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interaktivSummer 2013In this issue EditorialA Word from the Administrator(Translation) Notes from the HomelandGLD Social Networking EventGLD Sessions at the 2013 ATA 54th Annual ConferencePolnische und deutsche Literaturübersetzer im GesprächFrom Freelancer to Factory GirlTranslator in Profile: Karen LeubeTranslator on Tour: ASTTI Financial Translation Summer SchoolDictionary Review: Siemens El. Eng., Power Eng., & AutomationCalendar of Events 2013Newsletter of the German Language Division ofthe American Translators Association2345681013141518
interaktivinteraktiv2EditorialDear Readers,Did anyone else not know that San Antoniowas the seventh most populous city in theUnited States? I sure didn’t. And someoneforgot to mention that to the airlines. Theycertainly don’t make it easy to get to theTexan metropolis from Germany.Matt BairdChief EditorMatt Baird, Bonn, GermanyTel. 49 (0)[email protected] & LayoutKatrin Rippel, Tenino, WATel. ley Scherer, Bowling Green, OHTel. [email protected] Kegel, Bradenton, FLTel. [email protected] Review CoordinatorMichael Engley, Port Charlotte, FLTel. [email protected] website/mailing up/gldlist/GLD Officers:AdministratorEva Stabenow, Nashville, TNTel. t AdministratorMichael Engley, Port Charlotte, FLTel. [email protected] Aldridge, Grand Rapids, MITel. [email protected] 2013This fact was actually a topic at a recentgathering of GLD members in Frankfurt. Karen Leube, who has graciously volunteeredto become the GLD’s new European Coordinator, organized a meeting in late June.Fifteen of us came together to talk aboutbeing an ATA member in Europe. Acting as akind of liaison, Karen will help build a bridgeto our membership in Europe. Sadly, thatbridge doesn’t include non-stop flights fromthe homeland to the home of the Alamo.Building bridges is a thin but noticeablethread running through this issue of interaktiv. Following “A Word from” by GLD Administrator, Eva Stabenow, Karen Leubeoffers a first in a hopefully soon-to-beregular series “(Translation) Notes from theHomeland.” In it she tells us a little aboutthe rather contentiously debated update ofthe Justizvergütungs- und Entschädigungsgesetz in Germany.Like last year, the GLD Conference Primer isyour short catwalk over those unimportantsessions right to the all-important Germansessions slated for the ATA’s 54th AnnualConference in San Antonio.The Goethe Institute Poland’s “Übersetzerim Gespräch” series has been bridging thegap between German and Polish literarytranslators for several years now. Don’tmiss the latest addition, “Stets im Wege,nach Kräften bemüht sich in Luftaufzulösen“ by Andreas Volk. And the GLD‘sown Hillary Fayen Higgins crossed not onebut two bridges, leaving her freelance life inbeautiful Bellingham, Washington, to takean in-house job in bergisch Burghausen onthe banks of the Salzach River.We thought it would be nice for you to getto know the latest addition to the GLDLeadership Council, Karen Leube. Read howthe self-exclaimed extrovert and translator/trainer landed in introversive Aachen.Michael Engley takes us on tour again witha brief review of the ASTTI FinancialTranslation Summer School in Spiez,Switzerland, where the GLD was wellrepresented.This issue’s dictionary review of the EnglishGerman Siemens Dictionary of ElectricalEngineering, Power Engineering andAutomation by David A. Coats is also abridge of sorts, as it builds upon his 2011review of the Deutsch-Englisch companionissue, published in the Summer 2011 issueof interaktiv . Both are standard issue fortechnical translators working in these fields.At the end of our Summer 2013 interaktivbridge you’ll find, as always, a calendar ofevents.Happy reading!Mit besten Grüßen aus BonnMatt BairdPlease note:ATA has discontinued mailing hard copies of division newsletters. TheBoard has approved this change effective April 19, 2012. For moreinformation, visit the GLD website.
