The Savvy Newcomer aims to serve newcomers to the translation and interpreting professions by publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed content on a weekly basis. We strive to provide you with the answers to the many questions you face as a new or aspiring translator or interpreter.
Many language professionals start out doing their work 鈥渙n the side鈥 of whatever else they are doing in life. When people find out you are bilingual, you may be asked to do some volunteer interpreting to help out a friend, family member, or someone in need, or you may agree or be expected to do the occasional translation鈥攁nd maybe even get paid for it. Volunteering and doing small side jobs are great ways to gain experience and improve your skills as a translator or interpreter. But in order to be a professional鈥攚hether you plan on doing this work part-time or…
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Here at The Savvy Newcomer we understand that it can be intimidating to talk about money. It鈥檚 often a sticky subject, but we feel it鈥檚 the first order of business for small business owners. One major component of succeeding as a freelance translator or interpreter is managing your finances well. If you don鈥檛 master your money, your translation career won鈥檛…
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This post was originally published on Madalena S谩nchez Zampaulo’s blog. It is reposted with permission. More and more translators are seeing the need to diversify their freelance businesses these days. Entrepreneur defines diversification as 鈥渁 risk-reduction strategy that involves adding product, services, location, customers and markets to your company’s portfolio.鈥 For many translators, the idea of diversifying their business may…
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This post originally appeared on New Statesman, and it is republished with permission. I once met a French translator of Shakespeare. My immediate reaction on being introduced to him was odd: I felt a stab of envy. This French translator, I felt, could get really close to Shakespeare; I myself, being neither an actor nor a producer, could only read…
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The Savvy Newcomer team has been taking stock of the past year and finding that one key priority for many freelance translators and interpreters has been diversification. Offering multiple services in different sectors or to different clients can help steady us when storms come. Diversification can help us hedge against hard times. With this in mind, we鈥檝e invited a series…
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This post originally appeared on High Income Business Writing, and it is republished with permission. Many writers dread having discovery calls with new prospects. Discovery calls are those first conversations you have with prospects where you discuss their need, their specific project 鈥 and hopefully, your fee. Writers dread these conversations for two big reasons: First, they don鈥檛 know what…
Read MoreInclusive Language Resources
As professional translators, we are often called upon to produce content that transcends linguistic and cultural barriers. Clients may look to us as key resources in getting their products, messages, and ideas into new markets. Upsetting target audiences by using language that is offensive or perpetuates stereotypes can be very problematic in most contexts. Whether you鈥檙e a newcomer or veteran…
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The hybrid format of this year鈥檚 Annual Conference brings with it new opportunities and challenges alike, for all attendees. Are you ready for the ins and outs of next week鈥檚 events, whether you are attending in person or virtually? Here are The Savvy Newcomer鈥檚 top ten tips for a successful hybrid conference: Attend Buddies Welcome Newbies Both the virtual and…
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We鈥檙e calling all members, followers, translators, interpreters, and students to participate in ATA鈥檚 interactive social media campaign to celebrate International Translation Day 2021. From September 27鈥揙ctober 1, 2021, ATA will release one to three interactive posts per day on each of its social media channels, inviting T&I professionals to interact with questions and prompts about their work. Posts will range…
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Landing your first gig as a freelance translator is easier when you understand yourself, your skills, and your strengths. Once you do, it鈥檚 all about conveying them effectively to potential clients through different avenues like social media, marketplaces, and agencies.
Read MoreEmotions in More than One Language
This post originally appeared on Psychology Today on August 18, 2011, and it is republished with permission. The language(s) of emotions in bilinguals There is a myth that bilinguals express their emotions in their first language (when they haven’t acquired both languages simultaneously), usually the language of their parents. Like all myths, there are instances when it is true. Thus,…
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