ATA Webinar: Interpreting Idioms and Cultural References

Presenter: Yuliya Speroff

Date: March 13, 2021

Time: 12 noon EST
Duration: 2 hours

Language: Russian
Level: All

CE Points: 2 ATA-approved; 2 CCHI-approved

Limited to 30 attendees!

Interpreters invest a significant amount of time in learning professional terminology, such as terminology related to medical, legal, educational, or social services, as well as the ins and outs of the U.S. health care, school, and criminal justice systems—and rightly so. However, interpreting in these settings involves more than Latin-based legal terms, dense medical jargon, or educational abbreviations. You'll also be expected to interpret small talk, stories, jokes, idioms, and cultural references.

Interpreting idioms and cultural expressions may seem less important than getting the medical facts right, but they often contain key messages, such as descriptions of a patient's progress (or lack thereof) as well as their attitudes about the situation. In fact, being able to understand and deal with colloquialisms and idiomatic expressions in your working language(s) is an essential part of a professional interpreter’s skill set.

This 2-hour interactive workshop will introduce participants to the types of idiomatic and cultural expressions commonly encountered in spoken discourse and engage them in a discussion of the strategies for interpretation. Participants will be able to apply their newly acquired skills through small group discussions and practice activities.

This webinar will be presented in Russian.

1. Types of idiomatic expressions commonly encountered in conversation
2. Examples of cultural references
3. Common mistakes interpreters can make with idiomatic expressions
4. Strategies for interpreting idioms
5. Strategies for interpreting cultural references

Registration will close at 10:00 a.m. on March 13.