Attachment 12 Standards and Qualifications for Interpreters and Translators

  1. The Department of Human Services (DHS), its local agencies, and its subrecipients should ensure that all multilingual staff or contracted personnel who serve as translators, interpreters or who communicate “in-language” with LEP constituents:

    1. Demonstrate proficiency in and ability to communicate information accurately in both English and in the other language (e.g. third-party language assessment);

    2. Identify and employ the appropriate mode of interpreting (e.g., consecutive, simultaneous, or sight translation), translating, and can communicate fluently in the target language;

    3. Have knowledge in both languages of any specialized terms or concepts peculiar to the DHS’s program or activity and of any particularized vocabulary used by the LEP constituent;

    4. Understand and follow confidentiality, impartiality, and ethical rules to the same extent as Department staff; and

    5. Understand and adhere to their role as interpreters, translators, or multilingual staff.

  2. For telephonic and contracted interpretation services, the vendor must:

    1. Supply qualified, competent interpreters in the languages specified by DHS who possess a minimum of two (2) years of experience interpreting in a professional setting using all phases of language interpretation (i.e., consecutive, and simultaneous interpreting);

    2. Ensure the skills of interpreters are independently assessed, and interpreters have passing scores (defined as Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scores of 2+ or equivalent) on language/interpretation tests. Federal, State or the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT) Judiciary Interpreters and Translators Certification Examination (JITCE) certification will be accepted;

    3. The interpretation vendor’s qualified interpreter must:

      1. Know both English and foreign language vocabularies typically used in formal, consultative, and casual modes of communication in social services contexts, including colloquial slang, idiosyncratic slang, and regionalism.

      2. Know specialized vocabulary (terminology) in both English and the foreign language related to DHS’s programs and activities components.

      3. Speak English and the foreign language fluently, including regionalisms and colloquial slang without altering meanings, and do so with clear and intelligible pronunciation;

      4. Interpret in a manner that is factually and conceptually accurate without changes, omissions, or additions;

      5. Preserve the tone, sentiment, and emotional level of the original oral statement;

      6. Maintain appropriate speed and projection while rendering interpretation, and request and incorporate clarification of speaker’s statements only when justified; and,

      7. Abide by relevant code of linguist ethics, such as the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters & Translators Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibilities, available at najit.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/NAJITCodeofEthicsFINAL.pdf

  3. For contracted translation services, the vendor must:

    1. Provide qualified, professional, experienced translators who possess a high level of translation skills and proficiency in both the English language and the target language to translate written text completely and accurately.

    2. Supply translators that are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or permanent residents.

    3. Supply translators in the languages specified by the requesting DHS Division or Office who possess a minimum of two (2) years of experience translating in a professional setting

    4. Translators must be independently assessed in translation/transcription skills with minimum scores of 2 plus (or equivalent) in Translation Performance according to the Interagency Language Roundtable Scale (see govtilr.org/Skills/AdoptedILRTranslationGuidelines.htm. The USDA accepts current certifications from the following: The National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT); the American Translators Association (ATA); and the Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) through its testing branch Language Testing International (LTI).

    5. Present proof of translators’ qualifications upon request. The Vendor may request a waiver of this requirement on an individual translator basis.

    6. A qualified translator must:

      1. Know both English and target language vocabularies typically used in formal, consultative, and casual modes of communication in a legal or social services context, including colloquial slang, idiosyncratic slang, and regionalisms;

      2. Know specialized vocabulary (and terminology) in both English and the target language related to the DHS’s programs and activities;

      3. Write in English and the target language fluently including regionalisms and colloquial and idiosyncratic slang without altering meaning; and,

      4. Transcribe or translate in a manner that is factually and conceptually accurate without changes, omissions, or additions; and preserve the tone, sentiment, and emotional character of the materials.

The Vendor must furnish training materials to assist staff to learn how to properly request telephonic interpretation services. Training materials may include training videos, handouts, or in-person presentations.