Close-up Translations

On the 30th, September 2009, the on-line translators’ community Proz.com held the first virtual translation conference. Over 6800 translators and language professionals attended the event, which coincided with Proz.com’s tenth anniversary and the International Translation Day.

During 12 hours, attendees were able to network with other professionals, attend conference sessions, view a variety of product demos, reach customers anywhere in the world and interact with translation agencies, exhibitors and sponsors via an on-line conference environment.

Sponsors included industry leading companies Alchemy, DéjàVu, Lionbridge, MemoQ, Multilingual, SDL TRADOS, STAR Group and thebigword.

The conference platform, Unifair, was divided into several areas, including an exhibition hall, a conference main hall, a networking lounge and a resource centre. Eight sessions were scheduled throughout the day and few ended with a Q&A, which was seemingly enjoyed by most participants.

Overall, it was a very good initiative and an interesting opportunity to meet new colleagues and clients in a user-friendly environment. However, I felt the conference sessions were not up to my expectations. I didn’t learn anything new nor sharpened new skills. One seminar, though, stood out of the lot: “Negotiation for translators & answering tough questions”, which was lead by Doug Lawrence. He offered an informing and enlightening talk about promotion, negotiation techniques and communication strategies.

All lectures are available as podcasts and can be listened to for the next year. So, if you missed a lecture or couldn’t attend the conference at all, you can still catch up on the various presentations.

All attendees are invited to give their feedback by filling in the post-event attendee survey, which is accessible here.

Happy International Translation Day to all language professionals!

On the 30th September each year, the feast-day of St. Jerome, patron saint of translators, interpreters and librarians, is celebrated around the world as the International Translation Day. St. Jerome is known for his writings on theology and for making the bible accessible to many people through his translations from Greek and Aramaic into the Latin Vulgate.

The Translation Day was established in 1991 by UNESCO upon the suggestion of the International Federation of Translators. It offers an opportunity to promote the translation profession and to draw attention to the importance of translators and interpreters in the world.

Each year a theme is picked. The theme for 2009 International Translation Day, “Working together”, invites translators around the world to “take a fresh look at why and how it pays to join forces”.

For the event, the FIT provided prompts for all translators to think about in the official statement, which is accessible here.

I plan to celebrate the International Translation Day by attending the Proz.com first virtual conference! I will return to discussing this event in a later post.

For more information about the International Translation Day, click here.

Think of a global audience

Your document shall be culturally correct and clearly understood by anyone.

That in mind, I recommend you write short sentences and use the active voice. Your text shall be simple, dynamic and straightforward.

Likewise, avoid using slang, local colloquialisms or regional expressions as they are generally hard to translate and tricky to adapt to the target culture.

Don’t forget to provide an alternative telephone number if you are from Canada or America as toll-free numbers do not work outside of North America. You need to think globally!

Check your documentation

To facilitate and accelerate the translation process, your text should be free of grammatical errors and typos. Thus, verify that the punctuation is correct and consistent.

In addition, make sure that the text is finalised before starting the translation process: turn off the track changes option in Word, accept or reject any suggested change and delete comments if applicable. The file should be clean and ready for translation!

Space out your text

Your document shall be clear and spaced out. Bear in mind that sentences in Romance languages, like French, are typically much longer than the English ones. To avoid amending the original design to fit to the translated version, use as much line feeds and double spacing as possible to white out the text.

Ensure the format is easy to amend

Your document shall be designed in a simple manner. For instance, create as much editable pictures and tables as possible and avoid using narrow columns or line breaks. Sending Word documents instead of non-editable PDF files will also speed up the translation process and be more cost effective for you.

Choose a suitable typeface and font size

Certain languages require specific accents and characters like Arabic or Greek, which may not be seen by anyone. Serif fonts like Times New Roman should be avoided for the web as they hinder legibility on the screen. Be aware that font sizes below 12pt are generally difficult to read. If you choose a 10pt font size in English and decide to translate your documentation into French, the amount of text expansion will most probably lead to formatting issues and the French version will barely be readable!

