How to Become a Translator PDF

# How to become a Translator ## Introduction - People become translators by design or circumstance. - There are no formal academic qualifications but advertisements often request graduates with professional qualifications and three years of experience. - Many countries have professional organizati...

# How to become a Translator ## Introduction - People become translators by design or circumstance. - There are no formal academic qualifications but advertisements often request graduates with professional qualifications and three years of experience. - Many countries have professional organizations for translators. - The Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs (FIT) sets specific standards and levels of academic achievement for membership. - Two organizations in the United Kingdom set examinations for professional membership: the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIoL) and the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI). - Experience is necessary to become a translator. - Professionals should work under the guidance of a more experienced colleague. - A dossier of translations made while studying at university is valuable, but unlikely to receive the same level of analytical constructive criticism from an agency or client. - An MA will help translators reach a very professional level and can be a benefit when applying to professional bodies like the ITI or the CIoL. ## Common Misconceptions of Translators - Translators can translate all subjects. - Speaking a foreign language means you can automatically translate into it. - Being bilingual means you can hold a conversation in a foreign language. ## Skills of a Translator - **Cultural understanding:** What influences the development of the source language? National characteristics where the language is spoken. Hazards of stereotyping. - **Information technology:** Hardware and software used in producing translations. Electronic file management. E-commerce. - **Language and literacy:** - **Project management:** Resources coordination. Terminology research. Administration. Quality control. - **Communication:** Clarity of expression. - **Making decisions:** Consulting. Reflecting. Analysing and evaluating. Establishing facts. Making judgments. ## A Day in the Life of a Freelance Translator - The tasks a translator undertakes are varied each day. - Work in spells of 50 minutes with breaks. - Try to finish by 5 pm unless there is urgent work that requires overtime. - Analyze an average working month of 22 possible working days. ## Literary Translation ### What is Literary Translation? - One of four principal categories of translation: interpreting, scientific and technical, and commercial/business. - Literary translation is not confined to great works of literature. - It includes a wide range of texts, including jokes, documentary scripts, travel guides, science textbooks, and opera librettos. - Becoming a successful literary translator is difficult. - Financial rewards are not abundant and seldom given to the translator. - Royalties depend on the quality and success of the translation. - Contact the Translators Association (TA) of the Society of Authors regarding royalties, copyright, and translation rights. ### Qualities of a Literary Translator - A feeling for language and a fascination with it. - Intimate knowledge of the source language and regional culture and literature. - Reasonable knowledge of special subjects dealt with in the work. - Familiarity with the original author’s other works. - Skilled and creative writing skills in the target language, preferably a native speaker. - Ability to move from one style to another in the language while translating different works. - Conveying the meaning of the original work, as opposed to an accurate rendering of the words. - Produce text that reads well while echoing the tone and style of the original. ### Literary Translation as a Career - Freelance translators typically don’t translate the whole of a foreign language work “on spec”. - Translations are commissioned by publishers or production companies. - It is difficult for beginners to secure consistent work. - Many translators may have other sources of income, such as language teaching or an academic post. - Translators may accept shorter commercial assignments between longer stretches of literary translations. ## Translation and Interpreting - Interpret the written word while a translation often results in written form. - Have time to deliberate, consult colleagues, and submit written translations. - Seek clarification from the client. - Interpreters interpret the spoken word and do not have the luxury of time or a second chance to revise. - Some translators will interpret, but usually it is incidental to written translation. ## Starting Life as a Translator - A non-literary translator must bring additional skills to the table, such as technical, commercial, or legal knowledge. - Fees are generally charged at a fixed rate, usually per thousand words, and paid promptly. - New translators should seek to gain recognition with institutions such as the IoL, ITI, or other national bodies. - Working under the guidance of a senior experienced translator builds a strong foundation for new translators. - Working with a translation company or organization strengthens understanding of the profession. - Finding a guide or mentor at an early stage is invaluable. - Understanding cultural and national characteristics beyond the language is essential. - It is possible to translate a language that you cannot speak, especially if the languages are closely related. - Understanding