Saturday 28, 13:10-14:20, Room 1

Chris Durban is a freelance English-to-French translator based in Paris, where she produces for-publication texts for corporate clients, many of them companies targeting investors in the English-speaking world. She also writes “The Onionskin”, a client education column in the ITI Bulletin and the ATA Chronicle, and is co-author of the “Fire Ant and Worker Bee” advice column in Translation Journal, a free online publication. In 2001 Ms. Durban was awarded the American Translators Association’s Gode Medal “for distinguished service”. Over the past fifteen years she has helped organize numerous translator training events in conjunction with Euronext Paris (formerly the Paris Bourse), most recently the 2nd université d’été de la traduction financière in La Baule, France, in July 2004. She is currently serving as president of the French national translators’ association SFT, a 1100-member organization. She promotes signed work and encourages client education as well as specialized translator training, with a view to ensuring that demanding clients and language service suppliers work together efficiently to produce high-quality work.

Abstract—With basic language skills improving across Europe, the market for translation and related editorial services has never been more demanding. To compete more effectively, some professional linguists are investing to acquire/consolidate a subject-matter specialization and writing skills—an excellent first step. Yet such initiatives will only generate returns if clients are made aware of the expertise the translator/editor brings to the job. Enter the need for communication and people skills... and watch many linguists/translators fall flat on their face.

 

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