Welcome to Meet The Translator Monday, (or Fáilte go Luan an bhuailte leis an aistritheoir), and another MTTM first: a bilingual English/Irish interview!

Just to reiterate: I appreciate that “most” translators either speak or understand English. However, languages are the tools of our trade, and enabling people to come into contact with different languages, while also temporarily relieving fellow speakers of those languages from an endlessly bland diet of English, I believe enriches the MTTM experience. Many thanks to you, Aaron, for entering into the spirit!

What are your source and target languages, and how did you learn your source languages?
My source languages are Spanish, Irish and English. My target languages are English and Irish. I started learning and speaking my source languages in primary school and continued with them right up until the present day.

Cad iad do chuid bunteangacha agus sprioctheangacha agus cad é mar a d’fhoghlaim tú do chuid bunteangacha?
Is iad an Spáinnis, an Ghaeilge agus an Béarla mo chuid bunteangacha.Is iad an Béarla agus an Ghaeilge mo chuid sprioctheangacha.Thosaigh mé mo chuid bunteangacha a fhoghlaim agus a labhairt agus mé ag freastal ar bhunscoil agus lean mé ar aghaidh iad a fhoghlaim agus a labhairt go dtí seo.

When did you first consider becoming a translator, and why?
I first considered being a translator when I was a child and me and my family went on our very first foreign family holiday in Alcudia, Mallorca. It was the first time I was exposed to a foreign culture and language. I was amazed by, after only flying a few hours, that everything had changed and that I understood nothing around me. I eavesdropped on every conversation I could to try and understand anything of what people were saying, but obviously, I couldn’t. No one else in my family spoke Spanish and I thought that it would be cool to be the one who could let everyone know what was being said around us.
My fascination grew from there which then, years later, developed into wanting to become a translator.

Cá huair a mheas tú ar dtús a bheith i d’aistritheoir agus cén fáth?
Mheas mé ar dtús a bheith i m’aistritheoir nuair a bhí mé i mo pháiste agus chuaigh mise agus mo theaghlach ar saoire den chéad uair riamh chuig Alcudia in Mallorca. Ba é an chéad uair dom i gcultúr nua agus éisteacht le teanga iasachta. B’ionadh liom go raibh athrú tagtha ar gach rud i ndiaidh eitilt a mhair cúpla uair an chloig, agus nár thuig mé aon rud a bhí thart orm. Bhí mé ag cúléisteacht le gach comhrá nuair is féidir chun iarracht a dhéanamh ar na rudaí a bhí á rá ag daoine a thuiscint ach, ar ndóigh, ní fhéadfainn. Ní raibh Spáinnis ag duine ar bith eile i mo theaghlach agus shíl mé go mbeadh sé thar barr dá mba mé an duine a d’fhéadfadh gach duine eile a chur ar an eolas faoi na rudaí a bhí á rá thart orainn.
D’fhás an tsuim a bhí agam ann ó shin i leith agus blianta ina dhiaidh sin d’fhorbair sí ina mian a bheith i m’aistritheoir.

Did you undertake formal training to become a translator, and if so, what?
I have a Master’s degree in translation with distinction.

An ndeachaigh tú faoi oiliúint fhoirmiúil chun bheith i d’aistritheoir, agus más amhlaidh atá, cén sórt?
Tá céim mháistir le gradam san aistriúchán agam.

What are your specialisms, and how did you choose them?
My specialisations are legal, medical and pharmaceuticals. I started out specialising in insurance content because I had qualifications in the field and it kept me within the sphere of technical translation, which is what I really wanted to do. However, when I first started out, I was being contacted more often than not for projects in the areas of legal, medical and pharmaceuticals and I still am today. Working on such projects got me thinking about how I’ve had people in my family who were in need of medical treatment for prolonged periods of their lives, and without it, I wouldn’t have had them in my life for as long, so I wanted to help others who are in need of such care and I felt I could do that through my language skills. Plus, I wanted my words to have a real impact in the world, and I feel they do that through these specialisations. I still offer services for insurance content, I just include it under legal. So, in a way, I fell into my specialisations.

Cad iad na réimsí a ndéanann tú speisialtóireacht iontu agus cad é mar a roghnaigh tú iad?
Is iad na réimsí dlí, leighis agus cógaisíochta a ndéanaim speisialtóireacht iontuAg an tús, rinne mé speisialtóireacht san árachas mar gheall go raibh cáilíochtaí sa réimse agam agus choinnigh sé sa réimse aistriúcháin theicniúil mé, an réimse a raibh mé ag iarraidh a bheith ag obair ann. Nuair a thosaigh mé, áfach, bhí teagmháil á déanamh liom níos minice ná a mhalairt chun bheith ag obair ar thionscadail a bhain leis na réimsí dlí, leighis agus cógaisíochta agus is amhlaidh atá an cás fós sa lá atá inniu ann. Chuir obair a dhéanamh ar thionscadail dá leithéid ag smaoineamh mé faoin chaoi a raibh baill mo theaghlaigh agam a raibh cóireáil leighis de dhíth orthu ar feadh tréimhsí fada dá saol agus gan í a bheith acu, ní bheadh siad agam i mo shaol chomh fada sin, mar sin, bhí mé ag iarraidh cabhrú le daoine eile a raibh cóireáil dá leithéid de dhíth orthu agus mhothaigh mé go bhféadfainn é sin a dhéanamh trí mo chuid scileanna teanga a úsáid. Ina theannta sin, bhí mé ag iarraidh fíorthionchar a bheith ag mo chuid focal ar an domhan agus mothaím go ndéanaim é sin trí na speisialtóireachtaí sin. Tairgim seirbhísí aistriúcháin maidir le hinneachar árachais fós. Cuirim san áireamh é faoi inneachar dlí. Mar sin, ar bhealach éigin, mothaím gur thosaigh mé speisialtóireacht a dhéanamh iontu gan é a bheith ar intinn agam.

How did you launch your translation career?
I became a member of the ITI UK, updated my LinkedIn profile and started contacting translation agencies that were available through the ITI directory.

Cad é mar a thosaigh tú do ghairm san aistriúchán?
Tháinig mé chun bheith i mo bhall de ITI UK, rinne mé nuashonrú ar mo phróifíl ar LinkedIn agus thosaigh mé teagmháil a dhéanamh le gníomhaireachtaí aistriúcháin a bhí le fáil in eolaire ITI.

Since qualifying as a translator, have you undertaken further studies to hone your specialisms and/or languages?
I am currently studying a course regarding EU MDR (EU Medical Device Regulation).

Ó bhain tú cáilíocht amach mar aistritheoir, ar thug tú faoi aon staidéar eile chun barr feabhais a chur ar do chuid speisialtóireachtaí agus/nó ar do chuid teangacha?
Faoi láthair, táim ag déanamh staidéar ar chúrsa a bhaineann le RFL AE.

What other CPD do you regularly undertake and recommend?
I regularly meet up with others, either friends online or strangers in my local language centre, to keep my language skills sharp and I attend local business events as well as exhibitions and conferences related to my specialisations.

Cén sórt forbartha gairmiúla leanúnaí a dtugann tú fúithi go rialta agus a mholann tú?
Buailim le daoine eile go rialta, le cairde ar líne nó le strainséirí san ionad teanga áitiúil, chun faobhar a chur ar mo chuid scileanna teanga agus freastalaím imeachtaí gnó áitiúla chomh maith le taispeántais agus comhdhálacha a bhaineann le mo chuid speisialtóireachtaí.

Which translation associations or groups are you a member of? Which are most helpful for offering support, and which are a good source of work leads?
I’m an associate member of the ITI UK and the ITI network in the north of Ireland. I follow the ITI on LinkedIn and it does provide good tips on how to grow your business and find clients. It also has some workshops that are helpful. I also enrolled in a business program over two years ago which was specifically for translators and it helped me develop the skills I need to find and go after the clients I’d like to do business with.

