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April 2002
Volume XXXI
Number 4
The
Chronicle A Publication of
the American
Translators
Association
in this issue
Public Awareness
in this issue
April 2002
Volume XXXI
Number 4
Features
A Publication of
14 International Certification Study: Austria the American
By Jiri Stejskal Translators
Association
17 The Right to an Interpreter—Who Decides? An Australian Perspective
By Penny Patterson
The capacity of judges (who are extensively trained in legal matters, but not usually in
linguistic ones) to make informed decisions about language proficiency is highly ques-
tionable, and exposes a serious weakness in the Australian legal system.
Editor
20 A New ATA Affiliate: The Upper Midwest Translators and Interpreters Jeff Sanfacon
Association Jeff@atanet.org
By Laurence H. Bogoslaw and Deb Kramasz
ATA’s newest affiliate group has the combined mission of promoting the quality, pro- Proofreader
fessionalism, and prestige of the translating and interpreting industry in the upper Margaret L. Hallin
Midwest region, and of providing networking, training, and development opportunities
Design/Layout
for local language professionals.
Ellen Banker/Amy Peloff
21 Incorporation versus Sole Proprietorship Advertising
By Howard Dias Brian Wallace
Incorporation versus sole proprietor—do the tax savings outweigh the additional costs? McNeill Group Inc.
brian@mcneill-group.com
22 Time for Translation Providers to Come Out of the Shadows
By Chris Durban (215) 321-9662 ext. 38
The intrepid monolingual buyer of translations faces a challenge that is arguably even Fax: (215) 321-9636
more difficult than the one faced by a consumer seeking high-quality healthcare. The
Executive Director
reason? Translation buyers are often simply unable to judge what is delivered.
Walter Bacak
Walter@atanet.org
Editorial Advisors
R. Michael Conner,
Leslie Willson, Mike Stacy
Columns and Departments
A sign of spring.
Membership and
6 About Our Authors
General Information
7 From the President
Maggie Rowe
10 From the Executive Director
Maggie@atanet.org
13 Conferences and Events
Document-on-Request:
44 Accreditation Forum
1-888-990-3282
45 The Onionskin
website: www.atanet.org
47 Dictionary Reviews
57 The Translation Inquirer
59 Humor and Translation
60 ATA Chapters and Groups
62 Display Advertising Index
63 New Active and Corresponding Members
American Translators Association
225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590 • Alexandria VA 22314
Tel: (703) 683-6100 • Fax (703) 683-6122
E-mail: Chronicle@atanet.org • Website: www.atanet.org2002 Chronicle The
Editorial Calendar
January
Focus: Professional Practices
Chronicle A Publication of the American Translators Association
1999 FIT Best Periodical Award Winner
Submission Deadline:
November 1
The ATA Chronicle Submission Guidelines
The ATA Chronicle enthusiastically encourages members to submit articles of interest to the fields of
February
Focus: ATA Divisions: Past, translation and interpretation.
Present, and Beyond 1. Articles (see length specifications below) are due the first of the month, two months prior to the
Submission Deadline: month of publication (i.e., June 1 for August issue).
December 1 2. Articles should not exceed 3,500 words. Articles containing words or phrases in non-European
March
writing systems (e.g., Japanese, Arabic) should be submitted by mail and fax.
Focus: Marketing 3. Include your fax, phone, e-mail, and mailing address on the first page.
Submission Deadline: 4. Include a brief abstract (two sentences maximum) emphasizing the most salient points of your
January 1 article. The abstract will be included in the table of contents.
5. Include a brief biography (three sentences maximum) along with a picture (color or B/W). Please
April
Focus: Public Awareness be sure to specify if you would like your photo returned. Do not send irreplaceable photos.
Submission Deadline: 6. In addition to a hard copy version of the article, please submit an electronic version either on
February 1 disk or via e-mail (Jeff@atanet.org).
7. Texts should be formatted for Word or Wordperfect 8.0.
May
8. All articles are subject to editing for grammar, style, punctuation, and space limitations.
Focus: Literary Translation
Submission Deadline: 9. A proof will be sent to you for review prior to publication.
March 1
Standard Length
June Letters to the editor: 350 words; Opinion/Editorial: 300-600 words; Feature Articles: 750-3,500
Focus: Agencies, Bureaus, and
Companies
words; Column: 400-1,000 words
Submission Deadline:
April 1
July
Focus: Science and Technology
An Easy Reference To ATA Member Benefits
Submission Deadline: Your ATA membership has never been more valuable. Take advantage of the discounted programs and
May 1 services available to you as an ATA member. Be sure to tell these companies you are an ATA member and
August
refer to any codes provided below.
Focus: Independent Contractors Business Owners Insurance MasterCard
Submission Deadline:
June 1
National Professional Group MBNA America
(888) 219-8122 Reference Code: IFKV
September www.ata-ins.com (800) 847-7378 • (302) 457-2165
Focus: Interpreting
Submission Deadline: Collection Services/Receivables Medical, Life, and Disability Insurance
July 1 Management Mutual of Omaha
October Dun & Bradstreet (800) 223-6927 • (402) 342-7600
Focus: Legal Translating/ Mike Horoski www.atanet.org/mutual.htm
Interpreting (800) 333-6497 ext. 7226
Submission Deadline: (484) 242-7226 Overnight Delivery/Express Package Service
August 1 Horoskim@dnb.com UPS
Reference Code: C0000700415
November/December
Focus: Training and Pedagogy Conference Travel (800) 325-7000
Submission Deadline: Stellar Access www.ups.com
September 1 Reference Code: 505
(800) 929-4242 • (619) 453-3686 Professional Liability Insurance
Moving? Find an e-mail: flycia@stellaraccess.com National Professional Group
www.stellaraccess.com (888) 219-8122
error with your www.ata-ins.com
address? Credit Card Acceptance Retirement Programs
We’ve done everything possible to ensure Program/Professional Services Account Washington Pension Center
that your address is correct. But sometimes NOVA Information Systems (888) 817-7877 • (301) 941-9179
errors do occur. If you find that the informa- Reference Code: HCDA
tion on the mailing label is inaccurate or out (888) 545-2207 • (770) 649-5700
of date, please let us know. Send updates to:
The ATA Chronicle • 225 Reinekers Lane, ...And, of course, as an ATA member you receive discounts on the Annual Conference registration fees and ATA publi-
Suite 590 • Alexandria, VA 22314 cations, and you are eligible to join ATA Divisions, participate in the online Translation Services Directory, and much
Fax (703) 683-6122 • Chronicle@atanet.org more. For more information, contact ATA (703) 683-6100; fax (703) 683-6122; and e-mail: ata@atanet.org.
