Comments on: Translation experience – a blinding factor?

By: Bénédicte

Bénédicte — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 13:02:45 +0000

I work in Greece and whenever a translation agency mentions my age or experience, it’s only to convince me that I don’t deserve the rate I’m asking for ! (even, if the project manager has just congratulated me on my test translation and really want to work with me!)
I totally agree with Oleg about qualities that make a good translator.

By: philippa

philippa — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 12:27:06 +0000

I totally agree, thanks Oleg. It’s true that age bias can be an issue in just about every job/career path out there, and it can work either way: I think there’s a very narrow ideal age in job market, especially for women, and it’s about 35-45! The first steps in any career are always the hardest…but luckily these first steps can be exciting at the same time!

By: Oleg Kuzin

Oleg Kuzin — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:53:16 +0000

Another word for experience is “track record”, I agree with you that simply years of service is not enough. In translation, it also depends on the companies that you worked for and the areas of expertise you have. The rules are different in North America but it is still possible to call oneself a translator and know very little about the craft.
The French use the word “compétences” which covers rather well all the various things one must know to carry out a professional job. There is definitely an age bias when it comes to translators but this equally applies to surgeons, lawyers and statesmen. I would say that a young translator has many things in his/her favour: knowledge of the internet, knowledge of keyboardin and computer use, of the mass media (try to explain Facebook to an 80 year old).
The qualities that make a good translator are patience, perseverence, unbounded curiosity, a willingness to learn, attention to detail and a burning desire to help the client speak to his audience.