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Viewing Bridge the Language Gap: Are You Ready To Be an Interpreter?Bridge the Language Gap: Are You Ready To Be an Interpreter?
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By Cel Santos If you think interpreting is as easy as rendering words from the source to the target language then you are gravely mistaken. Before you venture into this highly demanding job, you'd better evaluate skills and your persistence to learn first. A language interpreter requires more than just knowing languages. Language interpreting entails much more! So are you ready to bridge the language gap? See for yourself and decide if this is for you. • First things first, do you know more than one language? If not, then you're already doomed in the language interpreting business. To become an effective language interpreter, you are required to know at least two languages. Moreover, it's not merely using or knowing the languages, but you must be proficient in them. That means both your written and oral skills must be exemplary. So if you've checked this one, you can move on to the next. • How well do you know the culture of the languages you are using? This may seem to be a ridiculous detail, but understanding cultures directly affects your ability to do your job. Language interpreting is not merely translating words. You need to capture what every word means. This includes contexts, hidden meanings, and other imperceptible factors. You need to be sensitive to all these. • Are you willing to learn more than just the languages? In the business of language interpretation, you need to know a host of other details. Whether it be politics, science, general information, or more technical matters, you need to update yourself. Of course you don't have to cram everything at the same time. Usually, you focus on one specialization and branch out from there. So why is this important? First, you cannot interpret something you don't understand. Yes, you may know the language, but do you know the topic? Second, fluency in a language can be gauged by how well you can use it in different circumstances. Lastly, your clients will be coming from different industries, so you'd better understand them. • Can you handle pressure? Unlike translation, a language interpreter has to work in surprisingly stressful situations. You are constantly tested, since clients require you to think quickly and respond immediately. More often than not, the success of communication relies on you. If you cannot perform under pressure, language interpreting is not a job suited for you. Many will say that this job is easy and anyone can do it. The truth is, this is a demanding job that requires only qualified people. If you are one of them, then you are among the elite. However, if not, then you'd better start looking for a different career. About the Author: Cel Santos works at Day Translations, Inc. - Professional Translation Services, a global provider of translation solutions. Visit our website at DayTranslations.com. For language interpreting, go to WorldInterpreting.com. Article Source: A Language Guide - http://www.a-language-guide.com |
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