Who are translators. Translator: features of the profession. Career growth and development prospects

Interpreter- the general concept of specialists involved in the translation of oral or written speech from one language to another. The profession is suitable for those who are interested in foreign languages ​​and Russian language and literature (see the choice of profession for interest in school subjects).

There are several explanations for where the different languages ​​came from. For example, the Bible describes the legend about the Tower of Babel. According to this tradition, God confused the languages ​​of the builders of the tower because of their desire to surpass him and excessive pride. People ceased to understand each other and dispersed around the globe without completing the construction of the tower, which was supposed to reach the heavens.

There is an explanation in the difference in the language of people and from a scientific point of view. Even in prehistoric times, people began to speak different languages ​​due to disunity due to the mountains, deserts and oceans located between them. Languages ​​were formed in different tribes in isolation, one tribe communicated little with others. The greater the degree of geographical isolation, the more distinct the language. On the plains, where it is easier to move around, individual languages ​​occupy very large spaces (Russian, for example). But whatever the background, there has long been a need for people who know more than one native language.

Most modern people not only know their own language, but can also speak a foreign language to some extent. Tourism is actively developing, and with it there is a need to communicate with foreigners, to understand at least superficially the language of the country you are going to. Most often, the population learns English, which is increasingly taking the place of the universal language of international communication.

But for professional translation, competent, prompt and clear, people with special education and experience are needed. Such specialists are called translators. In a general sense, translators are divided into oral and written.

An important quality of an interpreter is the ability to create an atmosphere of mutual understanding and partnership. The specialist must understand that the success of the ongoing negotiations largely depends on him. It should help to find a common language for people with different cultures, mentalities and who understand business in different ways.

There are two types interpreters- sequential and synchronous.

A consecutive interpreter is indispensable in business negotiations, at events where some of the participants speak one language, and some speak another. In such cases, the speaker makes his speech with small stops so that the interpreter can formulate the phrase in the language of the listeners.

Simultaneous translation- the most difficult type of translation. Such translation is carried out with the help of specialized equipment for simultaneous translation. A simultaneous interpreter must speak a foreign language almost better than his native language. The complexity of the profession lies in the need to quickly understand and translate what is heard, and sometimes speak at the same time as the speaker. The most valued are specialists who are able to build competent and informative sentences that do not allow pauses in their speech.

Translators can be engaged in the translation of technical, legal, fiction, business documents. Currently, more and more specialists use modern technologies (for example, electronic dictionaries). Such special software for translators will help increase their productivity by up to 40%.

Technical translators work with technical texts containing special scientific and technical information. Distinctive features of such a translation are accuracy, impersonality and unemotionality. There are many terms of Greek or Latin origin in the texts. The grammar of technical translations is specific and contains well-established grammatical norms (for example, indefinitely personal and impersonal constructions, passive phrases, impersonal forms of the verb). The types of technical translation include full written translation (the main form of technical translation), abstract translation (the content of the translated text is compressed), abstract translation, translation of headings and oral technical translation (for example, for training employees to work with foreign equipment).

Legal Translation aimed at translating specific texts related to the field of law. Such a translation is used to exchange professional information related to the socio-political and cultural characteristics of the country. In this regard, the language of legal translation should be extremely accurate, clear and reliable.

Legal translation can be divided into several types:

• translation of laws, regulations and their drafts;
• translation of agreements (contracts);
• translation of legal opinions and memorandums;
• translation of notarial certificates and apostilles (a special sign that certifies signatures, the authenticity of a stamp or seal);
• translation of constituent documents of legal entities;
• translation of powers of attorney.

Fiction translator- a specialist in the translation of literary texts. He must, in addition to a comprehensive knowledge of a foreign language, be well versed in literature, master the word at a high level, be able to convey the style and style of the author of the translated work. There are many examples when recognized masters of the word (V. Zhukovsky, B. Pasternak, A. Akhmatova, S. Marshak, etc.) were engaged in translations. Their translations are works of art in themselves.

Required professional skills and knowledge

• perfect command of one or more foreign languages;
• competent Russian;
• good knowledge of technical terminology, both in the source language and in the target language (especially important for technical translators);
• deep knowledge of literature and literary editing skills (for translators of fiction);
• knowledge of the characteristics of language groups;
• the desire to improve knowledge of a foreign language every day.

