Direct Examination: Could you please tell us what driving instructions, if any, did you receive from the defendant here, Mr. Delfín? Interpreter: Puede usted decirnos – Opposing Counsel: Objection! Judge: ... The post On the Witness Stand: How the Federal Rules of Evidence can guide the interpreters’ performance appeared first on NAJIT.

There are big fish and little fish in a courtroom’s ecosystem. Judges are definitely the biggest fish of all. Interpreters? Well, that’s what I have been thinking about: where do we fit in the courtroom’s ecosystem? Throughout my years in this profession, I have encountered... The post A Courtroom’s Ecosystem appeared first on NAJIT.

The article below was originally posted in 2017. Memory is an interpreter’s best friend; here’s to “remembering” a useful contribution. Enjoy. or How to Forget About Interpreting and Just Listen You know how the saying goes: The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.... The post The Trouble With Memory… appeared first on NAJIT.

The article below is a pertinent repost from 2018. The question, “how much should I charge?” for a newcomer to the profession can feel daunting, as it can be difficult at first to get an idea as to how much interpreters and translators earn on... The post Growing Pains appeared first on NAJIT.

“Welcome to one of the world’s most beautiful professions.” That’s a variation on a book title I heard during my second year of translation studies, in the fall semester of 2015. The book title was Profession: Traducteur by Georges Bastin and Monique C. Cormier, and the student... The post Does the jack of all trades still get the short end of the stick? appeared first on NAJIT.

In this unprecedented health crisis, language professionals are fortunate because they can work remotely. But the downside is that, while videoconference platforms like Zoom and MS Teams allow us to keep working, the loss of opportunities to meet with clients and colleagues in person can... The post Communities of Practice and Other Ways to Break lsolation appeared first on NAJIT.

“The terror of performing never goes away. Instead, you get very, very comfortable being terrified.” ~Eric WhitacreI like that quote. It speaks to me. I think you could replace the word “performing” with “interpreting” and paste it on the walls of all our offices. Interpreting is terrifying. But then again, so is life.

Impossible. Hard. Difficult. Challenging. These words can motivate or destroy us. It is our attitude that will determine the outcome.

Ready to make things a easier during your coronavirus quarantine? Our Guest Author shares suggestions and ideas to help you better use this time.