The finalists for both the Japanese to English contest and the English to Japanese contest have been finalized.
The winner will be announced on December 25.
Designed to foster, recognize, and reward excellence in commercial, non-literary translation between Japanese and English by new translators, the fifth annual awards will be given in 2009. A 400-member-strong organization of professional freelance and in-house translators and interpreters, JAT is dedicated to promoting the interests of individual translators and interpreters working between Japanese and English worldwide.
FIFTH ANNUAL JAT CONTEST FOR NEW AND ASPIRING TRANSLATORS
- Sponsored by: Japan Association of Translators (JAT)
- Purpose: To cultivate new talent in commercial, non-literary translation
- Qualification: Anyone with less than three years of commercial translation experience. (JAT membership not required. Except for the winners, entrants in the past contests are welcome to enter again.)
- Categories: Japanese-to-English and English-to-Japanese
- Entry fee: Free
- Awards (each category):
The First Place winner in each category will receive a free trip to IJET-20, to be held on February 14 (Sat.) and 15 (Sun.), 2009 in Sydney, Australia, including registration fee, round-trip ticket, and hotel accommodations (3 nights), plus a one-year membership in JAT. Each Second Place winner will receive a one-year membership in JAT.
Judges
- Japanese-to-English: Malcolm James, Ken Wagner, Lee Seaman
- English-to-Japanese: Ayako Sato, Yukari Ishihara, Kiyoshi Chimasu
Contest Schedule
- Sep. 1, 2008 - Source texts available for downloading from the JAT website
- Sep. 28, 2008 (24:00 Japan Time)- Submission deadline
- Nov. 23, 2008 - Five finalists announced on JAT website
- Dec. 25, 2008 - Awards announced on JAT website and by direct e-mail to the winners
- Feb. 14, 2009 - Winners invited to IJET-20 in Sydney, Australia in February, 2009
CONTEST GUIDELINES
About the Source Text
The material to be translated will be content intended for the general public educated in the source language. Refer to Previous JAT Translation Contests for the source texts used in the previous contests.
Download the source text for the JE contest here
Download the source text for the EJ contest here
Submission Guidelines
ENTRY FORM – JAT Translation Contest
- Submissions must be sent as an MS Word .doc file or a plain text file by file attachment with your entry form.
- Your file should only contain the translated text. Do not write your name or comments.
- Name the file as follows:
CONTEST E your name (e.g. CONTEST E Maria Sharapova)
- Submissions will be confirmed by return e-mail.
- Only one entry per person is allowed in each category.
Copyright
- All submissions become the property of JAT and will not be returned.
- JAT retains the copyright to all submitted entries.
- JAT reserves all rights to publicize the winners' names, winning entry, photo and/or likenesses, and background information on its web site, mailing list, and electronic or printed publications.
Judging
- Entries will be judged in three stages in accordance with the evaluation criteria provided by the judging panel. The ID numbers and translations of the five finalists will be announced on JAT website on November 23, 2008.
- The decision of the judges is final. There is no appeal or contesting of the results.
Awards in Detail
JAT will pay the following:
- Round trip economy travel from home to IJET by the most direct route.
- If traveling by train, "economy" includes a seat reservation, but excludes first class and sleeper fares.
- If traveling by personal vehicle (e.g., car), base mileage allowances (as defined by the relevant tax authority) plus parking expenses (for a maximum three nights at the hotel where the winner is staying) shall be paid.
- Hotel for three nights standard accommodation at or near the IJET venue.
- Receipts are required for all reimbursements.
- Travel arrangements and details will be discussed with the winners in advance of purchase.
Disqualification
The following are cause for disqualification.
- Incomplete application
- Entry received after the deadline
- Entry under someone else’s name, or work done by someone other than the contestant
- Dishonesty about one's qualifications
For further information please contact [email protected]