Any Japanese translators around?

just-joe

Are there any Japanese translators around here? Are there any at all in Ireland?! Does anyone know one?

If you are out there, say hey....

biko

I know some, what do you need help with?

If you're in the pale there's a guy in Dublin called Nick Bennet that is a translator.

just-joe

Ah, thanks for the quick reply!

Perhaps I should have added some more details to the first post. Just looking for someone to ask questions to in regards to being a translator, particularly if there is any web-based reading material worth checking out. Trying to consider career options!

biko

Some companies like Merrill Brink will take on freelance translators but usually they'll want experienced ones. They will also do a test first to make sure you're up to scratch in the area they need (medical, technical, others).. Note that just because you're fluent doesn't mean you're a good translator (no offence but that's how they see it).

hibby

I know a few Japanese-English translators working freelance in Ireland.

A few random remarks:

- It is possible to make a living at it, but like any freelance work it's insecure and you probably won't get rich.

- Like any freelance work, a lot of work comes through contacts. Networking helps.

- There are agencies who will send work your way if you let them know you are in the business. On occasion they seem to be pretty desperate for a J-E translator or interpreter at short notice.

- Some have a really bad history of messing translators around, not paying, etc., to the extent that translators are no longer willing to work for them or even take their calls.

- "Short notice" is the number one fact of life for freelance translators and interpreters. You get a phone call to say an interpreter is needed at the police station, hospital, whatever. How soon can you be there if you leave immediately? Or you receive a document that has to be translated by tomorrow morning, so you sit up working through the night.

- J-E translators/interpreters are far more in demand (and better paid) in Ireland than in Japan.

- Translating and interpreting are different skills, and both are different from just being able to speak and understand 2 languages. It's possible to get training and qualification in translating and interpreting, but I can't comment on whether it's actually helpful or necessary in getting work in Ireland.

- Translators/interpreters often develop a speciality (purely by accident) that helps them to get more work in that area in the future. For example, you do one job in an area such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices, then you are known and experienced in that area, you get asked again, and so on.

Dara

just-joe

biko wrote: »

Some companies like Merrill Brink will take on freelance translators but usually they'll want experienced ones. They will also do a test first to make sure you're up to scratch in the area they need (medical, technical, others).. Note that just because you're fluent doesn't mean you're a good translator (no offence but that's how they see it).

Definitely agree there. You'd have to have real translation skills, and be able to write well in your own language not just know the other. I'm not fluent at all, a relative beginner in the greater scheme of things, so I wouldn't be thinking of applying to agencies or anything like that. I would need to improve an enormous amount to even think about starting at the bottom chain of translating, whatever that is. Tons more study hours and probably an extended stay in Japan. (Not as an English teacher would be a good start).

I'm just wondering about what routes people have taken to becoming translators, how I should aim to improve, and what my next step might be.

just-joe

Cheers for all the remarks Dara. Some I had considered before but some not at all.

I wouldn't have realized at all demand is higher in Ireland - I wonder why? Maybe because they employ Japanese people in Japan? or because there are more Japanese-speaking foreigners here? Hmmmm.

I wouldn't have thought about the time thing at all either. I would hate that! I like plans a lot and don't like last minute changes or requests, ya know?

I've heard about specializing before too, usually that someone moves towards an area they have studied before, for example in a primary degree. I studied maths though and can't say I loved it, so I'm glad to hear it's possible to slip into something by accident..

Are you Dara, or Biko, a translator yourself?

biko

Some good friends of mine are translators for a big company in my area.

hibby

just-joe wrote: »

Cheers for all the remarks Dara. Some I had considered before but some not at all.

I wouldn't have realized at all demand is higher in Ireland - I wonder why? Maybe because they employ Japanese people in Japan? or because there are more Japanese-speaking foreigners here? Hmmmm.

There is a good supply of Japanese people who can do J-E translation to an "adequate" standard for low money. The same skill is in much shorter supply in Ireland.

Are you Dara, or Biko, a translator yourself?

Not me! My Japanese is woefully inadequate for the job. But my wife is a working qualified freelance J-E translator/interpreter and I know 2 others in Dublin who make a living at it.

Konata

I'm currently studying Japanese & Translation at college so there's always the degree route. DCU offers the "Applied Languages and Translation Studies" course which is 4 years long and allows you to study 2 languages with translation modules in both. DCU also offers a masters in Translation Studies but I don't know much about it.

fanki na pengin

Konata, sorry to go off topic, but what's that course like? I was thinking about doing something in languages when I get back to Ireland. I like the look of you're particular one, but I think I need to get my Irish or French back up to scratch before entertaining the idea. >_<

Rosal

Hi there

I'm a bit late to the party, and you will probably have come across these via google, but here are 2 web pages that I have found quite helpful:

http://shinpaideshou.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/the-realities-and-benefits-of-translation-as-a-full-time-job-an-introduction/
http://www.gally.net/translation/gettingstarted.htm

Like you I am wondering where to start in Japanese-English translation; at the moment I'm thinking about contacting any Japanese companies in Ireland offering to work for free/little to get some basic translating experience. Later I plan on moving to Japan for an extended stay (I'm lucky enough to have some family there) in order to further improve my language skills and apply to companies there, but my sense is that no one will want to talk to me without either experience or perhaps a relevant degree. I also have no idea what I would specialise in as I have no special knowledge or interest in any of the typical fields such as medical, legal, business, etc. I'm hoping that a strong interest and dedication to mastering the language will help me through the initial job/experience catch-22!

JapanZone

Sorry to bump an oldish thread but reading this has got me thinking about possibly looking about for some translation work. I have to be creative about putting my 23 years in Japan to good use.

I'll probably post a new thread about it, but I've also been trying to encourage my (Japanese) wife to put her J-teaching qualifications and experience to good use. I think I've managed to get her to agree to teach an adult education course at the community school here in Malahide. Another option - which she'd prefer - is to teach grinds, but there are presumably very few people doing LC Japanese.

And having enjoyed the one event of this year's Japanese festival that I was able to attend, I'd like to get involved in that more next year. It's something that everyone in Ireland with an interest in Japan/Japanese can contribute to and benefit from.