1. Becoming a Translator By Mindy Emmons

2. Introduction mindyemmons@hawaii.rr.com mindyemmons@hawaii.rr.com mindyemmons@hawaii.rr.com From court interpreter to translator From court interpreter to translator From social butterfly to recluse From social butterfly to recluse

3. How does translating hone interpreting skills? Translating and interpreting are related Translating and interpreting are related Specialized terminology on a broad range of topics Specialized terminology on a broad range of topics Command of vocabulary in court Command of vocabulary in court Corpora (sources of research material) Corpora (sources of research material)

4. Is translating for me? Good writing ability Good writing ability Analytical ability Analytical ability Good editing skills Good editing skills Good business sense Good business sense Terminology research skills Terminology research skills Avid reader Avid reader

5. Other skills needed Self-discipline Self-discipline Organization Organization Time-management Time-management Deadlines and tight schedules Deadlines and tight schedules

6. Advantages Work from home Work from home Short commute Short commute Flexible schedule Flexible schedule Structure workday around peak energy times and family’s needs Structure workday around peak energy times and family’s needs

7. Disadvantages Feast or famine Feast or famine Fast turnaround times Fast turnaround times Lonely Lonely

9. Language Pairs Only into active language Only into active language Which is my active language? Which is my active language?

10. Area of Expertise Legal Legal Medical Medical Technical Technical Localization Localization Others Others

11. Localization The complete adaptation of a product for a particular market. The complete adaptation of a product for a particular market.

12. Other Services? Editing Editing Proofreading Proofreading Desktop publishing Desktop publishing

13. Equipment Separate room in home Separate room in home Latest hardware/software Latest hardware/software Comfortable chair Comfortable chair Reference books (dictionaries) Reference books (dictionaries) Good lighting Good lighting High-speed internet High-speed internet Telephone Telephone Smart Phone Smart Phone

15. Improve your skills Get certified Get certified Read Read Travel Travel Mentors Mentors Continuing Education Continuing Education Volunteer Volunteer

16. The world is your oyster! Don’t limit geographical area! Don’t limit geographical area! Most assignments are received and submitted electronically Most assignments are received and submitted electronically

17. Quality Control Read through or dictate source Read through or dictate source Find and look up unfamiliar words Find and look up unfamiliar words Translate Translate Accuracy checking Accuracy checking Edit Edit Format Format Backup Backup

18. Marketing Résumé mailing Résumé mailing www.translationdirectory.com www.translationdirectory.com 799 translation agencies in U.S. 799 translation agencies in U.S. ATA website directory ATA website directory Yellow pages Yellow pages

19. The Business Side How do you charge? How do you charge? Word, character, Word, character, kilobyte, hour What do you charge? What do you charge?

20. ATA www.atanet.org www.atanet.org www.atanet.org Benefits of certification Benefits of certification 35% more $$$$ 35% more $$$$

21. Which Languages are Tested? into English from Arabic, Croatian, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish into English from Arabic, Croatian, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish from English into Chinese, Croatian, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Ukrainian from English into Chinese, Croatian, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Ukrainian

22. Am I eligible? ATA member and one of the following:  T&I degree/certificate  Bachelor’s and 2 years of experience as translator or interpreter ATA member and one of the following:  T&I degree/certificate  Bachelor’s and 2 years of experience as translator or interpreter  5 years of experience  5 years of experience

23. Exam 3-hour open book 3-hour open book Specific language pair Specific language pair Mandatory general passage Mandatory general passage Choose either:  science/technology/medicine; or,  law/business/finance Choose either:  science/technology/medicine; or,  law/business/finance Overall pass rate below 20% Overall pass rate below 20% Practice Exam $90 each for non-members, $40 for members Practice Exam $90 each for non-members, $40 for members

24. References Burns Thomson, Sandra, compiler (2001). Getting Started: A Newcomer’s Guide to Translation and Interpretation, Alexandria: American Translators Association. Burns Thomson, Sandra, compiler (2001). Getting Started: A Newcomer’s Guide to Translation and Interpretation, Alexandria: American Translators Association. McKay, Corinne (2006). How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator, Two Rat Press. McKay, Corinne (2006). How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator, Two Rat Press. Trabing, M. Eta (2006). Running Your Translating/Interpreting Business From Home, ATA Chronicle, January, 2006. Trabing, M. Eta (2006). Running Your Translating/Interpreting Business From Home, ATA Chronicle, January, 2006.