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Issue #7                                                                www.interprenaut.com                                                   December  2011   

interprenaut

 

Welcome to the 7th issue of The Interpreter's Launch Pad. This newsletter is designed to bring resources, tips, and a bit of fun to the lives of professional interpreters.

 

Fasten your seatbelts and prepare for countdown!

10Q: Interprenaut, what is the one terminology area that interpreters struggle with the most?

A:
I'm so glad you asked! Most of the interpreters I've worked with over the years have the hardest time interpreting slang. It isn't that slang is any more difficult to master than any other terminology. However, many interpreters view slang as "inferior" and therefore fail to study it with the same type of rigor that we would use to approach topics with of a more scientific or formal nature.

What is slang, really? Definitions abound, but generally, slang is associated more commonly with spoken language than with written language. It's also seen as a more informal type of terminology -- in part, because it appears more in speech than in writing. And since interpreters deal with speech, you know that we're bound to encounter slang in our work. So why is it that so many interpreters struggle with slang?

The poet Carl Sandburg said it best:
Slang is the language of the people!

Remind me... for whom do we interpret?
I mean... who do we interpret for? 

One reason is that the resources for studying slang can be difficult to come by. Often, slang emerges first in oral language and only appears in written sources much later. Luckily for interpreters, the numbers of glossaries and dictionaries of slang on the web are growing each day, so this is less of a problem today than it used to be.

However, the biggest reason interpreters struggle with slang is because of our own biases. We often hear a slang term and assume that it's "wrong" or "incorrect" usage of a language. Why do we assume this? We wouldn't have the same reaction if, say, a neurosurgeon would use her industry jargon in a conversation or a speech. We would treat those terms as valid and important, even though, in actual fact, they are probably used by a smaller number of people than, say, the latest slang term to appear in a popular rap video.

If you're in need of a New Year's resolution, try this one: treat every term as if it's a valid one. Open your mind, and instead of making judgments about people based on the way they use language, consider each and every word you encounter as a legitimate one. And once you master this, open your mind even further, and see each term -- yes, including slang ones -- as a valuable addition to your terminology arsenal. You never know -- changing your attitude about the words people speak might even help you change the way you view the people who use those terms.

EmailDo you have questions or issues of importance to the field of interpreting that you'd like to see Interprenaut address?  

Send them along

9
This month, relax and watch a movie for a change!

Interpreters spend so much time reading and researching terminology for our work that it can be good to take a break and watch a film once in a while. If you have any vacation time for the mid-Winter holidays (in some parts of the world) and New Year celebrations (according to some calendars), why not kick back and enjoy a movie?

Interprenaut recommends The Whisperers - a Journey through the World of Interpreters (Die Fl�sterer - Eine Reise in die Welt der Dolmetscher), a fun documentary that looks at what it's like to be a conference interpreter. The film tells the story of six interpreters, each from a different generation, as they move from the Chancellery in Berlin to Strasbourg, the Hague and Brussels, from Geneva to Djibouti, and back.

If you're a veteran of conference interpreting, you'll nod your head in agreement as you see the interpreters in situations you've encountered yourself. If you've never worked as a conference interpreter, this movie will give you an excellent taste of what the work is really like.

You can find a copy here, or by plugging the title into your favorite search engine.

EmailDo you have a resource you'd like to share with other interpreters?   

Send your ideas!   

8

Could you entertain people while dying of cancer? This month's interpreter hero, Alan Champion did exactly that. Putting his own pain and suffering aside, he brought joy to thousands of fans attending Broadway shows through his work as a theatrical interpreter -- especially to those who were Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH). 

When Theatre Meets Sign Language (Closed Captioned)
The late Alan Champion and colleague Candace Broecker-Penn discuss theatrical interpreting

Up until the 1980s, DHH individuals who attended Broadway shows could not enjoy them fully. Many relied on friends and relatives to sign to them to explain what was happening. Thanks to the non-profit Theater Development Fund, a group of about a dozen interpreters -- including Alan -- started to provide sign language interpreting services, opening up this area of entertainment for the DHH world.   

 

Alan had always wanted to work in the performing arts. "I moved to New York with the dream of performing onstage," Alan said in an interview with the New York Times. "I ended up with a different kind of role. A very satisfying one."  

 

Alan passed away this year at age 55, after devoting three decades of his life to interpreting for Broadway shows, and even interpreting throughout his treatment for cancer of the appendix.  

The least we can say is that Alan's work deserves a global round of applause (to see a video of how to applaud in American Sign Language, click here). To read more about Alan's life and work, click here

 

EmailWho inspires you?

Is there an interpreter from your country or field with a remarkable story? Send your suggestions for inspiring interpreters you'd like to see featured here.
7Last month, Interprenaut asked,

"Do you provide written translation services in addition to interpreting? If so, why?"


