Newsbriefs: July 18, 2022
8 Reasons to Attend the ATA 63rd Annual Conference
ATA’s 63rd Annual Conference will bring together translators, interpreters, educators, and language company owners from all over the world. Here are 8 reasons why you should be there, too!Increased Business
Finding new clients, developing business networks, learning new skills—it all adds up to money in your pocket. Find out why attendees say the Annual Conference has been great for their business. [more]
Jobs
Don’t wait to have your website and résumé found online. Go where the jobs are—and take your business cards with you. [more]
Networking
Welcome Celebration, Buddies Welcome Newbies, Brainstorm Networking, Speed Networking, Stronger Together Networking, Division events, and even the hotel elevator—networking opportunities are everywhere. [more]
Education
More than 165 high-quality sessions and 16 masterclass Advanced Skills & Training Day workshops—knowledge increases your value in a global economy. [more]
Exhibits
An Exhibit Hall featuring the leading translation tool providers, university programs, language companies, and more—find out what’s new, ask questions, and get answers.
Sharing
From first-timers to “been there, done that” veterans, everyone has something to share—attendees are amazing in their willingness to help you succeed. [more]
Divisions
ATA Division events put you in touch with a community of professionals working in your specialty or language—another way to expand your referral network and your opportunities for new clients.
CE Points
ATA-certified translators earn 10 continuing education points for attending—earn additional CEs when you become a buddy or attend Advanced Skills & Training Day workshops. [more]
Bonus!
Ideas, enthusiasm, and motivation. Three days to learn from others, be inspired, renew your enthusiasm—and remember what makes your career great! [more]
Early registration discounts are too good to miss. Register today!
NEW! First-time conference attendees are eligible for a $75 discount on their conference registration. Register online to receive this discount!
Book Your Room in Los Angeles
ATA’s 63rd Annual Conference will take place at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites (October 12-15). ATA has arranged for attendee room discounts at the hotel through September 16, or as space allows.
Stay and win! Make your room reservation by September 16 for a chance to win a free night in the hotel. Five winners will be selected.
Be sure to make your reservation early! It is not unusual for the room block to sell out before the end of the discounted rates. Learn more and book now.
And don’t forget to follow #ata63 for the latest updates and details!
Industry News
Sacramento, Other Counties Short on Interpreters as Ukrainian Refugees Come to California
Sacramento Bee (CA) (07/11/22) Kreidler, Mark
The thriving Slavic communities in the California cities of Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Francisco have become highly attractive to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war. But those seeking asylum face a shortage of interpreters to help them access the services they need.
Earlier this year, California’s Department of Health Care Services issued an advisory reminding local governments to enroll refugees in health programs. Those who may not be eligible for federal services often qualify for state-administered programs, including full-coverage Medi-Cal, which covers doctor visits, vaccinations, screenings, and medications. However, the social service agencies tasked with delivering much of that care are straining to keep up with demand.
Understaffed after years of dwindling funding, these agencies are now desperate for skilled interpreters who can walk newly arrived refugees through the application process and attend clinic appointments with them.
“We have four staff who speak Russian or Ukrainian, and we really need three more to meet all the demand,” said Sumi Mishra, medical director for Sacramento County’s Department of Health Services. “We can’t find them.”
Mishra said Sacramento’s refugee health clinic has six vacancies for interpreters. However, it’s difficult to fill those positions because a county salary can rarely compete with what the private sector pays.
Sacramento County Supervisor Rich Desmond said the pandemic has revealed persistent funding and staffing shortages in public health, and the surge of refugees to Sacramento appears to have worsened the severity of the problem there.
The Migration Policy Institute estimates that Sacramento County has the highest concentration of Ukrainian immigrants in the U.S. Florin Ciuriuc, executive director of the Slavic Community Center of Sacramento, said up to 10,000 refugees, most of them Ukrainian, have come to the area since the war began in late February.
