Dynamic Equivalence Blog

In the dynamic world of language services, simply being bilingual is never enough. For interpreters and translators working in the US market, continuous professional development isn't just a requirement; it's the foundational pillar of professional excellence and the key to success, especially in the current market. As our industries evolve with new technologies and increasing demands for specialization, how do novice and seasoned professionals continue to elevate their skills? It's about deliberate, targeted development. Here are a few of my suggestions: 1. Advanced Performance and Technique Training This is where the magic happens—refining the very acts of interpreting and/or translating. For Interpreters: We, language professionals, operate in highly specialized ecosystems. Like our counterparts in law, medicine, or consulting, we must continually refine our technical execution. This means specialized workshops on advanced skills .   For example, take courses in consecu...

Pixabay image by Gerd Altmann   An anecdote I often share relates to my personal experience with language proficiency and identity. As a heritage speaker, I sound like a native speaker of two languages, yet language transfers such as unnatural or awkward colocations and grammar can make me sound like a foreigner in both languages.  Early in my education, I made a deliberate effort to improve my linguistic competence and eliminate some of the telltale signs of Spanish heritage speakers, like divergent attainment of the subjunctive and the morphosyntax of agreement (Scontras et al., 2015). I felt I had achieved true bilingualism, and my Spanish AP Exam score of 5 and test exemption from all Spanish college courses validated my feelings.  Shortly after starting my college education, I had an opportunity to serve in the military, where additional testing proved that my mastery of the Spanish language exceeded the minimum requirements of Cryptologic Linguists. I had done it! F...