We interpreters are constantly on the go. We expend considerable mental energy and time on preparation, acquainting ourselves with a wide range of highly technical subjects, making our own travel arrangements whilst trying to keep our work-life balance on an even keel.
Demography, stress, language needs, market demand and workload are just some of the elements contributing to a panoramic view of an association with over 2900 members spread across 99 countries. This executive summary covers some of the highlights for the private market gleaned from responses to the online questionnaire for the year 2009. For the first time, it examines market evolution over a 5-year period.
Is certification just a buzzword, a passing trend? Must the interpreting community pay reverence to it regardless of who does the certifying? Or has it become just a synonym for qualified? No one answer will suffice; interpreters need to examine the underlying question: how can we ensure what clients, users and practitioners all want: quality.
Conference interpreters are often perceived as individualists but quite the opposite is true. The way multilingual events are organised today means that we need to interact with many different parties. But do we all really know each other? An AIIC gathering with PCO representatives in January 2010 in Rome provided some surprising answers to the question.
The rapid development of ICTs has led to profound changes in the working environment of many professions. Companies now offer employees the possibility of working at home, and video and web conferencing are increasingly common. Today interpreters need to weigh the pros and cons of remote interpreting – and need more information to do so.
Growing by leaps and bounds: the Staff Interpreters’ Committee extends its reach. The AIIC Staff Interpreters’ Committee annual meeting was marked by record-breaking attendance with strong participation of new members and freelance observers. Discussions in Brussels ranged from the need for solidarity with interpreters in conflict zones to the desire for better governance and communication across our professional association.
Our searchlight shines on the controversy surrounding certification, books, webcasts, blogs and apps, and much more in the wide world of words.
Communicate! is a six-monthly multilingual webzine that records the voice of interpreters on the conference circuit