| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | The Joy of Being a Translator? Thread poster: Jeff Whittaker
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I don't like translating bits and pieces either. I want to have a whole text in front of me.
And too many cooks spoil the broth.
I am also one of those who don't use a CAT be it online or offline.
| | | | Samuel Murray 
Нидерланды
Local time: 21:28
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
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Jeff Whittaker wrote:
I love translation, but I hate how the industry of translation is becoming commoditized by forcing translators to work on isolated translation segments without the ability to create a comprehensive translation, forcing translators to race against the clock or against each other, forcing us to alter our translations and the way we translate for the sake of a computer system or automated translation portal that is ultimately used to pay us less money.
In my opinion, it depends on the type of text. Some text types lend them to more creativity than others.
| | | | | Our CAT tool of choice ... | Aug 10, 2015 |
I just had a reply from an agency asking me to enrol on a training course in September to learn 'their CAT tool of choice', MemoQ.
From what I have read here this isn't unusual, but I have just invested in Trados, which I am currently learning, I am starting an MA in September and really haven't got time to ponder to every agency's favourite tool. There are thousands of agencies ...
And I have a feeling that the more an agency asks of you before they actually give you a... See more I just had a reply from an agency asking me to enrol on a training course in September to learn 'their CAT tool of choice', MemoQ.
From what I have read here this isn't unusual, but I have just invested in Trados, which I am currently learning, I am starting an MA in September and really haven't got time to ponder to every agency's favourite tool. There are thousands of agencies ...
And I have a feeling that the more an agency asks of you before they actually give you a job the less they will eventually pay. Because if someone is prepared to jump through so many hoops (test translation, form filling, learn a CAT tool or whatever else) then they will eventually also work for a low rate.
[Edited at 2015-08-10 16:03 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Gabriele Demuth wrote:
And I have a feeling that the more an agency asks of you before they actually give you a job the less they will eventually pay. Because if someone is prepared to jump to so many hoops (test translation, form filling, learn a CAT tool or whatever else) then they will eventually also work for a low rate.
These agencies don't want translators, they are merely looking for "operators" of their CAT tool of choice who are willing to buy it.
[Edited at 2015-08-10 15:34 GMT]
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| Translation Turning Point | Aug 10, 2015 |
Hmm, it is really sad development to learn of such in the translation industry. I am enjoying the views as I am learning something vital here.
| | | | Jeff Whittaker
Америка Құрама Штаттары
Local time: 15:28
Spanish to English
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TOPIC STARTER | I wonder if they earn a commission on the sale of CAT tools... | Aug 10, 2015 |
Ten or so years ago, I was doing about 20K of work per year for this one agency and then they had a change in management and stopped contacting me (except for the occasional minimum fee rush job- until I raised my minimum to $100).
Last year, they contacted me and said that from this point forward they would be using Trados, that Trados was offering their translators a great deal if they purchased the software through them at a reduced rate (it wasn't reduced that much) and that the... See more Ten or so years ago, I was doing about 20K of work per year for this one agency and then they had a change in management and stopped contacting me (except for the occasional minimum fee rush job- until I raised my minimum to $100).
Last year, they contacted me and said that from this point forward they would be using Trados, that Trados was offering their translators a great deal if they purchased the software through them at a reduced rate (it wasn't reduced that much) and that they now have a ton of work they would like to send my way immediately if only I had this software.
So I contacted them and let them know that in fact, I already have Trados and I'm ready to start getting projects again right now. I never heard from them.
José Henrique Lamensdorf wrote:
These agencies don't want translators, they are merely looking for "operators" of their CAT tool of choice who are willing to buy it.
[Edited at 2015-08-10 18:07 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Maybe not commissions | Aug 10, 2015 |
Jeff Whittaker wrote:
Ten or so years ago, I was doing about 20K of work per year for this one agency and then they had a change in management and stopped contacting me (except for the occasional minimum fee rush job- until I raised my minimum to $100).
Last year, they contacted me and said that from this point forward they would be using Trados, that Trados was offering their translators a great deal if they purchased the software through them at a reduced rate (it wasn't reduced that much) and that they now have a ton of work they would like to send my way immediately if only I had this software.
So I contacted them and let them know that in fact, I already have Trados and I'm ready to start getting projects again right now. I never heard from them.
José Henrique Lamensdorf wrote:
These agencies don't want translators, they are merely looking for "operators" of their CAT tool of choice who are willing to buy it. [Edited at 2015-08-10 18:07 GMT]
Jeff, considering the way SOME agencies push Trados - and never other CAT tools - to the extent of refusing to tell me the time of the day until I buy it, I get the impression that SDL holds periodic drawings among PMs who will completely ignore any translator who doesn't have it, perhaps distributing month-long cruises on the Caribbean with a companion, something like this.
A few approached me with script-less video subtitling jobs, others with handwritten originals, but as soon as these learned that I don't have Trados, they dropped me like a hot potato.
| | | | | The course is free... | Aug 10, 2015 |
... self-paced, but still ... wouldn't they be limiting themselves if they asked all translators to complete a training course on their favourite CAT tool? In the meantime the competition snaps up all the best translators and jobs?
As far as I am aware Trados files are compatible with MemoQ?
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| Perso, my little goal | Aug 11, 2015 |
My long-term goal at the moment is to set up an agency of sorts with lower output, whose USP is high prices and high quality.
I think there is scope for charging high rates and re-investing profits into offering translators training in their fields of expertise (further to their existing training), fair rates, a degree of stability, and opportunities for networking and growth, with a particular focus on cross-industry collaboration.
