Text C. Scientific Translator

Many scientists around the world are adding to the body of scientific knowledge. Most research results are printed in journals in the native language of the researcher. This creates a need for the translation of the foreign-language articles for use in the United States. Thus, scientific translation is a career possibility.

A translator could work for an industry, publisher, or library. There are many foreign languages and different scientific fields. Thus, it is best for a translator to concentrate on two or three languages and one or two scientific fields. The most important scientific languages are German and French. Russian and Japanese also are important scientific languages.

A scientific translator should like languages and should know at least two foreign languages. He or she should also know English grammar. Besides word-for-word translation of foreign articles, the translator must be able to write in good English.

Finally, a strong background in some scientific field is necessary. The understanding of the principles discussed in an article is needed in order to accurately translate the article.

Exercise 5. First read the questions, be sure you’ve got them well in mind and then look through text D to find the answers.

When did Europeans settle in Australia?

What Dutch navigators are mentioned in the article?

Who was the first British captain who saw the new continent?