Questions about Translation

January 3, 2020 10:07 am Published by Grace Fabian Leave your thoughts

This blog is a part of an on-going series. You can read it alone or start at the beginning.

What’s the difference between an interpreter and a translator?

An interpreter translates spoken words, almost always in real-time, as a conversation happens. A translator, by contrast, translates written words, and often of a language either old, very difficult or, in Bible translation, newly written down.

Why can’t anyone who is bilingual be a translator?

Most bilinguals will serve as an amateur interpreter at some point in their lives, for a mother at a parent meeting, for a new employee to learn the ropes, or when traveling with a friend. Professional interpreters, such as at the United Nations, and most translators, on the other hand, are careers for which people train for years, learning their trade, just like those studying to become a pilot or electrician.

What other skills are needed to become a translator?

The Institute of Translation and Interpreting says to “be a professional translator, you will need:

A fluent (near-native) understanding of at least one foreign language (source language)
A solid understanding of the culture of the source language country, usually gained by living and working there for a prolonged period of time
Excellent writing skills in your own mother tongue
Preferably an academic degree in the source language or in another subject which could lead to a specialist subject area
An eye for absolute accuracy and endless curiosity!”[i]

Why translating literature is sometimes impossible!

“Languages are different for a reason. You can’t move ideas between them without losing something.” A fictional character created by G. Willow Wilson said that. In the story ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ the gender of the Scout character isn’t given away at the beginning, but in other languages where to say ‘you’ you must use the person’s gender. The translation of that book into such a language adds something to the book that Harper Lee never intended.

What are the steps to becoming credentialed in the translation industry?

American Translators Association certification is one of the industry’s most respected and recognized credentials.

Become an ATA member
Complete ethics statement
Register for the exam (the fee is $525)
Take the practice test (optional)
Take a 3-hour exam designed to assess professional level translation skills in a specified source-target language combination.

How does someone become a translator for the United Nations?

Perfect command of one relevant official language of the United Nations; this is considered the candidate’s main language. Arabic, French, Russian and Spanish translators must have excellent knowledge of at least two other official languages.
Testing in the relevant United Nations competitive examination.
Six months to 2 years training at the UN Headquarters.
Transfer to one of the other main duty stations.

How can one break into the translation field?

A Master’s degree in translation gives you credibility and an edge in this highly competitive market. There are many translation agencies but most translators tend to work freelance.

How can I improve my language skills in my second and mother tongue language?

The Institute of Translation and Interpreting says, “The three Rs: read, read, read! Subscribe to high-quality publications, journals and newspapers in your source language or in your mother tongue, for example.”

Also, look for writing skills courses, either general or specific to a particular genre, such as technical writing, copywriting, or legal drafting. Become a grammar and punctuation pedant! A professional translator working into English must be absolutely sure how to use commas, semi-colons and colons and what does and doesn’t take an apostrophe, for example.”

Follow a style guide for guidance and consistency in your work. Many translators apply the style guides of the major newspapers and magazines such as the Economist, or the EC Style Guide.”

These are just a few examples – honing both source language and mother tongue skills is something professional translators do in many different ways on an ongoing basis throughout their careers.”[ii]

What courses do I need to take to translate with SIL?

SIL Translation Specialists must generally hold at least an undergraduate degree. In addition, SIL requires satisfactory performance in courses equivalent to the following SIL standard courses: