13/01/2009 by stefi.

Hello,

I just want to write a few words about BS EN 15038:2006, the European Standard for Translation Services.
On 13th April 2006 the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) approved the European standard EN 15038:2006, known as BS EN 15038:2006 in the UK.
BS EN 15038:2006 is a “European standard which sets out the requirements for the provision of quality services by translation service providers (TSPs), or translation companies. It describes the processes involved in providing a translation service through commissioning, translation, review, project management and quality control, to delivery.”
Williams Language Solutions Ltd has always concentrated on providing translations and other language services of the highest quality (training, tuition, and terminology search, creation of glossaries for clients), and already complies with the major aspects of this standard, and now committed to obtain the certification by 2010. This will provide our clients with the confidence of knowing that we comply in all respects with the highest quality standards in the translation industry,and will facilitate business with ISO certified companies.
Standards are copyright, and therefore we are unable to provide you with a copy, however, many information can be found on the net.
We would like to hear from you: your experience, your views as a freelance translator, as a translation client, as a TSP. What - in your views - are the main aspects of this standard? Does a certification / accreditation by a linguist association already provide compliance with major aspects?

Stefania

Posted in Translations | 3 Comments »

04/01/2009 by stefi.

What makes a good translator?

Preparation, patience and determination are essential qualities in any sectors and are fundamental for a translator.

Acquiring competence
You cannot turn yourself into a translator in a matter of days; even if you possess a good knowledge of foreign languages (source languages) and a perfect competence in your mother tongue (target language) - you need to be prepared in the fields of your specialisation as well as being aware of the strategies behind each translation. For this reason it is important that a translator holds also a university degree (see the indications of the Directorate-General for Translation of the European Commission http://ec.europa.eu//dgs/translation/workingwithus/recruitment/translator_profile_en.htm).

Patience
A good translator never stops learning, and continues to work patiently, day after day; each translation represents a chance to deepen your knowledge and a new challenge to face. With patience.

Determination
This is a fundamental skill: the capacity not to give up when faced by the difficulties and perils which each text inevitably brings.

The job of a translator is like a true marathon, a permanent challenge. Stefania Williams of Williams Language Solutions took this metaphor literally, taking part and successfully completing the Lausanne Marathon 2008 with the time of 4h 20min. A fantastic achievement.

Congratulations!

By Morena Nannetti
(www.traduzionitaliano.eu)

Morena Nannetti is a freelance translator from English, German and French into Italian. For her the best way to maintain a keen language sense is… to keep studying literature. This makes you aware that in a written text even a comma can make a great difference.

Download the video of Stefania crossing the finishing line at http://www.translate-it.org/english/academy.html

Stefania competed in the Lausanne Marathon 2008 (www.lausanne-marathon.ch) and she hopes to finish under 4 hours at the Edinburgh marathon on 31st May 2009. Watch this space!

For the Directory of Marathon races worldwide, visit http://www.42k195.com/ or http://www.marathon-world.com/index.php

Posted in language services, North East News and Events, Traduzioni, Holidays, Translations | No Comments »