Although staffing shortages are unlikely to be resolved soon, county health officials said they are committed to serving refugees. “More and more families are just showing up at our doorstep,” Mishra said. “We made the decision that we were not going to turn them away even if we don’t have a clear read on their legal status.”
Abortion Havens Short on Spanish Speakers Scramble to Prepare
Bloomberg Law (NY) (07/05/22) Alexander, Ayanna
Abortion providers in states billing themselves as safe havens are grappling with how to serve an influx of clients who may not speak fluent English, given the limited resources available.
Some of those states, such as Minnesota, have small Hispanic and Latino populations. Providing interpreters and ensuring the necessary forms are available in Spanish or other languages will further strain the budgets of small women’s health clinics. However, reproductive rights advocates say those steps are necessary to ensure that every client can access needed treatments.
“The language barrier has always existed,” said América Ramirez, program director at the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights. “But now, knowing that abortion services are going to be stretched, knowing that funding and all of these things are also going to be stretched, will directly and indirectly impact monolingual Spanish speakers from being able to have the support and access to those services.”
At least 15 states and Washington, DC, have made themselves available for people who need a safe and legal abortion in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn of Roe vs. Wade. They expect an influx of hundreds of thousands from states that have banned or will soon ban abortions.
“We’re trying to ensure that any kind of information about the laws right now is in Spanish and goes out to Spanish-language speakers across the country,” said Lupe Rodriguez, executive director for the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice.
“But we need help. Advocates, providers—we can’t do it alone. So, we’re also thinking about creative ways that our legislators can offer support in this moment,” Rodriguez said. “States like California, New York, Oregon, Colorado—it’s important to hold them accountable to those promises and ensure that they’re doing whatever they can to provide the resources and support for this new wave of people that will be traveling in.”
A New Law Will Help Families Access Interpreters in Washington Public Schools
Seattle Times (WA) (07/05/22) Smith, Jenn
A new Washington State law passed this spring will make it easier for students and families to access free interpreting and support services in public schools, while also helping educational interpreters gain training and credentials.
Advocates say the legislation will have far-reaching effects, such as increasing family and student engagement.
“This bill is so exciting and so complicated,” said Kaitie Dong, leadership development and education manager for OneAmerica, a local nonprofit immigrant and refugee advocacy organization. She said the legislation focuses on “the experiences and voices” of students and families with limited spoken English skills.
Under the law, schools must include families, interpreters, and staff in the development of a language access plan and solicit feedback on how well services are being provided. A statewide advisory committee will ensure representation and input from families, schools, interpreters, and community members.
The law also requires all public schools to designate a language access liaison or “navigator” to oversee how they gather and report data on languages spoken in the district. The liaison will also be responsible for tracking interpreter requests, compiling feedback on a school’s language access provisions, and reporting on the effectiveness of the interpreting services provided. That information will be shared with the state’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Representative Tina Orwall, who co-sponsored the bill, credited families, students, and grassroots groups for working together to get it passed. “Process is as important as policy, and it was important that we really kept community members at the table,” she said. “The hard work now is to implement it and maintain the funding to do so.”
Some school districts have already adopted certain practices outlined in the bill, while families and students say the statute will be a game-changer in schools with little support and resources.
Moses Perez, advocacy and civic program manager for the community service agency Open Doors for Multicultural Families, said families and interpreters are “subject experts” in language access needs, so having data and input will validate their concerns and requirements. “This gives every district a fighting chance if they want to provide equitable education for all through language access.”
Medical Interpreters Say Atlanta Company Hasn’t Paid Them in Months
11Alive (GA) (07/08/22) Ross, Kaitlyn
Dozens of interpreters at a metro Atlanta company said they’re owed thousands of dollars after the medical interpreting firm just stopped paying them. After repeated attempts to get answers, Stephanie Reyes, who worked as a contract interpreter for CulturaLink, said she decided to try a different tactic and contacted the local media.
