translation – Page 8

Translation Success (An Interview with ATIA Member Hellen Martinez)

Posted on May 10, 2018July 3, 2018 by drawingboarddesign in Uncategorized

In the coming months, the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Alberta (ATIA) will be profiling some of our prominent members and those who have served (or continue to serve!) ATIA in a volunteer capacity. This month, we talked to Hellen Martinez, certified translator and interpreter, and former ATIA President.

How long have you been part of ATIA?

I became a member in 2003.

Tell me a bit about your personal history and what brought you to the organization.

I have a bachelor’s degree in translation and interpreting from my native Peru. My dissertation thesis was about translation techniques for technical translation. I was working as a full-time translator for engineering companies in Peru. I was also a translator for the Ministry of Energy and Mines in Peru. When I moved to Canada, I intended to keep working in my career path. I learned about ATIA through Luisa Izzo, who was my Grammar teacher at the University of Calgary.

In which positions have you served the organization?

When I joined ATIA, I volunteered in events and fairs. From 2007 until 2011, I served as VP for Calgary, and from 2011 until 2016, I served as president of our organization.

Can you tell me about some of your most enjoyable moments as a translator? What are some of the most memorable projects you have worked on so far? Do you have a favourite?

I feel in the clouds when a client tells me that they loved my work. There’s nothing more uplifting than an appreciative client. I have two memorable translation projects and two memorable interpreting assignments: the translation of Antamina Mine’s Environmental Impact Assessment, the translation of Minera Panamá’s Environmental Impact Study, interpreting for Hon. Ed Stelmach, and interpreting in a casual rendez-vous where the interpreting was so incredibly dynamic that the Ecuadorian and Canadian engineers weren’t even looking at me, but at each other when they were talking. They didn’t feel my presence—and that’s exactly what you want as an interpreter!

What struggles have you had?

Lack of recognition. With Alberta being a very multicultural place, there are unfortunately a lot of people out there who claim to be translators and interpreters just because they can speak two languages. Because they lack language-transfer skills, they don’t know the industry, and accept low rates for a work that should be done by a professional translator or interpreter. These people are incredible at marketing, and, unfortunately, clients are not aware of the consequences of a bad translation or interpretation, and accept the service of these people, who are actually disserving our industry. Some traditional agencies bid their projects to the lowest offer, and most of the time low offers come from other countries or even other provinces. The paradox is that really high rates are then charged to their clients in Alberta, and very low pay is offered to the translator, enriching the middleman. I struggle to make stakeholders understand that Alberta has great interpreters, but if they keep using unqualified people, they will scare good linguists away, losing them other already hogged industries.

How did you know you were cut out for translation work?

Funnily enough, right after I finished university. I was doing my practicum at a soil mechanics laboratory, and realized how clueless engineers could be without the intervention of a translator. I am a born helper, and I realized that my calling was to help people by serving as a bridge of the language gap (as cheesy as it sounds—but it’s true!).

What type of work do you primarily do? Is there another type you wish you did more of?

I translate and interpret, but I mainly translate. I translate technical and legal documents, but technical are my favorite. I love them. As we speak, I’m translating an environmental report. I love the research, and the fact that I can’t stop until I find the right and precise word for what the text is saying. Once, I spent five hours looking for the local name of an insect only found in Central America. I went through a lot of articles and reports, until I finally found the equivalent word in Spanish. That time—that “I got it!!” moment cannot be described. The sense of accomplishment is just amazing. I wish I could do more legal interpreting—it’s an area that I really enjoy.

ATIA has been around since 1979! In your opinion, what makes the organization successful and gives it such longevity? What sets ATIA apart?

We’re close to being around for 40 years! Isn’t that amazing? What makes ATIA successful is its members, hands down. We are lucky to have very committed members who are always helping advocate for the industry, quality and good standards. What sets ATIA apart is its members and its standards. Our standards are high and because of that, our members are the most qualified translators and interpreters in the industry.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Depends on the weather! In cold days, I enjoy reading, cooking and scrapbooking. In sunny days, still reading, but also biking and walking.

