Pemprofesionalan Pekerjaan Jurubahasa di Malaysia: Tinjauan dalam Kalangan Jurubahasa (The Professionalisation of Interpreting Work in Malaysia: A Survey of Interpreters)
Abstract
Walaupun bidang kejurubahasaan telah diamalkan sejak zaman berzaman di seantero dunia, sebagai disiplin akademik, ia masih baharu. Perkembangan bidang pengajian kejurubahasaan didorong oleh usaha untuk meningkatkan status jurubahasa sebagai profesion yang diiktiraf masyarakat. Di Malaysia, tahap pemprofesionalan bidang kejurubahasaan masih rendah dengan pelbagai cabaran berkaitan status, keterlihatan, identiti profesional, kredibiliti dan kawalan kualiti meskipun industri penterjemahan telah lama bertapak di negara ini. Makalah ini bertujuan meneliti tahap kesiapsiagaan dan sikap jurubahasa di Malaysia terhadap pemprofesionalan, serta meninjau bagaimana proses ini dapat dibentuk dalam konteks tempatan. Dua persoalan utama dikemukakan: (1) Apakah profil sosiodemografi dan pekerjaan jurubahasa di Malaysia? dan (2) Apakah pandangan mereka terhadap empat dimensi pemprofesionalan—status, pensijilan, pendidikan, dan latihan, serta sokongan institusi? Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah tinjauan soal selidik dengan teknik persampelan rantaian melibatkan 50 orang jurubahasa di Malaysia. Dapatan menunjukkan bahawa majoriti responden menyokong pemprofesionalan melalui pensijilan, pendidikan, latihan, dan penglibatan institusi, walaupun kebanyakan daripada mereka bekerja secara bebas tanpa pendidikan tinggi khusus dalam bidang kejurubahasaan. Pengalaman kerja didapati menjadi sumber utama keyakinan profesional mereka. Bagi mengukuhkan profesion, model pendidikan fleksibel berasaskan APEL dan program latihan khusus untuk pensijilan profesional dicadangkan bagi memperluaskan akses, menyokong pembelajaran sepanjang hayat, serta melahirkan jurubahasa kompeten yang diiktiraf dan relevan dengan keperluan industri semasa.
Kata kunci: Jurubahasa; pemprofesionalan; Malaysia; pensijilan; status
ABSTRACT
Although interpreting across the world has been practised since time immemorial, it remains a relatively young academic discipline. The birth and growth of interpreting studies have been driven by efforts to elevate the status of interpreters and transform interpreting practice into a profession that is socially recognised. In Malaysia, the level of professionalisation in the interpreting sector remains low, marked by challenges related to status, visibility, professional identity, credibility, and quality control, despite the long-standing presence of translation and interpreting practices in the country. This article aims to explore Malaysian interpreters’ readiness for and attitudes towards professionalisation, and to gain insight into how professionalisation might be shaped in the local context. Two key questions guide the study: (1) What are the sociodemographic and occupational profiles of interpreters in Malaysia? and (2) What are their perceptions of four core dimensions of professionalisation—status, certification, education and training, and institutional support? A survey using snowball sampling was conducted with 50 interpreters across Malaysia. Findings show that most respondents support professionalisation through certification, education and training, and institutional involvement, even though many work independently and lack formal higher education in interpreting. Professional confidence appears to stem primarily from work experience rather than academic credentials. To strengthen the profession, this study recommends flexible educational models incorporating APEL, alongside specialised training pathways leading to professional certification. Such approaches can broaden access, support lifelong learning, and help develop competent interpreters who are formally recognised and equipped to meet contemporary industry demands.
Keywords: Interpreters; professionalisation; Malaysia; certification; status
Keywords
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