Resources > Translation/Interpretation skills
Translation and interpretation are specialized skills, and being bilingual does not make someone a good translator or interpreter.
A number of aspects of the work mean that a translator must be precise in reading and interpreting text, writing and expressing, choosing register and style, or deconstructing and reconstructing spoken language. A good translator will also have an understanding of domestic and international current affairs, in the languages he/she uses. A good translator will update his/her knowledge of the fields in which he/she works, and will continuously read up on a range of different subjects, so that information will always be at his/her fingertips.
Because it is such a specialized skill, and because the profession touches upon other subjects such as linguistics, communication, technology, cultural studies, history, politics and religion, people have studied translation/interpretation in all its various forms.
Here is a taste of important considerations for a translator/interpreter in his/her everyday work. Please don't think these discussions have nothing to do with your practical work; a number will have a familiar ring to them, and sometimes it is good to take a step back and consider what happens during the translating/interpreting process.
Specialized skill
In these bibliographies you will find a selection of volumes discussing translation in general or an aspect of it. A number of publishers and magazines specialize in translation/interpretation, and will have a growing list of publications and articles
Please let us know if you should come across any information that should be listed here!
General – Welsh language publications
| Dechrau Cyfieithu (exercises for those with an interest in English-Welsh translation), |
| Ysgrifau a Chanllawiau Cyfieithu Eds. Delyth Prys and Robat Trefor, Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, 2015 |
General
| Approaches to Translation Peter Newmark, Oxford Pergamon Press, 1981 |
| Contemporary Translation Theories Edwin Gentzler, London, Routledge, 1993 |
| Discourse and the Translator Basil Hatim ac Ian Mason, London, Longman, 1990 |
| Pathways to Translation Donald C. Kilray, Kent State University Press, 1995 |
| Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies Mona Baker, London/New York, 1998 |
| Translation as Text Albrecht Neubert and Gregory Shreve, Kent State University Press, 1992 |
| Text Analysis in Translation. Theory, Methodology and Didactic Application of a Model for Translation-oriented Text Analysis Christiane Nord, Amsterdam, Rodopi, 1991 |
| The Translator’s Handbook Catriona Picken, London, Aslib, 1996 |
| The Translator’s Invisibility. A History of Translation Lawrence Venuti, London, 1995 |
| Translation Studies. An Integrated approach Mary Snell-Hornby, Amsterdam, Benjamins, 1988 |
| Translating as a Purposeful Activity Christiane Nord, Manchester, St Jerome, 1997 |
| Translation as Intercultural Communication Snell-Hornby, Jettmarova & Kaindl, Amsterdam, 1997 |
Specific fields
| Advertising Worldwide Marieke De Mooij, London, Prentice Hall, 1994 |
| A Skopos Theory of Translation Hans Vermeer, Heidelberg, TEXTconTEXT, 1996 |
| Gender and Translation. Translation in an ‘Era of Feminism’ Luise von Flotow, Manchester, 1997 |
| International Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Law Wilhelm Nordemann et al., Weinheim, 1990 |
| Multilingualism in Specialist Communication Gerhard Budin, Vienna, International Network for Terminology, 1996 |
| Orality and Literacy. The Technologizing of the Word Walter Ong, London/New York, 1982 |
| Subject-oriented Texts – Languages for Special Purposes and Text Theory Hartmut Schröder (ed.), Berlin/New York, de Gruyter, 1991 |
| Traductio. Essays on Punning and Translation Dirk Delabastita, Manchester, St Jerome, 1997 |
Interpretation
| Advice to students wishing to become conference interpreters AIIC, Geneva, 1993 |
| Aspects of Applied and Experimental Research on Conference Interpretation Laura Gran and Christopher Tayol, Udine, Campanotto, 1990 |
