Thousands of translators are graduated in Russia every year. It would seem that the person received a professional education and speaks foreign languages. But in fact, it often turns out that a specialist diploma is not everything. Finding a good translator for business negotiations can be difficult. To prevent negotiations from becoming a nightmare, you should adhere to some criteria when selecting a translator.
The history of the translation profession is deeply rooted in history. It can even be assumed that the first interpreters of speech appeared in biblical times, when, according to legend, God was angry with people and created multilingualism. It was the translators who became the salvation for people who have ceased to understand each other. They were called differently: interpreters, basmachs, interpreters. But the essence of the profession was the same - to mediate in a conversation between two or more people speaking different languages. As you know, in the old days the profession of a translator was quite dangerous. For a distorted report of the speech of foreigners during important state negotiations, the interpreter could be tortured and even executed. To avoid circumstances under which the outcome of negotiations may become a failure, it is necessary to adhere to some rules when selecting a specialist.
Specialization
First of all, you need to remember that if a translator is fluent in a foreign language, this does not mean that he can make translations on any subject. And if you come across a versatile translator who is ready to translate any complexity and focus, you should think twice before hiring him. The language material on a specialized topic contains a huge number of terms, in which the translator should, if not understand, then at least not get lost. This is especially true for translations on economic, legal, banking and technical topics. After all, a misunderstood meaning can turn into a series of mistakes. Therefore, when looking for an interpreter to participate in business negotiations, decide what will be discussed and what kind of issues will be discussed, and select an interpreter of the appropriate specialization.
Simultaneous or consecutive interpretation?
You also need to decide what kind of translation the specialist should carry out. There are two types of interpretation: consecutive and simultaneous. When interpreting consecutively, the negotiators say short sections of speech, preferably 5-6 sentences each, and then pause so that the translator can translate what has been said. Naturally, such negotiations take longer, but the accuracy of the translation will be higher. Simultaneous interpretation assumes that the interpreter translates simultaneously with the speaker's speech, with a difference of several seconds. This type of translation requires additional multimedia equipment and translator isolation. It is necessary to understand that in an office environment, even if in a separate room, simultaneous translation is impossible.
Own resources
Sometimes companies, in an effort to reduce recruitment costs, employ foreign-language employees. This position is wrong. Not every person, even a fluent speaker of a foreign language, will be able to perform interpretation at a professional level. To convey the meaning, perhaps yes. It is unlikely to translate exactly. It is not for nothing that students of translation faculties have been studying translation techniques, its linguistic aspects, various sections of the grammar of the Russian and foreign languages for many years, including the stylistics of speech, lexicology, etc. How to convey humor to a person? How to get around the sensitive issues often related to the cultural and ethical differences of the negotiators? There is only one answer: for the result of the meeting to suit you, you need a specialist-translator.
Qualification
When selecting an interpreter for business negotiations, you need to pay attention to the qualifications of a specialist. The translator must be graduates of the university where he studied full-time. Be that as it may, learning a foreign language by correspondence is, if not impossible, then very difficult. A plus for a specialist will be an internship in foreign companies, and better abroad, experience of participating in conferences, seminars, exhibitions, etc. If a translator works or has worked in translation agencies, he should have recommendations from the management or even clients who turn to him. High-level translators, like other service professionals, should have their own professional portfolio, examples of work.
