It is reported that there are currently more than 2,000 professional simultaneous interpreters in the world. China lacks simultaneous interpreters. According to incomplete statistics, there are only about 2,530 professional simultaneous interpreters, most of whom are located in metropolises with frequent international exchanges such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. In recent years, simultaneous interpretation has been listed as one of the talents in short supply. Due to the shortage of food, simultaneous interpretation in the buyer's market will naturally cost a lot. According to professionals, excellent translators can earn 800 dollars a day, and ordinary translators can earn 4000 yuan. Simultaneous interpretation is regarded as one of the "golden collar" industries with the highest gold content.
Demand exceeds supply, and high salary attracts many envious and chasing eyes. How to test simultaneous interpretation? What professional qualities should an applicant have? Is there any relevant qualification examination and training in China? Many people know little about it and are eager to know it. Recently, the author interviewed the admissions officers and related experts of simultaneous interpretation in Beijing Foreign Studies University and Shanghai International Studies University on these issues.
How to receive professional training in simultaneous interpretation
At present, Guangzhou University of Foreign Studies, Xiamen University, Dalian Foreign Studies University and many other foreign language institutions have set up simultaneous interpretation courses or training courses. Due to the high professional requirements of simultaneous interpretation and the shortage of teachers, only a few foreign language colleges in China cultivate and recruit simultaneous interpretation talents at the postgraduate level. Some social training schools in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan and other cities offer simultaneous interpretation courses, such as New Oriental School. The enrollment situation of Beijing Foreign Studies University and Shanghai Foreign Studies University is introduced as follows.
Beijing Foreign Studies University offers a master's degree in simultaneous interpretation (also known as translation theory and practice) to train English-Chinese simultaneous interpretation and other advanced interpreters and translators for two years. Those who pass the examination and pass the thesis defense will be awarded master's degrees in foreign linguistics and applied linguistics.
Shanghai International Studies University also established the School of Advanced Translation on April 18 this year. According to the person in charge, the college currently has an interpretation department, a translation department and a translation research institute. The major course of conference interpretation offered by the Department of Interpretation aims to train professional conference interpreters who are competent for simultaneous interpretation and consecutive interpretation of international conferences. In July this year, formal enrollment began on 14, and registration was closed on 15 in August. Written test on August 23rd, oral test in early September. The academic system is two years full-time professional training, and those who complete the course and pass the professional examination of conference interpretation will receive the professional diploma of conference interpretation; Those who pass the national unified examination for master's degree, complete the research of master's thesis in the field of interpretation and pass the defense can get a master's degree in language and literature (the research direction of interpretation). Professional certificates are not linked to masters.
What qualities should an applicant possess?
Simultaneous interpretation is the most difficult translation in all kinds of translation activities, and not everyone is competent. The person in charge of the office of Beijing Foreign Studies University told the author that it is not easy for an interpreter to listen and translate continuously in the tense environment of international conferences. To learn this skill well, you need to have certain conditions, such as strong English listening and speaking ability, good English and Chinese pronunciation and intonation, quick thinking, quick response, interest in international issues and wide knowledge.
Chai Ming, dean of the School of Translation, Shanghai International Studies University, said that besides being able to communicate in English without obstacles, the key is to master two working language systems skillfully. In addition, simultaneous interpretation has very high professional requirements for practitioners, such as professional knowledge, flexibility, psychological quality, physical quality and so on. If you want to know something about finance, economy, manufacturing, municipal administration and environmental protection, you should also know the accents of some non-native English speakers, such as the characteristics and ways in which Latin Americans and Indians speak English.
Interpretation major is an applied graduate student, and the examination is different from other majors, which is very practical. According to the author's understanding, most of the entrance examinations are not listed in the bibliography, and the written examinations do not test theoretical knowledge. The contents of written test are mostly practical contents such as paragraph rewriting, filling in the blanks, writing, English-Chinese two-way translation and comprehensive knowledge test. These all depend on the examinee's usual knowledge accumulation and ability training.
Another particularity of the exam is that the major is mainly based on the candidates' re-examination results. Professor Mingjiong Chai, Dean of the School of Translation, Shanghai International Studies University, told me that besides passing the written test, the oral test is the most important thing in selecting talents. Only the second interview can objectively examine English listening comprehension and oral expression ability.
It is understood that the contents of the second interview of Beiwai include:
1. Visual translation: orally translate English manuscripts into Chinese.
2. Retelling: First listen to the English recording twice (time: 3-5 minutes, you can take notes), and then repeat what you have heard in English.
3. Interview.
External re-inspection includes:
1. Speech: Choose one of several topics provided by the examination committee and give an impromptu speech for 2-3 minutes.
2. Retelling: Listen to the speech 1-2 minutes, and then retell the speech in your own words in another language.
3. Visual translation: Listen to a short passage, browse 1 minute, and then translate its content orally.
4. Question and answer and dialogue.
expert opinion/advice
The author interviewed relevant experts on the feasibility of applying for simultaneous interpretation for non-foreign language majors. Experts believe that most domestic simultaneous interpreters are undergraduate foreign language graduates. Most of the candidates admitted by Beijing Foreign Studies University are English majors. However, many well-known international interpreters are not all "trained". For example, a well-known French interpreter is a doctor of mathematics. Colleges and universities welcome and encourage non-foreign language majors to apply, but simultaneous interpretation is the top of the pyramid after all. I hope candidates can do what they can and make rational choices, such as applying for other levels of interpretation training (business interpretation, etc.). ), so as not to return in vain and gain little.
Because this major is complicated, if you want to pass the relevant exams, you'd better have systematic professional training. In addition, according to international practice, senior United Nations personnel and experts should be invited to serve as judges. Becoming a simultaneous interpreter will never happen overnight.
According to experts, internationally, there is an International Association for Simultaneous Interpretation (AIIC). Founded in 1953, this association is the only professional association of conference interpreters in the world. It is responsible for examining and identifying the professional qualifications and language combinations of conference interpreters, formulating their professional rules, working conditions, professional ethics and vocational training standards, popularizing the best practices of conference interpretation, and conducting collective negotiations with international organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union to determine the treatment of conference interpreters. AIIC membership is widely regarded as the highest professional certification for conference interpreters. At present, AIIC has more than 2,600 members all over the world, and there are 20 members in Chinese mainland, including 5 in Shanghai.
Domestic evaluation of simultaneous interpretation is mostly based on word-of-mouth and successful experience in the industry. Simultaneous interpretation is provided for advanced interpreters in some domestic English translation and interpretation qualification examinations.