Translator Legal, Social & Cultural Professionals
SaveWhat Does a Translator Do?
Translators transcribe written documents from one or more languages to another ensuring that the message and nuances therein remain in the translated material. They translate material backed up by an understanding of it, which can include commercial and industrial documentation, personal documents, journalism, novels, creative writing, and scientific texts delivering the translations in any format.
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Where Do I Start?
Grammar
The set of structural rules governing the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language.
Sign up to trackReady to go deeper? Pick up to 3 skills to focus on from the list below.
These are common skills for this role. Real-world experience matters more than ticking every box — use this as a guide, not a checklist.
Skills You Need to Become a Translator
Essential Skills
Essential Skills
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EssentialGrammar knowledge
The set of structural rules governing the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language.
Recommended Books
1 book -
EssentialInformation Confidentiality knowledge
The mechanisms and regulations which allow for selective access control and guarantee that only authorised parties (people, processes, systems and devices) have access to data, the way to comply with …
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialOffice Software knowledge
The characteristics and functioning of software programs for office tasks such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, email and database.
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3 books -
EssentialSpelling knowledge
The rules concerning the way words are spelled.
Recommended Books
1 book -
EssentialApply Grammar And Spelling Rules skill
Apply the rules of spelling and grammar and ensure consistency throughout texts.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialConsult Information Sources skill
Consult relevant information sources to find inspiration, to educate yourself on certain topics and to acquire background information.
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EssentialMaintain Updated Professional Knowledge skill
Regularly attend educational workshops, read professional publications, actively participate in professional societies.
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EssentialObserve Confidentiality skill
Observe the set of rules establishing the nondisclosure of information except to another authorised person.
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EssentialProofread Text skill
Read a text thoroughly, search for, review and correct errors to ensure content is valid for publishing.
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EssentialProvide Written Content skill
Communicate information in written form via digital or print media according to the needs of the target group. Structure the content according to specifications and standards. Apply grammar and spelling …
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EssentialSpeak Different Languages skill
Master foreign languages to be able to communicate in one or more foreign languages.
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EssentialComprehend The Material To Be Translated skill
Read and analyse the content and themes of the material to be translated. The translator must comprehend what is written in order to best translate the content. Word-for-word translation is …
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EssentialDevelop A Translation Strategy skill
Perform research to better understand the subject material and formulate the right questions to get the information needed.
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EssentialFollow An Ethical Code Of Conduct For Translation Activities skill
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EssentialFollow Translation Quality Standards skill
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EssentialMaster Language Rules skill
Master the techniques and practices of the languages to be translated. This includes both your own native language, as well as foreign languages. Be familiar with applicable standards and rules …
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EssentialPreserve Original Text skill
Translate texts without adding, changing or omitting anything. Make sure the original message is conveyed. Don't express your own feelings and opinions.
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EssentialReview Translation Works skill
Read thoroughly translated works in order to ensure accuracy and achievement of the purpose.
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EssentialRevise Translation Works skill
Compare and perform bilingual editing by reading the translated work and comparing it to the original text.
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EssentialTranslate Different Types Of Texts skill
Comprehend the nature of the type of text to be translated, for example commercial and industrial documentation, personal documents, journalism, novels, creative writing, certificates, government documentation, and scientific texts.
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EssentialTranslate Tags skill
Interpret and translate tags from one language to another striving for accuracy in the target language.
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EssentialTranslate Texts skill
Translate text from one language to another, conserving the meaning and the nuances of the original text, without adding, changing or omitting anything and avoiding the expression of personal feelings …
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EssentialUpdate Language Skills skill
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EssentialUse Dictionaries skill
Use glossaries and dictionaries to search for the meaning, the spelling, and synonyms of words.
Course recommendations coming soon.
Optional Skills (5 of 34 displayed)
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OptionalScientific Research Methodology knowledge
The theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.
Recommended Books
5 books -
OptionalSemantics knowledge
The branch of linguistics that studies meaning; it analyses of words, phrases, signs, and symbols and the relation between them.