local slang, dialect, and proprietary names is important. - Living or working in the country where the source language is spoken builds an in-depth understanding of the language and culture. - Develop keyboarding skills and become proficient in touch typing. - Acquire a university-level education in modern languages or linguistics. - Spend time in the country where the language of your choice is spoken. - Obtain a postgraduate course in translation studies. - Gain working knowledge of the subjects you intend to translate. - Network with translation companies and seek employment as a junior or trainee translator. - Learn to touch type. - Understand the IT skills and software used in translation. - Commit to lifelong learning. ## Work Experience Placements as a Student - Work experience placements for students are difficult to find but valuable. - Placement programs ensure student benefit and provide a structured learning environment. - Companies that offer placements incur costs, but students should not expect a salary. - Placements provide opportunities to meet experienced practitioners and learn about the day-to-day workings of translation companies. - Placements can help students determine if translation is the right career path. ## Becoming a Translator by Circumstance - Individuals might choose translation after gaining years of experience in another profession. - Many translators begin their professional journey when working abroad for their company or when married to someone from a foreign country. - Living in the country where the language is spoken is a valuable method for learning the language. - The disadvantage of this route is the lack of linguistic theory gained through formal education. - It is helpful to experience translation firsthand before pursuing it as a profession. - Freelance translation is a lonely occupation that often requires intense work with tight deadlines. ## Working as a Staff Translator - Staff translator roles offer several benefits. - Income from day one and a structured career path. - Opportunities to expand skills and experience under the guidance of experienced translators and editors. - Access to resources and literature needed to do the job. - The opportunity to discuss translations with other colleagues and exchange ideas. - Opportunities to learn about the tools of the trade. - Working for a large company can provide access to industry experts and specialists. - Exposure to a broader range of subjects. - Smaller companies are able to offer a more comprehensive understanding of all facets of the translation field. ## Considering a Job Application - Salary figures are constantly changing. - Consult professional organizations, such as the ITI, for the latest salary figures. - Salary depends on experience, expertise, specialist knowledge, and negotiating skills. - Obtain a written job offer with a job description, opportunities for development and training, and a potential career path. - Treat the interview as a chance to learn about the company and ensure it fits your needs. - Ask about induction procedures, staff regulations, career structure, and personal and skills development. ## Working as a Freelance - Freelance translators should avoid unrealistic expectations: - Working more than 24 hours a day. - Not taking holidays or weekends off. - Dropping everything to fit in a last-minute job. - Surviving for long periods without payment. - Freelance translators should treat their work as a professional job and schedule work hours accordingly. - Unwarranted demands on time are common, but it is important for translators to safeguard their leisure time. - Plan your working hours and try to manage your energy. - Clients are more likely to return if they value the quality of your work. ## The Translator’s View - Translators must meet the needs of translation users in order to make a living. - Integrate those needs into a translator-oriented perspective that values reliability, professionalism, and enjoyment. ### Who Are Translators? - The work can be tedious and time-consuming. - Some translators find it enjoyable while others find it tiring and only work on translation as a side job. - Some translators work full-time and do not burnout. - Translators often have to learn about and be familiar with multiple professions and act as if they are an expert in the field, even for a short time. ### Professional Pride - Translators must rely on their own work and the process of translation. - Translators should prioritize professional pride, integrity, and self-esteem. - Translators gain a sense of professional pride when they can perform their work to the best of their ability, even if the pay is relatively low. ### Reliability - The translator must meet the needs of the user: translate the text, in the right way, by the client's requested deadline. - The translator is often challenged with requests from clients that are impossible, disruptive to their private lives, or go against their personal ethics. - The desire for professional pride often compels translators to prioritize and maintain the user's needs. - Professional pride is earned when the work is done correctly, with the right term, spelling, phrasing, and register. - Errors can damage professional pride and job satisfaction. ### Involvement in the Profession - It is important for translators to be involved in professional organizations, conferences, and unions. - Involvement helps translators provide better translations, feel good about their work, and connect with other professionals. - Build professional self-esteem and overcome emotional challenges related to the industry. - Stay