Professions for Foreign-Language Users
If after reading these articles you have decided that
translation is not for you, or if after translating professionally
for a while or longer you have decided that translation is no
longer for you, I'll try to offer a few suggestions, some obvious
and simple, others perhaps less obvious and more complicated, for
other careers. Learning another language is a wonderful
undertaking, and being able to use it for your career is a
wonderful outcome of all that effort. But sometimes a professional
pursuit must become a hobby, and so my suggestions will include
ideas that have little directly to do with foreign language
proficiency. At the same time, as someone who loves languages, I'll
bear in mind the attitude and commitment translators have made to
their languages.
Interpretation
Many translators I know long to interpret; some even became
translators as a way to cultivate their language skills ultimately
to be able to interpret. Despite the obvious relationship between
translation and interpretation, the two are distinct vocations,
each with its own skill set and preferred personality.
Interpretation is subdivided into consecutive interpretation and
simultaneous interpretation. The former involves listening to a
speaker while taking notes on the content of the speech, then when
the speaker chooses, to render that speech into the target
language. The speaker may speak for a few minutes or upwards of a
half hour. Also, consecutive interpreters are usually expected to
interpret into and out of their native language.
Simultaneous interpretation by contrast is typically done in a
booth. The interpreter listens to the speaker using a set of
headphones, then instantly renders the speech into the target
language, almost always the interpreter's native language. In
simultaneous interpretation, the interpreter is rarely more than a
few seconds to a minute behind the speaker, and though the quality
and accuracy of the interpretation are not nearly as high as they
are in consecutive interpretation, the speed and intensity are much
higher.
Interpreters are different from translators. They need to be
extremely fast with their languages, capable of making snap
decisions even when not at all certain about what a speaker is
saying. They must be poised and composed, even when working with
angry officials or attorneys, business tycoons, or heads of state,
have excellent spoken languages skills, including the ability to
listen very accurately under less than ideal ambient noise
conditions, and good oral presentation and public speaking skills
in all of their languages. Travel is a frequent part of
interpretation work, with some assignments, such as escort work
with the U.S. State Department, lasting upward of three weeks.
I strongly recommend that anyone interested in interpretation
take the time to talk to working interpreters and look carefully at
getting some professional training. Both consecutive and
simultaneous interpretation require the development of a very
precise set of skills, neither of which could easily be obtained on
the job.
Project Management
As any freelance translator knows, translation agencies use
project managers to coordinate translation projects. And as any
freelance translator who has been in the field for a while knows, a
good project manager is worth her or his weight in gold.
Project management is a very intense, fast-paced, challenging
line of work which is becoming more and more diverse as the years
go by. Many localization firms now have project managers who
oversee the localization process, coordinate document translation
with translation agencies or translators themselves, interface
between engineering, sales and marketing staff, and manufacturers
to prepare a product for release. Project management definitely
requires language sensitivity and good communications skills but
not necessarily strong translation skills. You do need to be
capable of patience and perseverance, as well as creative
problem-solving and multitasking.
If this area interests you, I suggest you talk to some project
managers at firms that hire such people (try translation agencies,
large software and localization firms, to start with). See if the
work appeals to you. Don't worry too much about the technical side
of the job; many firms are willing to train otherwise capable
candidates in that area. And if you do get into project management,
perhaps you'll be in charge of a project I translate for.
Terminologist
Most translators have spent at least a little time doing
terminology research, have created a glossary list or two, and may
have even build a terminology database in an application like
Microsoft Access or used an MAT system like Trados. This is a large
part of what a terminologist does every day, but such people also
create and verify the definitions that translators and other
writers work with.
In other words, to be a good terminologist you either have to be
an excellent linguist or educated and experienced in the field you
are created terms for. Ideally, you should be both, and terminology
positions at places like the United Nations require just that. Many
localization firms, however, are happy to get one, and will train
you for the other if you are an otherwise suitable candidate.
Should such work appeal to you, contact large translation and
localization firms, or companies that you know are routinely doing
a lot of translation work, to see what is available. Also be
prepared to use Trados, database systems, and other linguistics
tools, as well as having a sound knowledge of your languages and of
terminology creation.
Language Teaching
Many translators have already taught one of more languages,
perhaps during the process of acquiring their second language. It
is a natural thing to do, as translators usually have a
well-developed ability to explain their languages and considerable
classroom experience studying their B languages.
