It is generally believed that a translator must be proficient in at least two languages, but this is not enough. To be a competent translator, you must also be familiar with both cultures so that you can understand the "underlying tone". The translator should be able to understand the intentionally implicit contents of the original text and express them appropriately in the translated text. In fact, many translations are too lengthy because translators feel that they must express every word or connotation in the source text without missing a beat.

Although in the process of mastering a language, you often have to make some mistakes, a second or third language can still be learned. However, to absorb two cultures, one must be immersed in them and be immersed in them. However, there are also some competent translators who have never had the opportunity to live in the country where they learned the foreign language, so they have to read a lot. Of course, these people are exceptions. Translators who specialize in translating ancient language documents often face a double disadvantage: first, the limited number and type of such documents, and second, the inability to consult the people who provide them.

In addition to being proficient in the source language and target language, translators often need to have knowledge in one or more fields, such as aeronautics, chemistry, artificial intelligence, mechanics, accounting, international law, medicine, or agriculture. Competent translators are needed in these fields and are well paid. However, some mundane and practical areas also require considerable expertise, such as television repair manuals, flavor recipes and building regulations.

Generally speaking, different levels of professional knowledge can be classified according to the level of education received: (1) knowledge that most middle school graduates should master, such as business letters and bills of lading; (2) college graduates The knowledge that most college graduates should have; (3) the knowledge that professionals in a specific field should have.

However, formal education is not always a reliable measure of knowledge, especially at a time when educational standards are declining around the world.

Transliteration is not enough if you do not have good writing skills, only know two languages, two cultures and understand the content of the original text. To a certain extent, writing skills can be taught, but writing clearly and fluently requires special talent. If the translator intends to specialize in the translation of literary genres such as lyric poetry, novels, dramas, and popular prose. They themselves should have the ability to control this type of discourse.

Writing ability can be divided into three levels: (1) being able to write fluent and decent letters, effective news reports and personal narratives; (2) being able to write technical papers or technical articles in a certain professional field; (3) Ability to create beautiful prose and poetry. However, there is also a certain danger hidden here: some creative translators are often not satisfied with agreeing with the original author's ideas, but insist on imposing their own views on the original author.

Perhaps the biggest disadvantage for translators is that they begin to undertake translation work before they have mastered the necessary language skills, professional knowledge and writing skills. As a result, they develop bad habits through long-term practice. It looks very "natural" and cannot be easily changed.

A careful and extensive study of translations from around the world will reveal that fully half of them fall far short of what they should be. Even in the field of literary works, many publishers are content to publish inferior translations: firstly, because they do not know what a good translation is, and secondly, because hiring excellent translators to translate is both expensive and time-consuming.