Reyes said she loved her job as a medical interpreter. She was able to work remotely and felt like she was making a difference. “I had a call when someone had cancer, and they were talking about their treatment and possibly going into hospice, and they had to decide what they were going to do,” Reyes said. “To make sure you’re interpreting that correctly and the patient understands what you’re saying—that’s vital.”
But then her paychecks stopped coming. Reyes said she kept getting the runaround about the outstanding payments. She then started researching online and found dozens of other interpreters from the company who were in the same position. They started a group chat and discovered that most of them were working parents who depend on the income.
“All the emails you get are, like, ‘sorry for the inconvenience.’ It’s not an inconvenience, it’s a catastrophe because we have families that we have to support,” Reyes said.
That’s when Reyes reached out to Kaitlyn Ross, a reporter for 11Alive News in Atlanta. Hours after Ross reached out to CulturaLink to try and get some answers, Reyes said all the money she was owed was deposited into her bank account.
Ultimately, Reyes is glad she got paid, but said it shouldn’t have taken a news station to get her the money she was owed. “It’s hypocritical, it’s kind of like a smack in the face,” she said.
In a statement, the company said it was their policy “not to discuss anything related to our team members with outside parties. We will say that we care about CulturaLink’s interpreters, and we always make all efforts to ensure that they are treated fairly and equitably and that all unresolved issues are addressed.”
Interpreters in Australia Are ‘Underutilized’ in Health Care, which Discourages People from Seeking Help
SBS News (Australia) (07/06/2022) Groarke, Deborah
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) President Karen Price warned that interpreters are “underutilized” in general practice health care because of disincentives and barriers that discourage people from seeking help.
“Boosting the uptake of interpreters in general practice is more important than ever to reduce health inequality and minimize the impact of the pandemic on vulnerable communities,” Price said.
RACGP Director Bruce Willett said a major issue is that not all medical practices use interpreters. “Relatives are often used to interpret, and while that can work really well, it has severe limitations in terms of if someone has something that’s private or confidential. They may not feel comfortable discussing things like that, or even just things in intimate detail.”
Astrid Perry, head of Women, Equity, and Domestic Violence for the community-based nonprofit Settlement Services International, said people from multicultural backgrounds can be misdiagnosed or misunderstood. “Sometimes, it’s interpreted incorrectly as to what the person means…particularly in the area of mental health, so there’s a lack of understanding.”
Willett said bilingual general practitioners “can not only interpret the language, but they can also help interpret the health care system for patients from a different culture, and help those patients navigate what can be quite a foreign and different system than what they’re used to.”
Perry said interpreters and bilingual general practitioners also have a better understanding of the unique challenges these patients face, including the need to allow extra time to ensure accurate communication. She said patients from diverse backgrounds have consistently reported feeling that they were not given the time in an appointment to fully understand what was being said or to ask questions. “Every patient matters, and when language barriers exist, we do need to take extra time to make sure we are communicating effectively with our patients.”
ATA News
Inside Specialization: Spiritual Care in Health Care Interpreting
We interpret in many areas where we don’t agree with the speaker, and we think nothing of it. We recognize the specialty, build the resources, and train to become fluent in the details. Why, then, do we not do the same for spiritual care? Join Tatiana Cestari and Anne Connor in this episode of ATA’s Inside Specialization series for a discussion of this overlooked specialty. You’ll learn how medicine’s renewed interest in the mind-body-spirit connection is leading to the development of training for this aspect of health care interpreting, how to handle requests when you aren’t prepared, and where to locate the resources you’ll need.Resources for Interpreters in Spiritual Care Settings: Bahá’í Faith Prayers • The Book of Common Prayer according to the Episcopal Church • The Book of Mormon • Catechism of the Catholic Church • Catholic Online • Jehovah’s Witnesses • Jewish Prayers and Blessings • The Noble Quran
ATA TEKTalks: Is Smartling the Right Tool for You?
