| If you are serious about becoming a | | | | translator with a 9-5 office job. I myself |
| translator, you must be able to fulfil the | | | | worked in an office where the majority of |
| following criteria, at the very least. | | | | translators were freelancers. |
| | | | |
| Translator Prerequisites | | | | An online translation forum is a great way of |
| | | | getting your foot in the door. Sign up for |
| Your standard of education must be very high; | | | | e-zines and newsletters. |
| with very few exceptions, a degree is | | | | |
| essential, though not necessarily in | | | | You should send your CV and a short covering |
| languages - it is a positive advantage to | | | | letter to possible places of employment: Not |
| have qualifications or experience in another | | | | just translation companies though, try local |
| subject. Postgraduate training in translation | | | | exporting/importing firms of whose products |
| is useful. You must be able to write your own | | | | business you have special subject knowledge. |
| mother tongue impeccably in a style and | | | | If you are a student, there are plenty of |
| register appropriate to the subject and have | | | | companies out there looking to take on |
| a flair for research on technical subjects. | | | | apprentices with a view to later full-time |
| | | | employment. |
| It goes without saying, that you should have | | | | |
| a thorough grasp of the languages in your | | | | A-Z Checklist for Translating |
| language combination, you must also be | | | | |
| familiar with the culture and customs of the | | | | Business-like is a word you should not |
| country. The only way to do this is by | | | | forget! As long as you have an answer to my |
| surrounding yourself with the language, i.e: | | | | a-z of questions, and tick them off when |
| by living/studying in the country where the | | | | you've an answer for each one, then you |
| language is spoken. German is spoken in 5 | | | | should be ok. |
| countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, | | | | |
| Liechtenstein and Luxembourg. There is no | | | | Pre-Translation - You should know...a) Who is |
| substitute for first-hand experience of | | | | the translation for - this can be helpful |
| living in a foreign culture, and as an | | | | when determining the register of your |
| Irishman living in Berlin, Germany, I can | | | | translation.b) Is there a contact for |
| only recommend this course of action. | | | | queries? Make sure you have records of the |
| | | | contact person's details: name, email, |
| It is best to have a specific field that you | | | | telephone...remember business-like as always. |
| specialise in, be it literature, technical, | | | | Always keep records.c) Find out if the |
| medical, legal. | | | | language has to be translated into a |
| | | | particular variant. UK English or US |
| Have invested in a minimum of equipment and | | | | English?d) Are there particular terms that |
| software - At a minimum you should have a | | | | the translation should include for |
| computer and appropriate word-processing | | | | consistency?e) If working under contract for |
| software; fax machine and internet | | | | a translation company, do they have a style |
| connection; suitable dictionaries, preferably | | | | guide that you should follow: i.e: Rules for |
| online dictionaries like LEO, which return | | | | translating dates etc.f) Are text areas, |
| results at the touch of button, saving you an | | | | embedded in tables and images, to be |
| enormous amount of time searching through | | | | translated as well? If so, knowledge of |
| printed dictionaries. A telephone; answering | | | | graphic editing programs is of an |
| machine (and, optionally, a dictating | | | | advantage.g) Are you required to use a |
| machine); increasingly, today's translators | | | | specific word processing software for the |
| are also using translation memory software | | | | translation?h) Are you required to use a |
| and other translation tools. In an office | | | | specific Computer-Aided Translation |
| translation environment, the use of the | | | | (CAT)-tool for the translation e.g. Trados, |
| Computer-Aided Translation (CAT)-tool Trados | | | | Déjà Vu?i) Is there a translation |
| has become the standard. CAT-tools like | | | | memory available for the translation? |
| Trados or Déjà vu can cost quite a | | | | |
| handful. If funds do not allow, seriously | | | | Double-Checkingj) Before delivering: has the |
| think about taking out a loan to cover | | | | translation been double-checked for accuracy, |
| start-up expenses. The investment will pay | | | | consistency, spelling, font styles the |
| off. | | | | same?k) Does the text sound as if it was |
| | | | translated? If in doubt get someone who |
| While it is not the industry standard, | | | | doesn't speak the source language to have a |
| Wordfast also offers a very resourceful | | | | quick read through your translation. |
| alternative as it has the functionality of | | | | |
| Trados and Déjà vu, but doesn't cost | | | | Deliveryl) Where is the translation to be |
| you a penny. Donations, however, are welcome. | | | | delivered? To the customer's address, |
| | | | Internet address?m) When is the translation |
| Produce a well-typed, well-presented | | | | deadline?n) How is the translation to be |
| curriculum vitae, briefly describing your | | | | delivered? By fax, email, post?o) Do copies |
| education, qualifications and the languages | | | | of material sent have to be returned? |
| from which you translate (source language/s). | | | | |
| For Germany, you should usually include a | | | | Charging and Extra Chargesp) How will the |
| picture of yourself beside your name and | | | | translation be charged? Time, per word, per |
| address and choose a tabular layout. | | | | sentence?q) Will there be an additional |
| | | | charge for irregular difficulties?r) Will |
| A translator translates from a source | | | | there be an additional charge for research? |
| language into a target language. You should | | | | Specialist terminology?s) Must the translated |
| translate only into your mother tongue | | | | text be proofread?t) Will VAT be applicable? |
| (target language). Make sure you mention any | | | | |
| other degrees you may have or relevant work | | | | Paymentu) How and when is payment to be |
| experience. Say how you produce your work | | | | made?v) When is payment to be made?w) What |
| (word-processing software) and whether you | | | | method of payment is to be used? Bank |
| can communicate by email or fax. | | | | transfer, cheque? |
| | | | |
| Never shy away from asking a friend who works | | | | Liability and Compensationx) Is the |
| in business or in the language world to take | | | | translation to remain confidential?y) Does |
| a critical look at your CV before sending it | | | | your indemnity insurance, and you will need |
| out. It is, after all, your career we're | | | | indemnity insurance, cover all |
| talking about! In fact, if they can help you | | | | possibilities?z) Is the early termination of |
| even more, all the better. | | | | a job subject to compensation? |
| | | | |
| If sitting at home all the time does not | | | | And that's it! If you can answer these |
| appeal to you, then you should not rule out | | | | questions then you're one step closer to |
| the possibility of working as a freelance | | | | becoming a professional. |