Mario Chavez wrote:
...
The ideal business model would be to have inexperienced translators and proofers start by reviewing experienced translators' work, all of that while being supervised and mentored by on-site or off-site expert translators. That way, the translations going to a reviewer outside of the agency would be cleaner and easier to handle...and less costly all around. And we wouldn't have so many jaded colleagues.
Of course, this business model, this way of doing things, requires a long-term outlook and commitment, not the Yankee Doodle do-it-for-the-money way of doing things, which is short-term, miopic and ineffective.
Think about it.
It takes some energetic supervision to keep the inexperienced proofreaders from sabotaging the work of experienced translators, and proofreaders should always make a note of the successful sections of the text too - and comment to the translator.
'I added a suggestion here and there, but the way you solved the problem with the XXX was really neat!'
That was what made me so grateful especially to one of my early mentors - he really made the effort to tell me what was good, what was OK but with room for improvement, and how to avoid some of the pitfalls.
It makes criticism a positive experience, because it is constructive, and we all know at times that there are better ways of putting things - we just can't think of them all.
He built up my self confidence - and showed me what I had to be self confident about! He was a highly respected university teacher too.
All the best with your prospective university post, Mario!
Login to reply/comment 
