| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | Poll: Is there any part of the translation process you don't really enjoy? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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mk_lab 
Ukraine
Local time: 08:36
Member (2004)
English to Russian
+ ...
Editing and DTP are completelly different jobs. Why they are together in the same item?
| | | | Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 01:36
Spanish to English
+ ...
| "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear." | Oct 28, 2010 |
"Poorly written material," J. H. Lamensdorf has mentioned.
And this is by no means infrequent.
Which leads to the reflection that a surcharge is in order for material that is obviously poorly written, since it takes so much longer to translate (and to comment upon, using the "Comment" function in MS Word, as I typically do with any material where there is some error in the original text, or some degree of conjecture involved in its interpretation). Such a surcharge may... See more "Poorly written material," J. H. Lamensdorf has mentioned.
And this is by no means infrequent.
Which leads to the reflection that a surcharge is in order for material that is obviously poorly written, since it takes so much longer to translate (and to comment upon, using the "Comment" function in MS Word, as I typically do with any material where there is some error in the original text, or some degree of conjecture involved in its interpretation). Such a surcharge may not be accepted, but it is certainly justified.
The fundamental truth of the matter is that the quality of any translation is inherently limited by the quality of the original text. The better the original, the better any potential translation will be, all other things being equal. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Renee Mazloum
Spain
Local time: 07:36
Member (2008)
French to English
+ ...
| Poorly written material and proofreading someone else´s work | Oct 28, 2010 |
Robert Forstag wrote:
The fundamental truth of the matter is that the quality of any translation is inherently limited by the quality of the original text. The better the original, the better any potential translation will be, all other things being equal.
I agree with Robert. For me, it is a combination of poorly written material and having to proofread anyone else´s work. Those are probably my least favorite aspects. Although there is certainly a good reason for it and many things can be gained by proofreading a well written text, having to check anyone else´s work can also be very tedious and subjective. I think I would rather just do the translation myself.
| | | | Samuel Jiménez
Spain
Local time: 07:36
Member (2010)
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Wonderful axiom | Oct 28, 2010 |
Robert Forstag wrote:
The fundamental truth of the matter is that the quality of any translation is inherently limited by the quality of the original text. The better the original, the better any potential translation will be, all other things being equal.
Mathematically speaking, it's much easier to explain the Poincaré conjecture to a donkey than to explain this axiom to a client.
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Renee Mazloum
Spain
Local time: 07:36
Member (2008)
French to English
+ ...
| I think we are missing an option. | Oct 28, 2010 |
Does paying taxes count?
| | | | | CAT is ....... | Oct 28, 2010 |
José Henrique Lamensdorf wrote:
IMHO having to use a(ny) CAT tool is disgusting enough. I'm sick of clients that are more concerned with me using a CAT tool than with the quality of the translation I deliver.
You are absolutely right! What I cannot stomach most in this regard is clients and peers who think same words have to be always translated in compliance with that dreaded "100% match" principle, even entire context is different.
They seem not to understand even same word changes its meaning when context is different.
Where in the world the meaning of "school" in this context can be same?
Children on the school playground
School of fish in the pond
Just a tiny, miniscule overly simplistic, and not the best example, but I hope I deliver the message across.:(
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Yes, poorly written material (and even worse, the clients who get cheesed at you for not 'getting it') and crazy grammar, and hard to find terminology! and scanned documents with bad quality.
But those things don't happen THAT often.
| | | | Samuel Jiménez
Spain
Local time: 07:36
Member (2010)
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Some clients... | Oct 28, 2010 |
...really disregard - whether deliberately or not - the VITAL role of Pragmatics
humbird wrote:
You are absolutely right! What I cannot stomach most in this regard is clients and peers who think same words have to be always translated in compliance with that dreaded "100% match" principle, even entire context is different.
They seem not to understand even same word changes its meaning when context is different.
Where in the world the meaning of "school" in this context can be same?
