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"We labor in obscurity." These are the words of a literary translator
who contacted Nina Sankovitch recently, as reported in her excellent
post, "Found in Translation: Honoring Literary Translators." If you
can't name the Swedish-to-English translator of "The Girl Who Played
with Fire," just imagine who's behind the translation of Apple's
latest slogan for the South Korean launch of the iPad 2. The vast
majority of translators don't just labor in obscurity -- they're
invisible.
Here's the typical scenario: Buyer needs words translated. Buyer sends
words to translation firm. Translation firm sends words to
translators. Translators send translation back to translation firm.
Translation firm sends words back to buyer. Buyer publishes words.
The file format, number of languages, output type, and other items
vary, but the process remains fairly simple. The translator is usually
left completely behind the scenes, unable to ask the source author any
questions about the original text, even when doing so would facilitate
a translation of better quality.
The distance between the buyer of translation services and the
translator is vast.
But oh, how things are changing.
At a Common Sense Advisory event held for buyers of translation at
Google's headquarters last year on the topic of translation quality
measurement, an individual from one large organization complained,
"Even though I have no contact with the translators, I can always tell
when one of them goes on vacation." She went on to share that the
quality degraded, because the replacement translators were less
familiar with her company's work.
I also noticed this trend in some recent research on life sciences
translation. One interviewee explained, "For the first time ever,
we're bringing the translators on-site so we can train them ourselves
and be absolutely sure they're familiar with our brand and proprietary
terminology."
When I was conducting research on translation quality, one buyer told
me that when he is selecting a translation firm, he logs onto some of
the online communities where translators congregate to see what they
are writing about the vendors. "I don't want to work with any company
that doesn't treat its translators as its most valuable asset," he
said. "Our brand is in their hands."
Most translators are not looking for glory. They don't expect to see
their names in lights, or on the cover of a book. They simply want the
ability to do the best job they can. They want to be proud of the
difficult work they do. Giving them a closer relationship with the
buyer facilitates that. Slowly but surely, technology is bridging the
gap between buyers of translation and the translators themselves.
Delivering multilingual content is never truly a solo act. So, it
isn't that the translator will ever take center stage alone. But it's
becoming more common for the translator to join the rehearsals and be
seen as part of the crew. And maybe just once in awhile, she can join
the rest of the cast onstage, not because she needs to be seen, but so
she, too, can see the faces of the people who applaud and appreciate
her work.
La Real Academia Española ha finalizado la grabación de los 2,149 fragmentos que componen la versión de El Quijote para YouTube.
Se trata de un proyecto creado por el director de la Real Academia Española (RAE), José Manuel Blecua, para impulsar la presencia del español en Internet. Por ello, contó también con el apoyo de la Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española (ASALE).
Se ha culminado así, la recreación completa en vídeo de la más importante obra de Miguel de Cervantes, un proceso en el que han colaborado usuarios de YouTube de habla hispana de todos los rincones del mundo”, dice Google a través de un comunicado.
El proyecto comenzó el 30 de septiembre del 2010 y ya está listo para disfrutarse, por tiempo indefinido en el canal youtube.com/elquijote
En números
- Participaron 4,308 usuarios de YouTube, quienes remitieron la grabación de distintos fragmentos, que fueron revisados y aprobados por un equipo del Centro de Estudios Cervantinos hasta completar la obra.
- El canal de El Quijote de YouTube ya ha registrado cuatro millones de reproducciones, procedentes de 104 países, sobre todo de España (933,000) y México (89,000).
- El canal cuenta con 6,000 suscriptores
- El video más visto, con más de 85,000 reproducciones, es la presentación del proyecto
UN TRABAJO EN EQUIPO
El canal de El Quijote se formó con las aportaciones de muchos usuarios de YouTube.
Estos son algunos hechos curiosos al respecto:
Hay videos grabados en plena naturaleza, habitaciones, colegios o bibliotecas
También hay escenas grabadas desde los molinos de viento de la Mancha, el monte Fuji en Japón y la Torre del Oro de Sevilla
Abundan los fragmentos tomados en iglesias, fuentes y a la orilla del mar, durante una puesta de sol.
También hay lecturas llevadas a cabo en una consulta médica, en una clase de educación para adultos, en un teatro o con familias en compañía de niños y mascotas.
Otros videos más creativos, muestran una mano pintada con la caricatura de don Quijote, otro con huevos de gallina ilustrados con las figuras de don Quijote y Sancho Panza, y muchos con dibujos y grabados de libros, incluso con imágenes de cerámicas inspiradas en esta obra de Cervantes.