4 The ATA Chronicle | April 200225 The Professional Image of Translators and Interpreters
By Rut Simcovich
Do translators and interpreters have a professional image? What image do we have of
ourselves? There are some indicators that we don’t have much of a professional image
and that the little we have is not too good.
27 Back to Basics in Professional Preparation
The ATA Chronicle (ISSN
By Carol J. Patrie 1078-6457) is published
Working interpreters and student interpreters can benefit from awareness and develop- monthly, except bi-monthly
ment of intralingual skills within their working languages, but especially within their in November/December,
first language. This article describes and reviews relevant intralingual skills and cogni- by the American
tive processing skills. Translators Association.
32 An Introduction to German Patent Translation Reprint Permission:
By Nicholas Hartmann Requests for permission to
reprint articles should be
Basic principles and procedures for translating German patents into English, including
sent to the Chronicle editor
information about suggested working methods and the attitudes and qualifications that at Jeff@atanet.org.
patent translators must bring to their work. The subscription rate for a
member is $43 (included in
36 Overview of the Los Angeles Area Hospital Project and Training Strategies the dues payment). The U.S.
By Alexander Rainof subscription rate for a non-
member is $50. Subscribers
The state of medical translation and interpretation in the U.S. has recently resulted in a
in Canada and Mexico add
great deal of concern. A discussion of some of the issues raised by physicians in med- $25; all other non-U.S. sub-
ical journals (JAMA, JAMWA), by the Office of Civil Rights of the Health and Human scribers add $45. Single
Services Department, by the press (LA Times, etc.), and by translators and interpreters copies are available for $5
throughout the country. per issue. Second-class
Postage rates paid at
Alexandria, Virginia, and
additional mailing offices.
Postmaster:
ATA’s Fax on Demand Changes of address
should be sent to The ATA
Chronicle, 225 Reinekers
Need a membership form for a colleague? Want the latest list of exam sites? Call ATA’s Lane, Suite 590,
Alexandria, VA 22314. The
Document on Request line, available 24-hours a day: American Translators
Association (ATA) was
1-888-990-3282 established in 1959 as a
not-for-profit professional
society to advance the
The call is toll-free and user-friendly...simply follow the voice prompts and have the standards of translation
ATA documents you need faxed to you. and to promote the intel-
lectual and material inter-
ests of translators and
Here’s the current list of documents that are available and their document numbers: interpreters in the United
States. The statements
made in The ATA
1 Menu 33 Request for Accreditation 57 1999 Chronicle Index
Chronicle do not neces-
20 Membership Brochure Review 58 2000 Chronicle Index sarily reflect the opinion
21 Membership Application 40 List of Publications & Order 59 ATA Code of Professional or judgment of the ATA,
22 Alternative Routes to Active Form Conduct its editor, or its officers or
or Corresponding 50 Chronicle Editorial Guidelines 60 ATAware Order Form directors and are strictly
those of the authors.
Membership 51 Chronicle Advertising Rates 70 Chapters, Affiliated Groups
30 A Guide to ATA Accreditation 52 1994 Chronicle Index & Other Groups
31 ATA Accreditation Practice 53 1995 Chronicle Index 80 Proposal for Conference
Test Request Form 54 1996 Chronicle Index Presentation
32 ATA Accreditation 55 1997 Chronicle Index 90 Model Contract for
Examination Registration 56 1998 Chronicle Index Translators
Form
The ATA Chronicle | April 2002 5About Our Authors...
Laurence H. Bogoslaw is the presi- 1982. He began working full-time as Specialist Certificate: Legal, Certificate
dent of the Upper Midwest Translators an independent technical and scientific of Transliteration, Certificate of
and Interpreters Association, a new translator in 1984, and now special- Interpretation). She authored The
ATA affiliate. He is also the coordinator izes in translating patents and related Effective Interpreting Series: Cognitive
of the Minnesota Translation documents for corporate clients and Processing in English, English Skills
Laboratory (MTL), which he co- law firms in the U.S. and Europe. He Development, and Translating from
founded with Professor Bruce has served ATA as director and secre- English, all published by
Downing at the University of Minne- tary, administrator of the Science and DawnSignPress. Consecutive
sota. He received his M.A. in Italian Technology Division, chair of the Interpreting and Simultaneous
from the University of Connecticut in Client Education Committee and the Interpreting are forthcoming. Contact:
1988 and his Ph.D. in Slavic languages Science and Technology Information cpatrie@hotmail.com.
and literatures from the University of Committee, and as a member of the
Michigan in 1995. He is an experi- Terminology Committee and the ATA Penny Patterson earned a B.A. in lan-
enced technical translator in Russian, Chronicle editorial board. He holds guages and applied linguistics at
Italian, and Polish. He has also con- ATA accreditation in French>English, Griffith University, Nathan,
ducted research on poetry translation, German>English, and Italian>English. Queensland, Australia. Contact:
and is a published literary translator. Contact: nh@nhartmann.com. patterson_penny@hotmail.com.
Contact: mtl@tc.umn.edu.
