Interpreting

I-1 (F, 10:00-11:30am) - ALL
"Home Alone 3": Building a Cooperative Network of Support Among Interpreters
Danyune Geertsen, director of operations and training, Language Line Services, Monterey, California; Karen Klebingat, California State certified interpreter (Spanish/English), Language Line Services, Monterey, California; and Nataly Romero, Spanish senior language specialist, Language Line Services, Monterey, California

While interpreting is considered to be a solitary and competitive profession, Language Line Services has made strides to create an environment that promotes camaraderie and support among colleagues and facilitates interpreter development. This presentation details the evolution of one company's efforts to promote a close-knit association among interpreters through various formats, including one-on-one interpreter mentoring, live and over-the-phone meetings, written publications, constructive feedback sessions, special project involvement, training materials and training sessions, and chat-lines. The panel of presenters will address how interpreters can benefit from ongoing opportunities to interact with one another, and most importantly, how this impacts the quality of interpretation. The panel will also give the audience an opportunity to participate in a live demonstration.

I-2 (F, 1:30-3:00pm) - ALL
Interpreters Division Meeting
Diane E. Teichman, administrator, ATA Interpreters Division and president, Linguistic Services, Houston, Texas

I-3 (F, 1:30-2:15pm) - ALL
The ASTM Standard Guide for Language Interpretation Services: What Is It? What Does It Say? What Is It Good For?
Bruce Downing, associate professor of linguistics and director, Program in Translation and Interpreting, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Danyune Geertsen, director of operations and training, Language Line Services, Monterey, California; Teresa C. Salazar, staff interpreter and director of Interpreting Services, US District Court for the District of Columbia, Falls Church, Virginia; and David Burton Sawyer, assistant professor and head of the German Program, Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Monterey, California

The American Society for Testing and Materials standards are well known and respected in the fields of manufacturing and engineering. Now, with support from the ATA and other organizations and individuals who provide or utilize interpreter services, an ASTM Standard Guide has been developed reflecting consensus standards across the field of interpreting. In this session, individuals who have contributed to developing this standard will introduce it and answer your questions. You will learn what ASTM is, how standards are created, what a "Guide" is, and how, as a voluntary standard for the field, this guide can be used by providers, clients, and interpreters in contracting for interpreter services.

[CANCELED] (F, 2:15-3:00pm) - INTERMEDIATE
Interpreter Training in Cooperative Learning Approaches in an Undergraduate Program—A Case Study
Sheng-Jie Chen, professor, conference interpretation, public speaking, debate, and English for conferences, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei City, Taiwan, Republic of China

Interpretation courses are increasingly being offered in the undergraduate programs in Taiwan, but no method is available for teaching such courses systematically. This case study, in the genre of teacher research, attempts to bridge the gap by using qualitative methods to determine the nature of the learning experience in an interpretation course. I designed the course based on cooperative learning concepts, implemented it, and investigated the class I taught. Participants consisted of 21 undergraduate students and a researcher at a university in Taiwan. Results indicate that this innovative training approach increases teaching efficiency and students' motivation to learn.

I-4 (F, 1:30-3:00pm) - ALL
Processing Time for Interpreters/Interpretation of Innuendo
Steven D. Collins, instructor, Department of American Sign Language, Linguistics, and Interpretation, Gallaudet University, Washington, DC; Valerie Dively, program coordinator, Master of Arts in Interpretation Program, Gallaudet University, Washington, DC; Ruth Tamar Jackson, student, Master of Arts in Interpretation Program, Gallaudet University, Washington, DC; Melanie Metzger, associate professor, Master of Arts in Interpretation Program, Gallaudet University, Washington, DC; and Shaun Tray, freelance interpreter and student, Master of Arts in Interpretation Program, Gallaudet University, Washington, DC

This forum includes the presentation of two papers based on original research conducted by graduate students of interpretation at Gallaudet University's American Sign Language-English Interpreting Program. One paper addresses the question: during simultaneous interpreting from ASL to English, is there a direct correlation between the processing time an interpreter utilizes and miscues or errors? The other paper focuses on issues of humor and indirectness in the interpretation of innuendo. The research was conducted under the guidance of the faculty in partial fulfillment of course objectives for the study of the theory of interpretation and the simultaneous interpretation of interaction.

I-5 (F, 3:30-5:00pm) - ALL
Quality Assessment of Telephone Interpreters: Preview to the Process of Identifying, Training, and Certifying Telephone Interpreters
Frances Butler, senior research associate and language testing specialist, UCLA Center for the Study of Evaluation, Thousand Oaks, California; Renee Loya Rosenberg, Spanish professor, Moorpark and Oxnard Colleges, and client training, sales and marketing, and special projects, Network Omni, Thousand Oaks, California; Irena Stone, director, Continuing Education/Quality Assurance, Network Omni, Thousand Oaks, California; and Jean Turner, associate professor, School of Languages and Educational Linguistics, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Monterey, California

The tremendous expansion of the telephone interpreting industry establishes the urgency of developing guidelines for identifying, training, and certifying qualified telephone interpreters. The presenters in this session will describe the comprehensive certification and training program for telephone interpreters that Network Omni is developing. An overview of the process and a detailed explanation of the initial phase of activities will be the focus of this discussion, with attention given to critical factors in the screening of candidates, the identification of criterion levels of qualification, and training opportunities and requirements.

I-6 (F, 3:30-4:15pm) - ALL
Translating vs. Interpreting Competence: Similarities and Variations
Jamal al-Qinai, instructor, Kuwait University, and translator, Hawalli, Kuwait

While most scholars stress that translation and interpreting essentially fulfil the same function, many, especially interpreters, consider that the two are very different, even incompatible professions. This presentation will discuss a rarely ventured area of investigation that deals with the discourse/textual similarities and differences between translating and interpreting. The main points of analysis include, but are not necessarily restricted to, quantitative aspects of style, qualitative aspects of style, compensatory strategies, and audience reception.

