Everyone who studies a language at least once The job of a “translator”I'm going to dream of It's the best job where you can use languages. However, even if I decided to become a translator as a career, it's hard to know where and how to start. Actually, the translator How do you work with what process, more fundamentally Where do you get requests to do translation workIt's also hard to understand. Furthermore, it is not easy to go beyond simply knowing how to speak a foreign language to a level where you can naturally change one language to another. More than I thought Difficult pointset DifficultiesThere will also be one. To resolve this question Interview with an incumbent translatorI listened attentively to their actual voices through As a translator liveset career, and furthermore, about actual translation work ImpressionsWhat is the job of a translator until now?
Q.
Hallo First, please introduce yourself briefly.
Hallo Year 3 Korean-Chinese/Valuable TranslatorThis is it. When I was in college, I majored in Chinese language and literature, and after graduating from college, I worked for a large company for 6 years. I was in charge of overseas sales in the sales team of a company related to electronic materials, but as I worked, my desire for Chinese grew more and more, and I found a job with a specialty in the foreign language called Chinese. On the other hand Because I wanted to do my own work I think I've come to dream of being a translator. When working for a company, I am often frustrated because there aren't as many decisions I could make, so I developed a dream of being a translator because I wanted to make my own decisions and do what I love. After making up his mind to become a translator, he left the company Graduate School of Interpretation and TranslationI went to college and am currently working as a professional translator.
Q.
Do you only translate in one field of expertise? I wonder if all translators have their own fields of expertise.
usually English or JapaneseIn the case of, there is a field of expertise Seems like it. I think the demand is just as high. However, in the case of languages other than this, It's not easy to find only one field of expertise to do translation work Seems like it. Once a request comes in, we will do the translation regardless of the field. Otherwise, the fields you can do are very limited, so at this stage, I think it's much better to cover a variety of fields than to create your own field of expertise. Of course, as my career progresses, I think I will naturally develop a field that I prefer and is more comfortable with. though Very few people do translations after deciding from the beginning, “I will only do professional translations in this field.” Occasionally, people who majored in medicine school, medical school, or law school before entering the Graduate School of Interpretation and Translation want to use that major as a field of expertise, but at first, such people also translate in various fields.
Q.
What do you consider most important when working on translation?
Translation inquiries readabilityThe most important thing is Of course, properly translating the original text is a matter of course, so aside from that, I think the most important thing is readability. After all, translations exist for someone to read. If someone reads a translation and they don't understand it all at once, and they hesitate, it means there's a problem with the translation. The reason why readability is usually poor Because of mistranslation due to errors in the original text, mistranslation due to mistakes made by the translator, or because readability was not sufficiently considered during the translation processI think so. In the first case, the translator cannot do anything, but in the case of misinterpretation and lack of readability, the translator can fully improve, so we do our best in this area.
Q.
What do you care about most for translation quality? Do you have any know-how of your own?
For quality Read it several times even after translation It's on the side. Then, I discovered an awkward part that I hadn't discovered at first. It definitely seemed perfect, but I had to read it again for the last time, and when I read it, it caught my eye that I hadn't seen before. Since it's a human job, it's not easy to be 100% perfect. So to supplement this part, I show the relevant industry workers my translation and ask them if they understand the meaning of the sentence. It seems that the quality of the translated text will naturally improve if I receive confirmation that the sentences I have translated are understandable even when viewed by industry experts, whether they are read naturally, and that the industry terms have been used appropriately in the right place.
Q.
Recently, machine translation technology is rapidly developing, and I don't think we will be translating by just looking at a dictionary like before. Are there translation solutions or tools that translators use when working? As a translator, I'm curious about your thoughts on translation solutions or tools.
Cat tool I use it. though When requested by a translation companyI only use it. When I use it, I often think that cat tools are smart. In particular, in the case of technical translations with a fixed format, the results presented by CatTool are very good if the data is piled up to a certain extent. But there's definitely a limit. It can't be applied to every translation. In particular, it's less efficient when used in literary translation. though Translation of legal and technical documentsIn the case of, if you get help from a cat tool Work efficiencyThis seems to be on the high side. So I think it's a good idea to use cat tools properly when needed.
Q.
I think translation speed is also a very important part of meeting delivery dates, but are there any efforts to improve translation speed? Do you have any personal tips?
The speed actually increases as the delivery date gets closer, and the concentration increases by itself. (Hehe) But I think the story of speeding up itself is a bit absurd. It's actually impossible. You can't suddenly speed up the original translation. It's not good to do it fast either. In the first place Allocation and scheduling of time between translation projects If doing well is know-how, I think it's know-how. A lengthy translation allocates just as much time. If you do it quickly, mistakes are bound to happen. As a translator, I never thought I should increase my speed while translating. Even though translators around me think about how to write better expressions, no one thinks about how to translate faster.
Q.
I'm also curious about life as a translator. When do you usually work? How is work-life balance?
Like a freelancer but an office worker I try to work. I finish housework and miscellaneous work before 9:30 a.m., and then start working as if I were working. I work like office workers in the afternoon and try to finish the day's work before 5 to 6 o'clock as much as possible. If I have to work at night because I can't work because I have a different schedule during the day, I think it's something I should do instead of what is difficult when an office worker works overtime because it's a payment for spending time that's just as different during the day. If I tried to maintain a bad work-life balance when I was an office worker, now Work when I want to do it, when I have to Rather, I'm not obsessed with maintaining a work-life balance because of doing it. I don't know if it can be called self-development, but if you make an effort as a translator, translation is also a kind of writing To read a lot of something I'll do my best. Originally, I liked reading books, but when I had a good expression while reading, I also transcribed it. I usually work alone, so I spend a lot of time sitting I deliberately took time to exercise I will.
Q.
Are there any habits or occupational diseases caused by being a translator?
When I went to work, I didn't think about tea time during work because it was included in my salary, but since I work as a freelancer, the time I don't work is actually unpaid How much is the hourly wage for the job I'm doing now It made me think about it over and over again. (Hehe) Of course, I often feel like this when work is in moderation. I can't afford that when I'm busy, though. and someone else's Unknowingly evaluate a translation or history bookIt became How would I write it if it were meI also think about it often. Of course, I'm just as impressed by the good translation. When I read an old book, I often think, “Ah, the original text of this section must have been done like this.” There were times when I was looking at the station book and the numbers seemed a bit ridiculous, so when I actually checked the original book just in case, there were also some cases where it was a mistranslation. After working as a translator, I think my reading time was a bit longer when I was looking at the station book, especially when I was looking at the original Chinese book.
Q.
I'm curious about the translation industry as a translator, but since you're actually working in an active role, I think you'll get in touch with it even more. What are some recent issues or trends in the translation industry?
Machine translation Maybe? However, in the past a.i If there were more fears or concerns that the job of a translator would disappear because of this, now You can't stop using machine translationI think, if the world is changing like this I would like a translator to get helpIt seems like I'm thinking more. Translators don't talk about this when they meet each other, but I think everyone is considering it and keeping it in mind. Translators, like office workers, are busy talking about their hardships and stressful work when they meet each other. (hehe)
Q.
If anyone around you wants to be a translator, would you recommend it? What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a translator?
If I only saw the question of whether to recommend or not, I would recommend it because I am very satisfied with my work. But what's more important to that person Does translating suit your aptitude? I think it's about doing it. If you like studying and thinking, I would recommend a job as a translator. Occasionally, even though I don't like reading, I'm sometimes called a translator when looking for a job using a foreign language, but I don't think I'll be able to do it for a long time because of my personality.
The advantage of translators is that while studying a language, they do the highest level of work they can do in that language sense of accomplishmentet ProudThe point is that it exists. Ten translators all translate the same original text differently, so that means the translators translate it according to their own will, right? The right to self-determination is so great (of course, that doesn't mean you can misinterpret it at will), and you can come up with a translation that makes use of your own personality. I feel proud when readers who see that translation read it naturally. Like an interpreter The reward of helping to communicate through languageHere it is. The downside is that it hurts all over my body. (Hehe) There's no pain in my fingers, eyes, or back. (Hehe) So I need to exercise regularly. Translation may also require physical strength.
Q.
How do you interact with fellow translators in the industry? Is there a specific channel or community?
conceivably School studentsThese are my closest colleagues and close people, so we meet and talk often. I can't have tea time with my colleagues every day like an office worker, so I try to meet them regularly. Giving and receiving work through referrals Seniors and juniorsThey also interact with each other. principally School networksI think they're connected to and communicate with each other. There doesn't seem to be a channel or community. If I had to pick an alumni meeting?
Q.
Basically, I think you're working as a professional translator because you really like the job of translation and it suits your aptitude, but even so, are there any stresses or difficulties with the translation work itself?
In fact, I feel that work difficulties are difficulties that cannot be solved with solutions or tools. If you take a novel as an example, because there are many characters and their personalities and relationships with each other are too different Unify speech and terminologyIt's not easy. Especially in the case of public service, there are cases where the first part is done by a different translator and I have to start the translation in the middle, and the translation is often delayed if I don't know how the relationship between them was established in the first part or what language they used to talk. PMs identify in advanceIt's a bit easier to place an order or ask someone to do it like this, but PM doesn't understand all of that. Then, the official in charge of the first part must decide and let them know first, or discuss and decide together later. So in a case like this Create a list of terms and share them with each otherBut technically, I'm not sure what kind of solution can solve this part. Other than that, I don't think there are any difficulties with the translation job itself. It's a job where I enjoy worrying about choosing terms.
Q.
How would you define “the job of a translator” in a nutshell?
I am “Studying ant”I want to express it like that. I think translation is something you can't do without sincerity. It's not just about being quick; you have to keep thinking and trying to collect various expressions to find better expressions. If you only rewrite your own expressions, you'll be limited. That's why I always have to read other works and read lots of books. Therefore, I need to study all the time and work as diligently as an ant. It may seem trivial to others, and you may wonder why they are so stubborn and obsessed with one word, because that one term can influence the mood.
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