I have had translation companies ask me to translate a 30-minute audio file and given me a 2-hour deadline...

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Basically, QA tools need to adapt more intelligently to the actual differences of expression within the languages being considered.

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As many translation jobs require proficiency in such tools, it is essential for Japanese translators to familiarize themselves with their usage. My experience is that each individual tool has both merits and demerits, and none of the tools are just as I would like them.

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A more honest approach that discusses limitations but expresses a willingness to work with the company to improve translation quality will often pay off and allow the translator to reap the benefit of regular work.

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This raises an interesting dilemma. What degree of knowledge qualifies you to count a particular field as a specialization? New Japanese translators will soon find that if they indicate that they can only translate very general topics, the amount of work they will be offered will be correspondingly small.

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After considering it, but never quite doing it for many years, and dipping my toe in the water with free versions, I laid out some hard-earned yen on some voice recognition software.

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In the first part of this article, we looked at issues faced by translators working as freelancers. We noted that, on the flip side of the advantages of avoiding the commute to the office and the freedom to manage your own time, lie the challenges of self-motivation, schedule management and financial management. In this second part, I will look at these challenges in detail.

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In this first part of the article, we have discussed some of the challenges faced when becoming a freelance translator. It is not all doom and gloom, however, and there are many benefits. In the next article, we discuss means of tackling these challenges.

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In addition to being a linguist, a professional translator is essentially a writer, and it is important not only to have a strong understanding of the source language, as the quality of the translator’s work is also judged on how well they communicate the meaning in the target language.

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So, what makes good reference material for an English Japanese translator? The important thing is that it should be focused.

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