Reframing What It Means to Mentor: Moving Beyond Traditional Mentoring Methods
This article redefines mentorship within the interpreting community, emphasizing trust, professionalism, and holistic growth, while challenging outdated practices that lead to burnout and disillusionment.
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Language Frontlines: The Urgent Mission to Train Indigenous Interpreters in the U.S.
The ongoing mission to train more interpreters is vital for upholding justice and equality within the legal system.
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How Literally Should Spiritual Texts Be Translated?
As translators, if we’re imagining what a translated text would have sounded like had it originated in the target language, we must recreate subtle elements such as the voice and tone. But what about deep, mystical, abstruse philosophical, spiritual, and religious texts? Who are we to paraphrase the words of prophets like the Buddha, Laozi, Christ, Abraham, or Mohammad—especially when the conventional wisdom of spiritual traditions is so often that these words aren’t to be understood by the intellect but to be transcended?
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The Language Professional’s Smile
Technology is said to offer an ever-widening window of opportunity for language professionals who are willing to invest in technology and rebrand their services. But what’s often missing in the debate sparked by technological advancements is the professionals themselves—their well-being and enthusiasm. Can the language industry shake things up and develop sustainable solutions to tackle the adverse effects of technologization?
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ATA’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging: From Accessibility to Action
Diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging is not a fleeting trend but a transformative movement. Future generations will study this era, reflecting on how those who came before participated in shaping a more inclusive world. And when we’re asked to look back on our part, the two most important questions for us to answer will be: “Where was I?” or “How was I present during this moment in history?”
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Translating and Harmonizing Health Questionnaires: Navigating the Complex Journey
Harmonizing health questionnaires is a complex journey that requires addressing linguistic nuances, cultural sensitivities, and logistical challenges through smooth teamwork. From my experience, successful harmonization hinges on overcoming obstacles like team dynamics, time constraints, communication gaps, and technological limitations. Close collaboration among project managers, developers, and translators is essential to ensure translations are both accurate and culturally respectful.
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How Assistive Listening Systems Support Courtroom Interpreting
Interpreters may encounter diverse types of assistive listening systems in courtrooms. Each system helps listeners hear better by delivering clear audio directly to their ears, but the technology used to achieve that goal can vary. This is what courtroom interpreters should know about assistive listening technologies.
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Contract Terms: A Freelancer’s Roadmap to Success
As freelancers, we sign contracts with agencies or direct clients. It’s essential that the contracts we sign reflect our values and protect our rights. Understanding contract clauses can help us mitigate risks and limit liability.
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ATA’s Public Relations Committee: Promoting the Professions
ATA’s Public Relations Committee focuses on informing and educating the media and public about the roles translators and interpreters play in society and what it means to be a translator or interpreter.
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Narrowing Down When You Want to Do Everything
An “I want to do everything” mindset is common to freelancers. The key here, if you know you have this tendency, is to ask yourself some big-picture questions for discernment.
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Some Fundamentals of Project Management
At its most basic, managing expectations is about proactive, clear, and explicit communication. Managing expectations is also about showing respect for one’s partners in the collaborative translation process.
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Resources for You: ATA’s New Model Contract for Translators
The revised ATA Model Job Contract is available online! This template-style form was developed from best practices in the industry and includes standard conditions and terms that should be defined for every job. Translators who don’t have their own contract or want to amend their current agreements can now use ATA’s version and adapt it to their own situations.
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