News
Reforming local government offers an opportunity to establish strong translation and interpreting units
In its response to the Welsh Government’s consultation, Strengthening Local Government: Delivering for people, Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru emphasised that reforming local government offers an opportunity to establish strong translation and interpreting units in the new authorities, units with definite staffing structures which would allow for the development of expertise. And providing a basis for this would be the professional standards that the association upholds and promotes.
The association’s response – which is only available in Welsh – concentrates on the important role of translation and interpreting in the development and strengthening of the Welsh language in Local Government administration, in implementing the Welsh language Standards, and in aiming to get a million Welsh speakers by 2050.
If the plans outlined in the Green Paper come to fruition, Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru hopes that all the new authorities will give due respect to translating and interpreting as a craft from day one, and will acknowledge the professional status of translating and interpreting as a vocation and not as an administrative task. In placing a value on the Welsh language as a skill in this way, and by acknowledging these principles, the new authorities will make a positive declaration that the Welsh language is intrinsically important to their working practices and internal administration.
Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru’s response emphasised the need to ensure:
• that there should be strong translation and interpreting units in each new authority, as part of the Chief Executive’s department, and with a definite staffing structure.
• that plenty of CPD opportunities be available to translators and interpreters and that they be allowed to develop expertise.
• that the best and most effective use is made of technology.
• that interpreting equipment should be available in all authorities.
• that all the new authorities should acknowledge Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru’s professional standards.
Translation Challenge 2017 winner presented with prize
Our congratulations to Sian Cleaver of Trefor, near Caernarfon, on winning Translation Challenge 2017 into Welsh.
Her prize was the Bardic Staff, which was presented to her recently by Sally Baker, Director of Wales PEN Cymru, a Geraint Wyn Parry, Chief Executive of Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru, the association of Welsh translators and interpreters.
The Bardic Staff which each winner receives is unique. Each one is carved by Elis Gwyn of Llanystumdwy. The Bardic Staff is sponsored by Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru.
In addition to the Bardic Staff, Sian also won £250 which was given by Swansea University.
The 2017 Translation Challenge was to translate the Turkish poem ‘Yaşamaya Dair’ by Nâzım Hikmet (1902–63), one of Turkey’s most prominent twentieth century poets The adjudicator was Caroline Stockford.
Translation Challenge is organised by the Wales Literature Exchange, part of the Mercator Institute of Aberystwyth University, in association with Wales PEN Cymru.
Sian Cleaver’s winning translation can be read on the website of the Welsh language magazine, O'r Pedwar Gwynt, where there is also an explanation of how shw undertook the translation.
Wil Petherbridge Memorial Prize 2017
In a delightful and informal ceremony at Yr Hen Lyfrgell Cardiff on Thursday, 15 March 2018, Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru presented its prizes to the most promising candidates in its Basic Membership examinations in 2017.
The winner of the Wil Petherbridge Memorial Prize 2017 was Aled Meredydd Davies.
Aled lives in Bancffosfelen near Llanelli. He is the director of his own company, Cwmpasu Cyf, which he established in 2016 to provide support for learning Welsh as well as translation services. Originally from Menai Bridge, he was a pupil at Ysgol David Hughes Menai Bridge at the same time as Wil Petherbridge was a teacher at the school, but was not taught by him. He has a degree in Psychology from Cardiff University. He then worked as a Welsh for Adults tutor for a quarter of a century, including a period as Director of the Welsh for Adults Centre in South West Wales.
Aled is not the first member of the family to win the Wil Petherbridge Memorial Prize. His sister, Elin Mared Davies, won the Prize in 2010!
The Wil Petherbridge Memorial Prize is presented by Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru in memory of its former Secretary and a pioneer in English/Welsh translation. It is awarded to the most promising candidate for Basic Membership, translation into Welsh, if the required standard is achieved.
The Berwyn Prize 2017
In a delightful and informal ceremony at Yr Hen Lyfrgell Cardiff on Thursday, 15 March 2018, Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru presented its prizes to the most promising candidates in its Basic Membership examinations in 2017.
The Berwyn Prize is a new prize awarded for the first time in 2017.
The Berwyn Prize is awarded to the most promising candidate for Basic Membership, translation into English, if the required standard is achieved. It honours Berwyn Prys Jones, an inspiring leader in Welsh language translation, who was Chair of Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru for over a quarter of a century.
Sophie Smith was the first winner of the Berwyn Prize.
Sophie has just started a new job as translator at Gower College Swansea. When she succeeded in the examinations she was a translator with Swansea Council. Sophie’s a Swansea girl and still lives in the city. Before becoming a professional translator about eighteen months ago, she spent 7 years as a French lecturer for the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. Following a first degree in French and Hispanic Studies from Edinburgh University, she was awarded a scholarship from the Centre for Welsh Medium Higher Education to study for a doctorate in the portrayal of gender in post-colonial French literature.
The report on activities during 2016-17
Just published is the report on Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru’s activities during 2016-17, the year which saw the Association celebrate 40 years since its inception in 1976.
You will see in the report that we continued to hold membership examinations and provided various professional development activities and opportunities, we continued to work in partnership with the higher education sector, and we continued to forge links and collaborated with public organisations and other translation and interpreting associations for the good of the Association and to raise the profile of the Welsh translation and interpretation profession/industry.
In her Foreword Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru Chair, Claire Richards, says,
‘A multitude of active staff and members have ensured the continuation and success of the Association [during the past 40 years]. It is thanks to them that we today, as we state on our website, ensure professional translation standards by further developing and consolidating the English/Welsh translation and interpreting profession.’
