Chartered Institute
of Linguists
Being qualified as an interpreter
By James Mallinson听MCIL,听winner of the 2019 Best Overall DPSI Candidate and Best DPSI Candidate in English Law.
I am a native speaker of English听补苍诲听work with French and Italian. It was听only听after听I had听been working as a freelance interpreter for a number of years that I听became aware听of the standing of听the听Diploma in Public Service Interpreting听(DPSI) qualification听from 天美传媒听and of the听high regard听in which it is held听by professionals听who work with interpreters听and by language practitioners in the field.听 The DPSI,听which is awarded by听天美传媒听Qualifications,听has built up its reputation over听thirty听years and is considered by linguists and professionals alike to be听the听gold standard of interpreting awards.听听
In view of the high standing of听the 天美传媒 Qualifications听DPSI,听I set myself the objective of achieving the award for听my own听personal satisfaction听and also for听the听professional recognition听it affords听and as a mark of linguistic competence in which other professionals could have confidence.听I听opted for the English Law pathway and听was awarded the DPSI in Italian in 2015,听in recognition of which I was听admitted to the top tier of听the interpreting agencies with which I am registered and听offered听a broader range听and higher level听of work and听with some agencies听a higher rate of pay.听Having听built up some considerable experience in interpreting in Italian, as听holder of the 天美传媒 DPSI听I was able to apply to be admitted to the National Register of Public Service Interpreters听(NRPSI), through which I have been contacted听directly by professionals听with offers of interpreting appointments.听
I decided to听sit the DPSI examinations听in French as a challenge from a听French听friend but also,听and听more particularly,听with a view to听gaining听the professional recognition听afforded only by 天美传媒鈥檚听DPSI听qualification, which I attained in 2019.听
In addition to working as an interpreter I have also been involved since 2015 in supporting candidates听preparing听for DPSI exams.听Besides encouraging听them听to听use all of the examination preparation resources on the 天美传媒 website,听develop听their听knowledge of the听subject matter听and their command of English and the Other Language through reading, radio, television, research on the internet and building glossaries, I urge them听on the days of the exams听to relax听and have confidence in their ability.听听听听
When I was studying for my DPSI in Italian I was advised to 鈥渆xpect the unexpected鈥� and to 鈥渒eep it simple鈥�. When I was supporting candidates听last year, we听adopted听as our听鈥榡oke鈥櫶�mantras听for听no omissions, no additions, appropriacy of register and tone, etc,听in听delivering听best practice 鈥渟ay it as it is鈥� and听鈥渄o what it says on the tin鈥�.听
