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Summer at MAart
Summer at MAart is busy as usual. Many events and changes have already taken place or are now underway. As so much is happening, we have split them into two lists:
Past Events Reviews
The sixth edition of the pro publico bono Translation Workshops for 4th and 5th year linguistic students has come to an end. This year we have selected 12 talented students who, after completing 50 hours of theory classes in certified translation, introduction to economics, accounting, marketing, finance, law, error typology, EU projects and CAT tools, as well as professional ethics will proceed with the 100 hours summer internship with the MAart Quality Control Department.
Professional Customer Service Training for Customer Service Specialists and Project Managers intended to enhance practical skills in communication and increase customer satisfaction was held over two weekends in May. We hope the difference shows...
The 18th edition of the KONTAKT International Theatre Festival, organised by the W. Horzyca Theatre in Toruń, was held, as usual, in the last week of May . This was the 14th year MAart has collaborated with the Theatre in providing translation and support for this popular festival. This year’s Festival featured two major performance blocks: the classics, and experimental theatre reaching beyond the traditional boundaries of the genre. For photographs from the winning performances see below: 1st prize: “Sound of Silence” by Alvis Hermanis, New Theatre – Riga/Latvia, 2nd prize: “Phantoms” by Sebastian Nübling, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz – Berlin/Germany, 3rd prize: “GEP, or Gariachiye Estonskiye Parni (Hot Estonian Boys)” by Tiita Ojasoo, Theatre NO99 – Tallinn/Estonia.
The 11th Localisation World Conference Berlin 2008, was held on 9-11 of June. This year’s theme was “Innovating Localisation Business Models” and it drew record crowds of over 500 attendees representing translation and localisation companies, as well as customers and vendors. MAart is a regular attendee and this year was represented by Monika Popiołek (President), Peter Reynolds (TM Global- MAart Managing Director), Marcin Zaremba (IT Manager), Małgorzata Kołakowska (Sales & Marketing Manager). Peter Reynolds and Marcin Zaremba were among the invited speakers and both participated in a technology panel discussion, “The User Strikes Back”. This discussed technologies used in the translation/localisation business from the perspectives of the users in translation companies, companies who buy translation and individual translators. Peter was also a speaker on a panel focusing to agile techniques in project management and hosted a discussion on the future of workflow systems and advanced technologies in the industry. One of the objectives of the conference, besides this being an excellent venue for exchanging experience and ideas while expanding specialist knowledge, was to find and establish new contacts/relations with potential customers and partners in the localisation industry.
Upcoming Events:
The Polish Association of Translation Companies (PSBT) has entered into a co-operation agreement with The Institute of Localisation Professionals (TILP) to organise a local edition of training in professional localisation, a highly specialised area in translation. Enrolment for the Warsaw event scheduled for July has already closed. The Certified Localisation Professional (CLP) Level 1 training is designed for all those interested in expanding their knowledge of innovative IT tools for the localisation process and associated project management methodology. The programme features a multi-week on-line training (10 modules) to be followed by a 4-day on-site practical workshop in one of 9 selected countries, and successful participation (based on an exam) will receive a certificate. The Warsaw edition will be held on 8-11 July 2008 and MAart Agency is the liaison for this venture on behalf of the PSBT and will deliver a half-day presentation on the first day of the course.
The cost of participation in the Polish edition is very affordable: €500 (thanks to EU financing). The fees include: on-line and on-site training, examination, certification and CAT tools licences (such as Alchemy Catalyst 7.0 Translator/Pro Edition, SDL Trados 2007 SP2 Freelance Edition, SDL Passolo 2007+). PSBT is the local partner for this valuable initiative supported also by the European Union of Associations of Translation Companies (EUATC), TechLink project and the University of Limerick Localisation Research Centre. More on the training can be found here: http://www.tilponline.org/clp.shtml
*) The Institute of Localisation Professionals (TILP) is a prestigious non-profit organisation of localisation experts supported by the Localisation Research Centre (LRC) at the University of Limerick. Monika Popiołek (President of MAart) and Peter Reynolds (Managing Director of TM Global) are members.
Idiom WorldServer™ from the user perspective:
Idiom WorldServer™ is not only a modern platform for automated translation and localisation project management, but also a tool which, thanks to its translation memory and terminology database management functions, helps shorten the turnaround times and maintain terminological consistency. This is made possible thanks to teams of translators being able to work simultaneously using a fully integrated Translator’s Workbench software.
Our translators have been enthusiastic about the system when we first launched it in the last quarter of 2007, although it was not without some apprehension that they approached their first projects in Idiom. We’ve listened carefully to their feedback and decided to publish one of those discussions below.
MAart Interview
We asked Aldona Michałek-Janiczek, one of our regular English translators, to share her first Idiom impressions with us.
MAart: It has already been several months since you completed your initial Idiom translation job. The feedback we have had to date indicates that your first impressions have been very positive. We wanted to ask you to share your comments on the system with us and other translators.
MAart: Had you previously had any experience with computer assisted translation (CAT) tools? If so, what were they?
Aldona Michałek-Janiczek: Yes, I had previously worked with Trados and SDLX.
MAart: Is Idiom any different?