Personal qualities

• linguistic abilities;
• high level of analytical thinking;
• the ability to store a large amount of information;
• accuracy, patience, attentiveness;
• high level of erudition;
• fast reaction;
• the ability to concentrate, to be attentive;
• sociability;
• verbal abilities (the ability to coherently and extremely clearly express one's thoughts, a rich vocabulary, well-delivered speech);
• high efficiency;
• courtesy, tact.

Pros and cons of the profession

Pros:

• the possibility of implementation in different areas (written translation, simultaneous interpreter, translation of films, books, magazines, etc.);
• a person who speaks a foreign language can find a very prestigious and highly paid job;
• there is an opportunity to communicate with people of different countries and cultures;
• high probability of business trips and travel.

Minuses

• in different months, the volume of transfers can vary several times, hence the unstable download;
• often translators are paid not upon delivery of the material, but when payment comes from the customer.

Place of work

• press centers, radio and television centers;
• international funds;
• travel companies;
• ministries of foreign affairs, consulates;
• book publishers, mass media;
• translation agency;
• museums and libraries;
• hotel business;
• international firms, companies;
• international associations and associations;
• international funds.

On the one hand, in the global world, the profession of a translator is in high demand. But at the same time, why learn another language if there is a universal English that everyone tries to speak one way or another? Thirdly, competition in the profession is very high, and machine translation technologies are actively developing. T&P learned from five young translators what it's like to constantly be an intermediary between different cultures and how one more linguistic subpersonality helps in life, as well as about the joys of a successful formulation and the social significance of their case.

Anastasia Pozgoreva

English translator

“You don’t just translate, but recreate the author’s text in another language”

In working with English, I tried a lot of different formats and topics, and eventually found my niche - I specialize in reverse translation. Of course, I also translate from English, the professional tradition has developed in such a way that usually a person translates into his native language, but any skill can be developed with practice. A huge bonus of working with the most common language in the world is the ability to choose any topic. I would never undertake to translate something medical, but I am happy to work with the museum and exhibition complex "Institute of Russian Realistic Art", I translate exhibition catalogs and signatures for exhibits for them, because it is very close to me.

I don't think the machine will ever replace the human in translation. On the other hand, now there is practically no market for interpreting from English. Most of all I liked to translate at negotiations and meetings, but the demand for this is now almost gone. Most likely, now a large employer will simply not hire employees who do not speak the language. It is good to know the language as an addition to some other profession. I also had to retrain along the way and do more management, marketing and online sales. I'm coordinating the translation service for a global company: a large organization needs marketing materials in 35 languages. As a translator, I work on recommendations, I have never had to look for a job.

Recently, people around have become noticeably better in English, but this is rather an achievement not of the state education system, but of the Internet and the ability to travel. English is still relatively easy. I now feel quite confident in any work with English, although I am not a native speaker. The difficulty for a non-native speaker is mainly articles and commas, in the correct use of which we can never be one hundred percent sure. These nuances are best asked to proofread by a native editor.

The people I've met in the English translation industry tend to be much older than me, in their mid-40s, who have dedicated their entire lives to this work and are probably not ready to change anything. Very young people work with translations for about a year, and then they want to move to another area. After all, translation is a fairly monotonous job that requires perseverance. The pace of life has accelerated: people want to learn as much as possible in a short time, and not focus on one task.

Not everyone is able to work as a simultaneous interpreter from English - even if they have the appropriate education. It requires special personal and cognitive qualities. I sometimes do synchro for fun, but it would be very difficult for me to do this as my main activity.

The specificity of translation from Russian into English for me is that a lot of cultural and other realities have to be given in transliteration or descriptively. When translating, the most important skill is to have a good sense of style and transcreation (transcreation = creative translation). For example, once the “minibus driver” in the context had to be translated as “kamikaze driver”. Transcreation requires a lot of time and effort: you cannot translate directly, you need to comprehend the text all the time and redo something. But as a result of the work, the feeling of belonging is especially dear to me. You feel like a colleague of the person who wrote the book. After all, you do not just translate, but recreate the author's text in another language.

Customers very often do not understand how much time it takes to translate. According to the conventional norm, one page, 1,800 characters, is translated per hour. But if a translator approaches his work responsibly, he will definitely understand the terminology, proofread and edit. With this approach, it is difficult to comply with the temporary norm. And they often do not understand that translation is, in principle, difficult. Just think: I took it, translated it, especially from English. In general, long-term communication in any foreign language is a big load on the brain, you get tired physically and mentally from this.

