Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society Blog

Join the NOTIS AI Committee: Help Shape the Future of AI for Translators and Interpreters

Brianna Salinas — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:18:20 GMT

There's so much noise about AI these days that even the most tech-savvy linguists can feel overwhelmed. By working together, though, we can learn and accomplish a great deal.

If translators and interpreters want to shape how AI fits into our professional world, we need to act now. That's why we started the NOTIS AI Committee, and we want you to be part of it!

Who We're Looking For

Are you AI-curious? When you hear people say “human in the loop,” do you wonder if that human enjoys what they do? Do you find yourself wondering about the practical ways AI could enrich your work as a translator or interpreter instead of diminishing it? Do you care about building an approach that's grounded in ethics and responsibility?

If you're nodding along, stay with me.

What We're Doing

The NOTIS AI Committee has two goals:

We're creating an AI Policy for NOTIS, to be completed by the end of 2026. This will be our professional compass, a framework that helps members navigate AI tools thoughtfully and responsibly.
We're also identifying what our members really need to know. Which AI topics would make the best webinars? What tools and workflows empower us? How do we talk about AI with clients? We'll be figuring that out together.

The Nuts and Bolts

Here's what joining the committee looks like in practice:

One remote meeting per month (1–2 hours max)
Collaborative, hands-on sessions where we share real AI projects we're working on
Practical exploration of how these projects can generate useful content for NOTIS members and inform our AI Policy

“But I'm Not an AI Expert!”

Neither are we. What matters is that you're comfortable learning, experimenting, and exploring AI tools, both independently and as part of a group. We'll figure things out together.

Ready to Jump In?

If this sounds like your kind of thing, we'd genuinely love to hear from you. Reach out directly to Elizabeth Adams to get involved.

Running a Freelance Language Business: When an Agency Doesn’t Pay on Time

Brianna Salinas — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 17:45:44 GMT

by ROMINA ESPINOSA

One of my first and most enduring lessons as a freelance interpreter involved receiving compensation for work rendered. It was within the first year of quitting my stable job with a prestigious university, the workplace of my dreams, that I learned the challenges of dedicating myself full time to being a small-business owner. As a novice, I was poorly equipped to deal with the occasional unreliable client. I had been attempting to educate myself about negotiation strategies and the myriad aspects of running a freelance language service on my own; this was not something I learned in school, and I did not have a mentor to speak openly and freely about how to run a business.

Readers who are just starting their own businesses might find this anecdote helpful...

It was summer 2021, and over 50 days had passed since I’d sent an invoice to one of the language agencies to whom I’d provided freelance interpreting services. I sent the invoice after a full month’s worth of completed assignments. It had been over 30 days, and I wondered when the payment would come in. I understand checks can take time, and this agency in particular liked to pay by check. So I sent a courtesy email, and I did not receive a response. After four days had passed, I sent a second courtesy email to check on my payment. By this point, I was beginning to worry. I referred back to the contract I had signed with the agency earlier that year. The contract clearly stated, “X agency will pay Interpreter for Services within thirty (30) days after X agency receives Interpreter’s Invoice.”

Finally, two days later, I received an affirmative response, but the experience made me keenly aware that I needed to refine my strategy for dealing with late payments.

It was then that a good friend of mine taught me something I had never heard before. Mrs. Tripp was a retired career woman who owned a small business with her husband. It was through her that I learned the concept of “net 10” and “net 30.” Net 10 means getting paid 10 days after submitting an invoice; net 30 means receiving the payment 30 days after. I used to send this agency invoices with a 45-day payment deadline! It was silly, I know, but I hadn’t been taught any better. As the saying goes, “you don’t know what you don’t know.” Mrs. Tripp counseled that I should NEVER get to the point of net 45. By then, she said, you lose any semblance of authority.

She also gave me brilliant advice for handling a client who would not pay on time. This is the procedure I learned to follow:

First, call the language agency and ask: “Who is in charge of accounts payable?”
Once you’re speaking with that person, say: “Can you tell me when I can expect payment?” and WAIT for the response. If they say they already put a check in the mail, ask for the check number.

And... a special addendum for that particular client who is persistently delinquent: I am a woman entrepreneur and a small business owner. I provide excellent work at fair prices. I need to be paid on time in order for my business to be sustainable.

If you are reading this, you are more than welcome to lift that message for your own use. Hopefully, you will never have to encounter this situation: having to ask a large language agency to pay you — on time — the money you earned.

Finding my footing as a woman entrepreneur was a difficult process, but my dynamic and energetic personality pushed me to persist towards my goal. I had my small community — primarily support from family and a small network of professional colleagues; I was not alone. Of course, there wasn’t always time to reach out and connect, but that motivated me to externalize my thoughts by writing down anecdotes like this one!

I hope those of you who are starting your own businesses may find some helpful tips herein, and that you are lucky enough to come across your own amazing mentor (like I did with Mrs. Tripp). Keep your heart open, always believe in kindness, and, most importantly, do not give up! ❖

Thanks to Glenda Carelhue for editing the early drafts.

Romina Espinosa (Lima, Peru) is an interpreter and translator based in San Diego, California. A left-handed eclectic soul, Romina holds degrees from UC San Diego and the University of Oviedo (Spain). She is either catching a sunset, buying flowers for herself, or running outdoors when she is not saving lives as a medical interpreter at UC San Diego Health.

The Joys and Challenges of Verse Translation

Brianna Salinas — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:43:19 GMT

We hear a lot about literary, audiovisual, and technical translation, but we often overlook those texts in translation that do not fall — at least not squarely — into any one of these categories. Zakiya Hanafi wrote a compelling piece about the art and craft of scholarly translation in a 2024 article for The Northwest Linguist. Now we’re featuring David Houston-Hill, a prolific verse translator based in Vancouver, Washington.

The Joys and Challenges of Verse Translation
by David Houston-Hill

I have always felt excited to translate verse, ever since my first commission in the 1990s. I relish exploring an unfamiliar text and figuring out how to render it into English verse. I also like the fact that someone is paying me to furnish this service for a project they are eager to bring to the public.

WORKING WITH VERSE

Houston-Hill translated poems for the book Experiment in Romanian Art since 1960

I translate songs and poems into English from German, Hungarian, Romanian, and Russian. Combining linguistic precision and artistic creativity, I endeavor to emulate the original meaning, style, and tone, as well as formal elements such as rhyme and meter.

That’s unless, of course, the assignment is to produce something a bit different. For example, I have taken on some jobs that were defined as adaptation rather than translation.

Though I aim to deliver translations that are both accurate and stylish, I welcome clients scrutinizing my work from those points of view before using it. Most of my clients do. Good improvements have resulted!

IMPORTANT — AND ENJOYABLE

Verse translation lets talent cross borders, enabling people to experience powerful writing that they otherwise wouldn’t. You’ve enjoyed the results if you've ever tapped your feet to Mack the Knife (Marc Blitzstein translating from Bertolt Brecht) or Let It Be Me (Manny Curtis translating from Pierre Delanoë). Beyoncé and Roxette have reached wider audiences by re-recording their English lyrics in Spanish versions (Rudy Pérez and Luis Gómez Escolar, respectively).

For me, translating verse means a chance to indulge both my love of languages and my fascination with the art of a well-turned lyrical line.

COLLABORATING WITH TALENTED PEOPLE

I’ve been lucky enough to work on varied and interesting projects with many talented people over the years.

Composer Gregory Vajda has invited me to work on texts for three vocal compositions. One involved translating Attila József’s Medáliák (Medals), as Vajda wanted it to be singable in either Hungarian or English. The other two saw me developing libretti based on the stories of Frigyes Karinthy. One of the resulting compositions is on a CD.

The rock musician Loui’s album Solid Solo Songs includes both English lyrics he had me translate from Hungarian and others, like in the song Hold On, that I wrote or co-wrote in English. He recently credited me as co-writer when he wrote Hungarian lyrics for one of the songs I had written in English, since his new version drew on my ideas.

I was commissioned by the Hungarian singer Vilmos Gryllus to translate a selection of children’s songs, including The Witch (see below), so he could re-record them in English.

For the Hungarian band Kistehén (Little Cow), I co-wrote a song in English — How Could You Follow Me? — and translated lyrics for two albums so they could be released in dual Hungarian and English editions. The translated songs include Time Takes Patience.

I translated lyrics for two Baltazar Theatre productions. And then there was a seven-year period when I was frequently called upon to translate poetry for The Hungarian Quarterly.

I also translated poems for books entitled European Romanticism, Experiment in Romanian Art since 1960 [see image above], Tiresias's Confession, 36 Degrees of Fever [see right], and Hide and Seek.

Additionally, I’ve translated verse and prose, mostly from German, for several volumes of The Persecution and Murder of the European Jews by Nazi Germany 1933-1945. The material is documentation from the Holocaust — often harrowing accounts.

SPECIAL CHALLENGES

When translating for singers, it is not enough to be true to the meaning and structure. It must be singable. This means, for example, making sure there are long, open vowels on the soaring notes. With the Vilmos Gryllus translations, the songs were accompanied by animated videos; I had to ensure the same details were mentioned at the same moments, so the visuals matched the words.

LITERARY LUMINATI

I’ve had the honor of being commissioned to translate multiple acclaimed writers. From Hungarian, these include Ádám Nádasdy, Krisztina Tóth, Ottó Tolnai, István Kemény, Orsolya Karafiáth, Zoltán Halasi, Anna T. Szabó, and András Gerevich. From Romanian, they include Ioan Vieru, Șerban Foarță, Gheorghe Ene, Mircea Cărtărescu (who recently won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for fiction and the International Dublin Literary Award [tr. Sean Cotter]), Mircea Ivănescu, Costache Olăreanu, Florin Iaru, and Leonid Dimov. The poet I have translated the most is Attila József, with four assignments … to date!

PRO BONO

I have had the privilege of co-organizing events where writers and translators can present their work and cooperate. For example, Converging Lines, which has since broadened into a Hungarian<>anglophone creative forum on LinkedIn (open to interested people), started with a 2004 festival. The event brought together Hungarian and English-language poets for readings and workshops to “see what ideas, affinities and collaborations are sparked off” (as we organizers wrote in the booklet). It led to publications such as the 2010 anthology New Order, edited by George Szirtes.

Poet Clare Pollard cited Converging Lines as her initiation into translation. She later edited Modern Poetry in Translation and created the translation book Ovid’s Heroines. Translator Ottilie Mulzet referred to the inclusion of her own translations in New Order as one of her “first big breaks.” Mulzet went on to edit Hungarian translations for Seagull Books.

TIPS FOR OTHERS?

I hesitate to offer tips for would-be verse translators because there are many ways into this work. Some befriend writers and earn their personal blessing to be their authorized translators. Some work as academics and find it a natural fit to translate the same writers they study. Some opt to pay submission fees to have their work considered by editors. I’ve mostly just been lucky that people who had this kind of work to commission somehow came to know about me — through the grapevine or after seeing work someone else commissioned. As with most creative translation work, it’s all about networking and building a solid reputation. If you are interested in this type of work, I have no doubt that you too will find both joys and joyful challenges. ❒

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David Houston-Hill writes and translates lyrics, poetry, and journalism. His site is www.davidhill.biz.

Volunteer and Help NOTIS Thrive!

Brianna Salinas — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:36:55 GMT

Hello! NOTIS is seeking several member volunteers to help organize its social and professional events.

Member engagement is the very bedrock of NOTIS’s activities. This was true in the beginning, when a small but enterprising group of language professionals banded together to establish our Society in 1988. It remains true today, 37 years on, with our Board of Directors and all committees and divisions run entirely by us.

Are you a proud community member with a genuine passion for your profession? Can you spare just a few hours a month to lend a hand, putting your skills to good use while collaborating with your colleagues to make a tangible difference? If so, read on…

HOW CAN YOU HELP? ‍♀️ NOTIS is seeking volunteers to help with our annual conference, serve on committees, and possibly even join the Board of Directors!

The following committees and divisions are seeking volunteers:

The Social Events Committee is seeking event planners. We especially need a small but dedicated team to organize the holiday party (December 6), NOTIS's biggest annual social gathering. If you like to organize fun get-togethers, this committee is for you!
The Community Interpreters Division (CID) organizes events and trainings for interpreters. Do you have some great programming ideas? Want to promote excellence in interpreting to enhance the provision of vital health, social, and educational services to our region’s diverse communities? Join us!
The Advocacy Committee is seeking another member or two to aid their efforts to promote and inspire positive change for interpreters, translators, and the people they serve. We could really use a medical interpreter and a translator.
The Legal Division supports language professionals who work in legal settings with valuable talks and continuing education courses. They are looking for at least one more active volunteer to attend meetings and help generate ideas.
NOTIS’s Translation Division organizes practical and intellectual events for translators and those in adjacent fields. Recent offerings have explored topics including AI and CAT tools, subtitling, translating comics and kids’ books, time and money management, and more. They can always use help generating novel ideas and recruiting speakers.
The Member Care & Development Committee was formed last year in response to feedback received on our 2025 Member Satisfaction Survey. Their main initiatives this year are practice groups for exam prep and skills building, and grants for conference attendance, training, and certification. Do you have ideas about how NOTIS can best support you and your colleagues? Want to help organize some of these activities? Join MC&D!

Are you ready to join our team and help shape NOTIS from the inside? Let us know! To express your interest, please email info@notisnet.org with your full name, contact information, and volunteering preferences. Not sure where your skills would be most valuable? No worries! Tell us a bit about your passions and interests, and we will work with you to ensure a good fit.

Thank you for your membership and for the vital role you perform in our diverse, multilingual community. In the wise words of Judy Langley, our inaugural president (1988!), “There undoubtedly is much we can learn from one another.” (See here, pg. 9.)

With gratitude,
Maria Lucas, NOTIS President

Four Poems by Daniela Hendea, Translated by Ileana Marin

Brianna Salinas — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 15:14:59 GMT

POEMS by Daniela Hendea | TRANSLATIONS by Ileana Marin
NOTE: Original poems printed below with author’s permission; bios below

The day I become older than my mother (I)

The success of such a day
relies on tools essential for survival,
all, with no exception,
in their usual place.

No wrench in the system means
no screwdriver grinding between the teeth
of the cogwheel.

The thriving panic that feeds on lethargy
won’t slow us down.
Tested over time, reflexes
replace autopilot.
Even though I grope for the keys
in the dark, I find them in the little chest
next to the door. The backpack,
on the hook of the coat rack.

I’ll be ceaselessly afraid,
but, but, but,
we’ll get out of the house
on time. Between
7:30 and 7:33 AM.
You’ll get to school
on time.
I’ll get to the swimming pool;
that’s what matters.

This thought gets me through, I grip
the dish sponge in my hand, soap balloons filled with
warm air gush out and fly,
green, purple, and orange reflections
which glue themselves to the kitchen window, and then,
poof! As if they never existed.

The kitchen is squeaky clean. It shines and
peeks at me.
The success of tomorrow
begins with a clean slate.
A clean cloth.

Tomorrow is the day I become older
than my mother.

I leave the cap off the dish soap,
knowing perfectly well
that someone will close it
when someone passes by it
to close the bamboo blinds.

Make-up Tutorial for Women over 40

you look nothing like your mother
you look everything like your mother ..........Warsan Shire

I sneaked it into my room
without her knowing.

Little aluminum box with a plastic lid:
purple-blue eyeshadow.

Brass lipstick tube:
burgundy traces on the toothpick.

my mouth is a wound ..........Warsan Shire

You’re doing very well.
Too much lipstick.
Her voice behind me.
We stare at each other’s image
in the mirror.

Don’t forget.
What you want to disguise → you darken.
What you want to enhance → you lighten.

The day I become older than my mother (II)

I wait my turn at the same plastic table on the edge
of the swimming pool.

I shiver
in my red-and-orange swimsuit and
semi-transparent hem dress,
my arms crossed.
I should have worn practical clothes, not so
revealing. I didn’t come to the beach; I came
to confront my greatest X.
It’s serious, swimming, I argue with myself.
The swim coach wears shorts and a tank top.
The student in front of me, shorts and a t-shirt.
I’m freezing.
I’m shivering with X.

I cannot stare at the surface of deep water without
X. It doubles the space which envelops me:
The sky, the clouds, the wall, the door of the opposite building,
the clock measuring the paid lesson time.
Not one of them would change its essence submerged under water.

It doubles my face, which looks
one day older than the age when I last
saw my mother.

Therefore,
I don’t think I have the means to survive
this year. It’d be
unjust. However,
I continue breathing.

The coach calls my name, waves at me, urges me to go down the steps to the pool. We begin to grow used to the water temperature, kept constant by the floor heating. In order to accommodate, to reach our comfort level by exhaling under water. First, we submerge only our mouth. The air is visible and rolls out in slow bubbles. Then, the nose. Breathing is clear/visible/intentional, not automatic.

Under water I am aware of the available air. The air fights its way out, then it wants back. I exhale. Blub blub blub blub. Five times at regular intervals. With ears under water, I hear the noise amplified by the little engines which bring water to the splashing water fountain from the nearby pool, the one for kids. Water circulates through pipes, cleaning filters. The water amplifies the sound.

A wild pansy was blown by wind off the flower beds. I raise it with the tip of my index finger. Its petals hang, soaking wet. I put it back on the mirror of the water, its petals open up again, the arms of a small octopus freed from X by stretching its tentacles to all the cardinal points.

Escapade

I dive head-first
out of my memories with you.
I’m able
to hold my breath close to
fainting.

The day I become older than my mother (I)

Succesul unei zile ca acestea
se bazează pe uneltele esențiale
supraviețurii, fără excepție
la locul lor prestabilit.

No wrench in the system. Adică
fără vreo șurubelniță scrâșnind
între roțile dințate.

Panica ce prosperă-n letargie
nu va putea să ne încetinească.
Reflexele rodate cu timpul
vor prelua automat controlul.
Chiar și de-aș bâjbâi pe întuneric
după chei, le-aș găsi: în dulăpiorul
de lângă ușă. Ghiozdanul,
pe cârligul lui din cuier.

Îmi va fi frică tot timpul,
însă, însă, însă
vom ieși din casă
la vreme. Între
7:30 și 7:33.
La timp
tu vei ajunge la școală,
eu voi ajunge la bazinul
de înot. Tot ce contează.

Gândul acesta mă animă, sugrum
în pumn buretele de vase, balonașe
cu aer cald țâșnesc, își iau zborul,
reflexii-n verde, violet, portocaliu,
se lipesc de geamul bucătăriei, și-apoi
puf! Ca și cum n-ar fi fost.

Bucătăria e lustruită lună, sclipește,
parcă-mi trage cu ochiul.
Succesul unei zile ca aceea de mâine
începe cu a clean slate.
O pânză curată.

Tomorrow, the day I become older than my mother.

Las capacul sticlei cu detergent de vase
deschis, știind bine
că cineva-l va pune la loc
când va trece mai târziu pe acolo
să coboare storurile de bambus.

Tutorial de machiaj for women over 40

you look nothing like your mother
you look everything like your mother ..........Warsan Shire

Le-am strecurat fără să știe
în camera mea.

Cutiuța de aluminiu cu capac din plastic:
fard albastru-violet pentru pleoape.

Tubul de ruj din alamă:
rămășițe grena pe scobitoare.

my mouth is a wound ..........Warsan Shire

Te descurci foarte bine.
Prea mult ruj.
Vocea ei în spatele meu.
Scrutăm imaginea celeilalte
în oglindă.

Nu uita.
Ce dorești să deghizezi → întuneci.
Ce dorești să scoți în evidență → luminezi.

The day I become older than my mother (II)

Aștept să-mi vină rândul la aceeași masă de plastic de pe buza piscinei.

Tremur de frig
într-un costum de baie roșu-portocaliu, peste el
o rochiță semi-transparentă de in,
brațele încrucișate peste mijloc.
Trebuia să vin echipată mai practic, nu atât de
vulnerabil. Doar n-am venit la plajă, am venit
să mă confrunt cu cea mai mare X.
E treabă serioasă, înotul, mă cert.
Instructoarea poartă pantaloni scurți, maiou sport.
Eleva dinaintea mea, pantaloni scurți, tricou.
Tremur de frig.
Tremur de X.

Nu pot privi suprafața unei apei adânci fără
X. În ea se dedublează spațiul care mă cuprinde:
cerul, norii, zidul, ușa clădirii din partea opusă,
ceasul care ține evidența timpului plătit pentru lecții.
Niciuna nu și-ar schimba esența, scufundate.

În ea mi se dedublează fața
la mai mult cu o zi decât vârsta
la care mi-am văzut ultima oară
mama.

De aceea
nu cred că am mijloacele de-a supraviețui
acestui an. Ar fi
nedrept. Și totuși,
continui să trag aer în plămâni.

Instructoarea mă strigă pe nume, îmi face cu mâna, mă îndeamnă să cobor treptele-n piscină. Începem prin a ne obișnui cu temperatura apei, păstrată la o valoare constantă de încălzirea din podea. Prin a ne familiariza, a ajunge la nivelul de confort cu expirația sub apă. Mai întâi scufundăm numai gura. Aerul devine vizibil, se rostogolește în sfere molatice. Apoi și nasul. Respirația devine clară/vizibilă/intenționată, nu ceva automat.

Sub apă devin conștientă de aerul la dispoziție. Aerul care se luptă să iasă, ca apoi să vrea să se întoarcă. Expir. Bluc bluc bluc bluc. De cinci ori la intervale regulate. Cu urechile sub apă aud zgomotul amplificat al motorașelor care alimentează fântâna arteziană din piscina alăturată, cea pentru copii. Circulația prin conducte, filtrul de curățare. Stratul de apă amplifică fiecare sunet.

O panseluță a fost purtată de vânt din tufele de flori. O ridic cu buricul degetului arătător. Petalele ei atârnă, ude leoarcă. O depun înapoi pe suprafața apei, petalele i se desfac din nou, brațele unei mici caracatițe, debarasată de X prin întinderea la maxim a tentaculelor spre toate punctele cardinale.

Escapadă

Plonjez cu capul înainte
din amintirile cu tine.
În stare
să-mi țin respirația până aproape
de leșin.

ABOUT THE POETS

Daniela Hendea is a Romanian-born poet, translator, and editor who lived in the U.S. between 2008 and 2023. Author of two poetry volumes: one in Romanian (Acordor de teremin / Theremin Tuner, 2018), and one in Romanian and English (H2X, 2023), Daniela has published poems and translations in journals such as Asymptote, Entropy Magazine, Fragmented Voices, and Word City Monthly. Scientist by day and poet by night, she received her doctoral degree in chemistry, continuing her education in wildlife forensic sciences. She is an unusual poet who mixes scientific knowledge with emotions, thoughts, and autobiography.

Ileana Marin teaches interdisciplinary courses at the University of Washington, Seattle, and at the University of Bucharest. She has published books on tragic myths, Pre-Raphaelite artists, and Victorian aesthetics of erasure; and several of her conference papers on the de-humanizing power of art, the artistic legacy of communism, and the materiality of texts have been published in prestigious journals and collective volumes. Since 2020, Ileana has taken on translating Romanian female writers who are underrepresented in English.

-------------------------------

* NOTE: Express permission was granted by the author, Daniela Hendea, to reprint the original poems alongside their English translations.

Action Needed by 02/21: Comment on Bill 1174 Updating the Court Interpreter Law

Brianna Salinas — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 18:45:43 GMT

A note from the NOTIS Advocacy Committee

Hello court interpreters!

Last year, a bill was presented in the State House of Representatives (HB 2006) to update the Washington Court Interpreter law, RCW 2.43. This bill expands language access in the courts to ensure all court users can fully communicate regardless of the language they use. Unfortunately, the bill died in committee.

It has now been revived as HB 1174. It is in committee and needs to be moved out of the policy committee into the fiscal committee. We need the court interpreter community to express its support for this bill! A summary is linked here for your review. Please note that the deadline to comment is February 21.

There is a simple and quick process by which you can express your support online:

Go to this website: https://leg.wa.gov/bills-meetings-and-session/
Near the top, where it says “Search for a Bill,” type in “1174“ and click on “Search.“ This will take you to this page, where you will click on the link that we’ve marked.
Fill out your address, and click “Verify District.” Click next to all of your legislators’ names. You can let them know if you’d like them to respond to your comment or not. Then complete the section with your name and contact information.
In Step 3, you’ll click on “support” (we hope!). Your comment can be simply something like, “I am an interpreter. Please support this bill,” if you wish, or you can write more. Then click “Comment” at the bottom.

The important thing is that our legislators see that their constituents are interested in this bill and that they should pay attention to it.

Please consider doing this at your earliest convenience! The deadline for comments is February 21.

Thank you so much,
The NOTIS Advocacy Committee

Remembering Judith Kushner Langley, NOTIS's First President

Brianna Salinas — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 19:56:32 GMT

It is with sadness, and with much reverence for a life well lived, that we announce the passing of Judith Kushner Langley—a foundational member of NOTIS and a giant in our field.

To highlight just one of her many accomplishments, Judy was the very first President of NOTIS! We are forever grateful for the role she played in establishing our beloved society, and for her dedicated service to the industry and its practitioners.

The published obituary (originally posted here) follows. Please also leave any notes or memories of Judy you would like to share in the comment section below or via the link above.

JUDITH KUSHNER LANGLEY
September 11, 1942 - November 28, 2024

Judith Kushner Langley died peacefully at the Whatcom Hospice House in Bellingham, Washington on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2024; she was 82. Judy is survived by her beloved husband of 48 years, Jim Langley; her children Litav and Jonathan; daughters-in-law Lindsay Wells and Katie Dunsmoor; and grandchildren Jonathan Earl (Jack), Aniel Dazze, Sivan Hale, Ellis Nora Kay, and Orilev Ahren.

Judy was a lover of languages, people, and our big, vibrant world. Born to Anna (Sims) and Daniel Kushner in Manhattan on September 11, 1942 and growing up in Queens, her family spoke Yiddish and English. As a youth, she and her father found a French dictionary when getting on the bus, and her curiosity about languages blossomed. Judy attended Queens College and then Penn and McGill University for graduate work, studying French and Spanish literature. Her career as a translator – working from French, Spanish, and later Portuguese too – began before she finished college, and in 1966 she began working as part of the United Nations’ English Translation Service. Judy relished her work, the relationships she built at the UN, and opportunities to travel on UN missions to Rio de Janeiro, Kiyoto, New Delhi, Tokyo, and Vienna.

When Judy’s young family lived on Bainbridge Island in Washington’s Puget Sound, she started her own translation business and was the first board president of the Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society. Judy kept a small sign on her antique desk at home – “A woman’s work is never done, especially when she owns the company.” From Bainbridge, Judy returned to the east coast regularly to work at the UN, treasuring these times to do the work she loved and be with her dear, lifelong New York friends. When she accepted a position at the World Bank in the late 1990s, Judy, Jim, and Jonathan relocated to the Washington, D.C. area. In 2004, she and Jim returned to Washington State, living in Anacortes with a view of the San Juan Islands that they had fallen in love with on their first trip there in 1975.

Judy’s enjoyment of language extended to a level of delight in puns that her family appreciates but does not fully grasp. She was also a ruthless Scrabble champion, a gift she passed on to Jonathan. Later in life, she adored participating in a Yiddish Ringele in Bellingham, schmoozing with other Yiddish speakers, growing friendships, and visiting her Bellingham grandchildren before driving home to Anacortes. (As a toddler, Judy’s youngest grandchild, Ori, developed his own version of Yiddish peek-a-boo inspired by his Nanny.)

Judy’s love for her family was profound. As we look back at pictures from our lives with our dear Mom and Judy’s time with her grandkids, her proud and joyful smile radiates a warmth we will always feel. Not one to hold back her thoughts, Judy would proudly tell strangers in the grocery store line or at a restaurant that she was a grandmother, generously offering to show pictures of her brood. She did not tire of being earnestly loving and silly. As her children, we are so very grateful for all that she gave us, including these deep inclinations towards goofiness, love, and humaning together in our shared global community.

A Celebration of Judy's Life was held on Sunday, January 12, 2025, 2:30PM at Congregation Beth Israel, 751 San Juan Boulevard, Bellingham, WA.

Donations in honor of Judy’s life may be made to the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, Massachusetts.

'Human? Or Hybrid?' Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp on AI and Literary Translation

Brianna Salinas — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 12:03:01 GMT

Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp reveals how AI is affecting literary translators
Originally published in The Author (see details below)

" A third of literary translators have already lost work or income because of generative AI, according to a recent Society of Authors (SoA) survey of members. But this is not the only impact that generative AI has had. It is raising new issues for translators around working methods, copyright, credit and transparency. It may even change how we think about the act – and art – of translation.

Illustration © Yuji Takahashi

A help or hindrance?

In the SoA survey, 37% of translators reported having used some form of generative AI in their work. The leading technologies for automated translation are neural machine translation (NMT), such as DeepL, and large language models (LLM), of which the best known is ChatGPT. NMTs have been used for years by professional translators. They’re based on neural network architectures, and were trained using bilingual documents and texts found online in two-language versions. LLMs were developed more recently, and while they are based on a similar architecture, they are trained to predict the next word in a sentence and to generate text based on statistical likelihood.

Many other services and computer-aided translation (CAT) tool plug-ins exist. ‘I use (the CAT tool) Wordfast Anywhere,’ explains Kazakh-to-English translator Mirgul Kal. ‘It offers MyMemory translation, which is mostly inaccurate for my source language, but I find it useful to have a quick look at it before replacing it with my own translation. Sometimes it offers a great word choice that didn’t occur to me, and secondly Kazakh syntax is markedly different from English, so I appreciate any help I can get.’ Noting the pitfalls, Mirgul adds, ‘I’m always chuckling because some MyMemory translations are simply hilarious: they make me want to abandon translation and start writing strangely moving absurdist prose poems.’

For some, using a machine translation plug-in to throw up (only to throw away) possible versions of a sentence has been a game changer. For others, AI is best avoided. French-to-English translator Roland Glasser argues that AI tools can be a hindrance rather than a help: ‘The process of undertaking the first draft, of immersing yourself in the source text, sussing out nuances, wrangling cultural references and specificities, attending to alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia, rhyme and scansion (and sometimes several of the above combined) is integral to the creation of a high-quality translation. Our unconscious brains click and whirr in unimaginable ways as we work on a text. With the best will in the world, working on a machine-translated draft can never be the same.’

‘Machine translation post-editing’

Of rising concern to literary translators is the adoption by some publishers of ‘machine translation post-editing’ (MTPE, or PEMT): hiring a bilingual editor for a relatively light-touch edit of an AI-generated draft, instead of commissioning a professional translator (who might or might not consult AI to some degree).

But it is translators, not their clients, who are best placed to select the appropriate tool to produce an automated draft, and translators have these tools at their disposal already: they don’t need literary agents or publishers to run a text through AI software for them, and there are many dangers inherent to embarking on this approach unknowingly. ChatGPT at least warns you that it makes mistakes; DeepL claims rather optimistically, ‘With DeepL, you’ll never have to compromise on quality again.’ Yet I regularly see that even with German, a language with a vast quantity of high-quality training material, DeepL makes basic mistakes like repeating lines and mistranslating dates and figures.

Quality control difficulties are compounded by time pressure. In similar creative industries such as video games, machine translation post-editing (MTPE) pays very low rates while only offering negligible time gain, warns Japanese-to-English translator Jennifer O’Donnell. ‘This means a translator can either work twice as hard to create a high-quality translation for less than half their normal rate, or they can put in as much work as they’re getting paid for and only perform a cursory glance to make sure the machine translation is at least grammatically accurate, but not whether it’s accurate in meaning, style or consistency.’ The result, she says, is that the vast majority of talented creative translators prefer to translate from scratch rather than do post-editing work. ‘Post-editing creative works that have been machine translated takes just as much time as translating from scratch, and produces a lower quality translation.’ Perhaps translation is no different to any other service or industry: you can have two out of three of speed, quality or low price, but you can’t have all three.

We’re already seeing publishers skimp on professional translation in the case of some supposedly ‘easy’ translations. Literary agents, for example, sometimes provide machine- translated samples of picture books which monolingual editors edit in-house and publish without crediting a translator. But this is at the expense of the nuance a professional translator provides, and at the possible risk to the author of their intentions being misconstrued. It is a dubious approach for short illustrated texts; it can be disastrous for longer fiction, non-fiction or scholarly texts, and yet it’s a tempting strategy for a budget-conscious publisher who’s unaware of the risks. ‘It’s up to us to explain that it takes longer and ultimately costs more,’ says French-to-English literary translator Louise Rogers Lalaurie. ‘In literary translation, publishers embrace popular campaigns to #NameTheTranslator and put #TranslatorsOnTheCover, so they must see that AI can actually undermine their standing with readers. #PutDeepLontheCover doesn’t really cut it...’

At the moment, ‘post-editing’ seems to be a catch-all term that is far too vague and often underestimates the work that’s required, suggests German-to-English literary translator and editor Katharina Hall. ‘There’s the sense that it’s just a matter of “give that a quick final polish, would you?” We need to push back with more nuanced terminology and distinctions between different types of editing work.’

Copyright and moral rights

Another immediate threat associated with a move towards MTPE, for literary translators, is the perception that such work should fall under an anonymous work-for-hire contract rather than one that recognises a literary translator’s claim to copyright and the moral right to be credited. Whether we use NMT to prompt vocabulary within a CAT tool, or whether we ‘post-edit’ a machine translation draft, literary translation is creative work, and a translator has full agency over their creative decisions, as well as culpability for their mistakes.

Copyright is also essential for quality control, as a safeguard for the intent and meaning of the original author to be respected; without copyright over their translation, a translator risks losing sight of the translation after submission. It could be sublicensed and re-edited, with changes to the text that diverge from the author’s original intention; unless the translator is consulted, and has the contractual right to approve editorial changes, there’s the risk of the author’s intention being misconstrued.

Opportunities

The controversy surrounding AI in the creative industries, and the raising of difficult questions about the author of a translation might have some positive effects. It could boost the #NameTheTranslator and #TranslatorsOnTheCover campaigns. If more editors saw the first draft churned out by an AI provider, they might become more aware of how difficult, and how subjective, literary translation is. And if – as the SoA is lobbying for – we establish a licensing framework for training AI that reassures translators they can legally use it in drafting a professional translation, then automated translation might help make the industry more accessible and inclusive to a broader range of linguists, including from traditionally marginalised backgrounds.

One exciting possibility for me, which publishers and agents could be making more imaginative use of, is the ability to read or get an overview of a manuscript before commissioning a reader’s report or a sample, especially for languages traditionally under-represented in translation. This would only be the case if we can keep low-pay MTPE at bay, though, and if there are cost-efficient but legal means for developers to expand the training datasets for as yet unfeatured languages. DeepL, for example, still only supports 30 languages, of which only Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean and Turkish are the only non-European ones.

I don’t see humans being pushed out of translating and editing altogether; I see the human-machine symbiosis as an evolution in professional roles, but in a context where we’ll always need human, bilingual insight, instinct and intuition. Just as fast food exists alongside Michelin-starred restaurants, there may be an emergent cut-price, low-on-quality market for post-edited machine output, but I think there will remain a parallel market for human-crafted translation of international literature. The question for literary translators is where we want to position ourselves. And for publishers: is it worth the risk of getting it wrong? •

Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp is a literary translator working into English from Arabic, Russian and German. Her most recent translations were Brothers by Jackie Thomae (DAS Editions), and a new translation of Wassily Kandinsky’s seminal work Concerning the Spiritual in Art (Penguin Classics).

The NOTIS Publications Committee secured written permission from the author, Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp, to republish this piece in the Northwest Linguist Blog. The article was originally published in the Summer 2024 issue of The Author (linked here). The Author is a quarterly publication of the Society of Authors, the UK trade union for all kinds of writers, illustrators, and literary translators.

New Scam Alert and Guidance

Brianna Salinas — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 19:32:04 GMT

As you may have noticed, scammers seem to be as busy as ever these days! NOTIS would like to remind all members to remain extremely vigilant when reading and responding to emails — even to messages sent to you through the NOTIS directory page.

While we've taken measures to shield our directory from scammers, your directory information is public by default (so that colleagues and legitimate potential clients can reach you). Unfortunately, this means that people with wrongful intentions can email you too.

To further protect yourself, you can easily change the privacy settings on your member profile so that members of the public cannot contact you through the NOTIS system. To do this, click on your name at the top right corner of our home page (you must first log in), go to the “Privacy” tab, and click “Edit profile”; then, set the “Send message form” field to “Anybody,” (NOTIS) “Members” (only), or “No access” (see screenshots below). NOTE: There are several other privacy settings you can edit on this same page, according to your preferences. If you do want to be contacted regarding legitimate work offers, we recommend you keep your email address visible.

