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