Translation as a Profession (Benjamins Translation Library)

Chapter 12. Recognition 251tests (as in Québec and Ontario), to have the tests marked anonymously byneutral examiners (with a dual marking system and an appeal procedure),and to award the title to anyone passing the test. Both this kind of test andthe final exams taken in universities and other institutions could be based oncriteria similar to those used in translation company or translation servicerecruitment tests.2. Qualifications can be awarded at several levels, and a consensus will have tobe sought as regards the level at which a professional title can be awardedor at which professional experience acquired by practising translators can berecognised. At least, the new ‘Bologna’ level two qualification (‘masters’ orwhatever other denominations may be used) should eventually be recognisedautomatically by all the EU countries. If the DGT initiative carries the resultsit is expected to, this will confirm a de facto situation whereby qualifications intranslation are almost all professionally oriented postgraduate qualifications.This would soon produce standard, clearly labelled qualifications and similarcourse contents and objectives and it would then only be a short step todeciding that equivalent qualifications (under one common name) couldconfer the professional ‘title’ and that the title would determine the translator’sstatus and possibly access to the profession.3. On the face of it, the third objection is more serious, i.e. that anyone alreadypractising as a professional translator should be able to avail her/himself of thetitle. But this would mean that:– either the title should be awarded automatically to anyone able to proverecent practise of the profession for a given length of time – which wouldrun counter to the idea that only an officially recognised qualification,awarded either on completion of a university degree course or on the basisof professional experience should allow people to use the title;– or the title has lost part of its significance;– or the system of awarding qualifications on the basis of professional experiencehas become obsolete.In fact, the argument is only sustainable if there is a conjunction of a professionaltitle and regulated access to the profession. In that case, it mightbe decided that access to the profession remains open for a given length oftime to all, irrespective of qualifications, who can prove that they have alreadypracticed translation on a professional basis.2.4 What if such a ‘title’ came into being?An incorrigible optimist might be founded in saying that, if the title becamereality: