اطلب الخدمة
In this article, you will identify the translation word, and who is a translator? Also, what skills and personal skills do you need to be a good translator? How can you practice to be a translator?
The best definition of translation is that translation means a process and product. That’s mean translation is a process to convert the meaning and ideas/text of source language into their equivalent in target language(product).
Also, you can define translation as a profession that need critical thinking skills and required an academic level of knowledge.
A translator is the person who do the translation process for a text/document or others. A good translator is a person who has a lot of experience and a passion for language. And also, translator improves himself and his skills with age.
Translators need to know the rules of the language and also, the habits of people who speak this language.
The short answer is No. Translation is the same as interpretation. The main difference between translation text/document and interpretation text/document is that interpretation translate spoken language orally. In the other side, translation translate the written words/text. But both of translation text and interpretation text requires deep understanding of culture and linguistic phrases, and the ability to clearly communicate.
In addition to, translation text and interpretation text is differing for the service itself and what skills needed.
In this paragraph, you will demonstrate the most popular types of translation.
Types of translation classified but not limited into these categories:
- Technical translation
A technical translation is a type of translation that involves with technical content/text. Technical translation is a complicated type of translation so, a tiny error may lead to a huge mistake latterly. This technical translation includes translate of any text/document related to technological field. Or translate any text related to practical application of scientific and technological information.
A literally translation refers to translate the literally works/ texts such as poems, novels, stories and plays. It is also a complicated translation job specially the translation of poetry.
Also, legal translation is a complicated one. It concerned with translates of marriage certificates, birth certificates, legal contracts, memorandums and agreements. Even if you are a good translator, here may you need to consult legal professional person to ensure of your translation text.
The financial translation involves with translate financial documents/text such as account statements and bank records.
The commercial translation requires special skills and the knowledge of business jargon. A commercial translation involves with company emails, business correspondence, reports and others.
Medical translation is a special type of translation. It concerned with any medical content/text of the patients or content of medical product.
- Administrative translation
An administrative translation refers to translate management texts used in organizations. Administrative translation may be defined as a branch of commercial translation.
First skill: have advanced language knowledge skill
You have to understand everything in language you will translated. So, if you do not understand the fully text, you risk that your text may not completely accurate.
To advance language knowledge, you can study language or take a course in it. And read widely about language and language’s culture.
Second skill: to have excellent writing skills
To be a good translator you have to be an excellent writer. A good writing is a skill you can improve yourself in it by experience, application and exercises.
Third skill: deep understanding in language’s culture knowledge skill
Deep understanding the culture knowledge of target language is an important skill to be a professional translator. You can improve this skill by searching for cultural aspects and spend time to understand both of target and source cultures.
Fourth skill: practice translation and review processes skill
Follow steps in translation process will improve your translation skill. Also be disciplined and read and search more about reviewing translation process.
Fifth skill: judgment of sound translation skill
Means to take good translation decisions on what structures and vocabulary to use. And what and how much to research.
Sixth skill: sound research skills
Meaning to search about texts, meanings, words, jargon, vocabulary and background information. It is important to do this research efficiency.
Seventh: CAT skills and computing
You have to be good in dealing with several office programs. You can improve this skill by seeing online video tutorials on internet/YouTube.
Note: after knowing about the major skills to be a professional translator, there are also personal skills you will have.
Personal skills are differing form above translation skills which are:
- First personal skill: Pay attention to details
To produce a fully accurate, well-worded translation
- Second personal skill: To be self-motivated person
That’s only comes from you, to be discipline and have energy to do what you have to do.
- Third personal skill: Dependability
Meaning to instantly respond to your client. So, clients be able to rely on you to the communication and meet translation deadlines.
- Fourth personal skill: Can make good organization your translation work
Successful translators can manage their time with translation work.
- Fifth personal skill: Curiosity
If the translator has a naturally curious will see all text to be translated is interesting.
- Sixth personal skill: Adaptability
Be sure that your quality to non-standard translation projects and client’s requests that unusual.
How to become a translator?
To know how to become a translator, here there are three basic ways to follow one of them:
- University course: to take a degree in a university or postgraduate qualification in translation text field.
- Direct application by applying for paid translation with the European Commission if you have a degree.
- A qualification with professional organization: for example, take a diploma in translation through professional organization.
Translation text process is a profession that requires mental activity, these steps are necessary to produce a high-quality translation text.
First step: determine the scope of text to be translated
What is the text that needs translation, text subject and text content?
Second step: first draft text translation
Write your first translation draft and choose the appropriate length of individual text. That’s important to prevent missing some meaning of translation.
Third step: make review to ensure for translation accuracy
The main goal in this step is to ensure that the translator have not missing any content or misinterpreting the text meaning.
Forth step: put the translation text aside and take a break of time
This is to clear your mind and have more effective final step of translation your text
Fifth step: make final edits to refine translation wording/text.
What does translator do?
- Reading documents/texts that need translation
- Writing and editing translation drafts/texts
- Using software and recommended application to upload content/text
- Consults an expert in translation text field if needed
- Building relationships and communication skills with clients
Wrong understanding of translation concepts
- There is no need for translator because there are free online translation tools
- Translator is an easy profession and you can earn a lot of money
- If you speak second language then, you can be a translator
- If you can translate, then you can interpret. And if you can interpret, then you can translate
- The translators should not actually need to understand what they are translating
Keywords: translation, text, translate, skill, translator, skills
With greetings: Al - Manara Consulting to help researchers and graduate students