Belgian Chamber of Translators and Interpreters

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The Belgian Chamber of Translators and Interpreters ( French Chambre belge des Traducteurs et Interprètes, Dutch Belgian Kamer van Vertalers en Tolken, abbreviated CBTI / BKVT) is a non-profit making association and was founded on April 16, 1955 in Brussels . Since 1956 it has been a member of the international umbrella organization of translators' associations, the Fédération internationale des traducteurs (FIT).

history

In 1955 the Belgian Chamber of Translators, Interpreters and Philologists (CBTIP / BKVTF) was founded in Brussels by Hugo Singer, Adolphe Van Mulders, Julien D'Archembeau, Henri Van Hoof, Enrico Angelini, R. Cambien and Max Mandart (publication of the charter in Belgian State Gazette May 14, 1955). The chairman of the first board of directors was Hugo Singer, deputy chairman Julien D'Archembeau and general secretary Henri Van Hoof, under whose direction the first edition of the association's journal Le Linguiste / De Taalkundige was published in 1955 .

At that time there were no training centers for translators and interpreters in Belgium. One of the first goals of the CBTIP / BKVTF was therefore to create specific training courses; The Chamber subsequently accompanied the establishment of all training institutions that exist today.

In 1956 the CBTIP / BKVTF became a member of the Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs (FIT), in whose work it has always been very actively involved.

In 1970 the Brussels courts entrusted the CBTIP / BKVTF with the execution of examinations for the approval of sworn translators. Subsequently, other Belgian courts decided to use the Chamber's expertise to assess the competencies of applicants wishing to work as sworn translators.

In 1984 and 1985 the CBTIP / BKVTF established contacts with the Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, which recognized the association as a representative of the translator and interpreter profession.

In 2001 the Chamber moved into its own premises for the first time with a permanent secretariat on Rue Ravenstein in Brussels and hired an administrative assistant.

In 2002 the CBTIP / BKVTF presented a basic text for a law regulating the statute of sworn translators and interpreters.

Since July 1, 2005, the headquarters of the CBTIP / BKVTF has been at Rue Montoyer 24 in Brussels.

In February 2006 the CBTIP / BKVTF received a seat in the High Council for the Self-employed and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. This was an important recognition for the translator and interpreter profession. In the same year the CBTIP / BKVTF became a member of the Federatie van de Vrije en Intellectuele Beroepen (FVIB) and the Union des Professions Libérales et Intellectuelles de Belgique (UNPLIB).

In 2013, the General Assembly decided to change the name of the association to Chambre belge des Traducteurs et Interprètes / Belgische Kamer van Vertalers en Tolken ( CBTI / BKTV ). At the same time, it passed new rules of procedure and new statutes. This made it possible, among other things, to create a new category of members called “Stagiaires” (interns), the aim of which is to involve and support translators and interpreters who do not yet meet the requirements for full membership.

On July 3, 2013, for the first time in its history, the CBTI / BKVT was invited to a hearing before the Legal Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies to explain its recommendations on the three bills on the statute of sworn translators and interpreters that were being discussed in the Belgian parliament . All three bills were based on the basic text drawn up in 2002 by the CBTI / BKVT.

structure

Organs of the CBTI / BKVT

General Assembly

The general assembly is the highest body of the association and decides on all fundamental matters.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is responsible for managing the CBTI / BKVT. The members of the Board of Directors (maximum 15) are elected for a two-year term by the General Meeting. You are entrusted with a number of mandates for the administration and representation of the CBTI / BKVT. All board members carry out their duties on a voluntary basis.

Instances to settle disputes

The CBTI / BKVT has two bodies for resolving disputes: an arbitration committee and a disciplinary council.

