The Voice of Interpreters and Translators THE ATA May/June 2019 Volume XLVIII Number 3 PROMOTING ATA AT THE EUROPEAN LANGUAGE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE A Publication of the American Translators Association American Translators Association 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 Alexandria, VA 22314 USA Tel: +1.703.683.6100 Greater involvement of interpreters Fax: +1.703.683.6122 in ATA has motivated us to stretch Email: [email protected] Website: www.atanet.org our boundaries—to the benefit of FROM THE PRESIDENT Editorial Board CORINNE MCKAY the Association at large. Paula Arturo [email protected] Lois Feuerle Twitter handle: @corinnemckay Geoff Koby (chair) point of view in many of our core programs Corinne McKay by appointing interpreters to key positions, Mary McKee Interpreters: such as webinar chair (Director Elena Ted Wozniak Langdon) and Chapters Committee chair Jost Zetzsche (Directory Tony Guerra). A Critical Additionally, interpreter advocacy has Publisher/Executive Director come to the forefront in recent months. Walter Bacak, CAE Presence in ATA ATA members in Texas—including [email protected] Austin Area Translators and Interpreters ith over 3,000 individual Association President Marco Hanson and Editor members, ATA’s Interpreters ATA Director Cristina Helmerichs—alerted Jeff Sanfacon Division1 includes nearly W us to a disturbing set of proposals in the [email protected] one third of our Association’s total Texas legislature that would decrease the membership. During my time in ATA— passing score on the Texas state court Advertising now about 17 years—interpreters have interpreter exam from 70% to 60%. [email protected] played an ever-growing role (literally, With help from Bill Rivers, executive Tel: +1.703.683.6100, ext. 3007 and figuratively!) in ATA, to the greater director of the Joint National Committee Fax: +1.703.683.6122 benefit of the Association as a whole. That on Languages, the language lobbying growing presence has also motivated us in organization to which ATA belongs, ATA Design & Production ATA’s leadership to take a closer look at drafted a letter strongly opposing these bills Blue House DC the benefits we offer interpreters and how and sent it to key members of the Texas www.bluehousedc.com to advocate for interpreters in the larger legislature.3 Likewise, we’re becoming world of language services. The ATA Chronicle (ISSN 1078-6457) is published involved in court interpreter advocacy in Critical to ATA’s increased inclusion of six times per year by the American Translators South Carolina, where some interpreters interpreters is our Interpretation Policy Association, 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590, Advisory Committee (IPAC), headed by ATA are being paid only for “talking time” (i.e., Alexandria, VA 22314 USA. Periodicals postage Board Member Melinda Gonzalez-Hibner. half the time that they are actually on duty) paid at Alexandria, Virginia, and additional As chair of IPAC, Melinda advises ATA’s when interpreting in a team of two. mailing offices.POSTMASTER: Send address leadership on all things interpreter-related. Dealing with issues such as these has changes to The ATA Chronicle, 225 Reinekers She and her committee—experts in multiple been a new departure for ATA, especially Lane, Suite 590, Alexandria, VA 22314 USA. “flavors” of interpreting such as medical, for those of us who think of a translators The American Translators Association (ATA) conference, court, and community—work association as consisting mainly of desk- was established in 1959 as a not-for-profit on ATA’s own interpreter policies (more on bound “word nerds” who need some professional society to foster and support the those below!), and also advise me on how prodding to get out from behind the professional development of translators and ATA can or should speak up for interpreters computer screen. Greater involvement interpreters and to promote the translation and when interfacing with our national and state of interpreters in ATA has motivated us interpreting professions. The subscription rate for governments and other entities. to stretch our boundaries—to the great a member is $25 (included in the dues payment). If you’re an interpreter, you should first benefit of the Association at large. We hope The U.S. subscription rate for a nonmember is $65. make sure that you’re taking advantage that the presence of interpreters in ATA will Subscribers in Canada and Mexico add $25; of all the interpreter-specific benefits continue to grow well into the future! all other non-U.S. subscribers add $45. ATA offers. Most importantly, if you Single copies are available for $7 per issue. hold a recognized interpreting credential NOTES Statements of fact or opinion are the responsibility 1. in conference, health care, or legal For more information on ATA’s Interpreters of the authors alone and do not imply an opinion interpreting, make sure to apply for our Division, visit www.ata-divisions.org/ID. on the