Poll: For interpreters, is moving (more) into translation a good idea now? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "For interpreters, is moving (more) into translation a good idea now?".
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| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 04:27
Spanish to English
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There are already too many translators out there competing for work, at least in my pair. As a translator, I usually have a steady flow of work, but it has dwindled to almost nothing in the wake of the virus.
| | | | | Probably You Shouldn't or Should You? | Apr 9, 2020 |
ProZ.com Staff wrote:
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "For interpreters, is moving (more) into translation a good idea now?". View the poll results »
There is a very high probability that you won't land a job any time soon if you try to jump ship when you are technically and mentally not ready to undertake the tedious routines of a translator. It requires many years of strict discipline and self-learning to be able to translate a single complex sentence correctly.
As an interpreter, you should probably shift to remote interpreting (by phone or Skype, etc.). That way you will still have access to your current set of skills and interpreting job opportunities.
Let's hope for the best but always prepare for the worst.
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This would be a real threat for translators who have to struggle to survive likewise, as the quantity of orders is slowing down to almost zero. Please do remote interpreting and leave the few sparse translation jobs to those who are better qualified for it by their specialization on translation! You have always been much better paid than translators, so don't destroy our living!
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Most interpreters I know do both, so nothing new.
| | | | Dan Lucas 
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:27
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
| But can they? | Apr 9, 2020 |
ProZ.com Staff wrote:
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "For interpreters, is moving (more) into translation a good idea now?"
Surely these are two very different disciplines? While the common thread is linguistic competence, that competence is expressed in very different ways.
I have done quite a bit of consecutive interpreting, but I have never trained for simul, and therefore could not do it. Conversely, a good simul interpreter may not have the skills to be a top-ranked translator. I'm not saying that such people do not exist, but they're probably rarer than we think.
One would think that remote interpreting is a booming market for highly skilled interpreters at the moment.
Regards,
Dan
| | | | Rita Utt
France
Local time: 04:27
English to German
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| In the long term : yes | Apr 9, 2020 |
Now, during and in the aftermath of Corona-crisis, there is not and won't be much work neither for translators nor for interpreters.
But I think in the long term interpretors will be even less needed than translators (as English becomes standard everywhere)
The only exception being court interpreters and interpreters in the social field, who are paid very little.
But I also agree with my collegues : it's not the same job and some of the skills and talents required... See more Now, during and in the aftermath of Corona-crisis, there is not and won't be much work neither for translators nor for interpreters.
But I think in the long term interpretors will be even less needed than translators (as English becomes standard everywhere)
The only exception being court interpreters and interpreters in the social field, who are paid very little.
But I also agree with my collegues : it's not the same job and some of the skills and talents required are not the same. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Lockdowns - no work for either | Apr 9, 2020 |
With the lockdown I experience that there is no work for either. I am usually more than fully booked and have to turn orders down, and right now there are 0 orders. So I would probably not bet on translation work instead of interpreting work, but developing other skills while you can now.
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The interpreters I know personally are also experienced translators, so they will probably try to take more translation jobs and that's fine.
However, I'm also aware that many interpreters either don't like or have never tried translating. Interpreting and translating require very different skill sets and routines, so that's understandable.
Those interpreters should probably invest in remote interpreting. I've already seen such job offers here on ProZ recently, so it lo... See more The interpreters I know personally are also experienced translators, so they will probably try to take more translation jobs and that's fine.
However, I'm also aware that many interpreters either don't like or have never tried translating. Interpreting and translating require very different skill sets and routines, so that's understandable.
Those interpreters should probably invest in remote interpreting. I've already seen such job offers here on ProZ recently, so it looks like it's something agencies and clients also want to invest in. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Once a translator, now an interpreter | Apr 9, 2020 |
I started off as a translator about 20 years ago when there was good $$ in the translation industry (less competition = higher pay). I made a good amount of income back then. By chance an employer asked me to informally interpret during some medical encounters. I fell in love with the practice and I switched to interpreting full time. I'm now a certified medical interpreter and I work both on-site but mostly remotely. I have thought about mixing my days with some translation as well, but I just ... See more I started off as a translator about 20 years ago when there was good $$ in the translation industry (less competition = higher pay). I made a good amount of income back then. By chance an employer asked me to informally interpret during some medical encounters. I fell in love with the practice and I switched to interpreting full time. I'm now a certified medical interpreter and I work both on-site but mostly remotely. I have thought about mixing my days with some translation as well, but I just can't get myself to do it anymore. I like going to bed knowing my work is done and nothing is pending for tomorrow. Translation is not for everyone, just like interpreting is not for everyone. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Paul Dixon
Brazil
Local time: 00:27
Portuguese to English
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In memoriam
The crisis is very bad for interpreters, but also for translators as world business grinds to a halt. Brazil is heading for the worst recession in history.
Don't know the situation in other countries, but in Brazil the coronavirus crisis has hit the economy very hard.
| | | | IrinaN
United States
Local time: 21:27
English to Russian
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Rita Utt wrote:
But I think in the long term interpretors will be even less needed than translators (as English becomes standard everywhere)
The only exception being court interpreters and interpreters in the social field, who are paid very little.
Not in my world of rocket building and launching or oil pumping etc. In the world where any technical/legal discussions, especially for the purpose of decision-making, with the customers capable of finding their way to the museum in English are strictly prohibited. Even if those customers are familiar with English terminology and can grasp general flow of the conversation and understand parts of it. Shall I take up half of the site space and list every field where "general social chatters" will not do?
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Liviu-Lee Roth
United States
Local time: 22:27
Romanian to English
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| Mixed feelings | Apr 9, 2020 |
I have been doing both for many, many years.
Due to the coronavirus, all my court assignments and conferences have been postponed, but I noticed an increase in remote interpreting (OPI). The flow of official documents from the Dept.of Justice is about the same, slightly increased.
| | | | LIZ LI
China
Local time: 11:27
French to Chinese
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| Once an interpreter, now a translator | Apr 9, 2020 |
I started as an interpreter (consecutive, not SI) 12 yrs ago.
I traveled to several places that I had never EVER think of, met people of different professions, personalities, and have learned a lot from them.
Some of my clients and colleagues become friends of life time for me.
And I met my husband during an interpretation assignment in a foreign land, though marriage is a lot more than just a love story.
Oh, btw, I think I've got plenty of stories to share with my grandc... See more I started as an interpreter (consecutive, not SI) 12 yrs ago.
I traveled to several places that I had never EVER think of, met people of different professions, personalities, and have learned a lot from them.
Some of my clients and colleagues become friends of life time for me.
And I met my husband during an interpretation assignment in a foreign land, though marriage is a lot more than just a love story.
Oh, btw, I think I've got plenty of stories to share with my grandchildren (my son of 3-years-old will definitely agree on it...), from my own adventures as an interpreter.
These are probably the best things about being an interpreter.
I made my decision to change the path and become a translator when I realized that I had to take care of my families, as the only child of my parents, wife of my husband and mom of my boy.
It makes perfect balance to be a translator when you get stuck in the middle of something else and are in need of some spare time in your personal life.
I'm happy with my life as a translator and am trying to keep going to get some OPI jobs from US clients.
I'm not planning to make a swot to compare interpreters and translators against the ongoing trends of MT, ML, NT...
We are all smart enough to find our ways. ▲ Collapse
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