A Brief History
Ever since the inception of the United Nations, translators have played a great role in bringing all 51 founding nations on the same page.
The U.N. recognizes the work of professional translation as an art and a trade. Translators uphold the charter of the United Nations and deserve global appreciation. Through the resolution adopted in the United Nations General Assembly on May 24, 2017, every September 30 is celebrated as International Translation Day. The day is dedicated to honouring the role of language professionals in fostering peace, development, and camaraderie between linguistically distinct nations.
International Translation Day also coincides with the feast day of St. Jerome, a priest and scholar who is credited with the first translation of the Bible. Thousands of years ago, St. Jerome embarked on a journey to translate the Bible from Hebrew into Latin. St. Jerome is called the patron saint of translators for his efforts to make the Bible accessible to a far wider audience.
We celebrate International Translation Day by raising awareness of professional translation and being mindful of the fact that the fusion of languages reflects the strength of a united world stemmed in diversity. (https://nationaltoday.com/international-translation-day/)
5 Elements That Make a Great Translator
- Attention to detail: The role of a translator is to transform a text from the source language to the target language in a form that looks like it was written in the target language in the first place. That means paying attention to everything, from spacing and numerals, through grammar and capitalisation, to sentence structure and syntax. The end result needs to be nothing short of perfect.
- Ability to self-motivate: Translation, unlike interpreting, is a solitary task. You are given a task and a deadline, and it is up to you to determine when and how you will complete it. It’s no coincidence that the most common term used in conjunction with translations is ‘procrastinate’. Ultimately, if you don’t want to be working under the stress of an impending deadline, you need to be able to lay out the task ahead and stick to your plan.
- Commitment to continuous learning: We can’t all be experts in every field. As you progress through your career, you are likely to begin to specialise in certain areas. However, it is essential to have a solid general understanding of any topic you are required to translate. Take, for example, these terms: reprimand, caution and warning. Or conviction and sentence, or ABH and GBH. Would you know the correct translation in your language? Is there even a direct translation? The key to translating accurately is understanding the source text perfectly. This is where CPD can really make a difference. For fab CPD training on a vast range of topics, from Police and Legal to NHS and social services, check out CPD Central.
- Humility: As much as we strive to achieve perfection, we are not machines (see what we did there?). Your work can, and will, get proofread, and it is important for translators to be able take feedback on board and learn from it without becoming defensive or getting offended. You may, on occasion, be asked to respond to the feedback given by a proof-reader, and whilst we all like to think we are experts at what we do, you should take a moment to consider whether there is indeed merit to any comments received.
- Training and qualifications: Last, but certainly not least – as always, the right qualifications are key. Some choose to enter this field early on in their educational pathway and take a BA or MA route. However, if a university degree in not an option for you for whatever reason, don’t despair. The Level 7 Diploma in Translation (Dip Trans) has been created specifically to provide the right skills assessment to enable you to work as a translator. In addition, our preparation course was built to cover the key elements of translation theory, much as you would see in a university course. You’ll even cover the above-mentioned St. Jerome!
Celebrate with 10% off the Level 7 Dip Trans!
The Dip Trans is a nationally recognised qualification that is accepted and requested by translation clients and Language Service providers nationwide.
Alongside the exam, you will receive our online preparation course:
- 19 individual units addressing theoretical and practical aspects of translation with detailed examples and exercises for each element
- An accredited knowledge test and CPD certificate on the Historical Analysis of Translation Theory
- 6 translation exercises with written and oral feedback covering Unit 1 (General), Unit 2 (Business) and Unit 3 (Law) of the Diploma in Translation exam
- Translation exercises assessed by a qualified translator
- Detailed feedback on the translations provided in written format (within the Dip Trans scoring matrix)
- A 30-minute remote session with the assessor per translation to review feedback and advise on development points
The 10% discount is available on our website or by calling the team on 0203 475 7771. Offer ends 3rd of October 2022.