How to choose your specialist area - Jack of all trades, master of one!

We’ve all heard the saying ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’, meaning that someone has dabbled and developed skills in many different areas but doesn’t have a particular focus for their knowledge and abilities. The need to master a particular trade, as it were, is particularly relevant in the translation industry.

Source texts can be very technical and specific, and often require more than just knowledge of another language. Translators who work on legal texts, for example, tend to have an additional qualification that demonstrates their capabilities in the field of law. A native English speaker who has had no legal training would certainly find it difficult to make sense of the complex terminology found in legal texts written in English, and the same goes for translators! Knowing two or more languages is not sufficient when it comes to translating legal texts; the translator will need to have an awareness and understanding of the legal systems of the countries where their languages are spoken. They will have to grapple with legal terms not only in their target language(s) but in their native language as well!

So how does a translator decide which area they are going to specialise in? This isn’t something that happens overnight and translators starting out in the industry may take a few years to figure out exactly which field they want to hone their skills in. Here are a few tips for budding translators to help you decide exactly what your specialisation should be:

• Consider the languages that you translate from and identify which areas are particularly in demand – German speakers may choose to focus on economy and finance, for example, while French speakers may opt to specialise in the texts of international organisations.
• If you have a background in something other than languages, think about making that your specialisation. If you studied business, for example, maybe think about going down the route of e-commerce.
• See where you can get experience when you are starting out as a translator. If you get a job working for a company that specialises in marketing texts, then think about making this your specialisation and building on that experience.
• Consider taking a course or gaining a qualification in another subject – this applies to translators at all levels – it’s always good to learn something new and improve your knowledge of a particular subject area. This might even mean that you make your specialisation even more specific, which is always a good thing!
• Finally, don’t forget to enjoy what you’re doing! When thinking about areas to specialise in, try to look at it from a personal as well as a professional perspective. It’s always better to develop knowledge in something you’re passionate about, and it will make your work as a translator a lot more interesting!

Here at Tongue Tied, we work with translators who specialise in all sorts of subject areas, from the legal field to the medical, financial, and tourist industries! If you’re looking for a highly qualified translator to work on a technical text in any field or any language, get in touch!