State of the art occupation or profession of translator and interpreter: a critical discourse from practice A. Summary This essay critically analyze the profession of translator and interpreter, with reference to the national situation, the needs resulting from linguistic processes globalization, my own observation of society, and my experience as a freelance translator
, for over twenty five years. I also consider the analysis of the comments issued qualified translators or graduates of the race about his profession and job opportunities in several discussion forums available on the Internet
. Rather than provide answers to these problems, I describe this social reality by comparing the current situation of the translator called in relation to the translator not entitled. However, reading you can infer your own conclusions.
Keywords: translation, interpretation, language proficiency competencia pragmática.
B. Abstract
In this essay I present a critical analysis of the translation and interpretation profession, taking as a reference the language needs emerged from globalization processes, my own observation of society, and my own experience as a freelance translator, for more than twenty-five years. Moreover, I also analyze the comments posted by certified and graduated translators about their profession and job opportunities, which you could find in numerous discussion forums available on the Internet. More than giving answers to this issue, I describe the social reality of this profession by comparing the current situation of certified translators in relation to non-certified translators. However, Could you draw your own conclusions based on What you read.
Keywords: translation, interpretation, linguistic competence, pragmatic competence
Introduction In an era of globalization and international treaties, the translator has become the ultimate communication link between two or more languages which, moreover, represent different linguistic and cultural systems. Today, the translator's work has transcended the borders. There is even talk of a professional glocal
[1] , referring to his knowledge of national and global reality, and their technological skills. Between requirements of the profession are now the domain of at least two foreign languages \u200b\u200band fluent in information technology. For example, it is not the same thing using Microsoft Word
as a simple typewriter use professionally. Nor does the same to make Internet searches
simply typing a word or phrase you use dedicated search syntactic structures.
In regard to the linguistic domain of a foreign language is a fact that this is not achieved either four or five years. Quite the opposite, that learning involves much study, research, and practice. For example, my experience as a freelance translator
rely solely on my language skills in various languages, mainly English, and primarily in the lessons learned through countless documentary translation projects, technical reports, international tenders, manuals, contracts , etc.
Thus, this exciting career field is very big challenges with learning foreign languages \u200b\u200b(at least two), both linguistic and pragmatic mother tongue (L1) and foreign language (L2), implementation, good contacts , creativity, proactivity, curiosity, research capacity, etc. The following sections analyze this activity both in reality I have observed in our country and my own experience as a freelance translator
for over twenty five years.
labor field
competitive in the labor field scenario faced by translators and interpreters, I have found that graduates of this race is uphill them obtain good jobs or free-lance services
on a regular basis, as the job offers are very limited and selective. Fees may vary depending on the dynamics of supply and demand of the target language, and even the area theme.
Moreover, it is a fact in our country that most of the good work in this area is controlled by a small group of agencies and reputable professionals. This is evidenced by an investigation conducted by reference to various discussion forums that keep students and graduates of this race on the track and are available on the Internet
. So, I noted that 90% of participants in these forums said they had found a stable job and that the translations were limited.
Moreover, when analyzing the written speech in such forums, I could tell that the participants had also worrying levels of frustration. I also found the time to analyze the level of proficiency that the subjects exhibited the mother tongue (L1). Do not forget that these forums are asynchronous communication, ie, there is time to think and develop a coherent message, so the error rate should be rather low. But I found several problems related linguistic lexical redundancy, inconsistency observed by a phrasal syntactic order wrong, and the high rate of spelling errors.
should be noted that language problems are taken into the mother tongue (L1) are transmitted unfailingly a foreign language (L2). According to González (sf),
"All users language dominates a set of skills that enable socio-cultural integration. This user is competent in their mother tongue and culture, but not in a foreign language and culture " (p. 1). In other words, it is possible to master a foreign language if not master their own language first.
Now, who claimed to be working as a translator
[2] argued that it was the factor "luck." This caught my attention because "luck" is a factor we can not control and does not regulate the market. More Moreover, in the analyzed messages I realized that the subjects understood that employment opportunities were somewhat related to the exercise of professional liberal, which in this area is often called free-lance work
that with the signing of contracts with customers. However, except in one case, did not observe textual cues in the speech I indicated an effective management of self-management ability and creativity to generate jobs.
This confirms the priority given in modern organizations today the addition of bilingual professionals and technicians at all levels. It is common to find job postings in which, between the requirements imposed, is a good command of oral, written and reader of English
[3] . In general, these are professionals and technicians who solve everyday language situations of the company. For other jobs, the experience uses translators that will ensure a quality end product. Thus, the translation project documentation, operating manuals, and contracts, among others, outsource to reduce costs
[4] .
