1.15.2011

"You know you're a freelance translator when...

…you consider yourself really lucky, because you work at home and have a ten-foot commute.
…you consider yourself really unlucky, because you work at home, so you never get to go home from work.
…coffee is a legitimate business expense.
…you have not actually laid eyes on any of your clients.
…you think of time as an elastic concept that will stretch to cover whatever crazy amount of work you take on.
"...you have four projects due at 6 PM ... fortunately, one is 6 PM Eastern Standard Time, one is 6 PM Berlin time, one is 6 PM Moscow time, and one is 6 PM Tokyo time.
…you would give your right butt cheek for a comfortable office chair.
…you can sleep sitting up and type with your eyes closed— all at the same time.
…your idea of exercise is getting up to refill your coffee mug, and of a good workout is when you forget to take the coffee mug with you the first time so you have to return to get it.
"...you finish chatting with the barista at Starbucks and know that that's going to be the extent of your conversation for the day.
"...a little break from work usually involves dishes or laundry or cat litter.
"...a T-shirt and sweatpants constitute formal business attire; for casual Fridays, you just stay in your pajamas."
"...one word can require hours of research, but despite getting paid just a few cents for that one word, you do the research anyway.
...not only you do know the difference between a participle and a gerund - you actually care."
- How true!
Source: http://www.proz.com/forum/translation_theory_and_practice/177064-slavfile_newsletter%3A_you_know_youre_a_freelance_translator_when.html

1.10.2011

The Stylistics - You Make Me Feel Brand New

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyD5tAGBP9U

COMMUNAL AREAS

áreas comuns: é assim que se chama a área comum do seu prédio.
Fire safety – Don’t get a red card
The Fire Safety Act 2005 places a duty on the council to make sure that all communal areas in blocks of flats are kept completely clear of items that could burn, at all times.
To help us carry out this duty we have introduced a card system.
White: This card lets residents know that we think items in the communal areas belong to them and gives them a chance to move them.
Yellow: This is a reminder to move the items before you pay the price as we will charge them if we have to move the items.
Red: Your last chance. 24 hours left for you to remove them.
Items that cannot be kept in communal areas include:
Pushchairs, Furniture, Bicycles, Motorcycles, Mobility scooters, Plants, Rubbish bags

1.05.2011

ANNUAL MEETING (US) / ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (UK)

(noun) yearly meeting, usually of shareholders (US term) "The shareholders elected the members of the board of directors at the annual meeting."
Synonyms: annual general meeting (AGM): used in the UK
Common phrases:
"The issue will be put before shareholders at the annual meeting."
"The minutes of the annual meeting were reviewed and signed."
"We will hold the annual meeting on May 15, 2010."
"Please state whether you intend to attend the annual meeting."
Related phrases:
special meeting (US) - any general meeting of the company other than an annual meeting
extraordinary general meeting (UK) - any general meeting of the company other than an annual general meeting
Common mistake:
One sometimes hears "annual meeting of shareholders". However, the use of the phrase "of shareholders" is unnecessary. [vivendis & aprendendis!]

1.03.2011

12.29.2010

THEFT = LARCENY, BURGLARY AND ROBBERY

Theft and larceny are synonymous and require only the simple taking of almost anything of value with the intent to keep it. (Thief)
Burglary is an illegal entry into a building together with a taking.
Robbery is a forcible taking from a person, usually with the threat of violence. (Robber)
Source: Translegal

12.22.2010

HAPPY XMAS TO YOU ALL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGCfMyGwrfs&feature=fvsr
(Thirty years ago, on December 8, 1980, I was in NYC and, while strolling around, I saw a crowd in front of the Dakota...) 
But today is a Happy Day! My daughter arrived safely! Thanks, God!


Happy Christmas, by John Lennon
xxxx(Happy Christmas, Yoko)
xxxx(Happy Christmas, Julian)
And so this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so Happy Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young
xxxxA very Merry Christmas
xxxxAnd a Happy New Year
xxxxLet's hope it's a good one
xxxxWithout any fear
And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
The rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong
And so Happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight
xxxxA very Merry Christmas
xxxxAnd a Happy New Year
xxxxLet's hope it's a good one
xxxxWithout any fear
...the war is over ...
...if you want it...
...the war is over...
...now...

