книги / Организационно-управленческая деятельность в индустрии перевода =Organizational and managerial activities in translation industry. Ч. 1

Министерство науки и высшего образования Российской Федерации

Федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего образования «Пермский национальный исследовательский политехнический университет»

И.В. Перлова

ОРГАНИЗАЦИОННО-УПРАВЛЕНЧЕСКАЯ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТЬ В ИНДУСТРИИ ПЕРЕВОДА

Часть 1

ORGANIZATIONAL AND MANAGERIAL ACTIVITIES IN THE TRANSLATION INDUSTRY

Part I

Утверждено Редакционно-издательским советом университета

в качестве учебного пособия

Издательство Пермского национального исследовательского

политехнического университета

2022

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УДК 81’25:005(075.8)=111 П26

Рецензенты:

канд. пед. наук, доцент Е.Л. Пипченко (Пермский национальный исследовательский политехнический университет);

канд. пед. наук, доцент В.М. Томилова (Пермская государственная фармацевтическая академия)

Перлова, И.В.

П26 Организационно-управленческая деятельность в индустрии перевода = Organizational and managerial activities in translation industry : учебное пособие : в 2 ч. / И.В. Перлова. – Пермь : Изд-во Перм. нац. исслед. политехн. ун-та, 2022.

ISBN 978-5-398-02681-8

Ч. 1. – 37 с.

ISBN 978-5-398-02682-5

The textbook briefs on rather complicated issues of translator’s job connected with the formation of organizational culture, the cornerstone of which is efficient management of professional translation activity. To organize and manage this business, the translator does not only need qualifications and degree but also be aware of rights and duties as a citizen of the country, current legislation regulating translation activity, have knowledge and skills to manage a team of translators, and many other important things. The book provides information on basic theoretical items followed by practical examples. Six separate sections deal with autonomous components of organizational and managerial activities in the translation sphere. Each starts with general information on the problem followed by particular cases related to it. Starting from rather familiar topics, like various types and forms of translation activity or necessary traits of translator’s personality, the textbook passes on to more complex questions of translation activities like licensing, regulatory documents, electronic document communication, and finally to intellectual property management.

The book is designed to help undergraduates, master and postgraduate students preparing to work in a professional translation environment. Providing them with information that is normally difficult to be found in one source, the textbook can really facilitate their adaptation period in the professional world. It may be also useful for teachers of this sphere of interest, as well as others who are into the management of the translation business.

Учебное пособие предназначено для магистров направления 45.04.02 «Лингвистика» программы «Теория и практика переводческой деятельности».

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“There are approximately 640,000 translators worldwide.

In 2020 survey involving 7,000 professional translators and interpreters found that 75 % of respondents were self-employed (freelance). Collectively, these 7,000 professional translators and interpreters represented 178 countries and accounted for 155 language pairs. 66 % of respondents in the same survey are females. Another 2020 survey shows that 93 % of freelance translators have at least one degree, 39 % of which are language degrees” [1].

As for the Russian translation services market, it is only developing and does not have a long and established history. Until recently there has been a very vague understanding of a translator’s job. Unlike western key players in the industry specializing in one field of translation (boutique companies) dominating participants of the market are such businesses that translate on any theme. The reasons for that may be lack of high demand for their services (especially in provincial cities), market immaturity, and even economic instability. As a result, most companies are focused on the same specialization, like technical, legal, and medical texts. But if the customer applies with texts on such topics as ecology, jewelry, they would hardly turn them down and make considerable efforts to survive in harsh conditions.

Another feature of the Russian translation market is an unstable position of its participant – a translation bureau. The paradox is that soon after appearance many of them close up being unable to compete or continue to exist as translation departments in big companies or notary’s offices.

In this connection, it is rather difficult to speak about market segmentation in Russia. It is more relevant to identify separate directions of translation business and their share in the total market:

-legal and medical texts (market share – 45 %);

-consecutive interpretation, mainly used during negotiations, business meetings (20 %).

-translation of large volume technical texts (10 %);

-sites localization, translation of telephone negotiations, films and serials dubbing (10 %);

-simultaneous interpretation at major events (5 %) [2].

