The Sunday Review, 27/02/2011

Ahh, Sunday. A time for rest and reflection after a busy 24 hours of hard-core raving and shape-throwing down the local meat market. When the dust has settled and the bacon has fried, it’s time to pour a hot black coffee and settle down with the ‘papers. After that, maybe a nice ramble over Hampstead Heath or, if that’s approximately 1,430 km inconvenient, a stroll around park Jordana* and a quick stop to tag the new Wisła stadium with some good old fashioned Cracovia graffiti. Or if the big breakfast and jug of coffee weren’t enough to motivate you, how about just relaxing here with me whilst we look back over the week gone by, and squint our eyes as we peer into the next seven days...

Wednesday the 23^rd of February (note the dramatic inclusion of the and of in that date; two essential items for all but the most hide-bound legalese!) was the magic day that this wonky endeavour cracked open it’s bleary little eyes and squawked ‘mama’ for the first time. A triple bill featuring a welcome letter and introduction from yours truly, plus the first of many translating ‘items’ delivered this blog kicking and screaming into the world, followed by a quickly established pattern of one translating item in the morning and a feature article in the evening (or at night, depending on how soon I can find the keys to the drinks cabinet).

Here at the Article, we foresee weekends being a little quieter content-wise, with just our Sunday review and preview and perhaps a small morsel of interest on Saturdays to distract you from the usual weekend routine of sprawdzenia and crack cocaine.

Looking ahead into our cracked and oddly lumpen crystal ball, some very exciting things are looming out of the psychic fog. Negotiations are currently under way between Uncle Proofreader and a series of very different, very interesting translators and interpreters. Interviews are being planned, guest columnists approached (stealthily, and from behind), and soon other voices will be heard on this blog. An even bigger surprise awaits the loyal reader in March, as we debut an occasional series of new and exciting columns by friends of the Article. Perhaps you’ll be one of them? As always, all of your comments and opinions will be greeted with open arms, hugs, slaps on the back and a round of grilled cheese on toast by the fireplace. It doesn’t matter if you’re a brand new translator or even a slightly soiled one – there are no stupid questions and no boring ideas here, only interesting, friendly people who share a common goal.

There are many more exciting things afoot here, so stay tuned. Competitions, interviews and our usual blend of feature articles and spotlights on common En<>Pl translating mistakes are just the tip of the raspberry-flavoured iceberg!

Have a relaxing Sunday,

Uncle Proofreader. :-)

*Dr. Henryk Jordana was a doctor, yes. But what kind? First one to post the correct answer in the comments section wins a random book from Uncle P’s library!

The Road to Translation. Part 1: Becoming a Translator

Most of you who are reading this now are already translators. Whether still in education or having had a few years’ solo flight time under your belts already, you probably don’t need to be reminded of how you got where you are now. But in times to come, other linguistically-minded people may stumble across these words, and it is largely to them that this information will be most useful.

However! Always remember, that you can never be too knowledgeable nor too experienced not to benefit from a refresher now and then. In every branch of industry and creative endeavour, it never hurts to go back to basics. So pack your bags and come with us on a multi-week journey from the end of high school to the lofty heights of freelance translating! (or as we call it, sitting at your desk in your underpants all day). And as always, we want to hear from you. How has your experience differed from the précis given here? Let us know, in the comments below!

Basic Fundaments

Know at least two languages. This is the bare minimum, however this doesn’t automatically make you a translator (or interpreter). Translating and interpreting are distinct skills that need to be learnt, after which it’s all about accumulating experience. Having a real interest in the culture of your second language is a terrific boon that will serve you extremely well as a translator or interpreter.

Back 2 Skool

There are several ways of attaining the formal education required:

 - Linguistics degrees. In Poland, a linguistics degree is the best way, especially in Warsaw at the Instytut Lingwistyki Stosowanej, where they offer MAs in translating and interpreting. You can easily find them on the web. Linguistics degrees provide specific and detailed technical and mechanical knowledge for the potential translator/interpreter.

