Check The Best Types of Translators

Not all translators are the same: based on their training and expertise, we can differentiate between different types such as general translator, translator, audiovisual translator, sworn translator, technical translator, literary translator …

Do you know who to turn to for all kinds of translations?

In previous articles, we have already explained that translation is a basic activity that moves billions around the world and even has its own International Translation Day, which has recently been celebrated. We’ve also seen how, despite improvements in automated translation technologies, we’ll need translators for a while. Like and review our website: Centerforsucces

At this point, we want to focus on one aspect that is not always known to the public: the different types of translators that exist and the special functions that each of them performs.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, a translator is “a person who translates from one language to another, especially if he or she is professionally dedicated to it.” This definition is a bit short for us because it would be like saying that a doctor is someone who knows how to apply band-aids. Special training is required for those who translate. In Spain, these studies are at the university level and consist of a degree in translation and interpretation, lasting four years.

This training is not required to work as a translator, which unfortunately means that there is a lot of interference in the field of translation. The result is poor quality translations that would be ridiculous; if not for the fact that they represent fraud and lack the respect of the client who paid for them.

The difference between a translator and a translator

As its name suggests, translation and interpretation degrees train two types of professionals: translators and interpreters. what is the difference?

A translator is a professional who is dedicated to the written translation of every type of text and specializes in various fields, as we shall see later. On the other hand, a translator is a professional who specializes in oral translation. Within this second area, there are the following two types:

Simultaneous Interpretation: The interpreter translates what he says in real-time with a difference of only a few seconds. For example, it is a system used in international conferences, where attendees who speak other languages follow speeches through headsets. This is the most difficult mode and requires special equipment as well as technique and experience to avoid mistakes that can lead to war.

Continuous Interpretation: The translator waits for the speaker to pause to translate a part of the speech. The speaker then continues speaking and the translator waits for the next interval to translate. This requires the translator’s ability to memorize and take notes so that they do not forget anything. This is the type of interpreter that is used as an example in business meetings.

Good interpreters are often sought after, as translating a speech into a real-time reliable, and understandable way is extremely complex.

Simultaneously the interpreters work in isolated booths with special sound equipment. (Photo: European Parliament)

There is another category of translators and interpreters which requires additional degrees offered by the faculties. These are sworn translators and interpreters, professionals who specialize in performing official translations that are required for certain procedures in public institutions.

As if they were a kind of “language notary”, the sworn translators verify the accuracy of their translation or interpretation and accept this responsibility for legal purposes. To become a translator or translator taking the oath, you must obtain a title issued by the State Department and pass an appropriate examination.

Different types of translators

Now that we have seen the difference between a translator and a translator, it is time to look for the types of translators of the written text that exist. Generally, when they complete their education, all translators have the same question: is it better to be a general translator or a special translator?

Generalist translators can, in principle, translate any type of text, unless they need very specialized knowledge. Being open to different job opportunities is a good idea, but there is more competition.

For their part, specialized translators focus on specific subjects, which can vary greatly. The advantage of this is that not everyone can translate text in these areas, which makes your work more valuable and better paid. The downside is that if your marketplace is too small, the volume of jobs available decreases and you may need to expand or retrain.

The following are some of the types of special translators available:

Scientific Translator: Proficiency in scientific text, for example, medicine, biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, etc. It is often not enough to master the language, but it requires scientific training to understand what is being said about the text being translated and to have a rigorous translation that can be published, e.g. As in an international journal on the subject.

Technical Translator: This is a translator who specializes in technical documentation such as manuals, guides, patent files, specifications, etc. Again, special knowledge is required, which is apparently not taken care of when translating some product instructions!

Software Translator: This is another type of technical translation that focuses on adapting software programs, applications, video games, etc. into the target language. This requires special tools, as the content is often included in the code of the translated software.

Legal Translator: Specializes in legal documents such as contracts, sentences, trade agreements, etc. There are significant differences in the difficulty of mastering the two languages, for example, between Latin law (common in most of Europe) and Anglo-Saxon law.

Literary Translator: His job is to adapt novels, stories, poetry, etc. From one language to another. This is not always easy, as you have to preserve the meaning as well as the tone and style of the author. That is why it is logical that some of the best literary translators in Spanish were not translators but writers like Bourgeois or Cortazar.

Audiovisual Translators: These are dedicated to translating professional audiovisual content such as recordings, videos, movies, etc. These translations can be used in a variety of ways: transcripts, subtitles, audio descriptions for people with visual impairments, or dubbing, which is very common in Spain. From the original dialogues, the translator creates a script in the target language, which will be interpreted by an actor who specializes in dubbing. By the way, when movies are dubbed in Spain, there is a strange tendency to change movie titles until they become completely unrecognizable.