Newsbriefs: October 4, 2022
ATA Elections: Get to Know the Candidates
The slate is set, the candidates are ready, and your opportunity to learn more about who’s running for the Board is right here in front of you.Who’s on the ballot?
ATA Voting members will elect four directors (three vacancies, each for a three-year term, and one director for a one-year term). The candidates for this year’s election are:
- Yasmin Alkashef
- Andy Benzo
- Robin Bonthrone
- Céline Browning
- Amine El Fajri
- Christina Green
- Ben Karl
- Hana Kawashima Ransom
- Caroline Kyung Ha Kim
- Edna Santizo
Take time to learn more about the individuals on the slate—from background to experience to what they hope to accomplish as a member of the ATA Board. And don’t forget to vote!
- Candidate Statements: Read the individual candidate statements on the ATA website or in the September/October ATA Chronicle to find out what skills each will bring to the Board and what they hope to accomplish, if elected. Even if you are not a Voting member, check out what this year’s candidates envision for ATA’s future.
- Podcast Interviews: In Episode 78 of The ATA Podcast, Host Matt Baird asks the candidates running for Director about the T&I work they do, why they joined ATA, why they are running for office, and what is an area of ATA where they feel they can have the most impact if elected as Director. Listen in now!
- Breakfast with the Candidates: If you’re attending the ATA63 Annual Conference, you’ll have the chance to meet the candidates at breakfast on Thursday, October 13 (7:00 am – 8:15 am ET).
ATA has partnered with Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) to administer the 2022 elections. Voting members should have received proxy ballots and instructions by email. All voting will be electronic—there will be no paper ballots on-site.
If you are an ATA Voting member and did not receive the email from SBS:
Voting members who did not receive the election email sent September 19 should click https://www.directvote.net/ATA/sendID.aspx and enter the email address they have on file with ATA. The election login information will then be sent to that address.
For technical support
Technical support is available Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm CT, excluding holidays. Call +1-952-974-2339 or submit a question or chat at https://www.directvote.net/ATA/Support.aspx.
Important! Add SBS to your safe sender list
To ensure receipt of the proxy and voting instructions, please add noreply@directvote.net as an approved sender in your email settings.
Industry News
Bill to Grant Afghan Evacuees a Path to Residency Hits Snags
The New York Times (NY) (09/22/22) Broadwater, Luke
Military veterans and other supporters have been lobbying Congress for more than a year to provide Afghan evacuees, including those who served as interpreters, with a pathway to permanent legal status in the U.S. Many have only temporary authorization to stay, even though they will most likely never be able to safely return to their former homes.
But despite support from the White House, a bipartisan group of senators, and military veterans, a direct path to legal status for Afghans has been difficult to establish amid opposition from some senators who argue that the evacuees pose security risks.
“It’s an atrocity that it’s taking so long to get this simple thing done,” said Shawn VanDiver, a Navy veteran and the founder of AfghanEvac, a group that supports resettlement efforts. “This shouldn’t be controversial. I wish we could show up for them like they showed up for us.”
Advocates have thrown their support behind the Afghan Adjustment Act, a bipartisan bill that would allow Afghans who have short-term humanitarian parole status—which typically lasts for two years—to apply for permanent legal status if they submit to additional vetting, including an interview.
The bill would allow evacuees who pass an added layer of security checks to seek permanent authorization to stay in the U.S. without wading through the yearslong bureaucratic burdens of applying and being approved for asylum. The bill is meant to address security concerns about the Afghan evacuees, who were rushed from their country as U.S. forces abruptly departed, prompting some to argue that they were not properly vetted for potential ties to terrorism or other criminal behavior.
“Afghans have found themselves in this real legal limbo because the U.S. government has essentially applied short-term Band-Aids for a population that needs long-term protection,” said Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.
Since the evacuation of Afghanistan ended, the U.S. has all but stopped expediting parole requests from Afghans who remain overseas. Many of those who are applying have fled Afghanistan, and there is currently no entity that processes applications from within the country, which is controlled by the Taliban. The vast majority of humanitarian parole applications for Afghans abroad have yet to be considered or have been denied.
“These people have no place to go. Their country has fallen into hell,” said Senator Lindsey Graham, who co-sponsored the bill. “There are security concerns, but here’s the overarching theme for me: we need to try to do right by these folks.”
