Preconference

All presentations are in English unless otherwise noted.

SEMINAR A (W, 9:00am-5:00pm)
Mentoring that Makes a Difference—Skill-Building Workshop for Mentees (9:00am - 12:30pm) and Mentors (1:30pm- 5:00pm)
Linda Phillips-Jones, Ph.D., vice-president and principal consultant, CCC/The Mentoring Group, Grass Valley, California; and ourtney Searls-Ridge, head of ATA Mentoring Pilot Project Task Force and ATA secretary, Seattle, Washington

In this skill-building workshop, participants will learn how to be effective mentors or mentees in ATA's pilot mentoring program. You must be accepted as a participant in the pilot program for this workshop. Registration for the pilot program closed on June 30, 2001; confirmation of acceptance will be sent by separate letter. If you are not a participant in the pilot program, you are invited to attend ATA-3, "Strategies for Getting the Mentoring You Need," on Thursday at 3:30 p.m., which will look at the best practices of successful mentees and offer strategies that newcomers to translation and interpretation can implement immediately.

SEMINAR B (W, 9:00am-5:00pm)
Translating English into Brazilian Portuguese
Regina Alfarano, director of Tradução & Comunicação, São Paulo, Brazil

Some questions to be discussed in the workshop: 1) What is actually translated?; 2) How do you put together the most basic procedures for language transfer and the most complex cultural implications for an "acceptable" end translation?; 3) What is "acceptable" in the blurred and frequently masked linguistic interface?; 4) What is an "end translation"?; 5) What is the part played by basic grammar components in each language?; 6) How critical are grammar, style, and terminology in the new technology-based millennium?; 7) How does Brazilian Portuguese stand in the social, cultural, and technological scenario vis-à-vis English?; and 8) How do you carry out the day-to-day translation job? Participants will have at least one short text to illustrate the discussion on each of the questions.

[CANCELED] SEMINAR C (W, 9:00am-12:00noon)
How to Become a Pro in Voice-overs
Maya León Meis, voice-over talent and trainer, and president/CEO, Voice Productions International, Denver, Colorado

Today's global market for video and multimedia dubbing requires professionally trained voice-over talent. With this training, translators will not only master the art of interpreting copy, but will also learn the specialized skill of turning any regular text into a script. Skills you'll learn in this session: how to analyze and mark scripts, how to interpret copy with various delivery styles, powerful microphone techniques, effective ways to respond to the producer's directions, plus coaching skills to get the best performance out of talent. In this dynamic session, you'll gain insights to the skills necessary to become a Pro in the growing audio/video and multimedia industry.

SEMINAR D (W, 9:00am-12:00noon)
La Traduction Scientifique/Scientific Translation
Annik Lacombe, head, Translation and Terminology Unit, National Institute for Agricultural Research, Paris, France
Presentation Language: French

Scientific translation presents many difficulties and problems. Research papers and review articles are written for peers, so the terms and acronyms used are highly specialized, from emerging fields, and not defined within the document. Terminology research and familiarity of usage are crucial to the scientific translator. Strict guidelines often exist which dictate the form of the article and the contents of each section. The translator must be familiar with these as well, at times serving as a rewriter. The presenter offers suggestions for dealing with such issues from her experience at the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique in France.

SEMINAR E (W, 9:00am-12:00noon)
Force Majeure Clauses in Spanish-language Contract Documents
Leland D. Wright, Jr., freelance translator and instructor, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio

Spanish-language contract documents typically include a "force majeure" clause ("fuerze mayor" in Spanish). This term, borrowed from French, literally translates into English as "superior force," but it is sometimes referred to in English as an "act of God," which is not totally accurate. Force majeure essentially refers to any event or circumstance that cannot be anticipated or controlled by either of the contractual parties, and it includes both acts of nature (e.g., floods, hurricanes, earthquakes) and acts of people (e.g., riots, strikes, wars). The presenter will use a PowerPoint slide show to introduce a variety of Spanish-language force majeure clauses and the English-language equivalents of essential terminology and phraseology.