- Philology degrees. Although less specific than linguistics in terms of translator/interpreter  skills, philology degrees offer a great deal for the potential translator/interpreter in terms of cultural knowledge and understanding. This type of knowledge can’t be underestimated, as it directly contributes a huge amount to the final quality of your translation or interpretation (particularly the latter).

- General degrees. Another route to consider is using any other sort of degree as a launchpad into translating as a specialist. For example, a biology degree can be the basis for specialising in medical translations, a degree in engineering or business can be built upon to become a specialist in translating and/or interpreting in those fields. There is always, always going to be a need for translators and interpreters in very specific fields; although some areas (like business and medicine) may be more in demand more often than others, there are really no subjects which are so marginal that with the relevant degree, some proper training and a little experience, you wouldn’t be able to pay your bills with them at the end of the month.

- Certification courses, independent schools etc.  A completely viable alternative to university training is to attend specific translator/interpreter training courses at a specialist school. For example, UNESCO or TISCHNER here in Kraków, or the Centrum Tłumaczeń in Sosnowiec, over in Katowice, which offers seasonal courses and can fully train you in the principles and techniques of translating and interpreting. If you have a general degree or some sort of gift for languages, it’s well worth considering, especially as many such schools’ final exams result in recognised national and international certification from bodies such as TEPIS etc.

Beyond education

As we said yesterday, proper translating and interpreting is more than just a degree or a bunch of certificates. I’ve know many translators who had qualifications coming out of their ears, but who could make a translation of a children’s party invitation sound like a summons to a firing squad. Long after your initial formal training and education is over, an interest in and ongoing awareness of the news, politics and cultural trends of the countries of your chosen languages, is absolutely vital, beyond any question. Knowledge of history and culture are just as important as a good vocabulary and understanding of technique. For example, look how quickly language evolves – interpreting when a World War II veteran speaks, and when a Gulf War veteran speaks, goes well beyond just knowing the military terminology.

Don’t forget your roots

Hand in hand with all that, and as our friend Piotrek pointed out here, in the race to master your target language you shouldn’t let mastery of your mother tongue fall behind!

Next week we'll be leaving full-time education and looking for our own place, so start dealing with the hangover and let's meet again in seven. In the meantime, email me or leave a comment below if you want to say something about all this. :)

Article on Pilot Judgments in EHRLR

Stuart Wallace of the University of Nottingham has published an article on the pilot judgments at the European Court in the newest issues of the European Human Rights Law Review (No. 2011) pp. 71-81. It is entitled 'Much ado about nothing? The pilot judgment procedure at the European Court of Human Rights'. This is the abstract:

The pilot judgment procedure at the European Court of Human Rights is described as an innovation in the way the court deals with cases and an effective means of combating the court's backlog. This article analyses the court's jurisprudence and procedural rules to determine whether the pilot procedure is an innovation and whether it is an effective means of achieving its goals. At the outset it should be noted that the objectives of the pilot procedure are not being questioned here, systemic human rights abuses should be eradicated wherever they arise and the court has an important role in tackling them, this article merely critiques the means adopted by the court to tackle these issues. The primary argument of this article is that the component parts of the pilot judgment procedure are not innovative and that the use of pilot judgments has the potential to damage the court on many levels by further delaying the processing of applications, politicising the
court and undermining the court's authority more generally.

currently - presently

           

The problem here is one of simple confused usage – using presently when currently is more appropriate, accurate, and correct. It’s a frequent issue that nearly all translators seem to make and so I wondered if there was some sort of answer in the Polish meaning of the word. But as far as my feeble collection of anglo-polish słwoniki are concerned, they’re both very different in Polish. If you have any ideas about this, do comment! So:

           

Bad presently  

1a      Students can presently choose from among 177 fields of study. 

2a      The second group is presently in the dining hall.           

3a      There are presently no further options available to non-subscribers.      

4a      The present situation is looking good, although there's some way to go yet.      

There are two ways we can fix this. One is to simply use ‘currently’ instead. The other is to rephrase presently into at present:          

Good currently

1b      Students can currently choose from among 177 fields of study. 

