Any translator/interpretors out there? (average, degree, jobs, careers)

[vemureaux]

Are there any translators/interpretors out there?
I'd like to know more about the profession, such as...

1) Do you recommend formal training/schooling to become a translator? What about for interpretation? If so, which schools/programs? How did you get started after school? Or can you become a successful translator/interpretor without formal schooling?

2) Do you do both, or just one or the other?

3) How did you get started in the career, and is it a side-job or your main profession? Are you certified or do you belong to a professional association?

4) How fluent are you in your B language? Native or learned?

5) What is the pay like, and how does it vary with your specialization (technical, medical, localization, etc if any)? Is there any money in this, enough to make it one's sole source of income?

6) Do you work freelance or in-house, and what are the perks and challenges of each?

7) Is anyone familiar with medical/scientific translation?

8) Does anyone do simultaneous/conference interpreting??

9) Any other useful advice for someone considering this profession?

EDIT:
I've already done quite a bit of reading about the profession; it's something I've been thinking about for a while and researching. I even took a training course as a community interpretor while an undergraduate. So while I still appreciate useful websites etc, what I'd really like is an opportunity to hear about the career from actual translators and interpretors, in all stages of their career. Thanks!

[PG77]

Not either one but here is a website with some information that might be helpful to you.

Interpreters and Translators

[azoria]

I am not a translator but a lot of my friends are. It is very demanding and they put up with a lot.

Translation involves working with written material and interpreting is conversational. One always translates from the foreign language into the native language. Are you fluent in a foreign language?

Yes, in order to become a well paid professional you need a degree in translation/interpretation. For the best jobs in international industry, an advanced degree is obligatory. Yes, with the education and qualifications, there is definitely money in it.

Some languages are more desirable than others. Right now the US government and military are desperate for Arabic and middle eastern language translators.

The two top schools in the US for foreign language and translation are the Monterrey Institute of Foreign Studies and Middlebury College in Vermont. You graduate from either one of these and you're in business.

I met a woman two years ago who attended Middlebury in the early 1950's. She had taken Russian from Tolstoy's granddaughter!

[mkfarnam]

If the laws of this country were followed, it wouldn't be so demanding!

[graceC]

Originally Posted by mkfarnam

If the laws of this country were followed, it wouldn't be so demanding!

Goodness! What does that have to do with OP's question?

[vivayoyis]

Originally Posted by mkfarnam

If the laws of this country were followed, it wouldn't be so demanding!

This country is one little bitty part of this planet.
Interpreters have always been in demand.
The Neuremburg trials.
Cortez' Mallinali (Malinche)
The Bible is full of them.
Even Plato was an interpreter/translator

[vivayoyis]

Originally Posted by vemureaux

Are there any translators/interpretors out there?
I'd like to know more about the profession, such as...

1) Do you recommend formal training/schooling to become a translator? yes What about for interpretation? yes If so, which schools/programs? see link below How did you get started after school? fell into it before school Or can you become a successful translator/interpretor without formal schooling? Yes, but it's very difficult

2) Do you do both, or just one or the other? For the moment just one, in a few months, both

3) How did you get started in the career, and is it a side-job or your main profession? I got started by accident, it became my main profession, it has been a side profession and I'm back at it full/part time. Are you certified or do you belong to a professional association? Yes and yes (several associations)

4) How fluent are you in your B language? fully Native or learned? both

5) What is the pay like, and how does it vary with your specialization (technical, medical, localization, etc if any)? According to the Department of Labor, the pay is anywhere from $9 to $50, with an average of $25, but I know interpreters that charge up to $100/hr. Pay varies, legal usually pays more than medical, conference usually pays more than corporate/technical, & so forth. Is there any money in this, enough to make it one's sole source of income? Some interpreters are very good and depending on their work (state department, dept of justice, nato, etc..) and education, can make six figures.

6) Do you work freelance or in-house, and what are the perks and challenges of each? I've done both. In house provides a steady check and benefits (retirement, insurance), but your services are "owned" by your agency, got to follow the rules. Freelance, you work when and where and how and charge what you want, but work can be sporadic and no benefits.

7) Is anyone familiar with medical/scientific translation? These are specialties, a medical interpreter is more of a cultural broker and can do a lot more than a legal/court interpreter and many medical interpreters are also the medical translators. Scientific translation is much more specific, the best in this field were once scientists themselves before changing careers.

8) Does anyone do simultaneous/conference interpreting?? Many court interpreters are required to do simultaneous as well as consecutive (not just for conference interpreters).

9) Any other useful advice for someone considering this profession? Education yourself thoroughly, don't take anything personally, read, read, read and read..... (in all your languages).

EDIT:
I've already done quite a bit of reading about the profession; it's something I've been thinking about for a while and researching. I even took a training course as a community interpretor while an undergraduate. So while I still appreciate useful websites etc, what I'd really like is an opportunity to hear about the career from actual translators and interpretors, in all stages of their career. Thanks!

Go to this link: http://www.city-data.com/forum/charl...t=interpreters

[mkfarnam]

For different reasons.

[vemureaux]

Vivayoyis:
Thanks so much for your reply. Doesn't seem like there are very many translators/interpreters in the CD forum community so I appreciate your input.

I'm specifically considering scientific or medical translation/interpretation (atleast as a specialty on top of general/less specialized stuff). I grew up bilingual, proficient in a third language as well, scientist by training. And I guess I've been wondering if there was a way to test the waters to see if (a) I'm any good at it and (b) whether I like it without doing anything drastic like abruptly quitting my current career and dive head-first into a totally new one.

[vivayoyis]

Hi Vemureaux,
I had all this nice information typed up for you and as sometimes happens with computers, it was lost....sigh.

Can't remember it all, but your best bet would be to look up as much information as you can and the internet is wonderful for that. Try the following:

For translation
American Translators Association : Careers : Translators and Interpreters In Demand
TranslatorsCafe.com—a Place for Translators, Interpreters, Voice Talents, Other Language Professionals and Their Clients.
Translators & translator resources - ProZ.com

or both:
Spanish English Spanish Interpreters, English Interpreters, Spanish English Consecutive Interpreters, Simoultaneous Interpreters, English to Spanish Translation, Interpreters Service, Interpreters requirements, Simultaneous interpreters, Consecutive

For interpretation:
IMIA - International Medical Interpreters Association
NCSC: Research
Free Orientation