The Linguist is a languages magazine for professional linguists, translators, interpreters, language professionals, language teachers, trainers, students and academics with articles on translation, interpreting, business, government, technology
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@Linguist_CIOL DeceMBer/JANuArY The Linguist 33 INSTITUTE MATTERS M y interest in interpreting goes back to when I was around 12 years old and observed a man interpreting between Kurdish and Arabic in my village in Kurdistan, north of Iraq. When I began to expand my reading beyond the school curriculum, I realised my need for a second language and started developing my Arabic, and later taught myself Farsi. When the time came to go to university, I chose to study English (including translation and interpreting modules) at the University of Baghdad. I started to translate articles and short stories as a hobby, and then began to work for NGOs in Iran and Iraq, as well as local journals and newspapers. In 2002, my family and I moved to the UK and I started a degree in criminology while doing voluntary work for local public services. I was also translating from English to Kurdish Sorani, and joined the NRPSI (National Register of Public Service Interpreters) in 2012, also joining CIOL and later becoming a Chartered Linguist. Now I run my own business offering translation, interpreting and assessments to clients in the A life with languages In his native Kurdish Sorani, Ata Arif MCIL CL explains how his interest in interpreting began with an overheard conversation in his childhood village and developed into an exciting career UK, EU, US and around the world. I enjoy my profession, as I travel a lot and no assignment is like the previous one. Kurdish language translation and interpreting has many challenges because the different dialects have a gap so big that they could even be considered to be different languages. I decided to deal with Kurdish Sorani and English for my professional work, but I help some clients with the other languages and dialects I am familiar with when they need my assistance for non-formal or everyday communications. Another challenge in my work is cultural misunderstanding, as bridging the two languages while leaving the cultural differences untouched can create confusion. As an interpreter, I find it is part of my job to fill any cultural gaps that may arise during a communication. I love travelling, and my wife and family share this interest. We would like to see as many places and cultures as time and money allow. We also visit Kurdistan regularly, and the most interesting aspect of that is the language and cultural changes I can observe over time. !!" # ! "#! $%$ &" & $ " "" %&&'# " % ()* !+,*-.$ !/0$ "1&!' 2() 2!&2* &$$ !!$3 +4** "'& &, ! 55*& &$ . $!1 /+! .&'&&2 **" & ! , !" -. 5/ 15.& ' "$" & .& . ,* !&& .6" "7 $ )5$(5"!3 '$8* "5"2 $(. ! 2! 5 2*) "$(' 9!,&5" $-. !* !&& *55 " &%:5.$"!) "+ !" #"$% & $% ' ( !% %" !. $(!5$! $!2 &2! 2"5! *);7 !5$ ! )5$"! "5.$"! 12 2002 NrPSI cIoL 2012