每日英語 #035 - Interpreters and Translators

更新於 2024/06/21發佈於 2024/06/21閱讀時間約 8 分鐘

Interpreters and Translators

Interpreters and translators help people who don’t speak each other’s languages to communicate. Although some people do both, interpreting and translating are different “professions” (jobs; careers). Interpreters deal with spoken language, and translators deal with written language.

口譯員和翻譯員幫助不說同一語言的人們進行交流。儘管有些人兩者兼做，但口譯和翻譯是不同的「職業」（工作；職業）。口譯員處理口語，翻譯員處理書面語言。

Interpreters work in “settings” (places) such as schools, hospitals, “courtrooms” (place where a judge or a jury decides a legal question), and “conference centers” (place where large meetings are held). “Simultaneous interpreting” can be stressful, as the interpreter must keep up with the speaker, who may not know to slow down when an interpreter is “present” (there).

口譯員在「場所」（地點），例如學校、醫院、「法庭」（法官或陪審團決定法律問題的地方）和「會議中心」（舉行大型會議的地方）工作。「同聲傳譯」可能會很有壓力，因為口譯員必須跟上講者的速度，而講者可能不知道有口譯員在場時要放慢速度。

Translators typically work from home. These days, they often receive and submit their work “electronically” (using the computer). They must sometimes deal with the pressure of “deadlines” (date/time when something must be done by) and “tight” (with short amounts of time to complete something) schedules.

翻譯員通常在家工作。如今，他們經常「電子地」（使用電腦）接收和提交工作。他們有時必須應對「截止日期」（某事必須完成的日期/時間）和「緊張的」（完成某事的時間很短的）工作計劃的壓力。

Although interpreters and translators typically need a bachelor’s degree, the most important requirement is that they be “fluent” (able to speak well) in two or more languages. It is not necessary for interpreters and translators to have been “raised” (grow up as children) in two languages to succeed in these jobs, but many grew up communicating in both languages in which they work.

儘管口譯員和翻譯員通常需要學士學位，但最重要的要求是他們要「流利」（能夠很好地說）兩種或更多語言。口譯員和翻譯員不必在兩種語言中「成長」（作為孩子長大）才能在這些工作中取得成功，但許多人在他們工作的兩種語言中成長。

Anyone interested in becoming an interpreter or translator should begin in high school by taking foreign languages and becoming “proficient” (capable; have the skills to do well) on computers. Many “prospective” (expecting or wanting to be in the future) foreign-language interpreters and translators spend time “abroad” (outside of one’s own country), getting direct contact with foreign cultures, and reading “extensively” (a lot; widely) on a variety of subjects related to languages.

任何有興趣成為口譯員或翻譯員的人應該從高中開始學習外語並變得「熟練」（有能力；有技能做好）使用電腦。許多「準」（期望或想成為）外語口譯員和翻譯員花時間「出國」（在自己的國家之外），直接接觸外國文化，並「廣泛地」（大量地；廣泛地）閱讀與語言相關的各種主題。

There is currently no “universal” (used by everyone, everywhere) “certification” (official process for qualifying to do something) required of interpreters and translators. However, interpreters and translators can take a variety of tests that show proficiency. For example, the American Translators Association provides certification for its members in 24 language “combinations” (putting together of two or more things) involving English.

目前，口譯員和翻譯員沒有需要的「普遍的」（每個人、每個地方都使用的）「認證」（資格認定的官方過程）。然而，口譯員和翻譯員可以參加各種測試來展示他們的熟練程度。例如，美國翻譯協會為其成員提供涉及英語的24種語言「組合」（兩種或多種事物的結合）的認證。