FAQs

About translating and interpreting

What’s the difference between a translator and an interpreter?

Aren’t interpreters for sign language?

How do I get started as a translator?

Do I need a college degree to be a translator?

How do I get certified?

How much do you charge for a translation?

How do I find a translator and get a rate quote?

Where can I find work as a translator?

Where can I find work as an interpreter?

My language is not Spanish. Is there work for my language?

About AATIA

What is AATIA?

Who can join AATIA?

What are the benefits of joining AATIA?

Does AATIA hire translators?

Is AATIA just for Spanish translators?

About this site

Why do some comments have pictures or logos?

How can I get notified of a new entry or comment?

Why are some commenters’ names highlighted?

Can I make an anonymous comment?

Why are the tags different sizes and colors?

About translating and interpreting

What’s the difference between a translator and an interpreter?

Although some people do both, interpretation and translation are different professions. Interpreters convert one spoken language into another –or in the case of sign language, between spoken communication and signed language. Translators convert written materials from one language into another. (US Department of Labor)

Aren’t interpreters for sign language?

Yes, there are interpreters for sign language and interpreters for foreign languages. Both render spoken language into another language. While some AATIA members interpret sign language, most interpret foreign languages.

How do I get started as a translator?

• Learn about the profession. For an overview of the profession, see the Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Quarterly article on Interpreters and Translators. For more detailed information, see Roger Chriss’ series of articles about the profession.
• Find educational and training opportunities. Relatively few colleges and universities in the United States offer degrees in translation and interpreting. See a list of such colleges. There are, however, many training programs of varying lengths and specialized topics. For example, Austin Community College has a seven-course series in translation and interpreting. AATIA hosts workshops on a variety of topics. Other professional associations, such as ATA, HITA, TAHIT, MITA, EPITA, and NCI also offer workshops.
• Join AATIA and other professional associations. Most project referrals come by word of mouth. The more people you know in the profession, the more likely you are to get work. Listing your services in an online directory such as the Linguist Locator will also bring you work from other parts of the country. Associations offer professional development opportunities in the form of workshops and conferences, with discounts for members. Most importantly, AATIA has a reputation for helping newcomers develop the skills and contacts they need as they embark on their new profession.

Do I need a college degree to be a translator?

Translators need college-level language skills in each of their working languages. While this is usually attained through the completion of a college degree, other life experiences-such as living and studying abroad-can also accomplish this. While a degree in translation or interpreting is particularly useful, a degree in any field is desirable. Specialized knowledge in a particular field of endeavor is indispensable for high-quality translation and interpreting in that field.

How do I get certified?

The short answer: by taking an examination. However, the exam depends on your specific interest. The American Translators Association offers certification exams for written translation. You can become a certified federal court interpreter by taking an exam offered by the National Center for State Courts. Court interpreters may need a license. This requires another exam. For information about this exam see the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (look for "Licensed Court Interpreters"). If oral interpreting for conferences is your preference, you can become certified by the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC). There is no certification for medical interpreters in Texas or at the national level at this time. The National Council on Interpreting in Healthcare is working on this issue in collaboration with the American Translators Association, the California Healthcare Interpreters Association, and the International Medical Interpreters Association. Get updates and further information (click on "certification").

How much do you charge for a translation?

AATIA does not do translations. The members do and they set their own rates.

How do I find a translator and get a quote?

Go to AATIA’s Linguist Locator and follow the prompts.

Where can I find work as a translator?

Some state and federal government agencies, insurance companies, hospitals, and international banks hire translators and interpreters. However, most translators are independent contractors ("freelancers"). They find individual clients through online referrals or contract with translation and interpreting agencies who find translation work and professionals to do the work. Most work for freelancers comes through word of mouth. Networking with other translators is a rich source of referrals.

Where can I find work as an interpreter?

Some hospitals and courts hire interpreters. However, most interpreters are independent contractors ("freelancers"). Telephone interpreters are contracted by over-the-phone-interpreting (OPI) agencies who connect them with clients who need their services. Freelance medical interpreters work through face-to-face interpreting agencies who identify interpreting assignments for them at hospitals, clinics, and doctors’ offices. Freelance conference interpreters are often contracted by conference organizers from government agencies and private companies. Licensed court interpreters in Texas are contracted by court administrative offices. who find them through the list on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation’s website. Listings in online directories and networking with other interpreters are rich referral sources.

My language is not Spanish. Is there work for my language?

Yes! Globalization has created great opportunities for translators and interpreters in all languages. Thanks to technology, translators and interpreters may have clients all over the world. They need not be in the same geographical area where their language is used. AATIA’s Linguist Locator can be accessed by clients from all over the globe who can then contract AATIA members listed there.

About AATIA

What is AATIA?

The Austin Area Translators and Interpreters Association is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization founded in 1985. It unites working linguists to pursue common goals of professional development, client education, and networking.

With approximately 200 members statewide, AATIA is one of the nation’s largest and most active regional associations of professional translators and interpreters.

Members and guests get together at bimonthly meetings and other special events, including those arranged by the Special Interest Groups. Our Calendar has more information.

AATIA also holds frequent workshops on a variety of subjects and periodically sponsors accreditation workshops and exams in conjunction with the American Translators Association (ATA).

AATIA has also co-hosted national conferences and seminars with the American Literary Translators Association (ALTA), the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT), and ATA.

Who can join AATIA?

Anyone with an interest in translation or interpreting is welcome to join. Translators and interpreters who are currently engaged in the profession can join as active members. Students and other interested persons can join as associate members. Businesses and organizations can join as business members.

What are the benefits of joining AATIA?

As an Active member, you are included in AATIA’s Linguist Locator and the telephone referral database; you have access to AATIA’s listserv to find out about work and educational opportunities; a permanent identification badge to be used at professional functions; a login and password to access and maintain your website database profile; the right to vote in all AATIA elections.

As an Associate member, you are invited to AATIA functions. You also have access to AATIA’s listserv to find out about work and educational opportunities This membership does not entitle you to inclusion in the website database or telephone referral database, or to vote in elections.

As a Business member, you choose from two options:

• Business membership includes all referral systems and access to your AATIA website profile, but no voting privileges.
• Combination Active/Business (designed for freelance translators) includes all referral systems, access to your AATIA website profile, and one vote.

Regardless of the membership category you choose, you will gain a network of colleagues who are willing to help you pursue your career as a translator or interpreter.

Does AATIA hire translators?

No. This is a professional association that provides educational and networking opportunities for translators and interpreters and outreach to the public to promote the use of qualified translators and interpreters.

Is AATIA just for Spanish translators?

No. While the majority of AATIA members do work in Spanish, others work in approximately 40 different languages.

About this site

Why do some comments have pictures or logos?

The images are "gravatars." Register your image at gravatar.com and it will be associated with your comments here and on other blogs. Even some email applications display them. A default image appears if you don’t have your own gravatar.

How can I get notified of a new entry or comment?

Via RSS feeds. There are separate feeds for blog entries and for comments on all entries individual ones. Sign up via the orange icons or text links displayed in various places, and  the items will be aggregated in your RSS reader Read <this entry> for more complete information.

Why are some commenters’ names highlighted?

They link to their websites. Modify your user profile to make your site link visible.

Can I make an anonymous comment?

No.

Why are the tags different sizes and colors?

Tags are displayed in a "tag cloud," which indicates their relative frequency on posts by their relative size and color