What does the KLD have in store?
Conference sessions have been approved, and the KLD has the opportunity of having five sessions this year!
North Korean Refugees: Navigating the unique interpretation challenges posed by 70 years of separation
by Hannah Song, Distinguished Speaker, with Jennifer An
Abstract: For decades the narrative on North Korea has been dominated by Kim Jong-un and nuclear weapons, but an increasing number of North Korean refugees are beginning to raise their voices and share their stories. Interpreters play a vital role in effectively communicating these powerful stories to the international community, but 70 years of separation between North and South Korea has led to critical differences in language and culture. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the North Korean human rights and refugee crisis and the unique challenges of interpreting for this population.
Hannah Song is president and chief executive officer of Liberty in North Korea. She joined Liberty in 2006 as deputy director, managing day-to-day operations and coordinating overseas programs. She is responsible for developing Liberty’s new mission, focusing on building international support for the North Korean people, providing direct assistance to North Korean refugees, and developing long-term, people-focused strategies to accelerate positive change inside the country. Previously, she worked in advertising at OgilvyOne, focusing on digital media and emerging technologies. She is a 2008 Network of Korean-American Leaders fellow from the University of Southern California’s School of Social Work, and a 2016 Ashoka Korea fellow.
Jennifer An is a freelance Korean to/from English conference interpreter and translator based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has been interpreting and translating since 2004, with a particular focus on North Korean human rights, patents, and international relations issues. She works as a contractor for the U.S. Department of State and with private and corporate clients. She has a BA in comparative literature from the University of California, Berkeley and an MA in conference interpreting from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.
Status Update on ATA Certification Exam (English to/from Korean)
by Jisu Kim & Vania Haam
Abstract: This session will provide a brief overview and status update on the Korean-language certification process for both English>Korean and Korean>English translators who are planning to take ATA’s certification exam in the near future. The language chairs for both directions will introduce attendees to the types of texts used on the exams and the grading guidelines. They will also answer questions about policies, procedures, and provide tips on how to prepare for the exam.
Jisu Kim is a professional Korean>English interpreter and translator with more than 15 years of experience working with clients across a wide range of industries, including law, technology, media, finance, government, and medical interpreting/translation. The co-founder and past administrator of ATA’s Korean Language Division (KLD), she is currently serving as chair of KLD’s Conference Committee and as a member of the work group to establish English>Korean certification within ATA’s Certification Program. She is a state-certified court interpreter (New York), a contract translator for the U.S. Department of State, and holds a security clearance with the Department of Homeland Security.
Vania Haam is a state-certified (Washington) court interpreter and a contract interpreter for the U.S. Department of State. She specializes in criminal and civil litigation and conference interpreting on a wide range of subjects. She served as the first administrator of ATA’s Korean Language Division for two terms, on the board of directors for the Washington State Court Interpreters and Translators Society for three terms, and on the Conference Committee for the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators. She is the head of the work group to establish Korean>English certification within ATA’s Certification Program.
Pharmaceutical Clinical Study-Related Korean to English Translation Field and Fundamentals
by Carl Sullivan
Abstract: Pharmaceutical clinical study-related translation makes up a considerable portion of high-demand Korean>English jobs, but there has been virtually no professional focus in this area. Drawing the latest reference materials, this session will focus on basic terminology, including terms covered under industry guidelines (e.g., International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use). Sample clinical trial drug-related translations will also be discussed. Attending this session will provide a great start for someone interested in approaching this specialized area, or a refresher for those more advanced.
Carl Sullivan is a Japanese>English and Korean>English translator and Japanese>English interpreter with an extensive and diverse background as former a professor, U.S. naval officer, and international businessman. With his wife Masae, he has owned and operated MasaCa Translation Services for 19 years. He specializes in pharmaceutical, patent, business, military, and medical translation. He served as administrator of ATA’s Japanese Language Division, and is active in both the Korean and Japanese Language Divisions
Translating Hollywood: The Limits of Localization
by Elena Chang
Abstract: English and Korean share little common ground, both linguistically and culturally. This is why finely nuanced localization is critical when adapting films for a Korean audience. Korean cultivates elaborate honorifics to serve a rigid, hierarchical social structure. But U.S. creative works embrace egalitarian ideals (e.g., the society functions on a first name basis). This poses a dilemma. Do translators distort original intent to conform to Korean norms, or help expose the audience to cultural diversity? In this session, cases involving film subtitling/dubbing will be examined.
Elena Chang is a Korean linguist providing translation, copywriting, interpreting, voiceover, and directing services. She is also a cultural consultant and dialect coach who is proficient in numerous South and North Korean accents. She has completed a number of movie script translations and revisions for lip-sync dubbing and subtitling, including First Man, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, West Side Story (50th anniversary release), Olympus Has Fallen, and Alex Cross.
Linguistic and Cultural Pitfalls in Korean Legal Interpretation
by Davi Kim (canceled)
Determining the Degree of Translational Freedom: Translation Approaches for Specific Text Types
by Sieun Lee and Miryoung Sohn
Abstract: Every translator has the same goal in mind: producing a faithful, yet natural translation. As easy as it may sound, the two conflicting elements in this paradoxical statement make the goal seem almost unattainable. For translators who are constantly charged with this “mission impossible,” the question boils down to striking the right balance between fidelity and transparency for each translation project. The speaker will examine different text types and lead a discussion in which attendees attempt to define “faithfulness” in translation and determine what degree of translational liberty one may take for each text type.
Sieun Lee began her career as a Korean>English conference interpreter and translator in 1991. She has worked in diverse settings in government and business. While she has extensive experiences in the legal, medical, and information technology industries, her particular expertise lies in the market research field, where she simultaneously interpreted focus group discussions for numerous multinational corporations. She has master’s degrees in interpreting, translation, and instructional science and technology. She is an assistant professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, where she has been teaching since 2010.
Professor Miryoung Sohn has been working as a freelance conference interpreter and translator both in Korea and the U.S. since 1991. She has been a faculty member of the Graduate School of Translation, Interpretation and Language Education at Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Middlebury in California since 2002. She received her BA in Sociology from Ewha Womens University and an MA in Conference Interpreting and Translation from the Graduate School of Interpretation & Translation at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Korea. She also holds an Advanced Diploma in Translation and Intercultural Studies from the Universitat Rovira i Virgili.
We have much to look forward to, and the KLD is getting closer to establishing a certification program for Korean. Please attend the session regarding its status update, as well as the Annual Meeting, for more information.
More details regarding the Annual Meeting and KLD dinner dates and times will be posted soon, stay tuned!
