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Upcoming ATA webinars this week

November 1, 2021

We have two fun and interactive ATA webinars coming up this week!

November 2 at 6 pm EDT: Ethics in Conference Interpreting with Katty Kauffman

https://www.atanet.org/event/ethics-in-conference-interpreting/


Duration:
 120 minutes
ATA CEPs: 2.0

What will you learn?

  1. Working definition of ethics in interpreting
  2. Core concepts and values of conference interpreters
  3. Best practices for onsite events
  4. Best practices for remote events
  5. Where ethics in onsite and remote events converge and diverge

Registration Closes: November 2, 4:00 pm EDT

November 4 at 7 pm EDT: The Power of Social Media: Key Strategies for Marketing Your Interpreting and Translation Services (free for ATA members!) with Mireya Pérez, MS

https://www.atanet.org/event/the-power-of-social-media-key-strategies-for-marketing-your-interpreting-and-translation-services/

What will you learn?

  1. What types of social media posts you can use as a marketing tool
  2. What is visual storytelling and how you can use it on social media
  3. How to identify your target audience
  4. How to create identity on social media
  5. What social media resources are available

Registration Closes: November 4, 10:00 am EDT

Filed Under: Interpreting, Professional Development, Webinars Tagged With: business, interpreting, marketing, professional development, webinar

Translation by Interpreters and Interpreting by Translators

September 3, 2021

There is an ongoing debate in the language industry whether translation and interpreting services can be rendered by the same person. Needless to say, while these two services are related, the primary responsibilities and skills that a person needs to provide translation or interpreting services differ.

Meanwhile, many people who are not too familiar with linguistic services think that translation and interpreting are the same trade. Linguistically, this is well illustrated in Russian-speaking countries, where “переводчик” means both translator and interpreter. From the customer perspective, “переводчик” deals with different languages, either working on the written text or providing an oral rendition. In this aspect, the two trades are the same.

The International Standard ISO 17100 “Translation services — Requirements for translation services” does not restrict whether a translator can also handle interpreting assignments. It only mentions that a professional translator shall have competencies, including linguistic and textual, in both the source and target languages.[i]

Someone who professionally translates from one language into another accepts an ethical and professional duty to represent their qualifications, capabilities and responsibilities honestly and always work within them. Being truthful in advertising applies to professional translators and interpreters: our resumes, websites, brochures, business cards, manner, and non-verbal emotional tone all must accurately reflect who we are and what we can actually do, both practically and professionally.[ii]

Following that logic, a translator must decline, say, a request to help their client with over-the-phone interpreting of a conversation with a draft contract’s other party. Likewise, an interpreter has to decline a proposal to translate pitch decks used at a conference where this interpreter is engaged, despite being immersed in the event’s context and thus knowing these particular pitch decks’ content well.

To a certain extent, I agree with that. As a freelance translator, I have to decline an assignment that I cannot properly perform when it is beyond my qualifications. And what about those assignments that are within the scope of my abilities, even though I was never professionally trained and qualified in that area? Is it still a good idea to miss out on a lucrative interpreting or translation assignment then?

At this point, I have to quote Corinne McKay, an ATA-certified French-to-English translator and former ATA president: “When you work full-time for an employer, you have one job title. When you work for yourself, you’re not only the translator but also the department head for sales and marketing, technical support, customer relations, accounting and facilities maintenance. Unless you’re willing and able to pay someone to do these tasks for you, you’ll be doing them yourself, in addition to your regular job.”[iii]

To run a successful business, freelancers therefore do not have to miss a business opportunity if they feel up to the task. And if we look at it that way, why not try out both translating and interpreting even if you are not yet qualified in the twin trades?

In this regard, I believe that besides developing a specialization in a particular field, it is essential to find a niche in which offering a specific service really makes a freelance translator or interpreter stand out.

In his recent article “Does the jack of all trades still get the short end of the stick?”, the current editor of The NAJIT Observer, Jules Lapprand, stated, “Translators and interpreters have a superficial knowledge of almost any topic, and unless they have extensive experience in another profession, deep knowledge of only one: language. This reality was difficult for me to accept initially.” This quote resonated with me as I think translators and interpreters need not be afraid of gaining the “jack of all trades (and master of none)” moniker if they are trying out a new area of specialization. As a matter of fact, we have to be interested in new topics, master new areas, and find niches to stand out in. Otherwise, our overall marketing and messaging will more likely speak to no one. Courtroom interpreting with its “structured legalese and its own language that does not change as quickly as the latest fads do in other areas”[iv] is an excellent example of interpreter’s specialization. In other words, offering legal translation and court interpreting services at any time can be a niche.

Since we have a profound knowledge of language, we should be using that to its full extent, not limiting ourselves to one of the twin trades of translation or interpretation.

Today, however, it is rare for a freelancer to be both a translator and an interpreter.

In a truly inspiring Troublesome Terps podcast episode #63,[v] high-profile conference interpreters Louise Jarvis, Monika Ott and Sybelle van Hal-Bok, three members of three very different networks admitted that they often do translations as well when the existing clients ask for it. It should be noted, however, that translation is only a small part of their businesses; they still focus primarily on conference interpreting.

In this context, I would suggest that not only are different skills required to render translation or interpreting services, but our psychological make-up is also important. The existing stereotype is that translators are usually introverts with a tendency toward being quiet and reserved. Interpreters, however, are more often extroverted in nature. In addition, we are all human. Like everyone else, translators and interpreters tend to fear failure in an area where they feel less confident. For this reason, when it comes to deciding between staying in your comfort zone or handling a twin trade assignment, language professionals would rather remain in their comfort zone (i.e., decline a twin trade assignment), no matter how lucrative it is.

When the language service is provided by a company, it is usually never asked whether translation and interpreting can both be offered, but when it comes to a freelancer working with end clients, it can oftentimes be that the end client likewise expects the contracted translator to interpret.

For example, I was recently interpreting for a client, a law firm partner, who had a phone conversation with the Legal 500 Rankings researcher to find out how to send a law firm submission. As soon as the client found out that he had to fill out the multi-page submission templates, he asked me to translate the templates into his language. Did I decline that offer? Of course not! This is just one scenario where an interpreter can and, I think, should also perform as a translator. Let’s take a closer look at other scenarios.

In my legal translation practice, I have often been asked to render interpreting services when the end client needs to expeditiously negotiate contract details or urgently talk to a counterparty who does not have access to the Internet and therefore is unable to quickly respond to an e-mail. Notably, the client rightly assumes that I am already immersed in the upcoming deal’s details as I have been drafting or translating the contract for some time now. In that scenario, I provide interpreting services.

Vice versa, clients may forward me audio messages asking me to let them know the messages’ content in writing in a meeting, which is why they can’t talk. With such requests, I translate, even though the source content is in audio form.

Another classic example of assignments at the juncture of the two twin trades is on-the-spot translation, which occurs when I am asked to orally render a written legal paper’s content. This is quite specific to business meetings and court sessions where the client has not had a chance to quickly find a translator and instead asks the interpreter for a sight translation. In that scenario, I translate. There is all the more reason for this as the Russian law does not yet provide for sworn interpreter status, so the Russian courts do not require a separate certification for court interpreting. In short, by primarily focusing on legal translation, I do not need to sub-contract court interpreting assignments. This strategy has proven beneficial by allowing me to retain existing clients and catch new business opportunities.

To summarize, provided that both the client and freelancer are happy, I think freelancers offering both translation and interpreting services, even those who were never professionally trained and qualified in the twin trades, are still legitimate.

Notes

[i] ISO 17100:2015(E), paragraph 3.3.

[ii] American Translators Association Code of Ethics and Professional Practice, 3rd tenet: https://www.atanet.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/code_of_ethics_commentary.pdf

[iii] Introduction to the book “How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator” by Corinne McKay. First Edition. 2006

[iv] “Does the jack of all trades still get the short end of the stick?” by Jules Lapprand. July 30, 2021

https://najit.org/does-the-jack-of-all-trades-still-get-the-short-end-of-the-stick/?unapproved=106974&moderation-hash=310e754a47eb598a50c8c69fb18c6b8e#comment-106974

[v] Troublesome Terps, a roundtable-style podcast covering topics from the interpreting space and the wider world of languages; episode # 63 of July 21, 2021: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/troublesome-terps/63-interpreters-assemble-8TwuQZeFCaR/

Author bio

Dmitry Beschetny is an English>Russian translator and interpreter specializing in legal translation and court interpreting, based in Moscow. He holds a master’s degree in law and a master’s degree in humanities and social sciences, also having an academic qualification in translation studies.

