Bonus TGIF: Applied Language Solutions/Ministry of Justice Framework Agreement March 2, 2012
Posted by Jill (@bonnjill) in Business practices, Fun stuff, TGIF.15 comments
Court interpreters in the UK are protesting the signing of a private contract between Applied Language Solutions and the Ministry of Justice, which has seen their rates almost halved. According to an article in the Guardian, “As many as 1,000 interpreters are boycotting a privatised contract to supply linguistic services to all English and Welsh courts, resulting in postponed hearings, suspects being released and compensation claims.” According to Syed Amjad Ali, who organized the Manchester demonstration, “Interpreters were getting £30 an hour before, for a minimum of three hours, now they offering them £16-£22, no travel for the first hour and petrol of 20p per mile.” Apparently about 60% of the 2,300 people on the National Register of Public Service Interpreters are refusing to work for ALS under the conditions in the contract, and the court is starting to panic because cases are being postponed and even dismissed because they can’t find an interpreter. One of the biggest complaints is that qualified interpreters aren’t willing to work for those rates, so the quality of the interpreters who are being sent to jobs has understandably dropped.
The rates for interpreting in court in Germany (and government contracts here in the States) have always been lower than the standard market rate, so I can’t imagine what the UK interpreters are dealing with. Based on the chatter on my listservs and online, Applied Language Solutions signed an agreement to provide translation services to the court and for the 2012 Olympics. I imagine that will be hard to do if they can’t find anyone to provide those services for them. In the past the Olympics has relied on volunteer interpreters with no training. I happen to know someone who worked in Atlanta back in 1996. She did it as a lark because she knew a little Spanish. I knew her from back in high school. She has never worked in the T&I industry and is a Tastefully Simple salesperson. Anyway, I’m digressing…
Back to the matter at hand. As Chris Durban so aptly explained, “very worrying logistics & quality issues now have led the MoJ to authorize courts to look for alternate solutions — an indication that maybe, just maybe, some intermediaries’ race to the bottom rates-wise may have reached a limit.” It’s kind of hard for an agency that doesn’t actually do the work to provide bottom-rate translation services if the service providers choose not to work for them. Keep your chins up, fellow UK interpreters! We’re all behind you.
Update:
TGIF: Ríu, Chíu – RIP, Davy Jones March 2, 2012
Posted by Jill (@bonnjill) in TGIF.add a comment
I grew up watching reruns of The Monkees and became a huge fan. I saw them perform live several times, most notably in 1985 at Blossom Music Center. I think I still have the t-shirt somewhere… The lead singer Davy Jones died on Wednesday of a heart attack. He was always my favorite Monkees, so this video goes out to him. It is a beautiful a capella rendition of an old Spanish Christmas carol, “Ríu, Chíu.” Their voices blend really well together, and the first time I ever heard it I got chills and put it on repeat about twenty times until I could sing along with it. Critics claimed they weren’t real musicians, but anyone who can harmonize a capella (without instrumentation) is definitely a real artist. It is difficult to stay on key when you sing a capella. RIP, Davy Jones. You were always the cutest and most personable Monkee.
The English translation is:
River, roaring river, guard our homes in safety,
God has kept the black wolf from our lamb, our lady.
God has kept the black wolf from our lamb, our lady.
Raging mad to bite her, there the wolf did steal,
But our God almighty defended her with zeal.
Pure he wished to keep her so she could never sin,
That first sin of man never touched the virgin sainted.
River, roaring river…
He who’s now begotten is our mighty monarch,
Christ, our holy father, in human flesh embodied.
He has brought atonement by being born so humble,
Though he is immortal, as mortal was created.
River, roaring river…
TGIF: Wie gut ist dein Deutsch February 24, 2012
Posted by Jill (@bonnjill) in Fun stuff, TGIF.7 comments
The folks on the German Language Division are in the process of making a list of all the Anglicisms that have infiltrated the German language (Denglisch), and someone shared this a wonderful sendup of all the Denglisch words to the tune of “How Deep Is Your Love.” Even if you don’t speak German, you will understand a lot of the words in this song! Enjoy!
Translators do it better February 16, 2012
Posted by Jill (@bonnjill) in Fun stuff.7 comments
I don’t know who made this graphic, but it is making the rounds. I had to share it with you all, because it is simply brilliant. I needed the chuckle to start my day. Enjoy!
Chicago Manual of Style proofreading question February 2, 2012
Posted by Jill (@bonnjill) in Fun stuff.3 comments
Grant Hamilton shared this gem with the ATA Business Practices listserv this morning. It made me smile, so I wanted to share it.
I read this yesterday on the Chicago Manual of Style website and thought you might enjoy it, too:
Q. How do you recover from a real proofreading blooper—the kind that has everyone in gales and is terribly embarrassing?
A. Naturally, we have very little experience with this. Is there absolutely no way to blame it on someone else? If not, you probably should keep a low profile until it blows over. Lucky for you, proofreaders automatically have a fairly low profile.