Asimismo, algunos lectores han optado por disfrazarse de don Quijote o por animar la recreación del fragmento con marionetas o recortes de papel.
También hay pasajes leídos en braille por personas invidentes.
En este proyecto han colaborado usuarios de YouTube mayores de 14 años, sin importar en qué parte del mundo se encontrasen ni cuál fuese su idioma materno. El único requisito era que la locución fuese en español, de acuerdo con el fragmento asignado a cada participante.
Para el cierre se editaron todos los videos para que se pudieran visualizar las lecturas de forma continuada y por capítulos. En total son 52 capítulos del primer libro y 74 del segundo. La edición del Quijote utilizada para esta lectura universal es la conmemorativa del cuarto centenario de la aparición del libro, publicada por la RAE, la Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española (ASALE) y la editorial Alfaguara en 2004.
Málaga, 21 mar (EFE).- La Real Academia Española y la patronal tecnológica española AMETIC se adherirán mañana a la "Declaración para promocionar el uso del español en la red".
La Declaración, que fue firmada en octubre de 2010 por empresas como Telefónica, Telecinco o IBM, será suscrita por un nuevo grupo de firmas como Extratelecom, RIM-Blackberry, Art-Natura y Grupo Konecta, entre otras, ha informado hoy el Ayuntamiento de Málaga en un comunicado.
Así, esta ciudad se afianza como la capital del español en Internet en la décima reunión del Club Málaga Valley, en la que más de cien presidentes y directivos de empresas tecnológicas se dan cita para revalidar un compromiso de "importantes consecuencias" para el presente y el futuro de nuestra lengua.
Durante el acto, el director de la Real Academia Española, José Manuel Blecua, expondrá las distintas medidas de promoción del español en Internet que se han adoptado desde esta institución, mientras que también clausurará la novedosa lectura digital de Don Quijote de la Mancha a través de Youtube.
Para analizar las posibilidades del español en Internet, la reunión contará con la intervención del presidente de AMETIC, Jesús Banegas, que abordará la importancia del uso de esta lengua en el sector de las telecomunicaciones como un activo industrial y cultural de referencia para la competitividad de nuestra economía.
¿Dónde se habla el mejor español? Hacía tiempo que quería escribir sobre este tema y me da pie ahora para ello la lectura de un interesante libro sobre la relación entre lengua e identidad en el que se trata precisamente esta cuestión en el capítulo 4, aunque en un plano general, no en el específico de nuestra lengua (Edwards, John. 2009. Language and identity: an introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).
Todos nos hemos encontrado alguna vez envueltos en una conversación sobre dónde se habla el mejor español. Respuestas clásicas en España son: en Valladolid o quizás en Castilla. Allende los mares se tiende probablemente a atribuir esta virtud a las variedades europeas de esta lengua. Normalmente la discusión se trufa con argumentos sobre la pureza o la corrección de esta o de la otra variedad. Sobre las restantes variedades se suelen tener también listos juicios de tipo estético, social, comunicativo, etc. que sirven para terminar de aderezar el tema. Así, se afirma con convencimiento que En la ciudad X tienen un acento muy gracioso, En la región Y hablan muy cateto o En el país Z no hay quien los entienda. Evitaremos aquí los ejemplos concretos porque bastante calientes están ya las cosas como para echar más leña al fuego.
Para empezar, hay que aclarar de qué estamos hablando verdaderamente cuando nos referimos al mejor español. ¿Tiene esto que ver con alguna cualidad intrínseca de tipo estructural o funcional? Para que nos entendamos: ¿tiene el murciano una gramática más desarrollada que el extremeño?, ¿es posible una comunicación más precisa hablando limeño que hablando porteño? Desde un punto de vista científico, la respuesta es un rotundo no. Todas las variedades de una lengua son medios igualmente aptos para desempeñar las diferentes funciones del lenguaje. No se puede sostener de ningún modo que la variedad X sea mejor que la variedad Y o que la una sea más pura y la otra esté más echada a perder.
