Author: Melissa Mann

Dear English-B Interpreter Friends,

(First, my short letter to you to using words from Post #6)

Bureaucracy – its seems to flippantly play a leading role in the play of my life despite my most concerted efforts to drop it from the script. I have resigned myself to the fact that this is a regular occurrence for everything from licensing my car to designing and installing a new closet, and I am not so naive as to think the red tape is at all particular to this country (just go to the DMV of any state in the US or snicker at the etymology of the word in the first place). What is aggravating in Brazil, though, is that here the inefficient rules and regulations usually come with prattle because Brazilians like to talk at length about anything and everything even when there is nothing whatsoever worth talking about, which I attribute more to the bureaucrat’s empathy at my being asked to follow 20 steps when 2 would suffice than to disingenuous attempts to divert me from my objective. Of course, catch me on the wrong day, and the incessant jabbering in Portuguese coupled with the already nerve-racking paperwork and protocol proves extra fodder for my possibly having a nervous breakdown. I honestly try not to cower at the 20 bureaucratic tasks ahead if I have a worthy objective (e.g. I need to license the car), but for amenities that are not so pressing (e.g. installing a new closet), when faced with 20 steps plus the carpenter’s telling me about his great uncle’s slipped disc and youngest daughter’s good-for-nothing boyfriend, I waffle about whether the objective is truly worth it. God grant me patience (or God grant that you be far away from me when I am frazzled and facing step 19 while counseling my carpenter).

Suggestions always welcome. Forwarding and sharing encouraged.

Happy words,
Melissa

*** FIVE WORDS (IN CONTEXT) TO BRING INTO THE BOOTH ***
UNBRIDLED
* As used in the body of this letter by Pope Francis to Prime Minister Tony Abbott of Australia (#geopolitics, #environment, #vatican)
* Bonus use: check out Kentucky’s creative use of the double-meaning of the word in its state slogan.
* As an interpreting opportunity from this excellent roundtable discussion in Spanish about access to justice in Latin America (#latam, #law)
ref. “problemas culturales, o sea machismo desatado” (24:50) – unbridled machismo
SUBSERVIENT
* As used in the body of a blog post lambasting an NYC school principle for deriding Spanish speakers (#education, #languages)
* As an interpreting opportunity from a speech on studies into legalizing medical marijuana
ref. “ciência não é uma coisa neutra; ela é totalmente servil à economia” (11:50) – science is subservient to the economy
SANCTIMONIOUS
* As used in this Toronto Sun op-ed on politicians versus Uber (#technology, #regulations, #transportation)
RECANT
* As used in the body of this Reuters article about exonerating wrongfully held inmates (#law)
RIVETING
* As used in the headline of this public radio review of the acclaimed movie Whiplash (#film, #art)

Dear English-B Interpreter Friends,

(First, my short letter to you to using words from Post #5)

I spent last week on a one-week vacation. For those chalking up my walking away from the year’s heaviest week of work to indolence, my justification for having voluntarily sidelined myself professionally is that the getaway was given to me as a gift (cue romantic sigh). But despite the poor timing and colleagues’ misgivings, I do admit to having always been a staunch supporter of the proverb “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” That said, I am incapable of completely disengaging from all things language and politics related, so while in Colombia I did read the newspapers copiously and chat with locals endlessly. The day I left, the president acerbically lambasted the FARC and suspended peace talks following accusations that the infamous organization had kidnapped a Colombian army general and taken two others captive – two years after having promised to cease their kidnappings-for-ransom financing operations. After my having spent a whole week listening to bombastic cumbia blasting from the parade floats in celebration of Cartagena’s 203 years of independence, listening to the mayor extol the virtues of freedom and tolerance, watching everyone dance, prance and joyously spray each other with some fetid, foam-like goop – all frivolities that life should afford every human being on earth (perhaps sans the conjunctivitis-causing aerosol cans), I left Colombia hoping that the kidnappings are not ultimately attributed to the FARC and that peace talks do resume.

Suggestions always welcome. Forwarding and sharing encouraged.

