Translators and
interpreters can work in the
public
sector (as national, European or international civil servants), in the
private sector (as employees of
commercial companies, translation agencies, etc.) and in
community groups and
voluntary
organisations.
Translators and
interpreters either work in-house as salaried
employees or are self-employed as freelances.
It is also possible to work as both a translator and an interpreter.
There are many types
of translation: 'general', financial, legal, technical (medical, scientific, computers,
etc.), literary, marketing material, news reports.
Translation does not
always mean writing out the full text. Translators are often asked to produce written summaries of long documents or
to give a quick verbal translation,
so that the client can identify which passages in a lengthy document need
translating word for word, or just get the general gist of the text.
Web translation is increasingly important in today's
multimedia society. Texts for the web must be short, easy to read and drafted
in a web-friendly style. Web translation often involves editing the original
text.
Not to mention ... film
subtitles, adverts, patents, software and computer games, cartoon strips.
The translator's job
often involves other skills too, such as revision and editing, project
management, prospecting for business and the ability to manage a company.
Conference
interpreters are trained for three main types of work:
Consecutive interpreting: the interpreter sits with the
delegates, listens to the speech and renders it at the end, in a different
language, generally with the aid of notes. Although nowadays consecutive
interpreting has been largely replaced by simultaneous, it is still useful for
certain kinds of meetings (working lunches, field trips, etc.).
Simultaneous interpreting: the interpreter works in a
sound-proofed booth with at least one colleague. The speaker in the meeting
room talks into a microphone, and the interpreter listens in through a headset
and repeats the message into a microphone almost simultaneously. The delegates
in the meeting room select the channel offering the language of their choice.
Whispering: this is a form of simultaneous interpreting
in which the interpreter sits (or stands) between the delegates and interprets
directly into the listener's ear, in most cases without using any form of
interpreting equipment.
Conference
interpreters have to work in all kinds of situations: committees and
conferences, discussions between heads of state, prime ministers, etc., business
meetings and trade
negotiations.
Interpreters are often
called into courts, hospitals, police stations, immigration offices, etc. This
is known as 'public service
interpreting'. In many countries it requires special qualifications because
of the highly sensitive nature of the work. The Interpretation DG is currently
looking at training needs for legal interpreters.
Sign-language interpreting: at conferences and meetings,
interpreting between spoken languages
and sign languages, used by the hearing-impaired community all over the
world, is usually provided in simultaneous mode.
Not to mention ... TV
and radio interviews, internet chats, videoconferences.
NOTE: ‘conference interpreter’ is a job title
indicating a high level of skill. Conference interpreters don’t just work at
conferences – they’re trained to work in all kinds of situations.
extract and picture from Translation and interpreting: Languages in action (2009) European Commission, pp. 10-11
