Language Reference Assistance at the United Nations  

Language reference assistants provide the full range of reference materials to translators, editors and other language professionals to ensure accuracy, consistency and timeliness in the translation of United Nations documents and publications.

Language reference assistants contribute to the maintenance of the central multilingual terminology database UNTERM and local terminology databases by searching for official titles of interest to translators and other language professionals. In consultation with terminologists they research official language versions of titles and acronyms of UN organs, specialized agencies, international organizations, programmes, funds and non-governmental organizations ascertaining their accuracy and enter the information into the database. Language reference assistants might be required to work with documents in any of the United Nations official languages and carry out research by consulting terminology databases, reports, treaties, resolutions, and other documents. They also liaise with various United Nations departments, specialized agencies, and permanent missions as necessary.

Language reference assistants provide terminology assistance and respond to terminology queries from within and outside the Secretariat, including specialized agencies, international organizations, Permanent Missions of Member States at the United Nations, non-governmental organizations, universities and the media, researching, identifying and transmitting the appropriate information in relevant languages.

Since language reference assistants often have to identify and retrieve documents from the United Nations Official Document System (ODS), they are expected to have in-depth knowledge of official documentation and terminology used in the United Nations. Therefore, these positions are open only to individuals who are already working or have worked at the United Nations in the past. For this language post candidates must have passed the United Nations Competitive Examination for Language Reference Assistants having the relevant three-language combination.