Why write?

My own story involves the learning and application of different languages for the purpose of written translation and oral interpretation. While my experience in these areas is useful to know, and will be noted, I would rather emphasize my background within the context of communication skills and abilities that lend themselves to work as a writer.

What are the skills and abilities that have driven my employment since 1976?

1. First of all, there is the ability to learn one’s main language as a truly first or mother tongue, to learn its grammar and syntax intimately, its spelling and punctuation, its idioms, metaphors, even its profanity.
2. If an individual desires to translate or interpret someone else’s message from another language, it then is necessary to go through the same learning steps with the newly acquired language as with the main or first language. The objective is to know both languages as much as possible at the same high level, and to possess exceptional communication skills in the language in which the interpretation or translation will be produced.
3. A translator or interpreter has two or more working languages and once those languages are resting (and growing) on a solid foundation, it is up to the translator or interpreter to possess the necessary analytical and comprehension skills required to decode the message in the source language and to recode it accurately in the language of production.
4. When we talk about the skill or standard of accuracy, we refer to the correctness of the literal and semantic integrity of the message. Does the product reflect the source in conveying the meaning? When we speak of meaning, we refer not only to the meanings of words and groups of words, but also to their correct arrangement in sentences and paragraphs, as well as to their correct stylistic and literary expression.
5. So if an individual has learned languages and communication through self-study or in a dedicated institution of higher learning, then how does one begin to work as a translator or interpreter?

Needless to say the technical environment now is much different than it was in 1976. Information technology has accelerated and in fact depersonalized the process of written translation as it is now possible to work alone and really have little or no contact with the people who order, read or pay for the translation. There are also spin-off activities now such as technical writing, localization, SEO etc…

The aspect of economic competition has also hit the so-called “language industries” in a big way. Translation rates per word or job are subject to serious downward bidding wars. Interpreters are now often expected to work out of or into more than one language, and there is less work worldwide generally now due to the huge number of speakers of English as a first or second language and the use of technology to reduce the need for interpretation or some of its associated costs such as travel.

It is still possible to make a living in these fields but I have been around long enough to have seen many changes and to count my blessings that my generation, although somewhat affected by the start of massive changes, was still more protected than the current generation. I enjoyed well-paying and secure jobs with benefits in Canada and at the United Nations.

While there is no question that we must all change, and there has been so much of it that younger people never knew or do not remember the way things were, there are still a few skills that are more or less timeless. If you are trying to market your skills and experience, you need to know how to produce a targeted resume, application form and cover letter that will catch the attention of a reader whose attention span is short due to a crushing overload of things to read, process and assimilate within an organizational and professional framework. And of course good interviewing and selling skills are critical.

These skills were always needed but the competition to be noticed as superior among many superior job-seekers can be very discouraging.

Nevertheless, we should all still chase our dreams. In my case, although I do not need to write for money, I enjoy it. No one would complain about picking up a little extra cash and even though my main activities were interpreting and speaking rather than translating and writing, all of these are related communication and language activities with some differences but definitely more similarities.

I look forward to exploring the possibilities of writing.