My name is Veronika and I have been working as a translator, reviewer, subtitler and transcriber from English and Spanish into Czech and vice versa for over 20 years. I am also currently working as an English teacher at the University of Alicante (Spain). I have been working for Gengo as a reviewer for three years now and I have to say that it has been a challenging experience so far.
Translation is not just about translating words but also about understanding and communicating the appropriate meaning, cultural nuances, and vocabulary.
In this article I would like to share some (hopefully) useful tips and links to learning materials for current and future translators who want to master and improve their work.
Being proficient in a target language is crucial for translators as it enables us to deliver an accurate and high-quality translation. With a thorough command of the target language, you can successfully convey the intended meaning and tone of the source language. A solid grounding in grammar and vocabulary is essential, as is a deep understanding of the language's syntax, idioms, and cultural references.
Where do we learn to translate?
Basically, there are two ways of becoming a translator - you either opt for a degree in translation or you make yourself one. Like me. I am proud to call myself a self-taught translator. The demand of translations that arose around me at certain point of my professional career simply made me start learning, trying, crashing, and improving.
So, where and how can we learn and boost our translation skills?
Firstly, there are plenty of online courses that you can join on Coursera, Udemy, Translastars, Reed or ProZ. Well, but what course should I choose? This depends mainly on your specialization. If you have a concrete future goal (e.g. to become a legal translator), just pick a course and go for it. If not, it is probably best to look around and learn as you go. What do I mean; from my experience I would not hesitate to assure that translation of general language or marketing texts can be learned by direct practice. It is usually more time-consuming at first as you will need to study the style guide and the glossary of the client (in case you are lucky enough and they have one). If not, you simply search for similar texts in the same field trying to get the gist of the style and terminology used. But of course, and above all, you need to master the target language – the knowledge of grammar, syntax and punctuation are the milestones of your daily work and the key to your reputation. When working with a complex target language like mine – Czech – this requires constant refreshing and a trustworthy online tools such as https://prirucka.ujc.cas.cz/ or https://www.czechency.org/slovnik/. In terms of vocabulary, I would recommend https://slovnik.seznam.cz/, https://babelnet.org/ and https://www.linguee.com/ or https://iate.europa.eu/ for more specialized terminology.
In today´s globalized and interconnected world, we cannot forget the vast impact of online communities and social networks, the best known being https://www.proz.com/ or https://www.translatorscafe.com/. Joining these sites can be an enriching experience as you can access all kind of information you may need and resolve any possible doubts. There is always someone somewhere who has already had a problem like yours, not just in terms of grammar or vocabulary but also in terms of practical experience, different types of translation tasks, pricing, or the trustworthiness of future clients. (There is even a blacklist of agencies you should not work with which is highly appreciated above all at the beginning of your career).
As a translator you need to have an online presence – have your updated profile on https://www.proz.com/ or https://www.linkedin.com/, follow different Facebook groups. This can not only teach you useful things but also open up future work opportunities.
As translators we never stop learning, we can never embrace all the knowledge needed to produce a perfect piece of translation. But, with the aid of some of the tips and materials mentioned above, I hope this task can become easier and more enjoyable. Happy translating!
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