Translating

 

What resources are available to help freelance translators improve their professional development and growth?

You should be aware as I write this, that I was trained at Antwerp University in the days when there was no real internet, 1966–1970, though we did have mainframe computers in those days [with punch cards :-) ]

Written a long while ago unable to publish, come to light again with recent inquiry June 2023

In my case, though not commercially very active as a freelance translator over the years, but in other fields, mostly career wise in the ‘international trade,’

I'd say, As a matter of ‘interests held close’

_To love and continue in a lifelong reading habit, fictional and non-fictional, With access to some good and also specialised libraries. Working at one time close to the City (London), i enjoyed my working visits to the City Business Library (1970's), giving me access to the UNCTAD Rules, raised my attention to the Uniform Banking Rules, …

Ideally, university trained, a broad based formal learning, with an interest in linguistics. And translation techniques.

I have done some freelance translating, almost as a hobby in more recent years, (social legislation, the applied fields of theology and mission).

Any money made, as my income did not come from translating in any meaningful way, went back into the purchase of text books, specialised dictionaries, …

With far more ‘far distant’ or “exotic” languages having become available for study in “more practical ways,” _ the internet with all its features is of great use, including apps, or sites like Reverso Context, …

Go and work from and in different places in the world may be a good option, though in my day, it also proved a handicap, as people, potential employers might say to themselves “Do we really need a man like that?!” [Salary cost.] But those were entirely(?) different days and times, less globally inspired.

So, professionally, making a living, one needs to reflect well, and apply structural thinking to the problems before us, or the problems of life we shall encounter.

God be with you, as I continue to translate today God's will (in)to the lives of men and women, like a letter writ [ridzjaela ‘men’ Acts 9.1 rissaelae Paul describes himself as a living ‘letter’ written to men] <Arab>     Cannot be published in the appropriate place