Sin embargo, desde un punto de vista social, las cosas cambian. No hay duda de que los hablantes tienen sus propias ideas al respecto y de que las manifiestan con vehemencia. Los juicios más o menos estrictos, más o menos definidos, más o menos emocionales sobre cuáles son las variedades de su propia lengua que resultan más hermosas o más puras o más saladas o más sosas existen, son reales para quienes los emiten y tienen su valor, pero hay que saber interpretarlos. En el fondo, estos juicios no nos dicen nada sobre las variedades lingüísticas a las que en principio se refieren sino sobre la consideración que merecen los grupos que hablan esas variantes. Son el resumen de estereotipos, prejuicios, diferencias económicas, rivalidades o afinidades, procesos históricos, etc. La traducción es muy sencilla. Cuando nos dicen: En tal sitio hablan muy gracioso, lo que nos quieren decir es: Los de tal sitio son muy graciosos. Y la afirmación sobre lo cateto del habla de este pueblo o del otro no es sino una forma más o menos indirecta, más o menos socialmente aceptada de llamar catetos a los habitantes del pueblo en cuestión. No hay muchas más vueltas que darle.
Las variedades de prestigio, por su parte, suelen coincidir con las habladas por quienes históricamente han sido más exitosos. Por ejemplo, la belleza o la dignidad que se le atribuyen a un determinado acento son simplemente el reflejo del juicio colectivo que merecen los hablantes con tal acento. Se han hecho experimentos en los que se ha pedido a personas que no conocen una lengua ni el trasfondo histórico, social, económico, etc. de la comunidad que la habla que juzguen estéticamente el sonido de diferentes variedades. Sus respuestas no tenían nada que ver con las de hablantes nativos que sí están familiarizados con ese trasfondo. Quienes desconocen cuáles son las valoraciones relativas que merecen diferentes grupos de hablantes dentro de una comunidad lingüística son incapaces de atinar asignando los supuestos valores estéticos. A un panameño le puede parecer que el acento de un hondureño, un boliviano, un español o un argentino es de tal o cual manera. Lo que nos está diciendo, quizás sin ser del todo consciente de ello, es lo que le parecen los hondureños, los bolivianos, los españoles o los argentinos. Si la misma pregunta se la hiciéramos a una señora recién aterrizada de Samoa sin entender una palabra de español, te puedo asegurar que lo que le parecería sería completamente distinto.
En definitiva, y para no alargarnos más, responder a la pregunta inicial es más fácil de lo que parecía. ¿Que dónde se habla el mejor español? Pues en todas partes y en ninguna.
Hasta la semana que viene.
[Blog de Lengua Española de Alberto Bustos, ¿Dónde se habla el mejor español?]
Posted: 10 Mar 2011 02:55 PM PST
La ortografía es un poderoso factor de unidad lingüística. De hecho, uno de los objetivos que las Academias afirman perseguir con la Ortografía de la lengua española de 2010 es contribuir a dicha unidad.
El español es una lengua hablada por una ingente comunidad que abarca varios cientos de millones de personas. Como lengua oficial, está presente en cuatro continentes; y, de hecho, está representada en los cinco. No es extrañar, por tanto, que su pronunciación presente un sinfín de variantes. Por ejemplo, unos somos seseantes; otros, ceceantes; y otros, distinguidores. En unas zonas se ha impuesto el yeísmo y en otras todavía pollo se opone a poyo.
Toda esta variación queda recubierta por una ortografía esencialmente unitaria. Este párrafo, sin ir más lejos, sonará muy diferente dependiendo de si lo lee en voz alta alguien de Valladolid, de Sevilla, de Chiclana de la Frontera, de Buenos Aires, de Antofagasta, de La Habana o de Tijuana. La escritura hace abstracción de tales disparidades y unifica las palabras en una grafía común. Esto facilita el entendimiento. Imaginemos, si no, lo que ocurriría si los unos escribieran secesión; los otros, sesesión; y los de más allá, cececión. O si lo que en un pueblo es llorar en el de al lado se convirtiera en yorar y en otro, incluso, en shorar.
La ortografía desempeña, por tanto, una función unificadora frente a las variantes locales. Y esto no es una particularidad nuestra. Es así en cualquiera de las modernas lenguas de cultura. Es más, esta función cobra más relieve aún en casos como el del inglés, donde la variación de unos territorios a otros puede llegar a ser drástica; o en el chino, con variedades lingüísticas o dialectos que no siempre son mutuamente comprensibles de palabra, pero sí por escrito. Esto fue así, incluso, en el latín arromanzado de la época medieval, que era latín por fuera y lengua vulgar por dentro: sobre el papel, para las personas cultas (o sea, quienes sabían leer y escribir), era latín; pero al leerlo en voz alta se transformaba por arte de birlibirloque en la lengua que hablaban todos corrientemente y que se iría convirtiendo poco a poco en castellano, normando o toscano.
