General Information: Indian Translators Association

By Ravi Kumar (Founder President, Indian Translators Association)

Registered office:

K-5/B, LOWER GROUND FLOOR, KALKAJI, NEW DELHI -110019
Tel: 011-26291676 Fax: 011-41675530 E-mail: info@itaindia.org
Web: www.itaindia.org

Indian Translators Association is a society registered under Societies Registration Act (XXI) of 1860. It is a non – profit making body being promoted by 17 founder members who have jointly put in their efforts, money, time, staff, infrastructure and other necessary resources to promote a social cause for the betterment of Indian Translation community.

The Association shall work towards promotion of Translation, Interpretation, Language Teaching and Localization activities in India and abroad by creating a strong network and a vibrant common platform of individuals, agencies, companies and institutions by encouraging and supporting individuals and groups working in this direction and taking all the steps that may be required for the necessary legal compliance to facilitate and create environment to achieve the same.

Indian Translators Association (ITAINDIA) seeks to unite the wide-spread translators and interpreters community of India to a common platform where one can address common issues for betterment of the industry and has the potential to bring literary, cultural and commercial benefits to the individual translators and interpreters as well as nascent Indian Translation Industry in general.

ITAINDIA also aims at becoming the voice of Translators and Interpreters of India by increasing its membership base, upgrading knowledge and capabilities of its members, creating quality control awareness, following the code of professional conduct and constantly acting as an interface between government bodies and all possible corners of Indian Translation Industry.

It also intends to take the Indian Translation Industry to the world forums by becoming associated with global translation organisations, including International Federation of Translators (FIT) and seeks to get recognition from UNESCO and various international bodies. Many positive steps have already been taken in this direction and one can expect the outcome of these endeavours in the near future.

ITAINDIA has large plans to organize support events for conferences, round table discussions, seminars, symposia wherein the leading translators, interpreters, terminologists, theoreticians, educators and other language experts can participate and voice their concerns and initiate possible improvements in the promotion of languages.

Benefits of Membership

Two-way communication is one of the foremost benefits of ITAINDIA membership. Member organizations are encouraged to contribute their calendars of events, news notices, relevant articles, research results, etc. to ITAINDIA publications, which all members receive.
Member organizations are encouraged to read and further disseminate the information they receive from ITAINDIA to help their fellow translators and interpreters keep abreast of the developments and opportunities in India and the globe.

ITAINDIA offers members:

The opportunity to publish articles in its publications
The opportunity to disseminate their own news and notices
Targeted advertising in ITAINDIA Publications.

Contact with like–minded translators, interpreters, agencies, institutes and the opportunity to exchange:

Mailing lists
Commercial information about the language market
Information about technology, standards, good practices, professional profiles and status.
Opportunity to win recognition by nominating candidates for the ITAINDIA Prizes.
Contact with ITAINDIA committees, and
The opportunity to serve on ITAINDIA committees.


Code of Professional Conduct

INDIAN TRANSLATORS ASSOCIATION encourages service providers as well as service takers to follow a Code of Professional Conduct and Business Practices.

For Service Providers

As a Translator/Interpreter or representative of my company, as bridge for ideas from one language to another and one culture to another, I commit myself to the highest standards of performance, ethical behavior, and business practices.

I will endeavor to translate or interpret the original message faithfully, to satisfy the needs of the end user(s). I acknowledge that this level of excellence requires:

Mastery of the target language equivalent to that of an educated native speaker,

Up-to-date knowledge of the subject material and its terminology in both languages,

Access to information resources and reference materials, and knowledge of the tools of my profession,

Continuing efforts to improve, broaden, and deepen my skills and knowledge.

I will be truthful about my qualifications and will not accept any assignment/s for which I am not fully equipped to handle.

I will safeguard the interests of my clients as my own and divulge no confidential information.

I will notify my clients of any unresolved difficulties. If we cannot resolve a dispute, we will seek arbitration.

I will use a client as a reference only if I am prepared to name a person to attest to the quality of my work.

I will respect and refrain from interfering with or supplanting any business relationship between my client and my client’s client.

For Employer or Contractor

As an employer or contractor of translators and/or interpreters, I will uphold the above standards in my business. I further commit myself to the following practices with translators and interpreters:

I will put my contractual relationship with translators and interpreters in writing and state my expectations prior to work.

I will adhere to the agreed terms, payment schedules, and agreed charges, and will not capriciously change job descriptions after work has begun.

I will deal directly with the translator or interpreter about any dispute. If we cannot resolve a dispute, we will seek arbitration.

