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The hronicle A Publication of the American VOLUME XXX • NUMBER 8 AUGUST 2001

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The Features Chronicle International Certification Study: Accreditation by the South African A Publication of the American Translators Association Translators’ Institute By Jiri Stejskal ...... 11 Volume XXX, Number 8 August 2001 Three Days of the Balance Sheet, and Much More! By Trudy Balch ...... 13 What did more than 325 financial translators from more than 25 Featured Language: states and at least 15 countries talk about—in English, French, Portuguese Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese, and Russian—at the ATA’ Financial Conference in New York this past May? A group of attendees reports back. 2001 Two- Study Tour to Erlangen, Germany, for Members of the ATA Division By Antoinette-M. Sixt Ruth ...... 15 Since early 1995, ATA members have had the opportunity to partic- ipate in a biannual, two-week study trip to Erlangen, Germany, usu- ally taking place in late spring. This year, 25 members of ATA’s German Language Division went on the tour, April 29-May 12. The trip was designed to help improve participants’ knowledge and understanding of Germany’s past and present challenges from the aspects of culture, politics, industry, history—and leisure. Doing Your Part to Develop Professional Recognition By Lourdes . Norton ...... 18 This is about the visibility versus invisibility of translators and interpreters and the importance of sharing our experiences to develop a better image and gain recognition. Modern Mentoring: What It Is and How to Do It By Linda Phillips-Jones ...... 19 Photo: Cabo Sao Vincente Lighthouse If you’re a successful professional, you can probably name one or more persons who helped you develop. Maybe you didn’t call them Monthly Columns “mentors,” but they went out of their way to help you discover more about yourself and learn how to succeed. Today, we call these impor- About Our Authors ...... 6 tant helpers mentors, and we realize how valuable—and skilled— From the Executive Director ...... 7 they are, even though they usually do not realize it themselves. If From the President ...... 8 you’re wise, you’ll continue to find and make use of a series of men- ATA Activities ...... 12 tors throughout your life. This article describes what you can do to Upcoming Conferences and play both roles effectively. Educational Programs ...... 12 Chapter Profile ...... 57 How to Interview Corporations for In-house Positions By Mario Enrique Chávez ...... 23 Accreditation Forum ...... 58 Dictionary Reviews ...... 59 Nowadays, working as an in-house translator, especially in the local- Harrap’s Shorter CD-ROM Dictionary ization segment of the industry, is a highly doable goal that many of (English-French/French-English) our freelancers are missing out on. The process of researching the Reviewed by Françoise Herrmann corporations we might want to work for is further complicated by the The Translation Inquirer ...... 62 geographic characteristics of our profession. Unlike doctors, Compiled by John Decker lawyers, and auto mechanics, we cannot expect to find our ideal Humor and Translation ...... 64 employers in the same city we live in. This article is part of an By Mark Herman upcoming presentation at this year’s ATA Annual Conference in Los Display Advertising Index ...... 64 Angeles. ATA Chapters, Affiliated Groups, and Other Groups ...... 66 An Editor’s Inside View of Publishing Spanish Textbooks By Isabel Picado ...... 28 Accreditation Exam Sites ...... 68 New Active and Corresponding Members . . 68 An overview of the difficulties encountered editing Spanish college Marketplace ...... 69 and school textbooks: challenges brought about by the process of ATA 42 nd Annual Conference Information 70 creating a text, the dearth of available resources, and the cultural and political issues confronted. Editors’ roles, struggles, and rewards are presented. AugATAw/Ads 8/9/01 4:31 PM Page 4

The AN EASY REFERENCE TO ATA MEMBER BENEFITS Your ATA membership has never been more valuable. Take advantage of the dis- Chronicle counted programs and services available to you as an ATA member. Be sure to tell A Publication of the American Translators Association 1999 FIT Best Periodical Award Winner these companies you are an ATA member and refer to any codes provided below. 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 Business Owners Insurance Alexandria VA 22314 National Professional Group Tel: (703) 683-6100; Fax (703) 683-6122 (888) 219-8122 E-mail: [email protected] www.ata-ins.com Website: www.atanet.org Editor Services/Receivables Management Jeff Sanfacon Dun & Bradstreet [email protected] Ask for Sharon LeBoutillier Proofreaders (800) 333-6497 ext. 7468 Margaret . Hallin/Susan Dashiell (610) 882-6887 Design/Layout [email protected] Ellen Banker/Amy Peloff Conference Travel Advertising Stellar Access Megan Gallagher, McNeill Group Inc. Reference Code: 505 [email protected] (215) 321-9662 ext. 19 (800) 929-4242 ¥ (619) 453-3686 Fax: (215) 321-9636 e-mail: [email protected] Executive Director www.stellaraccess.com Walter Bacak Credit Card Acceptance Program/Professional Services Account [email protected] NOVA Information Systems Editorial Advisors Reference Code: HCDA . Michael Conner, Leslie Willson, Mike Stacy (888) 545-2207 ¥ (770) 649-5700 Membership and General Information Maggie Rowe MasterCard [email protected] MBNA America Document-on-Request: 1-888-990-3282 Reference Code: IFKV Website: www.atanet.org (800) 847-7378 ¥ (302) 457-2165 The ATA Chronicle (ISSN 1078-6457) is published monthly, except bi-monthly in November/December, by the American Translators Medical, Life, and Disability Insurance Association, 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590, Alexandria, VA 22314; Phone: (703) 683-6100; Fax: (703) 683-6122; E-mail: (see above Mutual of Omaha directory for appropriate department). (800) 223-6927 ¥ (402) 342-7600 Reprint Permission: Requests for permission to reprint articles www.atanet.org/mutual.htm should be sent to the Chronicle editor at [email protected]. A. . Wohlers & Co. Subscription rate for a member is $43 (included in the dues pay- ment). U.S. subscription rate for a nonmember is $50. Subscribers in (800) 323-2106 and Mexico add $25; all other non-U.S. subscribers add $45. Single copies are available for $5 per issue. Second-class Postage Overnight Delivery/Express Package Service rates paid at Alexandria, Virginia, and additional mailing offices. UPS POSTMASTER: Changes of should be sent to The ATA Reference Code: C0000700415 Chronicle, 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590, Alexandria, VA 22314. (800) 325-7000 The American Translators Association (ATA) was established in 1959 as a not-for-profit professional society to advance the stan- www.ups.com dards of translation and to promote the intellectual and material interests of translators and interpreters in the United States. The Professional Liability Insurance statements made in the ATA Chronicle do not necessarily reflect the National Professional Group opinion or judgment of the ATA, its editor, or its officers or directors (888) 219-8122 and are strictly those of the authors. www.ata-ins.com Chronicle Submission Guidelines Retirement Programs The ATA Chronicle enthusiastically encourages members to submit articles of interest to the fields of translation and interpretation. Washington Pension Center 1) Articles (see length specifications below) are due the first of (888) 817-7877 ¥ (301) 941-9179 the month, two months prior to the month of publication (i.e., June 1 for August issue). ...And, of course, as an ATA member you receive discounts on the Annual Con- 2) Articles should not exceed 3,500 . Articles containing words or phrases in non-European writing systems (e.., ference registration fees and ATA publications, and you are eligible to join ATA Japanese, ) should be submitted by mail and fax. Divisions, participate in the online Translation Services Directory, and much more. 3) Include your fax, phone, and e-mail on the first page. 4) Include a brief abstract (five sentences maximum) emphasizing For more information, contact ATA (703) 683-6100; fax (703) 683-6122; and the most salient points of your article. The abstract will be e-mail: [email protected]. included in the table of contents. 5) Include a brief biography (five sentences maximum) along with a picture (color or B/W). Please be sure to specify if you would like your photo returned. Do not send irreplaceable photos. 6) In addition to a hard copy version of the article, please submit an electronic version either on disk or via e-mail (Jeff@ atanet.org). MOVING? FOUND AN ERROR WITH YOUR ADDRESS? 7) Texts should be formatted for , Wordperfect 8.0, or Word- We’ve done everything possible to ensure that your address is correct. But sometimes errors do occur. perfect 5.1 (DOS version). 8) All articles are subject to editing for , style, punctua- If you find that the information on the mailing label is inaccurate or out of date, please let us know. Send updates to: tion, and space limitations. The ATA Chronicle • 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 • Alexandria, VA 22314 9) A proof will be sent to you for review prior to publication. Fax (703) 683-6122 • [email protected] Standard Length Letters to the editor: 350 words; Opinion/Editorial: 300-600 words; Feature Articles: 750-3,500 words; Column: 400-1,000 words

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Features Continued Need a membership Overview of the U.S. and Brazilian Legal Systems: Concepts form for a colleague? and Terminology Want the latest list By Enéas Theodoro, Jr...... 34 of exam sites? The wide rift separating the American and Brazilian legal systems is deeply rooted in their respective historical origins. Call ATA’s Document on Mixing Science and Art: Is it possible to develop a single FACIT translation Request line, available for both and ? 24-hours a day: By Benjamin . Arnold ...... 38 The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) Multilingual Project works to adapt the FACIT health- related quality of life questionnaires into other for use in 1-888-990-3282 research and clinical trials worldwide. This project has developed an innovative iterative translation methodology (forward, backward, and multiple review) to ensure equivalence among the various lan- The call is toll-free and user-friendly... simply follow the prompts guage versions of the FACIT questionnaires. This article presents an and have the ATA documents overview of our general translation process and, more specifically, you need faxed to you. the methods used to obtain a Portuguese version of these quality of life questionnaires. The final goal is to create a translation that is Here’s the current list of documents cross-culturally suitable for Portuguese-speaking populations in that are available and both and . their document numbers: The SI Briefly (Re)visited Menu ...... 1 By Paulo Roberto Lopes ...... 42 Membership Brochure ...... 20 A brief review of some important details of the International System Membership Application ...... 21 of Units that plague translators’ . Alternative Routes to Active or Batting a Thousand! Translating American Sports Terms Used Idiomatically Corresponding Membership . . . . .22 (An English-to-Portuguese Example) A Guide to ATA Accreditation . . . .30 By John B. Jensen ...... 48 ATA Accreditation Practice Test Sports contribute many words and expressions to the general vocab- Request Form ...... 31 ulary that may appear when translating and interpreting. Here is a ATA Accreditation Examination study of some of these terms in English, with literal sports mean- Registration Form ...... 32 ings, figurative meanings, and suggested Portuguese translations. Request for Accreditation Review . .33 List of Publications & Order Form ...... 40 The Northern California Translators Editorial Guidelines ...... 50 Chronicle Advertising Rates ...... 51 Association Presents: 1994 Chronicle Index ...... 52 Perspective in Diversity 1995 Chronicle Index ...... 53 1996 Chronicle Index ...... 54 The second annual NCTA TradeFair will take a look beyond the expanding 1997 Chronicle Index ...... 55 markets of the translation and interpretation industry as seen in the past few 1998 Chronicle Index ...... 56 years and concentrate on the needs for infrastructure among language pro- 1999 Chronicle Index ...... 57 fessionals. Our invited presenters, exhibitors, and lecturers will speak on the 2000 Chronicle Index ...... 58 following topics: ATA Code of Professional Conduct ...... 59 • Insurance programs for language professionals ATAware Order Form ...... 60 • Ergonomics Chapters, Affiliated Groups & • T&I educational programs and certifications Other Groups ...... 70 • Continuing education programs Proposal for Conference • Interpretation: Tools • Translation: Tools Presentation ...... 80 Model Contract for Translators . . . .90 Date and Location: 42nd Annual Conference Saturday, September 8, 2001, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Information ...... 100 UC Berkeley Extension, 55 Laguna Street, San Francisco Visit our Website at www.atanet.org For more information, visit www.ncta.org or call 510-845 8712.

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About Our Authors...

Benjamin J. Arnold is a project manager with the FACIT Lourdes V. Norton is a freelance translator and interpreter in Multilingual Translation Project at the Center on Outcomes, , Brazil, where she teaches court and conference Research, and Education at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare interpreting at Pontificia Universidade Católica-São Paulo, in in Evanston, Illinois. He holds a B.A. in Spanish and Por- addition to presenting and promoting workshops. She was the tuguese linguistics from the University of Arizona. He helps to second administrator of ATA’s Division. oversee the translation and testing of the FACIT questionnaires She has a law degree from Pontificia Universidade Católica- and other health-related quality of life questionnaires into over Rio, an M.S. in educational administration and supervision 40 languages. He has lived, studied, and worked in Brazil and from Pace University in New York, and has taught Brazilian has spent considerable time in Mexico. He has been a member cultural perspectives and language at the of of the FACIT Translation Project team for two years. Contact: the Wharton School of Business. She was one of the first Por- [email protected]. tuguese interpreters to pass the State of New Exam for Legal Interpreters, is a court-certified interpreter for the State Trudy Balch translates from Spanish and Ladino into English, of Pennsylvania, and has, over the years, been involved in legal specializing in commercial/financial texts, journalism, law, and translation projects for well known law firms in the U.S. and international issues, as well as history, the arts, and prose fic- Brazil. Contact: [email protected] or [email protected]. tion/nonfiction. She was a Fellow of the University of Texas at Austin’s Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, where Linda Phillips-Jones, Ph.D., is an early pioneer of modern she researched and published on the life of translator Harriet de mentoring. She’s the author of Mentors and Pro- Onís. Contact: [email protected]. teges, The New Mentors and Proteges, and many training materials on mentoring. As the principal Mario Enrique Chávez has a university degree consultant of The Mentoring Group, she has in English and translation studies from the Uni- provided mentoring training and consulting in versidad Nacional de Córdoba (). He several countries for such organizations as has six years of experience as a freelance trans- Conoco, Hewlett Packard, and Agilent Technologies. Contact: lator in New York and California working in the [email protected] or www.mentoringgroup.com. financial, health care, and computer industries, and more than two years of experience as an in-house translator Isabel Picado is certified as a judicial interpreter in Spanish for for Intergraph Corp., Intel Corp., and Interactive Intelligence the State of , is a Spanish-language editor, and is Incorporated. He has been ATA-accredited (English-Spanish) an English-to-Spanish translator. She has a doctoral degree in since 1992. He enjoys jazz, collects dictionaries, and occasion- and literature, taught Spanish at the univer- ally reads Safire’s “On Language” weekly column in sity level for eight years, and has worked as an editor since The New York Times Magazine. He has published articles on 1989. Contact: [email protected]. TM in Apuntes, the quarterly publication of SpanSIG. Contact: [email protected]. Antoinette-M. Sixt Ruth is from Augsburg, Germany. She was educated in Germany, the U.K., , , Italy, and John B. Jensen is Professor of Modern Lan- Mexico. She has extensive overseas work experience, including guages at Florida International University in 10 years in the construction industry and in oil exploration in Miami, where he teaches Portuguese, Spanish, . She and her husband, Harley, live in San , Texas, linguistics, and Portuguese translation/interpre- where she has worked as an independent German<> English tation. He holds a Ph.D. from Harvard Univer- translator since 1995. Contact: [email protected]. sity and is co-author of the video textbook series Travessia (Georgetown University Press). He has been active Enéas Theodoro, Jr., who is not an attorney, but attended law as a professional translator since 1968 and a simultaneous school for three years in Brazil, has been working in the field of interpreter since 1980. Contact: sulaandjohn@.com. legal translation for about 20 years. He began working as a con- ference interpreter in 1976 before becoming a translator. A Paulo Roberto Lopes is ATA-accredited (English-Portuguese) partner with several attorneys in a legal translation office in São and a certified translator. He has been a simultaneous inter- Paulo for 10 years, he was certified by the São Paulo State Gov- preter since 1974. He has been a visiting teacher at some ernment in 1979. He received his training as a translator/inter- Brazilian universities, and is the owner of Tradutec, a small preter at the Alumni Association, the first translation school in technical translation firm. He feels comfortable with engi- Brazil, where he later became a teachers’ supervisor. Contact: neering, medicine, financial, and similar texts. Contact: [email protected]. [email protected].

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Board Meeting Highlights

he ATA Board of Directors met June 30- to negotiation. ATA and Conferon, our meetings July 1 in Seattle. Here are some high- management consultant, are in final contract From the T lights from the meeting. negotiations with the hotel. Executive Nominating Committee. The Nominating Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs Committee, chaired by ATA Past President . Meghan O’Connell, organizer for the Director Muriel Jérôme-O’Keeffe, presented the slate of 2002 FIT Congress, August 7-10 in Vancouver, candidates for the 2001 election. The candidates British Columbia, spoke to the Board about the Walter Bacak, CAE are for president-elect: Scott Brennan; for secre- plans for the upcoming meeting. After some dis- [email protected] tary: Courtney Searls-Ridge; for treasurer: Jiri cussion, the Board unanimously approved a Stejskal; and for director (three vacancies): Vir- motion that the ATA provide dollar-for-dollar ginia Benmaman, Beatriz Bonnet, matching funds, not to exceed $7,500 (Cana- Croese, Clove Lynch, and Madeleine Velguth. dian), to match contributions to the 2002 FIT (See the box below for more information.) Congress made by other FIT member national associations, provided that such contributions Divisions Committee. The Board unanimously are received by FIT by January 31, 2002. passed a motion discontinuing the $4 per member division overhead charge for the 2002 Professional Development Committee. In budget. The waiving of this fee will not reduce view of the overwhelming success of the ATA the revenues for the association, but simply shift Financial Translation Conference that was held revenues directly to division activities. Division this spring in New York, the Board unanimously membership dues will remain the same. carried a resolution commending ATA Director and Professional Development Committee Conference. The Board unanimously passed a Chair Marian Greenfield for her outstanding motion to hold the ATA Annual Conference at the Westin Hotel in Seattle, Washington, subject Continued on p. 65

Candidates Announced

ATA will hold its regularly scheduled election at the upcoming 2001 ATA Annual Conference in Los Angeles to fill the positions of president-elect, secretary, treasurer, and three directors’ positions. The candidates’ statements will be published in the September issue of the Chronicle.

Further nominations, supported by acceptance statements in writing by each additional nominee and a written petition signed by no less than five voting members, must be received by the Nominating Committee within 30 days of publication by the ATA Board of Direc- tors of the names of nominees proposed by the Nominating Committee. Acceptance statements and petitions may be faxed to the chair of the Nominating Committee, Muriel Jérôme-O’Keeffe, in care of ATA Headquarters at (703) 683-6122.

Official ballots will be mailed to all eligible voters prior to the conference. Votes may be cast: 1) in person at the conference; 2) by proxy given to a voting member attending the conference; or 3) by proxy sent to ATA Headquarters by the date indicated in the instructions enclosed with the ballots. The candidates proposed by the Nominating Committee are:

President-elect (two-year term) Secretary (two-year term) Director (three positions, three-year terms) Scott Brennan Courtney Searls-Ridge Virginia Benmaman Beatriz Bonnet Treasurer (two-year term) Robert Croese Jiri Stejskal Clove Lynch Madeleine Velguth

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The Dog that Didn’t

“Is there any point to which you would wish Many of you have been good enough to write to draw my attention?” to me about the changes the Board of Directors From the “To the curious incident of the dog in the has approved for the accreditation program. night-time.” Last month’s column addressed some major President “The dog did nothing in the night-time.” questions that had come up. This month, I am “That was the curious incident,” remarked including another e-mail that was sent out in late Ann G. Macfarlane [email protected] Sherlock Holmes. June addressing key points. I extend my thanks to all of you who have taken the trouble to write. he short story Silver Blaze, by Sir If you haven’t heard back, please don’t draw the Conan Doyle, showcases detective Sher- erroneous conclusions listed above. Do know T lock Holmes’ deductive powers. A horse that the Board, the Accreditation Committee, is taken from the stables late at night, but the and I are reading every single message on this dog doesn’t bark. Holmes correctly concludes topic that we receive, and are considering your that the thief, whoever he may have been, was views with the utmost seriousness. We appre- well known to the dog. Said thief later receives ciate your input as we move forward with these his comeuppance when he is inadvertently important developments. killed by the stolen stallion. The pleasure we take from Doyle’s stories, in which Baker Street is always fogged over and Text of e-mail message to all members sent the hunt is always afoot, gives credence to June 2001: Holmes’ conclusions and creates truly satisfying fiction. In real life, however, I am struck by how Dear colleagues: often people draw the wrong conclusion from Many of you have written to me about the “the dog that didn’t bark.” Having left a voice- changes to the accreditation program that the mail, sent an e-mail, or asked a question, they Board approved at our March meeting. In this receive no answer and conclude that: a) the message, I would like to address three major answer is no, b) that person doesn’t like me, or questions that you have raised: c) my question must have seemed unimportant. In the case of your humble servant, at least, 1) How will these changes affect people who silence means none of the above three answers. are already accredited? Silence may mean that I yet again have several 2) Why is the Board opening our credential to dozen unanswered e-mails, that someone else nonmembers? saved your message on my voicemail and I 3) Will this issue be put to the vote of the mem- didn’t catch it when I reviewed the calls, or that bership at large? your message is too important to delegate to someone else but I haven’t gotten to it yet. If any chapters, affiliates, or regional groups While I think of myself as a reasonably efficient would like to meet with a Board member to dis- and organized person, I must confess to you, cuss your concerns about these issues, please faithful readers, that balancing my volunteer contact me at your earliest convenience. The work for the ATA, my business activities, and Directors are ready and willing to address my time with family is a challenge. There are member concerns and engage in dialogue with times when I cannot keep up with everything. you. We will also have a session on this topic at Silence might also mean that I never received our conference in Los Angeles. your e-mail—I am surprised at how often the messages I send seem to wander astray in cyber- 1) How will these changes affect people who space, never to reach their destination. There are already accredited? was an ancient proverb, “silence means con- Presently accredited translators will be sent.” In the modern day, silence sometimes “grandfathered in.” They will not have to re-test, means “try again, perhaps in a different commu- and they will receive a new certificate attesting nication channel.” that they are “certified translators.” Once the

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changes have been implemented, how- with just a few hours of study in order to bylaws states that: “The Board of Direc- ever, all certified translators will need to pass a test; for others, a test can’t even be tors shall have the power and authority to meet the continuing education/profes- taken unless you have a related college manage the association’s property and to sional development requirements. degree.” Molly Martin, Pacific Northwest, regulate and govern its affairs; to deter- Seattle Times, June 10, 2001. mine policies and changes therein.…” 2) Why is the Board opening our Determining policies is a responsibility credential to nonmembers? This is exactly the situation that of the Board, and therefore this issue will As background, let me mention that Michael Hamm had in mind when he rec- not be put to the members for a vote. our credential is a “voluntary certifica- ommended that we open the exam to non- I assure all of you that the Board is tion.” This is a credential that is offered to members. In some organizations, signing very concerned about member views. We those who wish to take it. It is not a up is enough to get a certification, or the sought member input on the proposed license, nor is it required by any govern- steps to obtain the credential may be changes at the Orlando conference, mental authority. The Board learned last merely pro forma, with no genuine rigor through e-mail messages, and in the year that there is a whole set of standards involved. Some “membership creden- Chronicle. A careful review was made of and “best practices” with regard to volun- tials” are given after a personal interview all the input received. On this point, there tary certification. The key fact here is that and answering a few oral questions. was no consensus among the members. in the world of voluntary certifications, a Others may be very strict. To the outside In such a situation, the Board is charged member-based credential may be per- world, though, they are all suspect. with taking a leadership role. ceived as a second-rate credential. Since we in the ATA have a rigorous, Many of you know how hard we have high-value professional credential, we As part of a course I was taking last worked over the years to make accredita- increase its worth and credibility by year I read Robert Greenleaf’s classic tion a valid and valuable measure of saying that anyone who meets our pre- book, Servant Leadership. He had this to someone’s ability as a translator. However, requisites may obtain it. Paradoxically, say about leadership: “A leader ventures to as long as only members can take the exam, by separating it from membership we say: ‘I will go; come with me!’ A leader to the outside world there always could be increase the standing, perceived objec- initiates, provides the ideas and the struc- the possibility of favoritism, bias, or inside tivity, and value of our credential—and ture, and takes the risk of failure along dealing. We have a rigorous and indepen- therefore of our organization. with the chance of success.” In this case, I dent system. In the ATA, there is a strict line This is the bottom-line motivator for believe that the Board and the Accredita- dividing the Board’s responsibility—set- this decision. It is one step in a long effort tion Committee are acting as true leaders. ting policy—from the Accreditation Com- to increase the public’s understanding of We are proposing a path that will move the mittee’s responsibility—administering and and appreciation for all the profession- association into a new phase, of being the grading the examinations. We know that alism that is required to be a good trans- beacon for all in our profession. Yes, there that line is there. But there are many orga- lator. Mr. Hamm had a telling anecdote. are risks, but after careful consideration nizations that don’t have such a line. He referred to the fact that in the world of we have agreed that the risks are worth the Recently, a columnist in our local accounting, the CPA is the “gold stan- return. One of our members said to me last newspaper wrote this about searching for dard.” Everyone knows what a CPA year, “If the ATA doesn’t provide the lead- a “personal trainer”: “The fitness industry stands for and its worth is unquestioned. ership for our profession, who will?” is largely unregulated and unmonitored. He called the society that administers the In closing, I hope very much that these This has at least two significant repercus- credential and asked, “What did it take to thoughts help clarify the background to our sions. First, just as anyone can call him- establish the CPA as the ‘gold standard?’” thinking. I thank all of you who have self or herself a ‘nutritionist,’ it takes no They replied, “About a hundred years.” written—your comments are all being pro- special training, certification, licensing, vided to the Board for their consideration lifestyle...to call oneself a ‘personal 3) Will this issue be put to the vote of and review. Please continue to keep in trainer,’‘aerobics instructor,’‘fitness the membership at large? touch, and plan on attending our session on columnist,’ or any variation thereof. Our association is governed by the this topic at the Los Angeles Conference. Second, there are, by one estimate, at least laws of the State of New York in accord 250 fitness organizations—an industry with Robert’s Rules of Order. Under Sincerely yours, within the industry. Many offer training, those rules, a board has the responsibili- Ann G. Macfarlane testing, and certifications, each to its own ties given to it in the organization’s President standards. Some certifications can be had bylaws. Article IV, Section 2, of the ATA

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International Certification Study: Accreditation by the South African Translators’ Institute

