The Translation and Interpretation Blog

Interpreting for Latinos in the United States

2009-10-21T18:54:00.000-07:00

Latinos are the fastest-growing minority group in the U.S., in fact, in 2008 California alone was home to 13.5 million Latinos. By 2050, the U.S. Latino population is expected to make up 29% of the U.S. population. Despite the fact that Latinos represent a sizable percentage of the population, many individuals continue to have the false notion that we are a homogeneous group. Although I am Mexican-American and have lived in Mexico and Spain, I continuously encounter new knowledge affirming the rich diversity of the Latino population that I serve. As healthcare interpreters, we should not limit ourselves to a solely linguistic understanding of the population we are serving. Language is a reflection of culture, and hence without an in-depth understanding of the culture, it would be impossible to interpret accurately.

Latinos share a geographic and linguistic heritage, however by simply analyzing the ten largest U.S. Latino population groups (Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Salvadorans, Dominicans, Guatemalans, Colombians, Hondurans, Ecuadoreans and Peruvians) we can see that Latinos vary in reference to country of origin, citizenship, and degree of acculturation due to differences in immigration history and cultural background. Latinos also vary in educational attainment, income, and political ideologies. Sociolinguistics has shown us that these previously mentioned social variables influence our usage of language, for this reason interpreters should be sensitive to these differences and not make generalizations about Latino's educational attainment or language fluency.

Another common misconception is that Latinos are of the same "race." Contrary to what many think, Latino is not a race, neither is it a particular ethnic group. So then, who are we? What do we look like? We are white, black, Asian, indigenous, and mestizo. In general, Latinos represent a mix of racial and ethnic lines from 22 different countries of origin who share a geographic, historic, and linguistic tie to Latin America and Spain. Latinos are multireligious, multiethnic, and multiracial. As such we are Catholic, Christian, Mormon, Muslim, and Jewish and we speak a variety of Spanish dialects, Portuguese, and indigenous languages. I have witnessed many healthcare providers assume that patients are limited-English proficient or Catholic simply because of their Hispanic surname or because they "look" Latino. When serving Latinos in the healthcare setting, it is best to clarify whether they in fact need an interpreter and ask if they have a religious preference, instead of assuming and possibly causing offense. Religious diversity is especially important because for some Latinos, spiritual beliefs and medicine are often intertwined with the usage of healers and other folk medicine.

Considering such a rich diversity, it is easy to understand why the umbrella classifications Hispanic and Latino established by the Office of Management and Budget continue to be a source of contention. While both Latino and Hispanic are generally acceptable, some people have a strong preference, others don't like either term and instead prefer their country of origin or the political term Chicano. Furthermore many second and third generation Latinos regard themselves as simply “American”. A 2006 survey by the Pew Hispanic Center found that 48% of Latino adults generally describe themselves by their country of origin first; 26% generally use the terms Latino or Hispanic first; and 24% generally call themselves American on first reference. As for a preference between “Hispanic” and “Latino”, a 2008 Center survey found that 36% of respondents prefer the term “Hispanic,” 21% prefer the term “Latino” and the rest have no preference. Although there is a lack of consensus, we should respect those preferences as much as possible in referring to individuals and groups.

Regardless if you are Latino or not, if you are serving the Spanish-speaking population as a healthcare provider or interpreter, the best way to meet the medical or linguistic needs of Latinos is by understanding the culture first. On October 21st and 22nd, CNN will be airing a special report titled Latino In America, which will provide much insight and controversy about what it means to be Latino in America. If you would like to continue this conversation, feel free to post a comment.

Crowd-sourcing: Is it cheap labor or a glimpse of what's to come?

2009-07-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

Businesses are always looking for ways to cut costs, one of the latest methods is crowd-sourcing. This phenomenon is rising in popularity, but what does it mean? In a nutshell, businesses are soliciting everyday people to use their spare time to create content and solve problems for free. Some of these businesses include social networking websites that were developed in the Internet age of collaborative user-centered technologies. Now we find well-intended amateurs and hobbyists doing the work of professionals.

