| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4 5 6] > | Poll: Any regrets in becoming a translator? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
|
|---|
Daniel Ganor 
Israel
Local time: 09:31
Member (2006)
English to Hebrew
+ ...
| Lonely it is... | Dec 1, 2006 |
Katharine Prucha wrote:
I selected "no regrets" because I am very happy working as a translator - and it allowed me to be home when my kids were growing up and to "keep an eye on them" - even though I often heard "we're the only ones whose Mom is home all the time - why can't you work in an office like other people".....
The only drawback I find is that it can be a very lonely business - it's more of an effort to meet people when you are holed up at your computer. In spite of this - NO REGRETS!
Actually, I have found powwows a nice way to meet others in the same situation! I highly recommend them!
But fortunately you don't have bosses to hassle you... And I have lately fond that with some effort you can find some great colleagues to meet with.
| | | | | NON, JE NE REGRETTE RIEN | Dec 1, 2006 |
ProZ.com Staff wrote: This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Any regrets in becoming a translator?". This poll was originally submitted by KPonnanView the poll hereA forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629
Becoming a full-time freelance translator (in 1990) was the best career decision I ever made. I love my work, and love working from home (in a dedicated office) as opposed to being an employee (investment banking, mostly), and being able (usually) to work uninterrupted by the much-hyped "buzz" of office life (highly overrated, usually means answering phones and running errands for skivers) - not to mention no longer having to commute to work on fearful underground trains or unreliable buses in London or New York. What is more, it enables me to live in my beloved Cornwall AND I earn much more than I did as an employee. So overall, it suits my temperament and life-style perfectly. Lucky me. Yes, there are some disadvantages such as erratic work schedules and occasional payment problems, but, dear ones, that's work!
| | | | beermatt
Local time: 08:31
English to German
+ ...
| I love being a translator, but I seriously dislike today's translating business! | Dec 1, 2006 |
When I started turning my love for playing about with different languages (which developed almost naturally from having a German dad and, more importantly, a British mum who knows several European languages rather well and used to be a language teacher in several countries) into a bread-winning thing, took courses and exams and all that, the translating business was in transition from 'typewritten texts produced relying on hardcopy dictionaries and delivered by mail or fax' to the IT-based affa... See more When I started turning my love for playing about with different languages (which developed almost naturally from having a German dad and, more importantly, a British mum who knows several European languages rather well and used to be a language teacher in several countries) into a bread-winning thing, took courses and exams and all that, the translating business was in transition from 'typewritten texts produced relying on hardcopy dictionaries and delivered by mail or fax' to the IT-based affair it is today. Yeah, sure, I learned, I adapted, and the advantages of computers, the Web, Email, etc. to our profession are obvious. Yet all those innovations, so it seems to me, turned out to be more of an advantage to the buyers' side: nowadays, if you're not on your toes all the time, being mega-competitive, buying the latest CAT tools, always having a beautifully laid-out squeaky-clean up-to-date CV with millions of credentials and references handy, being available by mobile phone and real-time messaging system 27 hours a day 11 days a week, offering tighter and tighter deadlines for less and less money, you're more or less ####ed. For quite a few years, I had my more-or-less comfortable little niche as a freelancer, but that niche is being eroded quite rapidly by the icy wind of globalised monster capitalism. I HATE IT!!
But I guess the situation is the same for almost any profession...
My commiserations to all of you who feel the same, and my '#-sign' to those who are actively contributing to this disgusting commercialisation of everything in life!
[Edited at 2006-12-01 10:37] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Erika Lundgren
Local time: 08:31
Member (2003)
Spanish to Swedish
+ ...
I can only agree and join in with all the others saying they love this job. I do, I love languages, I love translating and the challenge it means to my intellect every day. We probably get smarter by the minute with all the brain training we get. The only drawback as I see it is the lack of social contact, but there are ways around it.
