Today we’d like to introduce you to Zel Saccani.
Hi Zel, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a licensed Texas and Florida court interpreter and a Spanish => English translator certified by the American Translators Association. I am also a licensed Florida and D.C. attorney. Over the past 25 years, I’ve worked exclusively in language services.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
With the advent of language technology, I am shifting from translation (written documents) to interpretation (verbal communication). While I have been licensed as a Spanish/English court interpreter since 2010, this transition requires developing and maintaining new skills and working in different environments, such as at courthouses, law offices and immigration facilities.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Saccani Legal and Business Translations, Inc.l?
I am my company’s sole translator and interpreter. Clients who work with me receive a uniform and consistent quality and accuracy. I understand the difficulty of the process and prepare all work carefully and methodically, without subcontractors or software. With every translation and interpretation, I learn more about the languages in which I work (specifically, from Spanish, Portuguese, French, German and Italian into English, and from English into Spanish). I love my profession and hope to work another 25 years!
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I recommend that new professionals strive to work in a regulated (as compared to unregulated) profession. Court interpreting is regulated by the State of Texas and by the U.S. Federal Government. There are quality standards and barriers to entry. Translations are unregulated and, in a globalized marketplace, there is a “rush to the bottom” in terms of price and quality. I am aiming to work more and more in the regulated field of court interpreting, instead of the unregulated field of translations, even thought the latter is my true passion because I love to write.
Pricing:
- 25 cents per word for translations (www.slbt.net/pricing)
- $100 an hour for interpretations (www.slbt.net/pricing)
- Approximately 1/2 of translation rate for editing/proofreading services
- Free telephonic and email consultations
- Occasionally available to support pro bono/low bono cases.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.slbt.net
Image Credits
No image credits needed. I own the rights to use.
