"Leisure translators" and stereotypes in the industry Thread poster: Yolanda Morato
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Dear colleagues,
I have just read the following ad: https://www.proz.com/job/757192 and cannot help thinking that it perpetuates so many stereotypes we are trying to abolish in our profession!
I understand that there are certain NGOs that request volunteer translators with no formal training in order to reach further in terms of societal impact. However, calling for "leisure tran... See more Dear colleagues,
I have just read the following ad: https://www.proz.com/job/757192 and cannot help thinking that it perpetuates so many stereotypes we are trying to abolish in our profession!
I understand that there are certain NGOs that request volunteer translators with no formal training in order to reach further in terms of societal impact. However, calling for "leisure translators" which, by the way, does not refer to the tourist industry but to people doing translations in their spare time, is a way to get cheap work while assuming that this is what many people do. No matter the project is for "a large group of academic professionals" who should be paying the usual rate for it.
I am sorry, but statements such as
"It is for a great cause and a huge effort in the Open Source online community."
"If you are a student or academic that regularly reads and engages research publications in any academic field (from anthropology to physics), this is a great opportunity to further research as you translate and earn extra cash on the side."
have really struck me. Translation takes so much more!
This is the first time I have seen in written form "leisure translators" and would like to hear/read your views about it.
Best regards,
Yolanda Morató ▲ Collapse
| | | | | If this is what they want, let them get it! | Apr 9, 2013 |
Why not? It's not a good job for you or me, so we can just ignore it and move on. In the meantime, students can get some practice.
| | | | | Depends on the perspective | Apr 9, 2013 |
I think it is a good opportunity for students.
| | | | Edward Vreeburg 
Netherlands
Local time: 21:03
Member (2008)
English to Dutch
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| actually ... somewhere in the Netherlands... | Apr 9, 2013 |
...another translations agency is looking for non-native students 3rd or final year of French studies, to proofread work, in a foreign language (French)...
Mainly for the work experience too! (they do get a 0,008 / word for proofreading I believe...) But these are commercial translations! Not some academic bits of take-them-or-leave-them research papers...
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Zhihua Liu
China
Local time: 03:03
English to Chinese
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Apparently, the point is "leisure", rather than "job", I think.
Just ignore it.
| | | | | I sent them a message. | Apr 10, 2013 |
A translation agency asking translators to accept substandard pay for translations? Would they like substandard quality translations?
It would really be funny if everyone signed up and then provided them with Google Translate translations. Would they still pay? Substandard pay for substandard work?
Sorry... Just feeling a bit playful!
On a serious note, that posting does not belong in a professional translation site.
Michelle
Yolanda Morato wrote: Dear colleagues, I have just read the following ad: https://www.proz.com/job/757192 and cannot help thinking that it perpetuates so many stereotypes we are trying to abolish in our profession! I understand that there are certain NGOs that request volunteer translators with no formal training in order to reach further in terms of societal impact. However, calling for "leisure translators" which, by the way, does not refer to the tourist industry but to people doing translations in their spare time, is a way to get cheap work while assuming that this is what many people do. No matter the project is for "a large group of academic professionals" who should be paying the usual rate for it. I am sorry, but statements such as "It is for a great cause and a huge effort in the Open Source online community." "If you are a student or academic that regularly reads and engages research publications in any academic field (from anthropology to physics), this is a great opportunity to further research as you translate and earn extra cash on the side." have really struck me. Translation takes so much more! This is the first time I have seen in written form "leisure translators" and would like to hear/read your views about it. Best regards, Yolanda Morató
[Edited at 2013-04-10 10:56 GMT]
| | | | nordiste
France
Local time: 21:03
English to French
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| Job not here any more | Apr 10, 2013 |
This job has been made temporarily invisible by site staff for the purpose of checking job information. Sorry for the inconvenience. If you have any questions or need help, please contact staff via support request.
| | | | | Open Source is free software, so free translation is okay | Apr 19, 2013 |
Open Source means free software. There is nothing wrong in asking translators to contribute their free time too, just like the programmer did. That's just like NGOs or charities. Besides, an Open Source dev would probably credit the translator and appearing in the credits for anything involving Open Source would offer convincing proof of the translator's geekery and probably attract paid jobs in consequence.
[Edited at 2013-04-19 17:21 GMT]
[Edited at 2013-04-19 17:24 GMT]
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| Programmers get paid, professors get paid... and translators? | Apr 19, 2013 |
Thinking that doing a job for free will attract well-paid jobs is a fallacy. Generally, architects, engineers, and taxi drivers don't do their jobs for free, and, by law, people who are not qualified to do them are not supposed to do them either. It obviously depends on the consideration you have for your own job. On the other hand, please do not compare a person looking to save money on professors' translated work to the great efforts carried out by many NGOs and charities. I think the compar... See more Thinking that doing a job for free will attract well-paid jobs is a fallacy. Generally, architects, engineers, and taxi drivers don't do their jobs for free, and, by law, people who are not qualified to do them are not supposed to do them either. It obviously depends on the consideration you have for your own job. On the other hand, please do not compare a person looking to save money on professors' translated work to the great efforts carried out by many NGOs and charities. I think the comparison is just unfair. ▲ Collapse
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