| Bridging the Gap: Empirical research in simultaneous interpretation Sylvie Lambert and Barbara Moser-Mercer, Amsterdam, Benjamins, 1994 |
| Conference Interpreting Explained Roderic Jones, Manchester, St Jerome, 1998 |
| Court Interpreting: A Survey of Needs, Services and Problems in Criminal Proceedings Ellen Moerman, London, 1993 |
| Topics in Interpreting Research Jorma Tommola, University of Turku Centre for Translation and Interpreting, 1995 |
| The Bilingual Courtroom. Court Interpreters in the Judicial Process Susan Berg-Seligson, University of Chicago Press, 1990 |
| The Critical Link: Interpreters in the Community Silvana Carr, Roda Roberts et al, Amsterdam, Benjamins, 1997 |
| The Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Teaching Conference Interpretation. Proceedings of the Trieste Symposium 1986, Laura Gran andJohn Dodds, Udine, Campanotto, 1989 |
The media
| A Guide to Writing Subtitles Mackerras, Judy, London, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, 1991 |
| Overcoming Language Barriers in Television Luyken, Georg-Michael et al, Manchester, European Institute for the Media, 1991 |
| Subtitling for the Media Ivarsson, Jan, Stockholm, Transedit, 1992 |
Teaching and assessing translation/interpretation
| Basic Concepts and Models for Interpreter and Translator Training Gile, Daniel, Amsterdam/Philadelphia, Benjamins, 1995 |
| Teaching Translation and Interpreting. Training, Talent and Experience Dollerup, Cay/Loddegaard, Anne (eds.), Amsterdam/Philadelphia, Benjamins, 1992 |
| Training the Translator Kußmaul, Paul, Amsterdam, Benjamins, 1995 |
| Translation Quality Assessment A Model revisited. House, Juliane, Tübingen, Narr, 1997 |
Translating literature
| I Am Me – I Am Other: On the Dialogics of Translating for Children Oittinen, Riitta, Tampere, University Press, 1997 |
| Page to Stage. Theatre Translation Zuber-Skerrit, Ortun, Amsterdam, Rodopi, 1984 |
| The Language of Metaphors Goatly, Andrew, London, Routledge, 1997 |
| The Poet’s Other Voice: Conversations on Literary Translation Honig, Edwin, Amherst, University of Massachusetts Press, 1985 |
| Translation, Rewriting and the Manipulation of Literary Fame Lefevere, André, London/New York, 1992 |
Technical translaton
| Document Design with Translation in Mind Spalink, Karen’ Intercom, 1995 |
| Quality of Technical Documentation Steehouder, Michael et al, Amsterdam/Atlanta, Rodopi, 1994 |
| Scientific and Technical Translation Wright/Wright (eds.), Amsterdam/Philadelphia, Benjamins, 1993 |
| Technical Writing and Professional Communication For Non-native Speakers of English Uckin, Thomas/Olsen, Leslie, New York, McGraw Hill 1991 |
Machine translation/technological translation aids
| Computers in Translation. A Practical Appraisal. Newton, Jo, London, Routledge, 1992 |
| Evaluation Methods for Machine Translation Systems: An Historical Overview and a Critical Account. ISSCO Working Paper Falkedal, K., Geneva, 1992 |
| Language Engineering and Translation. Consequences of Automation. Sager, JC, Amsterdam, Benjamins, 1993 |
| Linguistic Modelling for Multilingual Machine Translation. Streiter, O, Aachen, Shaker, 1996 |
| Machine Translation. An Introductory Guide. Arnold, D/Balkan, L/Humphreys, L et al, London, NCC Blackwell, 1994 |
| Machine Translation and Translation Theory. Hauenschild, Christa/Heizmann, Susanne (eds.), Berlin/New York, de Gruyter, 1997 |
| Writing Localizable Software for the Macintosh. Carter, Daniel, Reading/Mass, Addison-Wesley, 1991 |
Magazines and periodicals
| Babel |
| International Anthologies of Literature in Translation Interpreting |
| Lebende Sprachen |
| Meta |
| Multilingua |
| TARGET International Journal of Translation Studies |
| The Interpreters’ Newsletter |
| The Translator |
| Translation Review |
International standards (ISO)
| ISO 1087. Terminology – Vocabulary. Geneva: ISO 1990. |
| ISO 12620. Terminology – Computer applications – Data Categories. Geneva: ISO 1997 |
| ISO 2603. Booths for Simultaneous Interpretation – General characteristics and equipment. Geneva: ISO 1983/1993. |
| ISO 4043. Booths for Simultaneous Interpretation – Mobile Booths – General characteristics and equipment. Geneva: ISO 1981. |