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Poll: "Translators are naturally pedantic and obsessive." Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question ""Translators are naturally pedantic and obsessive."".
This poll was originally submitted by Mark Nathan. View the poll results »
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 04:11
Spanish to English
+ ...
What to some is nothing more than thoroughness, truth seeking and trying to do the right thing may be termed "pedantic" by the less diligent. Likewise, some equally snide commentators may wilfully construe thoroughness and accuracy as some sort of obsession. I suppose that's their prerogative. I prefer to try to cultivate a less negatively judgemental attitude.
PS: I had to really make an effort to edit out my more scathing/borderline offensive retort.
[Edited at 2016... See more What to some is nothing more than thoroughness, truth seeking and trying to do the right thing may be termed "pedantic" by the less diligent. Likewise, some equally snide commentators may wilfully construe thoroughness and accuracy as some sort of obsession. I suppose that's their prerogative. I prefer to try to cultivate a less negatively judgemental attitude.
PS: I had to really make an effort to edit out my more scathing/borderline offensive retort.
[Edited at 2016-04-19 08:29 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Erzsébet Czopyk 
Hungary
Local time: 04:11
Member (2006)
Russian to Hungarian
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER | certain extent of | Apr 19, 2016 |
translators, maybe, yes. But generalize or state that - no. We are united in our differences.
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P.L.F. Persio
Netherlands
Local time: 04:11
Member (2010)
English to Italian
+ ...
| I couldn't have said it better | Apr 19, 2016 |
neilmac wrote:
What to some is nothing more than thoroughness, truth seeking and trying to do the right thing may be termed "pedantic" by the less diligent. Likewise, some equally snide commentators may wilfully construe thoroughness and accuracy as some sort of obsession. I suppose that's their prerogative. I prefer to try to cultivate a less negatively judgemental attitude.
[Edited at 2016-04-19 08:29 GMT]
Being neurodiverse, I am naturally pedantic and obsessive. In our profession, those are virtues, though. Let's hear it for us!
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Julian Holmes
Japan
Local time: 11:11
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
| With Neilmac | Apr 19, 2016 |
neilmac wrote:
I had to really make an effort to edit out my more scathing/borderline offensive retort.
[Edited at 2016-04-19 08:29 GMT]
Why edit it out?
In fact, I was going to suggest to the author of this poll that he steps outside and settle it like a gentleman with all the pollsters whose feathers will be ruffled by such a deliberately inflammatory assertion.
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neilmac wrote:
What to some is nothing more than thoroughness, truth seeking and trying to do the right thing may be termed "pedantic" by the less diligent. Likewise, some equally snide commentators may wilfully construe thoroughness and accuracy as some sort of obsession. I suppose that's their prerogative. I prefer to try to cultivate a less negatively judgemental attitude.
PS: I had to really make an effort to edit out my more scathing/borderline offensive retort.
[Edited at 2016-04-19 08:29 GMT]
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and I don't know if I have always been or I have been since I started working as a translator
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Helen Hagon
Local time: 03:11
Member (2011)
Russian to English
+ ...
Obsessive yes, but not necessarily pedantic. That's my view, but my family may disagree Pedantic, to my mind, implies something rather forceful and overbearing, but many of the translators I know are quite timid and shy. We have to be obsessive though, if not geeky, to spend all our days examining the minutiae of every word in a lengthy text, drafting and redrafting, and then checking and rechecking.
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Mark Nathan
France
Local time: 04:11
Member (2002)
French to English
+ ...
I too was slightly offended when I saw this poll.
I honestly don't remember suggesting it; if I did, it must have been many years ago!
I do remember reading an entertaining article, again several years ago, written by a French translator's partner, which described various aspects of their spouse's behaviour...
Perhaps having read this article, I was moved to suggest some sort of poll along these lines - i.e. poking gentle fun at translators' fascination wi... See more I too was slightly offended when I saw this poll.
I honestly don't remember suggesting it; if I did, it must have been many years ago!
I do remember reading an entertaining article, again several years ago, written by a French translator's partner, which described various aspects of their spouse's behaviour...
Perhaps having read this article, I was moved to suggest some sort of poll along these lines - i.e. poking gentle fun at translators' fascination with obscure points of terminology etc.
So, apologies to anyone who very reasonably resents the negative implications of the statement, if I am responsible for it, it was only meant in jest. ▲ Collapse
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| If I wasn't so pedantic and obsessive... | Apr 19, 2016 |
...about getting it right, I wouldn't be half the translator I am. That touch of natural brilliance is the icing on the cake.
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Parrot
Spain
Local time: 04:11
Spanish to English
+ ...
I left off teaching because I wasn't. Yes, I'm naturally aware of mistakes (and this can hit me at unpredictable moments), but I don't let it spoil my life. I don't consider that pedantic/obsessive.
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| Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule |
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| I assume(d) this just a provocative question | Apr 19, 2016 |
and not necessarily the opinion of the author at all.
Some of the answers do however back my own opinion that translators seem to have a strong tendency to take themselves far too seriously.
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| Standards are slipping | Apr 19, 2016 |
This poll's been up for 3 hours and no-one's pointed out this is a case where the unambiguous "partly" would probably have been a better option than "partially"....
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Natalia Pedrosa
Spain
Local time: 04:11
Member (2012)
English to Spanish
+ ...
| It has nothing to do with being a translator | Apr 19, 2016 |
I was far more pedantic when I was younger than I am now as a translator.
Not much to do.
Ditto.
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