INTERSECT: A Newsletter about Interpreting, Language and Culture

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Human Language

No, we didn't start off with grunts and bellows. The latest research suggests that human language started off sometime between 50,000 and 100,000 years ago--with a bang.

We already knew from research that languages have a universal connection related to our ability to use syntax. The latest research suggests that human language arose very rapidly by combining two systems that existed in birds and primates: the expressivity of birdsong, and a lexical system that seems to exist in other primates' calls.

Human language may also have sprung into being fully developed. It's an intriguing theory.

Machine Translation Takes a Big Market Share

The global machine translation market is predicted to increase by more than 23% from 2014 to 2019. Sounds like healthy growth.

Machine translation just means that a computer is translating text (words) from one language to another. But it's huge business. A new report from Technavio called Global Machine Translation Market 2015-2019 reports that the big players are IBM, Lionbridge and SDL.

So what is the big market driver? Mainly the increasing "volume of content." And the big market challenge? Perhaps you think "inaccuracy," or "risk" or "botched mangled idiotic gobbledygook." No. The report says the big market challenge is the "dominance of human translators."

Awwwwww. :)

April 3, 2015

IN THIS ISSUE

Human Language

Machine Translation Takes a Big Market Share

Book(s) of the Week

On the Calendar

If You're a Translator--Type Fast

CCC Corner

Culture & Language Press

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The Voice of Love

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BOOK(S) OF THE WEEK

Psycholinguistic and Cognitive Inquiries into Translation and Interpreting

Edited by Aline Ferreira and John W. Schwieter
John Benjamins, 2015

Hot off the Benjamins press comes a book that examines research on translation and interpreting from a new perspective. Part I looks at the big picture. Part II gets down into the weeds and looks, for example, at research comparing the performance of novice and expert translators, from eye tracking, keystroke logging, retrospective protocols, and post-editing machine translation. Studies on interpreting explore language competence and the role of expertise, redundancy, and working memory capacity. This new collection of studies is a must for anyone following the latest research in the field.

ON THE CALENDAR

April Showers Bring May Conferences

May 9
New England Translators Association (NETA)

19th NETA Annual Conference

Natick, MA

May 16

Nebraska Association for Translators & Interpreters (NATI)

NATIWest North Platte One-Day Conference

North Platte, NE

Special Note

Healing Voices: Interpreting for Survivors of Torture, War Trauma and Sexual Violence (May 4-8, 2015) is seeking CEUS for both ATA and CMI (IMIA)! See the flier for details about the program and the registration form to register.

A limited number of half-scholarships are available for refugee resettlement interpreters. Full scholarships (except a small charge for materials) are available for torture treatment program interpreters. Pass the word on!

If You're a Translator--Type Fast

You've seen the usual "top 10 tips for translators" articles. Here are three more tips. They focus on how to make more money.

Productivity is key, so here are three things to know: a) If you translate, develop excellent touch typing skills (typing quickly with all ten fingers) because those skills don't just increase speed--they reduce your errors, proofreading time and repetitive motion injuries. b) Use a bigger font display size. You'll see more mistakes and feel less fatigue. c) Eliminate distractions on your screen. You'll make fewer mistakes, which should speed you up.

Great tips!

CCC CORNER

Don't Miss the Registration Deadline

Do you want to be a professional medical interpreter? An interpreter in social services, or schools? All three? Then hurry.

The registration deadline for The Community Interpreter® has been extended from today until Monday, April 6. This is the top CCC program, and the most famous program for community interpreting in the U.S.

The dates are April 17, 18, 24, 25 and May 2, from 8:30 to 5:30 in Columbia, Maryland. Check out the flier or register now!

How's Your Medical Terminology?

If you're a medical interpreter, or you interpret in school health rooms or for health-related court cases, take a look at the most serious yet lively, fun and engaging workshop ever for medical terminology.

Come to Medical Terminology for Interpreters on April 23 in Columbia, Maryland from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In just one day you'll tackle Greek and Latin roots and affixes; medical specialties; body parts and body systems (anatomy and physiology); signs and symptoms; diseases and disorders, medical abbreviations and more. And you'll love every minute.

Get more information or register today.

Or take a look at our spring and summer training calendars for other offerings.