Non-native Translators?

GreyPhoenix
January 09, 2009, 05:07 AM posted in General Discussion

My husband is in the process of becoming a Mandarin/English translator here in the US. Having worked with Chinese here for a few years, I really appreciate and admire those who dedicate themselves to translating to help others in need. My husband (a Malaysian Chinese who grew up speaking English and Mandarin) posed an interesting question to me: Do you think a non-native speaker could ever become fluent enough in a second language to become a translator? Da Shan-types aside, what are the chances someone who didn't start learning Chinese until age 22 could someday be fluent enough to translate professionally?

 

What do you think? Does anyone have experience actually doing paid translation for a language learned as an adult? Can I set my goals that high, or should I stick with teaching ESL? Any input is appreciated!

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pearltowerpete
January 09, 2009, 05:24 AM

Hi brooke,

I am a professional translator who started learning Chinese when I was 19. I studied Chinese for four semesters at college in the States, then came to Shanghai in September 2005. That was when the real learning began. Since that time I've devoted hours per day to learning Chinese.

There's nothing magical about Da Shan, by the way. He's lived in China for decades. Early on he saw a niche for a foreigner who could be cute on TV, and he's made the most of it. More power to him.

I have a lot more admiration for Joseph Conrad, a Pole who learned English in his twenties and then went on to write masterpieces in his adopted language. Nabokov is another example. Some people choose to hawk electronic dictionaries, some people choose to write books that touch your soul.

I'm not sure how the job market would be for me in America but with my skills here I have never had trouble.

If you're so interested in Chinese that you study it for hours just because you love it, becoming a translator may be a great idea. If you just enjoy it, you may be better off getting a certain level of fluency and then using your skills for business or something else.

Thanks for an interesting question. If you have more questions, please let me know on the forums or in a personal message.

 

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urbandweller
January 09, 2009, 04:09 PM

Pete,

What made you want to start learning Chinese at 19 years old?!

I'm thinking back when i was that age (sounding like an old man now) and the last thing on my mind was learning a leanguage. I like many others wanted to go to clubs and have a good time.

Just curious...

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GreyPhoenix
January 09, 2009, 05:38 PM

Hi Pete,

 

Thanks for the answer! Yes, I'm one of those people who studies Chinese for hours a day because I love it and am rather addicted - have been for 3 1/2 years now. I've heard pros and cons about college courses for learning Chinese, so have done mostly private study through the web and interacting with my Chinese students, friends, and husband. About 1/3 of everything we say at home now is said in Chinese, and I'm lovin' it. :)

 

Again, I really appreciate hearing your story. I think I'll go for it! A few years from now, that is... Thanks!

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pearltowerpete
January 09, 2009, 11:42 PM

Hi urbandweller,

I used to be very hard-core. My original goal in life was the military or intelligence services. For a variety of reasons, I'm on a different path now. But I only turned into a Baileys-sipping man of leisure after I came to China!

I studied a year of Italian as a college freshman. I will always love that language and country, but a wise professor suggested that Chinese would be a good career idea, as well as an intellectual challenge. (By the way, brooke, he was a Finn who had written many academic books in English).  I signed up, struggled through two years in the States where I didn't learn much actual content but built a strong foundation of respect for radicals and tones, and the rest, as they say, is history.

One other note about translations-- it's my understanding that in the EU it is considered very unprofessional to translate into anything other than your native language. This, of course, means that everyone who translates either grew up bilingual or is translating in their non native language. They (admirably) start second language education much sooner than we do in the States, and so they can demand this high level of excellence.

In China, there are few foreigners who learn Chinese well enough to translate (and even fewer who stick with it when they could be making mega bucks in deals or consulting or whatever). So, much translation here is done in a two stage process, where a semi-decent Chinese grad student does a first gloss, and a foreigner with no Chinese proof-reads. Or sometimes, they just pop open the dictionary and go word for word. This system is OK, although the "Beijing Anus Hospital" and "Rabbit ****ing the Pot" demonstrate its short-comings.

 

 

 

 

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hazelreid
January 14, 2009, 09:17 PM

What's wrong with learning at 19? I'm 17!