Many of you are getting a translator's diploma in June and are thinking about what's next. It is believed that at the university we get professional knowledge, but often this is not quite true at the exit, more often we come out with student knowledge, and the most important – professional ones have yet to be developed.

To begin with, we must make a reservation that in this article we will talk about translation from / into English, but the general principles apply to all languages.

Russian Russian translation First of all, it should be understood that translation from Russian to English and from English to Russian are two different types of translation.

Below we would like to list the vulnerable areas of each novice translator

Vocabulary values

More often, the vocabulary is typed randomly, it is not formatted, that is, there is no clear division into themes and styles at least. The difficulty arises when selecting the right word, synonym, word corresponding to the style, in addition, there are difficulties with compatibility, sometimes novice translators come up with their own expressions, taking one word from one expression, and the second from another. While there are stable phrases and word combinations.

What to do?

Take the main topics that will definitely meet in the work: economics, politics, ecology, etc., sort out the topics by the bones in both languages (native and working) for understanding the topic, then compile glossaries. We recommend using up-to-date vocabulary from media articles. In addition, we recommend working with vocabulary – systematize it by style, synonyms for commonly used words, and also write out cliche phrases in both languages that are often found in this topic. This is how we work with students on a language course for translators with English. However, we give an analysis of all the topics in advance and the student remains to work out their use.

Academic Grammar

We are talking about the basic grammar, the so-called "plaster". Unfortunately, in the course of checking the homework of students of our online school of interpretation, it becomes clear that the basic grammar has not been fully mastered. Namely, when a stressful situation arises, in particular, interpretation, it pours like a house of cards: misunderstanding of the use of the article in English (for some reason, everyone everywhere strives to put the, let it be better than not), and also a huge problem with syntax.

Syntax is the basis and foundation in translation, since we do not translate words, but actually repackage syntactic structures. We pay great attention to syntax in the language course for future translators (Chinese, English, etc.). Next, we will prepare a number of articles on what the translator should pay attention to in the syntax of English and Russian.

What to do?

To understand once and for all the structures of native Russian and working English. To understand the base of English grammar will help Kaushanskaya V.L., and with the syntax of the Russian language will help Vyatkina S.V. or Valgina N.S.

Stylistics

Within the framework of this section, first you need to understand that how the story of "Little Red Riding Hood" to a child and a doctor may differ. By the way, in our simultaneous translation course we practice translation in different styles.

At the beginning of the interpretation training, students are often afraid of expression and believe that it is necessary to translate synchronously, like those guys from the 90s who voiced films - monotonously and a little nasal.

In addition, it is important to understand that there are different discourses – an understanding of who is talking about what and how within the framework of different topics.

Premature training in stylistics will greatly simplify the translation "in the fields".

What to do?

– learn about speech registers (styles), their markers, try to tell one story in different styles, then translate

– learn all about the discourse and link it to a specific topic being studied, for example, Economics

Idiomatic 

Idiomatics in the style of "it rains cats and dogs" does not count, it is rather a "student" expression familiar to us from a picture from a fifth grade textbook, where cats and dogs fall from the sky.

We recommend you to get acquainted with the idioms of different styles, starting with "bells and whistles" and ending with "a topic that everyone is afraid to touch — a white elephant in the room", etc.

In addition, do not ignore the American idiomatic block, which modern English cannot do without.

What to do?

To begin with, go through the collections of idioms in Google and look at the adequacy, be sure to check the meaning and style to which the expression refers. Then accumulate your own as you read tons of literature and watch movies.

Background knowledge

Here it is worth mentioning a problem in the field of precision vocabulary, and this is at least background knowledge. Precision words include proper names, various names, and names. The translation of such a group of vocabulary requires advanced listening skills, knowledge of the state structure and structure of corporate structures, international organizations, positions, titles, etc.

What to do?

To begin with, take all the same basic topics that occur in the work and understand who is who and what is what. For example, in the topic Economics/It would not be bad for a politician to understand that the head of the IMF is Christine Lagarde (and what the IMF is, by the way, too).

And, finally, what is not included in any graph, but is very important

– ear training for different accents

– own phonetics

– articulation

– the habit of daily work

We hope that our review of all the points and your training will help you move to the professional level of working as an interpreter.