11/12/22, 5:49 PM South African Translators' Institute - Wikipedia

South African Translators' Institute

The South African Translators' Institute (SATI) is
the largest association in South Africa representing South African Translators'
professional, academic and amateur translators and other Institute
language practitioners.

SATI was founded in 1956.[1] Membership is open to

anyone, and at present there are around 800 members
(2012 figure).[2]

The institute has adopted official names in South Africa's Founded 25 August 1956
other official languages, namely (Afrikaans: Suid- Type Trade association
Afrikaanse Vertalersinstituut, SAVI, Zulu: INhlangano
yaBahumushi yaseNingizimu Afrika, Xhosa: Umbutho Members 800
wabaGuquli wazeMzantsi Afrika, Sotho: Mokgatlo wa Website http://www.translators.org.za/
Bafetoledi wa Afrika Borwa, Northern Sotho: Sehlongwa
sa Bafetoledi sa Afrika Borwa, Tswana: Mokgatlho wa Baranodi wa Aforika Borwa, Tsonga:
Vandla ra Vahundzuluxi ra Afrika Dzonga, Swazi: Inhlangano Yebahumushi YaseNingizimu
Afrika, Venda: Tshiimiswa tsha Vhapinduleli tsha Afurika Tshipembe, and Southern Ndebele:
IHlangano yabaTjhugululi yeSewula Afrika).

Contents
Purpose
Industry recognition
Membership
Code of ethics
Accreditation
Types of accreditation
The examinations
Structure
Publications
Coat of arms
References
External links

Purpose
SATI's purpose is to promote the interests of the translation profession in South Africa, chiefly
through:

undertaking, promoting and/or publishing research

publishing a journal and various language and translation guides
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enforcing a code of ethics for translators

co-operating with other organisations and institutions to promote the profession
lobbying for proper training facilities for translators
at some future date, limiting membership to those who had passed an examination

Other developments through which SATI contributes to translation in South Africa, include:

administering a system of accreditation based on set examinations

granting bursaries to students of translation each year
awarding a cash prize for outstanding translation in various fields every three years
maintaining a database of freelance translators, interpreters and editors, which is accessible to
the public
representing South African interests internationally as a member of the International
Federation of Translators (FIT)

Industry recognition
Recognition for SATI in the translation industry in South Africa is sporadic, and SATI
accreditation has no official recognition in South African law. However, some government
departments prefer to employ SATI accreditees, e.g., certain metropolitan city councils[3][4] and
the police,[5] and a few government departments even pay their employees' SATI membership
fees.[6] SATI's freelance tariffs have been used in some legislation as a yardstick.[7]

Membership
Membership is open to anyone from any country in any profession, though most members are
South Africans who are translators. There are about 800 members.

The only requirement for membership is that new members agree to adhere to SATI's code of
ethics and pay an annual membership fee (R845 in 2019). There are no membership
examinations, although introduction of such examinations has been an ideal since the founding of
the institute.

Code of ethics
The fifteen tenets of the SATI code of ethics are as follows:

All members of SATI shall:

aim for best quality of text interpretation, terminology use, spelling and grammar, and tone and
register
accept full responsibility for their translations
inform their clients of unresolved problems
accept only work which they are capable of doing (although translators may accept work that
they are incapable of doing if their clients have been made aware of the fact)
deliver their work by the deadline and in the form agreed upon with the client
constantly pursue self-improvement
share professional know-how with other members
treat as confidential all new information about their clients and work done for them
accept no work that is for unlawful or dishonest purposes

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accept no work that is contrary to public interest

not charge excessive rates
respect copyright and author rights
practise high ethical and moral standards when dealing with clients and colleagues
participate in the activities of the Institute
always behave and translate in a manner that advances the interests of the Institute and the
profession

Accreditation
SATI offers an accreditation examination to members[8] and has done so since 1990. In 2011, some
240 of its 800 members were accredited. Several members were accredited in more than one trade
or language, and there were 390 accreditations.[9]

Members of SATI are encouraged to gain accreditation, but it is not required for membership.
Accreditation is, however, required of members of the SATI executive committee and the executive
committees of both formal and informal chapters of the Institute. Formal chapters are required to
have a certain minimum number of accredited members. Only accredited members are allowed to
vote at SATI's annual general meeting.

Corporate members who adhere to specific requirements set by the Institute may also become
accredited.

Types of accreditation

SATI offers accreditation for general translation, sworn translation, language editing,
simultaneous interpreting, and terminology in various combinations of South Africa's 11 official
languages and some non-South African languages such as Dutch, French, German, Italian,
Portuguese and Spanish.