TGIF: How to Fake French January 20, 2012
Posted by Jill (@bonnjill) in Fun stuff, TGIF.4 comments
Oh if only it were this easy 😉 …
The ABCs of Traveling December 29, 2011
Posted by Jill (@bonnjill) in Fun stuff, Random musings.7 comments
One of the blogs I follow recently posted this fun little meme. Travel blogs are nominating other travel blogs, but I encourage my fellow linguist bloggers to just post this with their own info. I had a lot of fun reminiscing about my past travels while doing this.
Age you went on your first international trip
19. I was a junior in college and lived abroad in Salzburg, Austria for a year. It may have also been the first time I had ever been on a plane. Up until then we had always driven to our destinations.
Best (foreign) beer you’ve had and where
I really like Grimbergen, Leffe or Duvel from Belgium. The first time I drank it was obviously in Belgium. I’m pleased that they are now available at some bars and grocery stores here in Cleveland.
Cuisine (favorite)
Czech – although Italian is a close second. I just love those Bohemian bread dumplings (knedliky).
Destinations: favorite, least favorite and why
Favorite destination is Prague. I’ve been there four times. It’s a magical city, with the castle overlooking the winding streets and the Charles Bridge. I love the food, architecture and the river. My second favorite destination is New Orleans. Awesome location, awesome food, awesome music, and a fun culture.
I have yet to find my least favorite destination.
Event you experienced abroad that made you say “wow”
Christmas in Germany and Austria. The Christmas markets are a lot of fun, and there is hot spiced wine to keep you warm.
Favorite mode of transportation
The train. I have been all over Europe on the train, from Italy to Norway, Paris to Budapest and everywhere in between. I’ve even been to New York City several times on the train. It is relaxing to just watch the countryside go by.
Greatest feeling while traveling
The adventure of discovering new places, new food and new traditions.
Hottest place you’ve traveled to
Cancun, Mexico.
Incredible service you’ve experienced and where
The service at the resort in Mexico was really good. Usually I stay at middle-class locations or youth hostels, so staying at a resort where you could eat overlooking the ocean or get any kind of fresh juice you wanted (watermelon!) was pretty awesome.
Journey that took the longest
The night I spent on the train traveling through East Germany was the longest night of my life. It may not have been a long trip, but it sure felt like it. I’ve never been so cold…
Keepsake from your travels
I try to buy a piece of jewelry or accessory from each location. I cherish my framed piece of lace from Bruges, Belgium because it is one of the first keepsakes I ever bought.
Let-down sight: why and where
Slovakia. Lots of East Block architecture and not many restaurants to choose from. We got out of there pretty quick.
Moment where you fell in love with travel
My first trip to Austria in 1989.
Nicest hotel you’ve stayed in
We stayed at several nice hotels during my AYA year abroad. The nicest one was the Hotel Ambassador in Berlin. They gave some of our group the penthouse, and we had a pool party.
Obsession: what are you obsessed with taking pictures of while traveling?
The buildings. I love all the different building styles out there.
Passport stamps: how many and from where?
Nearly all of my stamps are from Europe or the US. I’m on my third passport, so I have no clue how many I’ve ended up with over the years.
Quirkiest attraction you’ve visited and where
We traveled the United States a lot in an RV with my grandmother when I was a kid. We visited lots of quirky roadside attractions (and campgrounds) with the RV. I think the quirkiest was some dinosaur roadside attraction. I think that is where I bought Mexican jumping beans from some tourist trap store. We also stopped at the Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills of North Dakota thirty years ago. It still isn’t finished, so you can imagine how it looked back then.
Recommended sight, event or experience
Christmas in New York City. Everyone should experience it at least once. If you buy tickets for Broadway and Radio City Music Hall in July you can get some awesome seats.
Splurge: something you have no problem forking over money for while traveling
A good meal. I have enjoyed a lot of memorable meals – both good and bad. But a good meal is something you remember as making your trip worthwhile. Eating a muffaletta on a bank of the Mississippi, enjoying the most amazing slice of pizza in Florence, raclette in the Latin Quarter and duck at an amazing brasserie in Paris when all my roommate wanted to eat was McDonald’s, the pork and dumplings in Prague, eating bread with Swiss cheese covered with jam for breakfast in Norway, and the tortellini in Finale Ligura were ones that stand out the most.
And of course Belgian chocolates.
Touristy thing you’ve done
I went on the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg with a bunch of Australians who had lived in Austria for years. It was a riot. I toured the salt mines of Salzburg, sliding down the big wooden slide and floating across the underground salty lake. I remember taking a boat to see the Wisconsin Dells (and toured an iron ore mine) with my Aunt Birdie, Grandma G and my sister. I climbed in the Berlin Wall. If you are a tourist you should do touristy things.
Unforgettable travel memory
Chopping at the Berlin Wall in February 1990. I toured Haus der Geschichte (Museum of History) ten years later and heard the sound of hammers on the Wall before I saw the video, and it gave me chills.
