| This report is written for bilingual and multilingual | | | | secondary, or passive, language; a small number of |
| individuals who want to become professional | | | | interpreters and translators are fluent in two or more |
| translators and interpreters in the United States. This | | | | passive languages. Their active language is the one |
| information will be of special interest to students and | | | | that they know best and into which they interpret or |
| teachers of foreign languages. In addition volunteer | | | | translate, and their passive language is one for which |
| interpreters and native speakers of foreign languages | | | | they have nearly perfect knowledge. Although some |
| can use this article as a resource guide to launch into a | | | | people do both, interpretation and translation are |
| profitable career. This industry has a high demand for | | | | different professions. Interpreters deal with spoken |
| workers as projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor | | | | words, translators with written words. Each task |
| Statistics job outlook for 2016. My hope is that you will | | | | requires a distinct set of skills and aptitudes, and most |
| find this information practical and use this knowledge to | | | | people are better suited for one or the other. While |
| jump start or expand your career. Key points to note: | | | | interpreters often work into and from both languages, |
| Translation is written and interpreting is spoken they | | | | translators generally work only into their active |
| are two different skills. Being Bilingual is not sufficient to | | | | language. Interpreters convert one spoken language |
| make you a translator or interpreter: | | | | into another-or, in the case of sign-language |
| You need additional training. | | | | interpreters, between spoken communication and sign |
| Translation is more than word-substitution. | | | | language. This requires interpreters to pay attention |
| Machine translation is not going to replace human | | | | carefully, understand what is communicated in both |
| translators. | | | | languages, and express thoughts and ideas clearly. |
| Know your native language well including grammar, | | | | Strong research and analytical skills, mental dexterity, |
| and culture. | | | | and an exceptional memory also are important. |
| Continue to improve your knowledge of your second | | | | Top 20 world spoken languages Chinese, Spanish, |
| language. | | | | English, Arabic, Hindi, Portuguese, Bengali, Russian, |
| Use the media print, television, music and radio to hone | | | | French, Italian, Japanese, Standard German, Javanese, |
| in on your listening, speaking and written skills. | | | | Telugu, Marathi, Vietnamese, Korean, Tamil, Western |
| Start and grow your personal library of dictionaries, (i.e.: | | | | Punjabi and Urdu. Earnings depend on language, |
| legal, medical, business...) Build a glossary of terminology | | | | subject matter, skill, experience, education, certification, |
| based on specific subjects. | | | | and type of employer, and salaries of interpreters and |
| Be inquisitive and ask questions about varied subjects | | | | translators can vary widely. Interpreters and translators |
| globally and keep up with current events. | | | | who know languages for which there is a greater |
| Use the internet, workshops, classes & | | | | demand, or which relatively few people can translate, |
| professional associations to network. | | | | often have higher earnings as do those with |
| Continue learning via travels, courses, seminars and | | | | specialized expertise. Individuals classified as language |
| staff development opportunities at work. | | | | specialists for the Federal Government earned an |
| Be professional...be on time and dress conservatively. | | | | average of $76,287 annually in 2007. High-level |
| Follow the professional code of ethics issued by your | | | | conference interpreters working full time can earn |
| state or federal guidelines. Nature of the Work | | | | more than $100,000 annually. For those who are not |
| Interpreters and translators enable the cross-cultural | | | | salaried, earnings may fluctuate, depending on the |
| communication necessary in our society by converting | | | | availability of work. Freelance interpreters usually earn |
| one language into another. However, these language | | | | an hourly rate, whereas translators who freelance |
| specialists do more than simply translate words-they | | | | typically earn a rate per word or per hour. Employment |
| relay concepts and ideas between languages. They | | | | of interpreters and translators is projected to increase |
| must understand the subject matter in which they | | | | 24 percent over the 2006-16 decade. This growth will |
| work in order to accurately convert information from | | | | be driven partly by strong demand in health care |
| one language, known as the source language, into | | | | settings and work related to homeland security. |
| another, the target language. | | | | Additionally, higher demand for interpreters and |
| In addition, they must be sensitive to the cultures | | | | translators results directly from the broadening of |
| associated with their languages of expertise. | | | | international ties and the increase in the number of |
| Interpreters and translators are often discussed | | | | foreign language speakers in the United States. Both |
| together because they share some common traits. | | | | of these trends are expected to continue, contributing |
| For example, both must be fluent in at least two | | | | to relatively rapid growth in the number of jobs for |
| languages-a native, or active, language and a | | | | interpreters and translators. |