The Linguist

The Linguist 52,1

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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20 The Linguist FEBRUARY/MARCH www.iol.org.uk FEATURES NRPSI Executive Director Jessica Myint Thinn explains its current role, and looks to future developments and the goal of professional recognition The interpreting profession is facing difficult times as the result of a challenging economic environment. Many organisations are looking at ways to make their operations more cost-effective and efficient, and are reviewing their external suppliers. This is to be expected, and the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI) understands the need to reduce costs. However, as the independent regulator of the profession, with responsibility for developing and maintaining standards for the good of the public and the entire profession, we believe that savings should not be made at the expense of quality and public safety. NRPSI cannot tackle the threat to standards alone. This challenge requires the collaboration of all those working in the sector – practitioners, service providers, consumers, educational bodies, membership and trade organisations, as well as the regulator. We are working tirelessly with the clients of interpreting services – in particular lawyers, health and council workers, social services and charity staff – to increase peer recognition of interpreting as a serious profession. We are consistently highlighting the importance of standards and the need to use professional interpreters. The entire sector has to act professionally and be seen to be acting professionally. We have to demonstrate our commitment to regulated standards. Responsibility for this needs to be taken at an individual level, with practitioners ensuring they have the appropriate qualification(s) and experience; committing to standards by becoming NRPSI registered; adhering to its Code of Conduct; and being accountable for their work. It is only through our shared belief in – and Getting the Register right and the vital role that the regulator plays in maintaining quality and protecting the public from incompetence. So what are the immediate aims of the profession and how is NRPSI meeting these? Addressing the threat to standards and the reputation of the profession in order to achieve professional recognition and status are not only the immediate but also the long-term aims of the profession. NRPSI is also working to develop its services in order to ensure best practice and the benchmarking of professional standards. As part of this process we plan to develop guidelines for the users of interpreting services; review and promote our existing Code of Professional Conduct; review the structure of our Qualifications Committee; and recognise continuous professional development (CPD). NRPSI has a duty to ensure that people are provided with easy access to quality interpreting services and essential information regarding the role and significance of professional interpreting, so we're investing in a new website and search engine to make both more user-friendly and efficient. Our powers as regulator allow us to discipline and, ultimately, exclude a registered interpreter who breaks the Code of Conduct. In this way we can make sure that interpreters on the Register are appropriately qualified, have the level of competence claimed and employ best practice. Professional standards are applicable to all practising interpreters, regardless of the sector in which they work, which is why we want to move towards focusing on all professional interpreting. To begin with we want to review and extend the scope of the definition of a 'public service' to make sure pledge to uphold – agreed standards that we can become recognised as a voluntarily regulated profession and command the respect of professional status. NRPSI-registered interpreters benefit from the professional credibility and endorsement that comes from having met our stringent criteria regarding qualifications and experience. The public benefits from being able to search the online Register for a qualified interpreter free of charge, safe in the knowledge that all registrants are quality assured and accountable. We need to inform our colleagues and stakeholders outside the sector, including government officials and the public, about the important role that professional interpreting has to play in society. NRPSI has embarked on a proactive communications programme consisting of a media campaign, articles, adverts and events to underline the importance of standards, the danger of using unqualified and unregistered interpreters, READY FOR BUSINESS NRPSI's new premises at Longcroft House Business Centre in the City of London

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