Dmitry has extensive experience in criminal investigation and public prosecution. He has also worked as an in-house lawyer, and a legal counsel with law firms before turning his previous career into his area of specialization in the T&I industry. He has been translating and interpreting for academia, law firms and private clients. Dmitry can be reached at db@legalxlator.com. 

 

 

We would love to feature other guest authors who are translators and interpreters working with Slavic languages in future SLD Blog posts! If you have recommendations or would like to share expertise, please email the SLD Blog co-editors: Veronika Demichelis and Marisa Irwin.

Filed Under: Interpreting, Legal, Specializations, Translation Tagged With: interpreting, legal, Russian, specializations, translation

Last call to register for the SLD virtual workshop “Interpreting Idioms and Cultural References”

March 9, 2021

ATA’s first-ever virtual workshop is on Saturday, March 13, and it’s organized in close collaboration with the Slavic Languages Division for the benefit of Russian interpreters.

“Interpreting Idioms and Cultural References” will be presented by Yuliya Speroff, medical interpreter supervisor at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, as well as a Russian-English CoreCHI™- and WA DSHS-certified medical and social services interpreter. Yuliya has interpreted in a variety of settings—from a fighter jet factory to real-time brain surgery. She has an MA in business management and is certified as both an English and a Russian language instructor with more than 10 years of teaching experience.

Yuliya Speroff was just named Interpreter of the Year by CHIA (California Healthcare Interpreting Association), so we are very excited to have her as our workshop instructor.

Join us this Saturday, March 13 at 12:00 pm Eastern time for two fun-filled hours of exploring various idioms and cultural references in English and Russian and small-group discussion of how to best convey their meaning in the target language. You don’t have to be an interpreter to join! In fact, translators who are interested in idioms will get a lot out of this workshop too, and will benefit from cross-pollination of ideas and experiences with colleagues working in other fields.

Due to the interactive nature of this workshop, attendance will be limited to 30 people.

Registration closes at 5 pm Eastern on Friday, March 12, so don’t delay—register today!

Participants are eligible for 2 ATA continuing education points, 2 CCHI continuing education units, and 0.15 IMIA/NBCMI continuing education units.

 

 

Filed Under: Interpreting, Professional Development, Wokshops Tagged With: interpreting, medical, professional development, workshop

Upcoming Virtual Workshop in Russian: Interpreting Idioms and Cultural References

March 2, 2021

Join us on March 13 for ATA’s first virtual workshop, held in cooperation with the ATA Slavic Languages Division: Interpreting Idioms and Cultural References (presented in Russian)!

Being able to understand and deal with colloquialisms and idiomatic expressions is an essential part of a professional interpreter’s skill set.

In this 2-hour interactive workshop, presenter Yuliya Speroff will introduce participants to common idiomatic expressions encountered in spoken discourse and equip participants with strategies for interpreting idioms and cultural references.

The participants will be able to apply their newly acquired skills through small group discussions and practice activities.

Registration is open, but space is limited, so hurry up and register today: https://www.atanet.org/event/interpreting-idioms-and-cultural-references/

This virtual workshop is approved for 2 CCHI CEUs and 2 ATA CEPs.

Filed Under: Interpreting, Professional Development, Webinars, Wokshops Tagged With: ATA, events, interpreting, professional development, Russian, webinar

SLD Podcast: Episode 21 with Katarzyna Hoerner

May 19, 2020

The latest episode of the SLD podcast Slovo is now available! This time, Maria talks to ATA-certified English>Polish translator and certified medical interpreter Katarzyna “Kasia” Hoerner, who shares how she came to specialize in the medical field. Katarzyna also touches on her work as a staff translator and interpreter, the demand for Polish language services in the US, and the changes and opportunities brought about by the current health crisis.

Listen now on Soundcloud or through your favorite podcasting platform, and be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify so you never miss an episode!

Filed Under: Interpreting, Podcast Episodes Tagged With: interpreting, podcast, Polish

SLD Podcast: Episode 20 with Esther Hermida

February 13, 2020

Check out the newest episode of Slovo, the SLD Podcast! Maria sits down with Esther Hermida, a California-based interpreter, who talks about starting her interpreting career, getting certified, and her experience with television simulcast interpreting and dialect coaching. They also discuss AB-5, the newly adopted California law that affects independent contractors, including translators and interpreters, and Esther’s involvement with CoPTIC, a group that is pushing for an exemption for translators and interpreters.

