The Translator's Handbook

by Morry Sofer

The writing in this handbook for novice technical (as opposed to literary) translators may be workmanlike, but the information is invaluable. The author, Morry Sofer, has been translating for 30 years and has run a translation service contracting with hundreds of translators for the last 15 years. Among the many fields requiring technical translation are automotive, computers, engineering, law, medicine, and telecommunications. The Translator's Handbook includes chapters on the history of translation, sources of translation work, and the quirks of translating in various languages (for instance, in four different U.S. Hispanic communities, there are four different words for "eyeglasses"). More than half the book is composed of appendices, one more useful than the next. The first features 64 pages' worth of dictionaries and reference volumes for a whopping 64 languages. Others list agencies, organizations, and companies likely to require translation work; information about translation courses and accreditation; and periodicals for professional translators. --Jane Steinberg

Genres: Nonfiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

See also works under his legal name, Mordecai Schreiber.

Reviews

[Toti]

Por fin, un libro de teoría de la traducción ÚTIL. Y Morry Sofer es un amor.

[Roberta]

While a little dated now, this is an excellent book to begin with if you are planning to get into translating as a job. It contains helpful hints, a list of resources, some of which are still valid, a history of the industry, and a number of funny translation slip-ups from around the world.

[Marnie S. Angulo Delgado, B.A., CMI]

This resource forms part of my Interpreter/Translator library.

[Daniela]

Creo que es lo más útil que leí en todo el año.