French Language
Division
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American Translators Association
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Translation
Anne Vincent answers the following frequently asked questions about translation.
 How does the FLD function?
How can I join the French Language Division?
I have changed my address/phone number.
Can you help me find a translator or interpreter in French?
I need a French translator. Should I hire one educated in Canada or in France?
What can I charge for my translation / interpreting services?
Or: How much can I expect to pay for the translation of my document, manual, or conference?
All I need translated is this 10-line birth certificate. I am sure that it would only take a professional translator 10 minutes. Why am quoted such a high price?
I know both French and English. Can I become a translator / interpreter?
Where can I find a model contract?
I am planning to take the certification exam English>French or French>English. What are your suggestions?
Where can I find online dictionaries for French and English?
What will the weather be tomorrow in Paris?
Questions About Interpreting
Gardenia C. Hung , Communications Consultant and Notary Public,
answers the following frequently asked questions about interpretation.
Please see Credits and Resources for Interpreting FAQs for additional information.
What are the skills necessary to be an interpreter?
What are the steps in the interpreting process?
What are the modes for interpreting?
What is sight translation?
What is consecutive interpreting?
What is simultaneous interpreting?
What are the settings for interpreting modes?
What is medical interpreting?
What is court interpreting?
What is conference interpreting?
What is community interpreting?
What is escort interpreting?
What are some interpreting strategies?
What skills are involved in sight translation?
What is the difference between translation and interpretation?
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Questions About Translation
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Q: How does the FLD function?
A: The mission of the FLD is detailed in the FLD Bylaws. Because of the geographical dispersion of its members, the FLD can only hold one annual official meeting, during the ATA annual conference. Between conferences, the Division publishes a quarterly newsletter, À-Propos, and maintains a Web site. However, members are encouraged to contact each other, and many do.
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Q: How can I join the French Language Division?
A: At the time you join (or renew your membership to) the ATA, simply check the FLD box. Please, do not write/call/e-mail the FLD Admistrator or Webmaster because all administrative duties are handled by ATA headquarters.
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Q: I have changed my address/phone number.
A:
Please contact ATA headquarters, as this is where all administrative tasks are handled. A change of address must be submitted in writing via mail, fax, or e-mail. Don't forget to provide new phone and fax numbers and e-mail addresses. Please send e-mail to: mis@atanet.org
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Q: Can you help me find a translator or interpreter in French?
A: ATA publishes the Online Directory of Translation and Interpreting Services, which features the profiles of more than 2,600 professional translators and interpreters in all languages.
Consult the ATA Online Directories.
Print and CD-ROM versions will be available later this year.
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Q: I need a French translator. Should I hire one educated in Canada or in France?
A: In most cases, it should not matter: written French, produced by native speakers, presents few variations, whether it is written in France, Canada, Belgium or Switzerland. There are a few cases where your document will require some cultural adaptation (marketing, tourism) or some typographical modifications. For the majority of documents, however, it is more important to evaluate the credentials of the translator and his/her experience in the field (technical, medical, legal) that concerns you.
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Q: What can I charge for my translation/interpreting services?
Or Q: How much can I expect to pay for the translation of my document, manual, or conference?
A: To quote Cliff Landers from the Literary Division's page: "As a result of an agreement between the American Translators Association and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), neither the ATA nor any of its representatives may officially suggest or comment on rates for translation, whether literary or any other sort."
If you are a provider of translation, we can only encourage you to study both your costs and the other rates offered on the market.
If you are a buyer of translation services, you need to be aware that two translators working with the same language and/or the same specialty can quote fairly different rates reflecting their varying level of credentials and experience. Rates quoted by translation bureaus/agencies can be significantly higher than those of independent translators /interpreters, since they offer a wider range of services (DTP, layout, printing, multiple language project management and of course access to a database of professional translators/interpreters)
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Q: All I need translated is this 10-line birth certificate. I am sure that it would only take a professional translator 10 minutes. Why am quoted such a high price?
A: This is called a "minimum rate" and is common with most professionals. The actual translation may indeed require only 10 minutes, but taking your phone call, receiving your document, deciphering the fax, creating and formatting a document, triple-proofing all proper name spelling (or arranging for another translator to proofread the translation), printing the translation, printing the "letter of certification" required by some administrations, creating an invoice, faxing or mailing your documents to you will take quite a while longer. This is assuming that the letter of certification does not need to be notarized, that the translator does not need to call you to clarify smudged words on the fax, that the phone/fax/address that you indicated are operational, that you send payment without reminder(s).
And it does not take into account the fact that the translator has studied at least one language, acquired years of experience in the art of translation, maintains an office with phone, fax, printer, and computer, all in order to be able to produce an accurate translation of your document within a few hours of your request.
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Q: I know both French and English. Can I become a translator/interpreter?
A: It really depends of your level of "knowledge" in both these languages, since a very large number of individuals "know" both French and English, including many who could call both their "native language," have lived in both cultures for a number of years each and/or have received college degrees in both. Without any training, it is quite difficult to break into the profession, unless you also possess knowledge in a specific field where your terminological experience will compensate your lack of experience for potential clients. There is also the matter of whether you personally enjoy translating or interpreting day after day?
