Merry Christmas Everyone!

T'was The Night Before Christmas :)

Friends Don't Let Friends Hire Bad Translators!

Today while taking a defensive driving course, I happened upon this epic example of a translation fail. (Why was this included in a defensive driving course? No idea...) Also, a note to my readers. I promise after the holidays I will get back to doing more substantial blogging (stories, books etc...). It was a long semester and it has been a busy week. Spreading holiday cheer is a full time job! Enjoy your time off terps and keep reading!

May Your Fingers Be Toasty!

Thanks Terp Toons!

La Petite Terp

The Top 10 Translation/Interpretation Programs in America

I came across this while doing a search for my own list of ITPs and it impressed me. Anyone who is looking to become an interpreter should have a look!!

Happy Human Rights Day!

Tomorrow is Human Rights Day, I am posting this a day early because I have finals next week and I probably wont have time to update this weekend. If you want to know more about Human Rights Day, go to the United Nations website or click here!!! The United Nations.Human Rights Day

C'est presque fini!!!

You Go Little Deaf Kids!!!!

This video is so sweet and so true<3

La Petite Terp

Drew this in my journal tonight. I am ready for winter break:)

Catherine Tate Pretends to be an Interpreter...Good Times;)

Gotta love The Catherine Tate Show. This is too funny!!!

The Interpreter's Tapestry

I came across this the other day and I thought I would share it with you all. Its a resource page for interpreters but I thought that this tapestry was cool. Check it out! http://www.interpreterstapestry.com/

Oh Hey Winter, I Wasn't Expecting You...

After having a week of perfect weather, much to my disappointment, I walked outside today to find it cold and wet and windy.  I forgot that it is nearly December. Hope you all had a warmer day than I did!

1,000 Pages Views!!!

Wow! In just under two months, The Daily Terp has been viewed just over 1,000 times! I'm so glad that everyone enjoys my blog. Keep the views coming!
-Gina

A Day in The Life of aSign Language Interpreter: The Lawyer

Good Times;)

Thanksgiving: A Terp Story

             
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought it would be a good idea to reflect upon this interpreter from history. Squanto was a Native American man who befriended the pilgrims and was the interpreter and liaison between The Pilgrims and The Wampanoag Confederation. Looking back, he is probably the most important and influential interpreter in American history. If not for Squanto, The Pilgrims probably would not have survived that first winter.

Squanto was an unlikely interpreter. Around the year 1614, Squanto and 23 other Native Americans were kidnapped by an Englishman named John Hunt. Hunt brought the Native Americans back to England and sold them. Here, Squanto learned English. Although Squanto was mistreated, his abduction would prove to be both a blessing and a curse. In 1619, The Native Americans were wiped out by an unknown disease (probably small pox or tuberculosis). Because Squanto had been kidnapped, he was the only survivor of this plague. That year, Squanto met up with Captain Thomas Dermer, a man interested in trading beaver with the Natives in Massachusetts. He asked Squanto to accompany him back to America to try and reestablish a good report with the natives, who were still quite pissed off that their people had been kidnapped by John Hunt. Squanto agreed and went with Dermer, only to find that most of his people had been killed by this plague.

That November, in 1620, The Mayflower pulled ashore into Provincetown Harbor. From November through the winter the Pilgrims struggled. They had been met with hostility from the Native Americans and the spend most of their time on the Mayflower. On March 22, Squanto appeared to them, offering to make a peace treaty. From then on, Squanto became the interpreter for the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. Because of Squanto, a peace treaty was made, and the first Thanksgiving happened in the fall of 1621; all because of an interpreter.

Happy Thanksgiving Terps!!!!

Terp Story: I WONT PAY YOU lolololololo

Friends Don't Let Friends Hire Bad Translators!

Worm up or shut up!  In this cause, the translator should have shut up hahahah. Thanks www.engrish.com!!

Its Monday! Time to Study For The NIC!

I can't believe the semester is almost over, and the NIC is just 22 weeks away!!! If anyone else out there is getting ready for the NIC, here is a great study source NIC Study Cards courtesy of Miss. Kristen Sharpless, who found them online (author unknown). Thanks Kristen!!! Study well everyone!

