Community-Based Translation and Interpreting: Access and Advocacy
Language justice is a framework that prioritizes equitable communication across languages, with the goal of having each person actively engage in multiracial, multilingual spaces, which are so crucial to our current moment. In this course, we will address the complexities of performing cross-language work in community- and advocacy-based settings, including cultivating an awareness and understanding of power, examining the role of the interpreter or translator, and facilitating equitable communication. Receive a basic introduction to language justice principles and an understanding of how these inform the ethical norms followed when working with clients who are advocating for basic rights and fighting against systems of oppression. The course will include theoretical foundations, case studies, best practices, information about contracts and negotiation, and mentorship models. We also will address two central questions: 1) What does it take for an organization to invest in becoming genuinely multilingual? 2) How do we balance expectations and flexibility when working with mission-driven organizations responding urgently to legitimate crises?
Upon successful completion of this course, you will automatically earn a
digital badge.
This course is delivered in an online, self-paced (asynchronous) format. The instructor interacts with students and facilitates group discussions within NYU’s online learning platform. There are weekly deadlines for lesson and assignment completion.
You'll Walk Away with
- A working definition of a language justice workplace and strategies working together with clients to create this together
- The ability to develop a balance between expectations and flexibility for an environment that facilitates the work of interpreters/translators and meets current needs
- A clearer sense of dynamics that arise in community settings, particularly power dynamics between clients and interpreters/translators
- Some real-world models of organizations that reflect genuine multilingual spaces and an understanding of what it took to get there
Ideal for
- Seasoned professional translators and interpreters
- Graduates with advanced degrees in translation
- Individuals seeking industry-focused professional development
- Professional translators and interpreters looking to expand their practice into an area of specialization
NO open sections available for this course at the moment. Please check back next semester.