Settlement workers need to have knowledge of the context of interpretation and translation, and the resources available, in order to connect newcomers with appropriate services.

Quick Facts

Interpretation

• Court interpretation services available in over 100 languages - Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General
• Language Services Toronto offered in hospitals and community agencies - Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network (LHIN)
• Legal clinics offer multilingual interpretation services - Legal Aid Ontario (LAO)
• Medical interpretation service available 24/7, GTA-wide - Toronto Central LHIN
• One in fifty Canadians requires an interpreter for health care - Health Canada - 2001

Translated Resources

• Clear and practical information in 8 languages to help people understand and exercise their legal rights - Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)
• Information about midwifery care in 8 different languages - Association of Ontario Midwives (AOM)
• Information for newcomers to Ontario in 11 different languages - InMyLanguage.org
• Multilingual resources for parents - Canadian Association of Family Resource Programs (FRP Canada)

Concepts, Skills & Terminology

Discover important concepts, definitions and terms relating to interpretation and translation in the settlement sector.

Definitions

(For more definitions, see: National Standard Guide for Community Interpreting Services - 2007)

• Accredited interpreter

An accredited interpreter has passed the screening criteria of a particular organization and has been awarded a certain recognition or accreditation. An accredited interpreter is not necessarily a certified interpreter.

• Ad hoc interpreter

An ad hoc interpreter is an untrained individual who has proficiency in relevant languages and is asked or volunteers to interpret.

• Certified interpreter

A certified interpreter is a professional interpreter who is certified as competent by a professional organization through rigorous testing based on appropriate and consistent criteria.

• Community Interpreting

Community Interpreting is interpreting done at a community level in the legal, medical, and public service sectors. Governed by the same principles of practice and standards as other settings for Interpreting (i.e. Conference, Business), it has taken many years for the field of Community Interpreting to be acknowledged as a profession. With its origins in the non-profit sector, Community Interpreting has now become a distinct skill set that merits professional and financial recognition. (AILIA.ca)

• Community Interpretation versus Cultural Interpretation (Let's Talk)
• Interpreting

Interpreting is taking spoken words from one language and putting them into another.

• Translating

Translating is taking written text from one language and putting it into another.

Interpreter Skill Set

(Adapted from the National Standard Guide for Community Interpreting Services - 2007)

• Interpreting competence

Active listening

Good memory

Note-taking ability

Mental transfer and verbalization into target language

• Linguistic competence

In-depth knowledge of working languages including appropriate levels of formality

Knowledge of subject areas and relevant terminology

• Research and technical competence

Ability to efficiently acquire additional linguistic and specialized knowledge necessary to interpret in specialized cases

• Interpersonal skills

Strong communication skills

Politeness, respect and tact

Ability to relate well to people

Good judgement

Terminology Resources

• Glossary of Translation and Interpreting Terminology
• Multilingual Legal Glossary
• ONTERM: Official Ontario Government terminology
• TERMIUM Plus: The Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank

Terminology Standards

• AILIA.ca

How to Learn More

Featured Resource! Let's Talk: An Interpretation Toolkit for Service Providers Working with Immigrants in Ontario

Further your knowledge with practical guides, best practices, projects and research.

Find out how to become qualified to work in the field through online or classroom-based training.

• Fact Sheets: Frequently Asked Questions (Let's Talk)

Courses/Training

• General Interpreting Graduate Diploma - York University
• Master's in Conference Interpreting - York University
• Professional Education and Training (PET)

Individual and in-house group training for staff from immigrant service agencies whose positions are funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration (MCI)

Interpretation

• Advanced Interpreter Training: Health Care Sector - Centre for Education and Training (CET)
• Classroom-based and Online Language Interpreter Training - Multilingual Community Interpreter Services (MCIS)
• Court Interpreting Test Preparation Training - MCIS
• Interpreter Training - Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services
• Interpreter Training Program - CET
• Language Interpreter Training Program (LITP)

Conestoga College

Humber College

Mohawk College

Niagara College Canada

Sault College

Seneca College

Sheridan College

St. Clair College

• Mental Health Interpreter Training Course - Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

Translation

• Glendon College, York University
• University of Ottawa

Scholarship

Online Learning

• Online Community Interpreter Certification Program - Cultural Interpretation Services for Our Communities (CISOC)
• Online Language Interpreter Training - Multilingual Community Interpreter Services (MCIS)

Best Practices/Practical Guides

• Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) Interpreter Handbook - 2007
• Promising Practices and Case Studies in Ontario (Let's Talk)
• Role of Interpreter Guide - Health Interpretation Network (HIN)

Related Projects/Initiatives

• Let's Talk: An Interpretation Toolkit for Service Providers Working with Immigrants in Ontario

Professional Associations/Networks

• Association de l'industrie de la langue - Language Industry Association (AILIA)
• Association of Professional Language Interpreters (APLI)
• Association of Translation and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO)
• Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTTIC)
• Court Interpreters' Association of Ontario (CIAO)
• Critical Link International (CLI): International council for the development of community interpreting
• Healthcare Interpretation Network (HIN)
• Immigration Interpreters Association (IMINTERA)

Further Reading

• A Study of the Need for Language Interpretation and Translation Services (LITS) in the Delivery of Immigrant Settlement Programs - Citizenship and Immigration Canada / Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration - 2010
• Developing Guidelines and Standards to Guide the Delivery of Interpretation in the Settlement Sector - Citizenship and Immigration Canada - 2010
• Improving Health Equity through Language Access: A Model for Integrated Language Services throughout the Toronto Central LHIN - SickKids / Toronto Central LHIN - 2010
• Interpretation Standards and Guidelines (Let's Talk)
• National Standard Guide for Community Interpreting Services - Health Care Interpretation Network - 2007

Find Services

• Directory of certified translators - Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO)
• Directory of Interpretation Service Providers (Let's Talk)
• Services Near Me - Settlement.Org

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