China will require people who want to serve as translators and interpreters to pass a certified test with the purpose of improving translation quality and services in the country.
All the translators working at government organizations, public institutions and state-owned-enterprises must pass the China Aptitude Test for Translators and Interpreters (CATTI) before they take up their job starting 2008, said Guo Xiaoyong, director of the leading group of the CATTI.
"The test covers all translators engaged in translation between Chinese and the other seven languages including English, French, Japanese, Russian, German, Spanish and Arabian," Guo said.
"The test, as a professional assessment tool, will be helpful to improve quality of translation service," he said. Currently, the CATTI only open to Chinese translators.
China has seen rapid increase in the language-based exchanges and services, a result of expanding Sino-foreign exchanges since the country adopted its reform and opening-up policy about 30 years ago.
The CATTI, launched jointly by the Ministry of Personnel and the China International Publishing Group (CIPG) in July 2003, is regarded as the most authoritative test of its kind in the country.
There were no nationally accepted qualification test for translators and interpreters before CATTI was launched, though there were a number of tests organized by different regions and departments.
The CATTI was necessary to regulate the expanding translation sector and it will improve the professional quality of translators, Guo said.
In the near future, the CATTI will be introduced into the education on masters, Guo said.
CATTI has four levels, namely senior, level one, level two and level three. At present, it covers seven foreign languages including English, French, Japan, Russian, German, Spanish, and Arabian.
Statistics show that applicants for the CATTI have reached around 50,000 person-times since 2003, of whom 8,000 have obtained the certificates.
Source: Xinhua
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