Knowledge base

Choosing one’s professional path is always a tough decision. The ultimate choice is a unique combination of aptitude, predispositions, and hard work put into perfecting one’s skills. Some professions allow for clear distinction of subsequent stages of education and practice; others come with much more complex ways of gaining experience. And what does it take to become a translator?   In this article, we will explore the issues regarding education, gaining experience, and finding employment as a translator. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of freelance work and see how we can find our area of expertise. So where do we start?   Which university degree is necessary to become a translator? Studies of a given language seems to be the most obvious answer. Admittedly, there is some truth to it – for example, English studies allow for obtaining deep knowledge not only about the language itself, its history and structure, but also discover the wide cultural, political, and sociological background. With this component we can rest assured no reference to local phenomena would surprise us. But is a degree in language studies necessary to start working as a translator?   No – which is perfectly reflected in requirements for candidates wanting to become sworn translators. While higher education is a must, it does not have to be linked to foreign languages. In case of translations, any additional degree is an added value: the more information we have, the easier it is to find a niche and specialise in a given type of translation or interpreting services.   It’s also worth saying that studies focused on a given language help in more conscious language use. As a result, a translator with extensive linguistic background is able to deliver a translation that is more reader-friendly.   Specialisation – how to discover your strengths in translation? One word – practice! Preparing a few sample translations may come in handy. Choose texts that cover various disciplines. Which ones would work best? Redacted legal…

In the time of globalisation, cultural heritage of most nations is available to recipients in any corner of the world. It also involves audiovisual material, such as movies, TV series, or cartoons. Translation is what makes it possible.   There are significant differences between audiovisual translation and other types of translation. In consequence, an audiovisual translator needs to have different qualifications and competencies, there are differences in the translation process and in the final product.   Audiovisual translation – what exactly does it mean? Audiovisual translation applies to any material composed of image and sound, be it a movie, TV serie, cartoon, game, commercial or educational material. We can distinguish between three main types of audiovisual translation: dubbing, subtitles, and voice-over, although there are other popular techniques, such as simultaneous interpreting of live events.   Dubbing consists of replacing the original soundtrack with another one, recorded in a different language. The most important task in this technique is to adjust the translation of character’s lines to their behaviour and the time of speaking, and even to their facial expression and the movement of their lips. Good dubbing leads to comprehensible material, so this technique is usually applied in children’ movies. An interesting type within this technique is intralingual dubbing, which covers dialects and local versions of a language (Spanish can serve as an example).   Another technique of audiovisual translation is the use of subtitles displayed at the bottom of the screen. It is assumed that a subtitle can have a maximum of two lines of 35–37 characters with spaces each. The translator’s task is to properly shorten the lines and adjust them to the scene, taking into consideration the time audience takes to read and understand the subtitle. The main advantage of this technique is that the original soundtrack is untouched.   The last technique of audiovisual translation, widely applied in Poland, are voice-over recordings: the lines recorded by one voice actor in target language substitute the original soundtrack.…