2.6. Profession Perspective

Most of the translators do not plan to translate for the rest of their professional lives. It is surprising, of course: most translators leave the profession within five years of entering it. Many plan their departure ahead of time, developing the skills or receiving the education necessary to make their move. The rest just get out, for a host of reasons.

The departing translators head in generally the same directions. Some move on to start translation agencies or language consulting firms, some become technical writers or authors, some become interpreters, some enter academia as linguists or literature professors, and some few head off on other paths (naturally, there are many other paths, but the above careers were mentioned much more frequently than any others).

They also depart for basically the same reasons. Lack of long-term job security, frequently low pay for the value of the work they are doing, no benefits (which becomes more important as people grow older and have families), and little job satisfaction. Every industry benefits from having seasoned professionals, but the translation profession almost seems to prevent people from staying in for very long. Although I do know translators who have been in the industry for over twenty years, most of them have moved back and forth from in-house to free-lance as well as back and forth among the countries where their languages are used.

This is not to say that every translator moves on or that someone contemplating this profession should not enter it. First, the relatively high turn-over rate is good for those trying to get in. Second, the industry needs as many competent and responsible professionals it can get, so the more the merrier. Third, there are few professional careers in the world in which you do the exact same thing for five years. In most corporations, you get regular promotions, moving up the ladder and working towards greater responsibility, income and security. Translators don’t have that in their profession, so perhaps they are just creating it for themselves by moving on to a related field within five years or so.

The translator in modern society is something of an anti-hero. The translator spends years or more developing and honing an eclectic set of skills which he knows society neither understands nor values enough. He then struggles valiantly to use those skills to earn a living, taking test after test, filling out form after form, dealing with agencies, clients and others to make enough money. He wins clients and then loses them. He is hired by a company and then fired during the next round of restructuring or outsourcing. He is expendable and he knows it. Yet, he fights on, convinced that his skills have value. Ultimately, he leaves the profession and takes his skills forward to better things. He quixotically raised his lance and charged the windmills, only to find they were all too real. He is a dying breed which society does not recognize or acknowledge but cannot afford to lose.

Questions for discussion:

1. What are four qualities of translator?

2. What are the dont’s of translator?

3. What does the Client expect of his interpreter?

4. What kind of troubles emerges while interpreting?

5. What is common between the professions of translator and programmer?

6. Why do the translators leave the profession?

7. For what reasons do the translators leave their profession within five years?

Translate the text into Ukrainian:

Gestures

Some gestures are used by all British and American people. Many are appropriate only in informal situations; others are considered rude. Some people make many gestures when they speak, so they are sometimes said to talk with their hands. A facial expression, such as a smile or a frown, often makes it clear whether a gesture shows approval or disapproval, pleasure or impatience. Some gestures have several different meanings, depending on the context.

Head

People nod to indicate ‘yes’. Sometimes people nod repeatedly during a conversation to show that they agree with the speaker. Nodding at somebody can indicate that it is their turn to do something. You can also nod towards somebody or something instead of pointing with your finger. Nodding to somebody while you are talking to someone else shows that you have noticed them.

Shaking the head from side to side means ‘no’. When somebody makes this gesture with their eyes wide open it indicates disbelief. If there is a slight smile then the person is also amused. If somebody shakes their head and keeps their mouth closed it suggests that they are annoyed.

Fingers and thumbs

Thumbs up is a gesture showing approval or success. It is usually made with the thumb of only one hand. The thumb points straight up while the fingers are curled into the palm. The gesture is used to tell somebody that they can go ahead and do something; or to indicate that the person making the gesture has succeeded in something. To give somebody the thumbs up is to give them permission to do something. Thumbs down is a similar gesture but the thumb points down towards the ground. It is used by somebody to indicate they have failed to do or get something.

People thumb a lift (= try to get a ride in a passing vehicle) by holding their arm out with the thumb up and slightly forward. Twiddling your thumbs (= holding the hands loosely and letting the thumbs rub gently against each other) suggests boredom or impatience. The phrase is often used metaphorically to mean ‘having nothiing to do’.

Pointing with the forefinger (= first finger) at somebody or something shows which person or thing you want or are talking about. But in both Britain and the US it is considered rude to point.

People can indicate that they think somebody is mad by pointing one finger at the side of their forehead and turning it. If you hold two fingers at the side of your forehead like a gun you are pretending to shoot yourself for doing something silly. A finger held to the lips indicates ‘Sh!’ (= Be quiet!). If you pinch your nose you are indicating that there is a bad smell. If you stick your fingers in your ears you cannot stand the noise of something. If a child holds its thumb to its nose, with the fingers spread out and waving, they are making an insulting gesture called cocking a snook. American children move one forefinger down at right angles to the other to indicate somebody has done something bad.

Fingers crossed is a wish for good luck. The middle finger is crossed over the forefinger of the same hand. In Britain people give a V-sign by holding the middle finger and forefinger apart like a V and curling the other fingers and the thumb into the palm. If the palm is held outwards the sign means ‘victory’; if the palm is turned inwards the gesture is rude and offensive. In the US people use the V-sign with the palm outwards to mean ‘peace’ but the rude version is not used. Giving somebody the finger (= holding the middle finger straight up and curling the other fingers into the palm) is used instead.

Drumming your fingers, i.e. tapping them repeatedly on a desk or table, suggests impatience. Scratching your head suggests you are not sure what to do. These gestures may also be a sign that a person is nervous.

Hands and arms

People often shake hands when they are introduced to each other. Business people may shake hands when they make an agreement.

We wave when saying goodbye to somebody. Waving is also used as a greeting, especially by somebody famous. In Britain children wave to trains, hoping that the driver will wave back. In the US children hold up their fist and move it down when a truck approaches, hoping the driver will sound the horn.

Lifting the arm is used to attract attention. In schools teachers say ‘Hands up’ when they ask a question, so that all the children get a chance to answer. Sometimes a vote can be taken by a show of hands, i.e. asking people who agree to raise their hands, and then, after they have lowered them, asking those who disagree to do the same. Adults also lift their arm to attract the attention of a waiter or a taxi driver. In Britain people stop a bus by holding one arm out at right angles while facing towards the bus.

If you stand with your hands on your hips it can suggest anger or defiance. If you clench your fist you are angry.

People clap their hands to show they are pleased about something. After a concert, play, etc. they clap repeatedly to show they enjoyed it. The phrase give somebody a (big) hand means to clap to show pleasure at what they have done.

Shoulders

Shrugging your shoulders shows impatience or lack of interest. It can also be used to indicate that you do not mind which of several things is chosen. A person who stands with their elbows close to the body and forearms spread, with the palms of their hands upwards and their shoulders raised, does not know what is going to happen. Often, the head is held slighdy to one side.

From “A Guide to British & American Culture”

Translate the following sentences into English paying attention to polisemantic words and “false friends of interpreter”:

1. The faculty of the New Orleans University consists of the best scholars, especially in Arts. I asked the chemist whether they had these preparations at the dispensary, I also asked him for dressing material.

2. The salesman showed me a number of patterns for various fabrics.

3. The officers of that company consist of the president, the treasurer, the counsel, the auditor, etc.

4. “Look here, officer,” said the old woman — “stop the traffic for a moment, so that I might walk over the square to the pavement on the other side.”

5. Little Oliver Twist was very much afraid of the master in the working house.

6. “It is so hot in the stokehold” — said Jackson — “we ought to have better fans.”

7. Michael Jackson has lost many of his fans after the scandal.

8. Five papers by excellent scholars were read at the Fuel Conference.

9. The film has been edited by A.Peterson. He is a very good specialist.

10. There are many creepers in the conservatory.