Please, in general, exercise caution when reading — and screening — emails from people you don’t know, especially when something about the message strikes you as odd. For example:

if the person claims to be from a large company but is using a free email domain (such as yahoo.com or gmail.com)
if the message is generic and vague
if the offer seems too good to be true, or
if the person asks you to send them money or share personal information.

If anything seems suspicious, the best strategy is not to respond. It can also help to do an online search, inputting, for example, the sender’s email address or the body of the message between quotation marks, to see if others have received the same message and identified it as a scam. Additionally, you can check on the legitimacy of a potentially suspicious offer by asking your colleagues in online forums such as one of the following Facebook Groups:

Please contact NOTIS at info@notisnet.org if you receive an email through the NOTIS directory and you’re not sure it’s legitimate. We will be more than happy to review it with you and offer our opinion.

To get an idea of what some of the latest email scams look like, check out these recent social media posts detailing:

An October 2024 scam targeting NOTIS members via the NOTIS Directory (here on Facebook or here on LinkedIn)
A June 2023 scam about a Pfizer job (NOTE: It’s not Pfizer!), shown here on Twitter
A recurring scam aimed at language professionals nationwide, explained here in a 2024 post from CCHI (Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters)

Here are some additional resources for guidance:

NOTIS’s on-site guidance for members about known scams and frauds: Scams targeting freelancers
BBB Scam Tracker is a free tool anyone can use to report suspected scams (from the Better Business Bureau)
Spot a Scam, from the Better Business Bureau, provides up-to-date information on recent scams and how to identify them.
A 2023 article from ATA with links to other resources, including a 2020 webinar titled “Don’t Fall for It: Scams Targeting Language Professionals”
ATA Podcast, Episode 88: Scams (June 2023)
A Proz.com page describing typical scams, plus a dedicated forum for discussing scams

Annual call for new Board members

Brianna Salinas — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 16:25:03 GMT

Attention NOTIS members: NOTIS is now recruiting volunteers to join our Board of Directors!

The Northwest Translators & Interpreters Society is busier than ever. The Board of Directors, NOTIS’s governing body, is seeking 2-3 new directors for terms beginning January 1, 2025, to replace directors who are stepping down at the end of this year.

As a NOTIS Board member, you will enjoy professional prestige and camaraderie while helping to shape the future of our society, including our professional response to an ever-changing work environment. This is also an excellent opportunity to learn new skills and develop leadership potential.

Board members serve two-year terms (for a maximum of six consecutive years). Duties include attending monthly meetings and actively participating in at least one committee or division. Board members are also strongly encouraged to help organize and attend major events, such as the annual conference, picnic and holiday party.

To apply, please submit your CV, as well as a brief statement explaining why you would like to volunteer to info@notisnet.org. If you know someone who may be interested, please pass this along!

Thank you for your ongoing support and for all the good work you do for our thriving T&I community.

Best regards,
The NOTIS Nominating Committee

New World, New Work: Attending the 2024 ITI Conference as a 2023 NOTIS Grant Recipient

Brianna Salinas — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 16:12:21 GMT

by Charlotte Schwennsen, 2023 NOTIS Grant recipient

This year, I attended the UK’s ITI Conference thanks to a generous NOTIS conference grant.* I was a first-time attendee at the UK’s largest translation and interpreting event. It was a whirlwind experience! If you haven’t had the chance to attend, I hope this short post will give you an idea of what it was like.

The two-day hybrid conference (in Edinburgh, Scotland, and online) attracted around 400 attendees, including 120 who joined the hour-long sessions and networking chat rooms through the Canapii event app. For the in-person attendees, there were lunch and tea breaks as well as “fringe” events like singing, dancing, and city tours (side note, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the host city’s annual arts and culture event). A few days before the conference, I noted the sessions I would attend synchronously. Attendees also have asynchronous access to the app so they can take part in continuing education throughout the year..

The topics I focused on were: AI for T&I professionals: skills, ethics, and the changing landscape; business skills; career pathways and journeys; English grammar and style; and health and wellness.

Day 1:

Welcome Address by ITI CEO Sara Robertson and ITI Chair Nicki Bone
Selling Human Tech Skills in an AI World: Brainy Things a Robot Cannot Do
How (Not) to Make £100k as a Translator: Five Pitfalls of Starting Out and How You Can Help a Newbie
Keynote (by Joanna Drugan): The History of Training Professional Translators and Interpreters in Scotland
Goodness Gracious Grammar
Raging Against the Machine: Is Translation Really Dying?
Spice Up Your Writing with Figures of Speech

Day 2:

Welcome Address with Nick Rosenthal, CEO Sara Robertson, and ITI Chair Nicki Bone
Rage Against the Machine: Translating Swearwords – and Everything Else – in the Age of AI
The Invisible Burden: Managing Cognitive Load in Translation
Keynote with Sara Robertson: New World, New Work... New You
Caring for Your Brain and Hearing Health

In her keynote speech, “New world, new work,” Sara Robertson reflected on the changing landscape in the translation and interpreting industry, recommending we as professionals focus on the future, increase our ability and willingness to be adaptable, entrepreneurial, professional, our own marketing team, and a solution for our clients’ problems. Her advice to create a business continuity plan was also relevant.

To conclude, I am grateful to NOTIS for the opportunity to attend this valuable event. I learned from a variety of presenters representing diverse sectors, industries, specializations, and languages. Since the closing session, I’ve started using some of the wellness tips I learned, and I am working toward revising my business plan in light of all the inspiring and practical discussions.

Charlotte Schwennsen is a French-to-English translator and editor based in Seattle. She currently specializes in communications for businesses and non-profit organizations, translation of official documents, and copyediting academic journal articles in the social sciences and humanities.

*CLICK HERE to learn more about the current round of NOTIS Conference Grants. The deadline to apply is September 1, 2024!

Remembering Maria Dopps

Brianna Salinas — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 16:13:50 GMT

María Concepción Uribe Ramos Dopps was born in Autlán de la Grana, Jalisco, Mexico, on March 11, 1969. Her parents are Luis Bonifacio Uribe Capacete and Socorro Ramos.

She is survived by her mother, Socorro, three brothers, four sisters and their families, as well as her husband Mike and countless friends and colleagues. Maria graduated High School in Mexico at Escuela Preparatoria Regional de Autlán and moved to the United States at age 18. On October 14, 2000, she was married to Mike Dopps.

As she continued mastering English, she was certified as a Medical Interpreter and in 2011 obtained her certification from the Administrative Office of the Courts in Washington State as a Court Certified Spanish/English Interpreter. Maria participated and belonged to several interpreter associations such as WASCLA and NOTIS and was a pillar in the interpreting profession. She was passionate about her craft and worked hard to move the profession forward.

Maria was a dedicated interpreter, a loving friend, and was kind to everyone she met. She was personable, fun, and loved socializing. She often hosted gatherings at her house with food and sometimes even karaoke. Maria had a great sense of humor, both in English and Spanish, loved singing, and participated in her local church choir. She loved the outdoors, especially beach combing. She was proud of her Mexican heritage and enjoyed sharing it and educating others about it.

Her loss will be profoundly felt on many levels within her family, friends, community, and the interpreting world.

Lessons from a Translator in Residence

Brianna Salinas — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 16:55:13 GMT

by Tim Gregory

Prolific and bestselling Korean-English literary translator Anton Hur was the first guest of the University of Washington Translation Studies Hub’s Translator-in-Residence series, thanks to a generous gift from Lee Scheingold and the ongoing support of the Simpson Center for the Humanities at the UW. Hur led three public events during his visit to Seattle:

first, a lecture titled “Translator Jetlag: Voice and the World We Build,”
second, a literary translation masterclass at Seattle Central University,
and third, a workshop titled “How Books are Born: The Art of Pitching Translations.”

To wrap up his visit to our region, Anton Hur also attended a reception and Q&A hosted by NOTIS and the Northwest Literary Translators at Folio (a favorite venue of ours, tucked away in Downtown Seattle’s Pike Place Market).

Each event was enthusiastically attended by students, faculty, and members of NOTIS and the Northwest Literary Translators, and Anton Hur freely shared his experiences and knowledge he has gained as he has shifted from earning a living as a full-time freelance translator and interpreter to a full-time translator of Korean literature.

TRANSLATOR JETLAG

In the first lecture, Hur compared the act of translation to the fog of being stuck in the “in-between” during periods of jetlag, contrasting this with the very different experience of a reader—the author’s intended audience. Anton explained that the author generally eases the reader into the story, giving them time to adjust to the world as they read and find their way to familiarity with the narrator, characters, texture, and style. If any disorientation arises, it is usually intentional. For a reader, finding their way into the story is like riding a slow ocean liner from Asia or Europe to America—with plenty of time to acclimate to the shifting time zones.

Translators, he said, “cross that ocean on the god-damned Concorde!” After a supersonic flight, translators are parachuted into this new text, expected to carry on as though we had not just crossed an ocean in less than four hours—and then, when our feet hit the ground, we are expected to sound like we have lived in that new world our entire lives.

The jetlag a translator experiences when beginning a new text is a third space, a gap between the source language’s literature and that of the target language, but the hard part is when we start out: “It is the part where you have to peel off your skin, take a new one out of the package, and then stuff yourself into it that is hard.” Your immune system will kick up a fuss, but adjusting to this new skin lets you, the translator, feel like you have become the narrator.

VOICE IN TRANSLATION

On the issue of voice in translation, Hur encouraged translators to read and engage with their languages in books written in a diverse array of styles because you never know when a specific voice you’ve read or heard will suit a project.

Anton Hur said that his personal preference for translation is to stay as true to the source as possible, arguing that “the binary between accuracy and beauty is concocted by nerds who always need rubrics and the approval of authorities to create works of art.” And on the other great dichotomy of literary translation—whether it is a talent or a learned skill—Hur came down more on the side of learned skill. He said that to be a great writer or translator, you must understand the source materials and your own work at the critical level, and literary criticism can only ever be taught.

PITCHING LITERARY TRANSLATIONS

Prior to the lecture, attendees were encouraged to read Anton Hur’s blog post on pitching literary translation and to review a sample cover letter he has shared on his website. I would also encourage you to review these excellent resources!

One of the first points Anton Hur made was to remind those in attendance that, no matter how much we love them, the books we want to translate (or that we have translated) are “properties” and “assets.” Translators must make a living.

In pitching, Anton Hur called to mind that one friend we all have who has fallen head-over-heels for a certain book or TV series and will gush for hours about it if we let them, leaving you wanting to rush home to read or watch it for yourself. When pitching a book, the translator must become that friend. We must convince publishers that the book we are trying to sell is the very best book, share those things that make the book special, that make it interesting, and, especially, that will make it sell.

In writing a pitch, we cannot hold back spoilers. A full synopsis of the story, the unexpected twists and turns, and the surprise ending should all be included. He encouraged us to make the synopsis fun to read and entertaining in its own right—but all in under two full pages. This synopsis should be in the body of the email you send, not an attachment; editors are unlikely to open attachments without the incentive of a good cover letter and synopsis. If you do include an attachment, that is a good place to put a translation sample.

He used car sales as an analogy for selling translated books. If the publisher knows both languages, this is like being able to go to a car dealership and take the car for a drive—they can read the book for themselves. A publisher has hundreds of cars coming in every week that they can go test drive, but when a book comes in where they do not have direct access to the source language, they are now in a position where they are asked to buy a car without touching it, much less driving it. They have to trust you, the translator, completely. This leaves us translators in a position where we must become the greatest salespeople in the world.

If an editor or buyer is interested, he told us, we have to help that person become the next greatest salesperson by providing them with nuggets they can share: like awards the author has won in their own language, notable source language reviews (which you will likely have to translate for free), or reviews in other languages (if it has been translated before). If the author has given a particularly good interview, it may help to translate it or portions of it.

Another sales point Anton Hur brought up was about classification or category; often the general category is unhelpful in a pitch. He said that “Arabic Feminist Fiction” may be important, and it should be read by more people, but, if you want a publisher to invest $20,000 in bringing a book to print, you need to give them the hook: what is it about the book that will make people really want to read it?

THE POWER OF THE TRANSLATOR

When it comes to getting into the publishing community, Anton Hur said to keep yourself open to new friendships and connections at book fairs, awards ceremonies, and conferences. Despite the reputation of literary translators as introverts, which Hur acknowledged as a useful trait when it comes to getting the work done, valuable opportunities can be created by pushing yourself to code-switch into extroversion and to get over any aversion you have to reaching out to talk to someone who may benefit you or have advice on something you have come across.

Near the end of the seminar, Anton Hur stood up from his seat to be sure we were all paying attention to this statement:

“We as translators, we hold so much power, but we are constantly gaslit into thinking that we are the least important, the lowest people in this room. That is so not the case. We hold everyone’s careers in our hands. Even our authors; we are more important than our authors! You are there because your author cannot market their work in your target language. You can. You are the source of everyone making money and literary prestige. Without you, nothing happens.”

CONCLUSION

The final event of Anton Hur’s residency in Seattle was the NOTIS Northwest Literary Translators reception at Folio. Those attending were a mix of people who had attended the other events, Folio members, and members of NOTIS and the Northwest Literary Translators. This provided a much more personal venue and allowed for a less structured Q&A with Anton. The Northwest Literary Translators gave Anton a collection of books translated by members in gratitude for spending time with us.

There are other articles about Anton Hur’s visit, each of them well worth reading:

Inside Seattle’s Burgeoning Community of Literary Translators
—Julia Park, Cascade PBS
Anton Hur and ‘Translator Jetlag: Voice and the World We Build’
—Annika Stanley, The Daily

NOTIS and the Northwest Literary Translators were actively involved in and present for each event during this first UW translator residency, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Translation Studies Hub for their Translator-in-Residence series and other events of interest to us all.

Image captions, top to bottom:

Anton Hur poses at Folio with a gift bag and several books translated by members of the NW Literary Translators — tokens of their gratitude. Photo by Sasha Senderovich.
A selfie of/by Anton Hur at the entrance to Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum.
UW Translation’s Sasha Senderovich and Anton Hur toast to a successful event series, with the Seattle skyline in the background.
Hur compares literary translation to jetlag at a University of Washington lecture organized by the UW Translation Studies Hub. Photo by Sasha Senderovich.
Hur gives a Literary Translation Masterclass to the students of Takami Nieda’s translation course at Seattle Central College; NOTIS members join in. Photo by Sasha Senderovich.
At the Translator’s Reception and Q&A at Folio, Hur poses with Shelley Fairweather-Vega (past NOTIS President and NW Literary Translator), Sasha Senderovich (co-lead of the UW Translation Studies Hub, UW Professor of Slavic Languages & Literatures), and Lillian Dabney (Folio Seattle Librarian). Photo by Takami Nieda.
Hur snaps a satisfied selfie and posts it to social media with the caption “NOTIS got Ethiopian food for my last event!!!”

The 5Ws for Emerging Translators & Intepreters: Part 5 (final)

Brianna Salinas — Wed, 29 May 2024 09:21:23 GMT

by Teodosia Rivera

Dear Colleagues,

We’ve come to the last segment of the 5Ws series, the “Why.” It all began with my proposed 5Ws method (who, what, where, when, and why) for emerging translators and interpreters.

As we go back and reread each of the previous four segments, a guiding question remains: What do I do when I don’t know what I don’t know? I believe by now that the reasons each of us has joined and remained in the language profession can be found intertwined in how we’ve answered the first 4Ws in this series. Here is how:

When you are clear about WHO you are (or visualize yourself to be) as a translator or interpreter, that idea can help you define why you’ve chosen to pursue a path in the language profession.
When WHAT to do or what to avoid as an emerging T&I professional becomes second nature to you, the why becomes more evident.
WHERE your language skills and financial stability reach new heights, and you have discovered a niche for your professional work, your success justifies being a professional translator or interpreter.
Then comes the WHEN. As you launch your new career in the language profession, knowing the right time to revitalize your language skills, network with other professionals in the industry, and keep yourself healthy all around are more than enough reasons to cultivate your commitment to the linguist in you.
The answer to WHY is obvious: Why not?!

We all may have different reasons for being the linguists we are today. But whatever specialty we find ourselves in today, we share a common thread: We love working with languages and using them to create connections, and we are ready and willing to support our peers—especially the emerging T&I professionals that surround us.

I hope the 5Ws series has helped you discover new ways to look at the profession we all love. Please share your reflections in the comment section below!

Have a question for Teodosia? You can get in touch by leaving a comment below or, if you prefer a less public sphere, by emailing social@notisnet.org.

Teodosia Rivera has been working as a professional translator and interpreter since 2018. She is a member of ATA’s Interpreters Division, Spanish Language Division, and Translation Company Division, in addition to two ATA chapters: the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Florida (ATIF) and the Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society (NOTIS). Teodosia has established her own business since participating in professional development in the language profession. She brings with her the background of a classroom teacher, having taught for more than 20 years in Osceola County, Florida. “I am still growing and learning,” she says.

Now accepting submissions for The Northwest Linguist

Brianna Salinas — Sat, 18 May 2024 16:55:37 GMT

The Northwest Translators & Interpreters Society welcomes content submissions for our blog and newsletters on a rolling basis—and we want to hear from you!

This is an excellent opportunity to put your name and voice out there, draw attention to your work, and be recognized by your peers.

The Northwest Linguist & NOTIS News Quarterly, the official printed publications of NOTIS, are designed to share organization and industry news, useful tips, fun facts, and educational pieces with our members.

We are currently accepting submissions in the following areas:

Articles or essays on:

approaches to translation
interpretation skills
translation reviews
T&I technology (AI, MT, etc.)
local language access developments
legislation affecting language professionals
your personal/professional experiences in the industry
and more…

Translations of:

poems
short prose pieces or excerpts
recipes
songs
etcetera…

Plus: Comics, memes, bloopers, and other bits of humor!

Submissions should be written in English and should fall somewhere between 150 and 1000 words (longer pieces will be considered for the blog or the annual newsletter; shorter pieces, for our quarterly newsletters or blog). Relevant images may also be submitted alongside or independent of the written piece.

If submitting a translation, please send both the original version and the translation. Copyright notes and source references should be included as well, if applicable.

Submissions will be evaluated by the NOTIS Publications Committee and edited for content, grammar, and space limitations.

Please send your submissions (as Google Doc or .doc, .docx file) and other queries to our publications editor, Brianna Salinas, at social@notisnet.org. We look forward to publishing your work!

2024 Member Satisfaction Survey: Thank You!

Brianna Salinas — Sun, 12 May 2024 17:00:34 GMT

NOTIS recently conducted a survey to gauge member satisfaction, with the goal of using the information gathered to learn more about our members and to improve our services, programming, resources, and communication with your needs in mind.

Below, you will find a summary of the results with charts scattered throughout.

We were surprised to see so much representation (7) in British Columbia! Nearly all the responses not shown here (from pages 2 and 3 of the drop-down menu) are from members in B.C. (or “BC,” or “BC, Canada,” and so forth), plus one in Minnesota and one in South Carolina.

The survey was distributed by email to all 835 active NOTIS members, 168 of whom responded. Given that NOTIS is almost entirely volunteer-run, we were thrilled that over 77% of respondents were either satisfied or extremely satisfied.

Survey respondents praised the “committed and engaged volunteer leadership” who exhibit a great deal of “care and support for their members,” as well as “energy, enthusiasm, and desire” to do good work for our Society and the greater T&I community.

Chart #3 depicts an active and diverse Society: “We are NOTIS.”

Our members expressed interest in seeing the following — or more of the following — from NOTIS:

Local gatherings
Support for professional development and certification preparation
A greater variety of continuing education courses (in-person and on-demand), specifically on the topics of ethics, legal interpreting, and medical interpreting
More workshops on translation and translation technology tools

There were many other great suggestions, too, and they have been shared with the relevant NOTIS committees for their consideration!

Lines 1 and 6 are the same, resulting in a total of 50 votes for “local gatherings in different areas.”

We hear you! Currently, and thanks in part to your valuable feedback, we are working on:

Contacting members in regions outside of Western Washington to set up local gatherings (To propose something in your area, email treasurer@notisnet.org. NOTIS will help pay for refreshments!)
—> Check out our Professional Development Series on June 1 in Yakima!
Diversifying and strengthening our workshop and course offerings…
—> We’re currently offering 11 on-demand webshops.
—> Be sure to catch Machine & GenAI Translation Techniques (free).

Moreover, we recently inaugurated a new committee — Member Care & Development — that is already working hard to develop T&I support groups and other new member-centered activities.

Our heartfelt thanks to all who took time from their busy schedules to share their thoughts and feelings with us. We are grateful to all of you, not only for your participation in our Society, but also for the important work you do every day to improve language access, represent our profession, and bridge barriers in the PNW and beyond. Thank you.

If you would like to follow up on something you mentioned in the survey, share any specific requests, or offer to help in some way, please consider emailing us at social@notisnet.org. Please also consider joining the Board of Directors, which is seeking a few energetic new members to begin in January 2025.

...................

NOTE: If you are a NOTIS member, you can view the results in full here. Please note that you must be signed in to your account for the link to work.

ON WINNING THE MLA SCAGLIONE PRIZE FOR A TRANSLATION OF A SCHOLARLY STUDY OF LITERATURE

Brianna Salinas — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 17:47:40 GMT

BY ZAKIYA HANAFI

“In addition to the effects of the paradox whereby a translation is judged better the more invisible it is, scholarly translation can be lonely in part because it has no clear territory in the professional world of translation and interpretation. It is neither technical nor literary; it lands squarely in the region between art and craft.”

I can’t deny it: it feels great to be recognized and praised for my craft by my peers. After all, it’s the closest thing to an Oscar I could ever hope for in my field! And the big, fat cherry on top is how the prize committee members expressed their recognition: they called my translation “smart and clear, with extremely precise word choices and a sense of musicality that surpasses the craft of other translations.” (See the full statement here.) That’s the greatest compliment a translator could ask for.

The truth is, receiving the Modern Language Association prize has upped my self-esteem and given me a new appreciation for my practice. Of course, happiness comes from within, and the satisfaction we get from our work should come primarily from doing it. And yet… the truth is, as a translator of the humanities — I’m talking about philosophy and literary theory, history of all sorts, anthropology, literary criticism, and so forth — I have sometimes felt left out of the spotlight that literary translators can aspire to. Translators of literature have the potential to go on book launch tours, to receive royalties, to give interviews, to appear on social media. Let’s face it: there can be a lot of buzz about literature (poetry, novels, short stories) that rarely surrounds academic work. Maybe that’s because literature is accessible to everyone: it does not put up the intellectual barriers that some academic jargon does.

Still, in addition to the effects of the paradox whereby a translation is judged better the more invisible it is, scholarly translation can be lonely in part because it has no clear territory in the professional world of translation and interpretation. It is neither technical nor literary; it lands squarely in the region between art and craft.

Because accuracy is paramount when it comes to communicating ideas, scholarly translators first need to do scads of research to understand their authors’ ideas. Then they need to track down source language quotations in the target language, if they exist in authorized translations, and update footnotes with new titles and page numbers in line with a newly compiled target-language bibliography. There’s also terminology to attend to, which may need to be adapted in the quotes, since it must be consistent across the entire text for the author’s ideas to make sense to the reader. Normally we think of terminology as a technical translator’s purview, but, when it comes to translating philosophy, for example, terminological consistency is just as vital. Scholarly translators need to consider the way keywords from antiquity like Form, Idea, and Nature have been passed down through centuries of translations — from Greek, to Arabic, to Latin, to English, for instance. And then there’s the modern tradition of translating Heidegger, which alone would require an essay to explain why one must never confuse Being, uppercase B, with being, lowercase b (or with ‘beying', for that matter, and that’s not a typo!).

All this negotiation between past and present and established lexical traditions requires massive attention to detail, but the result must be expressed in a prose (or poetry, as in my prize-winning book, On Modern Poetry by Guido Mazzoni) that honors the author’s style and verbal nuance, so important for this genre.

Scholarly translators like me walk the line, with every sentence, between communicating like a technical translator and painting with words like a literary translator. Thanks to the commitment this practice requires, every book feels like a tremendous achievement and a true collaboration with the author. It feels miraculous to me to be able to transmit ideas from one tradition of thought to another, without distorting or losing their sense.

I can’t wait for there to be a NOTIS Division of Scholarly Translation, with conferences and journals all about my field. But, in the meantime, winning this prize has given me and my practice that extra little bit of visibility I was craving. And while it may not exactly create a buzz, it does make me glow with pride! Thank you, MLA!

P.S. If you’re thinking of translating a scholarly work and wonder what it involves, or you just want to learn more about the practices of scholarly translation, join me for a NOTIS webinar on the topic on November 7th, 6-7 pm. Click here to register!

Minnesota Judiciary Interpreters are Back at Work

Brianna Salinas — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 16:21:38 GMT

As you may have heard, Minnesota judiciary interpreters recently went on strike for a pay increase, with the goal of restoring their 1997 purchasing power.

After seven weeks of strike, they succeeded in getting an increase. More detailed information from Minnesota is attached to this message (scroll down).

NOTIS wrote a letter in support of the interpreters to the Minnesota courts in January, and we congratulate our Minnesota colleagues on their victory! Many Washington judicial interpreters received calls from Minnesota courts asking them to work there while their interpreters were striking, and many of them chose not to take those jobs in solidarity with their colleagues.

Working together we can achieve so much!

NOTIS Advocacy Committee

From: MN Court Interpreters
<mncertifiedcourtinterpreters@gmail.com>
To: MN Court Interpeters
Subject: Back to work on February 26!

Esteemed colleagues,

Today is Friday, February 23, 2024. This is a landmark date for us as the seventh week of our work stoppage comes to a close; a date that in years to come will be referred to as the Before/After of the recognition of the professionalism and excellence of court interpreters in Minnesota. The sacrifices we all have made have already resulted in many wins, and more are yet to come!

The past 7 weeks of the work stoppage have proven to be extremely effective in raising awareness of our profession and gaining incredible support.

As we return to work in the courts this Monday, February 26, our solidarity and engagement remain imperative as we move into the next phase of our work.

We must continue putting the pressure on the Minnesota Judicial Branch and the Judicial Council by regularly reaching out to our representatives and asking for their support.

We have had historic success in several fronts:

We are united! We sustained seven weeks of hardship to ask for what we’ve been due for the last two decades. Not in our wildest dream did we.. or the MJB or the JC… ever think we could pull this off with a united front. We proved them wrong! Be proud!
We garnered the support of our colleagues nationwide, national professional associations, members of the legislature and all levels of the judicial system, the press, and the public at large.
We secured a face-to-face with Judge Michelle Lawson, Vice Chair of the Minnesota Judicial Council, and Jeff Shorba, State Court Administrator. Judge Lawson and Jeff Shorba expressed openness to more meetings.
We succeeded in sitting and observing at a council meeting, and drawing attention to our cause.
We testified before the Judiciary and Civil Law Committee of the House of Representatives, and in no uncertain terms told them that we are just getting started. Representative Sandra Feist spoke in our support, and the MJB moved us up to second place on the priority list. Jeff Shorba presented and requested money in a non-budget year. Committee Chair Jamie Becker-Finn has also expressed her support.
In an amazing turn after years of disconnect, ASL-CDI and spoken language interpreters are now a united front, and we have come to realize that there is more in common than there are differences among us.
We have an invitation from Senator Ron Latz, the Chair of the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, to testify before an informational session.

Our work is not done. We all contributed in some way, but in order to reach our goals, we all need to remain actively engaged. It is our responsibility to participate to be able to enjoy our wins, and learn from our mistakes. Let us not stop here! There is a lot left to do.

Yours truly,
The Steering Committee

...

Some of our many supporters include:

American Alliance of Professional Translators and Interpreters
American Translator’s Association
Assistant Public Defenders and Core Staff
Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Erica Davis - Private Criminal Defense Attorney
House Judiciary Finance Committee Chair Becker-Finn
House Judiciary Finance Committee Rep Feist
Indivisible Twin Cities advocacy organization
Interpreter Colleagues Nationwide
Katherian Roe, Federal Defender
Kelly Vargas - Leader of the NE Interpreter Advocacy Efforts
KIS Interpreting Services
Michael Lander, retired attorney
Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Minnesota Public Radio
National Association of Judicial Interpreters and Translators
Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society
Sandro Tomassi - court interpreter & author of legal dictionaries
Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Finance Committee Chair Ron Latz
Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy
The MN Reformer
The Sahan Journal
The Star Tribune
The Teamsters Local 320
Think Self - Advocacy Organization for the deaf, deaf/blind and hard of hearing
Tony Rosado - Globally recognized expert on interpretation

Calling WA Interpreters: Volunteer for the Seattle/King County Clinic, Feb. 15-18

Brianna Salinas — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 11:33:45 GMT

The 2024 Seattle/King County Clinic is coming up — and they need volunteer interpreters! The clinic will be open all day from Thursday, February 15, through Sunday, February 18, at the Seattle Center.

There is high demand for ASL, Amharic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Tigrinya, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese interpreters — but speakers of other languages are encouraged to volunteer as well.

Volunteers are also needed for set-up, take-down, and post-clinic eyeglasses distribution (end of March).

For complete details and to sign up for a shift/shifts, visit https://seattlecenter.org/volunteers/

ABOUT THE CLINIC

The SKCC is a free annual clinic providing medical, dental, and vision services to those in need. The clinic serves several thousand people annually (3,066 in 2023) without discrimination. In fact, the SKCC is designed to supersede traditional barriers to quality care. Regardless of income, English language proficiency, housing, immigration, or insurance status — anyone can come in for treatment. No ID or appointment required.

WHY VOLUNTEER?

To help your neighbors in need, and to ensure all patients receive compassionate and quality care in the language they know best.

In the words of previous volunteers:

“What was amazing was the coming together of a community from all walks of life. It didn’t matter what organization you were from, in that moment, that day, we were all there to serve one purpose, help those who were in need. What a singular, powerful opportunity.”
— Anonymous Clinic Volunteer

“My wife and I have been participating in the event since 2018, and I have lots of fond memories. It has been very rewarding for us. Plus, we run into a lot of friends that we normally don't see very often and we’ve made a lot of new friends as well. One year, I worked side by side with my baby daughter, (Stephanie is a King County Deputy Sheriff) one time at event, we dealt with domestic violence, human trafficking and mental health (suicidal behavior). There’s never a dull moment.”
— Howard Chou, Clinic Volunteer and NOTIS Board Member (pictured above, far left; and to the right with his daughter)

“I am forever changed as a result of participating in this event.”
— Anonymous Clinic Volunteer

Celebrating the life of NOTIS co-founder Jean Leblon

Brianna Salinas — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 18:52:31 GMT

It is with both sorrow and gratitude that we inform you of the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Jean Marcel Jules Leblon. Jean touched the lives of many during his long and storied time here, and, among his innumerable accomplishments, he played a pivotal role in the establishment of NOTIS in 1988. We thank him for his service, to NOTIS and to the broader translation and interpreting community. While we mourn his departure, we choose today to celebrate the life he lived and the lasting impact he made.

Please find Jean's obituary below, and feel welcome to leave any comments or memories of him in the comments section below.

Jean Marcel Jules Leblon
June 7, 1928 - November 16, 2023

Jean Leblon of Seattle, Washington, a French professor and translator who worked vigorously and professionally for 62 years for multiple universities and organizations, passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 16, 2023, following a brief hospitalization and stay in a loving adult family care home.

Jean was the devoted husband to Mary, his wife of 55 years, who passed away in 2007, as well as the devoted father of two daughters, Mitzi and Simone. His storybook life began in the village of St.-Remy near the French-speaking medieval town of Chimay in southern Belgium, where he was born to Marcelle and Alfred Leblon. He came into the world 10 years after the end of the Great War and only 11 years before the start of WWII, resulting in a very grim wartime adolescence. Jean befriended young GIs serving in the fields near his home, and at 18 was invited to visit the US, where in one of the men’s hometowns of Emporia, Kansas, he was offered the opportunity to attend college at the Kansas State Teachers’ College, earning his bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish. Having met his wife Mary there, he then moved to Connecticut and earned his Ph.D. in French Philology and Literature at Yale in 1960. He then began a tireless, energetic teaching career with posts at Connecticut College, CCNY, Hollins College, and Vanderbilt University as French and Italian Department Chair, including the chairmanship of its French program in Aix-en-Provence, France in 1967 and 1968. He retired from this first career in 1987 when he and Mary moved to Seattle, Washington, where he began a second career at Microsoft as Translator, French Terminologist, Copy editor, and Localizer until his second retirement in 1995. After this date, Jean started his own translation business, working with the French Consulate General in San Francisco, teaching in the Bellevue College Translation and Interpretation Institute, and translating documents for the general public referred to him well into his 90’s.

In addition to all these activities, Jean was involved in research and publication as well as a myriad amount of extra-curricular activities: such as 20 years as examiner at the Educational Testing Service (ETS) for the College Board, 10 years as trainer of African teachers in the Peace Corps, as a member of the board of the American Translation Association, co-creating in 1988 the Northwest Interpreters and Translators Society, serving as president of the Alliance Française of Seattle and board member of the American Association of Teachers of French as well as of the Seattle Nantes Sister City Association. In 2003, Jean became “Chevalier dans l’Order des Palmes Académiques”, presented by the Consul General of France at the Alliance Française of Seattle.

And throughout it all, Jean was passionate about the many pleasures in life: travel, the joys of the table, new places and new experiences. He loved participating in community theater productions throughout his adult life. He was considered a “walking encyclopedia” by his many associates, with his extensive teaching expertise and erudition. He was a man committed to his connections with his Belgian family and to deep, lasting friendships that nourished and replenished him at every turn. His friends and colleagues most often cited his kindness, his extensive knowledge, his generosity of spirit, his vigor: as his Seattle-Nantes colleague shared, “I was always in awe of Jean’s adventurous spirit: taking driving trips all over Belgium and France at an advanced age — really being a role model for those of us in our eighties”. Another colleague from Seattle-Nantes shared, that Jean was “one of his most cherished friends, with a 35-year friendship that I would have loved to continue”. And, as his former student at Vanderbilt-in-France who became his lifelong friend, shared: “he was that splendid combination of such a good heart, an incredibly sound mind and deep soul”. His bonhomie and joie de vivre will be sorely missed by all.

Survivors include his daughters Mitzi Leblon-Ledingham (Gordon) of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Simone Leblon of Seattle, Washington; grandchildren Cameron Ledingham of Seattle and Sophie Ledingham of Portland, Oregon; brother Claude Leblon of Chimay, Belgium, and six nieces and nephews and their families.

Jean will be laid to rest in Emporia, Kansas next to his wife Mary. Another memorial for Jean will be held in Chimay at a later date to be determined, in order for his beloved Belgian family and friends to celebrate him.

Our year in review

Brianna Salinas — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 10:44:16 GMT

As we reflect on 2023, we at NOTIS would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the pillars of our Society: our members, volunteers, employees, sponsors, speakers, event attendees, and, in general, all of our colleagues in the varied fields of translation and interpreting. Your dedication to our community does not go unnoticed, and we thank you for the vital work you do each day.

This past year marked a significant chapter for the Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society (NOTIS), and we could not have done it, any of it, without you. Together, in 2023, we:

Celebrated 35 years of supporting, educating, connecting, and inspiring language professionals in and around our 5-state territory (Washington, Oregon, Montana, Alaska, and Idaho)
Surpassed 700, then 800 — then nearly 900 — members: a testament to the growing strength of our community
Inaugurated an online Ethics Panel, a platform for interpreters, translators, and those working with language professionals to seek expert advice on their most pressing ethics questions
Developed our on-demand webshop program, ensuring easy access to valuable content and CEUs for all
Published high-quality content on our blog and in our quarterly newsletters, written by and for NOTIS members and the wider T&I public
Elevated the online presence of our literary group, the NW Literary Translators, with a dedicated webpage and a sales page on bookshop.org
Awarded 6 Membership Development Grants, affording members the opportunity to attend major national conferences and further their professional development
Hosted numerous in-person events, including our German Translation Slam, Summer Picnic, Holiday Party, and — the highlight of them all — our Annual ITD Conference
Engaged with some of the best in the literary and publishing worlds at the AWP Book Fair
Forged and fortified connections at ALTA46 and ATA64
Offered one of the most comprehensive continuing education calendars in recent years.

Thank you for your support! We look forward to another year of collaboration, learning, advocacy, and community building.

To a new year filled with peace, harmony, and happiness,
The NOTIS Board of Directors & Staff

P.S. A special shout-out — a special thank you — to the American Translators Association (ATA), of which NOTIS is a proud regional chapter.

P.P.S. We welcome you to read our full 2023 Annual Report here (clicking this link will prompt an automatic download).

