The Association of Translators and Interpreters of Florida (ATIF) is organizing a 4-hour workshop on January 18th [next week!] on DNA Forensics at Duval Courthouse in Jacksonville, Florida.
Category Archives: News
High court judges should be bilingual…
… according to the President of the Quebec Bar Association, on the occasion of the formal swearing-in ceremony of the newest judge at Supreme Court of Canada. The head of the bar declared “it is essential” that high court judges be drawn from the ranks of the best legal minds who “master” both official languages “given Canada’s linguistic diversity.”
The recently elected Mr Justice Richard Wagner is bilingual, as was Justice Marie Deschamps, who he replaces.
Another think struck me though, in addition to the arguments about linguistic diversity – how about the argument for bilinguallism and multilingualism as a way to open the mind? 🙂
International best wishes for 2013 from WordstoDeeds
Very best wishes to all readers from all over the world. Thanks to statistics from WordPress, I can see that the blog has been read by people from the countries below. Humbling indeed!
Most read posts 2012
For all those who have started to follow the blog since the beginning of the year, or anyone who might have missed a post, here is a summary of the most read posts of the year. I’ve grouped them into ‘families’ for ease of use.
Actually, though, there is a really wide spread over the posts, and, even more pleasing for me, people continue to call up old posts a long time after their publication. As a blogger, it is really satisfying to know that the posts are still useful and don’t fall into the “published and forgotten” basket!
Season’s Greetings from WordstoDeeds
As I imagine that at least some of you might be getting ready to rush off on holidays tomorrow, I thought would post my very best seasonal wishes today.
I’ve chosen this picture as I know that many of you live in places where it may not be cold – and maybe some of you are even off to warmer climes for a vacation!
Thank you all so much for following the blog, and have a wonderful relaxing time!
By the way, don’t forget that eating mince pies in the UK on Christmas Day is banned 😉
E-asy ways to do good during the festive season (and beyond)
Here is just a small selection of ideas, but apart from Kiva and UNVolunteers they are mainly UK- or US-based (also accessible from elsewhere).
Please do share your ideas from around the world too!
Medicines Patent Pool
I have blogged before about the great initiative TEDTalks, and here is one that I think might interest you. Ellen ’t Hoen is an independent medicines law and policy consultant. In 2009, she founded the Medicines Patent Pool at WHO/UNITAID, to accelerate the availability of low-cost HIV treatments, especially antiretroviral medicines, in developing countries through patent licensing.
She recently gave a TEDxTalk in Geneva, Switzerland, about how collaboration from drug companies can allow AIDS drugs to be made available at a much lower cost.
Here is her talk, entitled “Pool medical patents, save lives“.
You might also be interested in two other TEDTalk posts – Plain language in Portugal, and Arianna Huffington on sleep habits – How to succeed? Get more sleep.
Openings for UN interpreters & translators
The United Nations has advertised some openings for interpreters, and for translators, to be located in either Vienna, Nairobi, New York or Geneva.
As far as I can see, languages currently sought are:
- English interpreters (from French and Russian)
- French interpreters (from English and Spanish; English and Russian; or English, Spanish and Russian)
- Arabic translators (from English and at least one of the other official languages of the United Nations (Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish)
EU unitary patent package about to be passed?
A press release last week explained how, after over 30 years of trying, the European Parliament and the Council are close to agreeing on how to create an EU-wide patent regime to protect inventions better, cut costs and boost competitiveness.
The European patent with unitary effect relies upon three separate pieces of legislation (unitary patent, language regime and unified patent court), drawn up via three different procedures.
Signage changes in Quebec
The major brands Walmart, Costco, Best Buy, Gap, Old Navy and Guess are taking legal action against the Government of Quebec. This follows language requirements issued by Quebec’s language watchdog, the Office québécois de la langue française, according to which firms either need to have a generic French name or to add an explanatory byline in French.
The legal issue revolves around this being simply a new interpretation of an old law¹, whereas according to the retailers, no new legislation has been passed.
From Words to Deeds: translation & the law 
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