The interpreter is the professional capable of converting a spoken statement in a particular language to the desired language without there being any change of meaning of the statement. In Indian scenario, one can think of the persons standing right beside the ‘Kings and Emperors’ in early eighteenth century interpreting the English and Frenchmen - coming to India for trade purposes - and explaining to the Indian Kings what they are trying to say. But at that time it was not considered as a profession in any sense rather there was the limited requirement of these people at that time.
Now with the globalisation of Indian economy, multinationals coming to Indian Subcontinent and more and more companies going for joint ventures abroad, the job scenario for those proficient in foreign languages like French, German, Mexican etc have opened up. The ever-increasing amount of scientific, technological and cultural information promises a growing need for those who are able to facilitate international communications.
The main work of these professionals is to interpret the language spoken by the delegates of the foreign multinationals or of the governments visiting in the country to the desired language without there being an iota of difference in its original meaning. Those interpreters are considered as successful who are able to impress their listeners with simplicity and intact originality of the matter they have spoken. The interpreter should be able to convert precisely and quickly the spoken matter from the foreign language to the desired language and vice versa.
Besides this, they should possess fairly good knowledge of the language so that they could themselves put the impression and impact of the speaker if they are at all in the original spoken text. Thus the role of an interpreter becomes very important. To perform this all-important role in this field an interpreter must possess very good hold on the language he deals in. He must have good research and communication skill too in that particular language.
To hone one’s skill in the profession there are various small-time diploma, certificate course available in various universities/institutions. It requires a lot of hard work and effort but at the same time offers enormous scope for the building of one’s career.
Young people with desire and capacity for hard work can get both money and satisfaction in this profession.
The future growth prospects in this field also vary from language to language. In governmental work, apart from French, German, Spanish, Japanese etc., even smaller languages like Pashpio, Uzbek, Tajiks, Hebrew and Portuguese etc. have a huge demand now.
Interpreter Eligibility
Educational Qualification
10+2 is the minimum requirement to do a diploma or degree in a particular language. However, at least graduation is an appropriated qualification to make a career in such a high profile profession.
Interpreter Required Skills
- Interpreters should be able to accurately and idiomatically turn the message from the source language into the receptor language without any additions, omissions or other misleading factors that alter the intended meaning of the message from the speaker.
- They should be able to adept at simultaneous interpretation, which is the most frequent form of interpretation used in the courtroom, and in consecutive interpretation and sight translation.
- They should be able to able to communicate orally including appropriate delivery and poise.
- They demonstrated high professional standards for courtroom demeanour and professional conduct.
How to become an Interpreter?
To become an Interpreter one has to follow the given steps:
Step 1
As a first step towards adopting Interpreter as a profession one has to go for a diploma or degree course in the desired language from various universities /institutions offering these courses. Candidates may have to fulfil certain special conditions or take on the entrance test for taking in the certain reputed institution of foreign languages.
Step 2
After doing the diploma or degree course one can join some job as an interpreter or can go for the higher studies in the respective languages provided by various universities/institutions. Like For Japanese, there is a language proficiency test conducted by the Mombusho Scholars Association and Alliance Francaise is the centre for conducting various French tests like the TEF (required by the Canadian High Commission), the TCF, DELF /DALF tests and diploma delivered by the French Ministry of Education.
Interpreter Job Description
The job of an Interpreter involves interpreting the language spoken by the delegates of the foreign multinationals or of the governments visiting in the country to the desired language without there being an iota of difference in its original meaning.
Interpreter Career Prospects
Enormous employment opportunities are available for Interpreter in private as well as public sector organisations. The interpreter can find employment in the corporate sector with the CEO or other high-level officials travelling in the countries where the main language of communication is not common to both the parties. These people get work in organisations like UN, foreign companies, publishing houses etc where meeting among different delegates is a routine task. Expertise in foreign language coupled with other additional qualifications in areas like management, tourism, hospitality industry, airlines can be even fruitful and better the chances for employment opportunities
Interpreter Salary
The interpreter can expect a starting salary anywhere between Rs.25,000 to Rs.30,000 as far as a starter is concerned. After gaining some on job experience one can earn as good as Rs.40,000 per month and more. If one joins some high profile personality like some Arab Sheikhs or businessmen from the developed countries he can get anywhere near Rs. 50,000 per month or even more. However, it depends upon the communication skills and the repo of a particular profession in the long run.