The 5Ws for Emerging Translators and Interpreters (Part 4: When?)

Brianna Salinas — Sun, 26 Nov 2023 11:47:39 GMT

Dear colleagues,

The challenging question for newcomers to the language profession continues to be: What do I do when I don’t know what I don’t know? Answering this question takes some reflective thinking. The 5Ws method used in this series offers guidance to new T&I professionals.

In this, the fourth installment of this series, we explore the “When?” of the 5Ws with the following questions:

1) When is it a good time to accept a translation or interpreting job? 2) When is it productive to negotiate rates? 3) When should one engage in learning more about the profession? 4) When is a good time to seek certification in any specialty? 5) When do we know we’ve reached the point where mental overload could affect our health and performance?

Here are some suggested answers to these questions:

When accepting a translation or interpreting job, ensure you are qualified to perform well. Never say yes to a job when it is unrelated to your expertise in the field. It can backfire, and your professionalism may be called into question. You always want to be at the top of your game. I’ll offer an example: Early in my interpreting career, I accepted an offer received via email, but I quickly discovered that I needed more training to prepare to work professionally. Fortunately, during that experience, my booth partner was a seasoned and skilled interpreter. She rescued me multiple times. I felt inadequate. In the end, she encouraged me to work harder at mastering relevant glossaries before accepting the next interpreting assignment — and she was right.
When negotiating rates, ask other professionals if you do not know the going rate for translation or interpreting work, mileage, or lodging expenses for overnight events. You may need to call, email, or text that person. Belonging to a local ATA chapter gives you unlimited opportunities to do this.
When you know you need to improve your skills, you must act accordingly. You don’t want to be unprepared as a language professional. The field is always evolving. Staying current and actively sharpening your skills in your language pair is vital.
When the opportunity arises to join a certification study group, don’t miss it. Do everything within your reach to get certified as you work towards your goal. (In the first installment of this series, you can find tips on discovering “Who” you want to become in the language profession.)
When, in your heart of hearts, you find yourself headed toward a mental overload, seek help. The high calling to interpret or translate demands highly skilled professionals. But this demand for accuracy and professionalism in all areas of the language industry does not come without a cost—your physical and emotional well-being. Make it a top priority to discover how healthy habits in nutrition, exercise and other daily activities that provide balance and peace of mind can keep you on track and fuel your productivity as a new language professional.

Combining all five steps above will help prepare you to embark, well-equipped, on the great adventure you have chosen toward a career in T&I.

This is the fourth installment of a five-part advice column for new (and not-so-new) translators and interpreters.

Read the first installment, “Who?”, here, the “What?” here, the “Where?” here, and stay tuned for the final installment: the “Why?”

Have a question for Teodosia? You can get in touch by leaving a comment here or, if you’d rather remain anonymous, by emailing social@notisnet.org.

The 5Ws for Emerging Translators & Interpreters (Part 3: “Where?”)

Brianna Salinas — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 18:15:32 GMT

by Teodosia Rivera

Hello, everyone. It’s good to be back with the third segment of the five-part series for T&I newcomers. If you’re reading this blog for the first time, this series is based on my original proposed 5Ws method (who, what, where, when, and why) for emerging translators and interpreters. I want to take you back to the question that prompted this series, a question that might cause the newbie translator's heart to skip a beat: What do I do when I don’t know what I don’t know?

Becoming a language professional may seem like a daunting task. And that’s because it is. However, we are not alone. As has been my experience, your colleagues are willing to mentor and guide you along the way. The 5Ws method is precisely that, from me to you: a guide to help you navigate the waters of the language industry as newbies in the field.

The first installment discussed ‘who’ we aim to become when we enter the language arena. Ultimately, we must embody the success we want to achieve.

In our second post, we focused on the ‘What’ of the 5Ws. There, we delved into some DOs and DON’Ts for new language professionals. For example, do keep a goal in mind, a destination you want to reach. But don’t lose sight of your goal; you’re in the driver’s seat toward your new destination.

Today, we zero in on the ‘Where.’ So, where do language pros work? Well, the answer is everywhere! ‘How so?,’ you may ask. The answer is in the language profession: language is how we exchange information globally.

As translators and interpreters, we are the bridges that bring people together. Wherever language communication is broken, language translators and interpreters mend, narrow, or eliminate the gap. So, welcome! Your task as a language professional is truly fundamental. And yes, we really are everywhere. The question for you is this: Where are your skills best suited to be invested? Where will your passion for the profession produce the most satisfaction and the greatest reward in the long run?

Let’s look at some specialized areas to see where you will be most likely to succeed without regrets:

Do you enjoy working in the medical field? Then, you should consider training to be certified as a medical language professional.
Are you someone who enjoys legal proceedings and facilitating communication in the court setting? Then, take the necessary steps to become a certified legal translator or interpreter.
Perhaps you seek variety and prefer to work in various locations, such as educational settings, social services, or community advocacy. Community interpreter, then, is your path. (Medical and legal are sometimes intertwined in this area.)
A fourth option is to interpret or translate in diplomatic settings.
A fifth—for insatiable readers, lovers of puzzles, and truly creative types—is literary translation.
Are you always eager to learn more and don’t want to commit to one field? You can do it all from home as a freelance technical translator.
Does your background include advanced training in biology, engineering, philosophy, linguistics (the list goes on!)? Are you an academic through and through? Then scholarly translation may be your niche.
There are also location-dependent touring opportunities with foreign clients...

Where can language professionals work? The opportunities are endless, as you can see, and so are the locations. Wherever a language gap is formed—from the local law enforcement agency to the highest court—the language professional becomes the beacon of hope for people on both sides of the bridge.

So take heart, colleagues. I will tell you a secret: I have heard from those who have been in the industry longer than we have that we are all on a learning journey because the profession is constantly evolving. Know you are not alone. I know I am not alone. We are in this together.

A few more words of advice:

Find a mentor as soon as you feel sidetracked. It will help you. It helped me during my first year in the field.
Be honest with yourself. Wherever you are in your professional journey, it is never too late to ask for help. Remember, wherever you find yourself—at a webinar, conference, or another social event hosted by your local ATA chapter or affiliate—we are ubiquitous.
Once you have made a connection, let her or him know you are looking for a mentor. My experience has been that they are more than willing to help because they have been there—where you are—themselves. You will be glad you did. They, too, are everywhere, like all of us.

This is the third installment of a five-part advice column for new (and not-so-new) translators and interpreters. Read the first installment, “Who?”, here and the “What?” here. The final two installments will be released in the coming months. Subscribe to the NW Linguist Blog and to NOTIS News Quarterly, our—you guessed it—quarterly newsletter, here.

Have a question for Teodosia? You can get in touch by leaving a comment or, if you’d rather remain anonymous, by emailing social@notisnet.org.

Submit to the Annual Newsletter by 11/15

Brianna Salinas — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 16:18:40 GMT

ATTENTION: We are currently seeking submissions for our longer annual newsletter, to be released in December. Deadline = 15 November.

This is an excellent opportunity to put your name and your voice out there, to draw attention to your work, and to be recognized by your peers.

We are currently accepting submissions in the following areas:

Articles or essays on:

approaches to translation
interpretation skills
translation reviews
T&I technology
local language access developments
legislation affecting language professionals
personal/professional anecdotes

Translations of:

poems
short prose or excerpts of prose
recipes
songs
etc...

Comics, memes, and other bits of humor!

Submissions should be written in English and — excepting translations — should fall somewhere between 250 and 800 words (longer pieces will be considered for the blog or the annual newsletter; shorter pieces, for our quarterly newsletters or blog). Relevant images may also be submitted, alongside or independent of the written piece.

If submitting a translation, please send both the original version and the translation. Copyright notes and source references should be included as well, if applicable.

Your submissions will be evaluated by NOTIS's Publications Committee and will be edited for content, grammar, and space limitations.

Please send submissions and any other queries to our publications editor, Brianna Salinas, at social@notisnet.org. We look forward to publishing your work!

Best wishes,
The NOTIS Publications Committee

Women in Translation by (NOTIS) Women of Translation

Brianna Salinas — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 10:56:06 GMT

At NOTIS, we celebrate women in translation all year round. We are pleased, nonetheless, to reserve for them a month of their own, their own room if you will: a space in which we can all focus our attention on the many marvelous achievements of our members who, by way of translation, are working to foreground the voices of women writers the world around.

To this end — to commemorate and celebrate their work on this most felicitous date — we are dedicating this space to share with you some of their latest accomplishments. Featured in this article are texts from Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Germany, Finland, and Spain.

Scroll down to learn more about our translators, their authors, and where you can find their work (both in print and online).

First, a few words on the initiative itself…

WOMEN IN TRANSLATION MONTH: HOW IT STARTED, HOW IT’S GOING

Women in Translation Month is an annual, August-wide celebration of women* around the world who publish in languages other than English. Having noted a glaring gender disparity in publishing in the U.S., Meytal Radzinski launched this project in 2014 in an effort to increase the visibility of women in translation and promote the important work they do.

The initiative has been wildly successful, and Meytal’s efforts are paying off in spades! Throughout the month of August, the #womenintranslation and #WITMonth hashtags dominate on social media. Publishers, booksellers, and other literary organizations (and individuals) spend the month celebrating women authors with readings and roundtables, sales and displays, endless blog posts and reviews, plus top fives and top tens and top twenties!

In a recent article for the Three Percent blog, Chad Post details the “visual success” of #WITMonth with a chart that shows the following: between 2014 and 2023, the percentage of published fiction in translation — by women —has nearly doubled (from 26% to 47%), and it is now neck and neck with that of books penned by men.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: OUR TRANSLATORS ON THEIR TEXTS

Shelley Fairweather-Vega on Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup, by Zira Nauryzbai and Lilya Kalaus (translated from Kazakh to English)

"Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup is the first book in a series of adventure stories for kids, based on Kazakh myths and legends. The co-authors, Zira Nauryzbai and Lilya Kalaus, are both authors I've translated before. But their children's series was one I felt was even more important to translate and share with readers outside of Kazakhstan, because, besides having written smart and exciting stories populated by great characters, the two of them are on a mission to create children’s literature that will make kids proud of (or at least more familiar with!) their own history and heritage. As Zira Nauryzbai tells the story, her pre-teen daughter was once obsessed with Harry Potter, which she and all her friends read in Russian. Zira is an expert in world mythology, and when she finally picked up a copy, she immediately saw how much of J.K. Rowling’s story was based on the myths, monsters, and magic of Northern Europe. “We have stories just as good as this! Shouldn’t our kids be reading those?” she thought, and she recruited Kalaus, also a mother of young readers, to help her craft the Kazakhstani answer to Harry Potter. Batu is the result. I would argue that exploring mythological worlds outside of the Northern European tradition we already know well should be just as fascinating for English-speaking readers. This book is a great opportunity to start that journey!"

Read more about Shelley’s translation in this interview for #WorldKidLit Month on the Global Literature in Libraries Initiative website, and you can find (and buy!) Batu and the Golden Cup here,on bookshop.org.

Shelley Fairweather-Vega is a translator who works from Russian and Uzbek into English. She has translated for attorneys, academics, authors, and activists around the world. Her translated works have been published in the US and UK, and in the Critical Flame, Translation Review, Words Without Borders, the Brooklyn Rail, and more. Shelley is a past president of the Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society and a co-founder of the Northwest Literary Translators. She lives in Seattle, where she also plays the French horn and is helping raise two kids and a cat. Learn more at www.fairvega.com.

Katie King on small red women, by Marta Sanz (from Spanish to English)

“Reading Spanish author Marta Sanz is like riding a roller coaster: exhilarating and unsettling, addictive and challenging. Her novels tackle social issues and challenge contemporary thinking with innovative literary styles. She engages readers with insightful treatments of topical themes, such as femicide and right-wing extremism in small red women and entertains them with biting satire, as in the case of her genre defying Arturo Zarco detective series, of which small red women is the third and final installment and which mocks traditional aspects of literary noir. In interviews, Sanz says her style is subversive, social, and political. Fans and book reviewers also applaud her brutal frankness, wordplay, and dazzling array of genres. ‘The extremely literary style of the book is a systematic appeal to the political conscience,’ Sanz told El País.

“I hope my translations of these two excerpts from small red women inspire English language readers — as a small taste of what awaits. The novel is not yet published in English, but my hope is that these texts spur U.S. publishers to take a look. My translation of the novel’s first chapter was published by Columbia Journal in November 2021. My translation of the second chapter was published by the European Literature Network in April 2023 as part of their brilliant special edition on Spanish authors in translation titled The Spanish Riveter: Writing from Spain. This special edition is available in its entirety for FREE in PDF format. Please click the above links to read, download, and share.”

Katie King is a journalist and literary translator. Her most recent translation, Someone Speaks Your Name by Luis García Montero, was published by Swan Isle Press in January. She has lived and worked extensively in Spain and Latin America.

Aimee Chor on the poetry of Nadja Küchenmeister (German to English)

“These two poems, ‘i am light’ and ‘in the train,’ are translations from the German poet Nadja Küchenmeister’s third volume of poetry, In the Glass Mountain (Im Glasberg, 2020). Nadja, born in 1981 in Berlin, is one of the most important younger voices in contemporary German poetry. This volume circles around the speaker’s return to her childhood neighborhood in [the former East] Berlin and her ailing father, with extended meditations on illness and on the end of a love affair. The poems draw deeply from diverse sources including Grimm’s fairy tales, the vocabulary of cardiac disease, the imagery of a solar eclipse, and the medieval Canticle of the Sun of St. Francis of Assisi. Nadja’s language is at once clear, playful, and polyvalent; ambiguities of enjambment and punctuation reveal the poems’ layers, and strong rhythms emerge from sporadic rhyming and incantatory meter. Translating this book has been a joy, and I am currently looking for a publisher in hopes of bringing Nadja’s work to a larger audience.”

Read Aimee’s translations of “i am light” and “in the train” here, in Sepia. Last week, three more of her translations (from the same volume) were published here, in Four Way Review.

Aimee Chor is a translator and poet currently residing in Seattle. She holds degrees in Religious Studies from Carleton College and the University of Chicago and has spent more than three years living and studying in the German cities of Lübeck, Tübingen, and Munich. Her translations of poems by German poet Nadja Küchenmeister recently appeared in Sepia and Four Way Review and are forthcoming in AzonaL, The Apple Valley Review, MAYDAY, and elsewhere. She is on Twitter @aimeechor.

Mia Spangenberg on The Red Book of Farewells, by Pirkko Saisio

“Pirkko Saisio’s The Red Book of Farewells (original title: Punainen erokirja) won the Finlandia Prize in 2003 when it was first published and has since become a cult classic. It is the conclusion to her lauded autofictional trilogy and chronicles the life of a fictive young Pirkko Saisio as she discovers her identity as a lesbian and finds her voice as an actor and writer in 1970s Helsinki. Fundamentally it is a universal story of love, loss, and new beginnings, but only Pirkko Saisio, with her background in theater, trademark humor, and bold experimentation in style, could pull off a work that so intimately engages the reader. She is finally gaining the attention she so rightly deserves outside her native country of Finland - and the good news is that Two Lines Press will be publishing the other two novels in the Helsinki trilogy in my translation. These novels are due out in 2024 and 2025, so stay tuned!”

To read more about The Red Book of Farewells, visit the Two Lines Press bookshop. We're also excited to announce that two more of Mia's translations — also of women — were published this year: Rosie Runs, written and illustrated by Marika Maijala, and Owl and the Mystery of Tomorrow, written and illustrated by Réka Király.

Mia Spangenberg translates from Finnish, Swedish, and German into English. Her translation of Pirkko Saisio’s The Red Book of Farewells was published this year by Two Lines Press. She holds a Ph.D. in Scandinavian studies from the University of Washington, Seattle, where she resides with her family.

Dominique Hoffman on her translation of the article “Life in Occupied Ukraine” by Inna Zolotukhina and Iryna Yasroshynska

“This article about the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant by two Ukrainian women journalists, Inna Zolotukhina and Iryna Yasroshynska, was completed primarily through interviews with people still in the city of Energodar. Inna Zolotukhina has been reporting on Russia's war against Ukraine since the very beginning of the 'hot' phase of the war in 2014 in Crimea. She provided some of the original first-hand accounts recognizing the same uniforms and approach in Donbas as in Crimea. She has continued to report the Zaporizhzhia story and published a new interview with one of the engineers this month on her youtube channel. She is also collecting testimony from the survivors of war crimes — a job I can't imagine doing. Journalists in Ukraine are in constant danger from Russian attacks, but these women are determined to get the word out about what is happening.”

Read this powerful piece, in Dominique’s translation, here, on The Dial.

Dominique Hoffman is a translator, researcher, and teacher. Her particular areas of interest include literature, art, and cultural history. She holds a PhD in Slavic Languages and Literatures and translates Ukrainian texts from Ukrainian and Russian.

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The Northwest Literary Translators of NOTIS have their own page on Bookshop.org. Click here to learn more about their recent publications!

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Did you translate something recently that you would like NOTIS to promote? Let us know! Contact the NOTIS Publications Committee at social@notisnet.org.

* Meytal carefully explains on her website that "women," in her view, incorporates and embraces transgender, non-binary, and intersex writers, too.

ChatGPT, a Translator’s Business Consultant?

Brianna Salinas — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 13:00:00 GMT

by Tim Gregory, CT (AR>EN) and NOTIS Board Member

Listen to this article on SoundCloud

First Contact

We’ve all heard and seen a great deal of hype about ChatGPT and the ways it may revolutionize how all kinds of business is conducted. A lot of different types of creators are feeling threatened: digital artists, computer programmers, writers, and, of course, translators like us. Using a large language model system, the tool can recreate some incredibly human-sounding texts and respond quickly to questions with some extremely confident-sounding answers.

Hazards

I’ll first say that, in my testing, I found some amazing results, but I also found some abject failures. When I asked ChatGPT for quotes from one of my favorite books, it gave me six — but three of them did not come from the book I asked for. I could not find what book or author the spurious quotes came from.

This is the hazard of large language models: they are prone to “hallucinate.” As incredible as they appear, they cannot tell fact from error. It is the human user’s job to fact check and verify that any information ChatGPT provides is accurate.

Machine Translation

The same kinds of issues hold sway when working with one of these tools as a translator. The more comparative bilingual data the model contains, the more accurate the translation will be, because it is more likely that the same terms or structures can be found in human-translated materials on the internet. That means some languages will have much better results than others, which is already the case with the many other machine translation tools that are out there.

For Arabic, ChatGPT seems neither better nor worse than most — with the one benefit that you can, in your prompt, provide a translation brief. You can, for example, tell the tool that the source is a poem and describe the kind of poem you want the translation to be. When I tried this, the translation was not great, but it did come with meter and rhyme!

Business Consultant: A better use?

Leaving translation itself aside, I’d like to address the idea of using ChatGPT as a business consultant. If you have ever searched the internet for business advice or to try to solve a problem you are having, I am certain you ended up with millions of search results. Thousands of articles, some relevant to you, but most designed for generic freelance businesses or sole proprietorships. Imagine a smart computer that can comb all those results and distill answers down to you in understandable human language. Then, stop imagining — because it already exists.

Getting Started with ChatGPT

Let us walk through the process of creating a prompt and navigating a simple conversation. I recommend you go to https://chat.openai.com and sign up for an account, and then, to get a feel for how it works, either copy the prompt work below or modify it to your needs.

General Advice for Interaction

The first thing you should do any time you work with ChatGPT is provide background information. If you are asking for translation help, this should be a translation brief describing the source, the intended audience, and the tone of the translation. For our consultant, we need to let the system know the role we want it to play. If you do not do this, the results will be less specific and relevant to you.

Keep in mind that ChatGPT is not Google; it is not doing a keyword search and bringing you results. It is trying to bring you an actual answer to your question. One side note: many people experimenting with ChatGPT say you get better results if you are polite, so you will see me using ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’

Introducing Yourself and Your Topic

Let’s imagine that you are trying to transition from getting most of your freelance translation work from agencies to finding and working with direct clients. All the best advice suggests that this is the ideal way to earn higher pay and achieve a better work-life balance. Who better to ask than “someone” who has built their business in this way? So our first job is to establish the boundaries for our conversation. Here is an example of how to do so:

Taking the role of a successful freelance translator with more than twenty years’ experience working with translation agencies and gradually shifting to work solely with direct clients, please answer the following questions:

You’ll get a response letting you know the program has taken on the persona you asked for and is ready to answer your questions. Here is an example of a question I asked:

Is it worthwhile to specialize in a certain topic or field, or would I be limiting my income by doing this?

ChatGPT provided me with a very lengthy answer, but the first paragraph read:

Specializing in a certain topic or field can be highly beneficial as a freelance translator. While it may seem like you are narrowing your potential client base, in reality, becoming an expert in a specific area can open up numerous opportunities and boost your earning potential. Here are some reasons why specializing is worthwhile:

It then listed six advantages to specialization along with details for each.

Drilling Down

Another question you might have would be about finding direct clients. Most translation consumers do not post job ads on LinkedIn, after all. Your next prompt might be something like this:

Thank you! I have decided to specialize in translating medical technology from German to English. Can you give me some advice for finding direct clients in my field?

The response I received gave me ten actionable pieces of advice from setting up a professional online presence, to cold email versus direct mail, to joining professional associations like ATA (or NOTIS). Finally, we can delve further into another answer to our question and ask for more help.

I have decided to try a direct mail campaign. Can you help me determine what I should include on a postcard mailer to advertise my translation services as described above and provide me with a few lines of marketing copy that I might adapt for my own use?

Along with the following general guidelines and suggested copy, ChatGPT gave a text-only plan for how to do the layout for the postcard.

A compelling headline.
- Expert Medical Technology Translations: Bridging the Language Gap for Your Innovations!
A brief introduction.
- As a seasoned freelance translator with over 20 years of experience, I specialize in providing precise and reliable translations for the medical technology industry. From software interfaces to technical manuals, I ensure your message remains clear and impactful in every language.
A value proposition.
- Partner with me to unlock your global potential. Seamlessly communicate with international markets, comply with regulatory requirements, and empower your medical technology solutions to reach broader audiences.
A call to action.
- Take the first step toward expanding your global presence. Contact me today to discuss your translation needs and receive a customized quote.
Contact information.
Optional testimonials.

Conclusion

Running a small business is a complicated affair, particularly for sole proprietors who really just want to do the work they love. ChatGPT’s access to vast amounts of business advice across many different fields makes it a very powerful potential partner in developing your business in ways you may not have considered before.

In ChatGPT’s own words, “By harnessing the power of AI-driven tools, we can focus on our expertise, specialize in niche areas, and deliver translations that exceed expectations. As we ride this wave of innovation, let us embrace these tools as valuable allies in our profession, propelling us towards even greater success in an ever-evolving global landscape.”

Beware scams targeting translators and interpreters!

Brianna Salinas — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 20:45:03 GMT

As you may have noticed, scammers seem to be as busy as ever these days! NOTIS would like to remind all members to remain extremely vigilant when reading and responding to emails — even to messages sent to you through your NOTIS directory page.

While we've taken measures to shield our directory from casual scammers, your directory information is public by default (so that colleagues and legitimate potential clients can reach you). Unfortunately, this means that people with wrongful intentions can email you too.

To further protect yourself, you can easily edit your member profile to set "Send message form" to "Anybody," "Members" (only), or "No access." You can do this by clicking on your name at the top right corner of our home page (you must first log in) and selecting "Edit profile" while on the "Privacy" section of your profile. The difference can be seen in the two attached screenshots (see below).

Please exercise caution when responding to emails from people you don’t know or when something about the message strikes you as odd, for example:

if the person claims to be from a large company but is using a free email domain (such as yahoo.com or gmail.com)
if the offer seems too good to be true, or
if the person asks you to send them money or share personal information.

To get an idea of what some of these scams looks like, check out this post from NOTIS’s Twitter page about a recent scam targeting NOTIS members. And here’s a 2020 post from CCHI (Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters) regarding a scam that targeted language professionals nationwide.

If anything seems suspicious, the best strategy is not to respond. It can also help to do an online search to see if others have received the same scam email.

Additionally, you can check on the legitimacy of a potentially suspicious offer by asking your colleagues, for example, on one of the following Facebook Groups:

Finally, here are a couple more easy steps you can take to recognize and avoid scammers:

Make some or all of your directory information private or visible only to other NOTIS members. You can adjust these privacy settings in your profile (click on your name on the top right corner of the page)
Read our guidance for members about known scams and frauds: Scams targeting freelancers

Check out these additional resources for guidance:

BBB Scam Tracker is a free tool anyone can use to report suspected scams (from the Better Business Bureau)
Spot a Scam, from the Better Business Bureau, provides up-to-date information on recent scams and how to identify them.
A 2023 article from ATA with links to other resources, including a 2020 webinar titled “Don’t Fall for It: Scams Targeting Language Professionals”
ATA Podcast, Episode 88: Scams (June 2023)
A Proz.com page describing typical scams, plus a dedicated forum for discussing scams

If you receive an email through the NOTIS directory and you're not sure it's legitimate, NOTIS will be happy to review it with you and offer our opinion. Please send your inquiries to info@notisnet.org.

Join the NOTIS Board of Directors

Brianna Salinas — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 21:29:16 GMT

Attention NOTIS members: We are currently recruiting volunteers to run for our Board of Directors!

The Northwest Translators & Interpreters Society is growing, and so too must our leadership team. As a NOTIS Board member, you will enjoy professional prestige and camaraderie while helping to shape the future of our society.

Board Members serve two-year terms (for a maximum of six consecutive years).

To apply, please submit your CV as well as a brief statement explaining why you would like to volunteer to treasurer@notisnet.org.

If you know someone who may be interested, please pass this along!

Thank you for your ongoing support and for all the good work you do for our thriving T&I community.

More Changes to WA State Medical Interpreter Certification

Brianna Salinas — Sun, 07 May 2023 18:38:48 GMT

As of April 30, 2023, UniversalLanguage Service, Inc. (ULS) is no longer providing third-party language testing for DSHS.

This decision has been made in compliance with Substitute Senate Bill 5304, recently passed by the Washington State Legislature, which determined the previous arrangement to be a conflict of interest and opted to prevent any "private entity with a financial interest in the direct provision of interpreter services" from developing and administering certification exams [Senate Bill 5304; Section 2.8, pg. 3].

The legislature has also affirmed that there is nothing preventing DSHS from developing and administering a testing program. At present, however, there is no clear indication as to future modalities for testing, and it is unknown how DSHS will operationalize the new law.

To quote the email announcement distributed by ULS: "Interpreters that have completed one exam and need the other for credentialing [should] direct all questions directly to DSHS LTC at dshsct@dshs.wa.gov on how to finalize their credentialing process."

We understand that these are uncertain and frustrating times. This as all that we know as of now, but we will be sure to "keep our ears to the ground" and update you as soon as more information is made available.

Read the entire bill here, and stay tuned for more announcements.

Independent Contractors Gain Powerful New Protections in Seattle

Brianna Salinas — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 16:39:14 GMT

by Laura Hurley

I recently interpreted for the Office of Labor Standards (OLS) and learned that the city of Seattle has a new ordinance that protects independent contractors. I didn't know it existed until I found out through that interpreting job, so I figured other interpreters might not know about it either. Here's some information about the new labor protections for independent contractors so you can know your rights and pass the word to other colleagues who work in Seattle!

This is my own summary of the ordinance and the webinar I interpreted, but I'll also include links to more official and detailed information on the Office of Labor Standards website.

The Independent Contractor Protection Ordinance (ICPO) went into effect in September 2022 to provide labor protections for independent contractors. We aren't employees so we aren't covered by regular employer/employee labor laws, and this ordinance is designed to close that gap in worker protections.

The ordinance creates some requirements that commercial hiring entities in Seattle must comply with when they hire independent contractors, such as: a notification of rights, a written notice of the terms of work and payment, timely payment, and itemized payment information. It doesn't impose new requirements on us as independent contractors, but it's useful for us to know what information our clients are required to provide when they hire us.

The ICPO protects self-employed independent contractors who:

work as a "one-person shop" (i.e., don't have employees),
do at least part of a job in Seattle^{^[1]}, and
expect to receive at least $600 from the hiring entity during a calendar year.

"Independent contractors” under this ordinance doesn't include Uber or Lyft drivers (gig workers have their own ordinance), companies with employees, or lawyers (apparently attorneys can fend for themselves in contract disputes).

The ICPO applies to any commercial hiring entity that hires an independent contractor in Seattle. This means a business or nonprofit that hires an interpreter to help them do business would count, but a person hiring you to provide language tutoring for their child probably wouldn’t (unless they run a tutoring business and hire you to help them conduct that business). Note that an interpreter or translator could be both a contractor and a hiring entity under the ordinance if they subcontract a colleague to work on a project.

The requirements of the ICPO are:

The hiring entity must provide the contractor with a written notification of the contractor's rights under this ordinance. They're allowed to use either the document OLS created or a different one, as long as it includes all the information the ICPO requires them to provide.
The hiring entity must provide a written notice to the contractor before any work begins with all the details about the job and pay. As with the notification of rights, they may use the model notice OLS created or their own form, as long as it contains all the required information. The model notice is impressively detailed, which will allow us to negotiate very clear agreements with clients.
The hiring entity must pay on time—according to the terms of the pre-work notice if it specifies payment terms, or within 30 days if it doesn't—and they must provide itemized payment information with each payment.

Once the work has started, the hiring entity can't require the contractor to accept less than the pay in the agreement as a condition of being paid on time. The agreement can include terms and conditions for payment (such as partial payments after completing certain stages of a job, or the right to inspect or approve the work), and of course it's possible to negotiate changes and amend the pre-work notice. However, once work starts, the agreement is what it is.

For instance, if you're hired to translate a 5,000-word document for a particular price by a particular date, they can't come back after you've begun the project and say, "Oops, it's actually 10,000 words and we still need it by the same time. We'll pay you 1.5 times what we originally agreed to because a lot of the words repeat, so it won't be that much extra work!"

The ICPO gives us some negotiating power in these situations by holding contracting entities to the terms of their agreements. My understanding is that if a hiring entity does not provide pre-work notifications with all the required details of work and pay, then if the contractor later makes a complaint, it will be presumed that the terms of the agreement were whatever the contractor (us!) says they were unless the hiring entity can produce some evidence to the contrary.

I know many of us write our own client agreements to protect our interests, so I appreciate that this ordinance relieves us of some of that burden. It puts the responsibility and penalties on the hiring entity and gives us an enforcement mechanism and the benefit of the doubt in payment disputes. If you want all the details, The OLS website has the full text of the ordinance, the model notifications, fact sheets, and Frequently Asked Questions. They also have personnel available to answer questions and receive complaints, if you have any.

I hope this is useful info, and please feel free to share it with colleagues.

^{^[1]} In the webinar, they said that it counts if the job is physically located in Seattle, if you must attend a meeting at the hiring entity's office in Seattle as part of the job, or if you live in Seattle and perform the work remotely from your home. It doesn't count if, for instance, you have to drive from your home in Everett to do a job in Kent and happen to stop in Seattle for a sandwich on your way there. Some of the actual work must happen in Seattle city limits for the city to have jurisdiction.

Fond farewells: outgoing board members

Brianna Salinas — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 10:06:08 GMT

In January of 2023, NOTIS bid a fond farewell —or, more accurately, a “see you later”— to three members of our Board of Directors (see their farewell notes below!):

Since joining the Board in 2021, Zakiya Hanafi (an Italian and French to English translator and interpreter) has served as a member of the Scholarship and Publications Committees and as chair of the Marketing & Communications team. With a passionate, can-do attitude, Zakiya has promoted and organized a number of new initiatives at NOTIS, the effects of which we will celebrate for years to come.

Tarja Sahlstén (a localization specialist and audiovisual and literary translator from German, English, and Italian to Finnish) joined the board in 2021 and has served on the Translation Division and Social Events Committee. Tarja brought subtitling to our events calendar and good-humored levity to all of our gatherings.

Pinar Mertan (a Turkish <> English medical and court interpreter) has been an active member of the Board of Directors since 2019; she has served as chair of both the Scholarship and Social Events Committees and co-chair of the Legal Division. With her characteristic kindness and constant concern for others, Pinar has certainly left her mark on our society.

While we are sad to see Pinar, Tarja, and Zakiya leave the board, we’re grateful for the good work they’ve done for our NOTIS and our community. We look forward to seeing what they do next, and we expect to cross paths again soon!

In their own words

Zakiya Hanafi:

It’s been a thrilling two years for me on the NOTIS Board of Directors. It all began with me sticking up my hand at the first meeting I attended as a new member in January 2021. “Why don’t we hire a marketing consultant to help us define our needs and conduct a job search for someone to stay on as our social media specialist?”

Little did I know that my suggestion would be welcomed and supported by my fellow members, leading to heaps of professional satisfaction and development as the Chair of the NOTIS Marketing Committee.

It’s been a wonderful experience, filled with learning opportunities and teamwork that I could never have had as an inveterate solo freelancer. (I’d like to encourage any of our NOTIS members with good ideas to bring them forward to the Board: you never know what will come of them!)

My other greatest satisfaction: working with Pinar Mertan on the Scholarship Committee. It is a rare privilege to be able to give away money to deserving professionals while enjoying the company of a remarkable colleague.

By the way, this may be goodbye to the Board, but I don’t plan on disappearing! I will continue to serve as a volunteer on the NOTIS Marketing and Publications Committees.

Tarja Sahlsten:

I’m one of those lucky people who are doing what they really love: translation. Every day I get to learn new things and words, tackle challenges and enjoy successes, talk to amazing colleagues, and bug my husband about Americanisms

I’ve been lucky enough to have translated everything from classic Italian movies about big family dinners, a film about Snow White and the seven dwarfs, a German series about a Gasthaus up in the mountains, famous American sitcoms about Friends ;), a guide to making the best tea in the world, a wild story about hitchhiking across the U.S, comic books about amazing women, and everything in between. If I had to pick what I have most enjoyed, I would have to say: the mix! Every day is different, every job is different.

“The mix” is something I have found in NOTIS as well: people from different backgrounds and countries working with different languages in different fields. Court and medical interpreters, localizers, subtitlers, literary translators and more — all working together for a common goal. I genuinely enjoyed my 2 years on the board. I got to know amazing people and learnt so much about all the different jobs language professionals can have in such a big country. (It is different in a small country like Finland.)

I encourage everyone to join NOTIS — for the mix, comradery, and common goal. All the wonderful meetings and workshops (etc.) are a priceless way to get out of your translator’s cave and meet people face-to-face. Over time, it might just creep on you that you’d like to make a bigger difference and join the board. I highly recommend it!

What is next for me? More travel and hitting the road — literally. We bought an RV, and I am getting to know my new home country better — and translating as we go! See you somewhere some time, dear colleagues. FAREWELL AND THANK YOU, NOTIS!

Pinar Mertan:

While working in Turkey as an attorney, I registered as a sworn translator too and quickly realized that I loved translating documents as well as preparing them. After moving to Washington and seeing that there were very few Turkish interpreters in the area, I decided to become a credentialed interpreter. Then, I joined the NOTIS Board! This was one of the best decisions of my life.

As an interpreter, I love the fulfillment I feel after each assignment. Being able to connect individuals with my language skills and the appreciation I receive from my clients are my biggest rewards. There is no other profession where a person can work in such a diverse range of fields. An interpreter can work for a court, a clinic, a school, a company, or an institution—fulfilling all sorts of communication needs. This may be an attorney-client meeting, a medical operation, a diplomatic summit, a parent-teacher conference, a seminar, or a book translation; the possibilities are endless. I love this surprise aspect of the job. It enables us to improve our skills and learn many things. We create our unique style in time. It is like writing a book; it carries our signature. We all leave our own marks in people's lives, however small they may be.

I take pride in having served the translation and interpreting community alongside NOTIS’s wonderful board members for two terms, as chair, co-chair, and member of different committees. I am honored to be a colleague of such dedicated professionals. I thank each one of them, but I have to name a few: Shelley Fairweather-Vega and Laura Friend for being excellent presidents, Luisa Gracia Camon and Maria Farmer for their warm friendship, and Yasemin Alptekin, for being my big sister and mentor.

With much gratitude and respect,
Pinar Mertan

Changes to DSHS medical interpreter certification

Brianna Salinas — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 08:11:49 GMT

As of January 1, 2023, the DSHS Language Testing and Certification (LTC) Program has changed how medical interpreters can be certified.

There are no changes to testing for social services interpretation or document translation certification.

DSHS LTC no longer administers medical interpreter exams; rather, they accept interpreter exams administered by the following entities:

Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)
The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI)
UniversalLanguage Service
ALTA Language Services

Each of the above entities has different processes and requirements for testing. Please visit the DSHS LTC Test Information page for details of each option.

