A good translator should have enough knowledge of the source language (SL) from which text is translated to target language (TL) which is usually his or her mother tongue. A good translator, must also have good knowledge on grammatical, syntactic, semantic and pragmatic (practical) aspects of the SL in order to produce correct translation of the SL text. Apart from this, it is very essential to be proficient with the socio-cultural circumstances of both the SL and the TL.
A good translator should have sufficient knowledge regarding subject or field to which the SL text concerns. So that the translator can capture the essence of the SL text. If a good translator will not have in-depth knowledge, he or she may not produce an accurate translation required for its expected purpose.
A good translator must be careful regarding choices which he makes in making use of the TL. The text must be translated in the style, which is understandable by the target audience. The translation in the TL must not sound strange or conflicting.
A translator requires certain tools which will help at the time of difficulty. These tools are good monolingual and bilingual dictionaries, encyclopedias, e-dictionaries, glossaries of technical and standard works, etc. relating to the SL text.
A good translator should have patience and must not be in a urgency to rush through at the time of translating any text. A good translator should not think or delay in discussing with others regarding problems which might be experienced and must not shy away from doing micro-research to arrive at proper and exact equivalents.
A good translator must be competent and skilled bilingual, and must have knowledge on subject of the SL text which should be translated. He should not try to include his own ideas or personal ideas or feelings in the TL text. His objective must be to express the content and also the intention of the SL text as perfectly as possible into the TL text. The job of a translator is very productive and intellectually inspiring.