Canadian Translation/Interpretation Accreditation System 林颖.

Canadian Translation/Interpretation Accreditation System

林颖

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• Canadian Translation/Interpretation Accreditation

• United Nations Language Competitive Examinations

Canadian Translation/Interpretation Accreditation

★ Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council

The Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council, generally recognized as the national body represen -ting professional translators, interpreters and terminologists, contributes to high quality inter-language and intercultural communication.

It sets, maintains and promotes national standards in translation, interpretation and terminology to ensure quality communication across linguistic and cultural communities.


• CTTIC is responsible for the application of uniform standards for professional certification across Canada. CTTIC also administers the various exams that confer the right to use the titles of “certified translator”, “certified terminologist”, “certified interpreter”, “certified conference interpreter” and “certified court interpreter”.

• Three certification mechanisms are used in Canada: certification on dossier(档案，卷宗 ), certification by mentorship and the certification exam. Currently, only Québec and New Brunswick (新不伦瑞克省 ), offer certification by mentorship.

• The title of certified translator, interpreter or terminologist is granted by the provincial association to which the candidate has

applied for certification.


On Dossier Certification (Translation, Interpretation and Terminology)

• Candidates with a recognized diploma who can prove that they have at least two years of pertinent work experience (considered as equivalent to the mentorship period) may present an application for certification on dossier.

• Experienced language professionals who do not have a recognized diploma and whose training has not been recognized as equivalent, but who can prove that they have at least five years of professional practice, may become candidates for certification on dossier.


Certification by Mentorship• In Québec, the mentorship program leads to certification after a

series of meetings spread over at least six months. During this period, the mentor looks at the mentoree’s work, discusses all aspects of professional services, suggests areas of practice to be considered, assesses progress made and suggests improvements. At the end of the mentorship, the mentor evaluates the mentoree’s fitness to practice the profession and makes a recommendation to the certification committee. Candidates who meet the requirements obtain certification after completing the mentorship program.

• In New Brunswick(新不伦瑞克省 ), the CTINB (Corporation of Translators, Terminologists & Interpreters of New Brunswick)

offers a mentorship program that is quite similar to Québec’s

but is adapted to New Brunswick legislation.


Certification Examinations

• One of CTTIC’s main roles is to ensure consistent application of certification with two objectives: to standardize methods of entry to the profession and to monitor the skills of translators belonging to provincial and territorial organizations.

• Besides the uniform translation exam held once a year, exams in conference interpretation, court interpretation and terminology are held occasionally, depending on demand. Each exam includes a section on professional ethics. Persons interested in obtaining any of these professional titles should contact the body representing their province or territory of residence directly. Passing one of these exams confers the right to use the title of “certified translator, interpreter or terminologist”, which is granted by the provincial

body to which the candidate has applied for certification.


Translation Exam• The translation exam is for professionals who want to

have their skills recognized by their peers and to be able to use the title of “certified translator”. The exam is not designed merely to show an aptitude, but rather to demonstrate a candidate’s professional skills. Candidates are considered able to practice their profession independently if their exam results demonstrate the ability to produce a faithful, idiomatic translation that requires little or no revision. The translation exam is held every year simultaneously in several cities around the

country. Registration is in the early fall.


Conference Interpretation Exam• The conference interpretation exam administered by

CTTIC is for professional interpreters who can prove that they have 200 days of practice under professional conditions or who have equivalent qualifications.


Court Interpretation Exam• The court interpreter certification exam, also administered

by CTTIC, includes several modules: assessment of language skills, legal terminology and procedure, consecutive interpretation and a simulated trial.


Terminology Exam• This exam aims to recognize candidates with extensive

skills in terminology, who can accomplish tasks of moderate difficulty as terminologists and who can perform terminological research in a specialized field.

United Nations Language Competitive Examinations

• All United Nations translators, wherever they are based and whether they are permanent or freelance, must have either a university degree or a translation diploma from a recognized translation school.

• Applicants for permanent posts must be capable of working into one of the official languages (their mother tongue or their principal language of education) from two or more of the others.

• The official languages used at the United Nations are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

• The only exceptions to this rule are Chinese translators, who sometimes work both ways between Chinese and English, and people with specialized knowledge of use to the Organization, such as holders of degrees in international law, who are sometimes recruited to work from one language only.

• Except for those capable of working from Arabic or Chinese, applicants for freelance positions should preferably also have

two passive languages.


• Language Requirements: • Perfect command of one relevant official language of the United

Nations; this is considered the candidate’s main language. • Arabic, French, Russian and Spanish translators must have excellent

knowledge of at least two other official languages, as tested by the relevant United Nations competitive examination.

• English translators must also have excellent knowledge of at least two other official languages, as tested by the relevant United Nations competitive examination, one of which must be French.

• Chinese translators must have excellent knowledge of English; knowledge of an additional official language

is desirable.


• Recruitment of permanent translators is exclusively by means of competitive examinations. These are held at irregular intervals and can be sat in United Nations duty stations or, subject to demand, in other major cities.

• Successful candidates are usually offered a two-year probationary(试用的 ) contract during which they are given appropriate training. Subject to satisfactory performance during the probationary period, they then receive indefinite contracts.

• Permanent translators belong to the Professional ("P") category of United Nations staff and, as such, have opportunities to serve for several years at a time or for shorter periods in a number of duty stations (there are currently translation units in New York, Geneva, Addis Ababa(亚的斯亚贝巴 (埃塞俄比亚首都 )), Bangkok, Beirut

(贝鲁特 (黎巴嫩一港口 )) , Nairobi(内罗比 (肯尼亚首都 )) , Santiago de Chile and Vienna) and to participate in peacekeeping missions, etc.


• Professionals can serve at a variety of grades; the base salary for each grade is the same worldwide, with local supplements being paid to ensure purchasing-power parity between duty stations.

• At UNOG(United Nations Office At Geneva), translators' grades range from P-2 to P-5: P-2s and P-3s work under revisers, P-4s work mostly unrevised or revise others and P-5s are senior revisers or section chiefs.


• Freelance translators are recruited through informal tests that generally last half a day and can be arranged at

short notice. Usually, candidates sit their test at the

duty station for which they hope to work most. • Freelancers who are capable of working unrevised may be offered

piecework to be done at home, but most freelance contracts are for in-house work over periods ranging from a few weeks to several months.

• Depending on the distance from their professional domicile to their principal duty station, freelancers who work in-house are classified as "locals" or "non-locals", the chief difference being that non-locals receive travel and subsistence allowances in addition to their base salary. For budgetary reasons, the United Nations

prefers to hire locals whenever possible.



• The United Nations holds official competitive examinations for prospective translators, editors, verbatim reporters(速记人员 ), interpreters and proofreaders in all the official languages of the United Nations.

• The purpose of these examinations is to establish a roster(花名册 ) of successful candidates from which to fill present and future vacancies for language positions at the headquarters duty stations, namely New York, Geneva, Nairobi and Vienna, and in the regional commissions, located in Addis Ababa, Bangkok,

Beirut and Santiago, Chile.


• The frequency of language examinations depends on the needs of the Organization. In view of recent and projected retirements, in the next five to ten years examinations may be held more often than in the past.

• The examinations are open to all applicants who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements. They must have at least first-level university degree and be 55 or younger at the deadline for submission of an application. Citizens of any Member State of the United Nations are welcome to apply.

• All applications will be reviewed by the United Nations Board of Examiners. In instances where a large number of applications are received, the Board of Examiners reserves the right to admit to the examination only the most qualified applicants based on a review

of qualifications. The Board’s decisions are final and not subject

to appeal.


• Candidates are convoked to the United Nations examination centre closest to where they are residing at the time of the examination. The United Nations will not reimburse the cost of travel in connection with the convocation to the written examination. If, however, candidates are successful in the written examination, the United Nations will reimburse the cost of travel to the interview. Candidates convoked to the interview will be contacted by phone or e-mail.

• On the basis of the overall results of the examinations, the Board of Examiners will recommend to the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources Management the names of candidates

who qualify for inclusion in the roster.


Thank you!

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Canadian Translation/Interpretation Accreditation System 林颖.

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