At any rate, we strongly urge you to seek out your local translators' group and go to one of its meetings: discussions with actual professional translators will give you a clearer idea of what this profession entails.
For a partial list of the local groups, see Useful links. Some are affiliated with the ATA. Others have kept a distance, but all of them will include at least some ATA members and even some members of our very own division.
Note: If your local group is not here and you would like it to be included, please contact me using my mailbox at the bottom of this page.
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Q: Where can I find a model contract?
A: A model is offered on the main site of the ATA at
www.atanet.org//careers/model_contract.php
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Q: I am planning to take the ATA certification exam English>French or French>English. What are your suggestions?
A: Please read the page regarding this subject at
www.atanet.org/certification/index.php
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Q: Where can I find online dictionaries for French and English?
A: There is an ever-growing number of specialized bilingual and monolingual dictionaries online and I am compiling a list of dictionaries (mostly bilingual) that will be posted shortly on this Web page.
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Q: What will the weather be tomorrow in Paris?
A: This is not exactly a "frequently" asked question, but it has been asked. Go to www.wanadoo.fr/bin/frame2.cgi?u=http%3A//meteo.wanadoo.fr/.
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Questions About Interpreting
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What are the skills necessary to be an interpreter?
- Anticipation
- Listening Skills
- Understanding of a message (units of meaning)
- Detachment from words
- Split attention (multi-tasking abilities)
- Memory
- Flexibility
- Quickness
- Sensitivity to Languages Registers (Levels)
- High Register
- Middle Register
- Low Register
- Sensitivity to Dialects (Regional Variations of Language)
- Problem-Solving Strategies
- Paraphrasing
- Accuracy in Expression
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What are the steps in the Interpreting Process?
- Anticipate what is going to come to activate vocabulary/terminology base.
- Active listening.
- Process units of meaning
- Monitored delivery under pressure (listening to one's self rendering interpretation)
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What are the modes for interpreting?
- Consecutive
- Simultaneous
- Liaison
- Escort
- Sight Translation
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What is sight translation?
A: It is an oral translation of a written text. The interpreter has to process a thought in the source language and generate that target language version of that thought while simultaneously processing the next source language thought, and so on. Some interpreters find sight translation more difficult than the other modes of interpreting because they have more trouble focusing on meaning rather than words-the essence of proper interpretation-when the message is written in print mode.
Reading comprehension is an important element of sight translation, and the need to improve and maintain reading comprehension is one reason why medical interpreters (and prospective medical interpreters) should read as much and as widely as possible. Pacing is another aspect of sight translation which should be emphasized. Often, in the medical setting, time is of the essence. The interpreter must translate the document quickly, but nothing should be omitted.
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What is consecutive interpreting?
A: It is the process of oral interpretation in which the interpreter waits until a complete statement has been spoken and then begins interpreting (so only one person is speaking at a time). Requires a very high standard of accuracy. Not only must the interpreter convey the content of the source-language message, but also the structural elements of the message that are not contained in the words: pauses, tone of voice, stress, etc.
Many interpreters regard consecutive interpretation as one of the most difficult modes of interpreting because it is hard to retain all of the aspects of the source-language message, particularly when a question or answer is very lengthy or is not entirely coherent (an unfortunate fact of life in all types of interpreting).
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What is simultaneous interpreting?
A: It is oral interpretation done at a speed greater than written translation. The interpreter follows the speaker almost immediately, the speaker does not have to stop; the interpretation proceeds almost at the same time the speaker is talking, thus its name, simultaneous interpretation. This is the sort of interpretation you hear at the United Nations and international conferences. In courtrooms, the defendant can hear every word that the judge, the attorneys, and witnesses are saying, to follow the case and aid in his/her own defense. Every defendant at trial needs to have the entire case interpreted simultaneously.
When the defendant is on the witness stand, questions to the defendant and the defendant's testimony may be rendered in consecutive. The testimony of other English-speaking witnesses will be done simultaneously by the interpreters. Should the testimony from the stand be in the language of the defendant, the defendant may hear what the interpreter on the stand is saying through the floor microphone, or through other audio-visual equipment, such as a video camera.
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What are the settings for interpreting modes?
- Medical Interpreting
- Court or Judicial Interpreting
- Conference Interpreting
- Community Interpreting
- Telephone Interpreting
- Escort Interpreting
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What is medical interpreting?
A: It is consecutive interpretation of speech from one language to another in a medical setting. Requires medical information and background in the health care profession. Medical professionals are finding that there are ever-growing numbers of non-English speakers in their patients loads, and they realize that they need the services of highly skilled interpreters in the medical field, to make sure that health care providers are communicating adequately with their patients.
Medical interpreters work in a variety of health care facilities: hospitals, clinics, doctor's offices, mental health and psychiatric facilities, and quasi-legal proceedings, such as medical-legal evaluations for workers' compensation claims, arbitration hearings or personal injury lawsuits and hearings to determine employment or mental competence, disability or eligibility of benefits. Medical interpreting requires training in sight translation, consecutive and simultaneous interpretation.
