Translators Registry in your country?

Gianfranco Manca wrote:

following a very lively discussion in the Italian forum (still running, see http://www.proz.com/post/182018#182018 ), I would like to elicit information from any ProZ.com member who knows or operates in countries where there is a Translators Registry, or an official list of translators/interpreters authorized to practice the profession.

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The voting figures were 313 in favour, 3 against, and 1 abstention (including proxies). The total number attending was nearly 100, of whom voting members numbered 60.
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The meeting was chaired by John Mitchell, elected President of the Institute at an AGM preceding the EGM. The Charter moves were explained in some detail by Keith Moffitt, Vice Chairman of Council, standing in for John Hammond, Chairman of Council, who was unable to attend for reasons of bereavement. Henry Pavlovich, Chief Executive, responded to some points made from the floor. We were fortunate to be able to have some technical points answered in person by Keith Lawrey from the Foundation for Science & Technology, an expert who has kindly been advising the Institute on its Charter moves. The meeting was minuted by William Hedley, Company Secretary.
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It was encouraging that so many voting members and indeed non-voting members were able to attend the meeting and take part in the discussions.

A chartered institute for linguists

The profession of linguist – whether translators, interpreters, language trainers or bilingual workers – has no chartered body to which the public and members of the profession itself can look for confirmation that linguistic activities are regulated in the public interest. The Institute of Linguists is preparing to apply for a charter later in 2003. Work has been going on for over a year now, both internally and with a lot of welcome advice and encouragement from external quarters.

The Institute does a great deal of important work in the public interest and it is of a size and structure that meet the guidelines for applicant bodies. A charter is a mark of approbation, a signal that the body concerned is a professional one of good standing whose activities are important enough to warrant what is in effect regulation by government in the national interest.

At the moment anyone can call him or herself a linguist and advertise their services. There is no law barring the unqualified from practising as translators or interpreters in the way that there is in medicine, law or accountancy. Clients nowadays therefore usually insist that the linguist should belong to a professional body (and therefore abide by its Code of Conduct). How much better it would be if that body were also chartered with the greater professional protection that this would imply. The public consumer and qualified/experienced linguists would gain; only the unqualified would lose.

In addition to applying for chartered status for the institute, we are also working on the criteria for a possible extra application for individual chartered status for some qualifying members. Such a "Chartered Linguist (Translator)", for example, would demonstrate the highest competence, skill and professionalism coupled with a commitment to maintain and develop them as well as submitting to periodic assessment or review.

What a boost this would be if at long last those who work as language professionals could say they are members of a chartered body or even that they themselves are chartered in their own individual right. And what a benefit it would be to the public – in the public services and in the commercial world – if they could do their language business safe in the knowledge that there was a chartered body in place. We are not the only professional linguists body in the UK but we believe that we are the only one in a position to make an application for chartered status. We shall do our utmost to take others with us in the interests of the profession as a whole.

Henry Pavlovich
Chief Executive, Institute of Linguists"

"Do you know about a country, or do you live in a country where the profession of translator/interpreter is regulated by some kind of Official Registry?"

Jørgen Madsen wrote:

In Danish we use two different words for translators:
Anyone, regardless of education (or lack of it) can call themself an "oversætter" (simply meaning translator).

But to be called a "translatør", short for "statsautoriseret translatør" (meaning state-authorized or sworn translator), you need an MA in translation and an authorization from the authorities. The title is a protected title, and with the authorization comes a number of obligations, e.g. automatic confidentiality, and requirements for care, precision and speed. If a "translatør" breaks the rules, he or she can be punished.

I have a description of the Danish translation system, but it's only in Danish. Let me know if you need information on any particular aspects.

Best regards
Jørgen Madsen

Rossana Triaca wrote:

In Uruguay there is a university career of "Traductor Público" (i.e., sworn translator) in the state's Faculty of Law, and by law all documents that need translation in order to be submitted to any government agency (foreign or domestic) *must* be oficially endorsed by such individuals (patents, contracts, birth certificates, etc. etc.).

I ignore whether they have a seal or just sign the documents as a notary would (I think it's the later), but they are naturally registered somewhere in order to verify the validity of the seal/signature. The only prerequisite for this is to have the mentioned university degree.

Cheers,
Rossana