Compile a glossary

Imagine you have a 200-page document, which contains very specific terminology and jargon to translate. Developing a glossary of frequently used terms and expressions will be extremely useful as it will help translators better understand your company’s profile and products. Also, it will ensure consistency throughout your documentation.

Explain acronyms

If your document contains acronyms, make sure to explain their meaning the first time they appear in your text. Also indicate if you want to keep the original acronym in the translated version or if you want the translator to use the approved target acronym, if any, or to create a new one.

Send reference materials

Think of sending any reference materials you may have to make the translation process easier. For instance, provide links to websites about your products and services and send previous translated documentation (source and target versions) if applicable.

Choose your colours carefully

Colours are culturally very different and should be chosen carefully. For instance, red symbolises life and luck in China, whereas in Europe, it is often associated with blood. In Asia, black denotes celebration and happiness. However, in Europe, black has a dark connotation as it is generally associated with evil and bad luck.

Provide instructions regarding web links

If your links go to websites in the source language only, consider whether they should be removed in the translated version. If the readers click on the link and are directed to a foreign language website version, will that make sense to them?

“In Other Words” is the biannual Journal for Literary Translators and anyone interested in good writing and the creative process.

Published by the Translators Association (Society of Authors) with the support of the British Centre for Literary Translation at the University of East Anglia (UK), it contains articles on the art of translation and on translating particular authors and texts together with reviews of newly published translations.

Two issues are produced per year (in June and November) and the subscription rates are: £15 for UK, £18 for Europe and £25 for the rest of the world. Individual copies are available at cost of £10 per copy (in the UK). A limited number of back issues are also available free of charge (P&P charges may be applicable).

For more information, click on this link.

The Translators Association of the Society of Authors celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. To mark the occasion they have compiled a list of 50 outstanding translations of the last half century. I shortlisted below the top ten (in chronological order):

• Raymond Queneau - Exercises in Style (Barbara Wright, 1958)
• Primo Levi - If This is a Man (Stuart Woolf, 1959)
• Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa - The Leopard (Archibald Colquhoun, 1961)
• Günter Grass - The Tin Drum (Ralph Manheim, 1962)
• Jorge Luis Borges - Labyrinths (Donald Yates, James Irby, 1962)
• Leonardo Sciascia - Day of the Owl (Archibald Colquhoun, 1963)
• Alexander Solzhenitsyn - One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (Ralph Parker, 1963)
• Yukio Mishima - Death in Midsummer (Seidensticker, Keene, Morris, Sargent, 1965)
• Heinrich Böll - The Clown (Leila Vennewitz, 1965)
• Octavio Paz - Labyrinth of Solitude (Lysander Kemp, 1967)

The complete list is available at Times online.

AITC (Association Internationale des Traducteurs de Conférence - International Association of Conference Translators):

Professional body representing translators, revisers and editors working on a temporary or permanent basis for international organizations or conferences.

APROTRAD (Association professionnelle des métiers de la traduction):

French professional association of translators. Its aims are to foster dialogue between professional translators, to give the general public and clients a true perception of the translation profession and to work towards official and legal recognition of the profession at French and European levels.

ATA (American Translators Association):

Largest professional association of translators and interpreters in the United States. ATA’s primary goals are to foster and support the professional development of translators and interpreters (it offers certification examinations for its members) and to promote the translation and interpreting professions.

ATAA (Association des Traducteurs / Adaptateurs de l’Audiovisuel):

French association of audiovisual translators that gathers professional translators in dubbing, subtitling, voice-over and subtitling for hearing impaired. Its aims are to share information and experiences, to promote audiovisual translation and work for the recognition of its cultural importance and to defend the economic interests of audiovisual translators.

ATC (Association of Translation Companies):

One of oldest professional groups representing the interests of translation companies in the world and providing information for those interested in translation services.

