Passing a translation certification exam is a bit like winning an Olympics competition. They have low pass rates. So… how do we set ourselves up to win? First step. Be an excellent translator. Read the source text as unbiased readers, catching every nuance of the text. Translate it so the target audience in the target [...]
Based on the comments from a failed exam. I am writing this to help others not fail the same way! Include necessary clarifying information to reduce ambiguity. (register former inmates/registrar para votar a los que habían sido...) (spread the word to thousands... /informarles la decisión a decenas de miles...) Keep it to a minimum. The [...]
After studying with my colleagues for a few years, writing several book reviews, and analyzing our high points and low points, I have reached the conclusion that these are some of the key aspects of a good translation: Following our clients’ instructions. This is essential! Understanding and analyzing the source text. We just can’t translate [...]
How to convert text into a table Select all text. Under “Insert” tab, go to “table”, and select “convert text to table.” Number of columns: 1 Check how it will separate things, and mark what is most convenient according to your text. In most cases, choose by paragraph. If your text is one long paragraph, [...]
There is more than one type of translation: Setting words to music Converting a message from one language to another In both cases, a translation must be accurate. Otherwise, it is a summary or a paraphrase. My voice teacher has frequently seen me dismiss the translations of the Spanish songs in her books! I just [...]
The following three style guides are listed as options in the ATA Certification Into-English Grading Standards. Here is my opinion regarding their usefulness for different applications. I have adopted the Chicago Manual of Style for the translation training course I teach. Why? The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law (I checked the 2016 [...]
At the American Translators Association Conference in Washington, DC, I attended a session on Interpreting and Translating for Farmers and Migrant Workers presented by Michelle Pinzl. This is the target audience of some of my translations, and knowing who we translate for helps us write in a way that our text is understood. When I [...]
I am giving this presentation at the American Translation Association Conference. You can find it under the MED-3 listing in the app. How can we identify not only the right expression but also the right way to talk about the subject? And how cann weeunderstand enough about the new material to submit reasonable solutions? In [...]
What is the value of translation? It bridges a cultural gap. It helps us share values between groups. The following poem may illustrate this. It is a poem I grew up with in Argentina. Bécquer lived in Seville from 1836 to 1970 and is a favorite in the Spanish-speaking world. It was required reading in [...]
In the Pacific Northwest, there are two translation certification programs available. The details of these programs have been explained in a comparison chart. In the following chart, we will simply go through the comparative pass rates of the two programs.
