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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media teams. In a busy VIP area, where guests may be more interested in the bottle on the table than the animals on display, interpreting becomes a listening challenge (or nightmare). In such settings, it doesn't matter how well you know your equestrian terminology, as guests may suddenly switch to other topics. At one of my first horse shows, having studied up on the right equestrian terminology, I found myself interpreting for a German talking to an Italian about his drilling machine business. Brushing up on your general knowledge will always be an important aspect of the work. UNDERSTANDING THE FIELD The best foundation for carrying out linguistic duties in the animal field is personal experience. I have always had a Chow Chow and I have been riding for many years, working as an equestrian TV commentator for BBC Worldwide and the Dutch national broadcaster NOS. For me, the major challenge in equine translation has not so much been the terminology but the different ways in which the sports are organised in different countries. This mainly applies to national-level competitions, as international shows adhere to FEI (International Equestrian Federation) rules. Knowledge and in-depth experience in the relevant countries are essential. Visiting horse shows, talking to riders and researching the national federation websites are worthwhile but time-consuming tasks. Compiling vocabulary lists from specialist dictionaries (equestrian, medical and veterinary) and books in both target and source languages is also useful. In terms of canine translation, it takes time to familiarise yourself with all the dog breeds in both languages, especially as there are so many more now that cross-breeding has OCTOBER/NOVEMBER The Linguist 19 FEATURES become the fashion. The Labradoodle (a cross between a Poodle and a Labrador), for example, comes in various sizes and types, and each breed may have its own vocabulary for coat types and colours. Such detailed knowledge of one particular area can have its downsides. When I was interpreting for a shareholders' meeting once, I mistakenly translated the Dutch word koersen as 'racecourses', although in the context of exchange rates it should have been 'courses'. Keeping a wide scope, without blinders on, is the best way to go. PETS AND VETS As a translator specialising in animals, veterinary assignments are often thrown my way, so I decided to take specialised courses in medical translating. In Germany, the BDÜ (Federal Association of Interpreters and Translators) regularly offers medical webinars, while CIOL's eCPD Webinars also has useful courses. Another competitive industry is the cattle market. This is not my specialist area, but I have researched cows, sheep and pigs, and asked a local Dutch farmer to share his knowledge of looking after cattle, specific diseases and their remedies. I looked online for related texts in my target languages and started to develop my vocabulary from there. It was in this way that I learned all about cattle boluses (a kind of slow-release nutrient supplement) and bolus guns for one of my first cow-related translation assignments. The pet industry has become a major player. Most of these assignments appear to come under the 'general text' category at first glance, but this industry has its own language. Just take a look at the products on offer: there are words you may never have heard before in everything from cat food ingredients to the description of dog toys. The most difficult words for me have been the ones that describe noises. Toys for puppies often make specific sounds, and it is important to bear in mind that such products are bought by a wide target audience. To find the correct term in Dutch I often call friends with children who can advise on the best translation. Is knisperen a good word for 'crackling'? Would everyone understand it or would knetteren be clearer to a wider audience? These kinds of discussions can take a lot of time, just to translate one sentence. Another challenge is that the space on the packaging is usually limited. With languages that need more words than others, this can be tricky. KNOW YOUR BOUNDARIES A valuable lesson I have learned over the years is that interpreters need to have excellent self-knowledge and know their boundaries. I once worked at a Dutch seminar on surgical veterinary procedures. The one American guest was a host speaker, so we were seated in the front row. What I didn't realise is that during his presentation there would be close-up pictures of dog and horse surgery. Fortunately, I did not have to interpret during his presentation and as I felt my stomach turning, I looked away to avoid being sick in front of the audience. At some point, a Dutch vet sitting behind me tapped me on the shoulder to let me know it was over. Understandably, I was the topic of conversation during the drinks afterwards, and the experience taught me to think twice before accepting assignments. The internet, webinars and books are great resources for linguists wanting to specialise in any field. With regard to dogs, horses and animals, however, in order to provide a professional translation or interpretation, extensive personal experience with these animals is essential. My translation of the bolus gun text would not have been as good if I had not had the experience of actually administering a bolus to a cow myself! Hear more about working with animals when Anita speaks at CIOL Conference 2020. Finding the correct technical word while jumping away from the horse at the right moments was extreme @Linguist_CIOL © SHUTTERSTOCK