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Our economy has many ups and downs. While sometimes we can accurately predict the ups and downs of the market, other times they come as a surprise. While what goes up is guaranteed to come down, and vice versa, a plummeting economy has us all questioning whether our jobs are recession-proof. And, even when things are looking up, a recession will cause us to wonder if our career goals and current jobs are wise for the roller-coaster economy.
While no industry is completely bullet-proof when it comes to a recession, the translation business is almost as close as it gets. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, translation and interpretation services are projected to experience 42 percent growth by 2020, which is huge, and one of the largest projections of growth for any industry.
Why Translation?
As the number of foreign-born people in the United States continues to grow, along with the use of technology in the corporate business world, the need for translation services will continue to stay strong.
Medical, governmental, and educational fields regularly need interpretation services for clients or patients who speak a foreign language. This need shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. Likewise, more businesses and companies are utilizing technology and gadgets that allow them to do business across the world. They also want to expand their own company into global markets. Without the services of the translation industry, this could not happen.
Translation Apps
If you’re thinking that translation apps and online dictionaries are the answer to your business needs, you’ll be in for a surprise. While these tools are good for tourism and for use by students, they do not hold up for business translation purposes.
When you want to translate your website, marketing communications, transcripts, legal paperwork, etc., you need someone who not only specializes in the technical language of your industry, but who knows the languages used and possesses a cultural understanding of both.
The need for these people is out there. A recent study shows that, in 2012, the market for outsourced language services reached $33.5 billion, and it grows at a rate of about 12 percent per year.
Breaking Into the Field
Pursuing a career in a field that is growing fast, and which has a huge need, is a smart move. Keep in mind that, as a translator, you are providing a company with something that a computer cannot.
Not only do you have to be fluent in two languages—say, English and Spanish—but you also need to know the cultural aspects of both of those languages. This includes how the target country where that language is spoken—for example, Argentina—does business. The translator needs to fully understand Argentina’s cultural norms and idioms, and the ins and outs of the country’s use of the Spanish language.
For a person to become a professional translator, they need to be fluent in the languages they wish to translate, hold multiple degrees, and have experience in the field. Human interaction is also necessary to grasp a language, because this provides one with a full understanding of subtle meanings, including cultural body language differences.