interaktivA Word From the AdministratorDear GLD Members,Although it seems like 2013 has only justbegun, summer is already well underway andthe GLD, like other divisions, is preparing forthe 54th Annual ATA Conference in SanAntonio, Texas. I hope you're already makingplans to join us this November whilethoroughly enjoying your summer!division, you may now contact her [email protected] for an initialbit of guidance. Thank you, Abigail! (Anddon’t forget to join our mailing list! Seepage 12 for details).Since fully 9% of our members live in Germany and surrounding countries, KarenLeube has been named "European Coordinator" and also made part of the GLDLeadership Council. Karen has already orWith Thomas Mann III lined up as our guestganized a very productive meeting withspeaker on legal topics not to mention manymembers in Germany and GLD Assistantexciting sessions, the conference should onceAdministrator Michael Engley, who was inagain be very much worth attending. OurEurope in July toannual meeting isattend the ASTTIslated as the finalSummerSchool“Also, since fully 10 % of oursession on Thursday(checkouthisreafternoon.Please members live in Germany andview on page 14).make time to attend – surrounding countries, KarenI'd also like to thankit's the one time of the Leube has been namedBirgitVoesseleryear we can all"European Coordinator" and also Brehmer and ElkeconveneandMailand for helpingdeliberate on how to made part of the GLD Leadershipto make this firstmake the most of our Council.”overseas meetingdivision. Our socialpossible. Having anetworking event willpoint of contact on the ground in Germanytake place a little later that evening, giving uswill help to reinforce our – by nature –a chance to relax and enjoy the San Antoniotransatlantic community of translators andweather while networking, sipping Margaritasinterpreters. Karen has kindly contributedand nibbling on – what else? – Tex-Mex food.the first in our “(Translation) Notes fromRemember to sign up early to secure yourthe Homeland” series and is also ourspot!Translator in Profile in this issue.In other, no-less-exciting news, we've createdtwo new positions – and filled them withwonderfully capable volunteers – to provideGLD members with some new services andpoints of contact.Firstly, Abigail Dahlberg has kindly agreed tobe our New Member Coordinator. If you arenew to the profession and/or to theThat's all for now – I'm looking forward toseeing "all y'all" in Texas!Wishing everyone a wonderful summer,Eva StabenowGLD AdministratorEva V. Stabenow3
interaktivinteraktiv4Karen Leube grew up inLancaster County,Pennsylvania. She earnedBachelor’s and Master’sdegrees in German inthe United States andobtained a Ph.D. inEnglish and German as aForeign Language (DaF)from the University ofHeidelberg. She taughttranslation at theuniversities of Heidelbergand Mainz(Germersheim) and nowworks as a freelancetranslator and seminarfacilitator from her officein Aachen.“For the latesttranslation-relatednews from Germany, I highly recommend the websiteof the Bundesverband der Dolmetscher undÜbersetzer (BDÜ) .Click on “Aktuelles.”Summer 2013(Translation) Notes from the HomelandKaren LeubeThis past year one topic in particular hasprovoked discussion, debate and dissentbehind the scenes on the BDÜ’s memberplatform “MeinBDÜ” and in various translators’ newsgroups in Germany: the updatingof the “JVEG” (Justizvergütungs- undEntschädigungsgesetz). The most relevantchanges to the act involved raising the lineprices for translation and hourly rate forcourt interpretation (go to ADÜ-Nord’s Infoblatt newsletter for an overview of thechanges).While the Bundestag and, later, the Bundesrat adopted the changes, to take effect August 1, 2013, the run-up to the decision revealed Germany’s relatively fractured translation association landscape. BDÜ, the largest association, is divided into 12 state chapters plus a separate chapter for conferenceinterpreters (VKD). Several parallel associations exist (ADÜ-Nord and ATICOM in northwestern Germany, Verein öffentlichbestellter und allgemein beeidigter Dolmetscher und Übersetzer Bayern e.V.(VbDÜ) in Bavaria, and the association ofliterature translators (VdÜ), to name just afew). Attempts were made to unite the associations’ efforts to update the JVEG withthe foundation of the “Berliner Kreis,” whoseactivities included a petition calling for policymakers to adopt the act and retain elements of the current act such as a separateline price for especially difficult translationsof EUR 4.00/line.In the end, the line prices and interpretingrates have been raised, albeit with the elimination of the EUR 4.00/line category. Whatmany actually interpret as the step backwardhere has been the failure to bring about unity among the various associations – a sentiment alluded to in the Infoblatt article. Andin an editorial in BDÜ’s MDÜ member magazine, one member described the debate taking place in translator forums as reminiscentof the Polanski film God of Carnage. WithGermany hosting the FIT conference in 2014,this author feels the array of German translators and interpreters missed its opportunityto model the battle cry: “Translators of theworld, unite!”For the latest translation-related news fromGermany, I highly recommend the website ofthe Bundesverband der Dolmetscher undÜbersetzer (BDÜ) . Click on “Aktuelles.”Proofreading Collaboration between GLD & UNIVERSITAS AustriaA partnership of sorts is in the works with our friends at UNIVERSITAS Austria. Togetherthe two organizations have put together a “proofreading pool” – a list of translators onboth sides of the Atlantic who may be looking for a proofreader to collaborate with ontranslation projects.Both organizations will swap lists of interested members and provide the list to theirmembership upon request. The translators themselves can take it from there!If you would like to be added to the list, please contact the GLD Administrator,Eva Stabenow.Learn more about UNIVERSITAS Austria here: www.universitas.org
interaktivThe German Language Divisionof the American Translators Associationcordially invites you to join us for a social networking eventWhen:Thursday, November 7, 20137 pm to 9 pmWhere:“Cielo Vista”, 2nd Floor,245 E. Commerce, Suite 300San Antonio, 78205Tex-mex appetizer buffet reception (1 drink included) in a beautiful private roomwith floor to ceiling windows that overlook the Courtyard and Riverwalk and Riverwalk patio. Come hava a margarita and network with your colleagues!Fee: 44RSVP:Reserve with Eva Stabenow (Tel. 615-883-6608 /[email protected]) orMichael Engley (Tel. 941-875-6090 / [email protected])Conference Hotel is here5
interaktivinteraktiv6ATA Annual Conference Primer –GLD Sessions at the ATA 54th Annual ConferenceGerman Language Division Annual Meetingchaired by Eva Stabenow(Thursday, 5:00pm-5:30pm)The German Language Division Annual Meeting offers division members a chance to meet and network with other German translators and interpreters. Participants will review the division's activities during the past year and plan for 2014. All division members are encouraged to attend andnonmembers are invited to come learn more about the division.G-1Austriacisms for Beginners, Part IIJudy Jenner and Dagmar Jenner(Saturday, 8:30am-9:30am; Intermediate; Presented in: German)The speakers will address the lexical challenges translators and interpreters might encounter whendealing with Austriacisms. Expect unusual-sounding terms that are an inherent part of life in Austria, including Spital, Bildungskarenz, Deckelung, Abfertigung, and Partezettel. Attendance at"Austriacisms for Beginners, Part I" is not required.G-2Managing German or American Lawyer Expectations on Legal TranslationsThomas Mann(Saturday, 10:00am-11:00am; All Levels; Presented in: English)This session is intended to help German-language legal translators manage the expectations oftheir clients (American or German lawyers) in a transactional or litigation context. What are theresponsibilities of the translator and the lawyer in situations where the law governing the sourcedocument needs to be explained to the client? The speaker will examine the challenges of terminological incongruency between the German and the U.S. legal concepts, as well as some of the morenasty features of traditional legal writing (both in Germany and the U.S.). Tips on how to meetthese challenges will also be given.Summer 2013
interaktivG-3New International Financial Reporting Standards 2013:Guidance for German English TranslatorsRobin Bonthrone(Saturday, 11:30am-12:30pm; Advanced; Presented in: English)2013 has seen a number of significant additions to the International Financial Reporting Standards(IFRSs), in particular the new IFRSs 10, 11, 12, and 13 following their endorsement by the EuropeanUnion. Consequently, translators are now faced with a wealth of new terminology, both in Englishand German, in the areas covered by the new standards (e.g., accounting for joint ventures and fairvalue measurement). This session will focus on the new accounting concepts and terminology andwhat German English translators need to know.G-4Deconstructing WillieRuth Boggs and Michael Magee(Saturday, 2:30pm-3:30pm; All Levels; Presented in: English and German)The speaker will focus on her years of experience translating the "road stories" written by Willie Nelson's daughter, which have been published on Nelson's website. Attendees will be invited to participate in translating samples from the blog.View the Preliminary Program onlineRoommate FinderUse the ATA Roommate Blog to locate apotential roommate during your stay inSan Antonio. You may also consider contacting a local group or your fellow ATADivision members to find a roommate.ataroommate-sanantonio.blogspot.com7
interaktivinteraktiv8“Wieder anderesind von einer fremden Kulturdermaßenfasziniert, dass sieim wahrsten Sinnedes Wortes übersetzen, sprich überlaufen, in der fremden Kultur sich eineneue Heimaterrichten und daseigene Leben zueiner einzigenÜbersetzung erklären.”Summer 2013„Stets im Wege, nach Kräften bemüht sich in Luft aufzulösen“ – polnische und deutsche Literaturübersetzer imGesprächText: Andreas Volk, lebt als freier Übersetzer in WienHätte Wisława Szymborskas schwedischerÜbersetzer nicht Anders Bodegård geheißen,hätte die polnische Dichterin dann auch denNobelpreis für Literatur erhalten? Wohlkaum – dies behaupten zumindest einigeKenner, die es eigentlich wissen müssten.Die Rolle der Übersetzer bei der Wahl derSchwedischen Akademie kann gar nicht hochgenug veranschlagt werden.Das Goethe-Institut hat diesem bedeutsamen Umstand in seiner Reihe „Übersetzerim Gespräch“ Rechnung getragen und Vertreter der Zunft (darunter auch Übersetzermehrerer Nobelpreisträger) zu Wort kommen lassen: In den letzten drei Jahren sindso nach und nach fast vierzig polnische unddeutsche Literaturübersetzer zu s als Kulturmittler und ihrem Verhältnis zu den von ihnen übersetztenAutoren befragt worden.In die gleiche Kerbe schlägt auch diepolnischeÜbersetzerinMałgorzataŁukasiewicz, die zu Recht in Zweifel zieht,dass Günter Grass’ Erfolg in Polen einSelbstläufer war: „Stellen wir uns zumBeispiel vor, Günter Grass [ ] wäreseinerzeit in Polen nicht auf einen Übersetzer wie Sławomir Błaut gestoßen. Wir hättenvielleicht irgendeinen Grass auf Polnisch,aber das wäre vermutlich ein langweiliger,schwerfälliger Grass, nicht einer, der durchsprachlichen Einfallsreichtum fasziniert. Manhätte keine Lust, ihn zu lesen, um seineBücher würde sich kaum jemand scheren.“Die beiden Beispiele zeigen, dass derPersönlichkeit des Übersetzenden eingrößeres Gewicht zukommt als gemeinhinangenommen wird. In der Reihe des GoetheInstituts werden einzelne Artgenossen dieser Spezies porträtiert, die im Allgemeineneher ein Schattendasein fristet. In denGesprächen kommt der Mensch hinter demÜbersetzer zum Vorschein, von dem in allerRegel erwartet wird, dass er vornehm hinterdem Autor zurücktritt, am besten er machtsich gleich ganz unsichtbar. Der idealeÜbersetzer, so ist immer wieder zu hören,müsse so etwas wie ein Medium sein, dessen Existenz im Idealfall vom Leser nicht einmal bemerkt