About Together

Event opening

Mini break

Keynote - Priorities in the language sector: Communicating our true value better

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Lost in communication - How the way you communicate impacts your translation quality

High-quality translations rely on teamwork. Every team member Show more...brings their own set of skills and knowledge to the table. In order to benefit from a combination of these skills and knowledge whilst creating valuable synergy effects and a productive team dynamic, communication has to be at the heart of all successful teamwork.

This presentation focuses on communication as an important and often neglected factor in translation quality. Using examples from the day-to-day work of an LSP and its translators, we'll take a closer look at how project managers and translators really communicate and where and how communication problems arise. We will then discuss which solutions have helped us to communicate better in our daily work and which have not, and try to shine a light on how increasing automation influences our communications, especially taking into account the overwhelming amount of information in today's translation projects.

Good communication is a key element in meeting the ever-rising quality standards and demands of clients. At the end of the day, LSPs and translators are pursuing the very same goals. Communicating these goals and the means to reach them effectively makes the crucial difference in working better together.

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Technology, money, time, and knowledge: An explosive mix or a recipe for success?

Services related to machine translation and new technologies are invariably in high demand. Show more... However, recruiting, vetting, fighting prejudice and knowledge gaps is still an arduous ordeal for both LSPs and translation vendors alike. How to tackle the fact that linguists do not receive appropriate training? How to help them overcome fear and reluctance? Should we unify different ways of dealing with quality objectives or rates settlement? How does the academia (and innovative approaches to syllabuses development) add to the equation? This presentation aims at provoking discussion about new language services between LSPs, academia, and freelancers.

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Free networking session

Event opening

Mini break

Keynote - Priorities in the language sector: Communicating our true value better

Mini break

Digital Platform Translation – Where are we now and where are we going?

Digital platforms have increasingly been used to conduct business Show more...activities within the language industry and as enablers of globalization activities through system integration. More and more translation activities are being pushed through automated or semi-automated workflows via digital platforms which attract professional and non-professional translators alike. But the term ‘digital platforms’ has been used somewhat generically, without the due acknowledgement of the differences between the different types of platforms, their business and operating models, philosophies, user interfaces, and actual practices amongst the platform operators, users and end clients. In this presentation, we will firstly define contemporary platform translation, discuss main types of platforms and workflows they enable. Secondly, we will discuss some of the most pertinent questions around platform translation such as copyright and ethical issues, interface usability, how they may affect the translation product, process and the working conditions for translators and their attitudes towards their work. Finally, we will present interim responses to a survey of translators on their use of platforms. The presentation will be interspersed with some live polls from the audience.

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A 4-step framework to get high-quality leads and clients οn Linkedin

Step by step instructions on how to create a LinkedIn Prospecting Show more...Strategy that will get you a steady flow of high-quality translation leads.

Have you ever wondered why you don’t get any results, clients from LinkedIn? What you might have been doing wrong when it comes to prospecting? How to turn your LinkedIn Profile from a static CV to a lead generation machine? Would you be interested in changing the whole idea you have about LinkedIn and how it works?

In this presentation I will talk about the key mistakes most translators make when it comes to prospecting and how to solve them so as your LinkedIn Strategy to thrive over the long-term. How to follow-up, engage, and build relationships with your ideal clients. Step by step instructions on how to create a LinkedIn Prospecting Strategy that will get you a steady flow of high-quality translation leads. It will be mostly about outbound lead generation approach, the most powerful tool for generating B2B leads, clients, & sales, LinkedIn.

This presentation is ideal for:
Freelance translators, interpreters, language professionals and in general solopreneurs who want to get a steady flow of high-quality leads and clients from LinkedIn, month after month. Equally applicable for first time LinkedIn users and starting out translators and those who have been in the business for more than 5 years and want to demystify the LinkedIn Prospecting Strategy.

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Free networking session

Ten (+1) years later: A win-win cooperation between a freelancer and an LSP

In an ever changing and increasingly automated industry, a successful Show more...and long-term collaboration between a freelance supplier and an LSP is a hidden gem. Within the “Best practice for freelancers and LSPs” framework, we’d like to present a case study of a ten-year-old collaboration between Serena Tutino, a freelance translator and interpreter, and TDR Translation Company. Nadia Corti, PM at TDR, and Serena, will set forth a dual take on themes such the importance of personalisation, tips on how to maintain a good relationship, the impact of changes in the industry due to new technologies, and a job-wise perspective for higher education.

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Ethics for freelancers and LSPs, training translators and interpreters

This session will encompass a number of matters relating to ethics: Show more...Ethics as a topic on translator and interpreter training programmes Ethical issues in academic research in translation studies Ethics, translation companies and clients.

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Getting the feedback is useful - Getting it in useful form is even more so!

Case study on data visualizations providing localization vendors Show more...with structured and easily accessible feedback on their deliverables.

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When two worlds collide: Painful issues in the relationship between freelance translators and LSPs

Why things could go wrong between translators and LSPs - and what we should do (together! Show more...) to make it better.

