The translator of Panama

The Panama Association of Translators and Interpreters (Asociación Panameña de Traductores e Intérpretes, APTI) was created in 1984 with the purpose of integrating the cultural values, technological resources and methodologies in order to contribute towards the constant human upgrade, both professionally and intellectually. Only this way could it maintain its focus open to the demands of translation and interpretation as professions.

As a translators association, the APTI’s vision is to become an institution with a strong liaison between itself and its members, as well as to be a constant source of feedback. It seeks the collective growth of its members, at the same time as it wishes to become a centre for certification and coaching in continuous manner, at a national level.

This translation association defines itself as a “non-profit society”, “apolitical and secular”. Their objectives are varied. For example, the APTI wishes to promote the “plain acknowledgement of the profession of translator and public interpreter”. Other than that, they want to support themselves on four strong pillars: “responsibility, efficiency, ethics and professional conduct”.

In more practical terms, the people in charge of the APTI wish to propose minimum tariffs, bearing in mind the complexity of the languages in question, the deadlines for delivery, exclusiveness and other technical criteria that might apply.

The APTI wishes to be a liaison between translators and interpreters in Panama and other similar organisations both nationally and internationally. To help the association’s members, the people responsible for APTI wish to organise an exchange of terminology, glossaries, publications, conferences, workshops, etc. Moreover, members will be supported by the translators association, with professional guidance throughout the process of professionalization.

In order to become a member of the APTI, you must be an authorised translator or interpreter with a “licence of suitability” given the correspondent authority. You also have to fill-in and deliver the application form, with its annexes, for the Board of Directors to study and decide upon.

There are seven different categories of membership at APTI: founders, active members, associated members, licence members, honorary members, students and institutions.

In order to benefit from the advantages offered by the association, all members must pay their annual fees, respect the organisation’s constitution – with special emphasis on the use of APTI’s name – as well as make sure the association’s objectives are being actively sought. You must also attend meetings and accept tasks for which you have elected (active members in particular). The APTI has an identity card you must always have with you, on any occasion concerning the association’s activities.

Keep in mind that Spanish is one of the most widely distributed languages in the world, as it is spoken by around 330 million people. It is the official language of over 20 countries, including Panama, which has almost 3.5 million inhabitants.

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