Visas: how many and for where?
About 5 German residency visas total.
Wine: best glass of wine while traveling and where?
I’ve had some good wine over the years. The most memorable evening was in Vienna with my study abroad group. It was a warm evening, and we enjoyed the new wine at a Heurige.
eXcellent view and from where?
The view of Paris and the Eiffel Tower from Montparnasse was pretty spectacular. The Grand Canyon wasn’t too shabby either.
Years spent traveling?
As kids, we spent many summers traveling all over the U.S. in an RV with my grandmother (Maine, Vermont, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Wisconsin). My family drove to New Jersey every summer (the Shore to visit my mother’s godparents and to visit my grandmother). One of my dad’s best friends lives in Niagara Falls. I lived abroad for a total of seven years. I have seen lots of sights in the U.S. and abroad, so pretty much most of my life has involved trips of one sort or another.
Zealous sports fans and where?
Everyone should experience a German soccer game. It just can’t be described.
Working with pets December 6, 2011
Posted by Jill (@bonnjill) in Fun stuff.10 comments
Working from home as a translator presents all kinds of challenges: Do you call or email your client? Do you get up and shower or work all day in your pajamas? Do you feel guilty when you go to the grocery store at 10:00 a.m. the day before a holiday to beat the crush of pre-holiday meal preparation? But, for me, the greatest challenge is working around animals.
Being home all day, every day is very conducive to pet ownership. Most office drones don’t have that luxury and envy us. We don’t have to make sure someone is home in eight hours to let the dog out, and we can take the pets to the vet in the middle of the day if needed.
Having a pet can be very rewarding. I find it especially helpful, because it forces me to get away from my computer to take a walk or clean up after her. My white, fluffy dog is especially good at going out into the backyard and rolling in something dark and stinky, so that also forces me to bathe at least once a day, if not more.
Another bonus is that I actually meet my neighbors while walking the dog. I lived in my old apartment for three years before I got my dog and didn’t know any of my neighbors because I was holed up in the house all day and night. That changed as soon as I got Lily. We suddenly knew everyone and would have doggie play dates and walks with the Golden Retriever across the street.
I found having one pet wasn’t enough, so when my dog found a starving kitten in the backyard last summer we took her in to join our pack. Now Bailey helps me translate by walking or laying across my keyboard and adding brand-new words or deleting whole paragraphs because she is hungry or bored. I do occasionally throw her out of the office when I am doing something that requires focus, like balancing my accounts or credit card statements, and she stands at the door plaintively wailing her dissatisfaction while the dog scratches at it. This ensures that I finish as quickly as possible to restore some peace. As soon as I finish and open the door, the cat and dog both come bounding in to rejoin me, and all is forgiven.
You need to have a sense of humor if you have pets as coworkers – and a watchful eye. My cat especially loves checking out whatever beverage I am enjoying by pulling the glass down for an eye-level view. I have to anticipate her moves to ensure I don’t suddenly have a waterlogged keyboard.
I’ve come to rely on my pets to keep me company and to offer the occasional (much-appreciated) distraction. There is nothing more relaxing in the middle of a particularly stressful day than having to take a break to rub my cat’s tummy or throw my dog’s sheep down the hallway for a game of Fetch. Now if you’ll excuse me, the dog park is calling…
Update: This post was my contribution to Alejandro Moreno-Ramos’ book. Mox’s Illustrated Guide to Freelance Translation is now available for purchase for just €19.95. I can’t wait to receive my copy! Now if you’ll excuse me, my coffee is calling…
Americans are still impressed when someone can speak another language August 4, 2011
Posted by Jill (@bonnjill) in Fun stuff.17 comments
Moviefone, one of the larger entertainment sites in the U.S., has posted a tribute to American celebrities who can speak a foreign language. Mila Kunis recently told off (in Russian) a Russian reporter who asked Justin Timberlake why he was making movies and not singing. Moviefone then decided to feature a bunch of celebrities, including Johnny Depp and Meryl Streep, who speak another language. Why is this news? Oh yeah, because most Americans can barely speak their own language let alone speak two… <sigh> Anyway, enjoy.
TGIF: Tom Hanks on Univision June 24, 2011
Posted by Jill (@bonnjill) in Fun stuff, TGIF.3 comments
This video is making the rounds on all the celebrity gossip sites and news shows here in the U.S. Tom Hanks is doing the publicity tours for his upcoming movie Larry Crowne, and he appeared on Univision’s “Despierta America”. He doesn’t habla espanol, but he energetically danced his way through a weather report alongside glamorous weather girl Chiquinquira Delgado and participated in several other parts of the show. You have to give him props for making the effort to appear on a Spanish show even though he doesn’t speak Spanish. But Bradley Cooper he is not…
You know who gets props for going on a Spanish show and at least trying? Will Smith when he was pushing his movie Seven Pounds.
Musings from an overworked translator 