Lead with Language: Interpreters and Translators

You may not be aware of it, but chances are your life has been touched by a translator or an interpreter. If you
watched Beauty and the Beast or went to catechism classes, the stories you heard and read were translated by
someone (La Belle et la Bête from French; the Bible from Amharic and Greek).

Your favorite app or mobile device may have been developed outside the U.S., and a localizer (a specialized
software translator) helped it “speak” your language and culture.

Interpreters facilitate everything from a dentist appointment for a recent refugee to high-level international
negotiations dealing with global issues. But while these professionals seem invisible, they are crucial in our
globalized world—and represent a great career opportunity for people with language skills.

A Growing Skills Gap

Job growth for translators and interpreters is outpacing other occupations, and the effects of too few skilled
workers are readily apparent: 14% of U.S. and Global Fortune 2000 companies—companies like Google, Cisco,
eBay, Twitter, Microsoft, and Marriott—report a loss of business opportunities due to lack of world language
skills.

Newspapers report problems in the justice system because courts and law enforcement can’t find qualified
interpreters. And hospitals see poor outcomes when they rely on family members to provide the language
assistance required by law.

What’s more, when people are spending their own money, they want to use their own language. International
companies already know this—that’s why so many commercial websites around the world are professionally
translated and updated in multiple languages. It’s just good business sense.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections predict that the number of translator and
interpreter jobs will grow 29% (to 78,500) by 2024.

Census data shows that the number of translation and interpretation employees nearly doubled between 2008
and 2015. The global talent gap is real and it represents an incredible opportunity for today’s bilingual and multi-
lingual students.

Technology Increases Demand

While many people may think that computers are going to replace human translators and interpreters, the truth
is just the opposite: since computers cannot interpret the meaning of a text—they can only read the words and
translate them based on dictionaries or other algorithms—professional translators are still very much in
demand.

And machine output still must be edited by (human) professionals to eliminate errors—which represents
another opportunity for linguists. As Google and Bing open the door to global markets, they discover just how
important translation is—and realize that they have sophisticated language needs that only human professionals
can meet.

Variety and Interesting Careers

So what is a career as a professional translator or interpreter like?

Source
“Lead with Languages.” Lead with Languages, 2015, www.leadwithlanguages.org/language-career/translation-interpretation-ti/.
First, there is one important distinction: Translators write; interpreters speak. But both convert meaning from
one language (and culture) into another. Most people do one or the other, and many do both.

Good translators are excellent writers in their first language. Only a detail-oriented translator will be able to
produce quality translation. Good interpreters have native language skills in two languages. They must be quick
thinkers and highly adaptable. Both need to work well under stress.

Make a Living, Make a Lifestyle

Continuing education is a way of life for certified translators and interpreters. Maintaining language and cultural
skills means frequently returning to the country where the learned language is spoken. Many language
professionals spend weeks or months abroad each year.

How Do I Get Started?

Working as a translator or interpreter demands very high language levels (ACTFL Superior/ILR Level 3 or 3+), and
translators and interpreters are generally highly dedicated language learners. This learning goes beyond
studying grammar—activities like reading newspapers and watching movies help immerse you in the culture
that is needed to truly understand language. It’s not only important that you speak well, but also be able to read
and write well too, in both your source (home) language and target language (the one you want to interpret or
translate for in your job.)

Almost all successful translators and interpreters have one experience in common: they have all lived for
extended periods (more than 6 months) in countries where their target language is spoken. The longer you
spend immersed in that language you’re learning, the more fluent you’ll become, and the sharper your language
and cultural skills will be.

Master Another Subject

If you’ve ever tried to wade through a legal document or a research paper on a scientific topic, you know that
there are other “languages” even in English.

Since translators and interpreters help experts communicate, subject knowledge and terminology (“knowing the
language”) are vital to a successful career.

• A court interpreter must be familiar with legal terminology and the justice system.
• A chemical translator needs to have a solid understanding of chemistry.
• A software localizer must be familiar with programming principles and languages.

Build Up Other Skills

In addition to language, cultural, and subject knowledge, translators and interpreters need other skills, like
• business skills so they can market their services and make money as a freelancer or employee
• interpersonal skills, so they can communicate effectively
• technical skills, so they can work with evolving technologies and tools used in interpretation and
translation.

Your university or high school is a great place to inquire about access to both the language classes and study
abroad programs which will help you prepare for a career as a translator or interpreter.

Source
“Lead with Languages.” Lead with Languages, 2015, www.leadwithlanguages.org/language-career/translation-interpretation-ti/.