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

Spanish-to-English translators: This workshop is for you, too!

Download the workshop flyer for more information. Register before September 11th to take advantage of early-bird rates.

We spent the morning waist-deep in a review of the “Code of Professional Conduct in Court Interpreting.” This might sound like a weighty subject, but Eta is skilled in the art of entertaining and educating at the same time.

Alex Trabing led us through the afternoon’s presentation on “Illegal Drugs: Terminology and Other Useful Information,” and I must say that his style and his material were engaging and interesting enough to keep me awake after a most agreeable round-table lunch at PF Chang’s.

A workshop teaches many things, and I enjoyed the chance to have lunch with some colleagues whom I don’t often get a chance to see. Talking shop over a bowl of sesame chicken with an eclectic group of interpreters is always a stimulating experience.

The AATIA board should be commended for bringing talent of this caliber to Austin. Eta has long been an active interpreter, and has contributed to the store of knowledge available to other interpreters through her dictionaries and books as well as through her lectures and workshops.

Just the other day — this is the truth — I was translating a text that referred to the meat packing industry, and it wasn’t long before I took Eta Trabing’s English-Spanish “Red Meats Glossary” off the shelf and found what I was looking for.

Last but never least, the snacks & bevs at the workshop were delightful and the room was comfortable. Round of applause for the organizers.

There’s an opportunity to experience another powerful shot of education and entertainment on September 25, when Xosé Castro will be presenting his English-Spanish translation conundrums — see previous post, below. Workshops of this kind are among the benefits of membership in the AATIA.

Tony

This time, Xose will focus on English-Spanish translation conundrums. In this interactive hands-on workshop, he will guide participants in resolving problems frequently encountered by English-to-Spanish translators, especially those working in the United States, looking in particular at what rules of Spanish grammar and usage are applicable and when it is not only acceptable but desirable to break those rules in the interests of effective communication. Participants will be encouraged to submit questions and examples of translation dilemmas that they grapple with in their day-to-day work.

Although this workshop is aimed mainly at translators of English to Spanish, translators of Spanish to English will benefit from Xosé’s phenomenal knowledge of the Spanish language and his precise explanations of the finer points of Spanish grammar and usage.

Register for the workshop before September 11th to take advantage of early-bird rates!

Click here for program and registration information.

* TDLR course nos. 5019 and 4763. Provider: Berkana Language Center, Provider no. 1345.

Are you puzzled, confused or just wondering what to study for the Court Interpreter Exams? Join the Interpreter Special Interest Group (ISIG) this Saturday August 14, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon when Licensed Court Interpreter, Joseph Bretell, will provide guidelines and practical sample exercises. Meetings take place at the AATIA headquarters in the International Center of Austin on 2nd street between Brazos and San Jacinto. Parking is available at the Convention Center parking garage on the west side of the building. Enter from Brazos Street. See you there!

Getting Started in Translation and Interpreting and Translation Tips and Tricks

Registration ends on July 14th, so register today!

Getting Started in Translation and Interpreting
Thinking about a career in translation and interpreting? This workshop is for you! It will explain the difference between translating and interpreting, offer an overview of the knowledge and skills necessary to work successfully as a translator or interpreter, and answer frequently asked questions about translator and interpreter certification. Training resources and job opportunities will also be discussed.

Translation Tips and Tricks

While many translators are self-taught pragmatists, a bit of translation theory can improve their skills. This workshop will cover basic translation theory concepts as well as practical application of these concepts. Topics will include the concept of form vs. meaning, literal vs. idiomatic translation, steps in the translation process, and relationships between lexical items. Come enjoy an afternoon of mental gymnastics for all languages!

ATA-certified translators attending this workshop will earn 3 hours of continuing education credit.

Register now for one or both workshops. Participants registering for both get a discount!

And mark your calendar for these upcoming AATIA-sponsored professional development opportunities:

• August 21: 8-hour TLDR-approved* court interpreting workshop presented by Eta and Alex Trabing
• September 25: Spanish language and grammar seminar presented by Xosé Castro

* Provider: Berkana Language Center, provider no. 1345, courses 5019 & 4763

Well… just join us on July 10th, from 1-4 pm, for all the latest news in our field while networking with our distinguished members and enjoying delicious snacks and refreshments.

The meeting will be held at AATIA Headquarters, 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