And to all those who complain about having to accept jobs when they already have too much, in order not to lose clients. Have you really tried saying... See more I can only agree and join in with all the others saying they love this job. I do, I love languages, I love translating and the challenge it means to my intellect every day. We probably get smarter by the minute with all the brain training we get. The only drawback as I see it is the lack of social contact, but there are ways around it.
And to all those who complain about having to accept jobs when they already have too much, in order not to lose clients. Have you really tried saying no? I do, I say no if I already have too much. In the end it only makes you seem more professional, if you are that busy, you are bound to be a good translator. In many cases the client then even extend their deadline for me to be able to do it, but even if they don't I am sure the agencies come back to me. It is as hard to find good and reliable translators as it is to find good and reliable agencies to work with. When you find them you want to keep them.
My agencies have kept coming back to me through two maternity leaves, where they have had to look for other translators while I was away, and many periods when I had such big projects I was not able to take anything else from my other agencies.
So now, I am a working mom with two kids, I generally only work Monday to Friday, and I take at least four weeks of holiday every year, I have long lunches when I want to but I close the "office" at five most days. It is great.
[Edited at 2006-12-01 08:54] ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
MNP
Local time: 08:31
English to German
+ ...
| Downside: workload, solitude | Dec 1, 2006 |
Astrid Elke Johnson wrote:
Actually, I am convinced that I am in the right job, but I do need to solve the problem of working non-stop, permanently, at breakneck speed, except for during short breaks for conferences or holidays. It spoils the fun a bit to permanently, day and night, be processing urgent orders, with never a chance to do anything else at all, not even ordinary things like the housework (or even sleeping or eating).
Astrid
I agree with Astrid. It's difficult to control the workload. I hate it when people tell me that I'm so lucky to be freelance because it makes me so flexible. Flexible to spend my evenings and weekends working? Flexible to work even when I'm ill? Another problem, in my opinion, is the solitude. If it wasn't for interpreting I'd be sitting in front of the computer all the time. Teamwork is what I miss most.
| | | |
I also stumbled into translating, discovered that I was good at it and kept going. Now I have a good customer base, plenty of work, earn good money - AND have learned to say 'no' - or rather, 'no, not tomorrow, but next week', and see that customers are perfectly happy with that. (It's given me food for thought - I used to accept the 'it has to be done by yesterday' pressure I got.)
I have only two regrets: here in Germany I find it difficult to be self-employed because the more I e... See more I also stumbled into translating, discovered that I was good at it and kept going. Now I have a good customer base, plenty of work, earn good money - AND have learned to say 'no' - or rather, 'no, not tomorrow, but next week', and see that customers are perfectly happy with that. (It's given me food for thought - I used to accept the 'it has to be done by yesterday' pressure I got.)
I have only two regrets: here in Germany I find it difficult to be self-employed because the more I earn, the more the tax people take, and I really feel like I'm sometimes working only to pay taxes. On the other hand, that - among other things - has given me incentive to get my life more in balance, i.e. get out more, do more sports, go to lunch with friends, etc., because as we say, there's more to life than death and taxes!
The second regret is that - as some have said - it's not all that creative translating the umpteenth marketing text for some dippy product... and I sometimes feel like the creative side of me is going down the tubes, which is why I'm considering starting something else that gets me closer to my original training as a musician.
Who knows whether I can successfully combine the two things; I do need the translating financially, but I also need something to nurture other parts of me. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Laurence Landais (X)
Italy
Local time: 08:31
Italian to French
| I agree with you Astrid | Dec 1, 2006 |
Astrid Elke Johnson wrote:
Actually, I am convinced that I am in the right job, but I do need to solve the problem of working non-stop, permanently, at breakneck speed, except for during short breaks for conferences or holidays. It spoils the fun a bit to permanently, day and night, be processing urgent orders, with never a chance to do anything else at all, not even ordinary things like the housework (or even sleeping or eating).
Astrid
I totally agree with you Astrid.
