ATA Client Outreach Kit

Client Outreach Skills Modules

Using Examples Effectively

Whenever you present to potential clients, you should stress that poor translations are a business risk. A hard-hitting example is one of the best ways to make this point — but examples of poor translations abound. How do you choose?

Here are a few points to keep in mind:

• Select examples that are relevant to the audience and are translated into their language.
• Aim for a simple punch line that speaks for itself.
• Avoid examples that need explaining. Make it easy to understand what went wrong.
• Mention direct, specific consequences such as diminished image, reprinting costs, or lost business opportunities.
• Don’t get into grammar (“And here, the translator did not use the right past tense....”). Trust us: your business audience won’t get it — and they’ll drift off.
• Don’t criticize other linguists; simply say that “being bilingual is not enough to work as a translator.”

Your own practice may be the best source of examples for your audience, but ATA offers several good sources as well:

• ATA’s Translation – Getting It Right brochure
• “The Onionskin” column in The ATA Chronicle
• ATA’s collected images of translation bloopers.

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• Getting Invited to Speak (PDF Version )
• Sample Letter (Microsoft Word Version) (PDF Version )
• Preparing Your Presentation (PDF Version)
• Writing Your Introduction (PDF Version)
  
  • Sample Introduction (PDF Version )
  • Why You Shouldn’t List Your Academic Degrees (PDF Version)
• Promoting Your Presentation (PDF Version )
• Writing and Delivering an Elevator Speech (PDF Version )
• Using Examples Effectively (PDF Version )
• Building Strong Speaking Skills (PDF Version )
• Using the ATA Logo (PDF Version )
• Handling Q&A (PDF Version)
• Managing Nerves (PDF Version)
• Preparing Handouts (PDF Version )