ProZ.com Translation Forums

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | Claire, it's only a commercial...

The Shredder — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 09:43:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: The Shredder
Post title: Claire, it's only a commercial...

[quote]Claire Cox wrote:

[quote]Chris S wrote:

Socially I'm not interested
Professionally the entry barriers are generally set so low as to make them meaningless
[/quote]

I think you'll find the entrance requirements for qualified membership of the ITI and the CIoL are quite high actually. I think you need a couple of references to be an associate member, but if you want to be a qualified MITI you have to obtain further references and either do an entrance examination (two translations in your chosen fields for each language) or an assessment of submitted work (if you've been translating enough for this to be a feasible option. You also have to have five years' experience as a professional translator and submit details of the volumes of work you've done over a 5-year period - no mean feat! This was certainly the case when I finally got round to joining a few years back and it required considerable commitment on my part to submit the application, references and test pieces. The exams are stringently marked by qualified professionals, as are the CIoL exams, I believe.

I had translated for many years before I actually joined, first as an associate and then as a qualified member, mainly because I worked in-house for the first five years of my career, so it wasn't really relevant, and then I worked part-time whilst my children were growing up, so didn't qualify on the volume front. It was only as I started to work full-time that I decided I really should join my professional association, if only to boost my own self-esteem. For me, it has been well worthwhile: not only the exchanges with like-minded professionals, but listing in the directory also provides openings for work. As an occasional outsourcer myself, I would look to outsource to a fellow ITI (or similar) member simply as a guarantee of quality. I'm not saying there aren't other good translators out there, but the fact that someone has jumped through these particular hoops suggests they must have a certain standard. For members starting out in the profession, the ITI offers mentoring schemes and advice from colleagues and the bimonthly Bulletin is an excellent way of keeping abreast of changes and events in the industry. professional indemnity insurance is also available at reasonable rates for members of the ITI, as is legal advice should you ever get into difficulties with clients.

For anyone who is really serious about the profession, I feel that membership of a professional organisation is a must. It shows to clients (and colleagues) that you are a serious contender and helps to promote the image of translators as a real profession, not something any Tom, Dick or Harry could do (although they often try...). You wouldn't trust an unqualified accountant or lawyer, why shouldn't the same apply to a translator? And before I'm shouted down in flames, I wasn't a member for many years because of my own particular circumstances and I felt I was a good translator then. Now I've made the effort to prove that to others and I'm really glad I did so! [/quote]

Clearly the ITI has tried to get its house in order since I was a member. Back then all you needed was experience, which is not the best marker of quality, and I never found that membership impressed clients.

I admit to being somewhat jaded. But all this talk of professional standards is simply not borne out by the average standard of work produced, in my experience. There are just too many members who are poor translators, undermining the value of membership.

I was once pressured into researching and writing an article about translation associations around the world. Admittedly it was a long time ago, but it does mean I have some knowledge in this field. Some had very high standards (but then undermined them by having translators work out of their mother tongue = Denmark) and some offered useful services (such as guaranteeing payments = Slovenia IIRC), but most were just offering the same old hot air, and I'm not convinced that's changed.

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | Yes, IAPTI

María Eugenia Wachtendorff — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 03:42:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: María Eugenia Wachtendorff
Post title: Yes, IAPTI

International Association of Professional Translations and Interpreters.

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | Yes, ATA, CTA, formerly AITI and ANITI

Riccardo Schiaffino — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 23:38:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: Riccardo Schiaffino
Post title: Yes, ATA, CTA, formerly AITI and ANITI

Yes, I'm a certified member of the ATA, and a corporate member of the CTA (Colorado Translators Association).

Formerly, in Italy I was also a member of AITI and a member and officer of ANITI.

I regularly receive inquires from prospects that find me via the ATA website, so, yes, I do think that membership of a professional association pays for itself (not to mention other benefits, such as networking with colleagues, and so on).

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | What?!

Claire Cox — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 19:22:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: Claire Cox
Post title: What?!

