A collective voice for professionals in New Brunswick

The Corporation of Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters of New Brunswick (CTINB) is a translation association founded in Fredericton in 1970. It became a member of the Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTTIC) in 1972.

Later on, in 1989, the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick approved the Corporation of Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters of New Brunswick Act, which set out the rules of conduct of the translators association.

CTINB’s members represent three different professions: translation, interpretation and terminology in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. The main purpose of this interpreters, terminologists and translators association is to provide them with a collective voice. CTINB wishes to ensure that all members comply with the Code of Ethics it has established.

The Canadian organisation believes it also has a role in publicising the professional role performed by its members in society. It is in the aims of CTINB to keep in touch with similar organisations in Canada as well as translation associations across the globe. Moreover, the association wants to collaborate with institutions that provide university training in the areas of translation, terminology and interpretation.

For CTINB, all the professions it represents are intellectual activities. As far as translation is concerned, it requires an excellent knowledge or the source language and mastery of the target language. This applies to conference interpretation – with emphasis on the oral component of the language – and terminology. In this case, as important as language skills is a good knowledge of the field under study, as well as the quality of the terminological research methods and the use of reference sources.

For the Canadian translators association, translation and conference interpretation must “aim at the equivalence of two messages, in meaning as well as in style, bearing in mind that adaptation may occasionally be necessary, owing to the nature of the message and its intended use”. Terminology “must ensure correspondence between a given concept and the term that reflects it and, where necessary, must establish equivalences for terms in different languages”.

All members of this translation association, either freelancers or employees of translation agencies, must bear the sole responsibility for their work, “regardless of contractual obligations”. Members shall also refrain from any unfair tactics in the practice of their profession. All advertising must not be “such as to discredit either the profession or other members”. When advertising, members must clearly indicate their certification in terms of languages and professional class (translator, conference interpreter or terminologist). Advertising is permitted, when it is not of comparative sort.

CTINB does not allow its members to use the corporation logo when publicising their work.

Professionals represented by CTINB must not knowingly agree to perform an assignment for which they are not reasonably qualified in every aspect concerning knowledge of either the languages involved or the subject.

It is one of members’ duties to cooperate with colleagues and to support all organisations that represent the profession. Last but far from the least, no member of this translators association will divulge privileged information. They do not use confidential information to which they are privy through the practice of their profession, “to the detriment of their clients or to their own advantage or that of a third party, either directly or indirectly”.

As far as membership is concerned, the Canadian translation association has two categories. Certified members are those who have passed CTTIC’s standard certification examination in translation or terminology or have alternatively passed the federal government's interpretation examination or that of a professional association of interpreters.

The other membership category is Candidate for Certification. These members have limited professional experience or lack formal training (do not have a university degree). Their status is a “transitional step” towards becoming certified members.

To be a certified member, you must firstly become a candidate for certification, the interim stage on the way to obtaining the certification. According to the translation association’s bylaws, there are three conditions for translators to become candidates for certification: he / she holds a university degree in translation or a related subject; or he / she has two years attested relevant experience; or he / she passes an admission examination set or recognised by the board.

Anyone wishing to become a member of CTINB must obtain and fill out a membership application form,and send it to the association with the appropriate supporting documents (curriculum vitae, copies of relevant degrees, letters certifying the applicant's experience in the field, etc.).

Candidates for certification may become certified members either by passing the certification exam, by on-dossier certification or through the association’s mentorship programme. CTINB does not organise exams outside Canada.

The translators association also reminds that it is not “a job placement agency”, thus membership in no way guarantees employment in Canada in the field of translation.

Keep in mind that Canada’s two main languages are English (58.8 % of the population) and French (23.2 %). In New Brunswick, there are around 720,000 inhabitants, 70% of which speak English, while 30% use French as their language. Around the world, there are around 328 million native English speakers (the actual figures are estimated to be much higher), whereas French native speakers are about 125 millions.

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