“Being a translator means removing a language barrier and, as much as possible, bridging a cultural gap between people.” — Julia Thornton.
Established by the United Nations in 2017, International Translation Day stands as a remarkable tribute to the unwavering dedication of translators and interpreters in fostering dialogue, harmony, and profound comprehension between individuals of diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Revered annually on September 30, this auspicious occasion grants us the opportunity to recognize those who tirelessly toil behind the scenes to ensure the smooth transmission of information across linguistic frontiers, thereby enabling seamless communication in our increasingly interconnected global realm. In honor of this momentous occasion, I humbly endeavor, through this article, to shed light on the translator/interpreter profession and answer any questions or misconceptions you may have. Thank you for joining me. Enjoy!
What is the difference between translation and interpretation?
To get what translators and interpreters do during communication, we gotta talk about how they're different. They're pretty similar, but also pretty different. They both translate languages, but there are some key differences too.
Translation is all about written content. Most professional translators use computer tools to help them out. They basically take the original content and turn it into a file that's easy to work with. Then they use a special tool to automatically translate anything that has been translated before, and fill in the rest themselves. While working on the text, they might use glossaries and templates to make sure everything sounds good. Once they're done, another translator will proofread it and make sure it matches the original as closely as possible. Translators can work on all sorts of written stuff like websites, print, video subtitles, software, and multimedia.
Interpretation is a service that happens in real time. It's done live, either at the same time as the original speech or right after it, without using any scripts or reference materials. Professional interpreters have to understand the source language and preserve its meaning, but they may have to rephrase idioms and cultural references so that the target audience can understand. Interpreters rely on their experience, memory, and quick thinking. They work on projects like conferences, medical appointments, legal proceedings, live TV coverage, and sign language. Translators and interpreters have slightly different skills, but they both have a deep understanding of culture and language, expert knowledge in their field, and the ability to communicate clearly.
What is the role of a translator/interpreter?
In various fields like science, academia, business, education, health, culture, politics, diplomacy, and development, intercultural communication is incredibly important. Thanks to travel, international media, and the internet, it's now easier than ever for people to connect. In order to stay connected and thrive in this global environment, it's essential for everyone to interact with each other. That's why intercultural communication is a must for every person. Translation plays a crucial role in facilitating this communication, whether it's for international business or social relationships.
A translator isn't just someone who translates words between languages. Being a translator isn't about being fluent in two languages alone, as it takes more than just knowing vocabulary and grammar to effectively connect people from different cultures.
“Translator is a nobleman or noblewoman who translates the source language into the target language. Also, he or she is a political researcher. Presidents or classy politicians speak through translator. Translation is a critical job, and your classy translation may save the world.” — Qasem Mafi.
A translator is someone who is really good at understanding and communicating between different cultures. They have to know a lot about translation, interpreting, organizing work, getting services, and managing communication between cultures. Translations are where different cultures come together and connect. That's why translations are so important and a translator isn't just someone who changes words, they have to find the best way to explain the main ideas so that people understand them. They also have to think about the social and political background of the translation. The goal of translation is to make something understandable for people who don't know the original language. This is a big responsibility for the translator. They have to know the history of the culture they're translating from. Just knowing the language isn't enough to be a good translator, they also have to know their own culture and language really well and understand the culture they're translating from.
How to become a translator/interpreter?
Typically, interpreters and translators need at least a bachelor's degree to start in the field. They also need to be highly proficient in their native language and another language and have expertise in interpreting or translating. You can find college courses that can help prepare you for a career in interpreting and translating, but they are usually not mandatory. Having a degree in your native language or another language can make you more competitive for interpreter or translator positions. If you wish, you can even specialize in one or more specific languages, or specialize in a specific area. To become 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 that could lead to a specialist subject area,
An eye for absolute accuracy and endless curiosity!
By becoming a translator/interpreter, you can expect to make $29,000 to over $97,000 a year as a full-time translator or interpreter. Most earn around $49,000 a year or $25 per hour. Your pay depends on your language specialty, skills, and education.
Before pursuing a career in translation or interpretation, it is crucial to take into account the languages that are highly sought after. To aid you in making your decision, here is a compilation of the languages that will be in high demand in 2023: Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Filipino, English, French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Mayan, Mixtec, Pashto, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, and Zapotec. It is important to note that these preferences can swiftly change due to ongoing events, as demonstrated by the recent Afghan evacuation and Ukrainian war.
Translation and Interpreting in the Digital Age.
With the rise of ChatGPT and other more sophisticated tools, one question is asked more often: Will AI replace human translators? Although AI translation sources have made significant advancements, there are still multiple factors that deem human translators necessary. Ethnologue states that there are over 7,000 languages, each with its own peculiarities. Additionally, every culture possesses idiomatic expressions that can only be comprehended with proper context. Considering these aspects, it becomes evident why there is still a high demand for human translators. In order to comprehend why machines will never supplant human translators, it is essential to first comprehend machine translation. The Globalization and Localization Association (GALA) defines machine translation as:
“The process when computer software translates a text from the source language into the target language without human intervention.”
The most recent iterations of machine translation rely on AI and generate translations through neural networks, which according to IBM, are a “subset of machine learning” that is designed to “mimic” the human way our neurons send signals to one another. This method examines whole sentences instead of just words. The result is a more natural-sounding translation with well-captured meaning and more accurate sentences.
Machine translation errors in medical situations can have serious consequences. For example, a translation error in an Armenian instruction for ibuprofen resulted in a recommendation to take an anti-tank missile for pain. It is widely agreed that machine translation should never be used in a medical setting, but its use continues. There are also concerns about the potential for breaches of confidentiality and security when using machine translation services, as evidenced by a report in 2017 of translated documents being easily accessible through a Google search.
So to answer the question, it is clear that: AI-powered machines will never replace human translators. But what does this mean for the future of translation technology and humans? It is foreseeable that as time progresses, businesses will increasingly rely on a combination of machines and human translators to fulfill their translation requirements. This trend arises from two primary factors: the cost-effectiveness of machine translation and the necessity for human intervention in proofreading and post-editing to ensure the suitability of translations for commercial purposes. Consequently, the future of translation lies in embracing the "human in the loop" approach, which harmoniously amalgamates the strengths of both realms. Encouragingly, human translators appear to be amenable to this method. Until significant advancements are made in this process, it is advisable to engage with a human translator from the outset.
As said in the introduction, a translator/interpreter is someone who breaks the bridges between people. Therefore, the importance of their work cannot be underestimated, especially in a world of more than 7,000 spoken languages. While the rise of AI and automatic transactions may seem scary for the future of human translators, this fear is unwarranted as numerous studies have proven that human translators/interpreters still have better days ahead of them. As they also say, Charity begins at home. So it’s important, as Ned Rorem said:
“The art of translation lies less in knowing the language than in knowing your own.”
To become a good translator, you must first learn and master your own language and culture before you can understand and master that of others. Happy #International_translation_day my beloved readers. May you be blessed. Take care.
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