Children on the school playground
School of fish in the pond
Just a tiny, miniscule overly simplistic, and not the best example, but I hope I deliver the message across.:(
[Edited at 2010-10-28 18:29 GMT]
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| Admin & invoicing | Oct 28, 2010 |
I love translating, and actually enjoy editing a poorly written text as long as I'm given free rein. Terminology research? Love it; it's the biggest procrastination aspect of a translation for me, since I'll gladly head down the rabbit hole of unfamiliar words and undiscovered glossaries. Any aspects of translation that I actively dislike (post-editing, for instance), I simply don't do.
Admin, however, is the bane of my professional existence. If anyone ever comes up with a system w... See more I love translating, and actually enjoy editing a poorly written text as long as I'm given free rein. Terminology research? Love it; it's the biggest procrastination aspect of a translation for me, since I'll gladly head down the rabbit hole of unfamiliar words and undiscovered glossaries. Any aspects of translation that I actively dislike (post-editing, for instance), I simply don't do.
Admin, however, is the bane of my professional existence. If anyone ever comes up with a system where I get paid fairly without ever having to spend a second on paperwork, I think I might die happy on the spot. Automating certain processes can help, but invoicing is definitely my least favourite part of freelance translating. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Rolf Kern
Switzerland
Local time: 07:36
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam
I agree with José Henrique's two points.
| | | | Samuel Jiménez
Spain
Local time: 07:36
Member (2010)
English to Spanish
+ ...
| I would gladly "die" too! | Oct 28, 2010 |
Joy Maul wrote:
If anyone ever comes up with a system where I get paid fairly without ever having to spend a second on paperwork, I think I might die happy on the spot. Automating certain processes can help, but invoicing is definitely my least favourite part of freelance translating.
I guess maaaany of us would go straightaway to Heaven 
| | | | TCN6YR
Japan
Local time: 14:36
Russian to Japanese
+ ...
I voted for DTP because it might take longer than some parts of translation. Proofreading is also the process I am not happy with, but when I like translation myself, I can read many times:)
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Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 23:36
Dutch to English
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I couln't agree with you more. I lost a good client because he was pushing me to use a CAT tool. I've used a trial version and I really don't like it. But I think the real pushing came from the end clients, who know nothing about either translation or CAT tools.
José Henrique Lamensdorf wrote: Galia Williams wrote:
Having to use a glitchy CAT tool IMHO having to use a(ny) CAT tool is disgusting enough. I'm sick of clients that are more concerned with me using a CAT tool than with the quality of the translation I deliver. If my passengers get a smooth and safe ride, it should be none of their business if my car has automatic transmission or a stickshift.
| | | | | That CAT had to be really low quality for you to lose your client... | Oct 28, 2010 |
...or you had to be really picky and protective of your habits
Most true CATs (don't mistake for half-assed in-house-developed web-based 'translation tools') get the job done. I.e. they let you translate at your regular speed. Some even speed you up
| | | | GeoS
Local time: 08:36
Greek to English
+ ...
| Apart from... | Oct 29, 2010 |
...the well said, bad-quality source texts, CAT tools from Hell and the horror of marketing, I would add the pain of having to explain to clients why I would not translate all types of texts, but only legal and technical ones...They seem to believe that if one knows the languages involved then he/she can translate anything.
The worst thing is that they insist saying i.e. "If you understand technical terms, which are difficul... See more ...the well said, bad-quality source texts, CAT tools from Hell and the horror of marketing, I would add the pain of having to explain to clients why I would not translate all types of texts, but only legal and technical ones...They seem to believe that if one knows the languages involved then he/she can translate anything.
The worst thing is that they insist saying i.e. "If you understand technical terms, which are difficult, you surely can handle anything else..." (I always get surprised at this statement). So if knowing something means knowing and be able to do anything....Let all of us translators join forces...and put our specialties in practice.
The ones doing marketing texts can always promote the rest of us as "Experts of everything", the ones doing Technical shall set-up the equipment, the Medical experts shall perform the "surgery" and the ones doing law shall defend the suits to come...
Cheers... ▲ Collapse
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