Volume 7, No. 1 
January 2003

 
  Mailman



 
 
 

 


 

 

From the Editor
Give Credit Where Credit Is Due

 
Index 1997-2003

 
  Translator Profiles
How Not to Become a Translator
by Per Dohler

 
  The Profession
The Bottom Line
by Fire Ant & Worker Bee
It's a Small World
by Steve Vlasta Vitek
Translation: A Market in Crisis?
by Danilo Nogueira

 
Translators Around the World
Análisis de la demanda de traducción en un organismo público en las islas Baleares—El caso de la Dirección General de Economía
Lluch i Dubon, Ferran y Belmonte Juan, Roser
 
 
In Memoriam
Harvie Jordan, 1943-2002
by Patricia Bobeck
David Orpin, 1946-2002
by Geoffrey Pearl

 
  Literary Translation
Language Ambiguity: A Curse and a Blessing
by Cecilia Quiroga-Clare
Translation of Literary Style
by Song Xiaoshu, Cheng Dongming

 
  Translator Education
Translator Training & the Real World: Concrete Suggestions for Bridging the Gap — Part 1
Translator Training & the Real World: Concrete Suggestions for Bridging the Gap — Part 2

 
  Arts & Entertainment
Translation in a Confined Space—Film Sub-titling—Part 2
by Barbara Schwarz

 
  Caught in the Web
Web Surfing for Fun and Profit
by Cathy Flick, Ph.D.
Translators’ On-Line Resources
by Gabe Bokor

 
  Translators’ Tools
Close Windows. Open Doors
by Marc Prior
Translators’ Emporium

 
Translators’ Job Market

 
Letters to the Editor

 
Translators’ Events

 
Call for Papers and Editorial Policies
Translation Journal
 
Letters


Letters to the Editor


I have come across a site of an Arabic translator at

http://www.proz.com/pro/13467

The site gives incorrect information.

The translator mentioned in that site alleges that he is officially certified and a holder of an MA in translation from the American University in Cairo (AUC). He also claims that he is a member of the Egyptian Translators Association and the Gulf Translators Association.

I am a translation teacher at the American University in Cairo, and I hereby affirm that the AUC does not have any program for MA in translation at all. We offer, through the Arabic and Translation Studies Division (ASD), Center for Adult and Continuing Education (CACE), only a one- or two-year professional certificate in translation and/or interpreting. You may verify this information from ASD website at http://www.aucegypt.edu/conted/cace/div/asd.htm or contact Dr. David Wilmsen, the Director of ASD, at dwilmsen@aucegypt.edu for information about the programs ASD offers.

In Egypt there is no Translators' Association, but only a modest recently established translators' union that does not enjoy much recognition so far.

There is nothing called Gulf Translators Association. I am currently providing training for translators in Kuwait, and I have connections and constant contacts with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. There is no Gulf Translators Association there.

Moustafa Gabr (Fellow of the Institute of Linguists, UK)
Kuwait

 
 

1. There was a misunderstanding that was cleared following the correspondence with Mr. Wilmsen. When Mrs. Qamar Abdu headed the department, we were told that the Professional Certificate is the equivalent of MA or Diploma in Translation and Simultaneous Interpretation Studies, and what I mentioned in Proz.Com reflected this understanding. When Mr. Wilmsen contacted me, I changed it to Professional Certificate the minute he contacted me.

2. The Alsun-Graduates Union is currently the Translation Association in Egypt (as far as I know from their meetings held yearly during Ramadan).

3. I took part in the final drafting of the Gulf Translators Association Bylaws (with the creator, Mr. Hassan ElAbaddi) when I used to work in Riyadh. I am not sure about their current activities because I left Riyadh more than a year ago, and consequently I do not know the current email address or even if they now have a website, but I will do my best to search for it in the next couple of days, so that you can make sure it exists!!!!.

I admit that I made a mistake by not verifying the MA issue further before posting my resume on Proz or other portals, but I lived in Saudi Arabia for over nine years and that is the belief I had for all of those years.

I have now changed the information on Proz.Com. I have also posted an updated resume with copies of the certificates after scanning them.

I hope to hear from Mr. Gabr ASAP, and I hope this is the beginning of an ever-lasting friendship, and a solid cooperation in the translation field.

Sam Ragab
Cairo, Egypt



I have read four articles by Mr. Gerasimov, published in the Translation Journal, on translation memory tools and marketing of translation services. I find them very interesting and useful for every freelance translator. Please continue publishing similar articles!

I was going to purchase Trados as more and more often it becomes a must when getting projects from foreign companies, but having learned WordFast is just as good, I am considering downloading and learning this tool.

Also, I will probably refuse to do any free test translations in the future.

I was also interested to know that Andrei has bought four databases of translation agencies. This is of special interest for me because I have compiled my own database of translation agencies. It holds 3400+ e-mail addresses and is growing every day. It is available from my portal: http://www.TranslationDirectory.com/jobs.htm.

Serhiy Onoshko
Lviv, Ukraine