Code of Practice for Sessional/Casual Interpreters
General Principles:
Interpreters engaged by the Translation and Interpreting Unit (TIU) will facilitate in depth communication between the service provider and the non-English speaking client.
Interpreters engaged by the TIU will interpret accurately to the best of their ability between the parties without anything being added or omitted. They should ensure that they will be and will be seen to be in a position of neutrality and not appear to be siding with the client or the service provider.
Interpreters engaged by the TIU will treat any information that may come to them in the course of their work as CONFIDENTIAL.
Interpreters engaged by the TIU will only undertake work which they are competent to accomplish in a satisfactory way. They will only work in the language in which they have informed the service of their competence.
Interpreters engaged by the TIU will always be punctual.
Interpreters engaged by the TIU will not take personal advantage of any information obtained in the course of their work.
Interpreters engaged by the TIU will not delegate work they have accepted without the consent of the manager/co-ordinator nor will they accept delegated work without the manager’s/co-ordinator’s consent.
Interpreters engaged by the TIU will not accept any form of reward for interpreting work other than the payment from the service.
Interpreting Session:
Considerations before an interpreting session is undertaken:
When accepting an assignment, the interpreter must ensure that he/she has the necessary information to enable him/her to decide immediately whether he/she can carry it out. This should include:
Availability - time, date and place.
Language Match - the language/dialect of the client.
Language Competence - the interpreter should, if enough notice is given, make what preparations are possible for specific vocabulary.
Agency Knowledge - familiar with the agency, e.g. Social Services, Housing, Education.
Impartiality - the interpreter should ensure that he/she will be, and be seen to be, in a position of neutrality. Interpreters should not accept assignments involving relatives or people they are closely involved with at work, at home or in a situation where their partiality might be challenged without the prior consent of both parties.
If for any reason the interpreter cannot carry out an engagement which he/she has accepted, he/she must inform the employing TIU immediately.
Considerations during interpreting sessions:
Interpreters must ensure that introductions are made amongst the parties and that his/her role is clarified. Interpreters must inform both parties of the interpreting process, including the following:
Appropriate seating arrangements should be decided.
Interviewing Officer should be reminded to provide for adequate time for the interpreting process to be carried out.
All that is said will be interpreted. Whatever is not to be interpreted must not be said.
The interpreter will respect confidentiality.
The interpreter may intervene for the following reasons:
to ask for clarification if he/she has not fully understood the concept he/she is being asked to interpret;
to point out if a client has not understood the message although the interpreting was correct;
to alert a client to a possible missed inference, an inference which has not been stated but the knowledge of which may be assumed. The interpreter will inform both parties of the reasons for his/her intervention.If the interpreter’s impartiality is jeopardised during the session then he/she should immediately notify the interviewing officer.
Considerations after the interpreting session
Ensure that appropriate claim forms/time sheets are signed by the Interviewing Officer and returned to the TIU for processing. If for whatever reason the interviewing officer is refusing to sign the claim forms then interpreters should contact the TIU immediately.
Code of Practice for Sessional/Casual Translators
General Principles:
Translators engaged by the Translation and Interpreting Service (TIU) will undertake translations of documents from and into the target language.
Translators engaged by the TIU will translate accurately to the best of their ability.
Translators will be responsible for the production of a completed translated document in the format specified and to a high standard of accuracy in terms of meaning, grammar, syntax, style, presentation and within the time limits required.
Translators engaged by the TIU will treat any personal information that may come to them in the course of their work as confidential.
Translators engaged by the TISUwill not take personal advantage of any information obtained in the course of their work.
Translators engaged by the TIU will not delegate work they have accepted without the consent of the manager/co-ordinator nor will they accept delegated work without the manager’s/co-ordinator’s consent.
Translators engaged by the TIU will not accept any form of reward for translating work other than the payment from the service.
Translators engaged by the TIU will always meet the set deadline and other job specifications.
Translators will liaise with the TIU where difficulties arise in understanding the text and where further clarifications are required.
Translators will sign a Translation waiver.
Style/Presentation:
Translated text is to have the same format as that of the English text as much as possible unless otherwise indicated.
Write the name of the language in English at the top right hand corner in capital letters.
Keep all headings on the front cover and/or title of the document bilingual. The translation first, followed by the English.
Number the pages in English. Do not number the cover or first page.
Addresses and telephone numbers are to remain in English unless otherwise advised.
Names of persons are to be transliterated with English in brackets when they occur for the first time. Subsequently use transliterations only.
Use simple, easy to understand language without losing meaning.
Terms that do not exist in the target language should be transliterated with English in brackets, and their meaning explained where possible.
Designations are to be translated or transliterated as appropriate with the English in brackets the first time they occur. Subsequently use only the translation or only the transliteration as appropriate.
Names of institutions and organisations, if descriptive, are to be translated and transliterated the first time they occur. Subsequently use only the translation or only the transliteration as appropriate. In some languages it is best to transliterate only.
Names of Institutions and Organisations, if Proper names, are to be transliterated with the English in brackets the first time they occur. Subsequently, use the transliteration only.
Always use high quality, white blank paper only.
Leave a 10mm margin all around the text.
If handwritten, always use black ink.
Contact us
Translation and Interpretation Unit
Civic Centre
Lampton Road
Hounslow
TW3 4DN
You can call us during office hours on our Language Helpline:
Tel: 020 8583 2299
E-mail: translations@hounslow.gov.uk