Cé na cumainn nó grúpaí aistriúcháin a bhfuil tú i do bhall díobh? Cé acu díobh sin is cabhraí le tacaíocht a thabhairt agus cé acu díobh atá ina bhfoinse mhaith cliant féideartha?
Táim i mo bhall comhlach de ITI UK agus i mo bhall de líonra ITI i dtuaisceart na hÉireann. Leanaim ITI ar LinkedIn agus cuireann sé noda maithe ar fáil faoin chaoi le do ghnólacht a fhás agus cliaint a fháil. Tá roinnt ceardlann aige fosta atá cabhrach. Chomh maith leis sin, chláraigh mé ar chlár gnó níos mó ná dhá bhliain ó shin a bhí deartha go sonrach d’aistritheoirí agus chabhraigh sé liom na scileanna atá de dhíth orm a fhorbairt chun cliaint ar mhaith liom a bheith ag obair leo a aimsiú agus dul ina ndiaidh.

Which translation tools do you use the most?
In terms of CAT tools, I use Trados Studio 2021. For glossaries, I use websites like MedRa, the National Library of Medicine, WHO website, the National Institutes of Health, and Novartis. As for online dictionaries, I use Real Academia Española, WordReference, Foclóir, and Teanglann. For terminology, I use Téarma and IATE. For example legal translations, I use Eur-Lex.

Cé na huirlisí aistriúcháin is mó a úsáideann tú?
Maidir le huirlisí CAT, úsáidim Trados Studio 2021. I dtaca le gluaiseanna, úsáidim suíomhanna gréasáin amhail MedRa, the National Library of Medicine, suíomh gréasáin de chuid WHO, the National Institutes of Health, agus Novartis. Maidir le foclóirí ar líne, úsáidim Real Academia Española, WordReference, Foclóir agus Teanglann. I dtaca le téarmeolaíocht, úsáidim Téarma agus IATE.
Maidir le haistriúcháin shamplacha, úsáidim Eur-Lex.

How do you promote your services and yourself, and find clients?
I have a website, a YouTube channel, a TikTok page and LinkedIn profile. For finding the clients I want to work with, I have a Sales Navigator subscription which I use to find and contact them.
I put most of my effort into my LinkedIn profile because I view it as an online CV and it’s where the majority of the people I want to do business with are.

Cad é mar a chuireann tú do chuid seirbhísí agus tú féin chun cinn, agus a fhaigheann tú cliaint?
Tá suíomh gréasáin, cainéal YouTube, leathanach TikTok agus próifíl LinkedIn agam. Maidir le cliaint ar mhaith liom a bheith ag obair leo a aimsiú, tá síntiús Sales Navigator agam lena n-úsáidim iad a aimsiú agus teagmháil a dhéanamh leo.
Cuirim go leor dua orm féin le mo phróifíl ar LinkedIn mar gheall gur CV ar líne atá ann dom agus is é an áit ina bhfuil formhór na ndaoine ar mhaith liom a bheith ag obair leo.

If you work with agencies, how do you make a good first impression, and do you send them professional updates to keep yourself relevant to them?
Always be courteous, friendly, be honest about your ability and the experience you have. I don’t necessarily send them updates on what things I have done, but I send them updates on my availability so make sure I’m considered for any potential projects they may have.

Má oibríonn tú le gníomhaireachtaí, cad é mar a dhéanann tú imprisean maith ar dtús, agus an seolann tú nuashonruithe gairmiúla chucu chun tú féin a choimeád ábhartha?
Bí cúirtéiseach agus cairdiúil i gcónaí agus bí ionraic faoi do chumas agus an taithí atá agat. Ní ga go seolfainn nuashonruithe chucu faoi na rudaí atá déanta agam, ach seolfainn nuashonruithe chucu faoin infhaighteacht atá agam chun a chinntiú go gcuirfear san áireamh mé nuair a shannfaidh siad tionscadail.

