Translation is not simply just a case of being able to speak a foreign
language fluently, you will also need the ability to write well and in a
natural style in your mother tongue. You will also need a thorough
knowledge of the culture, institutions and idiosyncrasies of the country
for the language of the country you are translating into. In addition,
you will need to have a specialist field so that you can translate with
the appropriate terminology and structures associated with this field.
Staff or freelance?
Being a translator can be a rewarding and interesting job; the two main
careers in translation are as a staff translator or as a freelance
translator. Many large corporations in any industry sector may have
their own internal translation department, and staff translators are
employed to translate documents on a permanent basis. These jobs are not
great in number as most businesses tend to outsource translations to
reduce costs.
So, who do they outsource translations to? Either to freelance
translators directly, or via a translation company. It is more likely
they will work with a reputable translation agency that has a reputable
track record. Most translation companies work with freelance translators
rather than employ people in-house. They will contact the translators
they have on their books matching the translation assignment with the
languages and expertise of the translator.
Is it right for me?
Although it may sound glamorous working for multinational corporations,
law firms or the media, in reality a career as a freelance translator
can be very difficult, particularly when starting out. It will require a
lot of patience, perseverance and hard work to eventually have enough
steady work to pay the bills.
How do I start?
The best way to try and break into the translation market is to have a
degree or qualification in translation. There are several universities
in the UK and abroad that offer translation studies.
If you don’t have a qualification you will need to prove that you have
the relevant experience as well as the necessary language skills.
Having two or more languages from which you can translate (particularly
‘rarer’ language combinations such as Chinese or Japanese to English)
will set you apart from the crowd. One of the biggest challenges
newcomers to the industry face is not having a specialisation, so if you
are able to find your niche in the market and can demonstrate you are
competent in this area you will be able to get your foot in the door.
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