A few weeks ago I read a post on LinkedIn from a Spanish-speaking woman looking to break into the translation industry. She asked the group for suggestions she might use to prepare herself for the adventure. I immediately thought to myself: first, develop and hone your command of your native language. Make sure you can write flawlessly in your mother tongue so you can craft an incredible resume/CV, apply for translation jobs effortlessly, and above all, learn to write well enough in your native language to be able to translate from your source language into your target language using idiomatic, colloquial language.
That got me thinking about some specific, universal suggestions for people looking to improve their command of their native language. These may seem somewhat silly or self evident, but you would be surprised how many native English-speaking language professionals send me job applications with major language errors, everything from poor grammar to ambiguous syntax. Even though this is a completely arbitrary assessment, I’d guess that 66% (or two out of every three) of the emails I get from FR-EN translators (native English speakers) contain two or more obvious language errors. Not exactly the first impression you want to give the hiring person, particularly for a language job!
So, here are three tips I came up with:
1. Read, read, read a little more.
Read publications in your native language. Short ones, long ones, general, technical, fiction or non fiction, it doesn’t really matter what you read, so long as you read regularly. I meet a lot of language professionals who no longer read for their own interest and/or professional development, citing reasons of family, work, lack of time or motivation. You don’t have to choose dense highly-technical, hard-to-slog-through materials to really get a benefit; any kind of well-written book or article will work, while also exposing you to different writing styles.
2. Converse with other native speakers and listen to radio programs in your mother tongue on a regular basis.
Talking with other native speakers can often make you more aware of what you are saying as well as how you are saying it. The more you practice speaking, the more articulate you can become. And even if you are not conscious of it, your brain often absorbs words and sounds from your surrounding environment. Listening to the radio can be a great way to multi-task, perhaps translating while simultaneously improving your native language skills.
3. Buy or borrow a decent style guide and keep it within arm’s reach.
Keeping a style guide by your desk gives you instant access to proper language convention. Use it regularly and don’t be afraid to look something up. You won’t worry as much or waste time scouring the Internet for the answers to your language dilemmas. A style guide is essential because it’s a good general primer that can help in a pinch if you forget how to use hyphens properly (me, and on a regular basis!), how to capitalize geographical place names, or how to spot and solve problems with subject-verb agreement.
The three style guides I use most are (in no particular order):
- The Canadian Style: A Guide to Writing and Editing. Produced by the Translation Bureau of Public Works and Government Services Canada. One of my university professors, Malcolm Williams, worked on this and got my entire class hooked!
- Handbook for Writers. Written by Jane Flick and Celia Millward. I own the Canadian edition, but I believe there is an American edition as well.
- Guide to Canadian English Usage. Written by Margery Fee and Janice McAlpine. This guide can help you navigate the tricky waters of American and British spelling variants!
In addition, some of us often or occasionally write in our second language and I’m no exception. When writing anything in French, I almost always have Le Guide du rédacteur right in front of me. You can never be too careful, right? 
Are you a native speaker looking to improve your command of your native language? Do you think these tips are useful? Maybe you have another tip you would like to share?
Don’t be shy! Let us know in the comments.