Teaching as a career requires more than just a commitment to
language, however. It requires a commitment to students and to
education. Most translators do not have the formal academic
training or teaching credentials necessary to turn teaching into a
career and would therefore need to go back to school for
certification.
If you want to teach at the university level, then you will
probably need an advanced degree either in your language or in
teaching. If you want to teach and to translate literature, then a
doctorate in your language and its literature is an essential first
step. Do take the time to talk to the kinds of places you would
want to teach at as a way to find out what credentials or training
you would need, and to verify that the move into teaching is for
you.
Linguistics
There is clearly a connection between translation and
linguistics, insofar as translators tend to have strong analytical
skills for their languages, and at least some translators have
excellent critical thinking skills. The linguistics field is
diverse, including such areas as computational linguistics,
historical linguistics, phonology, morphology, Indo-European
studies, and so forth.
Of course entering this field requires a Ph.D. in linguistics,
and given that demand for linguistics, with the possible exception
of those specializing in computational linguistics, is low (at
least in the United States), one should not enter this field
lightly. Also keep in mind that a person with a doctorate in
linguistics has limited career options, pretty much
university-level academia or nothing. Industry at present only
seems interested in linguists with computer science skills, that is
to say computational linguistics, though there are some positions
for linguists from time to time for tasks such as product naming or
branding, or language resource management.
The usual research into good graduate programs, including those
at schools like Cornell and MIT, should be done thoroughly. Also,
for those who are interested in this field but hesitant due to the
lack of faculty positions, consider related fields such as
cognitive science, psychology (particularly psycholinguistic
research), or even philosophy of language. Research in areas such
as machine translation, language acquisition, and natural language
processing continues apace, and there should continue to be
openings.
Cross-Cultural Training
So much of translation involves cross-cultural issues, and so
much of the background and experiences that translators tend to
have are directly related to cross-cultural matters, that this
field seems natural for translators to move into. Be aware,
however, that much of what passes for cross-cultural training has
more to do with equipping business executives with the daily
know-how to survive in another country.
You will need to know how to handle the minutiae of life for an
American abroad: setting up bank accounts, establishing phone and
utility service, or registering as a resident alien with a local
office. You may also have to teach people who to handle high-level
business negotiations, what to do in emergencies, or where to take
clients when entertaining becomes a part of business. If you have
had all of these experiences yourself and are a good teacher
interested in cross-cultural issues, you are ready to enter this
field.
The only glitch remaining is that this field is not quite a
field, per se. Rather, cross-cultural training is often offered as
a part of language training, or at least by the same places that
offer language training. You may not even be able to find a
full-time position, and that assumes your languages and cultures
are in demand. So move slowly if you want to enter this field and
take the time to talk to people who are involved in it.
Diplomatic Work
Translators frequently are well-suited for work with the
diplomatic arm of their governments. For security reasons you would
almost certainly have to work for the government where you were
born and raised, and at least with the U.S. Foreign Service, you
would to pass the Foreign Service Officer's Exam, a series of
interviews, security clearance, and then would as likely as not end
up in a nation whose culture and language you are wholly
unacquainted with.
If however the challenge of new languages and cultures appeals
to you, and you are intrigued by diplomatic and government work in
general, this is a possibility well worth exploring. The work, I'm
told, is rarely glamorous or vital to national interests or
international stability, but it does have its small rewards, plus
the occasional large one when you get the chance to meet with
important dignitaries or government officials, to work on projects
you personally believe in, or to become involved in the
decision-making processes that can truly have a positive impact on
a region.
Intelligence Work
Translators are also well-suited for work in the intelligence
branches of their governments, both military and civilian. In the
U.S., the CIA, FBI, NSA, DIA, each branch of the military, and
other groups are in constant need of American citizens with
excellent foreign language skills, strong written and oral
presentation skills, and critical thinking and analytical skills. I
know a few translators who have found happy homes in this kind of
work, translating and evaluating reports, documents, and so forth
in the B languages and preparing analyses based on such material in
English.
Some readers may protest that such organizations behave
immorally or unethically. While much of what these organizations do
does seem to be in that gray area of the law and life, they don't
seem to spend much more time there than most corporations do. And
there is the possibility of doing work that virtually anyone would
find morally acceptable, such as participating in putting together
reports on the ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, on the flooding in
Mozambique, or on environmental catastrophes in South East Asia or
South America. So investigate closely before you dismiss this
possibility; it may surprise you as to the rewards that can come in
such work.