As I've said before, I am all for CAT... See more My long-term goal at the moment is to set up an agency of sorts with lower output, whose USP is high prices and high quality.
I think there is scope for charging high rates and re-investing profits into offering translators training in their fields of expertise (further to their existing training), fair rates, a degree of stability, and opportunities for networking and growth, with a particular focus on cross-industry collaboration.
As I've said before, I am all for CAT tools, but not without serious time spent on maintaining TMs and glossaries correctly.
I come from a background where I have a lot of interaction with senior marketeers, copywriters, journalists and filmmakers and they all seem to think this is not just a feasible plan, but a necessary and sensible one.
The analysis of possible profits to be reinvested and the genuine benefits that could be offered to translators comes from my (admittedly relatively limited) experience of the industry.
What do you think, feasible plan?
Because I'm still contemplating the alternative of just continuing to do this for myself and a enjoying a life doing something I love and reading and surfing in my free time. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jeff Whittaker
Америка Құрама Штаттары
Local time: 15:28
Spanish to English
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TOPIC STARTER | How about a company where in addition to being... | Aug 11, 2015 |
paid a decent rate, translators can also earn stock in the company for each project they complete.
interpretwhisky wrote:
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Jeff Whittaker wrote:
How about a company where in addition to being... paid a decent rate, translators can also earn stock in the company for each project they complete.
That would make me a stockholder in one of my other clients' competitors.
I'd have a vested interest in poaching my (agency) clients' end-clients for MY agency.
A clear conflict of interests.
As we say in Brazil, it would be like leaving the dog guarding the sausage.
No other agency would dare to assign us any job.
| | | | Jeff Whittaker
Америка Құрама Штаттары
Local time: 15:28
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | True - I didn't think of that.... | Aug 11, 2015 |
José Henrique Lamensdorf wrote:
That would make me a stockholder in one of my other clients' competitors.
I'd have a vested interest in poaching my (agency) clients' end-clients for MY agency.
A clear conflict of interests.
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José Henrique Lamensdorf wrote:
Gabriele Demuth wrote:
And I have a feeling that the more an agency asks of you before they actually give you a job the less they will eventually pay. Because if someone is prepared to jump to so many hoops (test translation, form filling, learn a CAT tool or whatever else) then they will eventually also work for a low rate.
These agencies don't want translators, they are merely looking for "operators" of their CAT tool of choice who are willing to buy it. [Edited at 2015-08-10 15:34 GMT]
And why on earth will you need a special training on memoQ? It’s pretty straightforward software and very intuitive. I actually like it, even though I do not owe a license (did test it extensively, though).
Agencies provide input and need an output. Your tool is your choice. Otherwise they can buy a memoQ licence for you (and pay for support agreement). Propose it to them. You never know…
| | | | | Its the money that counts | Aug 11, 2015 |
To come back on the original topic, I love my job. It gives me the freedom to do what I want, meaning not to be dependent of a "boss".
I also want to deliver quality. When I deliver a translation, it must be 100% (at least to my standards), or I symply won't deliver. If it takes more time to reach the 100%, then it is my loss (of course always within the deadline(s).)
But.... a lot of agencies don't really care about quality. The other day I had a text that already was ... See more To come back on the original topic, I love my job. It gives me the freedom to do what I want, meaning not to be dependent of a "boss".
I also want to deliver quality. When I deliver a translation, it must be 100% (at least to my standards), or I symply won't deliver. If it takes more time to reach the 100%, then it is my loss (of course always within the deadline(s).)
But.... a lot of agencies don't really care about quality. The other day I had a text that already was translated for 50%, and I had to do the other 50%. The already translated part was "not good", so I suggested the agency to proof the already translated text (for an extra price of course), so they could deliver the client a consistent linguistic product.
To make a long story short, the answer was NO! Lot of blah, blah, but the bottom line was they had to spend more money, and therefore refused.
Is this a profesional attitude? ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I presume it's not, but... | Aug 11, 2015 |
Robert Rietvelt wrote:
But.... a lot of agencies don't really care about quality. The other day I had a text that already was translated for 50%, and I had to do the other 50%. The already translated part was "not good", so I suggested the agency to proof the already translated text (for an extra price of course), so they could deliver the client a consistent linguistic product.
To make a long story short, the answer was NO! Lot of blah, blah, but the bottom line was they had to spend more money, and therefore refused.
Is this a profesional attitude?
I once was part of an amateur choir run by a young and promising composer/choir master. We came across a fascinating project. The resident choir was off (South of France?) and they offered us to do the choir part in one of the Offenbach’s “operette”. Real stage, real audience, real and professional orchestra and soloists.
We spent lots of months together rehearsing with the orchestra and soloists. Most of the singers were quite good. Some were complete disaster. The mezzo was constantly off-key. One of the sopranos (a secondary character) was not actually heard in the theatre (they decided to put two sopranos singing the same line), the bass was quite aging man and could not sing above C4, so he would jump down the octave in the most exciting parts…
When I suggested our choir master to speak to the production people so that they could make better choices, he told me this: “look, Merab. This is the way it is. You do your job the best you can. Others’ problems are not your problems”.
I performed as part of that amateur choir and soon after that left the group.
Hey, I too do “patches” in seemingly and arguably important documents (employee manuals, legal guides) where I am asked to translate track changes only or bits and parts of a section. When I read the remainder of the text, I do not always agree with the previous translation, but I am not even allowed to change/suggest anything, just do the job you’ve been asked for. Incidentally, I am more reluctant to accept those kind of jobs now.
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