If you think there’s nothing intimidating about translators, you seriously got it all wrong. We’re not even talking about individual characters here. There’s something – many things actually – common to translators that you may want to be aware of. Avoid the “shock” of dating a translator by knowing these idiosyncrasies.
7. They can be ridiculously passionate about languages and translation.
Obviously, translators know languages and they are passionate for them if they know them by heart and if they’ve been doing translations for years. If you don’t want to get yourself in hot water, don’t even think of engaging them in discussions like; which language is better or whether or not it’s really necessary to know different languages. Don’t even dare raise the speculations about computers and AI taking over the language translation industry.
6. They expect you to know the difference between a translator and an interpreter.
As much as possible, avoid mistakenly using the terms translator and interpreter interchangeably. These are two different things in translation. Hint: A translator is to write, while interpreter is to speak. In their defense, though, this is not really a matter of being obsessive compulsive. If you don’t know what they are actually doing, it can be easily interpreted as your lack of interest in them.
5. Sometimes they love exhibiting their superiority.
Don’t dare compare, even implicitly, a translator you are dating with your ex. Translators know their worth as they are usually exposed to various cultures because of the nature of their work. They are usually tolerant but they know they have an edge in their multilingualism alone that they can easily brag whenever they feel like you are making comparisons. This often makes them appear judgmental or critical of other people especially when it comes to their written or verbal use of languages. When going to foreign-themed restaurants, for example, they tend to easily catch errors in menus or signages, and raise an eyebrow over misspellings or mistakes in the words used. If you are not sure how to pronounce certain foreign food names, it’s better to simply point it on the menu to the waiter to avoid the embarrassment or not-so-secret grin from your date.
4. They are strict with grammar.
Annoyed by online “commenters,” forum members, or social media users who are excessively fond of correcting people’s grammar and punctuation use, word choice, or spelling? Prepare to encounter someone similar in the flesh. Translators have been trained to be meticulous and precise to properly convey the idea of the texts they are translating. They are somewhat obsessed with the thought that a little mistake in spelling or punctuation can change the message of what ought to be conveyed.
3. They are always on work mode.
Those who work in the translation field rarely rest their brains. Even when they are simply strolling around or doing some window shopping on their way home, their neural networks continue moving to associate the words and things they see with their equivalent terms in other languages. And they’re not even intentionally doing this! It’s a habit they could hardly undo. This shouldn’t be annoying, though. Just think of it as a learning opportunity.
2. They can use languages to tease, irritate, or curse you.
Familiar with instances when someone wants to say something to you but he or she couldn’t muster enough of the courage to say it. How about situations wherein someone wants to cuss at you or give you a less than pleasant treatment? Translators know how to use the third, fourth, or fifth languages they are fluent with to indirectly do these. Many of them want to express themselves to release the pressure they are feeling but they want to do it in a less confrontational way.
1. They will ask for context…and more context.
Translators know the value of context more than anyone. If you argue with them or if you are trying to reason out to them, be ready to properly present the context. Most likely, this is because they are trained to always look at the context in everything. Likewise, if you are asking them to translate sentences or phrases, don’t expect them to automatically generate a translation. Remember that they always want to be precise in understanding and translating messages. Also, if you want to use one-liners and witticisms on them, don’t expect them to simply show an expression of awe without looking into the context of the words you are using.
Lawyers, programmers, and financial analysis experts are not the only professionals who have the inherent ability to intimidate their dates. Translation professionals, too, possess qualities and attitudes you may not find easy to handle. If you ever plan on dating one, remember the pointers above.
Khaldoon Sughayer
Posted at 10:50h, 22 JulyGreat decomposition of a translator’s character. Simply, this is me.
Day Translations
Posted at 09:43h, 23 JulyThanks for sharing your views Khaldoon, have a nice day.
Sherry Rosebud
Posted at 17:16h, 14 AprilPUNCTUATION??
BLIZEN
Posted at 18:41h, 09 JuneHELLO? THERE SHOULD BE A PERIOD INSTEAD OF THE COMMA.
Frédrik Chang Xie
Posted at 09:30h, 24 Julyaltough im jew and dont like to be called nazi but this article got a point. but i reckon it wont work when an interpreter dates another interpreter. :p
Day Translations
Posted at 10:39h, 24 JulyHi Fredrilk, you’re right about that, we’re sorry. We meant to say that translators are very strict with grammar usage. We would never mean to offend somebody, hope you understand :). About dating another interpreter, yeah, well one time I dated this girl that was ALWAYS in work mode, and guess what? she was a translator. I believe she had a huge obsession with her job. I love my job, but I know I also need some time to relax. I guess it all depends on the type of person you are. Thanks for sharing your thoughts
Camilo at DayTeam.
