About translation in technical and industrial sector

Despite the fact that every year the need in technical translations of good quality increases, in such sphere as technical translation the main problem is that there are no specialists of the needed qualification. First of all the special preparation of the translators is needed in technical and industrial sphere. Unfortunately, the majority of the existing programmes on translators preparation does not fully satisfy the market needs and do not correspond to the requests.

What is needed to become a good technical translator? First of all you should understand that such sphere as technical translation requires more than just a good level of foreign language. The translator, working with technical texts, should first of all have good knowledge in basic natural sciences such as physics and chemistry, he/she should have the understanding of engineering and manufacturing. It is often said that in ideal situation to make a technical translation you need an engineer or technician who knows the foreign language pretty well. On the other hand, the enterprises, that need a technical translation, should understand that a technical translator, working for this enterprise, needs consultations. That is why there is a need in so called reference materials that will be used by technical translator during work. In such a case the technical translation will be correct not only form the linguistic point of view, but also from the technical point of view. The technical translator is not virtuoso and is not a master of the word, he simply knows terminology very well, understands the principles of work of the equipment and know technical slang. From its side the enterprise in the ideal situation should not make a market research looking for quality technical translation. To get a quality product it is necessary to work with translator very closely especially at the beginning. It is also necessary to understand that the role of technical translator has the same importance as the role of technician – these two specialists will not be able to exist separately from each other. The formation of the technical translation culture should start at the university, at the enterprise, where the technical translator works, and at the same time the translator himself/herself follows the new technical products, the news in the sphere etc.

Every day the technical translation is becoming more and more important in modern world, where everyone wants to keep up with the newest technologies and the manufacturing is being developed in seven-league steps. And at the same time the translator the translator should evolve together with the surroundings and if you choose to be a “technical translator” you should follow “the rules of the game”. To certain extend it is possible to combine the literary and technical world, but very often these two words are opposed to each other, loosing every idea on their initial identity. In global terms the technical and the industrial sectors gain a lot because of it, and the very notion “translation” conquered the recognition and professional respect, and also was officially accepted in the world of industry. And if you want to criticize the enterprises for careless attitude to translation in general, and for insensitiveness to translators in particular, just think about the translators that so often refuse from technical translations, standing with their back to the world of technology and industry.

The technical translator should change some working habits. It is impossible to make a technical translation sitting in a vacuum. If a technical translator wants to get a professional respect at the enterprise, where he/she works he should show professional attitude to this enterprise. The technical translator should not be in fear to get lost among the technical specialists, on the contrary – the close work with specialists will give him an opportunity to give to the customer a product of good quality. At the same time the technical translator should be ready to take up the role of specialist in the field of terminology. Very often he will face with new terms not used in another language and he will have to introduce the new terminology. To do it, the technical translator should not simply well understand the terminology from the sphere, the technical translator should know the principles of terms formation and basics of work with terminology, he should avoid synonymy in terms and in notions.