By Jiri Stejskal

the July issue I discussed the accreditation program devel- of the conventions pertaining specifi- oped by the Brazilian Translator Association ABRATES. cally to sworn translations. I This month’s article will provide you with information on Accreditation for language editors is the varied accreditation options offered by the South African run along similar lines as accreditation Translators’ Institute (SATI). The following is adapted from a for translators. Six texts on a of letter received in response to the ATA’s letter to FIT members subjects are provided for editing. A concerning the Certification Study. Complete information can choice of texts may be given within the be found at the SATI Website at www.translators.org.za/ various questions. Corrections are done indexes/english/accredit.html. on the texts themselves. Candidates are Accreditation by the SATI is currently available for transla- tion, for purposes of becoming a sworn translator, for language editing, for interpreting, for terminology, and for pioneer Bible …Accreditation by the SATI is translation. currently available for translation, for Translation accreditation is available in combinations of all 11 of the official languages of , as well as a range purposes of becoming a sworn of foreign languages including French, German, Dutch, translator, for language editing, for Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, Romanian (!), and Hebrew. The accreditation examination is a written exam- interpreting, for terminology, and for ination in which three questions out of approximately eight, pioneer Bible translation… covering a variety of fields, have to be completed. One ques- tion (a general text) is compulsory. If a translator wishes to specialize in a certain field, an effort will be made to accom- free to choose a style for editing: either modate him or her. The main objective of the examination is using any accepted proofreading sym- to test the final translation product that the candidate can pre- bols or “school-teacher style” (i.e., sent. Therefore, there is no formal time limit, although candi- writing in a correct form). The exam- dates may not have the examination paper in their possession iners will assess the editing in terms of for more than 24 hours. Candidates are also free to use all the errors spotted and the suitability of cor- sources they may have available. They may not, however, con- rections provided. This examination is sult another person. currently available in English and Grading of the examination scripts is done along the lines , and is being expanded to of the scheme used by ATA. This means that errors are classi- cover the other official languages of fied as either major or minor errors. Two or more major errors South Africa. in one text, or one major error and seven minor errors in one Accreditation for interpreting is car- text, means that one fails the examination. A limited number of ried out at a suitable venue once an minor errors (20) is allowed. Once the examination script has adequate number of applications have been received by the Examination Committee, it is submitted been received to make an examination to two graders who mark it independently and anonymously. at a particular venue economically The identity of the candidate also remains secret. If both exam- viable. Candidates are examined in the iners pass the candidate, he or she passes; if both fail the can- language combination(s) and inter- didate, he or she fails. In the event of one examiner passing and preting mode(s) of their choice, with the other failing a candidate, the script is submitted to a third an accreditation certificate reflecting examiner whose decision is final. the relevant details. The accreditation Accreditation for purposes of becoming a sworn translator test comprises an on-the-spot evalua- was introduced by the Institute in order to provide for the stan- tion of a candidate’s interpreting abili- dardization of the examination required as a part of the proce- ties, which is carried out by an accred- dure for becoming a sworn translator. The sworn translator’s itation panel appointed by the SATI examination is a written examination in which four texts must Examinations Committee. be translated. The procedure is the same as for general transla- tion accreditation, except that grading includes consideration Continued on p. 12

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ATA ACTIVITIES

Accreditation more information, please contact on the home page. ¥ Exam sittings have been added in Megan Gallagher or Bob LePage at the Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Wash- McNeill Group, (215) 321-9662 or Public Relations ington, DC. mgallagher@ mcneill-group.com or ¥ ATA Executive Director Walter Bacak ¥ Exam sittings were held in Austin, [email protected]; www. worked with a reporter from The Texas, and Salt Lake City, . mcneill-group.com/mediakit.html. Miami Herald. ¥ ATA has agreed to serve as a sponsor Board Membership for this year’s SAE Multilingual Docu- ¥ The ATA Board of Directors held a ¥ ATA membership is running 10.2 per- mentation for the Automotive Industry Board retreat and meeting June 29- cent ahead of last year at this time. TOPTEC Symposium, October 18-19, July 1 in Seattle, Washington. (See 2001 in Paris. (ATA was a sponsor of From the Executive Director in this Professional Development the same symposium last year in issue for more information.) ¥ The deadline for mentor and mentee Detroit, Michigan.) applications for the ATA Pilot Men- ¥ ATA continues to work with the Amer- Conference toring Program Has passed. Thanks to ican Foundation for Translation and ¥ The ATA 42nd Annual Conference, all who applied. If you are not a partic- Interpretation, the Fédération Interna- Los Angeles, October 31-November 3, ipant in the pilot program, you are tionale des Traducteurs, ASTM Trans- is taking shape. For the latest informa- invited to attend “Strategies for Getting lation User and Language Interpreting tion and registration forms, visit the the Mentoring You Need” (ATA-3) on Standards projects, and the Localisa- ATA Website, http://www.atanet.org. November1st at the ATA conference. tion Industry Standards Association. ¥ Conference Final Program advertising, For more information, please go to the exhibit space, and sponsorship oppor- ATA Website, www.atanet.org, and tunities continue to be marketed. For click on ATA Pilot Mentoring Program

Visit ATA online at www.atanet.org for information on your membership benefits! It’s Time to Plan... Upcoming Conferences ATA’s 2001 Annual Conference Los Angeles, California & Educational Programs October 31-November 3, 2001

International Certification Study Continued from p. 11 TRADOS Workshops Terminology accreditation involves the Further information on the accredita- TRADOS Corporation offers one-day compilation of a mini bilingual, bi-direc- tion procedures of SATI can be obtained training workshops each month for Trans- tional technical dictionary in the subject from the Examinations , Marion lator’s Workbench, MultiTerm, and WinAlign at its site at 113 S. Columbus Street, Alexan- field of the candidate’s choice. Documen- Boers, at [email protected]. Ms. Boers dria, Virginia. Attendance is limited. For more tation in the subject field is provided and also informed me that SATI is currently information, contact: Tel: (703) 683-6900; candidates have to excerpt the terms from revising its terminology accreditation Fax: (703) 683-9457; E-mail: eva@ this. The mini dictionary should include procedure. trados.com or www.trados.com. appropriate front matter, with indications Next month’s article will bring you on how the dictionary was compiled and information on non-degree professional Call for Papers Institute of Translation the problems encountered while compiling certificates for Arabic/English transla- & Interpreting/IALB Conference on it, and also back matter (i.e., bibliography, tions offered by the Center for Adult and Language and Business names of subject specialists, linguists con- Continuing Education of the American November 22-25, 2001 sulted, etc.). An indication on how the dic- University in Cairo. As the editor of this University of Hull ¥ Hull, tionary is to be used should also be given. series, I encourage readers to submit any Please send abstracts to Dr. Catherine Greensmith, Department of French, Univer- Accreditation for pioneer Bible trans- relevant information concerning non- sity of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 lation is undertaken in association with U.S. certification or similar programs, as 7RX England; Tel: +44 1482 465162; the Institute for Bible Translation in well as comments on the information E-mail: [email protected]. White River. Pioneer Bible translators are published in this series, to my e-mail those who translate the Bible into new address at [email protected]. languages.

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Three Days of the Balance Sheet, and Much More!

By Trudy Balch

he message was clear: Your mission, Ms. Balch, should Alicia González Requejo, whose pre- you choose to accept it, is to tell Chronicle readers the sentation included the international T true story of what happened at the ATA’s three-day con- strategic issues underlying such eco- ference on financial translation, held in New York City from nomic blowups as the American May 18-20. Well, thanks to terrific organization and a group debt crisis and the Asian crisis. Two of top-notch speakers, this Mission looks far from Impossible.1 books she recommended were Paul I accept! Kennedy’s Preparing for the 21st Cen- But I’m not in this alone. Some helpful colleagues have tury and Alain Simon’s Géopolitique et come forward to help. All have assured me that their comments stratégies d’enterprise. won’t self-destruct. We can all agree on how the event started. By 8:00 a.m. on May 18, some 325 translators from more than 25 states and at …My strongest impression from the least 15 countries began to descend on ivy-covered, red-brick conference was that it was “fun”—the Vanderbilt Hall at New York University, in the Greenwich Vil- lage neighborhood. Was there coffee? Check. Fresh fruit? group seemed to be just the right size Check. Fresh danish and bagels? Check. for mixing and meeting new people… But hey, we didn’t come just for the food. After a 9:00 a.m. welcome that included conference organizer Marian Green- field, ATA President-elect Tom West, and NYU foreign lan- And now some reports from the rest guages and translation director Milena Savova, we got an of our Impossible Missions Force, overview of (www.euronext.com), the new cross- plucked from seminars on May 19 and border stock exchange formed from the Amsterdam and Brus- 20 that covered French, German, Italian, sels exchanges and the Paris Bourse. Russian, Portuguese, and Spanish, plus Then it was down to the more nitty-gritty: accounting princi- two presentations in Spanish on termi- ples and terminology with Italian>English and Russian> nology and databases. But first a word to English translator and former banker Bob Taylor. We revisited all you readers: Try as I might, it was the material in a later session with financial executive Impossible to cover every detail of every Tretler, who reminded us why “Happiness is a positive seminar without laying claim to several EBITDA.”2 Taylor’s session also included a review of reference issues of the Chronicle. Here, I’ve tried books and Websites. (If you haven’t seen http://askmerrill.ml. to whet your appetite, but if you couldn’t com/education/course/0,,20000_20132_1_ask0000,00.html, attend, please do talk to colleagues who you don’t know what you’re missing. Seriously.) We also noted did. Here we go! that even in accounting, the U.S. and Britain can be two countries Donna Sandin, just back from a divided by a common language. For example, “inventory” in the translators conference in São Paulo, U.S. is “stock” in the Queen’s English. Nor did we overlook the Brazil, praised all five Portuguese ses- all-important topic of marketing our services. Taylor reminded us sions, “by speakers I’ve heard before, that financial statements are released at regular times, which but from whom I still learned some- means it’s a good idea to call clients (including agencies) at those new.” Overall, she says: “My times and remind them you’d like to be on board again. strongest impression from the confer- Also on the accounting agenda was German>English trans- ence was that it was ‘fun’—the group lator Robin Bonthrone, who discussed international accounting seemed to be just the right size for issues, including the move toward standardized reporting in mixing and meeting new people. Espe- Europe and its consequences for translators. The good news? An cially that first morning. I don’t think accepted body of terminology (eventually). The challenge? As anyone felt left out! This reinforces the terminology hydra starts losing its heads, translators will have what ATA already knows—that the to boost the value added they offer. That means beefing up our continental breakfast is a vital event in specialized subject-area knowledge. (Sound familiar?) these situations.” One other general session followed on Saturday, May 19: “Financial Geostrategy,” with JP Morgan Chase global analyst Continued on p. 14

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Three Days of the Balance Sheet, and Much More! Continued

For Randa Sayegh-Hamati, who São PauloÐbased Danilo Nogueira) also reminds us of the translates from Spanish<>Arabic and importance of background, background, background. In Brazil, English>Spanish and Arabic, the con- Junta Comercial is not “Board of Trade.” A Junta Comercial is ference was a valuable window onto in charge of maintaining the registro do comércio (registry of : “I just finished my trade), so both terms are best translated as “registry of trade.” exams for a course in financial manage- Finally, some eye-openers from a workshop that French> ment at the University of Madrid, but at English translator Chris organized in Paris, about pro- this conference I discovered a com- ducing effective English-language annual reports (proceedings pletely new vocabulary.” Translator and available at www.bourse-de-paris.fr/centredoc/pdf/ Actes2000.pdf, interpreter Rudy Heller delighted in the in French with English abstract). First, about 30 of the 95 lively discussion, during Alicia Agnese’s attendees were corporate communications/finance executives, English>Spanish terminology seminar, who seemed enthusiastic about organizing themselves to work on “‘equity,’‘capital,’‘principal,’‘man- better with translators. (Durban suggests such meetings might agement,’ and ‘performance,’ and all the be possible for other fields, particularly if focused on specific variables these tricksters can take.” And types of texts that potential customers know they must pro- I’d like to add how much everyone duce.) Also, for Durban’s own workshop presentation, she appreciated the workshops in which we played client and commissioned translations from two agen- looked at sample translations and com- cies. The results? Disappointing—despite having not haggled pared stylistic points. and having told both agencies that she had an open deadline, English<>German and French> welcomed queries (she received none), and wanted publica- German translator Carmen Berelson was tion-quality writing. Take a look at the “Traduction humaine especially pleased that sessions no. 1” column in the comparative grid on the Website—most “addressed the broader picture of the thought-provoking even if you don’t read French. financial markets and were also What’s next? A heartfelt thank-you to the sponsors, forward-looking and thought-provoking.” exhibitors, job fair participants, and our host—the Center for And no one could stop talking about how Foreign Languages and Translation of NYU’s School of Con- smoothly everything ran, right down to tinuing and Professional Studies. Ever energetic, Marian the inspired decision to allow at least Greenfield hopes other members will come forward to put an hour and a half for lunch—the together another subject-specific conference for 2003, and she better to savor those many nearby says she’s ready to help. As for me, I still don’t know whether restaurants. the ATA will disavow all knowledge of my actions if anything Which brings us to location, loca- goes wrong with this assignment. Stay tuned. tion, location! “What a terrific excuse to catch late spring weather in New York, Notes: visit New York University, walk our feet 1. An appreciative nod here and throughout to the popular off in the Village, and catch up with espionage-suspense TV show, which ran in the U.S. from amigos new and old. And what a treat to 1966Ð73, and two recent films based on the series. see so many aces together in one place—I learned tons!” reports Tereza 2. Answer: It’s the quickest and easiest way to calculate a d’Avila , a Portuguese<>English company’s flow. EBITDA = Earnings Before Interest, interpreter and English>Portuguese Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization. translator. A snippet from Tereza’s copious notes (from a presentation by

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2001 Two-week Study Tour to Erlangen, Germany, for Members of the ATA German Language Division

By Antoinette-M. Sixt Ruth © 2001 Note: An abbreviated version of this article appeared in the July issue of The AATIA Letter, the newsletter of the Austin Area Translators and Interpreters Association.

ince early 1995, ATA members have had the opportunity ital community will continue to inject to participate in a biannual, two-week study trip to the necessary funds. S Erlangen, Germany, usually taking place in late spring. Appropriately enough, the focus of This year, 25 members of ATA’s German Language Division this year’s study tour was on medicine (GLD) went on the tour from April 29 through May 12. Dr. Loie and healthcare issues, highlighting such Feuerle, from the U.S., and Mr. Frank Gillard, executive diverse topics as genetics, medical engi- director of the Institute for Foreign Languages and Cultures neering, organ transplantation, nutrition, (Institut für Auslandskunde und Fremdsprachen or IfA) at the preparation of food and food supple- Erlangen University, organized a most interesting, but never- ments to meet special needs, the manu- theless very intense, two . The trip was designed to help facture of cough medicines, and the life improve participants’ knowledge and understanding of Ger- of the handicapped in Germany. There many’s past and present challenges from the aspects of culture, was a presentation on the most common politics, industry, history—and leisure. Ingrid Lansford and I eye diseases and a viewing of rare hand- were the only two participants from Texas. written scripts on medicinal plants dating The group’s base was Erlangen, a city of more than 100,000 in the Free State of Bavaria, located north of the River Danube, roughly 145 miles north of Munich and about 300 miles to the …The trip was designed to help south of Berlin and close to the busy east-west highways from improve participants’ knowledge and Prague to Frankfurt and Stuttgart. Erlangen has access to the Main-Danube Canal, which links the North Sea with the understanding of Germany’s past and Sea. The nearby Nuremberg International Airport is the fastest present challenges from the aspects of growing airport in Germany. Erlangen is also well served by all Munich-Berlin high-speed trains. culture, politics, industry, history—and According to the of Erlangen, who spoke to the leisure… group at the traditional reception at city hall, three significant events shaped Erlangen’s history: the arrival of the Huguenots from France in 1686, the founding of the university in 1743, back to the 16th century from Erlangen and the decision of the electrical engineering giant Siemens University’s archives. Other highlights AG in 1945 to relocate from war-torn Berlin to Erlangen. This included historical presentations on “The decision was made due to the fact that Erlangen was left rela- Myth of Prussia and its Rulers,” the tively unscathed by the incessant bombing raids that had rav- progress made since the reunification of aged Berlin and the nearby twin cities of Nuremberg-Fürth Germany more than 10 years ago and during the Second . what lies ahead, and insight into the life Today, Siemens AG is the city’s largest employer, with and work of Martin Luther in preparation approximately 25,000 employees in the Greater Erlangen area. for the weekend trip to the Erfurt area Erlangen University ranks second (also second among universi- and the famous Wartburg in the “new” ties in Bavaria), with around 25,000 students and another 10,000 State of Thuringia. There were also visits employees and some 23 clinics. At least every fourth worker is to Mainz and its Gutenberg Museum and in the healthcare field. Total employment in the Greater the studios of the ZDF TV conglom- Erlangen area is an estimated 80,000. In terms of quality of life erate, the old cities of Nuremberg and in the category of German cities of 10,000 or more, Erlangen Mainz, and the famous Weltenburg prides itself on a top 10 rating. The city’s master plan targets Monastery on the River Danube. All this Erlangen as the “Federal capital of medicine” by the year 2010. was combined with many opportunities Much of the infrastructure suggests that this will indeed be to experience German hospitality, food, achieved: city manager-type government, electronic city govern- beer and wine, and the enjoyment of ment, the highest PC concentration in Germany, and a well-edu- balmy springtime weather and the cated labor pool. A business incubator and a business accelerator enchanting countryside. are in place to aid technology transfer from academia to high- tech and biotechnology start-up companies, and the venture cap- Continued on p. 16

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2001 Two-week Study Tour to Erlangen, Germany Continued

Back to medicine...during the first Edward Deming’s “14 Points for Management,” including Stop week, we were introduced to the dependence on inspection to achieve quality. Eliminate the Siemens AG organization, one of the need for inspection—by building quality into the product in the leading global players, and its major first place. Production centers on functional groups of around divisions: Communication and Infor- 10 workers who are entirely responsible for the quality of their mation, Energy, Medical Solutions, and product. They enjoy flexibility in scheduling their hours based Transportation. We visited three pro- on demand. They determine whether one of them needs to be duction facilities of the Medical Solu- disciplined, or even expelled. They negotiate the logistics tions Division, two for medical diag- (mostly “Just-In-Time”). All are highly trained, conscientious, nostics equipment and the other one for and extremely motivated, and, of course, well compensated. hearing aids. Siemens-designed and Dr. G. Lisiecki, the Erlangen city manager, along with Herr -manufactured diagnostic equipment R. Greim and Frau K. Schaefer, both of the IfA faculty, talked ranges from analog and digital radio- to us on different occasions about the reunification of the graphic systems to MRI and computed former East and West Germany, the intellectual, economic, and tomography devices, including the ver- obstacles encountered, the cost, the progress made, and satile C-Arm (ultrasound diagnostic the tasks still ahead. These talks, along with the historical pre- and computer-aided recording, evalua- sentations on Prussia and Martin Luther, turned out to be an tion, and storage). In more recent years, appropriate preparation for the weekend trip to Erfurt in the Siemens Medical Solutions Divi- Thuringia, known as the “green heart” of Germany. sion has pioneered the concept of fur- The cold and rainy weather that weekend (really the only nishing integrated solutions to health- bad weather during the entire trip) did not succeed in damp- care providers, ranging from functional ening our spirits on the bus trip to Erfurt. The city’s origins go clinic equipment to the evaluation and back 1,250 years. Although known especially for Martin treatment of patients’ diseases and facil- Luther, its cathedral and the adjoining Severi Church, and the itating the secure exchange and verifi- flower market, the capital of Thuringia is one of the most able archiving of data. In the fight beautiful medieval cities of Germany. This city of 200,000 has against cardiovascular disease, colon been the intellectual, historical, social, and economic center of cancer, and lung cancer, Siemens’ multi- the State of Thuringia for many years. The 350 foot-long slice computed tomography technology Krämerbrücke (“Krämer” = small merchant) reminds the trav- is hailed as a global leader for enhancing eler of the Ponte Vecchio of Florence, Italy. Martin Luther the chances for early detection. On lived in the Augustinian Monastery from 1505 until 1511. another occasion, we learned about Nowadays, the Monastery also serves as a guesthouse, and PRISMAª Digital Hearing Instruments most of our group enjoyed its high-tech equipment and func- in detail. PRISMAª represents a new tional interior, which is in stark contrast to the medieval exte- generation of hearing instruments which rior. On the lighter side, we all enjoyed typical local food at can improve the quality of life for those dinnertime at the Köstritzer Schwarzbierhaus “Zum güldenen with hearing loss. The core of Rade,” where such celebrities as the former German Chan- PRISMAª consists of two integrated cellor Kohl and German TV hostess and actress, Caroline circuits with over 200,000 transistors, Reiber, had been guests in the past. The guided city tour at capable of 150 million calculations per night, “Romantic Erfurt,” was really a necessity following the second, but operating on less than one sumptuous food at . volt of battery power. This complex unit Thuringia has a rich history. Many famous Germans used to can be packed into a small device that live in the area: Goethe, Schiller, Bach, Wieland, Herder, and, fits completely in the ear canal.1 of course, Martin Luther. On the way back we stopped off at What impressed me while fol- the Wartburg castle, another German treasure. Luther trans- lowing the Siemens guides around lated the New Testament there, and Richard Wagner’s comic were the tremendous changes that opera “Tannhäuser” points to the Wartburg as the location of transformed the manufacturing culture, the Contest of Song, or “Sängerkrieg.” The castle commands a which nowadays embraces Dr. W. tremendous view across the enchanting countryside. It is easy

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to see why the Wartburg had initially served as a lookout post weeks we spent in daily contact. The for local rulers. synergy within this group was amazing Back at Erlangen for the second week... turned out and contributed to the overall enjoy- to be a full day, with a glimpse into the lives, problems, but ment of our learning experience. Most also the progress of the handicapped in Germany. They look to of us are already asking: “Will there be the U.S. for inspiration and courage. It was gratifying to learn an Erlangen V in 2003?” that Germany is gradually providing a legal framework similar to that of the Americans With Disabilities Act to enable the Notes: handicapped to enjoy a more independent and dignified life. 1. Siemens Innovations in Medical Engi- We subsequently shifted gears and were introduced to the neering—People are our concern, ref. Reformhaus concept that is so popular in Germany, having its BKW 81410 WS 059927 origin in the Reform movement that Sebastian Kneipp pio- neered in southern Germany during the 19th century. It com- bines social and ethical ideas for healthy living with scientific production concepts. In other words, they advocate the entire spectrum of healthy living extending from food to supplements, Visit ATA online body care, and alternative medicine, and adequate exercise. It can be linked to what we know as “the healthy living concept,” at www.atanet.org spread through health food and alternative medicine advocates. For me, the real highlight was the visit to Novartis AG, with presentations on organ transplantation and the impact of genetics on the medical sciences. This occurred on the very day that Novartis, the Switzerland-based pharmaceutical giant, announced the acquisition of 20 percent of Hoffmann- LaRoche AG. Martina Baur, Ph.D., who is the corporate spokesperson for Novartis, gave us a fascinating overview of the present and future impact of genetic research on the fields of medicine and pharmaceuticals. Such research comprises: new pharmaceuti- cals, transgenetic animal models for research, recombinant med- ications and vaccination sera, molecular genetic diagnostics, somatic gene therapy, and tissue engineering. It would clearly go too far to elaborate on the foregoing, but there is ample literature around: for example, Francis Collins, in Nature, and Craig Venter, in Science, both published last February. The subsequent days were hectic, filled with more visits to companies, historical sites, good food and drink, and a trip to Mainz to view the significant exhibits at the Guten- berg Museum. There were also trips to get a glimpse of the German ZDF TV station as well as a visit to the Old City of Nuremberg. Most of us appeared to be exhausted towards the end of the two weeks, but we still enjoyed the warm hospitality of Karen and Frank Gillard at the farewell party they gave for us and the IfA faculty. There were 25 of us on the study tour. To me, everyone, with the exception of Ingrid, was really a stranger, although I might have heard some of the names in context with an ATA activity. I was amazed to see how well these individuals related to one another to become a close group during the two

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Doing Your Part to Develop Professional Recognition

By Lourdes V. Norton

ast March, during the VII ATA already thinking of moving back to Brazil I applied...and got Portuguese Language Division the job! L Spring meeting in Charleston, I am now at the end of my second semester teaching court South Carolina, I gave a talk entitled interpreting, simultaneous interpreting, and interpretation practice “Do’s and Don’ts of Court Inter- and internship. I am having a great time sharing experiences preting.” Due to the interest it gener- (good and bad) that I have accumulated over the years. I also ated and the very short amount of time enjoy helping mold new generations of interpreters. allotted for my presentation, I agreed Interpreters are constantly being told that they must be to give the entire talk again at this invisible. In my court interpreting classes, I tell students that year’s ATA Annual Conference in Los we have to be discreet and not interfere with court proceedings Angeles. I will do it in English so that by adding, subtracting, or modifying what is being said. I also colleagues who work as court inter- tell them that they should do their job in such a way that the preters in languages other than Por- people in the court will forget that there is an interpreter in the tuguese and English can join us and room. It should seem that what they are hearing is coming share their experiences. directly from the witnesses or deponents, as if they spoke per- fect English or Portuguese. As professionals, on the other hand, I believe we should be …Writing articles, speaking, and very visible. I attend all the translators and interpreters confer- ences I possibly can. When I attend such meetings, I try to participating is a great opportunity to share my best work experiences with my peers. Writing arti- learn and find out about others in the cles, speaking, and participating is a great opportunity to learn field, and to make yourself known to and find out about others in the field, and to make yourself known to colleagues as well. We share our success and/or our colleagues as well… unpleasant experiences and, in so doing, educate each other. Since 1987, I have attended as many conferences in the U.S. and Brazil as possible. That’s how I met and got to know Some of those who were in my U.S. and Portuguese colleagues, as well as some Brazil- Charleston were surprised to find out ians. Several of these individuals were invited to speak at our that I had moved back to Brazil. They meetings while I was administrator of ATA’s Portuguese Lan- could hardly believe that the day after guage Division (1995-1997). Back then, I had no idea that I I arrived in São Paulo, I started a new would be returning to Brazil only a few years later. It was nice teaching job at PUC (Pontificia Uni- to come home after having been away for so long and find the versidade Católica). This job was the familiar faces of friends who have supported me both profes- direct result of a paper I had written to sionally and personally. present at a PLD Meeting that I As many of you know, legal dictio- couldn’t attend at the last minute. I naries and some of the others are far from ideal, and can even mailed it in and it was read by col- be dangerous for people who don’t have any knowledge of the leagues and later published in parts in subject at hand. Enlightening articles and help from colleagues the PLDATA, the PLD’s newsletter. regarding dictionaries and the difficulties of translating dif- Months later, in Brazil, the super- ferent legal systems and finding the appropriate terms have visor of interpreting courses at PUC been invaluable. I collect these articles and use them as refer- saw a part of my article on court inter- ence materials all the time. Whenever I do so, I quietly thank preting and contacted me asking for the colleague(s) who took the time to write them. the entire paper. I sent it and was Why, one may ask, would people use their time to share invited to talk to her students upon my what took them months or even years to find out and perfect? next visit to Brazil. By luck, coinci- And give it to competitors? I can’t answer for everyone else, dence, or both, PUC was looking for but I will try to give my reasons. The ATA currently has over interpreting instructors and I was encouraged to apply. Since I was Continued on p. 27

