The idea just came to my mind that rather than just talking
about myself why not use this blog to help other interpreters
as well?Interpreting can be a 'lonely' profession.I mean you
will be working with other people but hardly see anybody of
your own profession.
So this is an attempt to get the interpreters together and
give each other support and tips.And you don't have to be
Bengali to come on to the forum.You can be any nationality _
be it Polish, Arab, French, German,Gujrati,Punjabi whatever.
If any of you(interpreters) reading this have any question
you can email me the question and I will try and answer it.
Similarly if any of you want to give any advice or tips to
other interpreters, you can either do the same or add a comment
at the end of the post.
My email is mognichoudhury@yahoo.com
Friday, 11 January 2008
Wednesday, 2 January 2008
Finding a Bengali/Sylheti Interpreter
This post is mainly for the benefit of agencies looking for
Bengali/Sylheti interpreter/s.I know that some of you guys
get the job at a very short notice and it can be difficult
to find somebody to do the job at such a short notice.
You also want to make sure that the person you are asking to
do the job is properly qualified and experienced and competent.
Because in interpreting field, the code of conduct is very
important. A person can be qualified but if they do not follow
the ethics ( its very easy to fall into some traps and do something
an interpreter should never do)then thay are really doing a disservice.
Also I have not seen many Bengali / Sylheti interpreters writing about
their experiences on the net.I believe that by doing this I am really
providing a service to you in the sense that you are getting to know me
before you contact me.(My photo is there as well).Also if you are using
search engine to look for interpreters, it should save you time.
Because rather than going through other databases, you should find
my profile directly. Though I am listed on www.translatorscafe.com
and www.proz.com amongst many others.
OK, to contact me either phone 07832371577 or 02089063979 or
email me at mognichoudhury@yahoo.com
Bengali/Sylheti interpreter/s.I know that some of you guys
get the job at a very short notice and it can be difficult
to find somebody to do the job at such a short notice.
You also want to make sure that the person you are asking to
do the job is properly qualified and experienced and competent.
Because in interpreting field, the code of conduct is very
important. A person can be qualified but if they do not follow
the ethics ( its very easy to fall into some traps and do something
an interpreter should never do)then thay are really doing a disservice.
Also I have not seen many Bengali / Sylheti interpreters writing about
their experiences on the net.I believe that by doing this I am really
providing a service to you in the sense that you are getting to know me
before you contact me.(My photo is there as well).Also if you are using
search engine to look for interpreters, it should save you time.
Because rather than going through other databases, you should find
my profile directly. Though I am listed on www.translatorscafe.com
and www.proz.com amongst many others.
OK, to contact me either phone 07832371577 or 02089063979 or
email me at mognichoudhury@yahoo.com
Thursday, 27 December 2007
More On Experience
It is interesting the way jobs come in sometimes.A lot of times some
agencies are not interested/ will not respond to my email etc.But at
other times some agency would contact me out of the blue saying that
they have got my details from a colleague/internet and ask 'would you
be prepared to do a job for us today/tomorrow?
I try my best not to disappoint anyone and take jobs on even at last minute's
notice.But by doing that I feel good that I have helped someone out and the
other party also remembers this and my reputation goes up.
I also get to gain experience on different aspects of the profession.
I have done translation and transcription work this way and ofcourse interpreting !
So if you have bumped into my blog this way (searching for Bengali/Sylheti interpreters)
then you are welcome to contact me on 07832371577 and I will try my best to help you.
You can rest assured that I am properly qualified and on the NRPSI register.My registration
no. is 13248. I live in North west London but I am prepared to travel anywhere practical.
agencies are not interested/ will not respond to my email etc.But at
other times some agency would contact me out of the blue saying that
they have got my details from a colleague/internet and ask 'would you
be prepared to do a job for us today/tomorrow?
I try my best not to disappoint anyone and take jobs on even at last minute's
notice.But by doing that I feel good that I have helped someone out and the
other party also remembers this and my reputation goes up.
I also get to gain experience on different aspects of the profession.
I have done translation and transcription work this way and ofcourse interpreting !
So if you have bumped into my blog this way (searching for Bengali/Sylheti interpreters)
then you are welcome to contact me on 07832371577 and I will try my best to help you.
You can rest assured that I am properly qualified and on the NRPSI register.My registration
no. is 13248. I live in North west London but I am prepared to travel anywhere practical.
Monday, 24 December 2007
Experience so far
O.K. It's nearly two years now I have been doing interpreting work.
It is interesting and rewarding work.In my life I have worked in a
lot of different industries/businesses and I must say that this has been
most interesting!
One gets to work with so many different types of people and in so many
different areas of life! Sometimes I have worked in county courts in family/
children's matters; Sometimes at crown courts dealing with cases where people
can taste the long arm of the law.
Sometimes at contact centres getting to know the families' involved quite well.
At times in Hospitals and medical centres and also at people's homes dealing with
quite sensitive matters.
But as an interpreter we always have to follow the codes of conduct and maintain
strict professionalism.Must always remember the role we are playing;the job we
are doing. We have to maintain strict neutrality and sometimes remind parties our
roles as well.We are there to just act as a conduit between two different language
speakers.People ask for advice or opinion. I can not offer either .I can not help
them with any information either.My role forbids me to do that. Sometimes
people try to manipulate us psychologically.I have to be aware of that and take
care not to fall into any trap.
So you can see it can be challenging. But that's where the training comes into use !
