Massachusetts (October 26- project. This letter should demonstrate Student Translation Award 29, 2011), is open to any graduate or the supervisor’s intimate familiarity Muriel Jérôme-O'Keeffe, President undergraduate student, or group of with the student’s work and include American Foundation for Translation students, attending an accredited col- detailed assessments of the project’s and Interpretation, Inc. lege or university in the U.S. significance and of the student’s c/o American Translators Association Preference will be given to students growth and development in translation. 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 who have been or are currently If the project involves an actual Alexandria, VA 22314 enrolled in translator training pro- translation, a translation sample of not Phone: +1-703-683-6100 grams. Students who have already less than 400 and not more than 500 Fax: +1-703-683-6122 published translations are ineligible. words, together with the corresponding Email: [email protected]

American Foundation for Translation and Interp retation JTG Scholarship in Scientific and Technical Translation or Interp retation

This is a $2,500 non-renewable 3. Generally, an applicant should 3. Three letters of recommendation by scholarship for the 2011-2012 academic present a minimum GPA of 3.00 faculty or nonacademic supervisor; year for students enrolled or planning to overall and a 3.50 in translation- enroll in a degree program in scientific and interpreting-related courses. 4. A 300-500-word essay outlining and technical translation or in inter- the applicant’s interests and goals preter training. 4. Applicants should have at least one as they relate to the field of trans- year of study remaining in their lation or interpreting. Eligibility program; however, in certain cir- 1. Applicants must be graduate or cumstances, one residual semester Application Process undergraduate students enrolled or may be accepted. 1. Application forms may be obtained planning to enroll in a program from the AFTI website (www.afti. leading to a degree in scientific and 5. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. org/award_JTG_application.php). technical translation or in inter- preting at an accredited U.S. col- Selection Criteria 2. Completed applications must be lege or university. 1. Demonstrated achievement in trans- received by AFTI by June 6, 2011. lation and interpreting; 2. Applicants must be full-time stu- 3. A completed application consists of: dents who have completed at least 2. Academic record; a) Application cover sheet; one year of college or university studies.

42 The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 b) Three letters of recommenda- award winner by the end of August underwritten the AFTI scholarship tion in a sealed envelope with 2011. The committee’s decision is since 2001. Visit: www.jtg-inc.com. the recommender’s signature final. Disbursement of the award will over the envelope flap; occur at the beginning of the fall Please submit the application to: c) The essay; and semester 2011. JTG Scholarship d) A copy of the applicant’s aca- Muriel Jérôme-O'Keeffe, President demic record with a copy of the Deadline: June 6, 2011 American Foundation for Translation major/minor or other program and Interpretation, Inc. form, or a departmental state About JTG, Inc. c/o American Translators Association ment of admission to the trans- Founded in 1995 by ATA Past 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 lation or interpreting program. President Muriel Jérôme-O'Keeffe, Alexandria, VA 22314 JTG, Inc. is a language consultancy that Phone: +1-703-683-6100 Award supports homeland security, intelli- Fax: +1-703-683-6122 A national award committee will gence, and global business with cross- Email: [email protected] announce the name of the scholarship cultural communications. JTG, Inc. has

American Foundation for Translation and Interpretation Julia Segall-Derfler Scholarship in Arabic or Hebrew Translation and Interpreting This scholarship was established by overall and a 3.50 in translation- record with a copy of the major/ the generous donation from longtime and interpreting-related courses. minor or other program form, and a ATA member Shuckran Kamal to honor departmental statement of admis- her colleague and mentee Julia Segall- 4. Applicants should have at least one sion to the translation or inter- Derfler. Segall-Derfler was an Arabic year of study remaining in their preting program. translator for the U.S. Department of program; however, in certain cir- State. She graduated Magna Cum cumstances, one residual semester Deadline: September 1, 2011 Laude in 2005 from Georgetown may be accepted. University’s College of Linguistics Award majoring in Arabic language. She was 5. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. The applications will be reviewed by only 24 at the time of her death. a national committee. The committee’s The first scholarship, an annual Selection Criteria decision is final. The scholarship award $1,000 award, will be presented at 1. Demonstrated achievement in recipient will be announced during ATA’s 52nd Annual Conference in translation and/or interpreting; ATA’s 52nd Annual Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. Boston, Massachusetts (October 26-29, 2. Academic record; 2011). Disbursement of the award will Eligibility occur at the beginning of the winter 1. Applicants must be graduate or 3. One letter of recommendation by semester 2012. undergraduate students enrolled in faculty or nonacademic supervisor; a program leading to a degree in and Please send nominations to: Arabic or Hebrew language studies Julia Segall-Derfler Scholarship with a focus on translation and/or 4. A 300-500-word essay outlining Muriel Jérôme-O'Keeffe, President interpreting at an accredited U.S. the applicant’s interests and goals American Foundation for Translation college or university. as they relate to the field of trans- and Interpretation, Inc. lation or interpreting. c/o American Translators Association 2. Applicants must be full-time stu- 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 dents who have completed at least Application Process Alexandria, VA 22314 one year of college or university A completed application consists of: Phone: +1-703-683-6100 studies. a) A cover letter; Fax: +1-703-683-6122 b) One letter of recommendation; E-mail: [email protected] 3. Generally, an applicant should c) The essay; and present a minimum GPA of 3.00 d) A copy of the applicant’s academic ·