ATICOM (Fachverband der Berufsübersetzer und Berufsdolmetscher):

Association of professional translators and interpreters from Germany.

ATLF (Association des Traducteurs Littéraires de France):

French association of literary translators. Its main objective is to defend the specific interests of the literary translators and to promote the quality of translations.

BCLT (British Centre for Literary Translation):

Supported by Arts Council England, it is Britain’s centre for the development, promotion and support of literary translation. It offers support and continuing professional development to literary translators, provides information and advice and stimulates public awareness and interest in literary translation.

BDÜ (Bundesverband der Dolmetscher und Übersetzer):

Germany’s largest association of professional interpreters and translators.

CEATL (Conseil Européen des Associations de Traducteurs Littéraires - European Council of Literary Translators’ Associations):

Platform of literary translators’ associations. Its aims are to gather information on the situation of literary translation and translators in the member countries and share experiences and to defend the legal, social and economic interests of literary translators in Europe.

CETL (Centre Européen de Traduction Littéraire):

European Centre for Literary Translation.

EAFT (European Association for Terminology):

Professional organisation for the terminology sector in Europe. It is designed to further plurilingualism through terminology, to provide a European platform for promoting and professionalizing terminological activities and improving awareness of them, and to liaise and cooperate actively with other relevant organisations, associations and institutions at all levels.

EASE (European Association of Science Editors):

Community of individuals from diverse backgrounds, linguistic traditions and professional experience who share an interest in science communication and editing. It runs courses, workshops and seminars to advance editorial practice.

EKEMEL (European Center for the Translation of Literature and the Human Sciences):

One of EKEMEL’s fundamental aim is to nurture a new generation of translators and to help improve the quality of literary translation and of texts relating to the Human Sciences. It also runs various translation workshops.

ESIST (European Association for Studies in Screen Translation):

Association of higher education teachers, practitioners, academics and students in the field of audiovisual translation set up to facilitate the exchange of information and to promote professional standards in the training and practice of screen translation.

EST (European Society for Translation Studies):

International society of translation and interpreting scholars. Its aims are to stimulate and coordinate research into translation and interpreting, to exchange and disseminate new ideas and to be a centre for information and know-how on issues of quality and training in translation and interpreting.

FIT-IFT (Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs - International Federation of Translators):

Worldwide organisation composed of national translation organisations from over 60 countries.

GITA (Global Internet Translators Association):

Association aimed to incorporate modern media into the translation industry and thereby set itself the target of building an optimal framework for translation to be carried out on-line.

IATIS (International Association for Translation and Intercultural Studies):

International forum designed to enable scholars from different regional and disciplinary backgrounds to debate issues relating to translation and other forms of intercultural communication.

IoL (Chartered Institute of Linguists):

International body of professional linguists, translators and interpreters in the United Kingdom. The IoL acts as a language assessment and accredited awarding body. It offers interpreting and translation exams, translation, production and recruitment services, training courses and validation of language qualifications and assessments. The website also has links to 5000 dictionaries, glossaries and “knowledge banks”.

ITI (Institute of Translation and Interpreting):

Professional association representing translators and interpreters in the United Kingdom. It is also one of the primary sources of information on translation and interpreting to government, industry, the media and the general public. The ITI aims to promote the highest standards in the translation and interpreting professions through a variety of methods, including the publication of a bimonthly bulletin, the organizing of an annual conference and frequent courses linked to Continuing Professional Development. The ITI has a system of networks and regional groups, which include the NWTN (Northwest Translators Network) and the WRG (Western Regional Group).

SfEP (Society for Editors and Proofreaders):

Professional organization based in the UK for editors and proofreaders. Its main objectives are to promote high editorial standards and to uphold the professional status of editors and proofreaders.

SFT (Société Française des Traducteurs):

French national translators’ association. Its aims include protecting the rights of translators and setting appropriate rates of remuneration.

SUBTLE (Subtitlers’ Association):

Organization formed by professional subtitlers to promote high-quality subtitling and to maintain standards of professionalism within the industry.

