July 2002 Volume XXXI Number 7 The Chronicle A Publication of the American Translators Association in this issue Agencies, Bureaus, and Companies Don’t Let Summer Sizzle By Without Registering for ATA’s 43rd Annual Conference Hyatt Regency Hotel • Atlanta, Georgia November 6 - 9, 2002 See page 61 for all the details. July 2002 Volume XXXI in this issue Number 7 Features A Publication of 13 International Certification Study: Norway the American By Jiri Stejskal Translators Association 16 Translation in the News: Terrorist Attacks Spotlight Need for Qualified Linguists By Alexandra Russell-Bitting From the ATA Public Relations Committee: Recent articles in the press have criticized U.S. intelligence agencies for failing to develop the capacity to translate less com- monly spoken languages, and have called for foreign-language education reform. At Editor this crucial juncture, the ATA should make itself heard. Jeff Sanfacon [email protected] 19 Setting Up a Translation Agency By Mike Collins Proofreader Starting a translation agency requires a lot of thought and planning. Here are some tips Margaret L. Hallin on how to go about it and some pitfalls to avoid. Design/Layout 23 The Biggest Myth of All About Your Independent Translation Business Ellen Banker/Amy Peloff By Nancy M. Snyder Advertising Once you have established your independent translation business, you need to learn how Brian Wallace to handle situations that can stand in the way of success. McNeill Group Inc. 27 Yes, It Is Still Worth It: An Update [email protected] By Jonathan Hine (215) 321-9662 ext. 38 A summary of an oft-reprinted article on how freelancers can rationally begin to price Fax: (215) 321-9636 their work, with updated information about multiple incomes and accounting software. Executive Director Walter Bacak [email protected] Editorial Advisors R. Michael Conner, Columns and Departments Leslie Willson, Mike Stacy 6 About Our Authors Membership and 7 From the President General Information 8 From the Executive Director Maggie Rowe 10 From the Treasurer [email protected] 12 Conferences and Events Document-on-Request: 52 The Onionskin 1-888-990-3282 54 Dictionary Reviews website: www.atanet.org 58 The Translation Inquirer 60 Humor and Translation 60 Display Advertising Index 65 New Active and Corresponding Members 66 ATA Chapters and Groups 68 Marketplace American Translators Association 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 • Alexandria VA 22314 Tel: (703) 683-6100 • Fax (703) 683-6122 E-mail: [email protected] • Website: www.atanet.org 2002 Chronicle The Editorial Calendar A Publication of the American Translators Association Chronicle 1999 FIT Best Periodical Award Winner January Focus: Professional Practices Submission Deadline: The ATA Chronicle Submission Guidelines November 1 The ATA Chronicle enthusiastically encourages members to submit articles of interest to the fields of February Focus: ATA Divisions: Past, translation and interpretation. Present, and Beyond 1. Articles (see length specifications below) are due the first of the month, two months prior to the Submission Deadline: month of publication (i.e., June 1 for August issue). December 1 2. Articles should not exceed 3,500 words. Articles containing words or phrases in non-European writing systems (e.g., Japanese, Arabic) should be submitted by mail and fax. March Focus: Marketing 3. Include your fax, phone, e-mail, and mailing address on the first page. Submission Deadline: 4. Include a brief abstract (two sentences maximum) emphasizing the most salient points of your January 1 article. The abstract will be included in the table of contents. 5. Include a brief biography (three sentences maximum) along with a picture (color or B/W). Please April Focus: Public Awareness be sure to specify if you would like your photo returned. Do not send irreplaceable photos. Submission Deadline: 6. In addition to a hard copy version of the article, please submit an electronic version either on February 1 disk or via e-mail ([email protected]). 7. Texts should be formatted for Word or Wordperfect 8.0. May 8. All articles are subject to editing for grammar, style, punctuation, and space limitations. Focus: Literary Translation Submission Deadline: 9. A proof will be sent to you for review prior to publication. March 1 Standard Length June Letters to the editor: 350 words; Opinion/Editorial: 300-600 words; Feature Articles: 750-3,500 Focus: Adapting for Success words; Column: 400-1,000 words Submission Deadline: April 1 July Focus: Agencies, Bureaus, and An Easy Reference To ATA Member Benefits Companies Submission Deadline: Your ATA membership has never been more valuable. Take advantage of the discounted programs and May 1 services available to you as an ATA member. Be sure to tell these companies you are an ATA member and refer to any codes provided below. August Focus: Medical Business Owners Insurance MasterCard Submission Deadline: National Professional Group MBNA America June 1 (888) 219-8122 Reference Code: IFKV September www.ata-ins.com (800) 847-7378 • (302) 457-2165 Focus: Interpreting Submission Deadline: Collection Services/Receivables Medical, Life, and Disability Insurance July 1 Management Mutual of Omaha October Dun & Bradstreet (800) 223-6927 • (402) 342-7600 Focus: Legal Translating/ Mike Horoski www.atanet.org/mutual.htm Interpreting (800) 333-6497 ext. 7226 Submission Deadline: (484) 242-7226 Overnight Delivery/Express Package Service August 1 [email protected] UPS Reference Code: C0000700415 November/December Focus: Training and Pedagogy Conference Travel (800) 325-7000 Submission Deadline: Stellar Access www.ups.com September 1 Reference Code: 505 (800) 929-4242 • (619) 453-3686 Professional Liability Insurance Moving? Find an e-mail: [email protected] National Professional Group www.stellaraccess.com (888) 219-8122 error with your www.ata-ins.com address? Credit Card Acceptance Retirement Programs We’ve done everything possible to ensure Program/Professional Services Account Washington Pension Center that your address is correct. But sometimes NOVA Information Systems (888) 817-7877 • (301) 941-9179 errors do occur. If you find that the informa- Reference Code: HCDA tion on the mailing label is inaccurate or out (888) 545-2207 • (770) 649-5700 of date, please let us know. Send updates to: The ATA Chronicle • 225 Reinekers Lane, ...And, of course, as an ATA member you receive discounts on the Annual Conference registration fees and ATA publi- Suite 590 • Alexandria, VA 22314 cations, and you are eligible to join ATA Divisions, participate in the online Translation Services Directory, and much Fax (703) 683-6122 • [email protected] more. For more information, contact ATA (703) 683-6100; fax (703) 683-6122; and e-mail: [email protected]. 4 The ATA Chronicle | July 2002 32 A Jog Through the Juniper: A Translator’s Unhappy Excursion into the Copyright Thicket By Anne Milano Appel and Carol J. Marshall A well-intentioned American translator unwittingly finds herself trapped with an irate Italian author in the impenetrable thicket of copyright law, seemingly with no way out. A seasoned attorney and conflict resolution specialist provide tools that can help cut a path through the spiny undergrowth. The ATA Chronicle (ISSN 1078-6457) is published 36 Language Services in Survey Research monthly, except bi-monthly By Kim Watts, Georgina McAvinchey, and Rosanna Quiroz in November/December, How do you find out what you need to know? For three in-house translators at a survey by the American research organization, the most important translation resources often take human form. Translators Association. 38 Learn the Art of Interpreting and Educate Your Clients Reprint Permission: By Maria McCollum-Rye Requests for permission to Spending a few minutes before your interpreting session educating your client on how reprint articles should be sent to the Chronicle editor to work with an interpreter will make a world of difference, and will benefit you and at [email protected]. our profession. The subscription rate for a member is $43 (included in 41 Internet Resources for the Translation of Patents into English the dues payment). The U.S. By Steve Vlasta Vitek subscription rate for a non- An introduction to some of the most important sites for the translation of patents from member is $50. Subscribers in Canada and Mexico add Japanese, German, French, and other languages. $25; all other non-U.S. sub- scribers add $45. Single 46 All This, and Money, Too! copies are available for $5 By Tony Beckwith per issue. Second-class My friends at home always picture me sightseeing, taking day-trips to the mountains, Postage rates paid at Alexandria, Virginia, and and acting like a tourist. However, I have spent several days in some cities and never additional mailing offices. actually left the hotel. Postmaster: 47 An Interview with Reinhold Werner Changes of address By Rudy Heller (English translation by Andre Moskowitz) should be sent to The ATA An interview with Reinhold Werner, professor of applied linguistics at the University of Chronicle, 225 Reinekers Augsburg, Germany, concerning various linguistic issues, including language variation, Lane, Suite 590, language influence, language policy, and translation. Alexandria, VA 22314. The American Translators Association (ATA) was established in 1959 as a not-for-profit professional society to advance the standards of translation ATA Chapter Seed Money Fund and to promote the intel- lectual and material inter- ests of translators and Is your ATA chapter planning an event? Does that event have need for a distinguished, interpreters in the United dynamic, industry-relevant speaker? If so, ATA’s Professional Development Committee States. The statements wants to help! made in The ATA Chronicle do not neces- ATA’s Professional Development Committee offers a seed money fund for speakers. Be sure sarily reflect the opinion to call ATA today for application guidelines and a list of fabulous speakers who could be a or judgment of the ATA, guest at your next meeting, workshop, or seminar.