In this article we are going to talk about NAATI certification and the purpose of demystify what NAATI means and why it’s needed. In addition, we are going to understand what a translator or an interpreter is, and why these roles are so important in our current multicultural society.
Translator vs Interpreter
As we said at the beginning of the article, we are going to answer the question that most of our customers have about NAATI certification and that is “why we would need someone with a different credential to do a certain job?”
Translating or interpreting means to accurately convey meaning of what is written, spoken, or signed from one language into another. Translators and Interpreters are highly skilled professionals, with a specific skill set learned through formal training and experience.
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Nowadays, we still having the concept that both roles are the same, but in this article, we are going to know that they are completely different roles, however, they have the same objective: “Connect people through a professional communication service”.
Let’s start with the Translator role, they are qualified people, and they have different types of abilities to deal with the written word and that can be in different shapes and forms, some examples such as: books, legal contracts, they can also translate websites or CV’s, apps as well, this often refers to that as “Localisation” and why this “localisation” is so important?, well it refers to do the translation, but also having in mind to customise the translation to a target audience, this process is so common and lots of companies do it on their websites and apps, therefore they can grow globally and reach other markets. So generally, the translation is also an adaptation to the target market.
Another fact about translators is that through the course of their career, they might also become a subject matter expert in certain domains of their work as well, therefore some translator might do more legal translations and other translators might do more marketing translations, it really depends on the individual. So, it is always something to keep in mind as well if you are looking to work with a translator to see if they are the right match for your assignment as well.
Are you looking for a NAATI translator? We have a variety of NAATI translations services waiting for you, if you want to know more, click here.
In the other hand, we have the interpreters, these professionals deal with the spoken word or the signed language (signs), they work in a variety of settings such as: medical settings, court hearing, business meetings, press conferences or international conferences, public emergency announcements, and so many more. There is a big variety of settings in which they engage.
A highly skilled profession
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Being a translator or interpreter is a highly skilled profession. It requires a high level of fluency in English and the language other than English (which NAATI commonly refers to as LOTE), they need to undertake some formal training and they also must meet some prerequisites and that includes formal training (this is so relevant to interpreting or translation. Other prerequisites are demonstrating their English language competency and demonstrate their competency in the intercultural environment, understanding cultural differences, but also the ethics space. All certified translators or interpreters are bound by the AUSIT code of ethics; therefore, NAATI assess these skills in that space.
How is the process to get a NAATI certification as a translator or interpreter?
If the candidates approve all the prerequisites, they will be eligible to sit a test and they will need to pass it to obtain the credentials. Sometimes a test might not be available in the language, in this case, NAATI assess their application based on their “work experience”, NAATI recognises their work experience, and they obtain a recognised practising credential.
On the other hand, if they pass a NAATI test, they will receive their NAATI credential and it does not stop there, because as professionals, they will need to keep engaging with their profession, maintaining their skills, and practicing as professionals, that is translating several words or engaging in interpreting assignments.
The four key prerequisite requirements
Anyone wishing to gain a NAATI credential to work as a translator or interpreters must meet the following prerequisite requirements set by NAATI:
Pictures from NAATI certification of Translators and Interpreters Brochure:
Recertification
Translators and interpreters must recertify their NAATI credentials every three years and there are some minimum requirements to do it, for example, translators need to provide at least 30.000 translated words in their validity period, because these professionals must apply to recertify with evidence of work practice and professional development.
Some misconceptions to clarify
At the end of this blog, we want to clarify some misconceptions that some people might have about translate and interpret:
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1. “Google translate in good enough”
Google Translate is just for very quick translations for yourself, to try to understand the gist of something, but not for official translations.
If your document required a highly official translation, Google translate is probably not the best option for you.
2. “Translator translate what people say and Translating is a matter of transposing word for word”
Individuals mixing the concepts of interpreting and translating, they are two distinct roles. The Translator really focusses on the written word.
Translating is a complex process which involves meaning transfer skills, but also language proficiency skills., there are some important facts about translating that you should know:
1. Translating involves understand the subject matter.
2. Translating involves language skills such as knowing: the right register, knowing the norms and conventions of the language.
3. Having the right style for the document, also becomes part of the translating process.
4. Understanding the target language and being able to have a translation that is relevant to them.
These are some of the competencies that NAATI test are assessing. In conclusion, there are a range of skills and factors that are required for a good translation.
3. “Anyone who speaks another language can translate or interpret”
This is a common misconception around bilingualism that if someone speaks a language, they are automatically a translator or an interpreter, but as we have been explaining in this article: Having a high level of fluency in two or more languages is important, but it’s not only this, Translate and Interpret involves more abilities, for example: have a good memory skill, note taking skills, subject matter expert. These skills being part of the interpreter’s portfolio.
4. “It’s cheap and easy”
This misconception is linked to the fact that individuals usually think that if there is someone bilingual, that person is a translator or interpreter and therefore it should not cost much, but actually it is a highly skilled profession just like an architect or a doctor and there is a set of abilities that is required, so it is not necessarily a cheap service, however, the cost also depends of some elements just like: the type of assignments, complex and specialised assignments, etc..
5. “A family member can interpret just as fine”
You might have heard that “a family member who speaks their language can interpret just as fine” and again, we are going to back to that idea of bilingualism, we are going to explain it with the next example: If there is a medical setting for instance, or a domestic violence setting, the family member may not transfer all the meaning of the message or they may not know some specialised terminology, so this is a situation that could end in a misunderstanding.
Translators or interpreters will prepare for their work, they will do the research that is relevant for the assignment, so they are going to transfer the message accurately and they will make sure that the right outcome is reached through that conversation, this is because they have professional skills to complete their responsibilities in their roles.
If you need a NAATI Translation, we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Sources
1. YouTube video - NAATI certification: What it means and why it’s needed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY3vI5x0va8
2. A connected community without language barriers Digital brochure: https://www.naati.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/About-NAATI-services-brochure_Digital-2.pdf
3. NAATI certification of Translators and Interpreters Digital brochure: https://www.naati.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NAATI-Certification-System-brochure_Digital-2.pdf
Juan Camilo Puerto| HR Specialist | Entrelingo
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