Localization Path Thread poster: Alisha Rice
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Alisha Rice 
United States
Local time: 01:06
Member (Jun 2024)
Spanish to English
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Over the course of several topics I have posted I have gotten a lot of feedback related to the translation field as we know it today and much of it hasn't made me feel that freelancing is something I can do. It seems like because we have the addition of AI, language service providers are offering lower pay and of course, there is the competition of other translators out there who I know can take lower rates than some other translators out there. I know I cannot take lower rates based off of whe... See more Over the course of several topics I have posted I have gotten a lot of feedback related to the translation field as we know it today and much of it hasn't made me feel that freelancing is something I can do. It seems like because we have the addition of AI, language service providers are offering lower pay and of course, there is the competition of other translators out there who I know can take lower rates than some other translators out there. I know I cannot take lower rates based off of where I am located so I thought of reaching out to those out there on this forum who have gotten into the localization industry, which is the more lucrative side of translation. I hope to work for a company rather than as a freelancer because of my factors within my state where I need benefits because health insurance is high as well as cost of living and I have learned most companies will not hire in-house translators. My only question is I have come across most localization companies offering language services from English into other foreign languages and my translation skills have been from Spanish and Portuguese into English. This is because in my graduate program, we were taught to only translate into languages you are native and unfortunately, I am not native in Spanish and Portuguese but again, I may still be able to do localization into other languages if those who are in it can chime in on whether those who aren't native can be successful by doing certain aspects of the localization. So I am wondering if I can even go into this field because there is no market for companies outside the U.S. requesting localization services into English. I appreciate any feedback related to my question on localization. I also was told a localization certificate could be a great benefit as I don't have much experience so I need to build upon it. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Novian Cahyadi
Indonesia
Local time: 16:06
Member (Apr 2024)
English to Indonesian
Alisha Rice wrote:
This is because in my graduate program, we were taught to only translate into languages you are native and unfortunately, I am not native in Spanish and Portuguese but again, I may still be able to do localization into other languages if those who are in it can chime in on whether those who aren't native can be successful by doing certain aspects of the localization.
Incredible.
| | | | Kevin Fulton
United States
Local time: 04:06
German to English
| Localization is translation – and much more | Nov 14 |
Alisha Rice wrote:
I am not native in Spanish and Portuguese but again, I may still be able to do localization into other languages if those who are in it can chime in on whether those who aren't native can be successful by doing certain aspects of the localization. So I am wondering if I can even go into this field because there is no market for companies outside the U.S. requesting localization services into English. I appreciate any feedback related to my question on localization. I also was told a localization certificate could be a great benefit as I don't have much experience so I need to build upon it.
Even as a native speaker of (US) American English, it would never occur to me to localize text for a UK/Australian/etc. audience. Would you be able to take into account the regional differences in Latin American Spanish, or the differences between Brazilian and European Portuguese?
Please look at this website:
https://lokalise.com/blog/translation-and-localization-difference/
You might consider applying the skills you picked up in grad school to an entirely different endeavor, as you seem to be considering dead ends in the language biz.
| | | | Alisha Rice
United States
Local time: 01:06
Member (Jun 2024)
Spanish to English
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TOPIC STARTER
I have to say the first comment was a joke but I appreciate the second comment. I am not getting much responses and I am not surprised. I just wanted feedback from those in the localization industry. I appreciate the feedback you gave me on the regional differences which is a good suggestion. I ask that only those in the localization industry respond and please give actual constructive responses. Thanks!
[Edited at 2024-11-14 19:10 GMT]
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Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 10:06
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
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| Simple Google search | Nov 14 |
Simple Google search will explain to you what a “localization engineer” is and their scope of work. It goes much beyond translation and local language variants.
If they hire you in-house, they’ll expect you to have mastered many different tools from Adobe Suite, design skills, at least some coding languages, to name just a few. If it’s a software localization, the production cycles are long and tedious. You’ll discuss with clients having to fully understand their requests ... See more Simple Google search will explain to you what a “localization engineer” is and their scope of work. It goes much beyond translation and local language variants.
If they hire you in-house, they’ll expect you to have mastered many different tools from Adobe Suite, design skills, at least some coding languages, to name just a few. If it’s a software localization, the production cycles are long and tedious. You’ll discuss with clients having to fully understand their requests (you’ll have to understand coding and web design jargon), you’ll then be sending these requests to the team. You’ll test the software in the source language (long and tedious). You’ll test the software in the target language (same as previous). You’ll go through many cycles of validations and reworks, etc. I only named a few things. In any case, it’s at least 50% technical and project/product manager position and the other half is translation. And there is more. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Novian Cahyadi
Indonesia
Local time: 16:06
Member (Apr 2024)
English to Indonesian
| Merry Christmas to you, too. | Nov 15 |
Alisha Rice wrote:
I have to say the first comment was a joke
There must be a good reason why your graduate program taught to only translate into your native language. If working in a reverse pair is frowned upon in translation, it'll be amplified in localization. Maybe you can get away with it if you've lived in your target country for a meaningful amount of time. But your ProZ profile page mentions nothing like that. Localization is a cultural transfer. How are you going to do that if you've never familiarized yourself with your target culture?