I-7 (F, 4:15-5:00pm) - ALL
Life Before and Inside the Booth—A Reminder
Paulo Roberto Lopes, certified translator and conference interpreter, São Paulo, Brazil

This presentation is intended to be more like a simple refresher/reminder for interpreters, beginners and wannabes, covering some basic aspects of the profession in terms of conduct, preparation, behavior, and rapport with colleagues. Some interesting statistics about the profession will also be shown.

I-8 (S, 8:45-9:30am) - ALL
Conference Interpretation: Is it for You?
Angela Thielen-Martin, State of California certified medical interpreter and ATA-accredited (English>Spanish) translator, Santa Clarita, California

Due to its professional recognition and comparatively good pay, conference interpretation has become an area of expertise that many interpreters would like to try. But what does it entail? A natural ability, a strong academic background, a well-rounded perception of world affairs, or all of the above? And what are the positives and negatives of it? Is it for you? This presentation will address such questions and many others based on the practical experience of a freelance conference interpreter who makes a living from it, and couldn't enjoy it more!

I-9 (S, 10:00-10:45am) - ALL
Introducing the National Center for State Courts
William Hewitt, senior research associate, National Center for State Courts, Williamsburg, Virginia

(S, 10:45-11:30am) - ALL
Telephone Interpreting in American Courts: Just Reach Out and Ouch!
Virginia Benmaman, professor of Spanish and director of the Master of Arts Program in Bilingual Legal Interpreting, College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina

In order to ensure due process and equal access to justice, most courts routinely provide interpreting services for linguistic minorities. To face the challenges of increasing demand and shrinking human and fiscal resources, the courts are looking to telephone interpreting as an expedient alternative to the physical presence of an interpreter in court. Proponents of telephone interpreting services claim that this method will provide qualified interpreters almost immediately in areas where no interpreters are available and at a much lower cost. Others take a dim view of substituting a telephone line as adequate means of communicating between and among parties in a legal context. This discussion will explore the rationale and arguments presented from both perspectives, describe the current efforts by noncommercial and commercial providers of telephone interpreting services to "sell" this newest form of interpreter, and provide some suggestions for dealing with the advent of this age of "just dial an interpreter."

I-10 (S, 10:00-11:30am) - BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE
Court Interpreting Techniques
María Cecilia Marty, certified federal Spanish interpreter, Tampa, Florida

This is an interactive session that not only gives detailed definitions to gain an understanding of the processes involved in simultaneous, consecutive, and sight interpreting within the judicial process, but provides techniques that enable the interpreter to improve presentation, rendition, accuracy, and monitoring. Those attending will gain invaluable insight into their own challenges and how to overcome them by applying the proper techniques.

I-11 (S, 1:30-2:15pm) - ALL
Do's and Don'ts of Court Interpreting in the US
Lourdes V. Norton, freelance translator and interpreter, São Paulo, Brazil

Since it is reasonably new in many states, there is always the need to address many important aspects of court interpreting, such as interpreter qualifications, certification, command of legal terms in both languages, knowledge of proceedings and protocols, the types of interpretation used in the courts, the most important and controversial canons of the code of professional responsibility, problems with judicial equivalence of concepts, and how to deal with errors, omissions, redundancies, repetitions, idioms, slang, and profanity, among other issues. This will be a group discussion of practical issues, such as how one gets to be part of the court roster and dealing with agencies and direct clients, in which participants can benefit from each other's experiences.

(S, 2:15-3:00pm) - ALL
Plea Bargain? You Bet Your Life!
Sandra A. Morra, president, Narragansett Translations & Interpreting, Inc., Pawtucket, Rhode Island

This presentation offers an overview of the plea bargain process based on a series of interviews with Rhode Island judges, lawyers, prosecutors, and interpreters. In criminal cases in Rhode Island, the plea bargain accounts for 90 percent of all dispositions. The seriousness of this negotiation process and its sometimes unintended consequences, and the pace and sheer volume of cases, are compelling reasons for a brief but in-depth look.

I-12 (S, 3:30-4:15pm) - BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE
Telephone Interpretation in Action: A Live Demonstration
Clemencia Macias, recruiting manager of less-commonly spoken US languages, Language Line Services, Monterey, California; and Amy Wade, English-Spanish interpreter and recruiting manager for more-commonly spoken US languages, Language Line Services, Monterey, California

As the phone becomes an increasingly prevalent medium for interpretation throughout the world, more and more interpreters and those who depend on them are turning to over-the-phone interpretation. But how does it work? How can an interpreter working from Boise help an investment broker from Manhattan purchase stock for a client in Malaysia? How can an interpreter working from Houston help a triage nurse in Denver assist patients in the emergency room? We will demonstrate, through video and live demonstration, how this immediate, accurate, and vital service is not only viable, but also incredibly effective.

I-13 (S, 4:15-5:00pm) - ALL
Interpreting for a Non-English-speaking Juror
Margarita B. Montalvo, ATA-accredited (English<>Spanish) translator, New Mexico certified judicial interpreter, and FBI certified linguist, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Is an interpreter in the privacy of the jury room viewed as an intruder or as a professional bridging a gap between two languages? The Supreme Court of New Mexico ruled early in 2000 that jurors cannot be excused nor excluded from duty just because they do not speak English. This presentation deals with my experience as the first interpreter in Albuquerque to be the 13th person during deliberation, and to be interpreting at grand jury proceedings for a non-English speaking juror.