Released on: July 1, 2008, 4:51 pm

Press Release Author: Houston Interpreters & Translators Association

Industry: International Trade

Press Release Summary: Interpreters & translators from across the region will
convene in Houston on September 26 & 27 for the HITA International Translation Day
Celebration & Conference.

Press Release Body: The work of interpreters and translators has long been
commemorated on St. Jerome's Day (September 30). St. Jerome was a biblical scholar
who also contributed to the art and theory of translation. In 1991, The
International Federation of Translators (FIT) launched the Annual International
Translation Day celebration on this date.

This year, in honor of International Translation Day, the Houston Interpreters and
Translators Association (HITA) will host a conference for interpreters and
translators in Southeast Texas and the Gulf Coast. The HITA International
Translation Day Conference will pay tribute to FIT's chosen theme, "Terminology:
Words Matter."

Professionals from various fields will present on topics related to the use of
specialized terminology in their given field. Legal, educational, healthcare and oil
& gas professionals will be just some of the guest speakers for this event. "Every
industry has its own jargon. Our job, as interpreters and translators, is to convey
the meaning of the message in another language. This can be quite a challenge when
equivalent terms or expressions haven't been translated or don't even exist in the
target language. In order to do our work with accuracy and completeness, we must
understand the exact meaning of such industry-specific terms," states Jorge Ungo,
Director of Professional Development for HITA. Attendees of the conference will
receive reference materials such as glossaries of specialized terminology from each
session.

"During each presentation, we will stress the value and importance of translators
and interpreters knowing the correct terminology, jargon, regionalisms, and slang
used on a daily basis in our courtrooms, during depositions, workers compensation
hearings, doctor's appointments, etc.," stated Sandra Dejeux, HITA's Social Chair.
"It is crucial to create an awareness of the impact that mistranslation,
misinterpretation, or alteration of the message can have on the outcome of a trial
or even someone's life."

The International Translation Day conference will kick off on Friday, September
26th, with the annual HITA International Translation Day Celebration at The Black
Swan located in the Omni Houston Hotel (4 Riverway, Houston, TX 77056). The
celebration will be a terrific opportunity to unwind after a long week and network
with other professionals in the field as well as with potential clients. The
conference will convene on Saturday, September 27th, at the United Way Center at 50
Waugh Drive in Houston. The keynote speaker for the event will be Verónica Albin,
author, translator, interpreter, educator, and lexicographer!

"Frequently, the workshops presented at translation and interpreting conferences
focus on protocol, ethics, and how to convert the message, all of which are
incredibly important! This year, however, we chose to go a different route and
really focus on the words," said Mr. Ungo. "The words really do matter."

For more information about the HITA International Translation Day Celebration &
Conference, please visit http://www.hitagroup.org.

Web Site: http://www.hitagroup.org

Contact Details: Jorge U. Ungo
Director of Professional Development
Houston Interpreters & Translators Association
P.O. Box 58182
Houston TX 77258-8182
Phone: 713.725.6621
E-mail: development@hitagroup.org