Listen now on Soundcloud, and be sure to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify so you never miss an episode!

Filed Under: Interpreting, Podcast Episodes Tagged With: interpreting, podcast

CEU Watch: ATA Webinar on Linguistic Challenges in Palliative Care

September 3, 2019

Photo by Martha Dominguez de Gouveia on Unsplash

Are there topics that you enjoy working with but can be emotionally draining? For me, palliative care is one example. I love working on translations that can help promote understanding of palliative care among Russian patients and the general public, as well as the development of palliative care in Russia, but it can be hard to look past the suffering and pain behind the text, especially if it is about pediatric palliative care.

I was glad to discover that ATA offers a webinar on this subject. “Linguistic Challenges in Palliative Care” by Jessica Goldhirsch can be found in ATA’s Webinars On Demand. Jessica Goldhirsch, LCSW, MSW, MPH is a licensed clinical social worker with the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Institute’s inpatient adult palliative care consult service. She teaches staff interpreters and clinical staff how to work together effectively, and her background and experience really show.

Ms. Goldhirsch talks about the role of palliative care in the healthcare system and different stages of palliative care (hospice care is just one of them). She breaks down commonly used terminology, lists the most common misconceptions, and describes typical challenges. She stresses that the interpreter/translator must be an integral part of the palliative care team, backs it up with examples, and gives advice on how to become a member of this team. Most importantly, Ms. Goldhirsch explains how crucial it is to understand the patient’s cultural norms, beliefs, and traditions, and encourages interpreters and translators to be cultural meditators and coaches for the palliative care team.

I found this webinar both highly informative and really empowering. It didn’t make palliative care less of a difficult subject, but it helped me understand its scope and purpose, and made it clear what my role is. Armed with tips and useful resources that Ms. Goldhirsch generously shared, I feel better prepared, both mentally and emotionally, to tackle future translations on this subject.

I am grateful that ATA offered this webinar and included it in its Webinars On Demand. Ms. Goldhirsch mentioned other topics that she believes deserve to be addressed in more detail, such as serious illness conversation guides and palliative care family meetings, and I hope that ATA will offer webinars on these topics in the future.

Author Bio

Veronika Demichelis is an ATA-certified English>Russian translator. She holds an MA in Linguistics and an MBA in Human Resources Management. She specializes in corporate communication, HR, and social responsibility, but also enjoys working with health and wellness, in particular patient outreach and education materials. More information can be found on her website, https://veronikademichelis.com/.

Filed Under: CEU Watch, Interpreting, Translation Tagged With: ceu watch, professional development, webinar

ATA Law Seminar in Jersey City

January 3, 2019

Happy New Year! If one of your professional New Year’s resolutions was to do more continuing education in the coming year and you are a legal translator or interpreter, the ATA has just the opportunity for you. It will be hosting a full-day law seminar in Jersey City on February 16, with morning and afternoon sessions divided between translation and interpreting. ATA-certified attendees can earn 7 CEPs!

The schedule, session descriptions, and hotel and registration information can be found here: https://www.atanet.org/events/law_jerseycity.php.

Filed Under: ATA, Interpreting, Legal, Translation Tagged With: ATA, interpreting, legal, professional development, translation

SLD Podcast: Episode 6 on Professional Training

July 11, 2018

In this latest episode of the SLD podcast, Elana Pick and Yuliya Tsaplina talk about the importance of professional interpreter training and the future of the profession. Both guests teach at the Master of Conference Interpreting program (MCI) at Glendon College, York University in Toronto, Canada.

Be sure to subscribe to the ATA podcast on iTunes and Google Play so you never miss an episode!

Filed Under: Interpreting, Podcast Episodes Tagged With: interpreting, podcast, professional development

SLD Podcast: Episode 4 with Elena Bogdanovich-Werner

May 31, 2018

Check out the new episode of the SLD podcast, in which Elena Bogdanovich-Werner, a translator of 30 years, discusses how the language services industry has changed over time, what makes a great translator, and what areas of professional development are most important for translators and interpreters.

Good news! The SLD podcast is now available on iTunes and Google Play! Just search “ATA SLD” and be sure to subscribe. Note that it takes 12-24 hours for the newest episode to appear. The latest episodes are always available on the ATA SLD SoundCloud channel.

Filed Under: Interpreting, Podcast Episodes, Translation Tagged With: podcast, professional development

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