What Is A Translator
Job description
Translators convert written material from one or a multiple of languages into a target language, ensuring that the translated version portrays the meaning of the original as cleary as possible.
Translators work on the following types of documents:
scientific;
technical;
literary;
legal;
educational;
commercial.
The majority of translators work freelance from home, working for different translation agencies or for clients directly. On the other hand some organisations employ in-house translators.
Typical work activities
The translation process usually involves a combination of the following activities:
reading through original material and rewriting it in the target language, ensuring that the meaning of the source text is retained;
using specialist dictionaries, thesauruses and reference books to find the closest equivalents for terminology and words used;
using appropriate software for presentation and delivery;
researching legal, technical and scientific phraseology to find the correct translation;
liaising with clients to discuss any unclear points;
proofreading and editing final translated versions;
providing clients with a grammatically correct, well-expressed final version of the translated text, usually as a word-processed document;
using the internet and email as research tools throughout the translation process;
prioritising work to meet deadlines;
providing quotations for translation services offered;
consulting with experts in specialist areas;
supplying subtitles for foreign films and television programmes;
retaining and developing specialist knowledge on specialist areas of translation;
networking and making contacts.