| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Starting a Career in Translation Thread poster: pravepad
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| Choice of language | Apr 16, 2010 |
There is some useful information already in this thread, but here is a thought that seems to be missing from this thread.
Pravepad, you seem to be asking which language is good to learn for someone who aspires to be a translator. I think you are asking the question backwards. You see, the language pairs you would be working with should not be determined by how much money you could earn by working with those language pairs. That would be a big mistake. You can't purposedly learn a sp... See more There is some useful information already in this thread, but here is a thought that seems to be missing from this thread.
Pravepad, you seem to be asking which language is good to learn for someone who aspires to be a translator. I think you are asking the question backwards. You see, the language pairs you would be working with should not be determined by how much money you could earn by working with those language pairs. That would be a big mistake. You can't purposedly learn a specific language to make money with. Your command of a given language is largely determined by the way your brain is wired, and you can't change that, try as you might.
Instead, you should first look at just how good a learner you are. Then, you should look at the languages you seem to have a feel for. Do you have any second-language knowledge? If you do, try perfecting that knowledge to see how fast you can get to the level where you can actually write good copy in that language (this is way past the conversational level). For example, you might try translating some of the technical documents you come across in your work as an engineer and have somebody who is native in the language you are translating into read it and give you their impression.
If you do not have knowledge of a foreign language past the conversational level, then you should really consider if you want to do this. For the best among us, it takes at least ten years of full time, real-life, in-country experience with a given language to be able to use it as a source language, and then some when you translate technical text. I stress that this ten-year minimum is reserved for those who already have a knack for language learning. Many of us can't learn a language to a satisfactory level for translation purposes in fifteen or even twenty years.
One thing you might try is to review instead. You would still need to speak the source language (assuming the target language is your native language), but you wouldn't have to be at the writing level--the reading/understanding level might suffice. As a reviewer, you would be working mainly with the target language and your command of the source language wouldn't be as critical. Also, a few years of experience reviewing could help you learn the source language faster as well if you take the time to analyze your source texts and compare them to the target text.
Questions to ask yourself (the more NOs you get, the least likely it is you could ever become a full-fledged translator):
- Are you good at writing in your mother tongue (I don't mean writing love letters, but rather writing good copy for business purposes)?
- Do you enjoy writing?
- Do you have at least intermediate knowledge of a foreign language?
- Are you a fast and eager learner?
- Do you have or are you willing to make time to learn or to perfect your knowledge of a new language?
In short, if you are not particularly language-inclined and don't have at least intermediate knowledge of a foreign language, this might not be the job for you.
I also would like to stress that there is a misbelief that freelance translation is the get-rich-quick scheme of the century. Many say that all it takes is a computer and internet access. Unfortunately, the industry is now polluted by an ocean of have-computer-willing-to-translate people who have no idea of what translation is and yet pose as translators, to the detriment of their clients and of their colleagues. This is driving rates down and tarnishing the image of professional translators. Please, don't believe the hype. It is not as easy, comfortable or financially beneficial as you might think. It is hard work, it takes a long time before you are competent enough to proudly offer professional services and of all careers requiring a university degree, it has probably THE worst pay potential. Besides, if you don't enjoy translating (you see it merely as a means to sustain yourself and otherwise don't care about it), you WILL eventually become sloppy and people will refuse to give you work.
You may want to think twice before leaving engineering behind...
[Edited at 2010-04-16 15:25 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | World shrinks, frontiers disappear... | Apr 16, 2010 |
Lesley Clarke wrote:I honestly don't understand all the negative comments here.
I recommend Patricia's comments highly and would also second Parrot's comment that you should keep your day job while you are establishing yourself as a translator.
I obviously don't know anything about the Indian market but it probably doesn't resemble the European market in any way. Each market is different. Here in Mexico you would earn more as a translator than as an engineer.
Imho, I do not think there is an European market or a U.S. market or any other geographically located market anymore. Today we compete all against all at global level, I guess. An American provider may request a translation from Chinese into Russian in an Asian country without any problem and have it on his desk in a few hours. Well done and cheaper that in other countries.
This is probably one of the causes of the permanently falling translation rates between many others too. Twenty years ago, at the time that we had to wait for hours to pass a medium size text trough a 56K modem to a nearby country, we could not even dream it.
