The Linguist

32 The Linguist Vol/65 No/1 ciol.org.uk/thelinguist Phil Muriel MCIL CL is a translator, interpreter and trainer. He has helped more than 900 individuals to qualify as interpreters and translators. TL Professional public service interpreters in the UK often bemoan the state of affairs that allows untrained, unqualified bilinguals to do what we know is a highly skilled and responsible job, thus putting the public at risk and driving down our remuneration. Between 2021 and 2023, 154 crown court trials were adjourned for want of an interpreter, 80% of them involving serious crimes. An analysis by the Criminal Bar Association revealed a five- fold increase in such adjournments since 2020. The issue extends to other public services too. The BBC's File on 4 found that interpreting problems were a contributing factor in at least 80 babies dying or suffering serious brain injuries in England between 2018 and 2022. NHS England recently published an 'Improvement framework' with a view to addressing such issues in its provision. Interpreters long for the day when interpreting in the UK will be a recognised, regulated profession and we enjoy protection of title. In my experience, the general public, including healthcare and legal professionals, are always surprised to learn that interpreting is not an officially recognised profession in the UK. We do have a voluntary regulator, the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI), but there are no enforceable rules so people can do what they want. In my opinion, …We must fight for 'interpreter' to be a protected title In my opinion… PHILIPPE MURIEL joining the national register is money well spent because we are adding our weight to the pressure NRPSI is putting on the 'powers that be' to make changes. The more there are on the register, the louder our voice will be. It is essential that we obtain protection of title, which would mean that an individual could not call themselves an interpreter – and practise as such – unless they were trained, qualified and accredited. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson outlined why this is important when talking about nursing: "The protection of a professional title is important for public protection. Protecting a title provides assurance to the public that someone using that title is competent and safe to practise." To achieve this an Act of Parliament is needed. This is not an easy process; it will take extensive lobbying. Standardisation of training may follow. In the UK, community interpreters currently need a minimum level 3 (A level equivalent) or level 4 (HNC equivalent) qualification to work in public services (except the justice system). Even so, some agencies accept a level 2 certificate. To work with the courts, police and Home Office, we need a level 6 (degree- level) qualification with a law specialisation. With mandatory regulation, training standards would need to be consistent throughout the profession. I believe that level 3 Community Interpreting will have to be regulated so that all trainee interpreters are taught the same things. At present, level 3 courses differ widely. Some are accredited by an Ofqual-recognised awarding body; some are not. Some include sight translation and/or remote interpreting; some don't. Some have just two mandatory modules, so a student can miss key areas. Some are run by local councils to suit their particular needs, so graduates might be ill-prepared to work elsewhere. I have a few suggestions for what might be included in standardised training: the various techniques associated with consecutive interpreting and sight translation, practised through role-play; glossary compilation; a thorough grounding in the Code of Conduct; clear guidelines on procedures; and detailed information about the various public services: their structure, staff, procedures and methods. For now, let's make sure we are up to date with our own qualifications and that we avail ourselves of the many CPD opportunities available. We must support our professional bodies as they work behind the scenes to promote our profession and move it forward to where it should be. When we achieve our aims as a profession, we will have to get behind whatever measures are taken to unify and standardise our training and qualifications. © SHUTTERSTOCK

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