Poll: Which of these personality traits do you consider the most important for a translator/interpreter? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Which of these personality traits do you consider the most important for a translator/interpreter?".
This poll was originally submitted by Harry Hermawan. View the poll results »
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All of the above, but for speed (the enemy of perfection and efficiency)! I would add curiosity and discipline. Happy holidays for you all!
| | | | Iulia Parvu 
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:48
Member (2022)
English to Romanian
+ ...
"Attention to detail," "accuracy," "meticulousness," "concentration," "efficiency," "precision," and "speed" - aren't these individual skills or attributes rather than personality traits?
To me, personality traits are extraversion, conscientiousness, openness, agreeableness, etc.
| | | | Reed James
Chile
Local time: 19:48
Member (2005)
Spanish to English
| Speed is your friend | Dec 26, 2023 |
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida wrote:
All of the above, but for speed (the enemy of perfection and efficiency)! I would add curiosity and discipline. Happy holidays for you all!
If you are a good translator, you are good either fast or slow. If you have all the information in your brain and at your fingertips and you are fast at inputting the target text, then what would be bad about that?
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Kay Denney
France
Local time: 01:48
French to English
attention to detail
accuracy
meticulousness
precision
are all rather similar. I mean, you'll be paying attention to detail to achieve accuracy, or you can be meticulous about achieving precision and both will boil down to ironing out redundant commas and checking why Word has underlined that word that you're pretty sure is indeed spelt like that, and making sure that the term you used is suitable in the specific context of your translation and not just in the context most... See more attention to detail
accuracy
meticulousness
precision
are all rather similar. I mean, you'll be paying attention to detail to achieve accuracy, or you can be meticulous about achieving precision and both will boil down to ironing out redundant commas and checking why Word has underlined that word that you're pretty sure is indeed spelt like that, and making sure that the term you used is suitable in the specific context of your translation and not just in the context most people would use it in.
Nice to see them all at the top of the list, anyway. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 01:48
French to English
Reed James wrote:
Speed is your friend
If you are a good translator, you are good either fast or slow. If you have all the information in your brain and at your fingertips and you are fast at inputting the target text, then what would be bad about that?
I disagree actually. If it's a field you're familiar with and you don't need to look anything up, sure you can romp through the translation. However, I know if I go really quickly, I'll be spending more time later on in the tidying up stage, because there'll be silly typos and stray commas, and I might have glossed over a nuance here or there.
People were all "out of fast, good and cheap, you can only pick two" a while back and I would counter that fast and good is mostly not an option. Translation is like making bread, it's so much better if you can leave it to rise in the fridge overnight.
| | | | | These aren't personality traits | Dec 26, 2023 |
None of the options listed are personality traits. They are more to do with the way you work. Also, it's impossible to say which is most important without knowing the type of work the translator is doing, the needs of the client and the other people involved in the translation process (editors, for example).
There are some aspects missing too, such as creativity, specialist knowledge, willingness to ask questions.
| | | | Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 02:48
Member
English to Turkish
| Modus operandi | Dec 26, 2023 |
Rachel Waddington wrote:
willingness to ask questions.
We were informed on these forums that this is a dangerous habit to have.
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Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:48
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| Those are not personality traits at all. | Dec 27, 2023 |
Rachel Waddington wrote:
None of the options listed are personality traits. They are more to do with the way you work. Also, it's impossible to say which is most important without knowing the type of work the translator is doing, the needs of the client and the other people involved in the translation process (editors, for example).
There are some aspects missing too, such as creativity, specialist knowledge, willingness to ask questions.
CORRECT.
Those are not personality traits at all. The recognised five main personality traits are:
conscientiousness (efficient/organized vs. extravagant/careless)
agreeableness (friendly/compassionate vs. critical/rational)
neuroticism (sensitive/nervous vs. resilient/confident)
openness to experience (inventive/curious vs. consistent/cautious)
extraversion (outgoing/energetic vs. solitary/reserved)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Five_personality_traits
I never thought I would say anything good about ChatGPT. But when I asked it the question, its answers were perfect. It says:
Being a good translator requires a combination of language skills, cultural understanding, and certain personality traits. Here are some key personality traits that can contribute to success in the field of translation:
Linguistic Proficiency: A good translator must have a strong command of both the source and target languages. This includes not only vocabulary and grammar but also an understanding of idiomatic expressions, colloquialisms, and nuances.
