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The need to specialize to make more money as a freelance translator
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Thread poster: Bonita Mc Donald

The need to specialize to make more money as a freelance translator

xxxMalik Beytek
Turkey
Local time: 01:55

Translation done by one who is not translator

Sep 25, 2006

Screaming Lord Sutch wrote:

Of course you don't want people with "few notions of what it is to translate and to write" translating, just like you don't want to drive over a bridge built to a spec translated by someone with few notions of how bridges are built.

Right. That's one of the issues that bother me, as I do translation while I'm not translator. I try to get around it by being careful about the jobs that I undertake to do. I don't get complaints; but I still don't feel comfy about it...

[Edited at 2006-09-25 07:14]

[Edited at 2006-09-25 07:38]

Ford Prefect

Germany
Local time: 23:55
German to English
+ ...

...

Sep 25, 2006

Bonita Mc Donald wrote:
I don't believe that I'm the one writing nonsense.

...

Apparently both you and "Screamer" not only enjoy stating the obvious...

Obvious nonsense?

xxxMalik Beytek
Turkey
Local time: 01:55

They say one can learn how to translate by doing it but...

Sep 25, 2006

... that's not the only issue, of course.

Well, this thread is not exactly about this matter, so let me get straight to, perhaps, the most crucial issue, which, as I see it, is the ethical one, in connection with somebody who is not translator doing translation:

Is it OK for someone to make money by doing translation if he does not wish or intend to stay in this business permanently?

I tend believe the answer could be yes uncer circumstances, for example:

(a) A regular outsourcer asks you specifically to get into business of doing translation, because you would be providing better service than they are getting, currently (or, at the time), at least.

(b) You feel that in return for subsisting on doing translation work on a temporary basis, perhaps you could contribute to advancement of the sector by drawing upon your knowledge and experience in other fields, for example, industrial engineering, development business, etc.

But I must also admit that at this time I have no other means of subsistence any way.

Richard Benham

France
Local time: 00:55
German to English
+ ...

If you translate, you are a translator.

Sep 25, 2006

amateur9 wrote:

... that's not the only issue, of course.

Well, this thread is not exactly about this matter, so let me get straight to, perhaps, the most crucial issue, which, as I see it, is the ethical one, in connection with somebody who is not translator doing translation:

Is it OK for someone to make money by doing translation if he does not wish or intend to stay in this business permanently?

...

amateur9, I think you are probably being a bit hard on yourself in a way. As there is no professional standard for being a translator, if you are currently earning a living by doing translations then you are by definition a translator. I would go so far as to say that the very fact that you are concerned about these issues shows that you are a lot more professional in your attitude than some others who unhesitatingly claim to be translators.

I for one didn't even contemplate becoming a translator until I had the DipTransIoL, which is regarded as a postgraduate-level qualification. However, I am aware that there are some very competent non-credentialled translators around. You may well be one of them.

xxxMalik Beytek
Turkey
Local time: 01:55

I gather then that there are more *non-graduate* translators than *graduate* translators at work.

Sep 25, 2006

Thank you Richard Benham.

Until I joined this forum today, my impression has been that I was in minority; that most of the people making money on translation had received education / training in translation. I now know that I don't need to be concerned about that, at least not as much as I used to be.

Now that I got to thinking about it; a graduate qualification in translation sounds more logical to me than a bachelor's degree. (Did I just open a new can of worms?)

Bonita Mc Donald
United States
Local time: 16:55
Spanish to English
+ ...

TOPIC STARTER

Probably...

Sep 27, 2006

amateur9 wrote:

Now that I got to thinking about it; a graduate qualification in translation sounds more logical to me than a bachelor's degree. (Did I just open a new can of worms?)

Uhmm, not to be mean or anything, but having had some experience with part of the ProZ community that posts on these boards --and I don't want to generalize, but forum rules also prohibit me from being too specific (can anyone say "catch 22" here?)-- you are more than likely bound to hear from somebody who will choose to take offense with your rhetorical, albeit good, question.

Believe me, initially I would go to other threads making what I thought were rather harmless --and maybe even beneficial-- posts, just to end up in a word fight with others who not only don't know me from Adam, but are also rude enough to put in question my integrity, professionalism, intelligence, etc. (you get the idea) through carefully veiled insults or "jokes", which led me to starting a thread that not only thoughtful, reflexive people, but also trolls, would probably be interested in. Hey, if I'm gonna get a lot o' lip, it might as well be for something!

Good luck and Godspeed in all your endeavours, "amateur9".

Sincerely,

Bonnie

xxxMalik Beytek
Turkey
Local time: 01:55

Don't go away....

Sep 27, 2006

... help me put the worms back into the can of worms that I opened, which is somewhat related to the can of worms that you have opened in the first place.

When I posted my previous note above, I vaguely remembered that they had four year undergradute education programs in translation here in Turkey. Yesterday, this was confirmed, though I still don't know exactly what they have in curriculum.

The question that intrigues me more here though, at this time, is that - and this forum I believe is a good place to float it ; are four-year undergradute programs in translation commonly found around the world?

P.S.: Power failed when I was editing original version of this before it was approved; when power came back, it was approved -- but I wanted to edit it any way, please moderator?

[Edited at 2006-09-27 13:17]

Bonita Mc Donald
United States
Local time: 16:55
Spanish to English
+ ...

TOPIC STARTER

Clueless...

Sep 27, 2006

amateur9 wrote:

Are four-year undergradute programs in translation commonly found around the world?

Hi, again, Am9. Well, actually, I'd be the wrong person to be asking that question. To be honest, I don't know anything about the actual length of the programs offered, as I've never been in one or even looked into any, but I'm sure that someone else will be able to enlighten you.

xxxMalik Beytek
Turkey
Local time: 01:55

Program length is not important; it is the level

Sep 27, 2006

I'm inclined to think that resources should be diverted to graduate programs in translation, rather than undergraduate.

And I'm not, repeat, not saying this in relation to the individual; I'm rather talking about the efficiency of education and training system.

As regards the individual; one might of course have received undergraduate education in translation and that is certainly neither crime nor a huge disadvantage -- no disadvantage at all in the medium or long run. In fact, it could be an advantage for those few who are truly talented in and thrilled by the work of a translator.

[Edited at 2006-09-27 13:41]

vedaramesh
India
Local time: 05:25
English to Japanese
+ ...

The Need to Specialise to make more money as a freelance tranlator

Dec 8, 2006

While going through the first post and to the subsequent post (a few) I would like to give my thought. Being a student of Economics the title of the topic suggests that one has to know about the division of labour. Which means according to ones ability and knowledge the work should be subdivided into as many parts as possible and each one has to entrusted on particular job. By repeatedly doing the same job he will become a mater in that field and there by he can do the job faster and efficient manner there by the productivity may be increasing.

But the monotonous nature of the job will kill the the creativity or natural telants if any with the person who is doing the same job for a longer period. In the short run one may find specialising in one particular field may get more money. but in the long run one will tend to lose his creativity and there by all probability the income may tend to fall instead of increasing.