The Art of Translation
20 12 2007
At the age of 12 I already knew what I wanted to do when I grow up. I wanted to become a simultanuous translator and work for the UN. I sometimes wonder if it had anything to do with the fact that my mother spoke German, English, Romanian, Yiddish and Hebrew and my late father spoke Polish, Russian, Yiddish, Hebrew and Latin. Yours truly spoke Hebrew with her parents and when they did not want me to understand they “Yiddished” between themselves. Hence, my passion for languages. At high school I excelled in two foreign languages: French and English.
Yet, mastering two languages is not sufficient to be able to translate. It is a fact that most people who study foreign languages do not become professional translators. So I took up linguistics to be followed by translation studies.
The ideal translator is preferably one who has a vast knowledge in a large variety of topics, as he/she often must integrate many different subjects their work. The more knowledgeable one is the better translation one produces.
Although today the notion is that the world belongs to the young, I am happy to announce that life experience is an advantage.
Being able to enjoy research and willing to spend long hours alone in front of a computer screen are a necessity for a translator who is a detective. Interestingly enough, the Hebrew word “balshan” (a linguist) stems from the same root as ”balash” (a detector), which I believe proves that a good translator must have a strong background in linguistics.
That’s not the end of the list: translation needs persistence (stubborness?) when searching for the right word (or phrase, or idiom etc.)
Being suspicious will also help you to carry a good translation work, as you must learn which dictionaries / reference books and other support material to trust, since there are so many of them and unfortunately they are not all trustworthy.
Ask yourself, or better ask others, if you are a good listener. A translator reproduces someone else’s thoughts therefore it’s vital to listen carefully to what is being said and how.
So if you still wish to become a translator, last but not least, always strive to improve your writing skills. Being able to write well (not forgetting to proofread) will help you express someone else’s thoughts as eloquently as possible in the target language.
Be-huts-lacha (Hebrew for “Good Luck”).
As a qualified and experienced translator I warmly recommend the NYC-based translation company, Transation Services USA. Their experienced translators will translate for you into more than 100 languages. Whether you need to translate a simple one-page document or a large software localization project, Translation Services USA will always be happy to do the job for you. That’s what we like about them. They also have a translation forum where you can ask questions.
People around me assume that at any given moment they can throw a Hebrew word at me and I’ll blurt out the English translation. Well I can’t. It’s not that simple. I remember long moments of digging in my mind for the exact word but unfortunately it was located deep in my memory disc and was unavailable. For those moments when you need a word in a different language, Babylon is the perfect solution. I’ve used it many a time and as I’m a language freak, I often search for foreign words. It’s fun.
Since high school, I have recognized translators as among our most unselfish, and too often unsung, artists.
At thirteen going on fourteen, I attempted to study French, but the teacher berated my execrable accent relentlessly before the entire class. I soon switched to Latin and ancient Greek, where my pronunciation went undisputed. In college then, I had the opportunity, as an assignment, to translate selections from Sappho, Homer, and Virgil. Later, studying French as a written language only, I tried my mind, again following the curriculum, at Baudelaire, Verlaine, and La Rochefoucauld. Only true poets came anywhere close to presenting an approximation of what we could all plainly appreciate in the original text, limited as our French might be.
Faithfulness to the text, I’m sure, is paramount, but interpretation considering time and place and that perfect, often more current word or phrase certainly requires its own inspiration. A fine translation often brings new readers to great works the world very much needs. A gifted translator bestows us with treasures that have both stood the test of time, and thanks to the translator’s generous devotion, speak to us as new.
The article is great, but now I want to comment on Kathleen’s comment about being ridiculed by her teacher for her poor accent while studying French. I am sorry that had to happen to you, and I am sorry that experience curtailed your study of French. It reminds me how powerful teachers can be when they are working with their students. I had a French teacher who encouraged my love for the French language, and so I studied it all through college and then visited France. We who teach others should really be mindful of how our words can have far-reaching effects on our students.