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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/14/2009 2:57:11 PM
Posts: 1,
Visits: 2
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Do I have to be a translator with a degree in order to do any freelance translation in the United States? or can I just do it without it? Is it legal? the same here...can I apply to do a translation even if I don't have a degree? I'm an English student
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/14/2009 5:25:49 AM
Posts: 99,
Visits: 165
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Hi,
I don't know the legislation in the US, but at least here in the Czech Republic, and in most other European countries, you basically don't need a degree in translation to become a translator. However, there are a few points you should consider:
1. You have to be a sworn (certified) translator to translate official documents, such as birth or marriage certificates.
2. Most ISO/DIN-certified translation agencies require that their translators are ISO/DIN-compliant, which means:
- having an MA degree in translation; or
- having a different university degree with proven 3-year record of working as a translator; or
- having a proven 5-year record of working as a translator.
Anyway, please note that translation is more than simply reading a text and re-writing it in the target language using the equivalent target-language words. Translators are usually required to have very good knowledge in many other fields (e.g. civil engineering, industrial engineering etc.). And most of the times the foreign (source) language is not the problem. The problem is the native (target) language. As a translator, you will many times ask yourself: Gees, I perfectly understand what this sentence means, but how do I put it into my native language so that it sounds good?!
So, if you want to translate to earn money for your studies, just like having a summer job, you should give up this idea and look for a vacant position at the nearest McDonald's (sorry, just being a little sarcastic; not meant seriously ). Being a translator is not a "job", it is a "profession" and it requires years of experience and commitment to become one.
If, however, you want to make your living as translator in future, I would recommend applying for a part-time job as a trainee in a reputable translation agency. You could learn:
- the basic project management workflow
- the translation workflow
- the QA processes
- what a translation SHOULD and SHOULD NOT look like
- etc.
I believe this would be a good point to start and to prepare yourself for future career as a translator.
I hope this helps a little.
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/7/2010 5:27:56 AM
Posts: 5,
Visits: 13
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Agree with Forum Guru
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/14/2009 5:25:49 AM
Posts: 99,
Visits: 165
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Thank you Penelope. In fact, my name is Standa (the more colloquial form of my full name Stanislav). The "Forum Newbie" or "Forum Guru" etc. labels are assigned automatically by the forum, depending on the number of posts by a particular user.
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/14/2009 5:25:49 AM
Posts: 99,
Visits: 165
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EDIT to my previous post
You see, I've added a few more replies and the "Forum Guru" has changed in to a "Supreme Being". I hope you don't want to call me like that. 
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/17/2009 8:56:41 PM
Posts: 1,
Visits: 2
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You do not need to have a degree to start your own language translation & interpreter business you can start out as a volunteer or only take basic projects. It is common for people to send more complex translations to friends or companies that they have partnered with and receive a percentage from the project.
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