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Those who observe the daily routine of a translator in today’s globalized and highly technological world - accomplishing very tight deadlines, sending and receiving text files by virtual means, when it is a free translation, or by paper, in the case of a sworn translation - moving from one area to another in a very short period of time, would hardly imagine how the life of this professional would have been a few years ago.
A few decades ago, there was no Internet, no translation tools, no e-mail, and, going even further, no computers. Imagine a translator typing a social contract on a Remington or Olivetti, tearing up page after page for minor errors, or going to a specialized library just to look up a single term that did not appear in his/her dictionary or that no professional colleague was able to clarify. How long would such a translation take? Days, weeks, or perhaps months? Obviously the same amount of time that other translators in the field would take and that would be considered adequate for the moment.
But the world is inexorably different. Many benefits have emerged: translation tools, specialized websites, corpora, discussion forums, digitalized dictionaries, equipment of all kinds. There is no lack of resources for translators to cross borders, shorten processes, offer services outside their geographical area, seek solutions, exchange information with people from all corners of the world, keep up to date, and be able to research on multiple platforms simultaneously.
On the other hand, deadlines have shortened, demands and competitiveness have increased. Today, deadlines are hardly weeks, or days. Very often they are hours, overnight, or, as we say in the industry, "yesterday". Although so much has changed, the requirements of the translation professional are invariably the same and have stood the test of time and technological advances: in-depth knowledge of the language, curiosity, the ability to start from scratch without knowing where you are going, an adventurous spirit to navigate unknown seas, often in turbulent and troubled waters, without knowing your destination, experience and skill in solving problems and puzzles creatively, without being content with ready-made and seemingly obvious answers.
He is a perfectionist par excellence. And unlike other professions, it gets better and better as time goes by, getting to know its sources better, surrounding itself with good foundations. Also, unlike many other professions, he tends to become less of a specialist and more of a generalist. We say that the translator knows a lot about many things. His range is unlimited. A good translator cherishes his reputation, but is content to play the supporting role. He knows how to respect the author, keeping in mind that he is not and will not be the protagonist.
Whether in technical translation, legal translation, or any other field, the text’s message must be conveyed as precisely as possible. And, at the same time, it cannot sound like translation. The more faithful it is to the text and context, the more in the shade it helps the reader get closer to the final object, the better it will have fulfilled its objective of translating the content, maintaining the sense, rewriting the form. The idea is there, and the translator is the conveyor of a destination, arriving at a previously agreed upon origin.
Although the skills and requirements to become a good professional are the same both in the more remote past and in the present, your ability to deal with technological tools is increasingly a differentiator. A good professional in a world dominated by technology needs to know how to use translation software, needs speed, and also needs to surround himself with good sources of research and search validation. But those who think that the Internet can help an average translator improve are mistaken. It is often a big trap because, since there is everything on the vastness of the Web, if the professional is not experienced and does not know how to research, he will also compromise his work by coming to completely distorted conclusions and answers. And a compromising work can be the beginning of his professional end.
The translator’s universe may be a balance sheet today, and tomorrow a contract or bylaws. Today he may work on a process and spend the next holiday in the company of a prospectus. And his mornings may be technical, and his mornings literary. One could say that a translator does not suffer from routine and boredom. Despite so much knowledge, his commitment is to silence. He becomes almost a database of vocabularies, semantics, generalities and pluralities. But he knows that confidentiality is his motto.
All his knowledge adds up to his personal database, which will multiply and reproduce itself in his future work. And the broader and more consistent this database, the more versatile, grounded and confident he will be. Now, if we ask the most renowned translators who are their great journey companions, where the key to their enigmas lies, and where they find certainty for their doubts. The answer they would probably give to beginners is: surround yourself with good sources.
And what would be good sources, those that are reliable, that resist time, fads and language transformations?
The secret of a good translator is in the good old dictionary and its glossaries. Although some good dictionaries are available in electronic format, most of them are still in paper format. An experienced translator cannot live without his or her trusted dictionaries.
And what are the most recommended dictionaries for a translator in the several areas of translation, be it financial, scientific or IT translation?
What are the best bases for each type of translation?
Anyone who observes the daily routine of a translator in today’s globalized and highly technological world, meeting very tight deadlines, sending and receiving text files by virtual means, when it comes to free translation, or on paper, in the case of sworn translation - moving from one area to another in a very short period of time, can hardly imagine how the life of this professional would have been a few years ago.
A few decades ago, there was no Internet, no translation tools, no e-mail, and, going even further, no computers. Imagine a translator typing a social contract on a Remington or Olivetti, tearing up page after page for minor errors, or going to a specialized library just to look up a single term that did not appear in his/her dictionary or that no professional colleague was able to clarify. How long would such a translation take? Days, weeks, or perhaps months? Obviously the same amount of time that other translators in the field would take and that would be considered adequate for the moment. But the world is inexorably different.
Many benefits for Translators have emerged:
- translation tools,
- specialized websites,
- corpora,
- discussion forums,
- digitalized dictionaries,
- equipment of all kinds.