The world cannot function without translators and interpreters: We help the public stay informed by interpreting for journalists; we keep everyone safe by translating terrorism chatter pulled from the airwaves; we assist with delivering humanitarian aid to those in need; we act as language bridges for armed forces; we ensure due process and justice in courts and tribunals; we facilitate truth and reconciliation proceedings; we keep peace negotiations going in various international forums. And we transcend conflict by translating culture to reach people everywhere.
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Oct 8, 2019
Petition: Urge the UN to protect translators and interpreters worldwide
By:
Vanessa Amessa
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Mexico
Local time: 04:30
English to Spanish
+ ...
Dear Vanessa
I really would like to sign the petition but I am totally blind regarding the "dangers" against translators. I will appreciate your clarification and little feedback to get involved.
Best
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
As far as translators and interpreters are but foreign language users, I see no big difference: some people like something whereas others prefer something else; some believe in one thing whereas others believe in other...
Consciously or not, people promote something, disdaining other things--while a third party makes biz on them.
Meanwhile both translators and interpreters just translate somebody else's words.
Serbia
Local time: 12:30
English to Serbian
+ ...
Dear Vanessa
I really would like to sign the petition but I am totally blind regarding the "dangers" against translators. I will appreciate your clarification and little feedback to get involved.
Best
I have been working as an UN interpreter for years. As you can imagine, UN works in warstriken or conflict areas. It can be very dangerous. I was once a hostage to angry villagers in Bosnia. I didn't provoke this, I didn't insult anyone, they were just angry and drunk and they hated entire world at that moment and I was there, on the spot, so why not take an interpreter as hostage? This situation lasted for 16 hours, and it couldn't be resolved. Eventually, HR at that time, Mr. Wolfgang Petrich, come to the spot, from Sarajevo, with chopter, and to the rescue. So, there is a good reason to sing this document, at least for me.
Sorry, I didn't have time to finish this post yesterday. Anyway, as UN interpreters, people are translators as well. There is a lot of translating there: news, police reports, medical reports. So, translator or interpreter, in this particular case, it is the same and that is how it affects translators as well as interpreters. As for you DZiW, I have been trying to read your post, but when I click on see more, nothing happens and anyway, this is not a place to discuss about politics. If you do not like my choices of jobs, that is your right, but let me tell you that I have only 2 big and real regrets in my life, both were my decisions and both are still hunting me. Working for UN is not one of them.
[Edited at 2019-10-18 07:01 GMT]
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
And besides the people with other degrees/specialties and children, how about all those Yugoslavian translators and interpreters who died without a veto right or a rescue chopper?
By the way, knowing several languages often makes wonders while reading or watching papers and listening to sources--just check numbers only in English and Russian wiki, for example.
Withheld truth vs Fake news.
[Edited at 2019-10-17 14:04 GMT] ▲ Collapse
Member (2011)
Croatian to English
+ ...
The second variation is the “I wired you too much money” scam. A book translation is presented to the translator and a prepayment is made, which is more or less customary. My own terms are 1/3 now, 1/3 at the midpoint and 1/3 at completion. However the scammer then sends doub... See more
The second variation is the “I wired you too much money” scam. A book translation is presented to the translator and a prepayment is made, which is more or less customary. My own terms are 1/3 now, 1/3 at the midpoint and 1/3 at completion. However the scammer then sends double the agreed upon amount (for example) by bank deposit, a rubber check and often on Friday afternoon. The bank can’t verify existence of the funds, you see. Meanwhile the client urges the translator to forward the amount to a third party.
My bank wisely refused to do anything despite hourly emails to “send it! Did you send the funds”? Of course by Tuesday it was clear to see “Scam”. If the translator is unaware then he or see sends money to the third party from their own pocket, so beware. ▲ Collapse
Netherlands
Local time: 12:30
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
So the "protection" here refers to the right to expect (through international law) that belligerents provide protection for translators, against mostly physical harm and u... See more
So the "protection" here refers to the right to expect (through international law) that belligerents provide protection for translators, against mostly physical harm and undue harassment. It relates specifically to translators (both foreign and domestic) who are present in conflict zones or surroundings and doing work that relates to such conflict or operations.
The petition also mentions "humanitarian", but from the way it is written, I infer that this does not mean humanitarian crises due to natural disasters etc. but primarily due to conflict.
[Edited at 2019-11-09 10:25 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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