The Qualities Each Translator/Interpreter Possesses

Translators are language professionals. They are applied linguists, competent writers, diplomats, and educated amateurs. Like linguists, translators have to be capable of discerning subtleties and nuances in their languages, researching terminology and colloquialisms, and handling new developments in their languages. Like writers, translators have to be accustomed to working long hours alone on a subject which interests few people and with a language that few people around them know. Like diplomats, translators have to be sensitive to the cultural and social differences which exist in their languages and be capable of addressing these issues when translating. And like educated amateurs, translators have to know the basics and some of the details about the subjects they deal with.

The above is an idealization of the translator, an image which professional translators aspire to and achieve with varying degrees of success. Not all translators need to overflow with these qualities. They must, however, have them in sufficient measure to be able to translate their material in a manner acceptable to their clients.

Somewhere in the process of translating something, the translator will come across all these issues. When I work with technical or medical documents, I have to deal with the intricacies of technical writing in Russian and English and research new or obscure terms (and sometimes invent my own). I struggle with my Russian to polish and hone it so that the client sees the material as natural, without the tell-tale signs that it was translated from English. I deal with the differences between Russian and American culture, especially when I translate fiction or computer manuals. We give instructions and explanations in the former Soviet Union very differently from how people give them in the U.S.

Like any professional, translators have to stay on top of their areas of expertise. I devote a lot of my time to browsing through specialized magazines and newspapers, as well as reading numerous books on developments in medicine and computer science.

The fundamental rule when you’re not sure of a term or phrase is ask. There is an old Japanese adage which goes: to question and ask is a moment’s shame, but to question and not ask is a lifetime’s shame. When you have doubts or questions about a translation, call the client, ask your question, and then get the answer. If you’re still not sure, make a note of it in the final translation. Clients are surprisingly tolerant of such notes and often expect them. I’ve even heard that clients are sometimes suspicious when they don’t see these notes. After all, how much can a translator know about new surgical procedures to clear a pulmonary embolism?

As future interpreters you will have much entrusted to you — there is power in being a voice for another, a very privileged position that you must treat with respect. Who ever said you would convey only words? You convey impressions with sounds and body language. Appropriate appearance should be observed — do not neglect dressing for the job. Some Americans don’t like the smell of cigarette smoke — so if you are a smoker pay particular attention to the fact that this will be detected in your clothing. This alone may exclude you from being hired. You would dress differently for a medical convention versus a dog show competition or athletic event. It is important that you do not draw attention to yourself. You should be basically invisible — sight unseen.

You bring your limitations with you and you must know them. It’s okay to have them, we all do. We all have limitations but don’t say you can do something that you can not. If your language/interpretive skills are limited — say so and specify.