This is the second part of my midterm translation report. Pls kindly leave your comments. Note: the description of translators' status in my report only applies to China. I have no intension of complaining, because I am well aware of the declining condition of publishing industry.
Part Two: the Challenges of Today’s Translator
In the past, great translators were more like naturalists and they knew a lot about a lot of different things. They could translate many genres ranging from literature to laws, and one thing they had in common was that they were well versed in classical style of writing and traditional Chinese culture, which made them good writers in the first place. We are living in an information explosion age when new terms, concepts, ideas are created every day within different branches of industries and professions. The sheer impossibility of being a versatile translator compels us to focus on one or two specific areas. If you know nothing about translation theories and have a deep understanding of, let’s say, finance, you are still a good translator who can yield fruitful translation works using your expertise and make a good living. In fact, chances are that those who can translate are experts of their own field, and translation is only the by-product of it. However, if you are a MTI student full of Peter Newmark and stuff like that, then very likely you are not a qualified translator and have a very limited career prospect. With all due respect, I find most courses concerning theories are either dull or of no use in translation practice. Fortunately, this course is not one of them. Comparing various versions of translation is always interesting and inspiring, especially with my own version, from which I can see how other people perceive and interpret things and concepts differently. Many people have been arguing about whether translation belongs to art or science, but I’d say translation is more of a practical work based on one’s experience. If theories really work, then machines should have wiped us out of translation already. If translation is an art, then why bother horning one’s translation skills since there is only individual preference without universal standard to assess the quality of translation?
Translators are deemed as loners. They would lock themselves at home for months to translate a book. No parties, no cheers. Even if they are mentally exhausted, there is simply no chance to talk about the brain-draining process, or his depression. What’s even worse is that today’s translators are seldom decently paid, because their work are always devalued compared to the original. After submitting a translation work to his client (publisher), it usually takes months or sometimes more than a year before he can get paid. That is probably why most translators have formal jobs, and translation to them is more of a pleasure or a hobby than a way to make a living. It’s almost unbelievable that someone totally relies on translation to afford his livelihood. People often take it for granted that translation is an easy work that anyone with bilingual capacity can handle. It’s really hard for them to understand the challenges facing translators unless they actually start doing it, which is not likely to happen. Perhaps this is the pathetic fate that translators have to endure with.