| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] | Poll: In your country, is translation considered one of the most respectable fields of study? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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I am from France.
The answer is "No" but when I add that I translate legal documents for the district court, then they start saying "ahhhhh". So I guess it could depend on the field you work in, because legal matters automatically refer to a more "high end" profession...
| | | | Roni_S 
Slovakia
Local time: 20:38
Slovak to English
| Where I live | Apr 14, 2016 |
there are many medical doctors I would not respect, but only because of their complete lack of bedside manner and professionalism, and their attitude of being god to my being a 'peon'. That said, I have been to many places around this globe and I find that because English is the "lingua franca" wherever you go, in my part of the world in particular, "everybody can English". My most favourite phrase of all is one I hear at least once a month - "My daughter/son/nephew/(insert family member here) j... See more there are many medical doctors I would not respect, but only because of their complete lack of bedside manner and professionalism, and their attitude of being god to my being a 'peon'. That said, I have been to many places around this globe and I find that because English is the "lingua franca" wherever you go, in my part of the world in particular, "everybody can English". My most favourite phrase of all is one I hear at least once a month - "My daughter/son/nephew/(insert family member here) just got back from spending 6 months in (insert English-speaking country here) and now her/his English is PERFECT! Usually said by a person who speaks not a lick of English. Languages, and English in particular, are not that highly respected here in my opinion. Although official documents must be translated and sealed by a sworn translator and these people generally work OUT of their native language, and I have seen the results. While most are acceptable to varying degrees, others are not just mistake-ridden but simply wrong and completely out of context.
I feel that for the general public, languages are just not that interesting so as to be respected. Globalization and all that. I mean, anyone can learn a foreign language, right?? ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Hello from Athens | Apr 23, 2016 |
Chris S wrote: Gianluca Marras wrote: No. In Italy translation is something "cool" for a young man/woman... just like a hobby that allows you to go to the pub and get some pints. Field of study? Do you have to study to become a translator? you know a bit of a language, you went abroad when you were 15 and BUM! you are a translator.  Definitely not in Italy. Ditto in the UK
Ditto in Greece
[Edited at 2016-04-23 18:05 GMT]
[Edited at 2016-04-23 18:05 GMT]
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Ben Gaia
New Zealand
Local time: 06:38
French to English
+ ...
In NZ anyone speaking a high standard of another language is respected, especially the Maori language, and translating is high profile and increasing regarding English, Maori and Mandarin. The profession is rarely understood by the layman, but anything that theoretically pays $40 to $60 per hour is worthy of respect when building or pruning trees gets you $20.
But in the end, don't get "up yaself", it's just another job. In NZ/Aotearoa education is worth something and combats ignorance an... See more In NZ anyone speaking a high standard of another language is respected, especially the Maori language, and translating is high profile and increasing regarding English, Maori and Mandarin. The profession is rarely understood by the layman, but anything that theoretically pays $40 to $60 per hour is worthy of respect when building or pruning trees gets you $20.
But in the end, don't get "up yaself", it's just another job. In NZ/Aotearoa education is worth something and combats ignorance and mistrust. The highest respected jobs are auto electricians and plumbers, both are considered as Gods and live in the style of Gods.
Plus there is keen interest in translating thanks to Google Translate which acts as a giant smartphone dictionary to entertain the users. Teenagers sit there and fall about laughing at the Welsh version of phrases. Ten years ago they had never heard of Welsh.
[Edited at 2016-04-23 18:55 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Chilean situation | Apr 23, 2016 |
Not very much respected here, confusion between translators and interpreteers abounds. After the movie "The Interpreter" was shown several times on TV, the good people see us toting guns!
I keep getting calls and mails from wanabees who offer to "help" me; they have spent six months in Florida or California where you do not need English to survive. They feel that they are brilliant, because: "Anybody can translate" Ugh!
When I tell people that I am a translator, I get puzzled, sort ... See more Not very much respected here, confusion between translators and interpreteers abounds. After the movie "The Interpreter" was shown several times on TV, the good people see us toting guns!
I keep getting calls and mails from wanabees who offer to "help" me; they have spent six months in Florida or California where you do not need English to survive. They feel that they are brilliant, because: "Anybody can translate" Ugh!
When I tell people that I am a translator, I get puzzled, sort of pitying looks, until I add that I also am a Natural Sciences teacher (a career I followed to get better at specialized translations). Faces light up!
The local IRS does not recognize translation as a profession, any Tom, Dick and Harry can go in, ask & get official right to issue invoices as translator.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has an official translations service, since they are swamped, we do the work, they get the credit. Sad but true. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Ivan Matsiuk
Ukraine
Local time: 21:38
English to Ukrainian
+ ...
I have an MA in Interpreting in Translation. I would say it is quite prestigious in Ukraine (but I would completely understand if my countrymen do not agree with me). In the university, our professors always used to stress that we were the intellectual elite
It is quite hard to define a presitigous field of study on global scale, taking into consideration all the fields of studies available. But in linguistics, trans... See more I have an MA in Interpreting in Translation. I would say it is quite prestigious in Ukraine (but I would completely understand if my countrymen do not agree with me). In the university, our professors always used to stress that we were the intellectual elite
It is quite hard to define a presitigous field of study on global scale, taking into consideration all the fields of studies available. But in linguistics, translation and interpreting would beat philology and other related linguistic subjects in terms of prestige. At least, in Ukraine.
From my working experience, I always feel quite special when I am interpreting, because all these people, no matter their position/rank/status could do nothing without me during a meeting or a conference. ▲ Collapse
| | | | eski
Mexico
Local time: 12:38
Member
Spanish to English
+ ...
MODERATOR
Although I will admit that translation is still not one of the most sought-after professions at universities here in Mexico; I have received a good degree of respect from my friends and acquaintances since I entered the field full-time, some nine years ago after having practiced architecture for some 20 years before that.
On this lazy Sunday morning in beautiful Acapulco; I leave you with a little humor:
Translator gets 400 words to translate.
Client : How long w... See more Although I will admit that translation is still not one of the most sought-after professions at universities here in Mexico; I have received a good degree of respect from my friends and acquaintances since I entered the field full-time, some nine years ago after having practiced architecture for some 20 years before that.
On this lazy Sunday morning in beautiful Acapulco; I leave you with a little humor:
Translator gets 400 words to translate.
Client : How long will it take?
Translator : About a week.
Client : A whole week for just 400 words? God created the world in 6
days.
Translator : Then just take a look at this world and afterwards take a
look at my translation.
eski ▲ Collapse
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| Not that respectable! | Apr 26, 2016 |
In Brazil we have many university courses of Litterature where translation is part of since long ago, but it is far from being as respectable as Medicine, Engineering and the like.
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