Online magazine Slate recently outlined how interpretation works at the United Nations.

The brief article by political reporter Christopher Beam explained the difference between interpretation and translation and between simultaneous and consecutive interpretation. It also described the working conditions of the interpreters:

At any given moment, the U.N. Interpretation Service has a dozen interpreters working six booths—one for every official language. The pair of interpreters in the English booth translates into English, the French booth translates into French, and so on. Attendees can then listen to the interpretations on headphones, clicking across channels for different languages. The job is exhausting, so interpreters will usually switch off every 20 minutes or so. They can also take breaks when the speech is in their language, since no translation is necessary.

The article gave a shout-out to AATIA member Stephen Mines, as well as American Translator Association President Jiri Stejskal and Hossam Fahr of the UN Interpretation Service, for their help in the preparation of the article.

President

Esther Diaz

As co-founder of AATIA, it has been very gratifying to see how the organization has grown and prospered in the nearly 25 years since its formation. The recent establishment of a physical headquarters shows that AATIA is here to stay. As any organization, it needs ongoing care and maintenance. My goals for the coming year are:

· To find ways to serve the needs of senior language professionals in a variety of languages and specialties

· To mentor new leaders for AATIA by recruiting members who are willing to help each of the Directors to accomplish their tasks and potentially be ready to step into their shoes

· To continue to improve our website and online directory

· To finish revising the Manual of AATIA Policies and Procedures (MAPP) to provide up-to-date instructions for Board members and upcoming leaders

I ask for your support to accomplish these goals.

J. Henry Phillips

To choose between two candidates, the differences are what count. I offer a full-time certified professional translator and interpreter with a 4-year university language degree; a self-employed entrepreneur 22 years a member of AATIA who values professional freedom and voluntary consent. See my credentials at portugueseinterpeter.com. This is not a schoolteachers’ association. Schoolteachers, bureaucrats, politicians and lobbyists favor policies which benefit their own professions just as I favor mine. Lobbyists want you enrolled at their diploma mills—rather than accredited universities. "Grandfathered interpreter" licensees seek testing requirements to eliminate competitors just as corporate agencies want laws that hobble small companies. As president I advertised the association so that all members had increased opportunities for employment based on the following ethical precept: "Exemplify in your work a courageous regard for the whole membership, and not just some powerful and influential faction thereof with which you come in close personal contact."

Secretary

Marcela Ramos

I have been a member since 2007 and throughout this time, I’ve learned and grown as a young professional in this field. I am grateful for what the organization has given me and now I believe I’m ready to give back; therefore, I am honored to be included in this year’s ballot for secretary. This is an opportunity for me to demonstrate my commitment to the organization and I’m ready for this role if given the opportunity. I hope I can count on your vote.

Director of Communication

Juan Tornoe

It is an honor to be a new member of the Austin Area Translators & Interpreters Association. Austin has been home for me and my family for a bit more than 7 years now. It is not enough to formally become part of our community by, among other things, joining this association, but I strongly believe that not only I should be an active member of the Austin community, but it is more than time to begin giving back after all that it has given to us through the years. Yes, I am a newbie to this industry, but I can contribute to it utilizing the skills that I’ve developed through the years: I can put my experience in marketing, advertising blogging and social media to work promoting our organization, its members and the services they provide. I hope to have the privilege to be of your service.

Director of Finance

Rose Tempfer

I am honored to have been nominated for Finance Director and thankful for the opportunity to be more involved in AATIA. I look forward to actively participating and contributing to the overall well-being and ongoing development of benefits for my fellow Interpreters and Translators. A native Texan, I lived 30 years in Queretaro, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, Mexico. I studied Spanish at the Instituto Tecnológico in Monterrey, Mexico, where I ultimately founded Communicación Bilingue Language Center. Thus began a 20-year career as ESL and SSL Instructor, Coach, Translator and Simultaneous Interpreter. Clients include: Price Waterhouse, Grupo Alpha, Hylsa, Quasar, Crown Plaza and Sheraton Ambassador Hotels, American Chamber of Commerce, Hays County Sheriff’s Office, IRS Tax Services, and CASA social services. I’ve been a member of AATIA and NAJIT since 2006. I joined TAJIT in 2009. I’m currently preparing for court interpreter certification. As Past Chair of the Board for Wimberley Chamber of Commerce and current Ladies Auxiliary President to the Wimberley Veterans of Foreign Wars, I learned first hand how to plan as a team for the benefit of a larger group. Although not an accountant, I am knowledgeable of the standards of general accounting procedures. If elected, I promise to keep AATIA accounts current and fulfill all duties assigned.

Director of Membership

Joseph Brettell

I am an active member of AATIA currently working primarily with the English and Spanish languages in judicial interpretation. Firstly I would like all members to know that I take all of my responsibilities and commitments very seriously and that if elected I will sincerely do my very best to serve as Director of Membership. After speaking with the former Director, Mrs. Gisela Greenlee, I have become aware that all documents and records associated with membership are in good order and quite well organized. One way in which I feel that I will be able to make significant progress is by increasing our membership. My plan is to put together a presentation outlining the benefits of membership in AATIA and to go around to various businesses, organizations, institutions, etc. who contract interpreters and translators and present to them the case for becoming a member. As we all know the benefits of membership are many and varied and with more active members, our organization will only grow stronger. My hope is to live up to the legacy that Mrs. Greenlee, the former Director of Membership, left behind and my commitment is to maintain well ordered all matters of membership in the organization, and to significantly increase membership. Thank you very much, and I look forward to serving AATIA in the coming years.

