It’s not easy to be a professional translator. It’s a demanding career; one which requires natural talent and a great deal of drive. A translator must produce text that conveys the intended meaning of the original piece, which can often only come through a deep understanding of the target language’s culture and subtle nuances.
Becoming a skilled translator isn’t as easy as most people assume. Surprisingly, having extensive knowledge in one or more languages isn’t enough to qualify you as a good translator – there are a ton of skills, qualities, and characteristics needed to succeed in the field.
From having qualifications in linguistics to the need for self-discipline, we’ll explore the unique qualities required to become a good translator in this article.
1. Language Expertise
Translators must have an in-depth understanding of both the target and source language. Being a native speaker isn’t always a requirement, but having complete fluency in both languages is a necessity.
Language expertise hinges on the mastery of the full range of everyday vocabulary, along with the differences in intonation and specialized terminology that can completely change a phrase or word’s meaning. A translator must have an excellent knowledge of regional dialects and local slang, because these can influence comprehension significantly.
There’s a fundamental principle when it comes to translation. that the target language must be in the translator’s mother tongue in any translation to be completely effective. A Spanish translator must be someone who has Spanish as their mother tongue, as they will need to understand the context and efficiently translate the subtle nuances of the Spanish language for the Spanish audience to understand and appreciate the content. If you’re looking to hire a freelance Spanish translator, look for a native Spanish speaker.
2. Appreciation and Respect for Other Cultures
A good translator respects and appreciates the cultures they represent in their translations. Through their work, translators are able to break down the stigmas, misconceptions, and negative stereotypes that hinder various cultural groups from understanding and embracing each other. They can have a significant role to play cross-cultural exchange by sharing their cultural appreciation with the world.
Translators must also be familiar with attitudes and traditions that distinguish different cultures, and understand how these factors eventually influence the languages themselves. There’s a constant interaction between language and culture. A translator who can identify this interplay will ultimately deliver translations with greater nuance and accuracy.
3. Attention to Details
In professional translation, every detail matters. A single misplaced word can change the entire meaning of the content. Professional translators strive to maintain consistency across all their work, and use reference materials when required, as compliance with existing glossaries plays a critical role in eliminating discrepancies when translating specific terminologies. Also, translators must maintain the style of translation that reflects their client’s wishes, whether that’s more professional and formal tone or one that has come across as a bit more personal.
Skilled translators will check their work several times to make sure every detail is correct, often revisiting it over a few days in order to give themselves some time away and later see if their chosen translation accurately reflects what they mean to say.
4. The Ability to Accept Criticism
A skilled translator demands perfection from themselves and they strive to deliver quality work.
All the same, even the most established professionals have room for improvement. Good translators accept and encourage feedback to sharpen their skills.
5. Excellent Time Management Skills
Tight deadlines and schedules are standard in the field of professional translation, and every hour late can make a substantial difference in a work scenario. In high-stake situations, a client may ask a translator to complete significant projects within a short time.
That said, mistakes made because of rushing to complete a project can cause even bigger problems if the translation fails to convey its meaning clearly. Clients have no time to waste fixing improperly translated materials, especially if they are related to set deadlines. Experienced translators know how to find the right balance between speed and accuracy to meet their client’s expectations.
6. Curiosity
Curiosity is crucial for any self-respecting linguist. Skilled translators are often interested in many fields, and many strive to improve their general knowledge so that they can translate a variety of materials.
However most translations will eventually dive into one or two fields where they will focus down and become experts in the subject matter, such as law or construction and then will strive to become the best in their field. While they may still take on general translation jobs from time to time, their expertise allows them to charge higher rates and often gain a sterling reputation within their industry.
7. Integrity
A good translator is honest. This quality primarily concerns their pricing practices. At first, it may seem like a brilliant strategy to set low prices to attract more clients, especially for freelance translators. But in the long run, this means shooting themselves in the foot. That’s because other translators may lower their prices to compete, forcing the translator to reduce their fees even further.
Also, charging low prices may imply that a translator thinks their translation services aren’t worth a reasonable rate or are lacking in quality. Alternatively, high prices imply top-notch services. Thus, an excellent translator must provide quality services at an ideal price range. Often, prices depend on a translator’s experience and level of education, together with the difficulty of the language pair and the text. Good translators know how to strike the perfect balance between price and quality.
Final Thoughts
A good translator should have a strong eye for detail and must be able to accept criticism. Tiny errors and omissions in content can completely change the meaning of the entire document. A good translator must also be able to strike the right balance between speed and accuracy. They should manage their time effectively and produce quality work even when working under tight deadlines. We also cover some common questions on our blog, such as, “How much does it cost to hire a translator?”, and, “What is the difference between an interpreter and a translator?”.
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