I will not require translators or interpreters to do unpaid work for the prospect of a paid assignment.
I will not use translators’ or interpreters’ credentials in bidding or promoting my business without their consent or without the bona fide intention to use their services.

For translations for publication or performance over which I have direct control, I will give the translators the recognition traditionally given to the authors.

Use of ITAINDIA logo

Members will receive an excellent designed logo of the Indian Translators Association, which may be used by them in their letterheads or their websites or CVs to promote their business interest keeping into account the reputation as well as the interest of the Association.

The ITAINDIA website

ITAINDIA plans to launch an excellent interactive website at http://www.itaindia.org, in the near future which shall contain a wealth of information provided by its members. In addition, ITAINDIA shall host specific pages for each member of the association that shall include their brief profile, contact details and relevant information. This would further facilitate contact between Internet users and ITAINDIA members, regional centres, committees, officers, other key volunteers, etc. The website shall also offer a wide variety of relevant links to the websites of other national and international organizations.

Regional centres

In due course of time, ITAINDIA plans to develop regional centres in major cities of India that shall address challenges and issues of common interest within their own regions.

Last date for submission of membership request form

For the financial year starting April 1, 2007 till March 30, 2008, annual membership is open to all individuals, translators, agencies, corporate and institutions who shall be interested in promoting its aims and objectives.

Interested members may kindly send their subscription fees together with duly filled application form and relevant documents by April 20, 2007 at the below mentioned address of the secretariat.

The future of ITAINDIA

ITAINDIA is exactly what its members make it. Members have the opportunity, at events and over the Internet, to establish strong and lasting links with other fellow members and organizations.

ITAINDIA shall deal with issues that affect the lives of translators, interpreters and theoreticians, and the Association strives constantly to create an environment conducive to encouraging the next generation to enter the profession, and last but not the least by equipping them with a network of supportive colleagues and friends.

ITAINDIA also encourages members who are digitally deprived but play a significant role in bridging the language barrier staying at remote corners of India being included as translators – interpreters with a view to facilitate them to exhibit their talents.

For membership form and other details always write to the secretariat at info@itaindia.org or visit at www.itaindia.org


Ravi Kumar
Founder President
Indian Translators Association
K-5/B, Lower Ground Floor, Kalkaji,
New Delhi, India Tel: 0091-11-26291676 Fax: 0091-11-41675530

E-mail: ravi@modlingua.com Web: www.modlingua.com

(This message may be circulated at any other forum)

Support and Challenges to Indian Translators Association

By Ravi Kumar (Founder President Indian Translators Association)


Now after the Indian Translators Association has been created, we are facing another waves of resistance, criticism and speculations from all corners.

The resistance, criticism and speculations and support from all corners can be summed up as follows -

Support from students

We have received unconditional support from students. Probably they need a body to start their professional career by taking part in seminars, training programs, translators meet etc. that are activities beyond course curriculum.

Resistance from a few misguided Translators

They say ITA allows agencies to be its members. Agencies are exploiters. I do not agree to this argument – Domestic Market of India has its own limitations. One can not expect Indian agencies to pay to the tune of US price. Moreover, rate between translators and agencies are private matters which is mutually decided between 2 parties, but beyond rate and business Indian Translators Association has lots many more things to do. For the interest of larger mass , for the time being can we forget this price issue and try and understand that a coin has 2 sides – one side is for translators and another for agencies.

Many of the established translators have commented, they do not need an association. This is true, I agree – They need portals – many are so much portal oriented that they prefer to be slave of these portals by being associated with these portals as their localization volunteers for translating their web contents into local languages – and prefer to be promoted by them as featured translators or so called moderators of forums. I am sorry if I appear to be straightforward and rude. For quite a few this slavery is so much intense that announcement of formation of ITA at such portals becomes disturbing, as this announcements confronts with their identity on such and such portals. Leave aside cooperation – they attack promoters of ITA with personal remarks, professional remarks, abuse and so on…., publicly on International forums. Their greed has increased so much that with their foreign counterpart they join hands in criticizing Indian Translators for being cheap labour!, and at the same time they continue working on cheaper price than international rates. Again I am sorry if my thoughts appear to be straightforward and rude.

I have no objections to any rate – as it is decision between 2 parties – If you agree to work on a price – you go ahead, if you do not agree as you feel it is lower, it may be possible that another translator agrees on the same price that you refused saying it was a lower price, but for this new individual – it may be possible that it was a good price. But refusing a work by saying that it was a lower price does not allow you to curse your fellow translator for being cheap labour. You can do that as well, but only when you ensure that next day you will provide him/ her bread if he / she fails to have a project.