It's easy to get into a lengthy conversation with the non English speaker. But that would
be unprofessional ! And people do notice that.And praise you for being good.I believe
that doing your job properly is a good advertisement for business as well. Because if
you are good at what you do, more and more people would want your services.On the
other hand if you are sloppy, nobody would want to do business with you or atleast not
if they can help it.
It is interesting and rewarding work.In my life I have worked in a
lot of different industries/businesses and I must say that this has been
most interesting!
One gets to work with so many different types of people and in so many
different areas of life! Sometimes I have worked in county courts in family/
children's matters; Sometimes at crown courts dealing with cases where people
can taste the long arm of the law.
Sometimes at contact centres getting to know the families' involved quite well.
At times in Hospitals and medical centres and also at people's homes dealing with
quite sensitive matters.
But as an interpreter we always have to follow the codes of conduct and maintain
strict professionalism.Must always remember the role we are playing;the job we
are doing. We have to maintain strict neutrality and sometimes remind parties our
roles as well.We are there to just act as a conduit between two different language
speakers.People ask for advice or opinion. I can not offer either .I can not help
them with any information either.My role forbids me to do that. Sometimes
people try to manipulate us psychologically.I have to be aware of that and take
care not to fall into any trap.
So you can see it can be challenging. But that's where the training comes into use !
It's easy to get into a lengthy conversation with the non English speaker. But that would
be unprofessional ! And people do notice that.And praise you for being good.I believe
that doing your job properly is a good advertisement for business as well. Because if
you are good at what you do, more and more people would want your services.On the
other hand if you are sloppy, nobody would want to do business with you or atleast not
if they can help it.
Friday, 13 April 2007
Tuesday, 27 March 2007
Art In Interpreting
There is an art in Interpreting.A lot depends on the individual interpreter's skill, experience,
grasp of both the languages involved and relevant cultures.Choice of words makes a huge difference in the quality of interpreting.
I dont necessarily mean using complicated or large words;rather just the right words.I alwys believe in using simple words and using simple sentences. I believe this style makes a speech or a written article much more enjoyable and fluent.In other words attractive. If a reader or listener finds an article easily readable/understandable rather than very complicated they are more likely to continue reading /listening. Otherwise they might get bored or distracted.
Though I believe in an interpreter having a rich repertoire of words.Which enables the interpreter to use a variety of words rather than making the speech sound dull and boring by repeatitive use of a word or words.
The actual style of delivery of the individual interpreter makes it either excellent or just passable .Experience also helps the interpreters to refine their style and delivery.
As both English and Bengali are very rich languages, interpreting between these two languages can be quite an enjoyable work.
Copyright : Author Mohammad Mogni Choudhury.
London NW7 (mob.07832371577)
email : mognichoudhury@yahoo.com
grasp of both the languages involved and relevant cultures.Choice of words makes a huge difference in the quality of interpreting.
I dont necessarily mean using complicated or large words;rather just the right words.I alwys believe in using simple words and using simple sentences. I believe this style makes a speech or a written article much more enjoyable and fluent.In other words attractive. If a reader or listener finds an article easily readable/understandable rather than very complicated they are more likely to continue reading /listening. Otherwise they might get bored or distracted.
Though I believe in an interpreter having a rich repertoire of words.Which enables the interpreter to use a variety of words rather than making the speech sound dull and boring by repeatitive use of a word or words.
The actual style of delivery of the individual interpreter makes it either excellent or just passable .Experience also helps the interpreters to refine their style and delivery.
As both English and Bengali are very rich languages, interpreting between these two languages can be quite an enjoyable work.
Copyright : Author Mohammad Mogni Choudhury.
London NW7 (mob.07832371577)
email : mognichoudhury@yahoo.com
Monday, 26 March 2007
Learning Languages
Language and learning are fascinating subjects. In my psychology course I learnt different theories on 'Children's ability to learn languages'. Whether children are born with the ability to percieve different sounds in their parents' language or are they able to percieve sounds in all languages. Also whether they are born with a repertiore of some sounds or is it universal to all babies born in whatever culture .Its all interesting.
On a practical scale, I have noticed in case of my own children and those of close relative's that children have really an exceptional ability to learn languages and several of them without getting confused or mixed up at all.
For insatnce, my first son, would speak Bengali at home ( because thats what we speak at home ) .He would speak Gujrati with his childminder as she is Gujrati and at Nurseries/Schools he would speak English. He would never speak Gujrati with us or Bengali with his childminder.And neither of these two at school.Also he never confused any Bengali word with Gujrati or English and vice versa.
So, basically he was learning three languages simultaneously without any problem what so ever.I have seen the same happening with all the other relative's children and believe that must be the case in all cases. I have not heard anything to suggest otherwise.
On a practical scale, I have noticed in case of my own children and those of close relative's that children have really an exceptional ability to learn languages and several of them without getting confused or mixed up at all.
For insatnce, my first son, would speak Bengali at home ( because thats what we speak at home ) .He would speak Gujrati with his childminder as she is Gujrati and at Nurseries/Schools he would speak English. He would never speak Gujrati with us or Bengali with his childminder.And neither of these two at school.Also he never confused any Bengali word with Gujrati or English and vice versa.
So, basically he was learning three languages simultaneously without any problem what so ever.I have seen the same happening with all the other relative's children and believe that must be the case in all cases. I have not heard anything to suggest otherwise.
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