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Scratching my bald head (part 6): Comms pros – consult the dictionary of life PR WeekWednesday, October 26, 2022
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
The Intimate Art of Translation - The Imaginative Conservative - Translation
It is an intimate art, the translation business. But it is the art of creatures like we humans, who live always on the border of matter and spirit, trying to marry together the infinite and the finite, the spiritual and the earthly, the eternal and the temporal.
On January 11, 1940, the Italian writer and translator Cesare Pavese wrote in his diary: “Periods of great productivity in literature are preceded by a generation of intensely active translators. The closer history approaches our own era, the more the fusion of civilizations takes place, not by flesh and blood, but on paper. Instead of invasions, we have translations.”
It’s odd to read that “instead of invasions” line when World War II was already raging when he wrote, even if all the countries that would eventually take part had not yet joined it. But I think it plain to see what he means: The fusion of civilizations that takes place in invasions often ends up being more defined by death—a heap of corpses intermingled—than a marriage with the resulting life. Even if the invaders don’t blow up all the buildings or burn the art, they quite often handle them roughly, not knowing what to do with the treasures of a civilization. And due to the situation, those being invaded are quite often unable to share what they have (even assuming they would want to share it with the present enemy) because all the attention is dedicated to the question of survival.
Not so with translations. Today they are, I suppose, labeled by the woke as acts of “cultural appropriation” or “colonization” or some such other nonsense, which can only be said if one considers the rather squishy groupings of humans according to race more important than the one grouping that follows both the science and the theology: the human race. But for those of us who subscribe to the latter term—by which I mean all sane people—translation is a fusion that reminds us of marriage.
Like marriage, translation brings together two distinct and different but similar things united by their humanity. And while some translations, like some marriages, are marked by faithfulness and beauty, some are unfaithful and ugly. Still others can be marked by an ugly faithfulness and others by a beauty tinged by infidelity. The old Italian saying traduttore, traditore means that the translator, perhaps every translator, is a traitor in some way. But the possibility of betrayal only exists because of that marriage-like intimacy of the act.
I wish I had come up with that last thought myself, but alas I appropriated it from Michial Farmer, a teacher and writer who translated a play written by the French Catholic philosopher Gabriel Marcel. He was one of four participants on a panel dealing with the art of translation at the fourth Catholic Imagination Conference, which was held at the University of Dallas at the end of September. As moderator for the panel, I was intrigued by how the speakers thought about this particular art.
Jeanine Pitras, a translator of Latin American poetry, talked about translation as the solving of a mystery, that of bringing one language and culture into another. That too sounded like marriage talk. Jason Baxter, who is currently translating Dante’s Commedia, talked about the need of the translator to convey the impressions given not just by denotations but also by the types of language used. He described the “high/low diglossism” of Dante—a fancy way of saying that sometimes the poet uses the exalted language of philosophers and theologians and sometimes the language of the streets. Figuring out how to get not only the right meaning but the right vibe to the translation is key. Should I translate the word as “devour” or “gulp”? I wondered if this tendency to use both levels in a work is intrinsically Catholic and Christian? After all, the Incarnation is the supreme mixture of high and low. God the Father translates the fullness of his mysteries to us by writing the Word in the rather humorously loopy font of human nature.
Translation, you might say, is revelation all the way up because it is revelation all the way down. It is one of the most difficult and ubiquitous acts of human beings. It’s not just that the world or the airport or even your town is filled with people of different languages. Even when we speak the same variant of the same language, we often find ourselves like the people of the biblical Babel, who were very clear on the project—make a name for ourselves in the heavens—but fell to incoherence by the time it was completed. I often have to ask one of my kids, “What does Mom’s message to me mean?” More often she is asking the kids what mine means, but this is the point.
Teaching is clearly an act of translating. So too writing. Frederick Turner, a translator of central European poetry, went off the rails in his presentation at the end by advocating for a new religion based on the scientific method. August Comte, call your office. But before he did, he made the very interesting point that “Every poet, to be a poet, is a translator.” He described the process of writing poetry as that of taking an “internal language” and translating it into “the written one.” It’s not just poets. I find myself that almost any worthwhile essay starts as a very vivid internal set of words and impressions for which I must struggle to find the prose to convey what I am trying to say.