As you can see, the need to hire translators is extremely low and in cases where it is required of these professionals, salaries are very lean on the fees could actually get through the exercise
freelance profession.
While I respect and value very much the translator's work entitled, the reality is that most of the work in our country, be a translator by trade. I refer specifically to bilingual professionals from other disciplines, and to a lesser extent, language teachers, who as an additional activity have entered this challenging field of work. This is borne out in their own forums analyzed, in which recent graduates qualified translators or alluded to the monopoly would have a small set of translators and bilingual professionals who would who would control the work of translation in Chile. This generates a population of concern of technicians qualified translators and translation also graduates can not find work and is obliged to refer to teaching as a way to use their language skills. However, in this case, educational outcomes are highly questionable.
Evidence of this social reality, is found mainly in basic education, English language institutes and some private universities that do not require teaching qualifications or curriculum number of translators who meet job postings for English teachers or instructors. In fact, I have observed some English classes conducted by qualified translators found serious methodological problems and a strong inclination towards a more communicative grammar. I know many translators who finally chose to do a degree in education
[5] as an adjunct to basal career and a way to get a job in the educational field and, incidentally, to continue to liaise with the language.
Moreover, in the international arena, most of the translators are professionals from other disciplines who have a course or certificate in translation. In the United States, for example, translation courses are part of curriculum of many universities. That is, do not study this activity as a profession. Some institutions offer programs of this type are Georgetown University (Washington, DC) and the Monterey (CA) Institute of Foreign Studies. Moreover, the remembered Deanna Hammond (1942 - 1997), considered as a translator for translators, not just a translator was called. However, it was a recognized professional English translator.
The country needs In general, the educational institutions that offer the career of translation and interpretation in our country focus their work force, preferably in international organizations, companies editorials, news agencies, import and export companies, and commercial enterprises. This sounds theoretically well as the processes of globalization require contact with the world in a common linguistic pattern. However, when it comes to seeking employment, job offers are limited mainly due to the need to outsource this service. This is evident in the zero occurrence of job advertisements in newspapers and on the limited translation jobs available in the major Internet search engines. What, is it that there is no need to translate?
Paradoxically, the need now more than ever is very high. Moreover, has always been throughout the history of mankind. In the words of Llácer (1997),
"The translation is a practice as old as man, or at least as much as the history of the peoples of the earth" (p.6). As we see the figure of the translator has always existed in our history to play an important mediating position in the transmission of culture, science and technology. However, as the translators say in the forums,
"the downside is only for the best." Traduttore traitor work in this field have been fortunate to have met very good translator by trade, ie, without formal study, but with high technical proficiency and expertise in various areas. Interestingly, they are the ones who generally control the market. This type of translators and has to be the domain of one or more foreign languages, and competence in the translation should have been self-taught through practice, personal experiences, research, and observation.
also touched me to evaluate the professional work of many qualified translators, ie, formed through the theory, but with little or no practical and cultural contact. I have found that many translators graduates have glaring faults linguistic and pragmatic, especially when they have to translate from English and English as source language target language. In this sense, the famous phrase coined by the Italians
"Traduttore, traitors" (translator, traitor)
[6] gains great weight. I knew this phrase twenty-five years ago when a language teacher told us that language teachers could also make inroads in a responsible manner in the field of translation.
My personal experience
I started in the field of translation, incidentally, more than twenty years. Everything started by the application that she did an editorial to an engineer friend to translate or find someone to translate some technical papers in the area of \u200b\u200binformation technology. Well, since then I taught Technical English Course oriented IT professional institute
[7] , my friend asked me to do the translation. It was a documentary translation from English into English. As a youth, I accepted the challenge without thinking that I would find many problems, which are the same as qualified translators may face.
For starters, I found a
"jungle of acronyms" [ 8] , many terms I already knew but that applied to this area acquired a different meaning, limits of interlingual nature, and the complications of localism terminology. This led me to quickly instruct in the area of \u200b\u200binformation technology, learn from discussions with software engineers, and start reading magazines and specialty books. The product of this methodology as reflected in various specialized glossaries. My first translations
documentaries I demanded a lot of queries to specialized sources, then, at that time, was simply a neophyte in the area of \u200b\u200binformation technology. With divine grace, and in very short term, I became the official translator of the main journals of the country. Then, again through a contact, ventured into the area of \u200b\u200benvironmental management and energy resources, following the same methodology that applied to the area of \u200b\u200binformation technology. But here I had to translate from English and English as source language target language. A short walk I realized that it was an interesting challenge, which I liked, and for which available free to do (time and unmarried)
[9] . As a way to ensure my quality of translations from English into English, I asked an American friend to review my work. This situation remained for three years.
