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Chapter 2. Unprofessional translation

A blog-based overview
  • Brian Harris
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Non-professional Interpreting and Translation
This chapter is in the book Non-professional Interpreting and Translation

Abstract

This paper will discuss the pros and cons of publication in blog format compared with publication through conventional academic channels. The web blog Unprofessional Translation was started in 2009 as a reaction against the way “mainstream” translation studies and bilingualism studies had continually ignored the important aspects of translation that it focuses on. The declared primary topics of the blog are Natural Translation, Native Translation and Language Brokering. As of 31 July 2012, the blog contained approximately 140,000 words in 234 posts accompanied by illustrations and by 268 comments from readers, of whom 124 were formally registered “Members.” It addresses a non-expert readership, with the explicit aim of convincing them that translating is a quasi-universal human capability and activity which is not confined to trained or highly experienced experts. There are numerous posts for each of the blog topics. However, the blog template displays the posts chronologically, and, as a result, it requires considerable work with the Search function to follow any of the threads coherently. Therefore, this paper brings together a selection of the material thematically.

Abstract

This paper will discuss the pros and cons of publication in blog format compared with publication through conventional academic channels. The web blog Unprofessional Translation was started in 2009 as a reaction against the way “mainstream” translation studies and bilingualism studies had continually ignored the important aspects of translation that it focuses on. The declared primary topics of the blog are Natural Translation, Native Translation and Language Brokering. As of 31 July 2012, the blog contained approximately 140,000 words in 234 posts accompanied by illustrations and by 268 comments from readers, of whom 124 were formally registered “Members.” It addresses a non-expert readership, with the explicit aim of convincing them that translating is a quasi-universal human capability and activity which is not confined to trained or highly experienced experts. There are numerous posts for each of the blog topics. However, the blog template displays the posts chronologically, and, as a result, it requires considerable work with the Search function to follow any of the threads coherently. Therefore, this paper brings together a selection of the material thematically.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Introducing NPIT studies 1
  4. Part 1. State of the art of research on NPIT and general issues
  5. Chapter 2. Unprofessional translation 29
  6. Chapter 3. We are all translators 45
  7. Chapter 4. Dialoguing across differences 65
  8. Part 2. NPIT in healthcare, community and public services
  9. Chapter 5. Intercultural mediation and “(non)professional” interpreting in Italian healthcare institutions 83
  10. Chapter 6. More than mere translators 107
  11. Chapter 7. Issues of terminology in public service interpreting 131
  12. Chapter 8. From confinement to community service 157
  13. Chapter 9. The role and self-regulation of non-professional interpreters in religious settings 177
  14. Chapter 10. Simultaneous interpreting and religious experience 195
  15. Chapter 11. Beyond the professional scope? 213
  16. Chapter 12. Language-related disaster relief in Haiti 231
  17. Part 3. NPIT performed by children
  18. Chapter 13. Bilingual youngsters’ perceptions of their role as family interpreters 259
  19. Chapter 14. Child language brokers’ representations of parent–child relationships 281
  20. Chapter 15. Child language brokering in private and public settings 295
  21. Chapter 16. Through the children’s voice 315
  22. Chapter 17. Seeing brokering in bright colours 337
  23. Chapter 18. Language brokering 359
  24. Chapter 19. Not just child’s play 381
  25. Index 411
https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.129.02har

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Introducing NPIT studies 1
  4. Part 1. State of the art of research on NPIT and general issues
  5. Chapter 2. Unprofessional translation 29
  6. Chapter 3. We are all translators 45
  7. Chapter 4. Dialoguing across differences 65
  8. Part 2. NPIT in healthcare, community and public services
  9. Chapter 5. Intercultural mediation and “(non)professional” interpreting in Italian healthcare institutions 83
  10. Chapter 6. More than mere translators 107
  11. Chapter 7. Issues of terminology in public service interpreting 131
  12. Chapter 8. From confinement to community service 157
  13. Chapter 9. The role and self-regulation of non-professional interpreters in religious settings 177
  14. Chapter 10. Simultaneous interpreting and religious experience 195
  15. Chapter 11. Beyond the professional scope? 213
  16. Chapter 12. Language-related disaster relief in Haiti 231
  17. Part 3. NPIT performed by children
  18. Chapter 13. Bilingual youngsters’ perceptions of their role as family interpreters 259
  19. Chapter 14. Child language brokers’ representations of parent–child relationships 281
  20. Chapter 15. Child language brokering in private and public settings 295
  21. Chapter 16. Through the children’s voice 315
  22. Chapter 17. Seeing brokering in bright colours 337
  23. Chapter 18. Language brokering 359
  24. Chapter 19. Not just child’s play 381
  25. Index 411
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