Si la escritura garantiza la unidad en la dimensión espacial, también lo hace en la temporal. La ortografía es, por naturaleza, conservadora, por lo que no refleja inmediatamente las alteraciones en la pronunciación que se van acumulando con el tiempo. Nuestro actual sistema de reglas se basa en la ortografía académica de 1815. Se eliminaron entonces algunos de los desajustes entre escritura y pronunciación que venía arrastrando la tradición ortográfica castellana como resultado de cambios fonológicos o de inconsistencias históricas. Así, por ejemplo, la equis podía representar el fonema /j/ como en exemplo y la secuencia de fonemas /ks/, como en éxodo. Al eliminar esta y otras irregularidades, se facilitó el aprendizaje de la lectura y la escritura. Pero nada es gratis, como podemos comprobar cuando cae en nuestras manos un libro antiguo: hay una barrera ortográfica que dificulta el acceso.
Del mismo modo, si mañana nos decidiéramos a acometer una reforma que acercara la escritura y la fonología, todos los documentos impresos y electrónicos que venimos acumulando desde el siglo XIX se tornarían ilegibles para las generaciones que se alfabetizaran con el nuevo sistema. Por eso hay que tentarse muy bien la ropa antes de lanzarse a tales empresas, que suelen generar resistencias de todo tipo entre quienes ya saben leer, que acarrean costes económicos considerables y provocan una ruptura de la tradición cultural.
Pero todo esto es solo una vertiente del problema, que es la que tiene que ver con la unidad interna de la lengua. La ortografía académica es sumamente respetuosa con ella. Y la seguirá respetando de grado o por fuerza. Todos hemos sido testigos del revuelo que se ha armado cuando se han retocado algunos aspectos marginales del sistema de acentuación gráfica, como eliminar la tilde de guion o no tildar la o cuando va entre cifras. Como para plantearse simplificar el uso de ge y jota o, no digamos, eliminar la hache…
Sin embargo, este mimo de la unidad interna deja paso a un furor reformista cuando de lo que se trata es de la otra vertiente de la unidad lingüística, la que podemos denominar unidad externa. Nuestra lengua no ha estado nunca aislada. Se ha ido conformando en el contacto y el intercambio con las lenguas de su entorno geográfico y cultural. No es posible entender lo que es hoy el español sin tener en cuenta que forma parte de una comunidad lingüística y cultural en la que convive dentro de la península ibérica con el gallego, el portugués, el euskera y el catalán; y, pasados los Pirineos, con el francés, el inglés, el alemán o el italiano. Los pueblos que hablan estas lenguas han mantenido y mantienen intensas relaciones lingüísticas, comerciales, políticas, religiosas, artísticas, etc. Por encima de sus diferencias evidentes, comparten una historia, unos valores, una visión del mundo. En América, en África o en Asia, la lengua española ha seguido cultivando y estrechando los lazos con las otras lenguas europeas que, como ella, hicieron el viaje a estos continentes y, además, los ha extendido a las lenguas nativas como el quechua, el aimara o el tagalo que sobrevivieron al encontronazo con los europeos.
Todas estas lenguas comparten una porción considerable de su léxico, que está formada por los denominados internacionalismos. Cualquier hispanohablante estrictamente monolingüe, pero con hábito de lectura, reconocerá sin mayor dificultad un gran número de palabras en un periódico inglés, francés, alemán o danés. No hay que ir a Oxford ni a Cambridge para entender por escrito la palabra inglesa action. Sin embargo, si una reforma ortográfica del inglés la convirtiera mañana en algo así como ækshon, nos ayudarían a pronunciarla, pero la dificultad inicial de acceso al inglés escrito se incrementaría considerablemente.
No es de extrañar por ello que tengan una pésima acogida ocurrencias como la de castellanizar grafías asentadas como la de Qatar. La forma con cu es claramente la que predomina a escala internacional para el nombre de ese país. Al convertirla en Catar, hacemos una dudosa aportación a la facilidad de escritura del castellano al precio de convertirnos en una isla lingüística. Teniendo en cuenta que en el mundo de hoy el acceso a la información se realiza preferentemente a través de Internet, por escrito y no necesariamente en castellano, esa supuesta facilidad se puede convertir en un quebradero de cabeza cada vez que queramos localizar las últimas noticias sobre algún acontecimiento producido en ese país o, simplemente, comprar un billete de avión para visitarlo. Cuando alteramos la grafía de topónimos e internacionalismos, estamos levantando barreras donde no las había.
