| Pages in topic: [1 2 3] > | Poll: Have you ever picked up a new hobby or interest because of something you translated? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Have you ever picked up a new hobby or interest because of something you translated?".
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For a long while I translated dismantling/maintenance instructions for an extended variety of kitchen appliances, from dishwashers and washing machines to cookers and extractors. I suppose I picked an interest in that for practical reasons.
Since then I've repaired a dishwasher, two microwave ovens (and custom kitchen deliveriiiiiiies, courtesy of Dire Straits) and a fridge in my household. I no longer dread opening large appliances to check what's wrong and order any faulty part on... See more For a long while I translated dismantling/maintenance instructions for an extended variety of kitchen appliances, from dishwashers and washing machines to cookers and extractors. I suppose I picked an interest in that for practical reasons.
Since then I've repaired a dishwasher, two microwave ovens (and custom kitchen deliveriiiiiiies, courtesy of Dire Straits) and a fridge in my household. I no longer dread opening large appliances to check what's wrong and order any faulty part on the web.
Translation assignments can save you money - if you understand what you translate, that is.
But I shouldn't say it too loud, mammoth agencies may grasp the opportunity to invent discounts based on everyday potential use of source texts.
Philippe ▲ Collapse
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I’ve been translating user manuals for a well-known manufacturer of styling equipment and I’ve been faithful to the brand every time I need a new hairdryer. I also translated for a few years articles for a magazine I was a paid subscriber of and although they left me recently for financial reasons (I became suddenly too expensive for them) I keep reading them…
| | | | DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
| Critical thinking: proof by contradiction | Jul 4, 2019 |
I always accept facts as 'plausible', following the [pre]condition-reason-effect-[post]consequence rule and verifying the sources.
So, if a statement makes sense, seems logical, and doesn't contradict common sense and my knowledge, then I take some theses into consideration, checking their credibility and authenticity.
As for translation, I often start researching with QuackWatch, Skeptical dictionaries, and official sources.
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Kay Denney 
France
Local time: 02:47
French to English
For me it's more the other way round, I translate in fields I'm already interested in, like art and music. I do go to the exhibitions I translate the catalogues for, if they're not too far from me, and I have found myself clicking on the YouTube suggestions that pop up when I listen to the band or singer I have to translate about, so I suppose my interests do take certain directions thanks to my translations.
In the occasional foray outside my comfort zone, I have often been fascin... See more For me it's more the other way round, I translate in fields I'm already interested in, like art and music. I do go to the exhibitions I translate the catalogues for, if they're not too far from me, and I have found myself clicking on the YouTube suggestions that pop up when I listen to the band or singer I have to translate about, so I suppose my interests do take certain directions thanks to my translations.
In the occasional foray outside my comfort zone, I have often been fascinated to discover a whole world I never imagined, but I don't fall so far into the rabbit hole as to not come out. The info just gets filed away for the day it might come in useful at a dinner party. It's now a given that any time I suddenly prove myself to be knowledgeable in some weird field, someone will pipe up with "don't tell me Mum, you did a translation on it once".
One translation about bicycle maintenance was clearly out of my comfort zone but I accepted it because I had recently started cycling to work. I thought if I could understand enough to translate it, I would understand enough to be able to do the maintenance work myself. The client was satisfied with my translation but unfortunately my brain doesn't remember this sort of stuff and I don't like getting my fingers all dirty so the local bicycle workshop still has a flourishing business with me. Unlike Philippe!
Philippe Etienne wrote:
Since then I've repaired a dishwasher, two microwave ovens (and custom kitchen deliveriiiiiiies, courtesy of Dire Straits) and a fridge in my household. I no longer dread opening large appliances to check what's wrong and order any faulty part on the web.