Frédrik Chang Xie
Posted at 11:54h, 24 Julyhey mate. no hard feelings. 🙂
Day Translations
Posted at 14:14h, 24 July😉 Cheers!
herring
Posted at 08:28h, 28 OctoberPC paranoia.
Patrick
Posted at 06:51h, 29 JulyThis article is basically saying that translators are a bunch of jerks, who are intimidating and will annoy the hell out of you. How sad. I’ve met many translators and except for being passionate about languages (well duh), they are luckily nothing like that…
Day Translations
Posted at 15:35h, 30 JulyHey Patrick, how’s it going? We are saying those are the most common behaviors among the majority of translators, of course, doesn’t mean all translators are exactly like that, and we would never say they are “jerks”. You are absolutely right when you say they are passionate about languages and communication. I guess that’s something we all share in common and that’s why we continually ask for more context and correct ways of language usage.
We’re sorry you felt that way about the article, but the good side is that we share views on translators’ love for languages.
Have a nice one. Camilo @DayTeam
BeS
Posted at 16:15h, 05 NovemberSpot on!! 😀 This made me chuckle 😛
Lisyane Mercadier
Posted at 09:24h, 08 NovemberI do not see what is superior to be a translator, most of them including me are unemployed. And most of them are interested in nothing and are lifeless
Sherry Rosebud
Posted at 17:18h, 14 AprilLearn English. I am not dead yet.
Timothy Barton
Posted at 04:46h, 05 DecemberI totally agree with number 4, so please sort out that semi-colon in number 7!
Alla Tkachenko
Posted at 11:13h, 09 JuneNone of the above! Article described a total BORE and not a translator.
Florian Pfaffelhuber
Posted at 18:08h, 04 OctoberTotally agree.
Jean-Louis DeVriendt
Posted at 17:00h, 30 SeptemberI’ve been a translator full time for a little over a year, and I think I becoming just like that.
Thanks for the laugh.
One thing : translators DO drink wine ! (cf. the picture)
Blazzo
Posted at 15:42h, 03 OctoberOnly one problem with this article – it reads like a translation 🙂
Abshir Yasin Ahmed
Posted at 12:33h, 04 OctoberGreat article! And yes we are obsessed with context! It helped me with my International Relations studies as well as my over all approach to any political discussion, always look for the context. The best transferable quality, however, in my case certainly, would be the ability to completely be neutral on any given subject. Neutrality/impartiality is a must in this profession and many among us have the ability to easily detect when an issue of conflict of interest arises.
herring
Posted at 17:10h, 19 OctoberDon’t date them if you are not worldly enough.
petra
Posted at 06:36h, 28 OctoberWho’s the translator on the photo? The one with a neck tie or the one without? And how to translate the dishes into something less minimalist/more appetizing? And the water into wine?
So many questions raised by this article (yet strikingly true)!
Roman Bushev
Posted at 03:01h, 31 OctoberCompletely agree with point 3. I often find myself absorbed in many projects without any hope of fixing my sex life or creating a family. Can’t figure out how someone manages to find the time for dating, when you have to work hard to pay your bills.
herring
Posted at 15:54h, 31 OctoberThat applies to any job.
Matthew Kamba
Posted at 08:27h, 13 NovemberAbsolutely marvelous. Now this has helped me understand myself.Am ever critical of people who fail to punctuate their writings. Have also noticed that am at loggerheads with people in groups as am constantly demanding for context and more of it.
Marta Garcia Da Camara
Posted at 05:22h, 06 SeptemberThis is a great article. I do recognise many habits mentioned above in myself. The article is a general idea of how interpreters and translators behave but we are all unique in our own way. What defines who we are, is not our jobs, but our unique combination of genes, our social background, our individual cognitive abilities and our character. Interpreters and translators are supposed to be very meticulous in their lives, but some of them are not. Artists are generaly seen as messy and very disorganised people with o sense of direction. But not all artists are actually that way. I am meticulous because I like to be that way, not because I was a linguist for 10 years. I grew up with a lot of discipline and I like my life and work space to be orderly. I was an interpreter and translator for 10 years and now I am a full time artist. Many times I look back at my previous life and admit that I was making lots of money, which was great, but deep down I was not happy because I was always expressing other people’s ideas and not my own. When you speak several languages and use them as your day job, you still have to be incredibly creative in applying your knowledge to the given situation or text, but I needed much more than that so, I changed professions. I am a full time fine artist and I combine Art and Science in my practice. I am still orderly and all my materials and tools have to be in a correct order. I simply cannot be creative and productive in a messy space. Which is something very unusual amongst artists. So for all the other people that got offended with what has been written in the above article., it is simply a general idea that linguists are meticulous, but there is much more to each individual linguist than that, or any other individual.
zvodret iluret
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