The job function of Interpreters and Translators is to translate or interpret written, oral, or sign language text into another language for others.
Duties:
The Interpreters and Translators are required to follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information. The Interpreters and Translators identify and resolve conflicts related to the meanings of words, concepts, practices or behaviors. The Interpreters and Translators must translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible. The Interpreters and Translators are required to proofread, edit, and revise translated materials. The Interpreters and Translators check translations of technical terms and terminology to ensure that they are accurate and remain consistent throughout translation revisions. The Interpreters and Translators read written materials, such as legal documents, scientific works, or news reports, and rewrite material into specified languages. The Interpreters and Translators refer to reference materials, such as dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and computerized terminology banks, as needed to ensure translation accuracy. The Interpreters and Translators compile terminology and information to be used in translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material. The Translators adapt translations to students’ cognitive and grade levels, collaborating with educational team members as necessary. The Interpreters and Translators listen to speakers’ statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.
Special Knowledge:
The Interpreters and Translators needs knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. The Interpreters and Translators need knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation. The Interpreters and Translators need knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Skills:
The Interpreter and/or Translator must give full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. The Interpreter and Translator must talk to others to convey information effectively in a language that they would understand and not change the text of the meaning of the original explanation. The Interpreter and Translator must understand written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. The Interpreter and Translator must have the skill of social perceptiveness that is being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do. The Interpreter and Translator must have the skill of time management that is the ability to manage one’s own time and the time of others. The Interpreter and Translator need the skill to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approach to problems. The Interpreter and Translator need the skill to assess performance of you, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. The Interpreter and Translator need the skill to communicate effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. The Interpreter and Translator needs the skills to understand the implications of new information for both current and future problem solving and decision making.
Abilities:
The Interpreter and Translator must have the ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. The Interpreter and Translator must have the ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. The Interpreter and Translator must have the ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. The Interpreter and Translator needs the ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. The Interpreter and Translator must have the ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. The Interpreter and Translator must have the ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules such as patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations. The Interpreter and Translator need the ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. The Interpreter and Translator need the ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.