Networking with another professionals
and companies is the key to
grow freelance translation
or interpretation business
sector. It is also very challenging
to develop steady cooperation
with perspective clients since
the market is overwhelmed
with any type of translation
services. However, if one
possesses creativity, and
knows which domains are demanding,
and less competitive, he or
she may find networking and
self-promotion easier to conduct.
By brainstorming an interpreter
or a translator may discover,
for instance that a Speech-
Language Pathologist will
need his or her services.
What does a Speech-Language
Pathologist (SLP) do?
SLP evaluates, diagnoses
and treats individuals who
exhibit speech, language,
voice, fluency, and swallowing
disorders. Now, you may wonder
why this professional needs
your interpretation or translation
services. SLP who works in
culturally diverse areas such
as Australia, Canada or United
States (USA), he/she finds
working face-to-face with
an interpreter necessary.
For instance, according to
the U.S. Census Bureau there
are approximately 50 million
people in the USA who speak
a language other then English
at home. (American Community
Survey, 2002).
In Los Angeles, one of the
most diverse cities in the
USA there are 150 languages
spoken in public schools,
and many cultural communities
such as: African American,
Armenian, Chinese, Korean,
Polish, Russian and other.
When working in US public
schools, SLP is required by
the law (Special Education
Legislation) to conduct assessment
in student’s native
language. That’s when
an interpreter or a translator
plays an important role. An
interpreter can be involved
in many different tasks such
as participating in process
of evaluation, diagnosis and
treatment when collaborating
with SLP. One of the responsibilities
is to translate spoken words
from one language to another
when SLP performs the standardized
or non-standardized testing,
and gives instructions to
a patient. In addition, an
interpreter will be involved
in some type of analysis that
will help SLP to distinguish
between language difference
and language disorder.
An interpreter therefore,
will not only interpret words
but also pay close attention
to the production of sounds,
language competence such as
grammar, pragmatics of given
culture and cognitive behavior
of a patient. An interpreter
will help SLP to determine
if a mother tongue of a client
is deviant, and if the “errors”
that occur in second language
are due to interference of
first language. Moreover,
an interpreter will be needed
during an interview when SLP
collects background information
from a client such as medical,
developmental history, speech/language
acquisition history, and family
and social history. Furthermore,
an interpreter may be needed
during treatment when SLP
or a client decides that therapy
in native language is necessary
and beneficial. A translator
may offer his/ her services
to SLP since the questionnaire
forms, consent forms, evaluation,
diagnosis, treatment and progress
reports should also be presented
in native language of a client
who may not be able to read
in his second language.
How can I network with those
professionals? First of all
find places that are cultural
and linguistically diverse.
Promote your services by contacting
or even visiting public schools,
private practices that offer
speech/language therapy, hospitals,
local clinics, rehabilitation
centers, nursing care facilities,
colleges and universities,
state and local health departments,
state and federal government
agencies, home health agencies.
Also, visit ASHA (American
Speech Hearing Association)
website.
The author Marian Marcinkowski
is the President of http://www.verbumsoft.com
He is the owner of http://www.translatorsbase.com
and http://www.directfreelance.com
Translatorsbase.com it is
a global provider in translation
solutions, providing translation
services via network of professional
freelance translators and
translation agencies located
around the world. Directfreelance.com
it is a directory of freelance
professionals