Cultural Sensitivity: Translators need to be culturally aware and sensitive. Understanding the cultural context of the source and target languages helps in accurately conveying the intended meaning. This involves recognizing cultural nuances, customs, and social norms.
Attention to Detail: Precision is crucial in translation. Translators must pay close attention to details such as grammar, syntax, and punctuation to ensure that the translated text accurately reflects the original.
Research Skills: Translators often encounter specialized terminology and technical jargon. Good research skills are essential for looking up and understanding unfamiliar terms, concepts, or industry-specific language.
Patience: Translation can be a time-consuming process, especially when dealing with complex or lengthy texts. Patience is necessary to ensure that the quality of the translation is not compromised by rushing through the task.
Adaptability: Translators may work with a variety of texts on different subjects. The ability to adapt to various topics and writing styles is important for producing high-quality translations across a range of content.
Communication Skills: Clear communication is crucial for understanding client requirements, clarifying doubts, and ensuring that the final translation meets the desired expectations. Good interpersonal skills are valuable in a collaborative work environment.
Confidentiality: Translators often deal with sensitive or confidential information. Trustworthiness and the ability to maintain confidentiality are essential traits in this profession.
Curiosity and Continuous Learning: Languages evolve, and new terminology emerges. A good translator is curious and committed to continuous learning to stay updated on language changes, industry trends, and cultural shifts.
Empathy: Understanding the author's or speaker's intent and emotions is key to producing translations that resonate with the audience. Empathy helps in capturing the tone and style of the original content.
Time Management: Meeting deadlines is crucial in the translation industry. Effective time management skills enable translators to deliver high-quality work within the specified timeframe.
Tech-Savvy: Familiarity with translation tools and technology can enhance efficiency and productivity. Translators often use computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools, and being tech-savvy can be an asset in this regard.
By combining these traits with linguistic skills and cultural understanding, a person can excel as a translator in various contexts and industries.
[Edited at 2023-12-27 09:00 GMT]
| | | | | Loafing about | Dec 27, 2023 |
Kay said:
People were all "out of fast, good and cheap, you can only pick two" a while back and I would counter that fast and good is mostly not an option. Translation is like making bread, it's so much better if you can leave it to rise in the fridge overnight.
An artisan sourdough plait is no good when you just want to make a toastie. Sometimes a quick sliced white is exactly what is needed.
There are just so many permutations in this business. Arguably bashing out 10,000 loaves of acceptable bread a day is a greater skill than crafting 500 loaves a day.
But yes, I know which bakery I’d rather work in.
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Networking skills, combined with speed and a low price
First, you need a network of PMs that you could twist around your little finger (e.g. by phoning them constantly and telling them what they want to hear, combined with slander about any competitors you know from the forums, their contributions on proz and caress the narcism of your PMs, which has to be higher than your narcism).
Secondly, you have to be speedy, quality doesn't matter. Take technical subjects, like manuals ... See more Networking skills, combined with speed and a low price
First, you need a network of PMs that you could twist around your little finger (e.g. by phoning them constantly and telling them what they want to hear, combined with slander about any competitors you know from the forums, their contributions on proz and caress the narcism of your PMs, which has to be higher than your narcism).
Secondly, you have to be speedy, quality doesn't matter. Take technical subjects, like manuals and consumer electronics or engineering. Nobody reads those manuals anyway because their bad quality is well known.
Offer a low price others can't make a decent living of. Take care you have a financial backup by an economically strong husband or cohabitant or move to a tropical island with low living costs, live with your parents and/or avoid taxes and any contributions to social insurance.
Last but not least: Make strong use of DeepL and other AI systems.
[Bearbeitet am 2023-12-27 21:29 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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