November 2, 2005

SWET Newsletter, Number 109

Contents

How We Got Here: The Serendipitous Translator
by Alan Gleason
Alan Gleason's story shows how serendipity, family background, the times, and a lot of hard work led to a career in editing and translating. The author now works as associate editor for the East Asia Publishing Network. He lives in Tokyo, where he also plays bass in various jazz groups.

On Staying Published: Judith Clancy
by Kay Vreeland
Publishing a guidebook to Kyoto is a daunting undertaking, so seeing it on bookshelves eight years after publication is gratifying. What is involved in staying in print and in maintaining a relationship with a publisher that is taken over by other presses along the way? Judith Clancy talks with SWET about the process and the rewards of remaining a published author.

SWET on Saturdays Reports

May 2005
J-SPOT and Redressing the Translation Imbalance: David Thayne
by Damon Shulenberger
Does proper remuneration and recognition for book translators still seem out of reach? Not if David Thayne, who spoke to an unusually large SWET audience of nearly 50 people on May 28, has any say in the matter. Spearheading monthly meetings of the Japan Society of Publication Oriented Translators (J-SPOT), he hopes to address these and related concerns. 

June 2005
Editing in Japan: Phil Ouellet, Lynne E. Riggs, Ginny Tapley
by Damon Shulenberger
Three veteran editors of English in Japan presenting the perspectives of freelance editing, editing of translations, and book editing to 23 working and aspiring editors. Phil Ouellet, Lynne E. Riggs, and Ginny Tapley told how they got into editing and what kind of editing they do. They also gave advice about what to do, what to avoid,  and especially about Japan-specific advantages and challenges for professionals.

SWET Kansai

June 2005
Narrative Script Translation: Peter Fincke
by David Eunice
How does an English narration fit a Japanese video? In the substitution of one language for another, how can a translated vocal script be made to smoothly match the visuals, score, and sound effects created for the original language? These questions and others were the subject of Peter Fincke’s interactive presentation to SWET Kansai on June 12, 2005.

Threads on SWET-L: Getting the Little Stuff
by Torkil Christensen
The little things that keep even experienced word polishers on edge occupied discussions during the second quarter of 2005 on SWET-L. Learning more about the fine points of hyphens, apostrophes, the solidus, and percentages can make you a trusted purveyor of your profession.

Book Review
by Torkil Christensen
A review of In Other Words by Christopher J. Moore. New York: Walker Publishing Company, Inc., 2004.