Please note that the first two entities, CCHI and NBCMI, are national certification bodies. Most healthcare providers will fully accept CCHI or NBCMI certification in lieu of DSHS certification, therefore making it unnecessary to submit CCHI or NBCMI scores to DSHS. However, DSHS may require that any medical interpreter providing services within a DSHS setting be credentialed through DSHS.

These changes to DSHS’ certification process have been a concern to many in Washington. The interpreters’ union, WFSE Local 1671 – AFSCME 28, Interpreters United, published a position paper about the changes and are supporting WA State Senate Bill 5304 which would require DSHS to resume their testing and certification program. A video of the union’s statements about the SB5304 hearing can be found here. A representative from NOTIS also spoke at this hearing in favor of the bill.

Warm Welcomes: Incoming NOTIS Board Members

Brianna Salinas — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 10:40:25 GMT

In January of 2023, the Board of Directors at NOTIS welcomed two new members to its ranks: Howard Chou, a Mandarin and Cantonese <> English community and healthcare interpreter, and Timothy Gregory, an Arabic to English (mostly literary, mostly science fiction and fantasy) translator. Beyond their biographies, which you can read here, on the NOTIS website, we asked them to share a bit about their experience in the field(s)—and, in the case of Howard, some advice for colleagues. Read on to learn more!

Directors are elected for a two-year term, which can be renewed up to two more times. Interested in volunteering? Want to learn more? Contact info@notisnet.org (and/or consult our bylaws here).

Howard Chou

What I enjoy the most about interpreting is helping the person with limited English proficiency (LEP) communicate with the providers. I always feel that by doing so, I make the world a slightly better place for those that need our service.

One of my most rewarding experiences in the field was when I helped an LEP in a Labor and Delivery session. It was five and a half hours long, and, after the baby was born, the new parents decided to name the baby after me. (Can you imagine there is another Howard running around town?)

My most challenging experience was interpreting for the parents of a two-year-old girl that drowned in the neighbor's pool. The session was transferred to me from a colleague that was not able to continue. The deceased was already wrapped in a white blanket when I took over and the charge nurse was carrying her to the morgue in the basement with the parents following behind. For the next two weeks, I had to sleep with the lights on, and, to this date, the image of that white blanket still pops in my head from time to time...

A piece of advice I would like to share with my colleagues is "LET IT GO." Vicarious trauma is our worst enemy in this profession. Talk to your supervisor and your colleagues and seek professional help if you notice any physical or mental changes as soon as possible. At the end of the day, turn off the computer, throw the keys on the dresser, pour yourself a stiff drink, light up a cigar, get the music going and have a party.

Howard’s NOTIS mission statement: This past year of volunteering for NOTIS’s CID (Community Interpreter Division) has been the best time in my interpreting career. I have enjoyed all the meetings and events in which I’ve participated, and I’ve learned so much from my colleagues here. As a board member, I will contribute as much as I can to help NOTIS prosper, to help educate the members to be better interpreters, and to close more linguistic and cultural gaps in the community.

Tim Gregory

The thing I enjoy most about translating is the constant challenge. I know quite a few people who find their field and their niche in it and are happy to translate the same sorts of things all day every day. They become a master of that domain. My career has followed a more meandering path; I’ve translated a lot of personal documents, years of military and government, a smattering of religious and technical texts, and I am focusing my literary efforts on science fiction and fantasy, which can include a bit of all of the above. The new opportunities to learn and stretch my mind keep the job fresh and exciting for me.

Tim’s NOTIS mission statement: I’ve been a member of NOTIS since approximately 2007 when I attended my first workshop for the ATA certification (then accreditation) exam. After attending just a couple of in-person events, I knew that I had found my tribe: a group of people who were deeply interested in the same sorts of things I was. Professionalism in translation, a constant quest for self-improvement, and an environment that is supportive rather than competitive. One of my favorite features of NOTIS is that the organization is member-driven. The training offered, whether online or in-person, comes organically from within. If someone has something to share, or notices that a friend or colleague has something to share, NOTIS will help create the venue. In particular, the NOTIS-backed Northwest Literary Translators group has helped me find a home among like-minded friends. As a member of the NOTIS board, I will work diligently to continue this collegial mindset of peer mentoring, skills development, and friendly support.

The 5Ws: Advice for Emerging Translators & Interpreters (Part 2)

Brianna Salinas — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 15:27:50 GMT

What is the WHAT?
by Teodosia Rivera

Hello everyone, and welcome back! For our second installment, I would like to circle back to a question I posed last time. It’s a question that all new and emerging translators and interpreters tend to ask themselves from time to time: What do I do when I don’t know what I don’t know? As a guide to answering this question, I proposed the 5Ws method, that is: the who, what, where, when, and why of your decision to embark on this journey.

In part one we answered the WHO? question, and we established that you are the embodiment of the success you want to achieve. You can check out our first installment of this five-part series here on the Northwest Linguist Blog. Today, we will tackle the WHAT?

The WHAT? question here is twofold:

What is your ultimate goal? and,
What do you possess that guarantees you can reach that goal?

Your ultimate goal, for example, could be to have more than one specialization for more marketability. Another goal could be to have your own business and train other language professionals to find their niche in the industry. As for what you possess, think of it this way: if you are the embodiment of the success you want to achieve, what is it about you that makes that so?

HINT: Jot down your answers to questions one and two above either in the “Notes” space in your phone or on post-its in your office. If you’re like me, your mind may play tricks on you when you are trying to remember what you need to remember at a given time or place; been there, done that, right?

Here (below) are some DOs and DON’Ts I believe can guide you to answer these two questions on a more personal level:

This is the second installment of a five-part advice column for new (and not-so-new) translators and interpreters. The next three installments will be released periodically over the coming months. Subscribe to the NW Linguist Blog and to NOTIS News Quarterly, our—you guessed it—quarterly newsletter, here.

Have you got a question for Teodosia? You can get in touch by leaving a comment or, if you prefer to remain anonymous, by emailing social@notisnet.org.

Teodosia Rivera has been working as a professional translator and interpreter since 2018. She is a member of ATA’s Interpreters Division, Spanish Language Division, and Translation Company Division, in addition to two ATA chapters: the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Florida (ATIF) and the Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society (NOTIS). Teodosia has established her own business since participating in professional development in the language profession. She brings with her the background of a classroom teacher after teaching for more than 20 years in Osceola County, Florida. “I am still growing and learning,” she says.

Submit your work to the NOTIS Newsletter & Blog

Brianna Salinas — Sat, 29 Oct 2022 20:02:55 GMT

NOTIS welcomes content submissions for all of our publications on a rolling basis, and we want to hear from you! Our publications include:

The NW Linguist Blog
NOTIS News Quarterly
NW Linguist Annual Newsletter (December)

This is an excellent opportunity to put your name and your voice out there, to draw attention to your work, and to be recognized by your peers.

The Northwest Linguist & NOTIS News Quarterly, the official printed publications of the Northwest Translators & Interpreters Society, are designed to share organization and industry news, useful tips, fun facts, and educational pieces with our members.

We are currently accepting submissions in the following areas:

Articles or essays on:
- approaches to translation
- interpretation skills
- translation reviews
- T&I technology
- local language access developments
- legislation affecting language professionals
- personal/professional anecdotes
Translations of:
- poems
- short prose or excerpts of prose
- recipes
- songs
- etc...
Comics, memes, and other bits of humor!

Submissions should be written in English and — excepting translations — should fall somewhere between 200 and 800 words (longer pieces will be considered for the blog or the annual newsletter; shorter pieces, for our quarterly newsletters or blog). Relevant images may also be submitted alongside or independent of the written piece.

If submitting a translation, please send both the original version and the translation. Copyright notes and source references should be included as well, if applicable.

Submissions will be evaluated by NOTIS's Publications Committee and will be edited for content, grammar, and space limitations.

Please send submissions and any other queries to our publications editor, Brianna Salinas, at social@notisnet.org. We look forward to publishing your work!

Best wishes,
The NOTIS Publications Committee

The 5Ws: Advice for Emerging Translators and Interpreters (Part One)

Brianna Salinas — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 20:37:20 GMT

New or not-so-new to translation or interpreting? Whatever your answer, don’t be surprised if every now and then you find yourself overwhelmed by the same question I struggled with when I first joined the profession in 2018: What do I do when I don’t know what I don’t know?

Even after four years of taking training courses to stay educated about the profession, I continue to find myself not completely sure of what to do if I don’t know what I don’t know. How could that be? You may ask. The answer is simple: The translation and interpreting landscape is constantly changing. The changes come as human innovation continues to advance, terminology management becomes more complex, communication with direct clients and agencies evolves, and we try to find our niche in the surrounding market culture. In my humble opinion, this ever-evolving market keeps us language professionals aspiring to stay engaged in what we love: being a bridge that connects language communities.

How can we stay engaged in the translation and interpreting landscape? I would like to offer some advice based on the “Five-Ws” approach and the knowledge I have acquired since joining the profession four years ago.

The “Five-Ws” approach utilizes the words Who, What, When, Where, and Why as a guide to create a schema of the key elements of a story. Remember back in the day when our teachers were trying to show us how to write a book report? (I know—I taught this when I was a classroom teacher beginning in the 1990s!) Those five words would serve as the primary components in our summaries of a given story or passage. In the same way, I would like to repurpose the “Five Ws” to help you summarize yourself and, in so doing, find your own answer to a question we all sooner or later face in this field: What do I do when I don’t know what I don’t know?

For starters, let’s take out a piece of paper and something to write with and begin with the first guiding word in our series of five: ‘Who.’

Start with a sentence describing ‘Who’ you are using two to three adjectives that summarize the uncompromising you!
Now, write a second sentence sharing how you envision yourself as a translator or interpreter at this juncture in your life—regardless of your present age. If you are working as a translator or interpreter, for instance, you are probably a person who enjoys languages and likes to be a bridge of communication for others.
Write yet a third sentence to mention who you have around you that could potentially hold you back from becoming exactly who you want to be as you plow the ground for your professional success.
Direct a fourth sentence to that person—in a positive and confident tone—expressing how determined you are in your pursuit of this new career.
Before you write the fifth sentence, think about who you have contacted (including professional associations or colleagues) as key components of the T&I landscape you are now exploring. Write the names of the associations or chapters you have joined to educate yourself about the industry on your way to becoming a serious translator or interpreter.
Finally, combine the above five sentences into a single paragraph, editing anything you would like. Once you’ve finished, read the paragraph out loud and listen to who you have become in this new venture. You embody the success for which you are willing to work hard. You just discovered who is in charge of making the inevitable decisions that come your way in your translating and interpreting business: You, that’s who!

To summarize, when you are just beginning to establish yourself as a translator or interpreter, everything begins and ends with who you are and who you choose to keep around you. It is of great importance that we all begin this journey knowing who we are and how that has led us to where we are. This foundational knowledge must remain firm and ever-present, even as we continue to discover along the way that we may not know exactly what to do when we do not know what we don’t know.

This piece is the first installment of a five-part advice column for new (and not-so-new) translators and interpreters. The next four installments will be released periodically over the coming months. Subscribe to the NW Linguist Blog and to NOTIS News Quarterly, our—you guessed it—quarterly newsletter, here.

Have you got a question for Teodosia? You can get in touch by leaving a comment or, if you prefer to remain anonymous, by emailing social@notisnet.org.

Teodosia Rivera has been working as a professional translator and interpreter since 2018. She is a member of ATA’s Interpreters Division, Spanish Language Division, and Translation Company Division, in addition to two ATA chapters: the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Florida (ATIF) and the Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society (NOTIS). Teodosia has established her own business since participating in professional development in the language profession. She brings with her the background of a classroom teacher after teaching for more than 20 years in Osceola County, Florida. “I am still growing and learning,” she says.

President to Past President: Laura Friend Interviews Caitilin Walsh

Brianna Salinas — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 09:56:24 GMT

For this issue of the Northwest Linguist Blog, Laura Friend, our current NOTIS president, interviewed Caitilin Walsh, who held the same role more than 20 years ago—from 1998 to 2000!

You can catch both Laura and Caitilin at our Annual ITD Event on October 1st as well as at #ATA63. Now, without further ado...

Laura Friend (LF): Caitilin, thank you so much for joining us. It is a pleasure to “sit down” with you for this virtual chat. You have done so much for our profession over the years, through NOTIS, ATA and Bellevue College, to name just a few organizations, that I think our members would benefit by hearing from you again in the Northwest Linguist.

Caitilin Walsh (CW): Thanks, Laura, it's always a pleasure to talk with people who have picked up the baton, especially for NOTIS, which will always have a special place in my heart.

LF: You started translating professionally in the late 1980s, after completing degrees in Theatre (Willamette University, 1984) and French Language and Literature (University of Strasbourg, 1989), is that right? What was it about translation that attracted you? How did your earliest projects come to you?

CW: I thought I wanted to be a teacher, but was discouraged when I returned to the U.S. with my shiny French diplomas; in order to teach, I would have had to complete yet another degree, and I needed to generate income (and we won't even mention how low the starting salary for a teacher was). My résumé opened doors to private schools, one of which had a translation department. Since I knew something about it—I had made the acquaintance of a conference interpreter in Germany—they put me on the desk managing T&I, and asked me to do some translation. It turns out that I had a knack for it, and projects started flowing in.

One of my first lessons was that smart project managers (who also do double duty as mentors) like married couples. My husband and I tried really hard to make our resumés different, but of course, our address was the same—and the reason we were first hired! Our first project was a simple one-page invoice, and we spent hours on it. We got hung up on a reference to "16 chains”—we just couldn't make sense of it (how do you count chains?), until my long-haul trucker brother showed up (it was close to dinner time), looked over our shoulders, and said, “Oh, yeah, that's the company that makes these neat new cable chains—so much easier to put on than old chains!” That's when I learned lesson #2: know what you are writing about.

LF: You translate primarily for the software and culinary industries. Did one come before the other? Do you approach software translation projects and culinary translation projects differently?

CW: Software definitely came first. I saw an ad in the newspaper for a localization intern and applied (theatre people will try their hand at anything). I was the only applicant who actually had any real language skills—all the other applicants just "loved travel.” I learned localization from the ground floor—this was just about the time Windows 3.1 came out and changed the game. From there, demand for freelance localization kept me very busy for years, and padded my bank account nicely. Software has many technical demands, but the hardest part is working with developers (and some managers) who never studied language and could not grasp things like gender or accented characters, or different syntax. The sector has matured immensely.

I've always "studied” foods and am accomplished in pastry work and classical French techniques. So, I worked my connections and landed translating recipes in glossy magazines and several cookbooks. It really is a highly technical exercise in knowing how foods and ingredients work: if I add a little more butter to a pastry recipe to round a converted measurement, it won't make a difference; but if I change the amount or type of sugar in a frozen dessert by even one gram, it won't have the right texture. You really need to have a depth of understanding that most home cooks don't.

In the end, both types of translation really have to be user-focused: will they understand a new program or recipe?

LF: I see you have volunteered for Translators without Borders for the past 11 years. What inspired you to get involved with that organization, and what is the nature of the work you do for them? Are there ever legitimate grounds for concern about potential exploitation of volunteers in arrangements of this sort?

CW: If you look at long standing traditions in the "liberal professions” ("professions libérales"), one important piece is pro bono work. Everyone from lawyers to architects to doctors is expected to volunteer their services for the good of society. Translators without Borders is one way I found to give back to those finding themselves in a situation where they need help.

One of the most powerful lessons we can learn both professionally and personally is to set boundaries—that's a lesson from my years in the theatre: you can only be exploited if you allow it; you always have the opportunity to say ‘no.’ (And this applies to more than volunteering professional services!) The folks at TWB have always sought feedback from volunteers to make our experience meet our capacities and abilities.

LF: You served as president of both NOTIS (1998-2000) and the American Translators Association (2013-2015). In your opinion, what are some of the main benefits of organizations like these?

CW: In an industry dominated by self-employed people (and mostly women), professional associations provide us with a "home” to be with others like us. I've seen a wonderful evolution over the years from where we went to meetings to be able to gripe about demanding clients to a place where professionalism is something we learn from each other, and support is just a quick message away. It also allows us to amplify our voices both for our profession and the people we serve, both locally and beyond. I personally enjoy being able to spend this phase of my career focusing on projects that will strengthen our profession for future generations.

LF: You also teach translation and have been working as an Adjunct Faculty Instructor at Bellevue College for 30 years now. What are some tips you can share with student translators and interpreters who are just starting out in the industry?

CW: Because the “product” we sell as independent contractors is ourself, students need to not only work on the “externals” of gaining and honing the skills to work; they also need to spend some time introspectively. Do their life experiences (past jobs, hobbies, curiosity) lead them to certain areas of practice? Do they have the self-discipline to work for themselves, or should they be seeking an in-house position? Knowing yourself is key to marketing your services, setting your rates, and creating a business structure that works for you.

There's no single piece of advice for newcomers, since so much depends on what their own strengths and weaknesses are: if you're gregarious, networking will come naturally; an introvert may abhor the networking but excel at terminology research. If they know and understand their own value, they shouldn't get trapped by unreasonable demands or usurious practices. Learning to say "no” is an important life and business skill. And of course, I am a huge proponent of joining the local and national group(s), both for T&I and for your particular focus area.

LF: Can you tell us a bit about the T&I certificate programs at Bellevue College’s Tombolo Institute? Who are they designed for? How do they prepare aspiring language professionals for careers in translation and/or interpreting?

CW: We were given the brief to revamp the successful, decades-old program at Bellevue College by splitting it into two comprehensive certificates: a language-neutral core certificate, and language-specific skills-building certificate. Additionally, we integrated technology and ethics into each unit of the program, since they touch on all areas of what we do. Our target audience is people with advanced language skills—either learned or heritage language—who want to enter this broad field. By providing them with the tools they need to work (everything from how to work with CAT tools to how to market themselves to working through ethical dilemmas), and the time to really reflect on what they bring to the equation in terms of specialized knowledge and ability, students should leave the program ready to launch their careers.

Caitilin Walsh is an ATA-Certified French-English translator specializing in software and gastronomy, and a translation educator. A past president of the American Translators Association and the Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society, she chairs the ATA Education and Pedagogy Committee and works on a local and national scale to bring organizations and institutions together to create and illuminate educational pathways for Heritage speakers and World Language students seeking to use their skills in rewarding careers. She brings her strong opinions on professionalism to bear as an instructor in the Translation and Interpreting Certificate Program at Bellevue College’s Tombolo Institute. When not at her computer, she can be found pursuing creative endeavors, from orchestral music to food preparation. You can follow her on Twitter @caitilinwalsh.

Laura Friend is a certified Russian and French to English translator specializing in legal translation. She is currently the President of NOTIS. View her bio here, and read more about her journey as a translator in last month’s issue of the Northwest Linguist Blog.

Angela Torres Henrick: In Others' Words

Brianna Salinas — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 08:10:06 GMT

We would like to share with you some more words in remembrance of Angela Torres Henrick, a beloved mentor and trailblazing member of the interpreter community who passed away last week.

Angela's obituary, which includes a link to her live-streamed service (Monday, 19 September), can be found here.

"I met 'Angelita' in Seattle when we were assigned to interpret together for a trial. The first of many we shared together as a team. She taught me to advocate for my needs as an Interpreter. She helped me to be assertive as a professional and to get acquainted with the way things worked in the King County Courts.

"Outside of the courts, What was fun and remarkable was how she would also guide me through the different restaurants and shops in Seattle, the city she knew so well.

"All you had to do was to ask Angela: where can I find a broach for a dinner gown that is antique and green. And she’d say: I know just the place. And she would!!

"No matter how specific the request, she’d always know where to go. At one point not only me but others were urging her to write a guide book for tourists and newcomers.

"Having Angela come visit me in Skagit was always a treat; she made friends everywhere and when we visited Chiapas with our Spanish Conversation group, she was the one walking in the front of the group. The first one to find music so she could start dancing and the last one to complain about anything that might’ve gone wrong.

"She had an inner joy that was reflected in her 'gusto' for food, travel and the arts.

"I was lucky and blessed to have had her as a friend and more than a friend. A sister, an aunt, a sweet soul to confide in and share fun things with. Angelita, you will be deeply missed!!"

—María de Lourdes Benet

"Angela was a friend and a role model to me. It would be hard to overstate how much she did for our profession, not only here in Washington but nationwide, for Washington was on the forefront of court interpreting and certification back in the 80s, and Angela was a central figure in that effort. I had the honor of serving as WITS president at one point, and I looked to her for guidance, and I knew I had big shoes to fill. A lovely, lovely person. We all really loved her a lot."

—Kenneth Barger

"A very important part of Angela's life was devoted to yet another endeavor: court interpreting as a recognized profession.

"In the dismal old times, anybody who said that he or she was able to speak another language, was called to act as an ad-hoc interpreter in courts, hospitals, or any other venue where they had this 'problem': a non-English speaker. And Angela responded to the call, as well as many other bilingual speakers who understood the dire need.

"In 1986 or so, there was a translators and interpreters conference in Vancouver, Canada. A small contingent of friends and colleagues in this 'ad-hoc' category (which included Angela and this writer) from the Seattle area took the opportunity to listen eagerly to professionals at this Conference. During the free times between presentations, these attendees came up with the idea of organizing a group -even a professional association!- to train interpreters, advocate for them, educate the public.

"Upon their return home the meetings continued for well over a year (the main blocking point being the by-laws), and finally the association was born, thanks to The Founding Mothers: Washington State Interpreters and Translators Society, for short, WITS (as John Henrick managed to christen it). Angela was its first president; Susana Sawrey, the VP; the next year, we reversed our roles. WITS offered some training and many opportunities for exchanging ideas. Angela and Susana wore several hats: publishers of the Society’s newsletter for a while, and advocacy, to name a few.

"At about this time, there was a strong push for professionalizing Court Interpreting by means of state sponsored training and certification. This had the support of a Supreme Court judge. WITS was invited to be represented on the board which finally approved what was the first such program in the US: State sponsored training and testing for Certification in Court Interpreting, in Spanish to begin with.

"The first test was offered in 1990, and Angela, of course, was one of the first proud Court Certified Spanish interpreters –as we all must identify ourselves before a judge.

"WITS eventually merged with NOTIS (Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society), which continues the good work.

"Angela interpreted in hundreds of trials and hearings, always supporting her colleagues and keeping in mind the needs of the many litigants in criminal and civil cases, helping them in the only way an interpreter can help: with the best interpretation possible, so that the person can hear everything and be heard in Court, as any English-speaker."

—Susana Sawrey

"I was saddened to hear about Angela. The memories came back in waves. I remember her being at all the workshops and events that helped prepare us for the very first test, as well as her dedication to WITS. I fondly remember Angela asking me to serve on the board of directors for WITS, during a lunch break at one of our workshops at the University of Washington. My circumstances didn’t allow me to accept, and she just smiled with the grace that was integral to her 'SER', and something to the effect of 'thank you anyway, Pete, for considering it, and please let us know if you change your mind.'

"We will all miss her very much, especially those of us who were present for our swearing-in ceremony at the Washington State Supreme Court, in front of all 9 justices, on March 7, 1991. She contributed greatly to the pride we all felt as a new profession was born in Washington. Thank you Angela! 'Hasta luego.'"

—Pete Hinton

If you too would like to share a few words about Angela, please add them to the comments or send them via email to social@notisnet.org.

Remembering Angela Torres Henrick

Brianna Salinas — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 12:34:08 GMT

We are saddened to announce the passing of our colleague and friend, Angela Torres Henrick.

Angela was much loved and respected by those around her, who recall her joie de vivre and sense of style — she is well known for her wonderful accessories. As one colleague noted, "She was such an elegant lady, who truly enjoyed going to the SIFF festival, always with friends, always in a great mood. Such an example!"

Our deepest condolences.

The following obituary was previously posted in the Seattle Times.

Read more, multi-voiced words of rememberance here.

Angela Torres Henrick

(February 17, 1935—September 2, 2022)

Angela Torres Henrick, 87, died peacefully September 2, 2022 at UW Medical Center in Seattle. Predeceased by her dear spouse John J. Henrick (2017) and survived by her loving daughter Karla Henrick.

A funeral mass will be held Monday, September 19th at 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US), Blessed Sacrament Church, 5050 8th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105. The mass will be livestreamed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ7JB2Lp9yQ. Inurnment at Calvary Cemetery.

Angela was born in Yungay, a town in the highlands of Callejón de Huaylas, Peru. In her early 20s she worked with the Peruvian-American Cultural Institute in Lima, forming friendships with people of varying backgrounds and interests, and inspiring her move to the United States.

An accomplished radio personality for NPR, she contributed to the news program Enfoque Nacional (KCMU). Her bilingual program Revista Latina aired for seven years on KUOW-FM and featured both a rich mixture of folk and contemporary music and interviews with prominent artists and musicians from many countries. She provided narration for Women’s Health Initiative (KCTS), and assisted on Celebrate the Differences (KING-TV5).

She was a professional, court certified Spanish interpreter until her retirement in December of 2021, and was a founding member and the first president of the Washington State Court Interpreters and Translators Society (WITS). Angela interpreted in hundreds of trials and hearings, always supporting her colleagues, keeping in mind the needs of the many litigants in criminal and civil cases—helping them in the best way an interpreter can—enabling everyone in the court to hear and understand. Angela was honored to be profiled in the book “100 Women of Washington State.”

Angela was truly a great person; optimistic and caring, generous with her love and warm smile, filled with a youthful spirit and zest for life. She was a natural mentor, sharing her knowledge and experience with friends and colleagues who knew and loved her immensely. Her legacy is one of compassion, encouragement, and joy. Her friendship was valuable, kind, accepting, and welcoming to all.

“Nadie te quita lo bailado.”

In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider a donation to the UN World Food Programme: wfp.org. Guestbook at harveyfuneral.com.

A chat with NOTIS president, Laura Friend

Brianna Salinas — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 20:12:00 GMT

We’re thrilled to be sitting down with our friend and colleague, Laura. An ATA-certified Russian and French to English translator specializing in legal translation, Laura began her tenure as NOTIS President in January 2022 after serving a two-year term as Vice President.

Below is our conversation with Laura Friend, in which she tells us how she came to be where she is today and shares some sage advice for her fellow freelancers.

...

Brianna Salinas (BS): Welcome Laura, and congratulations on your new-ish gig! How did you first get involved with NOTIS? What drew you to the organization?

Laura Friend (LF): I first learned about NOTIS while studying Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Washington. NOTIS held an informational workshop for linguists wishing to take the ATA certification exam. I was impressed to see accomplished language professionals sharing their time and giving fellow translators a hand. After that I attended many worthwhile NOTIS trainings and gatherings and learned that this is what it’s all about. I have enjoyed some of the Literary Translation Feedback Forums, to name just one series.

BS: Those feedback forums are so much fun. Who knew how thrilling it could be to mull over punctuation marks and onomatopoeia with fellow language nerds!

Judging from your bio, you've got an impressive talent for language. In addition to English, your working languages are French and Russian, and you also know Czech, Spanish, and German. Can you trace your interest in language study to any particular source? What was your first foreign language? What led you to continue expanding your repertoire?

LF: I have been fortunate to live in several different countries, and I was always motivated to learn well the language of whatever country I lived in. I owe this largely to my parents, who, as scholars and teachers, were fluent in French, as well as many teachers and friends. I first experienced foreign language immersion at age five in a French grade school. Back in the U.S. I progressed through advanced French language, literature and drama in high school.

My interest in Russian began with high school history and literature classes, for which we read some of the great Russian novels. I took up Russian in college and ended up completing two intensive language study programs in the U.S.S.R. during the Cold War.

BS: A fascinating trajectory! I'm always happy to meet another language lover whose curiosity was piqued by great books.

Will you talk to us about how you got started as a translator? What drew you to the field and, more specifically, to legal translation—your specialty?

LF: Growing up near the nation’s capital, I developed an interest in politics, thanks partly to the Washington Post and its reporting on the Watergate scandal. In college I minored in Political Science/International Relations, which proved good preparation for legal translation. Over time, friends and colleagues asked me to translate various things for them, and I enjoyed doing so. My first paid job was translating military history texts for a historian.

For several years I worked for a law firm in D.C. and Moscow. There I sometimes translated Russian laws for partners, and before long they invited me to work in their growing Moscow office, where I experienced the exciting Post-Soviet Transitional Period. At the time Russia and the United States had what seemed like a fairly friendly relationship. Working in a bilingual, binational setting was rewarding: nearly all the lawyers and staff, American and Russian alike, were fluent in Russian and English. I had the privilege of helping to supervise a cadre of impressive translators and interpreters from both countries.

BS: That must have been a surreal experience, especially taking into account the affairs of today. It sounds like a joy and a challenge—which brings me to my next question: What do you find most rewarding about the work you do today? Most challenging?

LF: I enjoy the process and craft of translation itself. I don’t tend to promote myself, so finding new clients can be a challenge. Clients find me through the ATA and NOTIS online directories, and through colleagues.

BS: So your work is mostly freelance. With that in mind, what does an average workday look like for you?

LF: For freelance translators, it can be feast or famine. You may have no work for a few days, and then be “slammed” for weeks. It’s up to you to decide what kind of a schedule you want to have. If you work for agencies, you are likely to be at the mercy of their deadlines, which are typically short. If you want to be able to set regular hours, you may need to cultivate your own, private clients or even create your own projects, such as finding a book to translate.

BS: Speaking of books in translation, are there a couple—or a few—that you might recommend?

LF: Lately I have been enjoying Japanese literature in translation, including classics such as Snow Country and Botchan, and current fiction such as Killing Commendatore and 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. Murakami works with some phenomenal translators, such as Philip Gabriel, Jay Rubin and Ted Goossen. For a taste of Murakami, I recommend the short story “The Year of Spaghetti.”

BS: Excellent, thank you! We can't let you go without asking this one last question: Any advice for emerging translators?

LF: Yes. Take full advantage of the rich and varied opportunities for continuing education and professional networking offered by NOTIS and ATA. Attend webinars, workshops and conferences. Our next event, on October 1, will be an all-day, in-person conference in honor of International Translation Day.

[Stay tuned!]

______________________________________________

Laura Friend is an ATA-certified Russian and French to English translator specializing in legal translation. She is originally from the Washington, D.C. area and has traveled widely. She attended elementary school in St. Cloud, France for two years and has studied, worked and lived in Russia, Spain and Germany. Later she taught Russian at Georgetown University and the University of Washington while earning a second M.A. in Slavic Languages and Linguistics. Her other languages include German, Spanish and Czech. Laura holds degrees in Russian language and area studies from Yale University, UW and Middlebury College. She has lived in the Puget Sound area for over twenty years, in Seattle, Newcastle and the Kitsap Peninsula. In 2017 Laura chaired the ATA Slavic Languages Division Nominating Committee. She loves nature, music, film and literature. She works hard to create and nurture a backyard wildlife sanctuary and native pollinator garden.

NOTIS represents at #ATA63!

Brianna Salinas — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 23:32:47 GMT

A Conference Preview
by Shelley Fairweather-Vega

Sometimes, you have to go to California to meet your neighbors. Sure, one of the perks of attending a big national conference like ATA is meeting colleagues from all over the country, and the world. But it’s extra thrilling to meet a fellow NOTIS member when networking far from home. Conference veterans recommend that you go to all the conference networking and social events, and count the NOTIS members you run into at your division dinner, "Buddies Welcome Newbies," or the job fair. The Northwest Literary Translators will be well represented at the Book Fair and After Hours Café, and you’ll meet plenty of Washingtonians, Oregonians, and (we hope) even Idahoans, Alaskans and Montanans you can boogie down with at the Saturday night dance party, or break a sweat with at Zumba every morning. And if you meet someone from our five-state area who isn’t a NOTIS member, turn on the charm, and recruit them to join!

For those of you who prefer to treat conferences as more serious educational opportunities, we’ve compiled the following list of NOTIS members and friends who will be presenting at ATA63, arranged in program order. Stop by and say hello!

Stacey Brown-Sommers, the owner of Mindlink Resources, LLC (Oregon) and member of the WASCLA board of directors
Be an Ally: Using Inclusive Language in a Divided World (007)
Thursday, October 13, 2022 11:00 a.m.

Caitilin Walsh, past NOTIS president, Bellevue College instructor
LSP vs. LSP, or What's Happening in World Language Education and Why Should We Care? (031)
Thursday, October 13, 2022 3:30 p.m

Javier Castillo, frequent NOTIS instructor and member of the board of the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators
Language and Culture: American English Profanity (082)
Friday, October 14, 2022 3:30 p.m.

Caitilin Walsh, past NOTIS president, Bellevue College instructor
ATA Advocacy: Stand Up and Speak Up for Translators and Interpreters! (112)
Friday, October 14, 2022 4:45 p.m.

Svetlana Ruth, NOTIS and OSTI trainer
Americanisms: To Use or Not to Use? (111)
Saturday, October 15, 2022 8:30 a.m.

Shelley Fairweather-Vega, past NOTIS president and member of the advisory board of the University of Washington Translation Studies Hub
Translating for Authors: Risks and Rewards (101)
Saturday, October 15, 2022 8:30 a.m

Sameh Ragab, past NOTIS workshop presenter
All a Translator Needs to Know about PDF Files (122)
Saturday, October 15, 2022 10:00 a.m

Tim Gregory, member of the Northwest Literary Translators
A Literary Translator's Second Brain: Note-Taking and Recordkeeping for Book Translation (161)
Saturday, October 15, 2022 3:45 p.m.

The 63rd Annual Conference of the American Translators and Interpreters Society (ATA63) will be held October 12-15, 2022 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites in Los Angeles, California. The complete schedule and all other info, plus conference registration, is available now at a click of the button below!

NOTIS News Quarterly: Summer 2022

Brianna Salinas — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 22:41:59 GMT

On July 1, the Northwest Linguist Committee published our second (ever!) issue of NOTIS News Quarterly. Our summer newsletter includes:

snapshots from our Finnish Translation Slam ⚡
a poem about leaving home
a Turkish recipe for Red Lentil Cake
telephonic interpreting blunders (true tales!)
and more!

If you missed the latest issue, you can read it here!

Want to subscribe? Follow the link above and click the "Subscribe" button in the top left corner of your browser.

Want to contribute? Email social@notisnet.org.
We look forward to publishing your work!

An Interview with Local interpreter—and New NOTIS Board Member—Yvonne Simpson

Brianna Salinas — Wed, 04 May 2022 15:54:15 GMT

Since 2017, Yvonne Simpson has been actively participating as a trainer and events organizer for the Community Interpreter Division at NOTIS, promoting professionalism and excellence in interpreting in service of our region’s diverse language communities. She officially joined the NOTIS Board of Directors in March of 2022, and we couldn’t be happier to have her!

Below is our conversation with Yvonne—NOTIS board member, Director of Interpreter Services at Harborview, hammock enthusiast, and interpreter extraordinaire.

Hello, Yvonne! When did you begin studying the Spanish language? What drew you to it?

My original intended course of study in college was journalism, a major that required a few semesters of a foreign language. I chose Spanish because I had brief exposure to the language in high school, although I needed to start with Spanish 1. My first instructor, a non-native Spanish speaker, was very engaging and encouraging. She made me think, “If she can learn the language, so can I!” Finding I enjoyed it so much, I ultimately changed my major and looked for every opportunity to learn and improve.

I've spoken to a lot of emerging translators and interpreters about the difficulty of breaking into their fields. After completing your degree in Spanish Sociolinguistics, how did you decide to get started as a medical interpreter?

When I lived in Arizona, a friend of mine was the director at a local community center and invited me to interpret at their weekend volunteer health events. At the time I had no formal training in medical interpreting, but when there was a job opening at a hospital in Phoenix, I decided to apply. I never thought they would offer me the position! Arizona does not have a medical certification credential, and I started in the field before the creation of national certifications, so I had weeks of on-the-job training and received a ton of collegial support from my coworkers.

What do you find most exciting about your work? Most challenging?

For me, working at a Level 1 Trauma Center is a great fit. I’m honored that we get to participate in such intimate moments of patients’ lives. It’s also really fun to meet colleagues from around the world (prior to COVID we had the best potlucks!). At our facility we share a common goal of putting the patients first and we use that objective to bring us together when there are differing views about how to manage issues. Certainly, the last two years have brought specific challenges: figuring out how to keep staff safe while caring for vulnerable populations, responding to community concerns about the pandemic response, as well as individual burnout. Many facilities are also currently challenged to provide in-person interpreting services, as it appears that many medical interpreters have moved to work in remote modalities or have left the field.

