双语 | 年薪6位数！在美国做翻译竟然这么爽

提到中国的翻译行业，相信从业者对“乱象丛生”的现状都有所感受，那么，美国的翻译行业是怎样的呢？这里有一篇对美国翻译行业的写实描述，一起来看看↓ 

未来7年，美国翻译从业人数预计增长29%

The United States is becoming more globalized and interconnected each day. As a result, skilled translators and interpreters are finding their services in higher demand.

每一天，美国都在变得越来越全球化以及互联化。正是如此，资深译员们发现，社会对翻译服务的要求也越来越高。

For Jutta Diel-Dominique, the boom in business is welcome. She decided in high school that she wanted to pursue a career in translation, developing a fascination with the English language in her home country of Germany.

尤塔·迪尔-多米尼克对业务的增长感到颇为欣慰。她在高中时就立志将来从事翻译职业，身在祖国德国时，她对英语产生了浓厚的兴趣。

"I like finding the rhythm of language," she said. "I am a complete word nerd — I realized back then I wanted to learn the English language, the nuts and bolts of it, almost to perfection."

“我喜欢发现语言的韵律，”她说，“我是个十足的词语狂，那时我就发现我想学英语，并且要学到面面俱到，几近完美。”

She's been translating for some 24 years now, working as a freelancer for companies in electronics, biotechnology, medical devices and more. Skilled translators like Diel-Dominique, who is certified for translating English into German with the American Translators Association, will enjoy job opportunities for years to come.

到现在她已经从事翻译工作24年了，曾做过自由译者，为电子公司、生物科技公司、医疗器械公司等提供翻译服务。对于像迪尔-多米尼克这样拥有美国翻译协会德英翻译证书的资深译者来说，在未来几年里将享受到许多工作机会。

The number of people employed in the translation and interpretation industry has doubled in the past seven years, and the number of companies in the industry has jumped 24 percent in that same time period, according to the ATA, citing data from the Department of Labor. Through 2024, the employment outlook for those in the business is projected to grow by 29 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

美国译协援引劳工部的数据显示，过去7年里，口笔译从业者数量翻了一番，翻译公司的数量增长了24%。美国劳工统计局称，到2024年，翻译从业者数量预计将增长29%。

"As the economy becomes more globalized and businesses realize the need for translation and interpreting to market their products and services, the opportunities for people with advanced language skills will continue to grow sharply," said David Rumsey, president of the ATA, adding that the association predicts the largest growth is within contracted positions, giving workers and companies more flexibility.

美国译协会长大卫·拉姆齐说：“随着经济变得越来越全球化，企业意识到推销产品和服务离不开口笔译的帮助，因此对于有着高级语言技能的人们来说，机遇将会持续激增。”他还说道，协会预测外包岗位的涨幅将最为明显，为企业和职工带来了更大的灵活性。

While salaries within the industry vary, those who specialize in a difficult language can easily bring in six figures annually. The ATA helps connect freelance translators and interpreters with companies including Microsoft, Netflix and Honda, as well as government agencies such as the State Department and FBI, Rumsey said.

虽然翻译行业的薪酬各异，不过在较难的语种上有所专长的译员可以轻松拿到六位数年薪。拉姆齐表示，美国译协帮助自由译者与微软、网飞、本田等企业以及国务院、联邦调查局等政府机构建立联系。

技术不会取代人工，而是提高人工翻译

Philadelphia-based CETRA Language Solutions and companies like it work with about 1,000 independent contractors in translation services in any given year and recruit on a daily basis. And while there was once a fear that technology would replace humans in the process as demand for services increased, the opposite has happened — it's enhanced their work.

位于费城的CETRA语言解决方案公司和与之相类似的公司一年下来会与近1000名翻译服务独立承包人进行合作，按日聘用。随着对翻译服务的需求不断增长，曾有人担忧技术会取代人工，但事实恰恰相反，技术使人工翻译得到了提高。

"The overall industry is growing because of the amount of content out there — it's increasing exponentially," said Jiri Stejskal, president and CEO of CETRA. "Technology is helping to translate more content, but for highly specialized content, you need an actual human involved."