Chairwoman of the CBTI / BKVT from 1955 until today

  • 1955–1962: Hugo Singer
  • 1962-1971: Henri Van Hoof
  • 1971-1973: A. Van Lul
  • 1973-1974: Gustave Cammaert
  • 1974-1978: A. Wautier
  • 1978–1997: Jean-Bernard Quicheron
  • 1997–2005: Doris Grollmann
  • 2005–2013: Agnès Feltkamp
  • 2013–2015: Ludovic Pierard
  • 2015–2017: Rita Roggen
  • Since 2017: Guillaume Deneufbourg

Members

Both freelance and employed translators and interpreters belong to the CBTI / BKVT. The approximately 400 members of the association are based in Belgium or abroad and together offer over one hundred language combinations in a large number of subject areas. They always translate into their mother tongue. Applicants for full membership must have a master's degree as a translator, interpreter or linguistic specialist, or at least three years of professional experience, obtained in Belgium or abroad . Until these criteria are met, anyone who works as a translator / interpreter can become a trainee member.

Order of Honor

The members undertake to comply with the association's rules of honor.

Publications and other communication tools

Yearbook

The “yearbook” contains a list of the members, their language combinations and areas of expertise, as well as information about the association and the activities of translators and interpreters.

Website

The association's website enables a suitable translator or interpreter to be found online. It also provides up-to-date information about the Chamber and its activities and contains numerous useful materials and links.

FastInfo

The internal FastInfo mailing list offers members a platform for the exchange of subject-specific information, for mutual assistance with linguistic or other job-specific problems and for forwarding or awarding translation / interpreting jobs.

Le Linguiste / De Taalkundige

The quarterly trade journal De Taalkundige / Le Linguiste contains articles on theoretical and practical issues relating to translation and interpreting (new dictionaries, translation software , etc.).

It also provides information about the internal and external activities of the CBTI / BKVT and their participation in events relevant to the sector.

Vade-mecum du traducteur indépendant / Vademecum van de zelfstandige vertaler

A collection of information compiled by the CBTI / BKVT for its members ( Vade-mecum du traducteur indépendant / Vademecum van de zelfstandige vertaler ) provides answers to questions that arise in relation to administrative, financial, legal and practical aspects at the beginning of the activity and during the a professional career as a freelance translator.

Social networks

The CBTI / BKVT has been present on Facebook since 2012 under the name “Belgian Chamber of Translators and Interpreters” .

activities

The CBTI / BKVT regularly organizes colloquia, training courses and seminars, including on the occasion of the International Translators Day, which is celebrated on September 30th every year .

Informal meetings give members the opportunity to get to know each other better, to exchange experiences and to establish contacts for cooperation.

External contacts

Contacts to the market and public institutions

One of the goals of the CBTI / BKVT is to make its members and their activities better known to professional associations, companies, ministries and other institutions that use the services of translators and interpreters. To this end, she regularly takes part in conferences, trade fairs and colloquia. It also forwards tenders, offers and inquiries from international organizations and other clients to its members.

Cooperation with cross-industry associations

The CBTI / BKVT is a member of the Union nationale des professions libérales et intellectuelles (UNPLIB) and the Federatie voor Vrije en Intellectuele Beroepen (FVIB). This gives her the opportunity to express herself at the political level on decisions that affect the professions she represents. The CBTI / BKVT is also connected to the Union des classes moyennes (UCM) and the Unie van Zelfstandige Ondernemers (Unizo) via the UNPLIB and the FVIB . This gives the members of the CBTI / BKVT, on the one hand, access to numerous lectures and training courses; on the other hand, the CBTI / BKVT is also present at the European level through the two organizations.

As a professional association, the CBTI / BKVT has a seat in sector commission 15 (“Other liberal and intellectual professions”) of the High Council for the self-employed and SMEs. This means that the CBTI / BKVT is recognized at national level: it is the only association in Belgium recognized for representing the interests of translators and interpreters.

International cooperation

Since January 1, 1956, the CBTI / BKVT has been a member of the Fédération internationale des traducteurs (FIT). FIT is recognized by UNESCO as the umbrella organization of 107 translators' associations from over 60 countries . Right from the start, the CBTI / BKVT was regularly represented by several members in various FIT committees and in the editorial team of the FIT magazine Babel.

The CBTI / BKVT maintains close relationships with various translator and interpreter associations in other countries. This happens in particular within the framework of the Réseau franco-allemand, the Réseau franco-anglais and the Réseau franco-espagnol.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ cbti-bkvt.org

Coordinates: 50 ° 50 ′ 27.9 ″  N , 4 ° 22 ′ 11.2 ″  E