TA (Translators Association):

The TA is a specialist group within the Society of Authors and represents literary translators in the United Kingdom.

TREMÉDICA (Asociación Internacional de Traductores y Redactores de Medicina y Ciencias Afines):

International Association of Translators and Editors in Medicine and Related Sciences.

American Translators Association’s 50th annual conference will be held in New York City from 28-31 October 2009.

The ATA annual conference is an essential event for professional development. It offers a multitude of features and events that allow attendees to connect with over 1800 translators and language professionals from throughout the US and around the world. It is therefore a great opportunity to network, advertise your services, market yourself and meet new colleagues.

Over 150 educational sessions will be offered, including a selection of three-hour, in-depth preconference seminars. Sessions feature more than a dozen languages and a variety of specializations.

Conference registration begins in July 2009. For early registrations, ATA members will pay $325 and non members $445.

For more information about the conference, visit the conference website.

For any questions and comments, you can contact ATA directly at: ata@atanet.org

The Malaysian Translators Association (MTA) will be organising the 12th International Conference on Translation (PPA) in Batu Feringgi, Penang (Malaysia) from 18-20 August 2009.

The biennial international conference was held for the first time in 1984 through the initiatives of the Malaysian Translators Association (MTA) and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) with the awareness that translation is crucial in knowledge transfer. It aims to nurture the exchange of ideas, knowledge and experience, and simultaneously encourage cooperation between scholars, language experts, translators, writers, publishers, editors, educators and students internationally. The conference also aims to explore the latest information, theories and techniques in the field of translation in order to enhance translation quality as a whole.

The conference will focus on, but is not limited to the following topics:

• Translation and Media/Multimedia
• Interpreting and Internationalization
• Machine Translation
• Translation and Localisation
• Sociolinguistics and Translation
• Translation of Literature
• Translation and Tourism (Health Tourism and Sport Tourism)
• Translation and Education
• Translation Evaluation
• Translation and its Sustainability (Service & Technology)
• Translation in Publishing
• Translation in Languages of Limited Diffusion
• Translator and Visibility

The conference programme is available here.

For further information about the conference, please visit the Universiti Sains Malaysia’s website.

A French colleague of mine sent me an Email this morning with a link to a new translator’s blog and the following message: “You might find some of them familiar!”

Out of curiosity, I clicked on the link… and I invite you to do the same!

Mox’s Blog is a creative way to share the world of translators: it tells the fictional misadventures of a freelance translator named Mox. Mox is “a young but well educated translator. Two PhDs, six languages… and he hardly earns the minimum wage.”

Alejandro Moreno-Ramos, an electromechanical engineer and English-French to Spanish translator, is the man behind the comic strip character Mox. Almost all “adventures” are based on mistakes he made throughout his career. The result is a strip full of clichés and a light-hearted look at the translation profession that we (translators) take so seriously!

I have taken the liberty to post one of my favourite cartoons here. So take a break, check out the running comic strip at Mox’s Blog and subscribe to this very entertaining blog!

As part of its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and to protecting the environment, Close-up Translations is participating in the United Nations Environment Programme’s Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign. Close-up Translations has pledged to plant indigenous trees and trees that are appropriate to the local environment of the North West of England, i.e. Holm oaks, Magnolias, Japanese Maples and Apple trees.

The worldwide tree planting initiative Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign, coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), was unveiled at the annual UN Climate Change Convention Conference that took place in Nairobi (Kenya) in November 2006. It encourages the planting of at least one billion trees worldwide each year in four key areas, namely:

• degraded natural forests and wilderness areas;
• farms and rural landscapes;
• sustainably managed plantations; and
• urban environments.

Trees are the longest living organisms on Earth and are the most significant repositories of terrestrial biological biodiversity. Forests provide not only environmental protection, but also significant income and livelihood options globally. That is why it is important to take action now on global deforestation.

For more information about the Billion Tree Campaign, read the Billion Tree Campaign Album or visit the campaign’s official website.