18 ATA Chronicle ¥ August 2001 AugATAw/Ads 8/9/01 4:31 PM Page 19

Modern Mentoring: What It Is and How to Do It

By Linda Phillips-Jones

f you’re a successful professional, you can probably name A mentor is an experienced person one or more persons who helped you develop. Maybe you who goes out of his or her way to help I didn’t call them “mentors,” but they went out of their way to a less experienced person set important help you discover more about yourself and learn how to succeed. goals and build skills to achieve them. Today, we call these important helpers mentors, and we realize A mentee (or protege) in 2001 is a self- how valuable—and skilled—they are, even though they usually motivated individual who seeks assis- do not realize it themselves. If you’re wise, you’ll continue to find tance from multiple mentors as he or and make use of a series of mentors throughout your life. she works toward career/life goals. In addition, as you continue to excel in your work, you’ll be Formal mentoring is the planned, expected to play the mentor role with others inside and outside agreed-upon process in which mentors your profession. For example, you may find yourself men- assist mentees over a set period of toring staff members, less experienced persons in other depart- time, usually (but not always) as part ments and organizations, a summer or graduate intern, or a of a mentoring program that includes new member of ATA. You may even find yourself mentoring several pairs or mentoring groups and your vendors and clients as they navigate the complicated world of translation and interpretation while trying to meet their own career goals. …On the surface, mentoring looks Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of being “men- tored” by Courtney Searls-Ridge, one of ATA’s leaders. To deceptively easy, but many mentoring enhance personal development and my organization’s growth, programs and relationships struggle my staff and I decided to have some of our most popular men- toring materials translated into several languages. Even though and even fail because they lack the I had experience with translation and interpretation during sev- right kind of structure… eral years of working in Vietnam and , I was very naïve about the field and the best process to follow. Thanks to my informal mentor, my organization and I avoided major mis- formal training and accountability. takes and broadened our thinking about goals and possibilities. On the surface, mentoring looks We didn’t negotiate a formal mentoring relationship, but deceptively easy, but many mentoring Courtney’s informal guidance and obvious mentoring skills programs and relationships struggle have been invaluable. and even fail because they lack the My research over the past two decades reveals that effective right kind of structure. To be sure mentoring requires much more than common sense. In this yours succeeds, include a plan for a article you’ll learn what modern mentoring looks like, particu- beginning, middle, and end to your larly formal mentoring. You’ll read about a set of tested men- partnership. Commit to regularly toring skills and see some examples of how to use these with scheduled meetings and activities your mentors and mentees. Finally, you’ll see some “don’ts” to throughout the cycle. Be certain that prevent you from making mistakes with your mentoring partners. you negotiate your roles and other fac- tors such as meeting schedules and Background on Mentoring locations, objectives on which to work, Research on the results of effective mentoring has identified confidentiality, a process for giving several benefits for mentees, mentors, and their organizations each other feedback, and the role of (Phillips-Jones, 2001a). Mentees benefit the most as they gain other important people in the mentee’s skills, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and energizing feelings. life, such as an immediate supervisor. Mentors also learn and, in addition, experience satisfaction, Another key element of a solid gain recognition, appreciate being able to “pay back” their past structured approach is the use of spe- mentors, and benefit from more skilled and loyal mentees. cific mentoring skills. In the next sec- Organizations, companies, and associations (like the ATA) tion, you’ll read about four core skills who offer mentoring programs increase their recruiting edge and build loyalty and productivity. Continued on p. 20

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Modern Mentoring: What It Is and How to Do It Continued

used by mentors and mentees, plus five aging and help her plot a feasible path to her dream. Also, help specific skills for mentors and five spe- her see the internal and external hurdles she could face. cific skills for mentees. Before asking for help from mentors, identify specific assis- tance you’d like and negotiate this with your prospective men- Core Mentoring Skills tors. For example, if you’d like a mentor to help you become a Whether you’re a mentor or a better negotiator, ask him or her to help you with some of the mentee, you’ll use four core skills with related skills such as handling an impasse and having a your mentoring partner. “BATNA,” your Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (Fisher & Ury, 1983). Also invite this helper to make an accu- Active Listening rate assessment of your current skills and the political realities Active listening is the most basic of your organization. mentoring skill. When you listen well, you demonstrate to your mentors and Building Trust mentees that their concerns have been The more your mentors and mentees trust you, the more heard and understood. For example, committed they’ll be to your partnerships with them and the you listen intently to your client and more effective you’ll be. You can build your “trustability quo- recognize that he or she has a vision of tient” by keeping confidences shared by your mentors and expanding his business into China. mentees, honoring your promises, respecting your mentors’ You probe gently and learn about his and mentees’ boundaries, and admitting your errors and taking hesitancies and incomplete picture of responsibility for correcting them. the hurdles he faces. As a result of Particularly in “cross-difference” (e.g., cross-gender, cross- active listening, your mentors and cultural, cross-age) mentoring, trust building is crucial and has mentees feel accepted by you and trust to develop over time. Recently, I had the opportunity to do builds. For example, you can make mentor and mentee training in the U.S., the U.K., , and encouraging responses (“You can do . Even though the mentors and mentees worked for the that”) and paraphrase to show you’ve same global company, trust building was different among and grasped the meaning and feelings within each of these cultures. Although there were exceptions to behind the message. You can also use the rule, the Americans tended to open up with their job con- culturally appropriate nonverbal lan- cerns and goals more quickly than the other groups. guage, and remember and show interest in things they’ve said in the Encouraging past. In every encounter with mentors According to my research, the most remembered and and mentees, listen carefully first and valued mentoring skill is encouraging others. One key way to problem solve later. encourage is by giving mentoring partners sincere positive verbal feedback. Effective mentors encourage their mentees, Identifying Goals and Current Reality which in turn helps increase the mentees’ confidence and This is a two-part skill. Whether enables them to develop. Successful mentees make a point of you’re a mentor or mentee, you should positively reinforcing their mentors on a regular basis, which have a personal vision, a set of career/life serves to keep mentors focused and motivated. Here are some goals, and specific objectives for your actions to try. mentoring partnerships. You also need Compliment your partners on accomplishments and actions. a good grasp of “current reality”: your For example, “You did an excellent job of bringing out the strengths, growth areas, and the nuances in this French passage.” Point out positive traits (such obvious and “unwritten” rules of your as perseverance and integrity) in addition to their performance organization or field. Talk with your and accomplishments. Write encouraging e-mail or leave com- mentees about their visions, dreams, plimentary voice mail. Send a handwritten note. Let them know and goals. For example, if your intern how you used and appreciated any help they’ve given you. expresses an interest in starting her Be certain that your praise and encouragement are sincere. own translation business, be encour- In mentoring, err in the direction of too much praise rather than

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too little. Some human development experts recommend a observe. Invite them to join you at the ratio of four praises for every corrective remark. ATA conference.

Critical Skills for Mentors Instructing/Developing Capabilities Briefly, here are the specific skills to use when you serve as Your instruction will usually be a mentor. informal and take the form of tutoring or coaching, from modeling specific Inspiring behaviors to conveying ideas and Inspiring means infusing with ideas or feelings. The most processes one-on-one. Be a “learning superb mentors are able to inspire their mentees to do more than broker” as you assist your mentees in they thought possible, even achieve greatness. See if you can use finding resources such as other people, inspiring language—stories, metaphors, and powerful phrases— books, software, Websites, and addi- to motivate your mentees. Let them see you doing inspiring tional information sources. For example, actions, such as presenting your exciting vision to your team. Courtney sent me valuable articles to Help them observe others who are inspiring. Help them recog- read about how to hire the right trans- nize their important accomplishments and ways to excel again. lator. A key part of your instruction is teaching the mentoring process. You Providing Corrective Feedback can do this by making process com- Effective mentors should be willing and able to give ments—pointing out, naming, and oth- mentees the bad news along with the good. This means giving erwise getting your mentees to recog- them corrective feedback on their actions and products. When nize what aspects of the mentoring you observe your mentees making mistakes or performing in process you are employing at the time less than desirable ways, let them know what you perceive and and why. By doing so, you’ll be offer some better ways for handling the situation. Use positive, teaching them to be effective mentees. specific, businesslike words and tone of voice. Give the feed- back privately, as promptly as possible, and offer useful sug- Critical Skills for Mentees gestions for next time, including using you as a resource when Here are some specific skills to use that time comes. as a mentee.

Managing Risks Acquiring Mentors Effective mentors are willing and able to protect their Becoming a successful mentee these mentees from disasters (unnecessary mistakes that could sabo- days isn’t a passive experience. You tage their careers or their business). Help them learn to take should be very active in identifying, appropriate risks. Share some risks and mistakes you’ve sur- selecting, and negotiating with several vived, such as that major faux pas you made on your first trans- mentors who can help you succeed. lation job. Help them recognize the risks involved in their Identify a desirable pool of individuals actions and projects. Make suggestions to help them handle who potentially can assist you in var- these challenges with aplomb. ious areas. Actively search for several mentors, and sell them on the idea of Opening Doors assisting you. Convey your specific You can provide important visibility for your mentees. This needs and goals, and offer to help them means opening the right doors that allow them to meet people in some way. Finally, negotiate your and demonstrate to different audiences what they can do. mentoring arrangements with them. Research has shown that when mentors vouch for mentees in this way, the mentees’ work is much more likely to be well Learning Quickly received. Personally introduce your mentees to appropriate Mentors enjoy working with contacts. Give them assignments or opportunities that enable mentees who learn quickly and take them to interact with important colleagues, vendors, or clients. Suggest other people for your mentees to interview or Continued on p. 22

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Modern Mentoring: What It Is and How to Do It Continued

seriously any efforts to teach them. with each of your mentors on any issues between you, goals to Typically, your mentors want you to be reach, satisfaction with your meeting schedules, and so forth. a quick study as you work hard at Carefully track your mentoring relationships, and make sug- directly and indirectly learning every- gestions for improvement. Always know where you are in the thing you can as rapidly as possible. flow of your relationship. For example, is it time to prepare for Apply the knowledge and skills taught the closing of your formal partnership? What small celebration to you, and be ready to tell your men- could you plan? Leave your formal relationships on amicable tors how you did this. Study materials terms, even if the relationships continue on an informal or given to you by your mentors and friendship basis. materials you seek out. Integrate new things you learn into your own concep- A Few Don’ts tual framework. Don’t expect an ideal mentor or mentee. As the one being mentored, pull the mentoring you need, even from individuals Showing Initiative who may not be skilled mentors. If they have something you Mentors will expect you to show the don’t have and need, find a way to make the relationship work. right amount of initiative. Of course, The same is true when you’re mentoring inexperienced the “right amount” will vary among mentees. Expect them to make mistakes, push too hard at mentors and cultures, so you’ll have to times, and not necessarily be the stellar mentee you once were. determine what’s right for each of your Use these opportunities to learn to work with a variety of per- partnerships. Usually, mentors will be sonal styles and abilities. Of course, if a partnership clearly open to your suggestions and will isn’t a good match for the two of you, gracefully find a way to observe what you’re doing on your end it. own to develop. Ask for their prefer- ences on your showing initiative. Take Don’t look for perfect objectives to work on in your men- informed risks, and stretch beyond toring partnerships. Avoid the mistake of wasting weeks and your usual comfort level. Go beyond months trying to decide the focus of your relationship. Consider what your mentors suggest; that is, and discuss several potential objectives (based on the mentee’s take their ideas and show creative or strengths, growth areas, and goals), and then get started on one ambitious ways of using them. or two. You can always drop or add objectives later.

Following Through Don’t expect formal mentoring to be the same as informal It continues to be a mentor’s mentoring. True, the general process is the same, and both market. Mentees who don’t complete enable mentees to learn far beyond books and classes. How- tasks and commitments are often ever, formal mentoring is supposed to end after an agreed-upon dropped and replaced with mentees point. Formal relationships don’t necessarily include the who do. Keep all agreements made “chemistry” often found with informal arrangements. The best with your mentors. Complete agreed- strategy for your career success is to develop a series of both upon tasks on time. Explain in advance types of relationships and to enjoy each relationship for what if you want to change or break an it is. agreement. Persist with difficult tasks even when you’re discouraged. Don’t play the role of formal mentor with your direct reports. By all means, use the mentoring skills described above Managing the Relationship with all your employees and others under your authority. Even when your mentors try to take Encourage, teach, open doors, and otherwise help them grow. a strong lead, you’re the one who Research shows that you shouldn’t be the “official” mentor of should manage your mentoring rela- your own employee in a formal mentoring program. Doing so tionships. It’s your development, and is complicated because of the dual role of evaluator and you must take responsibility for its process and outcomes. Stay up to date Continued on p. 33

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How to Interview Corporations for In-house Positions

By Mario Enrique Chávez

owadays, working as an in-house translator, espe- Make it short. One-page résumés printed cially in the localization segment of the industry, is a on white, 20 lb, laser printer-compatible N highly doable goal. The process of researching the paper are the norm. If you must use two corporations we might want to work for is further complicated pages, make it compelling. by the geographic characteristics of our profession. Unlike doctors, lawyers, and auto mechanics, we cannot expect to find Include only information your inter- our ideal employers in the same city we live in. I want to share viewer is likely to find relevant. some of my experience on looking for that almost-elusive Semantics alert here: relevant is not the 9:00-to-5:00 desk job for professional translators. same as interesting or remarkable. First, let’s review the types of organizations that need trans- Filter out what you don’t need and lation services as part of their products and services. keep a balance between education and expertise: not too much of one thing ¥ Government agencies versus too little of the other. ¥ Educational institutions ¥ Hospitals (interpreters are sorely needed) ¥ Nonprofit organizations …Researching corporations is further ¥ Translation bureaus (let’s not call them translation agencies) ¥ Small companies complicated by the geographic ¥ Big companies characteristics of our profession. Unlike some, we cannot expect to Depending on your specializations, some organizations will appeal to you more than others. If you have decided to take the find our ideal employers in the same plunge and become an in-house professional, let’s explore city we live in… some issues.

Direct Hire or Headhunter No padding. Not long ago, a résumé It pays to have a reputable headhunter on your side. They came across my desk where the candi- get paid a hefty commission by their clients (one of them could date had written the following under be your future employer) to get the best candidates. Looking Expertise: for a good headhunter is like shopping for a good therapist: stick with the one who inspires trust and cooperation. ¥ Quality work ethics Be careful with salary negotiations, however. If you work ¥ Superior customer service skills with a headhunter, he is supposed to get you the best package ¥ High degree of management skills deal, so refrain from discussing salary issues directly with your and leadership prospective employer (their client), unless there is a miscom- ¥ Very strong computer skills munication and you need clarification on some topics. I had to ¥ Willingness and aptitude to learn do just that when I negotiated my relocation package with my new skills headhunter for my current employment. ¥ Good attention to detail and ability Miscommunications are common; everybody is human. Be to make decisions kind and courteous when discussing discrepancies with both ¥ Dedicated to highest professional sides. Giving the benefit of the doubt promotes trust and honest standards dealings. This kind of cliché-filling should be The Ubiquitous Résumé avoided. The flip side of presenting It seems that some of us never learn to put together an effec- yourself with such high qualities could tive résumé, despite all the how-to books and useful articles well be higher expectations set by your that have been published. Without delving into explanations on employer that you cannot meet. how to prepare a résumé for a successful interview, let me just point out some not-so-obvious facts: Continued on p. 24

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How to Interview Corporations for In-house Positions Continued

Spellcheck it! This cannot be over- Arizona-based job is a paltry sum if you have to move to the stressed. A single misspelling calls Boston area, for example. There are a number of salary calcula- unnecessary and negative attention to you tors on the Web you can use. Try this one: www.homefair.com/ and detracts from your qualifications. homefair/cmr/salcalc.html. During your phone or face-to-face interview, make indirect You, the Interviewer references to your knowledge of the company, but don’t show Almost every job interview carries off. Practice the questions you want to ask. with it a high degree of anxiety. Most of the time, we concern ourselves with Professional Commitment the questions we will be asked and How well qualified are you, really? Are you a very good forget about the ones we can pose. writer, or a mediocre one? Do you have trouble meeting Let’s analyze the latter aspect. some deadlines? Do you enjoy finishing what you start? One of the toughest questions I’ve How well do you get along with new software? Sure, your been asked in job interviews was prospective employer is looking for a top candidate, but “Why do you want to work for us?” make sure he or she knows that you are looking for an excel- That could well be filed along with the candidate, too. Your interview is like a first date. Probe perspiration-inducing “Why do you how committed they are to, say, training their translators, want to marry my daughter?” question, sending them to conferences, and providing them with the although without the dire conse- tools they need to achieve quality service. If you feel they quences, naturally. Your answer will will be just as happy with a bilingual person, drop them. tell your prospective boss your level of Unless you are a bilingual person. research, professional commitment, and personal interest. Personal Interest Surely the job ad looks attractive: the right job description, Research, Research the right salary package, the right kind of company. However, We translators have an interesting ask yourself: will you enjoy working for this company in par- geographic dilemma: we are very ticular? Is your prospective boss or manager enthusiastic about unlikely to find two comparable job working with translators or does it just seem like he’s out- opportunities in the same city. So we sourcing? Is the translation department well funded? Do they have to widen our horizons to include expect you to be creative and provide new ways to do things, the whole country...even other conti- or do they just want you to be an office worker? Your first tele- nents. This is a very good reason to phone interview should give you a general idea of the company deepen our research and get the hard and the job description, but only an on-site interview can let facts about the companies that offer you get a glimpse of what you are really getting yourself into. job opportunities out there. Caveat emptor: do not expect or request an on-site interview if There are some excellent Websites you are not interested from the start. that can make a short job out of tedious dry reading about a com- I got the appointment. Now what? pany’s performance, financial reports, Human resource departments and headhunters are having a or bios. Check out www.wetfeet.com/ very hard time filling in-house translation positions. If they asp/home.asp and www.vault.com/ think you can cut it by the way your résumé looks to them, they companies/searchcompanies.jsp for will e-mail or phone you. Consider these exchanges as a pre- information on companies of interest liminary interview of sorts. Perspective employers are gauging to you. your availability. Be prompt to reply, but don’t lead them on If you are considering relocating to any more than you want a prospective client to string you along another state or country for a job, for the ultimate nonexistent project. That means asking the remember to keep in mind the lower or right questions from the start, stating what you understand the higher cost of living. That $45,000 job to be like, and having the moral courage to reject an unsuit- salary package you are offered for an able prospect without burning any bridges.

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Give Honesty to Get Honesty in Return smile. Sure, you go to work to perform Some of you will be fortunate enough to juggle several inter- a function and not to flash your pearly views over a short period of time. You might be coming home whites. I am talking about attitude from Atlanta, , after a positive interview only to find a here. A place with smiley workers is phone message from a manager who has decided to give you an likely to be a happy place to work. on-site interview in San Francisco the following week, and you Take the time to stroll around the live in Miami! If you honestly feel that the San Francisco inter- offices. Be ready to be introduced to view can yield promising results, then go for it. Just do not accept other department members. At Interac- a job offer only to bail out of it because you got a better job offer. tive Intelligence, where I work, I was Your word must be your bond. Do not be afraid to make your impressed with my on-site interview. I prospective employer wait for a few days while you make up didn’t just get interviewed by my future your mind. If you need more time to decide between two or more manager, but also by other coworkers, job offers, say so, even if that means losing a job offer. totaling five different interviews over Sad story number 1. Months ago, our company was looking the course of that morning. I was sur- for a localization project manager. According to our custom, prised and pleased with their friendli- the team members who would work with the project manager ness and genuine attempts at making interviewed a certain promising candidate. She had so much me feel welcome. I appreciated the potential that she was offered the job. She accepted it. Days good taste in decor, the distinctive afterward, however, she backed out on account of a better job offer in California. Okay, so California has better weather than Continued on p. 26 Indiana, but she could have been honest and let us know that she was considering another good job offer. Contrary to instinct, telling a prospect that offered you a job that you are considering another job offer may well make you even more attractive to the first prospect. That’s supply and demand at work.

Use Good Judgment You got the appointment to see a project or division manager in San Francisco next at 10:00 in the morning. The company will make all airline and hotel plans for you. However, you still have a say in the scheduling of your trip. Make sure you arrive in the city at a reasonable time that will allow you to have plenty of rest before the interview. If you run into a flight can- cellation or delay, call your interviewer and reschedule. Looking haggard and jet-lagged for your interview will greatly diminish your chances of making a great impression.

The On-site Visit So you are flying to San Francisco next week for that promising interview. Maybe you’ll surprise them with your charisma and knowledge, even get them to take you out to lunch. Oh, yes, your main concern is a competitive salary package. Have you stopped to think about the carpet you are walking on, the location of the office building, or whether the receptionist smiles? Sounds trivial? I think not.

Smile, You are on Camera I wouldn’t want to work in a place where people seldom

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How to Interview Corporations for In-house Positions Continued

advantage of seeing individual offices contract-to-hire position. In the first case, you don’t want to pay and not cubicles, and the accommoda- for your own move unless you have already made plans to move tions chosen for me at a nearby hotel. to that particular location. In the latter, market conditions may On my flight home later that preclude a company from fulfilling its promise to hire you after weekend, I had decided to accept this your contract is up for renewal or expires. company as my next prospective Sad story number 2. In mid-1999, a certain high-tech employer, subject to a superior job offer, corporation started hiring dozens of translators to establish its of course. own localization department. From Swedish to Spanish, three or five translators per language pair were being added, myself Show Me the Money among them. It was a contract-for-hire scheme which would You must have read that it is wiser to work like this— after 12 months of contract work (paid by the wait for the interviewer to bring up the hour), we would be hired as permanent employees of the cor- subject of compensation, and not you. poration. The job was promising: the corporation had Always give a ballpark figure if pressed numerous localization projects of all sizes going on at any to mention an asking salary; that is, say given time. Four locations were established at local sites in $35,000 to $40,000, not $41,000 to Utah, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona, and some translators $43,000. You should come to the inter- paid for their own relocation costs, lured by the contract-for- view ready with numbers. How do you hire idea. get an idea of how much they are willing Hired in January 2000, I moved from Alabama to the Wash- to pay? Some companies post that infor- ington site. A few months later, the contracts of several col- mation in their ads, but most don’t. leagues were up for renewal or hire, but only three were hired Since it is very rude to ask directly for as permanent. We were told that the corporation had a monthly that information, you may want to hiring quota per department. We realized that my turn to get devote some hours of your time as part hired would be pushed back for several months. of your research to scour the Web ads for Then, it was time for a German colleague to get hired. He comparable salary numbers. had accepted the position with the understanding that the cor- The salary offered is just a guide- poration would facilitate an H-1 visa for him, according to line. You can always negotiate. If they what our manager had told him in the interview. Several bring up the issue of salary packages months afterwards, he made further inquiries into the visa sit- during the phone interview, courte- uation and upper management informed our manager that he ously sidestep questions such as “What could not have an H-1 visa because of the corporation’s policy is your asking salary?” or “What is of obtaining H-1 visas only for M.A. holders in computer sci- your hourly rate?” and instead request ence. Why didn’t our hiring manager tell my German friend information on relocation packages, that before hiring him? That’s called dishonesty. health benefits, housing allowances, By mid-2000, a good percentage of localization contractors gym membership, and so forth. You were “given” the choice of reverting to freelance status. Some should not go to an on-site interview quit. I was reverted to freelance status on July 5th, 2000. Later in with any company unless you have a the year, I saw one of my Spanish colleagues from the corpora- concrete idea of the salary package tion at the ATA conference and learned that the localization they are prepared to offer you. department had been virtually disbanded, with most of the Many corporations are seeking staff quitting. translators for one, three, or six-month stints. Naturally, they pay by the hour Thank you kindly, sir and offer no relocation package or ben- Please be gracious and send a thank-you note via e-mail or efits. In this case, factor in your health snail mail, regardless of your on-site experience. If you are dis- care premium and other costs in your satisfied with a relevant aspect of your interview, word it in asking hourly wage. Beware of compa- such a way that it is offset by the positive things you say about nies that offer a 12-month (or longer) them. A good writer will write a good argument: the pros and job with no relocation package or a cons. If you receive a job offer you cannot accept, say so and

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avoid beating around the bush. Again, honesty breeds honesty was someone else, very courteous, who and keeps doors open for you. encouraged me to apply. I decided to tell him about the problem I had with File It Under “Maybe next time” that manager back in 1995 in the most Let’s say you come from San Francisco and the interview direct yet diplomatic way. In reply, he didn’t go as you had hoped. Even worse, you get a form e-mail said that I was not fit to be considered telling you that your skills and their needs do not match at this for employment due to that issue. The point. If you toss that note to your recycle bin as quickly as you moral of this story? Always tell the read it, then you weren’t that interested in the company to truth, even if you seem to get the short begin with. end of the stick. You may have lost a If you did your homework before your interview, you good job opportunity, but you will should feel some pain and disappointment. Yes, you feel retain your integrity. slighted or underappreciated. No matter, turn the other cheek, send them a gracious thank-you note for their time, express Conclusion your ideas about their company (what you have learned from This is a great time to be employed your research and observation), and keep their file open for a as an in-house translator. You get a future occasion. You never know. number of advantages, monetary and Sometimes, the waiting period for another shot at that com- otherwise, plus the valuable benefit of pany does not yield any better results. Time for Sad Story improving your professional skills in a number 3. Back in 1995, I was contracted by a company in team environment. However, do not Denver, Colorado, for a three-month stint. Due to misunder- forget you are interviewing employers standings with a manager, I was sent home after only 10 days. as well. You are equally responsible for Fast forward to October 1999: after reading that the company the working environment you decide to was looking for a number of in-house translators for localiza- thrive in. tion, I decided to give it another shot. The manager in charge

Doing Your Part to Develop Professional Recognition Continued from p. 18 7,000 members who receive and (hopefully) read the Chron- We, as translation and interpreting icle. Some of these members are corporate members and/or professionals, are about to get our agency owners. If what you wrote is convincing and helpful, hard-earned recognition. Let’s take the next time a request for that type of translation is received, advantage of the global times that are the chances that you will be offered the job in that language are causing our profession to be growing huge. Trust me. It has happened to me. But that is not the only in numbers and visibility. When papers reason for sharing your knowledge. Earning the respect and like the New York Times dedicate their recognition of our peers is also important. Not to mention that valuable space to us, there is a good our colleagues also get large jobs that they might contact you reason. Let’s be even more visible and for help on. If nothing else, they will find out what your spe- continue to produce great work. That is cialty areas are. the only way we will finally get rid of Many friendships have started during large projects. It is the old belief that translation/inter- almost impossible to work for days (or months) with someone, preting is “only a hobby.” We know communicating in person (rarely), via phone, fax, or e-mail how hard we work. It is time to let the and not become close. Just watch the hugs during the profes- rest of the world find out from our own sional conferences when colleagues meet. It is also true that work and from ourselves. you find out who “the persons to avoid” are.