What is a quirky fact someone may not know about you?

I’m a grammar nerd. I correct my daughters’ and hubby’s grammar all the time, mainly when we’re texting. And as much as I’d like to do that with some of my Facebook friends, I love them too much to lose them over missing punctuation!

Hellen Martínez CTr, AComI is an English-Spanish Certified Translator and an Associate Community Interpreter member of the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Alberta (ATIA). She holds a bachelor’s degree in Translation and Interpreting in Spanish, English and French, a Certificate in Marketing Management and is currently working toward her Certificate in Professional Editing. Hellen has more than 25 years of experience working in the translation industry. Hellen lives in Calgary with her husband and her two children.

Translating for Theatre as Performative Translation (Interview with Dr. Stefano Muneroni)

Posted on May 8, 2018July 3, 2018 by drawingboarddesign in Uncategorized

Translating a play for the stage may often be considered a form of literary translation, but it is a very different process. Unlike a novel or a poem, a play is meant to be performed, and the translator must consider how the language will be spoken and heard.

My own journey into translation started with an Italian to English translation of the play Three on a Seesaw (Tre sull’altalena) by Luigi Lunari. Since I am a novice at translating theatre, I decided to talk with a more experienced translator for insights on the process. I had a coffee with another Italian translator, Dr. Stefano Muneroni, who is Associate Professor in the University of Alberta’s Department of Drama and does translation as part of his academic work. He is a native Italian speaker and translates Italian to English and English to Italian, as well as Spanish to English.

During our conversation, Stefano confirmed my feeling that translating theatre is a different beast from other literature. Theatre does not remain on a page, but comes alive through actors in front of audience. Stefano described how a translator of theatre must account for the “speakability of the language.” He finds it essential to include staged readings of his translations in progress, in order to hear the language spoken aloud by actors. His translation would have at least two live readings before he declares it ready for rehearsal and production.

Since the words of a play are intrinsically linked to live performance, Stefano describes the translation of a play as performative translation, rather than literary translation. He explains the gap between the two: “[When translating theatre] it’s not just about words. There will eventually be actors speaking those words and embodying those words. The body and voice of the actor cannot be taken out of the operation of translating a text.” For this reason, Stefano says it is crucial that translators of plays have an understanding of the theatrical process, and ideally be theatre practitioners themselves.

Speech, language, dialect, and accent are important for creating characters in a play, and we talked about this while discussing how to handle the multitude of regional dialects in Italy. Stefano is currently working on an Italian to English translation of the play Finis Terrae by Gianni Clementi, which features dialogues between a character from Sicily and a character from Rome, both of whom speak their respective dialects. The characters’ dialects reveal a lot about their backgrounds, and are steeped in regional identities and history that Italians intimately understand. But the challenge is how to convey these nuances to an audience that may not have that same understanding. As Stefano explains, it would make no sense to put a Southern United States accent on the Sicilian character or a California accent on the Roman, since that would obscure the meaning of the play and who these characters truly are. The solution may be to play with different Italian accents in the English translation, possibly drawing on class, education, and age as ways to access how characters would sound in the target language. Another strategy could be about how the lines sound, thus looking closely at as lexical choices, intonation, rhythm, pace, or euphonics. Yet language is not the entirety of a play—an actor’s physical performance may be able to bring out nuances of a character that may not be expressed by the translated language. This is why it is crucial to have actors perform the translation and see and hear how they portray the characters.

While an audience for a translation may not understand all the historical and cultural nuances, it is our responsibility as translators to communicate the original ethos of the work. Stefano often uses bilingualism in his translations so the audience does not forget the culture or language of the source text. One technique he uses is echo-translation, which has a character saying their line in the source language, and another character responding in the translation language, while making sure the context is not lost. Another technique is using cognates, words that sound similar in both languages. Stefano’s Spanish to English translation of the Mexican play El Ausente, by Xavier Villaurrutia, left about 20% of the text in Spanish, but using echo-translation and cognates made the play understandable to the audience.