The process can be tough, for I often discover that what was there in my internal language was partly right and partly wrong. But even when I still think I am right, getting the words to convey what I mean to others is hard. I have often quoted the sportswriter Red Smith, who observed, “Writing is easy. All you have to do is open up a vein and bleed.” The blood, along with the sweat, tears, and often coffee, that is shed is shed in service of trying to avoid being a traitor to the fullness of meaning that one feels is a gift one wants to share, a marriage one wants to make. It involves a great deal of knowledge and also a heart that listens to both sides and struggles mightily to bring truth from another realm into the one in which I live so that others might see it and be glad.
It is an intimate art, this translation business. But it is the art of creatures like we humans, who live always on the border of matter and spirit, trying to marry together the infinite and the finite, the spiritual and the earthly, the eternal and the temporal.
The Imaginative Conservative applies the principle of appreciation to the discussion of culture and politics—we approach dialogue with magnanimity rather than with mere civility. Will you help us remain a refreshing oasis in the increasingly contentious arena of modern discourse? Please consider donating now.
The featured image is “Scholar Sharpening His Quill” (1633) by Gerrit Dou, and is in the public domain, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Best Practices for the Translation of Official and Legal Documents - JD Supra - Translation
Based on 2018 census data, 67.3 million U.S. residents, both immigrants and native-born, speak a language other than English at home. As we near 2023, it’s safe to say that number has likely grown. Stats like this underscore the need for services that support language translation, including the ability to translate official and legal documents.
With legal proceedings ramping up again post-pandemic, and more immigrants and foreign visitors entering the U.S. than ever before, the demand for legal document translation services has been on the rise.
If you find yourself in need of a document translation service, it’s important to understand why and when the translation of official documents is required before you move forward. Here are some points to keep in mind.
When Translation of Official and Legal Documents is Required
Translation refers primarily to written documentation. Any legal case going through the discovery process, which includes a client or witness that speaks a foreign language, will have documents that require translation for use in depositions or as exhibits in court. In addition, given the complexity of legal verbiage itself, courts require translation to be provided if an individual is not completely fluent in English.
Any type of document or written text considered pertinent to a case can be translated for legal purposes. Depending on the type of law involved, this could include text messages, WhatsApp conversations, social posts, emails, accident claims, business agreements, birth certificates, contracts, sales forms, divorce papers, prenups from another country, or prenups written here and translated into the language of the spouse.
If it’s in written form, and intended for use in a legal proceeding, it must be translated, submitted, and filed. It must have a certificate of accuracy. Certified translation services demonstrate that the translator understood the language of the original document and translated it to the best of their ability.
In terms of the types of organizations that require official document translation, it runs the gamut. Any organization that works with clients in other countries, or with clients who are not fluent in English within the U.S., will have a need for this service. The majority, however, are legal firms and the attorneys who work for them, including any firm that has an office outside of the U.S. or that deals with cases pertaining to foreign individuals or entities.
How to Translate Official Documents
When it comes to the act of translating official documents, there are two primary methods used depending on the circumstance:
AI Document Translation
AI, or machine-based, translation is used primarily when there are mass volumes of documents during the discovery phase. For example, if a client has a patent case with thousands of written pages and needs to translate them to determine which documents should be submitted as evidence.
At this volume, machine translation comes in at a lower cost than human document translation, but with an accuracy rate of only about 80%-90%. For this reason, and because it does not involve a human being, it cannot have a certificate of accuracy associated with it or be submitted into court proceedings. As a rule, AI document translation is considered ideal when fast turnaround times and lower costs, rather than accuracy, are a priority.
Human Document Translation
Once AI translation has determined which specific pages or documents should be used, a human translator must officially translate each document and ensure that a certificate of accuracy accompanies the court submission.
When the highest level of accuracy is required, human translation is the only option. In addition to meeting legal standards, human translation provides greater familiarity with dialects, nuances of languages, and legal terminology compared to literal AI translations that lack the ability to detect slang or double meaning within a phrase.
Considerations for Selecting an Official Document Translation Provider
When the time comes to select an official document translation company, keep these considerations in mind:
- Providers who only offer AI document translation cannot provide a certificate of accuracy, so if you move forward with filing those documents in court, you risk legal repercussions.
- Those who solely provide AI translation will put forth a literal translation of a document, which could go against your case depending on what you’re trying to prove.
- Make sure any provider that offers AI-based document translation uses an SOC Type 2-compliant platform with robust security measures.
- Select a provider with strong adherence to security protocols, including two-factor authentication and secure sharing practices vs. using Gmail or another unprotected avenue.
- Look for a provider that is familiar with many languages and dialects, and how phrases can differ in meaning from one country to another.