SEMINAR F (W, 9:00am-12:00noon)
How Can MT Possibly Help a Professional Translator
Winfield Scott Bennett; and Alan K. Melby, ATA director and professor, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah

With the maturing of machine translation technology it has become a possible production aid for professional translators. Clearly it is not suitable for all translation tasks, but it is clearly usable for some. One of the realities of using MT as part of a translation job is that the output must be edited to make it of publishable quality. This process, generally called post-editing, is related to revision as it has been practiced in professional translation for years, but it is not the same. The purpose of this workshop will be to explore the relevant issues for post-editing of machine translation output in a professional setting. Presenters will be 3-5 people who bring a variety of experiences of post-editing to the workshop. Issues addressed will be: 1.) When is MT a possible aid to a professional translator? 2.) What skills are needed for post-editing? 3.) Judging MT output. 4.)Practical experiences in post-editing.

SEMINAR G (W, 9:00am-12:00noon)
Professional Enhancement for Practicing English-Spanish Interpreters in the Field of Hemispheric Trade Negotiations (FTAA-Free Trade Association of the Americas)
Georganne Weller-Almeida, federally certified court interpreter and contract interpreter, US Department of State, Mexico City, Mexico

Preliminary FTAA negotiations got underway in Miami in 1999 as a hemispheric version of NAFTA, and are scheduled to take place in Panama and Mexico between 2001 and 2005, when the final trade agreement is to be signed in compliance with a ministerial mandate accorded by the participating countries and trading blocks of the hemisphere. Although the working languages are English and Spanish, Brazil often speaks on behalf of MERCOSUR, so being knowledgeable of Portuguese is helpful. In addition to the 12 negotiating groups and other ad hoc committees, numerous high-level meetings are being held in conjunction, thus generating conference work at bilateral negotiations. The results of these negotiations will be an important topic on the agenda of the Summit of the Americas, scheduled in Quebec. This seminar will afford experienced conference interpreters the opportunity to work from handouts and examples on the screen, and to participate in using real-life examples of selected subject material in the various modes of interpretation characteristic of these high-level negotiations.

SEMINAR H (W, 9:00am-12:00noon)
English>Spanish Translation of Financial Statements
Silvana Debonis, instructor, Universidad del Museo Social, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Annual reports and financial statements are primarily intended for fund providers (shareholders, banks, and bondholders, among others). These statements are also a valuable source of information for investment bankers who help the company raise funds. But for whomever it is that reads the financial statements of a company, accuracy is of the essence. When it comes to accuracy, the link between concepts and terminology becomes critical. The first part of this workshop will describe essential financial and accounting concepts and serve as a springboard for further research by the translator. The group will then work on the English>Spanish translation of some extracts from financial statements.

SEMINAR I (W, 9:00am-12:00noon)
Jurassic Parliament
Ann G. Macfarlane, ATA president and owner, Russian Resources International, Seattle, Washington

ATA President Ann G. Macfarlane offers her popular workshop on running great meetings to ATA members active in committees, divisions, chapters, and affiliates. Learn 10 principles for success and nine motions of parliamentary procedure to handle 90 percent of your meeting business, effectively and with flair. Get advice on dealing with the Tyrannosaurus Rex in your committee room and keeping the Velociraptors out of the annual meeting. Includes physical, psychological, and emotional aspects of successful meetings, and extensive handouts. No fee, but pre-registration is mandatory.

SEMINAR J (W, 9:00am-12:00noon)
Advanced Topics in English>German Translation, Part I
Peter A. Schmitt, professor of English translation studies, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
Presentation Language: German

This presentation is intended for seasoned professionals in English>German translation. Participants will be working on detailed specific problems in selected technical text samples. The seminar will address two topics: a) the role of nonverbal elements as a source of and solution to translation problems; and b) the art of clear and concise technical writing, as promoted, e.g., in the European Community campaign "Fight the Fog."

SEMINAR K (W, 2:00pm-5:00pm)
Advanced Topics in English>German Translation, Part II
Peter A. Schmitt, professor of English translation studies, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
Presentation Language: German

This presentation will continue the work begun in Seminar J, Advanced Topics in English/German Translation, Part I. Although participation in Seminar J will be helpful for those registering for Seminar K, it is not required. Participants will work on detailed specific problems in selected technical text samples, the role of nonverbal elements, and the art of clear and concise technical writing.

SEMINAR L (W, 2:00-5:00pm)
How to Prepare a Nice PowerPoint Presentation
Paulo Roberto Lopes, certified translator and conference interpreter, São Paulo, Brazil

This workshop will attempt to make you comfortable when preparing a presentation (in this case, in PowerPoint, but most principles apply to other presentation software as well). We will start from the very basics (using templates or designing our own) so that you can be up and running without too much of a hassle. Also included will be a brief portion on how to make some very, very simple animations without using any animation software, only the application's own resources. We will go as far as the audience withstands and/or the instructor knows.