Together Fair & Free networking session

Technology session - CAT Tools

Mini break

LSPs: liable/not liable for legal translations?

At the 2020 edition of Elia’s Together, John explored whether Show more...and when legal translators are liable for their translations. None of the respondents reported being litigated against. Surprisingly, few reported having to pay compensation under the terms of their agreements with LSPs. So, if legal translators are not being held liable, then who is? Is it the LSPs? Or is it no one, and liability is just a "spectre" in the legal translation landscape?
In an attempt to redress the lack of research into this topic, this presentation shares the findings of a survey conducted among LSPs about liability for legal translations: Does it exist? How is it handled? What are LSPs doing to limit it?

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Universal standards for RSI: A long way still

In the new normal, many things have changed for interpreters. Show more... Remote interpreting became a fact of our professional life. This relatively new mode of interpreting is still in its infancy in terms of standards. ISO/PAS 24019 of 2020 outlines the requirements and recommendations for simultaneous interpreting delivery platforms. In this presentation, I will offer an overview of these requirements and recommendations. I will also look at the changing work environment and how professional associations are dealing with it.

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Surviving as a quality-oriented translator in the age of technology

Technology vs. quality: Are they "friends" or "foes". We will Show more...discuss the challenges of adapting in a technology-oriented market.

Together Fair & Free networking session

Leisure workshop - Yoga

Mini break

Topic-based networking session

Lunch break

Bridging the gap - Recruiting relationships

Toby will discuss what recruiting with an eye for synergy and Show more...potential relationships looks and feels like, sharing some top proven tips on best practice and how this will empower you to develop, maintain and build the foundations for a nurturing human support network.

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Creating a translator - Compatible translation processes

Working as a freelance translator I often am forced to fit into the process of my customer. Show more... Some of these processes are well organised and take the needs of translators into account. However, very often I find, that the whole process was created only with the needs of the agency and the final customer in mind, not paying any or at least any sufficient attention to what the translator would need. The reason for this is most certainly to cut cost. On the other hand, the same processes have “quality” in their description. While cutting costs and still maintaining quality can go together, this will only work, when the process keeps all stakeholder in mind. If not all gears, even the smallest ones, are lubricated, the machine will not run smoothly.
In my presentation I would like to make you aware of the needs of translators, who at the end of the day have to follow these processes. I will try to explain why trying to force a certain way of working is counterproductive and does not lead to increased quality.

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The project manager as an information hub in multimedia localization projects

The role of localization project manager is by no means easy Show more...and differs greatly from one project to another. This presentation will analyse the role of the project manager in multimedia localization projects and how he/she can make a difference in facilitating communication between the customer and the linguistic team.

• How important it is for the PM to know about the technical and linguistic details (video/audio formats, compatibility issues, etc.)
• Example of a worst case scenario when the PM does not have such details
• Tactics to avoid overcrowding everyone with too much information they do not necessarily need (linguists with video tech information and vice versa, etc.)
• How to lay down exact workflows; what can go parallel and what cannot, milestones, checkpoints, bottlenecks (with examples), etc.
• How to plan a multimedia project with tools already on your computer.
• What information do we have to get from the client at the start, what is it that we can find out for ourselves in terms of multimedia/technical info (with examples), etc.
• What information should the PM provide to the freelancers for a better end-product?
• How the ideal relationship and workflow between the clients, PMs and freelancers should look within multimedia localization projects.

Mini break

Panel session

Closing

Leisure workshop - Yoga

Mini break

Topic-based networking session

Lunch break

Technology session: Machine Translation

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Translator, post-editor and reviewer skills: How to be sexy for the translation market and face changes due to the increasing automation

The work of translator and their workshop evolve continously. Show more... The demands of the market are changing, so are the skills that a good translator should have. Analyzing the translation process, we will answer questions about the competences of a translator at the beginning of the next decade. We will also analyze the process of post editing and verification and take a closer look at technological innovations, which are becoming an inseparable tool for translators today. We will consider the importance of soft skills in the translator's work and have a look at customer-to-translator-to-LSP relations, and finally answer the question why rates for individual clients differ from those offered to translators by translation agencies.

The presentation is addressed to both experienced translators and those who are just beginning their journey with translation.

Mini break

Dare you bring your freelancers to light? How to successfully include your best freelancers in your value chain

Freelance translators are often regarded as a company secret Show more...by LSPs – something of an enigma that must not come to anyone's knowledge, no matter what.

And there is a fair point in this approach: the selection of linguists is indeed one the key aspects in the LSP value chain. And who would want to give their company secrets away for them to be stolen or copied by others?
But there might be situations where it can be an advantage for everyone to bring forward their linguistic talent and demonstrate their full potential.
On numerous occasions, we have experienced that bringing a trusted freelancer in on dialogue with the client can create new dynamics and opportunities between all parties involved.

The presentation includes:
• Some anonymised examples on how we connected clients directly to our freelancers
• Situations when this can be useful and what the advantages are
• A list of dos and don'ts

Mini break

Panel session

Closing