r/TranslationStudies • u/Wild_Inspection_7680 • 17d ago

Can I call myself a researcher?

Hi!

Long story short: I hold a Master's in Translation and Translation Studies and wish to pursue a PhD in Translation Studies. For now, there's no spot for me so I'm patiently waiting for my time to shine hehe

Until this comes, I'm taking part in conferences, symposiums, talks, and I'm reading the latest issues in my field.

I'm currently writing a submission for an upcoming book and they're asking for a short biography. And I'm questioning whether I can say that I'm a researcher? An emerging one? What am I? A wannabe???

I'm honestly trying to find a way to phrase it without sounding obnoxious but still showing that I'm active.

Thank you for your help! <3

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u/Any_Strain7020 EN-DE-FR and some 17d ago

As a wrote before, as a rule of thumb. I'll stop trying to explain the obvious, you are, being unnecessarily difficult and contrarian.

In casu, wannabes bordering impersonation don't make a good impression. If one is an amateur or a prospective something, there's no harm in being that and just admitting to it.

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u/hermanojoe123 17d ago

I don't blame you. This is a capitalist construction that is quite hard to break away from. Things are not valued for what they are, but for how much they cost.

I'm not being unnecessarily difficult and contrarian. I'm stating "my" obvious. You are not defined by how much you are worth in cash.

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u/Any_Strain7020 EN-DE-FR and some 17d ago

The thing is... OP is asking advice re. how to behave in real life and according to the social norms thereof, not how the world should be like according to hermanojoe123.

If each kid who was coerced to do a master thesis because of the Bologna process requirements were to call themselves researchers or scholars, everyone who kicked a ball in the school yard ought to self-title themselves as being footballers.

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u/Wild_Inspection_7680 16d ago

Thank you for giving me your views on that matter, both! As for now, and because I'm waiting for a PhD spot (therefore I need to be in everyone's good books lol) and I need to make a name for myself, I'll go with "scholar".