Buenos Aires, March 5,  2010 

Accuses Them of Trying to Undermine AATI

The Argentine Association of Translators and Interpreters (AATI) has revoked the membership of three professionals, Aurora Matilde Humarán, Gabriela Mejías and José Luis Villanueva Senchuk,  for the simple reason that they are founding members of the International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters (IAPTI). 

Pressure began to be brought to bear in November of 2009, when the Board of Directors of AATI sent each of these professionals an “invitation” (complete with an urgent response deadline) to explain why they had decided to create a new association “with the same aims as those of AATI”. Naturally, the response was that the creation of IAPTI in no way whatsoever implied detriment of any kind to any already existing association, but rather, just the contrary.  

There are, in fact, several marked differences between IAPTI and AATI, although this clearly does not imply that they are contradictory organizations, since they are, indeed, complementary. In the first place, IAPTI’s scope is international: Its purpose is to encompass translators and interpreters worldwide. This is an objective that is only achievable by having an understanding of the global outlook for our profession. IAPTI is made up of professionals from a number of different countries, who possess a deep knowledge of reality on the international translation and interpretation market. IAPTI is, then, in a unique position from which to work for the good of translators and interpreters in these times of globalization and from a well rounded viewpoint of the profession as a whole.   

This globally integrated viewpoint implies not only the inclusion of translators and interpreters from all over the world, but also the understanding that many colleagues from a variety of different countries do not possess translating or interpreting diplomas. But these are professionals who should indeed be included in any association that wishes to genuinely reflect the broader professional community and to work to correct a number of  irregularities that exist today in Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, Argentina, Brazil, India and so many other countries around the world. AATI, on the other hand, with very few exceptions, does not admit translators and interpreters who do not hold a degree. IAPTI has foreseen a rigorous method for admission, designed to corroborate the professional experience of its members, based on analysis of each applicant’s background, but without making the holding of a diploma an exclusive membership requirement. 

IAPTI’s authorities want to make it clear that they have attempted to establish institutional relations with AATI since the day after the new Association’s Bylaws were signed and sealed. Nevertheless, AATI’s authorities have not only rejected all invitations to initiate dialog and cooperation, but have also repeatedly persecuted those who are members of both organizations, eventually making the decision to expel them from that group. 

IAPTI is of the idea that only through dialog can the common objectives of professionals be attained, in the search for changes to an adverse reality and applying different tools from different viewpoints.   It is for this reason that the guiding principles of IAPTI members have always included cooperation and teamwork in the company of all of the many organizations representing, as in the case of AATI, the translating and interpreting profession. But it is apparent that this desire for dialog and cooperation is not shared by the Board of AATI.

About IAPTI

The International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters (IAPTI) is a legally established (final status pending) civil association. It currently has members in 27 countries. It was established on September 30, 2009, with the aim of becoming a factor for change within a globalized reality, which, for the time being, is flagrantly detrimental to the interests of translating and interpreting professionals.   

Contact information: Maria Karra, Head of the IAPTI Foreign Relations Committee  maria.karra@aipti.org