The first Danish-Chinese and Danish-Persian translators ever receive their degrees

The two graduates
In May, CBS examinee Ping Li passed her final, oral examination and thereby became Denmark’s first MA in translation and interpretation in Chinese. Examiner and second examiner for the exams were Sinologist Charlotte Kehlet (to the right in the photo) and Mandarin interpreter Weidong He-Gjerløff (to the left), both of whom had agreed to familiarise themselves with the language areas for special purposes in order to conduct the exams.

Likewise, in June, examinee Payam Hossein Tadayoni (to the left in the photo) passed his final exams and became Denmark’s first MA in translation and interpretation in Persian. Examiner and second examiner for these exams were Associate Professors Rasmus Christian Elling and Claus Valling Pedersen (to the right), both from the University of Copenhagen, who had also taken upon themselves to become familiar with language for special purposes in order to conduct the exams.

The requirements

The MA in translation and interpretation (Translatøreksamen) can be taken in all languages other than those covered by the Master of Arts in International Business Communication (cand.ling.merc.). The degree is conducted according to the

statutory order on the MA in translation and interpretation (Bekendtgørelsen om translatøreksamen på handelshøjskolerne i København og Århus) and is gained through a strenuous examination process.

It consists of a thesis, nine written exams (in mercantile/financial, legal, technical and general language), and five oral exams, taken during one two-hour session, (in the same language areas, plus dialogue interpreting within legal interpretation). As there are no courses, preparation for the examinations is expected to be carried out by self-study.

Examination of translators at CBS is coming to an end

The translation profession in Denmark is nearly 400 years old, going back to the reign of Christian 4. At CBS, examination (and authorisation) of translators in the large European languages (the cand.ling.merc.) began in the late 1960s, and examination and authorisation in other languages (the MA in translation and interpretation) in 1983.

However, the state-authorisation of translators in Denmark was abolished as of 1 January 2016, when the Danish Parliament rescinded the act concerning translators and interpreters (Lov om translatører og tolke), and the examination of translators and interpreters in the European languages at CBS has also been phased out. The MA in translation and interpretation will end at CBS on 31 August 2018. At this point in time, it is uncertain if it will be possible to take the MA in translation and interpretation at any other Danish university, although the statutory order makes it possible for Aarhus University to continue the programme.