A translator is a professional in a specific foreign language and communication. An interpreter reads, understands, and converts spoken and written text from one language to another. Interpreters are in demand in a variety of fields. These professions often deal with foreign tourists, immigrants, and companies that work internationally or are entering a foreign market.
If you are interested in this profession and want to know more about it, we suggest you read our article. In this material, we will take a closer look at the essence of this profession and how to become a qualified interpreter step by step. We will also analyze the frequently asked questions.
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By an interpreter, we mean a specialist who helps to communicate with speakers of different languages. He translates written material or speech from one language to another. Often these professionals can only translate into two languages: their native language (of which they are a native speaker) and the other foreign language (the one chosen by the translator). More advanced professionals may also know a third or fourth language.
An in-demand specialist always ensures the maximum accuracy of the transmitted information, regardless of the form of its delivery – interpretation or text. An interpreter can get a job in a variety of companies. In particular, these specialists are in demand in the educational, medical, government, and commercial spheres.
The list of job duties of a professional interpreter includes:
You often hear the words “translator” and “interpreter” used interchangeably, but it is not so straightforward in this situation. In practice, these professionals refer to people who perform different work tasks. If we consider an interpreter, they may deal with written materials, while interpreters interact with spoken language. An interpreter is a versatile professional because they can deal with oral communications and written material in a foreign language.
The average interpreter earns $20-23 per hour. At the same time, the range of possible salaries for this specialist ranges from $7.25 to $51 per hour of work. An interpreter in the U.S. can earn an average of $54,446 annually. The annual salaries range from the lowest amount of $30,484 to a maximum of $97,242. The amount of pay depends on the level of professionalism, the number of working hours, the rate from the employer, and other parameters.
Many translators do not work in an office but prefer to remain freelance, working on text translations at home. Some specialists choose to work in a translation agency. Freelance translators often have irregular working hours-they. They might be swamped with translations at once or sometimes work on just one project and experience a lull in their work. But there aren’t that many of them. Most translators still prefer to work full-time with a traditional schedule.
Salary is based on several factors: specialty, translation language, qualifications, education, experience, and others.
A professional translator must have a bachelor’s degree or at least three years of work experience. But more often, potential employers pay attention to the number of languages the specialist is fluent in. That is, they should have at least 2. Especially for future interpreters, we have gathered a step-by-step guide on how to become a true professional, which consists of the following steps:
An interpreter needs to know a second language. People brought up in a bilingual family have chosen to study a foreign language in depth since high school has an advantage. Even in high school, you can begin to learn an additional language and continue to do so after entering college. To become a professional interpreter, you need a bachelor’s degree in a particular language. Apparently, a good translator should have an excellent understanding of each language they specialize in. It applies to all areas: grammar, terminology, and cultural specifics.
Even if a specialist is fluent in a foreign language, they must still work on their core translation skills. It’s not enough to learn the language. It would be best to improve your ability to translate accurately and clearly. Many colleges and universities offer unique educational programs in translation to become a true professional in the field. The American Translators Association has a separate list of educational institutions, programs, and other helpful resources for learning the specialty.
Certification is not a prerequisite for translating services. Still, a test in the field can show you have the right skills and put you in front of potential employers. The American Translators Association offers certification in 29 languages to prove your professionalism. Also, a translator can be certified in the specific field in which they will work. For example, a professional can get certified as a paralegal to get a job as a translator in a law firm.
Once you have an excellent command of a foreign language and can speak it fluently, it’s worth choosing a specific field where you want to work. After that, you need to learn industry terminology. Translating oral or written materials in your chosen field is necessary. For example, suppose you want to work as a translator in the medical field. In that case, you should learn medical terminology in both languages to become a true professional.
To land a decent job, you must have experience as a translator. To gain professional experience that you can put on your resume, you can do freelance translation services. You can also get a job as a volunteer to gain experience. A large number of medical facilities and community organizations require volunteer interpreters. In addition, you can gain practical experience through internships, which may or may not be paid.
Many people think interpreters and translators are the same professionals. Of course, these concepts are very closely related. Different professionals perform the processes represented. Interpreters and translators differ because of the material they deal with. The former translate written communication, while the interpreter simultaneously translates speech in real-time.
To become a successful interpreter, you need to have developed reading, writing, and comprehension skills in every language the professional will be dealing with. The profession of an interpreter implies not just knowing how a particular word will be in another language. You should also know the language’s peculiarities and the speech culture. If an interpreter deals with spoken language, they must have developed interpersonal and business skills to successfully interact with clients.
Interpreter services are gaining popularity all over the world. In the U.S., Spanish is especially popular (this is true in the states bordering the Spanish-speaking country). Next in favor is Mandarin, a language often found in global business. Also, there is a rapid development of Germany’s economy, and the language itself is pretty challenging to learn, so translators from German are now quite in demand.