wird, denn die Übersetzungdürfe nicht als eine solche wahrgenommenwerden, heißt es.Der Übersetzer, das unbekannte Wesen, derdemütige Arbeiter im Weinberg der Literatur? Liest man die einzelnen „Gespräche“,wird schnell klar, dass man es mitselbstbewussten Überzeugungstätern zu tunhat, die nicht im Affekt handeln, sondern nurallzu gut wissen, was sie machen. Es sindhäufig Eiferer, die sich auch von geringerWertschätzung und miesen materiellen Bedingungen nicht abschrecken lassen.Viele der Befragten verstehen das Übersetzen als Berufung, andere wie Karl Dedeciusgar als Ehrenamt („übersetzt habe ich fastausschließlich ehrenamtlich“). Manch einerwartet sogar mit seinem eigenen, „privaten“Glaubensbekenntnis auf (Roswitha MatwinBuschmann). Wieder andere sind von einerfremden Kultur dermaßen fasziniert, dass sieim wahrsten Sinne des Wortes über-setzen,sprich überlaufen, in der fremden Kultur sicheine neue Heimat errichten und das eigeneLeben zu einer einzigen Übersetzung (v)erklären (Marlis Lami). Zudem gibt es dieFraktion der verhinderten (Sława Lisiecka)
interaktivoder angehenden Schriftsteller, die zuerstübersetzten und erst später mit demeigenen Schreiben begannen (Jakub Ekier).Die Übersetzerschaft sieht sich eher der Tradition eines Sisyphos denn eines Hieronymusverpflichtet: „Es sind immer wieder andereAutoren, die mich durch irgendetwas begeistern, woraufhin ihr erstes Buch in Polenein spektakulärer Misserfolg wird – und ichmeine Suche von neuem beginne “ (Ryszard Wojnakowski).Die Aussagen der Porträtierten verknüpfensich zu einem Netz von Querverbindungen,Assoziationen, Widersprüchen und Bezügen.Während Ryszard Wojnakowski seine skandinavischen und niederländischen Kollegenbeneidet, die beim Übersetzen aus demDeutschen, aufgrund der Ähnlichkeit derSprachen, nicht einmal ins Schwitzen geraten, kann Sven Sellmer, der auch aus demSanskrit übersetzt, darüber nur schmunzeln.Katarzyna Leszczyńska suchte jahrelang nacheinem polnischen Verleger für HannahArendts Biographie Rahel Varnhagen,Małgorzata Łukasiewicz dagegen gibt sichmit einer Biographie nicht zufrieden, siehätte sich am liebsten mit der Philosophinpersönlich unterhalten. Agnieszka Kowalukerklärt, wieso das Übersetzen nicht als reinesVerlustgeschäft zu betrachten sei und bringtden von Barańczak geprägten Begriff der„Ökonomie der Übersetzung“ ins Spiel,Maciej Ganczar wiederum spricht ganzkonkret von den Schwierigkeiten beimÜbersetzen der inzwischen antiquiertenWirtschaftssprache in Hermann BrochsHave you checked out the GLDwebsite and blog?The GLD entered the world of social mediasome time ago – now it’s time for ourmembers to join in! Future news and articles will be posted on the blog throughoutthe year. That way you receive timely division news. Click below to go to the websiteor subscribe to the RSS feed today!9Dramen. Als fremd an der an sich so vertrauten Kultur, die man ja berufsmäßig zuvermitteln trachtet, empfindet Jacek Burasden preußischen Nationalismus, UrsulaKiermeier hingegen den polnischen Messianismus. Die Aufzählung ließe sich beliebigweiterführen.Auf diese Weise entsteht ein Dialogzwischen den Übersetzern. Der Übersetzerwird nicht nur als sonderbares Einzelwesenans Licht der Öffentlichkeit gezerrt, sondernauch seiner Vereinzelung entrissen, in seinenvielfältigen Varianten und Ausformungengezeigt. Das ist das ganz besondere Verdienst dieser Umfrage. Man sieht diverse,ganz unterschiedliche Sichtweisen undErfahrungen, man entdeckt immer neueAspekte und Facetten des Übersetzerhandwerks, von denen man nicht einmal geahnthat, dass sie existieren.Nur eins würde man dann doch noch gernewissen. Wie hat nun Jacek Buras in ThomasBernhards Theatermacher den dienstäglichen Blutwursttag ins Polnische übersetzt?Welche Lösung hat er nach tagelangemGrübeln gefunden, als er schon kurz davorwar, hinzuschmeißen. Vielleicht lag es jagerade am mangelnden Beharrungsvermögen und Einfallsreichtum des schwedischen Bernhard-Übersetzers, dass das Lebenswerk dieses bedeutenden deutschsprachigen Autors nicht mit dem Literaturnobelpreis gekrönt wurde. Ein interessanterGedanke, der aber dann doch weit übers Zielhinausschießt.Copyright: GoetheInstitut PolenReprinted with kindpermission from theGoethe-Institut Poland.Sie finden die Reihe„Übersetzer imGespräch“ des GoetheInstituts im Internethier: www.goethe.de/uebersetzergespraech