[Editado a las 2010-04-16 17:35 GMT]
| | | | Williamson 
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:33
Flemish to English
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| Interpreting | Apr 17, 2010 |
Pablo Bouvier wrote: Lesley Clarke wrote:I honestly don't understand all the negative comments here.
I recommend Patricia's comments highly and would also second Parrot's comment that you should keep your day job while you are establishing yourself as a translator.
I obviously don't know anything about the Indian market but it probably doesn't resemble the European market in any way. Each market is different. Here in Mexico you would earn more as a translator than as an engineer. Imho, I do not think there is an European market or a U.S. market or any other geographically located market anymore. Today we compete all against all at global level, I guess. An American provider may request a translation from Chinese into Russian in an Asian country without any problem and have it on his desk in a few hours. Well done and cheaper that in other countries. This is probably one of the causes of the permanently falling translation rates between many others too. Twenty years ago, at the time that we had to wait for hours to pass a medium size text trough a 56K modem to a nearby country, we could not even dream it. [Editado a las 2010-04-16 17:35 GMT]
With regard to interpreting :
We don't compete all against each other at a global level.
An oligopolistic market, because first you have to get into an interpreting school (pass admission tests), finish the training and get some kind of credential from an international institution/body. Not accessible to everybody overnight and not subject to globalisation.
[Edited at 2010-04-17 08:21 GMT]
| | | | | Starting a Career in Translation | Apr 18, 2010 |
Williamson wrote: Pablo Bouvier wrote: Lesley Clarke wrote:I honestly don't understand all the negative comments here.
I recommend Patricia's comments highly and would also second Parrot's comment that you should keep your day job while you are establishing yourself as a translator.
I obviously don't know anything about the Indian market but it probably doesn't resemble the European market in any way. Each market is different. Here in Mexico you would earn more as a translator than as an engineer. Imho, I do not think there is an European market or a U.S. market or any other geographically located market anymore. Today we compete all against all at lobal level, I guess. An American provider may request a translation from Chinese into Russian in an Asian country without any problem and have it on his desk in a few hours. Well done and cheaper that in other countries. This is probably one of the causes of the permanently falling translation rates between many others too. Twenty years ago, at the time that we had to wait for hours to pass a medium size text trough a 56K modem to a nearby country, we could not even dream it. [Editado a las 2010-04-16 17:35 GMT] With regard to interpreting : We don't compete all against each other at a global level. An oligopolistic market, because first you have to get into an interpreting school (pass admission tests), finish the training and get some kind of credential from an international institution/body. Not accessible to everybody overnight and not subject to globalisation. [Edited at 2010-04-17 08:21 GMT]
Agree. But, interpreting is not the same as translating, even they are often taught together to get an univesitary degree. I believe that even interpreters world has been reduced a little through videoconferencing and other gadgets alike.
However, what it is absolutely true, is that the interpreters associations and the same interpreters have been far better able to defend their rights as any existing translators association in the world, remaining in professional elites where intrusism is practically zero.
[Editado a las 2010-04-18 18:06 GMT]
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Williamson
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:33
Flemish to English
+ ...
| Rate-Calculator example. | Apr 18, 2010 |
Videoconferencing did not reduce the demand. You still need a capable/trained /experienced person and given the total number graduates each year demand>supply.
Otherwise, you risk situations like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po68pqVVA3U
Parrot wrote: Don't you think a senior engineer would know how to assess the rates he might be given with respect to what he receives in his profession? Pravepad, you might want to use the rates calculator: http://www.proz.com/translator-rates-calculator/
Don't know if this is the right place to give an answer, but the rates in the examples proposed in the more elaborated examples are rather low. Guess they are based on the payment practises in Southern-Europe.
Back on track. Who in his right mind would give up a job a senior engineer to become a freelance translator given the abysmal rates paid in some countries/by some suppliers.
[Edited at 2010-04-18 18:33 GMT]
| | | | Ronald van der Linden (X)
Mexico
Local time: 21:33
German to Dutch
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| Go for it! But keep your full time job in the meanwhile... | Apr 19, 2010 |
From accountant to English teacher and now translator.
Surprisingly, I'm not translating that many financial related documents.
Also, not from Spanish to Dutch or English, as I live in Mexico, but German to Dutch is my main translation combination and medical device manuals or electrical engineering related translations are my main topics. With zero experience, taking a few language courses, trying out CAT tools and a lot of dedication and try outs with low cost translation web sites... See more From accountant to English teacher and now translator.