SEMINAR M (W, 2:00pm-5:00pm)
Economics for French Translators
Alexandra Russell-Bitting, Senior Translator-Reviser, Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, DC

What do ministers of finance talk about when they get together? Based on an economic analysis in original French, this lecture will explore some basic economic terminology, with emphasis on meaning and proper usage in English and French. The main topics covered will be GDP, growth, public finances, exchange rate regimes, inflation, structural reform, and social indicators. After reviewing the terminology, participants will translate passages and discuss their translations. A list of print and Internet resources will be distributed, along with a French-English/English-French glossary of the terms discussed, including selected definitions. The seminar is designed for translators working either from or into French.

SEMINAR N (W, 2:00-5:00pm)
¿Al español de qué parte del mundo debe traducirse en Estados Unidos?
Reinhold Werner, author of Spanish dictionaries, and professor at the University of Augsburg, Germany
Presentation Language: Spanish

This discussion will include how to choose appropriate terms for the diverse Spanish-speaking audience of the United States. The speaker will explain criteria that must be kept in mind when terminological decisions are made and he will provide: questions to assist in decision making, techniques for problem solving, and critical analyses of existing monolingual dictionaries of regional speech. The discussion will attempt to answer the thorny question: "Which Spanish should be used in the United States?" This informative seminar will include theory as well as practical tips. Participants are encouraged to bring questions and samples of texts to translate for use in the US.

SEMINAR O (W, 2:00-5:00pm)
Language in TV News: Effective Communication in a Fast-paced Environment (English-Spanish)
Analía Sarno Riggle, Fountain Valley, California

This workshop is designed for TV simulcasters, court and conference interpreters (English-Spanish), as well as bilingual news reporters and writers. It covers the key elements of effective communication: accuracy, clarity, and good delivery. Participants will practice text and listening comprehension through sight translation, as well as simultaneous and/or consecutive interpretation exercises using actual TV scripts, news wires, and videotapes. The speaker will present material covering a variety of topics gleaned from top news stories. Translators will also benefit from this workshop. Useful handouts will be provided.

SEMINAR P (W, 2:00-5:00pm)
The Challenge: Translating an Economic Analysis into English
Marian S. Greenfield, owner, msgreenfield Translations, South Plainfield, New Jersey

This hands-on seminar will reprise a presentation given in Buenos Aires at the III Congreso Latinoamericano de Traducción e Interpretación, hosted by the Colegio de Traductores Públicos de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires in April, 2001. It uses an economic analysis, written by J. Andrés Vázquez Carromero of the Departamento de Estrategia, Análisis de Mercado, Safei, Gestores y Asesores de Inversión, Madrid, Spain, as a springboard for exploring the translation of the language of economic forecasts, financial advisories, and the equities and fixed income markets. Participants will finish the seminar with a definitive translation of this term-rich text, providing them with ample material to produce a financial translation glossary. In addition to providing practice in Spanish-to-English financial translation, this seminar should be of interest to English-to-Spanish translators seeking a window to the financial jargon currently used in Spain.

SEMINAR Q (W, 2:00-5:00pm)
Confidence in the Courtroom! Advance Preparation Tips and Tools for Trial Interpreting
Diane E. Teichman, administrator, ATA Interpreters Division and president, Linguistic Services, Houston, Texas

Due to the unpredictability of judicial procedures, trial interpreting demands not only skill but advance preparation. This lively presentation will provide tips and tools for the courtroom interpreter compiled from over 21 years of experience. Learn how to increase your foresight, accuracy, and efficiency in the courtroom setting. Learn tips from judges, DAs, court reporters, and administrators.

SEMINAR R (W, 2:00pm-5:00pm)
Der IAS- und US-GAAP-Anhang
Robin Bonthrone, managing partner, Fry & Bonthrone Partnerschaft, Mainz-Kastel, Germany

This workshop will examine some of the particular features of notes to IAS and US GAAP consolidated financial statements prepared in Germany where these areas differ significantly from the HBG, for example, pensions accounting, taxes, construction contracts, and revenue recognition. For each area, the IAS and US GAAP accounting standards will first be outlined, followed by a discussion of how these are actually transposed in practice by German preparers into the German accounting and reporting environment. Suggestions for translation will be elaborated during the course of translation exercises. Attendees should be familiar with the basic concepts of financial accounting and reporting, and some experience with IASs and/or US GAAP is recommended.