Along with the increasing inflow of migrants into Australia and the rapid pace of globalisation, the demand for translation professionals has doubled over the past decade.
Australia’s governmental departments and agencies need a large number of interpreters, especially the Customs, Immigration Department, Court, Police Offices, and various areas in the community. Other areas include hospitals, banks, travel agencies, companies, commercial organisations, conferences and exhibitions. The fields that interpreters involve may include various seminars, police investigations, law, health, education, real estate, insurance, international conferences, trade negotiations, and even interviews. Interpreters may work face to face with the clients or via telephones. Currently Australian Community Relations Commission is planning to provide video-simultaneous interpretation. Interpreters also help with understanding and communication rather than merely playing the role of interpretation service provider. Often community interpreters may register with the Translating and Interpreting Service under DIAC. Among the 18 languages where interpretation is needed, the demand for Chinese interpreters is one of the largest.
In the meantime,translators also work in Australian government departments, public service sectors, embassies. They also provide translation service to various organisations, businesses and individuals. Their work may involve the translation of certificates, research materials, and contracts. Translators’ fields may cover government documents, legal documents, contracts, field-specific materials, books, and news. In addition to local governments, organisations and businesses, international corporations are also one of their important clients.
Whether you are a translator or interpreter, the demand is not only restricted in Australia. In today’s world, with the booming economy and rapid development of science and technology, translators can provide their service via the internet to institutions, organisations, companies, and individuals worldwide. They can also register with translation agencies in Australia and overseas, such that when there is a demand, the agencies will contact those who have registered with them to provide translation service.
Well-known translation agencies in Australia include:
◆ All Graduates Interpreting & Translating Services
◆ Oncall Interpreters and Translators Agency
◆VITS Language Link
At the end of the 20th century, and since the opening of China to the outside world, an enormous number of overseas institutions and businesses entered China. In the meantime large Chinese companies all sought to develop markets in different places in the world. Recent statistics shows that there are over 600 Chinese businesses having invested in England alone. With globalisation, the popularisation of internet and the fast development of the Chinese economy, the need of China to communicate with the rest of the world dramatically increases. And the demand for translators and interpreters in various industries and areas is rapidly growing. In particular, the hosting of some international events, such as the 2008 Olympics, the 2008 Conference of International Federation of Translations in Shanghai, and the 2010 World Commodity Fair in Shanghai, has boosted the demand for translation professionals in China while demonstrating the significant role China plays in the world.
The senior translators in China suggested that although China is a powerful country in terms of translation quantity (publications of translated works from 1995 – 2003 reached as many as 94,400 ), there is still much to improve in the quality of translation. Therefore, China needs a substantial number of translation professionals. Currently, the common types of translation institutions in China include:
◆State-run Translation Agencies
These agencies are mainly engaged in government foreign affairs, cultural
exchanges and government activities.
◆Large Translation Companies
These companies have a large, steady client base thus employing a large number of full-time, part-time and freelance translators and interpreters.
◆SOHOTranslation Company/Agencies
These companies usually do not provide translation service themselves, but rather act as agents. Once accepting an assignment, they will contact the translators /interpreters registered with them to undertake the assignment.