2b      At present, the second group is in the dining hall.         

3b      Currently, there are no further options available to non-subscribers.      

4b      The current situation is looking good, although there’s some way to go yet.       

You can employ these fixes in a variety of ways, as you can see above. Remember though, that at present is an opening gambit, whereas currently can be moved around as you see fit.

One last thing to note, very important. Look at 4a above. Immediately preceding a noun with present is OKAY in legal documents, contracts and so on because it does have some legal meaning. To paraphrase the OED, ‘the present document’ means ‘this document’. But in all other situations, use one of the fixes above.

Love Your TL, Love Your Bank Account

Proper translating and interpreting is more than just the transformation of words and sounds from one language to another, it’s the transformation of cultural ideas and concepts. Your formal education in translating (or philology, literature etc) is just one part of your translator training – it’s the bread and butter in your linguistic sandwich. But an interest in and ongoing awareness of the news, politics and cultural trends of the countries of your chosen languages are absolutely vital, beyond any question. Knowledge of history and culture are just as important as a good vocabulary and understanding of technique.  This is the salad, mayonnaise, tasty cheese and fresh slices of ham that make your sandwich better than the next translator’s.

Good translators know that the more interest they have in the world of their target languages, the better and more successful they can be. Like the Force, knowledge breeds confidence, and confidence leads to speed. Quicker work output of a reliably good quality leads to... more money! (unlike the Force, which usually leads to awesome lightsabre battles). You can charge whatever you like, but if your work isn’t justified by your rates, you will eventually have problems. Believe it or not, established translators have reputations that carry not only across their home towns, but through their countries and overseas too, not to mention all over the Internet.

And, of course, reputation is what gets you the big money – at the end of the day, it’s all about paying your bills. Robert Kubica doesn’t pay his bills now by having lazed his way through karting and Formula 3. He took a greater interest in honing his driving skills until he could race at the very highest level of professional motorsport (and crash into a variety of foreign churches) in a wide variety of vehicles, and so like anyone else trying to advance in a career, you must know your game. Technique and mechanical skills improve just through doing the job. But style, flair and overall quality come from your own interest in your TL culture.

So every chance you get you need to open a newspaper, turn on the radio or television, surf the Internet or read a book – and do it in your Target Languages! When you do this, you are literally making yourself a better translator. Browsing Le Monde or Der Spiegel from Empik, listening to the BBC’s streaming radio on the Internet, surfing YouTube or actually getting on a train to Berlin or Prague or Rome or visiting a country whose language you work in, is a step towards knowledge – and another step towards paying your next bill.

Let me end this by asking you, how do you stay in touch with your TL culture? Have you found any unique or interesting resources that allow you to stay up to date with your English, German, Spanish etc? Leave a comment and share the mental wealth. :) 

castings

castings is a plural noun which, in the most widely used sense, describes multiple items created from moulds, for example statuettes and busts. It has infrequent usage, but one valid example might be ‘Several castings were made of the actor’s face in order to create the zombie mask he wore in the final scenes.’

castings should not therefore be confused with the current popular usage in Polish and European media to describe casting calls made for TV programmes like Mam Talent or Po Prostu Tanćicz. Any time a film or television programme puts out an open call for actors or people to come and audition, this is a casting call. In the theatre, we say auditions instead.

Fun thing: When casting calls are put out for extras in, for example, large crowd scenes, these are referred to as cattle calls. 

Dutch Short Videos on Key ECHR Rights

A collection of short videos explaining, through the real-life cases of Dutch people, the significance of a number of key ECHR rights is available online (including the right to liberty, the freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial). The videos were developed at the occasion of a symposium organised last year in Middelburg, under the guidance of professor Barbare Oomen. Although only available in Dutch (and by that fact possibly only of interest to the Dutch and Belgian readers of this blog), they offer very accessible introductions to the practical value of the rights contained in the European Convention for citizens. You can watch them here. Recommended!