This conversation was certainly enlightening for me as a novice translator, and Stefano shared a lot of tools for the often daunting task of preserving the original intent of the language. If you are interested in translating for theatre but have no theatrical experience, getting involved in theatre practice is a good starting point. You might try a class in playwriting, theatre production, or acting, or even consider auditioning to act in a play. Getting first-hand experience in the theatre helps develop the understanding of the performability of language, the key for translating theatre.

This article was written as a guest blog for ATIA by community member, Giorgia Severini. Giorgia is a theatre director, playwright, translator arts administrator, and overall language enthusiast. Giorgia’s first foray into translation was in 2015 when she worked with Barrett Hileman on a new translation of Three on a Seesaw (Tre sull’altalena) by Italian playwright Luigi Lunari. This translation was produced by Fire Exit Theatre in Calgary, and Giorgia couldn’t resist directing her own production in Edmonton as well.

Signs You’re Cut Out For Freelancing

Posted on May 2, 2018July 3, 2018 by drawingboarddesign in Uncategorized

If you have dabbled a bit in freelance work or are thinking about making it your career, there are some important points to consider when it comes to taking the plunge! While not all of these will be true for everyone and even if you don’t resonate with these, that shouldn’t deter you from trying out freelance work if you are inclined, the following list includes many of the characteristics freelancers commonly report as being important to do well in their work. So without further ado, here are the signs you might be cut out for freelance work:

You can focus.

This is a big one. Yes, some procrastination is inevitable and there are some folks who work best under pressure so procrastination can become a motivational and even inspiring tool to get quality work done. However, for most people, translation and writing work takes several drafts and time to percolate which means that leaving everything to the last minute or working on multiple projects simultaneously (thereby distracting you from all of them) means that your work can leave a lot to be desired. You have to be able to make lists of priorities and execute those items according to what is the most needed and most urgent. Spreading yourself too thin over a number of tasks or getting distracted by other things is a recipe for a mess!

You can be many different things to many different people.

Being a freelance translator does not mean that you will only be freelance translating. It also means that sometimes you are doing marketing work, networking and outreach, administrative assistant work, book-keeping, accounting and so forth. You have to be able to move between these positions fairly seamlessly and according to the contexts in which you find yourself.

You are willing to cultivate relationships.

The importance of being willing to cultivate long-term relationships with clients, businesses, organizations and groups that are relevant to your area of work cannot be underestimated. You don’t have to be a networking all-star but you do have to keep on top of community events you are invited to, social media interactions and the like. Frankly, this task is easier now than ever before because connection with others can be had at the click of a mouse.

You can conquer “impostor syndrome”. You believe in yourself and your work.

Being paralyzed by fear or perfectionism will only make your work harder and more stressful. Be open to constructive feedback and be sure to always check your work, but don’t become obsessed with every single detail. You should be able to produce polished work without having an emotional weighing of your self-worth tied to it. Remember you are a trained professional with skills and expertise to offer. If you don’t know something, learn it or admit it and move on!

You believe the rewards of freelance work outweigh the risk.

Freelancing is not without risks – particularly a sense of job security and perhaps a steady paycheque. But if you are willing to trade those things for all the benefits of being your own boss, being able to work from anywhere in the world, and choosing what work you put out into the world, you are unlikely to be disappointed. Plus if you have been making fairly decent money on the side for a while from freelancing, taking the plunge might not be so scary after all. Just imagine how much ore work you could get by focusing on what you do entirely.

You are willing to do *some* things for free.

This is a touchy subject but it is important to realize that there are plenty of things you will do to manage your business that you aren’t directly paid for. Unless you are making loads of cash, you are unlikely to be able to pull a salary from your profit to pay yourself for the management of the business beyond the actual freelance work itself. Returning emails, taking calls, arranging meetings and the like are all things that you can’t really invoice someone for. Depending on how you bill, whether by word or by hour, there is the chance that you can factor some of that overall time into how you do invoice though. It is important to measure how long you spend doing unpaid/non-invoiced work for your business because if you end up losing out of deals because you are spending so much time doing the nitty-gritty, it might be worth your while to subcontract some of that out to someone else.

