In this engaging episode of "Conversations: Translation and Interpreting," we sit down with Carl Gene Fordham, the newly elected National President of the Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators (AUSIT). Based in Brisbane, Carl is one of Australia's few native-English Chinese translators specializing in court interpreting and forensic translation. With NAATI Certified Interpreter and Translator credentials and a Master of Translation and Interpretation Studies from RMIT University, he plays a pivotal role in helping Mandarin-speaking individuals access justice.

Join us as we delve into Carl's unique journey—from his beginnings in translation and interpreting to his current role as an educator at the University of Queensland. Carl shares his insights on the challenges facing AUSIT and his vision for addressing key issues like finance, visibility, and influence within the industry. We also discuss his thoughts on the recent AUSIT conference, the significance of his new role, and what it means to come full circle in his career.

Don't miss this insightful conversation with one of the leading voices shaping the translation and interpreting landscape in Australia today.

Bio
Based in Brisbane, Carl is one of Australia's few native-English Chinese translators specializing in court interpreting and forensic translation. With NAATI Certified Interpreter and Translator credentials and a Master of Translation and Interpretation Studies from RMIT University, Carl has dedicated his career to ensuring Mandarin-speaking individuals can access justice.

As an interpreter, Carl helps bridge language barriers in courtrooms, translating evidence and interpreting proceedings to facilitate fair legal processes. He also serves as an expert witness, reviewing translated materials for accuracy and impartiality.

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Ask NAATI, November 2024, was recorded live at the 37th AUSIT National Conference in Melbourne and features Aurélie Sheehan, Manager, Certification Policy and Development and Michael Nemarich, Chief Operation Officer at NAATI on the panel.

Ask NAATI is an All Graduates and NAATI  initiative that aims to provide information to practitioners directly from a NAATI representative.

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Join us for an insightful episode of "Conversations: Translation and Interpreting Vodcast" as we chat with Dr. Vanessa Enriquez, senior lecturer at Macquarie University's Department of Linguistics. In this episode, we dive deep into the impact of AI and large language models on translator education. Vanessa shares how educators are adapting to these disruptive technologies, integrating them into curricula, and what it means for the future of translation training.

Originally from Spain, Vanessa takes us through her remarkable journey—from her early days in technical translation and software localization in Barcelona to her academic pursuits in New Zealand and now Australia.

Whether you're a translator, educator, or simply curious about the intersection of language and technology, this episode offers valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the world of translation and interpreting.

Don't miss this engaging conversation that bridges the gap between human skill and technological advancement!

Bio

 Dr. Vanessa Enriquez is a senior lecturer in the Department of Linguistics at Macquarie University, specializing in translation technologies. Originally from Spain, she began her career in technical translation and software localization. 

In 2005, Vanessa embarked on an academic journey at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, where she taught and researched for over 17 years, earning two Teaching Excellence Awards. Her research focuses on translator education, innovative teaching methodologies, and the application of AI and language technologies in augmented translation and interpreting. Vanessa has contributed to numerous international research networks and serves on editorial boards for several esteemed journals in her field. 

Committed to bridging academia and industry, she also played a key role in aligning translator and interpreter certification with NAATI standards in New Zealand. Outside of academia, Vanessa is an avid rock climber who finds solace in nature's tranquillity.

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This month on Conversations: Translation and Interpreting, we’re thrilled to welcome Magdalena Rowan, Chair of the NAATI Board and an industry leader with over 40 years of experience in interpreting and translating.

In this episode, Magdalena shares her incredible journey from being a certified interpreter and translator to leading NAATI. We dive into her vision for the future of NAATI, the evolving landscape of T&I, and the key challenges facing the profession today. We also discuss NAATI’s role as the certification authority in New Zealand and the ongoing work to support the sustainability of the interpreting and translating profession in Australia.
Whether you're a practitioner, educator, or just curious about the world of interpreting and translating, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.

Guest Bio:

Magdalena Rowan was appointed to the NAATI Board on 1 December 2023 and became Chair on 1 July 2024. With over 40 years of experience as a certified interpreter and translator, she has worked across various levels of the industry. An educator since the 1980s, she has taught interpreting and translating at both university and vocational levels in Australia and New Zealand. She has been closely involved with NAATI since the 1990s, contributing to the certification system and examiner training. Magdalena is also a member of the Judicial Council on Diversity and Inclusion's subcommittee and continues to practice as a Spanish interpreter and translator.