Happy words,
Melissa

*** FIVE WORDS (IN CONTEXT) TO BRING INTO THE BOOTH ***
FLIPPANT
* As used in the body of this Washington Post review of the new TV series “State of Affairs” – good for those of you who have an admitted addiction to political, Washington-based drama series (#tv)
* As an interpreting opportunity from a Danilo Gentili interview in Portuguese with Luciana Genro regarding her presidential candidacy
ref. “mas como olha essas pesquisas sacanas aí” (5:54) – flippant polls
DISINGENUOUS
* As used in the headline of an opinion note published in Canada’s Financial Post about greenhouse gas controls for liquid natural gas producers (#environment, #oil&gas)
* As an interpreting opportunity from a Jorge Ramos interview in Spanish with Priest Solalinde regarding the missing students
ref. “es un gobierno que simula, que estamos viand cosas como ésta” (2:46) – disingenuous government
WAFFLE (verb)
* As used in this New York Times book review on the biography of Nelson Rockefeller (#books)
PRATTLE
* As used in the body of this Foreign Policy article about US foreign policy in a globalized world (#geopolitics)
COWER
* As used in the heading of this Gawker article calling out the New York Times on how it responds to government pressure (#journalism)

Dear English-B Interpreter Friends,

(First, my short letter to you to using words from Post #3)

Though my schedule (i.e. the fact that I need to deliver translations urgently) is steadfast in its attempt to stymie my commitment to bringing you these posts, I doggedly persevere. This takes more time than one might imagine. Choosing five worthy words and then spotting a single word or phrase in two videos that lead to the week’s big booth words beleaguers my patience and makes me question my sanity. I worry that I am devoting too much time to this and not to my more immediate tasks. Yet, despite the negative short-term consequences (e.g. lost sleep because I have not extended my translation delivery times), I forge unflinchingly ahead. The truth is I find these little weekly posts provide me a welcome dose of geeky challenge (yes, I have an admitted word addiction I am not willing to quit). Finding fresh articles about the myriad topics I (we) encounter in the booth forces me not to fall into the common habit of cursory readings. And reviewing video after video after video heightens my sensitivity to the many ways I can observe, accept and question the role of individual words in shaping my (and our) performance in the booth. As they certainly are for me, may these posts be a harbinger of ever increasing booth conscientiousness for all.

Suggestions always welcome. Forwarding and sharing encouraged.

Happy words,
Melissa

*** FIVE WORDS (IN CONTEXT) TO BRING INTO THE BOOTH ***
JEOPARDIZE
* As used in the title and body of this Reuters article about negotiations between North and South Korea (#geopolitics)
* As an interpreting opportunity from a news story about the rains and harvest in Minas Gerais in Portuguese
ref. “tem provocado todos esses efeitos na lavoura” (0:35) – since the effects are all negative.
EGREGIOUS
* As used in the body of this Eu Observer article about the German Court taking issue with the European Central Bank’s Outright Monetary Transactions program (#banking, #monetarypolicy)
* As an interpreting opportunity from a news story about the missing students in Mexico in Spanish
ref. “Peña Nieto calificó estos actos indignantes” (1:11)
REDOLENT
* As used in the body of this New York Times article about how olfactory receptors have functions and provide benefits far beyond our sense of smell (#science, #health)
GARNER
* As used in the body of this Deutsche Welle article about one of the top players in the “sharing economy” (#tourism, #economy, #entrepreneurship, #sociology, #IT)
SNARKY
* As used in the first paragraph of this New York Times movie review about “Dear White People” (#sociology, #art, #film)
{cameo appearance = solipsistic, one of our Post #1 words}

Dear English-B Interpreter Friends,

(First, my short letter to you to using words from Post #2)

For the first two weeks of this endeavor, I was still looking for a name. Big Booth Words seemed so plain. In the midst of my innocently contemplating a more creative title, my colleague reminded me that BBW is redolent of something other than Big Booth Words. For those who wish to brush up on pop-terminology for something as old as time itself (if you haven’t already figured out the reference), click here and Wikipedia will bring you up to date. I didn’t take her comment as a snarky remark by any means, but I did hear in her voice a bit of concern as to whether associating Big Booth Words with matters of the flesh would jeopardize the intent of my regular e-mail. Nah, I thought. I find the connection amusing and jocular – à la a Botero painting. And I can think of far more egregious deeds than kind of impishly playing off the double meaning of BBW to garner support for the digest. So, my dear readers, since calling this post Very Voluptuous Vocabulary would just be too base, BBW it shall remain.

Suggestions always welcome. Forwarding and sharing encouraged.