AM-J: Idiom, in addition to facilitating the translation process, also enhances the translator’s operational performance. For example, the ability to track the volume of work completed in percentages makes time management an easy job.
MAart: Would you say Idiom meets your functional requirements (layout, commands, views, etc.)?
AM-J: Definitely. The layout is simple, and all major tools are quickly and easily accessible. Commands are clear, and even without additional instructions we can infer what specific functions do. The translation process is further enhanced by a bi-lingual view (source and target languages) and the fact that the entire translation is split into smaller segments.
MAart: Are the existing term-bases and TMs any help?
AM-J: Certainly, especially when dealing with jobs requiring specific terminology, e.g. EU projects. In these cases consistency and cohesion are of utmost importance, so the ability to look up words, phrases or even entire sentences significantly speeds up the work and has a positive impact on quality.
MAart: Are the two operational modes, on-line and off-line, which can be used interchangeably, helpful?
AM-J: Yes, definitely. Thanks to the off-line mode the translation is possible wherever Internet access is limited. The on-line mode, on the other hand, enables translation from any Internet-connected PC, without the need to save and transfer files to other devices. This feature is really useful.
MAart: Which mode do you prefer and why?
AM-J: I prefer the off-line mode due to the layout and segment size.
MAart: How does Idiom enhance the translation process? Does the fact that formatting is not required speed up the process?
AM-J: Yes, I think that the fact that we do not have to bother with formats really helps. The translator can focus entirely on the text.
MAart: Has Idiom affected your productivity and accuracy, as well as consistency?
AM-J: I believe that Idiom increases productivity. As I mentioned before, the easy access to translation memories and terms has a very positive impact on consistency – with this system just one window is sufficient to start a translation project, whereas unsupported work requires the use of many external reference documents.
MAart: Are there any special features of the programme that you would like to comment on?
AM-J: I think that the ability to display segments of specific properties is important as it allows to quickly identify segments that have been left untranslated – omitted or left for later review on purpose.
MAart: Would you recommend working with Idiom to other translators? If so, why?
AM-J: Yes, I will be happy to recommend Idiom to others as it enhances work both from the operational perspective (progress tracking) and the subject matter perspective (use of TMs and term-bases). The system also helps improve efficiency and maintain terminological consistency. I believe these are the key advantages Idiom has to offer.
MAart: Thank you for sharing your opinion with us.
The MAart team took part in a team-building event including a bowling competition June 5. Given the fact that our people are extremely ambitious and competitive it was a really tough competition, medals and certificates being distributed to the best teams, followed by a cocktail to revive the die-hard contestants and their cheering audience. The three winning teams are presented below (left to right): the gold team, Maciek Szczuko (his girlfriend Ania) and Jacek Borowiec; the silver team, Monika Wysocka, Izabela Zboina and Małgorzata Miłek; the bronze team: Justyna Radzka, Maciej Reda and Małgorzata Kołakowska. Congratulations to all winners.
For more information on MAart people see: http://www.maart.pl/?q=node/99
Did you know...
...that MAart has a consulting business called TM Global specialising in training, consulting and optimisation in the area of translation technologies and business processes for translation buyers and suppliers and related sectors. TM Global consultants are specialists in the fields of management, strategy, standards, technologies, process optimisation, development of technical specifications, as well as implementing technology platforms and business portals. TM Global staff have extensive experience in designing and implementing integrated business solutions, as well as many years’ experience as trainers. For more information on TM Global see: http://www.tm-global.com
In addition, TM Global publishes articles and studies on the translation and localisation business and standards, and organizes, in conjunction with the PSBT (Polish Association of Translation Companies), an annual international TM-Europe® conference held in Warsaw (for more info see: http://www.tm-global.com).
From the diary of the novice reviser...
[...] dotyczących zaprzesrania wszelkiej działalności (= concerning the shitting of all activities)
The Treaty of Lisbon is bringing Europe out of its downward spiral. – Traktat lizboński wyprowadza Europę z jej lotu nurkowego (= a dive)
bullying – walka byków (=bullfighting)
W trosce oswoją wiarygodność [...] (untranslateable)
flora – flora roślinna (= floral flora)
posting directive – dyrektywa pocztowa (=mailing directive)
take a specific example – podać przykład naukowy (= take a scientific example)
That was 500 years ago when cheap paper and print came along.- Było to 500 lat temu, kiedy pojawił się tani papier i drukarka. (=when cheap paper and printers came along)
competitive edge – konkurencyjne ostrze (=competitive blade)
I could not agree more – Nie mogę zgodzić się na więcej (= I cannot agree to anything more)
negotiations in Bali – negocjacje na Balii (= negotiations in a tub)
nerve function – funkcja merów (= mayor’s function)
The petitioner was prevented by this tax from returning to the UK and decided to purchase an apartment in Portugal. – Podatek odstraszył składającą petycję od powrotu do Wielkiej Brytanii i kupił mieszkanie w Portugalii. (= The tax scared the petitioner off and decided to purchase an apartment in Portugal)
I think it's the other way round - Myślę, że jest to kolejna droga na około. (original spelling= I think it is a way around smth)
(in a text dealing with waste sites) illegal tipping – nielegalne napiwki (= illegal gratuities/ tips)
To see our previous sMAartletters, click here.
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