
Skopos theory shaped the way translators work by detaching from the source text and focusing on the target purpose and audience.
From mastering your working languages to being organized and ethical, there is a set of must-have skills to become a successful translator.
Most people believe that, in order to become a successful translator, one must just master one or two languages and consequently be able to replace words from one of those languages to the other. However, it’s not that shallow. A good translator must be able to master a set of skills in order to stand out from the rest.
In any profession, there are some must-have skills that need to be mastered, so that the final result meets the client’s demands. Translators are no exception.
Whether you are a freelance translator or not, you need to discipline yourself and continuously study relevant content so that you become the best professional possible.
So, these are the main skills you need to master in order to become a successful translator.
Before even starting to master a foreign language, you need to make sure you master your own. Most translators translate into their native language, so they need to be able to write and know all of its grammatical, semantic, lexical and structural rules and singularities.
Some tips to improve this skill include:
Now that you’ve mastered your native language, you can move forward to your foreign language(s). In order to fully understand texts in your source language and translate them faithfully, you need to be proficient.
To do so, there some important things you need to do, like:
Mastering both of your languages is great. But it is not enough. A translator must be able to adapt cultural aspects and references to the target language, in order to ensure its understanding. In order to do so, translators need to study the culture of both languages in depth, know about its past and history, idiomatic expressions, costumes, traditions and day-to-day lingo.
Tips to improve this skill are very similar to the previous ones. The most important and crucial thing to do is to get to know and get in contact with the culture, experiencing it yourself, reading and researching about it, watching local programs, or speaking with natives.
Translators must be able to research efficiently. Use Google, save relevant links to save you some time later, organize your materials into folders for easier access, and don’t be afraid to ask questions you might have on translation forums.
Some tips to make your Google searches more efficient:
Most translators, despite having general knowledge regarding many areas, tend to focus on specializing on one specific area. This can be a huge advantage because, by just choosing one area, translators can focus all their time and energy on studying and improving their skills having that area in mind.
Knowing a lot about many areas sometimes makes it easier to find work, but when you are specialized in one specific area, you can market yourself easier to your ideal clients and narrow your target employees. Even better, if you specialize in an area that isn’t very common, or that not many people specialize in, you will be able to stand out and have less competition.
Some tips to improve this skill:
In an era where technology is present everywhere, translators must also learn how to follow its growth and adapt to it. It is essential to know how to work with word processors, billing platforms, editing tools, among others.
Nowadays, most translators work with computer-assisted translation tools in order to increase their productivity, saving time, and thus increasing their earnings. These tools are always being updated and reinvented, so a translator must also be able to learn fast and adapt themselves to the constant changes.
Some tips to improve this skill include:
Another must-have skill to become a successful translator is the ability to be creative. This doesn’t apply to all types of translation, but sometimes translating literally isn’t good enough, or what is intended. When it comes to advertisement, poems, songs, jokes, children’s books and subtitling (especially movies and TV shows), creativity is key. It can make or break a translation. It is what distinguishes a good one from a mediocre one.
We already have a blog post about creativity in translation, but here are two examples of ways to boost your creativity:
Translated texts must always be consistent when it comes to grammar, vocabulary, structure, specific terminology, amongst others. This is extremely important when dealing with specialist translations, as these tend to have very specific terms and structures that must be respected at all costs, in order to avoid misinterpretations or ambiguities.
Some tips to become more consistent:
Realistically, a translator never stops learning. The industry is always in constant change, every other day a new translation tool is launched, and a translator must be able to keep up with this evolution. Besides that, knowledge is power, and there is always something we can do to broaden ours. Clients value people who show they are diligent, don’t slack and are constantly eager to learn, because those are great assets.
Here are some tips on how to be proactive:
Often translators have to deal with texts or subjects they don’t agree with. There is always the choice of rejecting the job, but if they decide to accept it, a good translator must be able to remain unbiased and not let their emotions and opinions show. It is crucial that the text is translated respecting its tone and message. A translator must always be objective.
