French Translator: A Team Person Or A Loner?

How important is teamwork for the French translator?

Many people have a mental picture of how a translator works.  They visualise the translator sitting alone, slaving away at a desk, with a document, a pad of paper, a pen, an old typewriter and a dictionary.

This may have been the way it was, once upon a time.  However, the twenty-first century has caught up even with the translation industry.  All French translators, whether they are freelancers working alone, or part of a big translation agency, need to use the latest tools and technology.  Even if they are freelancers working alone, the demands of translation clients nowadays means that they need to be part of a network if they are going to survive in business.

So why do French translators need to work together?  There are a number of reasons.

• Almost all translators are specialised.  Quality requirements nowadays are such that a French translator needs to become expert in a particular style or subject-matter.  This may involve specialising in a particular type of literary translation.  Or it may involve being an expert in a particular subject area such as music, science, law, medicine and so on.  It is virtually impossible for a French translator to be an expert in more than one area, or at least in more than one or two closely related areas.  He/she needs to keep working all the time to be up to date in the latest developments in that subject area.  When a project comes in, it needs team discussion to decide who is the most appropriate person to take the job.
  
  
• Even a single language, such as French, is not spoken in the same way in different parts of the world.  French is spoken differently in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada etc. The best translation results are obtained if the French translator comes from the actual part of the world for which the translation is required.  Again, the project will be discussed by the team to decide who is the most suitable person to deal with it.
  
• When a translation job is done, if it is being independently proofread will be checked by the French translator who worked on it, and it will then be reviewed by another translator.  Any queries and suggestions will be passed to the original translator, to be incorporated into the job.   Obviously there needs to be a sense of teamwork and co-operation, so that the original translator will be willing to accept anything that needs to be changed without feeling “precious” about it.  They need to be aware that they are all working together towards the same goal – that of meeting and exceeding the customer’s expectations.
  
• Translation isn’t a straightforward process – far from it.  A French translator often gets “stuck” – whether it’s to do with the interpretation of the original text, how to express something in the translation, or a knotty problem to do with cultural transfer.  On these occasions the translator really needs someone to talk the problem over with.  It’s surprising how quickly a mental block can be “unblocked” with the help of just a few minutes’ chatting!
  
  
• Everybody needs support from time to time – including French translators.  Translation quality can be affected by the translator feeling discouraged over a difficult piece of work, not feeling too well, or having problems at home.  In a good team, other members realise when another member needs support and provides a listening ear, or just a cup of coffee!  Translators are human beings, not machines.
  
• Sometimes, a piece of work is just too big to be given to one person.  When this happens, it will need to be divided up between two or more French translators.  Otherwise it would be impossible to meet the client’s deadline.  In this situation, a very high standard of teamwork is required.  The project needs a Project Manager to have oversight of the job.  All those involved need to work closely with the project manager and with each other to ensure that their styles are not so divergent that the job looks as if it had been done by a committee!  It probably means that some at least of the team members need to sacrifice at least a little of their individual styles and working preferences.  They also need to listen to the project manager when the “bits” are put together so that the document flows smoothly and the joins are not detectable.
  
  
• It does happen on occasions that a client has a “rush job” that needs doing at very short notice.  In order to meet this deadline one or more French translators need to work nights and weekends to get the job done in time.  This requires quite a big sacrifice of personal convenience for the good of the agency as a whole.
  
  
• Team collaboration is equally necessary among freelance French translators.  Many freelancers have found it beneficial to join a network with other freelancers so that they offer the best quality work.  No freelancer is qualified to take on every job that is offered – many jobs will require specialised knowledge that the freelancer may not have.  This way the most appropriate translator can be found for the job.  And of course freelancers have the same need as agency workers for support and morale-boosting!  Some freelance translators are individualists and find it hard to work as part of a team, but those who do find it really helps their work.
  

So working as part of a team brings great benefits for French translators, but also makes demands of those involved. Among the benefits are:

• All the team members learn from each other.  Every member has expertise in something and also has particular talents and abilities.   All members also bring different kinds of experience with them to the job.  By being part of a team, all members can benefit from what each member has to contribute.
• Nobody feels inspired all the time.  When one French translator in the team has a mental block, others can help out.
• Team work is much better for morale than solitary working. 

There are also demands and requirements for being a good team member:

• You need to communicate.  “Communicating” means more than talking.  It means being clear, saying what you mean and avoiding fluff, LISTENING to what fellow team members say, accepting feedback and taking it on board if necessary.
• If you appreciate support when you’re going through a bad patch, remember others will also appreciate it from you.
• Be flexible.  What happens when one French translator on the team goes off sick or has an emergency when a deadline is looming?  All members will have to change their plans or take on more at short notice.