‘I fulfil my place among the humankind, in the universe’

Finnish translators’ job satisfaction in three empirical studies

Författare

• Minna Ruokonen University of Eastern Finland
• Jannika Lassus University of Helsinki
• Taru Virtanen University of Helsinki & Translation and Language Division of the Prime Minister’s Office

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61200/mikael.129306

Nyckelord:

job satisfaction, Translator Studies, sociology of translation, psychology of translation

Abstract

As there are only a handful of empirical studies on translators’ job satisfaction, this article reexamines three sets of data on Finnish translators from that perspective. The data were collected in two surveys on the translation profession with 138 and 450 respondents (conducted, respectively, in 2012 and 2014) and in 16 interviews on government translators’ job satisfaction (2013). The results indicate that the translators were mostly satisfied with their jobs and felt that their work is valued. Experiences of stress varied; in-house employment did not exclude feeling stressed. Possibilities for influencing aspects of one’s work showed some variation, but most translators felt that they could influence at least the tone and quality of the translation. Particularly senior translators were able to ‘craft’ their job to their liking. Professional contacts were fairly frequent for both in-house and freelance translators, and colleagues were an important resource to many. Further study is needed on differences between translators in different situations and on the resources available to translators to offset the demands of their job.