Article published In:
TargetVol. 12:1 (2000) ► pp.127–149
Tailoring Translation Programs to Social Needs
A Survey of Professional Translators
To ensure that translation programs meet the constantly changing needs of the market, it is of paramount importance to first identify what those needs are. This article reports on a data-based study of professional translators undertaken in Hong Kong. The study reveals that recent social-political changes in the country have brought about changes in the needs of professional translators characterized by demand for better bilingual competence including mastery of Putonghua, better command of selective translation and more collaborative translation. It was also found that training in English and Chinese proved most helpful to professional translators at work, whereas training in interpretation and subject knowledge proved inadequate. The author recommends that training in L1 and L2 be strengthened, and translation teaching be brought closer to the real world through authentic training, thus responding to changing social needs.
Article outline
- Introduction
- The Study
- The Design
- Data Analysis
- Participants
- Results of the Study
- Most Helpful Courses
- Best and Least Prepared Areas
- Challenges at Work
- Changes in the Translation World
- Translator Training and Professional Reality
- Further Training
- Discussion and Implications
- Role of Translation Theory in Translator Training
- Translation Program and Social Needs
- Enhanced Interpretation Training
- Enhanced Language Training
- More Training in Chinese and Putonghua
- Authentic Training
- Teaching of Subject Matter Knowledge
- Reference-Finding in Translation Teaching
- Conclusion
- Notes
-
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