At Avantpage, we use glossaries and translation memory to save time in the long run, saving our clients money, as well as provide consistency within a translated document and among all your translated documents.

Custom glossaries are built for each client, so that their preferences are recorded for future use. For example, if a client prefers the word "team member" instead of "employee," that's the word that will always be used. Using glossaries, any of our translators will be able to pick up material related to the same client, and have fewer questions about the way certain terms are to be translated.

Working along the same lines, translation memory (TM) software helps us build on the previous work of our translators to save time in the future. Once a document has been completed and reviewed for quality assurance, it is converted to a TM file. When it's time to complete a new translation for the same client, we can analyze the new document against previously translated documents. The application helps decipher which words and phrases have been repeated and indicates how they were previously translated.

Even though these technologies do not rely on computers to make the translation, they do make the translation process much more efficient by building on existing work. In the end, it's always an educated human translator that makes the final decision, as we strongly believe it should be.

Are you aware that Avantpage is a minority-owned business? We are proud of our MBE status, and today I'd like to take just a moment to expand on that a bit ...

What is an MBE? 
An MBE - Minority-owned Business Enterprise - is defined as a for-profit business which is owned, operated and controlled by minority group members who are Asian, Black, Hispanic or Native American. At least 51% of the business must be owned by a minority to qualify, or, if the business is publicly-owned, at least 51% of the stock must be owned by one or more members of a minority. Also, the management and day-to-day operations of the business must be controlled by minority group members as well.

Many large corporations actively seek to do business with MBEs, and often have internal programs in  place to contract services with a certain percentage of MBEs, in addition to their other suppliers. If you are interested in choosing a translation company with MBE status, Avantpage is certified by The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC).

What does MBE status mean to our clients?
There is actually a two-pronged advantage to Avantpage's MBE status. First, because we are certified as an MBE by the NMSDC, we are eligible to register with major corporations in their supplier diversity programs. And that means exciting opportunities for Avantpage to gain valuable experience with new corporate clients, improve our industry recognition, expand our services and grow as an organization. 

Secondly, there is a more "intangible" benefit to our being designated an MBE.  In the translation industry, we deal closely with minority issues in regard to language barriers. We understand sensitive language issues, cultural differences, and diversity concerns, because our company was founded and built by minorities. 

Avantpage constantly seeks to further our understanding of and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of other minority businesses and individuals. While our MBE status is another advantage to working with us, our work stands by itself due to its quality, service and competitive cost.

In today's unsteady economic climate, efficiency is a major buzzword on everyone's lips. How can businesses maximize resources while continually improving their quality and remaining competitive?

Improved technology is a frequent answer to this question. In Avantpage's case, we've been using an enterprise-level online project management system called AvantFlow for the past several years. It's helped us communicate easily with clients and gives them the freedom to access projects 24/7, from any remote location with Web access.

Like any good software, AvantFlow deserved an upgrade, and we're proud to say that the newest version of AvantFlow is more powerful than ever, with features that make it incredibly easy to start, supervise, and pick up translation projects.

How does it work? Each new user gets a secure account. Here you can log in to request a new project, monitor ongoing work, change specifications if necessary, view previous projects, and download finished files. Our system is designed to handle even the biggest desktop publishing files.

When working with your translator, you can assign due dates, ask for a project quote, and upload your source files. Best of all, all of your activity is automatically tracked within the system so you can see who's been doing what with your project. There are no more emails to search through, and you can be confident that all requests are seen and handled in a timely manner.

Need a quick demo on AvantFlow and how to use it? Contact me and I'd be happy to schedule a ten-minute meeting and/or e-mail you our Quick Guide User Manual.

Michael Lattif, VP Business Development
201.567.4351 | 530.750.2040 ext 7 | cell 201.424.8838

Avantpage is pleased to join the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN), a multicultural health advocacy organization, at their event next week: Building Quality and Equitable Health Care Systems.

Sponsored by The California Endowment, this convening is an important opportunity to celebrate and share with one another our advances in eliminating health disparities through language access, cultural competency, and workforce diversity, and to work together to move the field forward, especially with the recent passage of national health reform.

If you're in Los Angeles June 6-9, consider joining this important meeting. Avantpage will report back after the event with our impressions--we're committed to staying abreast of all changes in policy as it relates to translation and keeping our clients informed!

Being a technologist myself, I always look to the advances our scientists and engineers make with awe and wonder. As a society, we owe much to them.

I also know better than to give absolutes like "Machine translation will never replace human translators". Human capacity and ingenuity knows no bounds as of yet.

That said, we need to remember that as we apply machine translation to medical information, there are legal implications and, most importantly, the basis for medical choices and treatments. Mistakes and inaccuracies with medical information are simply not acceptable.

In our medical translation workflow, the legitimate role we have for machine translation is for terminology research, and to see how others have translated text that is new for us. Please note that this is more than in the past, but still quite limited.

Otherwise, because of legal, contractual and ethical requirements, we do not have or see any other role for machine translation in a medical context at this time. We will continue to follow the development of the technology, and as it evolves, evaluate how it can improve quality, lower costs and reduce turnaround time for our human translators.

Luis Miguel, CEO
tel: 530.750.2040, ext. 1

This past weekend I had a great opportunity to spend time at NYU in a course through their School of Continuing and Professional Studies. I gathered with a small group of other professionals talking about ethnic marketing and ways to reach multicultural communities. Such interesting discussions and data--and truly invigorating to be with other professionals eager to make those vital connections to important communities in the U.S.

