The Language of Life or Death!

“If the soldiers force their way inside my home, I must try to kill them.” The man on his knees says this desperately. He is literally begging, explaining the price of honor.

He speaks a language you understand. But only you. The rest of the squad hears only his stress. He talks so fast that you miss a word now and then. It’s like listening to HipHop backward. But you get it. You and only you.

The squad on patrol wears armor, carries automatic weapons, and they are tired, disgusted, and they have seen too many of their buddies blown away. Someone inside the house with cracked walls is sobbing in terror. The day is hot and dry and dust is blowing and and flies drink your sweat.

The windows of the house are blocked from inside. That’s why the patrol stopped here.

“Ask him why the windows are blocked off,” says the Patrol Leader, a tough sergeant on her third tour. “What’s he hiding?”

You ask the man this. In his language, he says, “We cram old blankets and cardboard and hay into our windows to block the heat and light and noise, to give a little privacy.”

“That’s crap,” the Patrol Leader says. She’s lost two troopers in the past month. She no longer believes anything anybody says. “Tell him I’ll arrest him if he tries to stop us searching his house for weapons.”

You know she could be right. It might be a trick. A trap. An ambush.

You know the soldiers have seen it all. They don’t believe anybody except each other. They don’t speak the language. You don’t want them hurt.

You interpret and they wait, warily, sullenly, numbly, their weapons ready. Their night-vision goggles give them the aspect of ants from another world. The local old people are terrified of this, but the children laugh and call them bugs. Only you know what the kids are saying. The soldiers hate that.

“We’re going in,” says the Patrol Leader, losing patience. “Tell him not to resist and no big deal.”

Now other villagers have come out to stare. It’s well-known that every home has a hidden weapon. Bandits, renegades, so common. Every father keeps a gun hidden.

“Please believe me, sir,” says the man on his knees. He knows you are his only hope of being understood. “My children are crying, my mother is old, my father is sick. You say you come to free us all, yet you have shamed me on my knees. I have daughters inside. My mother. My father and grandfather. Do not search there. Please. To search women is a sin. To humiliate old people is a sin. Do this bad thing, and all my family, from every village, will repay this act in kind, in blood, as a sacred oath I swear it.”

You interpret, exactly. You speak alternately in two languages. The situation has gone from commonplace to very dangerous. You believe that every soldier should be required to speak the language of any country they invade, for their own protection, if nothing else. But they know barely a phrase or two.

You’re the only hope of every human here. More villagers are coming out to stare, to mutter among themselves.

In their language, they shout: “We know this man! He is a very good man! Why humble him like a cur?”

The soldiers have no idea what the shouts mean. The Patrol leader says, “Watch your 6, people.”

Hearing only the tone of aggression, the surrounded troopers move apart in combat spacing, turning to face the seeming threat. They lock and load their M4’s.

You are the only thing keeping back a colossal disaster. An incident here, this potential tragedy, could impact a thousand soldiers and ten thousand inhabitants of this land. You and only you can stop it. Only you can speak both languages.

You convince the patrol leader to try a different tact. “Let the man stand up. Offer him something, a little gift, anything.”

The Patrol Leader is smart, not softening, but seeing another way to get the job done. Gives him a melted Snickers. “Okay, I’ll play the cliche good guy.”

The man looks oddly at the candy bar, but is glad to be standing. The neighboring villagers seem to relax just a notch.

The squad shifts restlessly. They don’t want a fight but they are willing to do what they are here to do. One way or another. That’s what they do. It’s why they’re here.

You talk fast and keep talking, bridging two worlds. With the magic of your language skills, you communicate. It’s a dance of life or death.

You feel the tension lessen, defuse. You negotiate. If you can somehow just get the villager to invite the Patrol Leader into his home, maybe nobody will die.

You know all this because you are an interpreter.

Your power to translate is a gift of life. Because you have a degree in languages, you have stopped death here and now, in it’s tracks.

You enable the cross-cultural communication necessary in today’s society by converting one language into another. You do more than simply translate words— you relay concepts and ideas between languages.

You thoroughly understand the subject matter in which you work— in order to accurately convert information from one language, known as the source language, into another, the target language. And you are sensitive to the cultures associated with your languages of expertise.

Interpreters and translators are often discussed together because they share some common traits. For example, both must be fluent in at least two languages—a native, or active, language and a secondary, or passive, language; a small number of interpreters and translators are fluent in two or more passive languages. Their active language is the one that they know best and into which they interpret or translate, and their passive language is one for which they have nearly perfect knowledge.

Although some people do both, interpretation and translation are different professions. Interpreters deal with spoken words, translators with written words. Each task requires a distinct set of skills and aptitudes, and most people are better suited for one or the other. While interpreters often work into and from both languages, translators generally work only into their active language.

Interpreters convert one spoken language into another—or, in the case of sign-language interpreters, between spoken communication and sign language. This requires interpreters to pay attention carefully, understand what is communicated in both languages, and express thoughts and ideas clearly. Strong research and analytical skills, mental dexterity, and an exceptional memory also are important.

