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UNK hosts conference for interpreters




(7/26/2008) By Adam Lefkoe - In this troubled economy, many professions are going through tough times. With more foreign speaking immigrants coming to the United States, one profession is becoming increasingly more important.

America's language is changing…fast.

“The growth is really unprecedented,” Javier A. Soler, court interpreter.

In his home state of Maryland, Soler has seen the amount of foreign speaking residents increase by 30 percent. He says they're far from alone.

“Every state at this time is seeing a huge growth in use, both in Spanish as well as languages other than Spanish or LOTS as we would call them,” said Soler.

To adapt to this changing landscape, UNK has tried to make its translation courses more professional. Maria Beck tries to show her students the importance of this occupation.

“The translation and interpretation career gives you an opportunity to help people who have no voice,” said Beck.

UNK is working towards national certification for their students. Certification requires near perfect accuracy when translating.

“What you're asking an interpreter to do is extremely unnatural. You're asking them to repeat without adding, embellishing, or in any way, shape, or form coloring language,” said Soler.

Students have found this difficult.

“It's very hard to be completely accurate,” said Laura Ortega, UNK Student.

Valuing the culture is also extremely important for translators.
In order to tell someone's story, you must understand where they are coming from.
Program officials feel this barrier has caused many problems in the past.

“That if people just stopped to listen, but it's really hard to listen to the message if there's no one there to provide it,” said Beck.

They hope that their voice will finally allow those messages to be heard.

Attached Files: 726INTERPRETER.jpg 


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