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Most people involved in the study of language already understand the difference between these two fields, but there are many people who use these words interchangeably, which is incorrect. So let’s see what these two areas of linguistics do have in common, and also why they’re so different.

This is a very important question and one that’s discussed a lot in our industry. The focus in the translation industry is always on using native speakers - having translators working exclusively into their mother tongue; so the question arises: Is this a necessity or is it overrated? Could it be that there are cases where a non-native speaker could do a better job? The purpose of this post is to explore this question, so let’s start off by seeing what professional translators’ associations recommend.

There are always different branches or sidelines of your career for you to examine, new courses to take, new skills to learn, ways of differentiating yourself from other people offering the same services. There will always be a new niche for you to slip into, something that interests you, and a way for you to boost your financial status.

An employee takes breaks according to company policy; whereas a freelancer can take a break whenever they choose. Perhaps the freelancer decides to rise at 9 am, or they decide to take the dog for a walk or collect their children from school; so even though both the employee and freelancer are still expected to deliver the goods, the freelancer has fewer constraints and a lot more flexibility.

For a large percent of the population, just the thought of starting out on their own and becoming self-employed is enough to bring on a panic attack! It’s a terrifying thought because it all depends on you: there’s no-one to fall back on and there’s no-one else to blame if you don’t succeed. Having a dependable paycheck arrive each week/fortnight/month is a very comforting feeling, and the thought of having to depend entirely on your own knowledge and skills for your paycheck can be a very scary thought.

Other languages that fall into the category of ancient tongue languages are Egyptian, Persian, Sumerian, Akkadian, and Armenian. These languages all have rich cultures and histories from which they emerged as a means of communication. It’s thought that communication itself originated in prehistoric times when it was only through a person’s sounds, actions, and pictures that they were able to convey their ideas. Pictures are believed to be the forerunners of written forms of language as they’re known today, while sounds are believed to be the precursors of spoken language.

Most native speakers of the English language don’t know everything there is to know and understand about this language because it consists of both the worst and best elements of ancient languages. Lovers of language from all over the world have come together at various times to discuss idiosyncrasies, oddities, and quirks of the English language, and it’s usually these people who uncover fascinating and unexpected facts about this unusual language.

The tattooist’s poor understanding of the English language is probably the major issue with tattoos in foreign languages. Another issue that arises is when the person getting the tattoo uses computer-translated text as the source. We know that computer-aided translation can’t compete with a qualified translator because it’s still in its early days; however, people think it’s reliable because it is becoming a convenient way of translating text. But of course, we know otherwise!    

Some Asian cultures have used tattoos for centuries. For example, in Japan, it’s traditional for the indigenous Ainu people to have tattoos on their face; while getting a tattoo in many other tribal communities is simply a rite of passage for male children. There are also indigenous groups of people in the Western world who are known for their tattoos: the original inhabitants in the north of Britain were the Picts, and this word literally means ‘painted’ people; while the word Britons means ‘people of the designs’.

We’ve all heard that the secret to a happy life is when you’re working in a job that you really love doing, and then, of course, it's not work!  It’s certainly true that a combination of a passion for your job and the determination to succeed will ensure that not only will your professional life be successful, but you’ll lead a happy life and your rewards should definitely match your expectations.

Since ancient times human beings have been communicating with people of other cultures for economic, social, and cultural purposes, and the skills that some scholars have in foreign languages has resulted in the translation of some of the world’s greatest literary works into a variety of international languages – benefiting nations worldwide. Even the treaties responsible for changing the course of history could not have come to fruition without a common language ensuring the parties involved were able to effectively communicate with each other. And so we know that both interpreters and translators have made an important contribution when it comes to the evolution of humanity.