51114 Translators, terminologists and interpreters

What this occupation covers

Translators translate written material from one language to another. Interpreters translate oral communication from one language to another during speeches, meetings, conferences, debates and conversation, or in court or before administrative tribunals. Terminologists conduct research to itemize terms connected with a certain field, define them and find equivalents in another language. Sign language interpreters use sign language to translate spoken language and vice versa during meetings, conversations, television programs or in other instances. Translators, terminologists and interpreters are employed by government, private translation and interpretation agencies, in-house translation services, large private corporations, international organizations and the media, or they may be self-employed. Sign language interpreters work in schools and courts, and for social service agencies, interpretation services, government services and television stations, or they may be self-employed.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 16 main duties for this code.

• Translate a variety of written material such as correspondence, reports, legal documents, technical specifications and textbooks from one language to another, maintaining the content, context and style of the original material to the greatest extent possible
• Localize software and accompanying technical documents to adapt them to another language and culture
• Revise and correct translated material
• May train and supervise other translators.
• Identify the terminology used in a field of activity
• Conduct terminological research on a given subject or in response to inquiries for the preparation of glossaries, terminology banks, technological files, dictionaries, lexicons and resource centres, and add to terminological databases
• Manage, update and circulate linguistic information collected from terminological databases
• Provide consultative services to translators, interpreters and technical writers preparing legal, scientific or other documents that require specialized terminologies.
• Interpret oral communication from one language to another aloud or using electronic equipment, either simultaneously (as the speaker speaks), consecutively (after the speaker speaks) or whispered (speaking in a low whisper to one or two persons as the speaker is talking)
• Provide interpretation services in court or before administrative tribunals
• May interpret language for individuals and small groups travelling in Canada and abroad
• May interpret for persons speaking an Aboriginal or foreign language in a variety of circumstances
• May train other interpreters.
• Translators, terminologists and interpreters specialize in two languages, such as French and English, the official languages of Canada. They may also specialize in another language and one of the official languages. The main areas of specialization include administrative, literary, scientific and technical translation. Interpreters may specialize in court, parliamentary or conference interpretation.
• Translate sign language to a spoken language and vice versa either simultaneously or consecutively.
• Sign language interpreters work in French and Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) or in English and American Sign Language (ASL).

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 3 of its 16 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 51111 Authors and writers (except technical)
• 51110 Editors
• 41210 College and other vocational instructors
• 41409 Other professional occupations in social science
• 74204 Utility maintenance workers

Excluded from this code

• Authors and writers (See 51111 Authors and writers (except technical))
• Editors (See 51110 Editors)
• Language school instructor (See 41210 College and other vocational instructors)
• Linguist (See 41409 Other professional occupations in social science)
• Utility locator (See 74204 Utility maintenance workers)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter · certified interpreter (C.Int.) · certified terminologist (C.Term.) · certified translator (C.Tr.) · community interpreter · conference interpreter · consecutive interpreter · court interpreter · cultural interpreter · cultural or international adaptation specialist · deaf interpreter · educational interpreter · elbow interpreter · escort interpreter · foreign broadcast translator · foreign news translator · interpreter · interpreter for persons who are deaf · jurilinguist translator · legal terminologist · legal translator · literary translator · localiser - linguistics · medical terminologist

Employment requirements

• A university degree in translation with a specialization in translation, interpretation or terminology in two languages including at least one of the two official languages or A university degree in a related discipline such as languages, linguistics, philology and courses in linguistic transfer and two years' experience as a full-time translator working in two languages, at least one of which is an official language or Five years of experience as a full-time translator working in two languages, at least one of which is an official language, are required.
• Sign language interpreters require a college training program or a university certificate in sign language interpretation.
• Certification on dossier or by examination from the Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTTIC) may be required for translators, terminologists and interpreters.
• Sign language interpreters may require a certificate or certification evaluation in LSQ or ASL.
• Fluency in three languages is usually required for translators or interpreters working in an international context.
• Membership in a provincial or territorial association of translators, interpreters and terminologists may be required.
• Membership in a provincial association of sign language interpreters may be required.
• Use of professional titles may be regulated in some provinces.