Riyadh hosted a virtual open session titled “The Future of the Translation Profession in Light of Accreditation,” featuring specialists and interested parties.
According to SPA, the session focused on the role of professional accreditation in improving the competencies of practitioners, increasing translation quality, and examining the future of the profession in Saudi Arabia.
The “Certified Translator” program was introduced as a means to organize and develop the profession by transforming it into a professional activity based on specific quality and competency standards. This program aims to empower practitioners and align translation outputs with various developments in Saudi Arabia.
Participants distinguished between licenses and professional accreditation, noting that licenses are legal permissions for offices and institutions, while accreditation is granted to individuals to prove professional competence. Accreditation is linked to the language, translation direction, and specialized fields such as medical and legal domains to increase accuracy and transparency.
The session also addressed the importance of professional accreditation certificates in the governance of the translation sector. This mechanism helps redefine translation through specialized paths and professional standards, guiding the market to select translators based on experience, specialty, and competency.
Evaluation criteria for translators were discussed, focusing on practical ability and decision-making. These include linguistic competence, meaning transfer, adherence to translation instructions, understanding text purpose, confidentiality, professional ethics, research skills, and the responsible use of new technologies.
The impact of artificial intelligence was also examined, with participants emphasizing that technological progress does not eliminate the translator’s role but increases the need for human competency to review outputs.
What is the difference between a license and professional accreditation in translation? According to the session, a license is a legal permission granted to institutions and offices to conduct translation activities. In contrast, professional accreditation is granted to individual translators to prove their professional competence. This accreditation is specifically linked to the translator’s language, the direction of translation, and their specialized field, such as medical or legal translation, to ensure transparency and accuracy.
What are the evaluation criteria used for translators? Evaluation criteria focus on practical ability and the capacity to make appropriate decisions when working with texts. These standards include linguistic competence, the accurate transfer of meaning, and adherence to translation instructions. Additionally, translators are evaluated on their understanding of the text’s purpose, professional ethics, confidentiality, research skills, and the responsible application of new technologies.
How does the Certified Translator program benefit the translation sector? The Certified Translator program aims to organize and develop the profession by establishing specific quality and competency standards. It helps transform translation into a professional activity that empowers practitioners and improves the level of translation outputs. By implementing these standards, the program helps the translation sector align with various developments occurring within Saudi Arabia.
What is the role of professional accreditation in the translation market? Professional accreditation certificates contribute to the governance of the translation sector and increase its overall credibility. This mechanism helps redefine translation as a profession based on professional standards and specialized paths. Consequently, it guides the market toward selecting translators based on their experience, specialty, and competency, which supports both the translators and the entities utilizing their services.