Translating the style of a written piece helps convey its purpose, so it's just as important as translating the language. Style: Examples of writing styles include descriptive, persuasive, narrative and argumentative. Punctuation: Languages use punctuation differently, so translators should be familiar with the punctuation uses in source language and the translated language. Grammar: Knowing the grammar rules in different languages can help you translate languages correctly. WritingĪlong with verbal communication, it's important for translators to be able to communicate in writing, especially if a translator is translating a piece of writing between languages. CommunicationĪ translator ultimately communicates ideas from one language to another, so communication skills are important for translators to possess. A cultural knowledge can help a translator communicate better. Idioms, references and slang, for example, can have different meanings depending on how they're used. Cultural knowledgeĬultural knowledge has a strong connection with language knowledge for translators, who have to translate between people with different backgrounds. Related: 15 Japanese Major Jobs for College Graduates 2.
The ability to speak and write fluently in at least two languages is the top skill of a translator. Here are some skills that translators use on the job: 1. You can translate written or spoken communication to help people who aren't multilingual communicate better. Translators are fluent in at least two languages so they can communicate between people who speak different languages.
Related: How to Become a Translator What is a translator?Ī translator is a person who interprets a language and translates it into another language. In this article, we describe what a translator is, list skills translators use in their careers, advise on how to improve translation skills and show how to highlight translator skills in a resume, cover letter and interview. Learning about the skills of a translator can both help you become a translator and help you improve your translation skills. Translators use several skills as they convert words from one language to another.