Deb Kramasz is a tech- Alexander Rainof grew up in France,
Howard Dias is a certified public nical communicator and Italy, Mexico, and the U.S., and
accountant with 30 years of experi- translator, former trans- received his M.A. and Ph.D. in com-
ence. He has been in business for lation agency owner, parative literature (specializing in
himself since 1985 (and all those and a Berlitz ESL/ Anglo-American, French, Italian, and
years as a corporation). He special- Spanish teacher. After Spanish languages and literature)
izes in small- and medium-sized busi- living in Morocco for eight years, she from the University of Michigan in
nesses, especially interpreters. developed a special interest in inter- Ann Arbor. He is a certified interpreter
Contact: hrdcpa@aol.com. national communication in her for the federal, state, and the Los
working languages (Spanish, Arabic, Angeles County courts, as well as for
Chris Durban (FITI; and French). She graduates this year all state agencies in California. He has
member of the Société with a B.A. in technical communica- published extensively in the areas of
Française des Traduc- tion from Metropolitan State Uni- literature, linguistics, translation, and
teurs) is a freelance versity in St. Paul, Minnesota, where interpretation, and is currently a pro-
translator specializing she also works as the office manager fessor in the Romance, German, and
in finance and capital of University Advancement. She serves Russian Languages and Literatures
markets, and a founding member of as managing editor for Turning Point, Department at California State
Rencontres Traduction Financière. the newsletter of the Upper Midwest University, Long Beach, and in the
Based in Paris, she was a staff trans- Translators and Interpreters Associ- Translation and Interpretation
lator with EFSA, the research division ation, a new ATA affiliate. Contact: Certificate Program at UCLA/UNEX.
of the Banque de l’Union Europeenne, deb.kramasz@metrostate.edu. Contact: arainof@ucla.edu or
from 1973-1987. She has organized arainof@csulb.edu.
five training days for financial transla- Carol J. Patrie, Ph.D.,
tors in conjunction with the Paris is known nationally and Rut Simcovich is an Argentine free-
Bourse. Since February 1996, she has internationally for her lance English-Spanish translator and
written a client education column for work on translation, interpreter. She has been running
the ITI Bulletin entitled “The Onion- interpretation, and interpreter-training courses since
skin,” featuring real-life translation sto- teaching interpretation. 1986. She was the court-appointed
ries (this column now appears in the She coordinated the Master of Arts in interpreter in the trial of the Argentine
ATA Chronicle). She was recently Interpretation at Gallaudet University, Military Juntas, and currently works
awarded ATA’s Gode Medal. Contact: is a past president of the Conference for clients such as the U.K. Embassy,
chrisdurban@compuserve.com. of Interpreter Trainers, and is certified the World Bank, and The Coca Cola
as an interpreter by the Registry of Company. Contact:
Nicholas Hartmann earned B.A. and Interpreters for the Deaf rsimcovich@infovia.com.ar.
M.A. degrees in 1973 and his Ph.D. in (Comprehensive Skills Certificate,
6 The ATA Chronicle | April 2002From the President Thomas L. West III
president@atanet.org
Accreditation
s I write these words, I am on education requirements for retaining by ATA Treasurer Dr. Jiri Stejskal, and
A my way to a CLE seminar. CLE
is lawyer-speak for “continuing
legal education,” and attorneys in the
the credential. As past ATA President
Ann Macfarlane told you in one of
her many eloquent columns, we will
the ad hoc committee on continuing
education requirements will be chaired
by Professional Development Chair
state of Georgia, where I live, are be making these changes to the Marian Greenfield. They will report to
required to take 12 hours of contin- accreditation program “with all delib- the Board at our meeting in late June on
uing education every year to keep erate speed” (a famous phrase from their findings.
their license. Although I no longer the Supreme Court’s decision in In the meantime, ATA Director Dr.
practice law, I am still licensed to do Brown vs. the Board of Education, Alan Melby will continue his investiga-
so and therefore attend the continuing describing the court’s opinion of how tion into whether it would be possible
education classes every year. Since I quickly [or not quickly, depending on to meet all our requirements and still
spend my days reading (and trans- how you read it] school desegregation allow test takers to write the examina-
lating) legalese in foreign languages, should be carried out). tion on a computer. For a discussion of
these courses are an especially good In an effort to get the changes the enormous difficulties surrounding
opportunity for me to listen to stan- underway “with all deliberate speed,” the this conundrum, I refer you to the
dard English legal language as it is ATA Board met on Saturday, March 9, excellent articles written by Terry
spoken by practicing attorneys. I also with the Accreditation Committee and Hanlen, who manages the accreditation
learn about new areas of the law that discussed at length how to implement program at ATA Headquarters. Terry’s
will probably show up in a translation two of the Hamm recommendations. At articles appear in the July and August
one of these days. a session led by Accreditation Chair Lili 2001 issues of the Chronicle. I look
As most of you know by now, last Van Vranken and Deputy Chair Celia forward to bringing you news about
year the ATA Board of Directors Bohannon, we focused on eligibility changes in the accreditation programs
approved implementing the recom- requirements and continuing education. over the next two years, and appreciate
mendations made by credentialing I have summarized the results of our your support in making it the most
expert Michael Hamm when he brainstorming and have appointed two widely recognized credential in our
reviewed our accreditation program. ad hoc committees, one to study each of profession.
One of these recommendations these issues. The ad hoc committee on
was that we implement continuing eligibility requirements will be chaired
Announcing
ATA Medical Translation and Interpreting Seminar
Radisson Hotel and Suites Chicago • Chicago, Illinois • May 18, 2002
This seminar features an in-depth look at medical translation and Fee: $145 ATA members; $230 nonmembers
interpreting. More information on the program will be e-mailed to all After May 10: $225 members; $320 nonmembers
members and posted on the ATA website. All presentations will be in
English. See page 11 for more information and the registration form. Space is limited. To register, contact ATA Headquarters at
703-683-6100 or visit the ATA website—www.atanet.org—
Plus, an ATA accreditation exam sitting is scheduled for Sunday On the home page, click on the Medical Seminar link under
morning, May 19, in the hotel. (A separate registration is required What’s New.
for the exam. Please contact ATA Headquarters for more information.)
A few rooms have been reserved at $169 single/double a night, plus
tax. To reserve a hotel room, contact the Radisson at 312-787-2900.
Be sure to mention that you are attending the ATA seminar.
An ATA Professional Development Seminar
The ATA Chronicle | April 2002 7New York University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution. ©2002 New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies
Parlez-Vous Success?
