Interview Campaign for Translators: Milena Alvarez from Venezuela
By Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik e.V.- Another interview with a professional translator about her work, and her ideas about intercultural communication. What Milena Alvarez tells me about herself: Born in Caracas, Venezuela, with a BA on Modern Languages (UNIMET), a
Diploma in Translation (UNIMET), MA on Marketing Management (UNIMET), a Diploma
on TIC’s (UNIMET), and just finished the Legal Translation Program for Sworn
Translators at CENDECO (UNIMET), also in Caracas, Venezuela. I worked for 10
years in the Pharmaceutical Industry taking charge of the Corporate Image of
all the packaging materials in one of the top 5 Pharmaceutical Laboratories in
Venezuela, being in touch with all the procedures for launching a new drug into
the market, coordinating all the marketing, regulatory, legal, operative
information needed to be on the packages, in order to have them available for
the public, complying with all governmental, GMP and GDP requirements. I
attended many conference calls as a participant or interpreter, reviewed and
standardized the regulatory and legal information, as well as procedures for
all the packaging materials of 384 SKU’s, and kept in touch with all
subsidiaries and providers from other countries to maintain a consistent
corporate image along with the standards. As a freelancer, I’ve worked for the
last three years in legal translations for civil, academic and mercantile
documents for companies as well as for individuals. Even though I’m not a sworn
translator yet, I work with a colleague who is. The objective of my work is to
make people’s communications easier among different cultures. That is not only
for my translations, but for everything I do in life. I’m Catholic and actively
participate in my parish as a Eucharist musician, accompanying the Mass
celebration as well as some events related. I’m also a single mom of a teenager
who just graduated from high school.
Diploma in Translation (UNIMET), MA on Marketing Management (UNIMET), a Diploma
on TIC’s (UNIMET), and just finished the Legal Translation Program for Sworn
Translators at CENDECO (UNIMET), also in Caracas, Venezuela. I worked for 10
years in the Pharmaceutical Industry taking charge of the Corporate Image of
all the packaging materials in one of the top 5 Pharmaceutical Laboratories in
Venezuela, being in touch with all the procedures for launching a new drug into
the market, coordinating all the marketing, regulatory, legal, operative
information needed to be on the packages, in order to have them available for
the public, complying with all governmental, GMP and GDP requirements. I
attended many conference calls as a participant or interpreter, reviewed and
standardized the regulatory and legal information, as well as procedures for
all the packaging materials of 384 SKU’s, and kept in touch with all
subsidiaries and providers from other countries to maintain a consistent
corporate image along with the standards. As a freelancer, I’ve worked for the
last three years in legal translations for civil, academic and mercantile
documents for companies as well as for individuals. Even though I’m not a sworn
translator yet, I work with a colleague who is. The objective of my work is to
make people’s communications easier among different cultures. That is not only
for my translations, but for everything I do in life. I’m Catholic and actively
participate in my parish as a Eucharist musician, accompanying the Mass
celebration as well as some events related. I’m also a single mom of a teenager
who just graduated from high school.
1.-
What are the principal linguistic and intercultural problems for translators
into and from the languages you handle?
What are the principal linguistic and intercultural problems for translators
into and from the languages you handle?
Regarding
the linguistic problems, I would say the way the writer uses language.
Sometimes the ideas are not completely clear and I have to figure out what they
meant by asking the writer or looking for opinions from colleagues.
the linguistic problems, I would say the way the writer uses language.
Sometimes the ideas are not completely clear and I have to figure out what they
meant by asking the writer or looking for opinions from colleagues.
Now,
regarding intercultural problems, the main problem is to know if the tone and
perception of the situation described or content written is used in the target
language. It is very important to understand how that target language work in
the field and situation expressed in the source language.
regarding intercultural problems, the main problem is to know if the tone and
perception of the situation described or content written is used in the target
language. It is very important to understand how that target language work in
the field and situation expressed in the source language.
2.-What do you think is important to promote intercultural dialogue?