A total of 60 interpreters from 23 countries around the world responded. Here are the results:
  • Most interpreters are also translators. 80% of interpreters surveyed also work as translators.This finding is consistent with a much larger-scale study from Common Sense Advisory that was commissioned by InterpretAmerica, which showed that 72.9% of interpreters in North America also worked as translators (you can get a free copy of the report from Common Sense Advisory or InterpretAmerica).  
  • Many interpreters who translate do this work separately. 67% of these said that they did translation work separately from their interpreting job. Some interpreters are required to translate for their interpreting work. The remaining 33% said that translation was part of their job as an interpreter.

But why do interpreters translate? The main reasons cited were to supplement their income from interpreting and to enhance their skills as an interpreter. Some also shared that they did translation work because it was requested of them or on a volunteer basis.

 

Here are some examples of reasons why interpreters said they translate: 

  • "It complements my court interpreting. The research and vocabulary I can develop while translating reinforce my knowledge base for court interpreting. I live in a relatively remote area and can't make a living full-time as a court interpreter. It also suits my personality to work at home translating, as a break from in-court mode."     
  • "Translation and proofreading work widens my vocabulary in both my languages; it helps me to be a better interpreter. I do not actively look for translation and proofreading work. Most jobs I do because I have been asked to, as a favor to clients I interpret for or because of referrals from my regular interpretation clients. I like the fact that at the end, there is a hard copy result from my hard work."
  • "It is an excellent way to learn new topics and new words. When I translate, I have time to study the subject matter and to look words up in different dictionaries, which I don't have when I interpret in a booth."
  • "When I have the luxury of receiving material in advance for interpretation, I always do a translation into the target language, where required. The main reason I do separate written translation is that interpreting jobs don't come up all that often here in Brazil, but there is a big demand for document translation due to the large industries we have here, so it pays the bills!"
  • "It's very rare in sign language but it is starting to become more common. It's called 'translation' when you work either from a written document into Auslan [Australian sign language], or from a voice/written document into filmed Auslan."
  • "Sometimes I am asked to translate the documents or materials that will be part of the interpretation event, such as the overhead presentation, hand-outs, manuals, and so on."
  • "As a medical interpreter, I also do written translation work every day when assisting in the discharge of patients. The nursing staff writes the discharges orders in English, then I write them in Spanish for the patient to have both."
And now, for this month's chance to share your feedback! 
  • What's the most unique assignment you've ever had?  
  • What do you love most about your work?  
  • If you could pick just one word to describe your work as an interpreter, what would it be? 

Click here to answer a few brief questions.  

 

It's confidential, it will take you just a minute or two, and it will make for great reading in next month's newsletter.  

 

(Note: This month's poll is jointly administered with the Tool Box, a free newsletter for translators.) 

 

EmailDo you have a question you'd like to get input on from colleagues around the world?
Send me your suggested topics for next month's feedback section.  

6This month so far, as many people enjoy some vacation time, we've discussed interpreting in both movies and broadway shows. Both are leisurely activities, but still related to the job of an interpreter. So, how about a novel?

There are several fictional accounts of interpreters, but "The Interpreter," a novel by Suki Kim is a particularly great suspense read -- and an interesting view into what can happen when an interpreter is presented with a conflict of interests.

The book tells the story of Suzy Park, a Korean-American court interpreter in New York City. On one of her assignments, she interprets for a witness who, she realizes, knows something about the death of her own parents many years earlier. As a result, she begins looking into her own past in order to unravel the mystery of her parents' homicide.

While it isn't an essential tome in your resource library, this book offers a nice bit of entertainment that might be a welcome reward as you finish up 2011.

You can order a copy of the book here.
Email
Do you have a book you'd like to see reviewed by Interprenaut?
Send your suggestions.
5
As an interpreter, you're a language professional. But are you dealing with language the right way?

This month's featured video is an essay written (and spoken) by British comedian Stephen Fry. There are many excellent quotes in this piece, but my absolute favorite is, "There is no right language or wrong language any more than there are right or wrong clothes." Watch and enjoy. Stephen Fry Kinetic Typography - Language EmailWhat are your favorite interpreting-related videos?
Share them and they may be featured in a future issue.
4I am consistently amazed by the number of associations who make their newsletters and resources available for the entire world to take advantage of. If you're like me, you've often wondered if I should join associations in many countries just to thank them for doing such a great job helping the profession!

One such group is Cumann Aistritheoir� agus Teangair� na h�ireann, the Irish Translators and Interpreters Association (ITIA).

I highly recommend their quarterly newsletter, the ITIA Bulletin, which covers information not only about translation and interpreting in Ireland, but throughout the rest of the world too, especially other parts of Europe. I've subscribed for many years, and recommend it highly.

