Musings of a Translation Trainee: The Responsibility of a Translator

The translator’s responsibility

The responsibility that is taken on by a translator is huge! This is the overwhelming impression that I am left with whenever I stop to think about what it actually means to be a translator, the profession which I have chosen and the role which I am working towards! This is both terrifying and incredibly exciting at the same time! We all know that those jobs which hold the most responsibility are also, very often, the most rewarding!

A translator needs knowledge and creativity

The job of translator requires not only skill but also great cultural knowledge, good judgement, and also a generous helping of creative problem solving. Let’s have a little think about just one of the anecdotes which have been recounted to me during my studies, which I have retained and springs to mind when I think of the importance of contextual adaption and a target orientated approach. I was told of the situation where a Jamaican politician said to his French counterpart that an event he had seen in France was as exciting as the best cricket game. Nevertheless, the interpreter facilitating the communication between the two of them decided to translate it as “what I saw here was as exciting as a cycling race”, which undoubtedly speaks more to a French speaker.

Consideration and courage

Whilst, obviously, not all situations call for this kind of alteration to the content, (and caution should always be exercised) I do think that bearing in mind the effect of the text on the target audience is something which cannot be overestimated. I know that we have all witnessed examples of literal translations which have lost the message among the jumble of verbatim words…

Be brave my fellow translators, translate the message of the text and not just the words on the page!