Geekier? Is that a word? Geek, geeky, geekier,
geekiest, most geekiest... It’s important to speak the lingo for technical
translations.
Traditionally, linguists follow arts and humanities. This can leave a gap in technical understanding. At the recent BP14 translation conference
in Budapest, a translator asked how to develop their technical knowledge.
As I
get geekier by the day, I outline below tips to make that transition.
1. Work experience outside translation
Gain work experience outside the translation world and
academia. Build up knowledge of other industries and technical terminology - e.g.
I learnt a lot about glass technology and pharmaceuticals at Saint-Gobain. My
induction training included factory visits to see the production lines, cleanrooms,
etc.
2. Contract work with
engineers and other techies
Taking on a short-term contract job in a technical field can
also help develop technical knowledge - e.g. I once worked on a helpline between engineers and hospital laboratory staff at Olympus
Diagnostic Systems.
3. Attend trade fairs
A trade fair is a great place to ask questions about new
technologies and trends. The range of seminars can be very informative. You can
pick up useful literature too. Once you are on the organiser’s mailing list,
you are often invited to more niche events.
4. Get hands on with
products
It is much easier to translate product information if you
have actually seen and used the product. A tractor manufacturer once sent me on
a product familiarisation course. The client met all expenses for a whole week,
as he placed great value on having informed staff at his marketing agency.
It is a pity that translation is often an afterthought.
Product familiarisation courses are rarely offered to translators. You can
always ask. The client may welcome such an initiative. Alternatively, go and
see the products in stores or showrooms locally.
5. Be your own IT
Helpdesk
As a freelancer, you have to become your own IT helpdesk. Develop
your own website. Learn by trial and error. You soon appreciate the ingredients
for good online technical instructions, videos and helplines.
6. Read, read, read
I make a point of reading material in my specialist areas almost
on a daily basis. I often find breaking tech news on my Twitter feed. I then follow
such leads to websites and technical papers.
7. Study a technical
subject
I took the deliberate step to develop my technical translation
skills by studying an MSc in technical translation at Imperial College London
(now at UCL). It is a great pity that there are not more of such courses.
Of course, you could also take a diploma or even another
degree in a technical subject too. A local car maintenance evening class might
prove useful for automotive translations. There is also an increasing range of
online technical courses and webinars available.
8. Friends and family
Don’t neglect the value of chatting with friends working in
technical fields. I am lucky to have scientists and engineers in my immediate
family. My tech-mad teenagers are good at keeping me up-to-date with the latest
social media trends and apps.
9. Ask questions
Stay curious. Professional translators are not afraid to ask
questions. Experienced translators often highlight unclear or inaccurate text
with their questions. Technical knowledge can be a curse when targeting
customers or research funding. A technical translator/writer can develop into
an indispensable sounding board and project partner.
10. Get familiar with
Star Trek and Star Wars
I am only half jesting here. These days when you
mention translation to a geek, their first words are about Google Translate. So
have your lightsaber at the ready. Explain why the universal translator will
never replace heroic, human translators.
Beam Scotty back down to earth.
Do you have any additional tips for increasing technical skills?
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