This collaboration continued until my error rate of translation (linguistic and pragmatic) fell the most, reaching a reliable and high quality version. After this experience I was able to complete autonomy and self-confidence in my translation work, mainly from English into English. Thereafter they appeared other clients from commercial companies, publishers and national and international agencies, which forced me to prepare in other areas of expertise. By the way, these clients came mainly by reference to third parties and, occasionally, I notices published in various specialized areas.
In my case, the translation is a free-lance work
additional , which performed with great thoroughness, professionalism, and passion. I made an extensive experience in this field and have invested heavily in foreign travel and resources to support my work, so I value my work in perspective. I do not agree with the undervaluation which usually makes the translator's work because I believe that this professional apart from the linguistic perspective, psychological, sociological, cultural, and expertise to be mastered, must manage the functional and economic perspective. I confess that my contributions are not cheap, and that many might dismiss the. However, some companies count on loyal customers, with whom I work on a regular basis, and those who respond with quality, accuracy, timeliness and reliability.
In my practice, I learned that good translator is doing, educate themselves on history, culture, sociology, semantics, applied linguistics, economics, politics, information technology, international negotiations, and many other disciplines of interest. In this sense, liken to the profession journalist. I'm surprised the domain level thematic exhibit these communications professionals. Indeed, a good translator and a fortiori, a good interpreter must immerse in the culture of the languages \u200b\u200binto which will translate or interpret. This has led me to travel to South America, North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. I can not be immersed in other cultures in theory. This can only be achieved through personal experiences.
Moreover, I am convinced that in this particular field is not and should not improvise. For example, in my library staff have many bilingual technical dictionaries in English, English, French, German and Portuguese (and should be more than fifty).
Believe it or not, many times I have had to translate from French and Portuguese into English, English as the language acting pivot. Within my resources I have also included the dictionary of the English Royal Academy, various versions of monolingual dictionaries in the English language encyclopedia, a thesaurus, a dictionary of philosophy, a package CAT (Computer Assisted Translation) in multiple languages, and finally a Latin dictionary and a Greek. To this list I added many technical glossaries as I prepared for more than twenty five years work, and which, in my opinion, are more reliable than their own dictionaries. And although the work of free-lance translator
is very competitive, I also contacted collaborative networks to solve specific problems of translation.
Throughout my practice
[10] in this field, and needs of the translation, I learned how to create new words and terms adapted to the target language with ease.
Some authors argue that "the translator is not born." This implies strong controversy about the translator is not entitled (by trade), made it through practice and the translator entitled, formed through the theory.
should be noted that this work has just begun to be studied as a profession in the early 60's so the theory and research are still emerging. De done, there is investigation lack field documentary translation literary investigations on the range include language, marks stylistic quality communication transdisciplinarity employability and communicative e interlingual issue between others. However, the translation has been present throughout human history. Then I wonder, can be studied something that can not be taught? Pastry
your cakes
I reminded
the popular maxim "your cake baker, as mentioned today on the occasion of the formation of a team of excellence that proclaimed President-elect Chile, Mr. Sebastian Pinera. Three conditions in this approach include: vocational training, work experience and academic background. Well, when translated, this is highly significant. I understand very well what this means and implies. Even more so today when our professional activities must be assigned to
quality paradigm [11] . In this context, I think the translator work is mainly based on practice, linguistic sensitivity, critical and reflective observation, professional training, immersion in different cultures, personal research, technology management, and academic development.
For example, although I identify fully with these capabilities, in my experience as a professional translator I have learned to accept jobs only if they are within my areas of expertise. Failure to comply with this condition simply referred to other professionals. In fact, the derivation must be a permanent practice in all professions. Here I wish to emphasize professional ethics, responsibility, and the weight that carries the work of the translator and the need for specialization.
documentary translation Within the documentary perspective of translation, in my opinion, not all language teachers can become professional translators (in the sense of quality.) In this case, influenced by several factors related to knowledge of both languages \u200b\u200b
[12] , the sensitivity to language to learn different languages, in theory is the management of translation strategies, self-interference of teacher education, the management information technology, personal interests, labor market knowledge, and knowledge of the culture of the language to which translated. According
Hammond (1992), it also requires understanding the specific terminology issue that will translate, and have knowledge of style, grammar, regional variations and idioms. In my opinion, a good translator is, in short, a good reader, writer, researcher and compiler. Not merely instruments of the language manager. Hence the fierce competition that is evident in this field.
