What does it take to become a professional translator? It is more challenging than you may think. The professional translation process demands detailing, digital proficiency, and a deep understanding of multiple languages.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a remarkable growth rate of 20% in the translation field from 2021 to 2031, amounting to over 14,000 new job opportunities. Whether you’re considering a career in translation services or are simply curious about how a translation company empowers global reach, this guide will equip you with the essentials you need.
10 Essential Skills Of Professional Translators
Translation companies provide a host of translation services solutions by leveraging professional translators whom they select to join the company based on an evaluation of their skill set. Each translation company decides its set of criteria and rules for assembling its team of translators. Those competencies include much more than knowing what word to use in a translated piece. It takes training and years of hard work.
Below, we discussed factors and elements to consider when evaluating professional translators’ skills and knowledge.
1. Advanced Bilingual/Multilingual Proficiency
Professional translators need to excel in two or more languages, with a deep understanding of grammar and syntax intricacies and a sense of language localization. This allows them to convert materials between source and target languages seamlessly.
At JR Language, our translation service project manager works in partnership with our team of professional translators. For instance, marketing campaigns seeking English-to-Spanish translation services will require a linguist who is well-versed in both English and Spanish to ensure coherence and cultural connectivity.
2. Mastery Of Writing
Translators must be more than native speakers: Their writing must convey the essence of the original text while resonating with the target international audience. This demands not just fluency but an ability to craft engaging content.
Whether translating marketing materials or enhancing technical translations, our language company considers impeccable writing a pivotal skill to ensure the message crosses linguistic boundaries.
3. Competent Cultural Cognizance
Cultural competency is critical to our language localization services. Every language has its set of rules and cultural nuances. Understanding cultural nuances is crucial for effective communication in multicultural environments, as it allows for connection with the reader, avoids misunderstandings, and shows respect for different cultural backgrounds.
Our translators consider regional customs and expressions in every piece they work on, enhancing the quality of our document translation services.
For example, a translator well-versed in Middle Eastern culture will adeptly convey the subtleties of honorifics and politeness levels in a business document translated from English to Arabic.
4. Dedication Towards Continuous Learning
Expanding one’s expertise is vital to providing accurate translation services. For example, translating medical or legal documents requires the translator to stay on top of terminology and industry standards. This ensures the translations remain precise and relevant in the evolving professional landscape.
On the other hand, languages are evolving continuously with the addition of new words and expressions. When COVID hit, for instance, we all started using new terminology in our daily lives and in the context of translation services work that was new. Recognizing that situation, the Canadian government reacted proactively by providing a glossary of terms for English into Canadian French translation to ensure they were guiding clear communication on the subject.
5. Specialization – Subject Matter Experts
Subject matter expertise and appropriate vocabulary usage are soft skills that come from years of working on the same type of content, researching, and doing specialized work. Not every French professional translator can flawlessly translate that language’s legal, medical, and technical content. Legal expertise is a must for French legal translation.
Another typical case of specialization is that some translators specialize in proofreading and polishing machine-translated content, a specialization called post-editing in the industry. Post-editing is a different process, and translators must know how to improve machine-translated content effectively.
6. Years Of Experience In The Craft
Translators are born, and on the other hand, the experience of years working in the industry and on translation projects, day in and day out, doesn’t only get the speed but also the know-how to do the research and the ability to be critical in the selection of the words to master their craft.
7. Adaptability Of Digital Tools
Translation service experts must continuously refine their technological skills by embracing new tools and software advancements. JR Language translators use Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) Tools as these offer a range of features, including translation memory integration, terminology management, and broad quality checks. Knowing what tools to utilize for which project is key. For instance, for certain translation services, we will pair machine translation with human translation to accommodate the client’s needs.
8. Ensuring Accuracy at Every Step
Accuracy is paramount for a translator, particularly for certified translation services, legal translation, and technical pieces. Translators must rely on meticulous processes by adhering to a well-defined workflow. A keen eye for proofreading, coupled with industry-specific best practices, minimizes the risk of errors at each stage, producing high-quality translations.
9. Collaboration and Teamwork
While translators often work independently, they need to be reliable team players. The framework might be internal partnerships with editors and proofreaders or a broader collaboration in a large project within a multilingual team with translators of another language pair, multilingual designers, and localization engineers while working under strict guidance with their assigned project manager.
Effective communication and teamwork are crucial skills for successful professional services in the translation world.
10. Nurturing Trust And Discretion
Translators are entrusted with a unique responsibility: handling sensitive and often private materials, ranging from legal technical documents to medical records. Understanding the importance of safeguarding client confidentiality and maintaining the highest ethical standards is paramount in this profession.