Director of Professional Development

Carolina Modesto

Professional Development represents an ongoing cycle of educational activities upon which we may build in order to achieve desired personal and professional goals. As translators and interpreters we all bring a rich and diverse pool of knowledge to the table that can be utilized creatively in the realm of translations and interpretation. With a background in psychology, various years of experience as a translator, and as a long-time AATIA member, I would feel honored to contribute to the achievement of your goals. With your vote, I look forward to continue organizing meaningful and enthusiastic events that have a focus on technology and are conducive to making us more competitive and productive translators/interpreters during these rapidly changing times.

The American Literary Translators Association (ALTA) will be meeting this year at the Pasadena Hilton Hotel in sunny Pasadena, California, November 11-14 (note the new dates!). Featured speakers will be John Nathan of UC Santa Barbara, Ilan Stavans of Amherst, and Michael Henry Heim of UCLA, whose work is associated with Japan, Latin America, and Europe, respectively. For information on panels, workshops, readings, special events, and registration, go to the ALTA website.

Register by tomorrow, September 12, for AATIA's court interpreting workshop, to be held next Saturday, September 19. This 8-hour workshop will enable interpreters licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to fulfill their annual continuing education requirement.*

*TDLR course nos. 4127 and 4586. Provider: Berkana Language Center, Provider no. 1345 Read the rest of this entry »

The next membership meeting of the AATIA will feature a special presentation by Jorge Ungo, Southwest Region Manager for Pacific Interpreters, current President of the Texas Association of Healthcare Interpreters and Translators (TAHIT), and a board member and membership co-chair of the National Council on Interpreting in Healthcare (NCIHC). From wikis and blogs to social bookmarking – this presentation will demystify the world of the Web 2.0 to demonstrate how translators and interpreters can connect more effectively with colleagues and share important tools and resources.

At the meeting this Saturday, the candidates for the 2010 board will share their platforms and plans. Don’t miss this opportunity to inform yourself in preparation for the upcoming on-line election.

In recognition of the contribution to our profession by St. Jerome, the patron saint of translators, Michael Blumenthal will discuss the historical significance of the principle translator of the Vulgate Bible, share some lessons his work can teach, and announce plans for the International Translation Day celebration.

Please join us at the ICA office on September 12^th at 1 p.m. for fun, facts, and food.

The American Translators Association will host its 50th Annual Conference in New York City (October 28-31).

This three-day event will showcase diverse panel discussions, expert presentations, training workshops, and scholarly papers. Both general and language-specific sessions will be offered, with topics ranging from successful marketing in a difficult economy to international translation quality standards.

Additional conference activities include a Job Marketplace, a vendor exhibit hall, and ATA certification testing. See conference information and program for more details.

Online registration is now open. ATA members receive discounted registration fees as a member benefit.

For questions, contact Maggie Rowe, Membership Services Manager (phone +1-703- 683-6100, ext 3001).

I just received this email, and wanted to post it as a warning to other interpreters, especially those who have recently entered the field:

Hello,
I am Donard Cius. I am an English speaking Spanish. I will be coming over to US on holidays from 20th of September to the 9th of October.2009 for a 21 days vacation with my Spanish wife, daughter and son and they only speak Spanish. We will require the services of a Spanish interpreter for 5 hours daily X 21 days. Please acknowledge if you can offer this service and give me a price quote. We will like to pay in advance of our visit so we can be assured of an escort during our shopping and sightseeing. An early reply will be appreciated.
Thanks.
Mr. Donard Cius

This is an old scam. The writer is laying the bait by saying he’d like to pay in advance. The unwary interpreter provides a quote and “Donard” sends a check for more than that amount. The interpreter writes back and mentions the overpayment, whereupon “Donard” says something about a stupid accountant and asks for the excess money to be wired back to him, inviting the interpreter to keep some of it in payment for the trouble. The interpreter deposits what appears to be a cashier’s check at the bank and wires the extra money to the client. Then the bank calls to say that the check is a fake. By that time, the interpreter’s money has gone and there is no way to reach the swindler.

Tony 
 

Russian Life, in collaboration with the Russian Arts Foundation, Vera Hospice Fund, and the Galina Dursthoff Literary Agency, has published Life Stories, a short story collection of works by nineteen of Russia’s most acclaimed contemporary authors, translated by fourteen prominent American and British translators, including AATIA member Marian Schwartz, who translated "The Storm," by Leonid Yuzefovich, for the anthology.

“This is a truly non-profit collaboration between cultures,” said Publisher Paul E. Richardson. “Russian authors have donated their works, American translators, designers and editors all worked pro bono, and books will be sold worldwide directly to consumers, using the power of the internet and digital publishing to ensure that the maximum return gets back to Vera Hospice Fund. Readers will receive some truly great works of modern Russian literature and at the same time help provide end-of-life care for countless fellow human beings.”

100 percent of the profits from book sales will be donated to the Vera Hospice Fund, a Russian not-for-profit enterprise dedicated to supporting hospice care. Click here to purchase Life Stories.