Competencies of Translators and Interpreters

The ability to speak more than one language is great. It’s a much-cherished talent and skill. However, translating and interpreting a language is where things get far more complicated. Languages are much more nuanced than we think. So, to translate and interpret, one requires a special set of skills; skills that are more robust than just knowing how to speak multiple languages. The core competencies of translators and interpreters are something businesses need to pay attention to.

Here is a look at a few of these competencies.

Certification/Accreditation

How are the competencies of a translator or interpreter proven?

Well, it’s obviously done through formal accreditation and certification. Your interpreter or translator should have received some kind of formal validation from a reputable institution. This is to prove that they have put in the effort to hone their skills and apply their knowledge.

Certified or accredited translators and interpreters are sure to possess an absolute grasp of a foreign language. More importantly, they are likely to be aware of other aspects such as the ethical considerations of translation and interpretation.

Finally, accredited translators and interpreters are less likely to make mistakes. Errors in such a field can lead to dire consequences. So, choose interpreters or translators that meet this requirement.

And Others.

Interpretation skills

• - Have active listening skills and strive to improve them through self-training
• - Have good memory retention skills
• - Be able to take notes during the interpretation assignment to ensure accuracy of the information given
• - Be able to mentally transpose and verbalize into the target language.

Translator skills

• - Attention to detail, Without this quality, translators won’t consistently produce fully accurate, well-worded translations.
• - Good organisation, Successful translators manage their time well, have good recordkeeping and are efficient in what they do.
• - Self-motivation, The energy and discipline to do what you have to do, and go the extra mile when you need to, can only come from you.
• - Dependability, Clients must be able to rely on you to respond promptly to communications and meet translation deadlines.
• - Adaptability, The quality to take non-standard translation projects and unusual client requests in your stride. And to consider reviewer critiques and suggestions with an open mind.
• - Integrity, To play by the “rules” – maintain confidentiality, observe business and professional ethics, respect your client/supplier relationships.
• - Curiosity, Translators who are naturally curious find all texts interesting, so enjoy every translation project. And people who enjoy their work tend to do a better job.

Empathy

Translators and interpreters need to possess a wide range of interpersonal and linguistic skills. They need to be empathetic when carrying out their task of translation or interpretation. It is only when they’re empathetic that they can truly understand what’s being communicated. This helps them communicate the final message as accurately as possible.

Expertise in the Field

The core competencies of translators and interpreters don’t just end with the knowledge of multiple languages. When it comes to business localisation, they need to have industry experience too.

Your business needs to work with people that understand what’s going on and what’s at stake. For instance, an interpreter or translator for a software firm needs to be familiar with technical terms (in the necessary languages) and have an understanding of technological topics.

Conclusion

So, there you have it – the core competencies of translators and interpreters. Possessing these qualities allows translators and interpreters to go above and beyond the basic requirements. Such interpreters and translators offer capabilities that drive overall business growth.

In addition, Elite Asia provides certified interpretation services and translation services singapore.