Type of accreditation Number of members (2019)

Simultaneous interpreting 57
Language editing 43
Terminology 3
Translation: from Afrikaans to English 20
Translation: from English to Afrikaans 41
Translation: between English and Afrikaans 27
Translation: other languages 40
Sworn translation 16
TOTAL (accredited members) 217

SATI has an agreement with the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters
in Australia (NAATI) regarding translation accreditation in other languages that are not as
common in South Africa.

The examinations

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Candidates taking the translation, editing and terminology examinations are given 24 hours to
complete a number of texts at their own premises. During this 24-hour period they are not allowed
to contact other humans. The product of the exam must be entirely their own (no external editors,
proofreaders, etc.). To counteract the possibility of cheating, the translators' exams are particularly
difficult, and the specific preferences of examiners are not made known to candidates. The exam
papers typically include a literary piece, an academic piece, and a choice from certain broad
technical fields.

The examination papers are marked independently by two examiners. In cases where one
examiner passes and the other fails the candidate, a third examiner is appointed, with the view to a
2/3 ruling.

The interpreter examinations are held once or twice a year at different centres across the country,
depending on demand. Interpreter accreditation is also available for South African Sign Language.

Members who fail an examination must wait 12 months before attempting the exam again. A list of
current accreditees are available on the Institute's web site.

Structure
The Institute is run by an executive comprising a chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary,
registrar and treasurer.

The following committees have also been set up to guide the Institute's activities: Accreditation
and Ethics.

SATI office-bearers and committee members work on a voluntary basis. Members of the executive
are elected at an annual general meeting for a period of three years.

Members of SATI may establish regional and subject-specific chapters. There are a number of
chapters: Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KZN, Free State & Northern Cape, Northwest and
Emerging Practitioners.

Publications
Publications produced by the Institute are the Sworn Translation manual (guide to the practice of
sworn translation in South Africa), and Bridging Language Barriers: SATI – The First Fifty Years
(a history of the Institute).

Coat of arms
In 1979 MAY, SATI applied for and registered a coat of arms at the South African State Herald.[10]

References
1. "Western Cape Language Committee is awarded the highest honour" (https://web.archive.org/
web/20110604100310/http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2002/02062612461010.htm). Archived
from the original (http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2002/02062612461010.htm) on 4 June
2011. Retrieved 28 January 2009.

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2. "The South African Translators' Institute" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140616162627/http://t

ranslators.org.za/sati_cms/index.php?
frontend_action=display_text_content&content_id=1651). Archived from the original (http://tran
slators.org.za/sati_cms/index.php?frontend_action=display_text_content&content_id=1651) on
16 June 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
3. "Archived copy" (https://web.archive.org/web/20141127202150/http://web.capetown.gov.za/not
ices/upload/LANGUAGE%200352.doc). Archived from the original (http://web.capetown.gov.z
a/notices/upload/LANGUAGE%200352.doc) on 27 November 2014. Retrieved 27 August
2012.
4. "Archived copy" (https://web.archive.org/web/20141129080617/http://www.tshwane.gov.za/Bus
iness/Lists/Tenders/Attachments/56/CB432012.pdf) (PDF). Archived from the original (http://w
ww.tshwane.gov.za/Business/Lists/Tenders/Attachments/56/CB432012.pdf) (PDF) on 29
November 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
5. "Careers : Translator (Language Practitioner)" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120410143041/
http://www.saps.gov.za/careers/career_quest/yellow/translator.htm). Archived from the original
(http://www.saps.gov.za/careers/career_quest/yellow/translator.htm) on 10 April 2012.
Retrieved 27 August 2012.
6. "Speeches | Department of Sport, Arts and Culture" (http://www.dac.gov.za/speeches/dministe
r/Speech29Oct2007.html).
7. http://www.info.gov.za/view/DownloadFileAction?id=83653
8. "Archived copy" (https://web.archive.org/web/20061024134855/http://www.cetra.com/publicatio
ns/2001-08.pdf) (PDF). Archived from the original (http://www.cetra.com/publications/2001-08.
pdf) (PDF) on 24 October 2006. Retrieved 28 January 2009.
9. "Archived copy" (https://web.archive.org/web/20141217180337/http://translators.org.za/sati_c
ms/downloads/dynamic/accreditees_by_type_of_accreditation__2011_english.pdf) (PDF).
Archived from the original (http://translators.org.za/sati_cms/downloads/dynamic/accreditees_
by_type_of_accreditation__2011_english.pdf) (PDF) on 17 December 2014. Retrieved
27 August 2012.
10. Application GK/GN 2019: SK/GG 6175, 1978-10-06; Registration GK/GN 229: SK/GG 6298,
1979-02-09; Certificate issued 1979-04-06 (Afrikaans).

External links
South African Translators' Institute (http://translators.org.za/)

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