So ITA has more aims and objectives that are beyond rates.


Support from agencies

Many leading agencies have supported the formation of ITA, as they have more practical approach towards growth of Translation Industry, many of them are worst suffers on account of un - professionalism they have been confronting from so called established translators. They charge more and create more fuss, and deliver less. This statement may not be taken as judgment, rather a typical situation. Many times agencies play worst role, they take services and never pay ! I agree on economic front there are conflicting interests, but ITA has vision beyond price and payment issues.

Support from corporate bodies and Institutions

No corporate body or institution shall be part of ITA unless ITA has proved its value by bringing balance of interests and adding value to human skills.

All above challenges are domestic and internal – it is a human nature – attack, counter – attacks, deliberations and speculations will go on. But the most important and interesting challenges are from International fronts

They can be summed up as

Challenges from leading Portals

Many of the leading portals have developed strong foothold in India. It is true they have given good opportunities to many of us to get in touch with domestic as well as International agencies that have resulted in increase in our income. Please always note most of these portals are being operated from the foreign land and they follow their own rule. If you go through their forums and postings you will realize that majority of the translators fear Indian talents and cost- effectiveness they offer. This results in creating a fear that if Indian translators get united and a forceful forum is created, focus will shift to hiring organized Indian talents.

Competition from International agencies

This is true that majority of Indian translators still follow the translation approach of translation – many times translations are done handwritten, followed by typing, re-checking – and final delivery; this translation approach has its own importance, but it results in delivery delay and lack of quality control, making the whole affair vulnerable to stiff competition.

On the other hand, International agencies are sophisticated, they make use of trained translators who are well versed with computer applications and CAT tools (Computer Aided Translation Tools). Unless Indian translators and Indian Translation agencies equally upgrade themselves with this modern translation approach, they will continue to suffer in front of a selected privileged few.

Challenges from Individual stereotype translators

There are a few translators who feel they do not need an association at all, and talk of individual personal interest as a translator. They even say, “ We have been doing well without an association”, they do not need it. I agree that when we talk to self interest, an association may not provide them job or assignments, nor Indian Translators Association has been created to work as job portals or mega agency. It has certain social goals, and it will stick to it. Even if we are doing good business, we must also take steps to contribute towards professional growth of our fellow translators – specially those who are deprived. Imagine, what about those who never worked on computers, and they are still fit to be called “translators” !


Challenges from racist attitude

Recently I saw a posting at a leading portal where Indian Translators were declared being most unprofessional and unreliable ! Thanks to the racist attitude that many of the leading writers of such portal propagate it, and so called our established translators continue to provide unconditional and active support to these thought process. I am sure if they had been united, no one had dared to say anything against Indian Translators. I agree there could be a few who are dishonest to their profession, but majority are honest, and all of them deserve honor of being called professional translators of India.

Above views are solely my personal views. For feedback and comments always write to: info@itaindia.org

! Long Live Indian Translators Association!

Ravi Kumar
Founder President
Indian Translators Association
K-5/B, Lower Ground Floor, Kalkaji,
New Delhi, India Tel : 0091-11-26291676 Fax: 0091-11-41675530

E-mail: ravi@modlingua.com Web : http://www.modlingua.com/

Making of Indian Translators Association - A dream come true

By Ravi Kumar (Founder President – Indian Translators Association)

When I was a language student in Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi (1993 onwards) I started putting efforts to unite language professionals to create a forceful forum of Indian Translators. The practical story started in January, 2003 when I started a language professionals club visit below mentioned link for more details.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/modlingua/message/140

During that phase of time as a freelancer and student (only direct clients) I approached many well known translators (Known for quality work, high price and quick delivery), they were very indifferent to this idea of creating a platform - they justified - since independence India has produced thousands of high profile translators, but no association has been created - dare not to do that or else - you shall be blamed for this noble cause? Many be people will say - You are doing for your own personal benefit? May be people will say you are undemocratic? May be people will say you are just a student? How come a student talk of heading Indian Translators Association when thousands of them are fit to be your teacher?

I kept on wondering ! on above thoughts, suggestions, warning etc. At one point of time I was forced to think , India may not have Indian Translators Association at all. At that phase of time, I was forced to analyze the main reasons behind failure of Indian Translators to create one association, they can be summed up as;

1. Translation activities have been treated as very personal and private affair of individual language professionals. Many times even best friends do not share information between themselves about their translation projects!