Sonya Grigorieva

German translator

"In another language, you're just a different person"

I studied international journalism at MGIMO and just last year I graduated from the master's program. In my last year of undergraduate studies, I started translating from German and into German in the theater. 2012 was the Year of Germany in Russia, when I worked at the New European Theater (NET) festival, which was entirely dedicated to Germany. It was so cool that I started thinking about it as a possible future professional activity. Since then, I have been working as a translator - mainly in the theater. It can be tours, when German troupes come, for example, to the Chekhov Festival. Or joint productions, say, at the Bolshoi Theater, when a German soloist, set designer or conductor arrives. Less often I work with dramatic performances, but this is very interesting, I was lucky to translate in Praktika and at the laboratory of the Moscow Art Theater. Chekhov and the Goethe Institute. I also translate all sorts of normal things that are not related to the theater, and I work on cultural projects at the Goethe Institute.

In general, if you want or need to work hard, this is not a problem, there are a lot of opportunities. The main thing is to understand what exactly you want to do, to develop your own structure. My situation seems perfect to me. Perhaps this is because I have not been in translation for 10 years yet - I do not feel tired of the monotony. In fact, this work is very diverse both in content and in rhythm. There is a day when you work 10 hours in a row: you are the only translator and you are tired. And the next day, only a couple of technical moments can fall out.

As you know, at MGIMO you learn the language you were assigned to (since the institute is connected with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which needs specialists in all languages). I don’t even remember exactly what I indicated when I entered, but I got German. I accepted this choice, and everything worked out very well with him. It is said that when you learn another language to a certain extent, it is like gaining another soul. I think this is absolutely true. I have seen this many times with friends. In another language, you're just a different person.

I feel very comfortable in Germany and in the German environment. I am glad that no one can ever determine what my accent is, which means that I am not perceived as some kind of alien element. When I work with Germans here in Russia, I also cannot say that I see in them representatives of some completely different culture. Yes, they always turn off the lights when they leave the room, they try not to use plastic bags, they say that it's too warm here and we don't save electricity at all, but these are rather trifles.

Translation translation strife, it all depends on the situation. I translated at the Golden Mask award ceremony, when you need to go on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater or the Stanislavsky Theater and translate in front of a large audience. This is a completely different feeling of yourself and language than when you translate the same important people, but within the framework of armchair negotiations.

It is very difficult to translate on the move without preparation, but it happens. Once I translated almost impromptu to lectures at the Museum of Military Uniforms. Usually there is an opportunity to prepare, to look at the terminology and special vocabulary in advance. And here, with the lecturer and the audience, we practically played the game “guess the word from the description”, I translated the details of the military uniform descriptively, and they told me the correct names. A special case is when it is necessary to translate director's comments during rehearsals. Here it is important to very accurately convey often very complex philosophical concepts so that the intent and interpretation are clear. Recently at the Bolshoi there was Shostakovich's opera Katerina Izmailova, staged by Rimas Tuminas, and the German soloist had to translate about "consciousness". In German, this is a more complex concept associated with "conscience" ("Bewußtsein"), and such abstract phenomena are more difficult to convey than technical points.

Most of the actors and directors I work with speak English, but at a level that is sufficient for basic everyday communication. For real workflow and rehearsals, a translator is needed. On the one hand, this is an additional intermediate link in communication, on the other hand, it is a guarantee of a more complete understanding, and the interpreter must feel when to leave the conversation, and when, on the contrary, to help and explain.

It seems to me that one should not exaggerate the omnipotence of English at all. There always comes a point in the professional realm when a person has to speak his native language in order to say exactly what he wants to say. In addition, I had an interesting experience working with young actors: it would seem that people of our generation who should know English fluently, because all the films and TV shows around broadcast this linguistic reality anyway. But the time when it was possible to study the language, they completely spent on their career, so at the age of 25-26 they cannot work freely with English, translation is still necessary. If I had another life, I would probably try to do something of my own in the theater. This is probably why so many critics at some point try themselves as creators in their area of ​​​​interest, but often turn out to be so-so. So while I really enjoy watching this world, the theatrical environment is incredibly enriching and developing.

Denis Viren

Polish translator

“We have a lot more in common with the Poles than it might seem”

With the translation and the Polish language, everything happened quite by accident. I studied at VGIK as a film critic and thought that I would use Polish in my studies, and then I worked as a translator at the Moscow Film Festival a couple of times and after that I began to take on a variety of orders.

