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| Industry News International Translation Day set for September 30th | “Working Together" will be the theme of this year’s International Translation Day | Did you know that International Translation Day was only a few short days away? Not to worry -- if you’ve forgotten this festive occasion, a London language service provider has even created a greeting card for the big celebration. Seriously, International Translation Day takes place every year on September the 30th – the feast of St. Jerome, the Bible translator who is considered as the patron saint of translators. St. Jerome could certainly never have imagined the radical changes the world of translation would take, from online dictionaries to crowd-sourcing! Each International Translation Day has a theme, and this year’s is “Working Together.” According to the day’s sponsors, the International Federation of Translators, “technology and changing markets have broken down barriers. Today translators from around the globe can plug into a truly worldwide conversation that casts new light on traditional ways of working—and creates new opportunities.” In other words, translators and language service providers should not see new forms of communication and cooperation as a threat, but rather as a chance to translate more accurately and deliver translation jobs more quickly. |
Children + language interpreting = some unexpected situations | Experts decry the use of children as language interpreters, but sometimes parents insist on keeping the service “in the family." | A recent article by Rachael Gray of The Garden City Telegram brings up some intriguing points about how children are used for language interpretation in medical and educational settings. First, although experts are unanimous in their disapproval of child interpreters in the medical domain, sometimes parents prefer to have their children interpret for them – or even insist upon it, putting hospitals in a delicate situation: “Jill Whippo, social services director at St. Catherine Hospital, said the hospital must deal with the obstacle of families requesting their own interpreters. St. Catherine has three full-time interpreters for Spanish and uses a language line for other languages. Whippo said the hospital tries to discourage using children as interpreters because the child may not have the vocabulary in both languages to fully explain the situation in English and another language. Also, she said, medical information can be a heavy burden on a child.” In an example from another field, Gray also points out how children can occasionally turn interpreting between their parents and their school to their advantage: “English teacher] Gonzales said because of the young, quick minds of children, interpreting isn't often hard on them. He said it can sometimes add to problems with discipline because children can give their parents false versions of why they are in trouble at school.” The above examples show some of the complications that can arise when children of families with limited English proficiency end up doing language interpretation. |
Search engines could replace online dictionaries | In their efforts to become one-stop information portals, search engines could soon put online dictionaries at risk. | If you’re bemoaning the idea that online dictionaries could replace their paper counterparts, you’re already one step behind. Some experts are already predicting that online dictionaries could meet their demise as search engines start to provide dictionary functions. In an in-depth article written by Chadwick Matlin for msnbc.com, we learn that Bing, Microsoft’s new search engine, takes a totally different approach to searches for word definitions compared to Google – and there is every reason to think the Bing system will prevail. If you type “a word you don’t know” plus “definition” on Google, it links you to dictionary sites, but the two lines that come up on the Google search page will not actually define the word for you. To get the definition, you have to click again, and go to one of the many dictionary sites now available. Bing takes a totally different tack, bypassing the “traditional” online dictionaries altogether. As Matlin explains, “Bing has figured out a cheap and effective way to harness dictionary sites’ information that heightens the user experience. Go ahead and plug loquacious into Bing. You’ll see an in-line definition…” Of course, if words are defined directly on the search engine, use of online dictionaries could take a nosedive. Expect those sites to react with new features and innovations over the coming months… |
Exploring Freelance Business Practices
Did you know that freelance translators and interpreters account for more than 70% of ATA (American Translators Association) membership? Yes, the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in our association…or is it? Time and again, ATA’s Business Practices Education Committee hears from independent contractors who are learning business management skills through the school of hard knocks. In an increasingly open and competitive market, these mistakes are costing them dearly.
Earlier this year, the Business Practices Education Committee surveyed ATA freelancers to zero in on their management needs. Our short questionnaire was designed to look at marketing, time management, job-related organization, accounting methods, tax and insurance issues, legal matters, and collections. With a good understanding of where members stand on these basics, ATA will be able to offer specific workshops,
publications, and services that could truly have a positive impact on a freelancer’s business performance.