You’re currently working as Director of Interpreter Services at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, and you state in your bio that your work consists of “providing language access and culturally humble healthcare.” Can you explain what this means to you—both in theory and practice?

It’s important to me that the work that I do align with my values. I love that my work helps to assure that everyone in our community can meaningfully communicate with their healthcare providers. “Language access” refers to the tools or resources for meaningful communication. “Culturally humble” refers to the mindset that none of us can be culturally competent in any culture but our own; however, we sincerely open ourselves to learn about the cultural views, values, and practices of others. As medical interpreters, we serve as a bridge between the patient/community and the healthcare team. Our role is not limited to just transmitting individual words, rather we support clinicians to build trusting rapport with their patients and help patients successfully maneuver through the American medical system.

When and how did you first get involved with NOTIS? And what went into your decision to join the Board of Directors?

In 2017 I was invited by the Community Interpreter Division (CID) to facilitate a continuing education training. From there, I joined the CID and became Chair of the committee in late 2020. I’m grateful to be on the NOTIS Board of Directors to provide representation for the great work that the CID is doing for our members and our colleagues throughout the region.

Any words of advice for those interested in becoming medical interpreters?

A solid understanding of the American medical system is crucial, so read, learn, and ask as many questions as you can. Reach out to professionals already in the field to share their experiences with you - there are loads of us who would be happy to talk! For in-person interpreting jobs, certification will help open doors to opportunities. When you are on assignment, never feel ashamed to ask for clarification or explanation - you can’t interpret if you don’t understand the concept yourself. Practice makes progress.

______________________________________________________

Yvonne Simpson is certified as a Spanish Medical interpreter by the National Board (NBCMI) and Washington DSHS. She holds an MA in Spanish Sociolinguistics from Arizona State University. She taught Spanish at ASU and Phoenix College and was Lead Interpreter at a level 1 trauma center in Phoenix. Returning to her native Washington, she knew she wanted to work at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and she is now Director of Interpreter Services at that facility. There, she supports a team of interpreters, translators, and cultural mediators providing language access and culturally humble healthcare. Yvonne began participating with NOTIS in 2017 as a trainer for Community Interpreter Division workshops. Her favorite time of year is the summer when you can find her gardening, hiking, traveling, and swinging in her hammock.

A note to NOTIS members on our events policy

Brianna Salinas — Sun, 17 Apr 2022 11:18:28 GMT

Dear NOTIS members,

The NOTIS Board of Directors would like to thank you for taking the time to fill out our recent survey and, in so doing, helping us gauge your willingness to begin attending in-person events.

Of the 334 survey respondents, 32% said they were ready to attend in-person events now; 26% preferred to remain online “until the situation is clearer”; and 23% asked that we continue to host online events indefinitely.

Some of you also asked about hybrid events. We are looking into this, and it would certainly be ideal, but hybrid events are complicated and very expensive to produce; they would require a significant increase in our attendance fees.

With your responses in mind—and in accordance with local and CDC guidelines—we have recently added some in-person events to our schedule (such as our April 11 Feedback Forum) while continuing to offer a wide range of online meetings and webshops to support our members throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Thank you again for your feedback, and please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. You can reach us directly at info@notisnet.org. It is important to all of us at NOTIS that you feel supported and heard.

Very best wishes,
The NOTIS Board of Directors

Concerned about the cost of continuing education? Why not apply for a NOTIS scholarship?!

Brianna Salinas — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 19:24:49 GMT

Did you know that NOTIS provides financial aid to its members and colleagues every year in the form of training and conference scholarships?

In 2017, NOTIS president Elise Kruidenier established the society’s Scholarship Committee. Since then, we’ve set aside an annual budget of $5000 for this purpose alone.

These are reciprocal funds: they come to us in the form of membership dues and event registration fees, and we then return them to our community in a number of ways—chief among them, with our scholarship program. It is our responsibility—and our pleasure—to support our colleagues in their efforts to serve the community as best they can.

Twice a year (in the spring and fall), NOTIS accepts applications for two different kinds of scholarships:

training scholarships, which can be applied to a specific course or webinar, and
conference scholarships, which afford members the opportunity to attend conferences that might otherwise be prohibitively expensive.

While the conference scholarships are only available to NOTIS members (anywhere in the U.S.), the training scholarships are open to non-members as well (in the five states NOTIS represents: WA, OR, ID, MO, and AL) with the added bonus of a one-year free membership. Scholarships are not available to NOTIS board members.

Earlier this year, NOTIS’s Scholarships Committee surveyed scholarship recipients from 2020 and 2021 about their experiences. Among them were translators and interpreters of varying levels of experience working in such languages as Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, and Chinese.

They used their scholarship earnings to attend a wide variety of useful courses, webinars, and conferences, including but not limited to:

The Japan Interpreting and Translation Forum (JACI)
American Translators Association Conference (#ATA62)
How to Succeed as a Freelance Interpreter or Translator
Human Plus Machine Translation
Exam prep courses (e.g., FCICE and De la Mora)

These scholarship recipients said that they had selected the above events hoping to, for example, “expand work opportunities”; improve their understanding of idioms or terminology; gain “a deeper understanding of how to become a court interpreter”; improve their organization skills; earn CE credits; and, generally, “stay current” in their fields.

Their feedback was overwhelmingly positive! One conference attendee recalled a “triumphant event,” complete with “rich, educational content” and excellent networking opportunities. Several of those who participated in courses and other trainings also mentioned networking as a perk (though some were eager to return to in-person gatherings; breakout rooms are great, but they’re no substitution for the real thing).

Many also celebrated the quality of the courses they attended, speaking highly of the presenters and the valuable tools, techniques, and personal feedback they had provided. “My experience,” one said, “was uplifting to say the least.”

Here’s one testimonial from 2021, which we feel obliged to reproduce in full:

The networking experience was fabulous because I met other professionals seeking for similar information and the exchange was educational for me. The best part was that I was inspired to use my skills at a professional level in community interpreting. The webinar with Judit Marin was an eye opener for me as a professional to set competitive rates. That webinar changed my perspective about the business in such a way that I feel more confident about speaking with clients and seeing myself as the language expert in the conversation. I appreciate NOTIS so much for giving me the scholarship last year. My funds were low. Though funds are still at minimum, but not at zero as they were through this pandemic. I have grown professionally as a result. I was just starting out putting myself out there as a translator/interpreter, but being part of the NOTIS group through the scholarship program and attending the webinars provided by NOTIS was a big chance for me to discover I can be a business owner. Thanks, NOTIS!

We at NOTIS are endlessly impressed by our members and colleagues in the fields of T&I. In the words of Pinar Mertan, NOTIS board member and chair of the Scholarship Committee: “We are truly proud to support you in your efforts, and we look forward to continuing to provide these services in the years to come.” You are, as it were, our raison d'être.

NOTIS’s Spring Scholarship Round will open in April, 2022. Any NOTIS member or colleague in the states served by NOTIS is welcome—and encouraged—to apply. All applicants are asked to select a translation or interpretation-related conference or educational program and to explain in their applications: 1) why they wish to attend the conference or course, and 2) how they will give back to NOTIS and the greater T&I community.

Stay tuned for the official announcement!

Click here to read more about our Scholarship Program. And don’t hesitate to contact us with questions. You can reach our Scholarship Committee directly by emailing scholarships@notisnet.org.

Viva translators' solidarity: Threats to cut out artist's tongue spark worldwide translation frenzy

Brianna Salinas — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 21:58:36 GMT

Spanish translation of Sezen Aksu's "Avcı" (Hunter)

[Guest submission]

Some 217 artists have released a joint statement in support of Turkish singer Sezen Aksu, after she was targeted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over the content of a song she released in 2017.

“...We stand fully against this attack initiated against Sezen Aksu, who has been writing, singing and gifting several songs to the cultural accumulation of these lands for 47 years,” reads the artists’ statement.

“We do not want a country in which Aksu's freedom of expression is restricted and she is threatened with 'cutting off her tongue',” they wrote, adding that the singer “will never walk alone.”

This show of solidarity came in response to remarks in which Erdoğan threatened Aksu over her 2017 song, “It is a wonderful thing to live.”

“No one can defame our Prophet Adam. It is our duty to cut those tongues,” Erdoğan said on Jan. 21, without explicitly mentioning Aksu's name. (He has since claimed that his statements were not directed at Aksu.)

Erdoğan's comments came after Islamists accused the song of going against “moral values” over lyrics which call Adam and Eve “ignorant.”

In response, Aksu penned a new song titled “Hunter” (Avcı) with lyrics such as: “You cannot crush my tongue,” and, “You cannot make me sad; I am already very sad; wherever I look is pain; wherever I look is pain; I am the chase; you are the hunter.”

Within just a couple of days, the lyrics of “Hunter” had been translated into more than 51 languages—from Arabic to Zulu—and disseminated widely across social media.

. . .

Turkish artist Alaz Pesen performs a cover of Aksu's "Hunter" in his own translation:

A sample of the multiple, multilingual translations of Aksu's "Avcı" lyrics (click image for better quality):
Image source: Rober Koptaş, on Twitter @roberkoptas

Hot off the presses! The Northwest Linguist Newsletter

Brianna Salinas — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 20:53:44 GMT

Hello, NOTIS members and friends:

We're excited to share another issue of our newsletter, The Northwest Linguist, with you!

Our Winter 2021 issue includes:

farewell messages from our outgoing board members: Olga, Melody, and Shelley
updates and announcements from NOTIS's Committees and Divisions
an exclusive interview with the University of Washington's Translation Studies Hub
a recap of Career Day 2021
a sneak peek into 2022...
and more!

Intrigued? Click here to read the full newsletter.

We hope you'll enjoy what awaits you inside!

Happy holidays to all.

Yours,
NOTIS

NOTIS welcomes four new members to its board of directors!

Brianna Salinas — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 02:57:42 GMT

It’s that bittersweet time of year again: December, or, more specifically, NOTIS elections season; a season in which we must bid a melancholic farewell to those beloved members of our board whose terms have come to an end and, at the same time, open our arms in welcome to new members who will continue diversifying and advancing our constantly evolving organization.

In other words: on December 11, 2021, NOTIS will elect a new Board of Directors at our Annual Meeting. As there are no contested positions, the candidates on this slate will be elected by acclamation.

This year’s outgoing board members include Shelley Fairweather-Vega, our fearless leader, the multi-talented Melody Winkle, and Olga – the inimitable – Cuzmanov.

While I have only been working with NOTIS for 6 months, I feel well-poised to speak for all of the board in saying that NOTIS will be forever grateful and forever changed by the influence of Shelley, Melody, and Olga. Kudos – and many thanks – to all three of you!

Continuing their terms into 2022 are Pinar Mertan, Maria Lucas, Tarja Sahlstén, Alma López, and Zakiya Hanafi; whereas Laura Friend and Yasemin Alptekin will be running, uncontested, to serve another two-year term.

I'm excited to announced that, beginning in January, they will be joined on the board by four new members! Without further delay, meet our 2022 candidates (and soon-to-be board members)!

They are, as Shelley avers, “an impressive group … who will bring diverse interests, experiences, and languages to the Board of Directors.”

Nada Conner

Nada Conner has been a WA State court certified interpreter since 2011. Passionate about learning languages, she studied English, French, Italian, and Spanish during high school. She began her interpreting career working for Yugoslav Air Force Training Depot in Tripoli, Libya. After graduating from the University of Belgrade with a degree in Arabic Language and Literature, she went on to work in Baghdad, Iraq as a translator/interpreter for the Directorate of Supply and Procurement on three construction projects for Iraqi military forces. After hostilities broke out in Croatia, she was hired as a translator and interpreter for the United Nations Protection Forces in Croatia (Republika Srpska Krajina). After coming to the U.S., she became an authorized medical and social services interpreter for Bosnian/Serbo-Croatian. With some additional studies in the field of medicine at Whatcom CC in Bellingham, WA, she has been successfully working for several interpreting agencies as a medical and social services interpreter. Currently she is a freelance telephonic interpreter for courts, attorneys’ offices, hospitals, and clinics around the country. She loves to read, work out, and play with her three beautiful bunnies.

Yoseph Petros

A first-generation immigrant from Ethiopia, Yoseph has been living in the United States since 1983. He studied and completed his second degree in Human Resources from the University of Pittsburgh in 1985. His work experience includes: teaching; Assistant General Manager and Curriculum Development (Tourism Training Institute, Addis Ababa Ethiopia); Senior Social Worker (New York); Production Line Supervisor (Cardiac Pacemakers, St. Paul); Ministry (here in Seattle); and last, but definitely not least, interpreting and translating since 2003. In short, he believes that his vast and diverse experiences in education and other, wide-ranging public and private entities will make him a positive addition to NOTIS.

Born on the border between Ethiopia and Kenya, Yoseph grew up surrounded by more than 7 languages. He has lived in and visited Ethiopia (using 4 languages), Kenya, Botswana, Germany, Canada (visit only), and, since 1983, the United States. He has had his share of growing and living in many cultures, among many different peoples and he enjoys visiting and staying with people from various cultures. He used to love traveling, but not anymore. He is now settled, if it means anything. Yoseph endeavors to improve his interpreting and translating skills and would like to serve – in any capacity – to help the career/trade grow.

Rosemary Nguyen

Rosemary Nguyen is a native speaker of English who learned Vietnamese during 4 years working with Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong and 2 years living, studying, and teaching in Vietnam. She began working as a medical interpreter in 1990, earned her DSHS certification in 1993 and her AOC court certification in 1994. In addition to her work as a full-time contract interpreter and translator, Rosemary has participated in designing and rating certification exams as well as teaching interpretation and translation skills. She has also translated one novel and two books of short stories, all of which have been published. Rosemary currently lives in Renton and splits her time fairly evenly between interpreting for local courts and translating for clients nationwide.

Katerina Warns

Katerina is a native of Novosibirsk, Russia where she began her career as a technical translator for a major Siberian geological research institute before moving to the United States in 1992. She lives in Poulsbo, Washington, on the Kitsap Peninsula, and works as a freelance translator, editor, and interpreter. She loves her profession, and she believes that bridging linguistic and cultural gaps helps companies succeed in the global marketplace while allowing individuals to gain self-confidence and trust.

Katerina has been certified as an English to Russian translator by the ATA since 2001, and she is also certified by the State of Washington as a medical interpreter and translator. Her favorite assignments over the last few years have been reviewing translations for the U.S. State Department’s Russian language website, translating and recording children’s books for the Unite for Literacy Project for beginning readers worldwide, and - most recently - being a part of the King County COVID Language Access team.

She loves theatre, both as a spectator and a former volunteer. Her newly discovered passion is hiking the beautiful trails in the Puget Sound area. Her favorite quote is from Theodore Roosevelt: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

Welcome to NOTIS Nada, Yoseph, Rosemary, and Katerina! We look forward to working with you!

A belated (but always timely) celebration of women in & of translation #WIT

Brianna Salinas — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 19:50:02 GMT

Women in Translation Month (#WIT) has come and gone, but we at NOTIS believe that women, transgender women, and non-binary authors and translators should be celebrated not only throughout the course of one month, but all year round.

As you may well know, painfully few books published and sold in the United States are translations (approximately 3%). And of those translated texts, only about 30% are written by women.

To read more about these numbers and see them in charts and graphs, check out this blog post from the excellent Three Percent website.

These numbers are dismal––yes––and we must absolutely continue working towards a more equitable future for women in translation.

That said, the purpose of today’s post is celebratory!

Did you know that the current Board of Directors at NOTIS is made up entirely of powerful and talented women linguists? Theirs are the faces of translation and interpreting, and working with them is truly inspirational.

Read NOTIS board member bios here

One of our organization’s primary objectives is to highlight and amplify historically underrepresented voices. To that end––and in late (but never too late) observance of #WIT month––we have spoken with a few local translators about their current projects.

Without further delay, I will now yield the floor to Mia Spangenberg, Shelley Fairweather-Vega, and Takami Nieda so that they may tell you, in their own words, about the women they are translating.

Mia Spangenberg

Mia Spangenberg holds a Ph.D. in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Washington with a focus on Finnish literature and cultural studies. She translates fiction, nonfiction, and children's literature from Finnish and German into English.

Here’s what Mia has to say about her experience translating Small Crescendos, a genre-bending work of autofiction by Finnish author Pirkko Saisio:

Pirkko Saisio is a giant on the Finnish cultural scene, and I have long admired her both for her novels and plays. Her prose is unique: an autofictive, genre-bending style that incorporates elements from theatre, poetry, and postmodern aesthetics. I love her visual focus on objects and the setting, as well as her rhythm and pacing and how it moves her narratives forward. Translating anything she writes is always a challenge, but it is also always a joy. Someone told me that you can tell when a translator truly loves the work they are translating, and I guess I am doing something right because I received the best compliment from Saisio herself - she told me she was moved by my translation and how I had perfectly captured the rhythm. It's wonderful to have this connection with her, and I hope to make more of her work available in English soon!

Read Mia’s translation of “Small Crescendos” here (published by Asymptote) to get a sense of that perfect rhythm!
Read more about Mia's work here

Shelley Fairweather-Vega

Shelley Fairweather-Vega translates from Uzbek and Russian into English, specializing in texts concerning culture, history and politics. For six years, she has been an active member of NOTIS’s Board of Directors and she currently serves as its president. Shelley is also a member of the Advisory Board at the University of Washington’s Translation Studies Hub.

Here's what Shelley has to say about the upcoming anthology of Kazakh women's literature she's collaborating on:

This month my colleague Zaure Batayeva and I got the news that our anthology of Kazakhstani women's writing, Amanat, will be published by Gaudy Boy in July 2022 - just in time for next year's Women In Translation month. We've been translating these short prose pieces since 2017, with our first three translations appearing in Words Without Borders in 2018. Kazakhstan is a big and complicated country from which we have very little literature in English. As a former Soviet republic, it's home to people writing in both Kazakh (a Turkic language with a long oral tradition) and Russian (a Slavic language with a storied literary tradition). In the old Soviet writing bureaucracy, male writers occupied most positions of authority, and they won the bulk of the funding and publication contracts. While the Soviet system is gone, some of its institutions remain, and male authors still receive more than their share of attention in English translation. That was part of what motivated us to focus on female authors. They are telling their own stories and the story of their country, and doing so with very little institutional support. Women in Kazakhstan are also helping to bridge the gap between the two languages spoken there and their associated cultures. I was surprised to learn that at least half of the twelve authors in our collection are translators themselves, either between Kazakh and Russian, or between those languages and others. That makes it a special honor to work with them. Even the way Zaure and I have divided up our labor on this collection reflects the linguistic diversity in Kazakh literature today - she is in charge of author relations and translated the Kazakh-language stories, while I am in charge of publisher relations and translated the Russian-language stories; I answered her questions about the English language, and she answered my questions about Kazakhstani culture. So our small team of female translators will, I hope, bring this larger team of female writers, from a country we need to know more about, to the attention of a wider audience.

Read more about Shelley and her translation work here

Takami Nieda

Takami Nieda was born in New York City and has degrees in English from Stanford University and Georgetown University. She has translated more than ten works from Japanese into English and has received numerous grants and residencies in support of her translations, including the PEN/Heim Translation Fund. Formerly an assistant professor of translation at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan, Nieda currently teaches writing and translation at Seattle Central College in Washington State.

Here’s Takami on her experience translatingThe Color of the Sky is the Shape of the Heartby Chesil:

The story is about Ginny Park, a teen in search of belonging. As a Zainichi Korean born and raised in Japan, she isn’t fully accepted at Japanese school because she’s Korean, and isn’t fully accepted at Korean school because she’s not Korean enough. This sense of in-betweenness, by the way, is something that I’m certain many readers can identify with. Ginny can’t fit in. She won’t fit in, and her wild tongue gets her into more trouble than out against her bullies. Furthermore, when she sees an injustice, she’s fearless enough to say, “This is wrong” even when others wish she wouldn’t, and when she commits a certain act of defiance, she is forced to leave her native Japan. Bouncing around from Japan to Hawaii to Oregon, Ginny is looking for that one thing everyone wants—a community that will accept her just the way she is.

I fell in love with Ginny for her righteous anger and courage to call something out when it’s wrong, especially since this isn’t particularly encouraged in Japanese society. I was also heart-stricken by how Ginny has to navigate the complexities of discrimination and injustice all alone, without anyone to help her or to validate her anger. I thought the novel wasn’t merely a story directed at young readers but was also calling out adults for creating a society that is fraught for young girls like Ginny. In doing a bit more research about the author Chesil, I found an article where she mentioned how growing up, she disliked hearing a certain catch-all excuse that grownups used to avoid involvement or to ignore the plight of others: “It doesn’t concern me.” The novel is, in part, a response to those grownups. Reading this gave me the sense that I had connected with the novel in the way the writer had intended, and also gave me the confidence to ask permission to translate the book. Chesil very graciously said yes.

Every aspect of translating the book was challenging and delightful, and I especially enjoyed being able to consult Chesil during the translation and editorial process. She very generously answered every question I sent her, giving me insight into her intentions and process. By combing through the details of the novel with her, I came to learn how deeply personal this story is to her, and fell in love with Ginny even more. I’m excited for English readers to get to know Ginny through her journey.

Follow Takami on Twitter @TNieda to stay informed about her recent translation work, teachings, etcétera

Thank you for joining us in celebrating and amplifying the voices of women in (and of) translation, not just in August but year-round.

If you would like NOTIS to feature a publication of yours in a future blog post or via social media, please contact Brianna Salinas.

The remarkable experience of a first-time conference attendee at the Japan Interpreting and Translation Forum (JITF)

Brianna Salinas — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 17:17:36 GMT

Written by 2021 Conference Scholarship recipient, Mariko Kageyama.

NOTE: Our second round of 2021 scholarships is open through 27 September 2021. Read more about our Conference and Tuition Scholarships here.

Mariko Kageyama is a Washington Courts Registered Court Interpreter in English/Japanese and a translator in the same language pair. She is also a licensed attorney in Washington.

I am excited to share with the NOTIS community my unique experience as a first-time conference attendee at the Japan Interpreting and Translation Forum 2021 (JITF), hosted by the Japan Association of Conference Interpreters (JACI). I joined remotely from my home in Seattle during the month of August––yes, the whole month. In the years leading up to this triumphant event, starting in 2015, JACI organized one-day annual conferences in Tokyo, known then as the Japan Interpreting Forum (JIF). This changed in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. But the JIF has now successfully metamorphosed into JITF: a month-long online festival for Japanese language professionals, attracting interpreters, translators, and linguists of diverse backgrounds and skill levels.

The registration fee for non-JACI members like myself was JPY 9,800 (about USD 90). This included full access to 40 live and recorded presentations delivered via Zoom by more than 40 leading language professionals. These sessions took place from August 1st to the 31st, one session per weekday and two on Saturdays and Sundays. While Japan is 16 hours ahead of the Pacific Time, I do not think it seriously disadvantaged overseas participants because video recordings for all segments were posted within the day and remained available until the end of September. I regret not attending the live, open-networking sessions to meet new people, but I was not disciplined enough to stay up till 2 am!

On a side note, I made a small volunteer contribution to the JITF 2021 by creating and sharing a data file containing the entire event schedule––including daily entries for lecture titles and Zoom links––for an easy, one-click Google Calendar import, which was wildly popular and greatly appreciated by other attendees.

The sessions were moderated, ran an average of 1.5 hours, and included plenty of time for interactive Q&As. I watched all of them, meaning that I immersed myself in more than 60 hours of rich educational content! They covered a wide variety of practical and theoretical topics, including Oscar Wilde grammars, subtitling Japanese indie films, translating German and Italian operas, voice training, language service company startups, Brexit, linguistic biases, how to properly charge for remote interpreting, the history of wartime interpreters, and so forth. One thing in particular that caught my attention was a lecture on the present situation surrounding legal interpreters who work for Japanese courts and immigration offices. I was shocked to learn that Japan has no formal laws addressing court interpreters and their services!

JITF 2021 effectively mobilized various social media outlets, ranging from the hashtag #JITF2021 campaign to a closed Facebook Group for posting speakers’ bios; facilitating pre-talk surveys and follow-up Q&As; and (with speakers’ permission) sharing lecture slides, web links and reference materials. I fully enjoyed JITF 2021––a huge success with over 770 registrants from all over the world! Kudos to the JACI board members and JITF2021 organizers for running a seamless conference.

Last but not least, I am tremendously grateful to NOTIS for the Conference Scholarship, which made it possible for me to gain valuable experience at professional meetings of my choice and advance my knowledge and skills as a Japanese interpreter and translator during this challenging time. Thank you very much!

Translating Disaster

Brianna Salinas — Sat, 07 Aug 2021 19:49:22 GMT

Must the flame lick our doorstep / before we acknowledge the fire?

Wildfire season has returned to the West Coast with exceptional fury. Year after year, the fires start earlier and are contained later, ravaging homes and businesses, millions of acres of land, and countless animal and human lives.

In 2020 several fires continued blazing into December, and 2021 threatens to be similarly catastrophic. According to a report by CNN, wildfires have already burned around 3 million acres this year––an area greater than that of Rhode Island and Delaware combined. On the heels of a record-breaking heatwave, with moderate to severe drought affecting over 90% of land in California, Oregon, and Washington, conditions are unlikely to improve any time soon.

In the face of such catastrophes, there are several ways to protect ourselves and our neighbors. Every year, many sectors work together to do just that. Translation and interpretation represent two of the less obvious––but tremendously important––ones.

Language access services are indispensable in times of crisis, whether personal, local, or global. These fires underscore our undeniable need for multilingual emergency alert systems (for earthquakes, hurricanes, and other severe weather events as well).

“A recent report in Grist highlighted the importance of providing accurate and human-developed translations of public safety warnings, in order to ensure that we don’t leave behind individuals with limited English proficiency in our response to natural disasters,” says Andrew Warner, a California journalist writing for

Multilingual.com.

Warner explains that quality translations of crucial public-safety information about wildfires are limited, if available at all. According to U.S. Census data, some 44% of California residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish accounts for roughly 28%), and yet a 2017 state audit found that in several of the counties most affected by these fires––“some of the most severe … in the state’s history”––residents had not received “adequate warnings in languages other than English.”

The numbers don’t look much better in Washington or Oregon, where 20% and 15% of the states’ respective residents do not speak English at home. In the rural areas of both states––those hardest hit by wildfires––hese numbers increase exponentially. In Eastern Washington’s Adams County, for example, roughly 50% speak Spanish at home.

Some communities have turned to services such as Google Translate to improve the accessibility of their emergency alerts by broadcasting them in more than one language, but machine translations are not always reliable. Warner cites an example from Ventura County, California, where “in 2017, an automatic translation of a wildfire notice … mistranslated … ‘brush fire’ using the Spanish word for ‘hairbrush.’” This may seem more comical than alarming but, when time is of the essence, accuracy is key. Avoiding confusion can save lives.

Whatever the disaster and whatever our politics, proficiency in a given language (or lack thereof) should never impede one's access to critical information about threats to their personal security.

Information about preparedness, evacuation, and safe sheltering should always be of quality and readily available to all residents of our diverse society. It is therefore critical that local government entities (along with community groups and faith-based organizations) employ more human translators in their efforts to spread the word––quickly, clearly and without equivocation.

Doing so could be the difference between home and homeless, or life and death.

Medical Interpreters in Oregon State Move Forward with Unionization

Brianna Salinas — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 19:05:39 GMT

In an article for nwLaborPress.org called "Medical interpreters unite," Don McIntosh explains this watershed moment: “The State of Oregon on April 23 recognized a union for as many as 500 medical interpreters who translate for Medicaid patients" (1).

As independent contractors, Oregon interpreters have long been unable to unionize. This year, however, Oregon AFSCME (one of the largest member-driven unions in the state) helped pass HB 2231—which allows medical interpreters to unionize, influencing wages, paid time off, fair scheduling, affordable healthcare, and more.

Fig.1. From Oregon Interpreters in Action; pamphlet accessible at: http://interpretersinaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Two-Pager.pdf

These efforts have been years in the making in Oregon. In neighboring Washington State—considered by some to be a model for freelance language professionals countrywide—medical interpreters "recently achieved major improvements through a similar process" (1). Today, medical interpreters in Washington State can earn about $42 per hour, compared to $18-25 for their counterparts in Oregon.

A 2018 post in the ATA Interpreters Division blog—“Washington State: Leading the Way for Professional Interpreters” (2)—explains the “model”:

In the past, Washington paid interpreters through language companies that retained some 40% of the money the state paid for their services. But since 2010, Washington interpreters have seen a significant wage increase and, as many attest, an improvement to the quality of their work and life. In 2010, a state bill “granted freelance interpreters unionization rights for appointments paid by two Washington State agencies, DSHS and HCA” and then, in 2011, “a provision in the state budget created a new procurement model for interpreting services.” As a result, the aforementioned language companies now keep less than 15% of what the state spends in interpreting services. (2)

The evolving situation in Washington State is what Dennis Eagle, WFSE/AFSCME legislative and political action director, calls a win-win: “This bill makes our procurement process more cost-efficient and effective, lowering costs for taxpayers — increasing pay for interpreters” (3).

While the passage of HB 2231 in Oregon State may only be one step in a long and complex process (complete with contract negotiations), many newly unionized interpreters in Oregon are enthusiastic about what looks to them like a more just and equitable future.

According to Maria Fiallos, a medical interpreter for Spanish speakers: “[we] have nowhere to go but up” (1).

______________________________________________________________________

(1) https://nwlaborpress.org/2021/05/medical-interpreters-unite/
(2) http://www.ata-divisions.org/ID/washington-state-senate-bill-6245/
(3) https://www.thestand.org/2018/02/expand-win-win-interpreter-model-to-other-state-agencies/

'Hello' from Brianna Salinas, NOTIS’s new Marketing and Communications Specialist

Brianna Salinas — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 21:59:10 GMT

Hello NOTIS members!

I am Brianna Salinas, the new Marketing and Communications Specialist for NOTIS.

If you have any questions for me about engaging with NOTIS social media channels or if you simply want to say ‘hello’, don’t hesitate to contact me at briannaren3e@gmail.com

A little about me:

I earned an MA in Hispanic Literary Studies at the University of Washington.

While at the UW, I worked with Katie King on a Multi-Disciplinary Translation Studies group whose goal was to build a community of and for translators and translation scholars.

I also had the honor of working alongside three passionate and prolific faculty translators (Richard Watts, Heekyoung Cho, and Michael Biggins) who built the UW Translation Studies Hub.

I am an emerging translator. While my personal focus may be on literary translation, I am eager to learn more about the important work of our interpreting community as well!

What I am here for:

I will be helping NOTIS with social media, blog posts, the Northwest Linguist newsletter, and more. My goal is to:

amplify NOTIS’s public-facing presence,
create support for all that NOTIS does across various platforms, and
recruit new members along the way.

Overall, I view this as an incredible opportunity to continue the community-building and advocacy work I engaged in at the UW.

A couple of updates:

NOTIS is interested in adding member news sections and/or a member spotlight to upcoming blog posts and newsletters.
If you would like to share a recent announcement or achievement (e.g., a publication, certification, new course, etc.) with fellow NOTIS members, please contact me at briannaren3e@gmail.com

Additionally, if you are interested in sending a photo or blurb from a recent event, please do not hesitate to do so!

Our new and updated social media pages are as follows:

Please note that NOTIS’s previous Twitter account (@NOTISnet) is no longer active. The link above will take you to our new profile.

As for Instagram, there is little to see at the moment. Soon, we will be uploading announcements and event photos there, too.

I am beyond excited to be working with NOTIS and I look forward to meeting more of you in the coming months! Perhaps at a Feedback Forum? Or the annual picnic?

All the best,
Brianna Salinas

IN MEMORIAM: HEIDI SCHMALTZ

Shelley Fairweather-Vega — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 17:31:20 GMT

NOTIS is saddened to learn of the recent passing of Heidi Schmaltz, a dedicated interpreter and translator and treasured friend. Member Helen Eby provides this moving tribute for Heidi.

***

Heidi Schmaltz (1982 – 2021)

Heidi lived for 38 years. During the “dash,” between 1982 and 2021, she made an impact on colleagues, friends, and on the profession.

I was one of those colleagues. We enjoyed having tea together after interpreting events in Clackamas. We got together to chat over lunch between interpreting appointments. She would call me to cover her appointments when she couldn’t make it… but I think it was just so we could have tea when I was close by.

She was an accomplished woman. A certified court and healthcare interpreter and literary translator, she also taught Spanish at the university level. Her translations appeared in the New England Review. They were published in this volume, posthumously.

She took advantage of opportunities. A training-of-trainers event for healthcare interpreters was to be held at Western Oregon University, where we would stay on campus for the week. At the time, Heidi was preparing to take the Oregon court interpreting oral exam. I asked her to come anyway, because some top-notch Oregon certified court interpreters would be there and could coach her outside of class time. She came, her room became a coaching hub, and she passed! She was relentless.

She volunteered. Heidi was a founding member of the Oregon Society of Translators and Interpreters, where she served on the nomination committee. She was also a member of every professional group that was relevant to her work: American Translators Association, National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators, Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society… She was a member of Interpreters United until 2019. She did advocacy. She taught. She was there to help the profession grow, and gave presentations for the associations to which she belonged.

I went to one of Heidi’s classes and observed the relationship she had with her students. They just loved her! She taught with kindness, compassion, and I got the idea she didn’t let anything slip by, either.

We went to the Oregon state legislature together on many occasions, advocating for the profession. We shared a passion for setting up a better world for our colleagues, but also for the non-English speaking people we serve. Heidi also worked on those issues with colleagues in Washington state.

To me, she was more than a colleague. She was also my friend. Her bridal shower was at my home. Heidi loved her husband deeply and was so happy to get married! Pablo is Cuban, so she went to Cuba to know his country better. They loved each other fiercely and were such a beautiful couple!

Heidi loved her mom. I remember when she brought her mom to give a presentation on medical terminology. At the time, her mom was a physical therapist and Heidi invited her to speak to a group of interpreters. The give-and-take between them was just beautiful.

Heidi loved to walk. If the interpreting appointment was within walking distance, that is how she would get there.

She loved books. We compared notes on books all the time. Literature, linguistics, dictionaries, everything. Pablo told me she always looked for the local bookstore whenever she visited a new country.

I miss my friend. When I learned that she would not be there for a phone call or a cup of tea… I could think of nothing else for a week. Heidi’s life was cut short at 38. Now it is time to continue the work we started together.

Heidi’s work at the Oregon Council for Healthcare Interpreters

As a member of the Oregon Council for Healthcare Interpreters, Heidi gave of herself generously.

We were both nerdy. Heidi, too, loved digging into an issue, researching it, and finding ways to serve our colleagues. Together, we researched ways to update the language proficiency requirements for Oregon Healthcare Interpreters. We researched how to evaluate language proficiency testing programs. We researched… and researched… and that all got poured into work that benefited the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) program.

The most recent result of our study of language proficiency served as the foundational research for the Language Proficiency Testing Vendor Application for the Oregon Health Authority office of Equity and Inclusion. Now, the Council has a way to evaluate vendors who test language proficiency. Heidi even studied to be an ACTFL rater, and applied her knowledge to this project after we had exhausted all other possible research avenues. It takes 6 months of study to be an ACTFL rater! That is how dedicated she was to getting things right.

Together, we updated the language proficiency requirements for healthcare interpreters. After researching every single requirement on the list, we found that some were below the Advanced Mid level on the ACTFL scale. Some tests were no longer being administered, while others were written exams, not oral proficiency exams. As a result of this work with Heidi, Oregon healthcare interpreters had a more accurate evaluation.

She was also involved in advocacy regarding the legal framework for healthcare interpreting in Oregon. At the public hearing the last time the law for healthcare interpreters was amended, she pointed out that Council members give of their professional time and their work should be treated with respect. She argued that the OHA should generally follow the guidance of the professional subject matter experts who willingly donate their time, and should let them know when implementation of the advice was not practical. The OHA has been following that recommendation ever since, even though the principle is not enshrined in law.

Heidi was dedicated. She always looked for ways to improve the situation for healthcare interpreters and the people we serve. It took intense research, phone calls, emails, and meetings outside the official meetings, but she got it done.

It was a pleasure to work with Heidi. I grew by working with her. I miss her.