The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 43 2011 Honors and Awards Continued

S. Edmund Berger Prize for Excellence in Scientific and Technical Translation

ATA and the American Foundation may obtain a nomination form from Please send nominations to: for Translation and Interpretation the AFTI website (www.afti.org/ S. Edmund Berger Prize (AFTI) invite nominations for the award_berger.php) or from AFTI at Muriel Jérôme-O'Keeffe, President annual S. Edmund Berger Prize. the address listed below. American Foundation for Translation The $1,000 prize is offered to rec- Nominations will be judged by a and Interpretation, Inc. ognize excellence in scientific and three-member national jury. The c/o American Translators Association technical translation by an ATA recipient of the award will be 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 member. announced during ATA’s 52nd Annual Alexandria, VA 22314 Conference in Boston, Massachusetts Phone: +1-703-683-6100 Nominations (October 26-29, 2011). Fax: +1-703-683-6122 Individual translators or translation Email: [email protected] companies wishing to nominate a Deadline: September 19, 2011 translator for this prestigious award

Alicia Gordon Award for Word Artistry in Translation

ATA invites nominations for the 4. The submission must be a transla- 11. The award will be announced at 2011 Alicia Gordon Award for Word tion from an original work. ATA’s 52nd Annual Conference in Artistry in Translation. This award Translations of translations will Boston, Massachusetts (October has been established in memory of not be accepted. 26-29, 2011). Alicia Gordon, known for creating imaginative solutions to knotty trans- 5. The translation must have been lation problems based on rigorous done by an individual (no group Deadline: June 6, 2011 research. The award was established efforts). by Alicia’s sister, Dr. Jane Gordon. Award 6. If the translation was done as a $250 and a certificate of recognition. Eligibility work for hire, the party that con- The award is open to ATA mem- tracted for the translation must Please send nominations to: bers in good standing. Passages may consent in writing to its submis- Alicia Gordon Award for Word be submitted by the translators them- sion for the award. Artistry in Translation selves or by others on their behalf. Muriel Jérôme-O'Keeffe, President The translation that, in the opinion of 7. Former award recipients are American Foundation for Translation the judges, demonstrates the highest excluded from subsequent cycles. and Interpretation, Inc. level of artistry in translation will c/o American Translators Association receive the award. 8. The decision of the judges is final. 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 Alexandria, VA 22314 Submission Guidelines 9. Applicants will be notified of the Phone: +1-703-683-6100 1. Translations of up to 750 words judges’ decision with respect to Fax: +1-703-683-6122 between (to or from) English and their submission. Notification will Email: [email protected] Spanish or French in any subject be by electronic or other means as matter field will be considered. determined by the committee of judges. 2. The translation and the source text must be submitted electronically 10. By submitting a translation for con- by June 6, 2011 to [email protected]. sideration, the applicant expressly agrees to comply with these 3. Only one submission per applicant guidelines. will be accepted. Submission of more than one translation will result in disqualification of the applicant.

