More than just Freelancers... Translators and Interpreters Are Professionals

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Freelancers...Translators and Interpreters are Professionals

Most people believe being bilingual is enough.  

Have you heard this before? "If you speak two languages, how hard can it be?"  

Many translators and interpreters are not perceived as specialized or qualified professionals. 
Think of services such as doctors, lawyers, accountants, translators or interpreters, in an independent business or profession.  

All these professions have one thing in common, mainly mental work, as opposed to engaging in physical work.[1]

Consider the information below and you might view translators and interpreters as professionals not just freelancers.

More than just freelancers...translators and interpreters are professionals.

SO WHAT IS A PROFESSION?

The term [profession]... describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skills necessary to perform the role of that profession. In addition, most professionals are subject to strict codes of conduct enshrining rigorous ethical and moral obligations. Professional standards of practice and ethics for a particular field are typically agreed upon and maintained through widely recognized professional associations... and who (the members of the profession) are commonly engaged in creative and intellectually challenging work.[2][3]
More than just freelancers...Translators and Interpreters are Professionals

WHAT MAJOR MILESTONES CAN MARK AN OCCUPATION AS BEING IDENTIFIED AS A PROFESSION?[4]

1.    An occupation becomes a full-time occupation

Employment of interpreters and translators is projected to grow 46 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment growth reflects increasing globalization and a more diverse U.S. population, which is expected to require more interpreters and translators... Computers have made the work of translators and localization specialists more efficient. However, these jobs cannot be entirely automated. Computers cannot yet produce work comparable to the work that human translators do in most cases.[5]

*The following contain lists of schools, colleges, universities and associations that offer translator and interpreter training programs. This is not a complete list. You are encouraged to call your college and associations to inquire if they offer translator or interpreter training programs. This list does not constitute an endorsement of these
programs and associations, but is provided for information only.

More than just freelancers...translators and interpreters are professionals.


2.    The establishment of a training school

3.    The establishment of a university school

Interpreters and translators generally need specialized training on how to do their work. 

Formal programs in interpreting and translating are available at colleges and universities nationwide, university training programs, conferences, and courses.

Many people who work as interpreters or translators in more technical areas—such as software localization, engineering, or finance—have a master’s degree. 

Those working in the community as court or medical interpreters or translators are more likely to complete job-specific training programs.[6]

4.    The establishment of a local association

5.    The establishment of a national association

More than just freelancers...Translators and interpreters are professionals.

6.    The introduction of codes of professional ethics

Professional Standards and Ethics for California Court Interpreters
International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters
American Translators Association
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
National Association of Judiciary Interpreters & Translators 

7.    The establishment of state licensing laws


There is currently no universal certification required of interpreters and translators beyond passing the required court interpreting exams offered by most states. 

However, workers can take a variety of tests that show proficiency. 

For example, many of the national associations offer certification.
The U.S. Department of State has a three-test series for prospective interpreters—one test in simple consecutive interpreting (for escort work), another in simultaneous interpreting (for court work), and a third in conference-level interpreting (for international conferences)—as well as a test for prospective translators. 

These tests are not considered a credential, but their completion indicates that a person has significant skill in the occupation.



Federal courts provide judiciary certification for Spanish, Navajo, and Haitian Creole interpreters, and many states offer their own certification or licensing. 

The National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators also offers certification for court interpreting.[7]


More than just freelancers...Translators and Interpreters are Professionals.

Professional translators and interpreters are competent, creative, and educated individuals.  

Machines do words, translators and interpreters do language (meaning).  

Translators and interpreters are skilled language artisans, which is a mastery much more than merely being ableto speak a foreign language.  


Translators and interpreters are experts and prove it by their professional quality, work, and behavior.  
Similar to an artist, words are their paint and it takes their application to make language an understandable masterpiece.


What other schools or associations would be good to mention?

How do you find that perfect qualified or certified translator or interpreter who will communicate your message correctly?  eLingual.Net is a great place to start.

Unlike traditional translator and interpretation job marketplaces where jobs are auctioned off or given to a middleman, eLingual.Net works to find you the most qualified professional translators or interpreters in our network. 

Here’s how it works:
  1. You provide what's important to you in your job description.
  2. We'll recommend your job to members with the right skills and experience based on their profile.
  3. You get a qualified applicant pool to choose from.

Feel free to connect or email me, Carmen Arismendy.  I'm a professional Spanish interpreter-translator and founder of eLingual.Net.  I started the eLingual Network because I could not find a fair, no middleman, no job bidding, ethical and transparent meeting place for translators, interpreters and clients online.  The website is in beta phase and by no means perfect but it's a step in the right direction.
eLingual.Net's mission is to spread happiness worldwide through happy translators, interpreters and clients.
For the professional translator and interpreter, this means no middleman, no job bidding, the freedom of setting their own fees, having control over their services, and who they choose to work with.
For the clients, this means working with ethical and professional translators and interpreters committed to quality and value.
Join our happy community, let's work together!
References

  1. Internal RevenueService, U.S. Department of the Treasury, Independent Contractor Defined. (2014, October 2) Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Independent-Contractor-Defined
  2. Wikipedia, Professional. (2014, October 27). Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional
  3. Wikipedia, Profession. (2014, October 24). Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profession
  4. Perks, R.W.(1993): Accounting and Society. Chapman & Hall (London); ISBN 0-412-47330-5. p.2.
  5. Bureau of LaborStatistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15Edition, Interpreters and Translators, Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/interpreters-and-translators.htm
  6. Bureau of LaborStatistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook,2014-15 Edition, Interpreters and Translators, Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/interpreters-and-translators.htm
  7. Bureau of LaborStatistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook,2014-15 Edition, Interpreters and Translators, Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/interpreters-and-translators.htm

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