Translation is certainly not an easy job (II) Nevertheless, having no fixed work schedule can turn out to be a disadvantage in some situations. On more than one occasion, I was out when I suddenly rec

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Translation is certainly not an easy job (II) Nevertheless, having no fixed work schedule can turn out to be a disadvantage in some situations. On more than one occasion, I was out when I suddenly received an email from the translation company asking if I could complete a very shot text by the end of the day. Of course I can turn down the offer, but most of the times I simply change my plan and go back home earlier. The second disadvantage is the mental fatigue. Working as a shop assistant during 8 hours is totally different from translating for 8 hours. Like study, translation requires hours of concentration and an excessive mental exertion can leads to increase in simple mistakes. The next and last disadvantage, which is the most intolerable one for me, is the lack of communication with other people during work hours. It is fine to stay at home and translate for several days straight. But when it comes to be weeks or more, a feeling of loneness and isolation starts to overcame me. Of course you can talk to friends or family after work or during meals. However, in my opinion, human beings are social animals, and being able to take advantage of those little blocks of free time at work to interact with others is definetly one of the life's little pleasures. Generally speaking, I think working as a part-time translator is very interesting and challenging. During the process, not only extra money are earned, but also a wide range of knowledge. “As long as human beings speak different languages, the need for translation will continue.” Said Nataly Kelly in her book “Found in Translation: How Language Shapes Our Lives and Transforms the World”.

Apr 26, 2015 4:25 AM

Corrections · 3

Translation is certainly not an easy job (II)

Nevertheless, having no fixed work schedule can turn out to be a disadvantage in some situations. On more than one occasion, I was out when I suddenly received an email from the translation company asking if I could complete a very short text by the end of the day. Of course I can turn down the offer, but most of the time I simply change my plan and go back home earlier.
The second disadvantage is mental fatigue. Working as a shop assistant for 8 hours is totally different from translating for 8 hours. Like studying, translation requires hours and hours of concentration and an excessive mental exertion can lead to an increase in simple mistakes.
The last disadvantage, which is the most intolerable one for me, is the lack of communication with other people during work hours. It is fine to stay at home and translate for several days straight. But when it comes to be weeks or more, a feeling of loneliness and isolation starts to overcome me. Of course you can talk to friends or family after work or during meals. However, in my opinion, human beings are social animals, and being able to take advantage of those little blocks of free time at work to interact with others is definitely one of life's little pleasures.
Generally speaking, I think working as a part-time translator is very interesting and challenging. During the process, not only is extra money earned, but also a wide range of knowledge. “As long as human beings speak different languages, the need for translation will continue.” Said Nataly Kelly in her book “Found in Translation: How Language Shapes Our Lives and Transforms the World”.