It
is important to promote intercultural dialogue to smooth and improve
relationships between people from different cultures as we live in a globalized
environment, the information travels so fast, and we all definitely depend on
each other to build a peaceful and happy place to live in. To get there, it is
important to respect each other and that is only possible if we know and
interact willingly with other people.
is important to promote intercultural dialogue to smooth and improve
relationships between people from different cultures as we live in a globalized
environment, the information travels so fast, and we all definitely depend on
each other to build a peaceful and happy place to live in. To get there, it is
important to respect each other and that is only possible if we know and
interact willingly with other people.
3.-
How can translations improve communication between peoples and promote a
culture of inclusion and peace?
How can translations improve communication between peoples and promote a
culture of inclusion and peace?
Translations
are the channel to show a side of the world to other people who don’t know a
language. There is a lot of information that can’t be known by others unless
translated. And not everybody speaks the same languages. Even in the same
culture, there are variations that change perspectives on the same issues and
experiences. In addition, there is a remarkable phenomenon when a culture teaches
another culture about itself and vice versa. We know that by knowing other
languages and cultures, our mind becomes more widen, we learn to see and
perceive things from different points of view, and gives us the awareness that
we are so similar and different than any other person.
are the channel to show a side of the world to other people who don’t know a
language. There is a lot of information that can’t be known by others unless
translated. And not everybody speaks the same languages. Even in the same
culture, there are variations that change perspectives on the same issues and
experiences. In addition, there is a remarkable phenomenon when a culture teaches
another culture about itself and vice versa. We know that by knowing other
languages and cultures, our mind becomes more widen, we learn to see and
perceive things from different points of view, and gives us the awareness that
we are so similar and different than any other person.
4.-
How can you explain to foreigners how different your native language is?
How can you explain to foreigners how different your native language is?
My
language is Spanish from Venezuela. I consider every language as a person, even
variants would be like the members of a family. For instance, you have a Father
who speaks firmly and advises on what’s right and wrong. But your Mother
teaches you how to eat, walk, talk, play, etc. by describing everything in a
very detailed manner. Then comes you brother who bugs you with very short
sentences and short-concrete words that gets you lost at first, but then you
get used to it and start talking to him in a similar way, so you can understand
each other.
language is Spanish from Venezuela. I consider every language as a person, even
variants would be like the members of a family. For instance, you have a Father
who speaks firmly and advises on what’s right and wrong. But your Mother
teaches you how to eat, walk, talk, play, etc. by describing everything in a
very detailed manner. Then comes you brother who bugs you with very short
sentences and short-concrete words that gets you lost at first, but then you
get used to it and start talking to him in a similar way, so you can understand
each other.
My
language is in short a very romantic and happy person, who enjoys having fun
very much, and when it gets serious, talks a lot.
language is in short a very romantic and happy person, who enjoys having fun
very much, and when it gets serious, talks a lot.
5.-
How can your language to foreigners in the best way?
How can your language to foreigners in the best way?
Immerse
yourself with all your senses and live it while learning. Don’t worry about
mistakes, you’ll get better soon. Just feel it, use it, live it.
yourself with all your senses and live it while learning. Don’t worry about
mistakes, you’ll get better soon. Just feel it, use it, live it.
6.-
What are the principal problems you have when they have to translate into a
European language?
What are the principal problems you have when they have to translate into a
European language?
The
cultural issue: I’ve never been in Europe, neither have contact with people
born there on a regular basis. So, I believe I need to learn the manners,
expressions of feelings and jargon of that particular country in order to be
able to do it right.
cultural issue: I’ve never been in Europe, neither have contact with people
born there on a regular basis. So, I believe I need to learn the manners,
expressions of feelings and jargon of that particular country in order to be
able to do it right.
7.-
What does intercultural awareness and intercultural empathy mean to you?
What does intercultural awareness and intercultural empathy mean to you?
Intercultural
awareness means to conscious about there being many different cultures from
yours and many different points of view. Intercultural empathy is the ability
of understanding the meaning of being different and make others be comfortable
with it.
awareness means to conscious about there being many different cultures from
yours and many different points of view. Intercultural empathy is the ability
of understanding the meaning of being different and make others be comfortable
with it.