interaktivinteraktiv10Hilary Fayen Higginshas worked as a German English freelance translator for 14years, specializing inmarketing, manufacturing, corporatecommunications,business, and information technology.She has worked inhouse for several German companies, bothin Germany and theU.S. In 2000, shelaunched her freelance business, Higgins German Translations, Inc., which sheofficially reopened inApril. She is relocatingback to WashingtonState in August andcan be reached under: [email protected] Freelancer to Factory Girl: The Professional andPersonal Benefits of Returning to the OfficejHilary Fayen Higginspayment from my clients, the regularIn October of 2011, after working as a U.S.pay-check is nice, and so is the six weeks ofbased freelance German English translatorpaid vacation, performance bonuses, andfor 14 years, I accepted an 18-month conthe other regular perks that come with atract as an in-house translator at the parentfull-time job in Germany. There are, howproduction plant of a large chemical compaever several additional prony in Burghausen, Germafessional benefits that I hadny. I decided to take this“After 14 years of work- not really thought aboutposition for multiple reawhen I decided to return tosons. Though I had a very ing in my isolated homethe “office.”successful business, after office, it has been a nicemany years of freelancing I change to work as partWorking in a Team: Afterfelt the need for a change,ofateam.“14 years of working in mya bit more financial securiisolated home office, it hasty, and a bit of adventure.beenanicechangeto work as part of aMy husband and I also wanted our eightteam. I am one of five translators that theyear-old son to have an international livingchemical plant hired to translate the techexperience and to learn a foreign language.nical documentation involved in a specialSo, my family and I packed up our house andtwo-year project. Three of us are native Engmoved to Germany.lish speakers (two Americans and one Brit)and two are native German speakers. ThisWhen I first started this job, I was asked frehas been invaluable for all of us because thequently why I gave up a successful businessEnglish speakers have been able to consultas a freelancer to work for a company again,with the German speakers concerning sourceor, as I like to paraphrase, why go from free-text comprehension, and the Germanlancer to factory girl? Now that my tenure atspeakers have consulted with the Englishthe plant is coming to an end faster than Ispeakers regarding style and terminologywould like, I have had some time to reflectuse. This type of collaboration has been aon the answer to this question and the benreal confidence booster. When working as aefits of such a career move.freelancer, I would naturally do my best toProfessional BenefitsThe most obvious advantage of the proverbial day job is the greater financial securitythat comes with it. The health insurancehere in Germany is far more extensive thanany coverage I could find or afford as a freelancer in the U.S. I no longer have to worryabout how much a visit to the doctor or aminor medical incident is going to cost, andinstead focus on my health or my family’shealth. Though I never had trouble collectingSummer 2013verify my understanding of the text by consulting colleagues online or leaving comments for my clients, but it is nothing compared to being able to ask my colleaguesimmediately whether I have correctly understood a sentence written in “IngenieurDeutsch.”* It has also led to some lively discussions about translation style and approach (e.g., whether to favor an accurate,yet close-to-the-original style, or accurate,yet easier-to-read style).*Poorly written technical German that can give translators a real headache.
