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Poll: When you are doing research for a translation/ term, do you get side-tracked?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
May 28, 2010

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "When you are doing research for a translation/ term, do you get side-tracked?".

This poll was originally submitted by Iris Shalev. View the poll results »



 
Interlangue (X)
Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 00:09
English to French
+ ...
Yes May 28, 2010

But is is always somehow related to work and often proves very handy and useful later on.

 
John Cutler
John Cutler  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 00:09
Spanish to English
+ ...
Oops, yes May 28, 2010

Wish I were as industrious as Interlangue!

I get side-tracked quite easily and find myself surfing away while I should be looking for something specific. I chalk it up to a short attention span and insatiable curiosity.

On the other hand, if I wanted to flip the coin, I'd say I'm able to multi-task...
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Wish I were as industrious as Interlangue!

I get side-tracked quite easily and find myself surfing away while I should be looking for something specific. I chalk it up to a short attention span and insatiable curiosity.

On the other hand, if I wanted to flip the coin, I'd say I'm able to multi-task
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Andrea Teltemann
Andrea Teltemann  Identity Verified
Local time: 00:09
French to German
+ ...
No, however May 28, 2010

I voted „no“, however when researching a term I always try to integrate any related terms that might come across in the source I’m using for my research, i.e. I take notice of those other, potentially interesting terms, background information etc.

 
Trans-Iberia (X)
Trans-Iberia (X)

Local time: 00:09
like now! May 28, 2010

as in, when i go onto proz.com and see an interesting survey and end up voting and comment on it, instead of looking up the term which was the reason why i originally got onto the site.... YES!!!! hahaha

 
Interlangue (X)
Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 00:09
English to French
+ ...
Isn't that May 28, 2010

the beginning of networking?

nacozari wrote:

as in, when i go onto proz.com and see an interesting survey and end up voting and comment on it, instead of looking up the term which was the reason why i originally got onto the site.... YES!!!! hahaha


May come in handy some time after today


 
R. Alex Jenkins
R. Alex Jenkins  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 19:09
Member (2006)
Portuguese to English
+ ...
NEVER May 28, 2010

I'm a machine, my name is the TRANSLATION TERMINATOR, lol.

 
Marija Stojanovich
Marija Stojanovich  Identity Verified
Serbia
Local time: 00:09
Serbian to English
+ ...
Yes, however May 28, 2010

I detected this sad tendency quite a while ago, so I keep a folder titled 'random discoveries' in my bookmarks. It accounts for most of the hours I spend online after delivering the actual job.

 
Mette Melchior
Mette Melchior  Identity Verified
Sweden
Local time: 00:09
English to Danish
+ ...
Oh yes... May 28, 2010

Isn't that part of the job?



 
Amy Duncan (X)
Amy Duncan (X)  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 19:09
Portuguese to English
+ ...
No May 28, 2010

Because I'm on deadline!

 
Mike (de Oliveira) Brady
Mike (de Oliveira) Brady  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Member (2008)
Portuguese to English
+ ...
No - this column changed my life May 28, 2010

I multi-task, but I found a great way to keep focused after reading this article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/apr/03/change-your-life-self-discipline

Basically the idea is to work in 25 minute blocks of time. So translate for 25 minutes, even if an email comes in or you want to go off and look at something else. 25 minu
... See more
I multi-task, but I found a great way to keep focused after reading this article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/apr/03/change-your-life-self-discipline

Basically the idea is to work in 25 minute blocks of time. So translate for 25 minutes, even if an email comes in or you want to go off and look at something else. 25 minutes is not so long to wait to see if the email that has just arrived is about a quote you have submitted, or tonight's date!

I find it is a good strategy for coping with those jobs that get put off too. Start the clock (I have a countdown timer on my computer desktop) and dedicate 25 minutes to the job you have been avoiding.

In the past, switching from my translation programme to my web browser to investigate a term meant I could get sucked into looking at the other windows open, check emails while I was there etc. But I find this 25 minute approach works well. The idea is to then have a 5 minute break, ideally away from the computer, and longer breaks every four time blocks.

Sometimes I do spend a bit longer than 5 minutes before starting the timer again, however!
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Martyn Greenan
Martyn Greenan  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 17:09
French to English
+ ...
Will give it a shot...as soon as I've read the other columns May 28, 2010

[quote]Mike (de Oliveira) Brady wrote:

I multi-task, but I found a great way to keep focused after reading this article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/apr/03/change-your-life-self-discipline

Basically the idea is to work in 25 minute blocks of time. So translate for 25 minutes, even if an email comes in or you want to go off and look at something else. 25 minutes is not so long to wait to see if the email that has just arrived is about a quote you have submitted, or tonight's date!


Rather amusingly, Mike, your very interesting link led me to then read all the other columns and articles by Oliver Burkeman...

[Edited at 2010-05-28 15:28 GMT]


 
Yvonne Becker
Yvonne Becker  Identity Verified
Local time: 18:09
English to Spanish
+ ...
I voted yes May 28, 2010

nacozari wrote:

as in, when i go onto proz.com and see an interesting survey and end up voting and comment on it, instead of looking up the term which was the reason why i originally got onto the site.... YES!!!! hahaha


This is exactly what happened today.

I usually get side-tracked, but most of the time checking for additional information that might be useful later on. It not always is, however


 
Erik Matson
Erik Matson  Identity Verified
Thailand
Local time: 05:09
English to Norwegian
+ ...
I'm with the 56%...sometimes May 28, 2010

But excellent question...I liked this poll!

 
Iris Shalev
Iris Shalev  Identity Verified
Israel
Local time: 01:09
English to Dutch
+ ...
Thanks! May 28, 2010

I proposed this poll so long ago that I had forgotten all about it, so it was sort of a surprise to see it run today! But thanks for all your answers, I'm glad to see I'm not alone! And thanks also for the link, Mike - very interesting!

 
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Poll: When you are doing research for a translation/ term, do you get side-tracked?






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