Lenguas 2017 - A Step Forward for Interpreting and Translation in Mexico
Published Juyl 24, 2017
In 2010, InterpretAmerica held its first Summit, with the primary goal of simply gathering stakeholders from across the interpreting profession into the same room to meet each other. It's hard to believe that less than 10 years ago, many key players in our profession had not only not met each other but didn't know that many associations, organizations or specializations even existed.
Our other out-of-the-box contribution at the time was to commission the first-ever survey on the interpreting market in the United States, carried out by Common Sense Advisory. The Interpreting Marketplace Survey was completed by over 1000 interpreters and provided the first data-based look at who was interpreting where and for what kind of pay across the United States, and to some degree in Canada and Mexico.
In less than 10 years, we've all seen how much our profession has changed. We are proud to have played a small part in sparking greater connection and conversation in our field, and have applauded parallel efforts by many others.
That is why we are so excited to be collaborating with the Italia Morayta Foundation for the first Lenguas Conference, which will take place in Mexico City this coming September 28-30. We can't think of a better way to be celebrating first official UN-sanctioned. International Translation Day.
A unique blend of plenary sessions and practical skills training workshops, Lenguas has as much to offer the Spanish-speaking U.S. or Candadian-based interpreter and translator as it does interpreters and translators in Mexico.
Lenguas has been approved for 10 ATA CEU credits. CIMCE credits are pending approval.
Mexico is home to a vibrant interpreting and translation profession, but one in which the different interpreting specializations are highly separate. Lenguas will bring those stakeholders together, connecting conference interpreters, translators and indigenous interpreters under one roof. Similar to the first InterpretAmerica Summit, the first day will be held in plenary and will explore Mexico's unique language and language service landscape.
In recent years, the need for indigenous language interpreting in legal, healthcare and other community settings has gained recognition in Mexico. Legislation, training programs and the recently-formed Association of Public Service and Community Interpreters and Translators show a growing momentum for improved language access for internal indigenous immigrants in Mexico. On the other side are Mexico's well-established and vibrant conference interpreting and translation professions. Mexico is one of Latin America's largest language services market and is a central hub for diplomatic and business-related activities.
In addition, Lenguas 2017 will also contribute the first market research on the interpreting and translation professions in Mexico. The Survey on Translation and Interpretation in Mexico has been running for several months and is now closed. Results are being tabulated and will be announced at the Lenguas conference.
But Lenguas is more than just a moment to gather and get to know each other. We have invited a stellar group of international trainers who will be giving skills training workshops on interpreting and translation on Days 2 and 3. The workshops vary in length and content and include a 2-day workshop on indigenous interpreting skills and one on consecutive interpreting. To see the full program, visit our conference website.
We invite all Spanish language interpreters working in the United States, Canada and other parts ot Latin America to consider attending Lenguas this fall. The conference is an inexpensive training opportunity offering many workshop sessions relevant for Spanish-English interpreters. The venue is the incomparable Colegio de San Ildefonso, a working art museum and renowned cultural center, located just steps off the famous Zocaló plaza in downtown Mexico City and a UNESCO world heritage site.
Mural inside the Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso
Whether you attend or not, Lenguas 2017 is a clear example of the growing diversification and professionalism of our field around the world. At InterpretAmerica, we hope to contribute the best of what we have learned over the past 7 years, and we look forward to learning about the gifts that Mexican translation and interpreting have to offer the world.
