Boston University's news outlet, BU Today, published an article about their professional interpreter training program and the role of interpreters in the hospitals and courts today .
Years ago, I enrolled at this same Boston University program because I knew that interpreting is more than being bilingual. So many times, lives literally hang on the turn of our words; I wanted to be sure I was getting it right. I remember my assessment test, and how my palms sweated--"Am I good enough to become an interpreter?"
Today language testing is becoming standard practice among professional interpreters. It is not enough to be bilingual, we have to know nuances and double-meanings, slang and technical jargon. Every interpreter will tell you that's one of the things that makes our job fun--we never stop learning!
As a user of interpreter services, stop to ask if your interpreter is language tested (and ask to see a copy of the results!). Or work with a company like Catholic Charities Language Partners that provides a guarantee of quality screening and credentials. If you are interested in learning more about interpreter credentialling, you can contact Language Access for New Americans (LANA), who is leading the movement in Maine towards more rigorous interpreter quality standards.
Yes, until we achieve state and national licensing of interpreters it will be cumbersome to check the credentials of every interpreter you use. However, lives hang in the balance, and interpreting is more than being bilingual.
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