Crowd-sourcing has affected all industries, including translation and localization. Social networking sites like Hi5 and Facebook allow their active user community to contribute translations of metadata and their user interface.

Recently I attended a workshop where Ghassan Haddad, Director of Localization of Facebook, presented on the success of their crowd-sourcing approach. One of the appeals of crowd-sourcing is the speed of translation. He stated that nearly 100% of the French Facebook content was translated overnight. The Spanish and German sites were translated in one week.

He further elaborated that while many translations are questionable, volunteers are able to vote on their preferred verbiage, and since this is a site for the people, why not tailor it according to their needs? For quality assurance, Facebook employs language experts who review the translations offered by the volunteer translators. Haddad stated that the cost savings vary because investment in technology offsets some of the savings attained by getting "free" translations. Their main cost advantages are achieved through unsupported languages, process automation, and the ability to prioritize text.

Currently LinkedIn, the online professional networking site, finds itself in the hot-seat because Nico Posner, product manager, surveyed its users to see whether they would consider translating the site for free. Many translators frowned upon this request because this is a for-profit site requesting professional services for free. Some translators found it demeaning and consider it exploitation, nonetheless there were translators who were more than willing to participate.

As a professional translator and interpreter, I do not believe businesses should implement crowd-sourcing to replace the work of professionals. However I am interested in understanding how this phenomenon has and will continue to impact our profession. Crowd-sourcing is not the apocalypse of the translation profession. Like all things in life, change is inevitable and the Internet has changed many professions. Take librarianship for example, the field continues to thrive despite having Google at our disposal. Google and the Internet provide access to information like libraries, however unlike librarians, Google does not know how to distinguish reputable and credible resources from non-authoritative work, nor can Google collaborate with you in your research quest.

Can crowd-sourcing help businesses and translators? Yes, after a professional translator has completed their target translation, crowd-sourcing should be used as an additional tool to ensure that products and websites are tailored to meet the needs of their market. It should not be the first thing that businesses turn to. CAT tools, automatic translation, and crowd-sourcing will change the way we do some business, but none can replace the professional translator's cognitive ability to analyze the syntax, orthography, register, synonyms, colloquialisms, and idioms of multiple languages and culture.

Social Networking And Professional Development for Translators/Interpreters

2009-05-31T13:24:00.000-07:00

President Obama is doing it. The White House is too. Why not you? Social networking is a cultural phenomenon stretching across the globe. Tools such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter are enabling forms of communication, collaboration, and learning never seen before. One way to use social networks is for your own professional development. They can be a great way to connect with colleagues or to find new people who share your interests.

Using these tools, you can keep in touch with colleagues and establish more professional contacts. Networking can also help you build your online reputation and find a new job or establish business contacts. Also, the internet brings individuals from all around the world together on social networking sites. This means that although you are in the United States, you could establish an online contact with someone in Spain or Russia. Some of the tools that the California Healthcare Intepreting Association (CHIA) is currently using include:

LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking site with members from around the world, representing 170 industries and 200 countries. You can find, be introduced to, and collaborate with qualified professionals that you need to work with to accomplish your goals. Job seekers can review the profile of hiring managers and discover new employment opportunities. CHIA has created a group on LinkedIn as a way of promoting the professional development of our membership. Click here to create a profile and request to join CHIA on LinkedIn.

Facebook has taken hold as undisputable leader amongst social networking sites. CHIA now offers a Facebook group for our members to keep up-to-date with CHIA events and interpreting related news. This is an opportunity to combine your personal and professional interests on one site. Click Here to find CHIA on Facebook!

CHIA is now on YouTube, the leader in online video sharing. CHIA has been accepted into YouTube's non-profit program and has developed a YouTube Channel named InterpretersTube. You can either register or search our videos for free. We offer clips of our annual educational conferences and regional educational seminars. Click here to check out CHIA's InterpretersTube.

Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users' updates known as tweets. So get the latest interpreting news by following CHIA on Twitter. Simply join twitter and look up our Twitter profile named CHIAInterpreter and start tweeting. Click here to find CHIA on Twitter

Social networking can offer many benefits, however the Internet can be a dangerous place to post personal information. All of the previously mentioned social networks provide the ability to set profiles to private. Additionally they have the ability to report and block users. So join CHIA and the rest of your colleagues and let’s stay up-to-date on the latest technological innovations.

