<\/p>\n
Do you wonder if you have what it takes to be a translator or interpreter? This test won\u2019t tell you that. What this test might tell you is whether you have the personality of a (stereo)typical translator, public service interpreter, conference interpreter or PhD researcher. Simply write down the letter that corresponds to your answer to each question below and then match them to the key at the bottom.<\/p>\n
1)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0At a party you are the kind of person who:<\/strong> 2)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Your ideal work environment is:<\/strong> 3)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0The difference between translation and interpreting is:<\/strong> 4)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Power means:<\/strong> 5)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0If you had a million pounds, you could afford to:<\/strong> 6)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Your ideal home is<\/strong>: 7)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0The biggest danger you would like to face in your career is:<\/strong> How did you do? Author: Jonathan Downie<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\na)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0hides at the back, reading the new dictionary you brought from home
\nb)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0goes round the room, drinking all the coffee and talking incessantly
\nc)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0loves to be in a smaller group, making sure people talk in turns
\nd)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0brings Tupperware to take as many leftovers as possible home with you<\/p>\n
\na)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0an office in your garage, surrounded by specialist dictionaries and the works of obscure authors
\nb)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0locking someone in a tiny room with you, while you talk incessantly
\nc)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0waiting about 3 hours for your clients to turn up
\nd)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0until 2pm, your bed, after 2pm, anywhere where the food is free and you have access to journals<\/p>\n
\na)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0the former produces perfection; the latter produces approximation
\nb)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0about \u00a3150 per day, mwhahahahaha
\nc)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Unfair working agreements! Interpreters of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your travel expenses!
\nd)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0most interesting. Shall we write a journal article discussing it?<\/p>\n
\na)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0All your dictionaries are belong to me!
\nb)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0I pressed the mic button last!
\nc)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0I get to set my own rates!
\nd)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Whatever enough scholars say it means.<\/p>\n
\na)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0upgrade your TM software from version 1.12011 to version 1.12012 beta
\nb)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0buy assorted tech gadgetry to help you look up terminology on the fly
\nc)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0hire a team of lawyers and PR people to campaign for better rates and conditions
\nd)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0pay off your student loans and get a one year journal subscription<\/p>\n
\na)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0a private reading room in the British Library (heat and light optional)
\nb)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0in Brussels, alongside others like you who talk incessantly (sleep optional)
\nc)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0within 5 minutes walk of any assignment so you pay less on travel
\nd)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0anywhere with fast wireless broadband, unlimited journal subscriptions and free food<\/p>\n
\na)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0RSI. I already have wrist splints on order
\nb)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0A sore throat. I already have a prescription for benzocaine
\nc)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Having to deal with client phone calls at 2am when you have already worked from 5am to 11pm the previous day.
\nd)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Being the person whose photocopying means that the entire department runs out of toner<\/p>\n
\nIf you answered mostly a<\/em>) then you have the ideal personality for a translator. If you answered mostly b<\/em>) then conference interpreting is for you. If you answered c<\/em>) and have a great deal of courage, you are cut out for Public Service Interpreting. If you answered mostly d<\/em>) then you should become a PhD student. Bonus: if the grammar of 4a<\/em> and the inconsistent use of full stops annoyed you enough that you are considering leaving a comment with a corrected version, you are ideally suited to a career in proofreading!<\/p>\n