WSJ features Translation and Interpretation profession: interview with Judy Jenner
Posted by NITA Administrator on December 9, 2009
Writing for the Wall Street Journal’s Career & Office Life section, Diana Middleton portrayed the fields of translation and interpretation as a career option, in an article published yesterday, December 8, featuring Judy Jenner, NITA vice president and independent language professional established in Las Vegas.
As the fast and continually growing demand for competent and professional language services to compete successfully in an increasingly global society is bucking the current trend of a troubled economy – a circumstance which makes our trade stand out a bit more, as one of few areas still providing good professional opportunities – undoubtedly that context boosts interest in our craft by financial experts and economy watchers on Wall Street. As such, Ms. Middleton mentions the growth forecast of 24% over the 2006-2016 decade by the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, which inter alia states:
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. (source)
The WSJ article highlights the more obvious key elements (pay, benefits, hours) but fortunately also dwells on the nature of our profession: helping to convey meaningful messages across languages and cultures. Judy put it very well:
“Being bilingual isn’t enough [...] We have to shape a message to an international audience.”
As a professional association, we at NITA are obviously very much pleased to see more media attention for our profession, especially from mainstream media such as the Wall Street Journal. However, it’s also a little bit disappointing to read, in reference to education and qualification requirements, the following hardly qualified statement: “There are no official certifications required.” While that statement still holds true for many, though not all areas in our profession (e.g. in legal interpretation, qualifications are mandated) regional and national professional language associations across the United States – NITA among them – work very hard to fill that void in requiring verifiable credentials.
With increasing globalization and internationalization come also increasing concerns over security, privacy and accountability; the strict requirements which, since many years, regulate the influx of professionals in fields like health care and education should, in our view, also be applied consistently throughout language services, especially when they operate in those same fields. Fortunately, this realization is taking a growing hold among lawmakers and officials who understand this across the United States and here in Nevada, and work with associations such as NITA to ensure our profession and our society continue to grow in strength, hand in hand. Our role is essentially one of facilitating communication among people and building reliable bridges, after all.
We encourage you to read this profile in the Wall Street Journal and add your own thoughts to the comments.
Related posts:
- NITA Vice-President Judy Jenner Publishes Book on the Business of Translation
- NITA Presents: Getting Started in Translation and Interpretation
- Northwestern College offers a new 4-year major degree in Spanish translation and interpretation
- NPR All Things Considered: NITA’s Judy Jenner clarifies difference between translator and interpreter
- KOLO TV Features Importance of Qualified Language Professionals