Translators, terminologists and interpreters
Career Overview
Translators:
- Translate written material from one language to another
- Work for government, private translation and interpretation agencies, in-house translation services, large private corporations, international organizations and the media
- May be self-employed
Interpreters:
- Translate oral communication from one language to another during speeches, meetings, conferences, debates and conversation, or in court or before organizational hearings
- Work for government, private translation and interpretation agencies, in-house translation services, large private corporations, international organizations and the media
- May be self-employed
Terminologists:
- Do research to list terms connected with a certain field, define them and find equivalents in another language
- Work for government, private translation and interpretation agencies, in-house translation services, large private corporations, international organizations and the media
- May be self-employed
Sign language interpreters:
- Use sign language to translate spoken language and vice versa during meetings, conversations, television programs or other instances
Translators, terminologists and interpreters:
- Work for government, private translation and interpretation agencies, in-house translation services, large private corporations, international organizations and the media
- May be self-employed
Sign language interpreters:
- Work in schools and courts, and for social service agencies, interpretation services, government services and television stations
- May be self-employed
Job Titles
Duties
Translators and translator-revisers:
- Translate a variety of written material such as correspondence, reports, legal documents, technical specifications and textbooks from one language to another, maintaining the content, context and style of the original material to the greatest extent possible
- Adapt software and accompanying technical documents to fit another language and culture
- Revise and correct translated material
- May train and supervise other translators
Terminologists:
- Identify the terminology used in a field of activity
- Do terminological research on a given subject or in response to inquiries for the preparation of glossaries, terminology banks, technological files, dictionaries, lexicons and resource centres, and add to terminological databases
- Manage, update and circulate linguistic information collected from terminological databases
- Give advice to translators, interpreters and technical writers preparing legal, scientific or other documents requiring specialized terminologies
Interpreters:
- Interpret oral communication from one language to another aloud or using electronic equipment, either simultaneously (as the speaker speaks), consecutively (after the speaker speaks) or whispered (speaking in a low whisper to one or two persons as the speaker is talking)
- Provide interpretation services in court or before organizational hearings
- May interpret language for individuals and small groups travelling in Canada and abroad
- May interpret for persons speaking a native or foreign language in a variety of circumstances
- May train other interpreters
Sign language interpreters:
- Translate sign language to a spoken language and vice versa either simultaneously or consecutively
- Work in French and Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) or in English and American Sign Language (ASL)
Special duties
Translators, terminologists and interpreters may specialize in two languages, such as French and English, the official languages of Canada. They may may also specialize in another language and one of the official languages. The main areas of specialization include: administrative, literary, scientific and technical translation.
Interpreters may specialize in court, parliamentary or conference interpretation.
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
1,545% Employed Full Time
29%Work takes place in a conventional indoor setting.
Career Pathways
Career path information is currently not available.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- A university degree in translation with a specialization in translation, interpretation or terminology in two languages including at least one of the two official languages
or
A university degree in a related discipline such as languages, linguistics, philology and courses in linguistic transfer and two years' experience as a full-time translator working in two languages, at least one of which is an official language
or - Five years of experience as a full-time translator working in two languages, at least one of which is an official language, are required
- Sign language interpreters require a college training program or a university certificate in sign language interpretation
- Certification on dossier or by examination from the Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council may be required for translators, terminologists and interpreters
- Sign language interpreters may require a certificate or certification evaluation in LSQ or ASL
- Fluency in three languages is usually required for translators or interpreters working in an international context
- Membership in a provincial or territorial association of translators, interpreters and terminologists may be required
- Membership in a provincial association of sign language interpreters may be required
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Interpreting/Sign Language
- Modern Languages
- Linguistics Related (Arts)
- Legal Secretarial
- Linguistics (Science)
- French Studies Related
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
1,545Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 0 | 0.0% |
| Kootenay | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,265 | 81.9% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | 0.0% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 75 | 4.9% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 190 | 12.3% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
780Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | Not available | Not available |
| Kootenay | Not available | Not available |
| Mainland/Southwest | 680 | 1.8% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 30 | 1.7% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 70 | 1.3% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 640 |
| Educational Services | 50 |
| Public Administration | 20 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 20 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 20 |
Resources
-
Literary Translators' Association of Canada (LTAC)www.attlc-ltac.org
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MOSAIC – Employment Opportunitieswww.mosaicbc.org/about/employment-opportunities
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Network of Translators in Education (NTE)rte-nte.ca/en
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The Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTTIC)www.cttic.org/mission.asp
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Translation Journalwww.bokorlang.com/journal
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