Newsletter Policy About Services and ProductsCross-Cultural Communications does not accept paid advertisements. Our focus is not on commercial products but practical resources. If you have news that may be of interest to our audience, please send it to INTERSECT.
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How Accurate Translation Can Promote Peace
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Looking to dispel the notion that Islam is an inherently violent religion, a Muslim entrepreneur and an evangelical doctor have [created] a new translation of the Quran that includes over 3,000 references to the Bible in an attempt to show Americans the commonalities between Islam and Christianity.
The authors were partly inspired by some poor and misleading translations of the Quran. For example, one version published in Saudi Arabia takes this text in Arabic that is part of the daily prayers of Muslims: Guide us to the straight path, the path of those whom you have blessed, with whom you are not angry and [who] have not gone astray.
But it adds in parentheses, after with whom you are not angry, "Like the Jews" and after with whom you have not gone astray it adds, "the Christians."
Words have power.
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The Language Skills of Women Can Hide Dementia
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Ever wondered why most digital assistants today like Siri, Alexa and Cortana have women's names? This article from the Atlantic Monthly offers a host of possible reasons.
But it never mentions the huge body of research that attests to the strong language skills of women.
Which is one reason most interpreters and translators are women. But such facility with language, it turns out (interpreters and translators, beware) can mask early signs of dementia. Why? Women outscore men on the memory tests even in the early stages of brain deterioration.
On the bright side--better linguistic ability can make the brain more resilient against dementia.
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InterpretimeBank is an online community of interpreters who help each other out, not only by sharing resources and knowledge--but also practice time.
InterpretimeBank is not intended to replace training. You simply donate time to help other interpreters around the world practice, and you get the same hours in return.
A great concept. An impressive execution. Kudos to InterpretimeBank!
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The Subversive Copyeditor: Advice from Chicago
(or, How to Negotiate Good Relationships with Your Writers, Your Colleagues, and Yourself)
Carol Saller
University of Chicago Press, 2009
Carol Saller, the book's author, is the Keynote Speaker for the 2017 International Conference of IAPTI (International Assocaition of Professional Translators and Interpreters in Buenos Aires. Ms. Saller but she is more famous as an editor at the University of Chicago Press and head copyeditor for the 16th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style.
The Subversive Copyeditor is quirky, funny and fun. It answers thousands of the questions that Ms. Saller receives from writers and copyeditors--and seeks to make peace between them. Here are examples of the "wars" she has observed: - This author is giving me a fit.
- I wish that I could just DEMAND the use of the serial comma at all times.
- My author wants his preface to come at the end of the book. This just seems ridiculous to me. I mean, it's not a post-face.
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Who Knew? The Tenth Cuba-Quebec Symposium on I & T
(and T)
Looking for an excuse to visit Cuba this December?
Quebec's professional association of interpreters, translators and terminologists (OTTIAQ) is now in its tenth year of hosting a joint Cuba-Quebec Symposium on translation, terminology and interpreting.
This year the sympotsium will be held December 6, 7 and 8. Its theme is From Babel to Google Translate: Translation and Interpretation, A Bridge Between Peoples.
(As a Canadian, I blush. I did my BA and MA in French linguistics in Quebec, yet I had never heard of this symposium. Exciting!)
British Interpreter Service Seeks Interpreter Stories
Mothertongue, a UK nonprofit that provides multicultural counseling, also has a wonderful mental health interpreter service. They are calling out to interpreters.
Mothertongue plans to publish a second anthology of interpreter stories in fall 2017. They seek real stories from interpreters, not works of art, so don't be shy. And be sure to get the details.
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Poor Translation Is Expensive
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You know the drill. The customer, or your colleague, wants cheaper translation. After all, GoogleTranslate is free! And your job (sigh) is to explain why "cheap" is worth exactly what it costs.
Well, here is an article that might help convince your skeptic. It offers compelling stories as well. For instance, one company opted for cheap translation. Disaster. So the graphic design budget was co-opted to pay more money to have a high-end quality boutique translation firm retranslate the signage and advertising text.
The higher-ups never found out they had paid for the translation--twice.
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Join the Adventure--Become an Interpreter Trainer
Looking for a ready-made program to train medical or community interpreters? Sign up for the premier program in the field!
Join trainers from around the country November 14-19, 2016 in Columbia, Maryland for the next Training of Trainers for The Community Interpreter® International. You can teach the Medical Edition (with its own textbook) or the general edition (for medical, educational and social services interpreters).
Get licensed. Join our growing network of 223 trainers in 34 US states, DC, Guam and 6 other countries! No program in the history of the nation--or the world--has licensed more trainers for medical or community interpreting.
Better still, our step-by-step trainer's guide, web-based training resources and textbooks are the most up-to-date and comprehensive books available. Beautiful textbooks, workbooks and handbooks, professional PPT slide kits, handouts, activities, role plays and more: you have it all. Yet you can still adapt the program to meet your needs.
The program you will teach is lively, fun and interactive. CCC also takes the guesswork out of preparing medical interpreters for certification. The flexibility of this program will prepare you to offer 40, 60 or 100 hours of training. And there are no licensing fees. Cost: $2,600. Register by October 10th and save $200!).
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It Breaks My Heart: Learn How to Interpret for Trauma
Do you interpret for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault or child abuse? Perhaps you interpret for other trauma survivors, such as refugees.
Then consider our debut two-day training, It Breaks My Heart, coming November 10 and 11 to Columbia, Maryland. It is based on the exciting Breaking Silence program developed by CCC for Ayuda and the DC Office of Victim Services. Read more or register soon.
It takes special skills and strategies to interpret for trauma survivors. Come and learn from CCC, the leading organization in the U.S. to specialize in this sensitive topic. CCC Director Marjory Bancroft leads the training.
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LOOK INSIDE all of our publications at: www.cultureandlanguage.net and go to Books and Products.
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Sincerely,
Marjory A. Bancroft
Marjory A. Bancroft
Director & Founder
Cross-Cultural Communications, LLC
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