And when you decide to have children, it all becomes even more complicated...
| | | | | I regret it very much indeed | Dec 1, 2006 |
My experience is that many companies regard the knowledge of languages and translation skills as basic requirements. So if this is your only qualification, you're in no way an expert in their eyes. I feel this is the nitty gritty of the whole matter and accounts for most of the frustrations of translators, such as poor rates and payment way beyond reasonable payment periods.
That's why I mainly work as an IT trade journalist for print and online computer magazines and only about 10 ... See more My experience is that many companies regard the knowledge of languages and translation skills as basic requirements. So if this is your only qualification, you're in no way an expert in their eyes. I feel this is the nitty gritty of the whole matter and accounts for most of the frustrations of translators, such as poor rates and payment way beyond reasonable payment periods.
That's why I mainly work as an IT trade journalist for print and online computer magazines and only about 10 percent as a translator (freelancer in both areas).
From today's perspective, I would definitely choose any other profession but translator. ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
| native language is the right requirement | Dec 1, 2006 |
[quote]Williamson wrote:
The obsession with the native language only dogma, which I had never heard of before the advent of the Internet. Especially native speakers of English-both outsourcers and translators- are obsessed with it. It hinders further growth and language improvement.
________________________________
Although this might be the wrong place to go into details on this point - being worth to serve as a separate thread, old as the issue is - I must say I am really amused to read such a statement.
For me it is so clear that translating into native language is an absolute requirement that I often wonder about the quite numerous colleagues that do two directions for one language pair, and even some that "do" two directions for several language pairs.
I think on the contrary that it is very risky, and at times even irresponsible for an outsourcer to pass jobs to people that are not translating into their very "own" language.
How often am I in situations where I see clearly what is meant in the source but have to struggle to cast it in the right "professional" equivalent.
English is very special in the sense that it actually offers some avenue for outsiders. For many or most other languages this is far less the case - if at all.
Anyway. That statement was a real, real good joke.
[Edited at 2006-12-01 11:59]
| | | | Andrea Riffo
Chile
Local time: 02:31
English to Spanish
+ ...
Anthony Baldwin wrote:
I love the work, very interesting (...) but, I just wish the work were more regular.
The last month has been my best ever, but I have finally made what I should make every month...And I hardly slept for two weeks.
Half the time I´m paying fees at the bank for overdrafts because payments come late from clients...Other times, like some have mentioned, I give up sleep for a week at a time to make up for the last two weeks with nothing but birth certificates...
Since I am just starting out as a freelancer (for the 2nd time, but who's counting?), I had absolutely no jobs the first month, then BAM! a 33k project with a tight deadline -though paid accordingly- from an old local client (a regular client I had before making the #### decision of going inhouse). That meant a little more than 2 weeks with very little sleep but good and prompt payment (10 days after delivery).
[Slighlty off topic, I must say that I personally believe that the lower local (Chilean) rates are somewhat compensated because payment -in my experience at least- is hardly ever later than 30 days upon invoicing (and my clientes, no later than 15 days)... when I read in the fora that in some countries waiting 60 days is considered normal I feel a little queasy.]
Going back to the topic at hand, as many have already stated, the loneliness is certainly a downside and, to some people, can be almost unbearable.
I have two very close friends who are outstanding translators... but they are also extremely gregarious people and being cooped up having no direct contact with others took its toll on them, so they dropped translation and switched to foreign language teaching instead in order to put their language skills to good use. They couldn't be happier.
I, on the other hand, studied Education and started out as an English teacher a little before finishing my major... but couldn't take it for more than 3 months, and decided to switch career paths 1 term before finishing my Education studies, so I transferred credits and went for the BA in Translation instead.
Not having a boss breathing down my neck and questioning everything I do is certainly the icing of the cake!
