Translation

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Translation is the process of translating a relatively unfamiliar expression into a relatively familiar expression. The content includes translations of language, text, graphics, and symbols. It is an important means to enhance the development of people's social exchanges.

Translation refers to the activity of transforming one language information into another language information on the basis of accurate fluency.This process can be logically divided into two phases: First, the meaning must be decoded from the source language and then re-encoded into the target language. All of these two steps require knowledge of linguistic semantics and an understanding of the language user culture. In addition to retaining the original meaning, a good translation should be as smooth as the user speaking or writing in the target language, and must match the habit of translating (unless it is In special cases, the speaker does not intend to speak like a native language user, for example in drama.)Translation is divided into interpretation and translation. 

It aims to Cultivate practical talents with solid language foundation, extensive cultural knowledge, skilled oral and written translation skills, competent in foreign affairs, business, science and technology, culture, education and other departments, and provide excellent students for translation master's and doctoral education.

The Differences between Translation and Interpreting

• Definition

Interpreting and translation are two closely related linguistic disciplines. Yet they are rarely performed by the same people. The difference in skills, training, aptitude and even language knowledge are so substantial that few people can do both successfully on a professional level.On the surface, the difference between interpreting and translation is only the difference in the medium: the interpreter translates orally, while a translator interprets written text. Both interpreting and translation presuppose a certain love of language and deep knowledge of more than one language.

• The Skill Profile of Technical Translators

The differences in skills are arguably greater than their similarities. The key skills of the translator are the ability to understand the source language and the culture of the country where the text originated, then using a good library of dictionaries and reference materials, to render that material clearly and accurately into the target language. In other words, while linguistic and cultural skills are still critical, the most important mark of a good translator is the ability to write well in the target language.Even bilingual individuals can rarely express themselves in a given subject equally well in both languages, and many excellent translators are not fully bilingual to begin with. Knowing this limitation, a good translator will only translate documents into his or her native language. This is why we at Language Scientific absolutely require our technical translators only translate into their native language, in addition to their subject matter expertise.An interpreter, on the other hand, must be able to translate in both directions on the spot, without using dictionaries or other supplemental reference materials. Interpreters must have extraordinary listening abilities, especially for simultaneous interpreting. Simultaneous interpreters need to process and memorize the words that the source-language speaker is saying now, while simultaneously outputting in the target language the translation of words the speaker said 5-10 seconds ago. Interpreters must also possess excellent public speaking skills and the intellectual capacity to instantly transform idioms, colloquialisms and other culturally-specific references into analogous statements the target audience will understand.

• Interpreter Qualifications

Interpreting, just like translation, is fundamentally the art of paraphrasing—the interpreter listens to a speaker in one language, grasps the content of what is being said, and then paraphrases his or her understanding of the meaning using the tools of the target language. However, just as you can not explain a thought to someone if you did not fully understand that thought, neither can you translate or interpret something without mastery of the subject matter being relayed.It simply cannot be overstated: when choosing an interpreter, his or her expert knowledge of the subject matter is equally as important as their interpreting experience. 

How to become a Chinese-English translator ?

This interview with Carl Gene Fordham is based on reader questions. Carl Gene Fordham is a NAATI-accredited Chinese-English translator. He is currently completing his second Master’s in Ancient Chinese History at Xiamen University, China. He has eight years experience as a freelance Chinese-into-English translator.

• What if my communication skill is already advanced, what should I practice to become a translator?

-If your reading comprehension skills are already at a high level, you should start taking on jobs. Network with as many people as you can and let them know that you are a translator and are looking for work. You can also sign up to agencies and see how much work they can offer you. There’s no practice like the kind you get from real projects. Just don’t say yes to a job that is beyond your abilities, as you may find yourself in hot water if you mistranslate something.

• Do I have to take formal translation courses or certifications to work as a translator?

-No, you don’t. How helpful a certification may be really depends on the course in question, so I would recommend you learn as much about it as possible before you enrol. I learnt a lot from my Master’s in Translation Studies, but it is true that there was a bit too much theory and not enough practical components. Unfortunately, most translation courses are like that. The usefulness of a certification will also vary a lot depending on the region, industry and language direction you are hoping to work in. Again, be sure to do your homework before you make any decision.

• How do you translate words that have no direct equivalent in the other language?

-This is a topic that you could devote an entire book to! Translators often come across words which have no equivalent in the target language, especially if they’re translating Chinese-into-English. In most cases, you have to paraphrase. This is actually not as complicated as you might think.

For example, the sentence in Chinese 我们是同乡, literally, “We are tóngxiāng”. Yes, there is no exact word for tóngxiāng in English, but that doesn’t make translation impossible – just have to add a paraphrase like, “We are from the same town”or “We are from the same province”or even “We are from the same place” depending on the context.

Other translation decisions, though, can be more tricky, for example. Consider the term 坐月子 zuòyuèzi”, the traditional Chinese form of postpartum recovery that lasts for one month after childbirth. You could use this explanation in your translation, or you could use terms like “confinement”or “lying-in”.

Neither option is ideal; the former may make your translation sound verbose, while the latter may make your text read like “translation”, since “confinement” and “lying-in” are not widely understood by native speakers of English. Ultimately, though, you have to make a decision, and find a way to make the translation “blend in” with the rest of the text, so it reads like an authentic (i.e. not translated) text.

• What's the translation job market like? How much does a translator earn?

-Different regions around the world have very different translation markets, and this is again complicated by the language direction you are talking about. Because I lived in Melbourne for six years, I am most familiar with the situation in Australia.

If you want to understand the translation market in your region, you will need to get ask as many translators as you can find online. Websites like Proz and NAATI provide directories which you can use for this very purpose. Note, also, that there are many different types of translation markets, all with their own personalities- for example, technical translation is very different from literary translation; patent translating is different from subtitle translating, and so on. Much of this work is not publicly advertised, so again, you will need to network to find it.

The two most lucrative jobs that bilinguals can get are technical translating and conference interpreting. They also happen to be the most demanding and difficult fields to enter. If you want to be a technical translator, you need to have a very strong background in a specific field, like mining, pharmaceuticals, patents, etc. Plus, you must find out whether there is a demand for the specialization you have, and find clientele through networking or agencies.

As for being a conference interpreter, you would need to have a native-level command of two languages. In other words, your ability to communicate in Chinese in a wide range of topics would need to be as good as your ability to do so in English. On top of that, you would need to do a year or two of training at a school which provides conference interpreting training.

CAREER PROSPECTS

Graduates will work in a variety of fields including:

1. Government departments, enterprises, institutions, foreign affairs reception, business

2.tourism and other oral translation work.

3. In research institutions and other institutions engaged in foreign language translation teaching and translation-related research, management and other work.

4. Freelancing or working for agencies and Translation / interpreting companies (employed roles)

5. Civil Service

SAMPLE COURSES

• Translation in Practice

• Principles and Practice of Computer-Aided Translation

• Introduction to Translational Science

• Introduction to Translation

• Business English

• Chinese Translation History

• Western Translation History

• English Audiovisual 

• English Writing

• Oral English