This is extremely important when dealing with legally binding documents that may contain personal, sensitive or confidential information. Birth or marriage certificates, patents, legal arrangements, and other legal documents, must always be kept safe.
The translator should be the only person with access to them. Sometimes, the client or company will ask the translator to sign a confidentiality agreement, in order to ensure the safety of data.
When a translation is finished, the translator shouldn’t send it to the client right away. Instead, they must read it carefully beforehand, to make sure there aren’t any typos, spelling mistakes, or discrepancies when it comes to grammar, punctuation, syntax, phrasal structural, etc. This should always be done while also looking at the source text.
Some tips to ensure there are no mistakes:
To be a good translator is more than knowing how to translate. It isn’t just about getting the work done. You can’t simply do the translation and move on with your life. It is always a relation between two people (or one person and a company).
Knowing how to deal with other people is one of the must-have skills to become a successful translator. It is extremely important to have good communication skills. From the moment a client asks for a translation, we should always keep in touch throughout the entire process.
You start by asking for the briefing (target audience, purpose of the text, deadlines). During the translation process, you might face some challenges or have some doubts regarding the text, and you shouldn´t be afraid of asking the client to clarify them. It is advisable you do so. The client won’t think you’re less competent because of that, on the contrary, it will show you care and are committed to delivering a flawless translation.
This may seem obvious, but try to respond to clients as fast as you can, ask for some feedback, and be nice and polite. Your clients will appreciate you and come back for more.
This is probably one of the most important must-have skills to become a successful translator. As a translator, it is essential that you are able to manage your time in order to deliver translations in time. If you don’t, clients will see you as unprofessional, irresponsible, and it is likely they won’t request your services again. Once you receive the job, you must organize your agenda and your time in order to be able to do a flawless translation within the agreed time.
Here are some tips to help you stay organized:
Of course, exceptionally, it can occur an emergency, whether it is health or family-related, and you might not be able to meet the set deadline. In those cases, you must speak to your client immediately, explain the situation and try to agree on another date.
There is no success without discipline. As a freelance translator, especially, there’s a tendency to not sticking to a routine, because you work from home, and you don’t have anyone bossing you around. However, you will find that everything becomes easier if you have a routine.
It is easy to get distracted by many things around us, like the new soap opera on TV, or that new photo our friend posted on Instagram, but then, when you realize it, it is already 10 p.m., and you haven’t done anything.
At first, it can be hard to discipline yourself and find a method that works for you, but here are some tips:
Like in most jobs, but especially when you are a freelancer, one of the most important skills to become a successful is knowing how to market yourself. If you don’t work for a company, and aren’t part of an agency, you’ll have to be the one to get out there, and promote your services, in order to get clients. It isn’t enough to be good at translation, you have to be smart, train your mind to be business-oriented and learn how to market yourself in the best way.
Here are some tips:
Being a translator isn’t a linear and simply linguistic job as many think. There are several essential skills needed to become successful translators. The main ones are, of course, mastering the languages and knowing the cultures, but it is deeper than that. In order to be the best professional you can be, and stand out from the rest, you must educate and discipline yourself regarding all kinds of abilities.
It doesn’t happen overnight, you need to commit to improving and, most importantly, always stay motivated and never give up. Translating can be an exhausting job, but it is also very rewarding when your work is recognized and appreciated.
Did you find this content valuable or has it contributed to your personal or professional development? Then consider sharing it on your social media or with a friend. That way you will be helping Alumiar Elísio grow and bring translation to more people.
English and Spanish to Portuguese translator and co-founder of Alumiar Elísio. Currently attending a master's degree in Specialized Translation.
Skopos theory shaped the way translators work by detaching from the source text and focusing on the target purpose and audience.
A good translation may go unnoticed, but a bad one never does. However, what exactly contributes to and makes a good translation?
The quality of your translations largely depends on your ability to create an effective translation brief – the first part of any translation process.
© 2020 Alumiar Elísio. All rights reserved. Created with by Micael and Mónica.