SATI SERIES/SAVI-REEKS 7 BRIDGING LANGUAGE BARRIERS SATI THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS 1956 2006 SOUTH AFRICAN TRANSLATORS INSTITUTE
Table of contents On looking back Anne-Marie Beukes, SATI chairperson 5 The beginning Article by Marion Boers 9 The pioneers: Setting the ship a-sail Article by Marion Boers 13 Moving ahead with Jan Picard at the helm (1972 1985) Article by Jan Picard 19 The academic and the practitioner (1985-1995) Article by Marion Boers 23 Raising the profile: Annette Combrink (1995-2005) Article by Annette Combrink 25 The road ahead 28 Getting to grassroots level: Regions and chapters through the years Article by Wilna Liebenberg 29 Giving the Institute a voice: SATI publications over the years Article by Marion Boers with assistance from Adriaan Smit 31 On building bridges: The signs of SATI s times Article by Anne-Marie Beukes 39 Glimpses from the past 43 SATI s long walk to international acceptance Article by Anne-Marie Beukes 47 SATI s involvement in South African terminology practice Article by Mariëtta Alberts 55 The development of SATI s regulatory documentation Article by Johan Blaauw 59 Proving our worth: SATI s accreditation system Article by Wouter le Roux 63 Making a difference: SATI s Development Committee Article by Anne-Marie Beukes 65 Rewarding excellence: SATI s awards Article by Marion Boers 68 The Institute s Executives: 1956 2006 71 Highlights in SATI s history: 1956 2006 76 3
The beginning It all began with the Transvaal Association of Municipal Translators (TAMT). There was a feeling among the members of this association that it should be expanded and draw in translators from translation offices in other areas beyond the municipalities. Discussion of this possibility began early in 1955 and the minutes of a meeting of the TAMT on 23 April 1955 show that the process had moved beyond just discussion: Die Voorsitter meld dat hy n memorandum oor die voorgestelde uitbreiding van die Vereniging aan die Unie-departement van Onderwys gestuur het. 1 By September of that year a response had been received from the Department of Education, Arts and Science, in the light of which it was decided to form a new association to work alongside the TAMT. A draft constitution for the new association was drawn up and a meeting with the Chief Government Translator was arranged to discuss the matter of a omvattende Vertalersvereniging (comprehensive translators association). The TAMT chairman s report for 1956 summarises the process: Dit was nog altyd die strewe van ons Vereniging om soveel belanghebbendes as moontlik in sy geledere saam te trek. Nadat die Voorsitter n konsep-statute vir n omvattende liggaam opgestel het, het n afvaardiging van die Vereniging samesprekings met die hoofvertalers van die Staatsvertaalburo en die Spoorweë gaan voer. Hulle was bereid om saam te werk, maar met die oog op die Vaktaalkommissie wat toe juis in wording was, het dit duidelik geword dat die Vereniging van Munisipale Vertalers n besondere taak he twat net hy kan verrig en dat dit noodsaaklik is dat hy in sy huidige gedaante moet voortbestaan. Almal was dit egter eens dat dit noodsaaklik is om n professionele liggaam te hê wat oor die status van die vertaler kan waak. n Voorlopige komitee is toe aangestel. Daar is met die oog op verkeie praktiese moeilikhede besluit om verteenwoordigers van belanghebbende groepe na n stigtingsvergadering uit te nooi. Die beëdigde vertalers het intussen egter ook besluit om n liggaam te stig en aangesien ons hulle doelstellings nie kan onderskryf nie, he tons besluit om die Instituut t stig. Die stigtingsvergadering is toe op 25 Augustus in Johannesburg gehou Die SA Instituut van Vertalers is in n hoë mate deur die toedoen van ons Vereniging se bestuur gestig, maar dit is n heeltemal afsonderlike en landswye liggaam. Die Vereniging van Munisipale Vertalers bestaan dus voort as n liggaam wat hom op taalnavorsing op munisipale gebied toelê. 2 1. The Chairman reported that he had submitted a memorandum on the proposed expansion of the Association to the Union Department of Education. 2. Our Association has always striven to bring together in its members as wide a variety of interested parties as possible. After the Chairman had drawn up draft statutes for an all-inclusive body, a delegation from the Association held discussions with the chief translators from the Government Translation Bureau and the Railways. They were prepared to cooperate, but in view of the establishment of the Terminology Bureau, which was taking place at precisely that point, it became clear that the Association of Municipal Translators has a special task that only it can undertake and that it is essential that it continue to exist in its present form. Everyone agreed, however, that it is essential to have a professional body that can concern itself with the status of the translator. An interim committee was therefore appointed. In view of certain practical difficulties, it was decided to invite representatives of interested groups to a founding meeting. The sworn translators had in the meantime also decided to form an association and since we were unable to endorse their objectives, we decided to establish the Institute. The founding meeting was thus held in Johannesburg on 25 August 1956 The SA Institute of Translators was established largely through the efforts of the Executive of our own Association, but it is a completely separate and national body. The Association of Municipal Translators will 9
The chairman also made clear the function of the new association: Die doel van die Instituut is soortgelyk aan dié van ander institute en sal o.a. sertifikate aan lede uitreik, eksamens en kursusse vir aspirant-vertalers instel, n gedragskode vir vertalers opstel, aanbevelings in verband met vergoeding vir stukvertaalwerk doen, taalkonferensies belê, taalstudie en navorsingswerk bevorder, ens. 3 The distinction between the interests of the two bodies is reflected in the minutes of the first meeting of the TAMT after the establishment of the Institute, in September 1956. The chairman gee n uiteensetting van die doel van die Instituut, wat n professionele liggaam vir vertalers deur die hele land is. Die Transvaalse Vereniging van Munisipale Vertalers bly voortbestaan as die erkende liggaam wat op die gebied van munisipale terminologie navorsing moet doen Sake wat die vertaler in die algemeen raak, word weer deur die Vertalersinstituut behartig. 4 There were 16 men present at the founding meeting of the Institute. Two others (one the only woman founder member) had made their apologies and were counted among the founder members. The group was as follows: Mr HPM Raubenheimer, who worked in the Afrikaans Division of an advertising company Mr LJ Erasmus, who did advertising and secretarial work Dr DJ (Dirk) Coetsee of the Railway Language Bureau in Johannesburg Dr GJ Labuscagne of the Railway Language Bureau in Johannesburg Mr AJJ van Pletzen of Voortrekker Press Ltd Mr JG du P (Johan Lang Jan ) Pretorius of the Translation Bureau of the Johannesburg City Council Mr CJ Dannhauser of the Transvaal Provincial Administration Mr HJ (Hendrik) Bothma of the Railway Language Bureau in Johannesburg Mr FA Prins of the Railway Language Bureau in Johannesburg Mr PF ( Flippie ) du Toit of the Wheat Board in Pretoria Mr AJ Hanekom of the Wool Board in Pretoria Dr MJ Posthumus of the government s Language Services Bureau (later became a professor at the University of South Africa Unisa) (later also known as Oom Possie ) Mr CJ ( Oom Angel ) Engelbrecht, deputy editor of Die Transvaler in Johannesburg Mr T Weber of the SABC in Johannesburg Mr GWT (Gert) Oosthuyzen of the Railway Language Bureau in Johannesburg Mr GW McG Foord of the Chamber of Mines in Johannesburg Apologies: Miss GJ Kraan of the CSIR Mr GA Watermeyer, copywriter at an advertising company and a well-known Afrikaans poet After discussing and making a few amendments to them, these members signed the statutes and thus was the Institute born. thus continue to exist as a body concerning itself with language research in the municipal field. 3. The objective of the Institute is similar to that of other institutes and it will, among other things, issue certificates to members, establish examinations and courses for aspirant translators, compile a code of conduct for translators, make recommendations in relation to remuneration for piece translation work, organise language conferences, promote language studies and research, etc. 4. explained the purpose of the Institute, which is a professional body for translators throughout the country. The Transvaal Association of Municipal Translators will continue to exist as the recognised body to undertake research in the area of municipal terminology. Matters that affect translators in general, on the other hand, will fall under the Institute of Translators. 10
