Poll: For interpreters, is moving (more) into translation a good idea now?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Apr 9, 2020

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "For interpreters, is moving (more) into translation a good idea now?".

View the poll results »



Leticia Xavier
 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 12:51
Spanish to English
+ ...
Probably not Apr 9, 2020

There are already too many translators out there competing for work, at least in my pair. As a translator, I usually have a steady flow of work, but it has dwindled to almost nothing in the wake of the virus.

Constanze Deus-Konrad
Alexandra Speirs
 
Ricardo Sandy Aries
Ricardo Sandy Aries  Identity Verified
Indonesia
Local time: 18:51
English to Indonesian
+ ...
Probably You Shouldn't or Should You? Apr 9, 2020

ProZ.com Staff wrote:

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "For interpreters, is moving (more) into translation a good idea now?".

View the poll results »




There is a very high probability that you won't land a job any time soon if you try to jump ship when you are technically and mentally not ready to undertake the tedious routines of a translator. It requires many years of strict discipline and self-learning to be able to translate a single complex sentence correctly.

As an interpreter, you should probably shift to remote interpreting (by phone or Skype, etc.). That way you will still have access to your current set of skills and interpreting job opportunities.

Let's hope for the best but always prepare for the worst.


Constanze Deus-Konrad
Sanjin Grandić
Cinthya Chamarelli
Muriel Vasconcellos
 
Constanze Deus-Konrad
Constanze Deus-Konrad  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 12:51
Member (2019)
French to German
+ ...
No Apr 9, 2020

This would be a real threat for translators who have to struggle to survive likewise, as the quantity of orders is slowing down to almost zero. Please do remote interpreting and leave the few sparse translation jobs to those who are better qualified for it by their specialization on translation! You have always been much better paid than translators, so don't destroy our living!

 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 11:51
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
I don't know Apr 9, 2020

Most interpreters I know do both, so nothing new.

Alison Jenner
Cinthya Chamarelli
Yetta Jensen Bogarde
Liviu-Lee Roth
IrinaN
 
Dan Lucas
Dan Lucas  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:51
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
But can they? Apr 9, 2020

ProZ.com Staff wrote:
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "For interpreters, is moving (more) into translation a good idea now?"

Surely these are two very different disciplines? While the common thread is linguistic competence, that competence is expressed in very different ways.

I have done quite a bit of consecutive interpreting, but I have never trained for simul, and therefore could not do it. Conversely, a good simul interpreter may not have the skills to be a top-ranked translator. I'm not saying that such people do not exist, but they're probably rarer than we think.

One would think that remote interpreting is a booming market for highly skilled interpreters at the moment.

Regards,
Dan


Constanze Deus-Konrad
Rita Utt
Sanjin Grandić
Anna Gorska
Josephine Cassar
Liviu-Lee Roth
 
Rita Utt
Rita Utt  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 12:51
English to German
+ ...
In the long term : yes Apr 9, 2020

Now, during and in the aftermath of Corona-crisis, there is not and won't be much work neither for translators nor for interpreters.

But I think in the long term interpretors will be even less needed than translators (as English becomes standard everywhere)
The only exception being court interpreters and interpreters in the social field, who are paid very little.

But I also agree with my collegues : it's not the same job and some of the skills and talents required
... See more
Now, during and in the aftermath of Corona-crisis, there is not and won't be much work neither for translators nor for interpreters.

But I think in the long term interpretors will be even less needed than translators (as English becomes standard everywhere)
The only exception being court interpreters and interpreters in the social field, who are paid very little.

But I also agree with my collegues : it's not the same job and some of the skills and talents required are not the same.
Collapse


Anna Gorska
 
Sigrid Andersen
Sigrid Andersen  Identity Verified
Local time: 12:51
Member (2011)
Danish to German
+ ...
Lockdowns - no work for either Apr 9, 2020

With the lockdown I experience that there is no work for either. I am usually more than fully booked and have to turn orders down, and right now there are 0 orders. So I would probably not bet on translation work instead of interpreting work, but developing other skills while you can now.

Alexandra Speirs
 
Cinthya Chamarelli
Cinthya Chamarelli  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 08:51
Japanese to Portuguese
+ ...
Depends Apr 9, 2020

The interpreters I know personally are also experienced translators, so they will probably try to take more translation jobs and that's fine.

However, I'm also aware that many interpreters either don't like or have never tried translating. Interpreting and translating require very different skill sets and routines, so that's understandable.

Those interpreters should probably invest in remote interpreting. I've already seen such job offers here on ProZ recently, so it lo
... See more
The interpreters I know personally are also experienced translators, so they will probably try to take more translation jobs and that's fine.

However, I'm also aware that many interpreters either don't like or have never tried translating. Interpreting and translating require very different skill sets and routines, so that's understandable.

