Etterutdanning for translatører: Et gode - eller et unødvendig onde?

Abstract

The article argues for post-qualification training for government-accredited [“state-authorised”] translators. The fact that accredited translators have passed a very challenging exam should not be seen as a crowning achievement, but rather as the start of continuous professional development. In the author’s experience, based on his assessment of test translations submitted by a number of translation bureaux in connection with Statoil’s tender for the outsourcing of its translation services, as well as comments from clients, the work of accredited translators sometimes falls short of the standard expected from the profession. The author furthermore contends that the type of courses now offered by the Department of Professional and Intercultural Communication, NHH, to budding translators – where translation is accompanied by in-depth lectures on the realities underlying the texts translated – should be of benefit also to accredited translators.