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Marc is a distinguished figure in the Translation and Interpreting field, serving as Professor and Director of the Translation & Interpreting Program at Macquarie University in NSW and Vice-President of CIUTI. In this episode, Marc shares his insights on the latest advancements in Translation & Interpreting technologies. We discuss a recent NAATI-commissioned report on the impact of these technologies and explore key findings about technology uptake, professional training, and the future landscape of Translation & Interpreting education. Don't miss this enlightening conversation with one of the leading experts in the field.

Guest Bio:
Marc Orlando is a Professor and Director of the Translation and Interpreting Program at Macquarie University. He serves as the Vice-President and board membe of CIUTI, and is a member of the Multicultural NSW Language Services Advisory Forum. Marc is an active conference interpreter and a full member of AIIC, where he also coordinated the Research Committee from 2017 to 2022. Additionally, he served on the NAATI Technical Reference and Advisory Committee from 2016 to 2021.

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
04:21 Advancements in Technology in Translation and Interpreting
09:01 Exploring the Categories of Interpreting Technology
14:34 Technology-Mediated Interpreting
25:27 Technology Generated Interpreting
32:23 Insights from the NAATI Report on Translation and Interpreting Technologies
42:06 Introduction and Overview of the Survey
46:41 The Lack of Formal Qualifications in the Workforce
49:36 The Need for More Training and Professional Development
52:54 The Importance of Collaboration in T&I Training
58:28 Moving Towards Augmented Translation and Interpreting

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In this episode, Sandra shares her inspiring journey from the early days of her career to becoming a leading figure in interpreting research. She discusses the crucial roles and challenges of community interpreters in high-stakes environments like courtrooms and hospitals, underscoring the necessity for precise and accurate interpretation to ensure fairness and justice.

Sandra sheds light on her significant findings, including how interpretation influences the credibility of non-English speakers and the nuances between simultaneous and consecutive interpreting. We delve into the transformative impact of the Recommended National Standards (RNS) for Working with Interpreters in Courts and Tribunals, a cornerstone project that Sandra helped develop. These standards have not only shaped best practices but also emphasized the need for better working conditions and fair remuneration for interpreters.

Throughout the conversation, Sandra highlights the progress made in the interpreting field, the ongoing need for research and training, and the vital role of judicial support in championing the rights and recognition of interpreters. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the dynamics of legal interpreting, the advancement of professional standards, and the collective efforts to enhance the interpreting profession for the better.

Tune in to gain insights into how dedicated individuals like Sandra are driving positive change and advocating for effective communication and equity across legal systems.

Guest Bio:
Sandra earned a groundbreaking PhD in forensic linguistics and court interpreting in Australia in 2001, marking the start of her influential career. She has extensively explored various facets of legal interpreting, focusing on quality, accuracy, ethical standards, and the substantial influence of interpreters in legal environments. Her innovative research methods, which include both experimental and discourse analysis techniques, have significantly shaped the understanding and practices of court interpreting.

Sandra's contributions are particularly notable in her analyses using real court transcripts to examine interactions between the law, non-English speakers, and interpreters. These studies have highlighted the critical impact of interpretation accuracy on legal outcomes and led to a widely adopted model of court interpreting based on Pragmatic theory.

Her recent work also investigates the dynamics of police and court interpreting, considering factors such as the interpreters’ educational background, language skills, and the settings of their work, whether onsite or remote. Sandra's research has been instrumental in developing training and policies for court interpreting.

A key figure in the field, she played a major role in creating the Recommended National Standards for Working with Interpreters in Courts and Tribunals. Launched in 2017, these standards have helped improve practices across jurisdictions and raised awareness among legal professionals about the importance of skilled interpreting. Sandra's efforts continue to enhance the professional standards and efficacy of interpreters in the judiciary.

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In this episode of "Conversations: Interpreting & Translating," Fatih chats with Leigh Cox, Director of the Language Services Policy Section at the Department of Home Affairs. They discuss Leigh's work and its impact on interpreters, translators, and language service users.

Leigh talks about the main challenges in the translating and interpreting (T&I) field, sharing key issues he's noticed. The episode covers factors leading to interpreters leaving the profession and ways to tackle these issues for a sustainable future. Leigh also looks at how government procurement practices affect the quality and availability of interpreting services, offering some ideas for improvement.

Leigh also introduces the new national language services forum, explaining its goals and key participants, and gives an update on its progress.

Tune in to hear Leigh Cox's thoughts on the important issues and possible solutions in the language services sector, providing valuable insights for interpreters, translators, and industry stakeholders.

