Profession: translator: description, pros and cons, necessary skills

Despite the fact that the translator is one of the oldest professions, this position retains its popularity to this day. This is a great option for anyone interested in learning foreign languages ​​and talking with people.

The origin of the post is rooted in antiquity. The profession of translator has existed since those times when people began to actively communicate with each other. As a rule, then translators were engaged in the translation of both written messages and direct speech. In history, this profession appears frequently. Such people were needed during military and political negotiations. In Russia, translators were called interpreters. They were treated quite negatively, since they were collecting tribute during the reign of the Horde. Many were simply afraid of their appearance.

Now the translator is a person who does not depend on anyone. This is a specialist who deals with translation and interpretation from one language to another. He must know all the rules and features of a foreign language, after all, errors in translation often lead to complete misunderstanding between people. Sometimes it comes to a conflict between certain groups and even countries.

There are several main specialties of translators. The main feature here is that they are divided into oral and written. Everything is clear here: the former are engaged in spontaneous translation, while the latter work with written text.

Interpreters, in turn, are synchronous and sequential. Let's see what is said in the description of these varieties.

• Consistent. Such translators are usually present at all kinds of business meetings and negotiations, where there are people who speak different languages. The work of a consistent translator is that he translates the phrases of the speaker during a short pause. This gives him the opportunity to formulate a phrase before voicing it to native speakers.
• Synchronous. Synchronous translators work a lot harder. The problem is that the person who is involved in this business must speak the language at a very high level. He has to translate the speaker’s speech without pausing. That is, the translator listens to what they are told, and immediately issues the translated text.

Work as a translator will seem simpler to many. You can choose different areas of activity.

• Technical translators. As the name implies, they work with technical texts. They usually contain some accurate information that must be correctly conveyed, as well as many terms. To become a professional, you need to submit information emotionally and accurately. It is also very important not to neglect established grammatical constructions. It should be noted that such translators have to work with various diagrams and tables. Therefore, you need to know a variety of popular abbreviations and abbreviations.
• Legal Translating legal articles or documents is also a very complex process. The task of a legal translator is that he needs to translate specific texts. They must be accurate and correct. Legal translators, as a rule, work with contracts, legal opinions, powers of attorney, notarial certificates.
• Artistic. Literary translator is one of the most difficult professions. A person has to work with ready-made literary texts. It is desirable to translate them in the style of the author. To do this, you need to know not only the language, but also the features of working with this format. A linguist-translator must be well-read, able to convey someone else's style. To learn this, you need to work a lot with texts. Only in this case does a good literary taste and word skills appear.
• Medical translators work with relevant texts. These are all kinds of scientific articles. They also need knowledge of special terms. The text should be impersonal and neutral.

No less popular is such a profession as a guide-translator. The main difficulty here is that you have to constantly actively collaborate with different people. At the same time, it is very important to know not only the language, but also the culture of the area in which the excursions are held, its history. In addition, you must always be prepared for impromptu and answers to unexpected questions.

Like any other job, there are advantages and disadvantages. It’s worth starting with the strengths of the profession.

• To begin with, it should be noted that This specialty is in demand in many areas. It can be implemented both by an interpreter and a translator. The opportunity to work with various foreign books, magazines and films is also available. You can always choose the most interesting area for yourself.
• Since the demand on the labor market is quite high, you can always find a job that will be worthy of being paid. In addition, such work is prestigious, and rarely anyone is shy of the position of a translator.
• This work is also interesting in that a person has the opportunity to communicate with a variety of people. Usually these are representatives of other cultures who have something to share with those who are willing to listen to them.
• Travel lovers will love the fact that many translators often travel on paid business trips. This is a great opportunity to see the world without spending huge amounts of money.
• If desired, a person with appropriate education and knowledge of the language can work as a freelancer. This gives him great freedom of action, because he has the opportunity to plan his work day on his own.
• There is also no clear “ceiling” in revenue. A person earns as much as he can. Usually this amount depends on 2 points: work capacity and the ability to devote enough free time to your work.

