Hey all :)
I want to become a translator, but I don't really know how many years I should study, or the requirements to become a translator. And, since my father is Egyptian and my mother is American, I know English, Arabic, Spanish and French.

Oh and if you know any universities in America (since I live there), or any other country, please let me know :)

Thanks ;)

Go to a public library and ask a reference librarian to show you print and database sources for U.S. colleges, in particular those that offer classes on becoming a translator. Also, ask to see the current Occupational Outlook Handbook to find out more about the training, salary, and future of, and best locations for a translator.

Best wishes!

First, I am a new user and so I am not used to it. I shall read all the instruction out here, and I want to really learn a lot and use this site a lot for good. So, kindly bear me and pardon me if I commit some mistake. For example, I hereby wrote a question, which was already lying here.

About the question, I raised about how to be a good translator, I got answer here, by wondergirl. But, I could not get specific answer. Yeah, the books are many in the market, but they give plenty of guidelines and she - I mean - Wondergirl - has also given reference of books.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kahani Punjab

First, I am a new user and so I am not used to it. I shall read all the instruction out here, and I want to really learn a lot and use this site a lot for good. So, kindly bear me and pardon me if I commit some mistake. For example, I hereby wrote a question, which was already lying here.

About the question, I raised about how to be a good translator, I got answer here, by wondergirl. But, I could not get specific answer. Yeah, the books are many in the market, but they give plenty of guidelines and she - I mean - Wondergirl - has also given reference of books.

---

I'm glad you came to this site to ask your question. Are you reemyz?

Do you want to know what courses to take in college? Do you want to how to connect with a place that will hire you as a translator? I'm not sure how to help you.

No, I am Kahani Punjab, and none else...
Actually, I have translated some books, from other languages to English. However, some, not all, say that they seem to be translated, I mean there is smell of the native language. How to be expert in translation? I think/presume, there is problem in my English. Is my English good or bad? Actually, they say that I write as if it is 'translated'. I actually fail to even make you understand what I want to say, but I presume you might have got my point.

Let me post this post and after your reply, I will ask more...

Your English is very good, but as a native speaker, I noticed right away that you are not a native speaker of English because of your phrasing and your use of prepositions and pronouns.

Let me show you what I mean. Here is what you wrote, and then how I would have written it --

Kahani:

Actually, I have translated some books, from other languages to English. However, some, not all, say that they seem to be translated, I mean there is smell of the native language. How to be expert in translation? I think/presume, there is problem in my English. Is my English good or bad? Actually, they say that I write as if it is 'translated'. I actually fail to even make you understand what I want to say, but I presume you might have got my point.

Wondergirl:

Actually, I have translated some books from other languages into English. However, some readers (but not all) say that the books sound translated. By that I mean there is a "smell" of the native language. How can I be an expert translator? I think/presume there is problem with my English. Is my English good or bad? Actually, I'm told that I write as if it is "translated." I have failed to make even you understand what I want to say, but I hope you got my point.

So nice of you, madam. It is really so nice of you. Please tell me what can I do to improve my English? This will really be pretty helpful to me, even as I found that I make excessive use of words and phrases. Is not it? How to improve, please tell...

Thanks so so so much!

I have two dear friends who are from Delhi and Kashmir. They have improved their English speaking and writing simply by practicing it. That's what you must do too.

Are there native English speakers near you with whom you can practice?

If you can manage it without being angry with me, you could post something here and I could smooth it out so you see the differences.

A place to read about grammar, to read good writing, and to practice as you ask questions is here:

http://www.grammarmudge.cityslide.com/Home.html

You can read the site without registering, but can access the question boards only if you choose a screen name and register. On that site, I am CeeBee. The owner (my dear friend) recently died, but his daughter is supposed to be accepting new members for the boards. If you have any problems, let me know.

Dear Wonder Girl!
Hi
I have sent a proposal to the site (which you mentioned here) owner, and hope to get the reaction/reply/response soon. Please correct my composition (this which is also a sort of letter addressed to you) by sparing some time out of your precious busy schedule. Like you, I am also an avid reader and have read much of the literature. Jane Austen for one, is my favourite author. I also like Arundhati Roy. Have you read Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things. I also love to read the literature in hindi and Punjabi. Do you know any other language, other than English? I am asking this question only to learn if the knowledge of any other language, (other than English) weakens your command in Queen's language, or not?

Kahani:

Like you, I am also an avid reader and have read much of the literature. Jane Austen for one, is my favourite author. I also like Arundhati Roy. Have you read Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things. I also love to read the literature in hindi and Punjabi. Do you know any other language, other than English? I am asking this question only to learn if the knowledge of any other language, (other than English) weakens your command in Queen's language, or not?

WG:

Like you, I am also an avid reader and have read much literature. Jane Austen, for one, is my favourite author. I also like Arundhati Roy. Have you read Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things? I also love to read Hindi and Punjabi literature. Do you know any language other than English? I am asking this question only to learn whether knowledge of any other language weakens a person's command of the King's English.

