10 Essential Items That a Translator Needs to Work From Home
Being a freelance translator has its benefits – your own hours, the ability to pick your jobs and the fact you work from home. However, if your living room is to become your office, you are going to have to equip it as such, with all the tools that you will need to be an effective translator. Below are 10 items that every translator should have.Language dictionary – Essential tool for any translator as it enables the looking up of words and phrases that might be unknown to them.Colloquial dictionary – Even language has its regional differences. As such, a colloquial dictionary will help any translator with words that might pertain to a certain area or country. (Eg. Scotland – lass, jock, etc)Grammar book – With many languages, grammar and syntax is everything. As such, a book filled with a language’s tenses and grammatical rules is essential for any translator.Phrase book – Even a book with the most basic phrases will be of use, as it may aid with sentence structure and common expressions.Mp3 player – Essential for playing back phrases and sentences to make sure the meaning and sound is as accurate as possible.Content background material – If you are translating for a company or a certain industry, certain phrases or words may be unfamiliar to you. As such, background material is essential so that when you are translating text, you know what it is you’re are interpreting, making sure that the meaning and context is not lost.Proverb equivalents books – Phrases such as “a rolling stone gathers no moss” may be well known in the UK, but it may be meaning less to someone in India. As such, proverb equivalent books will give an alternative or another saying that has the same meaning. To translate “a rolling stone gathers no moss” literally would be meaningless to a foreign audience.Culture guide – Knowing a country’s culture is essential for mastering the language. As such, try and surround yourself with books and guides that will help you develop your grasp of a given language.Foreign film collection – A strange addition, but by having films in a language that you are specializing in, you pick up certain nuances and subtleties, that you might otherwise miss. It also makes your handling of the language seem more natural and more like a native speaker.Computer translation software – While not 100% accurate, translation software is useful for translating certain words or short phrases. Just don’t be too reliant on it.
