| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4 5 6] | Getting started in the translation industry. Is a Masters worth it? Thread poster: Ellie Phillips
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| Sorry to hijack this post! | Feb 20, 2022 |
Sorry to hijack this post, OP! Just stumbled upon this post while researching the pros and cons of doing a master's in translation, and would love to ask David a couple of questions about DipTrans if that's okay!
Hi David, I found your reply really interesting as, like yourself, I've already been working as a translator for over a decade (freelancing since 2015), but have been mulling over the idea of doing a Master's degree in translation to potentially "boost" my career. But havin... See more Sorry to hijack this post, OP! Just stumbled upon this post while researching the pros and cons of doing a master's in translation, and would love to ask David a couple of questions about DipTrans if that's okay!
Hi David, I found your reply really interesting as, like yourself, I've already been working as a translator for over a decade (freelancing since 2015), but have been mulling over the idea of doing a Master's degree in translation to potentially "boost" my career. But having read your reply, I wonder if DipTrans might indeed be a better option, as it costs quite a lot less and would take less time to complete?
Do you know any reputable UK-based course providers for this qualification, please? And do you have to choose one specific language pair? My language pair is ChineseEnglish and I can translate in both directions, although I have a slight preference for translating into English.
Thank you in advance.
Ka Yee
David Hayes wrote:
This question has come up regularly over the years and the answers tend to be similar or the same to those already offered this time round.
For my part, I have just completed an MA in translation after eleven years as a freelancer. One thing I wanted to share was that the MA I did (via The Open University!) offered a lot of tips and possible openings for those who needed more practical experience. I didn't feel the need to pursue these options, but they were there if had wanted to do so. My point is therefore that the MA/practical experience debate does not necessarily have to be a simple either/or choice.
My second suggestion is that if you're not certain about investing in an MA (they are certainly over-priced), you might want to consider a professional qualification such as the DipTrans. This can be acquired more quickly and cheaply, although many people find they need to take a preparation course to increase their chances of passing.
My experience is that most translation agencies these days like their translators to hold a translation-related qualification. That can probably be compensated for by offering relevant experience and/or an area of specialisation, but if you are just starting out this cannot be acquired overnight.
Finally, an MA is not worth it if you define 'worth' in terms of the quantity of work you are likely to win on the basis of holding that qualification alone. But it certainly is worth it if you are interested in translation studies as a subject and can make links between the topics studied and your subsequent work as a freelancer. ▲ Collapse
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Ka Yee MECK wrote: Sorry to hijack this post, OP! Just stumbled upon this post while researching the pros and cons of doing a master's in translation, and would love to ask David a couple of questions about DipTrans if that's okay! Hi David, I found your reply really interesting as, like yourself, I've already been working as a translator for over a decade (freelancing since 2015), but have been mulling over the idea of doing a Master's degree in translation to potentially "boost" my career. But having read your reply, I wonder if DipTrans might indeed be a better option, as it costs quite a lot less and would take less time to complete? Do you know any reputable UK-based course providers for this qualification, please? And do you have to choose one specific language pair? My language pair is ChineseEnglish and I can translate in both directions, although I have a slight preference for translating into English. Thank you in advance. Ka Yee David Hayes wrote:
This question has come up regularly over the years and the answers tend to be similar or the same to those already offered this time round.
For my part, I have just completed an MA in translation after eleven years as a freelancer. One thing I wanted to share was that the MA I did (via The Open University!) offered a lot of tips and possible openings for those who needed more practical experience. I didn't feel the need to pursue these options, but they were there if had wanted to do so. My point is therefore that the MA/practical experience debate does not necessarily have to be a simple either/or choice.
My second suggestion is that if you're not certain about investing in an MA (they are certainly over-priced), you might want to consider a professional qualification such as the DipTrans. This can be acquired more quickly and cheaply, although many people find they need to take a preparation course to increase their chances of passing.
My experience is that most translation agencies these days like their translators to hold a translation-related qualification. That can probably be compensated for by offering relevant experience and/or an area of specialisation, but if you are just starting out this cannot be acquired overnight.
Finally, an MA is not worth it if you define 'worth' in terms of the quantity of work you are likely to win on the basis of holding that qualification alone. But it certainly is worth it if you are interested in translation studies as a subject and can make links between the topics studied and your subsequent work as a freelancer.
| | | | Paul Lambert 
Sweden
Local time: 17:33
Member (2006)
Swedish to English
+ ...
Has your mother ever baked you a cake?
Is she a professionally trained baker or cook with a diploma from a culinary school?
Some of you will be able to say yes, but most will have to say no.
Did you still enjoy the cake?
In fact, you might have enjoyed it more since it was made with love than you would with a store-bought cake made by a full-time trained baker.
Do you not have the right to choose the cake for yourself?
Now, if this is lost on an... See more Has your mother ever baked you a cake?
Is she a professionally trained baker or cook with a diploma from a culinary school?
Some of you will be able to say yes, but most will have to say no.
Did you still enjoy the cake?
In fact, you might have enjoyed it more since it was made with love than you would with a store-bought cake made by a full-time trained baker.
Do you not have the right to choose the cake for yourself?
Now, if this is lost on anyone, I think this discussion about being educated/regulated etc. has lacked focus on the client and his right to decide. It is his money after all, and if he is happy with the work of an experienced translator, albeit not with a degree in translation, why should he not offer work to such a freelancer, and why shouldn't such a freelancer accept such work?
Pace: Sadak, now, if you are ever in the market to buy translation services and you want to insist on a translator with a masters degree in translation, you have every right to decide that for yourself. ▲ Collapse
| | | | TonyTK
German to English
+ ...
| Great British Bake Off | Feb 23, 2022 |
Paul Lambert wrote:
Has your mother ever baked you a cake?
...
In fact, you might have enjoyed it more since it was made with love than you would with a store-bought cake made by a full-time trained baker.
None of these analogies really work. Two weeks ago we had plumbers, now it's bakers.
And surely none of us lucky enough to ever have had a cake baked for them by their mother was heartless enough to tell her it was substandard - although we might have attempted to gently dissuade her from trying to sell it to someone.
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Paul Lambert
Sweden
Local time: 17:33
Member (2006)
Swedish to English
+ ...
TonyTK wrote: Paul Lambert wrote:
Has your mother ever baked you a cake?
...
In fact, you might have enjoyed it more since it was made with love than you would with a store-bought cake made by a full-time trained baker. None of these analogies really work. Two weeks ago we had plumbers, now it's bakers. And surely none of us lucky enough to ever have had a cake baked for them by their mother was heartless enough to tell her it was substandard - although we might have attempted to gently dissuade her from trying to sell it to someone.
The analogy is perfectly apt in the context I was presenting, even given the fact that no analogy is 100%.
My point was the right of the client to choose. That holds in translation, plumbing, cakes, dildos, machine guns, silly puddy, fuzzy dice or anything else.
| | | | TonyTK
German to English
+ ...
Paul Lambert wrote:
The analogy is perfectly apt in the context I was presenting, even given the fact that no analogy is 100%.
No it isn't. Anyone can bake a decent cake. Even I can do it.
Paul Lambert wrote:
My point was the right of the client to choose.
I didn't realise that was in dispute. I thought you were suggesting that it might be a good idea to have translations done by someone who loves us.
[Bearbeitet am 2022-02-26 08:20 GMT]
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