| Pages in topic: [1 2 3 4] > | two translators for same project Thread poster: Martina Pokupec (X)
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Martina Pokupec (X) 
Croatia
Local time: 22:21
English to Croatian
+ ...
Hi,
I need a little bit more guidance
In the middle of my 22k project I have found out that a colleague was hired for the same project. Is this common?
It is a new direct client, email communication is satisfactory, PO sent upon request. So far no problems except this one. Should I be worried? Should I approach my client about this? If it is a serious client I wouldn't want to be rude or anything.
Thank you for your help!
| | | | | How did you find out? | Jan 26, 2011 |
If it was just by chance and you can prove it (i.e. you did not tell anyone that you were working on this or that, and therefore no confidentiality obligation was breached), I reckon it would do no harm to ask the customer.
Is this a new customer for you? What steps did you take to confirm that this is a lawful customer and a legitimate job?
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 21:21
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
| Client may need educating | Jan 26, 2011 |
He probably thinks that two translators would always translate the same sentence the same way. How unlikely would that be?
If you can discuss it, I would think that would be very useful. At the very least, one person should be in charge of terminology issues, and there will need to be a proofreading stage where the proofreader is told that more than one translator has worked on the text.
Otherwise, readers are sure to "see the join".
| | | | Marc Cordes
Poland
Local time: 22:21
English to German
+ ...
| Not a problem in general.... | Jan 26, 2011 |
...but I fully agree with Sheela that there should be lots of interaction between both translators.
I personally work with a few agencies who have whole teams in their database they approach for certain jobs. During such projects the communication is mainly between us translators with the agency on copy of the email conversations. This has worked flawlessly so far.
It is all about communication and does not really need to be a problem if all parties are dedicated and re... See more ...but I fully agree with Sheela that there should be lots of interaction between both translators.
I personally work with a few agencies who have whole teams in their database they approach for certain jobs. During such projects the communication is mainly between us translators with the agency on copy of the email conversations. This has worked flawlessly so far.
It is all about communication and does not really need to be a problem if all parties are dedicated and responsive.
[Edited at 2011-01-26 10:46 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Martina Pokupec (X)
Croatia
Local time: 22:21
English to Croatian
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TOPIC STARTER | my concern is... | Jan 26, 2011 |
that I have found this out by chance. I actually found it out through KudoZ: Both the other translator and I were asking questions from the same text. So, we're not working as a team...
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 22:21
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
| Approaching the client.. | Jan 26, 2011 |
.. say you wanted to approach the client about this. Will you say " I asked for guidance regarding some terms from your text through KudoZ and found out the other translator needed the same guidance. We've left your content out in the public sphere."
I wouldn't, honestly.
| | | | | Are you working on the same piece of text? | Jan 26, 2011 |
I would be concerned if both of you were working on the same exact text, i.e. doing duplicate work.
If that is not the case, and you just think that more coordination should exist, there is something you can do:
Tell the customer that you are preparing a list of main terms (do so) with your translations, and that you will send it over to them twice or thrice during your part of the work, so that the end customer can have a look and eventually approve the terminology, an... See more I would be concerned if both of you were working on the same exact text, i.e. doing duplicate work.
If that is not the case, and you just think that more coordination should exist, there is something you can do:
Tell the customer that you are preparing a list of main terms (do so) with your translations, and that you will send it over to them twice or thrice during your part of the work, so that the end customer can have a look and eventually approve the terminology, and that "it might also help other translators eventually working on other parts of the project".
By doing so, you will do your best to coordinate the terminology, and the customer might think twice about the implications of two or more people working separately and might take action about it. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Martina Pokupec (X)
Croatia
Local time: 22:21
English to Croatian
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
approached the other translator. We are translating the same text without being notified by the client.
I can understand that the client wants two texts to be produced. I don't mind that they decided to do so, but what I do mind is not being notified of this, and what I am concerned about is whether I will get paid for my work if they decide to go with another translation. If it were a smaller job I wouldn't probably take it so seriously, but... it is quite a lot of work, the deadli... See more approached the other translator. We are translating the same text without being notified by the client.
I can understand that the client wants two texts to be produced. I don't mind that they decided to do so, but what I do mind is not being notified of this, and what I am concerned about is whether I will get paid for my work if they decide to go with another translation. If it were a smaller job I wouldn't probably take it so seriously, but... it is quite a lot of work, the deadlines are tight, I'm working about 10 hours a day to reach them, so... I would like to be paid for my effort.