part of the officers or the members of ATA. Credentialed Interpreter designation (CI),2 2. For more information on ATA’s which appears in ATA directory searches Credentialed Interpreter designation, visit ©2019 American Translators Association alongside the CT credential for ATA- http://bit.ly/ATA-CI-credential. Reprint Permission certified translators. ATA has also made a 3. See “Follow ATA News,” Requests for permission to reprint articles concerted effort to include the interpreter https://atanet.org/pressroom/index.php. should be sent to the editor of The ATA Chronicle 2 The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2019 at [email protected]. May/June 2019 Volume XLVIII CONTENTS Number 3 FEATURES 19 ATA Law Seminar: 10 Four Perspectives Responding to Disaster: Best One of the biggest challenges you Practices and Lessons Learned face as a translator or interpreter from the 2017 North Bay Fires is finding the intermediate-to- advanced continuing education The disastrous 2017 North Bay you need to move ahead in fires in California presented your career. ATA’s Law Seminar enormous challenges for provided just the kind of high- disseminating timely and level, hands-on training attendees accurate information to the large, were looking for. predominantly Hispanic, non- English-speaking population of Cover: (From left): Clio Schils, Sonoma and Napa Counties. My president of the European experiences made it clear how a Language Industry Association, lack of preparation, at both the Annette Schiller, chair of FIT personal and community level, Europe, and ATA Spokesperson can exacerbate the challenges of Molly Yurick. (Photo by a natural disaster. Daniel Seabra.) 13 ADVERTISING DIRECTORY International Literature: 17 A Data-Driven Approach to 35 Alliant Prioritizing Diversity https://ata.alliant.com Why do books from some languages find their way into COLUMNS English while other cultures remain underrepresented? 2 From the President AmazonCrossing’s editorial 4 From the President-elect director discusses what it takes for a book, author, and translator to 5 ATA Social Media reach readers in a new language. 5 Letters to the Editor 17 6 From the Executive Director 7 Outreach Report: 10 Simple Ways to Boost Your Advocacy Day Translation or Interpreting Website’s SEO 8 Outreach Report: How many freelance translators ELIA Conference and interpreters really take 23 Entrepreneurial Linguist the time to adjust a few things 24 Geekspeak behind the scenes to boost their website’s search engine ranking? 29 Resource Review 33 New Certified Members 34 Certification Forum Looking for Member News and Humor and Translation? These columns are found in the Chronicle-Online edition: www.atanet.org/chronicle-online! 19 Connect www.atanet.org http://bit.ly/ATA-LinkedIn with ATA www.twitter.com/atanet http://bit.ly/ChannelATA http://bit.ly/ATA-Facebook http://bit.ly/ATA-Pinterest http://bit.ly/ATA-Instagram A few tables at the general continental breakfast will be reserved for this event. ATA Board members will also be available for informal discussions FROM THE PRESIDENT-ELECT throughout the conference. Take this opportunity to introduce yourself, ask TED R. WOZNIAK questions, or convey your ideas. [email protected] ■■ Brainstorm Networking: Work in small teams to tackle business-related challenges while making friends and ATA60: Professional creating partnerships. Don’t forget your Development at Its Best business cards! ■■ Buddies Welcome Newbies: First-time his year is a milestone for ATA REGULAR SESSIONS attendees (Newbies) are paired up with th as it will hold its 60 Annual We received 435 proposals, of which seasoned attendees (Buddies) to get the T Conference in beautiful Palm just 40% (174) were able to be selected. most from their conference experience. Springs, California. Palm Springs is Each session was reviewed by subject ■■ Dictionary Exchange: Donate a lovely small town with some great matter experts, who also had a difficult dictionaries and other reference materials dining and entertainment options. job recommending the cream of the you no longer need and find ones you (More on the venue in future columns.) crop. While I relied heavily on their can put to good use. One linguist’s For now, I would like to focus on one recommendations, the final decision was trash is another’s treasure. Tables will be of the main reasons for attending: mine alone so any criticisms are mine available for you to drop off and/or pick professional development sessions. to bear. Just as with the AST sessions, up used dictionaries (for free!). ensuring that the regular sessions cover as many fields of practice and areas of interest ■■ Exhibit Hall: Get a first-hand look at AST DAY new products you will actually use. Advanced Skills and Training (AST) Day as possible is very challenging. Proposals were received for all 30 educational tracks, Visit school reps offering programs takes place on Wednesday, October 23. so there will certainly be something of designed for your development.