The report also refers to the significant developments made by the Association during the past 10 years. These will provide a strong and sound foundation on which the Association will be able to respond positively to the challenges of Welsh Government’s Welsh language strategy, ‘Cymraeg 2050’.
We are very grateful to Welsh Government for awarding a grant to the Association in 2016-17.
The Ynys Môn National Eisteddfod
Once again this year, Thursday at the National Eisteddfod will be a day of translation activities.
The Hedley Gibbard Memorial Lecture, Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru’s annual lecture, will be held in the Societies Tent 1, at midday.
This year’s lecture will be delivered by Bedwyr Rees. The illustrated lecture about place names along the coast of Anglesey is entitled ‘Trwyn y Balog: enwau o’r Moelfre i’r Leinws’.
Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru’s annual lecture has, since 2002, been held in memory of Hedley Gibbard (1936-2001) as a mark of appreciation of his pioneering work in developing English/Welsh translation and interpretation.
Then at 3.00pm, the Welsh language winner of Translation Challenge 2017 will be announced in a ceremony on the Aberystwyth University stand.
This year’s challenge was to translate the Turkish poem YAŞAMAYA DAİR by Nâzım Hikmet (1902–1963), one of Turkey’s most prominent twentieth century poets. The adjudicator was Caroline Stockford. The winner will receive a prize of £250 and will be presented with the Bardic Staff.
Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru is pleased to sponsor the Bardic Staff once again, and in so doing to acknowledge the craftmanship of Elis Gwyn who has carved this unique prize from a piece of wood from the Llanystumdwy area.
Translation Challenge is organised by Wales PEN Cymru and Wales Literature Exchange, and receives sponsorship from Swansea University.
There will also be opportunities to get information about Aberystwyth University’s postgraduate course in Professional Translation Studies and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Postgraduate Certificate in Interpretation.
Professional Translation Studies: the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol stand on Thursday, 10.30-11.30; and the Aberystwyth University stand on Friday, 12.00-1.00pm.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Interpretation: the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s stand on Monday, 11.00am-3.00pm.
● Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru will not have a stand on the Eisteddfod field.
A great opportunity – a day at the Assembly
Our congratulations to Lora Lewis, the winner of the translation competition for the 19-25 age group at the Urdd Eisteddfod in 2017.
Her prize was a day with the National Assembly for Wales' Translation and Reporting Service. Ffion was welcomed to the Senedd by the Presiding Officer, Elin Jones. A packed day of activities provided Lora with a taster of several aspects of the work of the Translation and Reporting Service, including seeing how the Cofnod is created, introductions to machine translation and interpretation, andf the implementation of the Official Languages Scheme.
Lora has written a blog (in Welsh) describing her day at the National Assembly.
Our congratulations also to Morgan Owen, who was second, and third placed Anna Powys.
The translation competition is a partnership between the Urdd and Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru. We are also very grateful to the National Assembly for Wales for their ready co-operation in providing a day’s work experience for the winner.
The Wil Petherbridge Memorial Prize 2016
In a delightful and informal ceremony during a recent meeting of the Board of Directors of Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru, the Wil Petherbridge Memorial Prize 2016 was presented to Angharad Eleri Edwards. Angharad lives in Waunfawr near Aberystwyth. She works for Cyfieithu Clir / Clear Translations, Cardiff. When she won the prize she worked for Calan, Cowbridge.
The Wil Petherbridge Memorial Prize is presented by Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru in memory of its former Secretary and a pioneer in English/Welsh translation. It is awarded to the most promising candidate for Basic Membership, translation into Welsh, if the required standard is achieved.
When presenting the prize, Claire Richards, Chair of Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru, said,
‘We congratulate Angharad very warmly on her achievement and at the same time we remember a very dear friend and colleague whose passing was a great blow.’
Translation competition at the Urdd National Eisteddfod
Young people’s attitudes to the Brexit vote is the subject of the translation competition for 19-25 year olds at the 2017 Urdd National Eisteddfod which will be held in Pencoed near Bridgend at the end of May.
Competitors will have to translate this 300 word text from English into Welsh. The closing date is 1 March 2017. The adjudicator will be Catrin Beard. The winner will spend a day with the National Assembly for Wales’ Translation and Reporting Service.
Information about the competition, and a copy of the text to be translated, can be found on the Urdd Eisteddfod's website.
The translation competition is a partnership between the Urdd and Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru. Both organisations are very grateful to the National Assembly for Wales for their ready co-operation in providing a day’s work experience for the winner.
The winner of the translation competition at the Urdd National Eisteddfod in 2016 was Ffion Pritchard, who is originally from Aberdare. Since 2013 she has worked as a translator for Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council.
Ffion described her prize of a day at the Assembly as ‘an invaluable experience’. To read more about that experience go to the story on 25 July 2016 below.
A million Welsh speakers by 2050
In its response to the ‘Consultation on a Welsh Government draft strategy: a million Welsh speakers by 2050’, (available in Welsh only) Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru’s comments concentrate on ‘Development area 5: Support’, and in particular on translation and interpreting and the Association’s situation.
At the same time, the Association has voiced its support to the aim of reaching a million Welsh speakers by 2050. It’s a challenging and ambitious target that will only be achieved by effective co-operation between different bodies, institutions and partners. Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru will have its contribution to make.
The Association is pleased to see that a “long term investment in this infrastructure will remain a priority in order to put the language on a sure footing for the future”. The Association emphasised its desire to see Welsh Government continuing to invest in the translation and interpreting profession/industry, and continuing to support Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru.