What does it take to be a good in-house translator? Constructs of expertise in the workplace

Abstract

In this paper, we explore constructs of translation expertise and experts held by practitioners working in the translation sector. Practitioner perspectives are often overlooked in the translation studies debate around expertise yet they can yield valuable insights and enrich the academic discourse. In our analysis, we draw on data from a qualitative interview study that focuses on the selecting and hiring process for in-house translators. The interviews were conducted with employers and translation professionals in Austria and reveal their understandings of what it takes to be a good translator. Aside from a relevant educational background as well as language and translation skills, these practitioners place particular emphasis on soft skills and the willingness of applicants to learn and adapt to diverse teams, tasks, and work situations. The emerging picture of translation expertise in the workplace is highly dynamic and context-dependent, calling for a more nuanced understanding of expertise in translation studies which highlights its social constructedness and encompasses situative and performative factors.