Consider the case of a company needing translations of a game that has not yet been released to the public. In several opportunities, our translation agency received the game to be able to describe it in another language. If a competitor were to learn or get the content translated, they would copy the material to compete with that game.
Our industry best practices include using Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), a legal framework to protect sensitive information, to provide customers with an added layer of security.
All our professional translators abide by the “American Translators Association Code of Ethics and Professional Practice.”
Are Academic Degrees In Translation Services A Requirement?
A formal education in translation services is beneficial but not required. Real-world experience and subject matter expertise are often far more valuable assets. Many successful native translators come from diverse backgrounds, honing their language skills within various industries like medicine, law, or business before transitioning to work in translation services.
When you need to translate medical documents, for example, you would feel more confident entrusting them to a professional translator who has mastered the language pairs and has a strong understanding of medical terminology and procedures. This targeted expertise sets professional translators apart and ensures the medical content is effectively conveyed beyond linguistic obstacles.
What About Certifications For Professional Translators?
Certifications relevant to translators depend on their area of specialization. A legal translator might hold certifications from organizations like the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT). This signifies that the translator has undergone a rigorous assessment and adheres to the highest ethical standards within their field.
Many translators also hold the American Translators Association (ATA) Certification for a language pair. This esteemed certification requires passing a challenging three-hour exam with a demanding 20% pass rate, ensuring only the most adept individuals hold this distinction.
Many language pairs do not have exams or certification in ATA. For example, the language pair English into Hungarian has a certification, but there is no certification in the other direction of Hungarian into English.
A translation company such as JR Language requires professional translators to meet meticulous qualification standards and have proven experience to provide the best service.
Do You Need A Certified Translator For Certified Translations?
The answer may surprise you – No, you don’t need a certified translator to get a certified translation. A certified translation involves the translator signing a document affirming the accuracy of the professional translation. This step becomes crucial when handling government documents such as birth certificates, legal proceedings like divorces, or professional licensing such as educational diplomas.
However, any qualified translator can create an accurate and complete translation, which can be certified by adding a signed statement confirming their qualifications and the translation’s authenticity. In our case, our certified translations are ratified and upheld by JR Language Translation Services.
When Do You Need Professional Translation Services?
Given the demands of linguistic proficiency and the extensive range of domain knowledge required, individuals seeking translation services may face challenges in finding translators and subject matter experts with this precise combination of expertise necessary for their specific needs. This is where professionally collaborating with a reputed translation agency becomes vital, as they offer a unique solution to this challenge.
Translation companies act as a bridge, connecting individuals and businesses with a network of highly qualified translators. These translators boast expertise in numerous languages and possess in-depth knowledge of various subject areas, offering a comprehensive range of translation services to cater to diverse needs in a quick turnaround time. This extensive network allows the translation company to have its talent collaborate in teams to provide Translation, Editing, and Proofreading (TEP) services in addition to the expertise of the project managers and other participants in the execution of multilingual projects.
Leveraging The Synergy Of TEP Services
TEP services harness the collaborative efforts of a team of professional translators, typically consisting of two native-speaking linguists with specialized knowledge in the relevant field. The first linguist meticulously translates the source material, ensuring an accurate and culturally appropriate rendition in the target language. This initial translation captures the essence and intent of the source text while adhering to the target audience’s specific linguistic conventions and cultural nuances.
The first step serves as a foundation for the second linguist, who will then meticulously review and edit the translated content for consistency, clarity, conciseness, and adherence to the source content in the original language. This critical step involves ensuring the translated text maintains a consistent tone, voice, and level of formality while verifying the accuracy of any technical terminology.
In the final step, both linguists collaborate to eliminate inconsistencies. Such a concerted approach is not feasible through individual translators alone. Professional translation services, through their readily available resources, will be adept in helping you to facilitate this process.
JR Language: Working With A Trusted Professional Translation Company
Partnering with an experienced translation agency that offers a host of language solutions allows businesses and individuals access to a wealth of linguistic expertise. Such a company ensures effective communication across language barriers and fosters stronger partnerships with its clients through a deeper understanding of its target audiences, the company goals, and deeper knowledge of its content, products, and services.
At JR Language, we understand the importance of communication in today’s interconnected world. We are committed to exceeding your expectations by providing an exceptional translation service tailored to your unique needs under an agreed turnaround time.
Our language services will help you tap into new markets and empower you to overcome any cultural barriers. Our global team of experienced and qualified translators, coupled with our efficient TEP process, ensures the delivery of accurate, culturally appropriate, and stylistically sound translation services at competitive rates.
Contact us today for a free quote and discover how we can help you thrive globally with translation services in 100 languages.
