JOB DESCRIPTION
ORGANISATION
Parliament of the R.S.A
DIVISION
Legislation and Oversight
SECTION
Language Services
UNIT
Hansard Reporting / Translation / Interpreting
JOB TITLE
Language Practitioner
RESPONSIBILITY OF JOB
Responsible for providing a hansard reporting, interpreting
and translation service to Parliament
QUALIFICATIONS (MINIMUM)
SCHOOL
Matric
POST SCHOOL
Relevant degree / diploma: Languages
None
STATUTORY REQUIREMENT
JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY
JOB TITLE
Language Practitioner
RESPONSIBILITY OF JOB
Responsible for providing a hansard reporting,
interpreting and translation service to Parliament
KEY PERFORMANCE AREA
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
COMMENTS
1.
Interpreting
2.
Reporting
3.
Translating
4.
Indexing
5.
Terminology development
1.
Proficiency in English and one other official language
2.
Good planning skills
3.
Interpersonal Skills
4.
Computer literacy
5.
Typing and/or word-processing skills
6.
Good communication skills
7.
Ability to work under pressure
8.
Willingness to work long hours

A Language Practitioner must be able to work
independently in executing the responsibilities of the
job
JOB CONTENT
KEY PERFORMANCE AREA (WHAT)
1. Interpreting
ACTIONS (HOW)

Prepares for daily sittings by studying relevant
documentation (Order Papers, Question Papers,
Bills, etc) and prepared speeches, if available

Listening to a live speech through earphones and,
whenever and as soon as the speaker has
formulated a complete idea in the original
language (whether in a word, phrase or sentence),
using own proficiency in the target language to
express that idea in the target language by
speaking into a microphone
2. Reporting

Prepares for daily sittings by studying relevant
documentation (Order Papers, Question Papers,
Bills, etc)

Notes designation of Presiding Officer, Order of
the Day in progress, Member(s) speaking

Requests notes/documentation from Members
when necessary

Transcribes takes ensuring:

A balance between speed and accuracy

The importance of consulting reference lists,
dictionaries and other relevant documents to
ensure consistency

The technical layout requirements, and

Judging when to deviate from the Member’s
actual words

Where necessary, send takes and notes to
Language Practitioner in other language
3. Translating

Uses own proficiency in the target language to
express the content of the original text in the target
language, either by dictating into a dictaphone or by
typing

Refers to

Dictionaries, especially bilingual dictionaries,
phrase dictionaries, preposition dictionaries and
technical dictionaries for the correct terms,
spelling and expressions

Hansard uniformity guidelines for consistency in
style and format, and

Documentation relevant to the text, especially
Minutes of Proceedings, Bills, Reports and
Explanatory Memoranda for the correct
references

Consults experienced Language Practitioner’s when
references do not offer solutions to translation
problems
4. Indexing

Scans Hansard proofs and records relevant
information and appropriate column numbers
regarding

Proceedings

The deliverer of a speech

The topic of a speech and

The salient points of a speech (for subject index
of annual bound volumes of Hansard)

Judges under which item in index to record
proceedings and speech subjects, or creating such
an item if it does not exist.

Prepares the contents index of the weekly soft-cover
edition of Hansard.

Updates lists of

Cabinet members

Office-bearers of Parliament

Members of Parliament, indicating resignations,
deaths, replacements and change of surnames,
as well as the province represented

State of parties in the Houses of Parliament, and

Principal officers of Parliament
5. Terminology development

Contributes to setting language and orthography
standards

Undertakes and / or participating in research for
terminology development (especially for the
indigenous languages)

Consults with Language Practitioner’s at provincial
legislatures, state departments and in the media;
with national and provincial language boards; and
with linguists at tertiary institutions