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An Editor’s Inside View of Publishing Spanish Textbooks

By Isabel Picado

extbook publishing is not for ensure that it is pedagogically sound and commercially viable. the faint-hearted. This is espe- Since the use of computers and word processing has become T cially true for textbooks used to the norm, the lines between writing, development, copyediting, teach Spanish—politics come into play and proofreading have blurred. Authors are expected to do at every stage of the game. With 22 more in less time and traditional development is kept to a min- Spanish-speaking countries, and the imum. The more profitable a book is expected to be, the more large and varied Spanish-speaking it might be developed. First-year texts have a larger market population in this country (the U.S. is share than second- and third-year texts. Therefore, more now the fourth-largest Spanish- resources are usually allocated to them. speaking country in the world), lin- Once a manuscript has been developed, the responsibility guistic battles can reach extraordinary of preparing it for production falls on a copyeditor, often a freelance contractor. If the manuscript has been developed thoroughly, the copyeditor’s job consists of correcting …when it comes to Spanish textbook grammar, , and punctuation, and styling for boldface, publishing, editor evokes thoughts of italic, and capitalization, and so forth. If the manuscript has not been developed thoroughly, the copyeditor may need to long involved hours, deadline check facts, resolve pending developmental issues, and pressures, endless revisions, and rewrite entire sections. disappointing linguistic compromises. There may be a native Spanish speaker employed as a reader to finalize the manuscript, especially if the authors are not native speakers of Spanish. This native reader reviews the proportions. The glamour and prestige manuscript for the correct application of grammar, checks cul- associated with the word editor may tural references, and renders the language more fluent and truly describe the work of some acceptable in the eyes of native speakers. This may happen editors—those in high-level positions before, simultaneously with, or after the copyediting. in the trade book (bestseller) divi- Once the manuscript is complete, it goes into production sion—but when it comes to Spanish for page design and layout. This results in a first pass of textbook publishing, editor evokes pages (before computers, these were considered galley thoughts of long involved hours, dead- proofs). They may include illustrations or provide empty line pressures, endless revisions, and spaces into which the illustrations will be placed, be they disappointing linguistic compromises. line art (drawings), photos, realia (newspaper and magazine A number of issues come into play clippings), simulated (computer-generated faux) realia, that adversely affect the development charts, or graphs. and production of a Spanish-language The final production stage is proofreading. The proofreader, text. It is my hope that this article will usually a freelancer, makes sure that all changes made to each bring to light those issues and how pass have been incorporated into each subsequent pass. He or they may shape the final product. she checks for spelling, punctuation, and style, and resolves other remaining issues such as layout. There may be several The Process of Creating a Text proofreading stages, the last ones often done by in-house edi- College textbooks are written by an tors in order to meet impending deadlines. author or team of authors who submit a A freelance project manager or coordinator may direct traffic manuscript to the publisher. In con- (the flow of manuscript, art, electronic files, invoices, etc.) if text trast, school texts are often conceptual- production is not being managed in-house. Freelance editors ized by an author team (which doesn’t tend to work alone, enjoying a degree of independence. write them) and created by a team of The ancillaries for Spanish textbooks—workbooks, lab writers hired by the publisher to put the manuals, listening program cassettes or CDs, videocassettes or authors’ concepts on paper. A develop- CD-ROMs, go through similar multistage revision processes, mental editor, often an in-house which vary in thoroughness depending on the profitability of employee, develops the manuscript to each ancillary.

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The Process of Selecting a Text ifornia guidelines. Just think of the College textbooks are usually selected by a team of profes- modern public school classroom with its sors for their particular institution. The selection of elemen- assortment of constituencies: the range tary and high school texts can be considerably different. In of ethnic groups, English-dominant some states, such as California and Texas (where the largest students of foreign-born parents, markets for school texts exist), programs are selected by Spanish-dominant Latinos, other for- school boards. Acceptance of a program by a school board can eign-language speakers who need entirely make or break the success of a program. For a pub- English as a , slow lisher, stakes become very high. learners, gifted children, and students In a state like Massachusetts, each school district selects its from different economic and religious own program. If one school doesn’t adopt a program, there are backgrounds. You have one very busy other sales options for a publisher. But if a publisher loses its teacher. (Someone once told me, but I bid for a program to be accepted on the list approved by boards have not been able to verify it, that in in Texas or California, it loses the entire state! Therefore, pub- California there are 90 different lan- lishers exert tight control over every aspect of the product to guages spoken at home by school stu- maximize its appeal to a large audience and minimize dents!) The teacher has to be many offending any imaginable constituency. Enter politics. This teachers at once, and school programs affects pedagogy (back to basics or progressive?), linguistics aim to make this very difficult role (Mexican, Cuban, or Puerto Rican Spanish?), and visuals (are easier by providing as much instruc- females in bathing suits on a beach in Puerto Rico too stimu- tional support as possible. lating for adolescents?). Taboos also include picturing items College books may be bilingual (the with caffeine, alcohol, and brand names. instructions to the teacher may be in English and the activities in Spanish), Challenges in Text Publishing but often school TEs are two complete and incredibly complex books in two Portraying Authentic Culture different languages. The school TE is A challenge for some school Spanish-language programs is comprised of multiple books within one the fact that they are derived from their English program equiv- large volume: first, the student book; alents. The best programs may contain large portions of original second, the instructions for the teacher Spanish-language materials. However, the overall approach, in English; third, the instructions for the methodology, and themes come from English-language teacher in Spanish. This is why most teaching practices. With the whole language teaching move- college instructors can simply read the ment, teaching reading became literature-based. This meant teacher’s preface to familiarize them- finding, selecting, and getting permission to reprint countless selves with a new textbook, while school numbers of stories published in foreign countries, a chal- teachers may form collaborative teams lenging task, especially when trying to find Spanish books to to help each other learn new programs. fit English themes. Employing Sufficient Resources Providing Enough Instructional Support Compared to an English program, a A college-level teacher’s edition of a text (TE) typically con- Spanish one has a very small market, but sists of the entire student text with a special preface for the in states like Texas and California, pub- teacher, margin annotations that include instructional tips and lishers cannot sell the former without the answer keys, and perhaps listening program transcripts. In con- latter. Miniscule market or not, the trast, the school TE is a huge volume. It typically includes a scope Spanish program is twice as complex as and sequence (a detailed contents outline), elaborate lesson plans, its English counterpart. It models not teaching tips, testing options, cross-curricular connections (activ- only the content but the design of the ities linked to science, social studies, math, art, etc.), and activi- English program, and presents instruc- ties designed to teach basic and advanced skills and to meet a myriad of requirements such as those stated in the Texas or Cal- Continued on p. 30

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An Editor’s Inside View of Publishing Spanish Textbooks Continued

tional support in two languages. Even respond faster to the changing needs of the publisher, and to though the Spanish program is twice as meet ever tighter deadlines. However, a project with a con- complex as the English program, it gets stantly shifting labor pool, added to the fact that the major deci- fewer resources and time for develop- sions that affect every stage of production are being made by ment due to its small market. That may the publisher, not the packager, makes for a very complex and be fine for the bottom line, but for the challenging, if not nightmarish, coordination effort. editors involved in producing Spanish texts, it often seems farcical and is Monitoring the Inequality of Language almost always nerve-wracking. English has evolved into a very compact, precise language. In contrast, Spanish has a much more unwieldy syntax. Spanish Managing the Volume of Work phonological rules require a combination of and conso- and Workers nant sounds that result in long words. On average, Spanish copy A college program may consist of may take 20 percent more space than English copy. Usually no one to three books per level encom- accommodations are made for this in text design. Perhaps a dif- passing grammar, culture, and the prac- ferent type size is used to squeeze the Spanish text into the tice of basic skills. Ancillaries will also allotted space. All too often though, with deadlines bearing be included in the program. The entire down on them, editors cut or rewrite text to make it fit. This curriculum will cover no more than results in an opportunity to introduce mistakes, including four years. School programs require at dropped copy—leaving out words, sentences, sometimes least one main text plus accompanying paragraphs—at a late date. Spanish hyphenation is a problem. ancillaries per grade level. Spanish pro- Art editors who don’t know Spanish may hyphenate words grams may be K-6 (kindergarten according to English rules, which are different through grade 6), K-8, or K-12, from those in Spanish. Since words in children’s books can vary requiring a series of seven, nine, or 13 in size, be set around text in a variety of designs, and use a great books, respectively. Producing this variety of fonts, syllabification is often poorly executed. volume of material requires editors to work in teams. A team leader is Coping with Time Pressures assigned to each level (grade) in the It is not uncommon for publishers to start the Spanish pro- editorial, art, and production depart- gram with a two- or three-month schedule delay. It is usually ments. Each editorial team has its launched before the English program is finalized. Every revi- assortment of translators, copyeditors, sion done during a late stage of the English program, however proofreaders, educational consultants, small, must then be applied to the Spanish, and numerous revi- permissions specialists, and so forth. sions crop up as the publisher starts reacting to the comments Many are freelancers, some working of reviewers (educators and teachers who are potential cus- in-house, others at home. Entire por- tomers selected to read the program). This generates a huge tions of the project may be handled out- paper trail and multiple versions of chapters, paragraphs, or side the publishing house by a total even such small segments as captions, sentences, or phrases. concept house (a group that develops Strong administrative skills are a must, particularly for the in- the book from beginning to end and house editor. Otherwise, it is impossible to keep track of the oversees production) or a packager latest approved version released to the production or art depart- (one that provides production only). ments. The volume of revisions may make for a frantic edito- These companies tend to be small, with rial pass, and the end product is often inferior to the English. a skeletal staff and a carefully guarded The result may appear to be a second-class product for a group database of freelancers. During big often treated as a second-class constituency. projects the numbers of both in-house and at-home freelancers swell consid- This Writer’s Pet Peeves erably and then shrink again when the The aforementioned are the main difficulties encountered in project is over. This allows packagers publishing Spanish-language texts. Now, I would like to men- to control overhead and labor costs, to tion a few of my own personal pet peeves.

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Books That Don’t Teach hair. One of the sections was called The typical American student may not have a strong back- “,” which ground in grammar, so approaches to grammar can be over- consisted of a bulleted list of Latin whelming to many students. For that reason I prefer the com- American dictators and coup d’états. municative approach to teaching Spanish. However, taken to Can you think of a less interesting pre- an extreme, this approach can become a rationale for omitting sentation for teenagers? Not to men- the teaching of grammar entirely. The phobia of presenting tion the stilted view it gives them of anything resembling difficult grammar leads to a fear of Latin American politics. demanding anything from students. These books can be short on practice with lots of open-ended activities. Everything has Puritanism to be fun, fun, fun, as though there were an entire population Aside from having a cultural aver- of students suffering from attention-deficit and hyperactivity sion to this phenomenon, I object to disorder. The approach collapses when students don’t have the the extra work created by it. One basics (vocabulary, grammar structures, phrases) to carry out example: Even though Latin America the activities. The burden then falls on the teacher to provide is predominantly Catholic, I’ve often practice, as the book does not support his or her efforts. The encountered art in children’s books in challenge for the editor is to make sure there is a balanced which a baby is shown in full splendor. combination of activities. Ideally, both grammar and commu- It’s a view in which the innocence of nicative practice is included, as well as student-centered activ- the baby is portrayed complete with ities in a variety of formats, from very controlled to minimally the baby’s genitalia and the breast of guided to open-ended. Without the whole package, books are the breast-feeding mom. In the U.S. ineffective. As an editor, one can do little to improve them. this type of art is taboo for fear that the book would offend conservatives and Design-driven Books not sell well. In order to avoid public Pedagogically sound books that use design to enhance their objection to the illustration, you must program are fine, but books that subordinate content to design get permission to delete the art, replace are frustrating. Regardless of the complexity of the point being it, or alter it by adding diapers to the introduced or practiced, an inflexible design may require a cer- baby if you decide to use it. Depending tain point to fit in a predetermined space. To accommodate the on the time available in the schedule, design, books may oversimplify important grammar points and this can be amusing or annoying to the skimp on practice. They have enough bells and whistles in permission editors who have to make icons, charts, bullets, and dingbats to dazzle many a classroom, the request to their incredulous Latin but the content has been drastically diluted and inadequately American counterparts. Aside from explained, to the detriment of the students. babies’ genitalia, breasts, and the cor- responding animal parts (sometimes Cultural Stereotypes cows’ udders have been eliminated), Many educators do not realize that Latin America has sex and alcohol fall victim to the evolved. Many huge problems remain, from dire poverty and censor’s eye (a problem in portraying overpopulation to environmental challenges, yet great strides authentic Spanish wine culture). In at have been made economically and politically. There are solar least one book no sugar was allowed ovens, New Age gurus, computers, the Internet, cellular (not nutritionally sound), except for phones, and a whole array of technological gadgets. Not birthday cakes (culturally appropriate). everyone in Latin America has access to this modern world, but it is no longer the sole domain of a privileged few. There is Linguistic Ethnocentrism a growing middle class with consumer power. Yet, not long At times, monolingual English ago, I edited a high school book that was full of cultural stereo- speakers make decisions about com- types. It reminded me of a 1950s sociological view of Latin plex linguistic issues, exhibiting a America as quaint banana republics where coup d’états are as common as siestas, toucans, and dark-eyed beauties with long Continued on p. 32

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An Editor’s Inside View of Publishing Spanish Textbooks Continued

tendency to believe and trust whoever speaking Spanish. Publishers sometimes disregard this point will tell them what they want to hear. due to the difficulty of finding qualified people. If compelled For example, the belief that it is appro- to hire the less-than-fluent Spanish speaker, publishers should priate Spanish to say Pida a los estudi- insure that the linguistic professionals with the appropriate cre- antes...instead of Pídales a los estudi- dentials make important linguistic decisions. antes...to express the phrase Ask the students.... The indirect object les takes Language Deterioration up extra space in a line, but every One of the most pernicious consequences of this state of Spanish grammar reference in the affairs is the presence of an impoverished Spanish language in world says that with the indirect object school texts. English-dominant editors, authors, and teachers you can omit the clarifying preposi- tend to favor Spanish that closely mirrors English structures tional phrase (a los estudiantes), but because it is easier for them. Due to a fear of the subjunctive, never the indirect object pronoun itself. incredibly awkward sentences appear that a native speaker (who At some point a publisher decided to was educated outside the U.S.) would never use. The imperfect listen to a mistaken individual, and subjunctive was labeled by at least one author as a colonialist since textbook publishing involves a Castilian structure or “High Spanish,” implicating that it is great deal of emulating other pub- unnecessary, pompous language. Perhaps some educators feel lishers’ textbooks, Pida a los estudi- threatened by uncommon (to their ears) forms, or they feel that it antes has become common. Tenses is too hard for students. It is true that English native speakers are may be incorrectly identified in sometimes better at judging the needs and abilities of students Spanish, such as using the term present because they also learned Spanish as a foreign language. But progressive. In Spanish we speak of here’s an opportunity for Spanish speakers in the U.S. to expand perífrasis verbales. their knowledge of and feeling for the language. Instead, they would like their regionally limited language to be considered an Hiring Practices appropriate standard for texts. Sometimes this is demanded in the The standards that apply to the name of political correctness, through accusations of discrimina- hiring of English editors differ from tion against native speakers raised in the United States. those that apply to the hiring of Spanish Perhaps Spanish in the U.S. will evolve into a separate editors. No one without strong writing, dialect. Language is free and is always evolving. If people use grammar, and spelling skills would be it to communicate successfully, it is legitimate. But if language accepted as an English editor. Yet, to be use causes confusion, we are not there yet. The U.S. dialect a Spanish editor sometimes all it takes means different things to different people, depending on how is to have a B.A., not necessarily in far removed they are from Spanish. Some are offended by the Spanish, and to speak Spanish. Pub- aforementioned Pida a los estudiantes, the uses of predecir lishers want editors with linguistic (predicting) and tormenta de ideas (brainstorming). Others skills, but accept the Spanish editor draw the line at la troca (a regionalism for truck) versus who is English-dominant. This could camión (a standard widely accepted term), te llamo para atrás be a native speaker of English or a His- (the literal translation of I’ll call you back) versus te vuelvo a panic who grew up in the U.S. and llamar (a standard idiomatic expression), or levanto (I lift) a speaks fluently but hasn’t had any mi niño de la escuela (my child from school) versus recojo (I formal training in the language. It’s not pick up) a mi niño de la escuela (my child from school). In my an obligation for born or opinion, while these battles are being played out, beautiful, raised in the U.S. to speak and write natural Spanish language is being turned into a stilted, convo- perfectly in Spanish. Very often the luted version of its original. TEs can be particularly offending. opportunity to learn how to do so just Not only are they nearly literal translations of English TEs, but doesn’t exist. However, if speaking English TEs tend to be highly formulaic to begin with due to English alone does not qualify pedagogical lingo and elaborate teaching methodologies. someone to be an English teacher or In spite of all the frustrations cited, editing Spanish text- editor, the same should hold true for books can be very rewarding. Maintaining contact with the

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language is important, both for English speakers who want to employ their Spanish skills, and for Spanish speakers who enjoy working in their own language. We can all be extremely parochial about our very own personal language and culture. Yet, linguistic challenges are a fantastic opportunity to deepen one’s knowledge of language. The same can be said of the opportunity to expand awareness of Spanish-speaking cultures. For me, the best part of my experience as an editor has been the colleagues I’ve met: Anglos, , and U.S. Hispanics, as well as people from other ethnic and cultural backgrounds. These individuals are often open-minded, multi- cultural people who have enriched my life and helped me over- come my own parochialism. For that reason alone I would rec- ommend an experience working in this field.

Modern Mentoring: What It Is and How to Do It Continued from p. 22 mentor, and because your other employees will sense favoritism. Instead, help your employees find formal mentors outside the chain of command or outside your organization (Phillips-Jones, 2000).

Take the challenge of becoming an effective mentoring partner. Continue to build your knowledge and skills so that you and your partners have outstanding learning experiences together.

References 1. Fisher, , and Ury, William. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Without Giving In. New York: Penguin Books, 1983.

2. Phillips-Jones, Linda. The New Mentors and Proteges: How to Succeed with the New Mentoring Partnerships. CCC/The Mentoring Group, 13560 Mesa Drive, Grass Valley, CA 95949, (530) 268-1146.

3. Phillips-Jones, Linda. What Every Manager Should Know about Mentoring: Your Three Mentoring Roles to Help Employees Excel. CCC/The Mentoring Group, 13560 Mesa Drive, Grass Valley, CA 95949.

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Overview of the U.S. and Brazilian Legal Systems: Concepts and Terminology

By Enéas Theodoro, Jr.

Note: The following is a summary of a Juzgo (by the Council of Toledo) in 654, the Edict of lecture given at the Portuguese Lan- (500), the Laws of Rothari (with the Lombard inva- guage Division 2001 Spring Meeting sion of Italy in the late 6th century), among others. All of these in Charleston, South Carolina. developments materialized as facsimiles of law, as in reality they represented a marriage of Roman ideas to local customs, i.e., a Historical Origins and Connections common law, not to be confused with what is presently known he wide rift separating the Amer- as such. ican and Brazilian legal systems From the 8th century on, as Europe sank into and then T is deeply rooted in their respec- slowly emerged from the Middle Ages, “competent” courts tive historical origins. The latter belongs became actual councils of prominent citizens, e.g., the Icelandic in the so-called Romano-Germanic Althing (much touted as an early form of democracy), the group of legal systems, which is funda- Anglo-Saxon Withan, among others. In any event, the idea of a mentally different from the so-called society based on individual rights was largely abandoned. At Anglo-Saxon legal system, from which the same time, Christianity began to take hold, and canon law the former is derived. appeared as a new and powerful influence in the history of law. The ideal of brotherly love according to St. Paul and St. Augus- tine indirectly instilled an element of Platonism into the legal …The wide rift separating the tradition of the time, along with procedural changes such as American and Brazilian legal systems is arbitration by spiritual leaders rather than by “pagan” tribunals. After the 13th century, Christianity became a major force to deeply rooted in their respective be reckoned with in the realm of law. According to the power historical origins… play of the era, the law was often looked upon as a “bad thing.” This was exemplified by the 16th-century German expression “Juristen, böse Christen” (jurists are bad ). A) The Romano-Germanic Family Throughout the same period, two exceptions stood out in of Legal Systems Europe: Islamic in the West and the Byzantine Empire in Although the Romans had a strong the East, the former having a theologically controlled legal sense of the law ever since the earliest system and the latter remaining a bastion of Roman law with days of their civilization, reflected in the many new developments. Jurists and law faculties gradually aphorism ubi societas, ibi ius (where began to articulate a legal system showing an uncanny flexibility there is a society, there is a law), it is to accept social and cultural changes, which later would become with the fall of the the main foundation of the Romano-Germanic family of law. around the 5th century A.D. that Roman With the advent of the , the studies of these jurisprudence (the “philosophy of law” jurists, blending with the ideas brought forth by the Fourth Lat- in Portuguese) as we know it begins. eran Council (which reflected the importance of the canon law), And it begins in earnest with Eastern led to the abandonment of the recourse to the supernatural (such Roman Emperor Justinian, whose name as trial by ordeal and throwing witches into the water to see if is forever attached to his famous Code, they would float [guilty] or sink [innocent]), opened the way to Digest, Institutes, and Novels, respec- rational procedure, and renewed an interest in the law. tively. These represented a codified Typical concepts of the Romano-Germanic legal systems body of laws, writings of jurists, princi- started to emerge, e.g., the division between private and public ples of jurisprudence, and new constitu- law, the classification of rights into personal and real (prop- tions, collectively known in Latin as erty) rights, and the notions of usufruct, fraud, usucapio (pre- “Corpus Iuris Civilis.” scription), mandate (law of agency), and contracting for ser- There were numerous other legal vices. enactments in what had previously These six centuries of codification and accumulation of comprised the Western Roman Empire: knowledge at universities culminated with the Age of Enlight- Alaric’s Breviary (Lex Romana Visig- enment and the French Revolution, the birth of legislation as othorum) was enacted in 506 A.D., the we know it, and the Age of Reason. As a consequence, local

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customs and the laws of the obscure past started losing their forth by the Allied forces in their importance and were often referred to as Ius Asininum deployment toward D-Day in World (jackass, or stupid, law). Napoleon ordered Cambacères, his War II, which shows how and why legal advisor, to draft a code. This code was developed by a failed. legion of jurists who based it on university studies carried out For nearly six centuries, Roman from the 12th century onward. Britain enjoyed great prosperity and the The Napoleonic Code has served as the basis for most Euro- social stability afforded by the rule of pean legal systems, the first of them being the French Civil Roman law, whose institutions and Code (1804), the Swiss Civil Code (1881), and the German organization were a fundamental ele- Civil Code (1896). The quest for law was pursued through ment in the fabric of Roman civiliza- legal principles common to all civilized nations, rather than tion. Meanwhile, on the other side of the through the subtleties of Roman law. and unprotected by its would be interested to know that Portugal’s Marquis waters, had to cope with a vast of Pombal was not just the political and administrative genius who empire that was increasingly difficult to rebuilt from its ashes after a great fire. He was also a legal manage, with powerful neighbors genius. Pursuing the quest for law in the spirit of the Age of gnawing at its borders. When the fall of Reason, he ordered studies conducted by the University of the Roman Empire came about with the that ultimately gave rise to the enactment of quite novel sack of its capital by Alaric and later by legislation. This included provisions stating that in the absence of Odoacer, it became impossible to keep any legislative text, a court must base its decisions not on the even a single Roman legion in England. common opinions of doctors (communis opinio doctorum), but on And as romanized Britons were left to “reason” (recta ratio, or boa razão in Portuguese and “good or their own devices, all manpower they proper reason” in English). This approach to the settlement of could muster to fight off Celtic tribes legal disputes was so radically new that only a few Italian states on their own borders proved insuffi- followed suit. Otherwise, it was scorned by all European univer- cient. Their plight and exploits live on sities. Nowadays, this is a common practice in many legal sys- as the Arthurian legends—“King” tems, and the American courts, which belong to a totally different Arthur (probably a romanized British legal system, have been adopting it for more than a century. nobleman) and the Knights of the Round The Brazilian legal system is based on all these European Table—that were, until recently, thought developments, and its codes have drawn strongly on French to belong in the late Middle Ages. law (civil code), Italian law (criminal code), and German law From the 6th century onward, Eng- (commercial code). land was under Germanic and Scandi- navian (Anglo-Saxon) rule, and Roman B) English Law and the Anglo-Saxon Legal System law all but disappeared. As on the con- A pre-history of English law is represented chiefly by the tinent, local customs prevailed and a Celtic traditions that prevailed in the British Isles before most of period of true “customary law” began, England and part of Scotland became a part of the Roman undisturbed until the next invader Empire. Druids, who were not just priests and wise men, but also came knocking. exerted a powerful influence in Celtic society, in a way, dispensed With an infinitely smaller and infe- the law and settled disputes jointly with local chieftains. rior army, William the Conqueror fol- The history per se of the English legal tradition began when lowed in Claudius’ historical footsteps Caesar cast his power-hungry glance toward the riches across and, in 1066 A.D., became the second the English Channel. Having conquered Gaul and become and last person ever to successfully immensely wealthy and powerful in Rome, he tried and failed invade England. A shrewd administrator, to gain a foothold in England in 55 B.C., conveniently reporting he expressly maintained Anglo-Saxon back to the Roman Senate that he had decided it was not worth law, but made sure to centralize and the effort. However, in 43 A.D., Claudius successfully invaded enforce its administration throughout his England with a massive army. His logistics and preparations could be likened, proportionately speaking, to the efforts put Continued on p. 36

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Overview of the U.S. and Brazilian Legal Systems: Concepts and Terminology Continued

new kingdom. This is why such law The Legal Systems of Brazil and the United States became known as “common law.” What is law? De Plácido e defines it as “(...) an Norman rule drastically changed organic complex from which all norms and obligations are English society. Taxation and revenues derived in order to be complied with (...), comprising a set of were a main concern, and the compila- duties from which no one can escape without becoming sub- tion of the Domesday Book in 1086 ject to the coercive action of organized social forces. (...) a phe- bears this out. A true census, it reported nomenon of social order and, therefore, in any sense, a general every taxable property and citizen in rule imposed by society for the sake of society’s very order and England down to the most incredibly balance of interests.” minute detail, such as number of family The fact that such statements smack of written rules and members, number and types of animals, organized legislation is no coincidence. The Brazilian legal buildings, and land size. system belongs squarely in the realm of codified law. Such a centralized government was For its turn, the American legal system relegates enacted leg- keen on maintaining harmony and dis- islation to a subsidiary position, and relies instead on the dis- pensing common and “equal” treatment pensation of justice through custom, equity, and—hence—the upon its subjects. Uniform application rulings of the courts in the course of time. Here are some defin- of the law was its foremost interest, so itions of law found in Black’s Law Dictionary: “(the idea of law that local customs began to lose their represents)... statutory and constitutional enactments, as inter- importance. Slowly, “customary law” preted by the courts, and, in the absence of statute law [enacted lost favor to “common law.” legislation], (...) rulings of the courts. (...) Word ‘law’ generally “That which we call a rose...” by contemplates both statutory and case law [former court deci- any other name would reek of a bloody sions].” These definitions are much closer to custom, precedent, war. In 1485, the War of the Roses led and equitable principles than they are to enacted legislation. to profound changes in England not only from a historical, but also from a A) Sources of the Law legal standpoint. The white rose of the Where does the law come from? To Brazilian jurists, it House of York prevailed over the red comes from: 1) enacted legislation (legislação), 2) case law rose of Lancaster through (jurisprudência), and 3) the writings of jurists or legal scholars Tudor, who started a dynasty bent on (doutrina). Enacted legislation, however, so prevails over the an even greater centralization of gov- other two sources of the law (fontes do direito) that they pale ernment and on absolutism. before it in importance. The Tudors’ centralizing efforts led If posed to American jurists, this seems a rather odd question. to the development of “rules of equity,” Of course, it must be derived from legal precedents, from case which are still a key element of both law, as exemplified by the ubiquitous So-and-So vs. So-and-So. English and American law. Equitable Hence, the sources of the law in the American legal system are: treatment of English subjects was 1) case law, 2) statutory law (enacted legislation), and 3) the placed in the hands of the so-called opinions of jurists, which are basically immaterial except at leg- courts of chancery, also known as islative sessions, judiciary committees, hearings, and so forth. equity courts. The office of was created to supervise these courts, B) Recent Developments which supplemented and frequently As anyone who follows the ongoing debate over judiciary superseded the Courts of Westminster, reform (whether in Brazil or the U.S.) knows, the law and the jus- also known as common law courts. tice system are not easily changed. The institutions created by To this day, the idea of a common them tend to become strongly crystallized, and it takes increas- law and the principles of equity per- ingly greater pressure and more heat from society for their com- vade the Anglo-Saxon family of legal ponent parts to be rearranged and renewed. systems, which comprise the legal More practical and less idealistic pressure comes from the framework of the U.S., U.K., Canada, enormous caseload that plagues both legal systems, with huge Australia, and many other countries. backlogs and delays in hearing cases. In Brazil, where this

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Table 1 problem is much worse than in the U.S., the observance of binding precedents is Brazilian Legal System American Legal System no longer seen as such a radical idea. petição inicial in civil procedure: complaint. Brazilian lawyers have always relied on in equity practice: declaration. previous rulings by the higher courts to contestação in civil procedure: answer. sway a judge’s opinions and findings in in equity practice: plea. their favor. But nowadays, the decisions réplica in civil procedure: brief of Brazil’s highest courts, the Federal (plaintiff’s response). (Supremo Tribunal in equity practice: replication. Federal—STF) and the Superior Court tréplica in civil procedure: brief of Justice (Superior Tribunal de Justiça— (defendant’s response). STJ), have much greater weight in the in equity practice: rejoinder. form of the “súmula vinculante” competência (competent) jurisdiction (binding precedent). juízo competente court of (competent) jurisdiction Brazilian and (continental) Euro- pean jurisprudence has also embraced exceção de incompetência plea for change of venue the notion of teleology for the settle- prorrogação de competência extended jurisdiction ment of legal cases. This means that polo ativo co-plaintiffs what matters is a speculative study of polo passivo co-defendants cause, of the essence, extent, or pur- litisconsórcio joinder of parties pose of legal rules. Do the ideas of the litisconsórcio ativo joinder of (or joined) plaintiffs Marquis of Pombal and “good reason,” and a long-standing practice of the litisconsórcio passivo joinder of (or joined) defendants American courts, ring any bells? litisconsórcio necessário necessary joinder of parties Another important late development litisconsórcio facultativo permissive joinder of parties in the Brazilian legal system is the citação summons or process increasingly frequent citation, in proce- interpelação citation dural matters, of the “princípio de isonomia.” Such principle translates— intimação notice from Greek iso + nomos into Por- autos court files; case records; tuguese and many other languages, proceedings including English—as nothing less than autuação filing; entry on record equality of rights, customs, laws, or tutela/amparo jurisprudencial relief privileges. Does equity ring any bells? tutela cautelar injunctive relief As for the U.S., in 1875, Congress ação cautelar injunction (injunctive action) authorized a revisor to draft “The Revised Statutes,” which turned out to be a single liminar preliminary injunction volume of codified legal provisions. This súmula/ementa abstract of record became the United States Code—a transigência; transação compromise compendium of many tomes which interpretação/hermenêutica/ construction became immensely important in the escólio(s) American legal system—in 1926. pena convencional contractual penalty The Federal Rules of Civil Proce- tradição delivery; transfer of possession dure, promulgated in 1938 by the Supreme Court with a mandate from libelo pleading Congress, represent an even greater pacto comissório forfeiture agreement (codifying) development in the United legislação extravagante maverick legislation Continued on p. 64

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Mixing Science and Art: Is it possible to develop a single FACIT translation for both Portugal and Brazil?