Types and Forms of Translation Activity

In a broad sense, translation can be divided into business-related and non- business-related. However, these two types often overlap and the structure of translation activity presumes a certain classification of translator’s jobs. According to it, there are:

-fiction or literary translators;

-scientific or technical translators;

-commercial translators;

-legal translators;

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-court or judicial translators and interpreters;

-medical and pharmaceutical translators;

-translators dealing with localization;

-conference interpreters;

-community interpreters;

-negotiation interpreters;

Below there are descriptions of some common types of translation.

Literary translation refers to the translation of novels, stories, plays, and poems. This is often regarded as the highest form of translation as its purpose is not simply to convey “the meaning and context of the document in the source language into the target language. It involves incorporating the appropriate cultural nuances, translating humor, feelings, emotions and other subtle elements of a particular work” [3]. Poetry, idioms, anagrams, or jokes translation is a tough job.

Science or technical translation is also quite complicated since it covers a wide scope of manuals, instruction booklets, user guides, materials for technical, engineering, or science fields. Sometimes this material is presented in video format. Translators dealing with this sphere are supposed to be aware of not only terminology but also jargon used in this or that specific industry. Texts for translation are often in the form of screenshots or graphics, so translators must have editing skills to make them understandable in the target language. In technical translation, any tiny mistake can cause future huge damage. So, translation service provider ideally needs to guarantee precise quality control measures testified by even certification of the final product.

Commercial translation includes translation of various documents (e.g., reports, business correspondence, accounts, tender documentation, memos, etc.). Translators need to know not only the industry the texts belong to but also business jargon. A part of commercial translators’ job involves the administrative translation of texts and documents having management character (company mission, articles of association, labor contract, partnership agreements, internal regulations, etc.). In broad terms, this sphere also includes financial translation which sometimes is separated. But since it is business-related, we refer to banking, stock exchange, and IPO documentation here, alongside company accounts, audit reports, or annual reports.

The legal translation covers a wide scope of various documents like registration certificates, corporate statutes, warrants, and remittance drafts. This also includes the translation of legally binding documentation – laws, regulations, enactments, insurance policies, bail assurance, translation of intellectual property, and patentrelated documents. Sometimes the ambit of legal and commercial translation overlaps and translators need to know of all required spheres.

Judicial translation refers to translating court documents – summons, minutes, different types of testimonies (expert or witness), depositions, judgments, rogatory

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letters, etc. Court interpreters logically deal with all oral activities related to court procedures.

Medical and pharmaceutical translation might be united with scientific translation but still, this is a separate field related to documentation of exactly medical content, such as research papers, clinical trial paperwork, labels, instructions, packaging, certificates, and the like. It is imperative that such translators have corresponding knowledge and experience. Moreover, medical documents have to correspond to certain, very often tricky requirements which differ from country to country. Thus normally, a medical translation service provider must follow a high level of quality control having required certification.

Localization can be divided into minimum four subareas: software, game, multimedia, and website localization. The first is software adaptation to another language and culture. Here the translator’s goal is not only to make the product available in the target language but to customize it so that it matches norms, conventions, and expectations of the target culture. Examples of such customization are time, date, or currency adjustment while translating the user interface, messaging, or documentation. There is often a necessity to adapt graphics, symbols, colours, and even concepts to ensure optimal design of the software for the target language and culture. This type of translation almost always needs a testing process to check if the “text is in the correct place, fits the space, everything makes sense, functions as intended and is culturally appropriate” [4].

Game localization means its adaptation for other languages. While translating text and recording the translator should keep in mind that the game must cause engagement and fun for users of other countries without clashing with their culture (its regulations, customs, and even sensibilities). Examples of censored or inappropriate content may be gambling, violence, religious issues, or alcohol. To avoid these nuisances, translators have some options – to remove parts of the game, to replace them, or even to re-work.

