Professional Translation and Interpretation Career Insights

Is It Useful to Specialize in a Particular Subject Area?

Yes. It is easier to translate or interpret with an understanding of the subject. For example, some translators specialize in medical translation and obtain regular work from pharmaceutical manufacturers. Similarly, many translation agencies focus on technical, business, or legal translation, relying on experts in those fields. Specialist translators can usually command higher fees.

Are Some Languages More Important for Translation?

It depends on the market. While there is more work available in "major" world languages, there is also significantly more competition. Conversely, a translator or interpreter who knows a "rare" or "exotic" language in a specific market is harder to find and can often command higher fees, even if work opportunities are fewer.

Most institutional employers, such as multinational corporations and governmental agencies, use a specific set of languages. For example, the United Nations utilizes six official languages:

• English
• French
• Spanish
• Chinese
• Arabic
• Russian

The UN typically requires applicants to know at least two of these in addition to their native tongue.

Are There Any Formal Professional Requirements?

There is no single, uniform accreditation process to become a translator or interpreter; each employer has different standards:

• Book publishers: Generally employ based on academic credentials.
• Court systems: Usually administer a formal interpretation exam.
• Corporate employers: May require an entrance test, a college degree, or a certificate from a translation school.
• Governmental agencies: Often require a competitive examination and/or a degree in languages.
• European Union: Administers a competitive general knowledge exam and language tests.

Is It Advantageous to Be Bilingual?

Only if one is truly bilingual—meaning they are thoroughly conversant with both languages, sensitive to the differences between them, and able to use both equally well as a medium of expression. Few people are truly bilingual.

Early exposure to two or more languages is helpful because it trains the ear to:

• Recognize the sounds of both languages
• Grasp difficult accents
• Identify nuances and idiomatic expressions

However, without additional study and training, early exposure is usually not sufficient to enable a translator or interpreter to use both languages actively at a professional level.