By Helen Eby

Links:

Obituary of Heidi Astrid Schmaltz | Crown Memorial Centers Crematio... (crowncremationburial.com)

Oregon Health Authority : Oregon Health Authority Approved Health Care Interpreter (HCI) Training Programs : Office of Equity and Inclusion : State of Oregon

https://www.oregon.gov/oha/OEI/HCI%20Non%20Meeting%20Documents/Language%20Proficiency%20Testing%20Vendor%20Application.docx

https://www.oregon.gov/oha/OEI/Documents/HCI-Requirements-Explained-12-16-2016-Updates.pdf

https://www.oregon.gov/oha/OEI/Pages/HCI-Resources-Events-Policy-Laws.aspx

City of Seattle Community Translator Survey

Shelley Fairweather-Vega — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 16:51:55 GMT

The City of Seattle's Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs is designing updates to its language access program and wants input from working community translators and interpreters! To contribute, please fill out the survey in the link below by Monday, April 26. The full invitation is below. -NOTIS

***

Hi Translators and Interpreters,

I hope you and your loved ones are doing well.

The City of Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Language Access Program plans to:

Form working relationships with local translators and interpreters
Introduce technology solutions to manage projects and translation memory

If you are interested in learning more about our work or would like to share your insights, please fill out this Community Translator Survey by Monday, 4/26 to help us better design our program. Please help share the survey with other translators or interpreters you know.

Please feel free to reach out to Peggy Liao (Peggy.Liao@seattle.gov) or Jessica Sidhu (Jessica.Sidhu@seattle.gov) with any questions.

Thank you!

NOTIS is recruiting a Marketing and Communications Specialist

Shelley Fairweather-Vega — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 15:50:37 GMT

This spring, NOTIS plans to hire a part-time Marketing and Communications Specialist to help us improve our services to current and new members, grow student and younger membership and help us intensify our presence throughout our five-state geographic region. Would you or someone you know be a good fit?

We are looking for someone who can work 8 – 10 hours per week, with flexible timing. This is a 6 month contract with the potential for renewal. The Marketing and Communications Specialist is a remote position, but the candidate must reside in one of NOTIS' five member states (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, or Alaska). And the position comes with one free year of NOTIS membership.

Why Work for NOTIS?

This is a great opportunity to use your marketing and communications talents to help further NOTIS' mission and positively impact our community of language professionals. The position offers plenty of opportunities to contribute with constructive ideas to improve all of NOTIS' marketing and communications efforts and will provide valuable experience for someone interested in furthering their career in marketing and communications.

For details, please download the complete job ad here. Feel free to share with your network! The application deadline is May 3, 2021.

PRO Act and the impact on freelancers

Shelley Fairweather-Vega — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 15:52:18 GMT

The American Translators Association (ATA) has sent a letter to the United States Senate addressing freelance translators and interpreters' concerns about the proposed PRO Act, which would reclassify some independent contractors as employees. If you followed the controversy over California's AB 5 bill over the past two years, you might recognize these issues, now being discussed at the national level.

Read ATA's letter to the Senate here, and consider contacting your own senators if you have an opinion about the bill. If you have questions about the bill or ATA's advocacy activities, please email the ATA committee at advocacy@atanet.org.

NOTIS responds to Crosscut letter on legal interpreters

Shelley Fairweather-Vega — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 03:44:12 GMT

In November 2020, Crosscut published a news article addressing concerns that legal processes are being delayed in the Seattle area because interpreters are refusing to work in person in courts and jails. In consultation with interested parties, NOTIS's Legal Division has authored a response, pointing out that methods exist for interpreters to deliver high-quality services without needlessly risking exposure to COVID-19. That response is copied below.

***

On November 18th, CrossCut published an article by David Kroman entitled “COVID-19 delays justice for King County inmates who need interpreters - Non-English speakers are receiving substandard legal representation because interpreters won’t appear in person, attorneys say.”

NOTIS, the Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society, is compelled to present a very different perspective on the dire situation faced by Limited English Proficient (LEP) inmates today.

The very same week that CrossCut published this article, the New York Times printed an op-ed by its editorial staff: “America Is Letting the Coronavirus Rage Through Prisons.” The NYT article sites horrifying statistics about infection rates in correctional facilities, summarizing them with this conclusion: “The American penal system is a perfect breeding ground for the virus.” And yet, not only are interpreters being asked to work inside these facilities, they are blamed for the miscarriages of justice suffered by non-English speaking inmates because of their “unwillingness” to do so.

In Washington State, while court interpreters are officers of the court, they are not employees of the court, nor of the city or county that the court serves. Thus, they do not receive any of the benefits of employees, notably medical insurance and paid sick leave. Interpreters are independent contractors for whom illness has a direct financial impact.

COVID has wreaked economic hardship far and wide—on interpreters as well. When an interpreter declines an assignment, it is due to the extraordinary risk it entails and not to an overabundance of alternative assignments. Interpreters are eager to render their professional services when provided a safe and effective way to do so.

The responsibility of providing safe conditions for adequate interpretation for LEP inmates in King County lies squarely at the feet of the county. Interpreters who decline assignments requiring them to expose themselves and others to substantial risk of infection are behaving rationally and responsibly. When attorneys meet with inmates in the jail, it is in a cubicle slightly larger than a phone booth, with the inmate seated on the other side of a glass barrier and both parties using an old-fashioned telephone handset.

The problems described in David Kroman’s article are solvable without subjecting interpreters to high risk or scapegoating them for their “unwillingness” to assume this risk themselves. The notion that an interpreter needs to be in a huddle with the recipient of their interpretation is arcane. Indeed, many courts and correctional facilities have found excellent solutions, that simply require modern technology and advanced planning.

When COVID struck in March, 2020, everyone scrambled to find safe ways to interact and continue to provide just about every conceivable type of service. Indeed, most municipal and district courts in King County and elsewhere have utilized platforms such as Zoom and WebEx to hold court and provide access to interpretation for anyone who needs it. They quickly figured out how to facilitate confidential attorney-client communications, bringing interpreters into the confidential virtual “room” whenever needed. SCORE jail in south King County has been successfully connecting interpreters remotely by video.

As for documents, such as guilty pleas, that attorneys wish to review with their clients with the assistance of an interpreter, they need only be sent electronically to the interpreter so that the interpreter can sight translate the document to the defendant. This is nothing new, and given their importance, the interpreter should always be provided a copy of any documents.

For most interpreters, particularly in high-demand languages, interpreting is their livelihood. They are highly skilled professionals who must pass rigorous examinations to become certified court interpreters and must maintain this credential through many hours of continuing education and in-court experience. Their job is cognitively demanding and emotionally taxing.

Court Interpreters´ professional ethics and standards of practice exist to maintain a very high quality of interpretation. Court Interpreters are often the direct providers of language access in the justice system, but they are not the ones creating access problems, nor do they have the power to fix them on their own. May this letter serve as the catalyst to dispel misinformation, find solutions, and acknowledge the proper respect due to this profession.

It's election season...

Shelley Fairweather-Vega — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 23:30:53 GMT

And we don't mean the U.S. election! NOTIS members will vote on bylaws amendments and appoint a new Board of Directors by acclamation this December. Active members, please check your email for more details.

Please review the Proposed Bylaws Amendments and Slate of Candidates in the members-only section of our website (you must log in to view those pages). Individual and Honorary members whose dues are paid will be allowed to vote, so this is a great time to check your membership status.

A new NOTIS discussion on diversity

Shelley Fairweather-Vega — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 19:02:17 GMT

A message from the NOTIS board.

Right now, Seattle, Portland, and other cities in the NOTIS region continue to see protests every day, triggered by the killing of George Floyd. At NOTIS, we know that our region is not immune to the dire effects of institutional racism and other kinds of prejudice. We’re lucky to be a naturally diverse organization, with members and a leadership board representing multiple nationalities and languages. And we’re proud that our professions – translation and interpretation – play a vital role in ensuring effective communication between people of different experiences, cultures and backgrounds. Whether in poetry or in the schools, in a hospital room or a courtroom, interpreters and translators help make every voice heard, and we do our part to ensure justice is served and opportunities are equal. But if there’s anything this time of protests around the country has taught us, it’s that all of us can always do better. We all must continue to educate ourselves, examine our prejudices, and try our best to make a positive difference.

To that end, NOTIS invites our members to a new conversation on racial justice, specifically within our professions. What else can NOTIS do as an organization to contribute more to this cause? Please join our conversation by commenting below. We welcome your ideas!

Please remember that your online comments will be visible to everyone. Keep your comments respectful and constructive. NOTIS will be monitoring this discussion closely.

Pandemic resources for translators and interpreters

Shelley Fairweather-Vega — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 17:31:58 GMT

NOTIS’s Coronavirus Resources list

Assembled by NOTIS Secretary of the Board Mary McKee

The COVID-19 virus is having a real impact on communities in the Pacific Northwest and around the globe. NOTIS is following the situation closely and seeks to provide real professional support to our members. Many organizations in the language industry have compiled lists of resources, trustworthy professional information of interest, and tips and suggestions, and we would like to share these links below. If you have any other links to share, please comment below:

The National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT) offers a list of resources to help language professionals help during quarantine:

https://najit.org/a-few-resources-help-with-quarantine/

NAJIT also has a list of practical tips for the daily grind of dealing with coronavirus:

https://najit.org/practical-tips-for-dealing-with-the-coronavirus/

The American Translators Association (ATA) has created a detailed breakdown of the 880-page CARES Act recently passed and how certain provisions affect translators and interpreters:

https://www.atanet.org/membership/cares_act_translators_interpreters.php

ATA is compiling a list of resources, which should appear on their website within the first weeks of April. You can still submit resources via this form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5WJCZGX

Each state’s governor’s office and employment-related organizations have their own websites with reources relevant to the residents of their state. Please find below links to the main pages for the five states that NOTIS serves:

Washington Governor’s office: https://www.governor.wa.gov/issues/issues/covid-19-resources/covid-19-resources-businesses-and-workers

Washington Employment Security department: https://esd.wa.gov/newsroom/covid-19

Oregon Governor’s office: https://govstatus.egov.com/or-covid-19

Oregon Employment Department: https://www.oregon.gov/employ/Documents/COVID-19%20Resources%20for%20Businesss%20Employers%20Workers%20%20Job%20Seekers%203-23-20.pdf

Alaska Governor’s office: https://gov.alaska.gov/home/covid-19-economy/

Alaska Small Business Development Center: https://aksbdc.org/covid19/

Idaho Governor’s office: https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/

Idaho Department of Commerce: https://commerce.idaho.gov/covid-19/

Montana Governor’s office: https://covid19.mt.gov/

Montana Department of Labor and Industry: http://dli.mt.gov/employer-covid-19

The Northwest Linguist Call for Submissions

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 09:00:00 GMT

We are now accepting articles and submissions for our online blog and the summer issue of our newsletter, The Northwest Linguist.

The Northwest Linguist is the official printed publication of the Northwest Translators & Interpreters Society, designed to share organization and industry news, useful tips and educational pieces with our members.

Ideas for submissions include:

Approaches to translation
Interpreting skills
Legal or business issues for translators and interpreters
Computer Assisted Translation Tools
Summary and advice learned at a recent workshop
Academic research relating to translation and interpreting
Current events relating to translators and interpreters

Submissions should be between 500 and 1,500 words, written in English. Relevant photographs or visual content may also be submitted, alongside or independently of a written piece. If a submission includes a translation or an example in another language, an English back-translation should be included. Copyright notes and source references must also be included, if applicable.

All submissions will be evaluated by the Northwest Linguist Blog committee. Content selected for publication will be subject to editing for content, grammar, style and space limitations.

Please email submissions or any questions to Alicia McNeely at alicialynn3033@gmail.com.

Dealing with COVID-19 as a Healthcare Interpreter

Shelley Fairweather-Vega — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 03:58:05 GMT

Washington State seems to be a hotspot for the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Just in time, NOTIS member and interpreter trainer Yuliya Speroff offers good advice for protecting yourself on the job. For more from Yuliya, join her Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/interpreterswa/

***

If you haven't heard of COVID-19, you might be living on Mars. And for those of us based in Washington State, the recent news might be especially worrying. It can be difficult not to panic as you see clinic receptionists wearing face masks with eye shields, or when you go to the grocery store and see empty shelves where there ought to be hand sanitizer, soap, bottled water and toilet paper. The term ‘coronapocalypse’ is being circulated on social media - referring to the spread of the virus itself, the subsequent slew of news stories and social media posts as well as the panicked buying of supplies.

With all the news and misinformation coming to us from every source, even the most level-headed of us can start to feel alarmed. And as interpreters working in healthcare settings, it may feel like we’re in the line of fire due to the very nature of our work. Many of us work as freelance interpreters, moving between multiple locations every day - from busy emergency rooms to clinics and hospital floors. Some of us frequently work with vulnerable patients - for example, those with weakened immune systems, as well as the elderly. In light of the above, it is our responsibility to educate ourselves so that we can stay safe and keep our loved ones and the people we work with safe. How do we do that?

Start by reading information from reliable official sources like the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
It might also be a good idea to check with your local public health authority. For those of us living in the Greater Seattle area, it’s King County Public Health.
If you prefer to get your news and information from social media, subscribe to the above sources on Facebook and Twitter. This way you’ll be getting the latest updates and live videos of press conferences: Public Health - Seattle & King County, CDC, WHO.
Look out for communication from your employers and/or agencies you’re contracted with. For example, the state vendor, Universal Language Services, sent out an email providing an update on COVID-19-related measures from Swedish Medical Center which include going through screening for respiratory symptoms and fever prior to entering SMG facilities.
Read the latest advice on wearing masks.
If in doubt, ask medical providers you are interpreting for if it might be appropriate for you to wear personal protective equipment including masks and gloves.
If you’d like to get some information that is on the lighter side - that is, if you're a fan of infotainment - check out Dr. Mike's YouTube video: Coronavirus Is A PANDEMIC....Technically.
And here are some podcasts related to the subject:

This Podcast Will Kill You: Episode 43 M-m-m-my Coronaviruses

NPR Life Kit: 5 Ways To Prevent And Prepare For The Coronavirus

This American Life: Mr. Chen Goes to Wuhan

(Russian) Критмышь: Короновирусная истерия

Important note: This post was written on March 2, 2020. The situation is evolving rapidly, so keep checking the sources listed above and stay safe! As a popular meme says: Keep calm and wash your hands!

ATA issues statement on California law to reclassify freelancers

Shelley Fairweather-Vega — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 14:01:21 GMT

The American Translators Association has published an official statement about its stance on the new California law known as AB 5. If you are interested in learning more about the law and its potential impact on freelance translators and interpreters in California and elsewhere, or you would like to get involved in monitoring this issue, you can download the ATA's letter here.

An Exciting Experience at the 2019 ALTA Annual Conference

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 19:06:37 GMT

Written by Mia Spangenberg, 2019 NOTIS Conference Scholarship Recipient

Mia Spangenberg is a Finnish to English translator with a PhD in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Washington, Seattle.

For the first time, thanks to the help of a NOTIS scholarship, I attended the American Literary Translators Association (ALTA) Annual Conference, which was held on November 7-10, 2019, in Rochester, New York. I couldn’t have picked a better year to go because ALTA is growing significantly as an organization, and this year, the Conference had over 500 attendees for the first time. ALTA is a very friendly and welcoming organization, and there were many opportunities for attendees to mingle and connect. ALTA offered a “wayfinder” program for first-time attendees, which paired newcomers with seasoned ALTA conference attendees. My “wayfinder” introduced me to several people at the conference and also told me about key events I should attend. There were also beverage breaks during the day and readings in the evenings which provided people with opportunities to connect. As I translate from Finnish, I was glad to be able to connect with other Finnish and Nordic language translators. In fact, after meeting and talking to Icelandic translator Larissa Kyzer, we set up a Google group for literary translators working to and from the Nordic languages as a forum to share advice and collaborate.

The ALTA Conference offered two opportunities to meet with editors: flash sessions and pitch sessions. Flash sessions gave translators fifteen minutes to discuss two pages of a manuscript (submitted in advance) with an editor. It was a wonderful way to get feedback from an experienced editor. The pitch sessions were offered for the first time this year and gave translators the opportunity to pitch a project to a particular press. About ten presses participated in these sessions. This was an exciting and slightly nerve-wracking opportunity. Pitches were limited to five minutes maximum! I’ve never talked so fast in my life as I provided the context for my author and gave a short summary of the plot, plus I submitted my business card and a translation sample. Then the waiting game began. However, I am grateful because this opportunity was yet another way to make connections that could bear fruit in the future.

I also learned about how ALTA works as an organization and how different presses are profiling themselves. I began putting names to the faces of prominent literary translators, and I picked up tips on how to make it as a full-time literary translator and negotiate the best possible contracts. The Authors Guild was even in attendance, and they have started a new division for literary translators and will review contracts for their members for free.

I feel energized for the coming year and plan to attend the ALTA Annual Conference again next year. The 2020 Conference will be held in Tucson, Arizona from November 11-14.

If you are interested in going to the ALTA Annual Conference and will be a first-time attendee, feel free to reach out to me. Also, please email me if you would like to join the Google group for literary translators working to and from the Nordic languages. You may contact me, Mia Spangenberg, at: mmspangenberg@gmail.com.

NOTIS 2020 Board Transitions

Shelley Fairweather-Vega — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 04:46:43 GMT

With the end of one year and the beginning of another, changes are coming to the NOTIS Board of Directors.

We bid a fond farewell to two members. First, Adrian Bradley, who served in the Legal Division and on the Webinars Committee, and contributed in other, quiet ways to the smooth functioning of many NOTIS events. Second, Alicia McNeely, from the Translation Division and Social Media/Marketing Committee, whose graphic design work you have seen on our website, Annual Conference program and newsletters. We're glad to note that while Adrian and Alicia are stepping down from the Board, they've promised to stay involved with NOTIS.

Our organization is lucky to welcome two new Board members who will begin new two-year terms in January 2020. French and Russian translator Laura Friend is returning to Washington State and the NOTIS Board after a stay in Japan, and Turkish translator and interpreter Yasemin Alptekin joins our team for the first time. Laura and Yasemin will be elected by acclamation (as this election is uncontested) at the NOTIS Annual Meeting on December 7, 2019. Their candidate statements are below.

More about Laura Friend

"I am a certified translator of French and Russian into English, specializing in legal and business translations. I have spoken French from an early age, spending several years in France, and I learned Russian in college and graduate school.

In my spare time I enjoy literature, travel, music and nature. I am originally from the East Coast but lived in Seattle for 20 years until recently relocating to Port Orchard on the Kitsap Peninsula.

Because I appreciate the vibrant community of translators and interpreters that make up NOTIS, and especially the robust continuing education program that NOTIS offers its members, I would like to give back by helping to run the organization. I was briefly on the Board of Directors but had to step down when my husband and I moved to Japan for a time. Now that I am back I would be happy to resume my duties and rejoin this wonderful group of leaders."

More about Yasemin Alptekin

"I am writing this letter of intent to communicate my interest in becoming a NOTIS Board member where I can be of assistance with my academic and professional background in T&I in a capacity that would best serve the objectives and mission of NOTIS.

I have been a proud member of NOTIS and I have benefited from my membership considerably, as many other members have done, via training, conference and networking opportunities, all of which are essential for a field to grow bigger and better while gaining respect for its professionals.

I am a native speaker of Turkish with bilingual fluency in English with years of experience in simultaneous interpreting from English to Turkish and Turkish to English equally proficiently. My areas of focus are legal, medical and educational interpretation/translation as well as literary. I am also academically involved in translation theories as well as translating literary and technical texts. I have linguistic knowledge of French with some conversational skill, and Arabic with basic reading.

I have been involved in translation and interpretation work since I started learning English as a second language at Robert High School in Istanbul, Turkey. I started a Translation Club to understand the cultural nuances between the source and target languages to build strong bridges of communication. I later studied linguistics, literary translation theory and techniques while pursuing my BA in Western Languages and Literature at Bosphorus University, one of the top ranking universities in Turkey. When I came to the US for my graduate studies, I was hired by a Turkish Education Project funded by World Bank. During my years as a doctoral graduate associate working for that project I served as a liaison and interpreter for the Turkish delegations visiting the US, helping the administrators as a translator/interpreter for three years and as a Program Director later for another three years.

I recently completed all the requirements to become a Registered Court Interpreter in Turkish."

Review of the NOTIS 2019 Annual Conference

Shelley Fairweather-Vega — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 17:56:44 GMT

Conference Bronze Sponsor Nimdzi wrote a glowing review of our 2019 Annual Conference. We're reposting excerpts from the review below with permission from the authors. To learn more about Nimdzi, visit their website. You can also read the full report here.

***

The Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society (NOTIS) Annual Conference brings translators, interpreters, and language professionals under one roof to discuss the topics, trends, and challenges of working in the T&I industry. The thirty-year-old association attracted a motivated crowd to Washington’s Museum of Flight in Seattle for the two-day conference. The event offered sessions in a multi-track program – one for translators and one for interpreters. And it allowed participants to choose their own sessions in either. The conference is fitting for anyone looking to break into translation and interpretation work, to learn from those who have been in the field for decades, to network with translation and interpretation colleagues, and to look for new opportunities.

NOTIS board members Pinar, Lindsay and Adrian at NOTIS2019.

Translation, in a positive light

Setting the tone with her keynote speech, Dr. Karen McMillan Tkaczyk, trained chemist, technical translator, editor, and American Translators Association Secretary, presented an insightful talk titled, “Translation Bloopers are Deaf: Long Live Abundant New Ways of Showcasing Yourself and our Profession.”

You have probably heard the phrase, “The best translators and interpreters are those who are invisible.”

If this rings a bell, you know that the best translations sound natural and not like translations at all. The line of work takes mastery of working languages and a life-long dedication to learning. And yet, those working behind the scenes are often not seen, unless, of course, something goes direly wrong.

Keynote address by Karen Tkaczyk.

In her talk, Dr. Tkaczyk goes off a keen observation: we often hear about translation when a disaster occurs. The photos and memes of “translation fails” are, unfortunately, the content that gets the most engagement on social media platforms in the industry. Why is that, and how can we showcase the work in a more positive light? Dr. Tkaczyk’s opening speech brings our attention to this question.

There are a number of actions linguists can take to show the work more positively. Here are some takeaways from the talk

1. Promote your colleagues

Show some love for the people you work with. Perhaps you have a talented editor, or a project manager who is on top of his or her work. Your reviews and recommendations on their sites and on LinkedIn profiles are a simple way you can promote their work. And it brings visibility to an “invisible” profession.

2. Refer your colleagues

There will be times where translators are overloaded and cannot take on more work. When you cannot take a job, refer a colleague. There are plenty of newcomers and graduate students starting out in their careers, and a referral gives them a leg-up. If you have never worked with a particular person, mention it and let the client consider whether or not to hire. Referrals are another simple way you can add value to others and the translation community at large

3. Promoting yourself

Professional linguists have updated websites, which gain them trust and provide a place to showcase skills. Why not upload a video of yourself, adding a personal touch to your site? Portfolios are a great marketing tool. In Europe, it is common for translators to bring their portfolios to events and lay them out on tables. While language service provider NDAs make it challenging to get permission and sample your work, there is no harm in asking. If not, you may find published work online and leverage it in your portfolio. Dr. Tkaczyk shared several options for creating online portfolios:

4. Ask for testimonials

Asking for reviews and testimonials showcases your professionalism. Make a space for them on your site. They can work in your favor for a rate increase. Ask clients if you can use their LinkedIn profile photo. Clients can also generate new leads for you. Some linguists even add a message to the bottom of their email signatures saying that referrals are the highest compliments.

5. Be proactive

Activism can take on many forms. Voice your opinions with constructive criticism by writing to editors of magazines. There is much talk on the profession, machine translation, mistranslations and so on. Activism can also include political activism. For T&I Advocacy Day in 2017, nearly 50 translators with the ATA made their way to Capitol Hill and met with Congressional offices and Executive Branch agencies to advocate for the profession with topics including inaccuracies in prevailing wages rate determinations for translators and interpreters, language services procurement, and machine translation versus human translation. By being proactive, you’d be shedding more light on the industry and on your work.

While Dr. Tkaczyk’s speech presented participants with much practical advice, the conference had more to offer for translators and interpreters, especially for those looking to learn about the T&I industry. Other sessions included: “Breaking into New Fields in Translation,” “Breaking into New Fields in Interpreting,” “Interpreting for Forensic Drug Analysis,” “Translating Long Projects,” “Interpreting for Immigration Court,” “Introduction to Practical Subtitling,” “Interpreting for Special Education,” “Editing and Proofreading,” and “Common Pitfalls in EN<>ES Translation.”

The NOTIS Conference also holds a job fair, provides continuing education credits, and reserves a space for sponsors and exhibitors. Most importantly, it builds community and provides a space for professionals to share, learn, and grow in their careers.

This conference report was researched and written by Nika Allahverdi. If you wish to find out more about the NOTIS Annual Conference in Seattle, please reach out to Nika at nika@nimdzi.com.

What I Learned at the Court Interpreting Training Institute

Mon, 26 Aug 2019 12:26:22 GMT

Written by Natalia L. Rivera Fernández, 2019 NOTIS Tuition Scholarship Recipient

Natalia L. Rivera Fernández is a Spanish/English WA Certified Court and Medical Interpreter, Certified Document Translator, and CEO at Need a Translator Interpreting, LLC (NATI).

This summer, I had the fantastic opportunity to attend the University of Arizona’s Court Interpreter Training Institute (CITI). In June, I participated in a series of webinars covering a wide range of topics, from ethics to weaponry and medical terminology. In July, I attended the intensive in-person two-week component in Tucson, Arizona. On-site, I spent my time in a classroom and language laboratory setting. There are several lessons I learned from this experience for which I couldn’t be more grateful.

To begin, I learned the importance of repetition of the same exercise for rapid improvement of simultaneous interpretation. In the language laboratories, we would listen to a recording, record ourselves interpreting simultaneously, then review new terminology. Afterward, we would record ourselves interpreting again while referring to our notes, if needed. We would repeat this exercise several times, each time trying to do better while referring less to our notes. The following morning, we would have a “re-lab,” repeating the exercise one or two final times without using notes. As one of our excellent instructors, Carmen Patel, put it, this gave us the opportunity for the new knowledge to simmer, “just like a good pasta sauce.” It truly worked! I found myself improving every morning and being able to more quickly retrieve new words and keep up with increasingly faster simultaneous interpretation exercises.

Something else I learned at the CITI is the importance of studying with different colleagues for more effective and efficient learning. In doing consecutive and sight-translation exercises in groups of three or four, we would take turns interpreting specific sections of a document, and then alternating. I received constructive feedback, and I also learned new terminology by listening to different colleagues interpreting the same texts. Each one had a unique perspective and something to offer.

Furthermore, at the CITI, I learned firsthand the importance of networking to be able to find more opportunities in our field. For example, I learned about the interpreting and translation programs and credentials currently available in some Central American countries from a Guatemalan colleague. I also learned that by joining international interpreter Facebook groups, I may be able to find conference interpreting opportunities.

Perhaps the biggest lesson I learned at the CITI was the importance of supporting our newer colleagues in the profession. I was surprised to meet a newer colleague from Seattle who was looking for mentorship. As I consider myself still relatively new in the trade, it never would have occurred to me that someone would look up to me for mentorship. However, it quickly became clear to me that new colleagues are often looking for support and guidance as they learn their way around in our profession. I am grateful for having met my mentee. I have already started sharing with her what I have learned in the last few years as a freelance interpreter and translator. It seems that we are so much better when we work together. By sharing our knowledge, we elevate our profession. In turn, we are giving back to our communities at large, as everyone benefits from having higher-quality interpretation and translation services.

Social Media Advertising for Translators & Interpreters

Fri, 19 Apr 2019 14:59:54 GMT

In the last decade, social media has taken the advertising world by storm. If you are a freelancer or aspiring T&I entrepreneur who is not taking full advantage of this free form of marketing, now is the time to start. Read on for a few ideas on how to make Twitter, Instagram and Facebook work for you.

Create bilingual content

Twitter: Now that tweets can be up to 280 characters, as opposed to the initial 140, you have twice the space to share your thoughts. So, instead of rambling for all of those characters, write something short and sweet in your second language, and then translate it into your native tongue.

Facebook: Your content on Facebook should be translated as well. Don’t make your followers rely on using the “see translation” feature. However, should someone still choose to click this button, your thoughtful, bilingual post will surely show them the beauty of human-over-machine translation.

Create eye-catching imagery

Instagram: Turn any word, quote or thought into an attention-grabbing image by overlaying it on a photo (using Photoshop or any similar photo editing application). Then, caption your post with the translation of the text in the image. Just be sure to use your own photos so as not to infringe upon copyright.

Facebook: Photos and images with text also attract a lot of views on Facebook. However, you should be selective about what content you share on both platforms. Every Instagram post should not be shared to Facebook and vice versa.

#Hashtag everything

Hashtags are your friends on social media. Add a few hashtags to all your posts that relate to T&I, your languages and/or your specializations. Use as many as you like on Instagram and then fewer on both Twitter and Facebook. Anyone searching the terms to which you attached a hashtag has an opportunity to visit your page.

Engage with your community

The best way to continue driving traffic to your pages is by communicating consistently with your followers and others involved in your field. Be sure to follow potential clients and influencers who work in your specializations on their social media, as well as individuals and organizations you admire in the translation and interpreting sphere. Additionally, you should add posts with regularity and keep your content varied and interactive.

Twitter: Depending on how relevant the content may be to your target audience, “like,” comment on, and re-tweet other posts and news articles.

Instagram: End your photo captions with a corresponding question to encourage your followers to comment on your post.

Facebook: Use the poll feature to ask your followers questions about themselves in order to gain a better understanding of who your audience is and how you may better serve their T&I needs.

Perfect your grammar

Before you post anything on social media, be sure to double and triple check your spelling and grammar. Editing is supposed to be our specialty as linguists, so be sure your reputation remains flawless with polished and precise posting practices.

Have fun!

More than anything, social media is supposed to be an exciting and enjoyable form of marketing that feels more personable and less forceful than traditional advertising. So, step a bit outside the box of what you may view as traditionally “professional.” Always remain respectful and smart, but feel free to be your witty, quirky and entertaining self.

DSHS Credentials: Temporary Reinstatement Available

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 19:52:11 GMT

As many of you know, the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has changed its certification requirements for interpreters and translators. Many of those changes come into effect in the next couple months. Please note that DSHS authorized/certified translators and interpreters who will lose their credentials before 06/30/19 may apply for a temporary credential reinstatement through 06/29/2019. These people will, however, still be required to re-test to become re-credentialed.

Please see the following links for more information:

DSHS website: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sesa/language-testing-and-certification

Maintaining credentials flyer: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/FSA/ltc/documents/Flyer.pdf

Temporary credential application: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/FSA/ltc/documents/Temp%20Cred%20Reinstatement%20Request%20Form.pdf

DRAGOMANSHIP : AN INTERPRETING INSTITUTION IN OTTOMAN EMPIRE-ERA TURKEY AND A BRIEF LOOK AT THE MULTICULTURAL OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Fri, 01 Feb 2019 01:16:45 GMT

by NOTIS Board Member Pinar Mertan

Until I was asked to do some research about two months ago for a seminar for court interpreters, I had no idea there was a semi-official job definition of interpreting under the name of 'dragoman' in Ottoman Empire-era Turkey. As a Turkish-born person and a recently registered interpreter, I was surprised that I had missed this information. So when I was asked to contribute to NOTIS’ upcoming newsletter, I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to introduce our society (and myself) to this interesting topic.

What is a Dragoman?

"In the history of interpreting, a Dragoman was a man who acted as a guide and an interpreter in countries where Arabic, Turkish, or Persian was spoken” (Oxford Dictionary). The word dragomanis “tercüman” in Turkish, and the Ottomans used the word “tercüman” to refer to interpreters. This word originated from the Syriac language and passed into Arabic (Routledge Encyclopedia of Interpreting Studies, 119).

The Ottoman Empire and Its Subjects

The Ottoman Empire was a multiethnic, multireligious monarchy founded by the Turks in 1299 that lasted for over 600 years. The English word Ottomanis the Anglicized form of the Turkish Osmanlı, meaning 'associated with Osman’ (Teachmidest.org-Ottoman History With Resources). It survived until the end of World War I and was dissolved by the founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923.

Ottoman society was quite cosmopolitan. The Empire’s subjects came from many different ethnic and religious groups. At its height, the Ottoman Empire included modern-day Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Egypt, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, some of Arabia, Lebanon and a considerable amount of the North African coastal strip (BBC-Ottoman Empire, History.com-Ottoman Empire). The largest ethnic groups were Turks, Arabs, Greeks, Slovenians, Serbs, Albanians, Ruthenians, Wallachians, Moldavians, Croatians, Armenians, Laz, and Kurds. Ottomans dealt with minorities by letting them self-regulate. Non-Muslim religious groups were called milletsand had the autonomy to regulate their own affairs with fairly little interference from the Ottoman government. The main millets were the Jewish, Greek, and Armenian ones. By the 19th century, there were 14 millets. These groups were spread across the empire. Often, there was little contact between different millets (New World Encyclopedia).

Official Language

The official language of the empire was Ottoman Turkish, an administrative language consisting largely of Turkish grammar, with Anatolian Turkish, Arabic, and some Persian vocabulary. Ottoman Turkish belongs to the Oghuz group of Turkic languages. Ottoman Turkish was written using Arabic script. Ottoman morphology and syntax was primarily Turkic, using the order of subject-object-verb. It was primarily a written language, and today, it is no longer spoken (Encyclopedia of the Ottoman Empire, 322-323). After the Turkish Republic was founded, the Arabic script was replaced by the Latin alphabet.

Emergence of the Dragomans

In his article "The Role of Dragomans in the Ottoman Empire," Elvin Abbasbeyli writes that “the Sublime Porte and Western diplomatic missions in the Ottoman Empire needed individuals fluent in both Western and Oriental languages.” According to the Routledge Encyclopedia of Interpreting Studies (p. 121-122), institutional efforts to educate interpreters began in the mid-16th century. The most significant dragoman in the Ottoman Empire was the dragoman of the Sublime Porte, also known as the Grand Dragoman. At first, bilingual converts were employed, and they were imperial civil servants. By the 17th century, Greek Orthodox families in the Fener District of Istanbul changed this. Greek dragomans had an advantage in education and understanding of Ottoman structures. In the Ottoman hierarchy dragomans ranked very highly, and the job had some advantages, such as tax exemption. The title of Dragoman of the Sublime Porte was passed from father to son. In 1821 a Translation Office was established where Muslims began to learn foreign languages, and the Greek families were expelled from this profession completely.

Western ambassadors and merchants also employed dragomans in their relations with the Ottomans. Those dragomans were chosen among the Latin Catholic families of the Galata area of Istanbul. But since these dragomans were Ottoman and were not fluent in Western languages, the European countries decided to teach and employ their own citizens. The Venetians led the way by sending young language students to Istanbul to learn Oriental languages. Those “Giovani della Lingua” or “Jeunes de Langues” became dragomans in relations with the Ottomans. The French followed suit by establishing a school named “L’Ecole des Enfants de Langues” in 1669. The graduates would be employed as missionaries or dragomans by their government (Gürçağlar, “The Diplomatic Trinity,” 3-5).

Dragomans' Role and Contributions

According to Professor Nathalie Rothman, “Dragomans are often known as diplomatic translators, but their responsibilities and roles went much further than being mere interpreters.” Dragomans had diplomatic, consular, and commercial roles and they even served as pilgrimage guides and spies (Routledge Encyclopedia of Interpreting Studies, 119).

Dragomans' importance to the Ottoman Empire peaked when the empire reached its widest territorial reach during the 15th and 16th centuries. They served as important intermediaries between the Palace and non-Turkish-speaking subjects well into the 19th century. Although most of them were the Empire’s own people, some of the imperial dragomans were from foreign countries (Routledge Encyclopedia of Interpreting Studies, 120-121).

Dragomans took assignments at different offices in many regions. They performed their job by interpreting in consecutive and in whispering modes, and they held a wide range of diplomatic, commercial, and consular duties in other Ottoman cities. It is known that Venetian dragomans served as official emissaries and recorded their diplomatic missions in writing. The Venetian dragomans in Istanbul were probably the largest group of these professionals, but by the 17th century, all foreign embassies in the Ottoman capital had at least one dragoman (Routledge Encyclopedia of Interpreting Studies, 120-121).

The dragomans enjoyed a legal status called beratlı, which means ‘holders of a patent'. Their numbers, privileges, and responsibilities were all listed in imperial charters granted by the Sultan to other countries (Routledge Encyclopedia of Interpreting Studies, 122).

As Professor Rothman notes, “Dragomans wrote some of the earliest works on the Ottoman-Turkish language.” Their contributions lasted through the 20th century, and their impact went far beyond diplomacy. Their writings about Ottoman society and culture were a huge contribution to the philological study of early Ottoman texts. They also translated several extended Ottoman chronicles. Their position in the Ottoman Empire and their connections with Ottomans and foreigners alike let them build strong ties with political elites. Having access to valuable knowledge allowed them to write about Ottoman language, history, arts, sciences, theology, music, and botany, to name a few (Routledge Encyclopedia of Interpreting Studies, 123-124).