interaktivLearning New Skills: Working in-house hasalso greatly improved my skills withcomputer-assisted translation (CAT) tools. Asa freelancer, I had very little experienceworking with tools such as MultiTerm.Clients usually just send the translationmemory and a glossary, but almost never a“I have since learned the value ofworking with the MultiTerm component of Trados, which enablesyou to select the appropriateterm for a specific context moreaccurately, rather than just usingthe concordance feature in Studio.“MultiTerm database file. However, I havesince learned the value of working with theMultiTerm component of Trados, whichenables you to select the appropriate termfor a specific context more accurately, ratherthan just using the concordance feature inStudio. The particular benefit is that not onlycan you add terms, but also term definitions,categories, and comments on usage. When Ireturn to freelance work, I intend to createmy own MultiTerm database where I can setup client terminology databases, create client glossaries, and use filters for mini databases for individual customers. Most language services providers probably do this,but I think it might be to my benefit on afreelance level as well.Working Onsite: The biggest advantage ofmy job here has been the fact that our officeis located directly in the middle of the production plant. There are American and German engineers working in offices next doorto us, and the production hall is in the building across the street. When we first started,we were given a tour of the various production areas, machines, and equipment, whichhas enabled us to visualize the equipmentdescriptions and instructions we translatemore accurately. When confronted with particularly complex technical texts, we are ableto consult with the engineers. They explainthe process and often just take us over tothe production hall to show us the piece ofequipment or the machine in question. Asfreelance translators, we often work in avacuum and can only dream of this kind ofaccess. In my job here, the engineers reviewour translations and verify terminology. Thisfeedback gives me the confidence that I amdoing my job correctly.Broader Networking Opportunities: Working in a different environment can also create a host of new networking opportunities11
interaktivinteraktiv12and contacts. I now have a broader range ofcolleagues not only in translation, but alsofrom a wide range of engineering fields. Ihope to leverage my expanded networkusing LinkedIn and other social media siteswhen I return to freelance work.Personal BenefitsThere have been a few personal benefitsgarnered from this experience. For example,working in an office has meant having toimprove and update my wardrobe to includeprofessional business attire. I have also enjoyed more free time as a company employee than I did running my own business. Theestablished nine-to-five workday means Ican (usually) leave my work at the office. Ido not work evenings or weekends the way Idid as a freelancer, giving me more time tospend with my family, to pursue hobbies,and to travel. This experience has also mademe rethink how I want to manage my timewhen I return to the freelance world.A Rewarding ExperienceOverall, working as an in-house translatorhas been a positive experience. I have comeaway with a lot of ideas on how to improvemy freelance business and better managemy time. My CAT tool skills have improved,and I have extended my professional network. But most importantly, my son nowspeaks better German than I do, but do nottell him I said that.While I am enjoying my in-house job andmy time in Germany, I am looking forward toreturning to the States with my family, andto my home office and clients. In the meantime, you can read more about my family’sadventures in Germany on our blog,From Bellingham to Burghausen and Back(bellinghamtoburghausen.blogspot.com).Also, for those who are thinking about working abroad, please check out the tips listed inthe box on page 11.Why should I sign up for the GLD email list?Once you’ve subscribed, you can pose questions to the list, assist others by respondingto queries or simply follow the conversation. If you haven’t subscribed yet you’re missingan opportunity to tap into the wealth of knowledge GLD members are eager to impart.Come be a part of one of the most rewarding benefits of GLD membership.Subscribing is as easy as 1, 2, 3:1. Send an email to: [email protected]. In the subject line, enter: subscribe gldlist3. In the body of your email, write your:- email address- full name- ATA membership numberSummer 2013
interaktivTranslator in Profile: Karen LeubeWhere are you based and what brought youthere?I am based in Aachen. This is the fifth German city I have lived in (after Marburg, Kassel, Heidelberg and Mainz), trailing my German husband for all but the first move.What do you like the least?It’s a tie between the constant sitting andthe frequent isolation.What was your most memorable job,strange or otherwise?I translated and handled the project manWhat got you started in translation?agement for a foundation’s database ofI did a one-year translation internship at themedical articles. The founderLutheran World Federation inwas a businesswoman whoGeneva, Switzerland fromhad decided to dedicate her1983 to 1984. (Amazingly, my “I would very muchenergy to curing a genetic dissuccess
Foreign Language (DaF) from the University of Heidelberg. She taught translation at the universities of Heidelberg and Mainz (Germersheim) and now works as a freelance translator and seminar facilitator from her office in Aachen. Proofr