Exactly 1,077 individuals participated in ATA’s Business Practices Survey this spring. The survey responses drew an interesting portrait of the typical business conditions and practices of ATA members working as independent contractors. There were some surprises—who would have guessed that pencil and paper is still the most popular scheduling method, or that more than half of the survey-takers had no collection problems in the past two years—and some anticipated results.
Assessing Priorities
After analyzing the responses, a list of priorities was developed to assist in planning for future ATA business skills workshops and publications.
Focused marketing and client selection go hand in hand and can contribute much to the development of small translation businesses. Questions concerning these areas of freelance business practices were an important part of our survey.
The survey results also demonstrated that without successful marketing, many freelancers cannot afford to be overly selective in their choice of clients. What many do not realize, however, is that this scenario can set them up for difficult customer relationships and payment problems down the road. In the long run, it simply does not pay to accept work without looking at who is offering the job. This is a crucial lesson to learn.
But there is more. In a comment echoed by many other survey-takers, one freelancer noted, “It would be useful for freelance translators to place more emphasis on building a clientele of direct clients.” This statement points to the critical role that client selection can play in keeping a business afloat. It is risky for any independent contractor to depend on just one income stream. Good marketing can bring in enough clients to allow the freelancer to diversify revenue through careful selection.
2. Client Management
A good deal of client management can be accomplished through client selection—more specifically, by checking out a potential customer before accepting an assignment. While this practice cannot eliminate all issues that come up during the business relationship, it can certainly go a long way toward the most crucial one—getting paid.
A little more than 10% of survey respondents conceded that they never perform background checks on their clients. Another 15.7% admitted that they were unsure how to go about performing a check.
Poor payers will certainly not go away, and the increasingly global nature of our business is making collections even more difficult. It is essential for freelancers to learn effective strategies for identifying “black sheep,” and to recognize this as their first step in client management.
Of course, there is more to client management than just vetting customers.
Retaining the client and building a word-of-mouth referral network is every bit as important. After landing the assignment, it is all about understanding and providing customer service—from smart project management practices and communication to knowing how to make the most efficient use of the time allotted for the assignment. It is this last one that can undo all your best laid plans and make you rethink your independent contractor status! This seems to be a fact that many survey-takers realize as they noted that learning good time management skills was one of their most important goals.
3. Insurance Issues
With the cost of insurance growing substantially each year, it has never been more important to understand what each type of insurance plan covers and what it contributes to a business. Our survey showed that health insurance remains a major concern for ATA freelancers, and many of the free-text comments underscored the need for affordable and functional health insurance. Consistent with the statistics for middle class professionals quoted by the media, 12.1% of survey respondents indicated that they do not have any health insurance.
ATA currently offers its members discounted professional liability, small business, life, and long-term care insurance plans. Health insurance plans are also available to members through an agreement with Mutual of Omaha’s broker network, but clearly this is not enough. There is a huge need for assisting members with information on the pros and cons of various insurance options and the avenues for getting health insurance coverage.
4. Accounting in Foreign Currencies
As a consequence of the increasing internationalization of the industry, many of us are working for clients in multiple countries. In all, 49% of survey respondents indicated that they received at least some foreign currency payments for their services. Online banking has made it feasible for independent contractors to maintain bank accounts in other countries, thus allowing their clients the option of paying in their own currency. Still, ATA freelancers note problems in the process, not the least of which are the fees associated with wire transfers and how to account for the income earned abroad. The Business Practices Education Committee will be looking into basic education in accounting and taxation for freelance business owners.
Summary
Thanks to all the individuals who participated in ATA’s Business Practices Survey this spring, four specific areas of business performance were identified as top priorities for a majority of ATA freelancers.
There is a lot ATA and its members can do to assist colleagues in acquiring these business management skills—online discussions, publications, and workshops all have the potential to reach a broad audience. In the year to come, look for updates on the Business Practices Education Committee’s endeavors in these areas and for ways to contribute your knowledge to this effort.
Survey Results Snapshot
Business Training
66.3% of respondents indicated they had no formal business training.
Workflow and Office Management
Pencil and paper is still the most popular organizing and scheduling method, used by 52.1% of respondents, followed by software programs (38.9%), and no method at all (18%). The majority (47.4%) reported that they spent less than 10% of their work time on administrative and business tasks.
Working Hours
50.9% of respondents reported that they occasionally accept weekend assignments, while another 46.7% work on weekends “regularly.” Only 2.4% indicated that they categorically decline such work and “never” work on weekends. For the majority, 7-8 hours of translation work a day is normal.
Retirement Planning
71.2% of respondents have a retirement or investment account set up, but only about three quarters are able to make regular contributions to the retirement account. 43.6% hope to retire in less than 20 years from now.
Collection Efforts
The vast majority (92.7%) of the respondents said they handle their own collection efforts for overdue accounts. Just over half of the respondents (56.8%) reported no overdue accounts in the past two years, but almost the same number (50.9%) said they had to give up on a payment in the past.
Top Priorities for ATA’s Business Practices Education Committee
Marketing
Respondents to the Business Practices Survey ranked marketing/advertising as their number one interest, and ATA’s Business Practices Education Committee has put ongoing education in this area at the top of their planning list.
Client Management
Priority number two for 33.3% of survey respondents and for ATA’s Business Practices Education Committee is learning client management skills and the basics in “business self-defense” strategies.
Insurance
The third priority for the Business Practices Education Committee is to assist members with information on the pros and cons of various insurance options and the avenues for getting health insurance coverage.
Accounting in Foreign Currencies
Cash flow is crucial to any business. Therefore, the fourth priority on the Business Practices Education Committee’s planning list is basic education in accounting and taxation for freelance business owners.
About the author
Dorothee Racette works as a full-time freelance translator from her home in upstate New York. She is an ATA-certified (German↔English) translator specializing in medical and biomedical texts. She served as the administrator of ATA’s German Language Division from 2000 to 2004. She is an ATA director and co-chair of the Business Practices Education Committee. Contact: dracette@hughes.net.
Translation - Why You Need Website Localization? If you are conducting business internationally, you need to get your website localized. Nowadays, more and more people are Internet-savvy, and they are more likely to browse through the Internet to look for information, products and services. However, a substantial part of Internet users are non-native English speakers; that is why your business website needs to be localized into the respective languages. So what exactly is localization? Website localization is the process of translating an English website to a foreign speaking language so that the audience is able to understand the information on the website. Usually, the work of website localization is performed by a professional translator. The translator is professional and experienced enough to provide accurate translation services that will give your corporate website a professional quality. He or she also needs to understand the native language well enough in order to translate the information correctly. This is because every country has its own cultural variations in sayings, phrases, and terminology when it comes to languages. So, to effectively localize a website, it is not as easy as taking a text and translating it into another language. The translator will need to conduct a thorough research and study in order to obtain the maximum impact on the target audience. Although website localization is not cheap, it is essential for every business that has operations internationally. By localizing your website, it will demonstrate that your business is truly international and also shows its respect and appreciation to the respective countries. Another benefit of website localization is that your target audience will be able to understand your company better and feel more comfortable if the information, products and services are translated into their native language. Therefore, it is important that your website localization and translation be done well in order to leave a good and deep impression in the mind of your target audience. As more users are getting onto the Internet, businesses realized that it is important for their websites to be able to sell to their target audience. A website is a marketing channel that every business must capitalize on. If you are conducting business internationally, you need to have websites that cater for the people in those countries. You need to present accurate, professional, and up-to-date images and information on your website. Therefore, the task of localizing a website is not as simple as you think. It is very complex and is best to leave this task to the professional translators who can provide reliable localisation and translation service for your site. If you are an international business, the investment on website localization will definitely be money well-spent.
