Translation workshop tackles snail porridge

Last Saturday's WMG translation workshop at Aston University was enjoyable, interesting, and just a bit disgusting as we discussed how to convey the delights of "snail porridge" (from The Fat Duck Tasting Menu) in various languages. I think in the German group we decided that "Schneckenschleim" probably didn't sound very appetizing.

Working in mixed groups with translators working in opposite language directions was fun. The English>German translators in the German group produced a fantastic back-translation to compare with the original German text that we German>English translators were looking at. Not only was it remarkably similar to the original, considering its literary style, but where it differed it was, we agreed, better.

Photos from the WMG winter walk

The rescheduled ITI WMG winter walk took place on a glorious day with an exciting feel of spring in the air. A smallish group of WMG stalwarts plus newcomers Helga, John and young Owen made the most of the cloudless blue skies and warmth of the sun to enjoy the Warwickshire countryside. Many thanks to Mike Hanson for organising it, even though he couldn't actually make it on the day due to work commitments. And well done to Alan Mendy for being such a good strong walker!

More photos can be found in the Photo section.

An engaging, stimulating workshop

Jean-Pierre Mailhac talking on "Translating Cultural References"
at Aston University on 1 December 2012

Jean-Pierre Mailhac is known for his engaging and stimulating workshops, and last Saturday about 12 MWG members and 4 Aston University MA students took part in another of his events, “Translating Cultural References”, which was really more about how to approach the process of translating cultural references.

The very first thing is, of course, how actually to recognise a cultural reference in the first place – and, among the many cultural reference that cropped up over the day, the origin of some eluded even a few English speakers.

Jean-Pierre used an array of sources, ranging from a French translation of “The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 ¾” and a promotional video of Liverpool as the European Capital of Culture 2008, to the Astérix books, a ketchup advertisement, an appliance manual and different gestures used throughout the world, and then to what we in the UK think of as “Europe”, and who we see as Asian compared to who is seen as Asian in Australia and New Zealand.

Jean-Pierre looks at translation in practice rather than at the theory of translation, but he is also strongly of the opinion that people should create their own framework, with parameters that they can use in all circumstances, which will simplify the process for them, allowing them to reach decisions on how to tackle a problem both rapidly and effectively, in the same way that doctors have a theoretical framework within which they can identify what is wrong and recognise how to act when presented with an ever-changing set of circumstances or symptoms.  

One aspect that we looked at in quite a lot of detail was that of invisible shared information as opposed to visible new information, as this was something that came up again and again in the Adrian Mole book.  Invisible shared information involves those things that are a given for the reader so, by providing an explanation (either by expanding in the text or by way of a footnote) means turning this invisible shared information into new visible information, which can totally change the emphasis and, as translators, we will always have to decide whether or not to give this extra information.

While the room was decidedly cold – we were initially sitting around in our coats, and I did pity all the poor students taking exams - we did warm up during the day, and even forgot about any afternoon break and that is always a good sign that things are going well!

by Juliet Hammond-Smith

Translating cultural references

Bookings are coming in for our next workshop on Saturday 1 December 2012, organised jointly with Aston University. This promises to be a practical and entertaining event. Dr Jean-Pierre Mailhac is a lively, engaging speaker and he will be presenting a framework for dealing successfully with tricky cultural references. You can find a flyer about the event and a booking form on our Events page.

Walk photos

Many thanks to Mike and Angela for organising a very enjoyable walk from Calke Abbey last Saturday. Click on Matt's grubby feet to see more photos!

Details of WMG/EMG Joint Summer Walk and Picnic – Saturday 21 July 2012

This year's walk will be a joint event with the newly formed ITI East Midlands Group, at Calke Abbey, a National Trust property near Ashby-de-la Zouch, at the heart of its own large estate, on the Derbyshire/Leicestershire border.

See http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/calke-abbey for full details.

There is a £2.50 admission charge (payable on entry to the park) for non-NT members, covering parking and use of catering and other facilities. Anyone who would like to come but not walk can spend the afternoon exploring the house and garden (extra charge payable).

The walk itself is just over 5 miles long, around the Calke estate and the nearby forests and lakes, on undulating terrain.

If you wish to eat beforehand, please meet at 12 noon in the picnic area behind the ticket office (no need to buy a ticket here unless you are going into the house or garden, so go through the entrance to the right of this office). There is a coffee shop kiosk in the picnic area selling light snacks and with undercover seating.  Alternatively, there is a restaurant selling snacks and hot food, so if the weather is not suitable for a picnic, we can eat in the main coffee shop (allow a little extra time if you intend to do this).

We’ll aim to start the walk at 1pm prompt, so that we have time for further refreshments when we get back.

Coming from Birmingham, Calke is about 15 minutes from J13 of the M42/A42, and well signposted from this junction.

I would like to thank EMG member Angela Goley (who works as a NT volunteer at Calke) for her assistance in preparing this walk.

Everyone is welcome but please note, participants should consider themselves to be on a private excursion – neither the organiser nor the WMG can accept any liability for accidents or injuries sustained by anyone involved.

Organiser: Mike Hanson

Email: mike@mikehansontranslations.co.uk / mike.hanson@zen.co.uk

Mobile: 07941-389990

Finding and working with premium clients - Chris Durban's talk

So many people turned up to hear Chris Durban speak at Aston University on Friday that we had to find extra chairs. 

Chris was inspiring, funny and full of practical ideas. She set about countering the bulk, price-driven view of the translation market with a vision of hundreds of different translation markets, including in particular one in which premium clients care passionately about their businesses and their texts and are prepared to invest time, effort and money in ensuring that they are translated well - by translators who speak their language, understand their context and write exceptionally well.
There will be a full write-up of Chris's talk in the May-June issue of  the ITI bulletin.
Anyone interested in buying her book, The Prosperous Translator, will find it on the Lulu site.

The WMG will miss Anne Hulme

Anne Hulme was an active member of both the WMG and the NWTN for whom she set up the first website - she was a formidable technician even in the early days of CAT tools etc. Highly regarded as a technical translator from German and French into English, her soft spoken, unassuming manner belied her respected authority as a translator. Moreover, Anne was always ready to use her wealth of translation knowledge and experience to help new translators, by whom she will be remembered as an unusually sympathetic and supportive source of advice and encouragement.

In her personal life, Anne was a keen walker and cyclist who not only completed cycling feats few of us could aspire to, but achieved the kind of healthy work-life balance most of us long for. She was, above all, a thoughtful, perceptive and kind person with a gentle, but lively sense of humour at the right moments.

Anne was all these things to those of us who were fortunate enough to know her during her lifetime and lives on as such in our memories of her.

Jean Darvill

Chris Durban comes to Birmingham!

Fantastic news for WMG members - Chris Durban is giving a talk to WMG members and Aston students at Aston University on Friday 30th March (3-5.30 pm) on "Finding work with premium clients: the pleasure of getting your hands dirty". See our Events page for more details and let Jean know this week if you're interested.

Workshops and AGM planned for 27th April

We are holding two workshops and our AGM on Friday 27 April at Aston University, followed by a meal at Browns near the Bullring in the city centre. The afternoon workshop is free to WMG members.

You can book for the workshops separately or come to both and make a day of it. The morning workshop is on financial translation and will be led by Javier Gill. The afternoon workshop features a talk on ''The widespread and increasing use of controlled or simplified versions of English by technical writers and translators", given by Dr Stephen Crabbe from Portsmouth, and a demonstration of Trados software by Charlie Gobbett.

Please see our Events page for further details.