XIII International Translation and Interpretation Conference San Jerónimo 2009

This past November, Skala translators attended the third annual San Jerónimo Conference. It took place in Guadalajara, Mexico during the Fería Internacional Del Libro (FIL), the largest book fair in the Spanish-speaking world (second largest in the world). Both the FIL and the San Jerónimo Conference offer incomparable resources for professionals, students and teachers, and provide a forum for professional advancement and enrichment for both translators and interpreters.

Skala International, being based in Guadalajara, was lucky enough not only to attend the conference, but also to take part in the practical workshops and conferences that were held during the two-day conference. We thoroughly enjoyed listening to the range of interesting guest speakers that gave presentations and we took full advantage of the opportunity to introduce Skala and make new contacts within the translation industry.

Various renowned translators and interpreters spoke about their experiences, analyzing ethical, practical and linguistic problems that can arise in their craft. They offered their points of view and specialized knowledge with regards to translation theory and practice. This year’s theme was “Translation: The Borderline between Cultures,” and the speakers gave presentations about both the physical and symbolic border that can be seen from the perspective of translation and interpretation. Some of the topics discussed were: translation and intercultural negotiation; cultural and linguistic identity; translation and immigration; contact between languages and linguistic interference; bilingualism and translation; Spanglish; as well as more general themes such as translator training, translation tools, translation and interpretation in specific fields.

This event offered our translators a wealth of unparalleled advice and tips that we will endeavor to put into practice in our company’s policies and code of ethics. We look forward to next year’s San Jerónimo Conference!

Hannah Breckner, Translator (Spanish, English)

Saltana: Revista de literatura y traducción

http://www.saltana.org/entrada.html

Navegando por internet encontré esta página muy interesante para todos los traductores, pero en especial para los que les interesa o se dedican a la traducción en el campo literario. Saltana es una publicación electrónica en donde encontrarán, en palabras textuales en la introducción a la revista: “poesía, narrativa y ensayo de todas las épocas y tradiciones nacionales en edición bilingüe o multilingüe, de cualquier lengua al castellano, el catalán, el vasco, el gallego y el portugués, o viceversa. Las traducciones incluyen tanto versiones modernas como versiones antiguas”.

Es muy interesante el enfoque que tiene, en donde se resalta la trascendencia del profesional de la traducción como “creador y presenta el arte de la traducción en acto, como procedimiento transitorio y provisional por el que los textos se transforman y pasan no sólo de una lengua a otra, sino de una literatura y una cultura a otra”.

Esperando sea de su agrado y les sea útil el vínculo, me despido y les deseo un buen inicio de semana.

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While surfing the web, I came across this page, something of great interest for all translators, but in particular, for those who are interested in or work in the area of literary translation. Saltana is an electronic publication in which you will find, in the words of the journal’s introduction, “poetry, fiction and essays from all periods of history and national traditions, in bilingual or multilingual editions, from any language into Spanish, Catalan, Basque, Galician and Portuguese or vice versa. The translations range across modern and ancient versions.”

Its focus is quite interesting, as one which stresses the translator’s transcendence as a “creator by showing the art of translation in action: a transitional, provisory process through which texts are transformed and turned not just from one language to another but from one literature and one culture to another.”

I hope you find this link enjoyable and useful, and I wish you all a great start to the work week!

Sandra Riveros Lara, M.A. Translation and Interpretation, Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara

Skala, Onward and Upward!

We are proud to launch Skala’s Translation Blog. Check back often for thoughtful analysis and helpful tools and resources for translators, interpreters and language professionals.

Skala’s new website is currently under construction.  Keep checking for updates!