There are two types of interpretation: simultaneous and consecutive. Simultaneous interpretation requires interpreters to listen and speak (or sign) at the same time. In simultaneous interpretation, the interpreter begins to convey a sentence being spoken while the speaker is still talking.

Ideally, simultaneous interpreters should be so familiar with a subject that they are able to anticipate the end of the speaker’s sentence. Because they need a high degree of concentration, simultaneous interpreters work in pairs, with each interpreting for 20- to 30-minute periods. This type of interpretation is required at international conferences and is sometimes used in the courts.

In contrast to simultaneous interpretation’s immediacy, consecutive interpretation begins only after the speaker has verbalized a group of words or sentences. Consecutive interpreters often take notes while listening to the speakers, so they must develop some type of note-taking or shorthand system. This form of interpretation is used most often for person-to-person communication, during which the interpreter is positioned near both parties.

Translators convert written materials from one language into another. They must have excellent writing and analytical ability. And because the documents that they translate must be as flawless as possible, they also need good editing skills.

The way in which translators do their jobs has changed with advances in technology.

Today, nearly all translation work is done on a computer, and most assignments are received and submitted electronically. This enables translators to work from almost anywhere, and a large percentage of them work from home.

The Internet provides advanced research capabilities and valuable language resources, such as specialized dictionaries and glossaries. In some cases, use of machine-assisted translation—including memory tools that provide comparisons of previous translations with current work—helps save time and reduce repetition.

Conference interpreters work at conferences that have non-English-speaking attendees. This work includes international business and diplomacy, although conference interpreters interpret for any organization that works with foreign language speakers.

Employers prefer high-level interpreters who have the ability to translate from at least two passive languages into one active (native) language—for example, the ability to interpret from Spanish and French into English. For some positions, such as those with the United Nations, this qualification is mandatory.

Court interpreters work in a variety of legal settings, such as attorney-client meetings, preliminary hearings, depositions, trials, and arraignments. Success as a court interpreter requires an understanding of both legal terminology and colloquial language.

Literary translators adapt written literature from one language into another. They may translate any number of documents, including journal articles, books, poetry, and short stories. Literary translation is related to creative writing; literary translators must create a new text in the target language that reproduces the content and style of the original. Whenever possible, literary translators work closely with authors to best capture their intended meanings and literary characteristics.

This type of work often is done as a sideline by university professors; however, opportunities exist for well-established literary translators.

Localization translators constitute a relatively recent and rapidly expanding specialty. Localization involves the complete adaptation of a product for use in a different language and culture. At its earlier stages, this work dealt primarily with software localization, but the specialty has expanded to include the adaptation of Internet sites and products in manufacturing and other business sectors. The goal of these specialists is to make the product to appear as if it were originally manufactured in the country where it will be sold and supported.

Medical interpreters and translators provide language services to health care patients with limited English proficiency. Medical interpreters help patients to communicate with doctors, nurses, and other medical staff. Translators working in this specialty primarily convert patient materials and informational brochures issued by hospitals and medical facilities into the desired language. Medical interpreters need a strong grasp of medical and colloquial terminology in both languages, along with cultural sensitivity regarding how the patient receives the information. They must remain detached but aware of the patient’s feelings and pain.

Sign language interpreters facilitate communication between people who are deaf or hard of hearing and people who can hear. Sign language interpreters must be fluent in English and in American Sign Language (ASL), which combines signing, finger spelling, and specific body language. ASL has its own grammatical rules, sentence structure, idioms, historical contexts, and cultural nuances. Sign language interpreting, like foreign language interpreting, involves more than simply replacing a word of spoken English with a sign representing that word.

Self-employed and freelance interpreters and translators need general business skills to successfully manage their finances and careers. They must set prices for their work, bill customers, keep financial records, and market their services to attract new business and build their client base.

Interpreters and translators must be fluent in at least two languages.

Their educational backgrounds may vary widely, but most have a bachelor’s degree.

In high school, students can prepare for these careers by taking a broad range of courses that include English writing and comprehension, foreign languages, and basic computer proficiency. Other helpful pursuits include spending time abroad, engaging in direct contact with foreign cultures, and reading extensively on a variety of subjects in English and at least one other language.

Although a bachelor’s degree is often required, interpreters and translators note that it is acceptable to major in something other than a language. An educational background in a particular field of study provides a natural area of subject matter expertise.

Formal programs in interpreting and translation are available at colleges nationwide and through non-university training programs, conferences, and courses.

Many people who work as conference interpreters or in more technical areas—such as localization, engineering, or finance—have master’s degrees, while those working in the community as court or medical interpreters or translators are more likely to complete job-specific training programs.

Volunteer opportunities are available through community organizations, hospitals, and sporting events, such as marathons, that involve international competitors. The American Translators Association works with the Red Cross to provide volunteer interpreters in crisis situations. All translation can be used as examples for potential clients, even translation done as practice.

The American Translators Association provides certification in more than 24 language combinations for its members; other options include a certification program offered by The Translators and Interpreters Guild. Many interpreters are not certified.