Check out the latest issue of CHIA Insider!

Take on the Idiom Challenge

2009-03-29T14:30:00.001-07:00

Sometimes it is difficult to find the right words to express our thoughts, so we use a set phrase or word that conveys an idea that is unique to native speakers of a particular language and culture. According to Wikipedia, “an idiom is a phrase whose meaning cannot be determined by the literal definition of the phrase itself, but refers instead to a figurative meaning that is known only through common use.”1 Idioms often use an image or symbol to describe something as clearly as possible, so that we can make our point as effectively as possible. For example, “in a nutshell” suggests the idea of conveying a lot of information within very few words. (A Spanish equivalent would be en pocas palabras.) Idioms tend to be informal and are best used in spoken language, rather than written.

Idioms pose a particular challenge for translators/interpreters working into their B-languages. For example, if a translator is unfamiliar with the expression “to kick the bucket,” he or she might incorrectly offer a literal target-language rendition. In the English expression “to kick the bucket,” a non-native speaker who is familiar only with the meaning of kick and bucket would be unable to determine the expression’s actual meaning (“to die”). Although the expression can refer literally to the act of striking a bucket with a foot, native speakers rarely use it that way because of its culturally accepted figurative meaning. Ideally, an interpreter/translator should find an idiomatic expression in the target language that equivalently conveys the same message as the source idiomatic expression. For example, if translating this phrase for a primarily Mexican readership, two possible Spanish equivalents of “to kick the bucket” include petatear or estirar la pata.

Using idioms effectively generally requires the translator/interpreter to have some localized foundational knowledge or experience regarding the culture where they are used. Idioms are not so much part of a language as they are a part of a culture. Since idioms are typically used as colloquial metaphors within a particular culture, they are often difficult to decipher outside of that local context. Some idioms can be more universal than others, however, and can be easily translated so that the metaphorical meaning can be more easily determined.

It is especially important to be aware of the context in which a phrase is used. According to Holly Mikkelson, a seemingly simple idiom like “make out” could mean: to decipher (as in “I can’t make out his handwriting”); to pretend (“She is making herself out to be much more important than she really is”); to fare (“How did you make out?”); to prepare (“I am making out my will”); or to fondle (“They were making out in the back seat”). The same English phrase can be interpreted in multiple ways based on the context in which it is used. Context sets the stage for the words we use and we must pay particular attention to it if we intend on finding an idiom that is of true semantic equivalence.

Idioms can be very difficult to translate, yet they are a vital and dynamic part of language and culture. Interpreters/translators should never omit an idiomatic expression when it is used in the source language. Instead, they should be prepared to conduct linguistic and cultural research until they find an appropriate equivalent in the target language. The best way to learn idioms is to select and actively incorporate them into your speech. Select idioms that are useful to you. Write them in a relevant and practical sentence so that you will be able to remember their meaning easily. Every time you encounter a new idiom, enter it in a file, along with other words and idioms that have similar meanings, and have it handy on your computer for easy reference.

For a searchable compilation of idioms, visit The Free Dictionary by Farlex (www.thefreedictionary.com).

Notes
1. Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idioms)

2. Mikkelson, Holly: The Art of Working with Interpreters: A Manual for Healthcare Professionals (http://www.acebo.com/papers/artintrp.htm)

Related Links and References

Dictionary of British Slang
www.peevish.co.uk/slang/a.htm

Idiom Connection
www.idiomconnection.com

Lexscripta Dictionaries of Slang
www.lexscripta.com/desktop/dictionaries/slang.html

Weibel, Peter. The Big Red Book of Spanish Idioms (McGraw-Hill, 2004)
www.amazon.com

The World of Literary Translation: An Interview with María Teresa Gallego Urrutia

