Translators and Perfection: An Impossible Match?

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Working among tight deadlines can be very stressing. And who better than translators knows that? The truth is that you don’t always accomplish what you promised yourself to. But there’s one rule that you always abide by: never miss a deadline, ever.

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The importance of translated information goes far beyond the conference room. Translations of major documents are often cited by the media, quoted in statements and incorporated into legislation. So, can you imagine how much pressure translators of any European Institution have to live with? The responsibilities they need to take on?

According to some translation specialists: “Fluency in another language means being able to comprehend, speak, read, and write in that language at the level of an educated native speaker. Being fluent is only the first step in becoming a professional translator or interpreter. Like any other profession, it requires practice, experience, and training“.

But that is what keeps them aiming for more. For perfection. Even though they know they are never going to reach it. The following video shows how translators work at the European Council. There is the explanation of their duties and tasks made by a Finnish professional translator who shares her impressions and her passion for this profession. It is really inspiring.

If you want to check some interesting links where to find valuable information about professional translators and interpreters you should click on the website of the University of Kent. You can also check TermCoord’s website to find interesting material such as:

We recommend you an engaging reading to discover why to study translation in just ten points (the article is in Spanish). Feel free to send us your comments and suggestions on how you imagine a day of a professional translator should look. We wait for your messages!


Written by Sabina Grixoni, Editor and Social Media Strategist – Communication Trainee at TermCoord the Terminology Coordination Unit of the European Parliament in Luxembourg.

Post prepared by Olga Jeczmyk: Translator-Interpreter, Social Media and Content Manager as well as Communication and Terminology Trainee – Terminology Coordination Unit of the European Parliament in Luxembourg and Sofia Pimonova – study visitor from the University of Luxembourg.

Sources:

  • Jeczmyk, O. (2015) 10 motivos para estudiar traducción e interpretaciónAvailable at http://bit.ly/2mw27fs (Accessed: 27 February 2017).
  • Jeczmyk, O. (2017) Terminology on social media. Available at, http://bit.ly/2lz43Wi (Accessed: 27 February 2017).
  • Hiram. (2008) 5 steps to becoming a professional translator – ALTA language services. Available at http://bit.ly/2l4mZ0d (Accessed: 27 February 2017).
  • TermCoord. Terminology websites and blogs. Available at http://bit.ly/2le9fhZ (Accessed: 27 February 2017).
  • TermCoord. Translation international websites and blogsAvailable at http://bit.ly/2jAXWQU (Accessed: 27 February 2017).
  • University of Kent. (2004) I want to work in … translation or interpreting. Available at http://bit.ly/2lO9r6b (Accessed: 27 February 2017).