12.20.2010

WHITE CHRISTMAS

My daughter is grounded at Heathrow.
------------------------------------------------------
WHITE CHRISTMAS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HrAy5xqzOs
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
-----------------------------------------------------
Please, snow, stop! It's enough!

12.14.2010

INTER ALIA / INTER ALIOS

         The term inter alia (meaning “among other things”) [entre outras coisas) is one of the few Latin phrases that is still widely used, both in legal and non-legal writing.
        When referring to people, the phrase inter alios, which means “among other people”[entre outros], should be used.
Source: Translegal

11.30.2010

JUDGMENT

The judgment of a court is simply the decision of the court on a particular matter or case, but the spelling of judgment is not so simple. In fact spelling it with two "E"s can set off some readers, including professors and judges ...
Source: Translegal

11.19.2010

ATTORNEY / BARRISTER / LAWYER / SOLICITOR

In practice, legal jurisdictions exercise their right to determine who is recognized as being a lawyer; as a result, the meaning of the term "lawyer" may vary from place to place.[4]


In Australia the word "lawyer" is used to refer to both barristers and solicitors (whether in private practice or practising as corporate in-house counsel).

In Canada, the word "lawyer" only refers to individuals who have been called to the bar or have qualified as civil law notaries in the province of Quebec. Common law lawyers in Canada may also be known as "barristers and solicitors", but should not be referred to as "attorneys", since that term has a different meaning in Canadian usage. However, in Quebec, civil law advocates (or avocats in French) often call themselves "attorney" and sometimes "barrister and solicitor".

In England and Wales, "lawyer" is used loosely to refer to a broad variety of law-trained persons. It includes practitioners such as barristers, solicitors, legal executives and licensed conveyancers; and people who are involved with the law but do not practise it on behalf of individual clients, such as judges, court clerks, and drafters of legislation.

In India, the term "lawyer" is often colloquially used, but the official term is "advocate" as prescribed under the Advocates Act, 1961.[5]

In Scotland, the word "lawyer" refers to a more specific group of legally trained people. It specifically includes advocates and solicitors. In a generic sense, it may also include judges and law-trained support staff.

In the United States, the term generally refers to attorneys who may practice law; it is never used to refer to patent agents[6] or paralegals.[7]

Other nations tend to have comparable terms for the analogous concept.
Source: Answers.com

11.09.2010

MAINSTREAM

n. The prevailing current of thought, influence, or activity:
"You need not accept the nominee's ideology, only be able to locate it in the American mainstream" (Charles Krauthammer).
adj. Representing the prevalent attitudes, values, and practices of a society or group: mainstream morality.
tr.v., -streamed, -stream·ing, -streams.
1.To integrate (a student with special needs) into regular school classes.
E.g.: We have already taken a number of proactive measures to mainstream disability equality
2.To incorporate into a prevailing group.
mainstreamer : n.
Source: Answers.com