By Benjamin J. Arnold

The FACIT Measurement System Current and ongoing research with the FACIT questionnaires he Functional Assessment of includes several projects designed to evaluate cross-cultural Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) equivalence, cross-instrument equivalence, clinical signifi- TMeasurement System is a collec- cance, and multicultural instrument development. tion of health-related quality of life (QOL) questionnaires designed to The FACIT Multilingual Translation Project measure chronic illness. The measure- The FACIT Multilingual Translation Project works to adapt ment system, since its inception in the FACIT questionnaires to other languages for use in 1987, began with the creation of a research and clinical trials worldwide. This project has devel- generic core questionnaire called the oped an innovative iterative translation methodology (forward, Functional Assessment of Cancer backward, and multiple review) to ensure equivalence among Therapy—General (FACT-G). The the various language versions of the FACIT questionnaires FACT-G (now Version 4) is a 27-item (Ref. 1). This article presents an overview of our general trans- lation process and, more specifically, the methods used to obtain a Portuguese version of these quality of life question- …QOL questionnaires have become naires that is cross-culturally suitable for Portuguese-speaking populations in both Europe and South America. exceedingly important as the need Quality of Life questionnaires have become exceedingly for tools to assess patients’ QOL in important as the need for tools to assess patients’ QOL in multinational clinical trials has steadily multinational clinical trials has steadily increased. They are used to measure the change of a patient’s perception of QOL increased… and, therefore, combined with clinical data, the efficacy and value of treatment. The existence of one language-specific (Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, etc.) as opposed to compilation of general questions cap- country-specific (e.g., one version for Brazil and one for Por- turing four primary QOL domains: tugal) questionnaire greatly reduces the cost and time it takes physical well-being, social/family to carry out the translation process, and also facilitates QOL well-being, emotional well-being, and comparisons across countries that speak the same language. functional well-being. In addition to the general questionnaire, there are Translation Methodology also about 25 disease- or condition- There are currently 11 FACIT scales available in Portuguese, specific subscales available. These ranging from questionnaires evaluating lung cancer (FACT-L) subscales are used to evaluate the QOL to questionnaires which evaluate a patient’s spiritual well-being of patients suffering from illnesses (FACIT-Sp), all of which have been tested and validated in both ranging from lung or breast cancer to Portugal and Brazil. All were translated according to our very HIV infection and multiple sclerosis. rigorous FACIT translation methodology. We started with two Currently, the FACIT question- independent forward translations by native speakers into the naires are used in Phase II and III clin- target language. For all Portuguese-language translations, we ical trials and other cancer-related required one forward from Portugal and one from Brazil. Next, treatment evaluations, as an interven- we reconciled the two translations: we had a third independent tion tool in the clinical management of native speaker choose the best translation of the two or, if nec- symptoms (both physical and psycho- essary, provide an alternative. This step can be performed by logical), and as an outcomes measure someone from either Portugal or Brazil, but has most often in health practice self studies. Equiva- been carried out by a native who has lent foreign-language versions of the been living in Brazil for over 10 years. The third step was to FACIT questionnaires are now avail- have the reconciled version back-translated into English to able in over 40 different languages, assure content and semantic equivalence. This was done by a permitting cross-cultural comparisons native English speaker fluent in Portuguese. The fourth step of people from diverse backgrounds. was to have the complete item history—all translations, the

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Table 1

Start: Source document (English version) Step 1 Forward translation (native language speaker Brazil): English Portuguese Forward translation (native language speaker Portugal): English Portuguese Result: Two independent forward translations Step 2 Reconciliation of forward translation (native language speaker not involved in forward translation process) Result: Reconciled version Step 3 Back-translation of reconciled version (native English speaker): Portuguese English Result: Back-translation into English to compare to source document. Any necessary comments from the FACIT team are added into the item history for consideration in the next step. Step 4 Review by four bilingual native speakers (two from Brazil and two from Portugal). Result: Revised language versions based on reconciliation of discrepancies among source document (Step 2 forward translation, and Step 3 back translation). A final translation is derived from this. Step 5 Spelling and grammatical verification Result: Revised language documents ready for pretesting in native countries Step 6 Pretesting (At least 15 patients in Brazil and 15 in Portugal) Result: Empirical evaluation of translation/patient feedback

Table 2

English I feel independent. Step 1 Forward 1 Eu me sinto independente. Forward 2 Sinto-me independente. Step 2 Reconciliation Eu me sinto independente/Sinto-me independente. Step 3 Back-Translation I feel independent. (Prefer second translation) CORE Comments The second suggestion by REC is more consistent with the wording we have used in the past. Step 4 Review 1 I agree with CORE note. Sinto-me independente—I feel independent. Review 2 Either one is OK, “Eu me sinto independente” or “Sinto-me independente.” It is per- fectly fine to say “Eu me sinto independente,” however, for consistency we are trying to leave out the pronoun “eu.” In Portuguese it is incorrect to start a phrase with pro- nouns such as “me,” although this form it is widely used in verbal, everyday language (“Me sinto independente”). So, for consistency we may want to choose “Sinto-me independente,” although both options presented by REC are correct. Review 3 Fwd 2 is my choice. Review 4 The second suggestion is better, “Sinto-me independente.” Final (REC) Sinto-me independente.

reconciliation, and the back-translation—reviewed by four translations with patients in both coun- independent native speakers. In the case of Portuguese, two tries in order to finalize the documents, were from Brazil and two were from Portugal. After the trans- lation was finalized and proofread, we pretested the Continued on p. 40

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Mixing Science and Art Continued

thus readying them for independent the ear or eye of either side. Therefore, we elected to use the research or clinical trials (Ref. 2). more Brazilian version because most are This process (see Table 1 on page 39) familiar with Brazilian Portuguese while familiarity with is detailed in what we call an Item His- European Portuguese is not as common in Brazil. Although tory. The Item History is simply the tool patients in Portugal did comment that this sounded like we use to keep track of all the transla- Brazilian Portuguese, it was clearly understood in all cases and tions, comments, and suggestions. therefore not problematic. Without this tool it would be nearly There are also some spelling differences which have to be impossible to finalize a translation. Table dealt with each time we do a translation for use in both Portugal 2 on page 39 is an example. and Brazil. European Portuguese tends to add a letter in certain situations and occasionally also lacks orthographic symbols One Unified Portuguese Version used in Brazil. For example, European spelling changes the cir- Developing one version to be used cumflex accent to acute. In Brazil they write “abdômen,” while in both Portugal and Brazil is quite in Portugal they write “abdómen.” In many cases, these differ- challenging. The fact that the transla- ences do represent pronunciation differences, but are not sig- tion team is equally balanced with rep- nificant enough to disrupt someone’s overall comprehension of resentation from both countries is not a written questionnaire. After all, natives of the U.S. do not even always sufficient. Reconciling Euro- blink an eye when we encounter the British spelling of a word pean Portuguese and Brazilian Por- (honour, realise, etc). In many cases, we do not even notice. We tuguese requires much thought, com- can also statistically show that these differences do not influ- promise, and, at times, a good old- ence the psychometric properties of the questionnaire in any fashioned dose of pride swallowing. It way. When possible, we do try to avoid using the problematic also relies on translators who are word in favor of a synonym. One example of this is in the Eng- willing to see beyond their regional lish item “I feel a sense of purpose in my life.” We were able to dialect to produce a less colloquial but narrow this down to either “Sinto que a minha vida tem um more generally understandable version. propósito,”“Sinto que a minha vida tem um sentido,” or “Sinto One of the biggest problems to que a minha vida tem um objetivo.” There are nuances present overcome is grammatical difference in the meanings of all three choices, but the overall meaning is between the two countries. For basically the same. The reviewers did not like the word “sen- example, the grammatical structure of tido” and were split between “objetivo” and “propósito.” In the present progressive verb tense dif- Portugal the word “objetivo” is spelled with the letter c (objec- fers between Portugal and Brazil. One tivo), making “propósito” an easy choice. of our items is “I am losing weight.” A In some cases, there is no appropriate synonym. This was European Portuguese translation the case with the Portuguese translation for the English word would render “Estou a perder peso,” “activity.” In Portugal, the translation for this word is “activi- while a Brazilian Portuguese transla- dade,” while in Brazil it is “atividade,” again without the letter tion comes out as “Estou perdendo “c.” Lacking a good synonym for this word, we decided to use peso.” There was much discussion a hybrid of both—“a(c)tividade.” Feedback on this choice has about this item at the review stage. The been split, but most think that it is a step in the right direction. more colloquial verb “baixar,” literally Although it might not look natural to patients in either country, translated as “to lower,” was sug- it has been largely accepted and understood. It certainly is gested, but this didn’t solve our verb more efficient and serves our purpose better than having two tense problem. It merely changed the different questionnaires. actual verb, which would still have to Another issue is the use of articles in European Portuguese, be conjugated in the present progres- which are not necessary in Brazil. An instance of this appeared sive tense. Another suggestion was the when translating the English sentence “I can digest my food use of the simple , “Perco well.” The Brazilian reviewers endorsed “Consigo digerir bem peso.” Although this construction was meus alimentos.” The Portuguese also favored this translation, country-neutral, it was not pleasing to but insisted on the insertion of the article. Thus, the translation

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was finalized as, “Consigo digerir bem os meus alimentos.” In Andrich’s rating scale model, in order most cases, we lean toward including the articles because it is to confirm what the patient and inter- more incorrect in Portugal to leave them out, while they are viewers had been telling us and to pin- superfluous in Brazil, but it is not incorrect to use them. point the exact problem. It was from these analyses that we were able to Identifying Potential Problems determine that our Portuguese rating So how do we know that our translation is really working? scale did not represent equal intervals. Answering this question is essential to establish the psycho- This problem was especially evident metric properties of our questionnaires. Our English question- on the higher end of the scale: “quite a naires are validated through recognized methods from health bit” and “very much.” These two psychology, including reliability analysis, retest reliability, and response categories were actually out sensitivity to change over time, so we know they are measuring of order and did not represent equal what we want them to be measuring. But how can we be sure intervals. When the response cate- that our translations are measuring equivalent to the English, gories are put on a line, they should be thus allowing us to pool data together from different countries equally spread out. That is, there in the same clinical trial? This process starts with the final step should be the same distance between of the translation process, known as pretesting. “not at all” and “a little bit” as there is Pretesting allows us to empirically evaluate our translations. between “a little bit” and “somewhat,” We send the translated questionnaire to the target country and so forth. This was not the case for where it is administered to a minimum of 15 patients, all of the two higher response categories. To whom have the specific condition to which the questionnaire remedy this situation we designed a applies. In the case of Portuguese, we target a minimum of 15 study to probe the respondents’ inter- Brazilian patients and 15 Portuguese patients. Testing can take pretation of the meaning of the items; a from one to six months, and after the data are returned we per- process called cognitive debriefing in form statistical analysis on them. We can tell whether the trans- both Portugal and Brazil. lated questionnaire performed as expected by evaluating A draft survey was done in an effort internal consistency using Cronbach’s Alpha. We can also tell to brainstorm 15 possible rating scale whether the questionnaire performed the same way in both alternatives in Portuguese. Portuguese- countries using item response theory, which compares item by speaking translators and other collabo- item to see if any item functions differently in the two data rators were asked to come up with sets. some translations for the English Aside from statistical analysis, we also get feedback answer categories. The final list of 15 directly from the respondents and the interviewers when was compiled and, using -sort applicable. We always ask the patients if there were any items methodology, 30 people per country (a which were difficult to understand or offensive to them. This total of 60 people) put the alternatives commentary carries as much weight as the statistical analysis. in order of intensity based on their own Combined, they indicate which translations need to be modi- opinion. Each participant was given a fied before a translation can be called final. stack of stickers and was asked to affix them onto a vertical scale going from Preventing Potential Problems 0-10—“0” being the least intense and Through a combination of the processes mentioned above, “10” being the most intense. They we were able to identify a potential problem with our five- were also asked to give feedback and point Likert-type rating scale in Portuguese. In English the comment on the alternatives. They scale is: “not at all,”“a little bit,”“somewhat,”“quite a bit,” were given the opportunity to say if and “very much.” Our Portuguese counterpart was: “nem um any of the alternatives were equivalent, pouco,”“um pouco,”“mais ou menos,”“bastante,” and and if so, which they would prefer. “muito.” After compiling feedback from Brazilian and Por- These comments enlightened us as to tuguese patients and interviewers, we decided to apply more sophisticated analyses to the answer categories, using Continued on p. 61

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The SI Briefly (Re)visited

By Paulo Roberto Lopes

cientists and engineers use two nature. In fact, this is just a non-exhaustive review of some major systems of units and mea- aspects of the SI which, in our opinion, should be of interest S surements, commonly referred to translators. The full version of the International System of to as the U.S. Customary System (a Units, whose printed form is called the SI Brochure, can be legacy from the British Imperial found in both English and French versions at System) and the International System www.bipm.fr/enus/6_Publications/si/si-brochure.html. A con- of Units. Technical translators, in turn, densed version with comments and examples by the U.S. have to cope with both systems in their National Institute of Standards and Technology, called the daily lives, and may sometimes find Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI) themselves in a quandary about their [NIST Special Publication 811, 1995 edition], is also avail- correct usage. Our objective here is to able at www.nist.gov. Many examples were taken from both pinpoint some aspects of the Interna- publications. tional System of Units, abbreviated in all languages as SI (from Système The Two Classes of SI Units International d’Unités). SI units are divided into two classes: base units and derived units. Quoting from the SI Brochure:

…Our objective here is to pinpoint “From the scientific point of view, the division of SI units some aspects of the International into these two classes is to a certain extent arbitrary, because it is not essential to the physics of the subject. Nevertheless, System of Units, abbreviated in all the CGPM [Conférence Générale des Poids et Mesures], languages as SI… considering the advantages of a single, practical, worldwide system of units for international relations, for teaching, and for scientific work, decided to base the International System In the U.S. Customary System, units on a choice of seven well-defined units which by convention referring to the same quantity bear an are regarded as dimensionally independent: the meter, the almost random relationship. For kilogram, the second, the ampere, the kelvin, the mole, and example, a mile has 1,609 yards, a yard the candela. These SI units are called base units. has 3 feet, a foot has 12 , and so forth. In the SI, the relationships The second class of SI units is that of derived units. These are between the units are strictly decimal units that are formed as products of the powers of the base (one kilometer has 1,000 meters, one units according to the algebraic relations linking the quanti- meter has 1,000 millimeters, and so on). ties concerned. The names and symbols of some of the units For the sake of historical curiosity, thus formed may be replaced by special names and symbols the Decimal Metric System was created that can themselves be used to form expressions and symbols at the time of the French Revolution. for other derived units. The SI units of these two classes form Subsequently, on June 22, 1799, two a coherent set of units, where coherent is used in the spe- platinum standards representing the cialist sense of a system whose units are mutually related by meter and the kilogram were deposited rules of multiplication and division with no numerical factor in the Archives de la République in other than 1. Following CIPM [Comité International des Paris. This was considered the first step Poids et Mesures] Recommendation 1 (1969; PV, 37, 30-31 in the development of the present Inter- and Metrologia, 1970, 6, 66), the units of this coherent set of national System of Units. units are designated by the name SI units.” Since this is not an engineering treatise but rather a modest attempt to Please do not get discouraged by the verboseness of the highlight some of the problems often paragraphs above. They were included just as a “formal ice- encountered by translators, our breaker” for our discussion. approach will be more of a visual (i.e., Due to their widespread use among scientists, a number of typographical or “spatial,” if you will) units are still permitted in conjunction with SI units. For

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example, gauss, barn, curie, and the electron volt. However, Table 2: Examples of SI derived units expressed in terms their usage might be phased out. of SI base units

SI Derived Units with Special Names and Symbols SI derived unit Certain SI derived units have special names and symbols. Derived quantity Name Symbol These are given in Table 3, which also includes the radian and area square meter m2 volume cubic meter m3 Continued on p. 44 speed, velocity meter per second m/s acceleration meter per second squared m/s2 Table 1: SI Base Units wave number reciprocal meter m-1 3 SI base unit mass density (density) kilogram per cubic meter kg/m Base quantity Name Symbol specific volume cubic meter per kilogram m3/kg length meter m current density ampere per square meter A/m2 mass kilogram kg magnetic field strength ampere per meter A/m time second s amount-of-substance electric current ampere A thermodynamic temperature kelvin K concentration amount of substance mole mol (concentration) mole per cubic meter mol/m3 luminous intensity candela cd luminance candela per square meter cd/m2

Table 3: SI derived units with special names and symbols, including the radian and steradian

SI derived unit Special symbol in terms Special symbol in terms Derived quantity Special name Special symbol of other SI units of SI base units

plane angle radian rad m · m-1 = 1 solid angle steradian sr m2 · m-2 = 1 frequency hertz Hz s-1 force newton N m · kg · s-2 pressure, pascal Pa N/m2 m-1 · kg · s-2 energy, work, quantity of heat joule J N · mm2 · kg · s-2 power, radiant flux watt W J/s m2 · kg · s-3 electric charge, quantity coulomb C s · A of electricity electric potential, potential volt V W/A m2 · kg · s-3 · A-1 difference, electromotive force capacitance farad F C/V m-2 · kg-1 · s4 · A2 electric resistance ohm V V/A m2 · kg · s-3 · A-2 electric conductance siemens S A/V m-2 · kg-1 · s3 · A2 magnetic flux weber Wb V · sm2 · kg · s-2 · A-1 magnetic flux density tesla T Wb/m2 kg · s-2 · A-1 inductance henry H Wb/A m2 · kg · s-2 · A-2 Celsius temperature degree Celsius ˚CK luminous flux lumen lm cd · sr m2 · m-2 · cd = cd illuminance lux lx lm/m2 m-2 · cd

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The SI Briefly (Re)visited Continued

Table 4: SI prefixes

Factor Prefix Symbol Factor Prefix Symbol 1024 = (103)8 yotta 10-1 deci d 1021 = (103)7 zetta 10-2 centi c 1018 = (103)6 exa E 10-3 = (103)-1 milli m 1015 = (103)5 peta P 10-6 = (103)-2 micro µ 1012 = (103)4 tera T 10-9 = (103)-3 nano n 109 = (103)3 giga G 10-12 = (103)-4 pico p 106 = (103)2 mega M 10-15 = (103)-5 femto f 103 = (103)1 kilo k 10-18 = (103)-6 atto a 102 hecto h 10-21 = (103)-7 zepto z 101 deka da 10-24 = (103)-8 yocto y

steradian, the two so-called supple- Example: 10-6 kg = 1 mg (1 milligram) mentary units. but not: 1 µkg (1 microkilogram). The main purpose of our having included most of these nasty little lists Alternative definitions for the SI prefixes and their symbols is to get the novice translator acquainted are not allowed. Therefore, in spite of their widespread use, par- with the names of some units which ticularly in computer jargon, it is unacceptable to use kilo (k) to may not be in his or her “daily menu.” represent 210 = 1024, mega (M) to represent 220 = 1 048 576, and so on. Hence, one kbyte should theoretically represent 1,000 Decimal Multiples and Submultiples bytes, which is NOT what the whole computer industry uses. of SI units Tough luck! For wannabe translators—and even interpreters—not to be caught off Table 5: Units accepted for use with the SI guard, here is a list of some increasingly common prefixes used as (sub)multi- Name Symbol Value in SI units ples of SI units which deserve due minute min 1 min = 60 s respect, since they keep cropping up in hour h 1 h = 60 min = 3600 s current texts and conferences. day d 1 d = 24 h = 86 400 s Please note that only the symbols for degree (angle) ˚ 1˚ = (π/180) rad the prefixes equal to or greater than 106 are π capitalized (shown in bold on Table 4), minute (angle) ' 1' = (1/60)˚ = ( /10 800) rad π which means that one should never write second (angle) " 1" = (1/60)' = ( /648 000) rad such things as KW (for kilowatts), Km liter l, L (*) 1 L = 1 dm3 = 10-3 m3 (for kilometer), but rather kW, km, and so tonne (**) T 1 t = 103 kg on. As to the capitalization of kW, refer to Details to be Observed on page 45. For historical reasons, the unit of * The alternative symbol for the liter, L, was adopted by the CGPM mass (kilogram) is the only base unit in order to avoid the risk of confusion between the letter l and whose name contains a prefix. Names the number 1. Thus, although both l and L are internationally and symbols for decimal multiples and accepted symbols for the liter, to avoid confusion the symbol to submultiples of the unit of mass are be used in the U.S. is L. The script letter l is not an approved symbol for the liter. formed by attaching prefix names to ** In the U.S. and some English-speaking countries, it is referred to the unit name “gram” and prefix sym- as the “metric ton.” bols to the unit symbol “g.”

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OK, enough of tables and numbers. From now on we will Plurals try to concentrate on the aspects that matter most for transla- Unit symbols do not change in the tors: how to write them accurately. plural.

Units Not Accepted for Use with the SI Example: l = 24 cm Just for the record, the following CGS units (with their sym- but not: l = 24 cms bols) are not accepted as SI units (italicized for clarity rea- sons): erg (erg); dyne (dyn); poise (P); stokes (St); gauss (Gs); Note: l is the quantity symbol for length. oersted (Oe); maxwell (Mx); stilb (sb); phot (ph); fermi (fermi); metric carat (metric carat); torr (Torr); standard Punctuation atmosphere (atm); kilogram-force (kgf); micron (µ); calorie Unit symbols are not followed by a γ (calth) (thermochemical); unit (xu); stere (st); gamma ( ), period unless at the end of a sentence. gamma (mass) (γ), lambda (volume) (λ). The fact that they are not accepted does not mean they are not found. It means one Example: “Its length is 75 cm.” or should try not to use them in scientific or technical papers. “It is 75 cm long.” but not: “It is 75 cm. long.” DETAILS TO BE OBSERVED Typeface Unit Symbols Obtained by Unit symbols are printed in roman (upright) type regardless Multiplication of the type used in the surrounding text, and are attached to Half-high (that is, vertically cen- unit symbols without a space between the prefix symbol and tered) dots or spaces are used to the unit symbol. This last rule also applies to prefixes attached express a derived unit formed from two to unit names. or more other units by multiplication.

Examples: mL (milliliter), pm (picometer), GΩ (gigaohm), Example: N á m or N m THz (terahertz). The half-high dot or space can be Thus, assuming a whole sentence is italicized, one should imperative. For example, m á s-1 is the write “We must add only 20 mL to the blank sample.” Note that symbol for the meter per second “mL” is not in italics. (velocity) while ms-1 is the symbol for the reciprocal millisecond (103 s-1). Capitalization Unit symbols are printed in lowercase letters except that: Percent, % When using the % symbol, leave a (a) the symbol or the first letter of the symbol is an uppercase space between the % symbol and the letter when the name of the unit is derived from the name of number by which it is multiplied. Fur- a person; and ther, the symbol % should be used, not the name “percent.” (b)the recommended symbol for the liter is L (see Table 5, footnote). Example: x = 0.0025 = 0.25 % but not: x = 0.0025 = 0.25% or Examples: m (meter), s (second), V (volt), Pa (pascal), x = 0.25 percent lm (lumen), Wb (weber) Separation of Groups of Numbers Please compare the particular use of capitals in the names In numbers, the comma (French of units and in their symbols: practice) or the dot (British practice) is used only to separate the integral part of 10 watts = 10 W, 1 kelvin = 1 K, 1 decibel = 1 dB, 1 millivolt = 1 mV Continued on p. 46

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The SI Briefly (Re)visited Continued

numbers from the decimal part. Num- Observe the use in the SI Brochure (our italicization): “A bers may be divided in groups of three difference or interval of temperature may be expressed in in order to facilitate reading. In the SI, kelvins or in degrees Celsius.” Thus, we say “degrees Celsius” neither dots nor commas are ever and “kelvins” (and not “degrees Kelvin”). inserted in the spaces between groups. Incidentally, to indicate a temperature interval or difference rather than a temperature, the word “degree” in full, or the Examples: abbreviation “deg,” must be used. Thus, one should use “to 76 483 522 increase the temperature by 20 degrees Celsius,” and not “... by but not: 76,483,522 20 ûC.” Even when the value of a quantity is used in an adjectival 43 279.168 29 sense, a space is left between the numerical value and the unit but not: 43,279.168 29 symbol. (This rule recognizes that unit symbols are not like ordinary words or abbreviations, but are mathematical entities, Note: The practice of using a space to and that the value of a quantity should be expressed in a way group digits is not usually followed in that is as independent of language as possible.) certain specialized applications, such as engineering drawings, and financial Examples: a 100 cm tape measure statements. but not: a 100-cm tape measure

Space Between Numerical Value a 10 kV resistor and Unit Symbol but not: a 10-kV resistor In the expression for the value of a quantity, the unit symbol is placed Note: When unit names are spelled out, the normal rules of after the numerical value and a space is English apply. Thus, for example, “a roll of 10-millimeter left between the numerical value and tape” is acceptable. the unit symbol. The only exceptions Avoid the ambiguity in “pieces were laid on 15 cm boards” to this rule are for the unit symbols for by rearranging the words as follows: “pieces were laid on degree, minute, and second for plane boards 15 cm long.” angle: û, ', and ", respectively (see Table 5), in which case no space is left Micron and Micrometer between the numerical value and the The word “micron” should no longer be used to denote unit symbol. “micrometer” (µm).