What does a normal working day look like for you?
I work from around 8-5 every day. I check my emails for any updates or potential projects. I search for and send messages to potential clients. I write a post for my LinkedIn profile, and I obviously work on any translation or proofreading projects I have. I dedicate Mondays for writing scripts for my YouTube and TikTok videos as well as recording, editing and uploading said videos.

Cén chuma atá ar do ghnáthlá oibre?
Bím ag obair ó thart ar 8 go 5 gach lá. Seiceálaim mo chuid ríomhphost le haghaidh aon nuashonrú nó tionscadal féideartha. Déanaim cuardach ar chliaint fhéideartha agus seolaim teachtaireachtaí chucu. Scríobhaim postáil ar LinkedIn agus, ar ndóigh, bím ag obair ar aon tionscadal aistriúcháin nó profála atá agam. Caithim an Luan ag scríobh scripteanna do mo chuid físeán ar YouTube agus TikTok chomh maith leis na físeáin sin a thaifeadadh, a chur in eagar agus a uaslódáil.

What is the most satisfying translation project that you have worked on recently?
I completed a translation from Spanish to English regarding a brochure for multiple sclerosis. It focused on explaining to patients the nature of the disease, the challenges that come with it, its progression, and how said progression can be delayed. It was satisfying because it meant that English-speaking patients of that medical clinic in Spain could understand the disease that they’re dealing with and the measures to help delay its progression which, in turn, would help them make an informed decision on how they want to proceed with everything.

Cén tionscadal aistriúcháin is sásúla a raibh tú ag obair air le déanaí?
D’aistrigh mé bróisiúr maidir le scléaróis iolrach ó Spáinnis go Béarla. Bhain sé go sonrach le cineál an ghalair, leis na dúshláin a bhaineann leis, lena fhorchéimniú agus leis an chaoi ar féidir moill a chur ar an fhorchéimniú sin a mhíniú d’othair. Is aistriúchán sásúil a bhí ann mar gheall gur chiallaigh sé go bhféadfadh othair a bhfuil Béarla acu sa chlinic sin sa Spáinn an galar lena bhfuil siad ag déileáil agus na bearta is féidir moill a chur ar a fhorchéimniú a thuiscint agus dá réir sin chabhródh sé leo cinneadh eolach a dhéanamh ar an chaoi ar mhaith leo dul ar aghaidh.

How would you like your translation career to progress over the next 5 years?
I would like for my career to continue the way it is, always growing and improving. I would like to be working more regularly with medical companies I know make a difference in people’s lives through the products and services they offer.
I would also like to either start or be invited to talks about translation and the importance it has in society because it’s something that a lot of lay people don’t understand to even begin to recognise its importance.

Cad é mar ba mhaith leat do ghairm san aistriúchán dul ar aghaidh sna cúig bliana atá amach romhainn?
Ba mhaith liom mo ghairm a leanúint ar aghaidh mar atá sí, ag fás agus ag feabhsú gan stad. Ba mhaith liom a bheith ag obair níos rialta le cuideachtaí leighis a bhfuil a fhios agam go ndéanann siad difear i saol daoine trí na táirgí agus na seirbhísí a chuireann siad ar fáil.
Ina theannta sin, ba mhaith liom go gcuirfí tús le cuireadh a thabhairt chun cainteanna dom a bhaineann leis an aistriúchán agus a thábhacht inár sochaí mar gheall gur rud é nach dtuigeann mórán gnáthdhaoine le tús a chur lena thábhacht a aithint.

What are your thoughts on the future of the translation industry since the advent of AI?
I’m not afraid of AI because I know what I’m capable of and what AI is not capable of. Unfortunately, we have to let a lot of clients realise the errors of their ways by adopting AI as their new and only translator. I’ve already had clients come back to me saying that they have had bad experiences and have reverted to using human translators, which has obviously resulted in more business for me. I just make sure that I keep people informed through my posts regarding the lack of capabilities that AI has in terms of translation and the importance of opting for human translation or at least including it in the process.