When I first learned Polish, I had the feeling that it was a rare language (for example, Polish has such a status in publishing houses). But over time, I discovered that this is rather a misconception. Firstly, quite a lot of people learn Polish just for themselves. Secondly, it turned out that there are quite a lot of translators from Polish, and for them, in turn, there is quite a high demand. It would seem, who needs the Polish language? Many Poles of the older and middle generation still know Russian, and if they do business with Russia, then, as a rule, they all the more speak Russian. Young people, most likely, know English, and they do not need an interpreter from Polish. It turned out that this is not the case and the translation is really needed. I know more about the sphere of culture, where major events are regularly held. For example, the theater festival of children's performances "Gavrosh", where Poland was the main guest last year. So it's hard to talk about competition in my business. In fact, there are a lot of niches, and everyone can find their own.

We have much more in common with the Poles than it might seem. Poland positions itself as a country that tends more towards the West. This is certainly true, but at the same time, the geographical and historical aspects still make themselves felt, you can’t get away from this. Poland is somewhere between East and West, and this is one of the main reasons for its specificity and the fact that it is a very interesting country from many points of view, including cultural. At recent business negotiations, I drew attention to the difference between the Polish and Russian mentality - to the fact that, for example, the Poles who are engaged in business are very specific people. This is very felt in their manner of speech: they know what they want to say. Our businessmen have more confusion, chaos, so a conversation is often a kind of stream of consciousness. I think this is due to the fact that the thought process continues during speaking, and Poles are more likely to think everything through in advance.

I often hear fears that because of English as the language of international communication, local languages ​​like Polish will not be in demand. But practice shows the opposite. It often happens that people who even know English well say: “No, I want to speak my native language. Why, if there is an interpreter from my native language, will I express my thoughts not as fully and not as vividly as I could?

A translator is always more than just a translating machine from one language to another. The human factor is very important here. There is a very special bond with the one you translate, especially when you work together for a long time. On the other hand, the human factor can complicate the work. Here, customers have a strange idea of ​​translators as people who, firstly, must be available all the time, and secondly, they love their languages ​​so much that they can work simply because it pleases them. I can still understand the first point: apparently, these are the costs of the profession. The second point seems to me completely wrong, and, according to my feelings, this state of affairs has begun to change a little. There is respect and understanding that this is a difficult job, sometimes physically difficult.

Roman Bondarenko

Japanese translator

“In Russian everyday life, I don’t encounter my Japanese subpersonality”

I really liked the sound of the word "arigato", and I decided to learn Japanese. I studied at ISAA at the Department of History and Culture of Japan, so I was supposed to study the language and translation technique in full. It was quite tough training and very useful.

In 2014, I got a job as an interpreter at Baikonur. It so happened that to launch the Japanese satellite, they were looking for trilingual translators with Russian, English and Japanese. Our department issued a certain list of specialists, where I went after the teachers, but at that moment they all left to work for the Olympics in Sochi. Now I'm still working with French and getting my Spanish up to working order, so I don't even know what I should be called. Quintiling, probably. I feel that knowing Japanese in itself commands respect. For some reason, people think that learning Japanese is very difficult.

Part of the Japanese picture of the world was very clearly explained to me at the institute, and part I had the opportunity to experience for myself. As for the financial return from working as an interpreter, I will say that you need to know the places. There are many sites that are full of not even ads, but rather requirements like “we need an ideal specialist, already yesterday and for a thousand rubles a day.” It is simply unrealistic to work on such conditions, but, apparently, there are still people who need experience or really need money - this is the only way I can explain that such ads appear all the time.

A translator is a person who is designed to provide interaction between two parties, in fact, a live interface. I'm pretty sure it can be replaced with a mechanical one at some point in about 90% of the cases. A qualified translator is a guarantee that people will understand each other and they will not have to take into account the risk that a busy leader with knowledge of English does not understand a busy leader with knowledge of Japanese. This is an opportunity to delegate the guarantee of mutual understanding to the human interface.

In terms of interest, only my experience as an interpreter at a karate training camp in Russia can be compared with work at Baikonur. Shihan, a 9th dan master (higher than sensei) came. I have never practiced karate, and I wanted to understand an unfamiliar environment in the minimum amount of time, master the terminology and mimic one of them. I remember that at one of the training camps, one of the honored sensei from the Russian side approached me during a break and asked me not to shout. And we are in the gym where 200-300 people train at the same time, I translate the commands, and they must be pronounced loudly, including phrases like “So, hand over the black belts to me after training, I will take them to Japan and send you brown ones in return” (which means downgrading). I can not mumble such phrases! No, I convey the same emotion when translating. That's how I shouted, being in full right, at 300 people, who represent a formidable enough fighting force.