Example: α = 30û22'8" Hour, Degree, Liter, and the Like These units are not part of the SI, but are essential and used This rule means that the symbol ûC so widely that they are accepted by the CIPM for use with the for the degree Celsius is preceded by a SI. Sometimes we even have to use other time-related units. In space when one expresses the values of particular, circumstances may require that intervals of time be Celsius temperatures. expressed in weeks, months, or years. In such cases, if a stan- dardized symbol for the unit is not available, the name of the Example: t = 30.2 ûC unit should be written out in full. but not: t = 30.2ûC or t =30.2û C. Unacceptability of Abbreviations for Units Please note that thermodynamic Because acceptable units generally have internationally rec- temperatures in kelvins are not written ognized symbols and names, it is not permissible to use abbre- with the degree symbol (û). viations for their unit symbols or names, such as sec (for either s or second), sq. mm (for either mm2 or square millimeter), cc Example: t = 45 K (for either cm3 or cubic centimeter), mins (for either min or but not: t = 45 ûK minutes), hrs or hr (for either h or hours), lit (for either L or

46 ATA Chronicle ¥ August 2001 AugATAw/Ads 8/9/01 4:31 PM Page 47

liter), amps (for either A or amperes), or mps (for either m/s or 70 % ± 5 % or (70 ± 5) % meter per second). but not: 70 ± 5 % Prefixes are also inseparable from the unit names to which they are attached. Thus, for example, millimeter, micropascal, 240 x (1 ± 10 %) V and meganewton are single words. but not: 240 V ± 10 % (one cannot add 240 V and 10 %) Unacceptability of Compound Prefixes Compound prefix symbols, that is, prefix symbols formed Unacceptability of Stand-alone by the juxtaposition of two or more prefix symbols, are not Unit Symbols permitted. This rule also applies to compound prefixes. Symbols for units are never used without numerical values or quantity Example: nm (nanometer) symbols (they are not abbreviations). but not: mµm (millimicrometer) Examples: Number of Units Per Value of a Quantity There are 106 mm in 1 km The value of a quantity is expressed using no more than but not: there are many mm in a km one unit. It is sold by the cubic meter Example: l = 10.234 m but not: it is sold by the m3. but not: l =10 m 23 cm 4 mm ppm, ppb, and ppt Note: Expressing the values of time intervals and of plane According to the Guide, although angles are exceptions to this rule. However, according to ISO the SI Brochure does not mention it, 31, it is preferable to divide the degree decimally. Thus, one language-dependent terms, such as part should write 22.50û rather than 22û30' (since 0.5û = 30'), except per million, part per billion, and part in fields such as cartography and astronomy. per trillion, and their respective abbre- viations “ppm,”“ppb,” and “ppt” (and Clarity in Writing Values of Quantities similar terms and abbreviations), are It must be made clear to which unit symbol a numerical value not acceptable for use with the SI to belongs and which mathematical operation applies to the value express the values of quantities. Forms of a quantity. Also, the Guide strongly recommends that the such as those given in the following word “to” be used to indicate a range of values for a quantity examples should be used instead: instead of a range dash (that is, a long hyphen) because the dash could be misinterpreted as a minus sign. Once again, the first of Examples: these recommendations recognizes that unit symbols are not like a stability of 0.5 (mA/A)/min ordinary words or abbreviations, but are mathematical entities. but not: a stability of 0.5 ppm/min

Examples: a shift of 1.1 nm/m 35 cm x 48 cm but not: a shift of 1.1 ppb but not: 35 x 48 cm a sensitivity of 2 ng/kg 1 MHz to 10 MHz or (1 to 10) MHz but not: a sensitivity of 2 ppt but not: 1 MHz Ð 10 MHz or 1 to 10 MHz Because the names of numbers 109 20 ûC to 30 ûC or (20 to 30) ûC and larger are not uniform worldwide, it but not: 20 ûC Ð 30 ûC or 20 to 30 ûC is best that they be avoided entirely (in many countries, 1 billion = 1 x 1012, not 123 g ± 2 g or (123 ± 2) g but not: 123 ± 2 g Continued on p. 63

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Batting a Thousand! Translating American Sports Terms Used Idiomatically (An English-to-Portuguese Example)*

By John B. Jensen

e’s out in left field. Step up to the are conjured up by their use in other contexts. These are plate. Don’t be a Monday- extremely vigorous and colorful expressions, and invoke clear Hmorning quarterback. These mental images in most listeners, although they may become and hundreds of other sports-related trite, and impoverish a text, with overuse. terms may appear unexpectedly in So what do we do when faced with such terms? Well, the almost any nontechnical text not having ideal, perfectly competent, balanced bilingual and bicultural the slightest thing to do with sports, professional translator or interpreter is familiar with all especially in oral presentations. Motiva- American sports and has a reservoir of equivalent terms, tional speeches, political , whether sports-based or not, in his or her mental archive. welcoming remarks, and “roasts” are Unfortunately, most of us working in the real world, particu- some of the contexts that first come to larly those who are not avid sports fans, may feel a little mind, particularly when the speaker is unprepared when encountering this seemingly esoteric attempting to reach out to his listeners semantic territory. The interpreter, with no time for research and touch a familiar chord in order to get or contemplation, has the harder task, while the translator may close to them or to win their sympathy. be able to use outside sources to work out solutions for trou- Film scripts and television programs, as blesome expressions. well as literary prose depicting contem- In order to be prepared to work with these terms, it is nec- porary life, may be rife with them. essary to acquire some basic knowledge of the sports involved to get a feel for the literal meanings. The sidebars on baseball and football accompanying this article can be used as starting …Sports terms are the modern-day points. Most figurative term usage will flow naturally from a equivalent to mythological references, general knowledge of a particular sport. With the intended meaning clear to the translator/interpreter, there are three alter- used by authors and orators past to native paths to consider when translating: tap into the common cultural knowledge base of their audience… A) Find a sports term in the target language that carries the same or a similar idiomatic meaning. This last point is important. The literal translation of the expression may Sports terms are the modern-day leave members of the audience totally unaware of the intent equivalent to mythological references, of the speaker, and they will probably be quite baffled sud- used by authors and orators past to tap denly to hear about balls, hits, and goals in a talk about into the common cultural knowledge selling memory chips. An example in Portuguese might be base of their audience, a sort of short- pisar na bola for hit a foul. The literal meanings of these hand that everybody understands. terms are quite different, as are the games they refer to, but While today we may not know the dif- they both relate to sports, with all the imagery and vigor ference between Zeus and Pegasus, which that entails, and carry a similar idea of a failed almost everyone in the American cul- attempt. A closer example would be receber cartão ver- tural milieu knows the difference melho for foul out. Again, the terms come from different between striking out and hitting a sports, but carry essentially the same literal meaning. homer. Besides their specific meanings in the various games they describe, a B) Use a nonsports idiomatic expression that translates the very large number of terms have taken figurative meaning. Perhaps not such an “elegant” solu- on figurative, nonathletic meanings that tion as a sports-based one, it will still transmit to the audi- ence the idea intended, and do so in a compact, image- * This article is based on a presentation made at the laden way. A Portuguese example might be matar dois Portuguese Language Division meeting held in Charleston, South Carolina, in March 2001. The author coelhos com uma só cajadada for double play. This wishes to thank the participants for their many would be much better than something invented like suggestions, as well as recognize the invaluable assistance of other colleagues from Miami in the preparation of this work. Continued on p. 50

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Table 1: Baseball

Sports Term Sports Meaning Figurative Meaning Suggested Translations

Hit a home run; Hit the ball so well that the hitter Have enormous success Acertar na cabeça; Hit a homer goes all around the bases and scores Ganhar de goleada; Acertar a quina

Hit a grand-slam Like the above term, except that the hitter Even more success Salvar a pátria; so they all score brings in all other players on base Ganhar em todas as frentes

Hit it out of the ballpark As above, but ball is out of play so player(s) Even more success Dar uma tremenda tacada; can walk around bases to score Marcar um gol de longe

Strike out Swing at the ball three times without Try but fail Perder no pênalti; Perder a vez making a good hit

Three strikes and As above, but emphasizing the three chances One only has three chances É sua última cartada; you’re out Você só dispõe de 3 chances

Hit a foul (ball) Hit the ball out of bounds An attempt gone bad Pisar na bola

Out in left field Play the outfield, away from action Disconnected, unaware, Estar totalmente por fora; out of touch Perdido no campo

Get to first base Hit well enough to make it to the first stop Usually negative: can’t/didn’t Nem chegar à primeira etapa; get to first base; no ability Nem chegar a marcar um gol; or luck (often sexual Ficar nas preliminares implication)

Steal home Run from third base to home plate to score Succeed by deception, Chegar sorrateiramente; at a point in the game where it is “illegal” and cunning, or surprise Fazer uma jogada arriscada; therefore extra risky Atacar de surpresa

Top of the ninth In the last half of the last inning; at the Time is about up; É agora ou nunca; end of the game last chance Em cima da hora

Throw a curve ball The pitcher throws a ball that follows a To surprise or deceive by Surpreender alguém por estar curved trajectory, thus deceiving or one’s unexpected actions desprevenido surprising the batter

Pitch a no-hitter Pitch so well that no batter is able to hit the Totally shut out the Arrasar; não perder uma bola ball, and thus win the game opposition sequer; Tiro torpedo contra o gol

Double play Get two batters/runners out on a single hit Have double success on Matar dois coelhos com uma a single try só cajadada; Ganhar de lambuja

Step/Come up to the Take one’s turn as batter Take one’s turn to do Mostrar para que veio; plate something hard Assumir a posição

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Batting a Thousand! Translating American Sports Terms Used Idiomatically Continued

jogada dupla, since double play in baseball means to get projected images will the audience feel that something has two men out at the same time, thus to disable or “kill” two been omitted from the translation. opponents at once. The following pages constitute a list of a few important C) Finally, if no idiom comes to mind, the translator/interpreter terms from major and minor sports practiced in the U.S., listing will find a satisfactory way out by simply translating the fig- each term’s (literal) meaning and the figurative or idiomatic urative meaning of the sports term into everyday language: meaning. In the last column are one or more suggested transla- out in left field, for example, might become totalmente por tions into Brazilian Portuguese—most will also do in Portugal. fora. This solution is generally imperceptible, and will sat- This list is meant as a point of departure. Undoubtedly, the isfy the audience and maintain the integrity of the message, reader will come up with many more expressions. It is also although it may lack the color of the original. Only if the speaker accompanies the expression with athletic gestures or Continued on p. 63

Table 1: Baseball, continued

Sports Term Sports Meaning Figurative Meaning Suggested Translations

Catch a fly(ball) Catch a hit that went high into the air Save the day; be heroic Salvar o time

Play hardball Play the more difficult version of baseball; Play tough; big boy’s game Dificultar as coisas; Jogo duro cf. softball

Home base The plate where play starts and ends, Starting and ending point O princípio e o fim; where the batter hits Base de ida e volta

Touch bases Step on each base as one runs around Remain in contact; Manter-se em contato; the diamond communicate periodically Estar atento; Informar

Double header Two games in a single evening or afternoon; Two-for-the price of one; Sessão dupla (pelo same teams twice the show for the price preço de uma); Dois por um

In the big leagues Play with the major, nationally known teams Be among the most Estar com os maiorais; important groups or people Jogar com os profissionais

Back to the minors Be demoted from a national team to a regional Suffer a setback; start over Voltar aos costumes; or local one Começar do zero

Out of one’s league Play poorly, as if in the minors Be insufficiently competent Não estar à altura do jogo for the job

In the ball park Hit the ball within bounds, somewhere An approximate amount; Mais ou menos; in the stadium close enough Dentro dos parâmetros; Aproximadamente

Batting a thousand Hitting every time one comes up to bat Success every time Artilheiro; Nunca perde uma!

It’s a new ball game Game starts over, 0 to 0 Conditions are different now; Zerar o ; whatever counted before Zerar o jogo; no longer does Outros quinhentos

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THE GAME OF BASEBALL

aseball is played on a diamond-shaped infield with Ban outfield behind it divided into left, center, and right fields. The bottom point of the diamond is home plate and the other corners are, going counterclockwise, first, second, and third base. The pitcher’s mound is in the center of the diamond. Each team has nine players occupying positions around the field, starting with the pitcher, who is the team captain. A game consists of nine untimed innings, with extra innings to break a tie. Each team has a turn at bat, or up (on the offensive), during an inning while the other team is in the field (defense), thus dividing the inning into bottom and top. When their team is up, players wait in the dugout for their turn at bat, which comes in a predetermined batting order. The object of the game is to hit the ball with the bat from home plate and then run as far around the bases as possible before the other team retrieves the ball and returns it to the infield, where it can be used to get the player out. A player scores a point (a home run or run) by crossing home plate after successfully running around all the bases. If it is not pos- sible to get all the way around on a single hit (a homer), players stop on whatever base they can get to safely to wait for the next player to hit the ball, freeing them to run toward the next base, or home, safely. They may try to steal a base (run to the next one) at any time if they think they can do so without being tagged out (see below). The pitcher must place the ball between the levels of the shoulders and knees of the batter and over the plate in order for the pitch to be good. The batter stands to the side of the plate and judges each pitch as it comes to him. If he thinks it is good, he swings at it. A strike occurs whenever the player swings at the ball, or when he does not swing at a pitch that the umpire (an on-field judge or official) says is good. He may accumulate three strikes before being called out. If he passes up a bad pitch, he gets a ball. If he gets four balls he walks to first base, thereby pushing along a player already waiting there, if any. A hit that goes out of bounds is a foul ball, and may as a strike. A team’s turn at bat, and the inning half, ends when the team accumulates three outs. Outs occur in four ways: a batter strikes out by making three strikes; a flyball (a hit made high in the air) is caught before striking the ground; the ball is thrown to first base (and caught by the baseman) before the runner gets there; or a runner is tagged (touched) by the ball held by a player on the other team, while not on a base. A double play occurs when two outs are made on one play, as when catching a flyball and then using the ball to tag another runner.

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Batting a Thousand! Translating American Sports Terms Used Idiomatically Continued

Table 2: Football, American

Sports Term Sports Meaning Figurative Meaning Suggested Translations

To quarterback Lead the team; be captain Be the boss, “head honcho” Liderar; Ser capitão do time

Monday-morning Know what should have been done after the Be great at hindsight; know O “sabe-tudo” depois dos quarterback game is over what should have been done fatos; Artilheiro depois da partida; Agora é fácil falar!

Do an end-run Sneak around defense line; run around line of Go around usual lines of Passar uma rasteira; scrimmage authority; do the unexpected Ataque surpresa

Tear down the goal End-of-game ceremony where winner takes Put a festive end to a Derrubar a trave; posts down the posts success Dançar em campo

To tackle Attack the guy with the ball to stop him Take on a big job, a Atacar; tratar; abordar; marcar major challenge

Sit on the 50-yard line Have a seat in the middle of the field with a Be in a position to see what Ter uma visão privilegiada de great view (spectator) is going on ambos os lados; Ver o jogo da tribuna; Ver de camarote

Sit on the sidelines Be ready to play, but remain at the side Be an observer, but never a Ficar no banco dos reservas; waiting to be called (player) participant Estar de reserva; Observar dos bastidores

Make a touchdown Score by taking the ball across the goal line Make a spectacular success Fazer um gol; Marcar ponto

Fumble; Drop the ball Drop the ball while catching it or running Fail to carry out a Pisar na bola; Fracassar with it responsibility

The whole nine yards Succeed in moving the ball ahead the whole The whole thing De porta a porta; distance for a new first down Cobrir todos os detalhes; Atravessar o campo inteiro

Take the ball and run Receive the ball and move it ahead toward Pick up a responsibility Cumprir o prometido; (with it) the goal and carry it out Receber, executar, passar

The clock’s run out Game ends when the clock comes to the Time is up O tempo acabou; O juiz apitou end of the time

Game plan Strategy for the game, what each player is Strategy for action, role for Tática; Modo de agir; to do each participant Plano de ação

Be a team player Cooperate with teammates, even if it means Cooperate with others in Passar ; less personal glory achieving group goal Saber jogar em equipe

Stall for time If one’s team is winning and game is almost Take actions that give Fazer cera; over, try to avoid further scoring yourself or your group Ganhar tempo; more time to act Forçar prorrogação

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THE GAME OF FOOTBALL

merican football is played on a field 100 yards long, with parallel yard lines drawn A every five or ten yards. The object of the game is to get the oval-shaped ball to the oppo- site end of the field, the goal line, through the defense of the other team. The ball is gener- ally carried, rather than being kicked, to the goal. Teams consist of nine players. Play starts when the team on the offensive (Team A, determined by a coin toss) kicks the ball toward its goal line. A player from Team B catches it and runs toward his own goal line (that is, back toward the offensive team). He gets tackled (attacked) by Team A and the place where the ball stops defines the line of scrimmage (division of the field between the defen- sive and the offensive sides) for the first down. Team A’s quarterback (captain) calls his players into a huddle, a strategy meeting. Next, the linemen, including the center, from each team face each other across the line of scrimmage, with other players spread out behind them. The quarterback stands behind the linemen and calls out to the center. When he calls the code word, the center hikes or snaps the ball to him (throws it backward between his legs). The ball goes into play and the players are then free to move across the line of scrimmage. Team A tries to break through the linemen from Team B and go as far toward their goal as possible. Linemen from Team B attempt to block them from coming across, and also try to get through to attack the quarterback before he has a chance to do anything with the ball. Although many kinds of play are possible at that point, typically the quarterback throws a pass, sending the ball to one of his team members who has broken through the defensive line and is well within enemy ter- GOAL 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 GOAL YARD LINES ritory. If the man catches the ball, he runs with it as far as he can go toward his goal before being tackled by Team B. When tackled, he falls and thereby defines the next line of scrimmage. If he is in the clear, he may run all the way to the goal line, thereby scoring a touchdown and six points. Team A has four downs or attempts to complete a play. If it is able to move the line of scrimmage forward 10 yards or more, it gets another four downs, and so on. If it fails to gain the 10 yards or even loses yardage after four downs, the other team goes on the offensive, get- ting control of the ball and four downs to attempt to move toward its own goal line. The game is timed and divided into quarters and halves.

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Batting a Thousand! Translating American Sports Terms Used Idiomatically Continued

Table 3: Basketball

Sports Term Sports Meaning Figurative Meaning Suggested Translations

Play/Go one-on-one Each player concentrates on a specific Each member of a group Tête-à-tête; Marcar or man-to-man member of the opposing team finds a counterpart to work with, or against, on the other side

Dribble Move the ball without carrying it; bounce it Move something from place Driblar up and down to place with indirect, hard-to-follow movements

Call a foul The umpire penalizes a player for breaking Denounce something done Alegar falta; Marcar falta; a rule wrong by an opponent Pôr a boca no trombone

Foul out Accumulate five fouls and be out of the game Make one-too-many mistakes Receber cartão vermelho

Out-of-bounds The ball goes out of the court and thus Be outside of legal territory; Estar fora dos limites; out of play do something illegal Invasão do campo alheio

Take a jumpshot Attempt to sink a basket by jumping above Do something risky and Dar um pulo de gato; other players heroic Arriscar o couro

Call a time-out Coach on one side asks to have play stop Ask for extra time, Dar um tempo; Pedir temporarily a moment of respite tempo; Pedir trégua

Catch it on the Play a ball that bounces back after someone Take up someone else’s job Na passada/passagem rebound tries to make a basket after it goes wrong; court da bola; Rebote someone recently broken up with former lover

Slam dunk Make a basket by suddenly jumping up and Sudden, surprising success Pulo de gato “slamming” it in

Sink it Make a basket Have sudden success in Cesta! Acertar doing something

It’s a jump ball The umpire throws up the ball and a player Something can go A sorte foi lançada; É um from each side jumps for it either way enigma; É cara ou coroa

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Table 4: Golf

Sports Term Sports Meaning Figurative Meaning Suggested Translations

Make a hole-in-one Get the ball in the hole with a single shot Succeed on the first try Acertar na mosca; Acertar com uma só tentativa

To handicap Give a weaker player a numerical advantage Give an artificial advantage to Dar uma colher de chá; to even play with a stronger player one side to try to even things out Dar uma vantagem

Tee up Put the ball on the tee to begin play Get ready to do something Estar a postos; Vamos dar a partida

Get caught in a Lose the ball in a patch of sand Get stuck somewhere Estar num mato sem sand trap cachorro

Par for the course The average score for a particular golf course Normal, average, expected Dentro do esperado

Above par Better than average player or game Better than average Acima do esperado

Below par Worse than average player or game Worse than average Abaixo do esperado

Table 5: Other Sports

Sports Term/Sport Sports Meaning Figurative Meaning Suggested Translations

To spike [volleyball] Hit the ball hard onto the other side by A sudden attack in enemy Dar uma cortada jumping up by the net territory

Do a belly-flop Land flat on the stomach when diving Have an unfortunate Bobear; Quebrar a cara; [swimming] result and look foolish Dar uma barrigada

Tread water Stay afloat in one place by moving the arms Continue working but Marcar passo [swimming] and legs without progress

Float [swimming] Stay afloat in one place by mere buoyancy Be present without action Marcar presença

Go belly up Give up swimming, floating on one’s back Fail completely, lose one’s Pendurar as chuteiras; [swimming] career Desistir

To catapult Throw something using mechanical assist Give something a big Dar um empurrão; Catapultar [track & field] boost

To pole vault Jump by using a long stick for support Get ahead quickly Dar um pulo/salto [track & field]

Pass the torch/baton In a relay, pass on to next runner Hand a job over to some- Passar a batuta [track & field] one else, the next in line

Jump the high Run jumping over the hurdles (obstacles) Overcome obstacles Vencer obstáculos; Saltar mais hurdles [track & field] alto; Enfrentar a parada

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Batting a Thousand! Translating American Sports Terms Used Idiomatically Continued

Table 5: Other Sports, continued

Sports Term/Sport Sports Meaning Figurative Meaning Suggested Translations

Raise the bar Put the high-jump bar up a notch Set standards higher, Elevar o padrão; Aumentar [track & field] making things harder o nível de exigência

Lower the bar Move the high-jump bar down a notch Set standards lower, Diminuir o nível de [track & field] making things easier exigência

Be on the inside track Be on the inside (and therefore shortest) lane Be closest to center of Pegar um atalho [track & field, on a circular track power, taking the shortest auto racing] way to success

Be in the fast lane Be in the lane that moves the fastest Be headed for early Ir pela via rápida [track & field, swimming, success auto racing]

Cross the finish line Come to the end of the race Complete a job Cruzar a linha de chegada; [track & field, swimming, Cobrir o trecho final auto racing]

On the last lap [track Do the last time around the track Near the end of a job Na última volta; Na reta & field, swimming, final auto racing]

Jump the gun [track Start too soon before the starting gun Be precipitous, too early, Precipitar-se; & field, swimming, goes off before things are ready Adiantar-se auto racing]

Your/My serve Your/my turn to start play by launching It’s your/my turn to act Ser a sua/minha vez [tennis, ping-pong] the ball

Be a heavyweight In the highest weight class Be a powerhouse, Peso-pesado [boxing, wrestling] a strong contender

Be a lightweight In the light weight class Be an unimportant Peso-leve [boxing, wrestling] participant, of low competence

Knockout; K.O. Win by hitting the opponent unconscious Eliminate an opponent by Nocautear; Dar um golpe [boxing] or immobile some decisive action decisivo; Dar o golpe de misericórdia

Have a ringside seat Sit near the ring Have the best point of view, Ter uma vista privilegiada; [boxing, wrestling] be close to the action Ver de camarote

Hit below the belt Hit the opponent illegally below the waistline Take unfair advantage of Dar um golpe baixo [boxing] an opponent

Saved by the bell Kept from losing only because time comes Get out of a bad situation Salvo pelo gongo [boxing] to an end before the final blow can be dealt by some occurrence beyond one’s control

56 ATA Chronicle ¥ August 2001 AugATAw/Ads 8/9/01 4:31 PM Page 57

CHAPTER PROFILE The Florida Chapter of the American Translators Association

ATA: What would you like our members FLATA: FLATA’s seminars, workshops, The newsletter features news and articles to know about your organization? panel discussions, forums, and symposia on significant T&I developments, both FLATA: The Florida Chapter of the are favorites of the membership. These locally and nationally, announcements American Translators Association was events cover timely topics and issues of and reviews of FLATA events and activi- established to promote the recognition of critical importance to the T&I profession. ties, and survey results and commentary translating and interpreting as profes- The topics are selected based on member on issues of interest to the T&I commu- sions and to defend and support the inter- needs, value, and practicality. The work- nity at-large. ests and concerns of T&I professionals in shops, seminars, and other activities are the State of Florida. We encourage high- usually held all day on Saturdays. ATA: Do you offer professional quality service and business practices, development opportunities? disseminate information to the public, ATA: What type of directory do you FLATA: FLATA hosts professional devel- and provide a medium for collaboration offer? opment opportunities several times a year. with persons in allied professions. FLATA: FLATA’s Professional Services The most recent meeting was a Spanish-to- Directory of translators and interpreters is English legal clinic, which took place in May. ATA: Would you explain your available in hard copy and on the Website membership conditions? (www.atafl.com). The Directory is a tool ATA: Any last thoughts? FLATA: Membership is open to anyone for FLATA members to use to connect FLATA: We will continue to raise the bar legitimately engaged or interested in with T&I clients seeking qualified profes- of excellence in the T&I field by pro- translating/interpreting, or a combination sionals in the Florida market. The FLATA viding updated information on develop- thereof, regardless of status: individuals Membership Directory is intended to be ments in the T&I industry, references on (freelancers, independent contractors, an informational source for the language the improvement and development of employees of T&I firms, government or professions and general community. new working tools, professional develop- corporate in-house translators/interpreters), FLATA members are invited to provide ment and continuing education events, commercial T&I service providers, educa- their listings on a strictly voluntary basis. and other valuable services designed to tional institutions, and T&I end-users. help T&I professionals become more ATA: Do you have a publication? productive and competitive. ATA: What are a few of FLATA’s best FLATA: Yes, the FLATAflash is a print features or benefits? and online newsletter published quarterly.

