Skip to Content

Becoming a Translator

An Introduction to the Theory and Practice of Translation, 3rd Edition

By Douglas Robinson

Published July 12th 2012 by Routledge – 248 pages

Purchasing Options:

eBook Ordering Options

Description

Fusing theory with advice and information about the practicalities of translating, Becoming a Translator is the essential resource for novice and practicing translators. The book explains how the market works, helps translators learn how to translate faster and more accurately, as well as providing invaluable advice and tips about how to deal with potential problems, such as stress.

The third edition has been revised and updated throughout, offering:

  • extensive up-to-date information about new translation technologies

  • discussions of the emerging "sociological" and "activist" turns in translation studies

  • new exercises and examples

  • updated further reading sections

  • a website containing a teacher’s guide, the chapter ‘The Translator as Learner’ and additional resources for translators

Offering suggestions for discussion, activities, and hints for the teaching of translation, the third edition of Becoming a Translator remains invaluable for students and teachers of Translation Studies, as well as those working in the field of translation.

Reviews

‘This innovative new edition of Becoming A Translator is essential reading for emerging translators and a welcome addition to the translation studies classroom.’ - Emily Wittman, University of Alabama, USA

‘This book is a comprehensive, practical and highly readable introduction to Translation as a Profession. By interweaving psychological, linguistic, social and cultural dimensions into all key aspects of real-life translation practice, it is innovative and effective in imparting the essential knowledge to its readers, including translators-to-be and translators in practice.’ - Susan Xu Yun, SIM University, Singapore

‘Translators need to be skilful, flexible, tough, organised, creative, analytical and paid for their work. This book gives helpful and concise guidance about all these needs, and anyone entering the profession will learn a lot from it. I recommend it strongly.’ - Raphael Salkie, University of Brighton, UK

‘If you have little or no previous exposure to translation, and want to catch up with developments in the field, try this book!’ - John Wang, Hong Kong Baptist University and Jinan University, China

"Robinson's Becoming a Translator, which is in its third edition, is a product of years of work, use, revision and updates. Much of the advice which it contains demonstrates that the author is an experienced, enthusiastic translator." - LINGUIST List

Contents

1. External knowledge: The User's View 2. Internal knowledge: the Translator's View 3. The Process of Translation 4. Drawing on Experience: How Being a Translator is More Than Just Being Good at Languages 5. Starting with People: Social Interaction as the First Key Focus of Translators' Experience of the World. 6. Working with People: The Workplace as the Interactive Setting for Specialized Terminologies 7. Translation as an Operation Performed In and On Languages 8. Working and Understanding Through Social Networks 9. The Impact on Translation of Culture(s) 10. When Habit Fails

Author Bio

Douglas Robinson has been a freelance translator of technical and literary texts from Finnish to English since 1975. He is also one of the world's leading translation scholars, the author of The Translator's Turn (1991), Translation and Taboo (1996), What Is Translation? (1997), Translation and Empire (1997), Western Translation Theory From Herodotus to Nietzsche (1997), and Who Translates? (2001). He is Chair Professor of English and Dean of the Arts Faculty at Hong Kong Baptist University.

Name: Becoming a Translator: An Introduction to the Theory and Practice of Translation, 3rd Edition (Paperback) – Routledge 
Description: By Douglas Robinson. Fusing theory with advice and information about the practicalities of translating, Becoming a Translator is the essential resource for novice and practicing translators. The book explains how the market works, helps translators learn how to translate...
Categories: Language & Linguistics, Translation