Gabriel Comeau, owner and general manager of Echovoix, a Truro-based simultaneous translation service, enjoys the challenge of helping people who speak different languages come to a shared understanding. He says the job is stressful but interesting. (CATHY VON KINTZEL / Truro Bureau)

TWENTY YEARS AGO, when Gabriel Comeau was one of the few francophones working with the provincial Agriculture Department, he was often asked to help facilitate conversations between staff and French-speaking out-of-province guests.

The Meteghan River native enjoyed the exercise, but looking back on it now he realizes how difficult it was to facilitate any kind of meaningful interchange of ideas.

"There was no equipment"

"Someone would talk for a few seconds, pause and then I'd translate. Then someone else would talk and pause and I'd translate. There was a lot of stopping and starting."

Today, as owner and general manager of Echovoix, an interpretation business based in Truro, the 56-year-old travels the continent offering a simultaneous translation service for government departments and corporate meetings. The key to his success is his love of both French and English, but the job could not be done today without an assortment of microphones and radio receivers that allow him to listen to a conversation in one language and then broadcast it in another to up to 400 people wearing special earphones.

"It's mental gymnastics," he says. "I've met people who are good at both English and French, but they can't do interpretation. It seems to come easier to some people than others."

Although some people get into the field directly out of school, he said most of the people he knows have stumbled into it after trying other occupations.

"Certain life experiences enrich people's vocabulary," he said. "It teaches them about focus and prepares them for the stress that is associated with the job. People can practise while watching television or listening to the radio in the car, but it is different once you get into a meeting and 200 people are counting on you to help them follow the conversation."

Although most in the field freelance their services, Mr. Comeau has established a successful business specializing in the agri-food sector and employs several people on an intermittent basis to cover his contracts. He says he is always trying to broaden his network of interpreters.

While there is quite a demand for document translators, both English to French and French to English, he said it is a more solitary existence, often one-person operations set up in a home office.

"They might spend a lot of time in front of a computer, whereas I get into all kinds of meetings on all kinds of subjects. It's never the same. I learn a little bit about a whole lot of things."

Does a career in interpretation / translation sound interesting? Read on.

WHAT DO THEY DO?
Translators relate written material from one language to another. They may translate correspondence, reports and legal documents. Interpreters translate oral communication, such as speeches, proceedings and dialogue, from one language to another, or from sign language to spoken language or vice versa.

People in these occupations specialize in one or more languages, such as French, Russian, Spanish, or American Sign Language, and they may also specialize in a particular technical area such as law, medicine or insurance.

WHO WORK IN THIS JOB?
To become a translator, you must have a thorough knowledge of at least two languages and excellent writing skills.

Translators usually translate into their native language. To work as an interpreter you should have excellent oral expression, a good memory and the ability to concentrate well. You must also be able to think quickly and clearly. As an ASL / English interpreter, you should also have physical stamina and manual dexterity. Translators should have a sound knowledge of computerized tools such as terminology banks, lexicographic databases and desktop publishing tools. Because interpreters are often employed at conferences, meetings and official gatherings, this occupation may require travel.

Twenty-six per cent of these workers have a certificate or diploma and 65 per cent have a university degree. One in five has a postgraduate degree. The average age is 41, but 38 per cent are under 35. Both parttime employment (22 per cent) and self-employment (16 per cent) are high.

WHERE DO THEY WORK?
Cape Breton 12%
Halifax 55%
North Shore 15%
Southern N.S. 18%

WHAT TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED?
In addition to fluency in another language, a university degree or a college diploma in translation or a related discipline is required. Specialization in interpretation and translation at the master's level may also be required.

Significant training and experience in these areas may replace any formal academic requirements to work in this field.

Sign language interpreters are required to obtain a college or other training program in sign language interpretation.

After completing a program, you can take national certification examinations from the Association of Visual Language Interpreters.

A translators or interpreter's certificate issued by the Canadian Translators and Interpreters Council may be required. Generally, fluency in three languages is required for translators and interpreters employed by international organizations.

EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS
Employment for this occupational group is best in the Halifax area, although there is some work through electronic media. There will continue to be a need for translators and interpreters in government to translate between Canada's two official languages. There will be job openings in coming years due to retirement.

Outlook: Fair
Employment in 2005: 280
Estimated average annual number of job openings: 10
Earnings in 2005: Averaged $17.25 an hour with a maxi­mum of $28.75

Typical jobs: Foreign languages interpreter, literary translator, American Sign Language / English Interpreter, court interpreter, terminologist.

On The Job is a weekly feature looking at career opportunities in Nova Scotia. Past columns are archived on www.jobspress.com