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Dive into the forefront of language innovation with the ground-breaking study on automated interpreting and discover how AI is revolutionising our field. 

We had the pleasure of having a conversation with Dr. Holly Silvestri from the University of Arizona in the US who brought us the highlights of this survey conducted by Interpreting Safe AI Task Force - https://safeaitf.org  

Join us to explore the pivotal role of interpreters in shaping the responsible adoption of AI, while addressing key concerns such as risk assessment, language access, and ethical challenges. 

Uncover a future where AI augments, rather than replaces, our craft, fostering collaboration and inclusive communication, while ensuring accountability and preserving the essence of human interpretation.

Be part of this conversation!

Dr. Holly Silvestri is the Senior Coordinator for Translation, Training, and Curriculum for the National Center of Interpretation, a unit of the University of AZ. She has also taught in the U of AZ undergraduate program for Spanish T & I. Additionally, she works as a freelancer and runs her own LSP (language service provider) company. She is an accomplished community interpreter, trainer of interpreters and translators, and provider of professional development workshops in this field. Her working languages are English, Spanish, and French.

Visit our website for more training and professional development resources for interpreters and translators: nexpd.com

#AIinInterpreting #LanguageInnovation #ProfessionalDevelopment

In this episode of the Conversations Podcast, Fatih chats with Kilian Seeber who is the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Translation and Interpreting at the University of Geneva. Fatih and Kilian talk about Kilian’s journey from being an interpreter to becoming an academic in the field of interpreting studies as well as his approach to research and what he has been working on recently. They also chat about the importance of further studies for interpreters, AI in interpreting, training interpreter trainers and much more.

Guest bio:

Kilian G. Seeber, an accomplished scholar and practitioner in the field of interpretation, currently serves as associate professor and Vice Dean at the University of Geneva's Faculty of Translation and Interpreting (FTI). With a robust academic background, Kilian obtained his graduate degree in Translation and Interpreting from the University of Vienna, followed by postgraduate and doctoral studies in Interpreting at the University of Geneva. He further enriched his expertise through postdoctoral research in psycholinguistics at the University of York.

As a leading figure in interpretation research, Kilian's work focuses on cognitive load and multimodal processing in complex language tasks, with numerous publications in these areas. His contributions extend beyond academia, as evidenced by his role in co-developing the FTI’s acclaimed online learning platform TR@IN and pioneering a cognitive ergonomic training approach for interpreters.

In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Kilian maintains an active presence as a practicing conference interpreter accredited with prestigious institutions such as the European Institutions and the European Patent Office. He remains committed to advancing the profession as an engaged member of the Association Internationale des Interprètes de Conférence (AIIC).

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In this episode of the Conversations Podcast, Fatih chats with 2023 AUSIT Excellence Award winners Amy XiaoXing Wang for her Outstanding Contribution to Interpreting, and Cintia Lee for her Outstanding Leadership in the Profession. 

The AUSIT Excellence Awards recognise initiatives and activities by NAATI-credentialled practitioners and organisations operating in all sectors of the translating and interpreting industry. The Awards encourage best practices, professionalism, dedication to quality, innovation and outstanding contributions. They celebrate organisations and individuals or teams.

Guests: 

Mrs Xiaoxing (Amy) Wang is a NAATI Certified Conference Interpreter (Mandarin and English), Certified Interpreter (Mandarin and English), and Certified Translator (English into Chinese). She has been practising as an interpreter and translator since obtaining a Master’s Degree in Interpreting and Translation from the University of Western Sydney in 2011. Amy is an active member of AUSIT and has served on many AUSIT Committees. She is passionate about helping people achieve communication goals and educating clients on how to better work with interpreters and translators.

Cintia Lee is a Certified Interpreter and a Certified Translator (Spanish-English). She holds a degree in English philology (linguistics and translation) from the University of Deusto in Bilbao, Spain. Cintia’s extensive experience in translating and interpreting includes working for large corporations, government agencies and international conferences as well as across various community interpreting settings. For over a decade, Cintia’s practice has focused on legal and law enforcement matters, providing professional interpreting services in Australian criminal, civil and administrative courts. Cintia has a strong commitment to delivering high-quality interpreting and to upholding professional and ethical standards to ensure reliable and accurate communication. She is a court interpreting educator and a tutor in RMIT University’s Interpreting and Translation program, and also an interpreting tutor for TAFE SA. She is the current AUSIT’s Spanish Language Division Delegate.

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