There are almost as many reasons to study languages as there are languages. The team of translators and interpreters at Transcription Global all have their own reasons for choosing languages as their specialist area.
From wanting to travel and learn about different cultures, to simply enjoying it, the Transcription Global translators and interpreters have one thing in common – that they all love being able to speak a different language. In fact, having the ability to speak more than one language is one of the few qualifications that can improve both your social life and your career.
Languages open up a wealth of opportunities
The Independent recently spoke to three linguists, all of whom are passionate about languages and all of whom have launched a career off the back of this. Alex Rawlings, 21, is studying at Oxford University while working as an ambassador for Collins Language. You may remember him from one of our previous blog posts – he can speak a staggering 11 languages, including Russian, Greek, German, Afrikaans and Hebrew.
Part of this passion for languages Alex puts down to being raised in a bilingual household, but he also points to having a general curiosity about other cultures. Wanting to be able to communicate with other nationalities is what drove him towards linguistics and he says his abilities “constantly open up opportunities”.
The exciting possibilities awaiting people who speak languages are seemingly limitless. Freelancer Marc Starr has worked as an interpreter for footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, while charity executive secretary Sarah Gale has visited parts of Russia she might never have even heard of, thanks to her position.
Diane Bouzebiba, 53, the managing director of Amadeus, notes that in a competitive jobs market, speaking another language can make a positive difference. On top of this, it helps you learn about other cultures. However, the one thing that unites all the linguists the newspaper spoke to is a desire to gain insight into a different way of life and understand what others are saying. Diane says: “I’m naturally very curious and hate not being able to understand people. That’s what has always attracted me to languages.”
Overcoming the babel
A desire to overcome language barriers appears to be what drives many linguists to choose this career, including the team here at Transcription Global. In fact, this is a longing that humans have nursed for generations, as evidenced in the Tower of Babel tale in the Book of Genesis.
According to the legend, after the Great Flood the sons of Noah spread across the land and repopulated the nations. Because all the generations had one common forefather, they spoke the same language. In order to preserve this common tongue, the people journeyed to Shinar and began building a tall tower to found a large city that would help keep them all together.
And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
Genesis 11:6
So God confounded their language and scattered the people abroad, while the city was named Babel. To this day, babel is the phrase we use to describe a confusion of sounds and words. A wish to unlock the babel is what inspires most people to choose to learn a language.
Of course, babel does have its benefits, as one of our translators cheekily attests. She says she likes being able to talk to her friends and know that the people around her have no idea what she is chatting about.
And that’s just another in the long list of benefits you can enjoy when you speak another language.
Tell us why you decided to pursue a qualification and career in languages below.
Image credits: Wonderlane & Martijn Streefkerk
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