- Find a provider with experience in technical cases and legal terminology. For example, the fifth amendment is a legal concept that exists in the U.S., but not other countries. It’s important to be able to translate a word that may not exist in the language it’s being translated into.
One final consideration: If you choose to not use a professional legal translation provider, and instead opt for an AI-based online program, keep in mind that many of the more commonly used programs are free. This means they are widely available and that, once a document has been translated, that information remains accessible on the internet to anyone determined enough to look for it. This is a crucial issue, given legal documents and their contents are highly sensitive and private. If an attorney runs his or her documents through these platforms, they open themselves up to possible security threats and breaches, and further liabilities.
Closing Arguments for Using Official Document Translation Services
There are 7,151 languages spoken worldwide today. Around 422 of those languages are currently spoken in the United States. Given this, it’s not surprising that the global legal translation services market is expected to grow at a rate of 2.37% CAGR from 2021-2027, reaching nearly $45 Billion by 2027.
This rise in demand reflects what I’ve experienced in the legal document translation arena, with the need for these services rising dramatically from when I started in the industry nearly 20 years ago.
Given those legal proceedings are official and binding, it’s of the greatest importance to ensure you and all parties fully understand the contents of every document involved in a legal case. Using an experienced professional translation services provider puts you in the best position to understand, and act on, legal filings.
Lost in translation: St. John's airport admits its French needs work - CBC.ca - Translation
The St. John's International Airport says it needs to do better, after Radio-Canada documented a series of poorly translated signs and messages months after the airport was fined thousands for violating official language requirements.
Lisa Bragg, the airport's vice-president of business development and marketing, acknowledged the airport authority has work to do.
"We make mistakes and all kinds of ways we're going to own them and we're going to fix them as best we can," said Bragg. "It's not that you meant to do it, but there's going to be episodic errors that occur from time to time, and we're not immune to that."
Radio-Canada, the CBC's French-language broadcaster, presented the airport authority with a number of examples of crude translations at the airport, including posters and the airport's website and social media posts. Located in a provincial capital and welcoming more than 1.5 million passengers a year before the pandemic, the airport is required by law to provide both English and French language services to travellers.
In the case of one poster in a bathroom, the play on words "If you're happy and you know it wash your hands" became "Si tu es content et vous le savez, lavez-vous les mains" in French. The joke doesn't make sense in French and the sentence is grammatically incorrect, containing both formal and informal verb tenses.
Another poster read "Regardez-vous, arborant ce masque!", a cringe-worthy translation of, "Look at you, rocking that mask!"
A French tweet from the airport described a new "non-stop road to Toronto-Pearson" ("route sans escale vers Toronto-Pearson"). Another wished passengers a happy Thanksgiving by writing "Joyeux Action de Grâces" instead of "Joyeuse Action de grâces."
'We're trying to be much more conscious'
Bragg said several posters have already been removed, although some tweets hadn't been deleted Tuesday morning. She said the airport authority is "not a huge organization" and that it relies on Halifax-based firm Text in Context for most of its translation. However, in certain cases a library of pre-translated phrases was also used for smaller translation jobs, which led to errors.
"That is, at times, where we've introduced some errors. So we're trying to be much more conscious to make sure and double-check and verify anything where we have," Bragg said. "I'll put it this way: anything where we have to spend money for a sign, for example, that is going to live for a while, we will make sure that the translation is the best it can be."
Bragg said there were fewer travellers in the airport during the pandemic and one of the poorly translated posters was up for more than a year before anyone complained.
"When it came to our attention, we fixed it immediately. But that also kind of speaks to the fact that we've had less traffic and we have less French-speaking passengers," Bragg said.
"If someone notices something, reach out to the airport. We would be happy, more than happy. We would actually welcome the feedback."
Airport authority fined $11K in April
Radio-Canada documented the bad translations months after the airport authority was ordered to pay $11,000 for violating official language requirements. A Federal Court judge found last April the airport had adopted a too-narrow interpretation of its language obligations by not translating most of its social media posts, as well as its annual reports and press releases.
The airport authority is appealing the decision, which it feels would expand requirements far beyond their intended purpose.
French not at 'acceptable level'
In a statement, the head of the Newfoundland and Labrador's Francophone federation said bilingual services were "all but absent" a few years ago and that it's important to highlight the major progress made since. But Gaël Cobineau, executive director of the Fédération des francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador, said the airport "has very clear official language obligations and there is still some way to go."
