Further Notes on Translation

So, most people who grow up speaking two languages tend to feel that they are experts in both. In fact, they are experts neither in their 'native' tongue nor in their 'acquired' one. But as translation tends to be an individualistic enterprise, there is nothing which really checks people or stops them from making outlandish claims. Also, there is nothing that stops people from practicing as translators. So, they bite the dust only when they enter the professional sphere, where the grain is separated from the chaff. This is a problem which is acute in countries such as India, which are also plagued by the problem of cheap labor and where people out to make a fast buck look at translation as a lucrative alternative.

Undoubtedly, translation is a lucrative alternative but then so are many other employment opportunities pretty lucrative. One might as well become a movie star, which is a lot more lucrative than being a translator but people don't try their luck there because there is too much competition, whereas, anyone could claim to be a translator.

Notes on Translation

This is one of the most difficult questions that will plague the beginner. The primary thing is to know any two languages, which are known as source language and target language pretty well. However, the simple fact of knowing two languages may not be sufficient or enough.

There are some people who are born in monolingual conditions or nations and they find it really difficult to learn a second language. However, there are many others who are born in families or linguistic conditions or nations where people normally speak more than one language. One could find such situations in nations such as India or for that matter, the entire South Asia, which includes Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh as well as the Philippines in Asia. It is quite 'normal' for citizens of these countries to have learned English at school and known their native tongue.

Usually, most people that you meet in these countries tend to possess some kind or sort of bilingualism. But what degree and competence they possess is indeed a matter of conjecture.