U.S. Secretary of State Praises Interpreting Service as Vital for Diplomacy
Slator (Switzerland) (09/21/22) Bond, Esther
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently met an “absolutely vital member” of the team at the U.S. Department of State, when he sat down with Yun-hyang Lee, director of the Office of Language Services.
In a YouTube video posted by the State Department on September 21, Blinken praised Lee and her team of interpreters for being “the most amazing team, without whom we could not do our work.”
Lee explained that the Office of Language Services, which was established over 200 years ago by Thomas Jefferson, provides services to U.S. leaders including the president, vice president, and the secretary of state. “We have 60-some full-time staff in the office, but what’s also unique is that we have about 1,000 contract translators and interpreters because it’s a huge operation,” Lee said.
Blinken, who has used interpreters for around 30 years, lauded their work, saying, “What I’ve found remarkable about interpreters is you’re somehow actually able to capture not just the words themselves, but the feeling, the meaning, and the emphasis behind them.”
When Lee showed Blinken around an interpreting booth and demonstrated interpreting a speech from English into Korean, he remarked, “It’s amazing how you’re able to, quite literally, do it simultaneously. It’s a remarkable skill, and I can tell you we can’t do our diplomacy without it.”
Lee and Blinken issued a call for interpreters and translators to sign up for work at the State Department. “We need more people to come interpret,” Blinken said.
Lee invited translators and interpreters for all languages to sit for the State Department’s exam and join the team. “It’s a difficult job, but it’s never boring.”
In the U.K., Deaf British Sign Language Users Serve as Jurors for the First Time
Disability News Service (United Kingdom) (09/29/22) Pring, John
Following a change to common law rules in the U.K., deaf jurors who need the assistance of British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters will now be able to serve on trials for the first time. The U.K.’s Ministry of Justice announced that two trials have already had deaf people take part.
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, passed earlier this year, allows BSL interpreters into the jury room. Common law rules had previously banned the presence of a “stranger” in the jury deliberation room.
Karen, a volunteer for the Deaf Cultural Outreach Group in London, became the first deaf person to complete jury service with a BSL interpreter at Croydon Crown Court, deliberating over a racially aggravated harassment case. Karen was also chosen by the other members of the jury to act as the jury foreperson, the spokesperson responsible for announcing the verdict.
Others are now following in Karen’s footsteps, including Paul, who served on a sexual assault case at Norwich Crown Court last month. Both jurors had three interpreters who rotated every 20 minutes to assist them, as well as the full support of the judge and staff at His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice.
“My jury experience at Croydon Crown Court went smoothly and exceeded my expectations,” Karen said. “It was an excellent and amazing opportunity for me, and what a great start to leading the way for other deaf jurors in the future, now that BSL is recognized as a language.”
Paul was also selected as the jury foreperson. He said it had been a “dream” of his to perform jury service, that the experience had been “surreal,” and that the process had been “streamlined and smooth,” with clear and easy to follow training. “I was amazed that I was treated equally to other jurors. This gave me a sense of respect, as the other jurors were keen to work with me and make me feel involved.”
David Buxton, former chief executive and now chair of the British Deaf Association (BDA), has been campaigning and lobbying ministers since 2011 to make the change in the law. “After decades of campaigning, the 87,000 deaf people in the U.K. whose first or preferred language is BSL are now finally able to serve as jurors alongside their hearing fellow citizens.”
Buxton said the move was a “crucial and long overdue step forward in the equality, inclusion, and participation of deaf people in our democracy.” He added: “Barriers to deaf people’s full democratic participation remain. We hope that this important step demonstrates the potentially huge contribution that the deaf community in the U.K. can make to our society when reasonable adjustments such as BSL interpreters are provided as standard.”
As Cantonese Language Wanes, Efforts Grow to Preserve It
Associated Press (DC) (09/26/22) Tang, Terry; Hui, Sylvia
Three decades ago, finding opportunities to learn Cantonese in San Francisco wasn’t hard. But today in the city that’s drawn Cantonese speakers from South China for over 150 years, there’s fear that political and social upheaval are diminishing a language that’s a cultural touchstone.
The Chinese government’s push for wider use of Mandarin—already the national language, spoken by one billion people—along with the country’s changing migration patterns have contributed to an undeniable shift away from Cantonese. It’s a change that has reverberated from East to West.
