Okay, here’s the deal:
pasunboyfriend, having graduated in July, is currently looking for employment in computer science. However, he’s also been spending some time translating the lyrics to songs by a variety of German bands, and has discovered that he finds the activity quite pleasant–enough so that he’s said he ought to have majored in German so that he could turn it into a career (he only took 3 semesters of it during his undergrad years).
Understandably, he’s a little wary of the idea of having to do the whole education thing over, not least because the issue of funding is a bit sticky.
Given his education to date, what would you recommend he do in order to get up to speed? Also, what sorts of jobs are typically available once you have X amount of schooling?
I’d like to say thanks in advance for any replies. I’ll be directing him to this thread so he can follow it (unless it just dies, of course).
I don’t know about the German/English translation field, but in J/E translation, I’ve yet to see a company mention a particular major or level of degree, except in relation to the kind of materials they want translated. The nice thing about translating is that a translator’s skill (or lack thereof) is immediately obvious from their work, so employers are more likely to hire based on sample demonstrations rather than by degrees or certifications.
One thing to remember, though, is that translating involves two languages. Even if you can understand a foreign langauge perfectly, it’s useless if you aren’t able to communicate the message (with all its nuances) into English that’s natural-sounding and pleasant to read (although this may not be quite as important for technical or academic translations). At my office we often have to produce English advertising materials based on Japanese originals, and the most frequent criticism heard is that a piece of writing “sounds like a translation.” That is, the grammar and word choices don’t read like natural native English. Of course, different jobs will have different requirements of how far you’re expected to go (tech translations usually just want accuracy, consistency and clarity, while lit work often emphasizes keeping the emotional qualities of the original at the expense of a direct translation). Basically, English writing skills can be just as important, if not more so.
Good luck!
I started translating long before I started my certificate, but it was a hell of a lot easier to get a job, and to produce decent translations, after I got mine. I’m now freelancing, and I moved about $7000 in January, which once I get paid will be quite a decent little supplement to the lifestyle to which I am accustomed.
What is this certificate of which you speak? Is there some sort of board or association professional translators belong to?
The certificate I’m referring to is a certificate in translation from the Continuing Education department at McGill University. (I completed it in 2004 and I’m now working on a graduate diploma in translation.)
As for professional certification, it varies from place to place. Here, I’m working toward certification from the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec (OTTIAQ). I’m not sure what the professional board is where you are.