11.07.2010

CARTA A UM JOVEM ESCRITOR

       (também aplicável, MUTATIS MUTANDIS, a quem deseja ser tradutor)
Por: LEYLA PERRONE-MOISÉS
Prezadíssimo(a) candidato(a) a escritor(a),
        Você me pergunta se seu texto é bom. Pergunta-o a mim, depois de o ter perguntado a outras pessoas. Manda-o a periódicos, compara-o com outros textos e inquieta-se quando suas tentativas são recusadas por um ou outro editor. Pois bem: usando da licença que me deu de aconselhá-lo(a), envio-lhe algumas instruções. Você está preocupado(a) com o valor de seu texto e isso é atualmente incerto. O "bom" ficou muito relativo.
        Não há senão um caminho. Investigue o motivo que o manda escrever; examine se estende suas raízes pelos recantos mais profundos de sua alma; confesse a si mesmo: morrerá, se não for editado? Desistirá, se jamais ganhar algum prêmio? Isto, acima de tudo: pergunte a si mesmo na hora mais tranquila de sua noite: "Serei convidado para uma Flip?" Escave dentro de si uma resposta profunda. Se for afirmativa, se puder contestar àquelas perguntas severas por um forte e simples "sim", então construa a sua vida de acordo com aquelas necessidades. Sua vida, até em sua hora mais indiferente e anódina, deverá tornar-se o sinal e o testemunho de tal pressão: seu visual deverá indicá-lo.
        Aproxime-se, então, dos meios literários. Participe de bate-papos em livrarias, cafés e bares. Inscreva-se em todas as festas literárias, do Oiapoque ao Chuí. Evite as formas já consagradas, pois dá muito trabalho produzir algo pessoal num domínio em que sobram tradições boas, algumas brilhantes. Eis por que não deve ler os escritores do passado. Em vez disso, faça um curso de escrita criativa, para aprender alguns truques. Esqueça a gramática, ela está em desuso.
        Fuja dos motivos gerais para aqueles que sua própria existência cotidiana lhe oferece: relate suas mágoas e seus desejos, seus pensamentos passageiros, suas manias, e sobretudo sua sexualidade. Se a própria existência cotidiana lhe parecer pobre, não a acuse. Acuse a si mesmo, diga consigo que não é suficientemente escritor para extrair suas riquezas. Ambientes pobres, mesquinhos ou mesmo sórdidos podem ser matéria de textos fortes e engajados.
        Mesmo que se encontrasse numa prisão, cujas paredes impedissem todos os ruídos do mundo de chegar aos seus ouvidos, não lhe ficaria sempre a internet, esta esplêndida e régia riqueza, esse tesouro de relacionamentos? Pois bem: coloque seu melhor retrato no Facebook, mantenha um blog e não se esqueça de compor textos de até 140 toques para o Twitter.
        Se você ainda acredita no livro de papel e nenhuma editora quiser publicá-lo, faça-o você mesmo. Com um bom equipamento, qualquer um, hoje em dia, pode fabricar livros em casa. Quando o livro estiver pronto, envie-o aos jurados dos prêmios com uma dedicatória adulativa. Contrate um agente literário. Se ele for eficiente, você será traduzido para o servo-croata antes mesmo de ser lido em português. Caso nada disso der certo, aceite o destino e carregue-o com o seu peso: assuma-se como escritor(a) maldito(a). Mude então o visual: mais escuro e descabelado.
        Mas talvez se dê o caso de, após essa descida em si mesmo e em seu âmago solitário, você ter de renunciar a ser escritor(a). Mesmo assim, seus esforços não terão sido inúteis. Sua vida, a partir desse momento, há de encontrar caminhos próprios. Que eles o(a) levem à fama e a uma boa remuneração, é o que lhe desejo, muito mais do que lhe posso exprimir.
        Com todo o devotamento e toda a simpatia,
Um(a) crítico(a) literário(a)

10.26.2010

DAMAGE VS. DAMAGES

Damage: injury or harm to property or a person.
Damages: monetary compensation awarded by a court for the harm or injury that has been suffered by...

10.22.2010

AFAIK / ASAP / FYI / TIA

Há muitos, muitos e muitos anos atrás, nas multinacionais americanas havia uma listinha de meia dúzia de siglas que eram usadas por todos.  Hoje a lista cresceu tanto que às vezes nem dá mais para acompanhar. A propósito:
AFAIK = As far as I know
ASAP = as soon as possible
FYI = For your infomation
TIA = Thanks in advance
N.B.: Na medida em que me lembrar de outras vou acrescentar aqui.

10.21.2010

QUANGOS / QUANGOCRACY

O noticiário de hoje da BBC destaca os cortes nos orçamentos do Reino Unido, entre os quais:

"Administration costs to be cut by £400m with 24 quangos axed. The Train to Gain programme to be axed. University funding to be cut and reform of student tuition fees building on Browne review. ..."

quango = A quasi non-governmental organization is one created and funded by government, and, therefore, held to account for its expenditure, but given operational independence. The term was invented by Alan Pifer, President of the Carnegie Corporation, to describe such organizations which were appearing in the United States. Subsequently, political scientists, observing the closeness to government of some quangos in their operations, have preferred the term to mean quasi-governmental rather than non-governmental. In the United Kingdom the term has been applied to many forms of arms-length public provision showing a great diversity of purpose, including the BBC, the Welsh Development Agency, and the Commission for Racial Equality. Concern has recently been expressed at the tendency for power to flow from elected public bodies to unelected quangos, derisively dubbed ‘quangocracy’ by some.
Source: BBC, Answers.com
Do site "Migalhas": A administração pública inglesa sempre foi caracterizada pela autonomia de seus órgãos, denominados de Quasi Autonomous non Governamental Organizations (QUANGOS). No entanto, o projeto de lei "Public Bodies Bill", considerado uma violação à Constituição segundo célebres advogados, está prestes a ser debatido no Parlamento Inglês.
[The Public Bodies Bill - The bonfire of the quangos is one thing, but violating the constitution is quite another.  What do plans to sell off 150,000 hectares of England's precious woodland, the ability of people from small islands in the Caribbean to represent themselves in Whitehall, and the future of legal aid funding have in common?  The answer is they are all public bodies axed in the so-called "bonfire of the quangos" – the Public Bodies Bill which is about to be debated in parliament."

10.12.2010

IT'S SWEET TO BE S1NGLE. GO1NG SO10! LESS 1S MORE! THE POWER OF ONE! "SINGLE" DOES NOT MEAN "SO1O"

Calma! Não estou defendendo nenhuma bandeira. Isso aí em cima é a propaganda de um avião turboélice "single engine" que estou traduzindo!

CERISIER ROSE ET POMMIER BLANC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBE_vJbSmog
(Jacques Larue / Louiguy)
André Claveau - 1950 / Petula Clark - 1964 / Patrick Zabé - 1976

Quand nous jouions à la marelle
Cerisier rose et pommier blanc
J'ai cru mourir d'amour pour elle
En l'embrassant

Avec ses airs de demoiselle
Cerisier rose et pommier blanc
Elle avait attiré vers elle
Mon coeur d'enfant

La branche d'un cerisier
De son jardin caressait
La branche d'un vieux pommier
Qui dans le mien fleurissait

De voir leurs noeuds enlacés
Comme un bouquet de printemps
Nous vint alors la pensée
D'en faire autant

Et c'est ainsi qu'aux fleurs nouvelles
Cerisier rose et pommier blanc
On fait un soir la courte échelle
À nos quinze ans

Non, non ne dites pas qu'à son âge
Vous n'étiez pas si volage
Non, non quand deux lèvres vous attirent
J'en sais peu qui peuvent dire non

Quand nous jouions à la marelle
Cerisier rose et pommier blanc
J'ai cru mourir d'amour pour elle
En l'embrassant

Mais un beau jour les demoiselles
Frimousse rose et voile blanc
Se font conduire à la chapelle
Par leur galant

Ah quel bonheur pour chacun
Le cerisier tout fleuri
Et le pommier n'en font qu'un
Nous sommes femme et mari

De voir les fruits de l'été
Naître des fleurs du printemps
L'amour nous a chuchoté
D'en faire autant

Si cette histoire est éternelle
Pour en savoir le dénouement
Apprenez-en la ritournelle
Tout simplement

Et dans deux ans
Deux bébés roses faisant la ronde gentiment
Vous chanteront
Cerisier rose et pommier blanc

LICENCE VS. LICENSE

  

The spelling of “license” leads to some confusion because the spelling of
the noun is different in British and American English. The noun describing an
official document that grants you permission to own, do or use something is
spelled “licence” in the UK and “license” in the US. However, the verb is
spelled "license" in both countries.
Source: LexMail

10.11.2010

SWU

S.W.U.: Starts With You - Este é o nome do "Woodstock" que está rolando em Itu (até rimou!).

