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The need to specialize to make more money as a freelance translator
Thread poster: Bonita Mc Donald
Nixie Adams, M.A.
Nixie Adams, M.A.
Australia
Local time: 00:01
Member (2006)
German to English
+ ...
Don't want to specialize Sep 18, 2006

I for one don't want to specialize. One of the points I most enjoy about this job is the variety. A marketing brochure for cosmetics one day, a contract of employment the next day, a company website the following day, and so on. This is what makes me enjoy this job so much.

I personally have never understood how someone can happily translate one automotive text after the other all day long (just an example), even if they have a keen interest in the subject. I would get bored very qu
... See more
I for one don't want to specialize. One of the points I most enjoy about this job is the variety. A marketing brochure for cosmetics one day, a contract of employment the next day, a company website the following day, and so on. This is what makes me enjoy this job so much.

I personally have never understood how someone can happily translate one automotive text after the other all day long (just an example), even if they have a keen interest in the subject. I would get bored very quickly with only one or two specialist subjects. I might earn a bit more but I personally wouldn't get as much job satisfaction. (Only speaking for myself of course, I know there are plenty of people who see it differently.)

Just to clarify: Yes, I would and have taken on jobs in subjects I had no previous expertise and the client feedback was very positive. I would, however, not take on a complicated medical or even highly specialized legal text if I have no understanding of the field at all. That would be a waste of my time and the client's money. As for the rest and to get back to Bonita's question: I believe it CAN be done, non-specialists CAN return a competent text in an area they are not particular familiar with when starting out.
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Sarah Downing
Sarah Downing  Identity Verified
Local time: 10:01
German to English
+ ...
Time is money Sep 18, 2006

I too feel that non-specialists can sometimes produce a good specialist translation, but this is dependent on large amounts of research and time, and unless you ultimately want to get into this field, it might not pay off. Whichever way, you should be responsible enough to avoid taking on texts you have absolutely no idea about - i.e. that you would not understand even if you were to find the specialist vocab because translation is about more than stringing together a bunch of words; it's moreov... See more
I too feel that non-specialists can sometimes produce a good specialist translation, but this is dependent on large amounts of research and time, and unless you ultimately want to get into this field, it might not pay off. Whichever way, you should be responsible enough to avoid taking on texts you have absolutely no idea about - i.e. that you would not understand even if you were to find the specialist vocab because translation is about more than stringing together a bunch of words; it's moreover about understanding the sum of those words, and if you don't understand that, then you are better off turning down the text in the first place.

I am capable of doing a wide range of texts, but I too steer clear of highly technical or medical ones, unless I am persuaded to do someone a favour and they are basically desperate (which I totally hate, but it happens). In that case, I always point out that I am not a specialist and that they should make sure they get it checked by one.

I guess if you specialise it sometimes helps to specialise in a fairly prevalent subject, e.g. PR and marketing, which is one of my specialisms. There is a lot of work in this area and yet it still helps to specialise because it means your hourly turnover is faster and that's what clinches it for me. The same goes for cosmetics - I can translate cosmetics texts really fast without looking up much at all because I know my stuff. This pays off for the client - better texts, and for me because I can achieve more in less time.

That is ultimately one of the reasons why I have become pickier about which texts I take on. If I am offered a text where I know I will have to do inordinate amounts of research in order to do a good job, unless the topic really interests me and I know that I am up to, I am more likely to turn it down in favour of something that I won't have to research as much because I have basically done all my research throughout my years as a translator (that's how you end up specialising in the first place - I got lots of marketing texts, realised I was good at them, had to look up and research more words at the start, and after a while the same terms would recur time and again and I'd know them off by heart).

Good luck!


Sarah
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Daina Jauntirans
Daina Jauntirans  Identity Verified
Local time: 09:01
German to English
+ ...
Look at classes in your field, too Sep 18, 2006

Bonita Mc Donald wrote:
I've had very bad experiences in outsourcing work to people who had a university degree in translation, so translators without a formal education in the field don't have the poor-quality market cornered. Living in Colombia I had the opportunity to be on the permanent staff of a translation agency that worked only in the SPA ENG combination, where only 1 out of the 5 working there had a University Degree (she was very good); the rest were self-taught, obviously already having both languages either from a bilingual upbringing or because they had lived in countries where the language was spoken for a long time, thus acquiring their Spanish or their English that way. My employer (and mentor) never went to college/university and I have yet to meet anyone who can surpass her at SPA ENG translation/interpretation, so college, at least for me, is not the answer. If you are already fluent in both languages and have the talent, being self-taught and/or taken under the wing of a seasoned professional not only has its perks (such as saving all that tuition money) but also, if you go about it the right way, I daresay the results are equivalent to earning a university degree in translation.


