becoming a translator by mindy emmons. introduction [email protected]...
TRANSCRIPT
Becoming a TranslatorBecoming a TranslatorBy Mindy EmmonsBy Mindy Emmons
IntroductionIntroduction
[email protected] From court interpreter to translatorFrom court interpreter to translator From social butterfly to recluseFrom social butterfly to recluse
How does translating hone How does translating hone interpreting skills?interpreting skills?
Translating and interpreting are Translating and interpreting are relatedrelated
Specialized terminology on a Specialized terminology on a broad range of topicsbroad range of topics
Command of vocabulary in courtCommand of vocabulary in court Corpora (sources of research Corpora (sources of research
material) material)
Is translating for me?Is translating for me?
Good writing abilityGood writing ability Analytical abilityAnalytical ability Good editing skillsGood editing skills Good business senseGood business sense Terminology research skillsTerminology research skills Avid readerAvid reader
Other skills neededOther skills needed
Self-disciplineSelf-discipline OrganizationOrganization Time-managementTime-management Deadlines and tight schedulesDeadlines and tight schedules
AdvantagesAdvantages
Work from homeWork from home Short commuteShort commute Flexible scheduleFlexible schedule Structure workday around peak Structure workday around peak
energy times and family’s needsenergy times and family’s needs
DisadvantagesDisadvantages
Feast or famineFeast or famine Fast turnaround timesFast turnaround times LonelyLonely
Language PairsLanguage Pairs
Only into active languageOnly into active language Which is my active language?Which is my active language?
Area of ExpertiseArea of Expertise
LegalLegal MedicalMedical TechnicalTechnical LocalizationLocalization OthersOthers
LocalizationLocalization
The complete adaptation of a The complete adaptation of a product for a particular market.product for a particular market.
Other Services?Other Services?
EditingEditing ProofreadingProofreading Desktop publishingDesktop publishing
EquipmentEquipment
Separate room in homeSeparate room in home Latest hardware/softwareLatest hardware/software Comfortable chairComfortable chair Reference books (dictionaries)Reference books (dictionaries) Good lightingGood lighting High-speed internetHigh-speed internet TelephoneTelephone Smart PhoneSmart Phone
Improve your skillsImprove your skills
Get certifiedGet certified ReadRead TravelTravel MentorsMentors Continuing EducationContinuing Education VolunteerVolunteer
The world is your oyster!The world is your oyster!
Don’t limit geographical area!Don’t limit geographical area! Most assignments are received and Most assignments are received and
submitted electronically submitted electronically
Quality ControlQuality Control
Read through or dictate sourceRead through or dictate source Find and look up unfamiliar wordsFind and look up unfamiliar words TranslateTranslate Accuracy checkingAccuracy checking EditEdit FormatFormat BackupBackup
MarketingMarketing
Résumé mailingRésumé mailing www.www.ttranslationranslationddirectory.comirectory.com 799 translation agencies in U.S.799 translation agencies in U.S. ATA website directoryATA website directory Yellow pagesYellow pages
The Business SideThe Business Side
How do you charge?How do you charge? Word, character, Word, character,
kilobyte, hourkilobyte, hour What do you charge?What do you charge?
ATAATA
www.atanet.org Benefits of certificationBenefits of certification 35% more $$$$35% more $$$$
Which LanguagesWhich Languages are Tested? are Tested?
into English from Arabic, Croatian, into English from Arabic, Croatian, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedishand Swedish
from English into Chinese, Croatian, from English into Chinese, Croatian, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Ukrainianand Ukrainian
Am I eligible?Am I eligible?
ATA member and one of the ATA member and one of the following:following:
T&I degree/certificateT&I degree/certificateBachelor’s and 2 years of Bachelor’s and 2 years of
experienceexperienceas translator or interpreteras translator or interpreter
5 years of experience5 years of experience
ExamExam
3-hour open book3-hour open book Specific language pairSpecific language pair Mandatory general passageMandatory general passage Choose either: Choose either:
science/technology/medicine; or, science/technology/medicine; or, law/business/financelaw/business/finance
Overall pass rate below 20%Overall pass rate below 20% Practice Exam $90 each for non-Practice Exam $90 each for non-
members, $40 for membersmembers, $40 for members
ReferencesReferences
Burns Thomson, Sandra, compiler (2001). Burns Thomson, Sandra, compiler (2001). Getting Started: A Newcomer’s Guide to Getting Started: A Newcomer’s Guide to Translation and InterpretationTranslation and Interpretation, Alexandria: , Alexandria: American Translators Association.American Translators Association.
McKay, Corinne (2006). McKay, Corinne (2006). How to Succeed as How to Succeed as a Freelance Translatora Freelance Translator, Two Rat Press., Two Rat Press.
Trabing, M. Eta (2006). Running Your Trabing, M. Eta (2006). Running Your Translating/Interpreting Business From Translating/Interpreting Business From Home, Home, ATA ChronicleATA Chronicle, January, 2006., January, 2006.