2009-01-04T17:56:00.000-08:00

If you think technical translation is difficult, try literary translation! The translation of fictional literature is by far one of the most difficult forms of translation that goes beyond learning technical vocabulary and the contrastive analysis of two languages. Unlike technical translators, most literary translators have an educational background in comparative literature and creative writing. Currently, the Instituto Cervantes is offering a brilliant interview online with María Teresa Gallego Urrutia, an award-winning Spanish-French literary translator. María Teresa Gallego Urrutia has been awarded the 2008 Premio Nacional a la Obra de un Traductor (National Translation Award) by the Ministerio de Cultura (Spanish Ministry of Culture). She has a degree in French from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and has worked as a translator since 1960. She teaches at various universities and is currently the head of the French department at the Instituto Gregorio Marañón de Madrid. In this interview, María Teresa Gallego Urrutia offers us wonderful insight to the world of literary translation and contrasts it with technical translation. She also discusses the inherent creativity that is required to translate literary text and the translation of literary masterpieces that have already been translated.

Click Here To See Interview

About the Instituto Cervantes
Instituto Cervantes is a worldwide non-profit organization created by the Spanish government in 1991. It is the largest organization in the world concerned with the teaching of Spanish, and it maintains a presence in over twenty different countries throughout 54 centers devoted to the Spanish and Hispanic American culture and Spanish Language. The mission of Instituto Cervantes is to promote the teaching, study, and use of Spanish as a second language and to contribute to the advancement of the Spanish and Hispanic American cultures throughout non-Spanish speaking countries.

Cost In Translation

2008-12-30T22:39:00.000-08:00

Cost in translation
Money is no object when it comes to the ‘right to a fair trial’

They say that one of the greatest of all human rights is the right to have a fair trial, and ‘equality before the law’ is seen as one of the key defining characteristics of any democratic country.

But with many countries becoming increasingly multicultural, language barriers can make the communication process that little bit trickier, thereby hindering an individual’s chances of receiving fair and equal treatment.

In 2007, British pop star Amy Winehouse was arrested in Norway on drug-possession charges and, despite the presence of police offers who could speak fluent English, her attorney argued that the lack of a qualified interpreter during the interrogation process meant that she was unable to receive fair counselling.

And in England, Lincolnshire Police recently revealed that they are currently spending more than £300,000 a year on translation services, covering almost fifty different languages.

Of course, this is a vital service that ensures alleged offenders receive fair treatment within the legal system and is now a standard service across most countries’ police forces.

In the UK alone, national police translation costs have increased from £13.5 million to £22 million in the past four years, with some constabularies using an international translation service called ‘Language Line’, which enables police officers to hold three-way conversations with interpreters by telephone; this is particularly useful when specialised real-time interpreting is required at very short notice.

But ultimately, this expenditure not only demonstrates the increasing requirement for translation services within the UK legal system, but also a real commitment from the powers that be to offer equal access to a fair hearing, irrespective of language or culture; it is, after all, a fundamental human right.

Article Contributed By: © Lingo24

Translators and World AIDS Day

2008-12-01T06:28:00.000-08:00

As translators, World AIDS Day is an opportunity to be inspired to respect and protect the health and well being of ourselves and those around us through knowledge, action and consideration.

AIDS has killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007, and an estimated 33 million people worldwide live with HIV as of 2007, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 2 million lives in 2007, of which about 270,000 were children. The concept of a World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention. Since then, it has been taken up by governments, international organizations and charities around the world.

Besides observing this day as concerned global citizens, as interpreters and translators we should make it a point to familiarize ourselves with the specialized terminology of AIDS and HIV research. Whether you specialize in medical, legal, business, or scientific translation, AIDS affects all facets of our society and all people, regardless of culture and language. This is a global epidemic which requires the attention of all people and as linguistic liaisons we have the responsibility to ensure the dissemination of AIDS research in all languages.
In order to expand our knowledge of HIV/AIDS related terminology, the following are links to relevant multilingual resources:

Treat HIV Globally Multilingual Glossaries
European Multilingual Thesaurus on AIDS and HIV infection
UNAIDS: 2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic

The Audacity of Change

2008-11-24T07:56:00.000-08:00

With so much talk about change and hope, it got me thinking about the shifts happening within our profession. For some time now, translation and interpretation pedagogy in the United States has been undergoing a much needed change. It is slowly moving away from well-meaning 40 hour trainings and independent non-accredited trade schools to university-based training programs which have been approved by an accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. This is significant because the goal of accreditation is to ensure that the education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality.

Historically, university-based translation and interpretation programs have been the norm in Western Europe. Starting with the first college of translators from Arabic to Latin in the city of Toledo during the 12th century and leading to contemporary programs offered in universities such as the University of Geneva Ecole de Traduction et d'Interprétation, University of Leipzig, and la Universidad de Alicante. In the United States, we are starting to see an increase in university extended education certificate programs in translation and interpretation. Some of which include: New York University, California State University (Los Angeles and Fullerton), UCLA, etc. These programs are producing the next generation of interpreters and translators. They not only receive instruction on the ethical guidelines and standards of an interpreter/translator, but practical training in state-of-the-art language laboratories. We also find American universities offering bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in translation and interpretation studies. In addition to practical instruction, these students receive a strong theoretical foundation. In fact, 2008 saw the nation’s first doctorate in translation studies successfully completed at the Binghamton University Translation Research and Instruction Program (TRIP).

What does this pedagogical change mean for our profession? Should we look forward to a more consistent curriculum, professionalization, and increased employment opportunities? All signs point towards success. For medical interpreters we can look forward to national certification and in the state of California translators and interpreters can expect an increase in employment opportunities thanks to the implementation of Senate Bill 853. Even during times of uncertainty, I have the audacity to hope that our profession will continue to grow. After all, hope won.

Celebrate International Translator's Day

2008-09-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

Happy International Translator's Day. On September 30th, translators and interpreters all over the world celebrate their profession. This date was chosen to pay tribute to St. Jerome, the Catholic patron saint of translators and interpreters. St. Jerome is revered because he translated the Old and New Testaments into Latin. Later to be recognized by the Council of Trent as the official version of the Bible: the Vulgate.

Use this day to celebrate languages and the field of translation and interpretation!

To see the full Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs press release on 2008 International Interpreters & Translators Day please go to: http://www.fit-ift.org/download/en/itd-2008.pdf

CAL & ACTFL: Spotlight on Spanish

2008-09-11T21:37:00.000-07:00

Discover Languages is a national campaign, introduced by the American Council on the Teaching Foreign Languages "to raise public awareness about the importance of learning languages and understanding cultures in the lives of all Americans" (ACTFL, 2006).

In support of the Discover Languages campaign, the Center of Applied Linguistics presents a regular Web series spotlighting a specific language and encouraging readers to explore languages more deeply.

The spotlight is currently on "SPANISH." The following is a brief excerpt of the article:

"The Spanish language is thought to have evolved from Vulgar Latin (the informal, spoken variety of Latin that is thought to have been the precursor to all modern-day Romance languages) and is closely related to other Romance languages such as French, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian. Gordon (2005b) lists the lexical similarities between Spanish and other Romance languages as ranging from approximately 75% to 85%, a level of similarity that makes it possible to understand parts of one language with knowledge of another. Although estimates are imprecise, Spanish is probably one of the top three most spoken languages in the world, with an estimated 322 million speakers (Gordon, 2005a)1. It has official or national language status in at least 20 countries (Gordon, 2005b), the European Union (Europa, 2008), and the United Nations (United Nations, 2008).

Although the language is most often referred to as Spanish (español) by native and second language speakers alike, it is also sometimes referred to as Castilian (castellano), particularly in contrasting it with Spain’s official regional languages, three of which have large numbers of speakers and enjoy prominent public use: Basque (vascuense, euskera); Catalan (bacavès), which is also known as Catalan-Valencian-Balear; and Galician (gallego). Regional languages with smaller numbers of speakers include Aragonese; Aranese, which is also known as Gascon; and Asturian, also known as Asturian-Leonese."

