Paris, France
Career Focus: Translator
by Mary A. Schumacher
Do you know two or more languages fluently? If you do, you might want to consider a job as a translator. It's a job in a growing industry that gives you international exposure, even if you stay at home.
The translating job consists primarily of translating the written word from one language to another, as opposed to an interpreter, who translates the spoken word, often on a simultaneous basis.
Translators translate all kinds of publications, including articles, works of fiction, screenplays, business reports, and increasingly, websites. A good translator will translate more than just words, but will try to convey the meaning of the author as closely as possible. For this goal, the translator job requires cross-cultural understanding as well as idiomatic use of words in the foreign language.
The Translation Field Is Growing
The translation industry is set to double by 2004, to a $20 billion industry. What's the reason for this phenomenal growth? Increasing globalization of business, and the Internet are the two primary reasons.
Even small firms now conduct international business, which often requires that business cards, marketing brochures, and annual reports be translated into another language. These efforts indicate a special effort, which help business relationships and sales.
And, because English is the international language of business, translators can find increasing work translating publications from another language into English.
The Internet has helped enormously to grow the translation field. While in the past, translators usually worked for agencies, either as employees or freelancers, now the Internet has made the translation market much more accessible to anyone with a connection. In the 1990s, a number of websites emerged to bring together freelance translators and companies with corporations and others with translating needs.
How Do You Become a Translator?
Of course, you will need to speak and write at least two languages fluently. Often translators have expertise in specific subjects, such as engineering or medicine, which have their own specialized vocabularies.
However, there is such a huge amount of business literature that requires translating without a specific narrow focus. Knowledge required is more broad, and you can get a sense of the style by simply reading business publications and paying attention to word usage.
Some universities and colleges offer degrees in translation. You can also enroll in a program that gives you the basics of translation. Accreditation can help give you legitimacy to a potential client. The American Translation Association has an accreditation program, with exams scheduled regularly around the U.S. and in several international locations.
Pros and Cons of Being a Translator
Most translators are freelancers, up to 80 percent in the U.S. Being a freelancer allows you more freedom over your schedule, and you can work from your home with minimum upfront costs to get started. A computer, Internet connection, dictionaries, and listings in vendor directories will be your primary costs.
The main disadvantage to this type of work is that you are essentially an entrepreneur, and must go out and solicit business. You will have to understand business principles, including how much to charge, so that you can sustain yourself financially. You have to be disciplined to finish projects as you promised, so that you can develop a solid reputation.
Given the continuing growth of translation needs, the field is a promising one for those knowledgeable in foreign languages. You will also find that while you can work as a translator in your home country, the world has also opened up to you.
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