Presenter: Christopher WyantDate: July 19, 2022
Time: 12:00 noon U.S. ET
Duration: 45 minutes
Language: English
Level: All
CE Point(s): None
Smartling is a cloud-based translation management system with streamlined project management features. But is it the right tool for you? Find out in the third ATA TEKTalks webinar with the company’s Localization Program Manager Christopher Wyant. You’ll learn how the program connects businesses, translation companies, and translators to deliver multilingual content across a client’s devices and platforms. You’ll also get an overview of the company’s approach to simplifying the localization process and streamlining translation projects to optimize time, energy, and cost.
Register now! ATA Member Free | Non-Member $25
Missed the first two ATA TEKTalks in the series?
Free to ATA members! Check out Is Wordfast the Right Tool for You? and Is Smartcat the Right Tool for You?
Next ATA Virtual Brainstorm Networking Session
Find solutions! Make connections! Join your colleagues for this fun, fast-paced hour of solving common business challenges in small teams. Attend this virtual event on July 20 at 8:00 p.m. ET to meet new people, learn new skills, and expand your support network while sharing your own experiences. Don’t miss it!Registration is open to both ATA members and non-members alike. Due to the interactive nature of this event, it will not be recorded.
Free! Register today!
ATA Member | Non-Member
This event is hosted by ATA’s Business Practices Education Committee.
Upcoming Webinars
Memory Skills Development for Translators and InterpretersPresenter: Chester Santos
Date: July 27, 2022
Time: 12:00 noon U.S. ET
Duration: 60 minutes
Language: English
Level: All
CE Point(s): 1 ATA-approved
Mastering your memory skills can supercharge you translation and interpreting business and professional development! Join this webinar to discover the secrets to retaining more of what you learn, remembering more of what you read, and recalling more of what you hear. From terminology, facts, and figures to names, faces, and how-tos, improving memory skills offers both translators and interpreters increases in productivity and efficiency that benefit their bottom line.
Register now! ATA Member $45 | Non-Member $60
An Intro to Logo Design for Independent Translators and Interpreters
Presenter: Amanda Calvin
Date: August 4, 2022
Time: 12:00 noon U.S. ET
Duration: 60 minutes
Language: English
Level: All
CE Point(s): 1 ATA-approved
Learn how to create a unique logo and visual language that communicates your value and messaging effectively. Graphic designer Amanda Calvin will walk you through the concept of visual language and the process of crafting your logo, from sketch to final file. You’ll also explore a variety of free and paid tools that you can use in your design process. Along the way, Amanda will share design tips and discuss common logo design pitfalls to avoid.
Register now! ATA Member $45 | Non-Member $60
Localization of Medical and Pharmaceutical Patent Translation – Challenges, Tips, and Pitfalls
Presenters: Afaf Steiert, Matthias Steiert
Date: August 9, 2022
Time: 12:00 noon U.S. ET
Duration: 60 minutes
Language: English
Level: All
CE Point(s): 1 ATA-approved
When the smallest error in medical and pharmaceutical translation can mean the difference between invalidation or a successful defense, localization is critical. Every little thing matters. Join this ATA webinar for a general introduction to the world of localization, intellectual property, and trademarks in patent translation, with examples from the fields of pharmaceutical and engineering patents.
Register now! ATA Member $45 | Non-Member $60
Top 20 Most Difficult Medical Terms to Translate
Presenter: Pablo Mugüerza
Date: August 11, 2022
Time: 10:00 a.m. U.S. ET
Duration: 90 minutes
Language: Spanish
Level: All
CE Point(s): 1 ATA-approved
There are always some medical terms that raise doubts when you’re translating. They are often basic and appear frequently in medical translations. Some come to you almost automatically, and you know they work in the translation. Yet, you always have to look them up—or at least you should but can’t always do so—because you aren’t entirely sure of their meaning. Attend this webinar to learn how to master their translation and produce quality translation based on understanding, not repetition.
Register now! ATA Member $70 | Non-Member $90
If you have already registered for this webinar, check your inbox for no-reply@zoom.us to find your invitation to join. Email zoom@atanet.org if you cannot find it.
ATA Workshop: International SEO for Translators
Presenter: Marion RhodesDate: August 12, 19, and 26, 2022
Time: 3:00 p.m. U.S. ET
Duration: 6 hours
Language: English
Level: Intermediate, Advanced
CE Point(s): 6 ATA-approved
Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the new advertising. By optimizing their websites, businesses of all sizes and in all sectors strive to get to the top of online search results, including in international target markets. As a result, demand for qualified translators and copywriters who can localize keywords and provide optimized content in foreign languages is on the rise.
This 3-part, participation-driven workshop is for you if you are an experienced translator and/or a multilingual content/copywriter wanting to offer SEO services to direct clients or agencies, or simply optimize your own website.
Limited to 30 attendees.
What will you learn?
- How search algorithms work
- SEO considerations when targeting international markets
- How to perform international keyword research
- What web content appeals to human readers and search engines
- Best practices for optimizing meta elements
Invest Your Marketing Budget Where It Counts
Whether you want to reach the 1,500 conference attendees in LA or more than 8,500 ATA members, the ATA63rd Annual Conference can make it happen!Become an Exhibitor
Connect with new customers that you plan on doing business with for years to come, or meet face-to-face with the customers you have been doing business with for years. Learn more.
Become a Sponsor
Nothing beats a conference sponsorship for high-profile, high-impact exposure. Budget-friendly options! Learn more.
Translatio
The latest issue of Translatio, the quarterly newsletter of the International Federation of Translators (FIT), is available for download.NEW! Following the historic announcement of FIT’s adoption of Spanish as its third official language, you will find this edition published in English, French, and Spanish!
Look for a celebration of FIT’s 22nd World Congress, A World Without Barriers, in the pages of this issue. The Congress, held in Varadero, Cuba in June, was organized by the Asociación Cubana de Traductores e Intérpretes (ACTI). This was the first time a Latin American country served as the venue. The 23rd World Congress will be held in Costa Rica in July 2025.
This issue also marks the inaugural column of FIT’s new president, Alison Rodriguez, a member of the New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters, and welcomes members of the new council, including ATA Past President Ted Wozniak in the position of FIT Treasurer.
ATA and AFTI Honors and Awards
ATA and the American Foundation for Translation and Interpretation (AFTI) present annual and biennial awards to encourage, reward, and promote the outstanding work being done by both seasoned professionals and students.Applications and nominations are currently being accepted for the following awards. Submission deadline is July 31. See www.afti.org for additional details and eligibility requirements.
- The Student Translation Award is presented to a student for a literary or sci-tech translation or translation-related project. Translations must be from a foreign language into English. Open to any graduate or undergraduate student, or group of students, attending an accredited college or university in the U.S.
- The Alicia Gordon Award for Word Artistry in Translation is given for a translation (from French or Spanish into English or from English into French or Spanish, in any subject) that demonstrates the highest level of creativity in solving a particularly knotty translation problem. Open to ATA members in good standing.
- The S. Edmund Berger Prize is offered to recognize excellence in scientific and technical translation. Open to ATA members in good standing.
Deadline for AFTI First-Time ATA Conference Scholarships
The American Foundation for Translation and Interpretation (AFTI), ATA’s non-profit foundation, is pleased to announce a limited number of $500 scholarships to help students and recent graduates with the cost of attending ATA’s 63rd Annual Conference in Los Angeles (October 12-15, 2022).The application deadline is July 31, 2022.
We welcome applications from students or recent graduates of translation or interpreting studies programs. Students may be part-time or full-time. The program must lead to a degree or certificate and be offered by a college or university.
How to Apply
You’ll find all the details and the application form on the AFTI website. Scholarship recipients will be announced by September 15, 2022.
ATA Board Meeting: August 6-7
The ATA Board of Directors will meet August 6-7 in Chicago, Illinois.All ATA members are invited—and encouraged—to attend. This is your opportunity to learn what the Association is doing for you! Can’t attend? Then take time now to catch up on what ATA is doing for you!
