The American Translators Association (ATA) is the largest
professional association
A professional association (also called a professional body, professional organization, or professional society) is a group that usually seeks to advocacy, further a particular profession, the interests of individuals and organisations engaged in ...
of
translators and
interpreters in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
with nearly 8,500 members in more than 100 countries.
Founded in 1959, membership is open to anyone with an interest in translation and interpretation as a profession or as a scholarly pursuit.
[http://atanet.org/docs/p_bylaws.pdf ATA Bylaws] 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 and is affiliated with the
International Federation of Translators (FIT). The association is headquartered in
Alexandria
Alexandria ( ; ) is the List of cities and towns in Egypt#Largest cities, second largest city in Egypt and the List of coastal settlements of the Mediterranean Sea, largest city on the Mediterranean coast. It lies at the western edge of the Nile ...
,
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
.
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 does not provide union-type benefits, such as collective bargaining or health insurance, to its freelance members.
Professional development
ATA's primary goals are to foster and support the professional development of translators and interpreters and to promote the translation and interpretation as professions. The Association offers a variety of programs and services in support of these goals, includin
webinarsan
one-day workshopsthroughout the year and a
ATA Annual Conferenceevery fall—all of which feature translating and interpreting education in diverse specialties and languages.
Certification
The ATA currently offers certification exams in the following
language
Language is a structured system of communication that consists of grammar and vocabulary. It is the primary means by which humans convey meaning, both in spoken and signed language, signed forms, and may also be conveyed through writing syste ...
pairs:
Into English from
Arabic
Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
,
Chinese,
Croatian,
Danish,
Dutch,
French,
German,
Italian,
Japanese,
Polish,
Portuguese,
Russian,
Spanish,
Swedish, and
Ukrainian.
From English into
Arabic
Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
,
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.
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. Se
ATA Statement Opposing Discontinuing Immigration Interpreting ServicesATA 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
"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,
Current officers
* Geoff Koby, President
* Andy Benzo, President-Elect
* Eve Bodeux, Secretary
* Robin Bonthrone, Treasurer
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
* 2019–2021 Ted Wozniak
* 2021–2023 Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo
Publications
''The ATA Chronicle''
is a monthly publication availabl
'online'
and in hard-copy format. The publication includes articles on various translation- and interpreting-related issues combined with regular features.
''ATA Newsbriefs''
is an e-newsletter distributed to members twice a month. The publication features national and international news about translation and interpreting.
''ATA Translation and Interpreting Compensation Survey''
is an industry-wide survey providing a comprehensive picture of the market for T&I services. The full report is free to ATA members. An Executive Summary is available at no cost to non-members.
''The ATA Compass''
is a free e-publication for buyers of translation and interpreting services.
''Translation: Getting it Right''
''Interpreting: Getting it Right''
* ''ATA Scholarly Monograph Series''—Published annually by John Benjamins.
Awards
The ATA presents the following annual and biennial awards "to encourage, reward, and publicize outstanding work":
Lewis Galantière Award
The ATA bestows the Lewis Galantière Award even-numbered years for a book-length translation into English, from a language other than German. Galantière was founding member of the association.Arthur Goldhammer
Arthur Goldhammer (born November 17, 1946) is an American academic and translator.
Early life
Goldhammer studied mathematics at MIT, gaining his PhD in 1973.
Career
Since 1977 he has worked as a translator. He is based at the Center for Euro ...
*2014: Juliet Winters Carpenter
*2016: Katrina Dodson
*2018: Sam Taylor
*2020: Michael Meigs
*2022: Natasha Wimmer
Ungar German Translation Award
The Ungar German Translation Award is given in odd-numbered years, for a book-length translation from German into English.
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,
Audiovisual Division
* Chinese Language Division
Dutch Language Division
Educators Division
French Language Division
German Language Division
Government Division
Interpreters Division
Italian Language Division
Japanese Language Division
Korean Language Division
Language Technology Division
Law Division
Literary Division
Medical Division
Nordic Division
Portuguese Language Division
Science and Technology Division
Slavic Languages Division
Spanish Language Division
Translation Company Division
ATA chapters
ATA chapters and affiliates provide regional information, marketing, networking, and support services to local translators and interpreters.
Association of Translators and Interpreters of Florida (ATIF)
Atlanta Association of Interpreters and Translators (AAIT)
Carolina Association of Interpreters and Translators (CATI)
Colorado Translators Association (CTA)
Delaware Valley Translators Association (DVTA)
Michigan Translators/Interpreters Network (MiTiN)
Mid-America Chapter of ATA (MICATA)
Midwest Association of Translators and Interpreters (MATI)
National Capital Area Chapter of the ATA (NCATA)
New York Circle of Translators (NYCT)
Northeast Ohio Translators Association (NOTA)
Northern California Translators Association (NCTA)
Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society (NOTIS)
Upper Midwest Translators and Interpreters Association (UMTIA)
Affiliated groups
Association of Translators and Interpreters in the San Diego Area (ATISDA)
Austin Area Translators and Interpreters Association (AATIA)
El Paso Interpreters and Translators Association (EPITA)
Houston Interpreters and Translators Association (HITA)
Iowa Interpreters and Translators Association (IITA)
Nebraska Association of Translators and Interpreters (NATI)
Nevada Interpreters and Translators Association (NITA)
New Mexico Translators and Interpreters Association (NMTIA)
Oregon Society of Translators and Interpreters (OSTI)
Tennessee Association of Professional Interpreters and Translators (TAPIT)
Utah Translators and Interpreters Association (UTIA)
See also
* List of translators and interpreters associations
References
External links
American Translators Association (ATA)
ATA Chronicle Online
{{Authority control
Professional associations based in the United States
Translation associations of the United States
Organizations based in Alexandria, Virginia
1959 establishments in the United States
Organizations established in 1959