You have healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with stress.

There is going to be a time when all things converge at once and you are going to feel like you have to stay up until 2am every night for over a week to get everything done. How you deal with this matters. One of the number one reasons that folks leave the freelancing world is that they are unable to cope with the unique stresses it brings: from accommodating difficult client requests to feeling like you are working around the clock, from feeling like you can never clock out to giving up any semblance of a weekend. Be good about setting time boundaries so your work doesn’t bleed into every aspect of your life including recreational and family time. Make sure you can recognize when things start to get too hair for you and you need to take a breather. Figure out ways that you can make things more manageable, and know when to approach clients for more time, if needed.

You know how to say “No.”

This is another big one…especially when you are first starting out. Who wants to turn down work? At the same time, we can’t all do everything. We have areas of specialization and work-life balance to consider, among other things. Your limits are really up to you. Spend some time thinking about what you are doing with your life and your goals for the year or five-year period. Is the work you are doing helping you to achieve those goals?

You work well solo from home.

Most freelancers work from home or in public spaces like coffeeshops or libraries. Some get to the point of being so busy that they are able to rent an office space to meet clients and complete their work at. For the rest of us, working well, solo, from home is crucial to our success. If it really bothers you to be alone all the time, consider going to a monthly meet-up of freelancers for coffee where you can share your experiences and network, or meet a fellow freelancer for a work session at a coffee shop – just make sure you don’t end up distracting each other too much!

You have developed organizational methods that work for you.

There are plenty of other signs that a career in freelancing could be for you but ultimately you are the best determiner of that fact. What works for one freelancer, doesn’t work for everyone and over time, you will develop the organizational methods that work best for you. Some freelancers work best with a paper wall calendar and to-do lists on sticky notes, others are digital all the way. Whatever keeps you on track and ensures that your work gets done on-time and well is what you should stick with!

Essential Tips for Writing Your Translation CV

Posted on April 5, 2018July 4, 2018 by drawingboarddesign in Uncategorized

Translation agencies and organizations looking to hire in-house translators tend to receive a high volume of applications, even on a weekly basis. It becomes increasingly important then to ensure that your CV stands out in all the right ways. But what does this mean? Below, we explore the “dos and don’ts” of translation CVs.

Do:

Highlight your assets in education and experiences. It is not unusual to put the most relevant education and work in bold to draw the hiring officer’s eye to that first and foremost.
Tell them a bit about yourself. The most important part of your CV is you and you are what will make it stand out from the rest! Take the time to write a short description of yourself that includes your motivations, skills and language combinations.
List your relevant work experiences from the most recent to the oldest examples
Include your published materials, being clear to highlight any books or peer-reviewed articles, research work and translations. If you can include links to each item, this will help your case in terms of ready accessibility for the hiring officer
Include your professional associations, including your level of certification with ATIA
List your relevant education experiences from the most recent to the oldest examples.
Include any relevant awards, scholarships, bursaries or other recognitions you have received.
Be specific about your language skills including listing your specialized translation fields (such as medical, court etc), as well as the language combinations you hold and your level in each combination.
Include information about your computer skills including (but not limited to): knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite or its equivalences (Mac OS, Google, etc); CAT tools or other management systems you may use; and any web skills you have.
Include a few other small details that help you stand out. These can be some of your interests, as well as other assets you have such as a driver’s license, if relevant.

