The Term of Translation

Etymologically, translation is a "carrying across" or "bringing across". The Latin translation derives from the perfect passive participle, translatum, of transferre ("to transfer" — from trans, "across" + ferre, "to carry" or "to bring"). The modern Romance, Germanic and Slavic European languages have generally formed their own equivalent terms for this concept after the Latin model — after transferee or after the kindred traducere ("to bring across" or "to lead across"). Additionally, the Ancient Greek term for "translation", μετάφραςισ (metaphrasis, "a speaking across"), has supplied English with metaphrase (a "literal translation", or "word-for-word" translation)—as contrasted with paraphrase ("a saying in other words", from the Greek παράφραςισ, paraphrasis"). Metaphrase corresponds, in one of the more recent terminologies, to "formal equivalence", and paraphrase to "dynamic equivalence." 18 | P a g e Global Translation Institute (GTI)

A widely recognized icon for the practice and historic role of translation is the Rosetta Stone, which in the United States is incorporated into the crest of the Defense Language Institute.

Sign Language Interpreting

When a hearing person speaks, an interpreter will render the speaker's meaning into the sign language used by the deaf party. When a deaf person signs, an interpreter will render the meaning expressed in the signs into the spoken language for the hearing party, which is sometimes referred to as voice interpreting or voicing. This may be performed either as simultaneous or consecutive interpreting. Skilled sign language interpreters will position themselves in a room or space that allows them both to be seen by deaf participants and heard by hearing participants clearly and to see and hear participants clearly. In some circumstances, an interpreter may interpret from one sign language into an alternate sign language. Deaf people also work as interpreters. They team with hearing counterparts to provide interpretation for deaf individuals who may not share the standard sign language used in that country. In other cases the hearing interpreted sign may be too pidgin to be understood clearly, and the Deaf interpreter might interpret it into a more clear translation. They also relay information from one form of language to another — for example, when a person is signing visually, the deaf interpreter could be hired to copy those signs into a deaf-blind person's hand plus include visual information. In the United States, Sign Language Interpreters have National and State level associations. The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) is the national certifying body. In addition to training requirements and stringent certification testing, the RID members must abide by a Code of Professional Conduct, Grievance Process and Continuing Education Requirement. Sign Language Interpreters can be found in all types of interpreting situations, as listed in this article. Most interpreters have had formal training, in an Interpreter Training Program (ITP). ITP lengths vary, being available as a two-year or four-year degree or certificate. There are graduate programs available as well.

There is a lot of demand for translators today

There is a lot of demand for translators today. Knowing how much to charge your client can help you grow your client list or improve the profitability of your freelance translation business. When starting a career as a translator the rates can vary from $0.01 per word to $0.30 per word. But the rate depends on the project, length of the project, your expertise in that field, timeline of the project, and other variables that any translator should consider. If you have experience within a niche area, leverage that and position yourself as being more specialized in that space. Many times however, translators who have worked on just 2-3 projects will stretch the truth and claim expertise in areas they have never worked. Be upfront with your clients, be straightforward and honest with them and if needed slightly lower your rate on the first project or two in a new area until you prove yourself to them. 13 | P a g e Global Translation Institute (GTI)

Here is list of some common ways of rating your translation work:

·        Charge By the word – this is the most common way used by translators today. On top of that, you could also add a minimum fee. For instance, you could charge $0.10 per word and have a minimum fee of $25. (You can control the minimum fee by decreasing or increasing it at anytime). It gives you liability in the amount of work, and you are not "stuck" with very small projects.

·        By the hour – often charged for those types of translation job where charging by the words wouldn’t result in a reasonable payment (estimate how many hours it is going to take to translate). If the project will take too much of your time, the best way to get compensated in this case, is by charging your client by the hour.

·        By the Page – usually for official and legal documents (ex. Birth Certificates, Marriage Licenses and other legal docs).

·        Flat Fee – for small projects where you translate a minimum amount of words such as 250 words.

·        Geographic location – Where you should live should not affect how much to charge your clients.

By working for a translation company, your salary should be determined by the agency. So it is up to you whether you want to work for yourself and set up your own rating, or work for an agency where the fee is established by them.