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You are here: Home / For Translators / Humour at the wordface / Responses to "So, what do you do?"

Responses to "So, what do you do?"

by Sarah Dillon

According to journalist Kathy Foley, there’s a group on Facebook where journalists post the top responses they get in social situations when they announce “I’m a journalist”. So here are the top four responses I get when I say I’m a translator:

Scenario 1: a typical “European” response

– So what language do you speak?
insert my answer
– [Pause] Oh… I know a guy speaks 7/10/17 languages fluently! He’s amazing… launches into the life story of this other amazing person I’ve never met

Scenario 2: a typical English response

– So what language do you speak?
insert my answer
– I took some French/German at school. Didn’t learn a thing, and the teacher had it in for me… launches into a story about how they’re “not able” to learn languages

Scenario 3: a typical Irish response

– So what language do you speak?
insert my answer
– Ah, so you travel all the time for work then?
I do my best to explain that it is possible to have a language job that doesn’t involve call centres or working for the EU

Scenario 4: a typical Australian response

– Ah, yes. My friend’s wife is [German/French/Japanese, etc.]. She does some translation too, you know, in the evenings every now and then – when the kids have gone to bed, of course…
I just smile and nod, about all that is usually expected of me at this point

And then there’s what I’d love to hear people say:

  1. So how did you progress from speaking those languages to actually translating professionally?!
  2. Any advice for learning languages as an adult?
  3. Wow, intelligent AND beautiful! Here’s a cheque for 1 million pounds, just for making my evening.

What are the typical responses you get when you say you’re a translator?

Last updated: 5 September, 2007 by Sarah Dillon. Filed Under: Humour at the wordface, Translation profession and industry

About Sarah Dillon

Sarah Dillon is an Irish cailín in Brisbane, Australia. She arrived Down Under via Germany, France, Spain, Ireland, and the UK, having originally trained as a professional translator. Sarah has been involved in the start-up phases of several international small businesses as a founder, advisor and director, and has worked for companies such as Apple Computers, Audi AG and Bain and Company. She is currently pursuing a PhD in international business. Read more about Sarah here.

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  1. Tweets that mention Responses to “So, what do you do?” — There's Something About Translation -- Topsy.com says:
    10 September, 2010 at 7:16 pm

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Sarah Dillon, Sergey Rybkin and Nikki Graham, Charlotte Monnier. Charlotte Monnier said: RT @sarahdillon: What's a typical response when you announce you're a translator?! Let me know here http://bit.ly/cvRhhc […]