Found in Translation
Real-world advice for those who want to put their linguistic passion to work.
This article was published in Abroad View's fall 2009 magazine.
By Alicia Capetillo
They control language. Well, sometimes they control language. Translators and interpreters around the world are responsible for making words and text in one language accessible to all, transforming everything from the spoken word to compressed manuals. While “translating” is the umbrella term that people typically think of when considering both spoken and written translation, the two professions are quite different. Translating refers to taking written text in one language and putting it out in another language, whereas taking the spoken language and rendering it into another language is known as “interpreting.” As the chair of the Conference Interpretation Program and the Monterey Institute of International Studies, Barry Olsen, puts it, “[Interpreters] listen and speak, whereas a translator reads and then writes.”
Both professions demand fluency in at least two languages and an ability to adapt to foreign concepts and texts, which certainly requires a fair share of training and a passion for language. That being said, a job that allows people to constantly delve deeply into foreign vernacular definitely has its perks. “One of the most recent [interpreting jobs] I did was for the Fifth Summit of the Americas, where all of the presidents from 34 countries from this hemisphere were present, with the exception of Cuba, and I worked to facilitate discussion,” Olsen says. “It was a real privilege to be there. You had all these presidents talking about the future of this hemisphere.”
World presidents, you say? Abroad View spoke with two faculty members, including Olsen, and a current student who are involved in the Monterey Institute’s two-year master’s degree program in translating and interpreting to learn more about just what it takes to translate for a living.
Live the language
It’s not enough to simply take your garden-variety required language courses and be done with it. Translators and interpreters are most successful when they know the ins and outs of the language. That means news events, slang, technical terms, and sports terminology, all on top of absolute understanding of grammar and vocabulary. “When you want to become a translator or interpreter, you love the language so much that you’re always studying it,” Olsen says. “It’s a profession that requires you to learn always.” While it may seem arduous, constantly studying doesn’t necessarily mean you have to cart your Arabic textbook around. Reading newspapers from a variety of countries is integral to better understanding the background of the language. “I had sort of a running monologue in Japanese in my head…trying not to move my mouth because people would think I was crazy,” says student Jonathan Michaels. “It really helps in getting your mouth used to the language and getting your brain used to the process.” Michaels worked as a Japanese translator as a part of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme and plans to translate and interpret at a United Nations organization in Geneva, Switzerland.
Broaden your horizons, starting with your major
Translating and interpreting require a near-perfect understanding of the languages of choice. Studying a secondary subject prior to jumping into intensive language studies, however, might be beneficial to a future career as well. Translators and interpreters work with the language in whatever form they are given. In one job, a translator may be working on a novel and in another, deciphering lengthy legal jargon. This means that additional knowledge in a specific field outside your preferred language may help expand the type of work you can translate or interpret in the future. “If you do major only in your foreign language, then you don’t have an added value,” Michaels said. “If you study biology, chemical engineering, or economics, some technical subject, then you can specialize in that.”
Learn to multitask and learn it well
Think about how quickly most people talk. Now imagine trying to immediately explain that to a third party in another language. Now put yourself in the real world with distractions, local slang, and pressure from clients, and you have a feel for what it’s like to be an interpreter. “Very often in interpreting, the frustration comes when people don’t understand how to work with an interpreter, when people talk too quickly or don’t pause to give us a chance to interpret,” says Holly Mikkelson, associate professor of translating and interpreting at the Monterey Institute. Balancing the environment and the language can be difficult in the moment of interpreting, so multitasking is key for being a successful interpreter. “We’re going to work with students to learn to deal with multitasking—listening to the original, processing the meaning of the original, and then producing the meaning in the target language,” Olsen says.
Take a trip. A long trip.
Olsen, Mikkelson, and Michaels all agree that the best way to prepare for a career in translating or interpreting is to simply study the language (or languages) of choice in a country the language is spoken. Interacting daily with native speakers will not only make you more comfortable hearing the language, but it will also allow you to pick up on local aspects of the language that can’t be learned from a book on tape or in a classroom. Mikkelson stresses complete immersion in the language and Olsen agrees. “We highly encourage students to have at least six months in a country where their foreign or acquired language is spoken, and during that time we suggest that they live with and frequently interact with people who speak the language,” Olsen says. Search your university’s resources to find a study abroad program or international internship to further advance your language skills. Plus, who doesn’t like international travel? It’s a win-win.
Translating and interpreting require years of practice and patience in developing the skills required. As jobs in community development, government offices, immigration outreach programs, and international organizations continue to emerge, translators and interpreters have the opportunity to play an integral role in the various markets.