One Day in the Life of a Translator
There is nothing humans love more than a routine. Starting every day in the same way and not facing any surprises is what we ask. Unexpected happenings are not something we look forward to. Stability in our routines keep us sane. And even when we don’t have much going on for us, we must establish a routine of our daily activities. Those who have to go to work every day don’t have much difficulty following a routine because it is already set for them. They know they have to reach their office at time and leave it at a particular time. They must get in the bed at a reasonable hour so they can get plenty of sleep.
But those who work from home have a hard time adjusting to their unique routine. Finding the perfect time for working and establishing a good sleep schedule are difficult things. It takes every freelancer a few weeks before they can fall into a routine that is not damaging to their physical and psychological health. But there are no simple rules to follow that can help every freelancer. Everyone has to find their own routine according to their preferences. A thing that works for one freelancer may not work for another freelancer.
The translation industry is full of hardworking people who spend years to become experts in their fields. An expert translator is not someone who has studied the art of translating and is fluent in two languages. It is someone who has plenty of experience in the field and has a thorough understanding of the languages they interpret. Translators often work from home and people assume that it is an easy way of living. But in truth, their job is very complex and doesn’t leave any room for errors. A huge responsibility lies on translators to do their jobs with hundred percent accuracy.
One Day in the Life of a Translator:
The life of an interpreter is not exactly how people imagine it to be. It is nowhere close to lying in bed all day and occasionally working. Each project requires a lot of time and research. Not to mention the careful revisions they have to do after finishing a project. Sometimes they come across a term or phrase that is difficult to interpret and then they have to get in touch with experts and go through old dictionaries to find the right alternative.
A single day in the life of a translator is just like the day of a very dedicated worker. But if you want to establish a routine for yourself and want to know how other interpreters do it, here is a detailed description for you.
- The Planning:
A translator starts his morning by planning out his day. After breakfast, of course. Looking over the day’s tasks will give them an idea of how much time they should divide between different projects. While making their schedule, they also need to keep in mind that they will have to take care of a few household chores too.
An experienced translator knows how much time they have to give each project before they move on to the next one. But someone new in the field will make a few mistakes in the beginning before they get a hang of things.
- Drafts:
Whether they have one document to handle or multiple, every translator follows the same procedure. They start by making an initial draft of the project. This step is based on the type of the translation because each different type requires a different sort of interpretation. Financial, legal, and personal documents often require certified interpretation and needs to be attested by the interpreter.
Advertisements and marketing material need to be interpreted according to the culture of the target audience. It is essential for businesses to connect with their potential clients through marketing and that’s why it not only has to be translated in the language of the target audience but the interpretation needs to be carried out in accordance with the local culture.
- A Much-Needed Break:
Humans need rest to recharge or they will end up falling sick. There is nothing wrong with admitting that one can’t keep on working nonstop. After completing the initial drafts, having lunch, and taking care of a few household chores, a translator takes a break in the afternoon. Every interpreter chooses an activity of their choice to engage in during the break. Some like to take a nap, some read, while some watch Netflix. But everyone who works with computer should take a break away from screens for some time every day.
- Revision:
Before a translator can hit the bed, they have to do revisions of their drafts and correct the mistakes to refine the documents. Once the projects are finished, translators send the files to their clients or their employers depending on how they work. If a project is lengthy and the time in front of the computer in the morning wasn’t enough to finish it, the interpreter finishes it at night. Such projects are revised the next day before being sent to the clients. If they finish work early, some translators also spend more time catching up on TV shows.
A day in the life of a translator shows you a glimpse of how it is to work from home. But it requires a lot of effort to succeed as an interpreter no matter where you work from and having a schedule is something absolutely necessary.
