Pleasure, Discipline, Creativity, Empathy: Values to Live by for the Professional Translator

Psychological distress is the primary cause of absenteeism in the workplace. And translators are not immune to the phenomenon. Such distress is due to conflicting values. Constantly working contrary to our personal values has a price: professional burn-out. That’s why it’s essential we reconcile our values with those of our clients, our employers and … and the texts we are asked to translate. Why? Over time, translating in a field whose core values conflict with our own can be exhausting.

As a translator, the joy of always learning paired with discipline and performance is possible!

Translation memories: have you mastered the art of quilting?

Tell me: are you translating or are you writing?

We have all dreamed of translating novels. There are other ways, however, to exercise our creativity!

Develop a canvas thanks to our sense of organizationand creativity.

Empathy: A good translator must acknowledge the thoughts and feelings of those who write the source text as well as of those who read the translation.

Illustrations: Studio Steve Bergeron

Translation: Nancy A. Locke