By James MallinsonMCIL,winner of the 2019 Best Overall DPSI Candidate and Best DPSI Candidate in English Law.
I am a native speaker of EnglishԻwork with French and Italian. It wasonlyafterI hadbeen working as a freelance interpreter for a number of years that Ibecame awareof the standing oftheDiploma in Public Service Interpreting(DPSI) qualificationfrom Ǵýand of thehigh regardin which it is heldby professionalswho work with interpretersand by language practitioners in the field. The DPSI,which is awarded byǴýQualifications,has built up its reputation overthirtyyears and is considered by linguists and professionals alike to bethegold standard of interpreting awards.
In view of the high standing ofthe Ǵý QualificationsDPSI,I set myself the objective of achieving the award formy ownpersonal satisfactionand also fortheprofessional recognitionit affordsand as a mark of linguistic competence in which other professionals could have confidence.Iopted for the English Law pathway andwas awarded the DPSI in Italian in 2015,in recognition of which I wasadmitted to the top tier ofthe interpreting agencies with which I am registered andoffereda broader rangeand higher levelof work andwith some agenciesa higher rate of pay.Havingbuilt up some considerable experience in interpreting in Italian, asholder of the Ǵý DPSII was able to apply to be admitted to the National Register of Public Service Interpreters(NRPSI), through which I have been contacteddirectly by professionalswith offers of interpreting appointments.
I decided tosit the DPSI examinationsin French as a challenge from aFrenchfriend but also,andmore particularly,with a view togainingthe professional recognitionafforded only by Ǵý’sDPSIqualification, which I attained in 2019.
In addition to working as an interpreter I have also been involved since 2015 in supporting candidatespreparingfor DPSI exams.Besides encouragingthemtouse all of the examination preparation resources on the Ǵý website,developtheirknowledge of thesubject matterand their command of English and the Other Language through reading, radio, television, research on the internet and building glossaries, I urge themon the days of the examsto relaxand have confidence in their ability.
When I was studying for my DPSI in Italian I was advised to “expect the unexpected” and to “keep it simple”. When I was supporting candidateslast year, weadoptedas our‘joke’mantrasforno omissions, no additions, appropriacy of register and tone, etc,indeliveringbest practice “say it as it is” and“do what it says on the tin”.
The Ǵý (Ǵý), Incorporatedby Royal Charter, Registered in England and Wales Number RC 000808 and the IoL Educational Trust (IoLET), trading as Ǵý Qualifications, Company limited by Guarantee, Registered in England and Wales Number 04297497 and Registered Charity Number 1090263. Ǵý is a not-for-profit organisation.