Translation & Interpretation

Dr. Colina, I would like to thank you for your insight about Translation and Interpretation. Often we see that people assume that speaking two languages or even just been familiarized with them is all it takes to be a translator and/or interpreter. They usually do not understand the work and education that it's needed for this profession. I liked the focus you had when writing the book, it's important to know that there are sources available for people who are considering translation, but are not technically working in the field already. Sadly, like you said, I have also encountered translations that may sound beautiful, but they are not well elaborated for the advantage of the reader. Sometimes they are not even useful because even though they might sound beautiful, language used is too formal and it only works for the advantage of the translator. I'm eager to hear more about your work in the future. Thank you one more time for your work and dedication. Best, Camila Hurtado

I think that all the topics Dr. Colina covered were important, but the misconceptions of T&I were there ones that caught my attention. It is interesting that there is still a misconception or assumption that all bilingual people can either be interpreters or translators. In realty these two professions require highly advanced skills that many bilingual people do not possess. I also fell prey to this assumption because I thought the T&I Major would be easier for me because I am a native Spanish speaker. But I was completely wrong because I did not have all the skills to interpret simultaneously or consecutively until after practicing a lot. Translation also requires a high command of both the source and target languages so one must develop a wide vocabulary and many other skills.

As a heritage speaker and Spanish major, I have received a lot of questions regarding why I decided to dedicate my undergraduate studies to Spanish. Dr. Sonia Colina pointed out that simply knowing a second language does not make someone qualified to translate or interpret. Translators and interpreters must refine their language skills and learn how to adjust in various situations. Different translations and interpreting require different expectations for each task, and involve various skills which need to be developed. For translating, it could be understanding literary texts and their style, or interpreting in a legal and formal setting. I really enjoyed the comparison between different personalities and possible preferences between translation versus interpretation. I believe that translation best suits my personality type, because interpreting requires a more fast paced result and it feels like their is more pressure to preform well and correctly in that moment. Unlike with translating, you have more time to revise and be more sure of your work.