I have had similar experiences (my mentors were also self-taught and at the top of their field), so I agree with you, even though I have a translation degree that has served me well. It really depends on how practical the program is that you attend. I could see how a few specialized courses in legal or medical translation could point out some pitfalls and get you started in a specialization.

It would also be helpful to look at classes in your chosen specialization - a certificate in international business, for example. Even if you could learn the same by way of self-study, this type of class could provide excellent opportunities for networking if you choose a good one.


 
Bonita Mc Donald
Bonita Mc Donald
Local time: 08:01
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Another perk Sep 18, 2006



It would also be helpful to look at classes in your chosen specialization - a certificate in international business, for example. Even if you could learn the same by way of self-study, this type of class could provide excellent opportunities for networking if you choose a good one.



Yes, you're right, Daina, and the opportunity of networking with fellow students (and, why not, the teacher) hadn't even occurred to me (boy do I need some PR training). With the additional perk that in earning any type of a diploma or certificate of satisfactory course completion, I would probably be able to count them as credentials, or at the very least list them on my CV (but then it would make it over a page long, and I'm told that that's not a good thing if I actually expect someone to read it).

(Edit: took out a misplaced "be")

[Edited at 2006-09-18 22:42]


 
Daina Jauntirans
Daina Jauntirans  Identity Verified
Local time: 09:01
German to English
+ ...
Especially the teacher Sep 19, 2006

Bonita Mc Donald wrote:

Yes, you're right, Daina, and the opportunity of networking with fellow students (and, why not, the teacher)



ESPECIALLY the teacher, Bonita!


 
Bonita Mc Donald
Bonita Mc Donald
Local time: 08:01
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
:) Sep 19, 2006



 
Krys Williams
Krys Williams  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:01
Member (2003)
Polish to English
+ ...
As a specialist Sep 23, 2006

I specialise in medical translation. I actually have no formal languge qualifications at all, but I do have a PhD in biomedical science and many years experience in doing information work and analysis with respect to biomedical science, medicine and regulatory pharmacology. Yes, it is easy enough to mug up on terminology through Web searches etc, but if you do not understand the principles underlying the text, you run a great risk of misunderstanding and mistranslating it. I see this many times... See more
I specialise in medical translation. I actually have no formal languge qualifications at all, but I do have a PhD in biomedical science and many years experience in doing information work and analysis with respect to biomedical science, medicine and regulatory pharmacology. Yes, it is easy enough to mug up on terminology through Web searches etc, but if you do not understand the principles underlying the text, you run a great risk of misunderstanding and mistranslating it. I see this many times when I am asked to review medical translations done by other people. I cannot count the number of occasions when I have crossed out something that is total nonsense from the medical point of view. When I translate, I often have to dig deep into my knowledge base in order to come up with a credible translation.

I would not contemplate tackling an in-depth legal or technological document. I feel that these should be left to translators with specialist knowledge of those areas.
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Bonita Mc Donald
Bonita Mc Donald
Local time: 08:01
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
As a translator Sep 23, 2006

Krys Williams wrote:

I specialise in medical translation. I actually have no formal languge qualifications at all, but I do have a PhD in biomedical science and many years experience in doing information work and analysis with respect to biomedical science, medicine and regulatory pharmacology. Yes, it is easy enough to mug up on terminology through Web searches etc, but if you do not understand the principles underlying the text, you run a great risk of misunderstanding and mistranslating it.


That's all very nice, and I'm sure you had the best of intentions when you posted, but one of the main reasons I started this thread is because I was thinking about those of us who haven't had the same opportunities as others to do things like go to University and get a Bachelor's Degree, much less a PhD, my whole point being that, in my opinion, anyone that is talented and intelligent enough can translate into virtually any field they decide to take on, obviously using a little bit of common sense and knowing their own limits when it comes to deciding whether to accept a job/assignment or not. Some of us are just born with it...


