Teaching Intercultural Competence in Translator Training

In this position paper we define an interculturally competent translator as one that demonstrates a high level of intercultural knowledge, skills, attitude and flexibility throughout his or her professional engagements. We argue that to attain this goal in translator training intercultural competence needs to be introduced into the curriculum explicitly and in a conceptually clear manner. In this article we provide an overview of earlier attempts at discussing the role of intercultural communication in translator training curricula and we discuss the various pedagogical and practical challenges involved. We also look at some future challenges, identifying increasing societal diversity as both a source of added urgency into intercultural training and a challenge for traditional biculturally based notions of translators’ intercultural competence and we argue for the central role of empathy. Finally, and importantly, we introduce the contributions to the special issue

Evaluation of Microorganisms Cultured from Injured and Repressed Tissue Regeneration Sites in Endangered Giant Aquatic Ozark Hellbender Salamanders

Investigation into the causes underlying the rapid, global amphibian decline provides critical insight into the effects of changing ecosystems. Hypothesized and confirmed links between amphibian declines, disease, and environmental changes are increasingly represented in published literature. However, there are few long-term amphibian studies that include data on population size, abnormality/injury rates, disease, and habitat variables to adequately assess changes through time. We cultured and identified microorganisms isolated from abnormal/injured and repressed tissue regeneration sites of the endangered Ozark Hellbender, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi, to discover potential causative agents responsible for their significant decline in health and population. This organism and our study site were chosen because the population and habitat of C. a. bishopi have been intensively studied from 1969–2009, and the abnormality/injury rate and apparent lack of regeneration were established. Although many bacterial and fungal isolates recovered were common environmental organisms, several opportunistic pathogens were identified in association with only the injured tissues of C.a. bishopi. Bacterial isolates included Aeromonas hydrophila, a known amphibian pathogen, Granulicetella adiacens, Gordonai terrae, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Aerococcus viridans, Streptococcus pneumoniae and a variety of Pseudomonads, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. stutzeri, and P. alcaligenes. Fungal isolates included species in the genera Penicillium, Acremonium, Cladosporium, Curvularia, Fusarium, Streptomycetes, and the Class Hyphomycetes. Many of the opportunistic pathogens identified are known to form biofilms. Lack of isolation of the same organism from all wounds suggests that the etiological agent responsible for the damage to C. a. bishopi may not be a single organism. To our knowledge, this is the first study to profile the external microbial consortia cultured from a Cryptobranchid salamander. The incidence of abnormalities/injury and retarded regeneration in C. a. bishopi may have many contributing factors including disease and habitat degradation. Results from this study may provide insight into other amphibian population declines

Cultures in translation, complexity and development inequalities: cultivating spaces for shared understanding

This article argues that complex and multi-perspective approaches to translation and intercultural studies are necessary in order to address the Sustainable Development Goals, whose overall aim is ‘leave no-one behind'. Taking examples from international development project experiences, we consider the role of ‘translating cultures’ in these fluid exchange spaces of multilingual and intercultural encounters, particularly at project beneficiary level where there is significant inequality and power difference between different actors. Development projects often focus on efficiency at the expense of inclusion; we emphasise the need to open up linguistic and cultural spaces to allow the interrogation of values and processes

Fungi identified on Blood Agar.

<p>Colony Forming Units represent the number of colonies counted on each plate. Sample plates without growth were not listed. Genera with different morphological characteristics suggesting different species are noted. Asterisk (*) indicates control sample from uninjured limb. NFWR = North Fork of White River samples.</p

Representative microbial flora cultured from <i>C. a. bishopi</i> on three different media.

<p>Swabs from injured (or uninjured control) tissues of six adult hellbenders were streaked onto three different microbiological culture media: Sheep's blood agar (A–G), Mannitol Salt Agar (H), and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (I). * Indicates uninjured control sample.</p

Ozark Hellbenders, <i>Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi</i>, captured and swabbed for microbial flora from the North Fork of the White River, Ozark County, Missouri on 17 August 2007.

1<p>Two sample location (right back limb and right front limb) were swabbed.</p>2<p>Four sample locations (all limbs) were swabbed.</p>3<p>Three sample locations (right back limb, left back limb, and left front limb) were swabbed.</p>4<p>Three sample locations (right back limb, right front limb, and left front limb) were swabbed.</p>5<p>Two sample locations (left back limb and left front limb) were swabbed.</p>6<p>Five sample locations (all limbs and lower lip) were swabbed.</p