Sight translation over Skype

The single interesting point during the presentation on Interpretation at Project Tokyo the other week was a few hints from an in-house cum student interpreter who referred to the importance of the so-called quick-response training technique and sight translation. I could not find reference to quick-response as a training feature except with Japanese related web site. Is this a Japinglish feature? Anyway, it comes described in all Japanese books on interpretation I am aware of. The point is to read/repeat without stopping in between a word in language A and its equivalent in language B and do this for a list of words, as fast as possible. No easy trick. The second interesting remark was about sight-translation she hinted doing with colleagues over Skype, that is remote collaborative training. I am envious that there are people putting this into practice over the wires.

Performative act

Interpretation is a performative act, translation is a researcher act. The interpreter acts, the translators digs, probes, investigates, lays down, and builds up. The interpreter is worn out after delivery and doesn't want to talk more. The translator is worn out after delivery and wants to break silence, and talk about her discoveries along the path. But does this explain the whole thing? No, the elitist factor with interpreters is strong, that is, at the level where the market is structured. The free market is another story. It escapes quantitative evaluations. Those SMEs and clients of various type googling an interpreter for direct transaction do not show on any chart. Yet they potentially involve more interpreters of any type and competences than international conferences worldwide being held at the same time.

PROJECT Tokyo

I went to PROJECT Tokyo on Saturday organized by the Japan Association of translators. It was a pretty much satisfying experience and I am sorry I had to miss the final sessions. A clear cut distinction is to be made between interpreters and translators. There was a single general session about how to be an interpreter, attended by three top class freelance interpreters and one in-house. All Japanese but this is a matter of fact. When asked about a good reference on note-taking, no one could refer to the Gillies book. They were pretty much self-centered, satisfied long time practitioners with nothing to share, except for the standard sneer at less than perfect interpreters although these don't eat their lunch. It was a lame, superficial session and the few questions from the audience were a match to the mediocrity. In contrast, the translators sessions going deep down into the nitty gritty of the profession, avoiding no questions, eagerly willing to share their experiences were far superior. Why the contrast? Is it that full time translators chained to their desks relish on opportunities to speak out and talk about their wares? It could be. It could also be that as a whole, interpreters are less "intellectual" than translators, less self-reflecting, and more elitists.

Aggregating Nikkei voiced over titles

This could be an interesting course content I will start testing next week. Take a podcast session of the 日本経済新聞ダイジェスト版, skip the intro and select the succession of news headlines, then throw away the long reading part. Do the same with successive daily podcast and put these together. You quickly end up with a long list of news headlines to work on for instant interpretation. Vocabulary rich stuff wrapped into full sentences, not newspaper titles. This could prove challenging and therefore interesting.

Medical interpreters association goes Japan

The US based International Medical Interpreters Association will open a chapter in Japan. It is an interesting move and the Japanese market seems to try and quickly get organised. An article in the Japan Times was referring a few months ago to the low payment - equivalent to a McDonald's part time job - medical interpreters receive here. There was no indication about how much med interpreters get paid in the US or elsewhere. In Japan, the Japan Association for Health Care Interpreting in English and Japanese is one among other organizations working on the subject. I especially like when cross-continental links are built up in the profession. The liaison interpreting - a category comprising medical but many more scenes - would benefit to have an all specialities kind of association.

Humbling testimony

As you get used here to never hear post-mortem comments, figuring what and how people feel about things is a lifetime chore. I had to wait a month to get my first improvised comment on the first interpreters' meeting. Although nothing came as a surprise, it shows the gap between where we each stand. M. yesterday delivered a harsh but welcome slew of criticism and suggestions. Attendees were expecting to get hints on how and where to find work. They did not - or I would rather say, they could not infer anything. They don't understand the purpose and value of "professional socialization". They need incentives to get together. It must pay off, right away. In other words, the possibility to bring forward some creativity for the common good of others is an idea that is foreign. She gave me the example of an association of tourist guide-interpreters that provides tangible benefits to their paying members. It was a humbling hearing, what with the "revelation" that my messages over the discussion board were probably too difficult to read and understand. Although this may be, it all comes down to cater to people who commonly share procrastination and ubiquitous fear. Within inaction, what makes sense is the perception of clear and tangible benefits. Clear and tangible benefits are the condition of participation. The rest is - indeed - fuzzy because conceptual. Therefore, pushing forward the idea that gathering and discussing the profession is a way to indeed nurture the common good and deliver through this incentives and a sense of value to do it is meaningless. she rightly said that there were no real professionals at the meeting. Although I mentioned why almost no top professionals attended, the only thing that was kept by was their absence. Again, this perfectly links to the perception of value and where it shall lay, that is in the hands of top level professionals. I think the gap is abysmal, what with the reluctance she shares with everyone else to launch her own promotional web site, and the fear to reveal personal info, what with the fear to be discovered by elders who will frown at her impudence to advertise herself. It's all Japan psyche revealed in a single batch. She still expect though that some people will participate next week. Time will tell, and what for.