Don’t:

Exceed 2 pages. One page is preferable.
Mess with formatting. Avoid strange fonts or making things difficult to read. Do not use colours or decorative elements to stand out – this just makes your CV look like it is not polished.
Include a photo of yourself. This will get you sent directly to the “toss” pile, no matter how perfect you are for the posting. It makes employers uncomfortable to see a picture of you which could influence how you and your application are received.
Include every job you have ever had in your “work experience” section. It isn’t relevant that you were a barista 8 years ago and worse, it can make your CV looks muddled. The “translation” to the hiring officer is that you aren’t very focused on your translation career.
Don’t include your grades with your education experiences. It takes up space and is not necessary unless you graduated with honours or distinction.
Write a separate cover letter – not many officers the time to read these anymore, especially if they receive a stack of them every week. A short email with your basic personal introduction, and some highlights from your attached CV are enough.
Forget to attach the CV. Everyone makes this mistake at some point and some places are more forgiving than others but it is best if you don’t make this mistake.

Why Become a Translator?

Posted on March 2, 2018July 4, 2018 by drawingboarddesign in Uncategorized

As soon as you begin to pursue a dream, your life wakes up and everything has meaning.

— Barbara Sher

Some people know what-they-want-to-be-when-they-grow-up shortly after they come out of the womb. For others, it’s a slow realization, and by the time they leave high school, they are on their way to realizing their dream career. Some, unsure, ponder the options and might change careers and jobs until they find their true calling. And then, there is me who thought I never really had a “calling,” until now that is.

After working thirty years as an accountant in the Oil and Gas industry in Calgary, I found myself without a job. The company I was working for was going through tremendous financial difficulties due to the recessive economy and—like many other companies—laid off many of its employees including myself. I loved my job, and it was great while it lasted, but I knew it was not my true calling

I was envious of people who had a dream and followed it! I never had a vision for myself. But I always loved languages, reading, and writing. After losing my job, I decided to start a blog, something I wanted to do for a long time. My first articles were in English; later on, to reach a broader audience, I decided to start translating them into Spanish—my mother tongue. One day, as I was happily pounding my keyboard while working on my translations, the idea of becoming a Translator hit me on the head like an awakening brick! At that moment I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up! I knew what my calling was!

I had no idea how to go about, but I was entrepreneurial and put an add on Kijiji advertising my services. Shortly, I received a call from a potential customer, after a few interactions she asked me if I was “Certified.” I did not get the business since I wasn’t a Certified Translator, but it opened the door to the exciting world of Translators and Interpreters. I started looking into it, and I found ATIA (Association of Translators and Interpreters of Alberta).

Since finding ATIA, I’ve been right on track with their program. I’ve attended every workshop ATIA has put on so far, and I’m preparing for the first two exams you must pass—Code of Ethics and English Comprehension. ATIA has welcomed me with open arms, and every member I have met so far has been warm, friendly, and talented!

The Translation and Interpreters industry is booming with the prediction that demand for their services will increase fifty percent by the year 2020; this is excellent news for people starting like me as well as for established translators and interpreters.

Can just anyone who speaks more than one language become a Translator? Not necessarily. To become a translator, you need to be familiar with the culture behind the languages you will be working on. You need to be extremely motivated and have the ability to work independently since most translators and interpreters are freelancers. You need to have excellent writing and reading skills. You also need to be very proactive in promoting your services and finding clients.

Strangely and whimsically, I realize now that I have been preparing for this my whole life. I’ve made a point throughout the years to be fluent in Spanish and English by speaking, reading and writing in both languages. Being at a “certain age,” while some people are thinking of planning on retiring, I’m excited and feel renewed at the opportunity of a new career!

Paulina Ponsford was born in Chile and has lived most of her adult life in Canada. She worked as an Accountant for thirty years in the Oil and Gas industry in Calgary. At the same time, she always wanted to connect with people at a different level and for this reason, she became a volunteer Fitness Instructor and later on a Certified Facilitator in the area of human interaction. Paulina is now preparing to become a Translator and Interpreter in the languages of English and Spanish. Paulina also loves to travel and embraces what different cultures have to offer. She is also an avid reader and some of her favorite authors are Paulo Coelho, Khaled Hosseini, Mark Mustian, and Isabel Allende. If you would like to know more about Paulina, check out her blog at www.paulinaponsford.com where she shares some of her thoughts, insights, and experiences.