Translation Office

In 1821, the Translation Office was established and served more as a school by preparing young men to serve abroad as embassy secretaries. Some of these later became ambassadors, foreign ministers, and even grand viziers. The office became part of the Foreign Ministry when it was organized in 1836 (Encyclopedia.com) and became a channel of the intelligence network. Documents in foreign languages were translated and stored in the archives of the Translation Office before going to the higher offices. The Translation Office employed primarily Muslim officers, rather than non-Muslim or Greek dragomans, many of whom later became prominent statesmen (Kamay, Public Diplomacy and the Translation Office in the Ottoman Empire, 3-6).

For a generation, the Translation Office was one of the best sources of Western education in Istanbul. This office continued being an important place to begin a career, and it was in operation until the empire came to its end in 1922 (Encyclopedia.com).

RESOURCES

Professor Nathalie Rothman’s works in the Routledge Encyclopedia of Interpreting Studies

Public Diplomacy and the Translation Office in the Ottoman Empireby Berna Kamay

The Diplomatic Trinityby Aykut Gürçağlar

“The Role of Dragomans in the Ottoman Empire” by Elvin Abbasbeyli

Encyclopedia of the Ottoman Empire

New World Encyclopedia

Encyclopedia.com

Teachmideast.org

INTERNATIONAL TRANSLATION DAY 2018

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 18:37:56 GMT

Two years ago, the United Nations declared September 30th International Translation Day, and in 2018, NOTIS celebrated that weekend with a two-day event!

On the first day, we hosted the NOTIS Language & Job Fair, where professionals and students were able to meet and network with several organizations who offer a range of opportunities, from local interpreting jobs, to contracts with an internationally based translation agency, to volunteer opportunities with the Northwest Justice Project to provide interpreting for refugee populations. The Northwest Literary Translators even set up a booth to promote their creative work and sell their published books.

In order to continue the fun, and for some of us, in order to avoid peak rush-hour traffic, we gathered for drinks and snacks afterwards. Happy Hour was filled with lots of laughs and some much-needed socialization, as we swapped work stories and travel adventures with our fellow language professionals. This time was especially valuable to those of us that work alone most of the time!

The autumnal air was crisp the next morning, as eighty translators and interpreters came together over coffee, pastries, and professional development! For translators, terminology was the initial topic of the day. Mr. Tim Gregory led a presentation that reminded us that efficiency and consistency are the main purpose of terminology organization. He also taught us about several free tools that are available to help in the often overwhelming and time-consuming effort of researching and recording terms. One of the most accessible resources that Mr. Gregory suggested was Microsoft OneNote. OneNote catalogues everything that is uploaded, including scanned documents with handwriting on them. With proper exploration and practice, this often-underutilized product in the Office Suite could be a translator’s answer to merging and quickly searching through his or her assortment of vocabulary spreadsheets, bilingual documents, and even scanned source texts scribbled with annotations.

Next up, Mr. Roger Kohn and Ms. Jackie Leader from Tousley Brain Stephens law firm kindly donated their time to discuss legal issues freelancers often face, such as what types of businesses we can own and how to write and enter into contracts with our clients. Their main piece of advice, above even the most minute details, was to record everything at all times. If you have not documented in writing where your money is going, and which services you agree to provide, it is as if the agreement never existed!

Meanwhile, many interpreters chose to attend two sessions regarding medical interpreting and interpreting in high profile, high pressure situations with Ms. Hiroko Ishii, who has interpreted for prestigious clients such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Bill Clinton, Mother Teresa, and the Dalai Lama. Thanks to experiences such as these, Ms. Ishii learned and shared with us that in preparation for an intense interpreting assignment, it is vital to watch and listen to videos of people for whom you are going to interpret. If you do, you will have a sense of which words they like to use most often and the cadence of their speech, which will help you provide a better rendition when it is your turn to interpret what that individual has just conveyed. Also, during her workshops, Ms. Ishii challenged attendees to consider the side effects of extended and all-day interpreting assignments, as well as the importance of taking days off to decompress and study.

After a delicious lunch of bánh mì sandwiches, all attendees came together for an ethics presentation by former ATA president Caitilin Walsh. Mixed in with a few witty quips and a bit of humor only interpreters and translators would understand, Ms. Walsh analyzed various codes of ethics within our field and how these compare to an individual’s moral code. She shared several scenarios in which colleagues had to juggle their personal moral beliefs with their professional code of ethics. She then called upon the audience to give our input regarding whether or not interpreters in various real-world examples had properly observed their code of ethics. Attendees were encouraged to think critically about how we would respond in certain situations where our moral beliefs might conflict with our code of ethics. She concluded her engaging talk with a reminder that “we need to be mindful that [what one does as an individual] reflects upon us as a profession,” and that we are all in this together.

We concluded our day with a translation and interpreting agency discussion panel in which representatives from Academy of Languages, Universal Language Service, and King County Superior Court graciously participated. After sharing a bit about each of their organizations, the speakers shared ideas on how to achieve harmony between freelancers and project managers by being able to tactfully give and receive feedback, as well as general tips and tricks within our industry. Workshop participants were able to submit questions and receive feedback on a range of topics from advice on getting started in the field, such as joining relevant organizations like NOTIS and getting certified, to ways of building a steadier income stream, like working in remote interpreting. Finally, all of our panelists encouraged freelancers to view contracting agencies as teammates in the industry and to leave lines of communication open at all times.

NOTIS strives to provide rewarding events, workshops and presentations for its member base. We look forward to offering another exciting International Translation Day event next year, and welcome any suggestions about subject matter you would like to see presented in 2019. Please feel free to e-mail us at info@notisnet.org.

Q&A with The Academy of Languages Translation and Interpretation Services

Wed, 31 Oct 2018 17:18:31 GMT

NOTIS is pleased to present this Q&A with our corporate member, The Academy of Languages Translation and Interpretation Services (www.aolti.com). Thank you to Olivier Fabris for taking the time to participate in this interview.

Q: Can you please tell us a little about your organization?

A: The company started operating in 1979 as part of a language school. In 2002 we separated from the school and became an independent corporation focused on providing translation and interpretation services. Our mission is to empower our clients to connect with foreign language speakers at home and abroad through professional language services.

Q: What are the main services you offer?

A: We primarily offer translation and interpretation services in the business, legal, medical and technical fields. Our interpretation services are almost exclusively delivered in person. We also provide some multimedia services (e.g. voice over, subtitling, transcription), website localization and multilingual desktop publishing.

Q: With what languages do you work?

A: We work primarily with Western European, Asian and some African languages, but our network of professional linguists covers most languages requested by our clients. We work with organizations that serve the local LEP community, so the languages requested for those assignments roughly reflect the make-up of the local immigrant population. We also work with clients who sell their products and services overseas, and the languages requested for those projects don’t follow the same breakdown.

Q: What sets you apart as a language serviced provider?

A: We are a small family-owned operation and are able to adapt quickly to different requirements. We treat our translators and interpreters with respect, and we like to build relationships over time. We’ve been working with some of our translators for over 20 years! We do not compromise on quality. We recruit all of our linguists very carefully and we do not work with contractors whom we feel are not qualified or a good fit for the assignment. We hand pick our contractors for every assignment.

Q: What advice do you have for translators/interpreters and project managers working together?

A: Communicate, communicate, communicate! Given the line of business we are in, it seems obvious, but I’ve seen feelings getting hurt or relationships souring due to a simple misunderstanding or miscommunication. For all parties involved, be polite and respectful. Work together for the betterment of the industry, and promote high standards.

Project managers need to give their linguists clear instructions. And in return, those instructions need to be read, understood, and followed. If something isn’t clear, say something! Adherence to the schedule is of the utmost importance – do not be late for an assignment or deliver a project past the deadline. Keep your commitments (don’t give back a job you are already committed to because a better opportunity comes along). Know your limits and be honest with yourself and your client.

Q: What advice do you have for language professionals who are new to the field?

A: Be patient and dedicated. If you are passionate about what you do, and you are good at it, you will succeed! Join professional organizations. Network and market yourself. Research the industry and potential clients. Try to specialize in a few specific areas. Find a mentor. Talk to more experienced colleagues. Work towards getting a professional certification. Price your services attractively. Triple check your resume and cover letter for typos. Be responsive when a prospective client contacts you.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to share with translators, interpreters, students or other language service providers?

A: We value our partnership with our freelance translators and interpreters and believe that agencies and independent contractors are better off working together to advance the T&I professions.

Practical Advice from the Pacific Northwest Court Interpreter Conference

Fri, 05 Oct 2018 00:03:49 GMT

Written by: Svetlana Kupriyanova, 2018 NOTIS Conference Scholarship Recipient

The Pacific Northwest Court Interpreter Conference, which usually takes place in Portland, Oregon, is one of my favorite conferences to attend. This year I was fortunate to receive a scholarship from NOTIS and was able to go to this wonderful event again! Though a long way from Mount Vernon, Washington, it was a great place to spend a fall weekend, especially when one had an opportunity to sharpen her interpreting skills in a supportive and interactive environment with people who work, laugh, and learn together.

This year the class that I attended taught me how to practice and develop my interpreting skills on a daily basis. I was a bit weary of the topic at first and thought that maybe I would just hear the typical “listen to the radio and interpret” piece of advice. However, when the instructor brought out equipment for every participant, and we started to record our interpretations, I happily realized that this was something I had never done before.

While listening to my recorded interpretation, I was pleasantly surprised by my fluency, precision, and clarity. I was proud of my work, and I had not expected to feel that way. It gave me a lot of confidence in my abilities and inspired me to strive to produce even higher quality interpretations. We continued to do similar exercises several times, each time trying to improve and perfect our work. We used different modes of interpreting, and I could clearly see how I could better myself. I discovered I needed improvement in an area where I had not anticipated. In other words, these exercises were an eye opener and a great chance for me to re-evaluate my skills.

Now, I am working to incorporate these short exercises and recording sessions into my routine. With technology so readily available to me every day, I can do these valuable exercises anywhere simply by using my phone.

Sometimes a little bit of guidance makes all the difference. I am very grateful to the Oregon Judicial Department and NOTIS for this opportunity. Throughout the years, I have received a lot of good, practical, and applicable advice when participating in the Pacific Northwest Interpreter Conferences. I hope I am able to continue to attend and to see all of you, my friends, next year!

No Longer an ATA Annual Conference Newbie

Thu, 15 Mar 2018 19:56:12 GMT

Written by: Laine Ferrer-George, 2017 NOTIS Scholarship Recipient for the ATA Annual Conference

I had so much fun and excitement when I attended my first American Translators Association (ATA) Annual Conference and first ever trip to Washington D.C. from October 25 to October 28, 2017. It has been my wish since I became an interpreter in 2015 to be able to experience an event like this where over 1,700 members gather annually to gain and exchange new ideas and knowledge in order to expand and strengthen their businesses and skills. I am forever grateful to the NOTIS Scholarship Committee for making my wish a reality and for giving me the opportunity to experience what it feels like to belong to a top-notch association comprised of highly educated and capable translators and interpreters from all around the country!

When I first looked at the conference program, all I could say was “wow!” It was filled with activities that took months of planning. There were over 170 educational sessions as well as an exhibit hall, a job fair, division meetings and dinners, networking gatherings, and other special events. It could be an overwhelming and intimidating experience for a new attendee.

However, as a first-time attendee, or a “newbie,” I signed up to have a seasoned attendee, or a “buddy,” to make things easier for myself. My assigned buddy, Christine, is a professional freelance Spanish translator from Brooklyn, New York. She was very helpful in guiding me and introducing me to all her new and long-time friends. My roommate, Kathryn, became my second buddy. She is also a Spanish translator and a NOTIS member from Seattle, Washington. I felt so at ease with both of them, especially since they had been attending the conference for a long time and were familiar with all the ropes already!

During the conference, I was exposed to various learning tools and resources available to translators and interpreters. When you become an ATA member, you earn access all kinds of online professional development information and webinars. The ATA directory is another valuable resource that connects you with agencies, translators, interpreters, and students. As a result of my membership, I have been contacted by agencies for various projects.

The best advice I received from one of the educational speakers was to always listen carefully and understand the meaning of what we are trying to interpret first before making a rendition. This requires a lot of critical thinking because without meaning, translation and interpretation is lost.

I was also impressed by ATA President David Rumsey’s opening speech in which he described the ATA as a home, such “that we’re continually improving our house, where the living room is always welcoming to our new and old guests, and we share knowledge and ideas, so we can all achieve success in making our profession better.” I think this statement captured the essence of why we celebrate this annual event. It is like having a big family reunion where connections are built together to strengthen long-lasting relationships.

Overall, my first ATA Annual Conference experience has energized and motivated me to continuously improve myself. I encourage other NOTIS members to attend this memorable event at least once! Thanks again, NOTIS. Now, I can proudly say that I am no longer a “newbie!”

A New Year with New Goals

Tue, 27 Feb 2018 01:51:42 GMT

Happy 2018! It is often hard to believe another year has come and gone, yet here we are two full months into the new year already. For NOTIS, the new year meant growth for our Board of Directors, as we welcomed five new members (read about them here: Board of Directors). As a Board of twelve, we all met together for the first time in January to get to know one another, organize, and discuss fresh ideas on how to best serve the translation and interpretation community.

I left our first meeting feeling inspired to be a part of such a dynamic group of linguists and invigorated to not only make the most out of my experience on the Board, but also to better myself as a translator. As fellow new Board member, Laura Friend, and I carpooled together back to Kitsap, the hour-long drive quickly passed as we excitedly reflected on the meeting and our own experiences in the translation industry. I shared how intimidated I am by the prospect of taking a certification exam. Laura encouraged me to pursue practice tests and to build my confidence through preparation, rather than just feeling like I needed to jump in and sign up for the next exam. Her reassurance, along with the support of our stimulating NOTIS organization, has motivated me to make this year my year of certification preparation.

Whether you are just starting out on your translation career or you are a seasoned interpreter, the beginning of a new year is the perfect time for all of us to reflect on work habits we may want to change, or ways in which we can improve professionally. So, take this month to brainstorm, dream, strategize, prepare, and set a new goal for yourself: maybe it is something you have been putting off for a while, or maybe you are ready to reach for new heights in your career!

Get certified

Certification can benefit all linguists, translators and interpreters alike, as a proof of knowledge, skills, and professionalism. In addition to ATA certification, other organizations offer certifications for medical interpreters, and some states administer certifications for translators and court interpreters. Begin by researching which option best suits your professional needs, verify that you are able to meet all educational or other prerequisites, and start working on acing those practice tests.

Education

In addition to certification, having a higher education in translation and interpretation, your learned languages, or your areas of specialization, will enhance your credibility as a linguist and give you confidence as an expert in the field. Translation and Interpreting degrees, which are widely available overseas, are becoming more prevalent in the States, and options for on-site or online learning are continually increasing. If you have been considering pursuing more education, start researching programs or courses that best fit your professional aspirations. If you already plan on enrolling in a translation or interpretation program for the 2018-2019 academic year, apply for a NOTIS scholarship to help cover the cost of tuition and books.

Technology

Whether it is a new computer aided translation (CAT) tool, or diving into voice recognition software, such as Dragon, integrating technology into your work flow can make translating more efficient; however, the learning curve is quite the opposite. If you already own a program that you avoid using or if is time to invest in a new license, make your goal this year to commit extra time to learning and gaining proficiency. You could start by participating in an online training session, but mostly it just takes patience and practice with trial and error before you are able to fully incorporate and appreciate any new software. If you are unfamiliar with CAT tools, translation memory software is designed to improve productivity as it saves and recalls segments of a linguist’s previously translated texts for future projects. SDL Trados and memoQ are two of the most trusted brands, and if you are a Mac user like myself, Wordfast is an easy choice.

Update your website

If you have a website or blog, of if you want to create one, make it your mission this year to update your credentials, write a post more frequently, or design a page to attract more business. You need not be an expert in HTML to create an attractive and professional page, and hopefully your desktop publishing skills will improve in the process as well. Be sure to update your NOTIS profile with your new website link when you are finished.

Get involved with NOTIS

We may be biased, but this is probably the most exciting professional goal you could set for yourself this year. Our chosen career can often be lonely, so getting involved with other likeminded souls is the best way to counteract that drawback. Check out our events page to register and attend an event focusing on your specialization or language pair, or if you live too far away from Seattle, host your own coffee meet-up! If you want to dive even deeper, join a committee and volunteer your time with us. We would love to meet you, and new friends and networking opportunities certainly await.

Attend the ATA Conference

This year the ATA 59^th Annual Conference will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 24-27, 2018. Even though the official details have not been released yet, attending the conference can be a financial and logistical strain, so planning to attend sooner rather than later is recommended. This way, you can set financial goals to save up for it throughout the year. Not to mention, once they announce the location, the conference hotel will book up quickly, and you will want to reserve your room right away. If you plan properly, though, it will be well worth it. The conference is the best place to mingle with fellow linguists, network with potential employers, and learn new skillsets. You will leave feeling rejuvenated to take on your next big translation project and grateful to be part of such a diverse, intelligent, and invigorating community. If you will be a first-time attendee, be sure to apply for the NOTIS scholarship that covers the registration fee and provides a travel stipend.

What is your new goal for 2018, and how are you planning on achieving it? Let us know in the comments below, on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Good luck!

Studying Spanish Translation Through a Canadian Program

Elise Kruidenier — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 19:40:14 GMT

Written by: Heidi Schmaltz, 2017 NOTIS Scholarship Recipient

Although there are legal requirements in the United States to provide linguistic access in courts, hospitals, and schools, many professionals working in the field of translation and interpretation lack the theoretical orientation that can be gained through formal study. We may be proficient in the languages we use in our profession, but we are not necessarily proficient in the language of our profession itself. A recent NOTIS blog post entitled “Our Neighbo(u)rs to the North” encouraged members to look north for training opportunities, thus addressing this lack of proficiency. I did just that: allow me to share my experience with the Spanish Translation Certificate through UBC Extended Learning.

The certificate program through the University of British Columbia consists of three required online or in-person courses (students in the online program can take one of the three courses in person during the summer). After completing the three required courses, students complete a final translation project. The courses cover a wide variety of topics from literary, medical and legal translation to Spanish writing conventions for specializations such as advertising, marketing and online publications. The first two courses focus on different theoretical approaches to translation, such as dynamic vs. formal equivalence, as well as possible translation strategies based the different approaches. Rather than arguing over which approach is best, students are given the opportunity to explore the pros and cons of each. This was refreshing and transformative. Students view translation through Amaro Hurtado Albir’s categories (2001), which label interpreting and its various modes as a modality of translation. The translation strategies learned are extremely relevant to interpreting and I would suggest similar training for anyone who works as an interpreter.

After completing the three courses, and now being in the process of finishing my final project, I feel I have obtained a solid level of proficiency in the language of translation. I also discovered many free online glossaries and journals. Here are a few gems that Spanish translators may find useful:

Punto y Coma. Boletín de traductores españoles de las instituciones de la Unión Europea: http://ec.europa.eu/translation/spanish/magazine/es_magazine_es.htm
Trans. Revista de Traductología: http://www.trans.uma.es/
Revista de la historia de la traducción http://www.traduccionliteraria.org/1611/
Rebecca Jowers Léxico Jurídico Español-Inglés: https://rebeccajowers.com/
Termium Plus (French, Spanish and Portuguse): http://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/

In addition to the helpful new online resources, I was able to learn more about the field of translation and interpretation in Canada. Unlike here in the U.S., working as a translator in Canada often requires credentials beyond a short certificate program. A degree in T&I, certification, and/or at least five years of full-time work experience is often needed for employment. The UBC program meets partial requirements to apply for associate membership on dossier in the Society of Translators and Interpreters of British Columbia. Members are then allowed to sit for the certification exam which is offered yearly.

While the certificate program covers both translation and interpretation and is strong on theory, I found it to be weaker in the area of ethics and standards for interpreters, specifically. My classmates enjoyed learning about my work as a certified court and medical interpreter in the states. As often happens when borders are crossed, in the case of Canada we have just as much to share from here down south as to learn from our neighbo(u)rs to the north.

Translation: Sameness, Likeness and Match

Shelley Fairweather-Vega — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 23:44:20 GMT

Translation: Sameness, Likeness and Match

By Viktor Slepovitch, Ph.D.

Viktor Slepovitch is Associate Professor and Department Chair at the Department of Business English, Belarus State Economic University, Minsk, Belarus, and Principal Consultant for Washington Translation Bureau (a NOTIS corporate member).

Dr. Slepovitch reviews the “Translating Europe” 4^th International Conference, October 5-6, 2017, Vilnius University, Lithuania.

A very special event for translators, interpreters, and academics occurred this past October to mark the 20^th anniversary of the Department of Translation and Interpretation Studies of Vilnius University. Vilnius University is the oldest institution of higher education in Lithuania.

The Department Chair, Professor Nijole Maskaliuniene, and the faculty, in collaboration with the European Commission's Directorate-General for Translation, did a tremendous job arranging this large-scale conference on translation issues, which brought in participants from 17 countries. It was indeed a privilege for me to participate in the capacity of presenter alongside other professionals in the field.

Plenary speakers were carefully selected to meet the interests and expectations of the audience. They included Pietro U. Dini (University of Pisa, Italy), Luc van Doorslater (University of Leuven, Belgium), Filip Majcen (Directorate General for Interpretation (DGI), European Commission), and Robin Setton (International Association of Conference Interpreters).

Apart from the plenary speakers and presenters who delivered papers in parallel sections, there were workshops for students and freelance translators that focused on translator competencies and skills in the contemporary labor market, as well as on practical aspects of the work, including case studies. These workshops were run by representatives of the European Commission’s DGI and the translation agency Alumnus.

In this short review, I would like to share with you the most insightful and mind-broadening ideas expressed by the keynote speakers Luc van Doorslater and Robin Setton, who reported research findings which truly became food for thought and the subject of discussions among the conference participants.

Professor Luc van Doorslater of the University of Leuven started his presentation, “Media translation and imagology: Translation in newsrooms and image building,” by commenting on how blurry the concept of ‘nation’ is from a research perspective. He then drew the audience’s attention to the issue of languages as framing factors for images and identities. This was followed by his observations on the extended subject of translation studies. Van Doorslater continued by exploring new fields in which the translation process is applied, including migration/assimilation as translation, identity development as translation, travel as translation, and news processes in the media as translation.

Imagology/image studies for translation purposes, according to Doorslater, focus on the cultural representation of otherness: of a country/state/people in the literature of another country, as well as extra-literary sources and the importance of para- and metatexts. In the example of France, he identified the following positive and negative constants that turned out to be contradictions in the national representation: civil behavior, verbal eloquence, and refined social manners (positive) vs. arrogance, showiness, and vanity (negative).

Finally, Doorslater highlighted a challenge for media translators, which he called the automaticity of stereotyping. Translation problems in journalists’ texts are related to all kinds of stereotypes that are in place due to the journalists being poorly informed, which results in an “overabundance of nationality-related stereotypes.”

Robin Setton (International Association of Conference Interpreters) delivered an “Update on (advanced) conference interpreter training.” He started with what many consider to be “threats to the profession of conference interpreter.” The number one “threat” is that more people are now fluent in English and do not need interpretation. This is the result of the combination of ELF (English as a lingua franca), or Globish, with media exposure. ELF (Globish) is now a basic business tool, like a smartphone. Meetings conducted only in ELF run more quickly and smoothly, but the exchange of ideas may be superficial and unequal. The number two “threat” is machine translation.

The largest market for interpreters worldwide is now bilingual, being mainly that between a local (national) language and English. The conditions under which conference interpreters must operate range mostly between reading a prepared text (which is easier than speaking impromptu because the content can be controlled in advance) and spontaneous interpreting, when speakers are not willing to share their texts (for security reasons).

Later on, Setton focused on special skills conference interpreters need when working in different settings:

formal language (when interpreting ceremonial, official or ritual speeches);
precision and completeness (for legal/courtroom interpreting);
flexibility (for community interpreting).

Another important skill is adaptation and mitigation in conference interpreting, especially when changes in the conference climate are beyond the interpreters’ control.

According to Setton, interpreters can only mitigate the impact of those changes through their relations with clients (negotiating conditions, getting documents in advance, explaining the interpreters' role) and adapt by updating their skillset or diversify into other branches of interpreting and translation; learning about these new settings and roles, while bringing with them their high standards and professionalism.

The concluding part of Setton’s talk was about the optimization of interpreters’ work. It covered (1) optimization of form (changing how, but not what is said), i.e. managing the information flow, organization, style, and presentation; (2) optimization of content: explaining (annotating), clarifying, elaborating/compressing, correcting, filtering, toning down, and censoring; (3) optimization of process: intervening by asking a speaker to clarify, repeat or expand; asking for texts in booths; signaling to stop all talking at once; clarifying their own role (e.g. taking turns, segment length, etc.); clearing up cultural misunderstanding and communication failures.

There was also an emphasis on the need for stronger mediation on the part of a conference interpreter in the form of interrupting and regulating the flow of talk, assuming a moderator’s role, and providing commentary or certain information. As a matter of fact, this is all outside the interpreter’s standard role, but it can be considered in some contexts, at the request of clients (if all sides agree).

Meeting these challenges that interpreters currently face will eventually facilitate and improve the process of building bridges between people worldwide.

Takeaways from NOTIS Panel Discussion: Working with Agencies

Elise Kruidenier — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 17:31:46 GMT

Panel Discussion: Working with Agencies

On November 11, NOTIS hosted a panel discussion with the following participants:

* Stacey Brown-Sommers, MindLink
* Jessica Rogauskas, Universal Language Service
* Dimitri Azadi, Purple
* Suenne Dixon, Academy of Languages

The panelists discussed the topic of working with agencies: how to start out, get work, maintain good relationships, etc. Here, we’ll provide an overview of what was discussed during the panel.

The takeaway message here is that there is plenty of work for everybody, although it can take time to get established, depending on your language pair. Of course, your language skills need to be solid, but the panelists emphasized soft skills even more. If you’re professional and you work well with others, you’re more likely to get called back.

Below is a summary of questions discussed.

Why are agencies relevant?

Agencies provide a number of benefits for linguists:

* scheduling
* billing and taxes
* confidence you’ll get paid
* marketing
* communication and education with client
* HIPPA compliance
* advocacy for contractors and the industry

Do agencies worry about linguists leaving for direct clients?

* No, contractors are free to work independently, and generally must, because no one agency can provide enough work for a full schedule.
* However, it’s not cool to steal clients. It happens, but not often.
* An attitude of abundance is helpful. There is a lot of potential work for everybody.

How can interpreters build a good relationship with agencies?

* Be clear about your specialities, so an agency knows when to call you.
* Get certified.
* Do continuing education.
* Be engaged with the agency and the community.
* Be professional.
* Don’t be a diva.
* Be willing to travel.
* Answer the phone.
* Show up for work on time (surprisingly, this is a big issue).
* Be proactive and clear about any problems.

How can you stand out as a translator?

* Read the instructions carefully.
* Work independently.
* Engage with agency (likes on social media, etc.).
* Do continuing education.
* Be clear about qualifications (language, specialities, certifications).
* Have a profile on LinkedIn (with picture—this makes a difference for many).
* Meet your commitments.

How can we work better together?

* Work as a team.
* Communicate clearly.
* Keep the client happy.
* Have good relationships with colleagues.
* If you’re turning back a job, recommend a colleague who is available.
* Communicate about problems.
* Work to ensure fair policies.
* Show up on time.
* Read policies about client cancellations so you’re not surprised about getting paid.

Comments about ASL interpreting

* Team work helps interpreters mentor and also become aware of serious problems with performance.
* ASL is a small community, so awareness of issues spreads fast.

Getting started as a new translator/interpreter

* Get involved in the community.
* Get certified.
* Do continuing education.
* Follow up with agencies from time to time.
* Turnover rate is high, so be patient.
* Be flexible (be willing to travel or work on short notice).
* Don’t turn down work too often. It’s fine to be booked already.

Thank you to German translator Melody Winkle for taking notes!

Education for Literary Translation

Elise Kruidenier — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 17:14:34 GMT

by Jennifer O’Donnell and Tim Gregory

On November 8, 2017, the NOTIS Literary Translators had a roundtable discussion on Education for Literary Translators with Tim Gregory and Jennifer O'Donnell, and co-founder of the NW Literary Translators group, Shelley Fairweather-Vega, acting as host.

Tim Gregory is an Arabic to English ATA accredited translator who is working on transitioning into more literary translation. He’s currently completing his MA in Translation with the University of Illinois and team-teaching one class on technology at Bellevue College in their Translation and Interpreting Certificate program.

Jennifer O'Donnell is a Japanese to English translator with an MA in Theory and Practice of Translation from SOAS, and is also studying Translation and Interpreting at Bellevue College. Jennifer is a Bilingual Logistics Coordinator for an export company and runs her translation business J-EN Translations on the side.

We asked everyone in the room to introduce themselves and share their own translation education experiences. The majority had learned translation and about the translation business the long way – either as a bilingual or a language student, and then, to quote one attendee, “making all of the mistakes we have to make and then figuring out how to make a living at it.”

Tim’s Experience Completing the MA in Translation with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Tim has found the program at UIUC to be what he expected and hoped after reading up on the curriculum and requirements. The MA in Translation and Interpreting is divided into three tracks: Translation for the Professions, Literary and Applied Literary Translation, or Conference and Community Interpreting. Tim is focused on the literary translation track.

There are general courses in translation theory, ethics, practice, and technology that cover much of the basics of translation and tools used by translators, but little in the way of practical advice on things like freelance business models, setting rates, creating invoices, tracking projects, and so on, even though several of the instructors do freelance translation work.

If a student works with French or Spanish, they will find that many of the professors in the program work in those pairs as well and can provide in-depth feedback on translation assignments. Even when the professor does not share the student’s language, however, they provide excellent feedback on the structure and readability of a translation. In some cases, Tim has found this to be a particular strength of the program.

Once beyond the general courses, specialization and electives kick in. These classes take the students through the process of translating literature including poetry and short stories, with final projects like creating a literary magazine (for the class only, not for publication).

The school offers translation or elective courses for the following languages: French, German, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and Arabic. If a language-specific translation course is not available, students can take one of the electives instead. Later, they will have the opportunity to work with a mentor who is a professor in their language, if appropriate, as part of their capstone project for the MA – or select a mentor from outside UIUC with approval from the capstone coordinator.

The MA capstone project can be just about anything of substance related to the translation field, but a translation alone would not be sufficient. A paper written about a lengthy translation, creation of a specialized terminology database, development of a translation-related class, or appropriate research have all been used by students in the past.

Jennifer's Experience with the MA in Theory and Practice of Translation from SOAS

Jennifer did not have a great experience with her MA. She joined the program because it was at a very prestigious school for languages and international culture, but she found the MA to be sorely lacking.

The program was half theory and half practicing translation, with little to no feedback or direction. She was not taught how the theory applies to practical daily translation, and with no feedback on translations, she felt like her translation skills didn't improve at all.

When she graduated, she struggled a lot, not just because of the lack of translation skills, but also due to the lack of business know-how. Without any guidance to the freelance business, she had to turn to the internet and other translators. Then when she moved to Bellevue, the Bellevue College T&I certificate program to make up for the education she felt she missed.

Education in the Business Side of Translation

Many people at the event agreed that educational programs for translators often lack business training.

This concerns not only how to determine rates, of course (which is mostly a US-based hang-up because of the ATA/FTC antitrust issues), but also how to find and work with clients, create invoices, set up a business and so on.

Some favorite resources that were shared which counter this lack of education include Corinne McKay’s How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator and her online courses and podcast, as well as Tess Whitty’s Marketing Tips for Translators podcast. Both are good resources for the business-running side of translation.

Bellevue College Translation and Interpreting Certificate Program

The Bellevue College curriculum introduces translation and interpreting skills at a good pace, honing on everyone's skills before allowing people to focus on their language pairs. They emphasize the importance of knowing that translation and/or interpreting needs to be a good fit for you before you put the time, effort and money investing in the skills.

A lot of business acumen is included in the Bellevue College curriculum, and the Tech for Translators class that Tim team-teaches not only covers TM tools, but also general computer and word processing skills, including an introduction to opensource operating systems and tools and lessons about using technology to organize translation workflow.

Despite satisfaction on that front, the students who had attended BC were disappointed that the program there does not address literary translation. Tim promised to propose adding a literary elective and possibly a writing skills elective when the BC board next meets.

Education in Writing Skills

We then discussed education in writing skills as part of a translator’s education.

Tim described the Translator Journal exercise in Dr. Patricia Phillips’ Writing for Translators class and how it has evolved for him from a 5-minute daily practice of high-speed, no reference translation practice into learning to mimic different authors’ voices. He shared these exercises as something everyone could do for themselves to improve as translators and writers, in order to avoid always translating into one’s own voice.

Everyone agreed that having peers review your work is great at helping hone your skills. That's why the NOTIS Literary Translation Feedback Forums (the next one is coming up on December 21) are a great experience for all participants.

After input from one attendee who is going through an MFA program with “very low residency” in New Jersey (and residency locations around the US), we may even have sparked a movement to (through NOTIS, most likely) create a literary translator’s retreat somewhere in the area in the next year or two. This would include a week of time to translate, combined with workshopping, guest speakers, readings, and peace and quiet, similar to the week-long Middlebury Bread Loaf Translators’ Conference in Vermont, USA.

Link Roundup:

Higher Education (MA and non-MA) Programs:

ATA list of approved translation and interpreting schools

MA in Translation with the University of Illinois

Translation and Interpretation Certificate Program at Bellevue College, WA

Certificate in Localization with the University of Washington

Literary Translation Resources

Emerging Literary Translators' Network in America

The American Literary Translators Association

Bread Loaf Translators Conference

Translate at City

NOTIS Literary Translation Feedback Forum

Translation Business Resources:

Marketing Tips for Translators

How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator [Book]

Thoughts on Translation

Success by RX

Situational subject-matter awareness in translation

Shelley Fairweather-Vega — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 20:30:20 GMT

NOTIS is pleased to present a guest blog post by translator Viktor Slepovitch. Examples given are in Russian, but we hope the topic will be useful to everyone.

Viktor Slepovitch is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Business English at Belarus State Economic University (Minsk, Belarus). He obtained his Ph.D. in Linguistics from Minsk State Linguistic University, was a Fulbright visiting scholar at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), and won the Chevening award presented by St. Mary College, Twickenham, London. Viktor has also been a guest lecturer at California State University (Bakersfield). He is Principal Consultant for Washington Translation Bureau, a NOTIS corporate member.

The role of situational subject-matter awareness in translation

When reading a professionally translated text, we do not focus on the fact that it is a translation—instead, our attention is drawn to the subject matter of the text. What might make us aware we are dealing with a translation is a multitude of translation faux pas. The best way to avoid those is situational subject-matter awareness, and contextual awareness, which I would argue is a part of a translator’s competency and professionalism.

Situational subject-matter is the persons, objects and phenomena found in the text, as well as the relationships between them. Translation scholar E. Breus states that the same extralinguistic situation can be perceived and described differently in different languages [1]. Clearly, without situational subject-matter awareness, a translator is not able to produce an adequate translation and fully convey the message meant by the author in the source language.

Here are two examples in which situational subject-matter awareness is vital for understanding what the original text is about.

ENGLISH – RUSSIAN: Why is it that smokers always head out coatless, no matter what the weather? (Head out – выходят из здания на улицу = are leaving the building rather than стремятся выйти or направляются = are trying to leave or are headed for.)

RUSSIAN – ENGLISH: Библиотечный фонд университета составляет полтора миллиона экземпляров книг. (Библиотечный фонд is not the library fund, but the number of books held.) [2], [3].

Without situational subject-matter awareness the wrong translation is unavoidable. In a TV program about rock musicians of the 1980s who arranged concerts for charity, it was said that the musicians called themselves representatives of the Band Aid generation. According to Wikipedia, the term originated from a charity super-group featuring mainly British and Irish musicians founded in 1984 to raise money for anti-famine efforts in Ethiopia by releasing the song “Do they know it’s Christmas?”.

The translation of this phrase into Russian came out as поколение групповой помощи (literally “the generation of group assistance”), which was not correct. The word Band-Aid (originally meaning a brand of an adhesive bandage) was understood as split into two words: band (a musical group) and aid (assistance). The context, however, also made it clear that the musicians considered it their mission to provide emergency aid for the needy—just like a Band-Aid is used for emergency purposes. The translator should have used a metaphorical expression, but the major challenge was to understand the situational subject-matter for the purpose of conveying the meaning in Russian.

