Characteristics of a Professional Portuguese Translator

In order to study the characteristics of a professional Portuguese translator, we must understand the definition of a professional Portuguese translator. A professional Portuguese translator is the one who not only efficiently translates texts from another language into Portuguese or from Portuguese into some other language, but also does so in a proficient manner. This includes the planned and systematic approach, in-depth knowledge of Portuguese and any other language involved, as well as commitment in delivering the work on time. A professional Portuguese translator also takes optimum care of the confidentiality of the client’s information.

Translation is an inborn skill. Some people are born with this skill of explaining a word or a sentence from a language into some other language that he or she knows. In this case, Portuguese translators have the ability of expressing that word or sentence with its meaning, emotion and, of course, its grammar in a perfect manner by choosing the proper word or sentence in the other language into which they translate. But this skill needs to be developed with a constant effort. One of the other important characteristics of professional Portuguese translators is that they make all the efforts to constantly nourish and improve this inborn skill.

First one is their target language and the other one is their source language. Mostly if Portuguese is their native language then it would be their source language. In any case, they are experts in both languages. Professional Portuguese translators know a large amount of vocabulary generally up to university level education. They are familiar with both cultures. Language is a mirror of a particular culture and it is the duty of professional Portuguese translators to express this culture through their translations. Only then translators will be able to translate the feelings and attitudes projected in the related text.

The other most important characteristic of professional Portuguese translators is that they are always aware of the changes, additions and deletions happening in both languages. The source and target language will keep on undergoing constant changes. Words will have different meanings and new words will keep on adding, whereas certain words will loose their importance and become outdated. Professional Portuguese translators keep constant track of the latest trends and traditions regarding both their target and source languages.

Another important and distinct characteristic of professional Portuguese translators is that they are to be able to translate in many areas of knowledge. Professional Portuguese translators need to be knowledgeable about many fields, be it economics, law, literature, science, medicine or communications. They may not be a master in all such subjects but they should have enough knowledge, awareness and idea about the required vocabulary to deliver professional Portuguese translations.

When analyzing the characteristics of professional Portuguese translators, it is understood that they have an ability to transmit ideas quickly and in a intelligible manner. A person who has the qualities of a good writer and a good speaker has a definite chance to be a good professional translator.

Another characteristic of professional Portuguese translators is their speed to carry out Portuguese translations. Professional Portuguese translators need to develop their speed to translate for two reasons. One is that the more words they are able to translate per hour, the more they increase their earning as translation is normally paid by word. And the second reason is that typically in the translation industry, assignments are normally lengthy and tedious. Clients expect the assignments to be executed with a short turnaround time. If Portuguese translators fail to keep these deadlines then they loose business opportunities on a regular basis. Professional translators are expected to translate a minimum of 250 words per hour, and this can go up to 1,000 words per hour with the help of word processing tools, and in the case of dictation then this limit can easily be exceeded. Thus speed and high volume of translation will make professional Portuguese translators very successful.

Quality along with timely delivery is very important when working on Portuguese translation assignments and this can be acquired by a doing an adequate research of the subject of the text that needs to be translated. Thus professional Portuguese translators need to develop this skill of doing fast a research Over a period of time, professional translators keen of doing research on various subjects collects a data bank that they can use as a reference for their future translation.

To become effective and successful professional Portuguese translators they have to be well equipped with the latest technology. Professional Portuguese translators are always aware of different and the latest hardware, software related to translation, and they know the proper use of modern technology — be it Internet or any other types of the latest media. Keeping updated with the high tech methods in translation is one of the significant characteristics of professional Portuguese translators.

Being wise enough to understand which language is in more demand is yet another prime characteristic of professional Portuguese translators. They should be wise enough to understand which languages are more in demand and thus invest time and efforts to learn and acquire proficiency in that language.