Italian as a language to learn for translation ناشر الموضوع: Jason Cronin
|
|---|
Jason Cronin 
الولايات المتحدة
Local time: 09:26
إسباني إلى أنجليزي
Hello all,
I currently work as a Spanish—>English translator, and I know a good deal of Italian. I'd like to know what you think about developing Italian to become a tertiary language, essentially a working language. Looking at the job boards, it doesn't look too bad, and some of the jobs I've bid for in the past have had a lot less people bidding Italian—>English.
What do you think? Is the market there for Italian to English?
jason
| | | | | There is more to think of here than the market | May 1, 2013 |
Unless you have been exposed to Italian at a very young age - opinion varies here from less than 5 years to less than 20 - and unless you have been constantly in contact with the Italian language throughout your life, you will be unable to pick up enough Italian at this age, however hard you try - there are biological limitations to learning languages in adulthood.
Therefore, at the most, you will be able to use Italian only as a second language or source language from which you may... See more Unless you have been exposed to Italian at a very young age - opinion varies here from less than 5 years to less than 20 - and unless you have been constantly in contact with the Italian language throughout your life, you will be unable to pick up enough Italian at this age, however hard you try - there are biological limitations to learning languages in adulthood.
Therefore, at the most, you will be able to use Italian only as a second language or source language from which you may be able to translate. Even there, unless you fulfill the early exposure and continued exposure criteria mentioned above you will not fare as well as those translators who fulfill this condition.
You of course will not be able to translate into Italian by learning it now.
So, the question that is more relevant to you, or for anybody else, is will it be biologically possible for you to learn Italian, and not whether the market in Italian is vigorous. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Triston Goodwin
الولايات المتحدة
Local time: 09:26
إسباني إلى أنجليزي
+ ...
| Can't see any reason why not... | May 1, 2013 |
If you have the time and resources for it, I'd say go for it. It's something that I've been considering as well, only I was looking at German.
| | | | Giles Watson
إيطاليا
Local time: 17:26
إيطالي إلى أنجليزي
احياء لذكرى | Spanish-Italian interference | May 1, 2013 |
Balasubramaniam L. wrote:
Therefore, at the most, you will be able to use Italian only as a second language or source language from which you may be able to translate.
That, of course, is precisely what Jason intends to do
The problem is not so much learning Italian as learning to distinguish Italian from Spanish, and indeed from any other neo-Latin languages or dialects that you may know. This goes far beyond misleading homophones (chica/cicca springs to mind) to grammar - for example, Spanish and Italian speakers use the subjunctive mood rather differently - stylistic expectations, cultural references and in general the way native speakers cast their thought.
It is terribly easy to misinterpret Italian if you are coming from Spanish (I speak from experience!). Triston's suggestion of a non-cognate language like German is a good one, I'd have thought.
As for the market, IT-EN is like most others: overcrowded and underpaid at the bottom but better at the top, where there are still plenty of clients who put quality before price. Payment practices are often deplorable but you will know all about that from the Hispanosphere.
| | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Italian as a language to learn for translation | Trados Business Manager Lite | Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio
Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.
More info » |
| | Anycount & Translation Office 3000 | Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