Multimedia localization refers to the adaptation of anything a user can hear or see – videos, movies, e-learning courses, online webinars, presentations, etc. In brief, this is the translation of the text appearing on the screen and accompanying audio. Audio produce can be in the forms of voice-over, dubbing, or subtitling. Sometimes the translator also needs to review and adapt the visuals/script for the target culture. Let us show it with some examples of script translation. The first problem a translator may face is a longer time of translation voicing than the time in the original language. In this case, translation has to be edited to be voiced within the time available. Another uncomfortable situation is when the script is culture-specific, i.e., featuring jokes, activities, or customs not understandable or inappropriate in the target culture. The job of the translator then also presumes adjustment of the script and/or visuals. Sometimes it is challenging to synchronize translation with animations and actions or to deal with specialist technical terminology.

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There is a certain peculiarity in producing audio (voice-over). Quite often segments in the original and target languages are not of the same length. It is when the voiceover lags the original section by a second or two, for example during interviews, where we first hear the original voice which then drops out. In dubbing, the most challenging issue for a translator is to provide a voice artist with lip-syncing – when a translated audio fragment must be synchronized with the original speaker’s lip movements, actions, and gestures, although much, of course, depends on the professionalism of actors.

Finally, website localization means translation and adaptation of website content to correspond target language and culture. When working with websites translators do not necessarily need to localize all the content as some of it may be not relevant for other language versions. Quite often there are also videos, text, or captions in graphics, some specialist documents which constitute specificity of this translation. Adaptation touches some changes – currency, time and dates, number formats, measure units, etc. Translators may even change the total site design (colours, images) to have the desired impact on customers in the target culture. After translation and adaptation, the content is coordinated and approved by site webmasters.

There is also another classification of translation activity according to its forms – written, oral, and its theoretical and applied provision performed by certain professional groups.

Translation methods can be a core element in distinguishing one more classification. There are four of them:

-human translation;

-machine translation;

-machine translation plus human revision;

-human translation plus revision [5].

The first two methods are widely used in business and everyday life nowadays. But very often the quality of machine translation needs to be edited to ensure the message is adequately understood due to correct grammar, absence of wrong, unclear, or confusing wording. This method is obviously used when a client only needs information, so there is a light post-revision process on behalf of the translator, otherwise, it will take more time and increase the costs of the job than when translation is done from the scratch. The fourth method is regarded to be the highest quality level as it comprises the work of at least two professionals. In the beginning one translator works, then the second translator reviews to find mistranslation or just “to polish” the text. Sometimes specialists are invited to confirm 100 % accuracy, which documents especially need. This is the most expensive and time-consuming method.

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Translation Bureau vs Freelances

Translation services are more often nowadays done by professionals employed by translation bureau or freelancers. Of course, some companies keep on staff their translators, but it is more profitable for others to outsource. In this case, they apply to such bureaus or individuals. In bureaus usually, highly skilled translators are permanently employed and do their work on a regular basis. But it is not a rare case when some personnel work distantly and only on demand. This is particularly actual when there is an order for translation from or to a rare language. Bureaus provide a wide range of translation activity on various subjects as there is a specification in certain fields and offer a sensible balance between the quality of the work and its price. Employees develop glossaries that can be given later to a client if required. Translation bureaus offer not only written but also oral translation. In big cities, it is both consecutive and simultaneous. Some bureaus even offer language courses or testing. The bureau which wants to stay competitive arranges regular training for its staff.

Although all various translation service providers co-exist on the market and feel relatively comfortable, it is sometimes challenging for a client to choose the right option. Let us try to apply a clear-cut approach and study table 1.

So, when choosing a freelancer or staffed translators, one should define the project and needs. In bureaus, there are those who perform the role of editors (it may be even a native speaker), which is why there is greater security that the document, for example, is properly translated. There is also more confidence in strict confidential policy followed in bureaus and clients do not need to worry that some information can be disclosed. Another distinctive difference is that established bureaus normally provide translation of standard documents with notarial certification, which is certainly a great benefit for customers. Finally, big bureaus can afford to have a certain system of bonuses and discounts for permanent clients. From the translator’s point of view, being a freelancer does not guarantee regular orders, but in case of proficiency, they can charge even more than bureau employees get.

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