How to Become a Qualified Bilingual or Trilingual Interpreter/Translator
According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, interpreters and translators are expected to have a higher than average employment growth of about 22% within the 2008-2018 decade. As a trilingual interpreter and translator myself, I've noticed the job growth, not only in the writing and translation departments, but in the overall economy across all industries.
The demand for interpreters and translators is high, but sadly enough there are not enough qualified interpreters/translators to fill that demand. The results are ill-recorded audio or ill-written marketing ads, newsletters, slogans, emails, etc.
If you're considering becoming a bilingual or trilingual interpreter/translator it's very important to understand that being bilingual or trilingual in itself does not equate to being a qualified interpreter or translator.
You may know the basics of English, Spanish, and American Sign Language (fill in your languages), but do you know the inner workings and nuances of the languages?
Consider these two marketing campaigns that failed some years back:
Baby Food to a developing country: Is it baby food or is it baby food?
Chevy Nova to Mexico: Is it Chevy Nova or Chevy NoVa? (Chevy, 'No Go' in Spanish)
To be bilingual or trilingual means having the capability to speak and communicate in two or three languages.
To be an interpreter means having the capability to convey a message from one language to another.
At this point someone may say, "Anybody can do that!"
Not so fast my friend!
To become a truly qualified bilingual or trilingual interpreter or translator, a person must possess at least the following qualifications:
Fluency in two languages (bilingual); fluency in three languages (trilingual)
Understanding of cultural differences, rules, and norms of those populations
Cultural awareness and sensitivity regarding those cultures
Knowledge of communication modes and styles
Knowledge of language registers
Interpreter responsibilities and ethics
Interpreter's role
Intercultural communication
Cultural Collectivism versus Individualism
Socio-Political impact on these cultures
Linguistic structure of said languages
Language history
Cultural history
Oh, and this is just the tip of the iceberg (English Idiom).
If you're serious about becoming a bilingual or trilingual interpreter, it's to your advantage to learn to communicate properly for a higher success rate. Believe me it doesn't happen overnight, it has taken me decades to become trilingual. So how in the world can someone become a truly qualified bilingual or trilingual interpreter?
Well, that's a valid question. And the answer is that there are several training programs throughout the world that can assist you in getting the proper and formal training that will cover these integral components for becoming a qualified bilingual or trilingual interpreter. Along with most formal trainings you'll get hands-on internship experience to build towards your qualifications.
A starting point would be to Google 'Interpreter Training Programs' or 'Translator Training Programs'. Get your formal training and it may not take you decades to become a qualified bilingual or trilingual interpreter/translator.
My best with your interpreting or translating goals!
Krystalina Soash is a writer, published author, and holds Bilingual Interpreter Spanish/English Certification and American Sign Language Certification. You may visit Krystalina at http://www.TrilingualInterpreter.com and http://www.WritingForYouNow.com
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