WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A TRANSLATOR? : MACAO (CHINA) CASE STUDY

Over one century of experience in teaching translation, it is critical to analyze the translation labor market from the perspective of the professionals themselves, allowing to identify its characteristics and to figure out the future prospects; such analysis is essential for the curriculum design of translation training programs in line with the translators needs. Before the research we made the following assumptions: (1) the number of translators available in the market is insufficient but, every year, more graduates come to the market; (2) the local market is seeking translators and interpreters who are able to translate any document in any field, in both directions; (3) Macao Public Administration is the largest employer of Chinese-Portuguese translators and also the preferred place to work as a translator; (4) there is a significant number of translators that opt for another career, such as law or assume other duties not related with their studies.

The main focus of this research is the vision of the translation professionals, since it aimed to identify the aspects considered by the translators themselves as the most relevant, and which must be taken into account by the higher education institutions in the translation curriculum design.