2. Translators suffer from identity crisis - Let us say, an Indian language professional refers to himself as a translator in a gathering of friends or acquaintances who otherwise have no other association with the translation industry. The response the professional's statement would commonly receive would simply be, "Okay, this is what you do. But what is your profession?" This underlines a very simple fact that the translation industry generally has very little professional recognition in the perception of the masses. This does affect the credibility and the position of a professional translation in the eyes of his peers in society. This is what we translators refer to as an Identity Crisis. (For more details one may like to visit at the site of Microsoft-India where my interview with Bhashaindia - Indian language promotion site of Microsoft- appears http://www.bhashaindia.com/Patrons/SuccessStories/RaviKumar.aspx

3. Ego clashes - identity crisis makes an individual more sensitive to issues that have been making him suffer, any new initiative is taken with suspicion - once the suspicion comes - questions are asked, many times resulting in absurd questions offending egos.

4. If at all logic prevails - the established translators start fearing loosing their business which they have established since years making personal efforts - but very privately. Under no circumstances they want to come to a platform and discuss relations or issues related to their clients. But this thought is not expressed directly (part of identity crisis), rather it is expressed in terms of pin-pointing personal or professional or organizational weaknesses of the individual who has taken initiative. ! Come on, no one is perfect!, and you can expect perfection from others only when you prove that you are part of his initiatives ! Or else ego clashes again - part of another identity crisis. But established translators or critics fail to come forward and initiatives are weakened.

In due course of time, when I gained more experience fit to be called as established translator - I again approached many established translators to create a platform. This time students were more enthusiastic and supportive, but established translators starting seeing me not as a student rather a competitor! So this time it was neither ego, nor identity crisis rather competition - a direct clash of business interest. However, a few of them gave encouragement that could not motivate me much. It is also interesting to note that agencies wanted me to help and cooperated a lot. This was a good sign. Time passed by, I gained more experience to become Visiting Professor and language and culture trainer (I am happy that till date I have trained more than 400 business executives and MBA students of top 10 MBA institutes of India - I am sorry if I appear to be boasting of myself). It was the same time when I re-launched my own agency (www.modlingua.com) Allied Modlingua for bigger projects, and attract clients from abroad. I am happy that we have also diversified into CAT tools business by being exclusive distributor of CAT tool in India called Heartsome (more details available at http://www.heartsome.net/ ) a well known CAT tool maker from Singapore.

My dream of ITA formation was still alive. But I always wanted to avoid criticism and leg pulling. Probably, many of like minded individuals, agencies and corporate were watching my activities. On one historical day like minded group of individuals coming from various corners of India decided to gather at one place to create a forum called Translators Initiative (http://www.translatorsinitiative.org/)and gave me responsibility of being its Convenor. For this I extend special thanks to Patron of ITA Dr. S.K Ray and Vice- President of ITA Mr. C.M Rawal and all other founder members. The main aim of this forum was to stimulate language professionals, translators and agencies to join hands to create Indian Translators Association. With efforts of this forum a mega Indian Translators Meet was organized in September,2005.

Translators Initiative had set three specific objectives. One was to create awareness about Translators Initiative and its aims and objectives. Second was to stimulate language professionals to come together to be a part of the planning behind the proposed Indian Translators Association. The third objective was to identify leaders and volunteers who would join hands in the formation of the Association for future activities.

A complete report on Indian Translation Meet 2005 finds its proud place in leading portals as well as at the site of Microsoft India http://www.bhashaindia.com/Patrons/events/TranslatorsMeetReport.aspx http://www.bhashaindia.com/Patrons/events/TranslatorsMeet.aspx http://www.bhashaindia.com/Patrons/events/TranslatorsMeetIssues.aspx http://www.bhashaindia.com/Patrons/events/ForgingRelationships.aspx

After the Indian Translators Meet 2005 was over, a draft proposal for formation of Indian Translators Association was put in circulation to receive comments and suggestions from various corners of India so as to incorporate the best feasible options in the constitution and bylaws of the ITA. After having given ample time, quite a few sessions were called for deliberations and discussions in which a large number of translators and scholars participated and reached at fruitful conclusions. Finally, 17 founder members volunteered with their resources and time to be part of Indian Translators Association, which received formal approval from competent government authorities of India as well as registration certificate from registrar of societies, dated December 19, 2006.

A discussion group has also been started at http://groups.google.com/group/itaindia to stimulate discussions and keep constant touch with members of Indian Translation Industry.

For Membership and other details always write to: info@itaindia.org or visit http://www.itaindia.org/

Ravi Kumar

Founder President

Indian Translators Association

K-5/B, Lower Ground Floor, Kalkaji,

New Delhi, India

Tel : 0091-11-26291676 Fax: 0091-11-41675530

E-mail: ravi@modlingua.com Web: www.modlingua.com