The ATA Chronicle - March/April 2021 - 31

GEEKSPEAK

By Jost Zetzche

still is Lawrence Venuti's The
Translator's Invisibility.2)
I found it exciting to look
at this and realize (again)
that our participation on
social media not only fulfills
our own agenda (e.g., to find
jobs, make friends, or be
entertained), but that of our
profession as well.
As mentioned earlier, I
asked some colleagues to
share their experiences on
different platforms. Clearly
there are more platforms
than those mentioned here,
but Facebook, LinkedIn,
Instagram, and Twitter
seemed the most obvious
choices, at least from a
U.S.-based perspective.
Interestingly, you'll notice

Social Media and Translators

we have two colleagues
talking about Instagram.
(It was really hard to find
translators or interpreters

Since the use of social media has become increasingly important for
my business (and many of yours as well), I thought it would be a good
idea to write about what I do on " my " social media platform. I also

who were using Instagram
in a manner that was
productive for their business,

asked some colleagues to share how they fare on other platforms

and then surprisingly two
of them agreed to share

(more on that below).

their experience almost
simultaneously!) Here's what

I

n preparation for this, I
read an interesting book
by Renée Desjardins, a

*	 Social media profiles
present an unprecedented

their voices, acting as

opportunity for translators

potential platforms for

professor from the Université

to have their voices

solidarity and strength.

de Saint-Boniface in

heard right next to

Winnipeg, Canada, called

other professions (and

Translation and Social Media.1

other branches of the

It was published in 2017

translation world),

so it's a little outdated,

rather than clustered in

but it was helpful to read

small discussion forums

anyway because Desjardins
analyzes the function and
role of social media for the
translation profession. She
also highlights some very
interesting facts that most of
us may know but have never
heard articulated. Here are
some examples:
www.ata-chronicle.online

primarily concerned with
topics relevant only to a

provide individual

present a public space for

media platform, but a search

associations) space to

engine that helps people

represent their complete

discover local businesses.

portfolio of services
All this stands in sharp

*	 Social media platforms

Facebook isn't just a social

of translators (e.g.,

(Note: there's nothing

different purpose.)

It's often overlooked that

translators and groups

and expertise.

but it clearly serves a

Facebook
Veronika Demichelis
facebook.com/
demichelislanguageservices

*	 Social media platforms

specific type of translator.
wrong with the cluster,

they had to say.

translators to combine

I've learned that firsthand,
seeing that at least three to
five clients a week approach

contrast to the presumed

me and say they found me

invisibility of the translator.

through Facebook. Some of

(Note that one of the

them find me through my

most influential books in

Facebook business page,

translation studies was and

others through word-ofAmerican Translators Association

31
http://www.facebook.com/demichelislanguageservices http://www.facebook.com/demichelislanguageservices http://www.ata-chronicle.online
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