Specialised technical translation: Global Village requirements and regional opportunities

Specialised translation is going through major changes as demand is growing for high quality translation that is terminologically accurate and performed at the level of native speakers. At the same time, economic globalisation creates a complex mix of various types of cultures within professional communication, which also exerts influence on the translation process. The increasingly diverse market requirements change the competency profile of specialised translators, but the actual needs may be seen differently by different market actors. This paper looks at the current requirements and challenges in the area of specialised language services, with a particular focus on the technical fields. It discusses translator competencies as seen by translation practitioners and theorists, clients and end users, as well as translation companies. Comparisons are made on the basis of surveys of the target groups and an analysis of the websites of translation agencies. Drawing on the findings of the study, the authors make recommendations on how translator training should be adapted to incorporate the requirements of the global market.