To read more, please visit: http://www.cal.org/resources/discoverlanguages/spanish/index.html

Babylon 7 Software Review

2008-06-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

As a librarian, I am always in search of quality resources. However, when I'm wearing my translator/interpreter cap I'm in search of linguistic resources that will facilitate my daily workload. I recently decided to try out Babylon, a dictionary and translation computer tool. At first I wasn't sure what to expect from this software, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover how user-friendly and useful this tool is. It not only provides translations in up to 75 languages, but also provides immediate access to lexicographical and encyclopedic content. All you have to do is simply click CTRL+Right Click Mouse over the word in question and a box will open indicating its translation into the target language, as well as additional relevant content from Wikipedia, Encyclopedia Britannica, and the Oxford English Dictionary (for an additional fee). They also offer spell check and automatic text translation in 17 languages, however I would not rely on machine translation software as they do not adequately translate grammar and syntax.

Babylon is a great supplementary resource to the various references that translators/interpreters use. However, I wouldn't run to my office and start throwing away my print dictionaries. Babylon dictionaries and glossaries should be used as an additional tool to the varied reference materials that we already use.

Overall, a great tool!

Preparation for the California Court Interpreter Examination: An Interview

2008-02-11T20:57:00.000-08:00

Throughout my training in the field of interpretation, I've observed a strong desire from new students to understand what it really takes to pass the California Court Interpreter Examination. In order to gain a better understanding of both the examination and preparation process, I interviewed Edgar Hidalgo Garcia, a state certified court interpreter. In this interview, Edgar offers personal anecdotes and advice for preparing to pass this examination.

PART I: Introduction and Training

PART II: Preparation and Examination

Edgar Hidalgo Garcia earned a bachelor of arts degree in Translation and Interpretation from California State University, Long Beach and has presented for the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators.

CHIA 8th Annual Conference: From Grassroots to Redwoods

2008-01-23T23:14:00.000-08:00

The California Healthcare Interpreting Association annual conference will be held Friday and Saturday, April 11-12, 2008 at the Holiday Inn Costa Mesa in Orange County. This year's conference theme will be the rise of healthcare interpreting as a profession.

Please mark your calendars! And watch this space for more information.

From Our Lips to Your Ears: How Interpreters Are Changing the World

2007-12-25T20:39:00.000-08:00

Calling all Interpreters with great stories!

A book titled, From Our Lips to Your Ears: How Interpreters are Changing the World is currently in the works. It will consist of personal anecdotes from interpreters like you and me.

This is not an academic publication, but simply a compilation of honest stories from interpreters in order to demonstrate how important the work of an interpreter really is.

For those of you interested in participating in the project, please visit the official website: www.fromourlips.com

Best Regards,

Nick Arce

Interpreting for Brain Death Situations

2007-11-07T08:37:00.000-08:00

Brain Dead, what does it mean?
Lack of blood flow to the brain, thus brain does not receive oxygen. If brain does not receive oxygen for approximately four minutes then brain is dead. California law states that patient must have no brain activity in order to be declared brain dead. Furthermore, brain death is irreversible. It is not to be confused with “coma” which is an entirely different medical state which is reversible.

How long can someone be “brain dead” before their body shuts down?
If someone is young and healthy, up to four days; an elderly or sick individual, up to two days or less.

How does this affect Interpreters?
Brain death is a sensitive and difficult concept to explain, especially to non-western cultures. Most available medical literature is not written in a culturally sensitive perspective which may influence the way the medical staff will explain concept to family. This is where the interpreter will act as a cultural clarifier and explain sensitivity to medical staff.

Terms or expressions:
The expression “Vegetable state” should be avoided at all cost. It is equivalent to a racial slur because it is demeaning/comparing a human/human life to a vegetable. The correct expression is “Vegetative state,” however it is a complicated expression which is also discouraged. Medical staff should offer an explanation of what Brain death means instead of simply using unintelligible terms.

Other terms to know:
Durable Power of Attorney
Conservatorship
Advance Directive
Next of Kin

What exams are performed to determine brain death?
Radionuclide
Angiogram
EEG
Neurological exam
Pupil Dilation
Cold Calorics
CT Scan

For Further Information Please See:

http://www.braindeath.org/law/california.htm

Hospital Language Barriers

2007-03-26T21:59:00.000-07:00

When a patient initially arrives at an emergency department suffering from a serious illness, a triage nurse must quickly determine a number of things: his illness level, medical history, allergies, etc.

