Job Description for an Interpreter & Translator
Translators and interpreters are essential workers in an increasingly global world. As members of different cultures find more reasons to communicate and transact business with one another, interpreters and translators must transform information from a source language into a target language with a high degree of accuracy.
Other People Are Reading
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Definitions
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A translator is someone who transfers written words from one language to another. Translators work with novels, plays, technical documents, news articles and personal correspondence. Interpreters serve much the same function, but for the spoken word. There are two types of interpreters: simultaneous translators speak alongside the source speaker, putting their words into the source language in real time, while consecutive translators perform an interpretation in the target language only after the speaker has finished.
Education
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Most interpreters and translators have a college degree in one or more languages, in addition to fluency in a native language. Even students who speak more than one language in the home generally perform intensive academic study to learn about the structures and nuances of the languages. As part of their undergraduate education, many translation and interpretation students spend at least one year abroad, immersing themselves in the culture and language they plan to work with.
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Getting Work
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Many translators and interpreters work as freelancers and are self-employed. Organizations like the Translators and Interpreters Guild and the American Translators Association work to unite qualified translators and interpreters with prospective employers. Both interpreters and translators may start out as bilingual secretaries, performing basic administrative duties in both languages to gain experience. Some translators find work by performing a partial translation of an untranslated book and submitting their work as a sample to the author or publisher in hopes of landing a commission to complete the translation.
Employers
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Not all translators and interpreters work on a freelance basis. Others are employed by large agencies such as the U.S. government or the United Nations. Large business also have a need for translators, especially if they conduct a great deal of business with a foreign country. These companies may employ translators and interpreters to ensure that communication is fast and accurate throughout the company.
Earnings
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Translators and interpreters make varied salaries based on their employer and the frequency of their work. Some may charge by the word or the hour on a freelance basis, while U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows interpreters making an average of around $16 per hour. Those who work for the federal government may make upward of $70,000 a year. Interpreters who work in a conference setting may earn $300 a day. Job opportunities depend largely on the need for the interpreter's specific language skills.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit chinese text image by Gina Smith from Fotolia.com
