What is the best topic for a non-specialized translator to begin translating on? Thread poster: André Moreira
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André Moreira 
Austria
Local time: 09:08
Member (2019)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Thtat's right folks you heard it right.
What do you think is the best topic for a nonspecialized translator to start with?
The dude that has his dictionaries at home but little or no knowledge of any topics yet.
[Edited at 2023-06-06 22:07 GMT]
| | | | | The one you are most familiar with | Jun 6, 2023 |
Choose the topic you know well. I mean the one you know outside the translation industry. Learning the foreign terminology is easy, the important thing is knowing the basic principles of the subject field.
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Please, please watch out for typos when posting. You get one chance to make a good first impression, don’t let a typo or a spelling error ruin your reputation...
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Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida wrote:
Please, please watch out for typos when posting. You get one chance to make a good first impression, don’t let a typo or a spelling error ruin your reputation...
... profile, too.
As my dad used to say, "When in doubt look it up!"
JL
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| Children's books .. | Jun 6, 2023 |
André Moreira wrote:
What do you think is the bets topic for a non-specialized translator to start translating on?
The dude that has his dictionaries at home but little or no knowledge of any topics yet.
...and when you expectedly don't succeed there, then turn over to technical translation, of course for a low price and concentrate on GUI, patents and electric engineering. DeepL will show you the way to success. When the last technical translator with a technical background finally has left the industry, then raise your price.
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 09:08
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
| Ask colleagues | Jun 7, 2023 |
André Moreira wrote:
What do you think is the best topic for a nonspecialized translator to start with?
This depends on your language combination. It needs to be something that has great demand but which has resources that are relatively simple to get access to. I suggest you ask your question in the Portuguese subforum here: https://www.proz.com/forum/portuguese-28.html
| | | | jyuan_us
United States
Local time: 03:08
Member (2005)
English to Chinese
+ ...
| Start to learn to be specialized | Jun 7, 2023 |
André Moreira wrote:
Thtat's right folks you heard it right.
What do you think is the best topic for a nonspecialized translator to start with?
The dude that has his dictionaries at home but little or no knowledge of any topics yet.
[Edited at 2023-06-06 22:07 GMT]
If you want to be a professional translator, probably you need to be specialized in something from day 1. You could be abused by some peanuts payers if you brand yourself as a non-specialized translator.
| | | | | Non-specialised stuff! | Jun 7, 2023 |
jyuan_us wrote:
If you want to be a professional translator, probably you need to be specialized in something from day 1. You could be abused by some peanuts payers if you brand yourself as a non-specialized translator.
You can't brand yourself as specialised if you're not. Apart from being dishonest, it will come back to bite you when you get something in that you can't handle.
You need to pick an area and study it a bit, and then take easy jobs in that area and build gradually.
There is nothing worse than trying to translate a text that is beyond your capabilities. It will take forever, it will stress you out, you will disappoint the client, and you are taking work from someone who could've done it properly.
So start with easy texts and build your reputation and skill set from there.
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expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 08:08
Member (2015)
English to Portuguese
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| There’s not only one right answer | Jun 7, 2023 |
I can see in your profile that you have a degree in translation sciences from the University of Lisbon and Vienna and that you mention at least three translation areas (tourism, advertising and human resources).
I don't know the course you studied, but I'm sure you took some translation classes, right? You should have got some ideas, tips, advice from your teachers, some practical experience in translating different kind of texts... I don't know.
There’s not only one right answer ... See more I can see in your profile that you have a degree in translation sciences from the University of Lisbon and Vienna and that you mention at least three translation areas (tourism, advertising and human resources).
I don't know the course you studied, but I'm sure you took some translation classes, right? You should have got some ideas, tips, advice from your teachers, some practical experience in translating different kind of texts... I don't know.
There’s not only one right answer to your question, and the paths that each translator follows are many. I say quite often that translation is a continuous learning process.
First, I would say the most important it would be to focus on the market needs right now (assess the market and choose the subjects to specialise in), second, focus on what you like and choose the areas you really like and offer your expertise (Who knows the ones you specifiy in your profile?).
I combined my translation studies working in various areas, but mainly in the legal field. I did some general training after finishing my University studies and I was lucky to contact other different professionals.
