Jialing (Jessie) Huang
Translator or interpreter (or both): both
Language(s) and direction(s): Chinese–English
Location: Canberra, ACT
Practising as a translator/interpreter since: 2018
Member of AUSIT since: 2019
Main area(s) of practice: legal, medical, business
Q1:
How did you come to be a T/I?
A1:
I was born and grew up in Guangzhou, China, where it is easy to access English television programs, and also casually organised English-speaking in-person chat groups in universities and city libraries. I developed an interest in languages, maintained high grades in English in school, and after completing a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature, worked as an English reporter and bilingual editor for about 10 years. When I came to Australia to pursue my master’s degree in T&I, I found a new door to specialised translation in community settings, which is challenging but rewarding. In 2018, I passed the NAATI certification tests and started my translation career journey in Australia.
Q2:
Tell us about a project you have worked on that was especially interesting or challenging (within the bounds of confidentiality of course).
A2:
One assignment involved transcribing and translating Cantonese-speaking conversations between two people which involved many Cantonese expressions, including a lot of dirty words that I had rarely heard before. As the translation was used for evidence in court, it had to be very accurate and deliver the anger and resentment expressed by the speakers in their arguments, so I included some translator’s notes. The main challenges of the assignment lay in the intensity of the conversations, and also the background noise, including a door being slammed. The experience was quite uncomfortable for my ears.
Lambrine Maniatis
Translator or interpreter (or both): interpreter
Language(s) and direction(s): Greek–English
Location: Melbourne, VIC
Practising as a translator/interpreter since: 2020
Member of AUSIT since: 2020
Main area(s) of practice: medical, legal, education
Q1:
How did you come to be a T/I?
A1:
I was born in Bendigo and raised in Melbourne, and have spent most of my adult life in Athens, where I taught English at military and police academies, and was an examiner for English examinations. Returning to Australia in 2014, I taught English to international students while studying T&I to master’s level at RMIT University, then subtitling, editing and audiovisual translation online at the University of Athens. As I’m bilingual (Greek and English) and have extensive experience across academic and institutional settings, moving into professional T&I felt like a natural progression. I recognised the crucial role that T&I practitioners play in ensuring accurate and impartial communication.
Q2:
Tell us about a project you have worked on that was especially interesting or challenging (within the bounds of confidentiality of course).
A2:
Working as a healthcare interpreter, I interpreted for an 80-year-old woman diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After I’d interpreted the doctor’s explanation of her condition and the risks of surgery, the patient was overwhelmed and in shock. I carefully interpreted her questions about the surgery, and from then on she requested my interpreting at all her medical appointments and procedures, saying my presence gave her comfort and reassurance, and helped her understand her condition. After surviving a major operation and living for several more months, her cancer recurred and she passed away with remarkable grace. Her incredible strength and warmth left a lasting impression on me. This experience highlighted the critical role that empathetic, accurate and respectful interpreting plays in patient care, easing uncertainty and fostering understanding.