A copy of the page from the minutes of the founding meeting of the South African Institute of Translators in 1956, showing the signatures of the founder members The task ahead of it was not light, encompassing as it did the following objectives, as given in the statutes: (i) vertalers in die besonder en juiste taalgebruik in die algemeen te bevorder; (ii) navorsingswerk op taal- en vertaalgebied te verrig en aan te moedig en die resultate daarvan beskikbaar te stel; (iii) ter bevordering van vertaalwerk toepaslike rubrieke in blaaie en tydskrifte ingestel te kry en om n eie blad of tydskrif uit te gee en te beheer; (iv) taal- en vertaalhandleidings op te stel of te laat opstel; (v) ter verwesenliking van die doel van die Instituut die samewerking can deskundiges en belangstellendes, van universiteite en and inrigtings en van verenigings en liggame hier te lande en in die buiteland te verkry, en om gemeenskaplike belange en optrede te bevorder; (vi) amptelike erkenning vir die Instituut en sy werk te verkry; (vii) geleenthede te skep ten einde taal-, vertaal- en vertalersprobleme te kan behandel en onderling oorleg te kan pleeg; (viii) geld ter verwesenliking van die Instituut se doel in te stel en aan te wend; 5. (i) to promote translation in particular and the correct use of language in general; (ii) to undertake and encourage research in the fields of language and translation and to make the results thereof available; (iii) in order to promote translation, to have appropriate columns instituted in newspapers and journals and to publish and control a newsletter or journal of its own; (iv) to compile language and translation manuals or to have them compiled; (v) in order to realise the Institute s objectives, to obtain the cooperation of experts and interested parties, of universities and other institutions and of associations and bodies within the country and abroad, and to promote common interests and action; (vi) to obtain official recognition of the Institute and its work; (vii) to create opportunities for dealing with and consultation on problems related to language, translation and translators; (viii) to collect and utilise money for the achievement of the Institute s objectives; 11
(ix) n professionele beroepskode vir vertalers op te stel en toe te sien dat die Instituut se lede dit nakom; (x) te sorg dat behoorlike opleidingsgeriewe vir vertalers verskaf word; (xi) eksamens in te stel ten einde die bekwaamheid van vertalers te bepaal; (xii) n geklassifiseerde lys van lede van die Instituut op te stel; (xiii) oor alle sake betreffende die status, pligte, en verantwoordelikhede van vertalers oorleg te pleeg en om in verband daarmee op te tree; met dien verstande dat die Instituut onder geen omstandighede in n vakbond of vakvereniging omgeskep mag word of as sodanig mag optree nie; (xiv) leiding te gee in verband met n billike besoldiging vir vertalers; (xv) enigiets te doen wat ter verwesenliking van die Instituut se doel of ter bevordering van sy strewe vereis word. 5 Article by Marion Boers 5. (ix) (x) (xi) (xii) (xiii) (xiv) (xv) to draw up a professional code for translators and to ensure that the Institute s members comply with it; to ensure that proper training facilities are provided for translators; to institute examinations to determine the competence of translators; to draw up a classified list of members of the Institute; to consult and to take action in regard to all matters relating to the status, duties and responsibilities of translators; provided that the Institute may under no circumstances be transformed into a trade union or labour union or act as such; to offer guidance as regards fair remuneration for translators; to do anything necessary to achieve the Institute s objectives or promote its aspirations. ANFASA The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) would like to extend its hearty congratulations to the South African Translators Institute (SATI) on its 50th Anniversary. The sterling and gallant role played by SATI in keeping the language practitioners flag flying for the past five decades is sure cause for celebration. With the progress towards a statutory regulatory body for the language profession grinding slowly, SATI has championed the path for professional standards within the language discipline. Congratulations and may your flag fly ever higher in the next fifty years! ACADEMIC AND NON-FICTION AUTHORS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA ANFASA warmly congratulates SATI on its 50th anniversary. ANFASA is a new organisation the first national association in South Africa focusing on the interests of academic and non-fiction authors, interests such as intellectual property rights, relationships with publishers and the development of knowledge production. ANFASA invites you to find out more about its aims and objectives. info@anfasa.org.za www.anfasa.org.za SUPPORT ACADEMIC AND NON-FICTION WRITING! BECOME A MEMBER OF ANFASA! 12