Those interpreters should probably invest in remote interpreting. I've already seen such job offers here on ProZ recently, so it looks like it's something agencies and clients also want to invest in.
Collapse


Liviu-Lee Roth
 
Elizabeth Carstens, CMI-Spanish
Elizabeth Carstens, CMI-Spanish
United States
Local time: 07:51
English to Spanish
Once a translator, now an interpreter Apr 9, 2020

I started off as a translator about 20 years ago when there was good $$ in the translation industry (less competition = higher pay). I made a good amount of income back then. By chance an employer asked me to informally interpret during some medical encounters. I fell in love with the practice and I switched to interpreting full time. I'm now a certified medical interpreter and I work both on-site but mostly remotely. I have thought about mixing my days with some translation as well, but I just ... See more
I started off as a translator about 20 years ago when there was good $$ in the translation industry (less competition = higher pay). I made a good amount of income back then. By chance an employer asked me to informally interpret during some medical encounters. I fell in love with the practice and I switched to interpreting full time. I'm now a certified medical interpreter and I work both on-site but mostly remotely. I have thought about mixing my days with some translation as well, but I just can't get myself to do it anymore. I like going to bed knowing my work is done and nothing is pending for tomorrow. Translation is not for everyone, just like interpreting is not for everyone.Collapse


Cinthya Chamarelli
Mina Chen
 
Paul Dixon
Paul Dixon  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 08:51
Portuguese to English
+ ...
No Apr 9, 2020

The crisis is very bad for interpreters, but also for translators as world business grinds to a halt. Brazil is heading for the worst recession in history.
Don't know the situation in other countries, but in Brazil the coronavirus crisis has hit the economy very hard.


 
IrinaN
IrinaN
United States
Local time: 06:51
English to Russian
+ ...
Really? Apr 9, 2020

Rita Utt wrote:



But I think in the long term interpretors will be even less needed than translators (as English becomes standard everywhere)
The only exception being court interpreters and interpreters in the social field, who are paid very little.



Not in my world of rocket building and launching or oil pumping etc. In the world where any technical/legal discussions, especially for the purpose of decision-making, with the customers capable of finding their way to the museum in English are strictly prohibited. Even if those customers are familiar with English terminology and can grasp general flow of the conversation and understand parts of it. Shall I take up half of the site space and list every field where "general social chatters" will not do?


Elizabeth Carstens, CMI-Spanish
Liviu-Lee Roth
Jorge Payan
 
Liviu-Lee Roth
Liviu-Lee Roth
United States
Local time: 07:51
Romanian to English
+ ...
Mixed feelings Apr 9, 2020

I have been doing both for many, many years.

Due to the coronavirus, all my court assignments and conferences have been postponed, but I noticed an increase in remote interpreting (OPI). The flow of official documents from the Dept.of Justice is about the same, slightly increased.


 
LIZ LI
LIZ LI  Identity Verified
China
Local time: 19:51
French to Chinese
+ ...
Once an interpreter, now a translator Apr 9, 2020

I started as an interpreter (consecutive, not SI) 12 yrs ago.
I traveled to several places that I had never EVER think of, met people of different professions, personalities, and have learned a lot from them.
Some of my clients and colleagues become friends of life time for me.
And I met my husband during an interpretation assignment in a foreign land, though marriage is a lot more than just a love story.
Oh, btw, I think I've got plenty of stories to share with my grandc
... See more
I started as an interpreter (consecutive, not SI) 12 yrs ago.
I traveled to several places that I had never EVER think of, met people of different professions, personalities, and have learned a lot from them.
Some of my clients and colleagues become friends of life time for me.
And I met my husband during an interpretation assignment in a foreign land, though marriage is a lot more than just a love story.
Oh, btw, I think I've got plenty of stories to share with my grandchildren (my son of 3-years-old will definitely agree on it...), from my own adventures as an interpreter.
These are probably the best things about being an interpreter.

I made my decision to change the path and become a translator when I realized that I had to take care of my families, as the only child of my parents, wife of my husband and mom of my boy.
It makes perfect balance to be a translator when you get stuck in the middle of something else and are in need of some spare time in your personal life.
I'm happy with my life as a translator and am trying to keep going to get some OPI jobs from US clients.

I'm not planning to make a swot to compare interpreters and translators against the ongoing trends of MT, ML, NT...
We are all smart enough to find our ways.
Collapse


Liviu-Lee Roth
Mina Chen
Alice Crisan
 


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

Moderator(s) of this forum
Jared Tabor[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Poll: For interpreters, is moving (more) into translation a good idea now?






TM-Town
Manage your TMs and Terms ... and boost your translation business

Are you ready for something fresh in the industry? TM-Town is a unique new site for you -- the freelance translator -- to store, manage and share translation memories (TMs) and glossaries...and potentially meet new clients on the basis of your prior work.

More info »
CafeTran Espresso
You've never met a CAT tool this clever!

Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer. Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools. Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free

Buy now! »