As illustrative data in the interviews I held with qualified translators for create a database of translators documentary excellence (in case of referral of work), I found that many of them evinced serious mistakes in translating into English as target language. For example, I noted a strong tendency toward the literal translation as a means of transfer. I remember a test translation, an interpreter translated the sentence
titled "turn in the direction of clockwise" by
"turn it in the direction of the clock hands."
Anecdotally, I usually ask my fellow teachers and translators who do the translation. In general, the approaches that I have achieved are literal or simply can not translate. Technical translation is correct
"turn it clockwise." This equivalence is achieved only through the trade and research. Examples of this abound (they can reach thousands.) I also found an imprecise translation of the so-called false friends
(false friends) or cognates
(cognates)
[13] and strong weaknesses in the handling of written and morphosyntactic structures, among others. This evidence
an interesting fact. The translator's linguistic competence should include grammatical competence, ie, abstract knowledge language, and pragmatic competence, ie the ability to use language effectively. Therefore, it is easy to infer that the linguistic knowledge of both competitions is a complex issue in the theoretical training of translators. In my opinion, pragmatic competence is only achieved through practice, ie making.
Literary translation literary perspective of translation is even more complex. Personally, I never dared to do so. Here the trade is again the key, then, in addition to the difficulties of translation, literary translator should trigger the beauty of the text, his style and textual cues, taking into account the styles may differ from one language to another. In this sense, I think this kind of translation must do writers and poets who speak the languages \u200b\u200binvolved. A translator would be entitled may not agree, but the fact is that most of literary translation has been and is developed by writers and poets, and even religious, who have contributed and continue to contribute decisively to the translator work.
Another interesting fact: the heavy workload of translation lies in the documentary mode. In the words of Hammond (1992, p. 1),
"Today, most individuals working in the field of translation is more related to technical work and semi-technical to literary works. " note that this author avoids using the term translator.
speaks of "individuals working in the field of translation." This confirms, once again, the rivalry between the qualified translators and non-graduates, even if a title is no guarantee of professionalism
[14] .
interpretation
I left the issue of interpretation for the final because I have little experience here. Although I consider myself a very good observer of this social reality. In fact, only I was interpreter in two occasions: for a mega concert that took place in Santiago de Chile in 1990, for which I was selected as an interpreter for the British singer David Bowie and Eric Clapton, on the occasion of the visit of an ambassador and delegation to the university where he worked in 2000. I was relatively good, but I realized that this work was not within my expectations for professional development.
However, professional curiosity, I have the time to attend conferences with simultaneous interpretation and practicum sessions
in cabins
[15] , knowing very closely the interesting work done by some friends interpreters. As a result, I concluded that in this area
the popular maxim "your cake baker" is even more sense.
I do not think enough to know the language. It should trade. How many minutes would resist an interpreter in a booth? Generally, it handles the standard 15 to 30 minutes (many students of interpretation might hold out so minutes). Can a language teacher to assume the challenge of playing and not to risk their professional credibility? Maybe, but here is thus not language difficulties may be further complicated, mainly because of lack of area of \u200b\u200bexpertise, lack of culture of the speakers, handling non-native interpreter and / or the speaker, and frequent errors pragmatic. Such failures, according to Augustine (2005) are related to the lack of cultural and linguistic knowledge for the use of the target language in context. That is, it is not
"save the situation" but rather act as an effective bridge of communication.
Moreover, according to Weber (1990, cited in Hammond, 1992),
"the performers try to transfer statements given orally by the speakers, representing a culture in spoken form that is characteristic of the culture of those who hear the interpretation. " In other words, the interpreter must know very well the culture of both the speaker and its audience.
In this sense, a professional interpreter should never accept interpret without knowing the area of \u200b\u200bexpertise - so you have time to prepare - and the origin of the exhibitor. Here the errors can be critical, even to the isolation, downtime, and lack of meaning of messages. In the best case, errors of interpretation could result in tragicomic situations but, I imagine, very embarrassing for the performer and risky for its reputation.
A professional interpreter should handle at least two foreign languages. On the other hand, we must remember that the interpretation is not available translation resources, ie dictionaries, references
Internet, and specialist consultations. It works in real time, therefore, the work is done under pressure. My observation has been found that a core competence of the interpreter is listening selectively and interpret the original message faithfully. Improvisation here can turn into serious communication problems and loss of confidence in itself. Not so with translation where Customer may return the work for disagreement and request its correction. The interpretation does not have a second chance. An interpreter is entirely of linguistic and pragmatic in real time, skills, which, in my opinion, only acquired through continuous learning (read "office").