The context is what makes it easier to understand the situational subject-matter and produce the correct translation, taking into account what and how they say/write in this or that situation in the target (Russian) language.

When watching American movies, Russian-speaking viewers fluent in English are quite often able to notice incorrect translations of English phrases. For instance, in a telephone conversation, the question Are you there? should be rendered in Russian as Ты меня слышишь? (literally Can you hear me?) rather than the more word-for-word Ты там?

As a rule, the meaning of the word becomes clear as soon as it is placed in a sentence, which serves as a narrow context:

ENGLISH – RUSSIAN: The settlements between companies were made without delay. – Расчеты (not урегулирование, поселения, etc.) между компаниями были произведены без задержки.

RUSSIAN – ENGLISH: Нам было предложено оценить его работу. – They suggested that we evaluate (not appreciate, estimate, etc.) his work.

But in other cases, to understand the situational subject-matter and the meaning of the word or a phrase, a broad context is needed. It may include several sentences, a paragraph, or even the text of the whole article or video, as was the case with the Band Aid generation.

All this means that situational subject-matter awareness—as an important translation issue—should be considered an indispensable skill in interpreting and translation, alongside skills such as discerning narrow and broad contexts, awareness of realia and culture-bound objects, competence in terms of the text’s content or field, recognizing the dangers of carbon paper (word-for-word) translation, and observing the norms of the target language.

That said, a translator should not overdo it by trying to produce a special effect in the process of translation. The following example seems to be a good illustration of this statement.

In May 1995, an American was interpreting during the meeting between Clinton and Yeltsin in the USA. Russia’s President sarcastically said, “Вот вы, журналисты, предрекали провал. На самом деле это вы провалились”. This is what the interpreter said: “You, journalists, said it would be a disaster. In fact, you are a disaster.” (Clinton is laughing.)

Perhaps in that situation it would have been more appropriate to use the verb to fail: “You journalists predicted failure. In fact, it’s you who have failed.” The word disaster was too strong, and was surely a case of the interpreter “overdoing” the interpretation [4].

References

1. Бреус, Е.И. Основы теории и практики перевода с русского языка на английский [“Fundamental theory and practice of Russian to English translation”]. Moscow: URAO, 1998.
2. Слепович, В.С. Перевод (английский – русский): учебник [“Translation (English - Russian: Textbook”]. Minsk: Tetralit, 2014.
3. Слепович, В.С. Настольная книга переводчика с русского языка на английский = Russian-English Translation Handbook. Minsk: Tetralit, 2013.
4. Чужакин, А.П., Палажченко, П.Р. Мир перевода-1. Introduction to Interpreting XXI. – Moscow, 2008. Available online: http://apchuzhakin.narod.ru/mp1.htm

4 tips for traveling while working

Mary McKee — Sun, 16 Jul 2017 18:55:09 GMT

Many bloggers write about how to work while traveling; there are even some translator-bloggers out there discussing this subject (most notably, see the posts by Jonathan Hine). I’ve worked as a Spanish>English translator for extended periods from a variety of countries (Thailand, Mexico, Cambodia, Argentina, Spain) and have put together some more advanced tips that took me a while to work out. My goal is to help you make your life more comfortable physically and mentally while you’re a working nomad!

Travel with the same work setup that you use at home.

**If you work with just a laptop and use the touch pad that comes with it, skip to tip number 2. If you work with anything in addition to your laptop, keep reading!**
To stay in good physical condition while traveling, adapt your work setup to be as close to your home workstation as possible. If you work from an office with two screens, a mouse, a keyboard, your screen lifted to eye level, an ergonomic chair, etc. and plan to travel and work with just your laptop, you are putting yourself at risk for physical problems. I use a foldable external keyboard, wireless mouse, mousepad, a tablet as a second screen, and an ultralight computer stand when I’m at home AND when I’m on the road. My entire office setup weighs under 5 pounds. I’ve found lightweight, travel-friendly options for all of my ergonomic necessities and I use them while at home and while traveling, so my office feels the same to my body wherever I work.

2. Always have a back-up internet plan (preferably two).

There’s nothing more frustrating than having your connection fail repeatedly while trying to log on to your cloud-based translation memory provider or your client’s online portal. Today, most accommodations offer wireless internet for free or a minor fee, but the strength and trustworthiness of the connection varies widely. It’s up to you to make sure that you can reliably connect to your clients and online resources.

Some people assume that they will be able to work in coffee shops. This is reasonable if you’re headed somewhere in the US or Western Europe. However, café Wi-Fi is insecure, unreliable, and putting your fancy computer gear out on a table for any passersby to see could make you a target for theft in lower-income countries. Be safe. Don’t parade your expensive goods in public unless you feel confident that you’re safe.

I use T-Mobile as my cell phone provider because I can use my unlimited data and texting plan around the world, for no additional cost. If my first (or first two) internet options fail, or I’m concerned about security, I can stream the data from my phone to my computer.

Another option is to bring a cell phone that uses GSM networks (in the US, T-Mobile and AT&T are the only two carriers whose phones are compatible) and buy a cheap SIM card and data plan to use while you’re abroad. Most countries have cheaper data plans than the US, and you can likely set yourself up for a few weeks for a very low cost (tax-deductible, but always check with your tax professional).

3. Pick your lodging based on its table and chair options.

Even if you work with just a laptop and no peripherals, take some time when booking your lodging to make sure that there will be a reliable, suitable place for you to sit and work. Many Airbnb listings come with some kind of table and chair in your room; even private rooms in hostels often have some kind of surface and chair you can use. Don’t rely on public spaces in a hostel or hotel, because you don’t know who else might be using them when you need to work.

4. Assume that outlets will be hard to find.

Regardless of where you stay or plan to work, assume that you will need to power your device(s) for an entire work session without the possibility of plugging into an outlet. There’s nothing worse than trudging to a café you’ve determined is safe and has strong internet, only to realize that your laptop battery is low and there are no outlets. If you use your phone or tablet for work, buy an external battery pack to bring with you so you’ll never have to worry about snagging that next job via email at strange hours while you’re in a different time zone.

Do you have experience working while traveling? Share your tips on Facebook or LinkedIn!

Seattle: The new center of literature in translation?

Shelley Fairweather-Vega — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 20:36:45 GMT

NOTIS member Katie King talks about organizing a group of literary translators.

One of Seattle’s best-kept secrets is that is has quietly become the U.S. capital of literary translation. This is great news for me, because I am a literary translator myself. A native of Seattle and a University of Washington graduate, I worked outside the U.S. as a journalist and editor for much of my career, and then lived in London. When I returned home a few years ago, I found that while I wasn’t looking, this always-bookish city had become a translation hub as well.

At the core of this transition is AmazonCrossing, the world literature imprint of Amazon Publishing, which in the last six years has become the biggest U.S. publisher of literature translated into English. But even more importantly, as I reconnected with my city after so many years of travel, I kept running into other translators. Almost everyone I spoke to knew someone who worked in translation. But it seemed to me that none of these translators knew each other. In London, I enjoyed participating in a large and vibrant translation community with non-stop meetups, translation slams, lectures and book launches. What if, I thought, we could replicate that vibrant community here in Seattle?

This is where NOTIS comes in. The Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society has long represented working translators, both literary and technical, in this region. However, NOTIS board member Shelley Fairweather-Vega spotted a trend. The number of members who are literary translators has been growing, along with interest in literary translation events. Shelley organized the first-ever NOTIS literary translators’ open mic night in the spring of 2016. The event was wildly successful, with more participants than Shelley had expected—including me! And there, a partnership was born.

Inspired by each other and the dynamic local translators we’ve been talking to, Shelley and I decided to forge a local community specifically for and with literary translators. We call ourselves the Northwest Literary Translators and we launched in December, 2016 with an event that attracted 75 people. Since then, we’ve had monthly events including the Feedback Forum, Perfect Pitch, Publishers Panel, and Seattle’s first ever Translation Slam. Participants have come from as far away as Eugene, OR and Vancouver, WA. We’ve had the generous support of Seattle innovator David Brewster, who has nurtured our group by allowing us to meet in his beautiful Folio Athenaeum, a private library downtown. The University of Washington has also supported us with participation of some of their top translation scholars. We've hosted editors from AmazonCrossing, as well as other small, Seattle-based translation publishers, such as Pulitzer Prize-winning Wave Books.

But the biggest success of our efforts so far has been the members. Our group includes award-winning translators and people who are just starting out, top translation scholars and passionate self-taught success-stories. And we feel this is only the beginning. We hope to see you at one of our monthly events soon!

The Northwest Literary Translators meet on the third Thursday of each month at Folio in downtown Seattle. Check the NOTIS calendar for upcoming events.

NOTIS Excited to Announce Two Scholarships

Elise Kruidenier — Thu, 25 May 2017 17:03:50 GMT

As a non-profit organization supporting translators and interpreters in the Northwest, NOTIS strives to provide opportunities for people to connect and learn about the industry. As another way to give back to our members, we are awarding two scholarships this year: one scholarship for a first-time ATA Conference attendee (October 25-28 in Washington D.C.), and one for a student studying in a translation or interpretation program. We hope these scholarships will help extend access to educational and networking opportunities.

For more information, please see our Scholarships page, and send any questions to info@notisnet.org.

Our Neighbo(u)rs to the North

Elise Kruidenier — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 22:25:04 GMT

British Columbia is a beautiful province, but it offers more than just an attractive destination for a quick trip across the border. One advantage to being so close to British Columbia is STIBC, our NOTIS counterpart to the north! In addition to providing a number of great training opportunities, STIBC also offers a certification program, an alternative to other certification programs such as the ATA exam.

The STIBC program offers translators certification in almost 50 language pairs, which may be of interest to those whose languages are not currently covered by other organizations. The overall pass rate for the exam is around 26%, which is consistent with ATA and other exams. Over 150 candidates sit the exam every year. For more information about this certification program, see the PDF at this address.

If you’re looking for some new types of training programs or a different route to certification, STIBC could be a great organization to check out. Please direct any questions you have their way!

Continuing Education Outside the Translation Field

Lindsay Bentsen — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 03:26:29 GMT

By NOTIS member Elizabeth Adams

It’s spring and time to check in on our New Year’s resolutions. My resolution was to be more intentional about finding resources to help me be a better translator. While I’m grateful for the wealth of affordable webinars offered by the ATA and Proz.com, I realized after listening to a couple of webinars last year that there is an important reason we should also be making time for training that is not aimed at translators.

If you specialize in one or more fields, you need to look at the subject matter from a specialist’s point of view.

I’ve spent the past five years focusing on legal translation, but the webinars I’ve purchased on that topic have all been fairly general, covering a lot of ground and geared more toward non-native speakers of English. So I branched out: the Harvard online course on Contract Law was free, but it was also very basic and designed for the general public. Bryan Garner’s video presentation on the misuses of "shall" in drafting is targeted at attorneys. It cost exactly $200 more than the Harvard course, but I can already see improvement in my thought processes and my finished work.

I bet you see two drawbacks already, don’t you? Continuing education outside our supportive translation community is expensive. And it can be hit or miss finding training that is at the right level of difficulty. My strategy is to look for books, articles and courses that deal with the intersection between law and language – that way I know the material is relevant to me, even if it wasn’t developed specifically for translators.

But what about those pesky high fees? I think of it this way: I’d rather pay a couple hundred dollars for some really useful information than $35 for a webinar where I’ll end up paying my bills and cleaning off my desk while it runs in the background. Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m always looking for high-value, low-cost learning opportunities just like the next person.

If you have tips for finding continuing education opportunities outside the translation industry I would love to hear them!

Elizabeth Adams is a Russian to English translator living in Everett, WA. She is a big nerd about continuing education. You can find her online here.

Seven bills!

Wed, 15 Feb 2017 16:00:00 GMT

The 2017 Washington Legislature is in session. Seven (!) different bills affecting the translation and interpretation industry were reported during the last WASCLA update call. You can find a list of them below.

If you want to know more about how a bill becomes a law and what your role in the process can be, check this infographic by CoSN.

The Legislature has implemented a system designed to allow the public to send comments about bills to their legislators. More information can be found here.

Videos of the hearings are available two hours after they close. So take a look!

BILLS:

HB 1386 / SB 5233 - Concerning exempting translators and interpreters from the state's Industrial Insurance Act.
HB 1186 - Concerning the provision of and reimbursement for certain court interpreter services.
HB 1285 - Concerning modifying oath requirements for interpreters in legal proceedings.
HB 1303/ SB 5142 - Concerning educational [signed language] interpreters
HB 1451 Improving language access for public school students and families with limited English proficiency.
HB 1540/ SB 5046 - Providing public notices of public health, safety, and welfare in a language other than English.
HB 1022 - Safety and Access for Immigrant Victims Act.

Recent Statements on Immigration Ban

Elise Kruidenier — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 19:38:26 GMT

Please find below links to statements made by various translator and interpreter organizations in response to the president's executive order on immigration.

American Translators Association (ATA)

Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)

National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC)

American Literary Translators Association (ALTA)

If you have any others to add, please contact us at info@notisnet.org.

Happy 2017 to our Members!

Elise Kruidenier — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 19:49:09 GMT

On behalf of the NOTIS Board of Directors, I’d like to wish our members a very happy and healthy new year.

2016 was a good year for NOTIS, with many successful continuing education events and social gatherings, and we’re looking forward to another exciting year. We have a new group of board members, including a fresh new executive committee: if you’d like to check out our new board member team, click here. Our board is run by volunteer power, so if you’re interested in helping out, please get in touch!

This year, we will be offering more webinars, continuing education events, and social events, including member-only events. Stay tuned for more information! We also invite our members to take the initiative and put together their own events, so if you have an idea for a social or continuing education event, let us know! For those living outside of the Seattle region (at least 30 miles outside of Seattle), we offer the opportunity to organize your own social event, subsidized by NOTIS, so we hope more people will take advantage of that program this year. We have a robust member base, with a wide variety of languages and specialties, and the more you get involved, the more vibrant our organization will become!

Thank you for your continued support of NOTIS, and here’s to a successful 2017!

Feature of the Month: NOTIS Webinar Series

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 23:55:38 GMT

NOTIS established a new webinar committee this year to expand our continuing education offerings and to better serve our geographically-dispersed member base.

A webinar is a short audiovisual presentation, offered over the internet. For attendees, this means you can learn new things and get continuing education credits from the comfort of your home and on your own time.

NOTIS presents each webinar live in the first week of the month. It is recorded at that time, then the recording is made available to registrants until the end of the month. If you can’t attend the live presentation, just wait for the link to the recording to arrive in your inbox! Then, settle down to watch the recording anytime you have an hour free (or multiple times, if you like) throughout the month. You may wish to take notes, since the recording will expire on the last day of the month. If you’re attending our next webinar, please consult the FAQ page for answers to any questions you may have.

The new committee’s goal was to offer two webinars in 2016 to test member interest and logistics. June’s webinar, aimed at translators, presented certified Turkish translator Bekircan Tahberer’s advice for handling the translation of official documents. The webinar was well-attended: 51 total language professionals joined us, hailing from eastern and western Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and beyond.

Next up, on October 5, NOTIS is offering a Spanish-specific webinar oriented toward interpreters: CSI Terminology for Court Interpreters. The presenter, Esther M. Navarro-Hall, has worked as an interpreter in the conference, court, medical and community specialties for the past 31 years. She’s also an adjunct professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS).

In 2017, NOTIS’s webinar committee plans to expand our series to three or more webinars annually. Interested in remote learning opportunities, technology, or improving services for NOTIS members throughout our five-state area? Please consider joining the webinar committee! Contact Webinar Committee Chair Brooke Cochran for more information.

The NOTIS Directory... New and Improved

Shelley Fairweather-Vega — Sat, 27 Aug 2016 07:00:00 GMT

NOTIS has a new website this year, and with it, a new online directory that is much easier to maintain than the clunky old database of the past. All corporate and individual members are entitled to one directory entry as a benefit of membership.

The directory has two purposes: to help NOTIS manage our membership better (send you customized email messages, keep a record of your dues paid and events attended, monitor our numbers, and so on) and to help our members be found by potential local customers for their T&I services.

Here are some points to remember in considering how the directory currently works.

At present the NOTIS directory contains profiles for over 300 individual members and 7 corporate members. If you’re a paid member (other than a student member), you’re in the directory!
Directory search results are always listed in a random (rather than alphabetical) order, so every search yields results in a different order. This means that an agency called AAA Translation, for example, will not have an undue advantage in search results, and that YOU will be the top result as often as anyone else when the information in your profile matches a search by a potential customer.
Your profile will come up in search results based on the information you’ve entered in it. You can be as precise or as vague as you like, but we advise you to at least make sure your languages and credentials are up to date. As a matter of professional ethics, please be honest.
You can customize which information in your profile is visible to other members and to the public, so it’s easy to protect your personal information.
Corporate members (mainly agencies) show up differently from individuals in search results, in several ways: They're labeled with their type of membership, and their company names appear in their profiles. This way, potential customers can easily see which of their search results are agencies and which are individuals, and can choose whom to contact based on their own needs and preferences for each particular assignment.

We’re also working to advertise our directory more actively this year. Look for information about the directory in the next version of the official NOTIS brochure, which we pass out wherever potential T&I buyers gather. Starting in September 2016, we’ll also be running advertisements online, including both Google ads (which appear based on Google search results) and LinkedIn ads (which are shown to targeted categories of professionals when they use LinkedIn).

Do you have questions or advice about the directory (or anything else NOTIS does)? Please get in touch! We’re working hard to become an even more valuable resource for professionals in translation and interpretation across the Pacific Northwest. Your ideas can help make that happen. And since we are volunteer-run, we’d especially love to hear from members who can donate their time and energy to help with our directory (or any other project). You can email any board member directly from this page.

New Member Benefit! Reimbursement for Member-Organized Social Events Outside of Seattle

Julie L. Wilchins — Sat, 09 Jul 2016 05:27:48 GMT

NOTIS social events tend to be around Seattle, since that’s where most of our event-organizing board members reside. To include members from other areas in the fun, the NOTIS Board has approved a new program to reimburse members up to $50 once per calendar year for social events they organize at least 30 miles away from Seattle that are attended by 4 or more NOTIS members.
Here’s how it works:

Plan your event, and email the NOTIS board at least two weeks in advance of the planned event so we can help publicize it.
Invite other local language professionals, and make sure at least 4 NOTIS members who live at least 30 miles away from Seattle plan to attend. Consider inviting students of translation and interpretation, local businesses engaged in translation and interpretation, and all the translators and interpreters you know.
Enjoy your event!
Take pictures (with attendees’ permission to post them without names on NOTIS social media), and make a list of attendees’ names and email addresses.
Email us your two best pictures, the list of attendees’ names and email addresses, and receipts for your costs. NOTIS will reimburse you up to $50 for event costs such as venue fees, advertising, and food or drink.

For future reference, the full policy is also described in the members-only section of our website.
We hope this new program will spread the benefits of NOTIS membership more widely throughout all five of our states (Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho). We can’t wait to hear about the fun you have, wherever you are!

YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT: BECOME A VOTING MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN TRANSLATORS ASSOCIATION

Fri, 01 Jul 2016 20:18:32 GMT

NOTIS President Kathryn German offers some simple advice on how to become a voting member of the ATA. Besides providing you with the benefits of voting membership in our national organization, your status as a Voting Member in ATA (meaning you have an Active or Corresponding membership) also benefits NOTIS. Our chapter receives financial support from ATA for every NOTIS member who also belongs to one of these ATA membership categories, which means NOTIS has more resources to serve our members here in the Pacific Northwest.

Voting membership is available to all Associate or Student members who either pass the ATA certification exam or go through Active Membership Review. That means that even if you have not passed the ATA exam, or if no exam is offered in your language pairs, you can apply to be a voting member.

Active Membership Review is a simple online process open to translators, interpreters, or other individuals actively engaged in work related to translation and/or interpreting. You can fill out the online form here.

Translators will need to have proof of a degree or certificate in translation and one letter of reference OR at least three years of experience, three letters of reference, or copies of records of business activities. Interpreters must have proof of a degree or certificate in interpreting and one letter of reference OR three letters of reference plus acceptable proof of their business activities.

Once accepted as a voting member, you are entitled to vote in the ATA elections.

For more information, please see the ATA website: www.atanet.org

Feature of the month: MedSIG

Shelley Fairweather-Vega — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 21:02:25 GMT

MedSIG (the Medical Special Interest Group) has been busy this year running trainings for healthcare interpreters all over the region! So far, we have offered:

January: Interpreting for Cancer Genetics, Tacoma
February: Transitioning to Simultaneous Interpreting, Renton
March: Fundamentals of Health Care Interpreting, Spokane (Cancelled due to low registration)
May: Notetaking and Sight Translation, Tacoma
June: Medical Terminology, Yakima

The schedule for the rest of the year promises to be just as busy, with classes coming up on glossary building, pediatric cancer, bone marrow transplants, cardiology and perhaps a special three-part master’s class on interpreter notetaking.

Even more exciting are three new additions to our cadre of trainers – Joe Tien from Whidbey Island, Yvonne Simpson from Seattle, and Dr. Sofia Garcia Beyaert from Spain, now living in Seattle.

Joe Tein is a DSHS-certified medical interpreter and a Washington State certified court interpreter. He holds a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology and is also a freelance medical translator, working from Spanish and Italian into English. Some of you may know Joe as the creator of the AOC Court Interpreters’ English-Spanish glossary of legal terms, but did you know that he is also an author of the most comprehensive Italian medical acronym website? He has taught numerous classes and workshops for medical and court interpreters over the years, both in person and through online webinars, and his recent workshop on medical terminology in Yakima was very well received.

Yvonne Simpson is the Medical Interpreter Supervisor at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. She holds a Master of Arts in Spanish (Linguistics) and has significant experience in interpreting, translating, teaching and training. Yvonne is a DSHS Certified Spanish Medical Interpreter and is a Certified Medical Interpreter through the National Board. Formerly, she was the Lead Interpreter at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. We’re lucky to have Yvonne here in Seattle, and especially lucky to have her training with NOTIS.

Sofia Garcia Beyaert is a NOTIS board member and a practicing interpreter, as well as a researcher in the field of public policy and cross-linguistic communication. With a BA in applied languages and a focus on legal and economic translation, Sofia took additional specialized training in conference interpreting at the Universidad de Granada. She also holds an MA in social and political science from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona) and a PhD from the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona after writing her dissertation on the institutionalization of community interpreting. Sofia has taught post-graduate and master’s classes in community interpreting and is a co-author of The Community Interpreter, International Edition from Cross-Cultural Communications. With credentials like these, guess who might be teaching a master’s class on interpreter notetaking this fall? But no need to wait till September to meet Sofia; watch for her upcoming class in August on glossary building for interpreters and come give her a warm NOTIS welcome.

With more trainers and with a growing active committee, MedSIG’s goal is to better serve an interpreter community of diverse skill levels, living in diverse parts of the state and looking for training in diverse modalities. What’s next? Trainings in Bellingham? Webinars? Offerings for social service and educational interpreters? Stay tuned and find out, or share your own suggestions!

All you need to have fun - we’ve got you covered!

Julie L. Wilchins — Fri, 27 May 2016 05:42:58 GMT

By Saori Sampa

What is the most important element of a social event for you? It can be good food and drinks, a relaxing atmosphere, fun people to enjoy it with, or perhaps an opportunity to showcase your talents.

NOTIS’s new board started planning our 2016 social events right after last year’s holiday party, and our first social event of the year was held on January 16. NOTIS Secretary Elise Kruidenier knew of a very relaxing neighborhood café in West Seattle that was the perfect place to get together at the beginning of the year. Many of us gathered and enjoyed, not only the café’s relaxing atmosphere, but also the time we shared.
February 19 was a cold but perfect day to visit a library after work. An avid reader, María Luisa Gracia Camón led the Chat Evening of the Month at Redmond Library. The group exchanged anecdotes and enjoyed being together. It was a short, one-hour event, but it was a great opportunity for us to get to know each other.
Then it was time to try something new. One of our social event enthusiasts and art lovers, Thei Zervaki, and others went to the Pioneer Square Art Walk. It was raining on March 3, but that didn’t bother them at all. The group walked from art studios to galleries, and shops to boutiques, and they were enriched by the dozens of local works of art. While walking through town, the group also enjoyed Seattle’s famous historic neighborhood filled with Renaissance Revival architecture.
Food is a universal language and an easy icebreaker for those who love to make new friends. On April 13, Brooke Cochran introduced us to a restaurant where we could enhance our taste experience. Island Soul Restaurant specializes in Caribbean soul food. Their famous pork tips, fish tacos, and Cuban black beans satisfied our appetites. After sampling wonderful Island comfort foods, we all had something to rave about.
Show time! The Translators in the Spotlight was a perfect event to showcase our professional translation abilities and other, not-yet-demonstrated performance skills. Some arrived from other states to attend the May 21 event, including Alaska and Oregon, and we welcomed a student who had translated a French song into English. This creative show, organized by Shelley Fairweather-Vega, put a spotlight on those who work in the art and literary fields. Caffe Appassionato definitely added a calming element to our exciting event. Their wine and local beer was also a great advantage to this late-night outing.
What’s next? Mark your calendars and prepare for our traditional BBQ & picnic! See you all at the Coral Shelter at Seahurst Beach on July 10 (Sunday). Check out the NOTIS event page and Facebook page for more event information.

New NOTIS web site!

Shelley Fairweather-Vega — Thu, 26 May 2016 17:21:09 GMT

If you're reading this, you have already found the beta version of our new website! This site will appear at our official notisnet.org address starting on June 1, 2016, and has a lot of great new features:

Easy log-in: your user name is your email address, and you can select any password you like. Just click on Log In in the upper right corner of the home page, then click on "Forgot Password". You will receive an email message with instructions on setting your password and logging in.
Improved directory: the new directory is much easier to search, more robust, and allows you to make any fields you wish private or visible only to members.
Automatic membership renewal reminders and confirmations
Easy event registration
Action Needed - Profile Update: If you are a NOTIS member and you would like to have a complete profile in the new directory, you must log in to the new site, click on your name at the top, then click Edit Profile to add information. Your language pairs and certifications will not appear in the new directory until you take this step.
If you have any questions about how the new site works, check the Wild Apricot new member guide. (Wild Apricot is the membership software behind our new site.) You are also welcome to contact NOTIS Vice President Julie Wilchins or board member Shelley Fairweather-Vega with questions.

Translation Division Update

Julie L. Wilchins — Sun, 01 May 2016 04:27:19 GMT

The Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society is a diverse group, with members who live all over the greater Northwest region. Our members are at many different stages of their careers and they do all kinds of jobs, from emergency-room interpreting to the translation of contemporary poetry. NOTIS board members and volunteers are organized into divisions and committees that focus on providing specific information, events and connections that are so important to our members. One of these divisions is the Translation Division, led this year by NOTIS Secretary Elise Kruidenier. The Translation Division has traditionally spearheaded arrangements for a big, day-long event to celebrate International Translation Day. There are no plans for such a major event in 2016, but members can expect a series of smaller events instead.

We are most excited to be hosting Jost Zetzsche, a prominent English-to- German translator and expert in technology solutions for translation. Jost is an Oregon translator and the author of the popular Tool Box Journal newsletter and a book called the Translator’s Tool Box, currently in its 12th edition. He will be presenting a long-format workshop in the fall of 2016, covering topics such as “How to choose a TEnT (Translation Environment Tool)”; “Getting the most out of your TEnT”; and “Working with PDFs and other tricky formats”; This will be a great opportunity for translators who are looking for a TEnT, those who already have one, and for those just looking for some tips on how to use their technology more effectively.

NOTIS’s May social event is also a Translation Division event. Local translators and their fans will take over The Bounty in Seattle on the evening of May 21 for a translation open mic night. Translators in half a dozen languages, from Portland, Tacoma and Seattle, have already signed up to read from their work. Everyone is welcome. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert literary translator, or even, say, a project manager who dabbles in fiction, please consider bringing something to read.

Finally, NOTIS will start producing webinars this year. Look for more information about those in the coming weeks.

Why Social Media is a Great Tool for Translators & Interpreters

Mon, 11 Apr 2016 01:20:01 GMT

It’s 2016, and social media is woven into the fabric of our lives, whether we know it or not. It’s a news source, a platform for voicing opinions, and a way to communicate with friends. But, professionally, it’s a marketing and networking tool. Take NOTIS, for example. Here are our accounts on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. We use these services to tell our members about industry news, continuing education opportunities, and other relevant information. We also provide our members with virtual forums to discuss and share stories.

This encourages interaction between professionals who rarely work together. So, translators and interpreters can benefit immensely from what NOTIS broadcasts. That being said, why not take a lesson from NOTIS? Put these tools to use for your own professional benefit—marketing and networking. Many agencies are active on social media, as are (potential) end clients and colleagues. This means you have the opportunity to interact and share information with them, making them aware of your expertise.

In the past, a resume was the best way to tout your qualifications to clients. The name of the game has changed, though. Social media allows you to gain their trust first. Clients will see that you’re a real person who’s dedicated to your career field. Interacting with them on Twitter, for example, creates a personal connection that you can depend on later when you do offer them your services, or meet them in person in court, for example. On the other hand, if you’re already working with them, social media interactions keep you fresh in their minds. Then, they call on you when a suitable project arises.

If you haven’t already embraced social media, here are some helpful steps:

1) Start by choosing just one tool.

2) Establish a routine, such as 30 minutes in the morning on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

3) Use that time to follow/connect with clients and colleagues.

4) Commit to a set amount of sharing and responding. For example, share two or more informative articles each time and respond to two or more posts/group conversations.

And you’re off to a great start! The key is to create a routine that you can follow. Don’t commit to too much. Then, once you’re comfortable with it, you might use it more often. You can even repeat the process for a second tool. It’s kind of like learning a language, you’ll have the foundation in place, making it quicker to learn how to use a new one.

NOTIS and the board of directors are already available on various social media platforms, so start growing your network, now. Find us here:

Brooke A. Cochran:

LinkedIn
Twitter
Instagram
Blog

Shelley Fairweather-Vega:

LinkedIn
Facebook

Kathryn German: Facebook

Elise Kruidenier:
LinkedIn
Twitter

Sofía García Beyaert:
LinkedIn
Facebook
Blog

Saori Sampa: LinkedIn

Lindsay Bentsen: LinkedIn

“The Northwest Linguist” Is Now A Blog

Thu, 31 Mar 2016 01:29:22 GMT

Check out our latest postings! NOTIS members are welcome to submit articles as well. Send your blog articles, 500 words or fewer, to info@notisnet.org. Please note that blog articles may be subject to editing and will become the property of The Northwest Linguist.

We kept our word! A weekend of language-specific training

Julie L. Wilchins — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 05:22:11 GMT

Posted by María Luisa García Camón

Every year, NOTIS goes through the process of preparing meaningful and interesting trainings for professional linguists in the Northwest. The idea of a language-specific training has been going around in our heads for quite some time. This is a long overdue promise for many linguists. The general feeling is that we are tired of the same old type of seminars. We all want new and useful training that will teach us something new and might help us in carrying out our daily duties and developing our careers.

This year NOTIS is finally providing not one, but three language-specific trainings. It may look like the training is more focused on translation than interpretation, but let’s not forget that both areas are intrinsically related. The subjects we are proposing for this training are equally valuable to both translators and interpreters, and the dissection of the legal language will certainly benefit all of us in the long run.

Thomas West III, renowned linguist and jurist, has agreed to spend one weekend in Seattle to provide us with a very specific series of trainings that, in my opinion, is very much needed. He will teach three seminars, each one of them focusing on a different language: Spanish, Russian and French. Below please find a description of the trainings and a brief biography of Thomas West III.

Please make sure that you do not miss this great opportunity. To register, go to the NOTIS Events page and click on the event link. I hope to see you there!

Presenter: THOMAS WEST III

Thomas West founded Intermark Language Services in 1995 after practicing law for five years with a large Atlanta law firm. Intermark recently celebrated its 21st year in business. Tom received his B.A. degree in French and English from the University of Mississippi summa cum laude and his M.A. in German from Vanderbilt University, where he was a Harold Stirling Vanderbilt fellow. He earned his J.D. at the University of Virginia School of Law and was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 1990. From 2001 to 2003, he served as president of the American Translators Association (ATA), and has conducted seminars on legal translation throughout Europe and Latin America. Tom is ATA certified for translation from French, Spanish, German and Dutch into English. The second edition of his Spanish-English Dictionary of Law and Business was published to wide acclaim in June 2012. The first workshop will be provided for Spanish language translators and interpreters on March 19, 2016, at North Seattle Community College.

SPANISH. – Mexican Civil Procedure and “Hilando muy fino con el lenguaje jurídico”

During the first part of this full-day workshop Thomas West will walk us through Mexican Civil Procedure and will examine the stages of a civil lawsuit and documents related to it. “Hilando muy fino con el lenguaje jurídico” is the second part of the Spanish language-specific training, which will examine tricky aspects of legal terminology in both Spanish and English that can trip up even the most experienced translator or interpreter.

The second day, March 20, at the same venue, there will be two workshops, one each for translator and interpreters working with French and Russian.

FRENCH. – Dissecting French contracts

In this workshop Thomas West will give us insight into contracts from France and the United States and will discuss key concepts, such as “consideration” in English-language agreements and the distinction between “obligations de moyens” and “obligations de résultats” in French-language ones. We will also discuss issues of syntax and consider whether the translation of a contract should follow French word order or whether it is appropriate to change the word order in English.

RUSSIAN. – Dissecting Russian contracts

Thomas West will talk about contract law in Russia and how it differs from contract law in the United States. We will particularly focus on Russian terms that are difficult to translate because there is no equivalent in the United States. We will then look at the “anatomy of a contract” and consider the boilerplate clauses that appear in most contracts. If time permits, we will try our hand at correcting a faulty translation of a contract from Russian into English.

NOTIS’s Winter 2015 Survey of Northwest Translators and Interpreters

Julie L. Wilchins — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 05:19:21 GMT

NOTIS conducted a survey between November 16 and December 15, 2015, to assess member satisfaction and how to improve services to members. The survey was circulated to all NOTIS members (numbering 387 in December 2015), interpreters on the registries of state courts in the region, and members of the Interpreters United union; as well as publicized on NOTIS’s Facebook page. NOTIS was thrilled to receive responses from 211 translators and interpreters, 135 of whom were NOTIS members. Because NOTIS is almost wholly volunteer-run, we were also pleased to see that 75.4% of member respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with their NOTIS membership. Many thanks to all who responded.

Survey respondents were especially interested in the following from NOTIS:

More continuing education, on a broader range of topics, in more geographic areas
Better marketing of NOTIS’s online directory of translators and interpreters, and of NOTIS and its members generally, to the region’s business community
Improved communication with members
More advocacy for translators and interpreters

We hear you! Based on your input, NOTIS’s 2016 priorities include expanded continuing education, improved marketing of our members’ services, and improved communication with members. Specific 2016 plans include:

Webinars! NOTIS will offer at least two webinars, accessible to translators and interpreters anywhere with internet access, in 2016.
Expanded in-person continuing education programming, in a wider range of locations
Improvement of our website and online directory, and marketing of the directory
Introduction of the Northwest Linguist blog, with posts at least monthly
Improving our systems to simplify membership renewal and event registration
Appointment of a new advocacy chair, with academic and research experience in community interpreting

Do any of these projects interest you? Would you like to pitch in with planning webinars, classes or social events? Marketing NOTIS to the Northwest business community? Sharing your thoughts on translation, interpretation, or language access for our blog? Advocating for translators and interpreters?

Please contact us at info@notisnet.org! Our work depends on volunteers like you, and working together benefits our profession, the community, and our members’ bottom line.

The NOTIS Board

Mon, 15 Feb 2016 00:30:47 GMT

We have many new Board members who diligently work to serve our profession in general, and our local translator and interpreter members specifically.

Check them out on this page, and if you have questions ask them.

You want to get involved? We have many committees where you can engage and help to make our member community still stronger, and even more fun. Check out the committees page.

NOTIS Advocacy Efforts

Fri, 05 Feb 2016 00:32:43 GMT

The Northwest Translators & Interpreters Society (NOTIS) advocacy mission is to improve business conditions in the language interpretation and translation service industry by participating in the following activities pursuant to what is permissible under IRS 501(c)(6):

Present and promote information, trade statistics, and group opinions to government agencies and private sector businesses.
Promote the common business interests of NOTIS members.
Influence legislation and regulations germane to the quality, provision, and procurement of language interpretation and translation services.

You can read about all NOTIS Advocacy Efforts on our new page Advocacy.

If you have any questions or like to get involved please contact us.