TRANSLATION AND TEAMWORK

Translation is a highly stereotyped profession, which ironically is one that people unfamiliar with the sector do not consider a professional activity as such. This has given rise to a series of baseless preconceptions regarding this profession, the polarizing popularity of which is divided between those who consider it a minor task and those who do understand the role it plays in today’s social and cultural context, along with the value it provides to international relations and all businesses that launch products and services, as we explain in more detail in this article. All these ideas have created a specific image of the translator that we, as translators ourselves, sometimes subconsciously assimilate, slowly making them our own. This is a behavior we must combat.

One of the most wide-spread ideas about translators is that of a solitary figure that is confined to their computer and does not interact with anyone during their working hours. While it is true that there are translators who more or less align with these descriptions, it is a very generalized description rooted in the aforementioned stereotypes. The reality is that translation is a professional activity that lends itself to much more interpersonal relationships than one would initially think. This is clear from workplace environments. Although remote working is currently encouraged as an inevitable consequence of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, many translators that usually work for agencies as employees worked from offices and shared the space with other colleagues with whom they interacted, respecting the co-existence rules necessary to ensure a good working environment specific to a profession that requires high levels of concentration and is achieved by relative silence.

As noted above, the new normal has meant that many professionals, including translators, must continue working remotely from their homes. This, in combination with the previous image of them, has given rise to the general idea that translators work on their own, away from interpersonal contact in the work environment. However, the reality is different. This is due to the fact that a translator needs to be in constant contact with other professionals to be able to perform their tasks, which takes place internally, both vertically and horizontally, and externally with clients who contract the language services.

From an internal standpoint, the translation profession cannot be understood if it is not observed within the context of teamwork, especially in agencies. Translators, who are normally responsible for translation, editing and review tasks, must be in constant communication with their colleagues in order for the workflow to be correctly followed and the expected results obtained. They must be in contact with project managers, since they are not only responsible for assigning different projects and receiving completed tasks, but they are often the intermediate point of contact between the translator and the client, since the translator must sometimes ask a question or resolve a doubt in order to correctly translate the project without ambiguities. This is where the project manager acts as an intermediary. In terms of this horizontal hierarchy at an agency, translators must be in contact with other company technicians and professionals who are responsible for other related tasks, to send them the materials necessary to complete a task or indicate when they can start on it. In this regard, and as we note whenever we analyze the structure of a translation agency, translators are a small, but essential cog in a large machine that requires every part to function correctly. For this to happen, we must tackle our work with a team mentality so that each member can meet their individual roles and solve difficult situations that can arise. It is, therefore, impossible to state that translators are alone in tackling projects since they are actually in constant contact. This does not only affect agency employees but also freelance translators. In these cases, the tasks not related to translation can be taken on by the freelancers themselves, or other professionals that they hire, meaning the same level of teamwork is not possible. However, freelance translators often join forces or are in constant contact to provide support and advice. This can be through fellow professionals they have personally met or that they are acquainted with through the large number of Internet resources available, such as specialized translation conferences or forums. These connections allow a very positive and advantageous exchange of knowledge, as well as the possibility of staying up to date with sector developments.

Ultimately, translation is not a solitary profession. It is a multi-disciplinary professional activity requiring the involvement of different professionals and for which constant and effective communication is necessary.

 

Image reference: https://www.wework.com/ideas/professional-development/management-leadership/nine-characteristics-of-great-teamwork

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