In Desperate Need of Advice Regarding MA in Translation Thread poster: potosi
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So I have an undergrad degree in French, but I'm fluent in Portuguese and enjoy working with it the most. The problem is, though I was raised in Brazil and speak Portuguese with virtually no American accent, I did not study Portuguese in college.
If I go join a master's program and work with French instead of Portuguese, will I still be able to work with Portuguese after? Or does the language you choose to work with during the MA have a big impact on your career as a translator?
| | | | Phil Hand 
China
Local time: 18:49
Chinese to English
| Does not limit you | Oct 21, 2014 |
There are a lot of translators who work from two or more languages; they don't necessarily have degrees in all of their languages! You won't be limited so long as you make clear on your CV/marketing materials that you are fluent in Portuguese. In fact, if you were raised in Brazil, you can say that you're fully bilingual, with two native languages.
But if you like Portuguese more, why not do you masters in Portuguese?
| | | | | Do both languages | Oct 21, 2014 |
Does your Masters course not allow you to specialise in both languages? That's what I'm doing on mine.
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As well as modules on translation theory, CAT tools, etc., my MA course covered practical techniques and strategies that can be applied to any language combination. My MA certificate states that I have been awarded the Degree of Master of Arts in Translation - it doesn't specify any languages.
I see no reason why you cannot translate from any language in which you have achieved the standards required of a translator.
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Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 11:49
Member (2007)
English
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| Reasons for choosing French | Oct 21, 2014 |
You already have a credential to support your claim to be able to handle Brazilian Portuguese, just not an academic one.
You've clearly studied French to a high level but it's still a foreign language to you, I believe. In that case, more study would be useful, though ideally it should be in a country where French is spoken. You can transfer the skills to your stronger language.
If that isn't an option, and dual language study isn't possible either, then I think your pl... See more You already have a credential to support your claim to be able to handle Brazilian Portuguese, just not an academic one.
You've clearly studied French to a high level but it's still a foreign language to you, I believe. In that case, more study would be useful, though ideally it should be in a country where French is spoken. You can transfer the skills to your stronger language.
If that isn't an option, and dual language study isn't possible either, then I think your plan is a perfectly workable compromise.
You will find that a significent percentage of your competitors, at the lower end of the rate scale at least, will be offering less. Charge more than them, defend your reasons for doing so, and justify your rate with quality results - that would be my advice for later. ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 12:49
Spanish to English
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Although my degree is in Russian and French, I never translate from the former and rarely do so from the latter nowadays. I now mostly translate from Spanish, which I acquired after moving to Spain many years ago (I had only studied beginner's Spanish as a half class "filler" in my final year at uni). So don't let the fact you don't have any formal training in Portuguese put you off - if you think you can do it - go for it! You are bound to learn and improve as you go along.
| | | | | Agree with Sheila - Maybe DipTrans? | Oct 22, 2014 |
I completely agree with Sheila's post here.
Being raised as bilingual gives you an excellent claim to translate from Br. Port., and with a MA in Translation to prove your competency as a translator and your (foreign) language skills in French you should find yourself in a good position to win clients.
Another option if you do want some kind of qualification for Br.Port is to either do the DipTrans qualifi... See more I completely agree with Sheila's post here.
Being raised as bilingual gives you an excellent claim to translate from Br. Port., and with a MA in Translation to prove your competency as a translator and your (foreign) language skills in French you should find yourself in a good position to win clients.
Another option if you do want some kind of qualification for Br.Port is to either do the DipTrans qualification in this language pair, or apply for membership of a professional body, e.g. ITI in the UK, ATA in the US.
Kind Regards,
Laura Hargreaves
LanguagesbyLaura.com
Creative Translation and Language Tuition ▲ Collapse
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