Learning to Be a French Language Translator: A Win-win Situation?

“A good French language translator is born not made”   This is often said by people who insist that translation is something that can’t be taught. 

People on the other side of the argument point out that the same could be said of a good doctor.  It is clear that some people are cut out to be doctors, while others aren’t.  However, even the most “natural” doctor needs several years’ training, both in theory and practice, before being let loose on the patients!

Certainly, some people clearly have a natural talent for translation work.  However, for translation to achieve and maintain full status as a profession, there needs to be some way, not only of teaching the skills, but also of assessing whether or not the required standard in these skills has been reached. 

Currently, French language translators arrive at “qualified” status by various different routes, but many of them receive their training on academic courses which don’t necessarily prepare them for the realities of actual working life as a translator.  More recently, the practice has been growing for translation agencies to take on trainee translators in “placements” or “internships” where they can learn by doing.  This seems a very valuable way to proceed. 

So, apart from the natural abilities French language translators need to have, what are the skills they need to be taught, and how should this teaching take place?

It seems clear that, as with the medical and other professions, French language translators need both a theoretical framework, which can be taught in a college or academic course, and a set of “how-to” skills, which can be most usefully acquired on the job. 

Skills which can be taught in academic training

• Theoretical knowledge.  The French language translator needs to know what translation is and why it is necessary.  Although no universally accepted theory of translation has been developed, there are various theoretical models which it is important for the translator to know and to be able to compare.  It is really important for translators who are starting out to have a theoretical framework, in order to be able to make sense of everything else in the curriculum.  Assessment of this can be done by essays, a project, and perhaps examinations.
• Language competence.  The French language translator absolutely must have a high level of competence both in his or her own language, and in the language out of which he/she intends to translate.  This needs to include both writing and comprehension skills, including grasp of grammar, facility of expression etc.  This will be tested in every case by people whose first language is the language concerned, by means of essays and comprehension tests.  If a satisfactory standard is not reached, it is questionable whether the student should be allowed to proceed. 
• Competence in process of translation.  This is the process of understanding the passage, abstracting the message or meaning from the forms in which it is expressed, internalising the message or meaning, and re-expressing it in the appropriate forms in the target language.  The French language translator can learn this process initially in the academic part of the course, in order to be aware of the standard to aim at, before learning to cope with the pressures of the actual job.  This can be assessed by speakers of both languages, the speaker of the target language initially reading the translation without having seen the source passage, then both testers checking for completeness and accuracy.  Some suggest that translation ability can be tested by doing a “back-translation” after a few days.  However, the problem with this is that the more literal a translation is, the more accurately it will translate back into the original language – so it does not encourage the student to leave behind the original forms.
• Cultural competence.  The French language translator needs to understand what is meant by culture, and in what ways language and culture are bound together.  The student should also be introduced to the various ways of handling cultural mismatches in the translation process – e.g. using the original term, using the closest natural equivalent, using an explanatory phrase, etc. – and how to decide which is most appropriate.  Competence in this area can be assessed by essays, and by translation exercises between very culturally diverse situations.

Skills which can be best learned on the job

• Professional competence.  This includes all the skills relating to professional practice.  These will include how to operate within an agency;  how to balance the need for translation quality with working to time constraints; and how to use technology including Computer Aided Translation.  The actual techniques of using this are reasonably straightforward, but trainee French language  translators need to learn when it is appropriate to use it and when not, and the most appropriate ways to use it.  They also need to learn basic skills including how to type quickly or even touch type. Ideally the trainee will be assigned a “practice supervisor” from within the agency, who can assess when the trainee has reached an adequate level of competence. 
• Psychological and behavioural competence.  This refers to skills which are less tangible, but equally necessary if the French language translator is to be able to operate as a fully professional member of an agency.   They include self-confidence, which is essential if the translator is to be able to make the constant decisions that are required during the process of translation; ability to hand over a task when complete, rather than hanging on to it hoping to improve it; ability to say no when necessary; ability to work independently (requiring self-discipline and concentration); and also ability to work in groups and work as a member of a team.  If the trainee has a supervisor, ideally he/she should be compiling an assessment report providing examples of the trainee’s competence in each of these skills.
• Problem-solving ability.  This refers to the ability to deal with problems that arise in the course of the translation task.  It is sometimes called “strategic competence”. The French language translator needs to know when to use his/her own initiative in dealing with problems, and when it is right to ask for help.  This includes problems encountered in the source text – for instance illegibility, missing chunks, and bits that simply don’t make sense.  It also includes how to deal with complaints from clients, or problems with the client simply client awkward.  Again, the assessor/supervisor should be able to ensure the trainee has opportunities to demonstrate competence in these areas.