Thanks Philippe, way to give me an earworm! Mind you I was listening to the Bewlay Brothers at lunchtime after finally unearthing a long-lost, amazing, rare live performance, so we'll see which song wins... ▲ Collapse
| | | | Lincoln Hui
Hong Kong
Local time: 08:47
Member
Chinese to English
+ ...
| Not a hobby... | Jul 4, 2019 |
But I worked on a fitness website recently, and I've begun exercising based on their regimens. Not so much interest as trying to improve my chances of making it to 40.
| | | | | Yes I did, absolutely! | Jul 4, 2019 |
So once in a while you get a 'super job', a job you enjoy so much, that you actually don't want to stop translating. In my case it was 120k translation about evolution. From big bang, via dinosaur, religion, art, Darwin, and you name it, till who or what we are now, in short, everything.
To do the job, I came in contact with a lot of different views, which were so interesting, that I really immersed myself into it, still do. Everything is evolution, too bad there are hardly translat... See more So once in a while you get a 'super job', a job you enjoy so much, that you actually don't want to stop translating. In my case it was 120k translation about evolution. From big bang, via dinosaur, religion, art, Darwin, and you name it, till who or what we are now, in short, everything.
To do the job, I came in contact with a lot of different views, which were so interesting, that I really immersed myself into it, still do. Everything is evolution, too bad there are hardly translation jobs about this subject.
Kind of changed my life. By now I feel myself as an amateur 'scholar' in this field (and still so much to learn).
By the way, still don't know what happened before the big bang. So who does, please let me know.
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| | | | | Don't worry mate | Jul 4, 2019 |
Lincoln Hui wrote:
But I worked on a fitness website recently, and I've begun exercising based on their regimens. Not so much interest as trying to improve my chances of making it to 40.
Dear Lincoln,
My lifestyle is, let's say, not examplary (but I do a lot of sport though), and I made it to 60. So there is still hope for you.
[Edited at 2019-07-04 23:47 GMT]
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Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 21:47
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
The documents I translate have always stimulated my curiosity and interest for several topics. However, the question makes it sound like something permanent or for a long time. I don't think that's ever happened.
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Like Mario, I have become very interested in several fields in which I do repeat translations: environment, conservation, water (dams, purification, distribution, irrigation, etc.), forestry, rural electrification, malaria elimination, and so on.
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our 10 m^2-lawn looks a lot better since I translated a manual for horticulturists about lawn maintenance and managing heat/drought stress in lawns (gardening is still not my hobby, though)
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Robert Rietvelt wrote: So once in a while you get a 'super job', a job you enjoy so much, that you actually don't want to stop translating. In my case it was 120k translation about evolution. From big bang, via dinosaur, religion, art, Darwin, and you name it, till who or what we are now, in short, everything. To do the job, I came in contact with a lot of different views, which were so interesting, that I really immersed myself into it, still do. Everything is evolution, too bad there are hardly translation jobs about this subject. Kind of changed my life. By now I feel myself as an amateur 'scholar' in this field (and still so much to learn). By the way, still don't know what happened before the big bang. So who does, please let me know.
What was it, a book?
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I have developed an unhealthy interest in telehandlers, cranes and excavators.
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Edith van der Have-Raats wrote: Robert Rietvelt wrote: So once in a while you get a 'super job', a job you enjoy so much, that you actually don't want to stop translating. In my case it was 120k translation about evolution. From big bang, via dinosaur, religion, art, Darwin, and you name it, till who or what we are now, in short, everything. To do the job, I came in contact with a lot of different views, which were so interesting, that I really immersed myself into it, still do. Everything is evolution, too bad there are hardly translation jobs about this subject. Kind of changed my life. By now I feel myself as an amateur 'scholar' in this field (and still so much to learn). By the way, still don't know what happened before the big bang. So who does, please let me know. What was it, a book?
No, a EU-project.
| | | | Mark Possemiers
Spain
Local time: 02:47
Member (2013)
Dutch to Spanish
+ ...
| yes and no ... | Jul 7, 2019 |
verifying websites is at times very funny. Check the translation into Spanish of Payoneer. Incredible - even Google Translate would be better I imagine ... I wonder how much they spent on translation - which gives of course a lot of confidence in a financial operator like Payoneer
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