In Belgium, the translation profession is neither protected nor regulated. So why
embark on five years of study if a diploma is not essential?
Although anyone can become a translator, it's not a profession that can be mastered overnight. A translator is a professional who draws not only on a wide range of linguistic and general knowledge, but also on many resources (software, terminology databases, books, etc.) that must be mastered.
This is why the Bachelor's degree generally focuses on acquiring as much knowledge as possible, whereas the Master's degree aims to give students as much practical experience as possible. Some courses focus on working languages. It’s not enough to be able to speak two languages in order to translate; you also have to understand them: their subtleties, connotations, nuances and cultures… Other courses focus on general knowledge. In order to be as well prepared as possible for all the subjects they may encounter, translators need to be versatile. As a result, in the translation curriculum, some courses cover key topics such as economics, law, history and more. Finally, in today’s digital world, it's essential as a translator to be trained to use the tools available such as AI and translation assistance software
and machine translation systems.
As translators, we’re not just writing the same word in another language.
Translating is more complex than that: we’re transposing the text in its entirety
(including emotions, culture and meaning).
That’s why these five years at university are essential to becoming a skilled translator.
Manon Janssen
