Commissioning Work

Choosing a translator | Agreeing terms | Indemnity insurance | Proofreading | Software | Arranging a Simultaneous Translation Service | Simultaneous Translation Equipment | Full Membership | Basic Membership | Membership for Simultaneous Translators

1. Choosing a translator

It is important to ensure a high standard of translation. Our Full Members are able to complete work with no need for further editing.

Our Basic Members have passed the Association’s examination and achieved a level deemed appropriate for a translator who has been working under supervision for at least a year. A number of them may of course, be more experienced than this.

The Directory will indicate into which language the candidate is qualified to translate.

2. Agreeing terms

You should explain the requirements as well as the context of your work and discuss any specialist terms that may arise.

You should discuss how you would like any documents to be sent and received, e.g. by e-mail or fax, or as hard copy or on disk by post - or any combination of these.

Terms and a timetable should be agreed in advance. Translators usually charge per 1,000 words, though most translators also have a minimum fee. A charge per hour may be levied in some instances, if appropriate. Interpreters normally charge by the hour. Some translators and interpreters charge VAT.

When you agree the translation rate for documents, you should ask whether it includes a charge for proofreading. If it does not, the rate charged needs to be agreed.

To avoid misunderstandings, a member of your staff should be designated as the contact point between your organisation and the translator or interpreter.

If more than one person is involved in translating a document, it is important for the translator to ensure that the translation is consistent in style and terminology and of a high quality throughout.

3. Indemnity Insurance

The fact that the translator has indemnity insurance may indicate that the customer’s rights are safeguarded and that a professional approach is adopted in dealing with clients.

4. Proofreading

Proofreading is an essential part of the translation process. Sufficient time must be allowed for it to be done thoroughly, even if the document is comparatively short. Small errors, particularly on signs, can often prove expensive.

As a rule, the translator himself/herself undertakes a final check of the proof. Errors can occur if proofs are faxed, especially where very small print or a coloured background is used.

5. Software

Please remember to consult the translator to ensure that his/her software is compatible with yours. In some cases, organisations commissioning translation work are prepared to install their software on a translator’s computer system.

6. Arranging a Simultaneous Translation Service

Simultaneous translation (also known as interpreting) involves a skill very different from that of written translation. Such services are used extensively in parts of Wales, in meetings from community councils to all-Wales conferences. The usual practice is for the simultaneous translator to work from Welsh into English so that non-Welsh-speakers are able to understand the proceedings.

Copies of documents to be used at the meeting should be sent to the simultaneous translator beforehand.

To make the service a success, the Chairman should refer to the availability of the service at the start of the meeting and ensure that all those present know how to use the equipment and into which language the interpreter will be translating. The success of the service depends just as much on the approach adopted by the chairman as on the skill of the translator. If you decide to use a simultaneous translation service at a meeting, it is important that you encourage those attending to use it.

Please bear in mind that simultaneous translation is such demanding work that a translator should not be expected to work for more than half an hour without a break. If you expect this to be exceeded, you should employ a second simultaneous translator.

Once you have approached several simultaneous translators, you should agree terms in advance of the meeting or meetings. Simultaneous translators charge for the time spent travelling to and from their workplace in addition to their travelling expenses and the hours spent doing the actual translation work.

7. Simultaneous Translation Equipment

Various county councils and voluntary organisations in Wales hire out simultaneous translation systems. For full details

8. Full Membership

This corresponds to professional membership where the translator is deemed to require no supervision.

To become a Full Member, any translator with three years' experience of translating on a full-time basis or equivalent experience on a part-time basis may apply for Full Membership by

Either:

1. Submission of work for assessment. Candidates will be required to attest that the work is his or her own, and his or hers only. A reference is also required from an Employer or a Commissioner, testifying to the overall standard of the candidate's work. The work will be submitted to two members of the Examining Board for them to decide whether the candidate has attained Full Membership standard.

Or

2. Sitting a 2-hour examination translating from English into Welsh and/or sitting a 2-hour examination translating from Welsh into English.

9. Basic Membership

This corresponds to the standard of a translator working under supervision.

Translators wishing to apply for Basic Membership of the Association must sit the Association’s examination(s). Two 1.5-hour examinations are held within one 3-hour session - one requires translation from English into Welsh and the other from Welsh into English.

The standard of any examination set by the Association for Basic Membership will ensure that the applicant has reached the requisite standards in terms of meaning, register, syntax and correctness.

The assessment/examination procedure has been validated by a member of staff of the University of Wales.

The Procedure is totally confidential and anonymous.

10. Interpreting Membership

This corresponds to wholly professional membership where the member is expected to translate fluently and accurately from Welsh into English in a variety of situations from the formal to the informal. Candidates are expected to possess a clear understanding of the cultural background of both languages.

Any translator with 00 hours experience of translating at meetings on a regular basis during the past five years may submit an application to take the Association's Simultaneous Translation test.

11. Interim Interpreting Membership

Any translator with 200 hours of experience of translating at meetings on a regular basis during the past five years may apply for Interim Membership. Candidates should make a formal application together with the names of two referees. The fee is £25 per candidate.

It is expected that all Interim Members take the Association's Simultaneous Translation Test within 3 years of officially launching the procedure in December 2005.