Introducing NYU’s Master of Science in Translation
There’s a whole new way to succeed in our rapidly shrinking world – with the new Master of Science in Translation
degree from New York University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies. It's the only one of its kind in
the world, and to really make the most of your skills, it has a special focus on finance and law.
We also offer a Graduate Certificate in Translation*, designed to provide a foundation for professional practice and
further study in the field.
What's more, for busy professionals, both have been designed to be offered completely online. Only the final
term of the Master’s Degree program requires attending courses in New York City. Find out more today.
Because success translates into every language!
INFORMATION SESSION:
Tues., 6-8 p.m., May 21
48 Cooper Square, 2nd Floor
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Phone: 212-998-7200, ext. 375
Website: www.scps.nyu.edu/375
* Pending State approval.American Translators Association
43rd Annual Conference
HYATT REGENCY HOTEL • ATLANTA, GEORGIA
NOVEMBER 6 – NOVEMBER 9, 2002
Plan now to attend ATA’s Annual Conference. Join your colleagues for a rewarding experience in Atlanta, Georgia.
ATA’s 43rd Annual Conference will feature:
• Over 150 educational sessions offering something for everyone;
• The Job Exchange where individuals promote their services and companies meet translators and interpreters;
• Over 50 exhibits featuring the latest publications, software, and services available;
• Opportunities to network with over 1,600 translators and interpreters from throughout the U.S. and around the world; and
• Much more!
The Registration Form and Preliminary Program will be mailed in July to all ATA members. The conference rates are listed below.
As always, ATA members receive significant discounts.
Conference Registration Fees ATA member Nonmember Student Member
Early-Bird (by October 1) $245 $335 $110
One-day $125 $170 n/a
After October 1 $305 $420 $130
One-day $160 $220 n/a
On-site (after October 26) $380 $525 $150
One-day $195 $270 n/a
Note: Students and one-day participants do not receive a copy of the Proceedings.
All speakers must register for the conference.
Hotel Accommodations
The Hyatt Regency Hotel, the host hotel, is conveniently located in downtown Atlanta at 265 Peachtree Street, NE. The
hotel is 20 minutes from Atlanta’s Hartsfield International Airport.
Conference attendees can register at the discounted rate of $160 single, $165 double, $175 triple, and $185 quadruple plus
tax per night. (Regency Club accommodations are offered at an additional charge of $35 per room based on availability.) This
rate is good until October 15, 2002. The availability of guest rooms or the group rate cannot be guaranteed after that date.
To make your hotel reservations, contact the Hyatt Regency at 1-866-333-8880 or 404-577-1234. Be sure to specify that
you are attending the ATA Annual Conference.
Travel Arrangements
ATA once again offers the services of Stellar Access to help you with your travel arrangements. Through Stellar Access
conference attendees are eligible for discounted air travel and rental cars.
Call Stellar Access at 1-800-929-4242, and ask for ATA Group #505. Outside the U.S. and Canada, call 858-805-6109; fax:
858-547-1711. A $15 transaction fee will be applied to all tickets purchased by phone. Reservation hours: Monday-Friday
6:30am-5:00pm Pacific Time.
BOOK ONLINE and pay NO TRANSACTION FEE! Go to www.stellaraccess.com and book your reservations from the
convenience of your home or office anytime! First-time users must register and refer to Group #505.
Mark Your Calendar Today!
November 6–9, 2002
The ATA Chronicle | April 2002 9From the Executive Director Walter Bacak, CAE
Walter@atanet.org
Highlights from the March Board Meeting
he Board of Directors met “interpreting” or “interpreter” any- Research Forum. The Board approved
T March 8 and 10 in Alexandria,
Virginia. Here are some of the
highlights from the meeting.
where in ATA material where “trans-
lation,” “translating,” or “translator” is
mentioned. Related, the name of the
a motion to establish the Translation
and Interpreting Research Forum
specifically for individuals engaged, or
online Translation Services Directory having a professional interest, in
Investment Policy. The Board approved will be changed to Directory of Trans- research in the fields of translation and
a new investment policy. The policy, lation and Interpreting Services and interpreting. Dr. Claudia Angelelli will
drafted by ATA Treasurer Jiri Stejskal the online Corporate Translation chair this Forum.
and the members of the Investment Services Directory will be changed to
Committee (ATA Past Treasurer Eric Directory of Language Services In addition, the Board spent much
McMillan and ATA Directors Beatriz Companies. time discussing the changes to the
Bonnet and Marian Greenfield), is a accreditation program (see “From the
more conservative policy reflecting Services Surveys. The Board dis- President” on page 7) and proposed
the need to preserve capital (versus cussed two surveys that will be get- public relations efforts. More infor-
seeking higher returns). ting underway late this spring. One mation on both topics will be pub-
will be an update of the Translation lished as it develops.
Policy on Addressing Commercial and Interpreting Services Survey,
Disputes. The Board approved a which features the compensation The minutes of the meeting are
policy statement reflecting ATA’s data for translators and interpreters posted in the Members Only section of
position on commercial disputes broken out in several ways: experi- the ATA website: www.atanet.org/
involving members. More information ence, language, etc. The second membersonly. Past meeting minutes
on the policy will be published in the survey will include detailed informa- are also posted on the site. The next
Chronicle and posted on the website. tion on language services companies. Board meeting is set for June 29-30 in
Both are targeted to be published by New Orleans, Louisiana. As always,
Interpreting Issues. The Board the time of the annual conference in the meeting is open to the membership.
approved a motion to incorporate November.
Nominating Committee Approved It’s Not Too Early To Plan
The Board approved the 2002 Nominating Committee.
The committee members are: ATA’s 43rd Annual
Ann G. Macfarlane, chair
Conference
Dr. Denzel L. Dyer
Virginia K. Fox Hyatt Regency Hotel
Robert E. Sette
Benjamin B. Tompkins Atlanta, Georgia
For more information, please contact ATA Headquarters at (703) 683-6100 November 6-9, 2002
or ata@atanet.org.
