Typical Team Roles in a Translation Team
Translator
Role description:
Translators are typically mother-tongue speakers of the receptor language. They interact with a translation facilitator, assimilating the nuances of the meaning of the source text, comparing them with similar concepts in the receptor language, and suggesting various possible renditions until both are satisfied with the results.
Qualifications:
- Language: Translators should have a good working knowledge of a major language in their country and be locally acknowledged as good speakers of the receptor language.
- Orientation: A desire to learn the principles of translation and to learn the subject being translated is a great help. Patience at the desk and enthusiasm to involve others with him in his work will greatly increase the translator's success.
- Education: Translators need at least a highschool level of education as well as training in the subjects being translated.
Translation Facilitator
Role description:
Translation Facilitators are typically not mother-tongue speakers of the receptor language. They work alongside mother-tongue speakers as part of the project team, training co-workers and contributing expertise in linguistics and exegesis and seeking to facilitate the completion of the project in every way possible. They usually reside in the language area and learn to speak the receptor language.
Qualifications:
- Language: The translation facilitator should have a good working knowledge of a major language of the country as well as the receptor language.
- Orientation: The facilitator should have good linguistic skills as well as biblical knowledge and exegetical skills. He will do well to have gone through a field orientation program and be comfortable using a computer and familiar with the software available to translators.
- Education:
- University-level degree
- Basic training for SIL translation personnel in linguistics and cross-cultural studies
- At least one year of biblical studies (or the equivalent)
Translation Consultant
Role description:
Translation Consultants are typically experienced translation facilitators who are available to provide a number of translation teams with training, guidance, encouragement, and technical help on translation-related issues, and to monitor translation quality, making recommendations for publication.
Qualifications:
- Language: A good working knowledge of a major national language and of one of the less prominent languages of the area as well.
- Orientation:
- Experience in translation through working in depth in a translation project
- Experience as a trainee consultant
- Skill in leadership and interpersonal relations
- Apprenticeship to a senior translation consultant
- Participation in a translation consultant training program
- Education:
- M.A. or higher degree in linguistics, biblical studies, or a related field
- Completion of standard SIL training for translation personnel (or equivalent)
- Skill in biblical exegesis, with a working knowledge of at least one biblical language
To see a full statement on qualifications for translation consultants click here.
Translation Reviewer
Role description:
A Reviewer is a mother-tongue speaker of the receptor language who is appointed to read the draft translation and give feedback. In some situations they work as a "review committee" who sit together from time to time to read and discuss the translation. In other situations they work as individuals and send their comments and suggestions in written form.
Qualifications:
Reviewers are often appointed as representatives of different denominations, or different dialect areas, of the language area concerned.