Joint Winner - Excellence Awards 2007

Shaperai Jallya

Professional Interpreter in Dari and Paraprofessional Farsi Interpreter (NAATI)

Court proceedings in August and September 2006 in the Parramatta District Court on domestic violence with mental health issues for an accused charged with attempted murder; who had been held in custody for 2 years

• Interpreted meetings with Counsel, and in the courtroom under challenging emotional and physical conditions
• Had to make the traumatized client understand the interpreter’s role as an impartial facilitator while gaining his trust
• Required solid knowledge of the Australian justice system and terminology, as well as medical terminology relating to mental health

Jury comments

• There were multiple layers of difficulties in a high pressure court environment in a linguistically challenging mental health setting
• An ethically and emotionally difficult situation was handled with good understanding and interpersonal skills
• The entrant performed at higher levels than others when placed in similarly challenging conditions
• Excellent role model for the day-to-day work of many Australian interpreters

Joint Winner - Excellence Awards 2007

JC Lloyd-Southwell

Conference Interpreter Senior Spanish and English and other languages (NAATI)

Court and Conference Interpreting at the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, United Nations, The Hague

• Worked in June and August 2006 at a multiple-accused war crimes trial
• Preparation included military terminology to geo-political understanding
• High pressure situation in simultaneous interpreting
• Interpretation was used as the official transcript

Jury comments

• Extremely high complexity of issues and levels of pressure
• A highly charged war crimes environment in the international spotlight
• Linguistically demanding simultaneous interpretation
• Maintains extremely high standards expected at this level
• A sudden death scenario with no margin for error but supported by the resources of a high-profile international body
• Best practice exemplified

Runner Up – Excellence Awards 2007

Victor Xu

Professional Mandarin Interpreter

World Wide Project Management Services project for the China Australia Governance Program – interpreting for training of Chinese government officials in Australia

• Income Modelling and Forecasting
• Aims to improve awareness of relevant Australian and Chinese experience to effectively address income distribution issues in China
• Ten day program with range of activities and presentations
• Extra curricular work done to assist in their familiarity with Australian culture and way of life

Jury comments

• Well presented submission which addressed the vital ingredients for successful interpretation from preparation of subject matter and specialist financial and taxation terminology to describing outcomes
• Highly competent interpreting performance enhanced by excellent interpersonal skills as evidenced by impressive client references
• This assignment exemplifies best practice at work, in other words this is a professional interpreter in action

Winner – Excellence Awards 2007

Marc Orlando

Professional English into French Translator (NAATI)

“War Zone – A Reporter’s Story” – translation of an 11,000 word magazine feature article by NZ journalist Jon Stephenson – from English to French

• This feature about the situation in Iraq following the collapse of the Saddam Hussein regime was published in Metro Magazine in 2005. It contained a poem and quotes from locals from different backgrounds
• The French translation needed to be of a high standard because it was being entered for a French  international journalism award, where it would be competing with articles originally written in French
• The challenge was to render the register, mood and tone of the original to convey a range of emotions

Jury comments

• The impression relayed to the reader is the same as in the source language; the translator had the necessary background knowledge, linguistic knowledge and sensitivity to do full justice to the English article
• Confronting nature of the content
• Complexity of mixed genres (poetry and reportage) and register (emotionally charged discourse)
• Independent imprimatur of winning the 2006 International Prize for War Correspondents of Bayeux (France) – incontrovertible proof of the high quality of the translation which here functioned as an ‘original’

Highly Commended - Excellence Awards 2007

Merril M Clayton

Professional German – English Translator (NAATI)

Translation of a series of complex medical documents for Centrelink from German for assessment of pension and disability entitlement claims

• Accuracy and accessibility of translations crucial to ensure the fair assessment of claims by pension applicants under the Social Security Agreements between Australia and Austria and Germany
• Specialist knowledge and vocabulary and constant updating across all fields of medicine
• Huge range of source materials from individual doctors, specialists, laboratories, government departments and patients
• Source materials difficult to read - doctor’s handwriting, complex layouts

Jury and reviewer comments

• Represents a complex body of work rather than a discrete piece demonstrating mastery of medical terminology and research
• Accuracy of translation imperative due to repercussions of inaccurate translation
•  Representative of work done in Australian government sector

Highly Commended - Excellence Awards 2007

Sue Jollow

Professional Chinese into English Translator (NAATI)

Three insurance policy documents relating to a windpower project in Taiwan in Chinese required in a short timeline

• Translation was done for an Australian partner to ascertain what extent of insurance cover a Taiwanese company had in place in connection with a wind power facilities project worth millions of dollars
• Apart from syntax and lexical challenges, the translator had to take into account that the Chinese and the English used in the Taiwanese jurisdiction would not necessarily reflect mainland or Australian settings
• The translator had to deal with the syntax in both languages: i.e. accurately interpret the original, and then convey the same message

Jury and reviewer comments

• Complex text requiring fairly detailed familiarity with law, power generation and construction
• Great deal of background research, very thorough preparation and attention to detail
• Translation reads like an insurance original document

Winner - Excellence Awards 2007

SBS Subtitling Unit

Subtitling of all Genres - Body of work  since November 2005

• From old favourites like Inspector Rex and The Eagle to feature films to current affairs, music clips, etc
• Provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians while also preserving the linguistic and cultural integrity of the program
• Early crucial decision to subtitle rather than purchase dubbed materials like some large cultures (USA, China for example)
• Collaboration between subtitler and editor is a rare occurrence in the media translation industry

Jury comments

• Particularly high quality, professional presentation
• Work as helped lead to great acceptance of foreign language programming
• Contribution to multicultural society
• Translators are carefully selected, trained and work closely with editors, including in rare languages

Runner Up - Excellence Awards 2007

National Auslan Interpreter Booking and Payment Service (NABS)

Interpreter Training Resources

• Production of 3 interactive DVDs for training interpreters in medical/health settings, including on Women’s Health, Mental Health and Anatomy
• The first training resources for Auslan interpreters dedicated to medical and health interpreting
• The first that can be used interactively with a web site environment
   (NABS web site)
• Diploma of Interpreting in flexible delivery mode developed specifically to fledgling interpreters living in rural and remote areas of Australia

Jury comments

• Remote access and interpreters encouraged to submit work to NABS for feedback

• Diploma of Interpreting in flexible delivery mode developed and being run with students in 4 states

• Applicability not only to AUSLAN interpreters but also spoken languages

Highly Commended - Excellence Awards 2007

NSW Multicultural Health Communication Services (NSW MHCS) together with I & G Media

Can Creativity Be Translated – towards Good Practice in Translating Radio Commercials – The Emphysema Test

• Development and production of Guidelines to ensure Script Translations match the Original Creative Intent
• Development of a planning process including translating, checking, auditioning talent, dissemination
• Contribution to a large increase in calls to Quitline
• Benchmark for government departments in education, research, use of plain English and engagement with community organizations

Jury comments

• Brought creative and translation processes together
• Good responses to campaign
• Guidelines could serve as role model for other sectors

NSW State Winner – Excellence Awards 2007

Terry Chesher

Development of Professional Development Program for AUSIT NSW

• Developed a range of resources and also pioneered the recording of sessions
• Covered a range of topics
• Dealt with topics requested by members
• Engaged presenters and convened workshops
• Marketing of DVDs to other Branches, educators, employers and researchers for teaching and discussion purposes, as well as to individual practitioners

Jury comments

• Unique opportunity for many practitioners to undertake regular PD
• Covered a range of topics requested by members
• Innovative DVD with international application
• Recognised for its usefulness