Pierre Peterson
“In my opinion, language justice is free language access for everybody. Instead of being a barrier, language serves as a bridge to connect people to what they need.”
Haitian Creole <> English <> French
I am currently working as a freelance translator and interpreter based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Over the past 12 years, I have successfully managed a variety of translation and interpretation assignments for numerous clients, ranging from local organizations to international entities and individuals. In addition to my professional endeavors, I am a volunteer for both the International Federation for Choral Music and Translators Without Borders. In these roles, I meticulously proofread and translate articles across diverse subjects from English to Haitian Creole (my native language) and French. When I started this line of work a few years ago, I didn't even have a good laptop or stable internet connection; today, thanks to what I do, I have visited several countries, taken some costly training courses and can cover my expenses, which include a very good laptop, 24/7 off-grid electricity and reliable internet connection.
I have only been a part of Respond for a few months, however I like the fact that I am able to support my peers in accessing language services. In my opinion, language justice is free language access for everybody. Instead of being a barrier, language serves as a bridge to connect people to what they need. What I like the most about working with Respond is the human aspect: I get to speak and exchange with real people. I believe that life is a gift, therefore I must give back anytime I get the chance to do so; this is what motivates me to be part of the Respond team.
In terms of the role itself, I think one thing people don’t necessarily realise is that being bilingual or trilingual does not make someone a good translator or interpreter. It is a great asset, but it also takes a lot of creativity, patience and technique. Additionally, another particularly challenging part of this work (especially when it comes to my mental health) is having to deal with clients who just want to go over a script or form as soon as possible, without any sympathy for the people they are speaking with. Therefore, I have a daily routine to take care of myself: I read, meditate, work out and journal.
Nonetheless, I have also experienced some funny moments while working as a translator and interpreter. For example, I was once a consecutive interpreter in a training session for first responders, which included a fire module: in a private conversation, I had told the trainer that my car had once caught on fire and that I took care of it by peeing on the fire itself; when he started to talk about different ways to control a fire, the trainer invited me to tell my story to the audience. I did, and everybody had a good laugh!
Another fun fact about myself would be my favourite expression: “li relem chè mèt, chè mètrès”. This translates to “it belongs to me” in Haitian Creole; however, literally it means that if the item could talk, it would call me “dear master, dear mistress”. It is my favorite expression because of how unique and creative it is.
Finally, I am also a proud member of Toastmasters International where I am a Distinguished Toastmaster!
