Feel free to forward this
issue to colleagues and friends!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Summer News + Conference Preview |
|
|
Dear colleagues,
As has become habit, this late-summer issue of NW News Quarterly is pretty conference-oriented. This makes sense, of course, since our biggest event of the year — one we’ve been tirelessly planning since January and for which we have speakers flying in from as far away as the East Coast — is just a couple of weeks away (September 12)... |
|
In this issue 🔖 - Recent pictures
- NOTIS at ALTA49
- NOTIS at ATA67
- NOTIS2026 Conference Preview
- Upcoming Events
- Member news
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“Yellowjacket Fig” - a comic by NOTIS member José Alaniz: local author, translator, artist, and UW professor. This artwork was originally printed in Key Peninsula News and reprinted with permission from the author. Click here to see more of José’s work on keypennews.org. |
|
|
... We have a phenomenal program planned for you this year, complete with 16 sensational presenters, 10+ generous sponsors (see below), 100s of attendees, a wealth of CEUs, 3 WA State Representatives (who are eager to answer your questions), 10s of NOTIS Board members (present and past), a “plucky troupe” of literary translators (peddling their latest publications), and, inevitably, more. We hope to see you soon. For now, happy reading — and enjoy the summer’s end. |
|
|
Recent NW Literary Translator Sightings 🍓 |
|
|
Above: The NW Literary Translators gathered at Folio Seattle on June 18 for a lively panel discussion on the ins and outs of translation anthologies — and translating for anthologies. Pictured clockwise from bottom left: Arwen Dewey, Lola Rogers, Kay Heikkinen (panelist), Shelley Fairweather-Vega (panelist), Zakiya Hanafi (panelist), Sibyl James, Thei Zervaki, Knox Gardner, and Melody Winkle. |
|
|
Above: Knox Gardner of Entre Ríos Books hosted several NW Literary Translators in his lovely garden for an evening of translation readings featuring Kay Heikkinen reading Arabic humor, Lola Rogers sharing Finnish comics, Arwen Dewey performing French song, Deborah Woodard reciting Italian poetry, and Jen Mendez (not pictured) sending shivers through the crowd with German horror.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOTIS 2026 Conference Preview
We’re overjoyed to offer another fantastic, well-rounded conference this year on Saturday, Sept. 12, in Lynnwood, Washington (just outside of Seattle)!
With a keynote that promises to transform both lives and careers, a 2-hour skills-training session on sight translation, a Q&A with WA State representatives, and 12 other wide-ranging, for-credit presentations — from ambient AI, pathways to court interpreting, and interpreter ethics to academic, humanitarian, and literary translation — NOTIS2026 was carefully curated to be as diverse as the community it serves. And, in case you missed it, we’ve extended the early-bird discount by a little over a week. Register by August 31 and save! Learn more at NOTISnet.org/NOTIS-2026. |
|
|
|
|
Speakers and sessions, briefly |
|
|
NOTIS 2026 Keynote Speaker Dottie Li is a successful coach, keynote speaker, and communication strategist who designs and provides media and cross-cultural communication training. An essential part of her mission at TransPacific Communications (of which she’s founder and CEO) is to help break down communication barriers in the workplace, helping talented L2 English speakers fulfill their promise. ◆ Dottie will deliver 2 presentations: - Keynote – Transforming Lives and Careers
- Mastering Communication & Networking Skills for Career Success
|
|
|
Yuliya Speroff is a Russian–English CoreCHI-P™, a Washington DSHS-certified interpreter, and Medical Interpreter Supervisor at Harborview Medical Center with extensive training experience as an interpreter trainer. She is also the author of medicalinterpreterblog.com and serves as VP of NCIHC. ◆ Yuliya will lead a 2-hour interactive workshop for practicing interpreters:
- Skills Training: Sight Translation
|
|
|
Abi Ocampo Zapién is a fierce advocate for language access and language justice. She works as a staff interpreter at the Community Language Cooperative in Colorado and in community services, helping families of all different backgrounds achieve stability and participate in their communities. ◆ Abi’s NOTIS 2026 conference sessions are: - Centering Language Justice in Community and Social Work
- Promising Practices for Working with Interpreters
|
|
|
Yasemin Alptekin is a WA State Registered Court Interpreter with over 30 years of experience as an educator, interpreter, and translator. She is also the author of a memoir about displacement and a work of YA fiction called Dehliz, which she translated from her native Turkish into English as The Passage. ◆ Join Yasemin on Sept. 12 for: - The Four S.I.N.S. of Literary Translation
|
|
|
Andrew Belisle is a Federally Certified Court Interpreter and trained conference interpreter with an MA in Conference Interpretation from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and a decade of experience across legal, medical, and governmental settings.
Andrew’s co-presenters are Gabriela Muñoz Ravello and Wendy Maestracci, both Federally Certified Court Interpreters with Master’s degrees in Conference Interpretation from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.
Together, they will share their insight with attendees about the professional habits that shape how interpreters are perceived by clients, colleagues, and institutions in...
- Back to Basics: Professional Habits That Help Interpreters Stand Out (2h)
|
|
|
Zakiya Hanafi (PhD, Stanford) is an Affiliate Assistant Professor of French and Italian at the University of Washington, an award‑winning translator of scholarly works in the humanities, and a certified medical and immigration court interpreter in both French and Italian. ◆ Zakiya’s presentation will provide an overview of the scholarly translation market and how to get a foot in:
- The Best of Both Worlds: Breaking into Scholarly Translation
|
|
|
Eunyoung Kim is a Court Program Analyst at WA AOC with over 15-years’ experience as a court and conference interpreter. ◆ Are you a medical interpreter interested in adding court interpreting to your skills portfolio? Join Eunyoung (and a special guest) for:
- Pathway to Court Interpreting: A Roadmap to Court Interpreter Credentialing for Medical Interpreters
|
|
|
Manuela Noske (PhD) is an accomplished linguist, educator, and cross‑cultural communication expert whose career spans academia, global technology, and nonprofit leadership. She is currently an Affiliate Assistant Professor in the Human Centered Design & Engineering Department at the University of Washington. ◆ Manuela’s presentation will revolve around the unique challenges — and creative solutions — of humanitarian translation:
- Translation in the Humanitarian Sector
|
|
|
Nityia Przewlocki serves as the Web Information Specialist for EthnoMed.org, where she is working to develop a custom library of visual content, including educational and marketing videos, designed to improve patient outreach. ◆ Nityia’s presentation will draw from her recent experience at EthnoMed, walking attendees through the process of creating create culturally and linguistically responsive patient education materials:
- Multilingual by Design - Producing Accessible Health Education Videos for LEP Patients: Process, Tools, and Lessons Learned
|
|
|
James Sherrell leads cross-cultural medicine education initiatives at EthnoMed and recently received the UW Excellence in Global Engagement Award. He previously served as a Public Health Advisor and U.S. Presidential Management Fellow at the CDC, and has worked extensively with refugees and displaced people in the non-profit sector. ◆ His workshop will explore the use of AI tools in clinical care, with a focus on the risks and opportunities they create for vulnerable patients and those who serve them:
- AI at the Bedside: Patient Rights, Equity, and the Future of Clinical Care
|
|
|
Gauri Shringarpure is a linguist with expertise in Indic languages. She has worn several hats as a translator, interpreter, subtitler, editor, and content creator, as well as in the Linguistic Validation space in regulated industries. She is also an active writer, a promoter of culture in South Asian nonprofits, a musician, and a stage performer. ◆ Her session offers the perfect opportunity to let loose and have fun with colleagues after a long morning of learning and networking:
- UNSCRIPTED! An Improvisation Workshop on Language Beyond Words
|
|
|
Emily Sielen has a Master’s in Interpreting Studies from Western Oregon University and is a nationally certified healthcare and educational interpreter with more than 10 years of experience. She currently works as an instructor in the Spanish Medical Interpreting Program at Columbia Basin College (CBC).
Emily’s co-presenter, Sharon Yedidia, is the founding director of the Spanish Medical Interpreting Program at CBC. She has a Master’s in T&I from the University of Bath and is a WA State-certified court interpreter.
◆ Join Emily & Sharon to review the current pathways to state certification for spoken-language interpreters:
- Pathways to Credentialing: An Academic Approach to Medical Interpreter Training
|
|
|
Amanda Wheeler-Kay is Certified Healthcare Interpreter, teacher, and lifelong learner. She has worked as a community/ healthcare interpreter and interpreter educator since 2007, and is a founding member of Oregon Interpreters in Action (OIA).
Amanda’s co-presenter, Rodrigo Gaspar Barajas (he/they), has over a decade of experience as an English<>Spanish interpreter in healthcare, legal, and educational settings. Currently, Rodrigo is the Client & Interpreter Relations Manager with English 2 Spanish and serves as conference planning co-chair for the annual Central Oregon Interpreter Conference (COIC) in Bend.
◆ Join Amanda and Rodrigo at NOTIS2026 for:
- Do the Right Thing! Ethical Decision-Making in Healthcare Interpreting
|
|
|
|
|
... and, finally, a Q&A with WA State Representatives This panel provides an opportunity for local language professionals to connect with their elected WA State representatives. Senator Manka Dhingra, Representative Julio Cortes, and Representative Sharlett Mena (pictured below, left to right) have all passed and supported bills in the state legislature in favor of interpreter rights and language access. This is your opportunity to ask them questions and share your concerns. Please email your questions to info@notisnet.org with the subject “WA State Panel Question.” All questions will be collected prior to the panel session and presented to the representatives by moderator and NOTIS member Milena Waldron.
|
|
|
|
|
Click the button below to visit our 2026 Conference site. There, you’ll find full session descriptions and speaker bios, as well as a list of CEUs, the schedule-at-a-glance, and more... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sponsored content from Universal Language Service (ULS), a valued diamond-level sponsor of NOTIS 2025 (and NOTIS 2026!). ULS is a tech-driven agency serving the WA government and healthcare sector since 1997. They offer certified on-site, remote, and document translation services in 200+ languages. Click here to see their current openings and apply today. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
To learn more about these and other upcoming NOTIS events, visit our website calendar (notisnet.org/NOTIS-events).
