Translation, you can get started even if you don't have any qualifications
Should I leave the Graduate School of Interpretation and Translation?
Should I go to a translation school?
Do I need a translation certificate?
I think this is what people who dream of becoming translators are most curious about.
Not long ago, I introduced two translators through an interview post.
From preparation to becoming a translator, the process of living as a translator, the competencies required of translators,
A day in the life of an in-house or freelance translator, insights, pros and cons,
It also included interesting information, including advice for those who dream of becoming translators and tips for using translators. Be sure to check it out and get some insight. 😉
I received feedback from many people that the questions and answers that were conducted through two interviews were of great help to many people, and this time We had a difficult time recruiting Mr. Chara, a Chinese translator.
Chara is currently working hard on translation work along with parenting, but she is currently registered as a “hot class” on online class platforms, so please search for it.
I would like to share with you an interview with Cha Ra, who is proudly making a name for herself in the Chinese translation industry.
The interview was divided into three parts.
Part 1) Fill in the [blank] by Chinese translator Chara.
Part 2) Translation work balance game.
Part 3) A message to all of you.
I hope this interview is fun, meaningful, and able to catch both rabbits.
Part 1) Fill in the blanks
I'm called Cha [10] Year Old TranslatorThis is a person [who has a strong temperament and is immediately excited about what he likes].
I am Translated worksIs China dramas <나의 남신>, <선풍소녀2>, essays <세상이 몰래 널 사랑하고 있어>, <Welcome, is this your first time being a psychiatrist like this? >, etc.
<나의 남신>My favorite () is a Chinese drama script that was the hardest and most satisfying to translate.
I'm currently [frantically working on translating Taiwanese books], and I plan to spend my time [making some adjustments] in the future.
Good translation in my opinionI think it's [an article that can be read and understood as if it were written in the native language from the beginning].
[Continuous research and passion for languages, and love for languages] Competencies required to live as a translatorThat's it.
Books that have inspired and helped me in my translation career [There are so many, I can't select them hehe]
In a market where English translation is in high demand [sometimes I think about parallel with English, but I focus on building my own path] I'm living as a Chinese translator.
Part 2) Translation Work Balance Game (Please choose one priority and ask for a simple reason)
Q. What I like more when translating is, Literal translation vs. paraphrase vs. creation (transcendental translation)
paraphrase. There are cases where literal translation is necessary depending on the nature of the article, but I think there are cases where appropriate paraphrasing is necessary in order to consider the linguistic characteristics of each country and help readers understand it.
However, I don't really like transcendental translation (creation) that goes beyond the original text because it is a bit dangerous.
Q. What is more important when translating is, One sentence vs. one word
I can't take both of them lightly, so it's hard to choose, but if I had to choose, I'd choose “one sentence.” I've seen many cases where when I'm too obsessed with each word, the whole sentence becomes awkward and unnatural. If it's not an important keyword, I think the context and nuance of the entire sentence is more important.
Q. To become a translator, Graduated from Tongdae VS Translation School vs. Obtaining a Certificate
I'm not going to pick one. This is because I didn't go to Tongdae, didn't go to a translation school, and I don't have a translation certificate, but I've been working as a translator for 10 years. I don't think all three are essential. However, if you want to try out as a translator and ask which of the three you would like to do, I can say that a “translation school” is still the closest path out of the three.
Q. What I prefer more is, Publishing translation vs. video translation
Publishing translation. In fact, I've spent half of my translation life translating movie/drama scripts (screenplays), so I was also interested in video translation, but considering my current situation while raising children and my penchant for books, I think publishing translation is a bit more suitable and appropriate. I like working for a long time to create a typeface.
Part 3) Please listen
Q. Advantages and disadvantages of translation work
In a nutshell, the advantage is being able to be a first reader (although not very freelance) and being able to live the life of a freelancer. The downside is that since I'm a freelancer, I'm unstable.
For people who love books and print, I don't think there's a job as good as being a translator. You can live your life by doing what you love as a career. Being the number one reader in Korea is also very rewarding. Since I'm a freelancer, being able to work while adjusting my own time regardless of commuting is also a huge advantage.
However, since I'm a freelancer with no salary, my job and income are unstable, which is the biggest drawback.
Also, if you don't have control over your own life, it's hard to maintain your life as a freelancer. A firm mind, plan, and will are essential.
Q. This episode was rewarding while working as a translator
It's always a pity that translators don't have many opportunities to get feedback on their translations, but I often get feedback while translating dramas and movie scripts.
After the drama script was translated, the actor's manager contacted me directly. The actor liked my translation, so I was lucky enough to be in charge of translating my next work. Even when I translated the screenplay used for casting, I remember being very happy to hear from the Chinese production team that the actor who received the screenplay told the Chinese production team that they liked my script the most. Praise makes adults dance too.
While publishing and translating, when an article that has been translated over a long period of time is placed in a bookstore as a book, I feel horrified all over my body when I encounter the six letters “Kim So-hee who moved it.”
Q. Know-how or process I learned as I built up my skills
I've never been to a translation school, and since it's a case where I walked this path alone, I learned most of the translation know-how in the process of working and studying. Chinese and Korean clearly have linguistic characteristics, and those characteristics soon influenced translation. I think it's very important to understand its characteristics before translating. How can I understand that characteristic? You can read “lots” of articles in Chinese and Korean. Seems like an obvious story, but it's the only sure way. (The story about the know-how I learned on my own was included in the class 101 lecture 😊 Enlightenment promotion!)
Q. Three words for translators (mild, medium, spicy)
I've never had a mild translation. It is said that the medium flavor lasts for a long time, and then the spicy flavor appears one by one. However, I think the translation is the same as the medium flavor and spicy flavor, just as they contain a rich flavor that pulls our gummies in them. I think the joy and joy of unraveling an unfamiliar language in our own familiar words is a moment that is full of flavor. I do this work because of its umami appeal. In fact, if you look up the dictionary term “umami,” you can see that it also means “the power to attract the heart.” Let's do an intriguing translation together.
**
Give everything to the things you love.
As soon as it overflows, people will stare. -Kim So-hee (Chara)
Mr. Cha Ra, who is now in its 10th year since starting translation as an “upgrade,”
I was able to see that what I started because I liked Chinese language and Chinese dramas without any experience at Graduate School of Interpretation and Translation X, Translation School X, and Translation Certificate X is currently having a big impact on many people.
Translation of literary genres such as lines from movies and TV shows, good words, song lyrics, novels, and essays”Emotional translation“The philosophy of Cha-ra, who redefined”, gave me a great afterglow during the time of organizing the interview. I support Chara in her future endeavors!
See you in the next post~
Wel-con today too!
👉 Visit the official blog of Chinese translator Cha Ra
*This content has been transferred from Gicon Studio to Letterworks.