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What is court interpreting?
A: It is consecutive interpretation of speech from one language to another in a legal setting which sometimes requires the ability to do simultaneous interpreting. Requires legal information and background in the legal profession. It is a more demanding form of interpreting because the interpreter must be able to go to and from two languages in consecutive and into at least one language in simultaneous, usually the language that is not English. In addition, the interpreter cannot fix or modify any words, because any modification to the original statement would taint the legal case.
Because these are adversary proceedings, parties can become very angry if they sense any deviation from the formalities. The court interpreter is not isolated in a booth and must depend solely on hearing and visual cues to find out what is happening. Substantial court work allows the interpreter to become familiar with court terminology and to feel comfortable in the court room.
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What is conference interpreting?
A: It is the simultaneous interpretation of speech at national and international conferences. Requires the development of skills to become an interpreter with an extensive knowledge of subjects. Conference interpreters usually do simultaneous interpreting into their active (native) language, from two or three more passive languages. The conference interpreter who does simultaneous work usually needs only to produce correct speech in one language. This interpreter is usually isolated from ambient noise by a booth equipped with sophisticated sound equipment provided by the conference or institution, and that sound equipment brings the sound to the interpreter's headset whose incoming volume can be controlled.
The purpose of the conference interpreter is to communicate, sometimes in an elegant fashion, so the interpreter may perhaps embellish, smooth out, and fix awkward turns of phrases given by speakers.
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What is community interpreting?
A: It is consecutive or simultaneous interpretation of one language to another in a community setting.
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What is escort interpreting?
A: It is consecutive interpretation of speech from one language to another done for small, informal groups.
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What are some interpreting strategies?
- Parroting: repeating everything that is heard; simultaneous listening/speaking; hearing and delivering
- Pendulum: paying attention to the source and to one's self in the process of interpreting
- Shadowing: keeping the same unit of meaning, but paraphrasing by expressing meaning in a different way
- Public speaking: delivery of interpretation
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What skills are involved in Sight Translation?
- Reading comprehension
- Sensitivity to register
- Reading ahead
- Use of synonyms
- Paraphrasing
- Quickness
- Memory
- Association of ideas
- Accuracy in main idea/meaning
- Text organization
- Problem-solving strategies
- Detachment from written words
- Public speaking
- Delivery
- Eye contact
- Pronunciation
- Rhythm
- Flexibility
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What is the difference between translation and interpretation?
A: The following table summarizes the differences.
Translation
(Written) |
Interpretation
(Oral) |
Sight Translation
(Oral/Written) |
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Documents |
Simultaneous |
Interpretation |
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Manuals |
Consecutive |
Translation |
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Exercises |
Liaison |
Hybrid |
A Word from Anne Vincent
Like all FAQ pages, this one is incomplete. You should also find much information about translation activities in our page of Useful links. Finally, my personal favorite source of knowledge about translation is offered by the Translation Journal:
www.accurapid.com/journal/
Credits and Resources for Interpreting FAQs
Gardenia C. Hung, Communications Consultant and Notary Public, gathered all the information from personal experience in court interpreting, medical interpreting, participation in interpreting workshops, conferences, and reading sources. She also wishes to acknowledge the following resources:
- "An Interactive Interpretation Workshop," presented by Professor Claudia Angelelli at the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, and Law School at Stanford University, and Professor Christian Degueldre, Program Head of the French Department at the Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. The Chicago Area Translators and Interpreters Association (CHICATA) sponsored this workshop at Lake Forest College, Illinois on October 2 - 3, 1999.
- TIP - Lab Workshop for Spanish Translators at the Translators and Interpreters' Practice Lab sponsored by Alicia Marshall and Yrma Villareal Fax: (847) 864-8303. Mail to: TIP-Lab 1550 Asbury Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201
- THE CRITICAL LINK. UN MAILLON ESSENTIEL. A Newsletter for Interpreters in the Community across the World. Un bulletin pour les interprètes en milieu social du monde entier. The Critical Link 3. Third International Conference, Montréal (Québec), Canada, May 22 - 26, 2001. Fax: (416) 314-7467, e-mail: Diana.Abraham@mczcr.gov.on.ca
In addition to the following reading resources:
- Edwards, Alicia B. The Practice of Court Interpreting. John Benjamins Publishing Company. Amsterdam/Philadelphia, 1995.
- Mikkelson, Holly. The Interpreter's Rx. A Training Program for
Spanish/English Medical Interpreting. ACEBO. Spreckels, CA, 1994.
- Mikkelson, Holly. The Interpreter's Edge. Practical Exercises in Court
Interpreting. 2nd Edition. ACEBO. Spreckels, CA, 1992.
- Herbert, Jean. Manuel de l'interprète.
Librairie de l'Université Georg Genève.
ISBN 2-8257-0068-1.
- Seleskovitch, Danica. Interpreting for International Conferences.
Translated from the French by Stephanie Dailey and E. Norman McMillan.
Pen & Booth, 3800 N. Fairfax Drive # 1510, Arlington, VA, 22202.
This page was last revised on November 22, 2009.
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