9.16.2010

JOHN GRISHAM

       Não tenho tido muito tempo livre mas, quando dá, gosto de ler John Grisham, que escreve
principalmente sobre o mundo dos escritórios de advocacia - sempre aprendo termos jurídicos novos.  Já li "The Firm", "The Juror" e tenho esperando na minha estante: "The Associate" [quero reler], "The Partner", "The Broker" e  "Theodore Boone".
      
       Books by John Grisham: A Time to Kill (1989); The Firm (1991); The Pelican Brief (1992); The Client (1993); The Chamber (1994); The Rainmaker (1995); The Runaway Jury (1996); The Partner (1997); The Street Lawyer (1998); The Testament (1999); The Brethren (2000); A Painted House (2001); Skipping Christmas (2001); The Summons (2002); The King of Torts (2003); Bleachers (2003) [18]; The Last Juror (2004); The Broker (2005); The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town (2006)[19]; Playing for Pizza (2007); The Appeal (2008); The Associate (2009); Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer (2010)[19]; The Confession (2010).
      Outros autores na fila de espera: Mark Gimenez ("The Colour of Law"; "The Common Lawyer"; Ian Caldwell ("The Rule of Four").
     


 

8.11.2010

Anti libel-tourism bill signed into law

The Speech Act protecting Americans from libel tourism has been signed into federal law. The practice of filing lawsuits in a foreign country because it has more lax standards on libel is known as "libel tourism." The law, which is the first to offer nationwide federal protection, was modeled on a New York state law inspired by an author who faced a libel tourism lawsuit over a book on terrorism financing. In addition to blocking enforcement, the new federal law will allow defendants to clear their names by obtaining a declaratory judgment in a United States court. Americans now can expose in speech and in writing our country's enemies without fear of being sued and losing because of unfavorable foreign laws. Americans have been sued abroad, particularly in England, which makes it much more difficult and costly to defend from such suits, which are deemed frivolous and malicious suits. Problem is, New York's law offer s more protection, but the federal statute may supersede state laws. An amendment is being proposed in Congress.
Source: Migalhas

8.10.2010

BLANKET = UMBRELLA

blanket (noun ): Applying to or covering all conditions or instances: a blanket insurance policy. Applying to or covering all members of a class: blanket sanctions against human-rights violators.
umbrella (noun): Something that encompasses or covers many different elements or groups

blanket agreement / contract ( an agreement that applies throughout an organisation, industry or geographical area) = contrato abrangente; contrato que rege um grupo de produtos ou serviços.
blanket insurance = seguro coletivo / genérico / global
blanket moratorium = moratória unilateral
blanket policy = apólice global; apólice cobrindo locais não especificados
blanket price = preço global
blanket vacations = férias coletivas

excess/umbrella coverage = cobertura excedente/compreensiva
umbrella brand = marca global
umbrella facility / funds = fundos globais ou não traduzir
umbrella insurance = seguro coletivo
umbrella organization = organização tutelar

Phrasebank
Professor Schwartz said that such a blanket agreement could transform international privacy law.
• The courts have ruled that certain blanket agreements are not enforceable (=valid).
• Under the blanket agreement, employees were forced to sign away their rights to bring a legal claim.
• The Ministry of Defence has entered into blanket agreements with favoured defence companies.
• Nyeholt had twice signed a blanket agreement purporting to bind it to the terms of a collective bargaining agreement.
Additional notes
• The term blanket agreement commonly refers to collective bargaining agreements that apply to workers. However, it now has a more general meaning and can be used to refer to all types of agreement that apply to an identifiable group throughout an organisation, industry or geographical area.
• A blanket agreement can also be called a master agreement.
Source: Translegal et al

