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Article published In:
FORUM
Vol. 17:2 (2019) ► pp.192–224

Where do we stand?

A study of the status of in-house translators in Korea

 | Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
 | Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
Within the last decade, an increasing number of studies have examined the status of translators and interpreters, providing valuable insight into how the status is perceived in the eyes of practitioners. However, less attention has been paid to studying the perceptions of future Translators, i.e. T&I students. This paper seeks to describe the occupational status of in-house Translators in Korea by comparing the perceptions of professionals and students. Inspired by Dam and Zethsen’s status parameters and a Korean study on teacher status, a survey was conducted among four populations: one Translator group and three student groups at different stages of their study. The findings indicate a negative correlation between the perceptions of occupational status and expertise progression, with first semester students giving a mean rating well above the middle point while practitioners rated their status as “just above average.” Overall, professional Translators and students regarded in-house Translation as an important occupation which required a high level of expertise and contributed to the organization, but also as one that involves a lower degree of work autonomy. At the same time, all four groups expressed their concern regarding job prospects.
Keywords: translator status, perceived occupational status, in-house translators, translation students, translation sociology
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Previous research on translator status
  • 3.The survey
    • 3.1The Korean in-house translation market
    • 3.2The occupational status parameters for in-house translators
    • 3.3Questionnaire design
    • 3.4Sample
    • 3.5Method
  • 4.Results
    • 4.1Findings
      • 4.1.1Ratings for perceived occupational status
      • 4.1.2Ratings for social parameters
      • 4.1.3Ratings for economic parameters
      • 4.1.4Ratings for institutional parameters
      • 4.1.5Ratings for intrinsic parameters
    • 4.2Discussion
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 3 December 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/forum.19006.lim
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