Federal courts have certification for Spanish, Navajo, and Haitian Creole interpreters, and many State and municipal courts offer their own forms of certification. The National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators also offers certification for court interpreting.

The U.S. Department of State has a three-test series for interpreters, including simple consecutive interpreting (for escort work), simultaneous interpreting (for court or seminar work), and conference-level interpreting (for international conferences). These tests are not referred to directly as certification, but successful completion often indicates that a person has an adequate level of skill to work in the field.

The National Association of the Deaf and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) jointly offer certification for general sign interpreters. In addition, the registry offers specialty tests in legal interpreting, speech reading, and deaf-to-deaf interpreting—which includes interpreting between deaf speakers with different native languages and from ASL to tactile signing.

Interpreters and translators held about 41,000 jobs in 2006. However, the actual number of interpreters and translators is probably significantly higher because many work in the occupation only sporadically.

Interpreters and translators are employed in a variety of industries, reflecting the diversity of employment options in the field. About 33 worked in public and private educational institutions, such as schools, colleges, and universities. About 12 worked in health care and social assistance, many of whom worked for hospitals. Another 10 worked in other areas of government, such as Federal, State and local courts. Other employers of interpreters and translators include publishing companies, telephone companies, airlines, and interpreting and translating agencies.

About 22 percent of interpreters and translators are self-employed. Many who freelance in the occupation work only part time, relying on other sources of income to supplement earnings from interpreting or translation.

Interpreters and translators can expect much faster than average employment growth over the next decade. Job prospects vary by specialty. Employment of interpreters and translators is projected to increase 24 percent over the 2006-16 decade, much faster than the average for all occupations.

This growth will be driven partly by strong demand in health care settings and work related to homeland security. Additionally, higher demand for interpreters and translators results directly from the broadening of international ties and the increase in the number of foreign language speakers in the United States. Both of these trends are expected to continue, contributing to relatively rapid growth in the number of jobs for interpreters and translators.

Current events and changing political environments, often difficult to foresee, will increase the need for people who can work with other languages. For example, homeland security needs are expected to drive increasing demand for interpreters and translators of Middle Eastern and North African languages, primarily in Federal Government agencies.

Demand will remain strong for translators of the languages referred to as “PFIGS”—Portuguese, French, Italian, German, and Spanish; Arabic and other Middle Eastern languages; and the principal Asian languages—Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Demand for American Sign Language interpreters will grow rapidly, driven by the increasing use of video relay services, which allow individuals to conduct video calls using a sign language interpreter over an Internet connection.

Technology has made the work of interpreters and translators easier. However, technology is not likely to have a negative impact on employment of interpreters and translators because such innovations are incapable of producing work comparable with work produced by these professionals.

Urban areas, especially Washington D.C., New York, and cities in California, provide the largest numbers of employment possibilities, especially for interpreters; however, as the immigrant population spreads into more rural areas, jobs in smaller communities will become more widely available.

Salaried interpreters and translators had median hourly earnings of $17.10 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $12.94 and $22.60. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $9.88, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $30.91.

Individuals classified as language specialists for the Federal Government earned an average of $76,287 annually in 2007.

Limited information suggests that some highly skilled interpreters and translators—for example, high-level conference interpreters—working full time can earn more than $100,000 annually.

Our rapidly shrinking global society demands ever faster means of universal communication. This is as true in politics, as it is in business, or any area of society.

Every university or college offers language programs in depth.

Online learning is an excellent tool for language degrees.

Our multi-cultural global economy — and our beast global social networking sites, like Facebook and Perfspot— all bring many opportunities for translators to learn, earn, and flourish.

Choose the language that suits you best.

Get a degree that truly empowers you. That helps our world become a little better, every time two cultures meet.

Bring an interface of understanding to a world stressed by ignorance, danger, and suspicion!

For general career information, contact:

• American Translators Association, 225 Reinekers Ln., Suite 590, Alexandria, VA 22314. Internet: http://www.atanet.org>

For more detailed information by specialty, contact the association affiliated with that subject area:

• American Literary Translators Association, The University of Texas at Dallas, Box 830688 Mail Station JO51, Richardson, TX 75083-0688. http://www.literarytranslators.org
• Localization Industry Standards Association, Domaine en Prael, CH-1323 Romainmôtier, Switzerland. http://www.lisa.org
• National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators, 603 Stewart St., Suite 610, Seattle, WA 98101. http://www.najit.org
• National Council on Interpreting in Health Care, 270 West Lawrence St., Albany, NY 12208. http://www.ncihc.org
• Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, 333 Commerce St., Alexandria, VA 22314. http://www.rid.org

For information about testing to become a contract interpreter or translator with the U.S. State Department, contact:

• U.S. Department of State, Office of Language Services, 2401 E St. NW., SA-1, Room H1400, Washington, DC 20520-2204

Information on obtaining positions as interpreters and translators with the Federal Government is available from the Office of Personnel Management through USAJOBS, the Federal Government’s official employment information system. This resource is at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov, or through an interactive voice response telephone system at (703) 724-1850 or TDD (978) 461-8404. These numbers are not toll free, and charges may result.

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