The AATIA Board of Directors met with Mayor Lee Leffingwell on Thursday, September 23, at the Austin City Council Meeting. Video of this presentation is available at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/channel6/default.htm. (Select "City Council Meetings" September 23 video. Then fast-forward to the segment on "Proclamations." Ours was the third proclamation.) (more…)

Join us for AATIA's 25th Anniversary celebration on October 2nd with food, music, and dancing at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Austin from 7:00 to 11:00 PM.

For details and reservations, contact president@aatia.net.

Deadline for reservations: Wednesday, September 29

The Fall issue of Source focuses on TRANSLATION AND THE ARTS.  

Part I of the two-issue focus on this topic features an in-depth article by Erik Camayd-Freixas on his experience “Translating María la O,” a classic Cuban zarzuela, for the Chicago Chamber Opera; Tony Beckwith’s sensuous prose poem about the translator and his “mistress,” the all-night translation assignment; and Diane Goullard Parlante’s amusing two-piece look at the “Surprising Mélange” of Art and Translation, the second part of which is a punny peek at the “Price of Gas in France.”

Liliana Valennzuela’s Spanish translation of the young adult novel Devolver al Remitente by Julia Alvarez has just been released. It is about a boy from Vermont and a girl from Mexico who become friends despite all odds. It’s also about immigration, a kidnapping, and life’s changes, seen through the eyes of two kids trying to make sense of it all. Return to Sender is the original English title.

As previously announced, AATIA will receive a proclamation from Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell to mark its 25th anniversary, as well as International Translators Day. However, the date has been moved up to September 23rd. Everyone is welcome to attend the presentation at City Hall at 5:30 PM.

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and translator W.S. Merwin, who was the keynote speaker for the American Literary Translators Association conference when it was held in Austin in 1995, has been named Poet Laureate of the United States:

The author of more than 40 books of poetry, prose and translation is working on the follow-up to his 2009 collection, "The Shadow of Sirius," a book of powerfully quiet poems asking large philosophical questions that earned him his second Pulitzer Prize. At 82, he's always been a bit of a recluse and doesn't plan on bouncing back and forth to Washington, D.C., or anywhere else.

Read the full L.A. Times article here.

What is Writing?

At our next general membership meeting, Tony Beckwith will talk about the origin of writing, the reasons for writing, and how writing is part of a translator's job.

Tony has been a member of AATIA for about 15 years. He is a writer and translator whose articles and stories were a regular feature of The Letter, the newsletter we used to have before we went digital. He writes a column for Source, the online journal of the ATA's Literary Division.

Marian Schwartz, will also give us details about an exciting activity programmed by the AATIA Literary Special Interest Group.

Join us Saturday, Sept. 11th from 1-4 pm at our downtown ICA location, on the Skillpoint side, for this interesting lecture and networking session with the pros in our field and you will also enjoy deliciously cool refreshments.

AATIA Headquarters is located at 201 East 2nd Street. Free parking is available at the Convention Center parking garage, which is on the west side of the building that houses our offices. Enter from Brazos Street, inform the attendant that you are attending an AATIA event, and sign a garage parking record sheet. There is no charge.

Look forward to seeing you all there!

Carolina Modesto
Director of Professional Development

Join AATIA in a week-long celebration of its 25th anniversary.
The week begins with a Spanish grammar workshop by renowned presenter Xosé Castro on September 25th. Then, on September 30th, AATIA will accept a proclamation from Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell to mark its anniversary and International Translator's Day. The grand finale will be a celebration on October 2nd with food, music, and dancing at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Austin.
Mark your calendar!