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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WLF Think Tank's 101 Things a Translator Needs to Know sheds light on the essential knowledge for translators, in respect both of providing a client-centric service and of how to differentiate themselves in the increasingly competitive business environment they work in. The scope of the content and calibre of the contributors is clear – they are a knowledgeable bunch, with hundreds of years of combined experience. 101 Things positively oozes wisdom and a deep understanding of the daily realities of working as a professional translator. As a freelance translator starting out in the trade, I could immediately appreciate some of the juicy morsels of sage advice – for instance, on the importance of an ergonomic working environment (p.25). I am sure that I will now be better equipped to avoid some of the pitfalls commonly experienced by those new to the profession. There is a good index at the back that makes reference to topics easier. The book is written in an entertaining and accessible style, which allows the reader to absorb the 101 lessons one at a time – a great breakfast-time read before the next busy day. Jan Sisson plans to start working as a freelance translator in 2015. This is an attractively presented book, not least thanks to Catherine Hiley's charming illustrations, and with each tip about 120 words long, you can read it in one sitting or enjoy dipping in and out. 101 Things is packed with sound advice from a group of translators who are highly respected by their peers. Many of the tips are therefore written from the viewpoint of translators at the peak of their careers, who will have a more privileged relationship with their direct clients than the thousands of translators working mainly for agencies. As a result, the picture painted is a rather idealistic one, but worth aspiring to nonetheless. Given the number of contributors, it is not surprising that some areas are duplicated, but it is a pity that others, notably translation memory tools, are given scant attention. One topic that curiously crops up several times is the superior command of the source language (SL) that comes from living in your SL country, whereas most translators recognise the risk of that playing havoc with your mother tongue. But these are minor criticisms of a book that would be an ideal gift for experienced and novice translators alike Keith Moffit MCIL is a translator and CIOL Chair of Council. Cambridge Scholars Publishing has a growing range of useful titles in the field of applied linguistics. This collection on 'Sociolinguistic Issues' grew out of a conference on language education in an international context. It comprises peer- reviewed papers from international scholars with an eclectic range of qualifications from all over the world. The case studies are equally broad, ranging from Cameroon to Mexico, and so provide some interesting perspectives on language policy and provision based on both research and practical experience. The topics covered are applicable in a variety of contexts, dealing in particular with language policy and covering language planning, the role of language in communities, and the revitalisation of indigenous languages. A critical topic is the position of English as a lingua franca within education in a globalised, post-colonial world. This raises the issue of diversity, both within communities and at national level, given the impact of immigration, displacement and relocation arising from conflict or economic pressure. The articles demonstrate that monolingualism is increasingly not the norm, but there is also the danger of over-concentration on English, which may move emphasis away from local and regional languages, and fail to take into account local realities. Language policy and implementation may contain hidden pitfalls, such as reinforcing social inequality, which can be perpetuated by focusing language education on private rather than state systems, or by favouring access for particular ethnic or socio-economic groups. This is a work of scholarship, although the language in places could have been simplified, as phrases such as 'segmental deviations along with misplacement of nuclear stress' might discourage the general reader. The layout is practical, with clear section headings and footnotes throughout. This title will be of interest to people working in global education or who have an interest in sociolinguistics in an educational context. They might also be interested in CRiCLE-Net (the Cambridge Research in Community Language Education Network; see www.educ.cam.ac .uk/centres/networks/cricle). Prof Tim Connell FCIL, CIOl Vice-President 28 The Linguist OCTOBER/NOVEMBER www.ciol.org.uk REVIEWS WLF Think Tank WLF 101 Publishing, 2014, 222 pp; ISBN 9789163754111 Paperback, £12.10 101 Things a Translator Needs to Know One book, 101 lessons, two reviews Martin Solly & Edith Esch (Eds) Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2014, pp.216; ISBN 978-1-4438-5813-7 Hardback, £44.99 Language Education and the Challenges of Globalisation