Book of The Month: The Interpreter By Suzanne Glass

This month I read The Interpreter By: Suzanne Glass.  The story takes place in Manhattan and it details the life of Dominique Green, an interpreter from England. The other main character is Nicolas Manzini, an Italian scientist.  I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. It has everything you could want in a novel. There is action, suspense and romance.  From an interpreter's standpoint, I think that author did a really great job portraying the life of an interpreter (the author is an interpreter by the way). I like the way its told in the first person, so we can hear all of Dominique's interpersonal demands as well as her other demands of the job. I felt like I could really relate to her.  She goes through all the same feelings and experiences that we do, so it was nice to read a novel with a character that I could relate to. I think its a great read for interpreters or anyone who wants to understand our world a little more.

For next month's book, I am hoping to get my hands on The Interpreter By: Suki Kim , another novel featuring guess who? An Interpreter:) If not, I am going to choose another book from my amazon list down below. 

Happy Reading!!!!

-Gina

A Few Minutes in the Life Of A Sign Language Interpreter: Job Interview

This was such a good one.  Laugh and enjoy!

Three Interpreters Go Camping...

THAT IS SCARY! Thanks Terp Toons!!!

Recent Terp Fail: No idea why I did this lol

Just a note: This was an in class exercise, so no one's privacy is being invaded.  While working on my project analysis, my friends and I burst out laughing at this segment of my interpreting.  Hope you get a good laugh from it. We certainly did!!!

My Liiiiiiiiiiiife

hahahahaha sometimes I say to myself "I'm just going to interpret without my glasses." I never seem to learn my lesson. Thanks Terp Toons!!!!

Friends Don't Let Friends Hire Bad Translators, Or in This Case: 4????

This is a video my brother sent my way. From what I understand these kids got their hands on a boot-legged copy of Pokemon Crystal, which was translated from Japanese to Chinese to Vietnamese to English. Talk about a ridiculous idea. Get ready for a serious translation FAIL!!! Thanks little bro;)

The Versatile Blogger Award

On November 2nd, "The Daily Terp" was nominated by "Boots in the Booth"(http://bootsinthebooth.blogspot.com) for The Versatile Blogger Award.  I was so flattered and excited when I read this! Nothing makes me happier than when people tell me that they enjoy my blog. So here's a bit about the Versatile Blogger Award...

The Rules

Life is full of rules and regulations, and the Versatile Blogger Award is no different. So let’s get that out of the way first:
1. Thank the award-giver and link back to them in your post.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass this award along to 15 recently discovered blogs you enjoy reading.
4. Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know about the award.

So, I would like to thank Mamba from "Boots in the Booth" http://bootsinthebooth.blogspot.com for the nomination. If you like "The Daily Terp" you will like Boots for sure.

7 Things About Myself:
1. ummmm, I'm trying to think of things that are unique here.  Ok. I love indie music. my favorite bands are Fun., Coeur de Pirate, Communist Daughter, Cloud Cult, MUSE, Florence & The Machine, Iron & Wine...I could seriously go on forever.
2. I have been signing since I was 13 years old.
3. I'm dyslexic but I recently discovered that I can enjoy reading if its a book that I choose. Not like one of those sad books they forced you to read in high school with some sad, depressing character to go along with it.
4. I have a 17 year old brother whom I adore  completely.
5. My best friend is a translator for the FBI. She speaks Arabic, Spanish and American Sign Language. She is brilliant but I fear that one day she is going to start taking hostages on the Long Island Rail Road. My other best friend is a senior psychology major at RIT, and one day he is going to change the way the work place sees deaf people. One person at a time.
6. I secretly wish that I could be Nicole Kidman in her role as "The Interpreter". If I could be an interpreter at The U.N my life would seriously be complete.
7. If I could only eat one food for the rest of my life...it would be Nutella<3

Ok, now that thats done. Time to nominate some seriously sweet blogs!!

