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From Writer to Translator
By Aline Lechaye
With everything going global nowadays, people who speak more than one language
are invaluable. Being a writer also helps because you know how the sentence
patterns flow, and how a piece sticks together.
The first thing to do when a translating assignment lands in your in tray is to
analyze the “voice” of the piece. Is it humorous, serious, or friendly? Keep the
overall tone in mind when translating. Don’t choose flippant words for a solemn
piece, for example. If the piece is a professional one, like a medical or
scientific report, make sure you know all the terms involved. If you don’t, do a
little research: Google can probably help, and sometimes employers will be
willing to send a glossary of some sort. Either way, it’s a good idea to include
the original term in brackets on the finished translation.
Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and start the actual translating. At
times, phrases and idioms may require a little thought, and a little
imagination. You may be very frustrated at this stage; which is normal. Even
native speakers find themselves scratching their heads. Just take it one
sentence, one word at a time.
After you’ve pretty much gotten most, or all, of the piece translated and typed,
proofread. Check for the usual mistakes, like grammatical errors, typos, and
awkward sentence structures, but also check back and forth between the two
versions to make sure you haven’t added or taken away anything from the original
piece. Always read through the translated piece to make sure it sounds like
something a native would say.
Format for the translated work is usually like that of other writing pieces:
double-spaced, easy to read fonts in a decent size. Ask first to see if your
client has special requirements, though. Do they want page footers in a certain
place? What size font? Don’t use fancy paper, or “pretty” envelopes. Be
professional!
Prices, of course, vary with different languages and different levels of
expertise. Often, with beginners, the price will be something along the lines of
semi-pro rates, 1/4 to 1/2 cents a word, or $10 to $20 per one thousand word
piece. But be assured that rates do rise as your experience grows. Even
semi-professionals can get $200 to $300 per one thousand word article.
Translating, as a whole, doesn’t seem quite as glamorous as, say, novel writing,
or magazine editing, but it is a steady job, and one that can be quite
profitable. And it is more than just acting as someone’s live dictionary.
Markets
Translation Directory
A list of jobs are available on the front page; you may need to check the
deadlines first.
http://www.translationdirectory.com
Translator’s Café
A place to ask translating questions can be found here; click on “jobs” to find
assignments.
http://www.translatorscafe.com/
ProZ.com
A list of jobs can be found on this page. Some are only available to members
with paid subscriptions. Also on the site are resources that you can use: news,
glossaries, and various other tools.
http://www.proz.com/translation-jobs
Resources
Translation Jobs & Freelance Translation
Articles to read, news, and even glossaries are available here.
http://www.freelancersupport.com/
The Translator’s Home Companion
A list of newsletters and mailing groups can be found here:
http://www.lai.com/trnews.html
BIO
Aline Lechaye has written for various publications, both online and in print.
Her favorite genres are fantasy and
science fiction. She can be reached at
alinelechaye@gmail.com.
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