I heard the theory that with each language learned to a certain level, a separate linguistic subpersonality develops in a person, which bears the characteristics of the mentality of the people who speak this language. This may be due to grammatical structures, such as the dominance of verbs in Spanish. I have a strong enough Japanese sub-personality that when I speak Japanese, I am a completely different person. But in my Russian everyday life, I don’t particularly come across a Japanese subpersonality. There are some concepts of the Japanese worldview that are very attractive to me. For example, "ikigai". Approximately it can be translated as “the meaning of life”, but more precisely it is something like “goal”, “direction”, “path”. The Japanese think much less in abstract terms, they are much more specific. Therefore, haiku poetry is like a magnifying glass on a particular moment. In observation, the Japanese are very strong, in contrast to theorizing.

Alexandra Bibikova

Italian translator

"People often ask me: 'You know Italian so well, why don't you leave?'"

My choice of profession began with a rather vague desire to become either an interpreter or a writer. It's just that I've always been inspired by the fact that translation is needed to facilitate understanding between people. We often do not understand each other in the same language, and even more so in different ones. I studied at the philological faculty of Moscow State University and chose Italian simply because I fell in love with Italy, with the language and culture. I remember one of my first interpreting experiences: I helped an Italian director who came to Russia to make a film about icons. He was interested in the Savior Not Made by Hands, since in Italy this genre is much less common. It was both very interesting and difficult - a specific topic.

In the end, I realized that I like both oral and written translation, the most important thing is what to translate, the topic. For example, I am not very inspired by the routine work on documents or the negotiations of oilmen. I am ready to take on something like this, but the social significance of my work is important to me. For example, now the help of an interpreter is often required for paperwork for adoption or for medical support.

I would say that translation is an absolutely thankless profession in the sense that those who can pay for this work usually do not see him as a worthwhile person. Often the customer wants to pay less or is not always respectful. So the translator is far from the most profitable and respected profession. But still, I can say that in Moscow many graduates work in one way or another by profession, in particular with the Italian language. And here, as in many other places, it is important to be quick, to be able to get into the professional environment, the very skill of communication and the ability to make acquaintances and keep in touch are important. In the work itself, it is very important to understand the life realities of the country whose language you are studying.

People often ask me: “You know Italian so well, why don’t you leave?” In sunny, carefree, friendly Italy, it is now very difficult to find work for both Italians and visitors. So it seems to me that working with the Italian language professionally in Russia, in Moscow, is easier than there. There are a lot of pitfalls in Italian. You will never stop improving.

My job is a constant compromise between what I want to do and what I'm paid to do. It can be quite dreary, you have to sit at night with several orders at once. No matter how well you do your job, there are still dissatisfied customers, and something has to be redone, re-registered. But if you are translating not only for money or praise, you will find a lot of inspiration and pleasure. There is always a challenge in the work of an interpreter. For me, it was such a challenge to translate Italian poetry. When my colleagues and I were working on a book of poems by Corrado Calabro, it was supposed that I would make an interlinear translation, and then the poet would process my material into poetry - in this way we would have such a joint translation. As a result, my interlineators were published as something that is closer to the author.

In translating poetry, the most difficult thing was to convey the realities of Italian life into Russian. For example, there was a poem called "A targhe alterne", and such a concept simply does not exist in Russian. Targhe alterne is such an Italian law, it is aimed at limiting the flow of cars in the city center. According to this law, on even days, you can enter the center only by car with even numbers, and vice versa. Of course, the Italians will find a way to get around almost any law, and almost every family has two cars: one with even numbers, the other with odd ones. Nevertheless, such a restriction exists, and it is well understood by any Italian. The poem ended with the phrase "our life is unfair, like targhe alterne". As a result, we translated the name as "Roulette" and gave a footnote with explanations.

1. Presentation of the profession
A translator is a specialist who deals with languages, translations, scientific and practical activities in the field of linguistics.
There is a place for such specialists to work in every institution: these are schools, colleges, universities, museums. Often a translator is also a teacher. But literary scholars also work in some other organizations. People with such a profession should have a humanitarian mindset, a penchant for writing essays and poetry. Translators are also in demand in many areas, but now they are subject to special requirements, up to excellent knowledge of several languages, possession of rare languages. To withstand the competition of numerous translators and the same fellow linguists, a linguist must be comprehensively educated and know his job well. But a qualified specialist will be welcome everywhere.
The translator must be fluent in his native language, and preferably several foreign ones. If the job requires interpretation, then a person may need communication skills, the ability to communicate with people from different social groups and countries. The translator needs to know the mentality of those people with whom you have to negotiate, local dialects (preferably). A translator must competently conduct business correspondence, translate documentation. You need to know not only a bookish foreign language, but also the real one that people speak. Linguists can apply themselves in completely different areas, not only in translation agencies, but also in travel agencies, in international companies, on television.
Advantages of the profession: variety of activities, creativity, work with people.
Limitations of the profession: high competition in the labor market.

