Which specialty should I study? Thread poster: elsie suess (X)
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elsie suess (X)
Local time: 23:27
English
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Hello everyone, this is my first forum post, so please bare with me if I don't do everything right.
I am about to finish my certification i General Doc. Translation. I would like to choose a specialty but do not know which one is in more demand. And as a beginner, I don't want to dive into anything TOO difficult. I am thinking about medical, scientific, legal or marketing (which is quite broad I realize).
Do you guys have any insight into which fields are more in demand or wi... See more Hello everyone, this is my first forum post, so please bare with me if I don't do everything right.
I am about to finish my certification i General Doc. Translation. I would like to choose a specialty but do not know which one is in more demand. And as a beginner, I don't want to dive into anything TOO difficult. I am thinking about medical, scientific, legal or marketing (which is quite broad I realize).
Do you guys have any insight into which fields are more in demand or will be in the future.
By the way, my languages are English and Spanish.
Thanks so much for any advise. ▲ Collapse
| | | | mediamatrix (X)
Local time: 00:27
Spanish to English
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| Try specializing in English, first. | Jan 22, 2010 |
elsie suess wrote: Hello everyone, this is my first forum post, so please bare with me if I don't do everything right. I am about to finish my certification i General Doc. Translation. I would like to choose a specialty but do not know which one is in more demand. And as a beginner, I don't want to dive into anything TOO difficult. I am thinking about medical, scientific, legal or marketing (which is quite broad I realize). Do you guys have any insight into which fields are more in demand or will be in the future ???????. By the way, my languages are English and Spanish. Thanks so much for any advise.
Just an idea... Just for starters...
MediaMatrix
| | | | smarinella 
Italy
Local time: 06:27
German to Italian
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your writing skills are really excellent, I would suggest marketing and than maybe tourism.
Of course there is a lot to study, also for marketing (5 years University course, to become a marketing specialist) but after my experience its terminology isn't as difficult to learn as others' .
Tourism maybe, of course if you love geography and history of art - it isnt' that easy, too, but with a good cultural standard you're going to learn it (gastronomy, on the contrary or ... See more your writing skills are really excellent, I would suggest marketing and than maybe tourism.
Of course there is a lot to study, also for marketing (5 years University course, to become a marketing specialist) but after my experience its terminology isn't as difficult to learn as others' .
Tourism maybe, of course if you love geography and history of art - it isnt' that easy, too, but with a good cultural standard you're going to learn it (gastronomy, on the contrary or wine require a lot of know-how).
It isn't the same for economics of medecine, after my opinion. It isn't a question of terminology, it's a question of contents. Many, many medical translators, for instance, are themselves physicians. I don't want too say that, if you aren't a medical doctor, you can't translate medical texts, of course, but the best ones have studies medicine themselves. The best IT>EN financial translator I know has worked for many years as CEO for big companies round the world, others have worked in banks - I would never translate balance sheets or hedge funds myself, for instance, because I have no idea of their contents!
Of course you shoul suggest your specialities depending on your competences and preferences - and nobody can help you in the choice.
I personally like politics and read a lot about it - that's why this has become one of my 'specialities', other may be are more expert in alternative energies or religion or literature, also without specific studies in these areas.
For technical translators of literary translators, odo course, things are different...
[Edited at 2010-01-22 01:23 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | A critical question | Jan 22, 2010 |
Elsie, here the critical question is: what industry or area of human knowledge and activity do you personally like?
There is a lot of work in medicine, but if the sight of blood makes you faint, better forget it because you will sometimes have to read and translate things that will give you the creeps.
There is a lot of work in computing, but computers are just a tool for you and not a passion, you might not excel in this area in a reasonable time.
There is... See more Elsie, here the critical question is: what industry or area of human knowledge and activity do you personally like?
There is a lot of work in medicine, but if the sight of blood makes you faint, better forget it because you will sometimes have to read and translate things that will give you the creeps.
There is a lot of work in computing, but computers are just a tool for you and not a passion, you might not excel in this area in a reasonable time.
There is a lot of work in marketing, but if you are not sure that a power screwdriver is so much superior to all other power screwdrivers, maybe it is not quite your field.
And so on!
Now, what area of human knowledge or activity are you personally interested in? Even if you prepare yourself for other fields merely for business reasons, you want and need the satisfaction of translating in some area in which your personal knowledge and interest will create excellent translations, may it be pets, after-Woodstock young society, skateboards, French painters, space technology, kinds of bread in the West Indias, o whatever... be honest! ▲ Collapse
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Laurent KRAULAND (X)
France
Local time: 06:27
French to German
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Tomás Cano Binder, CT wrote:
Now, what area of human knowledge or activity are you personally interested in? Even if you prepare yourself for other fields merely for business reasons, you want and need the satisfaction of translating in some area in which your personal knowledge and interest will create excellent translations, may it be pets, after-Woodstock young society, skateboards, French painters, space technology, kinds of bread in the West Indias, o whatever... be honest!
| | | | Latin_Hellas (X)
United States
Local time: 06:27
Italian to English
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| Specialty and Hands-On Experience | Jan 22, 2010 |
I interpret the above responses, in sum, as saying your specialty should most likely be based on hands-on experience (accompanied by a paper qualification doesn't hurt) in a sector - such as law, medicine, science or finance - all sectors with customers who have money to pay -, also very important -, but one in which you actually have a natural interest.
Not so sure I agree with tourism however, either for translation or as an engine of economic growth, touted by every region in ... See more I interpret the above responses, in sum, as saying your specialty should most likely be based on hands-on experience (accompanied by a paper qualification doesn't hurt) in a sector - such as law, medicine, science or finance - all sectors with customers who have money to pay -, also very important -, but one in which you actually have a natural interest.
Not so sure I agree with tourism however, either for translation or as an engine of economic growth, touted by every region in the world, so fierce competition, but no substitute for the above fields mentioned.
Spanish-English is a crowded language pair. I would suggest focusing on science & technology, especially for the energy sector. For example, if you are in Quito, the main industry is petroleum. But alternative energy, as well as mining, are also promising sectors for the future.
Good Luck!
[Edited at 2010-01-22 09:24 GMT]
[Edited at 2010-01-22 09:27 GMT]
[Edited at 2010-01-22 09:29 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Ken Fagan (X)
Local time: 06:27
French to English
| timely topics | Jan 22, 2010 |
I know that this is just a start but hope it will help:
-- bankruptcy and insolvency
-- marketing psychiatric services
-- marketing anti-depressants
-- marketing personal bodyguard and/or guard dog services for bankers/mortgage brokers/economic forecasters/rating agencies
[Edited at 2010-01-22 20:07 GMT]
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