Translator

What is a Translator?

The following job responsibilities are common for individuals in translator roles:

• Translate written texts from one language into another
• Work to retain the style, formatting, and intention of texts during translation
• Brainstorm ways to translate words and phrases without exact-match components
• Utilize computer-assisted translation (CAT) software to assist with translations

A Day in the Life

When working with foreign languages, there are two main specialties: interpreters and translators. Interpreters specialize in translating spoken language, often as the language is being spoken. Translators, on the other hand, specialize in translating written words from one language to another. As such, they must be fluent in at least two languages. Often, they work to translate the words from a second language into that of their native language, such as from Arabic to English, or English to Spanish.

Translators can work in any setting where texts need to be translated, but they primarily work to translate literary, medical, and legal texts. Literary translators work to translate books, poems, and other written works into languages they weren’t originally written in. Medical translators translate medical information into other languages to make the information accessible to speakers of different languages. Legal translators work to translate legal documents into other languages for non-native speakers.

Translating a text is rarely—if ever—a word-for-word process. Most languages are formatted very differently, and many languages use words that do not have exact-match translations. For this reason, the translator must take great care to retain the original structure, tone, and meaning of the texts they translate. Many utilize computer-aided translation (CAT) software to help with this process. CAT software offers suggestions of pre-existing translations of words and phrases to expedite the process.

Typical Work Schedule

The work schedule for translators can vary significantly depending on the work settings and the specialization. Translators work on average 5 – 8 hours per day adding up to around 25 – 40 hours per week. You are normally expected to translate around 1500 – 3000 words per day but some translators can reach much higher translator rate. Many translators work as freelancer and accordingly they manage their own schedule with high degree of flexibility. However, translators commonly get overloaded when they have strict deadlines to fulfill.  Additionally, you may also be required to travel to other countries when they work in conferences or international organizations.  You should also dedicate some of your time to get trained on using new computer-assisted translation programs or get more knowledge about a specific country or specialization.

Projected Job Growth

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of translators is expected to increase by 20 % from 2019 to 2029 which is much faster than all other jobs. This is a resulting effect of the increasing globalization and diversity of the population around the world including the US. There is also increasing demand for translators for the military and other national security fields. Despite the recent technological advances in translations, the automated translations are usually not satisfactory as they do not account for the context, the specialization and the cultural background of the content. The high growth rate for this job makes it an attractive career option for fresh graduates who are seeking flexible and financially rewarding career. You may consider working as a translator if you master two or more languages and specialize in the field related to your degree. In this case, you may additional certification related to translation.

Translator Specializations

• Literary translators translate literary texts—novels, poems, memoirs, etc.—into languages different from the original composure.
• Medical translators translate medical records, prescription information, and doctor’s instructions into languages that are accessible to non-English-speaking patients.
• Legal translators translate legal documents and court records into different languages so that they can be understood by non-English-speaking clients.

Typical Employers

Translators can work for a large variety of employers. Some translators may be employed by the government to work in different agencies, that includes working for the military as well as civilian offices. Another employer includes working for different educational institutions for various purposes. Medical translators work for hospitals or provide professional translations for different professional, scientific and technical services including the drug package insert. The majority of translators currently are not employed and prefer to be self-employed working remotely where they choose their own tasks and set their own schedules.