To subscribe, simply send a blank email to  
[email protected]

EmailHow are you connecting with other interpreters?

Share your favorite forms of staying in touch with your colleagues.
3Did you know about HINTS, which stands for Heads of INTerpreting Services?

This group is a worldwide network of international organizations with interpreting needs that consults with each other and meets twice each year. I recently came across this interesting and helpful document produced by the HINTS group.

It includes profiles of interpreting needs for many different European institutions and bodies, such as the EU Court of Justice, the European Patent Office, the European Parliament, the European Commission, U.S. Department of State, World Bank, and many others. It's a fascinating read for anyone interested in conference interpreting, or the need for interpreting services in general.

EmailDo you know of an interesting interpreting-related item?
Share it so that interpreters around the world can find out about it!
2Recent interpreting-related news items:

(Chad) Interpreter Enables Chad to Discuss Economic Partnership  

 

(China) Christian Bale and Director Communicate Through Interpreter  

 

(China) Chinese Hockey Team Praises Pakistan via Interpreter   

 

(China) Former Interpreter Yang Yi Publishes New Novel  

 

(Fiji) Conference Interpreter Loves His Job  

 

(Gambia) Interpreter's Qualifications Called into Question    

 

(Greece) Deaf Deprived of Interpreters, Ability to Communicate  

 

(India) Official Fired for Hiring "Weak Interpreter"    

 

(India) Crowds Demand Official Language Status for Sign Language 

 

(Ireland) Working as an Italian<>English Football Interpreter  

 

(Japan) Latvian Man Requires Interpreter for Two-Month Trial 

 

(Japan) Master Piano Tuner Used Interpreter to Communicate with Concert Pianists 

 

(Korea) Basketball Interpreters Facilitate On-Court Communication   

 

(Malaysia) Interpreter Enables Deaf Malay Couple to Wed 

 

(Malaysia) Interpreter Conveys Death Sentence to Ugandan Grandmother  

 

(Spain) Deaf Catalan Students Left without Interpreters 

 

(UK) Student Defies Severe Cerebral Palsy to Become EU Interpreter  

 

(USA) Director of New Broadway Musical Communicates through Mandarin Interpreter 

 

(USA) Texas Trial Delayed Due to Lack of Sign Language Interpreters   

 

(USA) Not Enough Interpreters Available for Hearing in Murder Case 

 

(USA) Burmese Refugees Rely on Interpreters  

 

(USA) Medical Interpreters in Arizona Vital to Patients 

 

(USA) Department of Justice Reviews Case of Interpreter Not Provided  

 

(USA) Colorado Must Provide Free Court Interpreters 

 

(USA) Illinois Hospital Interpreter Honored 

 

(USA) Judge Mistakes Interpreter for Attorney 

 

(USA) Sign Language Second Most Needed Language for Interpreters in California  

 

EmailDo you have interpreting news to report from your part of the word?  

Send it along, so that your fellow interpreters can hear all about it. 

1Ready for launch? Before you head into orbit, please observe the following pre-launch announcements from Mission Control...

Just look how far Interprenaut has traveled! 
Each month, Interprenaut visits more than 2,200 interpreters in 43 countries! If you live in a country that is not listed here, send in your mailing address via email to receive a postcard via regular mail.  

 


Telephone Interpreting

Subscribe and get a free book!   

If this email was forwarded to you by a friend or colleague, why not sign up? Just click here to subscribe, or SMS (text) message the word INTERPRENAUT to 22828. All new subscribers will receive a free digital copy of the book, Telephone Interpreting: A Comprehensive Guide to the Profession.   

 

Interested in translating the book?

Trainers, educators, and interpreters! If you would like to translate the Telephone Interpreting book into another language in order to use it to deliver your own training sessions or to use it as an educational material, feel free to get in touch. Translations for several languages are now underway!      

  

EmailYour comments are welcome!  

Do you have a resource you'd like to share with your colleagues? A book you would like to see reviewed? An inspiring interpreter you believe should be featured? Do you want the world to know how much you love the newsletter? Email your suggestions, observations, and reactions.    

 

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Lift-off!

 

"He spoke to my interpreter, to bid me have a care of my tongue, lest I should prejudice myself in answering intricate questions."

-- Alexander Hamilton

   

"My interpreters were indispensable. These guys are often forgotten, 

but they have a huge role."

-- Major League Baseball player Jack Howell

   

"We had a wonderful interpreter, who was there most of the time. And I got to know his [Boris Yeltsin's] Russian interpreter. And they became like a member of our relationship."

-- Bill Clinton 

 

"I came, I saw, I interpreted."

-- Interprenaut

(C) 2011 Nataly Kelly                                                www.interprenaut.com                                  Issue #7 - December 2011