2. Type and class of profession
The profession of an interpreter belongs to the type of "Man - Sign", it is associated with working with texts and symbols. It requires the ability to concentrate, attentiveness and perseverance, excellent lexical abilities.
It can also be attributed to the type "Man - Man", because it is associated with communication and interaction with people.
The profession of a translator belongs to the class of "heuristic (creative)", it is associated with analysis, research, requires high erudition, originality of thinking, the desire for development and continuous learning.

3. Activity content
The functions of a translator are extensive and varied, and depend on where he works: in a research institute, in a teaching job, or is directly involved in translation.
In the most general form, these functions can be defined as follows: compilation of dictionaries, description of the grammar of the language, various reference books; translation from one language to another; development of scientific, technical and special terminology; improving the alphabet and spelling; scientific research in the field of phonetics, morphology, syntax; study of dialects and colloquial variant of the literary language; interpretation of ancient cultures through the facts of their language, teaching the language of other people.
The translator does the following:

• creates textbooks and dictionaries;
• teaches the language of other people;
• studies the nature, functions and internal structure of the language, its historical development and classification;
• carries out translations from one language into another (scientific, technical, socio-political, economic literature, technical documentation, materials of conferences and seminars), literary translations, makes editorial corrections of the text;
• prepares abstracts and thematic reviews based on foreign materials, etc.;
• translates scientific, technical, economic and other specialized literature, edits translations, prepares annotations and abstracts of foreign literature and scientific and technical information.

4. Working conditions
A translator-philologist most often works independently and individually. Representatives of this profession work indoors. These can be offices of companies and organizations, translation agencies, etc. The work takes place mainly while sitting, using a computer and other tools (for example, dictionaries and reference books). As a rule, this is a quiet and calm activity, although business trips, trips or business meetings with customers-customers may occasionally occur in the work of a translator-philologist.
The translator-philologist is quite independent in his work. He can make his own decisions within the framework of the assigned tasks, although he may be limited by the requirements of the customer and wishes for the final result of the work. The work of a translator-philologist can be piecework and remote in nature, proceeding in the "freelance" mode.

5. Requirements for the knowledge and skills of a specialist
For the successful development of the profession of a translator-philologist, basic knowledge of literature, the Russian language, and foreign languages ​​is necessary.
A qualified philologist-translator must know:

• literature and folklore, in their historical development and current state, in conjunction with the civil history and cultural history of the people speaking the given language;
• languages, their family ties and typological relationships with other languages, their history, current state and development trends;
• methods and methods of translation, etc.

A qualified philologist-translator should be able to:

• to know the main language being studied in its literary form, and to have an idea of ​​its dialectal diversity;
• own the basic methods of linguistic and literary analysis;
• carry out translation activities, etc.

6. Requirements for the individual characteristics of a specialist
To be successful as an interpreter, you must have the following professionally important qualities:

• developed lexical abilities, linguistic abilities;
• ability to concentrate;
• propensity to work with information;
• developed logical abilities;
• propensity for service work;
• propensity for creative work;
• propensity to work in the field of communication;
• a large amount of long-term memory;
• high level of analytical thinking;
• accuracy, patience.

7. Medical contraindications
Medical restrictions for an interpreter:

• diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• nervous system;
• of cardio-vascular system;
• organs of vision;
• mental disorders;
• attention disorders;
• virus carriers (for example, tuberculosis).

In the presence of these diseases, work in the profession of a translator-philologist can lead to poor health, as well as create insurmountable obstacles to development and growth within this profession. Nervous and mental diseases.

8. Ways to get a profession
Of course, you can learn languages ​​on your own, but, as a rule, practice and special knowledge are required for successful work. Courses can help you learn the language at a basic level.
As a rule, the profession of an interpreter can be obtained in institutions of higher professional education.
Information about educational institutions can be obtained from Internet resources.

