How Do Japanese Translators Do It?
How does the typical day look for an American translator living in Japan, apart from mind bogglingly perfect word translation? Well, there is sushi and sushi and sushi. Did I mention sushi? You may be surprised to know that popular foods in Japan include toast, ham, coffee and beer. Other than eating, of course they travel, and just enjoy the country and culture. Japan is an underrated travel destination, with most Asia-destined Americans heading to Thailand, with its accessible cuisine and famed beaches. Japan is famed by American travelers as being expensive, but don’t let this reputation deter you. There are options for living inexpensively in Japan.
What are they like?
Japanese translators tend to be perfectionists. When they translate documents for big businesses like Kraft, Microsoft, and Dell, they’ve got a lot on the line. On thing that helps them is software localization , a program that helps correct their language and fits the language into proper dialects and local usages. One error could cost the company thousands of dollars, and could mean the japanese translator is out of work. So if it interests you to become a translator in Japan, it helps if your personality is naturally perfectionistic.
Japan is a place of opportunity. A tiny country, it is one of the most advanced, socially and technologically. The Japanese work long hours, and they expect their translators will, too. Translators help companies with conversations, business documents, websites, marketing materials, and more. They should have computer tools that help them, like the software localization tool, but they still need to rely on their own linguistic skills. They are expected to be experts.
All this pressure won’t get to you if you have a passion for languages. You’ll be working with the ins and outs of language every day, for hours. So loving linguistics is pretty much mandatory. Otherwise you might go insane.
How does it work?
Typically, American businesses entering into Japanese business transactions will first hire a translator through an American translation company. That translator usually lives in Japan, but may be American or of another nationality. Why does the translation company station the translator in Japan, instead of close to the business headquarters in America? Because linguistics is so tricky, and so demanding, that staying near to the native tongue is vital for the translator’s work to remain accurate. With translation work, especially of Asian languages, perfectionism is key, Whether you are a Thai translator, a Jorean translator, or a japanese translator.
What else will life be like?
When translators aren’t exploring national dishes like sashimi, or exploring ancient cities like Kyoto, they can do a great many things. There are several regions in Japan with drastically different climates and surroundings. The northern region of Hokkaido is cold and barren, with sparser population. The southern islands are warm and tropical. Japan has beaches, lively cities, farms. Whatever your taste for lifestyle is, you’ll find it in Japan. If Japan’s history interests you, your life there will richen. Take a look at Samurai history: These proud warriors adhered to an unusual code of ethics and were famed for their sword slashing skills, elaborate clothing and powerful historical influence. Before you head over to Japan, read some Samurai literature to get into the spirit. Anglophone author James Clavell wrote a great fiction series about the Samurai: Shogun is the one I recommend.
About the Author
About the Author: Amy Brevard is a Freelance Writer working with Innuity. For additional japanese translator or software localization references, see MuliLing .
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Single Sashimi $5.49 The third book in the Sushi series reunites four cousins—Lex Trish Jennifer and Venus—for romance with the spice of ginger. In the world of video games innovation is king. And Venus Chau has been reigning queen one of the high-powered developers in the industry. But Venus also has a reputation for not being the easiest person to work with. After her massive weight loss at age twenty-five that turned her from a geeky blimp into JLo CEO Drake Yu tried to force her to use her looks to benefit his company and Venus has never forgiven him. Now Drake needs her expertise for his sister’s startup and is asking for a second chance. Grandma bribes Venus to do this favor for Drake’s wealthy family with an introduction to an investor for Venus’s game development company. They form an uneasy truce for the next few months. But one wild youth group a two-faced assistant and Grandma’s determined match-making threaten to make them both fail—or go insane. And Venus discovers that even a wounded heart can undergo a beautiful transformation … Venus Chau is a high-powered video game developer. Now she might be working for the man she’s always hated … but what if he’s no longer the man she thought she knew? The third book in the Sushi series offers romance with the spice of ginger. |
