In fact, to be a good translator is not a difficult job. We might say it is possible, but it requires a lot of efforts. Yes, these efforts are within your resources, just spend a quite reasonable time in reading.

What is the meaning of reading in this text. The translator would not say, this subject is out my interests or out of my knowledge, I don’t know about! It is not acceptable for the translator to say such a phrase. Then what can the translator do, when he/she is encountered with a text of subject-matter beyond his/her knowledge.

Based on my experience and practice, take the text, love the text and then start reading about the subject matter of this text. Browse with links of the same subject matter, browse with google, access websites, access Wikipedia, access even the researches and PDFs addressing the same subject.

Then, read the text again with the vision and background of your reading on the same. Again, if the text has some links, dates, characters, events, you should use search engine to be acquainted well with these icons, names, referenced in the said text. They will help you enough while translating.

As for the terminology issue that always encountered in the texts, go back to specialized areas and locations where the subject-matter is addressed, in order to understand well these terms. Use your linguistic talents in dismantling the terms in order to know the exact meaning of these terms. After obtaining such information and formed a full conception and understanding of the text, try again to translate. Try first to reflect your digestion and understanding , then from time to time go back to the text to depict the exact meaning of each term.

Don’t forget revision, and reviewing your text, and then go for a while two hours or more, and come back again to your text in order to linguistically, stylistically, and semantically improve. By the way the improved text, is the baby that already well dressed and got perfumes and became with very pleasant and cheerful appearance to go into the party. This the text that you should submit, forget about in matured and incomplete texts. Let it your text speaks and says,” I’m original as the best original to be”.

Remember, the translation profession is the triggering mechanism to access knowledge and information, and you are energetic power in this process.

Ezz-Eddin Mohammed Hussein
Sworn & Legal Translator
Conference Interpreter & General Director