The Voice of Interpreters and Translators THE ATA May/June 2017 Volume XLVI Number 3 UNRAVELING TRANSLATION SERVICE CONTRACTS A Publication of the American Translators Association DC, an event hosted by the Joint National Committee for Languages and the National American Translators Association Council for Languages and International 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 Studies (JNCL-NCLIS). ATA Past President Alexandria, VA 22314 USA Caitilin Walsh, who now serves as ATA’s Tel: +1.703.683.6100 JNCL representative, joined dozens of Fax: +1.703.683.6122 other delegates from language-learning E-mail: [email protected] FROM THE PRESIDENT organizations and language industry Website: www.atanet.org representatives to meet with congressional DAVID RUMSEY staff members to lobby for greater foreign- Editorial Board [email protected] language education and the importance Geoff Koby (chair) Twitter handle: @davidcrumsey of translators and interpreters in helping Jeff Alfonso American businesses succeed.2 Investing Corinne McKay in language learning and educating Michael Wahlster government officials about what we do will ATA Advocacy bear fruit in the future as the world becomes Publisher/Executive Director even more tightly connected. Walter Bacak, CAE Efforts ATA offers many other ways to plant [email protected] seeds and flowers to improve the language here’s a mantra in real estate that says, landscape in the U.S. The long-running Editor “location, location, location.” Which and popular School Outreach program Jeff Sanfacon T is to say, no matter where your house helps fertilize the soil at the roots by [email protected] is built, it’s the neighborhood that really having translators and interpreters meet establishes its value. In terms of ATA and the with local children to expose them to Proofreader U.S. translation and interpreting industry as what translators and interpreters do and Cathy Lada a whole, our neighborhood could use a little to foreign-language learning in general. Advertising tender loving care. Particularly now. ATA’s Public Relations Committee Lauren Mendell Despite its massive size and rich history also sponsors business outreach through [email protected] of immigrants from around the globe, the its pool of event speakers, who address U.S. still considers itself to be a primarily audiences from a variety of industries. Tel: +1.703.683.6100, ext. 3001 monolingual, English-speaking country. Presentations explaining the basics and Fax: +1.703.683.6122 As a result, “translation” and “interpreting” finer points of translation and interpreting Design & Production are still largely alien concepts for a vast to business audiences have been held at the Blue House Design portion of the population. Philadelphia Bar Association, the American www.bluehouse.us In an effort to “improve the Chemical Society’s Annual Conference, and neighborhood” for our industry, advocacy the Society for Technical Communication The ATA Chronicle (ISSN 1078-6457) is published plays a key role. ATA has been sponsoring Summit. ATA will also be present at the six times per year by the American Translators advocacy and outreach efforts on a International Association of Business Association, 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590, number of fronts. Communicators’ World Conference this Alexandria, VA 22314 USA. Periodicals postage A report by the American Academy of summer. Since many audience members 1 paid at Alexandria, Virginia, and additional Arts and Sciences and a related effort by don’t have a background in foreign mailing offices.POSTMASTER: Send address the American Council on the Teaching of languages, they are incredibly appreciative changes to The ATA Chronicle, 225 Reinekers Foreign Language (www.leadwithlanguages. of any guidance through the landscape. org) paint a language landscape in the As we know, like gardening and Lane, Suite 590, Alexandria, VA 22314 USA. U.S. that’s in dire need of attention. landscaping, advocacy is a job that is never The American Translators Association (ATA) Language learning programs have dropped done. It requires regular attention to make was established in 1959 as a not-for-profit precipitously in recent years, and with sure the seeds we planted grow strong and professional society to foster and support the them the chance to train new translators tall and don’t get choked by the weeds professional development of translators and and interpreters. Where will tomorrow’s around them. It takes time and effort by interpreters and to promote the translation and translators and interpreters come from dedicated volunteers, who help to bring interpreting professions. The subscription rate for to meet the growing need for Chinese, passion, patience, and understanding to an a member is $25 (included in the dues payment). Arabic, Hindi, Farsi, Korean, and many industry that we care about deeply. The U.S. subscription rate for a nonmember is $65. other languages that are rarely taught in Subscribers in Canada and Mexico add $25; school? Less exposure to foreign-language NOTES all other non-U.S. subscribers add $45. instruction also leads to clients with 1 “America’s Languages: Investing in Single copies are available for $7 per issue. little understanding of language issues in Language Education in the 21st Century” business or government settings, making (American Academy of Arts and Sciences, ©2017 American Translators Association translation and interpreting projects all the 2017), http://bit.ly/AAAS-report. more challenging. 