Translators-localizers training – review of problems and proposal for a model course in localization

Jacek Monkiewicz

Uniwersytet w Białymstoku, Wydział Filologiczny


Abstract

Various types of localized products are being used by more and more people with increasing frequency. Contents of such products are translated and made appropriate to the Polish market and user (localized). Localization is the most dynamic sector of the translation industry, generates substantial sales volumes and requires highly qualified localizers who are still relatively difficult to find. University translation courses usually focus on literary translation and sometimes also cover legal texts, whereas translators-localizers are expected to possess a slightly different skill set. Students planning a career as localizers are usually resigned to self-study and intuition. University teachers often believe that this translation modality does not require any special didactic approach or abilities, and that the tasks faced by localizers are trivially simple (especially in their linguistic aspect). The article presents issues and challenges related to developing linguistic and non-linguistic competences of translators-localizers. Finally a model university course in localization is described.

Keywords:

lokalizacja, dydaktyka, uczelnie, branża lokalizacyjna, localization, didactics, academia, localization industry

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Published
2015-12-30


Monkiewicz, J. (2015) “Translators-localizers training – review of problems and proposal for a model course in localization”, Linguodidactica, 19, pp. 157–167. doi: 10.15290/lingdid.2015.19.11.

Jacek Monkiewicz 
Uniwersytet w Białymstoku, Wydział Filologiczny