The Linguist is a languages magazine for professional linguists, translators, interpreters, language professionals, language teachers, trainers, students and academics with articles on translation, interpreting, business, government, technology
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10 The Linguist Vol/58 No/1 2019 ciol.org.uk/tl AWARDS FOCUS Carlos de Pablos-Ortega reveals how UEA undergraduates are supporting charities via a volunteer interpreting project The SAAM (Support for Access to Audiovisual Media) project was conceived in 2016, following a successful translation project by Cristina Alonso Punter at the University of East Anglia (UEA). Cristina had engaged her Translation Studies students as volunteers to work on short stories by little-known writers such as Mike Robbins and Douglas Vallgreen. I started to think how my Audiovisual Translation (AVT) undergraduates could gain a similar experience of using authentic video materials and professional subtitling software. SAAM began as a complement to modules on Technical Tools for Subtitling, and Dubbing and Technological Tools for Media Accessibility, which teach the fundamental principles and challenges of AVT, and how to apply this knowledge to practical tasks. The basic idea was for students to provide volunteer AVT services to charities and non- profit organisations, giving support to those organisations while enabling students to work on genuine materials. One of the project's key objectives was to enhance student knowledge of what is required for AVT, such as awareness of space and time constraints, condensing the text, and translation of culture-bound elements. Because they are working on genuine materials, students must respond in a professional manner, developing an understanding of professional standards and norms, and translational ethics. This practical experience helps them to become sensitised to clients' needs, and sharpens their linguistic skills in ways that artificial situations cannot. Subtitles for good CIOL/IoLET's annual awards have been held in their current form since 2000, recognising outstanding achievement in its exams and in the field of languages more broadly. There were a record 17 awards and 16 prizewinners in 2018 (with Marion Lampert-Nuding winning both the Susan Tolman Award for best Law candidate and the Susan Tolman CPD Prize of £200 for best overall candidate in the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting). The inaugural award for best candidate in the new Real Lives exam was won by Alex Sicking (p.13). Captain Alex Gobbi and Major Matthew Baylis received MoD awards for language achievement; Estudio Sampere was among those rewarded for top marks in the Diploma in Translation, winning the Schlapps Oliver Shield for best group entry; and Lavinia Coaje gained the NRPSI Award for best results in the Diploma in Police Interpreting. Among the special awards in the field of languages, the Threlford Memorial Cup was awarded to the Young Interpreter Scheme (p.12), and the David Crystal Trophy to Frank Gardner (p.8), with SAAM gaining a Special Commendation as runner-up. Anam Zafar won the new Nick Bowen Award for a young CIOL member – a cash prize of £500 to enable the winner to participate in a project supporting international understanding. Anam submitted a proposal to teach English in the Moria refugee camp in Lesbos through the charity Better Days, and will report on this work in The Linguist later this year. Visit ciol.org.uk/awards for a full list of 2018 award winners. PRIZEWINNERS 2018 IMAGES © CHRIS CHRISTODOULOU