Además, estas innovaciones académicas tienden a ser de ida y vuelta. Quienes adoptaran en su día la grafía camicace se encontrarán hoy con el paso cambiado porque las Academias han vuelto ya al redil internacional y nuevamente prefieren la forma kamikaze. La castellanización de güisqui tuvo el éxito que el sentido común permitía esperar. Pero nuestros académicos vuelven a la carga en la Ortografía de 2010 (pp. 86-87) y nos proponen que escribamos wiski. Y digo yo: el whisky ¿no sería mejor no tocarlo?
En definitiva, es cierto que la ortografía constituye un factor de unidad lingüística; pero también lo es que esa unidad se da, asimismo, en un conjunto orgánico que rebasa los límites de nuestra comunidad de hablantes y que quizás este sea un valor que también convenga respetar.
¿O no? ¿Tú qué piensas?
[Blog de Lengua Española de Alberto Bustos, La ortografía como factor de unidad lingüística]
Interpreters and translators must be fluent in at least two languages. Their educational backgrounds may vary widely, but many need a bachelor's degree. Many also complete job-specific training programs. Education and training. The educational backgrounds of interpreters and translators vary. Knowing at least two languages is essential. Although it is not necessary to have been raised bilingual to succeed, many interpreters and translators grew up speaking two languages.
In high school, students can prepare for these careers by taking a broad range of courses that include English writing and comprehension, foreign languages, and basic computer proficiency. Other helpful pursuits include spending time abroad, engaging in direct contact with foreign cultures, and reading extensively on a variety of subjects in English and at least one other language.
Beyond high school, there are many educational options. Although a bachelor's degree is often required for jobs, majoring in a language is not always necessary. An educational background in a particular field of study can provide a natural area of subject-matter expertise. However, specialized training in how to do the work is generally required. Formal programs in interpreting and translation are available at colleges nationwide and through nonuniversity training programs, conferences, and courses. Many people who work as conference interpreters or in more technical areas—such as localization, engineering, or finance—have master's degrees, while those working in the community as court or medical interpreters or translators are more likely to complete job-specific training programs. Other qualifications. Experience is an essential part of a successful career in either interpreting or translation. In fact, many agencies or companies use only the services of people who have worked in the field for 3 to 5 years or who have a degree in translation studies, or both.
A good way for translators to learn firsthand about the profession is to start out working in-house for a translation company; however, such jobs are not very numerous. People seeking to enter interpreter or translator jobs should begin by getting experience whatever way possible—even if it means doing informal or volunteer work.
Volunteer opportunities are available through community organizations, hospitals, and sporting events, such as marathons, that involve international competitors. The American Translators Association works with the Red Cross to provide volunteer interpreters in crisis situations. Any translation can be used as an example for potential clients, even translation done as practice.
Paid or unpaid internships and apprenticeships are other ways for interpreters and translators to get started. Escort interpreting may offer an opportunity for inexperienced candidates to work alongside a more seasoned interpreter. Interpreters might also find it easier to break into areas with particularly high demand for language services, such as court or medical interpreting.
Whatever path of entry they pursue, new interpreters and translators should establish mentoring relationships to build their skills, confidence, and professional network. Mentoring may be formal, such as through a professional association, or informal with a coworker or an acquaintance who has experience as an interpreter or translator. Both the American Translators Association and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf offer formal mentoring programs.
Translators working in localization need a solid grasp of the languages to be translated, a thorough understanding of technical concepts and vocabulary, and a high degree of knowledge about the intended target audience or users of the product. Because software often is involved, it is not uncommon for people who work in this area of translation to have a strong background in computer science or to have computer-related work experience.
Self-employed and freelance interpreters and translators need general business skills to successfully manage their finances and careers. They must set prices for their work, bill customers, keep financial records, and market their services to attract new business and build their client base. Certification and advancement. There is currently no universal form of certification required of interpreters and translators in the United States. However there are a variety of different tests that workers can take to demonstrate proficiency, which may be helpful in gaining employment. For example, the American Translators Association provides certification in 24 language combinations involving English for its members.
Federal courts have certification for Spanish, Navajo, and Haitian Creole interpreters, and many State and municipal courts offer their own forms of certification. The National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators also offers certification for court interpreting.
The U.S. Department of State has a three-test series for prospective interpreters—one test in simple consecutive interpreting (for escort work), another in simultaneous interpreting (for court or seminar work), and a third in conference-level interpreting (for international conferences)—as well as a test for prospective translators. These tests are not considered a credential, but successful completion indicates that a person has a significant level of skill in the field. Additionally, the International Association of Conference Interpreters offers certification for conference interpreters
The National Association of the Deaf and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) jointly offer certification for general sign interpreters. In addition, the registry offers specialty tests in legal interpreting, speech reading, and deaf-to-deaf interpreting—which includes interpreting among deaf speakers with different native languages and from ASL to tactile signing.
Once interpreters and translators have gained sufficient experience, they may then move up to more difficult or prestigious assignments, may seek certification, may be given editorial responsibility, or may eventually manage or start a translation agency.
Many self-employed interpreters and translators start businesses by submitting resumes and samples to many different translation and interpreting agencies and then wait to be contacted when an agency matches their skills with a job. Work is often acquired by word of mouth or through referrals from existing clients.
Employment
Interpreters and translators held about 50,900 jobs in 2008. However, the actual number of interpreters and translators is probably significantly higher because many work in the occupation only sporadically. Interpreters and translators are employed in a variety of industries, reflecting the diversity of employment options in the field. About 28 percent worked in public and private educational institutions, such as schools, colleges, and universities. About 13 percent worked in healthcare and social assistance, many of whom worked for hospitals. Another 9 percent worked in other areas of government, such as Federal, State, and local courts. Other employers of interpreters and translators include interpreting and translation agencies, publishing companies, telephone companies, and airlines.
About 26 percent of interpreters and translators are self-employed. Many who freelance in the occupation work only part time, relying on other sources of income to supplement earnings from interpreting or translation.
Job Outlook
Interpreters and translators can expect much faster than average employment growth. Job prospects vary by specialty and language. Employment change. Employment of interpreters and translators is projected to increase 22 percent over the 2008–18 decade, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Higher demand for interpreters and translators results directly from the broadening of international ties and the large increases in the number of non-English speaking people in the United States. Both of these trends are expected to continue throughout the projections period, contributing to relatively rapid growth in the number of jobs for interpreters and translators across all industries in the economy.
Demand will remain strong for translators of frequently translated languages, such as Portuguese, French, Italian, German, and Spanish. Demand should also be strong for translators of Arabic and other Middle Eastern languages and for the principal East Asian languages—Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Demand for American Sign Language interpreters will grow rapidly, driven by the increasing use of video relay services, which allow individuals to conduct video calls using a sign language interpreter over an Internet connection.
Technology has made the work of interpreters and translators easier. However, technology is not likely to have a negative impact on employment of interpreters and translators because such innovations are incapable of producing work comparable with work produced by these professionals. Job prospects. Urban areas, especially Washington, DC, New York, and cities in California, provide the largest numbers of employment possibilities, especially for interpreters; however, as the immigrant population spreads into more rural areas, jobs in smaller communities will become more widely available.
Job prospects for interpreters and translators vary by specialty and language. For example, interpreters and translators of Spanish should have good job opportunities because of expected increases in the Hispanic population in the United States. Demand is expected to be strong for interpreters and translators specializing in healthcare and law because it is critical that information be fully understood among all parties in these areas. Additionally, there should be demand for specialists in localization, driven by the globalization of business and the expansion of the Internet; however, demand may be dampened somewhat by outsourcing of localization work to other countries. Given the shortage of interpreters and translators meeting the desired skill level of employers, interpreters for the deaf will continue to have favorable employment prospects. On the other hand, competition can be expected for both conference interpreter and literary translator positions because of the small number of job opportunities in these specialties.
Projections Data
Projections data from the National Employment Matrix
Wage and salary interpreters and translators had median annual wages of $38,850 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $28,940 and $52,240. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,170, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $69,190. Individuals classified as language specialists in the Federal Government earned an average of $79,865 annually in March 2009.
Earnings depend on language, subject matter, skill, experience, education, certification, and type of employer, and salaries of interpreters and translators can vary widely. Interpreters and translators who know languages for which there is a greater demand, or which relatively few people can translate, often have higher earnings, as do those who perform services requiring a high level of skill, such as conference interpreters.
For those who are not salaried, earnings typically fluctuate, depending on the availability of work. Freelance interpreters usually earn an hourly rate, whereas translators who freelance typically earn a rate per word or per hour.
