November 3, 2009

I just returned from New York, where I attended the 50^th Annual Conference of the American Translators Association.  The ATA is our industry’s premiere organization.  What an event!  There were dozens of exhibitors, focus groups and meetings and hundreds of interesting sessions given in multiple languages by scores of top quality presenters.  Held at the beautiful Marriott Marquis Hotel right on Times Square, over 2,300 professionals attended this 4-day event.

What astonished me was that translators and interpreters came not just from the United States, but from fifty-three foreign countries to the American Translators Association conference!  What a strange feeling it was to be surrounded by thousands of people just like me who live and breathe the esoterica of what I do all day without needing an explanation.  Say what you will about the state of today’s world economy, it’s gratifying to know that the art of communication in word and speech is alive and well!