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Poll: Professionally, what motivates you?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
Parrot
Parrot  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 09:03
Spanish to English
+ ...
Well... Jan 30, 2009

Textklick wrote:

Would you agree that an important prerequisite for being a good translator is having an enquiring mind?


You don't get far without one. The guy who opens a file in a frame of mind that goes, "oh, no, I'm going to have to learn something more" is on the road to quitting, methinks.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not against sticking to the things you know best (languages in every case, I presume), but a mind open to improvement and new input is crucial. An open mind, for that matter. You could be writing or saying something you totally disagree with for someone else, for instance, but that doesn't mean the message comes out distorted by your own opinions.

On another point brought up here, I rarely get feedback (except from clients who somehow feel it's indispensable to thank someone for a good job), so the element of self-motivation is important. I guess that's why I look out for and identify other perks. Using language is one of them, and learning about it and other things can count for a lot when the financial side is already resolved and it seems all you have to do is hit benchmarks...


 
Anthony Baldwin
Anthony Baldwin  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 04:03
Portuguese to English
+ ...
various Jan 30, 2009

I enjoy the challenge of the work I do, and I enjoy working for myself from home.
I also enjoy interacting with a broad range of international clients and colleagues.
Above all, however, feeding my family is my number one motivator.


 
Sam Berner
Sam Berner  Identity Verified
Australia
Local time: 18:03
Member (2003)
English to Arabic
+ ...
All, and others Jan 30, 2009

Whereas the recognition by clients is very flattering, and the payment is necessary, I also get a kick out of what I learn from all the variety of translated materials and from the opportunity to play with words while I do it.

 
Claudia Rech
Claudia Rech  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 09:03
English to German
+ ...
Interesting texts and subjects Jan 31, 2009

I am strongest motivated if the text to be translated, i.e. its content, interests me.

 
Charles Rothwell (X)
Charles Rothwell (X)  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:03
German to English
Intellectual stimulation and challenge of translating varied texts Jan 31, 2009

The REAL motivation comes from never exactly knowing what each new job will bring in terms of requiring research into what may be totally new areas of knowledge and then the supreme challenge of translating the text into one's native language/culture. This is very skilled work and one for which one has to remain intellectually flexible and receptive; ("You never stop learning as a translator!") One would hope this is remunerated well by customers/agencies who appreciate just what the work really... See more
The REAL motivation comes from never exactly knowing what each new job will bring in terms of requiring research into what may be totally new areas of knowledge and then the supreme challenge of translating the text into one's native language/culture. This is very skilled work and one for which one has to remain intellectually flexible and receptive; ("You never stop learning as a translator!") One would hope this is remunerated well by customers/agencies who appreciate just what the work really involves (and appreciates that just churning out repetitve terminological pairings can (and increasingly even more so will) be left to MT/on-line automated systems.Collapse


 
David Young (X)
David Young (X)  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 09:03
Danish to English
Interesting subject matter Feb 1, 2009

Interesting subject matter is what makes the work such a joy for me; learning about subjects I had little expertise in and the intellectual stimulation involved. It's like having a fascinating hobby and getting paid for it.
Being able to work from home is also a big plus.
Finding this website has been like being paid a bonus - thanks everyone.

The poll findings so far remind of that bit of gossip about the filming of Vicky, Christina, Barcelona:

Scarlet Joh
... See more
Interesting subject matter is what makes the work such a joy for me; learning about subjects I had little expertise in and the intellectual stimulation involved. It's like having a fascinating hobby and getting paid for it.
Being able to work from home is also a big plus.
Finding this website has been like being paid a bonus - thanks everyone.

The poll findings so far remind of that bit of gossip about the filming of Vicky, Christina, Barcelona:

Scarlet Johansson: What's my motivation in this scene?
Woody Allen: Your salary.

Collapse


 
Peter van der Hoek
Peter van der Hoek
Spain
Local time: 09:03
Member (2008)
Dutch to English
+ ...
KudoZ for Ryan! Feb 1, 2009

Ryan Becker wrote:

To me, money really isn't important. It's that I enjoy what I do!


KudoZ for you my friend!

Money means nothing to me. It only causes problems and hardly any good comes from it. Besides, money in translating isn't really good compared to a lot of other specialisations.

I used to work in the oil business for $18.000 a month but it was the most boring thing I've ever done in my life.

Translating gives me the freedom I need in my life, it obligates me to keep learning, which I love, and it keeps me in touch with languages.

I was raised in 5 languages and have studied them my whole life, and I have learned to love studying. Being a translator, I learn new things every single day.

Besides, getting recognition from your clients is something that very few jobs offer.

I just love it!


 
Miranda Drew
Miranda Drew  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 09:03
Member (2009)
Italian to English
it would be recognition from clients, but Feb 16, 2009

it's really hard to get recognition from clients, because they generally do not understand our job at all. i've had clients that complained when a translation has been too good, and wanted it changed to a really crappy, literal translation.

 
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Poll: Professionally, what motivates you?






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