Speaking of Translation

In this episode, Eve and Corinne address the topic of tools; not necessarily CAT tools, but tools of all kinds that help us work more productively and keep us happy. We talk about tool categories such as editing and proofreading, images and image manipulation, incorporating, hiring service providers to work with you, and listening to music (important during a quarantine!).

Links mentioned in this episode:

Dragon Fly Editorial Copy Editing Checklist: PDF for download at the end of the article

PerfectIt editing software

ACES (the Society for Editing) Webinars –(free for non-members too, through July 31, 2020)

How to set up the Speak feature for Microsoft Office

To access Microsoft Read Aloud from Review > Read Aloud on the toolbar in Word or type READ ALOUD in the Search button at the top of the Word interface.

TextAloud text to speech tool

https://pixabay.comm – royalty free image site

https://unsplash.com/ – royalty free image site

https://www.pexels.com/ – royalty free image site

https://stocksnap.io/ – royalty free image site

https://www.canva.com/ – to create your own graphic designs

Marion Rhodes’ article on AB5 and company structures

http://asana.com – project management tool

https://basecamp.com/ – project management tool

https://todoist.com/ – power to do list and pm tool

https://plan.toggl.com/ – project management tool

Wonderboom – Eve’s favorite portable, bluetooth speaker

AirShokz bone-conducting headphones–Corinne’s new favorite thing for phone interpreting

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Tools that keep us happy and productive

In this episode, Eve and Corinne address the topic of translation technique, and how to actually do a translation. Thanks very much to our listener Mireille for suggesting the topic for this episode! She e-mailed us and asked, “My question is how to improve your translation in order to make it flowing, instead of literal, where to stick to the text and where to take some liberty? What tips would you give?”

We address issues such as:

• What steps to include in your translation process
• The tension between staying faithful to the source and wanting the translation to not sound like a translation
• How to identify typical “sounds like a translation” constructions in your source language
• Examples of translation technique issues we’ve struggled with
• How to align your translation technique with the purpose of the translation

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Speaking of translation technique

Eve, Corinne, and special guest Madalena Sanchez Zampaulo discuss how and why (or why not!) to diversify your freelance business beyond translation. We discuss:
-Non-translation lines of work that the three of us have pursued throughout our careers
-The pluses and minuses of having multiple business lines
-Copywriting as an additional business line
-Book publishing as an additional business line
-Additional revenue streams that you might want to consider

Links mentioned in this episode:
–Madalena’s T&I website blueprint course
-Eve’s Global Reads Book Club
-Corinne’s online courses and master classes

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Diversifying your freelance business beyond translation

In this episode, Eve and Corinne interview French to English translator Michèle Hansen about her experiences using client-side conferences as a marketing tool. A self-professed “introvert who hates selling,” Michèle has increased her freelance income by more than $40,000 over the past two years through this strategy.

Links mentioned in this episode:
-Michèle’s website Global Health Language Services
-Eve’s new book club for translators, Global Reads
-To be alerted when registration for Eve’s “supercharge your second language skills” challenge group opens, join the Training for Translators mailing list
-Upcoming Training for Translators online courses

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Client-side conferences as a marketing tool

In this episode, Eve and Corinne discuss volunteering for professional associations and groups, at the local, national, and even international level, including:
-The benefits (to you and to the association) of professional volunteering
-How to set limits on your professional volunteering/avoiding burnout
-How to identify volunteer roles that fit your strengths and your strategic purposes
-Choosing different volunteer roles at different phases of your career

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Contracts and service agreements for translators

In this episode, Eve and Corinne discuss contracts and service agreements for freelance translators. Thanks to listener Erin Riddle for suggesting this show topic! If you have a topic you’d like us to discuss, drop us an e-mail at speakingoftranslation@gmail.com. We discuss:

• When do you need a full written contract for a translation? When is an e-mail OK?
• How do you specify the terms of use for a translation?
• What about subcontracting agreements?
• What terms should be included in a contract?
• Should you sign indemnification clauses?

Links mentioned in this episode:

-ATA’s translation services agreement guide and model contract
-ATA’s interpreting services agreement guide and model contract
-The PEN model contract for book translations

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Contracts and service agreements for translators

In this episode, Eve interviews Corinne about her recent milestone–passing the Colorado court interpreter certification exam for French. Eve and Corinne discuss how Corinne prepared for the exam, what resources she used, what the exam consists of, and how she plans to use this credential.

Links mentioned in this episode:
-Athena Matilsky, interpreter and trainer for French and Spanish
-Eve’s book Maintaining Your Second Language, with tips on how to improve your language skills in general
-ACEBO, publishers of The Interpreter’s Edge home study course
-The National Center for State Courts’ practice exam kits (available in Spanish or English-only)
-Judy Jenner’s blog post on passing the Federal court interpreter certification exam
–ORCIT, the European Commission-funded self-study course on basic conference interpreting techniques
–Speechpool, a repository of speeches for interpreting practice
-The Colorado Judicial Branch’s information on how to become a court interpreter in Colorado

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Preparing for the state court interpreter certification exam

In this episode, Eve and Corinne interview English to Spanish translator Mercedes Guhl and French to English translator Kate Deimling about translating books: a topic our listeners often ask about. Kate and Mercedes give us their thoughts on:

• Where to start if you would like to translate books
• What skills a book translator needs
• Whether book fairs and other in-person events are valuable for book translators
• The pluses and minuses of self-publishing your translations of public domain books
• How to approach the financial aspects of book translation
• Resources and tips for aspiring book translators

Links mentioned in this episode:
–Kate’s website
-Mercedes’ LinkedIn page (in Spanish)
–Mercedes’ blog, about to be reactivated
-Kate’s Twitter feed
-Susan Bernofsky’s blog Translationista
–PEN America’s Heim grants, open to emerging translators
-The American Translators Association’s Literary Division webpage
–The archive of Source, the ATA Literary Division journal
-The American Literary Translators Association’s resources page
–Publicar con calidad editorial, a primer on the publishing process, in Spanish
–The PEN list of publishers of works in translation

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Translating books: with Kate Deimling and Mercedes Guhl

In this episode, Eve and Corinne discuss how to learn from and share information with colleagues, in a way that is both helpful and appropriate. How can newbies learn from colleagues without being invasive? What is (and is not) appropriate to ask from colleagues? How can colleagues learn from each other through peer-to-peer professional development sessions? When should you offer to pay someone who gives you advice? And how can experienced colleagues give back to the profession through mentoring?

Links mentioned in this episode:
-Eve’s book Maintaining Your Second Language
-Corinne’s online courses for translators
-The ATA mentoring program
-The Colorado Translators Association mentoring program
–Athena Sky Interpreting

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How to learn from colleagues