The author opposes two views on translating. The first view holds that translating is a demanding, complex activity, requiring much more than the mere knowledge of languages and therefore in need of well-trained, self-conscious people. The second one conceives of translation as a self-evident side effect of foreign language acquisition, imitating something that pre-exists. Barczaitis deplores that especially the second view shapes the image of the translator's profession in public. He proposes in what ways this misrepresentation could be changed.