5/2/18
Translators and Interpreters in
Today’s World
Dr Marc ORLANDO
Translation and Interpreting Studies
Monash University, Melbourne
[Link]@[Link]
§ Translators work from their B language into their A
language (and sometimes several B or even C languages)
§ Translators work from written documents
Literary, technical, legal, medical, business, etc.
§ Interpreters generally work bi-directionally - A-B/B-A-
(private markets) or from B/C into A (Institutions)
§ Interpreters work from verbal sources and in different modes
and contexts
- Consecutive / Simultaneous / Chuchotage
- Conference interpreting, court interpreting, business,
interpreting, public service/community interpreting (medical,
legal, education, police, immigration, etc)
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A sector marked by several changes of various nature:
§ Economical
§ Societal
§ Technological
Market Growth and Growth in Demand and Reach
(Beninatto and De Palma 2008; Rinsche 2009; Kelly et al. 2010; Drugan 2013;
Common Sense Advisory 2015)
§ 1950- 2004: average annual growth of international trade = 4%
of the LSP/T&I sector = 5%
§ Global market value of LSP: US $9 billion in 2006 to $12 billion
in 2007
§ $26 billion in 2010 - $33 billion in 2013 - $38-$42 billion+ by
2018 (CSA)
§ In 2013, in Europe only: $16 billion - $9 billion NA - $6 billion in
Asia
§ The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 46%
job growth in this industry between 2012 and 2022,
compared with an average 11% growth for all
careers
§ Drugan’s study also showed the sector is not
affected economic downturns
§ Why?
= Globalisation and technologisation
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Globalisation and Migration Flows
§ More exchanges facilitated by more communication means
§ This globalised world allowed market growth following the
penetration of free-market and mixed-market economies
across the globe (Eastern Europe and Russia, Brazil, India,
China)
§ An increase in translation needs despite the spread of
English as a lingua franca (data reports, business contracts,
international meetings, migration related services…)
§ International cooperation in various fields =
increase in number of international organisations
1909: 37 intergovernmental org. and
173 non-governmental org.
1994: 320 and 4200+
(Cronin 2003)
Technologisation and T&I Reach
§ Internet + PCs + mobiles = internationalisation, localisation and
translation (games, apps, software etc.)
§ Global business = strong need for information on market developments =
translation needs around the clock
Increased reach and visibility of translation:
§ Transport, travels, internet communication, global media
§ Globish but Web-users expect sites to be in their languages (online
expansion in Africa, Latin America, Asia, South-East Asia, the Middle
East) (Drugan, 2013)
§ Protection of cultures and languages
“Localisation might actively participate in the saving of difference”
(Pym, 2010)
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Impact on T&I Professionals
ADAPTABILITY
§ Freelancing: direct competition all over the world
The average proportion of freelancers globally is around 78% (from 50%
in China to 89% in the UK) (Pym and al, 2012)
§ T&I Without Borders:
§ Global and local markets with different norms and standards
§ Time zones differences become an asset (esp. with stricter and shorter
deadlines)
§ Work from anywhere for anyone anywhere
§ Digital technologies and Videoconference facilities
§ Upgrade skills and competence all the time: linguistic, cultural and
technological
“Each technological generation is now thought to last no more than four
years” (Gouadec 2007)
Translators:
§ Various software, CAT tools, TM, Machine Translation, post-editing ...
§ Changes in deadlines, content, output, volume, speed, rates…
Interpreters:
§ Work remotely: video, telephone (Braun 2007, Napier 2011, Ozolins 2011)
§ Different equipment: portable equipment (Pöchhacker 2004)
§ Different modes: digital recorders, digital pen technology (Orlando 2010,
2014, 2015; Pöchhacker 2007)
Translators
§ translate various text types (technical, legal, medical, financial, literary,
cultural, media)
§ use translation software,
§ use information technology,
§ revise translations,
§ post-edit texts translated with machine translation,
§ summarise texts,
§ edit and adapt both originals and translations,
§ do technical writing,
§ manage projects,
§ train peers,
§ subtitle and dub multimedia texts,
§ work on localization teams,
§ create translation memories, create terminology databases within
commercial translation software,
§ do research in computational linguistics, machine translation, language
engineering...
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Interpreters
§ interpret in various contexts and in various modes, onsite or remotely.
§ work as permanent staff or freelancers for institutions (UN, European
Commission, European Parliament, international organisations);
§ for conferences and international meetings;
§ on business or diplomacy assignments;
§ as community interpreters in various fields (immigration, health, court,
legal, police, education, refugee tribunals…) and subfields;
§ in media;
§ in conflict and disaster zones, etc.
§ Freelance interpreters today can be asked to work and offer their
services in many areas, and their assignments may in many cases
encompass different fields and contexts of work.
Status
§ Has changed but still not well-defined
§ An occupation or a profession? (Katan 2009)
Professionalisation through training
§ An unregulated profession
“In no country that we have surveyed is any academic qualification – or
indeed any kind of formal qualification at all – required in order to use
the term “translator” or its equivalent generic terms. Almost anyone at
all can be called a ‘translator’. More technically, the general title of
‘translator’ is virtually unprotected”
(Pym et al, 2012)
§ Issue of certification/credentiallin g (TransCert / ISO…)
T&I in Australia
§ A multicultural (but monolingual) society
§ 27% of Australians speak another language at home (2011)
§ In Victoria: 220 different languages
§ Important needs
§ The Asia/Pacific Region
§ National Accreditation Authority for T&I [Link]
§ The Australian Institute for T&I (AUSIT) [Link]
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T&I at Monash
T&I Studies IS NOT Language Studies
A discipline of its own (Linguistics, Literary Studies,
Intercultural Studies, Communication Studies, Performance
Studies…)
Training is essential – Do you play the piano?
Master’s Degree
PhDs
From Pedagogical Translation to Professional
Translation
§ Far from being merely a linguistic activity
How about the context, the function and the effects of a
translation?
§ Importance of general knowledge
§ Importance of research methods
§ Importance of culture (the T&I as a cultural mediator)
§ A communicative activity
§ At the crossroads of everything…
What’s needed?
§ A strong knowledge of your own language
§ A sound linguistic and cultural background in B (C)
§ A large knowledge base (T&I are press-eaters)
§ Open-mindedness and curiosity: becoming a specialist
among specialists
§ Reading skills (the most intimate act of reading)
§ Writing skills (a creative writer)
§ Certain cognitive aptitudes / public speaking skills
§ Aptitude to make decisions
§ Interest for both practice and research = a practisearcher
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The MITS
[Link] ion- inter preti ng/
- (NAATI, CIUTI, AIIC = quality labels)
- Strong industry connections
§ Double master programs: (China), France, Italy, Japan
§ Multiple SEA (one semester abroad): France, Belgium,
Italy, Germany, China
