| Pages sur ce sujet: < [1 2] | Poll: Why did you decide to become a linguist? Auteur du fil: ProZ.com Staff
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| part inspiration, part other | Nov 16, 2023 |
I had two aunts who studied languages whereas my dad was a science graduate.
I found I did better in languages than in science, so chose to specialise in languages at school.
My French teacher said I was good at translating into English and had a good style, though I suspect my English teacher didn't agree!
I started off teaching EFL but gradually drifted into translation when I had a family. I don't have the patience for teaching anyway.
| | | | Edith van der Have
Pays-Bas
Local time: 23:25
Membre (2016)
anglais vers néerlandais
+ ...
| Time management | Nov 16, 2023 |
Samuel Murray wrote:
This poll has some weird options to choose from. Does anyone choose to become a translator "because it offers better time management"? I chose it because I've always had an interest in it and a training course in it became available at a local college.
As a mother of young children, I chose freelancing rather than pursuing an in-house translation career for time management reasons, but wanting to translate was a result of a very positive experience with volunteer translation work. At the current stage, as an established translator with a very comfortable freelance income, I wouldn't dream of returning to a day job. I'm my own boss and it suits me well!
[Edited at 2023-11-16 12:26 GMT]
| | | | | I never decided anything | Nov 16, 2023 |
At one point I had to find a job quick!
I used to hang around with some British translators, it's them who inspired me to enter this business. I was established in Morocco then, following 2 years working and enjoying life in an English-speaking-only environment in London.
Thank you Anne, Philip [see you there] and Gwendo.
Philippe
| | | | | Why is 'because I love languages/linguistics' not even an option? | Nov 16, 2023 |
If 48% of the respondents reply 'Other', something is wrong with the poll...
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MollyRose 
États-Unis
Local time: 16:25
anglais vers espagnol
+ ...
A linguist is a person who is skilled in foreign languages (as pointed out earlier), or someone who studies linguistics, which is a very interesting field! I took a couple linguistics courses in college and was amazed to discover how well-structured languages are, and even more so, how people are able to discover these structures, phonemes, etc.
Linguists learning a spoken-only language, living among the people, have to figure out what words and certain combinations of words mean. ... See more A linguist is a person who is skilled in foreign languages (as pointed out earlier), or someone who studies linguistics, which is a very interesting field! I took a couple linguistics courses in college and was amazed to discover how well-structured languages are, and even more so, how people are able to discover these structures, phonemes, etc.
Linguists learning a spoken-only language, living among the people, have to figure out what words and certain combinations of words mean. They must distinguish phonemes and whether or not those phonemes make a difference or not. (Does inflection change the meaning of a word? Are /v/ and /b/ variants which make no difference in meaning, or are they distinct? For example, van and ban have different meanings in English, but in certain other languages the variation of pronunciation does not change the meaning of any word.). Some linguists also create alphabets and figure out how to put the languages they study into writing. Then they must teach the people how to read and write their own language.
Some of the answers in this poll don't seem to make sense, no matter what they meant by the word "linguist." For instance, time management or for the sake of family were probably suggested because the person asking the question had freelancing in mind, but that word is not in the question. One can be a linguist, translator, or interpreter, or work in just about any other field, and these optional answers would not be satisfied with their field of work. Freelancing, on the other hand, can be a solution to them. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Liena Vijupe
Lettonie
Local time: 00:25
Membre (2014)
français vers letton/lette
+ ...
I never actually made that decision, it just sort of happened and that's where I am now.
I was always good at languages and, speaking 4 of them by the age of 10 (due to life circumstances, not because I was obsessed with learning languages as a kid), I didn't see it as anything special or something to consider professionally.
Jobs came gradually. At first occasionally, offering just some extra income, then more regularly which meant I wasn't desperate to look for a "real" job... See more I never actually made that decision, it just sort of happened and that's where I am now.
I was always good at languages and, speaking 4 of them by the age of 10 (due to life circumstances, not because I was obsessed with learning languages as a kid), I didn't see it as anything special or something to consider professionally.