 
Claudia Krysztofiak
Claudia Krysztofiak  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 15:01
English to German
+ ...
Natural abilities or "Being born with it ... " Sep 23, 2006

Bonita Mc Donald wrote:

That's all very nice, and I'm sure you had the best of intentions when you posted, but one of the main reasons I started this thread is because I was thinking about those of us who haven't had the same opportunities as others to do things like go to University and get a Bachelor's Degree, much less a PhD, my whole point being that, in my opinion, anyone that is talented and intelligent enough can translate into virtually any field they decide to take on, obviously using a little bit of common sense and knowing their own limits when it comes to deciding whether to accept a job/assignment or not. Some of us are just born with it...


Just to get a feeling of how far you would take this natural ability thing: Bonita, would you think someone who did not have the opportunity to study medicine should work as a doctor, because they feel able to do it and think they know their limits?

The point is, while I will not argue that there may be a very small number of such amazing people as you describe, on the other hand there seem to be a considerable number of people who think they are born with it and will not even be convinced that it is not the case if their customers give them proof of it. Instead they continue messing up the profession and wasting other people's money.

In my opinion it is irresponsible to take on any field without having thoroughly studied the topic before, whether at university, college, home or whatever place and community is available.

If you do a movie or games translation wrong you may spoil someone's entertainment. If you do a medical translation wrong you may risk somebody's life.


 
Krys Williams
Krys Williams  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:01
Member (2003)
Polish to English
+ ...
sorry but I must disagree Sep 23, 2006

Bonita Mc Donald wrote:

in my opinion, anyone that is talented and intelligent enough can translate into virtually any field they decide to take on, obviously using a little bit of common sense and knowing their own limits when it comes to deciding whether to accept a job/assignment or not. Some of us are just born with it...


Well I reckon I must be somewhat talented and intelligent, and probably a reasonable translator as well, considering that most clients for whom I've worked keep coming back from more. However, even in my specialist areas of medicine/pharmaceuticals I find that there are topics which are at the very edge of my comfort zone, and even after hours of researchig not only the terminology but also the basic principles involved, I still feel unsure that I have found the right solution. I know I have made a number of howlers when tackling unfamiliar medical ground, and while it is good to learn through mistakes it is also highly embarassing.

Yes, I'm sure that a translator who decided to specialise, for example, in the medical area without having a prior background in this, devoted a lot of time to working through medical textbooks in his/her own language so as to get a good understanding in the subject matter, and then started exploring the terminilogy in the relevant languages, could make a success of it. However, I think it would take a couple of years at least to attain a good level of competence in this way. I just feel you are being somewhat too blithe about the whole issue. After all, setting aside the issue of opportunities, those of us who have gone down the academic route have worked very hard for our qualifications often at considerable personal and financial sacrifice. Add to this years of work experience in a specialist field...

I don't think it is surprising or unjust that we can now reap the benefits of this in terms of being able to command good rates and being the people to whom clients turn first.


 
Bonita Mc Donald
Bonita Mc Donald
Local time: 08:01
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Responsibility and accountability Sep 23, 2006

Claudia Krysztofiak wrote:


In my opinion it is irresponsible to take on any field without having thoroughly studied the topic before, whether at university, college, home or whatever place and community is available.

If you do a movie or games translation wrong you may spoil someone's entertainment. If you do a medical translation wrong you may risk somebody's life.


Applying common sense (not to mention a deep sense of responsibility) when taking on any translation is a given, at least in my book. Anyone who accepts a translation assignment, especially in a field as vital to human lives as the medical one, without first examining the source material to see whether it is in their league or not, and/or by merely going ahead and knowingly doing (and submitting) a poor translation without telling their client that it would probably be better to find someone else as soon they realize they're in over their heads, does not deserve to be called a professional but rather, with those kind of work "ethics", a charlatan.

There are so many qualities that a good translator needs to embody that it would be impossible to list them all, and I'm sure this has already been covered ad infinitum in other threads, but a few that come to mind are (again) intelligence, intuition, honesty, accountability, and a love for his/her source and target languages (and maybe I should state the obvious here, for those who might be tempted to point out my "omission": excellent command of both languages, which is a prerequisite, although, conversely, not everyone with excellent language skills can become a good translator). Notice I left out the word "talent", because if you love something enough, you will develop it out of sheer determination and perseverance, always seeking out the right tools (schooling just being one of many options) to achieve your goal.

Self-delusion as to one's own capabilities is a whole other topic, and a perfect example of the extent to which people can suffer from this malady can be found here:

http://www.proz.com/topic/55617

where you will actually see a story unfolding with each new post, one poster in particular being the perfect example of just how delusional someone filled with self-importance and blind to his/her own faults can be.


