Did you know that studies show that the brain does not make much of a distinction between reading about an experience and facing it in real life? Experiments show that certain words or descriptions stimulate different parts of the brain and evoke body responses and specific behavior. Why does this make reading important?
Reading has always been part of our lives – reading books, magazines, articles, blogs, etc. It improves our concentration and imagination. By immersing ourselves in another reality, we can relive the events, experience the emotions of the characters, and identify with them. This helps us better understand the people around us. Moreover, reading prepares us for our professional life. With the advancement of technologies, we need to constantly read and learn about the new trends in our fields to stay up-to-date and informed. As a language professional, I would like to point out 7 of the benefits of reading for this industry and how it can improve your skills.
IMPROVES MEMORY
Reading helps you memorize collocations. Collocations are words that often go together in a certain language, such as “make a decision” or “take a break”. Reading exposes you to many examples of collocations in different contexts, which helps you remember them and use them correctly in your translations.
HELPS YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT WORDS
Reading also helps you expand your vocabulary and learn the nuances of different words. You can discover synonyms, antonyms, idioms, and expressions that can enrich your translations and make them more accurate and natural.
BOOSTS YOUR VOCABULARY
Reading introduces you to new words and phrases that you may not encounter in your everyday conversations or work. You can learn the meaning, pronunciation, and usage of these words and phrases by looking them up in a dictionary or online. This way, you can increase your vocabulary and have more options to express yourself in both your native and target languages.
MAKES YOUR SPEECH MORE FLUENT
Your speech becomes more fluent, and you start to speak like a native speaker. Reading also improves your grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure. You can learn from the mistakes and corrections of other writers and avoid making the same errors in your translations. Reading also helps you develop a sense of rhythm and flow in your speech, which makes you sound more fluent and confident.
BOOSTS YOUR IMAGINATION
It boosts your imagination which helps you be more creative and come up with new ideas. Reading stimulates your imagination and creativity by exposing you to different perspectives, stories, and scenarios. You can use your imagination to visualize the scenes, characters, and emotions that you read about, which can help you create more vivid and engaging translations. Reading also inspires you to generate new ideas and solutions for your translation projects and challenges.
KEEPS YOU INFORMED
It keeps you updated on the latest trends and developments in your field. Reading also helps you stay informed and relevant in your industry and niche. You can read about the latest news, trends, innovations, and best practices in your field and learn from the experts and leaders. This way, you can keep your knowledge and skills up to date and offer high-quality translations that meet the expectations and needs of your clients.
RELIEVES STRESS
It relaxes your mind and reduces stress. Reading can also have positive effects on your mental health and well-being. Reading can help you relax, unwind, and escape from the stress and pressure of your work and life. Reading can also boost your mood, self-esteem, and motivation by giving you a sense of achievement and enjoyment.
As you can see, reading has many benefits for translators that can help you improve your language skills, translation quality, and professional growth. Reading is not only a useful habit, but also a fun and rewarding activity that can enrich your personal and professional life.
Adriana Nesheva ([email protected]), an English to Bulgarian translator for beauty and fashion brands.