The Language Industry in Nova Scotia Melany Close Acadian Affairs

The Language Industry
in Nova Scotia
Melany Close
Acadian Affairs
Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage
Government of Nova Scotia
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Overview
• The provincial public sector perspective
– What do we translate?
– Legislated obligations
• The private sector perspective
– Translation
– Interpretation
• Training opportunities
• Networking opportunities
The provincial public sector perspective
• French-language Services Act – December 9, 2004.
• First translator hired in January 2005 to help
departments fulfil their new obligations under the Act.
• Steady increase in workload; second translator hired in
2007 and third in 2009.
• Workload shared with freelancers
• Majority of work is EN-FR, small percentage FR-EN
• Workload varies, mostly according to budgets.
What do we translate?
Departments must give priority to information to which
one or more of the following applies :
a) the information is of particular relevance to the
Acadian and francophone community;
b) the information pertains to French-language service
delivery;
c) failure to provide the information in French may
compromise the health, safety or security of the
public.
Other legislated obligations
• French-language Services plans
• Communication with the public
• Public consultations
• Third-party services
• Agencies, boards and commissions
• The regulations do not limit the use of French or
English outside of the application of the regulations.
The private sector perspective
• Language industry in Nova Scotia is very diverse
• Association of Translators and Interpreters of Nova
Scotia (ATINS) has 49 Certified Translators,
2 Certified Interpreters, and 17 associate members
• Certified members work in a dozen different
combinations other than official languages
• ATINS is the main organization for translators and
conference interpreters in the province, but
membership / certification is not a requirement for
practicing
The private sector perspective (continued)
• Diverse clients - from local, to national, to international
• Steady workload
• Certain sectors see the highest demand for translation,
mainly health, legal and immigration services
• The Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia had
their main information brochures translated into the 7
most common non official languages in Nova Scotia
Community Interpretation
• Nova Scotia is making great efforts to attract and retain
skilled immigrants and families.
• Increased demand for communicating with
government, the court system, the health system, the
community sector, etc.
• Unpredictable workload, not a full-time job, but the
demand is real and often immediate
• Community interpreters have offered services for years,
through various organizations
NS Coalition on Community Interpreting
• Collaboration of public sector, private sector, nonprofit organizations, and professional associations
• Directions of the Coalition:
–
–
–
–
Professionalization of the industry
Certification of community interpreters
Implementing guidelines and standards
Training and professional development
• Guidelines and Standards for Language Interpretation
in Nova Scotia
• Collaboration with ATINS as the governing body
Training opportunities
• Université Sainte-Anne
– BA program with double major in French and English, and a
certificate in translation
• Acadian Affairs scholarship
• Internship for Université de Moncton students
• Interpretation
– Foundation course for community interpreters (35 hours)
– Specialization, for example medical interpreting (60 hours)
– Court Interpreter Training Program (200 hours)
Networking Opportunities
• Increased collaboration is essential
• Language industry as a whole
• One governing body
• Economic future depends on attracting immigrants
• Translators, conference interpreters, community
interpreters ALL play important roles
QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU!