Conference Contribution Details
Mandatory Fields
Sharon O'Brien
Non-Professional Interpreting and Translation (NPIT3)
Training Volunteer Translators for Crisis Communication: The Translators Without Borders Example
Switzerland
Non Refereed Paper/Abstract
2016
()
Optional Fields
05-MAY-16
07-MAY-16
Translation and interpreting play important roles in crisis communication. However, analysis of the literature on crisis communication suggests that the role of translation and interpreting in crises is not given adequate consideration. There is a growing need for a more serious consideration of translation and interpreting requirements for crisis communication and for the embedding of translation into crisis communication policies, frameworks and training. Training translators for crisis communication would likely challenge traditional translator training models. Shorter, more directed training of volunteer translators might be both appropriate and adequate. This paper presents an evaluation of the potential for such training using the context of short courses provided by Translators without Borders in Kenya. Two rounds of training were conducted in 2014, the first with 11 volunteers, the second with 5 volunteers as part of a Rapid Response Translation for Ebola Project. A simulation exercise was then run where the volunteers had to translate short messages into specific languages. The translators were asked to fill in a short questionnaire before and after the translation simulation task. The questionnaire draws on the concept of self-efficacy in which a person rates their own ability to perform a task and their confidence in their self-ratings. A quality evaluation of the translations was also carried out. This paper will present results from this preliminary experiment.