TCL software will help Laos build a language database
The Thai Computational Linguistics Laboratory (TCL), the Thailand-based research arm of the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology of Japan, has developed a new machine translation technology (MT) to help translate Thai language to Lao - and from Lao to Thai. Published on March 31, 2008
TCL co-director Virach Sornlertlamvanich said the project followed a memorandum of understanding signed by the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec) with Laos for technology transfer. Virach said as Laos was facing problems in building its language database, the lab worked on developing the Thai-Lao translation software so that Laos could use Thai language resources and extend its language development programme. The translation engine being developed under the project will help easy translation of Thai to Lao and Lao to Thai. Virach said this part of the project is made slightly easier by the fact that the two languages share similarities.
The team spent two months working on the Thai-Lao MT engine and the accuracy of the software has now reached 70 per cent.
"We found that the pronunciation of the two languages is similar, so we use a technique to convert a Thai word into the Thai phonetic first. "This is then translated into the Lao phonetic before finally being translated to the Lao word," Virach said. This technique, he said, allowed the team to speed up the development of the translation software. Virach said the development of the Thai-Lao translation engine will help Laos build up a language database faster.
The Thai language software has an engine that allows the translation of English and Japanese words. The new software will allow the translated Thai versions to then be converted to Lao.
"Since Thai language has a lot of translation resources with many languages, we can use it as a medium to help Laos gain a stronger language database. We plan to utilise TCL's machine translation technology, which was developed to support other languages including English and Japanese, to build this database," he said.
Virach said, for example, Laos could use this technology to create an English dictionary, using the Thai-English machine translation software along with the Thai-Lao software.
Pongpen Sutharoj
The Nation
Google developing hosted translation, video tools March 25, 2008 (Computerworld) Google Inc. is developing applications for instant language translation and video tools that it hopes to add to its hosted services offerings, a company executive disclosed.
In a recent interview with Computerworld, Matt Glotzbach, Google's director of product management for Enterprise, said researchers at the firm are working on technology that would enable rapid electronic language translation. The tool would pool data from Google's massive content repository to help translate languages in real time for users of its instant messaging and e-mail offerings, he said.
Additionally, he said the search provider is also looking to develop interactive video tools to augment internal training programs and to serve as a hosted alternative to pricey videoconferencing software.
Glotzbach would not say when the company expects to complete development of the new offerings. However, he confirmed that both will be part of the hosted Google Apps portfolio at some point. Earlier this month, analysts said Google's fledgling suite of hosted software lacks features needed by corporate customers.
The language translation tool, explained Glotzbach, would simulate machine translation software already developed by Google.
He noted that most machine-generated translation available today requires human editing to correct linguistic flaws as context ambiguities are often littered throughout conversation and written text. Google's considerable processing power and ability to draw data from multiple Internet access points could minimize linguistic editing requirements and generate rapid translation, Glotzbach contended.
"What you need for real-time automated machine translation is large amounts of compute power, which we have, and large amounts of data, which we have," said Glotzbach. "Imagine a system that can do on-the-fly translation of things like e-mail, documents and IM chat. That's a feature of [Google Apps] you can see on the horizon."
Rebecca Wettemann, an analyst at Wellesley, Mass.-based Nucleus Research Inc., said Google will likely face problems convincing users that the upcoming hosted service is better than language translation software they use now.
"There are a lot of translation tools out there," she said. "The challenge for Google is how do you build a better mousetrap? How do you leverage what's already been done with translation and do it better?"
Google, Wettemann noted, needs to further upgrade its text mining and search categorization abilities to significantly improve on already available language translation efforts.
Glotzbach said that the popularity of YouTube prompted many users to ask Google officials about whether it plans to offer hosted video business tools. Google will initially focus its tools on collaboration and videoconferencing applications, he said.
Wettemann said she expects that Google will develop a tool for integrating video into today's widely used collaboration technologies such as e-mail, IM and discussion threads. "I suspect that's where we'll see Google taking things," she remarked.
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