7.13.2010

MAGISTRATE = PARALEGAL

(noun) = Juiz de Paz / Juiz Auxiliar  = a civil officer with the authority to administer the law (com poderes para decidir pequenas causas (nonindictable offenses = infrações sumárias), normalmente não formado em Direito, que presta os seus serviços voluntariamente, geralmente sem pagamento, um tipo de juiz de paz)
(Não traduzir por "Magistrado"  que é [Aulete] "Autoridade investida de poderes, em determinada jurisdição, para governar ou distribuir justiça; ADMINISTRADOR; GOVERNADOR; PRESIDENTE. Autoridade do Poder Judiciário. Primeiro magistrado: 1 Aquele que exerce o mais alto cargo e detém a mais alta autoridade política e administrativa; presidente da República. )
Magistrate's Court: Juizado de Paz / Tribunais de Magistratura (Pertencem aos Tribunais Inferiores, 1.ª Instância com competência para julgar questões civis de menor importância;  (quando estive em Londres, passava todos os dias por um "Magistrate's Court" na Mile End Road)

"We are now considering an appeal against the magistrate's decision."
Additional notes:
◦In the US, a magistrate can generally hear criminal-minor offences and some civil cases. A magistrate's decisions, unlike those of the judges, do not set precedents for other courts to follow.
◦In the UK, the Magistrate's court is the court of first instance for all criminal cases and some civil and family cases.
Source: Translegal

7.08.2010

CONTINUAL & CONTINUOUS

Use continuous when describing something that keeps going on, without stopping.
• The ski boat has been in use continually [on and off] over the past week.
Use continual when describing something that goes on frequently, but in fits and starts.

• The skiers have been practicing continuously all morning and I haven't been in the boat even once!
Source: Proofread

HISTORIC & HISTORICAL

Use historic to describe any event that marks a milestone:
• I understand that Harrison's historical society [people interested in history] met yesterday in their new headquarters.
Use historical when that event--or any event you may be referring to--warrants mention in a history book.
• What a historic [monumental] occasion that was! [Ed. note: In American form, NEVER use an before historic.
Source: Proofread

6.19.2010

FATHER'S DAY / DIA DOS PAIS / DIA DO PAI / FESTA DEL PAPÁ / DIA DEL PADRE

Brasil e Samoa (somente!): 2º. domingo de agosto
UK (e em mais de 50 países, inclusive EUA) : 3º. domingo de junho
Portugal (Dia do Pai) e mais 7 países (entre os quais: Itália – Festa Del Papá; Espanha: Dia Del Padre): 19 de Março
Fonte: Wikipedia.com

6.08.2010

WANTON = UNPROVOKED =>RECKLESS

(adjective): unprovoked; done out of a desire to cause harm; without caring about reasonable limits:
A series of overnight attacks on cars in County Antrim has been described as "wanton vandalism".
Phrasebank
◦These cases typically involve wanton and willful misconduct.
◦There has been a backlash (= strong negative reaction) against the group's use of wanton violence as a political tool.
◦The defendants showed reckless and wanton disregard for the lives or safety of the public.
◦Plaintiffs sued the school for gross and wanton negligence.
Additional notes
◦Wanton is similar in meaning to reckless, but is a stronger word that implies that it is worse behavior. The difference, in criminal law, is that someone who acts wantonly has intent to harm whereas someone who acts recklessly does not.
Source: Translegal

6.02.2010

JURISDICTION VS. VENUE

Jurisdiction refers to the authority a court has to hear the matter. Jurisdiction involves both the rights the specific court has to rule on the dispute (what type of claim it is) and the ability of the court to enforce a judgment against the defendant. For example, a typical jurisdiction clause may say “Any action to enforce this agreement shall be filed in the Superior Court of California.”

Venue clauses relate to the proper geographical location of the court of jurisdiction. A typical venue clause may read “Any litigation arising out of this Agreement shall be filed in the appropriate Court of jurisdiction in Orange County, California.” However, the choice of venue must be appropriate under the law. In a contract action, venue is appropriate where the contract was entered into, where one of the defendants resides, or where the contract is to be performed.
Source: http://www.martendale.com/business-law/article_Wealth-Strategies-Counsel_762406.htm