Poll: How many translation-related credentials do you have?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Aug 28, 2018

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How many translation-related credentials do you have?".

This poll was originally submitted by FelixFigueroa. View the poll results »



 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 18:51
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Other (I think I have more experience than credentials per se) Aug 28, 2018

My degree is not related to translation. I have four language-related credentials in English, French, Spanish and Italian but none specifically related to translation. Over the years I’ve been to a lot of workshops, seminars and meetings, some of these were probably related to translation. I was a sworn translator in Belgium for a few years, but I moved to Portugal and here there are no sworn translators.

Sundar Gopalakrishnan
 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 19:51
Spanish to English
+ ...
None Aug 28, 2018

I'm not sure what "translation-related credentials" means in the query. I have a degree in modern languages and did an RSA Dip. TEFL course, but neither of these academic qualifications are translation-specific. Other than that, (as far as I can remember) all I have is my working experience.

Amir Arzani
 
Ricki Farn
Ricki Farn
Germany
Local time: 19:51
English to German
Not sure Aug 28, 2018

I have a degree in Computing and one in English, but neither of these are translation-related. Does that qualify me to translate IT from English to German? No idea, I just do it. I looked into add-on translation courses/credentials when going freelance, but all I found was for business/legal, and that's just not my field.

Kay-Viktor Stegemann
 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 19:51
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
A diploma and MCIL Aug 28, 2018

I have a postgraduate diploma in translation and I am a Member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists - actually a Chartered Linguist.

The CIoL membership is partly based on experience, although the regular way to become a member includes passing the Dip. Trans exam.
It is not set very often in my language pair, so I was exempted from the Dip. Trans. and my Special Language Diploma was accepted instead.

I often wish I had more speciality-related qualifications, b
... See more
I have a postgraduate diploma in translation and I am a Member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists - actually a Chartered Linguist.

The CIoL membership is partly based on experience, although the regular way to become a member includes passing the Dip. Trans exam.
It is not set very often in my language pair, so I was exempted from the Dip. Trans. and my Special Language Diploma was accepted instead.

I often wish I had more speciality-related qualifications, but I have quite a collection of exam certificates and diplomas in my desk drawer... once you have learnt to study, you can do it without collecting formal certificates.

Satisfied clients are the best credential!
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Sundar Gopalakrishnan
Angus Stewart
 
Jiaying Ma
Jiaying Ma
Australia
Local time: 05:51
English to Chinese
+ ...
I just have NAATI certification Aug 28, 2018

But I have a lot of experience.

I don't have a translation related degree, but got into the translation industry from patent translation, then slowly changed direction to other types of documents.
Now I can basically translate a variety of fields.

NAATI certification helps in Australia, but probably not much help if you live in other countries


FelixFiguero (X)
 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 15:51
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
None and several Aug 29, 2018

What are the credentials considered? What clients consider them as credentials or not?
1. Diplomas in language/arts and translation couses in college provenly do not qualify the person to be a translator. Hlaf of the best translators in the world have never stepped in any of these courses, and half of the worst ones hold one of these diplomas.
2. Certificates of proficiency in languages are also not specific credentials for translators. They are only certificates of proficiency in th
... See more
What are the credentials considered? What clients consider them as credentials or not?
1. Diplomas in language/arts and translation couses in college provenly do not qualify the person to be a translator. Hlaf of the best translators in the world have never stepped in any of these courses, and half of the worst ones hold one of these diplomas.
2. Certificates of proficiency in languages are also not specific credentials for translators. They are only certificates of proficiency in the relavant languages, but for all types of use, not necessarily for translation purposes.
3. Certificates of translators' associations and unions may be considered credentials, but not sufficient to prove one's professional competence.
4. How about many years of experience, many positive referrals from dozens of clients, outstanding performance in sample translation tests, and client satisfaction near 100%? Well, these are not considered "credentials" strictu sensu. However, these are what all my clients consider, instead of the three "regular" ones above.

So my ansewer is none, from 1 to 3, and all in group 4. And without any modesty, the ones I have place me very well among the translators in our market.
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Joe Ly Sien
 
Kay Denney
Kay Denney  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 19:51
French to English
master Aug 29, 2018

I have a master in translation, but I didn't actually learn anything doing it since I got it on the strength of my experience. l only did it because you're expected to have some kind of paper saying you have something between your ears, the university of life apparently doesn't swing it, even though that's what worked for me.

Mario Freitas
Victorița Ionela Duță
 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 11:51
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Several Sep 14, 2018

I passed the tests for accreditation by the American Translators Association for Portuguese-English and Spanish-English. I have also taken other qualifying tests that I have passed.

In addition, I have 3 academic degrees in languages and linguistics. My Ph.D. thesis was on translation theory.


 


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Poll: How many translation-related credentials do you have?






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