Thriving or surviving: Motivation, satisfaction, and existential sustainability in the translation profession

Lambert, Joseph and Walker, Callum 2024. Thriving or surviving: Motivation, satisfaction, and existential sustainability in the translation profession. Mikael: The Journal of Translation and Interpreting Research 17 (1) , pp. 89-104. 10.61200/mikael.136209

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Abstract

Despite the health of the language industry in general, the translation profession(al)faces a range of sustainability challenges. Against a backdrop of key disruptors that are transforming workflows and working conditionsand ongoing concerns over status, pay, and wellbeing, industry reports flag an intensifying ‘talent crunch’, making it increasingly difficult to retain vital human capital. And yet, despite a range of rather bleak industry and academic data, many translators are still happy. In this paper, we use Maslow’s influential theory of motivation to draw together key concerns and to analyse this motivation-satisfaction paradox. We identify worrying deficits in all and even the most basic needs and contend that translators’ self-actualisation–in this case, their sense of fulfilment through translation itself–acts as a ‘pull’ factor that can compensate for these unfulfilled needs, to a degree. Ultimately, however, these deficits are clearly taking an increasing toll, and, in the interests of long-term professional conservation, we must focus further on the lived experience of the individual translator to build towards a thriving professional environment.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Modern Languages
ISSN:	1797-3112
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	19 April 2024
Date of Acceptance:	3 April 2024
Last Modified:	23 Apr 2024 09:24
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/168183

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