9. Fields of application of the profession
Philologist translators can work in such organizations and areas as:

• research institutes;
• editorial offices of magazines and newspapers (posts of editor, journalist);
• reception desks in various companies (secretary-assistant);
• press centers;
• literary unions;
• translation agency;
• educational establishments;
• publishing houses;
• libraries, etc.

Also, translators can do their own thing and work in the "freelance" mode, for themselves.

10. Career prospects
Possible ways of developing a translator-philologist:
Specialization and development of related areas
Translators can specialize in various literary genres, translations into various foreign languages, etc.
Also, a person with the profession of an interpreter can master related specializations, such as: journalist, public relations manager, teacher, culturologist, historian, etc.
Scientific way of development
In this case, the translator can engage in research activities, write candidate and doctoral dissertations, highlight a new problem in the scientific world of philology, devote his life to scientific achievements.
At the same time, the profession of a translator can also involve an entrepreneurial path of development. In this case, a person can start his own business, work for himself or open his own agency.
In the case of this direction of career growth, it is recommended to develop entrepreneurial skills, to master such professions as: entrepreneur, project manager.

11. Related professions
Writer, editor, teacher of Russian language and literature.

Interpreter is a specialist who interprets the speech of different language groups.

The main goal of the translator's work is to convey the meaning of a foreign narrative to the target audience in an accessible way.

The roots of the profession go back to ancient times. Ancient Egypt and ancient Greece highly valued the work of translators, and if it were not for them, then the books of the Old Testament would have been inaccessible to us.

The interpreters took an active part in political negotiations, signing peace and unleashing wars, they received ambassadors and worked on state documentation.

In our time, the work of translation masters is also highly valued. The current century is simply not possible without the Internet and regular communication with representatives of different nationalities. And it was the translators who provided us with invaluable help.

professional holiday

1991 was a special year for these specialists, because it was in this year that they began to celebrate this holiday.

September 30 was proclaimed International Translator's Day. On this day, both interpreters and translators celebrate their professional holiday all over the world.

On this significant day, it is prestigious to hold various events: conferences, exhibitions, developing trainings and seminars.

Varieties

The profession of translator is mainly divided into the following branches:

• Oral simultaneous interpreters. The job is to instantly translate the direct speech of the speaker into a specific language.
• Oral consecutive interpreters. Demanded in business negotiations that require translation. They occur according to the scheme - a conversation, and its translation in sentences or parts: obtaining information by a specialist, carefully processing it, issuing it in another language.
• Written technical translators. Must have in-depth knowledge of relevant industries and a good understanding of highly specialized terminology. The principle of their work is the translation of a technical text.
• Written translators of fiction. The main feature of the work is artistic and author's abilities. They often have to redo the original text to make it understandable to readers. Excellent translations of poems by famous poets, colorful translations of works by popular writers, world bestsellers are the work of these specialists.

Absolutely every specialization of translators is needed and important. They help to make our world more understandable, and give the opportunity to always be heard and understood all over the world.

Advantages and disadvantages

The work of a translator definitely has its advantages:

• high demand for specialists;
• there are unique opportunities to work in international companies;
• there is no language barrier at all;
• sometimes there is an opportunity to work at home;
• there is an expansion of horizons;
• the circle of communication increases;
• an interesting type of work that constantly pushes for development;
• opportunity to earn good money;
• quite a prestigious profession.

However, like any other profession, there are disadvantages:

• irregular work schedule;

Sometimes a translator has to work in a high-speed mode, so you need to have endurance and patience.

Qualification requirements for an interpreter

Translators usually have the following requirements:

• good command of a foreign language;
• be able to make oral and written translations;
• have higher education;
• know certain terminology;
• own a computer.

To work as an interpreter, knowledge of the basics of psychology and ethics of business communication will be useful.

Job Responsibilities

The duties of an interpreter are usually the following:

• to make oral and written translations;
• consecutive translations at business meetings;
• promptly translate a text, letter or document;
• help in editing a translation made by another employee.

The help of a specialist may be required at various events, as a linguistic support.

Responsibility

The main responsibility of the translator is:

• non-performance or poor performance of their duties;
• offenses that are committed in the course of work;
• caused material damage;
• violation of labor discipline.

Responsibility is assigned for the deadlines for completing their work, for the uniqueness of the text and errors in translation.

Powers of an interpreter

The translator has the right to:

• compliance with the necessary conditions to ensure a high level of translation;
• a break in the process of work in order to rest and eat;
• obtaining copyright, which will be protected by law.

