Foreign China-based interpreters?

[ATP-1]

Hello all.

I am trying to find out some details on (freelance) laowai interpreters living and working in China?

Specifically, I'd like to know:

i) if there are?

ii) if so, how to reach them?

iii) information on their qualifications eg. HSK standard?

iv) rates?

Thanks very much.

[roddy]

I only know of foreigners working in translation, not interpretation. I daresay there are some though - you can try classifieds sites such as thebeijinger.com; and also professional sites such as proz.com.

I wouldn't pay too much attention to HSK marks for this kind of work - the HSK's testing of oral skills is irrelevant for this kind of work. Look for prior experience, maybe length of time spent in China. Rates of pay I wouldn't want to comment on.

[HashiriKata]

For interpreters, I would approach agencies (there must be a few in Shanghai) and tell them your requirements. It'd be safer.

[tooironic]

Outside Europe, Translating and Interpreting have not really become autonomous professions in their own right at all, and this is especially obvious in China. As such, there is no "one way" to find an interpreter; there are also no fixed rates or standardised qualifications. You should also be aware (if you're not already) that HSK is only an attempt at measuring language proficiency - it has very little to do with the kind of skills needed to undergo professional T/I work. Translating and Interpreting is a skill in of its own right, of which actual language competency is only one small part. On top of this, competent translators/interpreters need a much more complex range of skills relating to a diverse range of fields including project management, ethics, theory, technology, etc. My advice: try googling your enquiry and checking out some of the sites roddy suggested.

[roddy]

Agencies is a good point, never even though of that.

[leeyah]

Agree, even the highest level of HSK is definitely no guarantee for the quality of any kind of translation/interpreting, actually it has got nothing to do with it. Being proficient in a foreign language and being a skilled translator are two very different things.

Yes, registered agencies (something like 翻译家协会 etc) are the safest option, you're bound to get your money's worth there.

[sthubbar]

My friend is Caucasian Canadian and provides interpretation services. He has an HSK 10, though that's more for his bragging rights than for the clients. He charges upwards of US $1000 / day for his services.

[sunyata]

If you are looking for qualified interpreters in Shanghai, you should consider dropping by SISU and inquiring about their graduates or current students:

http://giit.shisu.edu.cn/interpretation/zh/course.htm

In Beijing, the top interpreters all go through this program:

http://www.bfsu.edu.cn/dpt/04_g.htm

Not too many laowais there though

[roddy]

There's also the EU's program at UIBE.

[HashiriKata]

He charges upwards of US $1000 / day for his services.

This seems very high for China. Or is this reasonable?

[leeyah]

He charges upwards of US $1000 / day for his services

I'm no expert but, yes, is this reasonable? Let's just say interpreting takes more effort than translation, so it may be true, but still, for China this sounds pretty incredible.

Or is it just a typo for ￥1000? I've heard the Cantonese use 蚊man for both dollars & RMB

[roddy]

Entirely possible if you're doing simultaneous translation - conferences, executive meetings, that kind of stuff, or are particularly specialized. I'd guess it's at the high end for anything else.

[Lugubert]

Simultaneous interpretation, please.

Most colleagues in Sweden need supplementary part-time jobs; I live rather comfortably from translating alone. But you will never see me trying even five minutes of interpreting. That's a very different profession, especially the simultaneous stuff.

[peekay]

US $1000 per day is probably average for simultaneous interpreting in China, translating from Chinese into a major foreign language.

However, outside of a major international conference, there aren't many simultaneous interpreting jobs available, and you have to be highly experienced / qualified to do it. Most jobs are consecutive interpreting, which pays much less.

In reality most freelance interpreters probably work part time; they don't have regular assignments unless they have a very good network. They work a few hours here and there in smaller conferences or even in business meetings. They make maybe between $200 - $300 for a day's work, when they can find them.

Still that's a pretty good rate in China if you consider interpreters in the US or Canada probably make about the same amount (or even less) on most interpreting assignments.

[roddy]

Simultaneous interpretation, please.

Oops, my bad.

[brucianna]

Upwards of USD 1000 a day for a qualified translator in Shanghai with an HSK 10 seems perfectly reasonable to me. When I charge day rates, I get upwards of USD 200 a day plus expenses in Hainan.

-M

[AxelManbow]

John at the website Sinosplice did a recent series of interviews with a variety of translators and interpreters, you might find it useful: http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2009/03/29/the-many-paths-to-translation-work