Something good in it

I want to see this as a positive sign. Although hardly "a lot", I have been contacted by potential customers via the net more than during any previous period I can remember. Higher yen may be a factor, but the mere growing usage of the Internet as a tool to source people like me is certainly on the increase. This is a gleam of hope and concerns. How to leverage a trend which shall grow further? What about the competition, that is, other freelancers here in Japan? What may come next? Leverage: fine tuning the web presentation. More Google Ad investment? No, enough already. Systematically ask customers how but also why they looked for resource and found, selected me, and grab background data on their purpose and motivation. The competition? Will grow, that is, the number of interpreters here advertising their gears. But to what extend? Based on cultural attitudes and market structure, I don't expect any major changes. Japanese interpreters will keep a low web presence, which is a good thing for me. What next? I see a surge in short-notice requests, a mixed bag of hope and fear, fear when it comes to sudden cancellation of short-notice appointment. What to work on? Better strategies to work on fast, focused, subject specific preparation. Keep focused on balancing fear of market slump with tangible facts that may contradict the fear. There may be something good coming out of the crunch.

Loosers unit

I have a tangible unsurprising proof that interpreters of French-Japanese at least are feeling the economy crunch. Who is not? When launching the idea of a professional network of interpreters, I met several coinciding sly remarks that only loosers - those who can't make a living out of the profession - will jump on the bandwagon. 12 did and are keeping quiet like clams in the (no)discussion board. If the logic goes that only loosers unit, then, there should be a surge of more loosers rushing under the uniting flag. But there are none. Under bear or bull market, loosers or winners don't mix. That's all there is to say. But on a brighter side, OPI although not enough and paid - God forbid! in dollars - are trickling in still.

Short-noticed

Cancelation of short-notice assignments is a risk you hate to meet. It happened yesterday. An agent would have dealt with the situation differently, but first of all, an agent would probably have declined to provide service with a moving-target schedule, a risk the freelancer may be able to take. That's one of the advantage of the freelancer. Moreover, the potential client of yesterday would not deal through an agent for cost control purpose. That's where the market lays and hopefully will grow. I see a somewhat growing number of inquiries. It is not clear-cut yet and not enough in the end to make a living without a side related business. But inquiries are dripping in a little bit more at a time compared with previous years. A good sign for things to come. Toucher du bois.

Unqualification

I would not take the risk and pretend I can do things I can't. In a previous long term medical OPI program, frameworks were designed that limited the risk of misinterpretation and the fatal consequences of it. When frameworks are defined by the sole speciality of the subject, there is no way around. This news in the Sunday Herald tells of a tale that is ubiquitous. In Japan too, the need and the lack of professional court interpreters is being highlighted lately in the news as well. I would not be surprised that Japan comes quickly with a form certificate and be pushed to accept more non-native interpreters for minor languages.

Going into niches

In another life, I would certainly think hard about selecting a few niches domains and turn specialist in very much restricted areas. After a stint in medical interpretation that was aborted after three years - it could come back though - I have had no clues that going on into medical would make any professional gains and merits here in Japan. Until this evening call from abroad I won't say a word about, except that it suggests there are over there and down there unexpected niches I could not have fathomed about, granted there are clear signs that there lays a market, not a single opportunity and gone, but chances of reiterated requests which would justify to delve again into specialized literature and dip back into the medical pool. I am starting though to listen again to the New England Journal of Medicine podcast. A single call from an unexpected domain of activities shows how thriving the world of business is, and the need to have antennas. And yes, although not ringing and at times ringing but for nothing, inquiries are trickling in, slowly but more than let say 3 years ago. And the famously funny side of it, even if work is scarce these days, that is starting this month with the money crunch, some of these potential clients who, based on their web site would perfectly qualify to inquire for an interpreter through agencies here in Japan are just not doing so. Instead, they google, and fucked are the agencies by so doing. And I won't shed a tear on them. Long live the googling prospects querying the Internet to deal direct with an interpreter.

Technorati Tags: interpretation, interpreter, interpreting, Japan, Japanese language, Tokyo, translation, translator

Audio centered self-training

Audio resources, the availability of it is to have a major impact on foreign language acquisition. This sounds trite but I want to go beyond triteness and query the meaning of what this wealth of audio content - and I mean audio, not video content - is bringing to the self-made interpreter. Strategies are in need, something around "audio centered language acquisition - how to make the best of podcasts to raise your competences". It won't turn a bestseller but who cares? Audio is a conduit to concentration exercise, better I feel than visual content that interferes with the rest. There is a kind of unique fusion when listening to audio is sharply focused, when meaning flows and a sort of dialogue with ones mind takes place. No kidding here. I am simply trying vainly and put words into the importance and new possibilities to exploit audio. After all, learning foreign languages has long been a word on paper based experience. In Paris even in the 70s, catching the BBC over the radio, in audible form that is, not wrapped in whizzes and cracks, was a miracle so seldom it happened. Now it's all here to hear. I don't think the leap is near anything like "more convenience". It is, in terms of experiencing foreign languages, as if being part of it despite the distance, a quantum leap into new approaches to language acquisition. More on it later if I come with something less trite.

Technorati Tags: interpretation, interpreter, interpreting, Japan, Japanese language, Tokyo, translation, translator

How to interpret this news

I am relaying the following news in the hope that some opinion will bounce back from this void.
日本通訳協会が閉鎖発表　あす実施の通検試験は中止

2008年11月8日12時31分

　通訳の能力の指針として通訳技能検定試験（通検）などを実施してきた株式会社の日本通訳協会（東京都新宿区）が、自社ホームページで「閉鎖せざるを得なくなった」と発表した。これに伴い、９日に予定していた各種の検定試験を中止するとしている。

　通検は１９７３年に設けられ、これまでに延べ約１３万人が受験、約３万８千人が合格しているという。

　ホームページの報告は４日付で、向鎌治郎代表名で「今般の経済不況の中で必要な金融支援も受けられなかった」と説明。９日の通検１次試験とボランティア通訳検定試験、１２月１４日の通検２次試験、０９年２月１日の３次試験を中止するとし、「業界の各社と協議中で、皆様方の受験料がむだにならないように努力する」と述べている。

　同社によると、今回の通検は札幌、仙台、東京、名古屋、大阪、那覇の各会場で予定されていた。受験料は１級が１万７千円、２級が１万２千円。

What does that mean? What does this inform about the state of the Japanese market, if anything? I am glad I am not part of it even if not willingly, but it should be a matter of concern.

Technorati Tags: interpreter, interpreting, Japan, Japanese language, Tokyo, translation, translator

The freedom to live like a worm

An early member of the Forum quickly left it, stating after I asked "what do you expect out of this forum?", that "I want to keep my freedom to be passive and non-active as I wish". It's bad omen for the rest of the passive and non-active members. At least, one has had the courage to sign off stating things clearly enough. I for one would never have thought nor written such justification. Did I ambush him, them, so much that they feel under pressure to - God forbid! - make a coming out and start communicating? A simple "I don't know" to my original question would have meant "I am here but I don't know", which I think is a pretty good starter for communication. A. who is reacting but through direct mail tells me things taking place in France that much resemble the situation here. I am pretty much amused by her remark, that "interpreting is a competitive market". You bet. Only in cemeteries do they not compete. How and why does the JAT fares so well - after +20 years for sure - with members competing in the same markets? Immaturity or maybe another name I can't think about right now. My freedom to be passive. And live hidden like a worm. But as envisioned from day one, I won't push this project like Don Quichote and won't ride the horse against the windmills. Taking care of the self will come first.