Cad a shíleann tú faoi thodhchaí an tionscail aistriúcháin ó theacht intleachta saorga?
Níl eagla orm faoi intleacht shaorga mar go bhfuil a fhios agam an cumas atá agam agus easpa cumais atá ag intleacht shaorga san aistriúchán. Ar an drochuair, tá orainn ligean do chliaint a thuiscint go bhfuil dul amú orthu intleacht shaorga a roghnú mar a n-aistritheoir nua agus aonair. Bhí cliaint agam a tháinig ar ais chugam cheana féin ag rá go raibh drocheispéiris acu léi agus chuaigh siad ar ais ag fostú aistritheoirí daonna agus bhí níos mó oibre faighte agam dá bharr sin. Ní dhéanaim ach a chinntiú go gcuirim daoine ar an eolas trí mo chuid postálacha faoin easpa cumais atá ag intleacht shaorga maidir leis an aistriúchán agus faoin tábhacht atá le haistriúchán daonna a roghnú nó é a chur san áireamh sa phróiseas ar a laghad.

Have you diversified, or do you plan to diversify, into another career?
I’ve no intentions of switching careers, which I know some people in the industry have already done or are on the brink of doing. I’m here to stay because, as I mentioned earlier, I know my capabilities and the lack thereof regarding AI. On top of that, I’m not going to walk away from something that I have worked very hard to earn because now another language bot exists in the world.

Ar éagsúlaigh tú i ngairm eile nó an bhfuil rún agat é a dhéanamh?
Níl rún ar bith agam athrú go gairm eile, rud atá a fhios agam go ndearna daoine eile san earnáil cheana féin nó go bhfuil siad ar tí é sin a dhéanamh. Níl aon fhonn imeachta orm mar gheall, mar a dúirt cheana féin, go bhfuil a fhios agam an cumas atá agam agus easpa cumais atá ag intleacht shaorga san aistriúchán. Anuas air sin, ní fhágfaidh mé rud éigin ar oibrigh mé go crua é a bhaint amach mar gheall go bhfuil bota teanga eile ann.

What are your Dos and Don’ts for new translators just starting out?
–Work on your language skills.
-Specialise.
-Network with others.
-Admit to clients when a subject is out of your area of expertise.
-Take breaks to recharge when necessary, including long ones (i.e. a few days/weeks).
-Understand the value you bring.
-Don’t accept any job for which you think you’re being underpaid.
-Don’t accept low rates in the fear that you’ll not get work in the future.
-Don’t allow people to bully you into accepting work that will lead to you being overworked and underpaid for your efforts.
-Don’t be afraid to charge your worth.
-Don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself and voice any objections you have. 

Cad iad na rudaí is ceart agus nach ceart a dhéanamh a mholfá d’aistritheoirí nua?
–Cuir feabhas leanúnach ar do chuid scileanna teanga.
-Déan speisialtóireacht.
-Cuir aithne ar dhaoine eile.
-Admháil do chliaint nuair atá ábhar lasmuigh de do réimse saineolais.
-Tóg sosanna nuair is gá chun do scíth a ligean, lena n-áirítear sosanna fada (i.e. cúpla lá/seachtain).
-Tuig an tábhacht atá leat.
-Ná glac le haon jab a shíleann tú nach bhfuil pá ceart á fháil agat.
-Ná glac le táillí ísle ar an eagla nach bhfaighidh tú jab eile sa todhchaí.
-Ná tabhair cead do dhaoine thú féin a scanrú le go nglacfaidh tú le jab a chiallóidh go mbeidh tú faoi bhrú oibre agus nach mbeidh pá ceart á fháil agat as do chuid iarrachtaí.
-Ná bí eagla ort an táille is fiú thú a ghearradh.
-Ná bí eagla ort labhairt amach ar do shon agus cur i gcoinne aon rud.

This has been a very interesting interview, Aaron, I agree with you on so many things, not least your take on AI. There is also a wealth of information here for people starting out, so many thanks, and all the best going forward.