Representing Conference Interpreters in Argentina

The Argentine Association of Conference Interpreters (Asociación de Intérpretes de Conferencias de Argentina, ADICA) was founded on the 2nd October 1979, with the objective of representing simultaneous and consecutive professional interpreters in Argentina.

This translators association wished to extend and improve the meaning of its activities and to provide members with the benefits of an association that “defends its members' interests and underscores the profession's prestige”.

Other that its above-mentioned mission, ADICA has defined a list of aims, which go from encouraging its members’ professional performance to the fomenting of respect for its code of ethics (a guarantee for both the customer and the interpreter). The translation association has also defined as priorities to protect the interests of members and to promote the use of ISO Standards, “ensuring that the interpreter's work and the indispensible technical support go hand in hand”.

The achievement of these goals allows the members of ADICA to improve the quality of their services, keeping excellence as a common professional target. ADICA also values a highly confidential environment.

According to the leading members of this association, “ADICA members have a reputation in the Argentine and international markets for the quality of their work and their permanent updating and training in all different fields of knowledge”.

Currently, ADICA has over 60 “well known local interpreters”. The association provides services in ten languages and in multiple fields of expertise. In ADICA’s words, “Argentine interpreters, with their high quality, professionalism and strict adherence to their Code of Ethics, are undoubtedly the reasons why Argentina has become such a popular venue for international events, a growing trend in the last two decades”.

To become a member, you must have received a college degree in this field or be able to prove sound experience as an interpreter. Some of ADICA’s members speak a foreign language as their mother tongue. There are other cases that have received a bilingual education which was completed with training abroad, “not only to acquire greater linguistic skills but also a deeper knowledge of the culture of those countries where their working languages are spoken”. Some of ADICA’s members have been awarded a college degree in interpreting besides speaking the languages and mastering the techniques of interpretation. Candidates must be presented and sponsored by current ADICA members.

Admission requests are considered individually, case by case, and are submitted to the Ethics and Admissions Committee, which then forwards them to the Managing Committe, which decided whether to accept or reject the application.

Globalisation calls for professional interpreters to build bridges that overcome gaps between different cultures and idiosyncrasies. That may happen at international conferences, business forums, diplomatic visits and the presence of trade delegations, training courses and many other activities growingly common in modern Argentina.

ADICA also intends to promote a thorough knowledge of the profession, at the same time as it foments an awareness of the relevance of communication when it comes to succeeding in the organisation of an event attended by foreign guests. For the Argentine translation association, interpreters should work in teams of two, unless the shortness of the event advises otherwise. For ADICA, “it is absolutely impossible for an interpreter to deliver the same high standards of performance for many hours running”. For this reason, ADICA defends “interpreters must work in teams, taking turns every 20 minutes”.

ADICA leaders advise interpreters to work six hours a day, usually divided into three-hour blocks. However, other justified cases may be considered. ADICA take very seriously the two basic modes of interpretation: consecutive and simultaneous. This applies in the same way to congresses, lectures or press conferences or while escorting dignitaries and foreign delegations.

The people in charge of ADICA also criticise “mass media’s use of newscasters, as in the case of the world of television, acting as interpreters when they are not duly trained for the job and therefore frequently make mistakes”.

Keep in mind that although there are at least 40 spoken languages in Argentina and no official tongue, Spanish is dominant de facto and by far. Argentina is the fourth largest Spanish-speaking country, after Mexico, Spain and Colombia. In the world, there are around 320 million people speaking Spanish.

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