In the U.S., most primary and secondary schools offering Chinese teach Mandarin. In San Francisco, there are few opportunities to pursue Cantonese in high school and beyond. The San Francisco Unified School District has Cantonese and Mandarin immersion programs for preK-8th grades. But in high school, Mandarin is the only option for studying Chinese for foreign language credits.
In 1990, when Grace Yu was hired at City College of San Francisco, there were four Cantonese instructors and a dozen Cantonese classes offered each year. But for the past six years, Yu has been the lone Cantonese professor, teaching only three classes per year. “Vacancies were not replaced with Cantonese instructors. Instead, they hired Mandarin instructors,” Yu said. She described her situation as “kind of lonely.”
Still, there’s a glimmer of hope. One of City College’s trustees—who grew up speaking Cantonese—proposed a resolution to preserve the Cantonese program with at least one instructor. The board approved it this spring. “Cantonese classes will not be cancelled if I retire,” Yu said.
Like Yu, Sik Lee Dennig was the lone Cantonese lecturer at Stanford University until she retired last year. After more than 20 years, the school opted not to renew her contract, which effectively eliminated the Cantonese language program. A “save Cantonese” petition prompted an endowment, but the university would only restore half the classes.
That prompted Dennig to start Cantonese Alliance, a nonprofit to help teachers and interested learners worldwide. The online resource includes podcasts, videos, and handouts, as well as Cantonese pop music and comic books.
Meanwhile, independent Chinese schools are helping fill the void as Cantonese-speaking communities grow in the U.S.
Aleyda Poe has been overseeing the Cantonese kindergarten at Merit Chinese School in Plano, Texas, for over a decade. Initially a parent who enrolled her two sons in order to pass along her cultural roots, she is now doing that for other families. “I hope it’s not a dying language,” Poe said. “But you know, we’ll do our part and see how long they’ll take us.”
ATA News
ATA Call to Action: Language Access in Health Care
Last week, the ATA Advocacy Committee called on our members to tell the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) why proposed changes to Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act would be beneficial. Many of you responded, and the ATA Advocacy Committee thanks you for taking action!The Committee submitted its own letter to HHS with help from the National Health Law Program and the contributions of a dozen ATA members who are experts in the field of medical translation and interpreting. Thanks to these efforts, we expect stronger language access protections nationwide soon.
There’s Still Time to Register for ATA63
You belong at ATA63! There is no better opportunity for translators, interpreters, project managers, localizers, educators, and company owners to learn, share ideas, and build invaluable personal and professional relationships.Register Now!
Strengthen Your Value in a Global Economy
Explore new specialties, keep up to date with technology, find key resources, learn how to do what you do better—this is the way forward. Check out the conference sessions now!
Supercharge Your Conference with AST Day
Expand your conference education with 3-hour, in-depth courses from some of the most experienced translators and interpreters in the profession! Add Advanced Skills and Training Day courses to your registration.
It’s Easy to Earn CE Points at ATA63!
Did you know that ATA-certified translators can earn up to 10 CE points when they attend ATA63? And 5 more CE points for attending Advanced Skills and Training Day? Also, a number of interpreter credentialing organizations have approved select sessions for CE credit. Go to ATA63 Continuing Education Credit for a current list and bookmark the page to follow for updates.
Listen In, Learn More
ATA President-elect and Conference Organizer Veronika Demichelis shares all the reasons why you don’t want to miss ATA63 in Episode 76 of The ATA Podcast. Listen now!
Don’t Miss the First-time Attendee Discount!
If this is your first time attending ATA’s Annual Conference, then you’re in luck! Look for the “I am a first-time attendee” button when you register online to take $75 off your registration fee. Register today!
ATA63 Conference Quick Clicks
- Conference Home Page
- Registration–First-Timers Save $75
- ATA63 Schedule at a Glance
- Advanced Skills and Training Day
- Conference Sessions
- Distinguished Speakers
- Continuing Education Credit
- Networking Events
- Division Events
- Job Fair
- Exhibit Hall
- Sponsors
- Book, Podcast, and Blog Fair
- Buddies Welcome Newbies
- Hotel Reservations
- Conference/Roommate Blog
- ATA63 Wiki-Learn from the Locals
- ATA63 Conference Preview Podcast
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Health and Safety Guidelines
Start connecting now on social media with #ata63.
Just Do It!
There’s still time to register. Don’t let this opportunity to grow your business slip by. Register now.
ATA TEKTalks: Is Trados the Right Tool for You?
Presenter: Nicole LoneyDate: October 6, 2022
Time: 12:00 noon U.S. ET
Duration: 45 minutes
Language: English
Level: All
CE Point(s): None
Trados Studio is a translation memory software program designed primarily for offline work and, to many, it is the gold standard for CAT tools. But is it the right choice for you? Attend our next quarterly ATA TEKTalks webinar for an interview with RWS Product Marketing Manager Nicole Loney to find out!
Register now! ATA Member Free | Non-Member $25
What is ATA TEKTalks?
It’s a quarterly webinar series from ATA’s Language Technology Division offering translators the chance to learn about language technology software one platform at a time. Each webinar features an interview with a company representative who explains what their program can do and how it fits into a translation workflow. You’ll walk away understanding the pros and cons of the software and whether it’s a good investment for you.
What to Know about ATA63
Kick off the conference with the Welcome CelebrationThis is the event that starts it all. Everyone you hope to see and meet will be there: make new friends, connect with old ones, and get to know speakers, sponsors, and ATA Board members. (Wednesday 5:30pm – 7:00pm) See the conference schedule.
Review the conference program
What’s the number one tip experienced conference-goers offer newcomers? Review the conference program now and decide on your “must attend” sessions before you leave home. See the conference sessions.
Learn how to use the Conference app
Don’t wait until you get there! Create your profile, upload your résumé, review sessions, create your schedule, and more. Watch for the conference app announcement this week.
Sign up to be a buddy
Get ready to help an overwhelmed first-time attendee navigate the conference. Even if you’ve only attended a few Annual Conferences, you’ve got what it takes. Sign up or show up! ATA-certified translators will earn 2 CEPs for their participation as a Buddy. See Buddies Welcome Newbies.
Get to know the exhibitors
Look over the list of exhibitors before you get to Los Angeles, then use the ATA63 app to map out plans to see the latest technology that can save you time and money. See the ATA63 Exhibitors.
Meet the people who are looking to hire
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with agencies who are ready to meet, interview, and hire! Be sure to bring your business cards with you. See the ATA63 Job Fair!
Attend the Stronger Together Networking event
Show up with a new business idea and meet like-minded colleagues who can share their experiences, refer you to potential clients, and keep you in mind for that next big opportunity. See ATA63 Networking.
Jump into Speed Networking
Accelerate your marketing in a fast-paced and fun networking event. Get your conversation starters ready to generate more business and connections. See ATA63 Networking.
Find solutions, make connections
Supercharge your networking skills and develop business insights by attending Brainstorm Networking, a fast-paced, interactive, and collaborative event. Work in small teams to tackle common business-related challenges while making friends and creating partnerships. See ATA63 Networking.
Discover books, podcasts, and blogs
Meet the translators and interpreters who double as authors, podcasters, and bloggers. You can even purchase signed copies of books to add to your bookshelf. See the Book, Podcast, and Blog Fair.
Check out the After Hours Café
Attend this coffeehouse “open mic” to read your original or translated excerpt, listen to others, or both. If reading, don’t forget to bring your works with you.
Donate a dictionary or two you no longer need
Give new life to a no-longer-needed dictionary by dropping it off at the Dictionary Exchange table in the Exhibit Hall. See the Dictionary Exchange.
Schedule a professional headshot
Take this opportunity to move up from a casual photo to one that conveys business and success. Photographer Walter Aleman will be onsite to offer headshot services. Get 3 headshots for $40. Click Make an Appointment or visit Walter onsite.
It’s all happening at ATA63! And there’s still time to register, too!
Next ATA Board of Directors Meeting
The ATA Board of Directors will meet October 15-16 in Los Angeles during the ATA63 Annual Conference. All ATA members are invited—and encouraged—to attend.Find out how ATA Board of Directors meetings work
Are you going to the ATA63 Annual Conference? Then this is your opportunity to see the ATA Board in action. Click to read the agenda and make plans to attend Saturday afternoon (1:00 pm – 4:30 pm) or Sunday morning (8:30 am – 11:00 am).
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 or listen to Episode 18 of The ATA Podcast.