[Edited at 2006-12-01 12:27]
[Edited at 2006-12-01 12:45]
| | | |
Astrid Elke Johnson wrote:
Actually, I am convinced that I am in the right job, but I do need to solve the problem of working non-stop, permanently, at breakneck speed, except for during short breaks for conferences or holidays. It spoils the fun a bit to permanently, day and night, be processing urgent orders, with never a chance to do anything else at all, not even ordinary things like the housework (or even sleeping or eating).
Housework? What's that? ... See more Astrid Elke Johnson wrote:
Actually, I am convinced that I am in the right job, but I do need to solve the problem of working non-stop, permanently, at breakneck speed, except for during short breaks for conferences or holidays. It spoils the fun a bit to permanently, day and night, be processing urgent orders, with never a chance to do anything else at all, not even ordinary things like the housework (or even sleeping or eating).
Housework? What's that? ▲ Collapse
| | | | Anabel Martínez
Spain
Local time: 08:31
Member (2005)
English to Spanish
+ ...
| not for the moment | Dec 1, 2006 |
I've been freelancing for only one year and I have experienced all the drawbacks you talk about: long hours, no time to do anything else (housework is a good instance!), overwork... But I derive a huge pleasure from translating, I've never been happier, in fact, or more willing to work.
The satisfaction of doing something that you like and you know you do it well cannot be compared to many things in this life
| | |
|
|
|
Williamson
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:31
Flemish to English
+ ...
[quote]Roland Nienerza wrote:
Williamson wrote:
The obsession with the native language only dogma, which I had never heard of before the advent of the Internet. Especially native speakers of English-both outsourcers and translators- are obsessed with it. It hinders further growth and language improvement.
________________________________
Although this might be the wrong place to go into details on this point - being worth to serve as a separate thread, old as the issue is - I must say I am really amused to read such a statement.
For me it is so clear that translating into native language is an absolute requirement that I often wonder about the quite numerous colleagues that do two directions for one language pair, and even some that "do" two directions for several language pairs.
I think on the contrary that it is very risky, and at times even irresponsible for an outsourcer to pass jobs to people that are not translating into their very "own" language.
How often am I in situations where I see clearly what is meant in the source but have to struggle to cast it in the right "professional" equivalent.
English is very special in the sense that it actually offers some avenue for outsiders. For many or most other languages this is far less the case - if at all.
Anyway. That statement was a real, real good joke.
[Edited at 2006-12-01 11:59]
If I find time, I will update my profile:
B.t.w., I am not British, but Belgian.
If you have worked at Ecosoc, you are aware of the Belgian linguistic situation. I've grown up with it.
I always take the partisans of native language only to either Anderlecht (metro: Erasmus-Erasme) at 15 kms from my parent’s home or to Sint-Genesius-Rode- Rode-Ste.Genèse (situated both a 15 minutes-30 minutes from the Grande Place down in Brussels)and invite them to put one foot in the Flemish speaking part and one foot in the French speaking part. In Rode-Ste.Genèse, both Flemish and French are spoken. Now let's apply the native language only dogma there. You won’t get far.
You will also be aware that it is rather easy to find a native speaker of almost any language in Brussels. To the partisans of native language only, why don't you all visit the European Christmas Market in Brussels
http://www.visitbelgium.com/mediaroom/ChristmasMarkets.htm
On the place Ste.Cathérine, you will be able to listen to about 25 different languages: the EU27-official languages and Russian, Chinese, Japanese.
Perhaps you might also be aware that in Belgium, there are a lot of dialects and that there is such a thing as the restrictive code and the elaborated code of language (google: Basil Bernstein). Bernstein's theory proves to be correct: My mother's native language is a dialect from the region of Aalst. Her language-code is the restricted code. I estimate her vocabulary at about 1100 words.
It's predictable what she is going to say and how she is going to react.
According to you, I should translate into “that native language” only? There is no market whatsoever for that "native dialect" of my mother.