Recommended Books
5 books -
OptionalTranscreation knowledge
The process of reproducing commercial content, usually brand related, in other languages while conserving the most important nuances and messages. This refers to the preserving emotional and intangible aspects of …
Recommended Books
1 book -
OptionalTypes Of Literature Genres knowledge
The different literary genres in the history of literature, their technique, tone, content and length.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalPostediting knowledge
The process of revising a translation, usually generated by a machine, and improving the accuracy of the text in the translated language.
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OptionalUnseen Translation knowledge
The translation technique whereby unseen extracts from Latin and Greek prose or verse are presented to translators for them to translate the excerpts perfectly in a determined language, for instance …
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OptionalLinguistics knowledge
The scientific study of language and its three aspects, language form, language meaning, and language in context.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalLiterature knowledge
The body of artistic writing characterized by beauty of expression, form, and universality of intellectual and emotional appeal.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalCourt Interpreting knowledge
The form of interpreting where it is mandatory to accurately translate everything the source says in order not to mislead the people who have to make judgements on the cases.
Recommended Books
1 book -
OptionalTechnical Terminology knowledge
Type of language used in a certain context, containing terms that have a meaning specific to a particular group or activity, such as in industry, medicine, or law.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalCoach Employees skill
Maintain and improve employees' performance by coaching individuals or groups how to optimise specific methods, skills or abilities, using adapted coaching styles and methods. Tutor newly recruited employees and assist …
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OptionalConduct Scholarly Research skill
Plan scholarly research by formulating the research question and conducting empirical or literature research in order to investigate the truth of the research question.
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OptionalFollow Work Schedule skill
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OptionalPerform Project Management skill
Manage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project's progress in order to achieve a specific …
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OptionalTranslate Language Concepts skill
Translate one language into another language. Match words and expressions with their corresponding brothers in other languages, while making sure that the message and nuances of the original text are …
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OptionalUse Consulting Techniques skill
Advise clients in different personal or professional matters.
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OptionalWrite Research Proposals skill
Synthetise and write proposals aiming to solve research problems. Draft the proposal baseline and objectives, the estimated budget, risks and impact. Document the advances and new developments on the relevant …
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OptionalWrite Scientific Papers skill
Present the hypothesis, findings, and conclusions of your scientific research in your field of expertise in a professional publication.
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OptionalAdapt Text Culturally skill
Adjust text so it is culturally and linguistically acceptable to the reader, while preserving the original message and nuance of the text.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalAnalyse Text Before Translation skill
Understand the messages conveyed and the nuances of the text in the original text to be translated.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalCreate Subtitles skill
Create and write subtitles making sure they are synchronised with the dialogue.
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OptionalDecode Handwritten Texts skill
Analyse, understand, and read handwritten texts with different writing styles. Analyse the overall message of texts to ensure coherence in the understanding.
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OptionalDevelop Technical Glossaries skill
Organise technical terms used e.g. in scientific and legal settings into terminology databases and glossaries to aid future translations.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalDevelop Terminology Databases skill
Collect and submit terms after verifying their legitimacy in order to build up terminology databases on an array of domains.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalIdentify New Words skill
Determine if there are new words being used by a significant number of people by doing research.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalImprove Translated Texts skill
Revise, read, and improve human or machine translations. Strive to improve the accuracy and quality of translations.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalKeep Up With Language Evolution skill
Study the evolution of the language and integrate language changes into the performance of job activities.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMake Abstracts skill
Write abstracts and resumes of documents summarising the most important points.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMake Surtitles skill
Translate lyrics for opera or theatre in order to accurately reflect in other languages the meaning and nuances of the artistic libretto.
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OptionalPerform Sworn Translations skill
Translate documents of all kinds and affixing a stamp indicating the translation has been performed by somebody endorsed by the local or national authorities.
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OptionalType Texts From Audio Sources skill
Listen, understand and type content from audio sources into written format. Keep the overall idea and understanding of the message together with relevant details. Type and listen to audios simultaneously.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalUse Computer-Aided Translation skill
Aid the language translation process by using computer-aided translation (CAT) software.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalUse Translation Memory Software skill
Facilitate efficient language translation using translation memory software. This software collects and stores previously translated texts and their translations, broken down into segments. It looks for matches between these previously …
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OptionalWork With Authors skill
Consult with the author of the text to be translated in order to capture and preserve the intended meaning and style of the original text.
Course recommendations coming soon.