Translation has an impact on virtually every aspect of society, politics, and economics, but how much of what you know about translation is really true? You might be surprised to learn that translation is a highly diverse and complex market — and one that’s bigger than you might think. Here are ten of the most widely held myths about translation:
1. Translation is a small, niche market.
2. The need for translation is fading away.
3. Most translators translate books; most interpreters work at the United Nations.
4. Any bilingual can be a translator or an interpreter.
5. Interpreters and translators do the same thing.
6. Translators and interpreters work in more than two languages.
7. Translation only matters to “language people.”
8. Crowdsourcing puts professional translators out of work.
9. Machine translation is crushing the demand for human translation.
10. All translation will someday be free.
The translation workplace 
Story flagged by 
Walter Landesman 
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Indonesia
Local time: 15:57
inglés al indonesio
+ ...
I've read or heard most of the myths. The myths indeed discourage me one way or another. Now knowing that the myths are only myths, not facts, give me a new hope. What do you think about these myths, fellow translators?
Local time: 10:57
italiano al inglés
1. Translation is a small, niche market.
My translation market is a small, niche one. That's why it's profitable.
2. The need for translation is fading away.
Along with the businesses that tried to cheesepare their translation budgets.
3. Most translators translate books; most interpreters work at the United Nations.
And most deadlines are eminently doable.
4. Any bilingual can be a translator or an interpreter.
But a bilingual isn't always available so you might have to hire a professional.
5. Interpreters and translators do the same thing.
Of course they wash their hands afterwards
6. Translators and interpreters work in more than two languages.
And can't say no to a PM in any of them.
7. Translation only matters to “language people.”
Have you ever met any "non-language people"?
8. Crowdsourcing puts professional translators out of work.
There's a word missing before "work" - "unpaid".
9. Machine translation is crushing the demand for human translation...
... into a well-defined market space by providing a zero-cost baseline.
10. All translation will someday be free.
But they'll still tax it
Always end on a positive note!
Local time: 10:57
italiano al alemán
+ ...
So far I heard of / read about only one of these myths: no. 4 - and my remark to this is: Yes, and anyone who knows one language could be a writer (speaker, actor whatever ....).
Francia
Local time: 10:57
inglés al francés
+ ...
I've even heard some of them from professional translators... a few days ago, I was told new translators "like me" and the hundreds of others were going to destroy the market (for older ones) and lower all prices. I started working as a freelance a year ago, and wouldn't have tried if I had listened to everything I heard. I now have to turn down offers, make a rather good living (better than as an employee anyway), and have a great quality of life.
However, one thing is true (or I believe so): as long as just anyone able to jabber a few words in English will think they are translators, the myths will remain popular.
Federación Rusa
Local time: 12:57
italiano al ruso
+ ...
the translated material (news, books, movies, labels, kitchenware and IT instructions) come from an invisible and powerful underground kingdom, not from the people next door. Only a properly initiated person can approach and touch foreign thing!!! I hardly could imagine a typical housewife surfing through net to find an advice or an information in foreign language.
Turquía
Local time: 11:57
inglés al turco
+ ...
If the artificial intelligence is the same as human brain then all translation will be free.
China
Local time: 16:57
chino al inglés
If the artificial intelligence is the same as human brain then all translation will be free.
Uh, bad idea. You want to build robots who are smarter than us, made of metal, hooked into all the world's computer systems via the internet and then... force them to work for free? Way to bring on the revolution.
Federación Rusa
Local time: 12:57
italiano al ruso
+ ...
Uh, bad idea.
For robots they will be free, for despicable fleshy users no. Catch
Edited because there is no translation without editing
[Edited at 2012-06-16 11:19 GMT]
Reino Unido
Local time: 09:57
alemán al inglés
+ ...
On learning I was translating more certificates for a particular client, my mum said "Don't you think she should be able to work it out herself by now?"
Local time: 11:57
inglés al ruso
+ ...
doctors, teachers, drivers, why only translators? And everything will be free. How I'm looking for that moment.
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