| There are two main types of translators: translators | | | | expression. However, it is also the area most likely to |
| who work with anything written or published, and | | | | be widely scrutinized. |
| interpreters, who listen and translate a voice as it is | | | | The route into translation is very structured and |
| being spoken. Translators may work on software, | | | | predictable, particularly for employment in the United |
| internet related materials or a variety of documents, | | | | Nations or other government agency. Those seeking |
| including legal, business-related, technical, or | | | | the greatest opportunities for employment should be |
| “literary” texts, and is generally paid by the | | | | fluent in English and in one of the official languages of |
| word. Interpreters are normally paid by the hour at | | | | the United Nations; French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, |
| business conferences, courts or government | | | | or Chinese. There are, however, numerous job |
| proceedings. Simultaneous interpreting is probably the | | | | opportunities for those possessing fluency in other |
| most difficult discipline of translation as the | | | | languages. Applicants should have a language degree, |
| interpreters need to be highly trained and fluent to | | | | preferably a B.S., B.A., or Masters. Translation Service |
| interpret the voice of the speaker in real time. While | | | | companies prefer candidates who have exceptional |
| translators can find their profession very challenging, | | | | fluency in at least two languages, though; many |
| it can also be quit tedious churning through word | | | | language combinations can often be off-putting for |
| after word of, for example, technical texts. | | | | an employer due to the lack of specialization in a |
| Translators, on the other hand, on the other hand | | | | combination they are looking for. This may often also |
| have significant advantages in that they have time to | | | | be the case for the field a translator may specialize |
| polish their final product revising their translations with | | | | in. A translator specialized in a particular field and |
| dictionaries, glossaries and other reference tools. A | | | | language combination for ten years is often more |
| variety of working environments exist for translators | | | | likely to be chosen over a translator who has several |
| such as various translation environments for | | | | working combinations and fields for the last ten |
| software translation and website translation that | | | | years. |
| include translation memories and glossaries. It can | | | | Candidates should be fluent in at least two cultures. |
| often take significant training for the translator to get | | | | Cultural study is an area that potential translators |
| fully up to speed with these tools. | | | | cannot overlook as it is invaluable to understanding |
| Simultaneous translators must have very versatile | | | | the nuances of any work to be translated. However |
| backgrounds. A strong business background may be | | | | there is no substitute for living in the particular target |
| extremely useful to the simultaneous translator. Many | | | | language country. |
| companies offer 60 hours worth of training for these | | | | During the first year of employment an average of |
| translators once hired. To become a technical | | | | only five percent of translators leaves the field. This |
| translator, applicants must pass an exam and receive | | | | incredibly low drop-out rate is due largely to the fact |
| special certification. These translators must also | | | | that translators often sign two-year contracts with |
| posses excellent technical writing skills. Thankfully, | | | | their employers. Otherwise, the effort exerted in |
| many companies offer test preparation classes to | | | | obtaining the job is often enough incentive to remain. |
| ready applicants for the exams. Court translators | | | | Finally, there are few surprises in a career in |
| generally need to be certified by the governments of | | | | translation, as the applicant is well prepared for this |
| their countries and need to pass exams for this | | | | position from his experience in school, the tests and |
| certification. Other translators work in academic fields | | | | interviews, and the training programs for new |
| either studying or interpreting foreign texts. This is | | | | interpreters. |
| where there is often the most room for creative | | | | |