An Exploration of Translator and Interpreter Training Offered by Professional Translator and Interpreter Associations in Canada

• Author / Creator

  Pitonak, Monika

• Over the last several decades, Canada has seen a diversification as well as an overall increase in immigration which has introduced a variety of different translation and interpreting needs that play a vital role in facilitating immigrant integration. Given the fact that these translation and interpreting needs, which include official document translation and medical and legal interpreting, may have a direct impact on legal status or quality of life, it is vital that they are carried out by competent qualified professionals. However, translator and interpreter training and education in Canada primarily focuses on the two official languages, English and French (Echeverri; Kumbe; Mareschal). Contemporary training and education programs are primarily found at postsecondary institutions, although they historically have their roots in training programs offered by professional associations. In order to develop a more thorough understanding of the training options currently available to translators and interpreters working in immigrant language combinations, this thesis provides an overview of contemporary training activities taking place at provincial professional associations, being guided by the following research questions: What training is available to translators through professional associations? What role do professional associations play in the training of professional translators? Overall, how is this training perceived by those that oversee and facilitate it? Finally, how does this training compare to that offered by postsecondary institutions?
  Four provincial translator and interpreter associations are included in this study: the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Alberta (ATIA), the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO), the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec (OTTIAQ), and the Society of Translators and Interpreters of British Columbia (STIBC). Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used in order to create a detailed overview of current training activities. The quantitative element included the collection of descriptive statistics relating to the content, instruction, and scheduling of training activities, which were compiled from published materials and information on association websites. The qualitative element included a questionnaire, which was used to triangulate an analysis of the descriptive statistics, as well as semi-structured individual follow-up interviews, which were used to explore the personal perceptions of administrators in relation to association training, its benefits to the sector, and its relationship with postsecondary instruction. Three association administrators, one each from ATIA, ATIO, and OTTIAQ, participated in the qualitative portion of the study.
  What this thesis overall demonstrates is that association training plays a vital role in the instruction of Canadian translators and interpreters by responding to needs associated with sectoral and global economic realities. Training across all four associations targets key vocational topics which provide incoming professionals with a strong base of relevant knowledge and skills and experienced professionals the opportunity to either update their existing knowledge and skills or gain proficiency in newly-relevant knowledge or skills. That being said, each association maintains a unique formulation of training which responds to the particular needs and realities of its provincial jurisdiction. Although association training occupies a key role alongside postsecondary education in ensuring a cohesive instructional environment for translators and interpreters in Canada, the diversity of language specific training still remains fairly limited. In an effort to continue expanding and improving the instructional environment for Canadian translators and interpreters, this thesis concludes with a set of recommendations, which primarily focus on opportunities for inter-organizational collaboration among provincial associations and between associations and postsecondary institutions.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • translation
  • interpreting
  • translator training
  • interpreter training
  • professional associations
  • translator education
  • interpreter education
  • Canada

• Graduation date

  Fall 2024

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Arts

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-v9gp-j132

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Library with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.