News from France

Met A. in Tokyo yesterday. A. is living in France. She does interpreting and teach Japanese. She contacted me in regards to the interpreter meeting of October. She is enthusiastic, she requested we meet, she agrees with my analysis of the deer situation of French Japanese interpretation, confirming that over there same as here, interpreters shun at getting in touch with each over. They are rocks, and usually feeble ones as in Japan. She is exactly how others should be. Open, thoughtful, willing to discuss, share, investigate, and try creating something. At the same time, I understand she does not exactly get what an online group is, and I have already suspected that many actually do not get the idea right. The Internet is a post-office cum reference tool, but the communication potential, the creative side of it all is lost and blank stares, a white or grey zone at best. The conversation was cheerful but the prospects are not. There's a casual strong suspicion down there that communicating among peers means danger, risk, just like here in Japan. Add to this in Japan the church like set-up where the top-notched interpreters like popes in their tiny realm high in the sky manage a small cast of sheepish priest passively waiting for the agencies to call and bestow them with opportunities to work. It's hopeless. There is a need for at least a dozen people like A. to start something. And it's pretty much out of reach. Everything that is discussed here, this monologue, should be discussed among peers. There should be no need nor even time for writing down a blog like this because enough opportunities for dialogue would make blogging redundant.

A mismanaged OPI assignment and some lessons

Technically, phone interpreting will be performed in the long run doing simultaneous. Meaning that the OPI interpreter who does not do simultaneous will be out. But we are not there yet. It came as an urgent request. IR meeting over the phone, in less than 24 hours. I told them I don't do IR. IR is daunting. I will do rocket science, quantum physics, Italian cuccina, but IR, God forbid! They pleaded. I said OK. Now, a few hours later on, the client calls, wants me to use two phones because they don't have the proper system for call-in confcall. Weird I think. Juggling with two phones will add stress, but who cares. Now, I understand that the client abroad won't lead the conversation, but only listen. However, he is not over the confcall but hooked to my mobile only. Now I hear for the first time that their contact here will converse with the Japanese side and I will translate back, meaning that they have tried in hurry to set a make-shift environment for ... remote, simultaneous interpretation! Add to this minor technical glitches like your standard echo thanks to their speaker phone. No one is managing the conversation, no go sign and now they start chatting full speed after angrily asking me to put my second phone mike on mute. I tell them I do interpretation, consecutive at that, and I am not in charge of technicalities. It won't go that way, anyway. I explain the situation abroad. They will end up listening to a summary of the conversation by their local agent later on. Good for them. I am now out of the loop, glad for this and angry at the management mess. But again, simultaneous OPI will lead, which does not mean that consecutive, liaison type of interpreting is dead. But the clients must be taught about the difference and get guidance on how to make things run. Do I have to go deep into learning IR? Do I have to go into simultaneous? Why not for IR learning, granted they say consecutive IR will be in demand from now on. As for simultaneous, a little bit late probably. And consecutive? It is not a poor version for B grade interpreters unable to do sim, it is a full-fledged, unrecognized specially in its own, and a fascinating one at that. But you cares?

Simple

A phone call from the UK. A prospect wants an interpreter in Tokyo for 30 minutes. I tell him I charge 3 hours minimum whatever. He doesn't get it.

Echoes of a potential assignment. A "very simple" assignment the prospect argues, "simple" meaning no reaons to charge expensively. Simple. What's in a word? Yet another need for a mere "linguistic helper". What will they do to justify not shelling money into that bastard costly interpreter.

A gloomy November it seems. Crisis, coming end of year? Both? 10% less inbound travelers in Narita airport. At last a tangible fact to chew on the fat of worry.

Should I go again into mentioning the Liaison Interpreting Handbook? Excellent stuff. Maybe I go commenting line by line next time. The discussion in the 12 years that passed since the publication of the book moved to community interpreting, the term "liaison" disappearing in the process as it seems. I would love to chat with the authors and hear their opinion on what happened since then.

Getting ready for next monthly meeting of the interpreters' forum. I my end up alone debating with myself. Not a single reaction to propositions, not a fart, nothing. Passivity magna. The patient is mindless, dead on arrival. Well, maybe some people will pop up but the total lack of stamina is no stamina.

Good courses yesterday. Some of the students are really good, exceptional. This is "encouraging" as they say. Courage then.