Read the latest ATA Board Meeting Summary (April 9-10, 2022)
The Board of Directors meets four times a year to establish policy, develop goals and objectives, and oversee ATA finances. To learn more about the Association’s governance, check out How ATA Works.
Coming Up in the July/August Issue of The ATA Chronicle
Is Coaching Worth the Investment for Freelance Translators?Entrepreneurship comes with many inherent challenges, and freelancers tend to face them alone. While there’s a lot you can do on your own, at some point you’ll probably need to look outside yourself for new ideas and solutions. Here’s how hiring a coach can help your T&I business. (Ingrid Holm)
Is the Pen Mightier than the Sword, or How Much Do Words Really Matter?
In recent years, people have become more aware of how language, and specifically inappropriate terms, further sustain inequalities. While replacing outdated terminology with new, more appropriate, and inclusive words seems straightforward enough and can solve concerns around racist, ageist, or ableist terms, using inclusive language to remove inequalities doesn’t stop there. (Isabell Otterbein)
Translators and Interpreters Working Together to Create a National Code of Ethics for Educational K-12 Settings
After years of borrowing from other fields of specialization, translators and interpreters working in K-12 educational settings are coming together to create a code of ethics and standards of practice that takes into account the reality of this environment and how multiple interpreting and translation specializations converge in this space. Find out how a multi-state team of professionals has taken the lead in a consensus-based approach to standardize practice and advance the recognition of the role of practicing professionals in this field. (Loana A. Denis)
QuickTips: Get Started on a Style Guide Now!
Compiling a style guide is essential for translation and localization, but who has time to do it? Find out how creating QuickTips could help you address style and terminology issues right away. (Mónica Adler, Carolina Torres Spencer)
Collaborating with Self-Published Authors: Another Option for Literary Translation
Can you make money working with self-published authors? Yes! Will you make as much per word as you would if you were translating a chemical patent or financial report? No, probably not, but it can still be worthwhile. (Beth Smith)
How I Went from Translator to Subtitler in Just a Few Months: Tips to Start You on Your Way
The pandemic gave me something I desperately needed: a large chunk of time and a good reason to diversify my service offerings. Here’s an outline of the four steps I followed to save my business and quickly transition from translator to subtitler. (Molly Yurick)
Access to The ATA Chronicle’s searchable archives is available online! And don’t forget to check out the latest issue of the Chronicle Online.
| News summaries © copyright 2022 Smithbucklin |
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July 18, 2022
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In This Issue
ATA63Specialization Podcast
ATA TEKTalks
Brainstorm Networking
Upcoming Webinars
Upcoming Workshop
ATA63 Exhibit/Sponsor
Translatio
ATA/AFTI Awards
AFTI Scholarship
ATA Board Meeting
The ATA Chronicle
ATA Members Only
Free ATA Webinar!
The Remote Interpreter’s Companion
Click to watch!
ATA Webinars
ATA TEKTalks: SmartlingJul 19 @ 12:00 noon ET
Registration open
Memory Skills Development for Translators and Interpreters
Jul 27 @ 12:00 noon ET
Registration open
An Intro to Logo Design for Independent Translators and Interpreters
Aug 4 @ 12:00 noon ET
Registration open
Localization of Medical and Pharmaceutical Patent Translation – Challenges, Tips, and Pitfalls
Aug 9 @ 12:00 noon ET
Registration open
Top 20 Most Difficult Medical Terms to Translate
Aug 11 @ 10:00 a.m. ET
Registration open
ATA Workshop
International SEO for TranslatorsAug 12, 19, 26 @ 3:00 p.m. ET
Registration open
Calendar of Events
ATA-AFTI Awards DeadlineJul 31, 2022
Learn more!
ATA Board of Directors Meeting
Aug 6-7, 2022
Chicago, Illinois
Learn more!
International Translation Day
A World Without Barriers
Sep 30, 2022
ATA63 Annual Conference
Oct 12-15, 2022
Los Angeles, California
Learn more!