Organizations dedicated to these professions can provide valuable advice and guidance to people interested in learning more about interpreting and translation. The language services division of local hospitals or courthouses also may have information about available opportunities.
For general career information, contact:
American Translators Association, 225 Reinekers Ln., Suite 590, Alexandria, VA 22314. Internet: http://www.atanet.org
For more detailed information by specialty, contact the association affiliated with the subject area in question. See, for example, the following:
American Literary Translators Association, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd., Mail Station JO51, Richardson, TX 75080-3021. Internet: http://www.utdallas.edu/alta
International Medical Interpreters Association, 800 Washington Street, Box 271, Boston, MA 02111-1845. Internet: http://www.imiaweb.org
Localization Industry Standards Association, Domaine en Prael, CH-1323 Romainmôtier, Switzerland. Internet: http://www.lisa.org
National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators, 1707 L St. NW., Suite 570, Washington, DC 20036. Internet: http://www.najit.org
National Council on Interpreting in Health Care, 5505 Connecticut Ave. NW., Suite 119, Washington, DC 20015. Internet: http://www.ncihc.org
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, 333 Commerce St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Internet: http://www.rid.org
For information about testing to become a contract interpreter or translator with the U.S. State Department, contact:
U.S. Department of State, Office of Language Services, 2401 E St. NW., SA-1, Room H1400, Washington, DC 20522. Internet: http://languageservices.state.gov
Information on obtaining a position as an interpreter and translator with the Federal Government is available from the Office of Personnel Management through USAJOBS, the Federal Government's official employment information system. This resource for locating and applying for job opportunities can be accessed through the Internet at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov or through an interactive voice response telephone system at (703) 724–1850 or TDD (978) 461–8404. These numbers are not toll free, and charges may result. For advice on how to find and apply for Federal jobs, see the Occupational Outlook Quarterly article “How to get a job in the Federal Government,” online at http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2004/summer/art01.pdf.
O*NET-SOC Code Coverage
Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Interpreters and Translators, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos175.htm (visited March 10, 2011).
About 26 percent of interpreters and translators are self-employed; many freelance and work in this occupation only sporadically.
In addition to needing fluency in at least two languages, many interpreters and translators need a bachelor's degree.
Employment is expected to grow much faster than average.
Job prospects vary by specialty and language.
Nature of the Work
Interpreters and translators facilitate the cross-cultural communication necessary in today's society by converting one language into another. However, these language specialists do more than simply translate words—they relay concepts and ideas between languages. They must thoroughly understand the subject matter in which they work in order to accurately convey information from one language into another. In addition, they must be sensitive to the cultures associated with their languages of expertise.
Although some people do both, interpreting and translation are different professions. Interpreters deal with spoken words, translators with written words. Each task requires a distinct set of skills and aptitudes, and most people are better suited for one or the other. While interpreters often interpret into and from both languages, translators generally translate only into their native language. Interpreters convert one spoken language into another—or, in the case of sign-language interpreters, between spoken communication and sign language. Interpreting requires that one pay attention carefully, understand what is communicated in both languages, and express thoughts and ideas clearly. Strong research and analytical skills, mental dexterity, and an exceptional memory also are important.
There are two modes of interpreting: simultaneous, and consecutive. Simultaneous interpreting requires interpreters to listen and speak (or sign) at the same time someone is speaking or signing. Ideally, simultaneous interpreters should be so familiar with a subject that they are able to anticipate the end of the speaker's sentence. Because they need a high degree of concentration, simultaneous interpreters work in pairs, with each interpreting for 20-minute to 30-minute periods. This type of interpreting is required at international conferences and is sometimes used in the courts.
In contrast to the immediacy of simultaneous interpreting, consecutive interpreting begins only after the speaker has verbalized a group of words or sentences. Consecutive interpreters often take notes while listening to the speakers, so they must develop some type of note-taking or shorthand system. This form of interpreting is used most often for person-to-person communication, during which the interpreter is positioned near both parties. Translators convert written materials from one language into another. They must have excellent writing and analytical ability, and because the translations that they produce must be accurate, they also need good editing skills.
Translating involves more than replacing a word with its equivalent in another language; sentences and ideas must be manipulated to flow with the same coherence as those in the source document so that the translation reads as though it originated in the target language. Translators also must bear in mind any cultural references that may need to be explained to the intended audience, such as colloquialisms, slang, and other expressions that do not translate literally. Some subjects may be more difficult than others to translate because words or passages may have multiple meanings that make several translations possible. Not surprisingly, translated work often goes through multiple revisions before final text is submitted.