ATA Annual Honors and Awards Ceremony
Each year, ATA recognizes colleagues who, through their daily work, volunteer activities, and careers, exemplify the qualities that define excellence in our field or who have made a significant impact on the profession of translation and interpreting. Who are the award recipients for 2022? Find out on October 14 (10:00 am – 10:30 am) at this year’s presentation ceremony. Not attending this year? Follow #ATAawards22 for announcements of the winners on ATA’s Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram social media feeds.
Free ATA Members-Only Webinar for October
ATA offers members one free webinar every month. Here’s the freebie for October.Understanding and Leveraging Cultural Differences in Your Personal Brand
While localization is commonplace in the translation industry, it is easy to overlook within your own marketing. This webinar will show you how to use your cultural expertise to attract your local audience while maintaining a brand identity that appeals to a larger customer base.
You will learn how to:
- Use cultural expertise as a competitive advantage for your T&I business
- Create a cohesive strategy for your personal brand
- Differentiate between authenticity vs. adaptability in your brand
- Understand cultural dimensions clearly and how they affect your cultural persona
Marcela Arenas is the founder and president of Hispana Realizada; Comunícate Pro; Latitudes Training, Coaching & Consulting; Globalize Localization Solutions; and Hispana Realizada Foundation. As an entrepreneur, she is a business coach, multicultural marketer, international speaker, mentor, five-time published author, and host of the Inspiración Hispana podcast and book series. She has helped clients double their sales conversions, expand their ability to attract qualified leads, and position their brands in both local and international markets.
Continuing Education Credit
Each free members-only webinar is approved for one ATA continuing education point (Category B), unless otherwise stated. After watching the webinar, complete and print the Independent Study Verification form. It will serve as your certificate of continuing education if your CE record is selected for audit at the time of your ATA recertification.
In the September/October Issue of The ATA Chronicle
ATA 2022 Elections: Candidate StatementsCalling all Voting members! Participating in ATA’s annual elections is your opportunity to help shape the future of the Association. Learn what this year’s candidates for ATA’s Board of Directors have to say. Remember, the Annual Meeting of Voting Members and Election will be held October 13, 2022.
Balancing Act: Caring for Someone with Dementia While Keeping a Practice Afloat
My father had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. My mother was in the early stages of an unspecified dementia. And the brilliant plans I had made so I could work from their senior living facility while caring for them during extended visits were crumbling all around me. Being a caregiver and at the same time a self-employed professional is a balancing act. But in the end, it can be a gift. (Carol Shaw)
“Your Story Is Your Weapon”: Interpreting for Immigrants in the Wake of Trauma
Whether in legal, health care, or community settings, interpreting for immigrants who’ve been forcibly displaced tests emotional resources. An interpreter shares techniques from the ancient art of poetry for building resilience. (Judith Small)
Language Industry Standardization in Argentina: A Brief Overview
In recent years, the term standardization has become increasingly relevant in the language industry, with a growing need for more information on the subject. Here’s an introduction to the main aspects related to standardization and the language industry in Argentina. (Gabriela Escarrá and Dolores R. Guiñazú)
Team Interpreting for Magistrate Courts in Texas
Learn how Texas magistrate judges, court staff, prison personnel, and interpreters are working remotely to ensure that non-English-speaking and limited-English-proficient detainees understand their rights when facing criminal charges. (Sandra Dejeux)
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.
ATA63 Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Alliant Insurance Services
TransPerfect
Supporting Sponsors
Brand the Interpreter
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Media Sponsor
MultiLingual
| News summaries © copyright 2022 Smithbucklin |
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October 4, 2022
Beside ATA, how many translation and interpreting organizations do you belong to?
Previous Poll Results
Have you used the ATA logo in your marketing materials?
74% = Yes.22% = No.
4% = I can do that?
In This Issue
Meet the CandidatesLanguage Access
ATA TEKTalksTrados
About ATA63
Board of Directors Mtg
Awards Ceremony
Free Members Only
The ATA Chronicle
ATA63 Sponsors
ATA Members Only
Free ATA Webinar!
Understanding and Leveraging Cultural Differences in Your Personal Brand
Click to watch!
Calendar of Events
ATA63 Annual ConferenceOct 12-15, 2022
Los Angeles, California
Learn more!
ATA Board of Directors Meeting
Oct 15-16, 2022
Los Angeles, California
Read the agenda
Virtual Language Advocacy Days 2023
JNCL-NCLIS
Feb 8-10, 2023
Registration open