 
Ford Prefect
Ford Prefect  Identity Verified
Burkina Faso
Local time: 14:01
German to English
+ ...
... Sep 23, 2006

Bonita Mc Donald wrote:
...I was thinking about those of us who haven't had the same opportunities as others to do things like go to University and get a Bachelor's Degree, much less a PhD, my whole point being that, in my opinion, anyone that is talented and intelligent enough can translate into virtually any field they decide to take on...


Stacking up qualifications is rather less to do with "opportunity" than getting off your backside and doing it. I won't deny there is an "opportunity" aspect, but it is generally overplayed, and anyone who is prepared to make the right sacrifices can take advantage of the opportunity offered.

The "anyone can do this, it's easy" attitude appears completely idiotic to those of us who have taken specialisation to the extreme by giving up 10 or more years of life (and salary) to get there.

Some of us are just born with it...


Yes, the same way some people are obviously just born with an innate and detailed understanding of how the human body works and what goes wrong with it, how, and why. That is obviously why those people are out there doing cheap medical translations which people like Krys and I then have to correct (retranslate), instead of winning Nobel prizes. No sweat or study needed, just turn up and look the part.


 
Claudia Krysztofiak
Claudia Krysztofiak  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 15:01
English to German
+ ...
Opportunities and opportunism :-) Sep 23, 2006


Notice I left out the word "talent", because if you love something enough, you will develop it out of sheer determination and perseverance, always seeking out the right tools (schooling just being one of many options) to achieve your goal.


Bonita, if you agree that it takes more than just being born with it, why do you then write such nonsense?

Just to trigger a discussion to enjoy yourself?

Have fun!


 
Bonita Mc Donald
Bonita Mc Donald
Local time: 08:01
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Fun? Sep 25, 2006

[quote]Claudia Krysztofiak wrote:


Just to get a feeling of how far you would take this natural ability thing: Bonita, would you think someone who did not have the opportunity to study medicine should work as a doctor, because they feel able to do it and think they know their limits?

The point is, while I will not argue that there may be a very small number of such amazing people as you describe, on the other hand there seem to be a considerable number of people who think they are born with it and will not even be convinced that it is not the case if their customers give them proof of it. Instead they continue messing up the profession and wasting other people's money.

In my opinion it is irresponsible to take on any field without having thoroughly studied the topic before, whether at university, college, home or whatever place and community is available.

If you do a movie or games translation wrong you may spoil someone's entertainment. If you do a medical translation wrong you may risk somebody's life.





Bonita, if you agree that it takes more than just being born with it, why do you then write such nonsense?

Just to trigger a discussion to enjoy yourself?

Have fun!



I don't believe that I'm the one writing nonsense. After reading both your posts again I've come to believe that you are given to stating the obvious. Any person with half a brain and a whit of consciousness would know not only to stay away from something they cannot do, but also to not attempt something that could endanger peoples' lives. I believe that goes without saying, but that's just me. Apparently both you and "Screamer" not only enjoy stating the obvious, but also love to launch veiled insults in the process, being at the butt of which is most certainly not my idea of fun. But, apparently, cunningly wording your posts to avoid being forced to edit them or get them straight-out deleted by a moderator, while trying to make your peers look bad into the bargain, is yours. So you go on ahead and have fun! I'll look for mine elsewhere, thank you very much.

(See: "Looking for honest translators..." post.)


 
Claudia Krysztofiak
Claudia Krysztofiak  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 15:01
English to German
+ ...
Thanks for showing me ... Sep 25, 2006

Bonita Mc Donald wrote:

Any person with half a brain and a whit of consciousness would know not only to stay away from something they cannot do, but also to not attempt something that could endanger peoples' lives. I believe that goes without saying, but that's just me. Apparently both you and "Screamer" not only enjoy stating the obvious, but also love to launch veiled insults in the process, being at the butt of which is most certainly not my idea of fun. But, apparently, cunningly wording your posts to avoid being forced to edit them or get them straight-out deleted by a moderator, while trying to make your peers look bad into the bargain, is yours. So you go on ahead and have fun! I'll look for mine elsewhere, thank you very much.

(See: "Looking for honest translators..." post.)


Sorry Bonita, if I offended you into such a wrath as it shows in this posting. I absolutely do not find myself in what you wrote but everybody has the right to their own opinion about myself.

So as a person with less than half a brain and less than a whit of consciousness I will take my leave from this thread. I obviously cannot keep up with this level of discussion.


 
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