Letter from the Editor: Freelance Interpreting

Communicate! - Letter from the Editor - Posted on 14 Dec 2009 - Updated 16 Dec 2009
An interpreter is an interpreter is an interpreter. The proliferation of titles and categories is often nothing more than a marketing ploy – create a niche and occupy it. Employers play the game too, searching for ways to corner markets and cut expenses. What’s a freelancer to do?

Luigi LUCCARELLI

Interpreting is Interpreting – Or Is IT?

Communicate! - Articles - Posted on 14 Dec 2009
Analysis of the different types of interpreting shows that regardless of the adjective preceding the word "interpreter," practitioners of this profession the world over perform the same service and should meet the same standards of competence.

Holly MIKKELSON

À quand une cabine flamande… Ou wallonne ?

Communicate! - Articles - Posted on 14 Dec 2009
Cet article ne sera ni objectif ni docte. Il aborde un sujet brûlant… et d’une complexité infinie. Il résulte d’observations glanées au cours de 13 ans de travail au Le Tribunal pénal international pour l’ex-Yougoslavie (TPIY) où est née une nouvelle désignation linguistique, le bcs (bosniaque/croate/serbe) et se bornera à quelques considérations sur les retombées pratiques du choix de classement linguistique, par l’AIIC notamment.

Kia DESCHAMPS

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My Accidental Greek Wedding

Communicate! - Articles - Posted on 14 Dec 2009 - Updated 21 Dec 2009
I have an irrational passion for phrasebooks. Whenever I go to a country where I don't know the language I take along a phrasebook. I often take one with me even when I go to a country where I do speak the language. Sometimes in a foreign country I suddenly stop in the middle of the road. People walk into me, but I don't notice because my mind is wholly taken up by the question: Why? What are phrasebooks for?

Phillip HILL

Training, upgrading, mentoring: Nigeria responds to needs

Communicate! - Articles - Posted on 14 Dec 2009
Conundrum: a body of well-trained professionals collectively ages; the successor generation has potential but lacks training. What can be done? The Institute of Conference Interpreters (ICI) of Nigeria looked to the future of interpreting and embraced the challenge.

Jibola SOFOLAHAN

Overview of Organizations: 2009

Communicate! - Articles - Posted on 14 Dec 2009 - Updated 16 Dec 2009
Staff interpreters were prominent among the founders of AIIC and continue to be essential to our association. The AIIC Staff Interpreters' Committee meets annually and tracks changes inside organizations to keep all informed. Here is our insiders’ update on developments across organizations employing conference interpreters.

AIIC Staff Interpreters Committee

Language in the News

Communicate! - Articles - Posted on 14 Dec 2009 - Updated 16 Dec 2009
Let’s take a look at markets – their size, potential, components and rankings – and speculate about the role of freelance interpreters. Along the way we visit some ideas on how language shapes the way we think, a new gadget, and paying attention to enhance quality of life.

Luigi LUCCARELLI