Technical Writing
Technical writing is the process of preparing documentation,
usually computer hardware and software manuals, for mass
consumption. Technical writers combine strong writing skills,
superior understanding of technology, and good DTP knowledge to
produce everything from a word processor's manual, printed or
electronic, the help page on a Web site, or for that matter your
automobile's owner's guide.
Obviously the skills of technical writing and translation
overlap, though in the United States this would, with rare
exceptions, only apply to native English speakers. I know quite a
few translators who have left translation to work in technical
writing, and I myself have done some freelance technical writing
work. It pays reasonably well, the work, once you are established,
can be quite steady and challenging, and there is, for some people
at least, a certain greater sense of freedom in creating a manual
than in translating one, as well as more job satisfaction.
If you are interested in this possibility, I suggest you read
one of the many good books on the subject, talk to some local
technical writers in your area (there is probably a local writers'
organization that can help you find them), and sound out some
potential clients so you can test the waters. You might even be
able to split your working life between technical writing and
translation; some clients might even like that combination. Check
first, of course, then move ahead as the situation warrants.
Other Forms of Writing
Rather than go through all the other types of professional
writing, including copywriting, editing, proof-reading, journalism,
and commercial writing, to name some of the categories, let me just
say here that if as a translator you are in fact a good writer (and
I mean good, as in your clients compliment you on your style,
punctuation, word choice, and even prefer you to other translators
simply because you "make it sound good"), then there are numerous
possibilities for you.
Translation is a form of writing, albeit one that few people
realize exists let alone consider to involve writing skills. There
is no reason, in principle, that a translator can't become a
screenwriter, journalist, or copywriter, as long as the translator
gets the right training, if needed, and makes the right
professional moves. If any of these areas interest you, start by
contacting the National Writers' Union (they know all about all
this stuff), and then follow their suggestions to find more
information and become more acquainted with these fields.
DTP/Page Layout
Translators frequently develop strong DTP skills as a part of
their work. This seems to happen more often to in-house translators
as translation vendors try to combine the translation and layout
processes into one flow, but nevertheless some freelancers, myself
included, do own and use DTP applications and scanners.
DTP is an art and a science. Learning the basics of a DTP
application is not much harder than learning a word processor well,
but using a DTP application effectively to create stunning layouts,
such as are seen in design magazines, requires a lot of practice
and a certain artistic flair. Most of the DTP world doesn't require
such skill though (witness the layout of the average magazine or
computer manual), but nonetheless these publications, along with
virtually everything else, involves some form of DTP. As with
technical writing, some translators combine translation with DTP
work in their freelance business. And some do move into DTP, though
not without getting some classroom training or hands-on experience
first.
Web Work
This possibility has to be mentioned only because the Web is
rapidly touching every aspect of life, and often in more than one
language. The ability to work with HTML, JavaScript, and other Web
technologies in more than one language is fast becoming valuable in
some sectors, particularly in large-scale e-commerce and
content-rich media sites. Someone is translating and preparing all
that material, and someone is overseeing that process.
Translators with Web translation experience can move into this
area with relative ease. I know a few who have done so, and I'm
sure many more will. There are even some futurists in the
translation profession who believe that virtually all translations
will eventually be done through a Web-based real-time model, though
that remains to be seen. In any event, if you have the skills, you
should be able to find a home in this diverse field.
"International" Work
This category is the catch-all area for everything from
international law to international business or finance. Any time a
company is involved in business in more than one country, a
translator with the right education and experience becomes very
valuable. Few translators seem interested in these possibilities
though, perhaps because they are so often far removed from
translation itself, or even language in general, for that
matter.
Also, these areas require the greatest amount of schooling to
enter. If you want to go into international law, first you need a
law degree. If you want to become involved in international
business, you may need an M.B.A. or a Master's in Finance. And so
it goes.
Stand-up Comedian
I put this here as a final suggestion in deference to my
students. The suggestion has been made each of the past few years
when I bring up the topic of what else a person with formal
translation training can do for a career. Though I am not certain
stand-up comedy constitutes a career, and I wonder how humorous the
translation profession would be to outsiders, perhaps I am missing
something and someone among the readers of this article will be
inspired by this thought.