44 The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 Translation “By applying even )E==5B*B1>C<1D9?> >CD9DED5 getting it right half the tips in this 7KH6XPPHU7UDQVODWLRQ,QVWLWXWH 67, KRVWHG guide, you will E\WKH'HSDUWPHQWRI)RUHLJQ/DQJXDJHVDW improve your :HVWHUQ0LFKLJDQ8QLYHUVLW\RIIHUVDXQLTXH chances of getting A guide to buying translations RSSRUWXQLW\IRUDGYDQFHGODQJXDJHOHDUQHUVDQG a translation WKRVHWKLQNLQJDERXWDFDUHHULQWUDQVODWLRQ that works.” 3DUWLFLSDQWVZLOOLPSURYHWKHLUWUDQVODWLRQVNLOOV

american translators association ZKLOHZRUNLQJRQWKHLUODQJXDJHSURÀFLHQF\7KH SURJUDPZLOOSURYLGHLQWHQVLYHWUDLQLQJLQ ‡$UDELF ‡-DSDQHVH Translation: Getting it Right ‡5XVVLDQ 7KH,QVWLWXWHZLOOWDNHSODFH-XO\² Translation: Getting it Right is ZLWKDSSOLFDWLRQVGXHE\$SULO an ATA client education booklet available in print and online. 9LVLWZZZZPLFKHGXODQJXDJHV ATA members can order up to VXPPHUWUDQVODWLRQIRUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQ 100 copies at no cost. To down- load a PDF copy of this booklet, visit www.atanet.org.

The ATA Compass Your guide to translation in the global market

Take a look at the latest issue of The ATA Compass, a new periodic enewsletter designed to help buyers of translation and interpreting get the most for their money. Each issue of The Compass contains practical, hands-on information for language services consumers. It appears four to six times a year, and at only one page, clients can read it in just a few minutes. Consider sending a PDF copy of The Compass to current and prospective clients, political representatives, academics, your chamber of com- merce, nearby business organizations, and even to your local media. Not only will the enewsletter help make our profession more visible, but your business will also benefit from a better educated clientele. To get your name on a future issue of The Compass, send us your ideas: hot topics, best practices, success stories, disasters and lessons learned are all welcome. Drop us a line at [email protected]. Visit the welcome page of The ATA Compass at www.atanet.org/compass, and be sure to check out the bonus material. We hope you’ll enjoy The ATA Compass, and we welcome your feedback!

The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 45 ATA’s Directory of Language Services

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Six Tips to Help You Make Contact Twitter is a free service that lets you keep in touch 1. Check spelling, grammar, and punctuation. with people through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What’s happening? Tips 2. Update your contact information, especially your e-mail Follow us on Twitter today! address and phone numbers. To learn how, visit http:// twitter.com/atanet.

3. Use the “Additional Information” field, noting education and career experiences, unusual specialties, and any dialects you can handle. By using a “keyword” search, Interpreting Equipment Rental clients can find your services based on a set of very Transmitter/Receivers specific skills and experience. Weekly or Monthly Landmark Audio Technologies 4. List your areas of specialization. Call 888-677-4387 for 5. Review your listing monthly to experiment with different cleaning up wording or add new information that may set you apart from others. Volunteers Needed your online The National Language Service Corps (NLSC) is a public 6. List non-English-to-non-English language combinations, civilian organization made up of on-call multilingual profile such as Portuguese into Spanish and French into Italian. volunteers willing to offer their diverse language skills to help communities and government agencies. The organization’s goal is to provide and maintain a readily available civilian corps of individuals certified in English A listing in ATA’s online Directory of Translation and Interpreting Services or the Directory of Language and other languages. To find out more or to apply, Services Companies can be one of your most valuable member benefits. With more than two-million hits please visit nlscorps.org. a year, consumers and businesses have clearly learned to look at ATA’s directories first when shopping for professional translation and interpreting services. Make those updates online at www.atanet.org/onlinedirectories/update_profile.php. 46 The ATA Chronicle n March 2011 Make Your Own History Join us in Boston for the ATA 52nd Annual Conference and be a part of the most important event for translators and interpreters.

American Translators Association Don’t miss Over 150 sessions covering a variety of languages and specializations. 2 5 nd Speakers from all over the world sharing their experience and expertise. Annual Numerous opportunities to promote yourself and your services. Conference The chance to network with over 1,800 colleagues from around the world. Time to reunite with friends, socialize with colleagues, and have fun. Boston, Massachusetts October 26---29, 2011 Conference Registration Registration begins in July. You will receive the Preliminary Program and Registration Form with the July issue of The ATA Chronicle.

Hotel Reservations Marriott Copley Place 110 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts USA 02116

Special ATA Room Rates (exclusive of tax): Single = $246 / Double = $266 ATA rates include complimentary in-room Internet Take advantage of these special rates, available until October 5, 2011, or as space allows. Make your reservations online at www.atanet.org/conf/2011/hotel.htm. Or call the Marriott at +1-800-266-9432 and ask for the special ATA rate.

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