2. Walsh, Caitilin. “Advocacy Matters,” Reprint Permission ATA recently participated and sponsored The ATA Chronicle (March-April, 2017), Requests for permission to reprint articles a Language Advocacy Day in Washington, 11, http://bit.ly/ATA-Chronicle-advocacy. should be sent to the editor of The ATA Chronicle at [email protected]. 2 The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2017 www.atanet.org May/June 2017 Volume XLVI CONTENTS Number 3 FEATURES 21 Key Components of Successful Translator Recruitment 11 A fundamental tenet of language Unraveling Translation services is that an organization’s Service Contracts translation product will only be If translation is such a specialized as good as the translator who professional service, where provides the target content. That’s so much is at stake for the why vendor recruitment must be end client, why are so many counted among the most critical translators operating without the of processes for translation firms. protection of a solid contract? 14 Remote Interpreting: ADVERTISING DIRECTORY Feeling Our Way into the Future 28 Landmark Audio Technologies LLC www.landmarkfm.com While it’s probably impossible 36 National Security Agency to quantify exactly how www.NSA.gov/Careers much mobile technology has influenced and expanded human communication, it has completely changed how just about everyone on the planet communicates. 14 COLUMNS 2 From the President 17 5 ATA Social Media Tablets for Interpreters: 5 Letters to the Editor The Device You Didn’t Know 6 From the Executive Director You Wanted 7 ATA Finance and Audit You may already be using an Committee Report Android mobile device or iPad to browse the web, play games, 9 Outreach Report or stream video. But did you 25 Our World of Words know that tablets also make great companions for interpreters? 29 Business Practices Read on for some great tips 31 Resource Review to get started. 34 Certification Forum 35 Announcements Looking for Member News and Humor and Translation? These columns and more can now be 21 found in the Chronicle-Online edition: www.atanet.org/chronicle-online! www.facebook.com/ Connect www.atanet.org with ATA AmericanTranslatorsAssociation www.twitter.com/atanet www.linkedin.com http://bit.ly/ATA-youtube http://bit.ly/GooglePlusATA ENGAGED PASSIONATE INSPIRED YOU BELONG HERE 58 American Translators Association GET ONLINE to see what ATA58 offers Find photos, videos, and testimonials 58th Annual to discover why you must attend. www.atanet.org/conf/2017/attend Conference Oct 25-28 2017 Washington DC GET CONNECTED now by using #ata58 You can’t register until July, but you can join the conversation on social You belong where over 1,800 media using #ata58! dedicated translation and interpreting professionals connect globally. GET BOOKED at the Washington Hilton You belong where you can tackle Discounted ATA rates are available until Oct 4, 2017 or as space allows. current challenges, collaborate with www.atanet.org/conf/2017/hotel industry leaders, and help shape the GET A BOOST future of your profession. by advertising with ATA Your brand can be seen by 1,800 attendees and 10,000 members! YOU BELONG ww.atanet.org/conf/2017/advertise AT 58 GET STARTED AT WWW.ATANET.ORG/CONF/2017 ATA SOCIAL MEDIA FROM OUR MEMBERS 25,392 11,100 3,760 FACEBOOK FANS TWITTER FOLLOWERS LINKEDIN MEMBERS FEATURED FACEBOOK POST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Transitioning from Student to Translator | ATA Statement Regarding President Trump’s American Translators Meghan Mccallum And Sarah Puchner Executive Order On Immigration | Association A great article with useful advice and a very Chronicle-Online Extra April 11 helpful list of resources in the footnotes. We need to be watchful in defending the interests of our colleagues from Iraq and other Linguists say most Balkan Thank you, Sarah and Meghan! targeted countries. We can achieve so much Victoria B languages are the same. And more as an organization than each of us can nationalists are mad about it individually (although please note some members No amount of nationalism, From the article “Transitioning from Student to of our Gainesville, Florida, translator/interpreter it appears, can Balkanize a Translator” (March-April): “It can be very exciting group met recently to send postcards to language. Twenty-five years once jobs start pouring in…” our representatives). This is hardly typical for the vast majority of after the former Socialist translators entering the market these days. It Kate Walker I Gainesville, FL Federalist Republic of is deceptive to write as if it were and harmful Yugoslavia was split into Serbia to those considering a translation career.