Help Start a Local ATA Chapter!

There has been interest shown in starting chapters in • Free advertising of the chapter’s existence in the ATA Minnesota, Utah, or Nevada. This will require ATA mem- Chronicle bers, specifically Active ATA members, to get involved in • Free advertising of a chapter’s local events the initial petition process. Becoming an ATA chapter is a great way to increase the Chapters get together to publicize the availability of local community’s awareness of the profession, and also pro- translators in the business sector, administer regularly vides a forum for a cohesive group to discuss and resolve scheduled ATA accreditation exams, and provide a forum for common concerns. ATA chapterhood offers several other information on the profession. Chapters may also organize benefits such as: social, recreational, regional conference, and professional development activities for its members. So contact Mary • 10% dues rebate from ATA David ([email protected]) at ATA Headquarters today to help • Input on ATA Board issues start a chapter that will benefit you personally and • Eligibility for seed money for regional conferences professionally! • Logistical support from ATA for mailings, meetings, etc.

ATA Chronicle ¥ August 2001 57 AugATAw/Ads 8/9/01 4:31 PM Page 58

ACCREDITATION FORUM Coming Out of the Dark Ages (Part 2 of 2) by Terry Hanlen, Deputy Executive Director and Accreditation Program Manager

ast month I tried to explain some This brings us to the question of how insurmountable hurdle, but a hurdle of the difficulties the Accredita- much potential candidates would be nonetheless. In the case of Chinese, for L tion Committee has encountered willing to pay for the benefit of offering example, graders tell me that software as we search for a way to put the ATA accreditation exams on the computer. programs exist in great variety, with no examination on the computer. Two of the Would it still be a useful tool if the cost standard program we can expect most biggest stumbling blocks were discussed: doubles or triples? candidates to use. And we didn’t even the nature of our examination and exam get into PC versus Macintosh. security. This month we will explore the Availability The vendor was also intrigued by our remaining issues. Most of our exam sittings in the U.S. need to provide a screen that could show are organized and proctored by our local a full passage or substantial portion of it Cost chapters. During the 2000Ð01 exam year, and concurrently provide an equal Currently a candidate pays $130 to we have scheduled 45 exam sittings in 17 viewing of the translation for compar- take an examination. Up to 70 percent of states and nine countries outside the ison, plus space for notes and vocabulary that fee can go to grading, depending United States. This means that many can- words. Again, this is not something to upon how many passages the candidate didates must travel for hundreds or - hold us back, but it is not something that completes and whether the test needs to sands of miles to take our examination, he has seen in the market currently. go to a third grader. Examination fees with additional expenses for airfare and Pencil and paper may be primitive by also cover all program costs, including hotels. We would like to make our exam our everyday work standards, but they supplies, fees for proctors and test sites, available to members much closer to their provide us with an under-appreciated grader training, continuing program homes. This means we have to locate a flexibility and utility. improvements, and portions of the provider who offers consistent quality and Over these last two months I’ve salaries of several staff members who security in an extensive network of sites. painted a picture of obstacles. With tech- process registrations and completed We want to have program consistency, nological advances occurring at a examinations. The accreditation program so once we switch to testing by computer, dizzying pace, most of these roadblocks is not the money-making engine that handwritten exams will be allowed only should be addressed in the near future. many members suppose it to be. in cases with special circumstances The real point I want to make is that this The ATA tries very hard to provide a approved by Headquarters. is a complex issue that is not addressed high quality testing product, make without a great deal of careful investiga- improvements, and to keep the costs low Current Industry Capabilities tion and research. We cannot undertake to benefit our candidates. Compared with At a recent meeting between Accredi- such a major change in the program the cost of other professional credentials, tation Committee members and a vendor without examining it from all angles and ATA accreditation is a bargain. demonstrating the current technology, being assured that it is beneficial to all of Switching to proctored computer we discovered additional complications. our candidates. We are in that process testing sites will dramatically increase Not all keyboards are created equal. Dif- now with our eyes on a future that will the cost of the examination. Some ven- ferent languages require specialized include computerized testing. dors quote fees that are several times that alphabets and punctuation keys. These The Accreditation Committee has a of our current exam costs. A few of our are available on the market, but they are workgroup researching this issue, and we current expenses could be reduced or not commonly stocked in the variety we welcome your feedback and suggestions. eliminated, but they would not begin to need at a network of testing centers. The Please feel free to address your com- offset a significant increase in the cost of same is true of the software necessary to ments to [email protected]. the examination. handle a range of languages—not an

Open Invitation to all ATA Members Spanish Division Conference

Where: Aboard the Fascination of Cruises When: January 25–28, 2002, sailing Miami-Nassau-Miami What: Three days of seminars, workshops, inspiring speakers, networking, sunshine, cool ocean breezes and beautiful sunsets, friendly faces. For further details, visit our Website & click on Cruise! • http://www.americantranslators.org/divisions/SPD/

58 ATA Chronicle ¥ August 2001 AugATAw/Ads 8/9/01 4:31 PM Page 59

DICTIONARY REVIEWS Compiled by Albert Bork

the program on your system occurs via a English, and further for all nonnatives standard installation wizard. Installation who may, for example, experience occa- Bork is chair takes about to complete, sional trouble with the rules of word of the ATA after which the dictionary is stored on stress in English or the articulation of Dictionary your hard disk for future access. certain in French (for example, Review Once you have performed the installa- nasal vowels and [y], as in “mur” [wall]). Committee. tion (and restarted your computer) you The pronunciation supplied for these will have two options for using your terms is referred to as received pronunci- Harrap’s Shorter CD-ROM. You can ation (RP) for English and standard open the program from the Windows Parisian (SP) for French, with some intra- Harrap’s Shorter CD-ROM Dictionary Start menu to use the complete set of fea- standard variations included for both lan- (English-French/French-English) tures offered by the Harrap’s Shorter guages. For example, Intra-standard vari- Publishers: application. The second option consists ations for English include the famous two © Chambers Harrap Publishers of using the application in pop-up mode pronunciations for the term “contro- Ltd.1997-2000 from the Windows task bar, directly from versy” (CON-tru-versee, and con-TRAH- Havas Interactive 2000, the text on which you are working, in ver-see), as well as pronunciation for Larousse/HER 2000 desktop applications such as Word, terms where grammatical variation is Excel, Powerpoint, or Outlook. Simply marked phonetically. For example, for Reviewed by: highlight the search word in your text and terms such as “convict” and “contest,” Françoise Herrmann click on the Harrap’s task bar icon for a which can function as either verbs or translation and the article entry of your nouns, and conversely where morpholog- f you ever thought that the Harrap’s search word. ical variations are unmarked (the Shorter CD-ROM bilingual (French- This pop-up mode is the first media- unmarked plural and singular of I English/English-French) dictionary specific feature you will encounter. It will /ombudsmen, or Orangeman/ was just a featherweight digital version of introduce you to the first major difference Orangemen). Intra-standard variations your seven- Shorter in hard copy between your paper dictionary and the for French include pronunciations for format, think again! And be prepared for application you have installed. This is a marked morphological variation (e.g., the some wonderful surprises. Based on the popular feature which has been discussed feminine and masculine forms of “plan”) full text of the 2000 edition of the in informal online communications or for pronounced/unpronounced final Harrap’s Shorter, the Harrap’s Shorter (Northern California Translators Associa- consonants (e.g., chantant/chantante; CD-ROM is the fruit of a collaborative tion, 2001), commenting on the use of the dépliant/dépliante). effort between Harrap’s in Edinburgh (for Harrap’s Shorter CD-ROM in particular, You will enjoy the new audio dimen- the editing of the hard copy version) and and elsewhere (Mikheev, ATA Chronicle, sions of your Harrap’s Shorter applica- Havas Interactive in Paris (for the devel- Feb. 2001). This feature is popular con- tion for the support these lend to the artic- opment of the software and production of sidering that it overcomes the somewhat ulation of terms, and perhaps for the the CD-ROM). Thus, the Harrap’s effortful searching process in both tradi- striking and enchanting difference of this Shorter CD-ROM offers the full text of tional flip-page hard copy modes and less feature in to the silence of the hard copy Shorter and much, much mature electronic modes where the your hard copy Shorter. And once you more in terms of harnessing some of the search word must be typed into the appli- have used this function you may also find unique properties of the electronic cation from outside of the text on which yourself “stealing” it: that is, you may medium to deliver new support features your are working. want to hear more pronunciations of for translation. Out of pop-up mode, working from major cross-regional variations of Eng- Prior to outlining each of the novel within the full version the Harrap’s lish (Australian, American, and Scottish), translation support features offered by the Shorter application, launched from the and French (Belgian, Canadian, and Harrap’s Shorter CD-ROM, the following Windows Start menu, the second new, Swiss). You may even want to hear a few program specifications are of importance. and major, media-specific feature that additional variations, such as Jamaican The Harrap’s Shorter CD-ROM runs on a you will discover consists of the audio and Caribbean English or and PC system and requires a Pentium 100 recording of 60,000 words. This feature Luxembourg French. In an era where mHz processor, a CD-ROM drive, 32 MB will enable you to listen to a recorded globalization is no longer a myth and the of RAM, Windows 95/98/2000 or NT, pronunciation of the words listed in the localization of translations is a require- speakers, and a 640x480 pixel, 256-color main index that have a small loudspeaker ment, this feature is especially useful, display. No Macintosh-compatible ver- icon next to them. This is an immensely sion is currently available. Installation of useful feature for all learners of French or Continued on p. 60

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since it is precisely in the domain of pro- plemental references and pondering the or specialized one, these features are a far nunciation that the most salient differ- conversion formula for degrees Celsius cry from shortcomings. ences between major cross-regional vari- to degrees Fahrenheit? The formula may A fifth media-specific feature of the ations exist. have appeared as follows for a conver- Harrap’s Shorter CD-ROM consists of Additionally, your propensity for sion from Fahrenheit to Celsius: hyperlinks to the Web. Several thousand stealing this design feature may also be terms listed in the main index appear with 5_ cued by the design of your Harrap’s 59¼ F = (59-32) x 9 = 15¼ C an @ icon, which function as hyperlinks Shorter application, where cross- to 600 Internet sites. This means that indexing functions allow you to direct and as follows for the reverse, from when you click on the @ icon above the your searches according to a total of six degrees Celsius to Fahrenheit: article displaying the definition and trans- index options, each corresponding to lation of a tagged term, you will be con- 9_ sub-lists culled from the complete body 20¼ C = (20 x 5 ) + 32 = 68¼ F nected to a Website that is related in con- of entries. These six search options tent or activity to the term in question. include: the main index, phrases and You may have simplified these for- Thus, for example, when you click on the examples, the full text, mulas slightly by converting fractions to @ icon corresponding to the term variations (Australian, American, Scot- decimals prior to proceeding with your “Hypertext” in the English-French direc- tish for English; Swiss, Belgian, and own computations. In any event, you may tion of the dictionary, one of the sites to Canadian for French), abbreviations, and now forget these complicated calcula- which you will be connected to is the Uni- labels (language registers). Thus, for tions for any text that requires these con- versity Paris XIII Hypermedia Program of example, you may want to verify versions, since you can, with the Harrap’s Studies. From there you can peruse the whether a term belongs to a particular Shorter CD-ROM Converter, simply site, which includes course lecture notes register, such as literary, old-fashioned, click in your data, including the direction and course materials. Clearly, the advan- slang, or pejorative, each of which of the conversion, to obtain the answer. tage of such links consists in the gateway appear as options in the labels index. Or And once again, as you begin to use this that is opened to an unprecedented wealth you may want to search for a phrase such function and to enjoy and discover its of source materials and contextualiza- as “option on shares” or “place an order” possibilities you are going to want to fly tions, all of which complement in a without having to consult the whole with it. For example, you will wonder uniquely “live” encyclopedic mode the article on “option” or “place.” And con- why the Converter does not include more traditional definitions and examples of the versely, you may want to simply currency conversion possibilities (e.g., term searched. Again, it is easy to steal immerse yourself in one of these from U.S. dollars to Euros). Or why, this feature and to wonder why such links semantic spaces for an overview of their given that these are fluctuating rates of are not far more numerous or perhaps lexical horizon. Together with the supra exchange in contrast to fixed conversion exclusive of sites in the U.S. and world- cross-indexing of searches according to rates, the Converter is not linked to the wide. But then again, it seems only fair to French, English, and bilingual indices, Web for all kinds of exchange rates, just consider this a well-harnessed electronic and the speed at which all this occurs, as there are hyperlinks for selected terms feature at the service of the translator’s this is media-specific virtuosity and in the main index. Similarly, if you do tasks, filled with the quantum leaps of excellence at its best. Compared to the scientific translations, you will want to future versions and updates linear rigidity of your hard copy Shorter, steal some more of this design feature so A sixth media-specific feature of the the flexibility of cross-indexing stands as that it includes, for example, conversions Harrap’s Shorter CD-ROM consists of the another major difference. And there is for catheter and urethral sound sizes (in Conjugate function. This function allows still much more. addition to the current limits of shoes and you to search the syntactic form of any You will discover yet another major shirts), or Réaumur temperature (in addi- verb in English or French. Considering that media-specific novelty in your Harrap’s tion to Celsius and Fahrenheit), or dec- your hard copy Shorter, in typical hard Shorter application with the Converter. imal fractions in millimeters and microns copy tradition, only points you to the main This Converter includes conversion of the British , or apothecary units patterns of the verbal system of either functions for weight, temperature, sur- such as the drachm and the scruple for French or English, this feature comes as face area, volume, length, speed, size, conversion to grams. The Harrap’s another welcome addition. You will no and currency (from or into French, Bel- Shorter CD-ROM points to such possibil- longer have to remember, for example, that gian, and Swiss Francs, and Irish ities without exploiting them, suggesting although the verb “acquérir” (to acquire) Pounds; from or into Euros). In the com- directions for future updates. And as ends in “-ir,” it does not belong to the plete absence of such conversion tables innovative possibilities, especially con- second group of verb conjugations, but to a in the hard copy Shorter, do you sidering that this a general bilingual lan- remember looking for tables in your sup- guage dictionary in contrast to a scientific Continued on p. 61

60 ATA Chronicle ¥ August 2001 AugATAw/Ads 8/9/01 4:31 PM Page 61

subcategory “–érir” of the third group mode, audio pronunciation of terms, mul- conversation that will propel updates and ending in “-re.” Much less that this subcat- tiple indexing, the Converter, links to the enhancements. egory is defined in terms of its present par- Web, the conjugate and grammar func- Before letting you discover for your- ticiple ending in “–ant” in contrast to tions) are unique to the digital medium self all of the new media-specific high- “–issant.” Similarly, for English, you will that supports this tool. And, just as we lights of your Harrap’s Shorter CD-ROM, no longer have to gear into a cognitive have witnessed the wondrous and explo- there is one more surprise worth men- overload mode to recite “bereave, sive development of software versions tioning. The interface is just beautiful, bereaved, bereft; draw, drew, drawn.” Just such as the trajectory of Microsoft Word replete with multicolored and enchanting type in your verb and, presto, the conjugate version 1 to Word version 2000, there is a icons, elegant mouseovers, lightning function will list all the forms you need but fabulous new set of possibilities that speed results, and ever so slick and never had the opportunity to query. Add to opens up in the world of tools in support smooth navigation. I guarantee that you the conjugate function a grammatical of translation. These are hinted and stolen will enjoy this application, and further, search function (a seventh media-specific possibilities, where all that has been har- that you will find it immensely useful, far highlight), and your typical hard copy nessed for the first time in the Harrap’s beyond the impracticality of lugging grammatical compendium will be strik- Shorter CD-ROM will continue to mature heavy hard copy dictionaries under the ingly enhanced with the navigational flexi- in ways that will amaze and surprise us fur- palm trees, at 95ûF (click 35ûC). bility of click and search, or type and ther. Legitimately, we can always gripe at search, and the inclusion of a few hyper- the current immaturity of cross-referencing. References: links within the grammatical explanations That is, for example, the fact that it is not yet Mikheev, Alexandre (2001). “New Tools for nonlinear consultation. possible to click within an article entry and for New Times.” ATA Chronicle, 30 (2), The Harrap’s Shorter CD-ROM is a be connected to another, or cannot gain February 2001, pp. 63-65. superbly designed application, precisely direct access to a conjugated form without because instead of replicating the print having to invoke a separate function. But, in NCTA (2001). “RE: [Entre-Nous] Dictio- mode, it surprises you with that extra the research and development tradition of nnaires.” Online communication posted dimension of novel features that pertain software trajectories, we should somehow to the NCTA Entre-Nous listserver, exclusively to the digital domain. The fea- rest assured that version 1 is its infancy, and February 21, 2001. tures that have been reviewed (the pop-up that we are merely participating in a design

Mixing Science and Art Continued from p. 41

what patients were thinking at the time produced a Portuguese-language rating Portugal, when feasible, is preferred and they made their selections. These 60 scale with categories judged to be of can be achieved through a multinational people were equally spread out among all equal intervals across both countries. translation team and a rigorous transla- educational levels. Fifteen in each tion methodology. country were healthy (one does not have Conclusion to be sick to do this, but we did want to It is indeed possible to develop one References represent our target population). Portuguese translation for use in both 1. Eremenco, S., “The Functional Assess- Data were tabulated using median Portugal and Brazil. Even though it may ment of Chronic Illness Therapy ranking for each answer category. require more thought and therefore take (FACIT) Multilingual Translations Results showed that high-end (bastante more time in the initial stages, this single- Project.” ATA Chronicle, May 1999. and muito) answer categories were per- language version approach ends up being ceived as having the same intensity for not only more efficient, cutting down on 2. Bonomi, A.E., Cella, D.F., Hahn, the subjects as a whole independent of the overall time a translation takes, but E.A., Bjordal, K., Sperner, B., Gan- literacy (high versus low), health status also more cost effective. It also greatly geri, L., Bergman, B., Willems, J., (healthy versus ill), and country (Brazil simplifies all aspects of data analysis, Hanquet, P., and Zittoun, R., “Multi- versus Portugal). The response scale thus facilitating the use of the data as an lingual Translation of the Functional (nem um pouco, um pouco, mais ou endpoint in international clinical trials or Assessment of Cancer Therapy menos, muito, muitíssimo) was then independent research. Although not easy, (FACT) Quality of Life Measurement finalized based on the median ratings developing a single FACIT Portuguese- System.” Quality of Life Research, and comments of patients. This method language version for use in Brazil and 5(3), 1-12, 1996.

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THE TRANSLATION INQUIRER Compiled by John Decker

(E-In 8-01/2) Hooray! A southeast Barbara Collignon was searching for Decker, an active Asian query at last for this column! A equivalents of assault and battery. member, ProZ correspondent wonders how Hospi- “Coups et blessures” made sense, but is a freelance tals will be reimbursed by a third party then “voies de fait” popped up, and she technical would sound in Indonesian. wonders where it comes from and can it translator (E-J 8-01/3, E-C 8-01/3) Bye be equally applied to physical assault? in Danville, wants a written Japanese and Chinese “Aggression” was also provided as a Pennsylvania. version of the name Melinda Christine French equivalent, but is vague in that a Goodwin Baxter. No e-mail need apply: person, as we all know, can be aggres- send all responses to this by either regular sive with no actual physical contact. Address your queries and responses to mail or by fax to the number given above, Any ideas? The Translation Inquirer, 112 Ardmoor written large and clearly. (G-I 8-01/9) What can we provide, Avenue, Danville, Pennsylvania 17821, or (E-R 8-01/4) In English, rub buttons either in Italian or English, for “EO,” the fax them to (570)275-1477. E-mail are rubber buttons placed on the outside latter component obviously being “-ord- address: [email protected]. Please of a motor that rub or wear away as the nung,” from the phrase “Die Koste- make your submissions by the 25th of vibration of such motor works them into nentscheidung ist in den ?? 402, 78 EO each month to be included in the next the casing in the well. Can anything begründet.” Lengthy lists of various issue. better be found than ghjrkflrb,which abbreviations of laws revealed no “EO.” may be too general? (G-I 8-01/10) “Verkehrsgeltung” is no he Translation Inquirer feels down- (E-Sp 8-01/5) Renato Calderón is problem in English, being something right uncomfortable whenever cir- interested in the by-now notorious Let’s such as general acceptance in trade; but T cumstances force him to slip, even move on, so widely loved by politicians in what about in Italian? Can “valore com- for a word or two, into a third-party style the past decade when they did not want to merciale” serve just as well? of translating. What he means by this is a deal with something. Renato rejects “nos (G-Sw 8-01/11) This workplace- situation in which a phrase in Language movemos” as too literal, and is more related quote proved difficult to render “X” (the source) is better rendered into inclined toward “Cambiemos de tema” or into Swedish from German: “...um das Language “Y” than into the English he is “Hablemos de otra cosa” or “Contin- Problem der Scheinselbstständigkeit expected to provide. Example: a text he uemos.” Other ideas are needed. mit einhergehendem Unterlaufen der recently worked on in which force (E-Sp 8-01/6) In a “software de Beschränkungen der Arbeitszeit zu majeure was the only reasonable version impresión” context, what is good Spanish lösen.” The bolt-print words were really of the phrase that appeared in the source for head carriage overrun? A bit more the nub of the problem. An English sug- language. Do any of his readers have good context: Head carriage overrun on the gestion would be helpful also. examples of similar cases? I am sure the capping side. Please call service. (Sp-E 8-01/12) An Argentinian legal legal eagles can provide plenty of Latin (E-Sp 8-01/7) How could the Most document contains a puzzling phrase, instances, but what about others? Widely Driven Vehicle of the Day not namely “distracto de la donación,” in a eventually find its way into this column? statement that “las partes acuerdan [Abbreviations used with this column: There is no real need, says Renato realizar el distracto de la donación.” C-Chinese ; E-English; F-French; Calderón, to slavishly call SUVs “SUV” G-German; I-Italian; In-Indonesian; in Spanish, but some interesting versions Replies to Old Queries J-Japanese; R-Russian; Sp-Spanish; of this big bruiser of a vehicle may be (R-E 2-01/9) (yt gj lyzv> f gj Sw-Swedish.] lurking out there, just waiting to be dis- xfcfv): Mike Ishenko likes quickly, covered and propagated. His suggestion: rapidly, in no time for this common New Queries VUD (“vehículo utilitario deportivo”) is Russian idiom. These queries, except where noted, are just that, and other ideas are welcomed. (R-E 3-01/9) (cathf j,hfotybz): taken from the list maintained by Warning: “camioneta” is a pickup truck, Boris Silversteyn claims that in the Proz.com. says Renato, not an SUV. He cites the text Soviet Union, economic theory regarded of a misleading Ford commercial on this: the national economy as consisting of (E-F 8-01/1) Barbara Collignon needs “Ford es un experto en Camionetas!” two spheres: the cathf ghjbpdjlcndf French for the adjective pre-trial. No [accompanies a picture of a Ford explorer (sphere of production) and the cathf trivial query, this: recent additions to our sport utility vehicle]. j,hfotybz, the latter including every- knowledge have convinced us that pre- (F-E 8-01/8) This one started its life thing else except production: wholesale trial is where a huge amount of court- as an English-to-French query and now and retail trade and distribution. Evi- related stuff happens. bounces back in the other direction, as dently, this classification is still used in

62 ATA Chronicle ¥ August 2001 AugATAw/Ads 8/9/01 4:31 PM Page 63

Russia and the former U.S.S.R. están todos los que son.” She differenti- person, and all the others who are, are republics. The Businessman’s Russian- ates between “estar” as location and not now. English Dictionary, published by ASAR “estar” as temporary condition. In the in Minsk in 1994, defines it as sphere of case of location, she adds a noun A linguistic oddity is found 90 miles circulation. (“médico”) to the phrase to clarify the south of here, and his name is Richard idea: “Ni son médicos todos los que Beam, a 76-year-old Pennsylvania (Sp-E 1-01/7) (townhouse): Sugges- están, y no están todos los que son Dutchman. If you tune to WLBR, a radio tions for this continue to come in which médicos.” (Not everyone here is a doctor, station in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, from are not repeats of prior ones. Dora Vargas and all the others who are doctors are not 1:45 to 2:00 each afternoon, you prefers “casa anexa.” here). To return to the abbreviated state- will hear Mr. Beam as the host of “Die ment, it becomes Not everybody here is Alde Kummroade” (the Old Comrades). (Sp-E 1-01/18) (“Ni son todos lo que one, but all the others who are are, are Pennsylvania German is quite alive as a están....”): Myrsa Landrón Bou states that not here. language, and has spread to other states in Puerto Rico, what is meant by “No son Then Dora goes on to “estar” as tem- where the Amish have large settlements, todos lo que están ni están todos los que porary condition, and in this case she but only in Lebanon, and only for those son” is that Not all the crazies are in adds an adjective (“alegre”) to make the 15 minutes per week, can you hear a mental hospitals, some are walking meaning clear. The sentence “Ni son ale- radio broadcast (since 1971) entirely in around. Initially, in searching for a trans- gres todos los que están alegres, y no Pennsylvania Dutch. Beam speaks to a lation, she found a line occurring to her están alegres todos los que son alegres. linguistic group known for its unas- from Bing Crosby’s song Swinging on a (Not everybody who is happy now is a suming modesty, but a certain pride does Star: “All the monkeys are in the zoo, yet happy person, and all the others who are emerge in a phrase which is heard at every day you meet quite a few.” happy people are not happy now. Or, to times around this commonwealth: “If you Dora Vargas believes the phrase ought abbreviate it as much as possible, Not ain’t Dutch, you ain’t much.” to read “Ni son todos los que están, y no everybody who now is, is a happy

The SI Briefly (Re)visited Continued from p. 47 Batting a Thousand! Translating American Sports Terms Used Idiomatically Continued from p. 50 1 x 109 as in Brazil, the U.S., and elsewhere). The preferred way of expressing large numbers is to use powers of 10. This ambi- hoped that the chart will be of some use for translators into guity in the names of numbers is one of the reasons why the use other languages by redoing the last column. of ppm, ppb, ppt, and the like is discouraged. Another more important reason is the inappropriateness of using abbreviations References that are language dependent together with internationally recog- On the Internet: nized signs and symbols, such as MPa, ln, 1013, and %, to www.yourdictionary.com/diction5/html#sports express the values of quantities and in equations or other math- A listing of sites offering sports glossaries and dictionaries ematical expressions. Of course there are certain cases in which the use of ppm, www.firstbasesports.com/glossaries ppb, and the like may be required by a law or a regulation, and A selection of specific glossaries for various sports then one has to follow such superseding regulations. www.uta.fi/FAST/US8/REF/sportref.html Conclusion “Brief Sports Terminology Reference: A Guide to Polit- This list, although far from complete, tries to highlight ical, Sexual, and Social Connotations” some points to make our texts and translations as readable and clear as possible. In our opinion, translators who want to do a Books: professional job (or at least help their clients do it) should keep Palmatier, Robert A., and Harold A. Ray. Sports Talk: A Dic- these guidelines in mind. Have fun (and accuracy)! tionary of Sports Metaphors. New York: Greenwood Press, 1989.

