Translation news
ISSUE 3
- “Happy to Translate” Logo Launch
- Employee Profile: Mark Buffery
- Language Focus: Japanese
- Glasgow girls in the “Race for Life”
“Happy to Translate” Logo Launch
Lorna Higgins, Account Manager, recently attended the launch of the official “Happy to Translate” logo at The Hub, Edinburgh.
Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm launching the “Happy
to Translate” Logo
This translation and interpreting programme developed by three Scottish housing associations to better integrate Scotland’s Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities has now received government backing.The “Happy to Translate” logo symbolises successful communication between two people who do not share a common language. The initiative is being developed to help improve the quality of life of people in Scotland who speak or read little or no English or who use a non-verbal language. As launch chair, Prof. Geoff Palmer O.B.E, said: “No Communication…No Information…No Service.”
The “Happy to Translate” Logo Initiative, devised by Trust, Hanover (Scotland) and Bield Housing Associations, has also been praised by Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm for promoting access to information for Scottish residents for whom English is not a first language. Mr Chisholm said: 'In order to build a Scotland that is fair and just we must ensure that everyone has equal access to our public services, information and resources.'
All programme members will display the “Happy to Translate” logo to show that they provide language assistance to BME communities. In addition to the three founder associations, the City of Edinburgh Council, Lothian & Borders Police, the Moray Council and NHS Lothian are the first organisations to commit to piloting the Logo commencing in 2005. More pilot organisations from throughout Scotland will be announced over the coming 18 months.
The logo compliments the statutory obligations of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 to tackle “institutional racism” within organisations in the UK. Institutional racism is the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin. It may be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnic people. This includes failure to provide language and communication assistance.
The design of the “Happy to Translate” logo was the result of extensive consultation last year in 8 languages with BME communities, support staff and translating and interpreting specialists throughout Scotland. The programme has been supported by funding from the Scottish Executive and Communities Scotland - for more information go to www.happytotranslate.com.
Employee Profile
Mark Buffery, Translation Account Manager, Manchester
Mark joined Roevin in May 2004, where he deals with a wide variety of clients. During his time at Roevin, Mark has contributed to the smooth running of the office with his knowledge of different languages, such as French, Spanish and Japanese.
As an experienced translator, Mark is ideally placed to give clients the advice they need to make their multilanguage projects a success.
After graduating from the University of Wales, Cardiff, where he spent his year abroad studying and working in Nantes, Mark went on to complete an MA in Translation at the University of Salford. He subsequently worked as a translator at an agency, where he translated documentation relating to the automotive sector (Renault and Peugeot) as well as other technical manuals and support information.
Mark is currently learning the basics of Sign Language and is starting a British Sign Language College evening course in September. He also intends to develop his knowledge of the Japanese language gained while he was at University.
There
are two basic types of characters in Japanese; Kanji (where symbols
are derived from Chinese characters) and Kana (a syllabary system,
meaning each symbol represents a spoken syllable). Kana is necessary
to differentiate Japanese grammar from Chinese as the verbs have
different endings for tense, mood and so on. Chinese characters
have inherent visual meaning: the Japanese syllabary is basically
a representation of sounds.
Typically a verb, when written, consists of a Chinese character
for the basic meaning followed by one or two Japanese syllabary
letters to provide the tense, mood etc. Verbs generally come at
the end of sentences, negatives at the end of verbs.
Unlike most western languages, Japanese has an extensive grammatical system to express politeness and formality. One form of a verb is used when I do something, another when you do something and yet another when someone else does something.
The forms are determined by whether or not the person is above, below or equal to another in the social hierarchy they are involved in. For example, a student will always use upward respect language to and about a teacher and the teacher will use downward respect language to and about the student.
More recently though, it has been reported that the use of polite forms has become rarer. Youngsters employ politeness to indicate a lack of familiarity and as the relationship becomes more intimate, they speak more frankly. This often occurs regardless of age, social class, or gender. This trend has been met with disapproval from the older generations.
Roevin provides high quality translation, desktop publishing and interpreting services in the Japanese language. Please click here for a free quotation.
Glasgow Girls in the “Race for Life”
Sunday June 5 2005 dawned grey and cold in Glasgow but the sluggish Sunday pace of the city was interrupted by 10,000 eager ladies and many more supporters converging on Glasgow Green for the Race for Life.
The Race for Life is Cancer Research UK’s biggest women-only
fundraising event. After weeks of gruelling training, the girls
took to the course with gusto and all finished in decent times.
Through their combined efforts, Roz, Sam and Lorna managed to raise
£779.00 for Cancer Research UK. Well done ladies!
Sam, Roz and Lorna took part in the Race for Life on 5 June 2005
Press Releases
- ATC Annual Conference
- New London office opens
- Finmeccanica’s 2006 Convention
- Interpreters World Assembly
- Language Trends
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