Note:
​My social circle is not international or multilingual. The majority of my friends will likely never need a document translated into another language. So, this post goes out to them. If you’re a translator reading this, then it goes out to those same people in your social circle.
 
I find it necessary to describe my career as a translator in a very simple manner for these individuals. Thus, this post will serve as a reference any time someone says, “My daughter is bilingual, she translates for me sometimes.” Or “Can’t you just use Google Translate or an app?” And many other clueless comments. Please share this post with friends who could stand to learn a little something about the field of translation.

One of the most prevalent misconceptions about translation is that it involves a straightforward word-for-word conversion from one language to another. In reality, translation is a complex and often meticulous process that requires a deep understanding of both the source language (the language the document is in) and the target language (the language into which the document is translated), as well as the cultural context in which both are used.
 
Languages are not interchangeable puzzles with one-size-fits-all solutions! Each language has its unique grammar, idiomatic expressions, and cultural nuances. Translators must carefully consider these aspects to convey the intended message accurately. Sometimes, a word or phrase in one language may not have an exact equivalent in another, requiring translators to use their creativity and cultural and subject knowledge to find the closest and most appropriate translation.
 
For example with French, there is often a formality, flair, or even politeness to the language that doesn’t translate into American English. This is because English speakers tend to consolidate their words. See my last post on the word atteinte for an example of a French medical term with multiple translations in English.

​While being fluent in a second language is undoubtedly a valuable skill, it does not automatically qualify someone to be a professional translator. Translation involves a set of specialized skills/abilities and a deep understanding of grammar, syntax, and vocabulary in both languages (see Myth 1 above) to accurately translate the meaning of the source text.
 
In fact, professional translators often undergo training and education before starting a translation business. They refine their language skills, gain expertise in specific subject areas, and build experience before advertising their services. They also learn to use specially designed tools and resources to help ensure the quality and consistency of their translations, especially with larger projects. Without these skills and resources, the risk of mistranslation or misinterpretation is high, which can have significant consequences, especially in fields like legal, medical, or technical translation.

​With advances in technology, machine translation tools like Google Translate have become increasingly popular and AI has flexed its muscles, showing off what it is capable of, as it should. While these tools can be helpful for basic translations and quick communication, they are far from being a perfect replacement for human translators.
 
Machine translation lacks the ability to understand context, idiomatic expressions, and cultural nuances, which are crucial for producing accurate and culturally sensitive translations (see Myth 1 and 2). It often produces literal translations that may not make sense in the target language. Human translators, on the other hand, can adapt to the specific needs of a text, ensuring that the final result is coherent, contextually relevant, and free from errors. They can even work with the author of the source and adapt according to their feedback.

After attending the ATA 63 conference, specifically several sessions* on post-machine translation editing (PMTE), I want to contribute to the conversation of how to make the best of PMTE jobs.

(*Note: I will say that the overall message I got was that more translators are accepting this technology. Per a discussion over breakfast, it’s here to stay and if you resist it, you’re really doing yourself a disservice. I'll also add that I’m aware this is a generalization, so there will of course be exceptions, i.e. translators who can get away with not taking PMTE jobs.)

How might a translator evaluate a proposed PMTE job and decide if it is worth their time to take?
After all, translators must examine any job before taking it. With PMTE jobs, the general idea is identical to pure translation jobs - make sure you’re comfortable with the content and can translate it by the deadline. Nevertheless, there are some concepts specific to PMTE that you should evaluate, too.

Below is a checklist of steps specific to PMTE, which I apply regularly. Feel free to use or adapt as needed for your own needs.

 1. Check the content and overall accuracy:

• Of course, by all means, look at the source when available. Also, to save time, look at the initial MT segments for clues as to the topic and document type. For example, headings, letterheads, table of contents, etc. Personally, as a medical translator, I avoid things related to chemistry and pathology, as these are subjects I’m not comfortable with. When I see section headings about these things, I will turn down the job.
• Also, scan the machine-translated segments for overall accuracy. I will check for terminology. How well the MT engine did its job is a major factor for me. If multiple segments show that it incorrectly translated basic terminology or arranged words in a confusing order, I know this will be extra work for me and will factor into my acceptance of the job.

2. Check how much translation will be required: I like to use the filter ”all except 100% and context match segments,” then scroll quickly through those. This gives me an idea of the extent of fuzzy match, unedited MT, and repeat segments. Are there 20 long segments? Or 100 short, numbers-only segments? The former takes a different amount of time to translate than the latter, and depending on the balance and rate proposed, I will decide if it’s worth my time.

3. Evaluate the repeats: The job description will typically provide a breakdown of the number of each type of segment. However, it is two different perspectives to read that there are 100 repeats versus seeing those 100 repeats. I’m checking to see how many segments in general (I don’t need an exact number) will be populated once I translate and commit the first one in the group. If half of the job is repeats, it will go quickly. But, if those 100 segments only make up 1/4 of the job, they will have less of an impact.

4. Evaluate the tags: How many are there, especially how many are in a single segment? (Disclaimer: I don’t completely understand tags, but I know they are used to maintain formatting.) Too many tags in a segment can be time-consuming, tedious, and down-right frustrating! This happens when the client does the formatting and leaves all kinds of “extras,” then doesn’t review the job in a CAT tool where those tags become clear. Many of them can be removed, so the translator can focus on the translation and not trying to put the tags in the correct place. Personally, if one or two segments are overrun with tags, that's fine. However, if a dozen or half of the project is, I will refuse the job.

Here’s a quick tip I got from a teacher in the translation program at Bellevue College in Washington state. It has allowed me to go the extra mile for clients and to produce accurate translations, a source of pride for me.

This brings me to the quick tip. Every culture has common first and last names. When the translator comes across them, they are often difficult for that person to pronounce and even spell. Two examples from my work are J-L. Vanoverschelde and Himdata Abdourahime.

It can be an issue when the translator needs to know if the name is feminine or masculine in order to correctly use third-person pronouns or even adjectives in the target text. For example, “So-and-So gave his/her opinion.”

The tip is to go the extra mile and research the person’s name. Either their full name, if they might have an internet presence - LinkedIn page, website, publications, etc. Or research each name individually with a phrase like “Is So-and-So a girl’s/boy’s name?”

This is a very quick step that could impress your translation client and improve your reputation with them, bringing you to the top of their list of vendors.

As a translator, have you ever run across Latin phrases in the source text, then wondered “Do I translate this and, if not, do I italicize it?”

Based on my research, I’ll outline the rule to follow with specific examples.

I’ve been a translator for over 6 years. In that time, I’ve run into the above problem dozens of times. I needed to establish a baseline for myself, so trust me, this blog post serves myself as well as other new and long-time translators.

The general rule is that if it’s a long-established loan phrase (think centuries), don’t italicize; but you can if the author’s intention is to make it stand out for some reason (think literature or a context where the condition is emphasized).
*Good brief explanation here.

Et seq. - not italicized, specifically because it’s an abbreviation - An abbreviation for the Latin et sequentes or et sequentia, meaning "and the following.”

De facto - not italicized - It refers to what happens in practice.

​A priori/a posteriori - not italicized - A way to distinguish between empirical and nonempirical knowledge. These phrases have to do with how a situation might be known. Is it something known independent of experience or based on experience?

In vitro/ex vivo - not italicized - without going into too deep of an explanation, here’s how I’d summarize it. It refers to whether or not an experiment or procedure, or even an event, takes place within a living organism in its normal, intact state or outside of the living organism in a laboratory apparatus.

I call myself a language professional. This all-encompassing term describes what I bring to the table. I settled on this title while closely evaluating my skillset, looking to understand what I have to offer so I can better market my services.

​You see, when a person learns a foreign language and then applies it in a professional context, they acquire a certain set of skills and habits.

Below is a fun list I created of signs you’re a language professional. I don’t recommend putting them on a CV, but they’re certainly valuable for understanding what makes us language professionals special.

They say growth hurts and change is hard. Well, I’m in the midst both of those experiences with my freelance translation business. I need to make a change, but feel limited in my options AND feel scared. Please read on to see what I'm facing and what I'm thinking of doing to effect this change/growth.

​I still depend greatly on one main translation client, the one I’ve had since I started 7 years ago. As such, there’s no room to increase my rates with them, so the majority of my income is at my old rate. Additionally, when I get work from my better-paying clients, it is infrequent.

Consequently, income is a constant stressor for me. It's not guaranteed. It fluctuates. Specifically, I do not have enough income next month to pay my bills and that is what led me to make this very public leap.

I’m sharing this publicly for a couple of reasons. One, to face my fear of admitting I’m struggling and two, to elicit responses from others, whether they relate to this post, have advice, or want to respond in any other way. Please comment on my LinkedIn post or email me with your thoughts. Thanks.

As I hunt for editing jobs, I’m noticing a trend. The client often requires something like 2 years of professional editing experience. That led me to ask myself the question, do I, a translator, know how to edit? Of course, my answer is yes. In fact, I’m confident enough in that respect to now offer editing services.

- I DO NOT have an academic degree or certification (yet) in editing.
- I DO NOT have a job titled editor under a head copywriter’s supervision

1. ​I DO have experience editing others’ translations.
2. I DO have experience editing my own translations.

Project Managers regularly send me editing jobs. Surely, they enjoy the quality of my work, or they wouldn’t ask me to do it again and again. For these projects, I receive a translated Word file and the source file. I work in tracked changes and check for missing text, grammar/punctuation, correct use of terminology, and more. I also rephrase awkward sentences. This must be done because certain source language features, like formality and word order, can seep into the target language, making it read less naturally. Finally, I send the file back to the PM with comments and a review of the translator’s work.