Specialized
language translation sites

Many people divide up the translation field (as well as language translation sites) into three subcategories; commercial translation, technical translation, and literary translation. Translators work in all of these areas and usually stick with one, based on their particular specialization. Some translators cross over into two, or even all, of these areas, but rare is the translator that can pull it off successfully.

I've put together some different language translation sites highlighting each of these areas so that you look at one way the translation profession can be divided up. These categories are by no means strictly defined. There's mucho room for crossover. It's just a way to break the translation field down into meaningful chunks.

Commercial Translation
Probably the biggest category of all three in terms of the number of translators working. Lawyers, accountants, doctors, truck drivers, and school principals are always going to need their basic business documents translated. Even many law enforcement offices constantly find themselves with a shortage of documents in other languages.

Any type of document that a business might create fits in this category, whether it be contracts, memos, emails, letters, grade reports, or even marketing materials. Keep in mind that these documents can either be hard copies or digital copies. A company might want their webistes translated or even brand new language translation sites created.

Technical Translation
Remember up above where I said that commercial translation can include any type of document a business produces?

Well, I overstated it just a little bit.

Businesses often times produce documents that go beyond a strictly commercial nature. These documents might describe in depth the way a product works; they might outline how a product is put together; maybe the company has a white paper on how the product can be integrated with other products.

These types of documents no longer are considered commercial translations; they've now become technical translations. In order to provide technical language translation services, translators have to keep up-to-date on what's happening in the field.

Technology companies tend to have more technical papers than other types of companies, and the documents can be digital as well as on paper.

A software company, for example, might want to localize their product to a Spanish market and would subsequently need the software translated (online helps, menu bars, pop-up windows) as well as any physical user manuals that come with the product. Again, they might want a completely new language translation site created.

Literary Translation
OK, so if you want to have more work as a translator, you'd probably be better off specializing in either commercial or technical translations (rather than literary translation).

Literary translators are few and far between. However, it is not necessarily because of the money. There are a lot of difficulties in translating literary works such as poems, novels, or short stories. Even song translations can be pretty difficult.

Books are published every year, to be sure. However, it's more difficult to break into the literary field because there are less publishing houses than technology firms or commercial businesses which need translation work.

The money can be good if you can find a gig, but it might take some time for you to find the right connections.

If you would like to break into this field, find someone that's self-publishing a book and see if they'll let you translate it and maybe give you a commission of the sales of the translated copy. (Nice!)

Short side note: More non-fiction books are sold every year than fiction books. If you'd like to translate books, maybe first try the non-fiction market. (But then you'd probably be doing commercial or technical translation?! I told you it wasn't strictly defined!)

I hope these language translation sites can help you in your specialization. Let me know if you would like information on another area of specialization.