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
Issue link: https://thelinguist.uberflip.com/i/135206
INSTITUTE MATTERS German Society date for the diary Anglophoner Tag, 5-7 July, Bath The Anglophoner Tag will be hosted this year by ITI Gernet in Bath. The Saturday workshop will be on 'Spas, health and fitness – from Roman times to the modern day', with a social event on Friday and sightseeing on Sunday. Price £40. For details see http://itianglophoner tag.eventbrite.co.uk. Institute and talk about national and corporate cultures. For details or to attend, call Candia Hillier on 01522 526695 by 29 June. Steep Hill Room, Wig & Mitre, 30 Steep Hill, Lincoln LN2 1TL. September STUDY WEEKEND 6-8 September Coburg, Bavaria GER This year's topic is Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (aka the Prince Consort). For details, email j.bobrowska@gmx.net. Tuning body and mind CHRISTINE POCOCK LOOKS AT STRESS MANAGEMENT AND BREATHING TECHNIQUES FOR LINGUISTS, FOLLOWING A RECENT INTERPRETING DIVISION EVENT IN LONDON The Interpreting Division CPD event on 13 April, entitled 'Voice, Body and Mind in the Interpreting Environment', welcomed 70 attendees to the Novotel London City South at Southwark Bridge. We were delighted to see so many new members, and also to welcome back repeat visitors from home and abroad. The first session, 'The Voice as your Tool', was ably led by Sandy Walsh, actor, BBC World Service presenter, voiceover artist and Lead Trainer for the European Parliament's Interpreting for the Media courses. She began by speaking a news story in different tones, which the audience had to categorise as too fast, staccato, condescending etc. (For Sandy's article based on this thought-provoking presentation, see page 10.) A yoga taster session followed, with conference interpreter and yoga teacher Gabriela Bocanete MCIL. Members were asked to stand up, take off their shoes, and check their balance and posture – the latter being especially important when working in an interpreting booth. Gabriela demonstrated ideal posture and exercises to keep various parts of the body well tuned. She then took the audience through various breathing exercises to aid relaxation in stressful environments, including one to generate inner warmth in cold, airconditioned booths or offices, which can lead to tension in the voice and affect its tone. Known as kapalabathi, this technique involves sitting straight, grounding one's feet, breathing in deeply and using the diaphragm to push the air out through the nose. Many of these useful exercises can be practised in a fairly small space. Interpreter-specific stressors and strategies were outlined using a slide to show the normal spinal alignment and how the diaphragm works. The audience was invited to take part in further relaxation exercises to close the session, before taking a 'breather' to enjoy the popular networking lunch. The third session was led by Jan Cambridge FCIL, a public service interpreter (PSI) and trainer. Entitled 'Ethical Dilemmas in Public Service Interpreting', it began with an outline of the basic 'hard standing' PSIs need to acquire, including generalist and specialist knowledge, and appropriate interpreter training. The audience was asked to revisit and compare the PSI sections of the CIOL Professional Code of Conduct with the codes of other professionals, which generally include a duty to protect the client's dignity and safety. The PSI code has no such requirement as their duty is to confidentiality, impartiality and the integrity of the message, regardless of attempts by any of the parties to distract or derail them. Participants were encouraged, if they hadn't already done so, to prepare a card in all their working languages, which briefly explains their role and the requirement to remain impartial at all times. This can be handed out or spoken aloud at the beginning of each interpreting session, so that both interlocutors and the client understand the interpreter's role. The second and main part of this session involved delegates splitting into small groups to discuss four very different interpreting dilemmas that Jan had experienced during her career. This created a healthy and sometimes very lively debate within each group. The need to be very familiar with the Professional Code of Conduct was evident, as was how different people interpreted the written scenarios. This final session closed with each group feeding back its findings to a plenary session. There was much to reflect on as we made our way home. After the doors close to the public, enjoy the splendour of the State Rooms. An expert guide will describe furniture, sculpture, porcelain and Vol/XX No/X 2007 © ISTOCKPHOTO BUCKINGHAM PALACE: EXCLUSIVE EVENING TOUR Saturday 14 BPG September London, 5.30pm