When translating legal texts from Spanish to English or from English to Spanish, I first verify that I understand the text. Legal terminology often uses terms but gives them meanings that are very different from what they mean in everyday language. Therefore, any time a term confuses me I look it up in a monolingual [...]
As a member of the New England Translators Association (NETA), I, Helen Eby, have joined the NETA Green Wave Team. This message is posted on behalf of Laura Rojo Macleod, the team leader and author of this message. This year, Earth Day 2022 calls on everyone to divest from unsustainable investments; support eco-conscious brands and [...]
I am often asked to proofread a translation. However, clients do not want a superficial job. They want the translation to be as effective as the original document was. I can’t give a per-word rate, because I cannot predict the general quality or complexity of the assignment. Therefore, I quote by the hour. Sticking to [...]
2021 was a year of changes. David, my husband, retired in early January. We sold our home in Oregon and moved to Auburn, SE of Seattle, Washington, in September. Instead of living alone (boring) we now live with our daughter and her family (lots more fun). Heidi Schmaltz, one of my best friends, passed away. [...]
The pandemic year has affected interpreters profoundly. The ATA Interpreters Division surveyed the members in August 2020, and the results were clear. From March to May 2020, everyone saw a decline in their income. Over 75% of respondents said their income had decreased by at least 60% during those months. Just under a third (28%) [...]
We have been told that machine translation (MT) is the way of the future, and that it has improved significantly. However, Facebook is translating all my Spanish feeds into English for me, so I am getting a pretty good feel for what people have to suffer through. Here are two examples from a post I [...]
Updated December 27, 2019 Check it out. We have CE credits for the 2020 translation course! The Oregon Courts granted 10 hours of Language Specific CE credits. In Washington State, both the Courts and WA DSHS granted 44 hours. Keep an eye on this page for CE credits and course overview! Who usually attends our trainings? [...]
I interpreted at an asylum hearing this week. When the officer asked for my ID, I gave him my court interpreter badge. I always do this, so they are aware that they are working with a professional. They put a monitor on the phone to make sure I was interpreting accurately and impartially. That is [...]
