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Poll: Would you consider yourself to be a self-taught translator or interpreter? Auteur du fil: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Would you consider yourself to be a self-taught translator or interpreter?".
View the poll results »
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Theo Bernards (X) 
France
Local time: 04:23
anglais vers néerlandais
+ ...
| Most definitely! | Oct 5, 2012 |
I started as a freelance translator when all other efforts to find employment in France failed due to my lack of French. Being too young to live of the state for the rest of my life and wanting to do something meaningful, I explored other options. I have lived in Ireland for five and a half years, both there and in The Netherlands I was regularly asked to translate documents for colleagues and for internal use. Translation seemed the fastest way forward to make a living. You don't get rich from ... See more I started as a freelance translator when all other efforts to find employment in France failed due to my lack of French. Being too young to live of the state for the rest of my life and wanting to do something meaningful, I explored other options. I have lived in Ireland for five and a half years, both there and in The Netherlands I was regularly asked to translate documents for colleagues and for internal use. Translation seemed the fastest way forward to make a living. You don't get rich from it (at least, I don't ) but I have found the profession surprisingly diverse and wouldn't give it up for the world. I have gradually grown into a few specialisations and that seems the future, although I have a lot of fun with general translations, too. ▲ Collapse
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Evans (X)
Local time: 03:23
espagnol vers anglais
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| Translation is a life-long learning process | Oct 5, 2012 |
Translation is a skill that you hone continuously over the years. I started out with a language degree, but there were no translation diplomas available back in the seventies. I spent a few years living in different countries, some of the time working as a translator. And I learnt on the job. I think I am still learning and still getting better with every job I do, thanks to the diversity of texts I deal with. I learnt a lot about translation at university but I taught myself a huge amount more ... See more Translation is a skill that you hone continuously over the years. I started out with a language degree, but there were no translation diplomas available back in the seventies. I spent a few years living in different countries, some of the time working as a translator. And I learnt on the job. I think I am still learning and still getting better with every job I do, thanks to the diversity of texts I deal with. I learnt a lot about translation at university but I taught myself a huge amount more by experience. The same goes for the all-important writing skills. And I learn more about my specialist subject areas all the time, at work and outside work. ▲ Collapse
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| Freelancers must self-educate | Oct 5, 2012 |
While on the one hand my language studies are most self-taught, I can't deny that practicing with native speakers is what gave me the confidence to set out on a path as a translator. Having said that, however, the field of translation is definitely not an open book, and you have to learn about the industry, how to manage your business and how to land new (and better paying projects). Most of these skills are learnt along the way and are self-taught (sometimes by sheer trial and error).
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Anna Sarah Krämer
Allemagne
Local time: 04:23
Membre (2011)
anglais vers allemand
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I am surprised about the amount of self-taught translators! I was never too happy being inside the education system and dropped out of it rather early. But I have always been obsessed with learning things. And I don't intend to stop learning new things any time soon.
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Kay Denney
France
Local time: 04:23
français vers anglais
| I too am surprised! | Oct 5, 2012 |
I learnt on the job. I recently obtained a masters but on the strength of the file I put together to show what I was capable of rather than by attending courses.
I worked for a long time in an agency where I was the only one without a degree in translation. Not that it made any difference to the quality of our work, but I certainly had the impression that most people had a degree.
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| Yes, somewhat | Oct 5, 2012 |
I studied economics, but most of my other specialist subject areas were learnt on the job. The two things I love about translation are: no two translations are ever the same and it gives me the chance to learn a little more (almost) everyday - it’s a continuous learning curve!
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neilmac
Espagne
Local time: 04:23
espagnol vers anglais
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| Yes, somewhat | Oct 5, 2012 |
I always had an aptitude for language/s and studied a modern languages degree in the 80s, where we had to translate shortish passages both into and out of our native English as part of the curriculum - the perceived difficulty of the latter being what convinced me that translation is always invariably best left to target-language native speakers.
However, there was no specific "translation theory" involved and the linguistics component was very basic. I eventually ended up sort of drift... See more I always had an aptitude for language/s and studied a modern languages degree in the 80s, where we had to translate shortish passages both into and out of our native English as part of the curriculum - the perceived difficulty of the latter being what convinced me that translation is always invariably best left to target-language native speakers.
However, there was no specific "translation theory" involved and the linguistics component was very basic. I eventually ended up sort of drifting into translation via TEFL and now find it much more rewarding on all levels, although, as our colleague notes above, I know I'll never get rich from it, but then again, that doesn't really bother me. ▲ Collapse
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Patricia Charnet
Royaume-Uni
Local time: 03:23
Membre (2009)
anglais vers français
| no definitely not | Oct 5, 2012 |
did an MA in Translation Techniques enjoyed it
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I am a self-taught entrepreneur (and still learning) because I think that my MA did not focus much on the business side of freelancing.
As for the Art of translating, I learned so much in University - I really do not regret the incredible imput and inspiration that were my educators and tutors.
I also met some great fellow students, who have become valuable colleagues
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| Yes, somewhat | Oct 5, 2012 |
I've learned English from the first year of elementary school and also in the technical university, but I've never attended any training courses for translators. Now I'm able to work quite well, without this formal education, and to learn every day.
I am not surprised about the poll results, I think most of us are always self-taught persons in some way
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DianeGM
Local time: 05:23
Membre (2006)
néerlandais vers anglais
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I was raised in a multi-lingual home, I have degrees in subjects other than translation. Anyone can read translation theory, but I think it is practice that makes a good translator. Experience teaches you many things that I think study can not.
[Edited at 2012-10-05 16:02 GMT]
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John Cutler
Espagne
Local time: 04:23
espagnol vers anglais
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Self-taught yes, but also picking up some of the tricks of the trade from forum posters here and discussing issues with other translators.
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Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 20:23
néerlandais vers anglais
+ ...
I was bilingual and had a passion for language from a very young age. But my education (e.g. learning Latin) and my professional experiences also contributed a lot.
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Kay Denney
France
Local time: 04:23
français vers anglais
John Cutler wrote:
Self-taught yes, but also picking up some of the tricks of the trade from forum posters here and discussing issues with other translators.
reading the very useful threads on proz is part of the self-teaching process, we don't have teachers spoon-feeding us here
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