[quote]Chris S wrote:

Socially I'm not interested
Professionally the entry barriers are generally set so low as to make them meaningless
[/quote]

I think you'll find the entrance requirements for qualified membership of the ITI and the CIoL are quite high actually. I think you need a couple of references to be an associate member, but if you want to be a qualified MITI you have to obtain further references and either do an entrance examination (two translations in your chosen fields for each language) or an assessment of submitted work (if you've been translating enough for this to be a feasible option. You also have to have five years' experience as a professional translator and submit details of the volumes of work you've done over a 5-year period - no mean feat! This was certainly the case when I finally got round to joining a few years back and it required considerable commitment on my part to submit the application, references and test pieces. The exams are stringently marked by qualified professionals, as are the CIoL exams, I believe.

I had translated for many years before I actually joined, first as an associate and then as a qualified member, mainly because I worked in-house for the first five years of my career, so it wasn't really relevant, and then I worked part-time whilst my children were growing up, so didn't qualify on the volume front. It was only as I started to work full-time that I decided I really should join my professional association, if only to boost my own self-esteem. For me, it has been well worthwhile: not only the exchanges with like-minded professionals, but listing in the directory also provides openings for work. As an occasional outsourcer myself, I would look to outsource to a fellow ITI (or similar) member simply as a guarantee of quality. I'm not saying there aren't other good translators out there, but the fact that someone has jumped through these particular hoops suggests they must have a certain standard. For members starting out in the profession, the ITI offers mentoring schemes and advice from colleagues and the bimonthly Bulletin is an excellent way of keeping abreast of changes and events in the industry. professional indemnity insurance is also available at reasonable rates for members of the ITI, as is legal advice should you ever get into difficulties with clients.

For anyone who is really serious about the profession, I feel that membership of a professional organisation is a must. It shows to clients (and colleagues) that you are a serious contender and helps to promote the image of translators as a real profession, not something any Tom, Dick or Harry could do (although they often try...). You wouldn't trust an unqualified accountant or lawyer, why shouldn't the same apply to a translator? And before I'm shouted down in flames, I wasn't a member for many years because of my own particular circumstances and I felt I was a good translator then. Now I've made the effort to prove that to others and I'm really glad I did so!

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | Maybe she's multilingual

Mario Chavez (X) — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 18:27:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: Mario Chavez (X)
Post title: Maybe she's multilingual

[quote]Kate Deimling wrote:

[quote]Chris S wrote:

Socially I'm not interested
Professionally the entry barriers are generally set so low as to make them meaningless
[/quote]

I wouldn't say that it's enriched my social life, but I think that face-to-face interactions can give you a great sense of who someone is and whether you'd like to work with them if the opportunity arises. And it's nice to commiserate now and then. The freelancer's life can be a lonely one.

It's true that in the case of the ATA, anyone can join. Some of the other organizations mentioned by posters seem to have more restrictions. But I think belonging to a professional group still offers some cachet to clients, because it shows that you care enough to pay the membership dues and be engaged with professional issues.

When I was a beginner, I appreciated that anyone could join, because it was a chance for me to learn. And ATA also offers certification, which is a credential that provides some meaningful distinction. As in any group, you can tell pretty quickly which members are experienced and knowledgeable, who's a newcomer, and who is perhaps not all that competent.

On a related note, at ATA conferences, everyone wears a colored sticker on their nametag to show which language or languages they work with. At the last conference I attended, I saw one woman with about 20 different colors stuck to her nametag and wondered how anyone could possibly translate at a professional level in so many languages. And I think the answer is, in fact, that it's not possible. [/quote]

I've seen ATA attendees like that, Kate. They remind me of army generals with tons of colorful thingies attached to their chest.

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | ATIO (CTTIC) - there's a reason

Maxi Schwarz — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 17:46:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: Maxi Schwarz
Post title: ATIO (CTTIC) - there's a reason

In Canada, certification is wanted for many kinds of translation. Without certification the translator has to go the extra step of notarizing which means the travel expense and notarizing fees. It being an officially bilingual country, standards are high and this is one way of proving it. I don't know what I would do if I lived in a different country under different circumstances.

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | I just joined one...

Triston Goodwin — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 17:09:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: Triston Goodwin
Post title: I just joined one...