10 The ATA Chronicle | April 2002Announcing
ATA Medical Translation and
Interpreting Seminar
Radisson Hotel and Suites Chicago
Chicago, Illinois • Saturday, May 18, 2002
Join your colleagues in the “Windy City” on May 18th for a full day of in-depth sessions on medical translation and
interpreting. Get current on terminology, hear presentations specifically targeting professionals working in medical
translation and/or interpreting, and network with other translators and interpreters. All sessions will be in English and
will be submitted for Continuing Education Credit for the States of California and Washington. A continental breakfast
will be served.
Morning Plenary Session
The Language of Medicine
Davi-Ellen Chabner
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Legal Issues in the Translation of Healthcare Documents
Maria Cornelio
A Crash Course in Experimental Design and Inferential Statistics for Biomedical Translators
Dr. Lydia Razran Stone
Ethical Codes and Ethical Dilemmas in Medical Interpreting
Dr. Cornelia Brown and Bruce T. Downing
Beyond Bilingualism: The Role of Telephonic Interpreting in Facilitating Cultural Competency
Janet Erickson-Johnson
Abstracts and speaker biographies can be found at www.atanet.org/medical/abstracts.htm.
Early-Bird Registration Fees: ATA Members $145 Nonmembers $230
After May 10 and On-site: ATA Members $225 Nonmembers $320
Space is limited. For more information, contact ATA Headquarters at 703-683-6100 or visit the ATA website at
www.atanet.org and click on the Medical Seminar link on the home page. (Direct link is www.atanet.org/medical.)
A small block of rooms has been reserved at $169 single/double a night, plus tax. To reserve your hotel room, con-
tact the Radisson at 312-787-2900. Be sure to mention that you are attending the ATA Medical Translation and
Interpreting Seminar.
Complete the following Registration Form to register today!
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727$/3$Conferences and Events
Nashville, Tennessee Length: 5-10 double-spaced pages Paris, France
Society for Technical Communication 49th (short is beautiful!) VI International Forum on Legal Translation and
Annual Conference Abstracts: Maximum of 100 words; enclose CV. Court Interpreting
May 5-8, 2002 Delivery: E-mail in .doc format to June 12-14, 2002
For everyone whose job involves communicat- zuzana007@hotmail.com. Information: Elena de la Fuente, Organizing
ing technical information! Conference attendees Deadline: Abstracts by May 31, 2002, final Committee Chairperson, FIT Committee on
come together each year to share information version of papers by July 31, 2002. LTCI; e-mail: delftrad@club-internet.fr.
about every aspect of their work. Besides its Authors of accepted papers will be advised by
many networking opportunities, the conference June 30, 2002. All presenters must be regis- Yokohama, Japan
provides a program of approximately 200 tech- tered for the conference.
13th International Japanese/English Translation
nical sessions. These are 60- to 90-minute pre- For more information, please contact:
Conference
sentations, each conducted by one or more Zuzana Kulhankova
May 11-12, 2002
experts in some area of technical communica- Jana Zizky 2, 378 81 Slavonice
For more information, please visit
tion. For more information: Czech Republic
www.ijet.org/ijet-13.
www.stc.org/49thConf/index.html. Tel: +420-332-493777
Fax: +420-332-493770
Mobil: +420-605-726432 Auckland, New Zealand
Washington, DC New Zealand Society of Translators
E-mail: zuzana007@hotmail.com
Translators Discussion Group and Interpreters
www.scholaludus.cz
Borders Books and Music Ethics, Education, Experience, and Earnings:
18th & L Streets, NW Elements in the Multidimensional World of
Meets the second Wednesday of each month Birmingham, England
Translation and Interpreting
from 6:30-8:00 pm at Borders. For more infor- The Birmingham Centre for Corpus Linguistics
June 1-3, 2002
mation, please contact Lily Liu at Expert Training Package
For more information, please contact the
LilyLiu99@aol.com. "FastTrack to Translation: Extracting Translation
national secretary via e-mail at liu@ihug.co.nz.
Equivalents from Parallel Corpora"
Toronto, Canada University of Birmingham
June 11-14, 2002 Madrid, Spain
Canadian Association for Translation Studies Madrid 2002 Conference for
Geared toward professionals in the language
15th Annual Conference Financial Translators
industry and other multilingual areas (i.e., dic-
Translation and (Im)migration Colegio de Medicos
tionary publishing, multilingual language tech-
May 25-27, 2002 Saturday, June 8th, 2002
nology, and translation services). Space is lim-
Information: Dr. Anne Malena, Modern A one-day event for financial translators (espe-
ited. For more information and a registration
Language and Cultural Studies, 200 Arts cially of Spanish) to be held at the Colegio de
form, please visit
Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Medicos (C/Santa Isabel, 51, 28012, Madrid).
http://clg2.bham.ac.uk/FastTrack.html.
Alberta T6G 2E6 Canada. Tel: (780) 492-1187; Speakers include experts from the financial
Completed registration and payment forms
Fax :(780) 492-9106; sector and leading financial translators from
should be sent by mail or fax to: Louise Matty,
E-mail: amalena@ualberta.ca; website: around the world (including Chris Durban and
Centre for Corpus Linguistics, Department of
www.uottawa.ca/associations/ Silvana Debonis). The conference seeks to pro-
English, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston,
act-cats/index.htm. vide translators with insight into the financial
Birmingham B15 2TT, England; Fax: + 44 121
414 6053; E-mail: mattylri@hhs.bham.ac.uk. sector and a forum for networking with other
Vancouver, British Columbia translators.
XVI World Congress of the International Cambridge, England Price: EUR 160. For more information, please
Federation of Translators go to www.rgft.com or contact: Jack Atkinson,
18th Intensive Course in Simultaneous
Translation: New Ideas for a New Century RGFT España S.L. c/Bravo Murillo, 74, 1° A,
Conference Interpretation
August 6-10, 2002 Madrid 28003. (Tel: +34 91 5540962, E-mail:
August 18-31, 2002
Canada is proud to welcome the XVI FIT ja@rgft.es).