up-to-date on the industry and share their knowledge with other translators. ### Ethics - The traditional definition of translation ethics is narrow: not distorting the meaning of the source text. - From the user's perspective, ethics can be expanded to include instances where the translator is required to adjust the meaning of the text. - From an internal point of view, ethical dilemmas arise when professional ethics conflict with personal opinions, attitudes, beliefs, and feelings. - The translator must determine how to proceed when asked to translate offensive, sexist, or morally objectionable text. ### Income - The main goal of professional translators is to work because they enjoy it and to earn a living. - Translators tend to believe they are underpaid. - There are three strategies to improve income: - Translate faster. - Create an agency and farm out work to other translators. - Educate clients and the general public about the importance of translation so that they will be more willing to pay higher fees. ### Speed - Speed and income are directly related for freelance translators. - Income is often higher when a translator works quickly and consistently receives new jobs. - For in-house translators, speed is often more complex. - It is important for in-house translators to be quick, however, some are compensated on a billable hour basis and can significantly increase their income if they reach specific targets. - A translator’s speed depends on a number of factors, including: - Typing speed. - Difficulty of the text. - Familiarity with the sort of text. - Translation memory software. - Personal preference or style. - Job stress and general mental state. ### Enjoyment - The job can be demanding and lead to high burnout rates. - Many translators continue to work even after decades, often because they enjoy the work. - The job is more about the people and their work than about the words themselves. - Translators are creative and have a similar mindset to actors, musicians, and poets. - They must create an experience for the reader or user, not simply translate the text. ### Network - Learn - Profit - Over time, the use of social media for translators has greatly increased. - Social media is a useful tool for networking with colleagues, getting support, and staying up-to-date with the industry. - This book provides an overview of the benefits of social media marketing for small business owners, particularly language professionals. ### The Translator as a Social Being - Translators are social beings and must be surrounded by a network of people to thrive. - This network is essential for learning languages, keeping up with the latest trends, and finding work. - Without a network, translators would be unable to build a successful career in the field. ### Pretending - The life of a translator is a journey of “pretending” to be a translator, a source reader, and a target author. - This is a necessary skill for all translators, as it allows them to embody different roles and understand the nuanced needs of the reader and user. - Early in their career, translators may pretend to have more experience and knowledge than they do. - This process is called *intuitive leaps* and allows them to build confidence and transition into the field. ### Becoming a Translator - The translation industry changed significantly in the early 1980s, shifting from a purely linguistic approach to one that incorporates social factors. - Skopos theory emphasizes the role of social interactions and functions in translation. - It highlights the importance of understanding how translations function in real-world settings. - The theory underscores the need for translators to develop new theories that are based on their own real-world experiences. - **Implications of Skopos Theory:** - Translations are determined by the communicative situation, not by abstract rules. - The function of the target text is pragmatically defined by the purpose of communication. - Translations are meant to have a social function, not only linguistic. - The translation process is directed by the communicator and reader, not by an abstract “spirit” of the text. - The translator is an instrument of the target culture and must satisfy specific needs. - Translation is a communicative act that allows for the exchange of information across linguistic and cultural barriers. ### Working and Understanding through Social Networks - The more grounded a translator is in social networks and communities, the better able they are to understand the target audience and fulfill their purpose. - It is essential for translators to be grounded in the translator community, and to have friends who can help them navigate difficult terrain. - The best possible translation is the one that provides the best possible meaning at the point in time when the work is needed. ### Learning to be a Translator - Learning to be a translator involves more than simply acquiring linguistic skills. - It is crucial to be a part of social networks, particularly within the translator community. - These networks provide insight into the marketplace for translations, job opportunities, and strategies for success. - Being grounded in the translator community makes it easier for translators to get jobs, understand industry trends, and connect with experts when needed. - It is important to be involved in translator organizations, conferences, and online discussion groups. - It is equally important for translators to ground themselves in other social communities, such as the source text community, to better understand the target audience and provide accurate translations.