It's called that Association of Missouri Interpreters - even though I primarily translate now. It's not a very big group, but it was organized by the state for the parks and zoos in the area. I've been wanting to contact them to offer them my translation services, and this seemed like the best route.

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | Low entry barriers, true, but that's not all bad

Kate Deimling — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 16:23:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: Kate Deimling
Post title: Low entry barriers, true, but that's not all bad

[quote]Chris S wrote:

Socially I'm not interested
Professionally the entry barriers are generally set so low as to make them meaningless
[/quote]

I wouldn't say that it's enriched my social life, but I think that face-to-face interactions can give you a great sense of who someone is and whether you'd like to work with them if the opportunity arises. And it's nice to commiserate now and then. The freelancer's life can be a lonely one.

It's true that in the case of the ATA, anyone can join. Some of the other organizations mentioned by posters seem to have more restrictions. But I think belonging to a professional group still offers some cachet to clients, because it shows that you care enough to pay the membership dues and be engaged with professional issues.

When I was a beginner, I appreciated that anyone could join, because it was a chance for me to learn. And ATA also offers certification, which is a credential that provides some meaningful distinction. As in any group, you can tell pretty quickly which members are experienced and knowledgeable, who's a newcomer, and who is perhaps not all that competent.

On a related note, at ATA conferences, everyone wears a colored sticker on their nametag to show which language or languages they work with. At the last conference I attended, I saw one woman with about 20 different colors stuck to her nametag and wondered how anyone could possibly translate at a professional level in so many languages. And I think the answer is, in fact, that it's not possible.

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | Entry barriers

Mario Chavez (X) — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 16:17:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: Mario Chavez (X)
Post title: Entry barriers

[quote]Chris S wrote:

Socially I'm not interested
Professionally the entry barriers are generally set so low as to make them meaningless
[/quote]

Would you like to share with us what those low entry barriers you speak of?

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | No

The Shredder — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 15:59:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: The Shredder
Post title: No

Socially I'm not interested
Professionally the entry barriers are generally set so low as to make them meaningless

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | Two...

Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 13:09:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL
Post title: Two...

ITI and CIoL, full member of both... :-)

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | I'm surprised the numbers for membership are so low

Kate Deimling — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 13:03:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: Kate Deimling
Post title: I'm surprised the numbers for membership are so low

I'm a member of the ATA in the U.S., and when I was starting out, I thought it was pretty essential to join an organization to learn about the business and give myself some official standing in the eyes of clients. (Though, in fact, I've probably learned more about the business from ProZ.com, which I also joined when starting out.) Although membership isn't cheap ($165 annually, I believe) the ATA has some useful features: a sample translation contract and a code of ethics, for instance, and I have gotten some (though not a lot) of work by being listed in its membership directory.

I also became ATA-certified, which is sometimes a requirement for certain jobs. I've been to two ATA conferences and found them useful networking and learning experiences. It tends to be the same people running things and speaking every year, which can make the presentations a bit blah, and the quarterly journal is pretty blah.

But still I think it's a pretty good investment and a way to stay connected with other translators and informed about issues in translation/interpretation.

I'm also a member of a local organization, the New York Circle of Translators, which is more homegrown and personal, and I've made some nice acquaintances and connections there, too. It's great to have some face-to-face encounters in our increasingly digitalized, web-connected world!

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | I'm ATA certified

Alan Corbo, CT — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 12:41:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: Alan Corbo, CT
Post title: I'm ATA certified

And so far, it's been a very, very good investment when it comes to expanding my business. There's been several projects I've been offered (and selected for) for which the essential requirement was being ATA certified.

It does cost money. I had to travel to Buenos Aires to sit for the exam, stay in a hotel, I took the practice exam, etc. Probably it was something like $1000 I had to spend. Then if you pass, you need to collect CE points (I'd say that, as a minimum, you need to invest another $1000 in the course of three years to remain certified). And then there's the annual membership fee, about $200.

But I believe it's well worth it. I seem to recall there's only around 500 ATA-certified members (for into Spanish) in the world, so I'd say being a member is definitelly a way to stand out.

[Edited at 2014-03-04 12:43 GMT]

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | The letters after my name are the main reason!