A few years ago, I took a specialisation in CAT tools at the University too.
Something that I always valued: I always try to learn from my colleagues and be honest in my profession (with my colleagues and especially with my clients).
One of the things I would never do is translate into an area that is completely unknown to me and into a language other than my native language.
So, our "bagagem" includes doing many and certain things and for that we need some work, effort, persistence and be very good at what we do.
PS: If you have the chance, travel to different countries. It is a very rewarding experience!
[Edited at 2023-06-07 09:28 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 09:08
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
| Whatever comes your way | Jun 7, 2023 |
Specialisations are overrated. Yes, they are needed in this industry because everybody, and most certainly agencies, keep on asking what your specialisations are. But it's a stupid system because, according to me, everybody who has been working as a translator for less than 10 years, can't possibly say he's a seasoned specialised translator. Yet you are expected to indicate your 'specialisations' from your first working day as a translator. They basically force you to lie, because obviously you ... See more Specialisations are overrated. Yes, they are needed in this industry because everybody, and most certainly agencies, keep on asking what your specialisations are. But it's a stupid system because, according to me, everybody who has been working as a translator for less than 10 years, can't possibly say he's a seasoned specialised translator. Yet you are expected to indicate your 'specialisations' from your first working day as a translator. They basically force you to lie, because obviously you need to indicate something in order to be offered work.
You can study and read books about your required specialisation(s) - it will help you obviously - but in my opinion it's not necessary to do that to become specialized in certain subjects. My extra training or reading record since I graduated : virtually inexistant.
This is what you need (in my humble opinion and without saying there are no other ways) to become a decent translator in virtually any subject:
- Inborn linguistic/translation talent. There's nothing you can do about this. You have it or you don't. At best you can 'cultivate' it, but you can't create it.
- A linguistic degree (not necessarily a translation degree).
- A thorough understanding of the source languages you work with. This is something that evolves in time. You will obviously master your working languages better after having worked with them for several years or decades than you did when you just left school.
- A CAT tool for all non-creative texts. This tool helps you to be consistent (important for terminology in large documents) and to more or less easily keep a record of terminology and their sometimes different possible translations in different contexts. You can learn a lot from your registered translations in the past.
- High internet search skills that enable you to know where to look, how to verify your preferences and which sources can be trusted and which not. This is a skill that is acquired by doing it from day 1. You will need patience to really get the hang of it.
Behold my two cents (more my 5,465 dollars, but OK 😂). ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:08
Member (2008)
Italian to English
André Moreira wrote:
Thtat's right folks you heard it right.
What do you think is the best topic for a nonspecialized translator to start with?
The dude that has his dictionaries at home but little or no knowledge of any topics yet.
[Edited at 2023-06-06 22:07 GMT]
Come on, DUDE (excuse me while I gag), you must be interested in something, and know a little bit about it. There's your specialism- right there.
| | | | jyuan_us
United States
Local time: 03:08
Member (2005)
English to Chinese
+ ...
| My point was not asking the OP to be dishonest | Jun 7, 2023 |
Ice Scream wrote: jyuan_us wrote:
If you want to be a professional translator, probably you need to be specialized in something from day 1. You could be abused by some peanuts payers if you brand yourself as a non-specialized translator. You can't brand yourself as specialised if you're not. Apart from being dishonest, it will come back to bite you when you get something in that you can't handle. You need to pick an area and study it a bit, and then take easy jobs in that area and build gradually. There is nothing worse than trying to translate a text that is beyond your capabilities. It will take forever, it will stress you out, you will disappoint the client, and you are taking work from someone who could've done it properly. So start with easy texts and build your reputation and skill set from there.
I rather hinted that he should learn to be specialized in an area before even trying to practice translation. I think that is a valid piece of advice.
I didn't recommend him to "brand yourself as specialised if you're not." That is your point, not mine.
[Edited at 2023-06-07 09:37 GMT]
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Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 09:08
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
| One more point | Jun 7, 2023 |
I would like to add one more point to what I stated above. I think that it's important for a translator to follow the news by listening to the radio, reading a newspaper or some news website(s). It provides you almost subconsciously with context and terminology about a lot of possible translation subjects.
| | | | André Moreira
Austria
Local time: 09:08
Member (2019)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Thanks for all the answers so far!
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