American Translators Association

The American Translators Association (ATA) is the largest professional association of translators and interpreters in the United States with nearly 8,500 members in more than 100 countries.[1]

American Translators Association
AbbreviationATA
Formation1959
Legal statusAssociation
HeadquartersAlexandria, Virginia, United States
Region served
International
Membership
translators, interpreters, educators, educational institutions, language services companies
President of the Board of Directors
Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo
AffiliationsInternational Federation of Translators
WebsiteATA
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Founded in 1959, membership is open to anyone with an interest in translation and interpreting as a profession or as a scholarly pursuit.[2] Members include translators, interpreters, educators, project managers, web and software developers, language services companies, hospitals, universities, and government agencies.

ATA offers certification examinations for its members in some language combinations[3] and is affiliated with the International Federation of Translators (FIT). The association is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.

Unlike a trade union, the ATA represents both "labor" and "management"—that is, both the independent contractors who produce translation and interpreting services and the agencies who purchase them. The ATA likewise does not provide union-type benefits, such as collective bargaining or health insurance, to its freelance members.[2]

Professional development

ATA's primary goals are to foster and support the professional development of translators and interpreters and to promote the translation and interpreting professions.[4] The Association offers a variety of programs and services in support of these goals, including webinars and one-day workshops throughout the year and an ATA Annual Conference every fall—all of which feature translation and interpreting education in diverse specialties and languages.

Certification

The ATA currently offers certification exams in the following language pairs:[5]

Into English from Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Ukrainian.

From English into Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Ukrainian.

After passing the ATA certification examination, translators are required to complete a certain number of "continuing education" points in order to retain their certification.[6]

Advocacy

ATA is a member of the Joint National Committee for Languages, a nonprofit education policy association that works to raise grassroots awareness of the importance of languages to national security, economic growth, and social justice. ATA has also advocated for translators and interpreters on specific issues affecting the translation and interpreting professions. See ATA Statement Opposing Discontinuing Immigration Interpreting Services, ATA Opposes Lower Interpreter Exam Scores in Texas, and ATA Position Statement Regarding California Assembly Bill 5 and Request for Exemption.

International Translation Day

Since 2018, ATA has celebrated International Translation Day (September 30) by publishing a series of social media posts intended to educate the public about the role of professional translators and interpreters. ATA's 2018 ITD celebration centered on six infographics highlighting "need to know" facts about translation and interpreting services. On September 30, the Association will release a "Day in the Life of a Translator or Interpreter," a short animated video showing how translators and interpreters help power the global economy.

Governance

ATA is governed by its Bylaws,[2] and has a President, a President-Elect, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a nine-member Board of Directors. An Executive Director is in charge of operations.

Current officers
  • Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo, President
  • Veronika Demichelis, President-Elect
  • Alaina Brandt, Secretary
  • John M. Milan, Treasurer

[7]

Past presidents
  • 1960–1963 Alexander Gode
  • 1963–1965 Kurt Gingold
  • 1965–1967 Henry Fischbach
  • 1967–1969 Boris Anzlowar
  • 1969–1970 Daniel Peter Moynihan (Resigned in June 1970)
  • 1970–1971 William I. Bertsche (Completed Moynihan's term)
  • 1971–1973 Thomas Wilds
  • 1973–1975 William I. Bertsche
  • 1975–1977 Roy Tinsley
  • 1977–1979 Josephine Thornton
  • 1979–1981 Thomas R. Bauman
  • 1981–1983 Benjamin Teague
  • 1983–1985 Virginia Eva Berry
  • 1985–1987 Patricia E. Newman
  • 1987–1989 Karl Kummer
  • 1989–1991 Deanna L. Hammond
  • 1991–1993 Leslie Wilson
  • 1993–1995 Edith F. Losa
  • 1995–1997 Peter W. Krawutschke
  • 1997–1999 Muriel M. Jérôme-O'Keeffe
  • 1999–2001 Ann G. Macfarlane
  • 2001–2003 Thomas L. West III
  • 2003–2005 Scott Brennan
  • 2005–2007 Marian S. Greenfield
  • 2007–2009 Jiri Stejskal
  • 2009–2011 Nicholas Hartmann
  • 2011–2013 Dorothee Racette
  • 2013–2015 Caitilin Walsh
  • 2015–2017 David Rumsey
  • 2017–2019 Corinne L. McKay

Publications

Structure

ATA divisions provide members with common interests a way to network and receive career updates. The divisions offer newsletters, online forums, seminars, conference presentations, and networking sessions. ATA offers 22 special interest groups or divisions,[8] based on language or subject-area specialty. Any member of the ATA can belong to any division(s).

ATA chapters

ATA chapters and affiliates provide regional information, marketing, networking, and support services to local translators and interpreters.

Affiliated groups

See also

References
  1. http://atanet.org/aboutus/history.php ATA History
  2. http://atanet.org/docs/p_bylaws.pdf ATA Bylaws
  3. http://atanet.org/certification/aboutcert_overview.php ATA Certification program
  4. http://atanet.org/aboutus/mission_statement.php Archived 2012-01-21 at the Wayback Machine ATA Mission Statement
  5. http://atanet.org/certification/aboutcert_overview.php ATA Certification program overview
  6. http://www.atanet.org/certification/aboutcont_overview.php ATA Continuing Education program overview
  7. https://www.atanet.org/governance/governance_board.php ATA Board of Directors
  8. "ATA Divisions". www.atanet.org.
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