Participants will interpret for guest speakers on
Congress to Vancouver, British Columbia. It kicks
a wide range of general and technical subjects
off August 6, 2002, with the welcome reception Call for Manuscripts
under authentic conference conditions. In addi-
and on-site registration, and the Congress itself Multilingual Matters Series
tion to the core curriculum, there will be spe-
runs three and a half days, August 7-10. This is Professional Interpreting in the Real World
cialized discussions in a variety of fields (for
the first time in over two decades that the Suggested topics: Method (field-specific);
example, consecutive, on-site translation, use
Congress has taken place in North America, so Procedure (field-specific); Regulations (field-
and preparation of texts, booth and stress man-
we’re happy to continue the tradition of welcom- specific); Interpreting Equipment (conference
agement, marketing and negotiation, interpret-
ing hundreds of delegates from all corners of the and legal); Education (basics per field,
ing approaches to Shakespeare and the Bible,
world. Recent Congresses have been held in advanced skills per field, advanced theory per
etc.), and briefings on the International
Mons, Belgium (1999), Melbourne, Australia field); Skills (memory retention exercises, note
Association of Conference Interpreters, the
(1996), Brighton, England (1993), Belgrade, taking, troubleshooting per field, and specific
international institutions, and the profession.
Yugoslavia (1990), and Maastricht, the language pair applications). The series editor
The course languages are English, French,
Netherlands (1987). For more information, please will be pleased to discuss proposals with
German, Russian, and Spanish. The language
visit www.fit-ift.org.htm. potential authors. Please send them to: c/o
of general instruction is English. Early enroll-
ment is recommended. For information, includ- Multilingual Matters Ltd., Frankfurt Lodge,
Slavonice, Czech Republic ing a detailed course brochure and application Clevedon Hall, Victoria Road, Clevedon, BS21
Call for Papers forms, please contact: Christopher Guichot de 7HH, U.K.; or by e-mail to tommi@multilingual-
Slavonice International Translators Conference Fortis; Tel: (+32-2) 654-2080; Fax: (+32-2) 652- matters.com. Guidelines for book proposals
2002 5826; E-mail: defortis@belgacom.net. can be found on our website (www.multilin-
September 19-22, 2002 (Note: This course is specifically designed for gual-matters.com).
Topics: Any topic of interest to translators conference interpreters only.)
The ATA Chronicle | April 2002 13International Certification Study: Austria
By Jiri Stejskal
n the March issue we took a closer The relevant law stipulates that the cer- the legal system of Austria and that of
I look at the Canadian Translators
and Interpreters Council and the
Society of Translators & Interpreters
tification procedures be handled by a
board consisting of, among others, a
representative of the judiciary (since
the applicant’s foreign language(s).
Applicants need to fulfill these
requirements before being admitted to
of British Columbia, and I promised the certification primarily serves the sit for a written and oral examination
to explore the certification procedures courts) and a representative of the before a board that comprises a
for translators and interpreters in respective professional association. member of the judiciary, a member of
Austria. The following information Therefore, the association does not ÖVGD, a chairperson, and two lan-
was gleaned from the website of the carry out any certification proceedings guage experts (one for the relative
Austrian Association of Court Inter- itself. Rather, only certified court inter- language and the other an expert in
preters (Österreichischer Verband der preters can become members. In other translatology, both to be named by the
allgemein beeideten und gerichtlich words, the certification precedes the ÖVGD). The certification is granted
zertifizierten Dolmetscher, ÖVGD). I application for ÖVGD membership. for 10 years and can be renewed upon
am also indebted to Dipl. Dolm. providing proof of work done in the
Christine Springer and Dipl. Dolm. courts during the certification period.
Liese Katschinka (president and vice- …Owing to the strict Proof of further training obtained
president of the ÖVGD, respectively), selection criteria, the during that period is also required.
and to Dipl. Dolm. Erika Obermayer The certified court interpreter must be
(president of the Austrian Association certified court interpreter available at all times, and at short
of Translators and Interpreters, UNI- is highly qualified, and notice, for the courts and authorities.
VERSITAS) for their guidance and Repeatedly declining to answer a
additional support.
specific legal provisions summons or prepare a translation
The ÖVGD is a nonpolitical, non- make him or her could lead to the interpreter’s name
profit organization that has been in particularly trustworthy… being deleted from the List of Sworn
existence for more than 75 years with and Certified Court Interpreters.
the declared objective of furthering the The certified court interpreter
professional and business interests of The certification procedure is uni- (“Allgemein beeideter und gerichtlich
sworn and certified court interpreters form throughout Austria for all lan- zertifizierter Dolmetscher,” or “sworn
in Austria. At present, the association guages and follows the same and certified court interpreter”) is an
has approximately 600 members. As procedure used for expert witnesses interpreter/translator who is available
the association’s name and objective (court interpreters and expert wit- specifically for the courts and author-
suggest, its members consist of only nesses fall under the same legislative ities (federal and rural police, customs
certified court interpreters. Being a category in Austria). The law officials, authorities granting asylum,
certified court interpreter, however, is requires candidates to apply to their etc.) who must command the required
also the sole vehicle for providing cer- domestic court if they want to specific knowledge. The swearing in
tified translations. become certified court interpreters. and certification are part of a judicial
In Austria, certification is the They must either have completed a administrative procedure that applies
responsibility of accredited certifying university training course for inter- strict selection criteria. “Sworn”
bodies. A special federal law regulates preters and translators and have means that the interpreter is perma-
the accreditation of certifying bodies acquired two years of experience as nently under oath for all proceedings
that certify companies, institutes, etc. interpreters and/or translators, or, if he or she takes part in (as opposed to
(for example, under ISO or CEN stan- no university training was obtained the mere “ad hoc” recruitment of an
dards). As no standards comparable to (which applies primarily to “exotic” interpreter, who is put under oath only
the ISO 9000 series are available for languages), they must give proof of in exceptional cases for specific pro-
expert witnesses and court inter- five years of professional experience ceedings). The Amendment of
preters, the Austrian Federal Ministry as translators and/or interpreters. All January 1, 1999, to the Court Experts
of Justice launched an initiative for the candidates must document their office and Interpreters Act, introduced “judi-
certification of expert witnesses and facilities (dictionaries, computer cial certification” in addition to the
court interpreters several years ago. equipment, etc.) and be familiar with swearing process. This was done in
14 The ATA Chronicle | April 2002order to implement the concept of includes the clause: “I hereby certify foreign language(s) into German.
