Looking through the ITI Bulletin May-June 2021, in an article on revision and fine-tuning texts, I came across the term “trans-editors”. Frankly, this was completely new to me.

Polig makes the point that translating press releases poses particular challenges and demands skills that go “beyond accuracy and completeness of information”. My question is: “Does it?”

I was and still am delighted to have been the “midwife”, bringing out into the light of day the English version of this landmark literary work of the mid-twentieth century and for Donald O. White to get the recognition he deserves. And to all who have not read it, I can only say: You really should!

Brian Mossop in his coursebook Revising and Editing for Translators (in the Translation Practices Explained coursebook series) devotes chapter 7 to the topic “Checking for Consistency”. That seems fair enough, and not at all unexpected. But if you look more closely, you see that section 7.3 is called: “Over-consistency”. This I found intriguing.

Mokusatsu, v. take no notice of; treat (anything) with silent contempt; ignore [by keeping silence]; remain in a wise and masterly inactivity. – Kenkyusha’s New Japanese – English Dictionary, p. 1129.

The University of Lleida shines the light on the activities that go on behind the scenes. Volume 1 contains contributions and interviews on approaches and techniques adopted by translation professionals, as well as insights from teachers and students of translation.

So what’s the most interesting thing you’ve ever translated? – A question that I get asked from time to time, and I assume you have been caught in that situation too.

Technical and business translators often feel over-worked and under-paid. I wonder if they realize that our colleagues who are translating literature and who we all look up to, and envy, are actually in a much worse position.

Just as CAT became the new translation practice some 25 years ago, we are now quickly transitioning into PEMT, post-editing of machine translation output.

I am finding it hard to believe myself, but with my birthday this week it suddenly dawned on me: I have actually spent 50 years in translation. That’s probably more than most.