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The AIIC Project to Help Interpreters in Conflict Areas

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Languages and the Military

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Languages at War ((PASLW))

Abstract

The International Association of Conference Interpreters, known by its French acronym, AIIC (Association international des interprètes de conférence), was founded in 1953 in France to defend and promote the interests of conference interpreters and is still the only international association of conference interpreters in existence, with more than three thousand individual members throughout the world. In the years after World War II when a world in ruin was being reorganized, some colleagues had the vision to realize that the introduction of simultaneous interpretation, particularly since its use at the Nuremberg trials, and the creation of many new international organizations would lead to rapid growth in the multilingual conference ‘industry’ and in the number of interpreters required. In order to ensure proper pay and working conditions, they realized that they would need to negotiate with their employers and band together to defend themselves.

Linda Fitchett is a member of the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC) and coordinator of the Interpreters in Conflict Areas project. She may be contacted at l.fitchett@aiic.net

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References

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© 2012 Linda Fitchett

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Fitchett, L. (2012). The AIIC Project to Help Interpreters in Conflict Areas. In: Footitt, H., Kelly, M. (eds) Languages and the Military. Palgrave Studies in Languages at War. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137033086_12

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