What if the patient does not speak the same language as the medical staff?

Communication is key in all businesses, however it may be a question of life or death when dealing with hospital consent forms, medications, and medical procedures.This anxiety-provoking scenario plays out routinely in hospitals across the United States.

Offering an interpreter service is key to facilitating communication between the medical staff and patient. It is also a patients right to truly understand and consent to medical treatment.

Everyday I see medical staff relying upon untrained "bilingual" individuals with limited knowledge of medical terminology in either the source or target language. By doing this, they are not only offering poor quality health care, but also jeopardizing the life of their patient.

Next Great Immigration Hurdle -- The Right to a Medical Interpreter

2006-06-22T00:38:00.000-07:00

The study by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research disclosed that those with limited English proficiency are more likely to have problems accessing health care services, and health care providers — whether public or commercial — are not doing enough to ensure quality treatment.

For state agencies, the news underlines the importance of certain changes already being made.

For complete news article please click on title or visit the following website:
http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=a2ccf312598b4820d1d0ac25265fc91e

Translation and Interpretation Associations

2005-12-15T15:37:00.000-08:00

National Associations
American Literary Translator’s Association
American Translator's Association
National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators
National Council on Interpreting in Healthcare

Local/Regional Associations
California Court Interpreters Association
California Healthcare Interpreting Association
California Workers' Compensation Interpreters Association
Chicago Area Translators and Interpreters Association
Houston Interpreters and Translators Association
New York Circle of Translators

International Associations
Asociación Profesional Española de Traductores e Intérpretes
Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs
International Medical Interpreter's Association
Japan Association of Translators Organización Mexicana de Traductores

Training and Certification

2005-12-14T15:46:00.000-08:00

Dictionaries and Grammar Resources

2005-12-14T15:41:00.000-08:00

English Dictionaries
American Heritage Dictionary
Oxford Dictionary
Webster's Dictionary

Foreign Language Dictionaries
Diccionario de la lengua española
Foreign Word
WordReference

Medical Bilingual Dictionary
Dorlands
Stedman
English-Spanish Dictionary of Health Related Terms
Diccionario de la Clínica Universidad de Navarra

Legal Biligual Dictionaries
Superior Court of California: Multilingual Legal Glossaries

Grammar and Style Guide
La Página del Idioma Español
OWL at Purdue

When trial participants don't speak English, court interpreters are essential -- but does justice sometimes get Lost in translation?

2005-12-13T17:19:00.000-08:00

Newsday Inc., Long Island NY recently published an article on December 4, 2005 which reads as follows:

"Under the entry for "molestosa" in Cassell's Spanish and English dictionary are the definitions "troublesome," "irritating" and "uncomfortable."

But read the trial transcript of the People of the State of New York v. Arelis Mora, and you will find the Patchogue baby-sitter describing the crying, fussy 5-month-old baby who died under her care as "obnoxious." That was the definition chosen by the freelance court interpreter who covered Mora's trial testimony."

For Complete News Article Click on Title.
Copyright 2005 Newsday Inc.

Introduction to Translation and Interpretation

2005-12-12T14:26:00.000-08:00

Introduction to Translation and Interpretation

Translation and interpretation are excellent professions for people who love and speak multiple languages. Both translation and interpretation (T & I) require the ability to accurately express information in the target language without omissions or additions. Beyond linguistics, translators and interpreters need to understand the cultures of both the source and target languages, in order to adapt the language to the appropriate culture.

Translation vs. Interpretation

In general, most laypeople refer to both translation and interpretation as "translation." Although translation and interpretation share the common goal of converting information from one language into another, they involve two very different skills.

Translation is written - it involves taking a written text and translating it in writing into the target language.

Interpretation is oral - it refers to listening to something spoken and interpreting it orally into the target language. (Professionals who facilitate communicate between hearing persons and deaf persons are also known as interpreters)

Translation and Interpretation Terms

Source language: The language of the original message.

Target language: The language of the resulting translation or interpretation.

A language - Native language: Most people have one A language, although someone who was raised bilingual may have two A languages or an A and a B, depending on whether they are truly bilingual or just very fluent in the second language.