We also have 11 on-demand courses currently available (see here). Earn CEUs and valuable skills whenever and wherever it’s most convenient for you.
Have an idea for a presentation, workshop, or social gathering? Click here to get started. |
|
|
|
|
Sponsored content from Interpreters United WFSE/AFSCME Local 1671 — “of interpreters, run by interpreters, for interpreters” — generous diamond-level sponsors of NOTIS 2025 (and NOTIS 2026!). Click here to learn more. Better yet... Visit their sponsor table on September 12, 2026, in Lynnwood! |
|
|
NOTIS at ATA 67 & ALTA 49 🎈 The annual conferences for both ATA and ALTA are happening on the West Coast this year — and we’re expecting a big NW linguist turnout at both! Based on an early session announcement in the case of ALTA and a cursory read-through of the ATA67 agenda, we cobbled together a handy guide to help you locate, support, and be wowed by your colleagues. |
|
|
|
|
Keep an eye out for these NW Literary Translators at ALTA49 (Oct. 21–24 in Portland, OR). More panelists — as well as readers for the annual bilingual readings — will be announced soon. Stay tuned! - Lola Rogers on Gender in Translation
- Deborah Woodard on Translating Texts of Exile
- Shelley Fairweather-Vega on Translating the Erotic and Translating Orality
- Paul Norlen on Nordic Literature
- Anne O. Fisher on Starting a Translation Collective and Russian YA Literature
- Gabi Page-Fort on Translation as Collaboration
- Sasha Senderovich on Co-Translation
- Allison DeFreese on Animal Idioms/Metaphors and Literary Translation and Activism
|
|
|
|
We may very well have missed something here — so please let us know if we have. The complete agenda for the ATA’s 67th Annual Conference (Oct. 28–31 in San Francisco, CA) is now available here on their conference website. - Caitilin Walsh in “Educator or Trainer: Toward a Shared Professional Framework”
- Rainer Klett in “Voice, Choice, and the Bilingual Translator: A Conversation with Michael Hofmann”
- Helen Eby in “The Professional Shield: Good Business Practices and Ethics” and “Weathering the Storms of Life (without Drowning)”
Also among this year’s presenters are 3 of NOTIS’s last 4 keynote speakers: Dottie Li (2026), Corinne McKay (2024), and Judy Jenner (2023). |
|
|
|
|
NW Linguists in the News 📰 Have something to share? Let us know 📧 social@notisnet.org. - WSU Spokane students Carmella Crooks and Victoria Caldera are featured in an Inlander.com article for piloting a medical language interpreting program to certify future providers
- Melody Winkle’s translation of "Cecilia Gallerani" by Martina Clavadetscher appears in the Spring 2026 issue of LIT Magazine
- Read “Exactly as It Was: An Interview with Takami Nieda on Translating Yusuke Norishiro” in Asymptote
- Mia Spangenberg’s translation, “A Sámi Woman’s Sin: Imagining Other People’s Sex Lives,” an excerpt from Suvi West’s debut novel, is published in Words Without Borders
- Mia Spangenberg’s translations of Pirkko Saisio’s Helsinki trilogy are now available on both sides of the pond; they were recently featured in the Guardian’s latest roundup of the best translated fiction
- Jen Mendez interviews Shelley Fairweather-Vega for the ATA Literary Division’s blog
- Zakiya Hanafi is named recipient of the 2026 Albertine Translation Fund award for her translation of La nation, ou le sens du social by Marcel Mauss, forthcoming from Fordham University Press
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
About Our Publications ️🗞️ Every year, in addition to regular blog posts, NOTIS publishes four quarterly newsletters. The principal objective of our publications is to inform, educate, and entertain. The 2026 editorial team is led by Brianna Salinas, NOTIS’s Marketing and Communications Specialist, as editor-in-chief. Her trusty advisors and assistant editors are Kay Heikkinen and Jen Mendez. Letters to the editor, short translations or articles, anecdotes, artwork, calendar items, and other announcements are both welcome and encouraged! For more information, please see our call for submissions.
To submit content, place an advertisement, or for any other inquiries, please contact our team at social@notisnet.org. ☐ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.jpeg){kind=spacer}
.jpeg){kind=spacer}
.jpeg){kind=spacer}
.jpeg){kind=spacer}
.jpeg)
.jpg)
%20(1).png)