Seaton, Don C., et al. Physical Education Handbook. 4th edition. Prentice-Hall, 1965.

ATA Chronicle ¥ August 2001 63 AugATAw/Ads 8/9/01 4:31 PM Page 64

HUMOR AND TRANSLATION By Mark Herman

8) The dove dove into the bushes. 9) I did not object to the object. 10) The row of oarsmen had a row about how to row. Herman is a 11) They were too close to the door to close it. librettist and 12) A seamstress and a sewer fell into a sewer. translator. 13) The farmer taught his sow to sow. 14) The wind was too strong to wind the sail. 15) The dentist injected my jaw with a number a number of times. Giving English The Proper English 16) I shed a tear over the tear in the cloth. hen my older son was a few years old, we bought 17) Does the buck stop here? The buck does not stop at all him a picture dictionary which included the phrase when pursuing does. W “Builders building a building,” together with a suit- 18) The invalid insurance didn’t cover the invalid. able illustration. While we all thought it was funny, we did not, 19) The subject was subject to tests in several subjects. at the time, give a thought to the havoc such phrases played with 20) The drumstick struck the head of the bass painted on the the psyches of nonnative English speakers. head of the bass drum. Below is a list of such phrases, somewhat edited and reordered by me, sent in by Mira Beerbaum. She obtained it Submit items for future columns via e-mail to hermanapter@ from the Internet via her seventh-grade son and his friend, who earthlink.net or via snail mail to Mark Herman, 5748 W Brooks commented, “Boy, am I glad I speak English!” Rd, Shepherd MI 48883-9202. Examples of translations of humor are preferred, but humorous anecdotes about transla- 1) The bandage was wound around the wound. tors, translations, and mistranslations are also welcome. 2) We produce produce on the farm. Include copyright information and permission if relevant. 3) A full dump must refuse refuse. Unless submitters request otherwise, material submitted may be 4) A language student must polish his Polish. shared with Robert Wechsler of Catbird Press (catbird@ 5) Get the lead out and lead! pipeline.com), who is planning an international collection of 6) The soldier had to his dessert in the desert. humor in English translation. 7) There is no time like the present to present a present.

Overview of the U.S. and Brazilian Legal Systems: Concepts and Terminology Continued from p. 37 DISPLAY ADVERTISING INDEX States. This drastically changed the face of American practice and procedure, bringing into play a totally new system of civil AvantPage ...... 65 procedure that has largely superseded common law pleadings. Needless to say, the influence of civil law and the principles of ACEBO ...... 33 the Romano-Germanic system are pervasive throughout. Alchemy Software Development ...... 17 Another important piece of enacted legislation in the U.S. is the Uniform Commercial Code, drafted by the National Confer- Atril Language Partners International ...... 2 ence of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and the Amer- ican Law Institute. This was essentially an effort to standardize, College of Charleston ...... 65 simplify, and consolidate the commercial laws of the individual American states, which were wreaking havoc in the business Enrique Lozano ...... 65 relations between American companies in interstate matters. Pacific Publications, Inc...... 25 Terminology Monterey Institute ...... 65 Due to space constraints, the small glossary on page 37 does not contain the explanations that were given at the original lec- New York University ...... 10 ture. There are many considerations, additional renditions of legal terms, and potential discussions that do not appear in this article. TRADOS Corporation ...... 72

64 ATA Chronicle ¥ August 2001 AugATAw/Ads 8/9/01 4:31 PM Page 65

From the Exectutive Director Continued from p. 7

work in initiating, developing, coordinating, and successfully administering the ATA Financial Translation Conference.

This meeting was also of note because it was the last Board meeting presided over by ATA President Ann G. Macfarlane. In addition, three veteran members of the Board are stepping down: Eric McMillan, who has served seven years as ATA treasurer, secre- tary, and director; and Allan Adams and Gertrud Champe, who have served six years each as ATA directors. (The ATA bylaws have two- term limits for the positions of secretary [two-year term], treasurer [two-year term], and director [three-year term]. The two-year term positions of president and president-elect have one-term limits.) It has been an honor to work with, and for, these individuals whose guidance and commitment have greatly benefited the association and the translation and interpretation professions.

Copies of the meeting minutes will be available online once they are provisionally approved by the Board. The final version of the June 30-July 1, 2001 minutes will be available following approval at the next Board meeting, November 3-4, 2001. The final version of the March 23 and 25 Board meeting are available online in the Mem- bers Only section of the ATA Website. In addition, copies may be mailed to you. Please send your request to [email protected] or by fax (703)683-6122.

ATA Chronicle ¥ August 2001 65 AugATAw/Ads 8/9/01 4:31 PM Page 66

CHAPTERS,AFFILIATED GROUPS, AND OTHER GROUPS

ATA Chapters ¥ General Meetings (1:00-5:00pm, UC Berkeley Extension, 55 Laguna St., San Francisco): Sept. 15, Dec. 1. Atlanta Association of Interpreters and Translators (AAIT) ¥ 2001 NCTA Membership Directory available on CD-ROM or diskette for P.O. Box 12172 $10, printed version for $25. To purchase, mail remittance to the above address, Atlanta, GA 30355 or fax/telephone MasterCard/Visa number and expiration date. Tel: (770) 587-4884 ¥ A Practical Guide for Translators, 1997 revised edition available for $10. To [email protected] ¥ www.aait.org purchase, mail remittance to the above address, or fax/telephone MasterCard/Visa number and expiration date. Carolina Association of Translators and Interpreters (CATI) 318 Bandock Drive Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society (NOTIS) Durham, NC 27703 P.O. Box 25301 Tel: (919) 577-0840 ¥ Fax: (919) 557-1202 Seattle, WA 98125-2201 [email protected] ¥ www.catiweb.org Tel: (206) 382-5642 ¥ Local group meetings held in Asheville, Charlotte, and Research Triangle Park, E-mail: [email protected] ¥ www.notisnet.org NC; and Columbia and Greenville/Spartanburg, SC. Southern California Area Translators and Interpreters Association ¥ Membership directory, $12; CATI Quarterly subscription, $12. (SCATIA) Florida Chapter of ATA (FLATA) P.O. Box 34310 P.O. Box 14-1057 Los Angeles, CA 90034 Coral Gables, FL 33114-1057 Tel: (818) 725-3899 ¥ Fax: (818) 340-9177 Tel/Voice: (305) 274-3434 ¥ Fax: (305) 387-6712 E-mail: [email protected] ¥ www.scatia.org E-mail: [email protected] ¥ www.atafl.com Affiliated Groups Mid-America Chapter of ATA (MICATA) 6600 NW Sweetbriar Lane Michigan Translators/Interpreters Network (MiTiN) Kansas City, MO 64151 P.O. Box 852 Attn.: Meeri Yule Novi, MI 48376 Tel: (816) 741-9441 ¥ Fax: (816) 741-9482 Tel: (248)344-0909 ¥ Fax: (248)344-0092 E-mail: [email protected] ¥ www.ata-micata.org E-mail: [email protected] ¥ www.mitinweb.org National Capital Area Chapter of ATA (NCATA) Utah Translators and Interpreters Association (UTIA) P.O. Box 65200 3617 S. 1400 West Washington, DC 20035-5200 Salt Lake City, UT 84119 Tel: (703) 255-9290 ¥ Fax (703)393-0387 Tel: (801)973-0912 ¥ Fax: (208)441-5390 E-mail: [email protected] ¥ www.ncata.org E-mail: [email protected] ¥ www.utia.org ¥ The Professional Services Directory of the National Capital Area Chapter of the American Translators Association (NCATA) has gone online. It lists Other Groups NCATA members and the services they offer, together with additional infor- This list gives contact information for translation and interpretation mation that enables translation and interpretation users to find just the right groups as a service to ATA members. Inclusion does not imply affiliation language specialist for their projects. Bookmark www.ncata.org and check out with or endorsement by the ATA. the NCATA directory. If you maintain language-related Web pages, you may want to include a link to the directory. NCATA is always interested in com- American Literary Translators Association (ALTA) ments and suggestions. Box 830688 Richardson, TX 75083-0688 New York Circle of Translators (NYCT) Tel: (214) 883-2093 ¥ Fax: (214) 833-6303 P.O. Box 4051, Grand Central Station New York, NY 10163-4051 Austin Area Translators and Interpreters Association (AATIA) Tel: (212) 334-3060 P.O. Box 1474 www.nyctranslators.org San Marcos, TX 78667 Tel: (512) 396-8887 ¥ Fax: (512) 396-4835 Northeast Ohio Translators Association (NOTA) www.aatia.org 1963 E. Sprague Road E-mail: [email protected] Seven Hills, OH 44131 Tel: (440) 526-2365 ¥ Fax: (440) 717-3333 The California Court Interpreters Association (CCIA) E-mail: [email protected] ¥ www.ohiotranslators.org 345 S. HWY 101, Suite D Encinitas, CA 92024 Northern California Translators Association (NCTA) Tel: (760) 635-0273 ¥ Fax: (760) 635-0276 P.O. Box 14015 www.ccia.org Berkeley, CA 94712-5015 E-mail: [email protected] Tel: (510) 845-8712 ¥ Fax: (510) 883-1355 E-mail: [email protected] ¥ www.ncta.org Chicago Area Translators and Interpreters Association (CHICATA) ¥ Telephone/online referral service. See searchable translator database on P.O. Box 804595 Website. Chicago, IL 60680-4107 Tel: (312) 836-0961 www.chicata.org/ E-mail: [email protected]

66 ATA Chronicle ¥ August 2001 AugATAw/Ads 8/9/01 4:31 PM Page 67

Colorado Translators Association (CTA) The Translators and Interpreters Guild (TTIG) P.O. Box 295 2007 N. 15th Street, Suite 4 Eldorado Springs, CO 80025 Arlington, VA 22201-2621 Tel: (303) 554-0280 ¥ Fax: (303) 543-9037 Tel: (703) 522-0881, (800) 992-0367 ¥ Fax: (703) 522-0882 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] ¥ www.ttig.org ¥ For more information about the online directory, newsletter, accreditation Washington State Court Interpreters and Translators Society (WITS) exams, and professional seminars, please visit www.cta-web.org. P.O. Box 1012 Delaware Valley Translators Association (DVTA) Seattle, WA 98111-1012 606 John Anthony Drive Tel: (206) 382-5690 West Chester, PA 19382-7191 www.witsnet.org [email protected] www.fortunecity.de/lindenpark/kuenstler\59\dvta.htm AUSTRALIA Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators Inc. (AUSIT) El Paso Interpreters and Translators Association (EPITA) P.O. Box A202 1003 Alethea Place Sydney South, NSW 1235 Australia El Paso, TX 79902 Tel: +61-2-9745-1382 ¥ Fax: +61-2-9745-5528 Tel: (915) 532-8566 ¥ Fax: (915) 544-8354 E-mail: [email protected] ¥ www.ausit.org E-mail: [email protected] CANADA Houston Interpreters and Translators Association (HITA) Association of Translators and Interpreters of (ATIA) P.O. Box 61285 P.O. Box 2635 Houston, TX 77208-1285 Station M Tel: (713) 935-2123 Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 3C1 www.hitahouston.com Tel: (403) 243-3477(Alberta office) or (403) 434-8384 (Edmonton office) Joint National Committee for Languages (JNCL) www.atia.ab.ca 4646 40th Street, N.W., Suite 310 Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO) Washington, DC 20016 1 Street, Suite 1202 Tel: (202) 966-8477 ¥ Fax: (202) 966-8310 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 7B7 E-mail: [email protected] ¥ www.languagepolicy.org Tel: (613) 241-2846, Toll-free: 1-800-234-5030 ¥ Fax: (613) 241-4098 Metroplex Interpreters and Translators Association (MITA) E-mail: [email protected] ¥ www.atio.on.ca 4319 Durango Lane Ordre des traducteurs et interprètes agréés du Québec (OTIAQ) McKinney, TX 75070 2021 Union, Suite 1108 Tel: (972) 540-6891 , Quebec, Canada H3A 2S9 www.users.ticnet.com/mita/ Tel: (514) 845-4411, Toll-free: (800) 265-4815 ¥ Fax: (514) 845-9903 National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators www.otiaq.org (NAJIT) Society of Translators and Interpreters of British Colombia (STIBC) 551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3025 Suite 514, 850 West Hastings Street, Box 34 New York, NY 10176 Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 1E1 Tel: (212) 692-9581 ¥ Fax: (212) 687-4016 Tel: (604) 684-2940 ¥ Fax: (604) 684-2947 E-mail: [email protected] ¥ www.najit.org E-mail: [email protected] ¥ www.stibc.org New England Translators Association (NETA) 217 Washington Street ENGLAND Brookline, MA 02146 Institute of Translation & Interpreting (ITI) Tel: (617) 734-8418 ¥ Fax: (617) 232-6865 377 City Road E-mail: [email protected] London, EC1V 1ND England Tel: +44 (0)20 7713 7600 ¥ Fax: +44 (0)20 7713 7650 New Mexico Translators and Interpreters Association (NMTIA) E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] ¥ www.iti.org.uk P.O. Box 36263 Albuquerque, NM 87176 FIT Tel: (505) 352-9258 ¥ Fax: (505) 352-9372 Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs/International Federation E-mail: [email protected] ¥ www.cybermesa.com/~nmtia of Translators (FIT) ¥ Membership Directory available for $5. Please make check payable to 2021 Union Avenue, Suite 1108, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2S9 NMTIA and mail your request to the address listed here, or contact us by Tel: (514) 845-0413 ¥ Fax: (514) 845-9903 e-mail. E-mail: [email protected] Society for Technical Communication (STC) 901 N. Stuart Street, Suite 904 Arlington, VA 22203-1822 Tel: (703) 522-4114 ¥ Fax: (703) 522-2075 www.stc-va.org Note: All announcements must be received by the first of the month prior to the month of publication (For example, September 1 for October issue). For more information on chapters or to start a chapter, please contact ATA Headquarters. Send updates to Mary David, ATA Chronicle, 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590, Alexandria, VA 22314; Tel: (703) 683-6100; Fax: (703) 683-6122; e-mail: [email protected]

ATA Chronicle ¥ August 2001 67 AugATAw/Ads 8/9/01 4:32 PM Page 68

Upcoming Accreditation Exam Information Upcoming Accreditation Exam Information

California Colorado Minnesota Texas August 29, 2001 November 3, 2001 September 22, 2001 September 16, 2001 September 8, 2001 San Diego Los Angeles (2 sittings) Denver Minneapolis Irving Registration Deadline: Registration Deadline: Registration Deadline: Registration Deadline: Registration Deadline: August 17, 2001 When capacity is met* September 7, 2001 August 31, 2001 August 24, 2001

September 15, 2001 District of Columbia New York Colombia San Francisco September 8, 2001 September 15, 2001 August 25, 2001 Registration Deadline: Washington, DC New York City Bogotá August 31, 2001 Registration Deadline: Registration Deadline: Registration Deadline: August 24, 2001 August 31, 2001 August 10, 2001

Please direct all inquiries regarding general accreditation information to ATA Headquarters at (703) 683-6100.

Registration for all accreditation exams should be made through ATA Headquarters. All sittings have a maximum capacity and admission is based on the order in which registrations are received. Forms are available from the ATA Website or from Headquarters.

* Candidates may register for the AM or PM session at the Annual Conference, but not both due to space limitations. Choice of sitting is only available until we reach capacity. Early registration is recommended.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to the following people who have successfully completed accreditation exams: English into Chinese English into Portuguese Meredith Hubble Spanish into English Grace Q Gao-Sheppard Rose G. Braz-Sperling Sedona, AZ Gregorio Ayala Monterey, CA New York, NY Henry M. Lieberman Houston, TX Tsui-Jung Beatrice Lee Flavia Fusaro Houston, TX Roxane Klingler Daw Boston, MA Plantation, FL Marina, CA German into English Richard W. Peng English into Spanish Elroy J. Carlson Lisa A. Grayson City of Industry, CA Chicago, IL Elena Abós Seattle, WA George Zhu Somerville, MA Maia R. Costa Alethea C. Hanna Missouri City, TX Vina, CA Marcela P. Estibill Seattle, WA English into German Minneapolis, MN Amanda B. Ennis Sara G. Koopman Seattle, WA Jacqueline Jugenheimer Patricia Gonzalez Kent, OH Madison, WI Geneva, IL Italian into English Angelika F. Woods Catherine Jagoe John W. Armstrong Columbia, SC Madison, WI Point Richmond, CA The Active Member Review Julieta Pisani McCarthy English into Japanese Portuguese into English Committee is pleased to Berkeley, CA grant active status to: Mitsuyo Hamaya Raul A. Interiano Katia Panhans Eugene, OR Houston, TX Hales Corner, WI Alicia Cappi Koichi Tsumoto Saint Paul, MN Vancouver, British Columbia, Zoraida Verkaik Russian into English Liliana Hermosilla Rosenthal Canada Arlington, VA Geoffrey A. Carlson Brooklyn, NY Milwaukee, MI Naoko Uchida French into English Elliott B. Urdang Vancouver, British Columbia, Roger Billerey-Mosier Providence, RI Canada Long Beach, CA Howard Clark Leesburg, VA

68 ATA Chronicle ¥ August 2001 AugATAw/Ads 8/9/01 4:32 PM Page 69

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ATA Chronicle ¥ August 2001 69 AugATAw/Ads 8/9/01 4:32 PM Page 70

AMERICAN TRANSLATORS ASSOCIATION 42ND ANNUAL CONFERENCE BILTMORE HOTEL • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA OCTOBER 31 – NOVEMBER 3, 2001

Plan now to attend ATA’s Annual Conference. Join your colleagues for an exciting educational experience in Los Angeles, California.

ATA’s 42nd Annual Conference will feature: ¥ Over 150 educational sessions offering something for everyone; ¥ The largest Job Exchange yet for individuals to promote their services and for companies to find the translators and inter- preters they need; ¥ Over 60 exhibits featuring the latest publications, software, and services available; ¥ Opportunities to network with over 1,500 translators and interpreters from throughout the U.S. and around the world; and ¥ Much more!

The Registration Form and Preliminary Program will be mailed in July to all ATA members. The conference rates are listed below. As always, ATA members receive significant discounts.

Conference Registration Fees ATA member Nonmember Student Member Early-Bird (by October 1) $245 $335 $110 One-day $125 $170 n/a After October 1 $305 $420 $130 One-day $160 $220 n/a On-site (after October 26) $380 $525 $150 One-day $195 $270 n/a

Note: Students and one-day participants do not receive a copy of the Proceedings. All speakers must register for the conference.

Hotel Accommodations

The Biltmore Hotel, the host hotel, is conveniently located in downtown Los Angeles at 506 South Grand Avenue. The hotel is 30 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport. Conference attendees can register at the discounted rate of $150 single/double, plus tax ($175 single/double, plus tax, for the Club Floor) per night. This rate is good until October 9, 2001, or until all rooms in the ATA block are reserved, whichever comes first. To make your hotel reservations, contact the Biltmore at 1-800-245-8673 or 213-624-1011. Be sure to specify that you are attending the ATA Annual Conference.

Travel Arrangements

ATA offers the services of Stellar Access to help you with your travel arrangements. Conference attendees are eligible for the following: • American and Delta Airlines: Save 5-10% on lowest applicable fares with an additional 5% off with a 60-day advance pur- chase. All rules and restrictions apply. Travel between October 26 and November 8, 2001. • US Airways: Save 7-12% on lowest applicable fares with an additional 5% off with a 60-day advance purchase. All rules and restrictions apply. Travel between October 26 and November 8, 2001. • Avis Rent A Car: Rates start as low as $34/day for economy models and $145/week with unlimited free mileage.

Call Stellar Access at 1-800-929-4242, and ask for ATA Group #505. Outside the U.S. and Canada, call (619) 232-4298; fax: (619) 232-6497. A $10 transaction fee will be applied to all tickets purchased by phone. Reservation hours: Monday- 6:30 am — 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

New this year, BOOK ONLINE and pay NO TRANSACTION FEE! Go to www.stellaraccess.com and book your reservations from the convenience of your home or office anytime! First-time users must register and refer to Group #505.

If you call directly or use your own agency, refer to the following codes: American: 1-800-433-1790, File# 14003 Delta: 1-800-241-6760, File# 173451A US Airways: 1-877-874-7687, GF# 63661836 Avis: 1-800-331-1600 or www.avis.com, AWD# J949146

Mark Your Calendar Today! October 31–November 3, 2001

70 ATA Chronicle ¥ August 2001 AugATAw/Ads 8/9/01 4:32 PM Page 71

AMERICAN TRANSLATORS ASSOCIATION OFFICERS President President-Elect Secretary Treasurer Ms. Ann G. Macfarlane Mr. Thomas L. West III Ms. Courtney Searls-Ridge Mr. Eric Norman McMillan P.O. Box 60034 Intermark Language Services Corp. German Language Services 1824 S Street NW, #304 Seattle, WA 98160-0034 2555 Cumberland Pkwy, Ste. 295 2658 48th Avenue SW Washington, DC 20009-6137 Tel: (206) 542-8422 Atlanta, GA 30339 Seattle, WA 98116 Tel/Fax: (202) 332-6093 Fax: (206) 546-5065 Tel: (770) 444-3055 Tel: (206) 938-3600 [email protected] [email protected] Fax: (770) 444-3002 Fax: (206) 938-8308 twest@ courtney@ intermark-languages.com germanlanguageservices.com

DIRECTORS Mr. Allan W. Adams Ms. Beatriz Bonnet Dr. Gertrud Graubart Champe Prof. Alan K. Melby Mr. Timothy Yuan Adams Translation Services 7465 East Peakview Avenue PO Box 225 1223 Aspen Avenue 89-33 Pontiac Street 10435 Burnet Road, Suite 125 Englewood, CO 80111 Surry, ME 04684 Provo, UT 84604 Queens Village, NY 11427 Austin,TX 78758 Tel: (303) 779-1288 Tel: (319) 335-2002 Tel: (801) 378-2144 Tel: (718) 776-8139 Tel: (512) 821-1818 Fax: (303) 779-1232 Fax: (319) 335-3417 Fax: (801) 377-3704 Fax: (718) 776-3589 Fax: (512) 821-1888 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Mr. Scott Brennan Ms. Marian S. Greenfield Ms. Ines Swaney Mr. Kirk Anderson 10005 Cairn Mountain Way 2619 Holly Avenue 6161 Harwood Avenue 2455 Drive, #401 Bristow, VA 20136-3009 South Plainfield, 07080 Oakland, CA 94618 Miami Beach, FL 33140 Tel: (703) 393-0365 Tel: (908) 561-7590 Tel: (510) 658-7744 Tel: (305) 532-7252 Fax: (703) 393-0387 Fax: (908) 561-3671 Fax: (510) 658-7743 Fax: (305) 532-0885 [email protected] msgreenfield@ [email protected] [email protected] msgreenfieldtranslations.com

COMMITTEE CHAIRS Accreditation Dictionary Review Honors and Awards Professional Development Special Projects Lillian Novas VanVranken Albert G. Bork Jo Anne Engelbert Marian S. Greenfield Vacant Englewood, CO Austin, TX St. Augustine, FL South Plainfield, NJ Terminology Tel: (303) 721-1695 Tel: (512) 837-6448 Tel: (904) 460-1190 Tel: (908) 561-7590 Sue Ellen Wright Fax: (303) 721-1925 Fax: (512) 836-9440 Fax: (904) 460-0913 Fax: (908) 561-3671 Kent, OH [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] msgreenfield@ Tel: (330) 673-0043 Active Membership Review Divisions Interpretation Policy msgreenfieldtranslations.com Fax: (330) 673-0738 Harvie Jordan,ABC Timothy Yuan Advisory Public Relations [email protected] Austin, TX Queens Village, NY Christian Degueldre L. Manouche Ragsdale Training Tel: (512) 441-5582 Tel: (718) 776-8139 Pacific Grove, CA Los Angeles, CA Gertrud Graubart Champe Fax: (512) 441-3983 Fax: (718) 776-3589 Tel: (831) 372-1870 Tel: (310) 275-9571 Surry, ME [email protected] [email protected] Fax: (831) 372-1026 Fax: (310) 271-1319 Tel: (319) 335-2002 [email protected] Budget Ethics [email protected] Fax: (319) 335-3417 Eric Norman McMillan Karen Brovey Mentoring Task Force Science and Technology [email protected] Washington, DC Library, PA Courtney Searls-Ridge Information Tel/Fax: (202) 332-6093 Seattle, WA Translation and Computers Tel: (412) 655-7288 Nicholas Hartmann Alan K. Melby [email protected] Fax: (412) 655-1561 Tel: (206) 938-3600 Milwaukee, WI Fax: (206) 938-8308 Provo, UT Chapters [email protected] Tel: (414) 271-4890 Tel: (801) 378-2144 Kirk Anderson courtney@ Fax: (414) 271-4892 germanlanguageservices.com Fax: (801) 377-3704 Miami Beach, FL [email protected] [email protected] Tel: (305) 532-7252 Fax: (305) 532-0885 [email protected]

DIVISION ADMINISTRATORS Hebrew Language Portuguese Language Translation Company Frank Mou [being established] Izumi Suzuki Vera M. B. Abreu Steven P. Iverson Pittsburgh, PA Batya Reichman Novi, MI San Jose, CA Milwaukee, WI Tel: (412) 767-4788 Houston. TX Tel: (248) 344-0909 Tel: (408) 266-5832 Tel: (414) 271-1144 Fax: (412) 767-9744 Tel/Fax: (713) 721-7799 Fax: (248) 344-0092 Fax: (408) 266-5892 Fax: (414) 271-0144 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Interpreters Literary Slavic Languages Monique-Paule Tubb Diane E. Teichman Clifford E. Landers Nora Seligman Favorov Chevy Chase, MD Houston. TX Naples, FL Orlando, FL Tel: (301) 654-2890 Tel/Fax: (281) 445-3119 Tel: (941) 513-6972 Tel: (407) 679-8151 Fax: (301) 654-2891 [email protected] [email protected] Fax: (646) 356-1521 [email protected] Italian Language Nordic [email protected] German Language Roberto Crivello M. Matteson Spanish Language Dorothee Racette Salt Lake City, UT Ballwin, MO Rudolf Heller Saranac, NY Tel: (801) 278-7757 Tel/Fax: (636) 207-7256 Brookfield, MA Tel: (518) 293-7494 Fax: (801) 278-4211 [email protected] Tel: (508) 867-8494 Fax: (518) 293-7659 [email protected] Fax: (508) 867-8064 [email protected] [email protected]

ATA REPRESENTATIVES To International Federation of To Joint National Committee for To Regional Center for North To ASTM Language To ASTM Translation User Translators (FIT) Languages (JNCL) America (RCNA) Interpreting Standards Standards Project Peter W. Krawutschke Christophe Réthoré Vacant Project Rosalie P. Wells Kalamazoo, MI Harrisonburg, VA Bruce T. Downing West Grove, PA Tel: (616) 387-3212 Tel: (540) 568-3512 Minneapolis, MN Tel: (610) 869-0920 Fax: (616) 387-3103 Fax: (540) 438-0648 Tel: (612) 624-6552 Fax: (610) 869-9320 [email protected] [email protected] Fax: (612) 624-4579 [email protected] FIT: www.fit-ift.org [email protected] AugATAw/Ads 8/9/01 4:32 PM Page 72