B language - Fluent language: Fluent here means near-native ability - understanding virtually all vocabulary, structure, dialects, cultural influence, etc.

C language - Working language: Translators and interpreters may have one or more C languages - those which they understand well enough to translate or interpret from but not to.

Types of Translation and Interpretation

Specialized translation or interpretation refers to domains which require training in the field (such as a university degree in the subject, or specialized coursework in that type of translation or interpretation).

Some common types of specialized translation and interpretation are
· financial translation and interpretation
· legal translation and interpretation
· literary translation
· medical translation and interpretation
· scientific translation and interpretation
· community translation and interpretation

Types of Translation

Automatic translation: Also known as machine translation, this is any translation that is done without human intervention, using software, hand-held translators, and online translators.

Computer-assisted translation: A human translates text with the aide of computer assisted translation software.

Subtitling and Dubbing: Translation of movies and television programs, including subtitling (where the translation is typed along the bottom of the screen) and dubbing (where the voices of native speakers of the target language are heard in place of the original actors).

Sight translation: A document in the source language is rendered orally in the target language.

Localization: The linguistic and cultural adaptation of websites, software, or other products to make them appropriate to the target country.

Types of Interpretation

Consecutive interpretation: The interpreter takes notes while listening to a speech, then does his or her interpretation during pauses. The consecutive interpreter would interpret in both directions, French to English and English to French. Unlike translation and simultaneous interpretation, consecutive interpretation is commonly done into the interpreter's A and B languages.

Simultaneous interpretation: The interpreter listens to a speech and simultaneously interprets it, using headphones and a microphone. This is commonly used when there are numerous languages needed, such as in the United Nations.

NPR's 'All Things Considered' Reports on California Hospitals' Use of Videoconferencing Medical Interpretation Technology

2005-11-16T17:25:00.000-08:00

NPR's "All Things Considered" on Monday reported on how the use of videoconferencing medical interpretation technology (VMI) at San Francisco General Hospital and Alameda County Medical Center allows the facilities to share language interpretation services facilitating communication between health care providers and patients who do not speak English (Wiederholt, "All Things Considered," NPR, 11/14).

The Videoconferencing Medical Interpretation project allows the facilities to share about 50 interpreters who speak more than 20 languages combined. The technology, which can be moved from room to room on carts, allows an interpreter working in one hospital to translate for a patient at the partnering hospital while watching what is taking place through a two-way video link.

California Bar Issues Striking Report

2005-10-18T18:11:00.000-07:00

The California Commission on Access to Justice has issued a special policy paper, Language Barriers to Justice in California, calling for increased court-interpreter resources.

For more information visit:

http://www.calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/reports/2005_Language-Barriers_Report.pdf

Training and Conference Opportunities

2005-10-18T18:03:00.000-07:00

Take advantage of future training and conference opportunities !

October 28-30, Akron, OH
CCIO Regional Interpreter Conference, cosponsored by NAJIT
www.ccio.org
October 28-29, Boston, MA
Massachusetts Medical Interpreter Association Conference
www.mmia.org.
October 28-30, Columbia, MO
12th Annual Missouri Interpreters Conference (ASL)
www.mcdhh.mo.gov/MICS/Conference/2005
October 29, Whitewater, WI
Civil Litigation Depositions
Karen Borgenheimer, Co-Chair, NAJIT Education Committee
Visit NAJIT website to download registration form
October 29, Bellevue, WA
Ethics for Court Interpreters
Bellevue Community College Translation & Interpretation Institute
www.conted.bcc.ctc.edu/translation/index.asp - workshops
November 5, Portland, OR
Sight Translation and Consecutive Notetaking Skills
(Spanish-specific). Oregon Judicial Department
Visit NAJIT website to download registration form
November 9-12, Seattle, WA
ATA Annual Conference, November 9-12
www.atanet.org
December 10, Yakima, WA
Ethics for Court Interpreters at
Yakima Valley Community College
BCC Translation & Interpretation Institute
www.conted.bcc.ctc.edu/translation/index.asp - workshops