Dr. Patricia Phillips-Batoma from the Center for Translation Studies at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana gave this presentation about careers in translation and interpreting to our Spanish majors. This was the first "Mi Carrera" workshop for Spanish majors in the Fall 2013 semester. Dr. Phillips-Batoma defined translation and interpreting, painted the job scene, and encouraged students to get training. If you have any questions, you can contact Dr. Phillips-Batoma at pphillip@illinois.edu. If you have questions about how to do career-related programming for your foreign language students, please contact me, Ann Abbott, at arabbott@illinois.edu
2. Careers in Translation/Interpreting for
Spanish Majors
Overview:
Translation vs. Interpreting
Professional training
Professional organizations
Translation industry
Free-lance vs. In-house translator/interpreter
Translation companies
NGOs and Governments
Role of technology in translation
Translation and Interpreting specialties
3. Careers in Translation/Interpreting for
Spanish Majors
Translation vs. Interpreting:
Translation: written communication
Interpreting: oral communication
4. Careers in Translation/Interpreting for
Spanish Majors
Translation (some terms):
Source language/Target language
E.g. FR to EN
ES to EN
DE to ES
L1 Translation – when a translator works from a second
language into their native language
L2 Translation – when a translator works from their native
language into a second (or third) language
5. Careers in Translation/Interpreting for
Spanish Majors
Interpreting (some terms):
Simultaneous interpreting – when the interpreting is
carried out with only a short lag with respect to the
speaker
UN – Model for simultaneous interpreting originated in the
Nuremberg trials
Consecutive interpreting – when the interpreting is done
in two directions, with one interpreter handling both
directions and both interlocutors
Medical interpreting – sits between patient and doctor
Legal interpreting – between defendant and prosecutor
6. Careers in Translation/Interpreting for
Spanish Majors
Simultaneous interpreting:
Nuremberg trials: first time in history that this technique
was developed;
Today, simultaneous interpreting is taught according to
specialized techniques;
Monterey School of International Studies
UN recruiters wait outside after final exams
Requires specialized technology (interpreter booths)
UN interpreters take breaks every 30 minutes
8. Careers in Translation/Interpreting for
Spanish Majors
Professional Training
Deep knowledge of a foreign language
University diploma
Experience living in a country where source language spoken
Certificate in Translation Studies
Translation studies
Software
Different areas of translation
Masters Programs
ATA list of approved translation and interpreting schools
http://www.atanet.org/certification/eligibility_approved.php
9. Careers in Translation/Interpreting for
Spanish Majors
Professional organizations:
ATA, American Translators Association
http://www.atanet.org
CHICATA, Chicago Area Translators Association
http://www.chicata.org/
Proz.com
10. Careers in Translation/Interpreting for
Spanish Majors
Translation industry
Free-lance vs. In-house translator/interpreter
Free-lance is now the dominant model
Advantages:
Work at home
No commute
No wardrobe
Work as much or as little as you want
Disadvantages
Isolation
In-house translator positions on the decline
11. Careers in Translation/Interpreting for
Spanish Majors
Translation Industry
Translation companies
Offer multiple language combinations
Work with large numbers of translators from all over the world
Companies can send jobs requiring translation into multiple
languages
Governments and International Organizations
Governments:
US: State Department, FBI, CIA, NSA, Department of Homeland Security,
DEA
Need all languages but publish lists of “critical languages”
European Union
23 official languages
Law requires all information about the EU to be translated in all official
languages
You can work as free-lance translator for the EU if you are not an EU
citizen
12. Careers in Translation/Interpreting for
Spanish Majors
Role of Technology in Translation
Translators must be savvy users of computers and
software applications
CAT Tools: Computer-Assisted Translation Tools
Examples: SDL Trados Studio, MemoQ, Geoworkz
History: grew out of Machine Translation research
Functions:
Segments and converts source text to translatable format
Creates a translation memory (TM)
Interfaces with term base
Most free-lance translators run several applications on the same
computer
13. Careers in Translation/Interpreting for
Spanish Majors
Translation and Interpreting Specialties
Translation:
Medical
Legal
Commercial
Scientific
Technical
Literary
Interpreting
Medical
Legal
International organizations
Corporate