A professional translator will have an excellent understanding of their own native tongue. The quality of their output will read well, be grammatically correct and express ideas clearly in terms suited to the intended audience.
A professional translator will have first hand experience or in-depth knowledge of the subject they are translating about. Terminology will be correct for the industry and any conventions should be followed.
A professional translator will often add explanations or helpful notes to assist the reader’s understanding.
A professional translator will query any mistakes in the original text, in essence offering a second proofreading service.
A professional translator will leave enough time to ensure that their work is carried out properly as their main focus, not as a secondary task.
A professional translator is properly accredited and insured. They take their work seriously and have pride in it.
A professional translator will have a passion not only for their languages but also for the subject areas they work in.
So, I’m off to watch the reruns of the Grand Prix with my French newspapers to follow…..