For the record, I've done a few game localization projects. Subtitling also has localization aspects to it. But why should I bother? My comments are a joke, right?
[Edited at 2024-11-15 07:01 GMT]
| | | | Zea_Mays
Italy
Local time: 10:06
English to German
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Alisha, based on your previous posts and this one, an in-house position may be the best option for you to start with. This will help you get a realistic view of the profession and the market, as well as your own skills.
As for your question, anyone will tell you that in order to translate/localize/transcreate/write in a language, you need to have a native level of proficiency in that language and have a very good understanding of the target culture.
| | | | Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 10:06
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
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What Zea says. Alternative if you can't find an inhouse position: look for another job and be a translator parttime. Then lower your rates, so you get jobs and translate, translate, translate. Translation is 20% talent/education and 80% learning-on-the-job. Later, if you feel more confident, you can raise your rates (although not as high as they are now, it just won't work I'm afraid) and go fulltime.
And forget the idea of working into non-native languages. If you already have prob... See more What Zea says. Alternative if you can't find an inhouse position: look for another job and be a translator parttime. Then lower your rates, so you get jobs and translate, translate, translate. Translation is 20% talent/education and 80% learning-on-the-job. Later, if you feel more confident, you can raise your rates (although not as high as they are now, it just won't work I'm afraid) and go fulltime.
And forget the idea of working into non-native languages. If you already have problems passing tests translating into your mother tongue, I don't want to know what difficulties you will encounter in other languages. ▲ Collapse
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Emily Scott
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:06
Member (2018)
French to English
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| Only into your regional variant | Nov 15 |
I work a bit in localisation (mainly in the marketing sector) and I must say that you should only work into your regional variant (for you US English, for me UK English). While I can get away with translating into US English in my medical translation work where there are only a few differences to consider (spelling, certain terminology, job roles and healthcare system structures) in a text conveying mostly facts that don't change from country to country, when a text truly needs to be localised t... See more I work a bit in localisation (mainly in the marketing sector) and I must say that you should only work into your regional variant (for you US English, for me UK English). While I can get away with translating into US English in my medical translation work where there are only a few differences to consider (spelling, certain terminology, job roles and healthcare system structures) in a text conveying mostly facts that don't change from country to country, when a text truly needs to be localised to a specific region and culture to make sure that its meaning is understood and isn't taken the wrong way, it's essential to be a native in the target variant. While I may be very familiar with US English rules and some of the US's culture, I'd never dream of localising into US English as I'd almost certainly miss nuances that only a native would be privy to. ▲ Collapse
| | | | expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 09:06
Member (2015)
English to Portuguese
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Kevin Fulton wrote:
Even as a native speaker of (US) American English, it would never occur to me to localize text for a UK/Australian/etc. audience. Would you be able to take into account the regional differences in Latin American Spanish, or the differences between Brazilian and European Portuguese?
I'm a native speaker of European Portuguese and, although I understand Brazilian Portuguese and its nuances, cultural and grammatical aspects perfectly, I don't provide localisation services and, more importantly, I don't do translations into Brazilian Portuguese.
Portuguese language is not easy and should not be taken for granted... Not to mention the Portuguese spoken in other regions.
It's a language that has suffered a lot of influences from other languages around the world.
You have to be professionally and personally aware!
I agree with my colleagues. With so many questions that you have, I believe the best way for you would be a in-house position in a translation agency, or working with professionals from other fields.
It was in the latter way that I specialised in one of my fields.
| | | | IrinaN
United States
Local time: 03:06
English to Russian
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expressisverbis wrote:
a in-house position in a translation agency
Those positions are extinct, and a few that still might be keeping a position or two will never offer it to a rookie. I've explained it numerous times, no need to keep up false hopes left in the previous century. This would be a person on top of the agency's food chain, capable of handling a broad range of subjects on a daily basis and possessing various up-to-date SW skills. Essentially, a last resort for doing super urgent translations, prompt fixing of all kinds of others' translators' failures, last minute editing, reviewing tests etc. It won't be someone just enjoying guaranteed and subject-predictable translation exercises in parallel with the learning curve in a comfy office with benefits.
In the US, the only "in-house" positions left are in fact full-time positions with the government agencies and their subcontractors. BTW, there are distinct differences to be understood - mostly, with rare exceptions depending on the length of the project, an in-house position means a freelancer coming to the office daily without any full-time benefits, getting paid for actual hours (in this case a minimum of 40/week guaranteed), and hitting the road the day the project ends without any severance or even a 2-week pay. This was the case for super major projects, requiring 10-15 and up to 20 in-house people. At least in the US. In fact, in today's reality, to avoid claims for benefits, which can be done by law with proof of a certain amount of hours and prime income from the same source, agencies would either demand that a freelancer registers a business, and sign the contract stating that business name to close all and any loopholes for a freelancer to claim any full-time benefits, including unemployment or even a retention of the position itself, or the agencies would go for a full-time employment from the start. Back to para 1.
[Edited at 2024-11-15 18:30 GMT]
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