quality assurance in interpreting and under my oath the full conformity of Similar to the new system imple-
translating. The designation “certified” the above translation with the orig- mented in the Czech Republic (see
clearly shows that the interpreter/trans- inal/transcript/photocopy—attached/ the November/December issue), a
lator is continuously subjected to a seen by me.” A round seal, which restriction to work only in one direc-
quality assurance procedure, specifi- only the certified court interpreter tion is not possible. As far as written
cally with a view to his or her work in may use, is then affixed to the docu- expression is concerned, a faultless
the Austrian courts. For the purpose of ment and is certified by the inter- mastery of German and the foreign
improved quality assurance, the per- preter’s signature. language(s) regarding grammar,
sonal requirements for registration in The Application for Registration syntax, and spelling are basic
the List of Sworn and Certified Court in the List of Sworn and Certified requirements. Thoroughness, accu-
Interpreters were expanded. The regis- Court Interpreters, including the racy, and correctness of the transla-
tration procedure was regulated in applicant’s regular residence or place tion are of extreme importance, since
greater detail by laying down legal of professional activity (center of a certified court interpreter is a certi-
rules for the Selection Commission, economic interests), must first be fying officer who affixes an official
and a periodic review of the prerequi- submitted to the president of the seal onto translations. If certified
sites of registration was introduced. court in the district. In the course of translations are incorrect, an action
The title “Allgemein beeideter und the registration proceedings, the pres- for damages may be filed. Further
gerichtlich zertifizierter Dolmetscher” ident responsible for the registration information on ÖVGD is available
is legally protected. An action for an (certifying authority) will charge a from www.gerichtsdolmetscher.at
injunction may be filed against any commission when preparing an (both in German and in English). You
person unlawfully using this title. expert opinion on whether the regis- may also contact the association at
The certified court interpreter may tration requirements (qualifications) oevgd@via.at.
also be employed outside the public have been fulfilled. Several years ago, the Austrian
sector and by private persons (i.e., for The work of a certified court inter- Association of Translators and Inter-
notarial documents, marriages, arbi- preter not only calls for an impec- preters (Österreichischer Übersetzer-
tration proceedings, translations of cable command of German and the und Dolmetscherverband), also
contracts, official documents, etc.). foreign language(s), but also requires called UNIVERSITAS, approached
The activities of certified court inter- knowledge of the principles of the Austrian Standards Institute in
preters are regulated by the “Federal Austrian legal and court procedures connection with the German standard
Act of February 19, 1975, Federal and of the legal and court procedures DIN 2345 to inquire about whether
Gazette 137, as amended in Federal of the country/countries where the this could also become an Austrian
Gazette 168/98, concerning Sworn chosen language(s) is/are the official standard. The Austrian Standards
and Certified Court Experts and language(s). It also requires extensive Institute suggested taking DIN 2345
Interpreters” and, for the certification knowledge of the terminology of law one step further and invited all inter-
of translations, by the “Imperial and commerce, both in German and ested parties (representatives of pro-
Patent of August 9, 1854, Imperial the foreign language(s). In addition, a fessional associations, translation
Gazette 208, concerning Non- thorough knowledge of the termi- companies, freelance interpreters and
Contentious Civil Proceedings.” nologies of other fields such as med- translators, and customers of transla-
Owing to the strict selection criteria, icine, technology, etc., is required. tors and/or interpreters) to develop
the certified court interpreter is highly Every year, the association organizes more detailed standards for trans-
qualified, and specific legal provisions several full-day introductory semi- lating and interpreting services and
make him or her particularly trust- nars for applicants, where an expert for the respective contractual rela-
worthy (e.g., the law imposes the obli- in law explains the necessary basic tions between service providers and
gation of secrecy upon the interpreter). requirements for work as a certified clients. The result are the Austrian
The certified translations prepared by court interpreter. Standards ÖNORM D1200 and
them are official and public documents, Translators must be experts in D1201 (for translations), as well as
and the interpreter is liable for their translation from both German into ÖNORM D1202 and D1203 (for
correctness. A certified translation the foreign language(s) and from the interpreting services). Work on ➡
The ATA Chronicle | April 2002 15N a t i o n a l S e c u r i t y A g e n c y
FO CUS
Y O UR International Certification Study: Austria Continued
INTELLIGENCE
certification procedures based on these standards is
about to begin. For further information, please visit the
homepage of the Austrian Standards Institute
(www.oenorm.at). The two standards on translation are
also available in English. For further information about
We want you to know. UNIVERSITAS, please contact the association’s pres-
By its very nature, what we do as a key member of the Intelligence
Community requires a high degree of confidentiality. We gather ident, Dipl. Dolm. Erika Obermayer (obermayer@
intelligence from foreign electronic signals for U.S. Government netway.at), or visit the UNIVERSITAS website at
decisionmakers at the highest levels; at the same time, we try www.universitas.org (German only, although an
to prevent our adversaries from gaining access to our own vital U.S.
English version is reportedly coming soon).
communications. As a part of accomplishing these two objectives—and
to meet our increasingly complex role in today’s changing world—we Another Austrian organization active in the T&I field
regularly invite select individuals to peer into our world…to capture a is the Translators Association (Übersetzergemeinschaft,
glimpse of the dedication, the environments, the challenges, and the www.translators.at), which focuses on literary transla-
special people that define the NSA as a unique career destination. tions. Translators and interpreters can train at three
What you’ll see will raise your eyebrows. Austrian universities in Vienna, Graz, and Innsbruck.
