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Interpreting and Translation
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Description

Interpreting and translation are specialised skills that only the most proficient bilinguals can be trained to perform. The work of interpreters and translators is interesting, varied and challenging, and makes an essential contribution to communication in government, business, human services and international relations.

Interpreters use their knowledge of languages and cultures to ensure verbal communication between individuals or groups of people who do not speak the same language.

Interpreters may work for government agencies, commercial firms, international organisations, and national and international courts. They are required nationally in community settings, such as medical, legal, educational and welfare. Internationally, they are required for multilingual conferences, official meetings, round table negotiations and visits by dignitaries.

Interpreters may work in different modes:
  • Short consecutive (or dialogue) interpreting into two languages, which is used in community and court interpreting
  • Long consecutive, which involves interpreting with note taking and which is used for speeches and round table negotiations
  • Simultaneous, which is used at international conferences and which requires interpreters' booths and electronic equipment
  • Other interpreting modes include sight translation (interpreting of usually unseen written texts) and whispering technique (known as chochotage).
Translators translate the written word ranging from literature, to legal documents, to instruction manuals and technical/scientific texts. Many translators work from home but develop professional networks of clients and subject-matter experts. Other translators are employed by companies, government agencies and international organisations. Translators may also work as members of project teams faced with complex cross-linguistic tasks such as synchronisation or subtitles for film and television, marketing campaigns, preparation for high-level conferences and designing multilingual software. Translators may specialise in a particular language or in a particular field of work such as law, technology, literature, science or health.

Studying Interpreting and Translation at UNSW
The study of Interpreting and Translation at UNSW is primarily through the School of Languages and Linguistics which offers a number of postgraduate programs of study.
Please refer to the table below for a complete list.



Interpreting and Translation can be studied as 

Specialisation At the Level of Plan
Interpreting and Translation Specialisation MODLBS5225
   

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© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.