"In the past, we have tried to contact the airport's communications department to discuss this informally and constructively, but we have never heard back from them," said Corbineau.
"In the absence of any direct dialogue, we now report any errors we find by filing complaints with the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, which is quite effective. Many errors have since been corrected, but there are still some and new ones appear over time."
Corbineau said the airport needs to realize it "lacks capacity internally" to communicate in French at an "acceptable level," pointing to several boutiques and restaurants where service in French is often unavailable.
Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
Monday, October 24, 2022
SheaMoisture Launches Textured Hair Dictionary - HYPEBAE - Dictionary
SheaMoistureUK, in collaboration with beauty expert Ateh Jewel, has joined forces to launch an online human glossary of afro and textured hair terms to empower more open communication of these words outside of the Black community and in mainstream culture.
The free resource features standard terms such as durag, bonnet, coils and Bantu knots and includes their correct definitions. Within the beauty industry, most everyday cultural language and terms relating to Black haircare can’t be found in image libraries, dictionaries, or stores and are often negative in tone. Research by SheaMoisture revealed that lack of awareness around the correct terminology to describe afro and textured hair negatively impacts 52% of individuals who identify as Black and mixed race in the UK. 69% of other individuals reported seeing their hair as part of their identity but rarely seeing it represented in mainstream culture. “By working with SheaMoisture, I hope to drive further awareness and education on these terms, so people can see they are the center and they are enough, which is a vital step in achieving social equality for those with afro and textured hair.” Ateh Jewel states in a press release.
“Language shapes the world and how we see it, and when it comes to the positive language around maintaining, caring, and styling afro and textured hair our research shows there is still a huge void,” Senior Brand Manager at SheaMoisture, Genevieve Appiagyei states. We hope our dictionary boosts awareness of the expansive vocabulary around Black hair and encourages others to feel more empowered to communicate these terms.”
You can view SheaMoisture’s online human glossary here and stay updated with the brand’s progress.
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SheaMoisture Launches Online Dictionary Dedicated to Understanding Afro and Textured Hair - Yahoo Entertainment - Dictionary
SheaMoistureUK, in collaboration with beauty expert Ateh Jewel, has joined forces to launch an online dictionary of afro and textured hair terms to empower more open communication of these words outside of the Black community and in mainstream culture.
The free resource features standard terms such as durag, bonnet, coils and Bantu knots and includes their correct definitions. Within the beauty industry, most everyday cultural language and terms relating to Black haircare can't be found in image libraries, dictionaries, or stores and are often negative in tone. Research by SheaMoisture revealed that lack of awareness around the correct terminology to describe afro and textured hair negatively impacts 52% of individuals who identify as Black and mixed race in the UK. 69% of other individuals reported seeing their hair as part of their identity but rarely seeing it represented in mainstream culture. "By working with SheaMoisture, I hope to drive further awareness and education on these terms, so people can see they are the center and they are enough, which is a vital step in achieving social equality for those with afro and textured hair." Ateh Jewel states in a press release.
"Language shapes the world and how we see it, and when it comes to the positive language around maintaining, caring, and styling afro and textured hair our research shows there is still a huge void," Senior Brand Manager at SheaMoisture, Genevieve Appiagyei states. We hope our dictionary boosts awareness of the expansive vocabulary around Black hair and encourages others to feel more empowered to communicate these terms."
You can view SheaMoisture's online dictionary here and stay updated with the brand's progress.
Mountain Valley Elementary hosted 2022 Dictionary Project - Lootpress - Dictionary
BLUEFIELD, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Mountain Valley Elementary School had some special visitors bringing very special gifts for 3rd graders.
Concord University, Bluefield State University and Rotary Clubs of Bluefield and Princeton donated a dictionary to every 3rd grade student in Mercer County as part of the Dictionary Project, something they have participated in for over a decade.
Those in attendance were Concord University President, Dr. Kendra Boggess; Bluefield State University’s Assistant Director of Student Activities, Jake Laney; Bluefield Rotary member, Zach Luttrell; Princeton Rotary member, Rick Allen; Mountain Valley’s Principal, Ms. Teresa Guill; and Concord University’s mascot, ROAR. Mercer County Schools’ Dr. Ashley Vaughn emceed the event, and 3rd grade students Emberly Bailey and Evangeline Mitchell accepted the dictionaries on behalf of all 3rd graders in Mercer County. The third graders performed “The Addams Family” song directed by Ms. Jordan Stadvec.
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