"Life is a lifelong learning says Fischman (2005, p. 86). This applied to professional development of any discipline involves a lot of observation, research and study.
Conclusion In conclusion, to become a professional translator and interpretation is needed as a first condition of loving the language, then there are other skills that involve learning and maintaining a high level of language both in the source language as the target language. Remember that an efficient professional in this field should be a good reader, writer, researcher and compiler. In my opinion, the discontent that prevails in many graduates of this race becomes mainly a lack of linguistic and pragmatic, lack of confidence, lack of cultural immersion, and in general, lack of self-management capacity. All these aspects can not be taught through a curriculum, given the proper office. For Moreover, this field of endeavor is essentially based on the liberal exercise of the profession, so practice, proactivity, and creativity in creating jobs are critical success factors. Bibliography
Augustine, MP (2005). Pragmatic competence and pragmatic-lexical errors in the ELE classroom. [Online]. Retrieved on February 16, 2010, from:
http://cvc.cervantes.es/ensenanza/biblioteca_ele/asele/pdf/16/16_0094.pdf Fischman, D. (2005). The mirror behind the leader. Santiago de Chile: Empresa El Mercurio SAP
Friedman, T. (2006). The World is Flat: A Brief history of the globalized world of the XXI century. Barcelona: Ediciones Martínez Roca, SA
González, C. (Nd). The pragmatic-discursive competence intercultural competence. Instituto Cervantes, Munich. [Online]. Retrieved on February 12, 2010, from:
http://instituto-cervantes.de/es/05_lehrerfortb/Actas06-07/6CGonzalez.pdf Hammond, D. (1992). The translation profession. ERIC Clearinghouse on Languages \u200b\u200band Linguistics Washington DC. Retrieved on February 14, 2010, in
http://www.ericdigests.org/1992-3/translation.htm Llácer, E. (1997), Introduction to Translation Studies. History, theory and descriptive analysis. Studies Papers, Annex XX. University of Valencia. [Online). Retrieved on February 15, 2010, from:
http://books.google.cl/books?id=7tBvSLlXvhkC&printsec=frontcover&dq=investigaci% C3% B3n + on + translation% C3% B3n & source = bl & ; ots = Bxj_aBtGc_ & sig = 7z58pqX1tqb_n3VgXZq5NGGeR-E & hl = en & ei = Z-2CS4OpGcuutgfG4JHuBg & sa = X & oi = book_result & ct = result & resnum = 10 & ved = 0CB4Q6AEwCQ # v = onepage & q =% C3 RESEARCH % B3n% 20on% 20traducci% C3% B3n & f = false Footnotes page
[1] refers to the concept coined by Friedman (2005), which blends global knowledge with local expertise. According to him, the world is flat, so you have to act proactively. Today you can do anything from anywhere in the world in an efficient manner using the Internet technology revolution
and its various related resources.
[2] The race is a translator and interpreter. However, analyzed in the forums did not mention the component of performance.
[3] This competition is considered a plus
or professional supplement.
[4] The outsourcing or outsourcing refers to the transfer of activities that were developed internally to a third party (company or person) in order to reduce administration costs. In English the term used is
"outsourcing." [5] The bachelor's degree in education does not provide training in the specialty.
[6] In any translation can be a betrayal implicit in the language of origin or target. In this way, refers to the need for the translator to omit, modify or replace content to adjust meanings.
[7] worked for over fifteen years in the Professional Institute CIISA in where I developed the curriculum oriented IT Technical English and numerous manuals for students.
[8] I coined this phrase to refer to the huge number of acronyms that appear in technical texts, particularly in the area of \u200b\u200binformation technology.
[9] usually talks about the loneliness of a translator. " [10] I venture to call so I consider myself a professional, highly qualified translator.
[11] Reference is made to do things right once.
[12] Studies show that teachers of English of our country have low levels of linguistic competence, communicative and pragmatic, even if they have any international certification.
[13] are called false friends (false friends) or cognates
(cognates) to words to be written in the same way in English are confused, but actually mean something other than English.
[14] Just check our history to realize those were the "translators" of the legacy of humanity.
[15] sessions designed to simulate actual performance by students of interpreting.
About the author: Prof. Vera The state is Professor of English, BA in Education, Master of Science in Education c / m in Educational Administration and Management, Master in Teaching and Research © University, Masters in Curriculum and © Assessment, Technology Specialist CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning), PhD in Education,
free-lance translator, and consultant educational and language.