The Interpreter Diaries
The Booth Inhabitant
The Liason Interpreter
In My Words
Terp Topics
Translator's Cafe
Engrish
Terp Toons
The Court Interpreter
The Translation and Interpretation Blog
Interpret America
Translation Times
Words Matter


Thats all folks!

A Day in The Life Of A Sign Language Interpreter: Medical Setting

Good times;)

Carol Patrie and The Terp Students: A Love Story

Any interpreting (ASL/English) major from the east coast to the west coast, knows the name Carol Patrie. She is the one who creates the bulk of our interpreting curriculum, and most of our lovely homework assignments come from her workbooks.  Such workbooks are comprised of interpreting exercises that would probably make any seasoned interpreter run for hills. From complicated and sometimes ambiguous directions, to obscure topics like sailing and installing a roof...Carol Patrie covers it all.  Everyone of us has a love/ hate relationship with this woman, whose face we only know from the back our books. I first became acquainted with Carol Patrie my sophomore year, during our cognitive processing skills set. Little did I know that this woman would be responsible for the blood, sweat and lots of tears that would make up my interpreter training.  But before you get the wrong impression, Carol Patrie is also largely responsible for our success and triumph in the interpreting program. Even though we spend most of our time complaining about our Patrie assignments, we all know deep down that were are better because of her; which brings me to a story my friend Jim told me our junior year.
                    Jim is the only guy in our graduating class of 15 interpreting majors. He is also very talented, and devoted to the interpreting field. (I'm not just saying it because he's my friend and he drove me to the emergency room yesterday.) Last year he attended a conference for interpreter trainers, where he in fact met Carol Patrie in the flesh; the woman behind our work books.  He told me later that his first thought was to say, "hey thanks for making our lives so difficult and frustrating" but before the words cam out, Carol said to him how happy she was that we were benefiting from her books and how proud we make her and so on.  Jim was so touched by this completely kind and adorable woman he couldn't bring himself to tell her that her challenging exercises made us crazy.
                   So the moral of this story is this. The path of least resistance is not the path that's going to make you the best interpreter.  The path of Carol Patrie is.  So the next time you're trying for figure out "How to Get to Deep Creek" or "Sailing" and you want to cry, remember the adorable woman who just wants us to be the best interpreters we can be. One day you will look back on your interpreter training and realize that you're a better interpreter because of Carol Patrie. Food for Thought!

Happy Halloween Fellow Terps!!!

Happy Halloween from a little terp;) This one my best friend Todd sent to me. Thanks Todd!!! Happy Halloween everyone! Have a safe and spooky weekend!

Friends Don't Let Friends Hire Bad Translators!

I suspected foul play! Thanks www.engrish.com!

"C'est le ton qui fait la musique..."

10 Signs of Stress

I just found this poster in the hallway labeled "ten signs of stress". I was seriously going to take it and put it in the interpreting lab. Ummm...parlez vous my life????

Amazing Amazing Interpreter Training Resource!

Today I was looking around for some interpreter practive videos for my lab hours and I found this website with links to several places, for many different languages! Kudos!!
http://interpreters.free.fr/links/practicematerial.htm

Ever Have A Day Like This?

This was literally my whole day.  HANDS TIRED WHY HEARING PEOPLE FLAP-GUMS

Is Ignorance Really Bliss?

