“la parole exportée”

The weird heading is my translation of the title of a post from this French book review blog, ‘La République des Lettres’. An ad was posted by ANPE, the French Employment Agency: someone was offering a live-in position to a translator who would translate (and type) a novel from French into Arabic, while doing the usual tasks required of an au pair: shopping, cooking, cleaning and ironing. The successful applicant would receive the same hourly wage as a cleaning lady, and all expenses (meals, accommodation and laundry) would be taken from the salary.

A large number of variously ironical or inspired or funny comments was posted, and it wasn’t until the chairman of ATLF, the French Literary Translators’ Association, had written officially to ANPE, arguing that the ad was debasing for literary translators, that it was withdrawn.

The comments were strangely diverse, ranging from accusations of slavery to jokes, short comments, long flowery speeches. One especially caught my attention. The commenter was asking ATLF to advocate higher fees for literary translators. Literary translation is notoriously underpaid, given the requirements in terms of talent and time.

I can’t help wondering, why would someone post this kind of ad? Translating any literary genre into Arabic must be quite difficult, and it was the fact that an intellectual occupation should be paid the same (minimum) rate as cleaning and ironing, that generated the outcry, but also a strange feeling. Was it sheer naiveté, or as one of the commenter suggested, slavery? Or someone trying to get cheap labor by taking advantage of someone in difficult circumstances? In any case, it didn’t look good.

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I have submitted a story to the From Our Lips to Your Ears project.

If it doesn’t get published, I’ll post it here.

If you are an interpreter, you can tell your story. See all the details below (as provided by From Our Lips, the deadline is now February 2008):

—————————————————————————————————-

***CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS***

July 18, 2007

Dear Interpreter,

What an important job you do each day, and what fascinating tales you must have to tell about the people you’ve encountered, the conversations you’ve interpreted, and most importantly, the lives you’ve touched.

Now, you have the perfect opportunity to share these stories in an enduring publication, so that others may read them for years to come. The only question is this: which of the many stories you’ve saved up over the years will you decide to share with the world?

The FAQ and Guidelines at the official website, www.fromourlips.com, will help you choose, and will also show you how to ensure the best chance of publication in an exciting new book that is all about you and your important work:

From Our Lips to Your Ears: How Interpreters are Changing the World

The project website will provide you with all of the information you need. Here are some of the basics:

· Interpreters working in all settings are encouraged to submit stories.

· Stories should aim to provide readers with a greater understanding of the importance of interpreters’ work

· Submissions are accepted online, via email and via postal mail, starting on July 18, 2007.

· The final deadline for submissions is December 3, 2007.

If you have questions after reviewing the information on the website, feel free to contact me, and I will be happy to attend to your concerns. As additional questions from potential contributors are received, the FAQ, Guidelines and related materials will also be updated accordingly.

It is both an honor and a pleasure to be working on this exciting project, in the hopes that it will help bring greater recognition to interpreters everywhere.

Respectfully,

Nataly Kelly, Editor

From Our Lips to Your Ears

—————————————————————————————————-

***PRESS RELEASE***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Language Interpreters to be Featured in New Book

July 18, 2007 — Nashua, N.H. — The publication of a new book that will showcase interpreters and their contributions to society was announced today. From Our Lips to Your Ears: How Interpreters are Changing the World marks the first published compendium of stories about this unique and complex profession from the perspective of interpreters themselves.

“Millions of people throughout the world communicate each day without sharing a common language,” explained Nataly Kelly, editor of the publication, “This book shines a light on the unsung heroes that enable much of this communication to take place.”

The book will include personal anecdotes from interpreters working in an array of settings, Kelly said. “Interpreters are out there each day, helping deliver babies, interpreting witness testimony, rendering the words of foreign diplomats, and assisting consumers who wish to purchase goods and services.”

The stories in the collection will cover a range of topics of interest to the general public, Kelly pointed out. “This book shows how interpreters are helping meet a basic human need— the need to communicate with others.”

More information about the book is available at http://www.fromourlips.com.

The web site also provides detailed information for interpreters who would like to share their stories for possible publication in the book.

Contact:

Nataly Kelly, 603/891-1101
Fax: 877/572-0779
Email: editor@fromourlips.com
http://www.fromourlips.com

I’ve just found this vocabulary game. Please try it. It’s interesting and there is no money involved!

For each word you get right, FreeRice donates 10 grains of rice through the United Nations to help end world hunger.

http://www.freerice.com/

Up at 6.30am
In order to leave the house before 7am
In order to get to Paris on time (9am).
Traffic unpredictable.
They said on the car radio
That the strike was off,
But train passengers were still stranded,
My line hadn’t run for 9 days,
You don’t know what and whom to believe…
Parked my car under the Louvre,
A convenient car park, very central,
As you come out you see the Pyramid,
The Carrousel Arch of Triumph,
The Eiffel Tower in the distance
All peaceful and quiet
And only 10 mins’ walk from this conference
Arrived at 8am,
Had breakfast in a cafe,
[Worked]
Got back to my car around 7pm,
Glowing Pyramid,
Eiffel Tower scintillating in the dark
Had to pay a whopping fee (33 euros!!!) to retrieve the car,
Then a 2-hour drive home
(There must have been something at Parc des Princes,
Police everywhere.)
Finally got home around 9pm.

It’s been a long and tiring day.
But ‘tomorrow is another day…’