Imagine working with over-the-horizon technologies, including those Information on training at the Institute for Translators and
that won’t come into commercial mainstream use for many years. Interpreters of the University of Vienna is available at
Couple this with the importance of the work we do at the NSA (work www.univie.ac.at/transvienna/.
that enhances the nation’s security and the safety of every citizen) In the next issue, we will take a look at the status of
and you have a career that is both challenging and compelling…
and ultimately, so much more rewarding. certification in the U.K. and Ireland. As the editor of
this series, I encourage readers to submit any relevant
Language Paths information concerning non-U.S. certification or sim-
Few careers put language skills to a more steady and compelling
use than a position with us. As an NSA linguist, you will be involved
ilar programs, as well as comments on the information
in activities that focus on the expert translation, transcription, published in this series, to my e-mail address at
reporting, and analysis of materials of national concern. You may jiri@cetra.com.
even be involved in projects that have global ramifications. We are
particularly interested in those individuals who are proficient in Asian,
Middle Eastern, or Slavic languages.
A linguistic career with the NSA also develops your ability to evaluate
communications and to decide what is important and what is not, taking
into account cultural and political factors of current and historical value. ATA Honors and Awards
You may also be called upon to further your understanding of a culture
in which a certain language is spoken, expanding your horizons more
than a comparable career in business, commerce, or academia normally For information and deadlines for ATA’s
would. In short, your language skills will make a world of difference here. upcoming Gode Medal, Lewis Galantière
You may qualify if you are a U.S. citizen. You must also successfully Award, and Student Translation Award, and
complete a background investigation and security clearance. (We
suggest applying at least six months before you would like to begin your the American Foundation for Translation
NSA career.) Send your resume to: National Security Agency, Suite 6779, and Interpretation Scholarship, visit
(CJG), 9800 Savage Road, Ft. George G. Meade, MD 20755-6779.
www.atanet.org/awards.htm.
Equal Opportunity Employer. NSA is committed to cultural diversity
in its workplace. Positions open to U.S. citizens only.
...AND YOUR
I MAG INAT I ON,
Y O UR C R E AT I V I T Y,
YOUR AMB I T I ONS, Log on to ATA’s website at
YOUR FUTURE.
www.atanet.org/membersonly
B R O W S E : www. n s a . g ov
for special features for members!
National Security Agency.
The Science of Intelligence. Explore it.
16 The ATA Chronicle | April 2002The Right to an Interpreter—Who Decides?
An Australian Perspective
By Penny Patterson
(Note: The following was first pub- spoken by over two million they perform as professionals, con-
lished as a series in the Summer 2001 Australians2, there is little doubt that sciously or subconsciously.
[Volume 4, Issue 2, page 1], Fall 2001 language is the code to survival within Judge Pat O’Shane believes that
[Volume 4, Issue 3, page 1], and Winter our culturally and linguistically there is no choice but to draw on per-
2001 [Volume 4, Issue 4, page 8] issues diverse country. There is no question sonal bias and beliefs in the law (“it
of the Interpreters' Voice, the newsletter that the right to an interpreter is an is impossible not to”5), and respected
of ATA's Interpreters Division.) essential part of Australian society. legal theorist Kelsen calls it “unreg-
Furthermore, interpreters do not istered bias.”6 However referred to,
ustralian judges are presently in simply represent and exist to serve one personal bias clearly influences the
A a position to decide who is
capable of speaking English suf-
ficiently, thus enabling or disquali-
section of the community, but assist in
bringing everyone together in our
much-celebrated multicultural society.
ability of a judge to accurately deter-
mine whether a person’s language
capabilities merit the use of an inter-
fying a person from access to an Under Commonwealth legislation, preter, since most judges have never
interpreter during court proceedings. A an interpreter will be provided, experienced the situation they are
judge’s decision to allow an interpreter “unless the witness can understand required to preside over.
into the courtroom directly effects over Emotions are high in most legal-
10% of the 17 million-plus people action situations, and linguistic con-
presently residing in Australia. …The right to an fusion only adds to the stress of
The capacity of judges (who are appearing in court. Lawyers and
extensively trained in legal matters,
interpreter is a human other legal professionals often under-
but not usually in linguistic ones) to rights issue that should be estimate the sophistication of court-
make informed decisions about lan- treated with the room dialogue, where legal jargon is
guage proficiency is highly question- still too complex for the average edu-
able, and exposes a serious weakness professionalism and cated, English-speaking Australian,
in the Australian legal system. Lack seriousness it deserves… let alone for those who are not of
of recognition of this problem under- English-speaking backgrounds. Even
mines international convention and the more capable and proficient indi-
obstructs the course of natural jus- and speak the English language suffi- viduals are at an incredible disadvan-
tice. The right to an interpreter is a ciently to enable the witness to under- tage within the legal context. The
human rights issue that should be stand, and to make an adequate reply legal environment becomes hostile
treated with the professionalism and to questions that may be put forward territory unless provisions are made
seriousness it deserves. Qualified about that fact [emphasis added].”3 for interpreters. The manner in which
professionals should be responsible Although this appears impressive, the these judges come to an “informed
for determining the necessity for an practical effectiveness of the conven- decision” in such situations is there-
interpreter in order to allow natural tion is less so, as deciding upon fore highly questionable. There is
justice to occur in the fairest circum- whether a person’s language abilities little legislative guidance about the
stances possible, and according to the are insufficient enough to warrant the criteria to be used in this situation.7
constitution of any democratic state. use of an interpreter is ultimately sub- The courts and government alike
Language is the key to employment ject to the personal interpretation of have been seemingly reluctant to
and equal access to health, education, the judiciary.4 Having culturally naive develop specific criteria by which to
and welfare services. Everything from judges represent the majority can grade a person’s speaking and com-
applying for unemployment benefits undoubtedly lead to great injustices prehension ability, preferring instead
or a home loan, to buying a car or within the courtroom. The majority to employ a “general test.” Instead, a
applying for a visa, is almost impos- of Australian judges are monolingual common assessment of language
sible without the work of competent and monocultural. There are very few ability involves simple, short-answer,
interpreters. Participation in the polit- non-white, non-Anglo-Saxon, non- conversational questions, for example,
ical and civic life of a community also Protestant (non-WASP) judges cur- about one’s occupation and length of
depends on language.1 With nearly rently presiding in Australia. Naturally, stay in Australia.8 This makeshift
100 different community languages their experience influences the way attempt to determine fluency is ➡
The ATA Chronicle | April 2002 17You can also read
