Happy New Year from Sendai! TRAC would like to announce our first seminar for 2017. This time, we gladly welcome Rick Weisburd from ELSS, Inc. to share his insight on editing and writing better in English. This session touches on skills vital to any and all J-to-E translators and writers alike!
Abstract:
In the sense that all successful writing is the transference of an author’s ideas to the minds of readers, even when a document is written in a language common to both the author and readers, successful writing is translation. Considering how readers parse writing can help authors, editors, and translators to more effectively communicate. In this TRAC workshop, we will consider some aspects of the process of reading English to discover how prose in English translations of professional writing can be improved. We will focus in particular on how comprehension is affected by clarity, logic, flow, cogency, and the lack of these qualities. We will also discuss what level of revision by editors and translators is appropriate and how appropriate revisions can be presented to clients.
Participants are invited to send to Rick samples of English prose from translations of professional documents for possible analysis during the workshop. There is no deadline for such submissions, but those received earlier are more likely to be selected for analysis. Please bring to the session for discussion your ideas about what extent of revision is appropriate in the translation process. The session will be conducted in English, but questions can be asked in 日本語.
Speaker Profile:
Rick Weisburd ([email protected]) grew up in New York. He earned his B.S. in biology (minor in chemistry) from the State University of New York at Albany and his PhD in oceanography from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Since moving to Japan in 1990, Rick did research for 6 years at the National Institute for Environmental Studies and then taught and did research at the University of Tsukuba biology department for 9 years. In 2006 he resigned from his associate professorship to assume the presidency of his scientific editing and translation service ELSS, Inc. http://www.elss.co.jp Rick has taught research writing at various research institutions every year since 1996. In 2011 Rick was appointed Councilor for Certification Exam Development by the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences http://www.bels.org/.
There will be basic refreshments available at the event and a networking dinner afterward. Space is limited, so please RSVP for the event and networking dinner by February 15th at [email protected].
As always, non-members and those living outside the Tohoku area are also highly encouraged to come and participate. We look forward to seeing you there!
Date: Saturday, February 18, 2015
Time: 13:30-16:30
Place: Tohoku University Katahira Campus Extended Education & Research Building (C-07) (2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi)
Capacity: 25
Cost: JAT members 1,500 yen; non-members 2,500 yen
Networking dinner: From 17:00 (Please RSVP by February 15th)