On the other hand, as Lingua says, how do I approach my client? Do I approach them at all? Maybe when I finish and deliver the translation?
I am rather new at working for clients abroad, and I wouldn't want to turn out to be unprofessional... ▲ Collapse
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| Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member for the following reason: Empty post. | Aude Sylvain
France
Local time: 22:21
English to French
+ ...
| KudoZ and confidentiality | Jan 26, 2011 |
Lingua 5B wrote:
.. say you wanted to approach the client about this. Will you say " I asked for guidance regarding some terms from your text through KudoZ and found out the other translator needed the same guidance. We've left your content out in the public sphere."
I wouldn't, honestly.
Hello Lingua,
I agree with the spirit of your post but not for the same reasons.
IMO using KudoZ does not mean "leaving the content in the public sphere". It is absolutely feasible to ask a question and provide relevant context without breaching any confidentiality rules (should they be written or part of one's ethics as a translator). Otherwise the K feature would not exist any more I guess, nobody would take the risk to use it.
| | | | Jeff Whittaker
United States
Local time: 16:21
Member (2002)
Spanish to English
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| Background check | Jan 26, 2011 |
My first concern would be, given that this is a new client for you, that they are not intending to pay either translator and are using multiple vendors to be sure of obtaining a translation or perhaps two different people from the same office commissioned this project (not knowing what the other person was doing). It may be that they want to purchase two translations and then choose the best one, but I would think they would purchase one first and examine it before making the decision to purchas... See more My first concern would be, given that this is a new client for you, that they are not intending to pay either translator and are using multiple vendors to be sure of obtaining a translation or perhaps two different people from the same office commissioned this project (not knowing what the other person was doing). It may be that they want to purchase two translations and then choose the best one, but I would think they would purchase one first and examine it before making the decision to purchase another one.
Perhaps you could contact them and say you were speaking with a colleague and found out that they were working on the same project. Of course, this may result in you losing this project.
Martina Pokupec wrote:
Hi,
I need a little bit more guidance
In the middle of my 22k project I have found out that a colleague was hired for the same project. Is this common?
It is a new direct client, email communication is satisfactory, PO sent upon request. So far no problems except this one. Should I be worried? Should I approach my client about this? If it is a serious client I wouldn't want to be rude or anything.
Thank you for your help!
[Edited at 2011-01-26 13:58 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Edward Vreeburg
Netherlands
Local time: 22:21
Member (2008)
English to Dutch
+ ...
| 22K project - same text - two translators??? | Jan 26, 2011 |
I would stop immediately and ask the client about it - this could be a simple mistake on their side and I doubt they are going to pay two people for the same text. (especially if hthey find out you knew about it earlier on....)
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Ed
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IPtranslate (X)
Brazil
English to Dutch
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| Would do too | Jan 26, 2011 |
Edward Vreeburg wrote:
I would stop immediately and ask the client about it - this could be a simple mistake on their side and I doubt they are going to pay two people for the same text. (especially if hthey find out you knew about it earlier on....)
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Ed
Of course provided you are absolutely sure that you are working on exactly the same text....22k is not something one would split up, unless of course one needs the translation by, let's say, two hours ago....
Very strange, indeed....
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Edward Vreeburg wrote:
I would stop immediately and ask the client about it - this could be a simple mistake on their side and I doubt they are going to pay two people for the same text. (especially if hthey find out you knew about it earlier on....)
===
Ed
I agree, and I was thinking about mentioning it. What if it is the client's mistake? These things happen.
On the other hand, if it was on purpose, the client surely thought that there was practically no chance for the translators to find out. They forgot that it is a small world, after all.
I would follow Jeff's advice. I'd rather lose the job now than risk not getting paid after putting my time and effort in it.
| | | | Laurent KRAULAND (X)
France
Local time: 22:21
French to German
+ ...
| Same concerns as above... | Jan 26, 2011 |
There is "something" which would tell me that I have at least to inform the client about my discovery.
One example was that I had a doubt about translating a contract which terms would not apply as such in the country the translation was for. I contacted the agency about my doubts and received a reply on the same day: the translation was requested for information.
So if you have doubts - ask questions, it cannot be wrong.
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