Happy words,
Melissa

*** FIVE WORDS (IN CONTEXT) TO BRING INTO THE BOOTH ***
BANE
* As used in the title of this AllAfrica article about Nigerian leadership and politics (#politics)
* As an interpreting opportunity from a talk in Portuguese by Luciano Huck discussing entrepreneurship.
ref. “o terror da era digital” (1:23) – the bane of the digital era
WRITHE
* As used in the body of this Business Insider article about the British economy (#banking, #economy)
* As an interpreting opportunity from a talk in Spanish about project success
ref. “si el cliente te hace la cobra” (0:42) – if the client starts writhing (this one comes with a photo so it’s imperative to come up with snake-related words)
ACRIMONY (and ACRIMONIOUS)
* As used in the body of this Economist article about the EU Summit as the member states debate the (sad) economy and climate change (#environment; #geopolitics)
PENCHANT
* As used in the title of this Science Daily article about findings from research into prostate cancer (#science, #medicine)
* And as used in the title of this movie review by The Guardian of Night Train to Lisbon (#art, #film)
RIPOSTE
* As used in the title of this Financial Times article about pharmaceutical companies and profits (#business)

Dear English-B Interpreter Friends,

(First, my short letter to you to using words from Post #1)

I received one particularly intriguing response to my fledgling word endeavor (still unnamed) in which the reader argued that any actual use of the blog’s suggested words in her regular interpreting work would be tantamount to incongruent contemporary use of vocabulary reserved for bygone orators (or perhaps for a bygone public since she listed eulogies among the few situations in which she could truly use the words). Her message was: the word choices are great (in a quirky, bookish way), but claiming we can actually use these words while interpreting is spurious. I am no solipsistic interpreter – you know those people, the ones who disregard the myriad lessons offered to us free of charge through the helpful critiques or the trials and errors of our peers – so I am embracing the indirect challenge of that e-mail to adjust the format and meaning of my inchoate digest.

First, the weekly digest will now begin with a short missive that employs all the words suggested in the previous mailing. Second, the first two words of the week will also be followed by a link to a video (one in Portuguese and one Spanish) in which the deverbalization of a specific phrase (exact minute noted) could possibly prompt the interpreter to use the word. Yes, the idea really is to use these words in the booth (and wherever else we interpret).

Suggestions always welcome. Forwarding and sharing encouraged.

Happy words,
Melissa

*** FIVE WORDS (IN CONTEXT) TO BRING INTO THE BOOTH ***
STYMIE
* As used in the headline of this article about wildlife exploitation in Brazil
* As an interpreting opportunity from an interview with former President FHC in Portuguese
ref. “esse marketismo atrapalha muito” (2:05)
UNFLINCHING(LY)
* As used in the body of this opinion piece criticizing Obama’s disengaged attitude
* As an interpreting opportunity from a TED talk by Omar Villalobos about tapping into your inner genius in Spanish
ref. “yo lo creo rotundamente” (1:55)
CURSORY
* As used in the body of this opinion article about perceptions of corruption in Ireland
HARBINGER
* As used in the abstract of this scientific article about olfactory dysfunction and the end of life
BELEAGUER
* As used in the body of this magazine article about Nobel Prizes and translations

Interpreter Friends,

I am toying with the idea of sending out a concise weekly e-mail containing five carefully chosen vocabulary words with examples of their use in fields we inevitably encounter in the booth. Today is D-Day for my yet-untitled endeavor (creative monikers welcome), and you are all my dear, unwitting guinea pigs. This idea is still in its infancy, and my list of “subscribers” is manual. Please let me know if you would like to (continue to) receive these e-mails (silence will be interpreted as a request for removal) and/or if you think a colleague might enjoy them and/or if you have any suggestions for future digests.

Happy words,
Melissa

P.S. For safety’s sake, please refrain from using these words when your English-listening audience comprises predominantly non-native listeners.

*** FIVE WORDS (IN CONTEXT) TO BRING INTO THE BOOTH ***
SPURIOUS – As used here. Life Sciences.
TANTAMOUNT – As used here. Politics.
INCHOATE – As used here. Economics. Note, the term has a different meaning in the field of Law.
FLEDGLING – As used here. Business.
SOLIPSISM / SOLIPSISTIC – As used here. Art & Culture