“因为大量的内容产出，整个行业是呈指数增长的，”CETRA公司的董事长兼首席执行官吉瑞·斯泰斯卡尔说，“技术有助于翻译更多内容，不过一旦涉及高度专业化的内容，还是需要人类参与进来。”

But finding successful employment is about much more than just speaking multiple languages fluently. Translators who want to distinguish themselves as professionals have to continue to work and hone their skill sets, the ATA's Rumsey said.

但是想要成功就业不能只会流利表达多种语言。美国译协的拉姆齐表示，若想成为专业人员，译员必须要磨炼自己的技能。

"It's a lifelong practice, and it requires keeping up not only your language skills but your subject matter skills so that you really understand the industries and fields you are working in," Rumsey said.

拉姆齐说：“这是一项终身实践，译员不仅要保证语言技能，还要保证专业技能，以便真正地理解所处行业和领域。”

为何联合国对译员有强大吸引力？

Industry growth also extends beyond just companies seeking services. Organizations such as the United Nations are also hiring skilled translators, looking to add some 50 employees to its ranks of 450 translators, editors and verbatim reporters in New York City as its workload increases. Positions at the U.N. are highly coveted, and translators work on tight deadlines.

随着翻译行业的发展，不仅企业需要翻译服务，联合国等组织也在招募优秀译员。纽约联合国总部已有450名译员、编辑和逐字记录员，由于事务日益繁重，联合国计划在此基础上增招约50名职员。

"We cannot afford second quality," said Zhongliang Chen, chief of the Chinese translation service documentation division at the United Nations department for general assembly and conference management. "The United Nations is a political organization, dealing with a lot of sensitive issues, and the member states demand the best from the translators."

“我们不能接受二流翻译质量，”联合国大会和会议管理部文件司中文翻译处处长陈忠良表示，“联合国是一个政治性组织，要处理许多敏感问题，成员国要求译员发挥出最佳水平。”

▲来自美国大卫斯与艾尔肯斯学院的学生在联合国做志愿翻译

Each year, thousands of people apply to take the organization's language competitive exam so they can work as translators with the organization, but only a few hundred, like Ghia El Bardan, are successful.

每年都有成千上万人报名参加联合国语言类竞争性考试，希望成为联合国的译员，但像吉亚·厄尔巴丹这样能最终实现梦想的却只有几百人。

The 31-year-old previously worked as a translator in a peacekeeping mission in her home country of Lebanon. Now she's putting her language skills to work at the U.N., translating documents from English and French into her native Ar 59 23298 59 13772 0 0 7421 0 0:00:03 0:00:01 0:00:02 7420abic.

厄尔巴丹今年31岁，之前在祖国黎巴嫩的一次维和任务中担任译员。现在，吉亚在联合国施展自己的语言技能，将英语和法语文件译成自己的母语阿拉伯语。

"Ever since I was in high school, I was fascinated with foreign languages and cultures," El Bardan said.

“我读高中时就对外国语言和文化十分着迷。”厄尔巴丹说道。

Early stage translators at the U.N. can make around $60,000 a year to start but can move into the six-figure range depending on the role. Opportunities for advancement are far-reaching, and the payoff at the organization comes with the chance to be part of something greater than just a career.

联合国初级译员的年薪一开始约为6万美元（约合人民币40.6万元），之后因职位而异，或可到达六位数。升职机会虽少，但在联合国工作的回报在于能参与重大事件，而非仅为某个职位。

"The best part of the job is the multicultural environment," she said. "We come from different cultures, backgrounds, genders and age groups. I think this is enriching on the professional and interpersonal level."

“这份工作最大的优点就是多元的文化环境，”厄尔巴丹说道，“我们来自不同的文化背景，有男有女，有老有少，我认为这极大地丰富了我们的职业和个人生活。”

英文来源：CNBC

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