In fact, This work is always relevant. After all, no matter how people try to create something like a single language, they fail. Therefore, you have to learn new languages, and for a complete understanding of each other, you need to use translators. Even developed programs created specifically for translation will not be able to cope with such a task.

Moreover, even such a good job has its drawbacks. Possible difficulties in work are also worth paying attention to. Both major disadvantages are related to money. First of all, it is worth noting the fact that translation work is often unstable. The fact is that at one time he can have many orders, and at another - not at all.

We have to work hard and focus on the fact that sometimes you have to complete tasks from different customers in the shortest possible time.. In addition, the translator’s salary is also not always immediately given to him. It happens that the company delays payments, this is due to the responsibility of the customer.

To become a translator, you need to master several skills at once. And it only at first glance seems that everything is so simple. Consider what a professional needs.

• Proficiency in one or more foreign languages. It is desirable that the level of proficiency in each language be confirmed by relevant documents. These are usually diplomas or various certificates.
• Knowledge of the native language at a very high level. This is also very important, because you have to correctly convey the context of the conversation and its small details.
• The desire for self-development. Since the language is constantly updated, as well as the rules associated with translation and editing, a good specialist should be able to adapt to new trends. It is equally important to know the culture of one's own and foreign countries.
• If a person is engaged in interpretation, then he also needs good knowledge in psychology. This allows you to find a common language with both customers and those with whom you have to communicate at work.
• Translators must be prepared to learn literary editing skills.. This allows you to make the finished text really readable and pleasant to read.

In addition, it is worth paying attention to certain personal qualities. The translator needs to analyze his tasks well. He must also have a wonderful memory. This is especially important for a translator who knows several languages ​​at once. It is important to be a very educated person, as well as patient and attentive. The translator must carefully read his texts so that there are no logical errors or typos.

For a similar post sociability is important. Still need to be able quickly navigate and respond to changing situations. To earn enough It’s important to be very efficient. After all, sometimes you have to work on a night shift or simply for many hours.

To become a translator, you must be educated. The classical education of a translator is 4 years of study. It will take 5 years to obtain a master’s diploma. To enter a translator, you need to take such subjects as a native and foreign language, as well as literature. It is important to know them at a decent level, then it will be much easier to learn.

A simpler option is to take the appropriate courses. After that, a person can get the necessary diploma. The cost of such courses is quite low. It is profitable, convenient, but there is a certain problem.

For many translators, one of the most important factors when choosing a job is salary. It is worth noting that the salaries in the provinces and in the capital are very different. In addition, there is a difference in the salary of a person who works with local and foreign customers. In the second case, profitability, of course, is much greater.

The average salary of an English translator is 50 thousand rubles, but these figures can increase with career growth, as well as if the texts are technically complex. Interpreters, especially simultaneous ones, have even higher salaries. Specialists who translate from other languages, for example, Portuguese, Chinese, also receive a decent remuneration for their work. Italian and Japanese translators are especially appreciated - their salary level can reach 100 thousand rubles. The minimum payment is 16 thousand; beginners get it.

Career growth also depends on the place of work. The simpler the company in which the person works, the more difficult it will be for him to develop in the future. In order for the salary to increase over time, it is very important to constantly engage in self-development. You need to learn either new languages ​​or some features of your language in order to be one level higher than others.

A good translator with a good education has many perspectives. A person can choose several paths of his development at once. Primarily, this is work in all kinds of media and publishing houses. This is a great prospect for those who sincerely love literature and the publishing industry. In the same case, you can work in libraries or museums. This is not so promising work, but if a person is sincerely interested, he will still like it.

There are also suitable development paths for those who want to progress by working with other people. In this case, you can go to a travel company, do interpretation, or get a telecentre. Education as a translator allows a person to work in the field of journalism. Initially, you can translate information from foreign sources, and as it develops, it will be very realistic to do professional journalism.

Many of those who have received the appropriate education, attracted by the hotel industry. This only at first glance seems disadvantageous. In fact, a person with a good knowledge of languages ​​can grow up to a manager, and then acquire the necessary acquaintances that will help him in the future.