With regard to Oriental languages, Slavonic languages, Indo-Ugrian and Baltic languages, I agree. With regard to Indo-European languages I don't.
Of course, you will also be aware that if you drive from Brussels to "Ostbelgien/les Cantons-de-l'Est" http://www.eastbelgium.com, you will find German-French bilinguals. Before WWI, this part of the country was a part of Germany. It is that part of Belgium which borders Germany and where the official language is German, but where most people speak both French and German.
It's a pity that mosts translators are sooooooo egocentric that they work alone and can go the extra mile to get some help from a native speaker, specialized in the subject. This egocentric attitude is one of the reasons why I clicked that I regretted every haven chosen this profession.
That statement is no joke. It impedes growth towards becoming a professional interpreter. Interpreting into the native language only: fine, I agree.
However, where is the a market for interpreting into Dutch? Right, at the E.U.-institutions. Outside the E.U.-institutions: an occasional offer, that is often cancelled, because most Dutch-speaking executives or specialists coming to the board meeting or the "Messe" speak at least two or three foreign languages.
Some of the interpreting schools are so obsessed with the “native language only dogma” that they won't even allow non-natives to participate in their admission tests. However, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, not in prejudices.
If you don't translate into the target-language, you don't add vocabulary to your language register and you don't improve your knowledge of that target language.
A Indian colleague compared it to being born in a caste. Once you are born in the caste, whatever you do or whatever the path of your life is, it all to no avail. You stay in your caste.
With high-speed trains, cheap flights, Skype, the internet, satellite dishes and acquaintances worldwide, you can easily live a language without being in the country. Doesn't the native only dogma becomes a bit outdated. How far and how costly is it from say London to Barcelona or from Brussels to Riga.
Besides, the freelance translation market is a FREE market, where you do what you want. As long as you deliver a quality translation, it doesn't matter to the customer who made it or who revised it. Isn't "native only" is a real good joke. Makes me laugh. Practise makes perfect.
[Edited at 2006-12-01 14:54]
[Edited at 2006-12-01 14:57]
| | | | Ruxi
German to Romanian
+ ...
I read the answers here and I once again ask myself and you, those who calim to have to work so much, not to sleep aso, why you do not say to outsourcers "I can't" and pass them to other translators who are longing for work in the specific languages.
I mean if you manage to have so much work and thus be covered with money too, you can afford to give up some jobs/clients.
There are also interesting points here of chosing to be rather an interprete than a translator and the so... See more I read the answers here and I once again ask myself and you, those who calim to have to work so much, not to sleep aso, why you do not say to outsourcers "I can't" and pass them to other translators who are longing for work in the specific languages.
I mean if you manage to have so much work and thus be covered with money too, you can afford to give up some jobs/clients.
There are also interesting points here of chosing to be rather an interprete than a translator and the sociala aspects.
I think it depends on the very person. Some are to shy work as interpreters, others are to gregarious, some need colleagues, some work fine alone.
And I agree with Williamson too. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Talking about obsessions .............. | Dec 1, 2006 |
Williamson wrote:
With high-speed trains, cheap flights, Skype, the internet, satellite dishes and acquaintances worldwide, you can easily live a language without being in the country.
Live yes, translate into it as a non-native language no
Williamson wrote: Besides, the freelance translation market is a FREE market, where you do what you want.
Yes, we know. Unfortunately every profession has its cowboys.
But am I surprised this was worked into your original posting? No (yawn), it is quite obviously a (misguided) obsession - you're right.
[Edited at 2006-12-01 16:42]
| | | | | Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4 5 6] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: Any regrets in becoming a translator? | Wordfast Pro | Translation Memory Software for Any Platform
Exclusive discount for ProZ.com users!
Save over 13% when purchasing Wordfast Pro through ProZ.com. Wordfast is the world's #1 provider of platform-independent Translation Memory software. Consistently ranked the most user-friendly and highest value
Buy now! » |
| | Anycount & Translation Office 3000 | Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
