EU Acquis translation memory

Ich zitiere Bettina in Linklogbuch):

Die Generaldirektion Übersetzung der Europäischen Kommission hat den Acquis Communitaire (Rechtsvorschriften, Verträge und Urteile des Europäischen Gerichtshofs) in 22 Sprachen in einem Format zum Download bereitgestellt, aus dem problemlos ein Translation Memory in einer beliebigen Sprachenkombination erstellt werden kann.

I completely missed this, whenever it happened. The acquis communautaire (more or less) has now been made available by the Directorate-General for Translation in 22 languages in a form that can easily be converted into a translation memory (assuming one has enough RAM and disc space to use it). That will be a highly useful thing to have, although at the same time, I suspect, very diverse in the suggestions it makes.

There is a tool to extract the language pair you’re interested in.

There is not only the DGT TM collection, but also a corpus for linguistics research called JRC-Acquis. Read more at:

Information in English

As of November 2007, the European Commission’s Directorate General for Translation (DGT) made publicly accessible its multilingual Translation Memory for the Acquis Communautaire – a collection of parallel texts (texts and their translation, also referred to as bi-texts) in 22 languages. On this page, you will find a summary of this unique resource and instructions on where to download it and how to produce bilingual aligned corpora for any of the 231 language pair combinations (462 language pair directions).

Linux distribution for translators / Linux für Übersetzer

Peter Sandrini, a legal translator, no less, has created a version of Linux especially designed for translators.

Peter Sandrini: eine Linux-Distribution für Übersetzer (hier Deutsch)

On the basis of the linux distribution PCLinuxOS we have created a desktop linux system for translators.
PCLOS-Trans is full fledged desktop system meant as a replacement for the widely known OS. But it is not just an operating system, it is also a collection of software applications which allows a translator to do his/her job most efficiently and in line with the latest standards.

Auf der Basis der Linux-Distribution PCLinuxOS haben wir einen Desktop-Pc zusammengestellt, der neben dem Betriebssystem eine Reihe von spezifischen Anwendungen enthält. Diese Anwendungen wurden ausgewählt, um ein möglichst effizientes Übersetzen am PC zu ermöglichen.

(Via Marc Prior at Flefo)

Painful back surgery / Tippfehler im Antrag

We all know that back surgery can be painful, but this got rather worse when it reached the typist’s hands:

Plaintiff moves the court for a continuance of the trial for the reason that counsel for the plaintiff is recovering from dick surgery and because of continuing pain is unable to properly represent the plaintiff in a trial. Counsel is unable to sit for long periods of time.

Scroll down for doctor’s note referring to disk herniation.

(Via Legal Juice)

Best literary translations of 2007 / Beste Literaturübersetzungen ins Englische 2007

three percent, a ‘Resource for international literature at the University of Rochester’ (links, weblog, translation program), has published a longlist of the best literary translations in 2007. Not much German, but Der Gehilfe by Robert Walser could be fun.

Here’s the analysis.

Twenty-one languages are represented on the list, with French (11 books or 22%) being the most, Spanish (10, 20%) in second, and German (4), Russian (4), and Japanese (3) rounding out the top five. Two titles from both Arabic and Hebrew made the list, and the following languages each had one title: Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Flemish, Hungarian, Italian, Korean, Nepali, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Romanian, and Turkish. Overall, a pretty nice balance.

(Thanks to Trevor)

The Chav Nativity

The Chav Nativity – picture and text at Charon QC

Then these three geezers turn up, looking proper bling, wiv crowns on their heads. They’re like ‘Respect, bay-bee Jesus’, an’ say they’re wise men from the East End.
Joe goes: ‘If you’re so wise, wotchoo doin’ wiv this Frankenstein an’ myrrh?
Why dincha just bring gold, Adidas and Burberry?’

A Google image search reveals others.

Forensic linguist enters fiction / Forensischer Linguist als Romanfigur

Newsday reported on November 29 (when I first drafted this entry) that Kathy Reichs has introduced a forensic linguist called Rob Potter in her latest novel. He is based on Robert Leonard, an academic and private forensic linguist. It was news to me that he retired as a rock singer at the age of 21.

The newcomer is based on one of Reichs’ friends, Robert Leonard, 59, a real-life former rock star-turned-forensic linguistics professor. Leonard, in fact, heads the Forensic Linguistics Project at Hofstra University. Professionals in that field analyze written and spoken language – including grammar, word choice, dialect and structure – in contracts, confessions, ransom notes, spoken threats, undercover recordings, transcripts of interrogations and other correspondence linked to crimes.

Christmas tree / Weihnachtsbaum

This Christmas tree was not cut down in the forest. It must be one of the largest fake Christmas trees in Germany. According to the local paper, it has met with mixed reactions (anything artificial or gaudy tends to be despised).

This is more worrying:

The Fürther Nachrichten reported on Saturday that this is just an SPD pre-election initiative.