Christine Andersen — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 12:29:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: Christine Andersen
Post title: The letters after my name are the main reason!

In my particular situation in Denmark, it is quite important to have some kind of credential.

However, the Danish one is a very tight needle's eye to get through. There is a protected title, Translatør, but I don't know of anyone with an English education who has done it. The magic key is a very specific MA from one of two Danish universities, unless you work with languages not taught there. English is... and I have done some of the course but not all of it.

So like many other colleagues, I am left in the limbo that includes people with a lot of other excellent qualifications, along with those who 'can English real good' and everyone in between.

At one stage membership of the IoL required three years' experience, while the ITI required five, and I had not got that far, so I chose the IoL.

When I worked in-house I was required to join the trade union (then ESF, now K&S) - and over the years I have been very glad of their legal advice and support, their insurance scheme and other benefits.

So I get some value for money. MITI would look just as good as MCIL for my purposes, but as I said before, I have never got round to it.

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | Been there, done that...

John Cutler — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 10:06:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: John Cutler
Post title: Been there, done that...

and it wasn't worth the time or money.

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | Serious work inquiries

Tim Drayton (X) — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 09:40:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: Tim Drayton (X)
Post title: Serious work inquiries

[quote]Mike Sadler wrote:

I was a member of the IOL many years ago, but let it lapse as, like Mary, it seemed to benefit me none.
I'm really curious to know if ITI (for me in the UK, or any other) membership is worth the bother, looking at it from a business perspective - does it help the bottom line? [/quote]

I am a member of the IoL and find that almost all of the serious work inquiries that I receive come via the IoL's website.

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | What benefits have colleagues gained from membership?

Mike Sadler (X) — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 09:29:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: Mike Sadler (X)
Post title: What benefits have colleagues gained from membership?

I was a member of the IOL many years ago, but let it lapse as, like Mary, it seemed to benefit me none.
I'm really curious to know if ITI (for me in the UK, or any other) membership is worth the bother, looking at it from a business perspective - does it help the bottom line?

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | CIoL and K&S - Communication and Language Professionals Denmark

Christine Andersen — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 09:28:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: Christine Andersen
Post title: CIoL and K&S - Communication and Language Professionals Denmark

Communication and Language Professionals Denmark is both a trade union and a professional association.

It runs some useful courses and is quite active, but as it covers a very wide range of 'communication professionals' and is at present negotiating to merge with the Journalists' union, it has come a long way since its parent union was started by a group of language secretaries in the 1970s.

I do not qualify to be state authorised, so although I can work with the State Authorised Translators (a protected title) I can never join them.

Have often considered ITI, but never got round to it... How many associations does one actually need?

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | Yes

Julian Holmes — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 08:42:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: Julian Holmes
Post title: Yes

If JAT - or, the Japan Association of Translators - counts.
Just loved the Groucho Marx quote. :grin:

Fixed typos

[Edited at 2014-03-04 08:55 GMT]

[Edited at 2014-03-05 01:36 GMT]

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | To Neilmac

Jack Doughty — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 08:28:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: Jack Doughty
Post title: To Neilmac

The quote you're thinking of is: "I wouldn't want to belong to any club that would accept me as a member", or something like that.

I am MITI & FCIoL, though I agree with Mary that the ITI is the more useful of the two.

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | I wouldn't join any club that would have me as a member

Giles Watson — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 08:27:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: Giles Watson
Post title: I wouldn't join any club that would have me as a member

Moi aussi je suis marxiste, tendance groucho ;-)

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | No

neilmac — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 08:13:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: neilmac
Post title: No

There's a Groucho quote about that somewhere, but I'm too busy to look for that right now...

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association? | Yes

Mary Worby — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 08:12:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: Mary Worby
Post title: Yes

I'm a qualified member of the ITI in the UK. I used to be a member of the IOL but let it lapse as it didn't seem to give me anything apart from letters after my name.

Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?

ProZ.com Staff — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 08:10:01 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you a member of a professional translation association?
Poster: ProZ.com Staff

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Are you a member of a professional translation association?".

This poll was originally submitted by Lisa Simpson, MCIL. View the poll results »