Nearly all translation work is done on a computer, and most assignments are received and submitted electronically. This enables translators to work from almost anywhere, and a large percentage of them work from home. The Internet provides advanced research capabilities and valuable language resources, such as specialized dictionaries and glossaries. In some cases, use of computer-assisted translation—including memory tools that provide comparisons of previous translations with current work—helps save time and reduce repetition.
The services of interpreters and translators are needed in a number of subject areas. While these workers may not completely specialize in a particular field or industry, many do focus on one area of expertise. Some of the most common areas are described below; however, interpreters and translators may work in a variety of other areas also, including business, education, social services, and entertainment. Judiciary interpreters and translators facilitate communication for people with limited English proficiency who find it challenging to communicate in a legal setting. Legal translators must be thoroughly familiar with the language and functions of the U.S. judicial system, as well as other countries' legal systems. Court interpreters work in a variety of legal settings, such as attorney-client meetings, preliminary hearings, arraignments, depositions, and trials. Success as a court interpreter requires an understanding of both legal terminology and colloquial language. In addition to interpreting what is said, court interpreters also may be required to read written documents aloud in a language other than that in which they were written, a task known as sight translation. Medical interpreters and translator, sometimes referred to as healthcare interpreters and translators, provide language services to healthcare patients with limited English proficiency. Medical interpreters help patients to communicate with doctors, nurses, and other medical staff. Translators working in this specialty primarily convert patient materials and informational brochures issued by hospitals and medical facilities into the desired language. Interpreters in this field need a strong grasp of medical and colloquial terminology in both languages, along with cultural sensitivity to help the patient receive the information. Sign-language interpreters facilitate communication between people who are deaf or hard of hearing and people who can hear. Sign-language interpreters must be fluent in English and in American Sign Language (ASL), which combines signing, finger spelling, and specific body language. Most sign-language interpreters either interpret, aiding communication between English and ASL, or transliterate, facilitating communication between English and contact signing—a form of signing that uses a more English language-based word order. Some interpreters specialize in oral interpreting for people who are deaf or hard of hearing and lip-read instead of sign. Other specialties include tactile signing, which is interpreting for people who are blind as well as deaf by making manual signs into their hands, using cued speech, and signing exact English. Conference interpreters work at conferences that have non-English-speaking attendees. The work is often in the field of international business or diplomacy, although conference interpreters can interpret for any organization that works with speakers of foreign languages. Employers prefer high-level interpreters who have the ability to translate from at least two languages into one native language—for example, the ability to interpret from Spanish and French into English. For some positions, such as those with the United Nations, this qualification is mandatory. Guide or escort interpreters accompany either U.S. visitors abroad or foreign visitors in the United States to ensure that they are able to communicate during their stay. These specialists interpret on a variety of subjects, both on an informal basis and on a professional level. Most of their interpreting is consecutive, and work is generally shared by two interpreters when the assignment requires more than an 8-hour day. Frequent travel, often for days or weeks at a time, is common, and it is an aspect of the job that some find particularly appealing. Literary translators adapt written literature from one language into another. They may translate any number of documents, including journal articles, books, poetry, and short stories. Literary translation is related to creative writing; literary translators must create a new text in the target language that reproduces the content and style of the original. Whenever possible, literary translators work closely with authors to best capture their intended meanings and literary characteristics. Localization translators completely adapt a product or service for use in a different language and culture. The goal of these specialists is to make it appear as though a product originated in the country where it will be sold and supported. At its earlier stages, this work dealt primarily with software localization, but the specialty has expanded to include the adaptation of Internet sites, marketing, publications, and products and services in manufacturing and other business sectors. Work environment. Interpreters work in a wide variety of settings, such as schools, hospitals, courtrooms, and conference centers. Translators usually work alone, and they must frequently perform under pressure of deadlines and tight schedules. Technology allows translators to work from almost anywhere, and many choose to work from home.
Because many interpreters and translators freelance, their schedules often vary, with periods of limited work interspersed with periods requiring long, irregular hours. For those who freelance, a significant amount of time must be dedicated to looking for jobs. Interpreters who work over the telephone or through videoconferencing generally work in call centers in urban areas and keep to a standard 5-day, 40-hour workweek.
Interpreters and translators must have a thorough understanding of various languages.
