What does it take to be a professional translator in the 21st century? What are the opportunities and challenges of a career in translation? How do you find that first job? How do you ensure that work remains sustainable over time? Combining industry insights, the latest research in the field of translation studies and a career coaching approach, this textbook takes aspiring translators on an explorative journey that helps them answer these questions for themselves so they can become the professional translators they aspire to be.
Each chapter of this hands-on guide opens with key questions that budding translators might typically ask themselves and encourages them to reflect on their relevance for their own situation through regular discussion points and ‘Topics for discussion and assignments’. Targeted suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter guide users in deepening their knowledge. Written primarily for students on translation courses, the accessible language, tone and design of this book will appeal to anyone who is thinking of embarking upon a career in translation. Additional resources are available on the Routledge Translation Studies Portal.
About the Author
Series Editor’s Foreword
About this Textbook
Acknowledgements
PART I
Joining the profession
1 What skills and qualifications do I need?
2 Career paths: Freelance, in-house or portfolio career?
3 No translator is an island: Setting up your support networks
4 Finding that first job
PART II
On the job
5 Dealing with clients
6 Managing your translation projects
7 Managing translation quality
PART III
Continuing to grow as a professional translator
8 Understanding your market and marketing your business
9 Keeping it sustainable
Bibliography
Index
Biography
JC Penet is Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Translation Studies at Newcastle University, UK, where he is currently the Director of the MA in Professional Translation. Since joining the School of Modern Languages in 2010, he has taught on a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in translation studies, including on translation theory; the language service industry; CAT tools and project management; institutional translation; and interpersonal relations, emotions and well-being in the translation profession. Through his ‘Translation Networks’ project (2014−2018), he established lasting networks with local language service providers and freelancers in North East England.
"An informed, realistic and refreshingly upbeat guide to working as a professional translator."
-Dorothy Kenny, Dublin City University, Ireland
"This book offers hands-on advice from someone who clearly understands professional translation and the language industry. JC Penet draws on translation professionals’ practical experience as well as relevant academic literature to explain how to best prepare for a successful, sustainable career in this thriving and dynamic sector. I wish I could have read it before I started out!"
-Maureen Ehrensberger-Dow, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland
"Entering the translation market and thriving as a professional translator can be an overwhelming challenge. This textbook helps novice translators to build the personal, social and technical capacities and support structures to succeed in this endeavor. It will inspire and encourage them throughout the learning journey that a career in the dynamic field of translation requires today.”
-Hanna Risku, University of Vienna, Austria
‘A much-needed guide for anyone building (or refreshing) a career in professional translation. This book brings the latest research and understanding of the professional context to students and those working in the field in a really accessible way. The clear, inclusive approach makes the guide helpful for translation programmes globally. Highly recommended!’
- Joanna Drugan, Herriot-Watt University, UK