WG's reply:

I know some German and Latin, but my native tongue is English. Knowing other languages does not hinder me in learning and speaking other languages, but I will never speak a second and third language as well as I do English.

The best time to learn more than one language is when one is a very young child. Otherwise, as an adult, one must totally immerse himself in the language one wishes to learn.

No, I have not read Roy's book, but it is on my list of books to read.

Fine! And, thanks. I have been attempting hard to learn this language since long, I mean, since I come to the senses. I think most of the people out here start dreaming of speaking, writing, reading and listening to English language, but I most of them end up in failure. I, in my community, is supposed to be best speaker and writer of English language. I have passed post-graduation in English, and am an 'authorized translator'. Many people from far and wide visit me for the translation work. I have translated or transliterated, if you say, many stories from English to Punjabi/Hindi, and vice versa. I get the heavy translation work and do 'remarkable' work, some say, but when others point out, especially the city-born and city-bred girls say so, I feel not only shocked but scolded, sort of, you can say.

I think you are amazing. There are only some small problems with your writing. The writing is not perfectly smooth, but is very understandable and actually very charming. If I were you, I would spit in those mean girls' eyes. (Not really, but you know what I mean.)

Here is what I suggest: Stay on this site and post answers to questions that you feel comfortable about. The answers don't have to be long, just helpful. Also, ask questions if you need answers for anything.

Also, let me know if you have trouble on that grammar site. I know the deceased owner's daughter and wife, so will run interference for you.

Meanwhile, practice writing.

Thanks for the quick reply. I agree that that there 'are some problems' and I want to be really-really smooth, so that my writing becomes smooth, flexible and very easy to comprehend.

Madam Wonder Girl, please find mistakes or irregularities or un-smoothness in the lines I wrote in previous post and this one, please, if you do not mind, and if you have time, please.

Kahani:

Fine! And, thanks. I have been attempting hard to learn this language since long, I mean, since I come to the senses. I think most of the people out here start dreaming of speaking, writing, reading and listening to English language, but I most of them end up in failure. I, in my community, is supposed to be best speaker and writer of English language. I have passed post-graduation in English, and am an 'authorized translator'. Many people from far and wide visit me for the translation work. I have translated or transliterated, if you say, many stories from English to Punjabi/Hindi, and vice versa. I get the heavy translation work and do 'remarkable' work, some say, but when others point out, especially the city-born and city-bred girls say so, I feel not only shocked but scolded, sort of, you can say.

WG:

Fine! And thanks. I have tried to learn this language for a long time. I think most people here want to speak, write, and read English, but they fail. In my community, I am considered the best speaker and writer of English. I have passed post-graduation in English and am an "authorized translator." Many people from far and wide visit me for translation work. I have translated or transliterated many stories from English to Punjabi/Hindi, and vice versa. I am given heavy translations and do "remarkable" work some say, yet others, especially the city-born and city-bred girls, say I don't. Then I feel not only shocked but offended.

O thanks, I could not notice and reply to your post, because I was just seeing the first page. So, I could not reply. I noticed somewhere on this page written "Page 1" and read an indication to turn to page 2 and after seeing it, I noticed your two more posts, which I have neither watched, nor seen. About that GRAMMAR site, I sent my request, I per the rules mentioned there, to the email given, but got no reply so far.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kahani Punjab

O thanks, I could not notice and reply to your post, because I was just seeing the first page. So, I could not reply. I noticed somewhere on this page written "Page 1" and read an indication to turn to page 2 and after seeing it, I noticed your two more posts, which I have neither watched, nor seen. About that GRAMMAR site, I sent my request, I per the rules mentioned there, to the email given, but got no reply so far.

---

Would you be willing to move to a different "skin" on this site and tell me if you think it's easier to use? It's the skin I use.

I will poke Kate, the owner's daughter, to accept your registration for the grammar site. Are you Kahani there too?

Yeah, sure and, also tell me how u quote?
Yes, same name... Kahani Punjab.

Thanks for the concern and thanks for the reply.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kahani Punjab

Yeah, sure and, also tell me how u quote?
Yes, same name.... Kahani Punjab.

Thanks for the concern and thanks for the reply.

---

Go to the top right of your screen and click on Settings. That will open a window that says at the bottom left, "Take me to the old style." Click on those words, wait a very short time, and you will be on the skin that I use. In the center is an orange banner that says Answer Questions (click on that to see all new and current questions), and at the top right is Profile (click on that to see any active questions you are subscribed to).

When you look at a question or response, you will see a Quote button below it.

To change things and how you see them, click on Profile and look at the list in the left margin. Go to Edit Options and click on that to make changes (most recent response shows up first or last, you can be invisible, etc.).

Yes, it helps...
Thanks, I am going to duty now. Will communicate with u after around 10 hours.