Surprisingly, I'm not translating that many financial related documents.
Also, not from Spanish to Dutch or English, as I live in Mexico, but German to Dutch is my main translation combination and medical device manuals or electrical engineering related translations are my main topics. With zero experience, taking a few language courses, trying out CAT tools and a lot of dedication and try outs with low cost translation web sites (contact me for the web sites, as otherwise this reply will be blocked due to mentioning names of competitors.
Actually, I'm making more money as a translator in Mexico than I did when I was working
as a senior administrator in the Netherlands.
You do definately need to take up some language/grammar courses, even if you think you manage them 100%. And, you need to figure out what your fee per word is or should be, and weigh that to your financial needs. I don't know if you have health care, pension, etc, but you should consider including these benefits in your fee. And, you'd need to find out what your normal production rate is. In other words, you'd simply need to start with a few smaller projects and see how it goes. And, as a senior engineer you should already have some contacts.
Don't go full time from day 1, unless you have a savings account that will help you survive for about 6 months. Just try it out in combination with your full time job.
Good luck.
Ronald ▲ Collapse
| | | | Edward Vreeburg
Netherlands
Local time: 05:33
Member (2008)
English to Dutch
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| no disrespect intended | Apr 20, 2010 |
Jocelyne S wrote:
I find the general tone of this thread rather insulting and disrespectful towards serious professional translators in India.
But we are not talking about professional translators in India,
we are answering questions about the market a new arrival is likely to run into as a translator. Assuming he is translating into his mother tongue and the only likely candidate for a second language is another Indian language or English, the Indian market is a tough place to be.
I am also an IT-engineer and switched to translation 8 years ago. And I do make more than I would as a employee in some IT business, but certainly not more than a Freelance IT expert.
I'm sure there are lots of qualified and serious professional translators in India, and he will be competing against them too, without proper training, knowledge and experience judging from his profile....
Having worked with a whole team of 25 of engineers from India for the past 30 months, I can honestly say if he's looking for a carreer and a way to make more money, there are load of other options to consider before focussing on translation.
Like Ronald and some other the other experts said, you don't want to quit your job, unless you seriously start to make more money on the side doing translations, than your regular income...
Ed
| | | | Williamson
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:33
Flemish to English
+ ...
| Just curious. | Apr 22, 2010 |
Edward Vreeburg wrote:
I am also an IT-engineer and switched to translation 8 years ago. And I do make more than I would as a employee in some IT business, but certainly not more than a Freelance IT expert.
Ed
Just curious.
Do you make more than 500 euros per day?
My acquaintance is an freelance programmer and 500 euros is his "negotiable" daily rate.
With negotatiable I mean upwards, not downwards.
If I" translate" this statement into the word rate, you rate must be at least 0.15 eurocent p.w. with an output of 3334 words per day and this for at least 20 days a month? His projects last about a month to sometimes 6 months and the longest three years.
[Edited at 2010-04-22 14:51 GMT]
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Brian Young
United States
Local time: 20:33
Danish to English
| pick a language, and call me in a decade | Apr 22, 2010 |
I agree with everything that Victoria has posted. I am glad that I am not alone in this. When I hear someone say that they are thinking about becoming a translator, and are wondering what language they should learn- that really makes me wonder.
A short course in a language. or even a college degree, will put you on the level of Google Translate. Specialization is just picking up some extra tools. You have to first have a broad and deep knowledge of the language. I was starting to wonder i... See more I agree with everything that Victoria has posted. I am glad that I am not alone in this. When I hear someone say that they are thinking about becoming a translator, and are wondering what language they should learn- that really makes me wonder.
A short course in a language. or even a college degree, will put you on the level of Google Translate. Specialization is just picking up some extra tools. You have to first have a broad and deep knowledge of the language. I was starting to wonder if I was the slow one. Why couldn't I just pick up some new language? Danish to English is a very small market. Chinese or Arabic to English would be a better combination, but I don't have the option of going to an appropriate country and spending years learning the language from the ground up.
I just happened to have lived in Denmark for 18 years, never with any thought of translating. Also, I work full time, and draw Social Security. Living exclusively off translation would force me to accept the type of jobs that I don't want to do.
Keep your job until you are very sure about what you are doing. A lot of this paid translation can be really boring; rental contracts, depositions, "fine print", the type of stuff that you never want to read. ▲ Collapse
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