Jobs came gradually. At first occasionally, offering just some extra income, then more regularly which meant I wasn't desperate to look for a "real" job (as other jobs were called before Covid). For years I still saw it as a convenient temporary experience until I find something more exciting, but gave up on it eventually as I rarely had time to search for other opportunities and enjoyed the freedom of being my own boss, in addition to much better income than I could hope for as a full time employee in my country.
It wouldn't be a lie now to say it is hard for me to imagine doing anything else, though rather because that's the only thing I know at this point, not because there's nothing I'd enjoy more.
And I'm ok with it. I have a good job and can still pursue my other interests as hobbies without struggling to make the ends meet or the pressure to accomplish something.
[Edited at 2023-11-16 18:01 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Alex Lichanow
Allemagne
Local time: 23:25
Membre (2020)
anglais vers allemand
+ ...
I never became (or aspired to become) a linguist. As for my profession as a translator, a teacher from the academy where I ended up studying translation had a presentation at my school when I was in 10th grade, and since that was where I noticed that I wasn't going anywhere with maths or sciences, I pretty much decided to give that a shot. On a side note, I am incredibly glad I did the "academic training" specific to Bavaria rather than going the traditional university way, as it only cost me th... See more I never became (or aspired to become) a linguist. As for my profession as a translator, a teacher from the academy where I ended up studying translation had a presentation at my school when I was in 10th grade, and since that was where I noticed that I wasn't going anywhere with maths or sciences, I pretty much decided to give that a shot. On a side note, I am incredibly glad I did the "academic training" specific to Bavaria rather than going the traditional university way, as it only cost me three years and neither my former employers nor my former or current clients ever cared too much about me "only" being state-approved rather than a B.A. or M.A. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mohamed Omer
Arabie Saoudite
Local time: 23:25
anglais vers arabe
+ ...
| Medical field was my first love but turned out it was one-sided.. | Nov 16, 2023 |
Mesmerized by a kids' show called 'Once Upon Life...something', I was obsessed with being a doctor since I learned how to talk and walk. Growing up and going to school, I was sort of a shy/introverted child. So, social activities weren't my thing, which led me to anything not social: reading, TV, and PC.
Reaching Medical Sciences college, I decided that working in a hospital was too much for me and perhaps I should focus on academics and research. I started occasionally in that time trans... See more Mesmerized by a kids' show called 'Once Upon Life...something', I was obsessed with being a doctor since I learned how to talk and walk. Growing up and going to school, I was sort of a shy/introverted child. So, social activities weren't my thing, which led me to anything not social: reading, TV, and PC.
Reaching Medical Sciences college, I decided that working in a hospital was too much for me and perhaps I should focus on academics and research. I started occasionally in that time translating medical articles as a hobby for publishing in our college press using the 3 interests I grew up with, which developed my linguistics to a very good level. But the Medical field (Practical and Academic) was insanely competitive and poorly paid. I tried switching to Marketing but couldn't bear the pressure of answering this and that and meeting hundreds of clients and being likable to them; it was too much.
Then, I stumbled upon the concept of a 'freelance career'. I found a mentor who helped me a lot and outsourced any spilled tasks of his jar in exchange for advice in the industry and linguistics. After a year, I started working as a freelancer linguist. It was the best thing that happened to me so far..
[Edited at 2023-11-16 22:37 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Mohamed Omer
Arabie Saoudite
Local time: 23:25
anglais vers arabe
+ ...
| Other means anything else | Nov 16, 2023 |
Joeri Van Liefferinge wrote:
If 48% of the respondents reply 'Other', something is wrong with the poll...
I think that a sentence hardly describes or sums up one's experience, especially if it's personal. I surely can't understand how 'time management' can lead anyone to be a linguist. Apparently, some people experienced that. It is wise to put the 'Other' option in any pool. In this poll, it clearly shows how diverse is the current industry of linguistics.
Good remark BTW!
| | | | | I have loved translating since high school | Nov 17, 2023 |
I had Latin in high school for 5 years and it was all about translations. Talk about delevoping a passion for something...
I also had an amazing translation teacher in college for Spanish who was a professor and a professional translator.
| | | | | Por amor a la lengua Italiana | Nov 17, 2023 |
Yo una vez ya recibido de licenciatura en administración, tome una pasión por la lengua italiana y decidí involucrarme con todo lo que es la traducción de esta lengua.
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