Why is multicultural marketing something to pay attention to? Ethnic markets are gaining in population and buying power. They are the fastest growing segment in the U.S.! The majority are in largest cities, and growing in small cities too. While we may all think we already know this, it's great to get back to basics and see the data. The Hispanic, Asian, and African American markets combined already comprise 50% or more of top 10 urban areas, with annual purchasing power of $2 trillion. This population is 10 million larger than baby boomers demographic group.

And it's so important to be mindful of the diversity within diversity. For example, 15% of the U.S. population is Hispanic. Of that market, 63% are Mexican, while 35 other cultures contribute to the balance--such as Puerto Rican, Spanish, Venezuelan, Columbian, Panamanian, Guatemalan, and more. The same diversity is, of course, true with Asian and Arab cultures. Guess what, it's even true with "Americans."

When communicating with these groups, we can't assume a lack of English proficiency. It's important to know the appropriate times to use in-language marketing tactics. But when your communication is in-language it tells the community you care about them, you understand them, and they are important.

I'd love to talk more and share my insights into how language translation is a vital component in the process of creating a multicultural marketing program with cultural relevance. Call or email me today and let's continue the discussion!

Michael Lattif, VP Business Development

201.567.4351 | 530.750.2040 ext 7 | cell 201.424.8838

Avantpage joined the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN) in taking action to support translation of prescription drug labels--we encourage you to take action also by May 13, 2010.

CPEHN writes, "Despite public outcry, the Board of Pharmacy continues to advance weak regulations that do not ensure the readability of prescription drug labels. These next two weeks are our final opportunity to write the Board and demand strong patient-centered prescription labels-- labels that are in a 12-point font size and translated in other languages."

Join us in sending your comments to the California State Board of Pharmacy asking for culturally appropriate labels. Comments are due by May 13!  CPEHN recommends telling the Board:

• 12-point font is the minimum size for readability. It is not reasonable to put the burden on patients to ask for larger print.
• Translated labels are essential for our diverse communities to understand how to take their medication effectively and safely. Pharmacies should be required to use the translated labels provided by the Board or develop their own translations.
• Oral interpretation must be required for all patients. Using the caveat "if available" in the regulation will leave our communities vulnerable to misuse of their prescriptions.

Please direct comments to: Carolyn Klein
Manager, Legislation and Regulations
California State Board of Pharmacy
1625 N. Market Blvd., N219
Sacramento, CA 95834
Fax: (916) 574-8618

For information or to let us know you took action, email Marty Martinez. Additional information is available at the Board of Pharmacy website.

Avantpage Translations is looking for a Web localization partner. We're interested in hearing from you if you are:

• Experienced
• Able to provide references regarding prompt, accurate deliveries
• Familiar with SEO
• Does Website design and implementation
• Willing to partner in Avantpage RFPs involving translation and web work
• US/Canada presence to ensure quick communication and collaboration
• Flexible pricing according to job/client

 Development languages to include:

• C#
• VB.NET
• C++
• Java
• PHP
• Perl
• Python
• Delphi

If you are interested in talking with us and learning more about how we can work together, please contact info@avantpage.com, or call 530-750-2024.
 
About Avantpage Translations
Founded in 1996, industry leader Avantpage allows our customers to build bridges across cultures. We provide translation, localization, interpretation, language technology, language workflow and strategy, and multilingual Desktop Publishing services - with constant attention to consistency and accuracy.

We have successfully completed statewide, national and international contracts, partnering with government and private entities. Our expertise helps you communicate and develop lasting relationships with ethnic and foreign markets. Online project management systems and advanced language technology allow us to provide responsive, quality, and efficient services. We help our customers develop an overall language strategy, workflows, and enabling technologies. These elements provide a framework that allows collaboration throughout all language services.

That was our response upon receiving our census form in the mail. After all, the country of origin question goes a long way in determining what kind of language services an area needs to provide for local residents.

Well, it’s sort of on the census.  

You see, under Question 9 about race, there are boxes for “white, black, American Indian, Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Other Asian, Native Hawaiian, Guamanian/Chamorro, Samoan, Other Pacific Islander, or “Some Other Race.”

So one can glean some information about national origin and languages spoken from this version of the census, but there are some notable categories missing here. Arab-Americans are often divided about how to fill out this item—most choose “white,” but feel oddly doing so. In the same way, this form doesn’t accurately count Russian-Americans or Americans of Polish heritage, since those groups also self-identify as “white.”

Here’s the answer to the “missing ethnicity question,” straight from the Census Bureau:

“The 2010 Census isn’t designed to capture data on a person’s ancestry. We capture that information on the American Community Survey (ACS), which is part of the official census but conducted throughout the decade on a rolling sample of about 2.5 percent of the population every year. In Census 2000 and earlier decades what is now the ACS was commonly called “the long form” of the census; the 2010 Census is the first to use a short form only.”

Time will only tell whether the ACS provides us with an accurate accounting of the many ethnic and linguistic groups within America, and whether this experiment with a “short form” proves costly in the long run for historically underrepresented groups.

 

Ever wonder how we find and then screen our translators? Firstly, translators apply to Avantpage via our Careers page on our website or they can be referrals from translators who work with us already.

But then what? Do we just read their resumes, and make them take a quick test? No! Avantpage translators perform sample tests, submit work samples, are interviewed, and present valid certification from a professional translation institution. And that's just our pre-qualification step. After that, translators are qualified, sign non-disclosure agreeements, are thoroughly monitored, and much, much more.

To learn more about how we select our translators, contact Laura Kujubu, Sr. Director of Operations & Customer Relations, at 530-750-2040, x3. Laura will fill you in on our continuous training program on Avantpage project management tools,  our quality control process, customer service guidelines, and why you can be sure that with our team of professional translators you're getting best-in-the-industry quality.