When you look at something from the outside, you are bound to make a wrong judgment. People often end up believing in stereotypes because they have never interacted with a community. Whenever people meet those, they have always perceived to be bad, their opinions change. It’s remarkable how we can resolve a lot of problems simply by sitting down and talking to each other. But it is not always possible to learn about something. For instance, if you have never interacted with a linguistic expert, you won’t know a lot of things about their field. These misconceptions about translators can also create problems for you when you require linguistic assistance.
What are the Top 15 Misconceptions About Translators?
There are a lot of things people don’t know about translators. But there are also things that they have wrongly assumed. Here are the top 15 misconceptions about translators most people have:
- Same as Interpreters:
Many believe that both translators and interpreters are the same. But in truth, the two work in different worlds. The former can work on documents, take their time, and provide officially accurate results. Interpreters, on the other hand, have to provide results in real-time, but they don’t have to worry about an official rejecting their work.
- No Qualification Necessary:
People think that as long as someone is bilingual, they can work as a linguistic expert. But in order to become a translator, qualification is necessary. Being bilingual is nowhere near enough.
- Translation isn’t Writing:
People have a misconception that linguistic experts don’t need any writing talent because they only have to exchange words. This is completely incorrect as translators have to make sure the final text has a flow.
- Cultural Knowledge isn’t Needed:
One misconception is that anyone with the experience can translate a language without having the cultural knowledge. But the truth is that there is no accuracy without cultural knowledge. Without it, the result would be a tasteless text. It can also end up being offensive to the target audience.
- No Context Required:
The belief that linguistic experts can work without requiring any additional information is incorrect. Sometimes, it becomes necessary to get more details and context from the client.
- Limitations:
People think that there are no limitations in the language world, and the same translator can handle all types of documents. But in the language world, there are experts from different fields. Only someone with the relevant knowledge can translate a medical report.
- Certification is Necessary:
Although getting certified is pretty great and many translators’ dreams, it isn’t necessary. A qualified and experienced professional can deliver quality results without getting any certification.
- Can Be Replaced by Machines:
Computers and the internet offer work as great alternatives to a lot of things. But they won’t be able to handle translations because they lack the ability to understand cultural aspects. This is why, even in the future, they won’t be able to replace human experts.
- They Are Bookish:
Just because computers can’t handle linguistic problems on their own, doesn’t mean they are hated on by translators. Linguistic experts do not rely on books only. Most of them use computer tools to assist them in their work. They increase their efficiency this way and manage to provide accurate results to their clients every time.
- Translators Can Edit:
A lot of people don’t understand how complicated it is to translate a language. It does not just involve a single linguistic expert. It also goes through the hands of an editor. Some agencies hire proofreaders too to make sure there aren’t any typos in the text. This way, the linguistic expert can only focus on their task.
- Knowing One Dialect is Enough:
People assume that if someone knows Mexican Spanish, they can also translate Castilian Spanish. But that’s where culture shows its importance. The difference between cultures makes it impossible for one translator to handle all dialects of a language.
- They Make a Lot of Money:
If you are talking about freelancers, then this isn’t true. They have to buy their own software and spend a lot of time looking for clients. But if a linguistic expert is working with a good agency, they can earn a decent amount.
- They Can Only Help with Official Documents:
Although a lot of times, people require the assistance of a linguistic expert when they are applying for immigration or admission to a foreign university, these aren’t the only types of documents translators can handle. Many of them work in the healthcare industry, while others assist businesses in connecting with the target audience.
- Can Translate in Any Direction:
Most professionals in the field only translate into their native language. An expert must have adequate knowledge of the culture of the target language, which is why this is the only direction they can work in perfectly.
- Only Need an Hour to Finish a Task:
There are agencies that offer urgent assistance, but they assign the task to multiple experts to speed up the process. A single expert cannot finish a document in an hour. It is impossible for them to accurately translate something so quickly.
Language experts help us in every field of life, which is why it is important that we repay them by making their jobs easier for them. Every client can do that by developing a better understanding of the translation industry and how linguistic experts work.