All this is necessary to ensure a comfortable work process for a specialist, protect his work and increase the efficiency of his work.

General characteristics of the profession (who is a translator?)

This is a profession that requires versatile knowledge and talents. It is necessary to have a broad outlook, curiosity, well-read. To be able to listen carefully to people, answer them, talk with them, but at the same time feel the limit of what is permitted, the style and emotionality of speech.

1. The demand for the profession is increasing. Thanks to the Internet, the doors of the largest corporations, banks and agencies open to specialists.
2. For professional translators, such qualities as diplomacy and high communication skills are important. The main task of their work is to achieve understanding of people, and provide them with the opportunity to agree.
3. The specialty gives a chance to work in international companies. Opportunity to travel overseas. The work will be of particular interest to those who love learning foreign languages ​​and cultures of other countries.
4. The main thing is constant self-improvement. New language expressions, phrases, slangs, abbreviations appear. Therefore, you need to be aware of all the innovations, you need to follow the language changes, attend conferences, seminars, advanced training courses. In a word - always be on the same wavelength.

Sometimes you have to work in real time, with a quick and frequent change of scenery, with a huge number of people. But the profession provides amazing opportunities, the main thing is to be able to use them correctly and in time.

Professional skills and abilities of translators

It can provide invaluable assistance in choosing a profession. But if you are already sure that you want to become a translator, you need to learn:

• promptly perform any types of translations: technical, business, various types;
• provide consecutive or simultaneous translation of seminars or conferences;
• be proficient in software;
• gravitate toward new knowledge.

Regardless of the language of translation, the specialist must know the English language thoroughly and understand its economic and financial terms, names and abbreviations.

Personal professional qualities necessary for a translator

The specialty requires a lot of effort from the employee. He must not only work hard, but also actively learn. Therefore, it is necessary to soberly assess your capabilities and possess the following set of qualities:

• possession of professional translation skills;
• literacy;
• self-organization;
• observation;
• self-control;
• good diction;
• attentiveness;
• sociability;
• mobility;
• patience;
• psychological endurance;
• efficiency.

Quite often, translation masters simply need a good physical shape, goodwill and emotional stability.

Translation career

1. The profession is an ideal option for any careerist. A translation master can easily become a leader or open his own business, which happens quite often.
2. Graduates have the opportunity to lead successful companies. For them, the doors to international relations are also opened, and this implies an increase in income and prestige.
3. There is an opportunity to earn money abroad. In the future, there is a prospect of obtaining citizenship and a solid income.

Career growth for competent specialists is a matter of time and aspiration.

Places of work

The number of vacancies in this specialty is increasing every day. The following organizations are always glad to see translators:

• state bodies;
• publishing houses;
• commercial companies;
• travel agencies;
• advertising companies;
• marriage agencies.

Specialists who have sufficient experience and have a constant flow of clients can take up private orders, and later open their own agency.

earnings

The salary of a translator is based on the following factors:

• qualification;
• experience;
• the number of orders;
• place of work.

The average salary of a translator varies from $300 to $1000.

A simultaneous interpreter can earn around 2000 dollars.

A unique specialist or a high-level professional can earn about 3000 dollars.

Education - How to become a translator?

At the moment, there are specialized English language courses, training centers. By graduating from them, you will significantly improve your knowledge of the subject. But if you want to seriously engage in translation, then we still recommend getting a higher education.

When applying for a translator, it is necessary to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the chosen university and faculty. In prestigious institutions, there is usually a huge competition for a place, it can reach about a hundred people.

After graduating from the chosen university, you will master the skills of a prestigious and very interesting profession and become much closer to your goal.

How to become a freelance translator

The translator is almost the most demanded freelance profession. In order to fulfill the order correctly and on time, translators do not have to always be in the office. You can also work remotely from home. And the finished result of the work can be easily sent by e-mail.

Any specialist can become a freelancer, the condition is perfect knowledge of foreign languages.

You can start by submitting a resume and completing a creative assignment at a translation agency. This organization is an intermediary between the customer and the contractor. They have a huge customer base and different types of orders. Wages are mostly piecework, but very decent.

You can try to find orders on the remote work exchange. There, the customer posts an ad with certain requirements for candidates, the required amount of work and the cost of the task. For the employee there is a unique opportunity to independently choose a suitable order.

There is also the option of direct communication with customers in addition to the Internet. These can be publishing houses, various bureaus, offices that need high-quality translation.

Alexander Yurievich

Director of recruitment agency