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| User | Thread poster: Paula Borges Iol - Diptrans - Questions/Restrictions |
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Paula Borges 
Brazil
Local time: 09:06
  Member (2010)
English to Portuguese
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Hello fellow translators!
I have been working as a freelance translator for a few years now, and recently decided to pursue it as a fulltime career. In January, I was awarded the Certificate in Proficiency in English by the University of Cambridge (CPE), and now I'm very interested in sitting the Iolet Diptrans next year.
My language combination is English and Portuguese. I translate from English to Portuguese, but the great majority of my work is from Portuguese to English. The agencies I've been working with rely on me for that, it is my main source of income, as we've established a successful partnership with my husband, who is a native British proofreader.
I've been told that members of the Chartered Institute of Linguists are restricted from translating into any language that is not their native one. I am not sure if the same goes for the every candidate granted "pass" on this exam. I have contacted them about these doubts, but they were only quick to reply when sending me the application form and payment options, all these other questions were completely ignored.
I really cannot afford to restrict my area of work so drastically, and it's very disappointing to see how unwilling they've been to answer. Does anybody know? Is it ok to hold the Certificate and choose to decline membership?
Sorry if this has been asked before, and thank you in advance.
Paula
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Carole Paquis
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:06
Member (2007)
English to French
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Hello Paula,
I am "only" an MCIL, and not a "big cheese" in the CIoL but here's what I know:
The Diploma is taken only in one language combination (in my case English into French). You do not have to be a native speaker of the target language to take the exam, but it is usually widely assumed that only native speakers stand a chance (the pass rate is low enough for them!). Hence the assumption that Dip Trans people only translate into their mothertongue.
The Dip Trans is what allows you to work as a professional translator in that language combination. If you were good enough to pass it, good for you...
If you wish to be qualified with the Dip Trans "both ways", you ought to take two diplomas. Some MCIL have two of three IoL Certificates in different language combinations.
I do know a French lady who holds two Dip Trans, one En>Fr and Fr>En. So it is possible, even if rare.
That is for the Dip Trans and to be a Member of the Chartered Institute of Linguist. I do not know the rules to be a Chartered Linguist.
Hope this helps.
Carole
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Paul Malone
France
Local time: 14:06
Member (2004)
French to English
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| | Answer to the last part of your question | Feb 28, 2010 |
Hi Paula,
To answer the final part of your question, you are entitled to hold the Diploma in Translation without being obliged to become a member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists.
I hold two Diplomas, but I have not yet become a member. Personally, I do intend to apply for membership, but in fact there is no obligation for any holders of the Diploma in Translation to do so, it is fully optional.
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Paula Borges
Brazil
Local time: 09:06
Member (2010)
English to Portuguese
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TOPIC STARTER |
Paul and Carole,
Thank you for your information.
It seems clear that members are not allowed to translate to any other language other than their mothertongue, which is common practice in the UK.
However, translating into English is what I do most of the time - reason why I have been a little worried.
But I am determined to sit it next January, so wish me luck!
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Tomás Cano Binder, CT
Spain
Local time: 14:06
Member (2005)
English to Spanish
+ ...
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Paula Borges wrote:
But I am determined to sit it next January, so wish me luck! |
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Good luck from a 2010 candidate... who is impatient to know the result!
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Paula Borges
Brazil
Local time: 09:06
Member (2010)
English to Portuguese
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TOPIC STARTER | | when do you find out? | Feb 28, 2010 |
thank you!
I can't imagine how anxious I'd be in your situation.
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Neil Coffey
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:06
Member (2009)
French to English
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| | I'd carry on as you are... | Feb 28, 2010 |
Paula Borges wrote:
My language combination is English and Portuguese. I translate from English to Portuguese, but the great majority of my work is from Portuguese to English. The agencies I've been working with rely on me for that, it is my main source of income, as we've established a successful partnership with my husband, who is a native British proofreader.
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Paula, if you've got a successful partnership going with your husband and you've got clients that are happy with your work, I'm curious as to why you're that worried about the CIoL or DipTrans?
In your position, I think I would concentrate your efforts on looking for other clients on the basis of recommendations from the ones you have who are satisfied with your work, and publicising yourself generally.
I wouldn't agree with Carole, for example, that "The Dip Trans is what allows you to work as a professional translator in that language combination". At the end of the day, what allows you to work as a professional translator is being able to produce translations of a quality that allows you to attract and satisfy clients and earn a living as a translator. The DipTrans is *one* tool that can help to convince clients of your translation ability, and it can open the door to a *subscetion* of the market for which in practice it's required (or an equivalent is required). But unless you're desperate to spend the rest of your life translating birth certificates and insurance reports, my personal opinion would be if you're already reasonably well established, then the DipTrans or accreditation isn't an absolute necessity... though I would agree it *can* be a strategy for marketing yourself, and will surely get you *some* work you wouldn't otherwise get.
[Edited at 2010-02-28 19:35 GMT]
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Paula Borges
Brazil
Local time: 09:06
Member (2010)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | | Thank you, Neil | Feb 28, 2010 |
You've made a good point. But I think holding the Diptrans would bring me personal satisfaction as well as opening some doors. Very often with things like this, it's more about the confidence it brings you than anything else.
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Ewa Erdmann
English to Polish
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| | Yea... results... | Feb 28, 2010 |
Paula Borges wrote:
But I am determined to sit it next January, so wish me luck! |
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Good luck from a 2010 candidate... who is impatient to know the result! [/quote]
I also took DipTrans in January 2010. You have to wait for the results for up to 14 weeks! Still have goosebumps when I think about it The exam itself was pure pleasure though, I don't know about the others but I did enjoy it
Good luck!
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Paula Borges
Brazil
Local time: 09:06
Member (2010)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | | Thank you, Ewa | Mar 1, 2010 |
Wishing you the best! I am glad to know the exam itself was enjoyable.
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Tomás Cano Binder, CT
Spain
Local time: 14:06
Member (2005)
English to Spanish
+ ...
| | Enjoyable it was | Mar 1, 2010 |
Ewa Erdmann wrote:
I also took DipTrans in January 2010. You have to wait for the results for up to 14 weeks! Still have goosebumps when I think about it The exam itself was pure pleasure though, I don't know about the others but I did enjoy it |
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Indeed I had a nice time too, although I was tired at the end. The papers are indeed very interesting and even fun in a way as you discover the little traps and work to circumvent them. I do however encourage everyone to prepare very well for the exam, and to take the exam only in a language in which they are able to produce a quality target text (not only in terms of meaning and translation, but also in terms of style and perfect grammar/spelling) without the help of a reviewer (i.e. usually your mother tongue).
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Paula Borges
Brazil
Local time: 09:06
Member (2010)
English to Portuguese
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TOPIC STARTER |
How did you prepare for the exam?
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Tim Drayton
Local time: 15:06
Turkish to English
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On the other hand, if you search for a Turkish to English translator at the 'Find a Linguist' section of the IoL's website, a number of the translators whose names appear report that they are native speakers of Turkish, i.e. the source language. Perhaps the IoL should practise what it preaches! In short, I wouldn't worry too much.
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Louise Souter
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:06
Spanish to English
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| | Take a course | Mar 1, 2010 |
Paula Borges wrote:
How did you prepare for the exam? |
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I would strongly recommend doing a preparation course. City University's (distance learning) course is excellent:
http://www.city.ac.uk/translation/courses/iolet_dip_trans/index.html
I'm glad I'm not the only person who enjoyed doing the DipTrans. My friends and family were worried about me when I said I enjoyed sitting an exam.
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Tomás Cano Binder, CT
Spain
Local time: 14:06
Member (2005)
English to Spanish
+ ...
| | City University course, I also recommend it | Mar 1, 2010 |
Louise Souter wrote:
I would strongly recommend doing a preparation course. City University's (distance learning) course is excellent: |
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Indeed. I did the last module and was very happy about the results. The last module is really all about translating exams from previous years and getting support and advice from the tutor, which is a great way of pinpointing your weak areas and polish them as you advance.
[Edited at 2010-03-01 18:52 GMT]
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