ATA 52nd Annual Conference

01/16/2012 by ITC Global Translations

by Celine Imbaud

The translation industry is mostly made up of individual freelancers working from their home offices. It is a solitary pursuit, which provides the essential focus and concentration for such a task. However the translation industry is an integrated network of such individuals, and that unity was displayed very well at the American Translators’ Association Annual Conference.

This October, many of the industry’s professionals came together at the Marriott Copley Place in Boston MA, for four days of informative sessions, networking and language-related fun. Knowledgeable speakers presented sessions on topics specific to different language pairs and subject specialisms. There were also tutorials on the various tools used by professionals in this industry, from translation memory software to the up-and-coming cloud-based systems.

Networking events are always a great opportunity to catch up with other translators and meet new contacts. This is especially great for freelancers who do not have the benefit of regular interaction with office colleagues. It also gives agencies the chance to meet new qualified freelance translators to add to their networks, and freelancers can meet new clients. The Job Marketplace event at the conference provided a specific opportunity for this type of networking. Of course, it wasn’t all work and no play. There was an After Hours Café with an open mic for poetry reading, a Conference Dance, and even a yoga and dance exercise session to start the mornings energized.

People get into the translation industry because they are passionate about language. Since language goes hand in hand with culture, linguists tend to be globally-minded and are therefore eager to exchange with their colleagues from across the world. This kind of exchange helps us to learn more and fuels the passion.