Let me take a moment to introduce myself.

My name is Michael Scott, and I live in New York City. My small circle includes my family, office colleagues, some long-standing friends.

As an Administrative Law Judge for New York State, I hold fair hearings about a person's right to various entitlement benefits. I work hard, but I enjoy the intensity, the contact with people telling their stories. Many of them speak in foreign languages, and often a professional interpreter is needed. I have been impressed with their overall professionalism under difficult circumstances.

Many of them are concerned that the job of interpreter or translator can never be a lifetime career that can support a family. They are hopeful, but until now few of them could say they had job security.

I believe that is changing now, and it is mostly due to globalization. The computer has vastly increased the rate of business activity. Nowadays, traditional business owners operate with the expectation that they can reach consumers anywhere in the world. Their products and services can reach people who speak different languages, and all that needs to be done is to communicate with them in their language.

Of course that has been true for decades. Walt Disney movies have long been popular throughout the world, even though the same animated characters speak different languages when shown in other countries. But it is all happening much faster now. That's why the opportunities for language interpreters have improved so much. It is unpredictable, but also exciting because the skill of being bi-lingual is such an advantage today.

That, in brief, is my perspective. I will be writing about the interpreting profession during this period of change. I hope that many of you will send me your own opinions and experiences. Various friends and language professionals will do "guest" blogs in this space, and you should be reading interviews with people whom I believe are "leading the way" into the future.

Finally, you should be learning some things about me as well. No, not because of popular demand, but because I just want to get my ideas across. Or just talk about things that annoy or delight me. Until next time, I wish all of you happy holidays!