The other day while I was in class, my advisor was telling us about a workshop she recently went to for interpreter trainers.  Each interpreter trainer was given a “wish list” to write down things they wished for.  She said that most of the people there put down “to have incoming student be more informed”.  Short of calling them ignorant, she went on to explain that her incoming freshmen are young and sheltered. Many of them have lived in the same place their whole lives and don’t really know much about what is happening outside their world.  As she was explaining this to us, it brought me back to a moment form the previous week.   I was in the lab, trying to cram in as many lab hours as my schedule would allow.  I interpreted a variety of videos on various topics.  Then I began interpreting a video about seizures.  Having had seizures my whole life it is a topic I am very familiar with.  I know the concepts and I know the signs because it is a part of my life.  I have to say, I have never had such an easy time of interpreting as this.  It was a breeze.   I threw out my concepts eloquently and I was very pleased with my performance.  I cleaned up my space and then I left to go to class. As I was walking I started to think about my interpreting, and how much easier my life would be if I simply knew everything.   If I literally knew everything there was to know in the world, I would eliminate all those “ugh oh, what does that mean” freak out moments when your interpreting.   Information is power. The more you know the easier your life as an interpreter can be.  Back to what my advisor was saying, it’s an interesting thought.   I never would have thought she would choose having her incoming freshman be more informed.  I would have thought it would students who work harder, or students who were smarter, or whatever you would imagine a teacher wishing for.  It’s a small detail that I never really thought in-depth about before.  So think about it! Food for thought!

-Gina

Snooki Meets An Interpreter.

Classic;)

Friends Don't Let Friends Hire Bad Translators...

                          Clearly this person had no real friends cause no one told them to hire a translator!!
                                                                     Food for Thought!!!

Photo: www.engrish.com

“Le langage reproduit le monde, mais en le soumettant à son organization proper.”

This is one of my favorite quotes from the French linguist, Émile Benveniste “Le langage reproduit le monde, mais en le soumettant à son organization proper.”  It means that language is what brings people together, but it is also a way of organizing the world into sections, therefore, keeping people apart. It is profound:)

A Day in The Life of A Sign Language Interpreter: University Setting

So funny, and so true!

Looks like this person hasn't had a rest in WELL over a year. WHERE WAS THE TRANSLATOR?!!

LOLOLOLOLOOL

-from www.engrish.com

Keep Calm and Carry On

After a long and demanding week of homework, tests, cramming in interpreting hours, in class interpreting and the regular hustle and bustle of everyday life on campus; I woke up this morning feeling like I was in over my head.  I got dressed and went to interpret for our in-class interpreting exercises. Interpreting was as it always is: a big blur of sweat, blood and signs. Its possibly the only situation where I can not only forget how to sign properly, I also seem to forget how to speak English as well.  When I was done I grabbed some lunch but the build up of stress from the whole week made it hard to eat.  So I decided it was time for some much needed "me" time to decompress. I decided to take a mini 5 hour vacation from the world, and I drove out to Lewisburg.  I shed my stuffy interpreting clothes and threw on my jeans and a top.  I have to say that there is nothing more relaxing then driving west on 80 through the mountains blasting Iron & Wine.  It was such a relief itself.  I spent the day being an anonymous person in a small town relaxing. I sat in Barnes and Noble most of the time but it made such a difference in reliving my stress.  Cause lets face it, its a stressful life. Having only had the experience of being an interpreting student, I don't know if being a real interpreter is any more or any less stressful, but I'm certain it is. When I got back from my "vacation" I felt rested and relaxed. More importantly, ready to work again.  I don't know had I not done this if I would be as capable of moving forward as I am.  In the hustle and bustle of life its easy to put yourself last. But if you think about it, what good are you if you are unrested, stressed and strung out on coffee?? Giving yourself a few hours is not only better for you, it makes you more capable to deal with your life. That's my lesson learned for the day;)

Seeee yaaa;)
Gina

Inside the Interpreter's Closet

Last week my best friend Todd sent this cartoon my way, it shows the inside of every sign language interpreter's closet.  An array of sad blacks, grays, and browns. As funny as it is true, its also ironic. Interpreters are probably the most creative and outgoing group of people I have ever known.  Interpreting is an art as much as it is a science.  In a way we are artists. It is ironic that our wardrobe makes us seem the opposite. Food for thought!

-Gina

Hello and Welcome

Hello out there! This is my first post for my blog "The Daily Terp". Its a blog of resources for interpreters, translators and of course interp students. In addition to getting the word out on new information, events, workshops and so on...I'm also hoping to throw in some good old interp humor to provide some comic relief. Lets face it, we need it. Its hard work and at the end of the day we could all use some laughs. So, I hope you guys stick around and read my blog:) it is after all, for you.

Send me some love
Gina