Going from Technical Writer to Technical Translator
by Jacob De Camillis
Copyright © 2011, 2012
If you know at least two languages fluently, you may be interested in technical translation. What does one need to make this leap? Here are six simple pointers to help you in the right direction!
1. The ability to technical write in your mother tongue(s). Good technical translation is good technical writing---the target text must be well structured, coherent, clean, and accurate, regardless of whether you work into English, French, or Klingon etc.
Translators as a rule of thumb should only work into their strongest language, which is most often their native language, or the language through which they received 80% - 100% of their education. Translators of Asian and African languages may be forced to work into their second language as few native speakers of European languages translate such languages, i.e. Arabic into English, Japanese into Spanish, etc.
Translators as a rule of thumb should only work into their strongest language, which is most often their native language, or the language through which they received 80% - 100% of their education. Translators of Asian and African languages may be forced to work into their second language as few native speakers of European languages translate such languages, i.e. Arabic into English, Japanese into Spanish, etc.
2. Flawless reading fluency in at least one other language. The rule of thumb is, if you can sift through the most complex essay or book you can find in all of your languages without needing a dictionary, then you’re good to go! Translators must be seamless---no subtlety, no thought, nor term can slip through the translator's radar. Although I mention only a second language, it is not uncommon for translators to have excellent passive knowledge of two, three, or even four foreign languages besides their mother tongue.
3. Working knowledge of at least one technical field. Much like with technical writing, one has to know what they’re talking about. If you mistranslate a term, the consequences can be disastrous!
With the global domination of the English language in science, technology, business, and academia, a language may lag/lack a developed technical idom of its own. Technical translators find themselves coining new terminology on a continuous basis: you have to problem-solve, understand, be creative, and be accurate. The best two ways to overcome such obsticals is through reading and through talking to subject matter experts.
With the global domination of the English language in science, technology, business, and academia, a language may lag/lack a developed technical idom of its own. Technical translators find themselves coining new terminology on a continuous basis: you have to problem-solve, understand, be creative, and be accurate. The best two ways to overcome such obsticals is through reading and through talking to subject matter experts.
4. A collection of fantastic references. It is essential that translators keep dictionaries, encyclopaedias, journals, textbooks, glossaries, and anything else they can in all of their working languages. If you travel extensively, make plenty of shopping trips to local book stores. Keep current. Language and human knowledge constantly changes. If the language you speak lacks what you’re looking for (perhaps, for instance, a Swahili dictionary of nuclear physics)---there is no harm in writing one for yourself.
5. Education, Education, Education! Whether you go through a formal degree programme in Switzerland or you invest in a lot of books on translation theory, it never hurts to ground yourself in the literature, techniques, and thoughts floating about in and among other professional linguists. Some pick their trade up by having a mentor and others attend prestigious universities. There are conferences, books, and translation societies---do your research and continuously practice to hone your skills.
6. Network. As with technical writing, translators should network, especially if you work freelance as opposed to for a company. Within networking, build up a good portfolio sampling your best work. Hook up with other translators and put your name everywhere. Translation jobs often involve a bidding process if one is getting their work via telecommuting. The more people you know, the more doors you have you foot in.
6. Network. As with technical writing, translators should network, especially if you work freelance as opposed to for a company. Within networking, build up a good portfolio sampling your best work. Hook up with other translators and put your name everywhere. Translation jobs often involve a bidding process if one is getting their work via telecommuting. The more people you know, the more doors you have you foot in.
If interested in more, a beautiful place to start is a website hosted by translator Gabe Boker called, "Translation Journal" -- it, much like this blog, is a collective of minds and mentors about every facet of the profession one can think of!
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