What is it to be an audiovisual translator today?

Abstract

This article examines the realities of working as a freelance audiovisual translator through the lens of the EMT (European Master’s in Translation) framework. By tracing the workflow – from client requests to the recognition of subtitled works – it highlights the gap between theory and practice, including issues such as economic insecurity, delayed payments, fragile contracts, and the general invisibility of translators. The study argues that professionalization requires more than linguistic expertise alone; it also demands a wider range of skills, including administrative, legal, and interpersonal competencies. Finally, it calls for stronger regulation and greater symbolic and economic recognition of the profession.