We mourn the passing of Eyak, once a traditional language spoken in Alaska. Mrs. Mary Jones died on January 21 and took her language with her. Southern Tsimshian, a dialect used in Klemtu, British Columbia is expected to follow soon, surviving only as long as...

Last year, InterpretAmerica published a document titled “Best Practices in the Interpreting Profession: Simultaneous Interpreting in Non-Conference Settings[1]” which I co-authored. Last month, we completed a draft document titled “Best Practices in the Interpreting Profession: The Professional Medical Interpreter”. Last night I interpreted for a local school...

This post is by guest blogger Evelyn Yang Garland. Evelyn owns Acta Chinese Language Services, a growing translation company specializing in Chinese translation for business, legal, and government clients. Evelyn is an ATA-certified English-Chinese translator and Maryland court-certified Mandarin interpreter, and has been granted "expert member"...

Mr. Microphone, or “Mike” for short, has been in my life for only the past seven years. Our relationship got off to a rough start, because I didn’t think I needed him so people could hear my interpreting. Prior to meeting Mike, I had worked...

I am ushered through a backdoor by a Korean who calls himself Francisco and who happens to speak near-perfect English, Spanish and Portuguese. He is a regular and quickly shows me around. I sign myself in and stand at a busy intersection of narrow corridors,...

Co-author: Kaitlin Heximer, Candidate for the Masters in Conference Interpreting, Glendon School of Translation, York University   “When I think back to the first time I ever interpreted in a formal setting, I would have done things differently if I knew then what I know now about interpreter...

How about something a little lighter this week? A quick video review of universal translation/interpreting devices in science fiction. After all, if you're going to encounter aliens, you have to be able to talk to them! First, the TV episode that inspired the title: Doctor Who, Episode 6.07, "A Good Man Goes to War." http://youtu.be/7qciqlhvQZI According to Wikipedia, the first "universal translator" in science fiction appeared in the 1945 novel First Contact

I believe that the hierarchy and macrocosm of nature, should be reflected in its many microcosms, one of which is the interpreting profession.  Accordingly, to be successful, the values exhibited at the apex must be mirrored in the other. Today I am going to write about...

Have you ever thought about sharing your profession at your local high school? Sound like a good idea? In Me, You and the Next Generation of Interpreters on the NAJIT Blog back in September (https://najit.org/blog/?p=580), Kathleen Shelly said, “…wouldn’t it be great if more of...

Warning: trick question ahead! What is the best mode for interpreting witness testimony? If you said “Consecutive, of course,” then I disagree. And if you said “Um, simultaneous, maybe?” then I disagree even more strongly. (See, I told you it was a trick question.) What interpreters...