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 Member since Dec '06
Working languages: French to English
|   SueE
Thorough, reliable and never late!
Ireland Local time: 00:26 IST (GMT+1)
Native in: English  | | |
Freelancer,  Verified member | | Blue Board: Sue Esplan | | Translation | | Specializes in: | | Agriculture | Automotive / Cars & Trucks | | Construction / Civil Engineering | Energy / Power Generation | | Environment & Ecology | Nuclear Eng/Sci |
| Also works in: | | Engineering (general) | Engineering: Industrial | | International Org/Dev/Coop | Mechanics / Mech Engineering | | Ships, Sailing, Maritime |
More Less | | PRO-level points: 109, Questions answered: 44, Questions asked: 3 | Sample translations submitted: 1 | French to English: Architecture | Source text - French
L'accès à la commande
Elle paraît mercantile et éloignée de ce qui nous faisait dire : « un jour je serai architecte ! » Pourtant, la question de l'accès à la commande est une réflexion en forme d'entonnoir. Un jour ou l'autre, tout nous y ramène et il nous faut plonger dedans. Mieux, elle révèle nos différentes manières d'appréhender notre propre métier et au fond, sous ses aspects triviaux, cette question nous demande ce que nous avons fait de notre diplôme d'architecte.
« Etre retenu » revient à courir un marathon et sur la ligne de départ, chacun a sa méthode. Certains comprennent que l'accès leur est momentanément fermé. Ils intègrent une agence besogneuse, prennent des vitamines pendant plusieurs années et se jettent à l'eau quand ils sont fins prêts. D'autres ont le goût de l'intrigue et des réseaux. Ils tissent des liens dans le labyrinthe des forces décisionnelles en attendant le jour où les portes s'ouvriront à eux. Viennent ensuite les solitaires, qui creusent sans plus attendre leur propre sillon et sèment leur talent dans la catégorie « jeunes architectes ». Mais on peut aussi botter en touche et se mettre au service de l'architecture sans passer nécessairement par la table à dessin : journaliste, enseignant, commissaire d'exposition, architecte conseil auprès des collectivités... Enfin, il y a les humanistes, qui considèrent la rencontre avec le maître d’ouvrage comme l’essence de leur métier. Ceux-là, depuis le réaménagement du garage des voisins qui fut leur premier projet, misent sur la sincérité de leur engagement et sur l’amitié qui les unit à leurs clients.
Mais pour tous, le temps est compté et la question de l'accès à la commande reste là, à les guetter du coin de l'oeil. Parfois elle s'éloigne momentanément, lorsque votre nom figure en haut d'un panneau de chantier mais très vite, elle réapparaît, glissée dans une enveloppe kraft qui vous dit : « après examen de votre dossier, nous regrettons de ne pouvoir donner une suite favorable à votre candidature. » Cette question, il nous faut donc apprendre à vivre avec et à manoeuvrer son agence suivant les creux et les sommets qu'elle nous impose. Mais sachons aussi lui rendre grâce, car si l'accès à la commande nous épuise physiquement et nerveusement en nous imposant de remettre constamment notre titre en jeu, il sait aussi nous propulser et nous dire quel architecte nous voulons être.
| Translation - English
Access to orders
It seems mercenary and a far cry from what prompted us to say "one day I'll be an architect"! And yet, the question of accessing the order funnels the thought processes. Sooner or later everything takes us there and it is up to us to take the plunge. Even better, it highlights our different ways of comprehending our own profession and in fact, the underlying trivialities of the question ask us what we have done with our architect's qualification.
"Being retained" comes down to running a marathon and on the start line everyone has his own method. Some believe that access is momentarily denied them. They join a humdrum firm, keep taking the tablets for several years and only take the plunge when they're good and ready. Others have a taste for intrigue and networks. They weave links in the labyrinth of the decision-making powers-that-be waiting for the day when the doors will open up to them. Then come the loners, who without more ado dig their own groove and sow their talent in the category of "young architects". But we can also kick architecture into touch and serve it without necessarily going via the drawing board - journalist, teacher, exhibition commissioner, consultant architect to local authorities and so on. Lastly there are the humanists, who consider the encounter with the client as the essence of their profession. Since their first project to redevelop their neighbours' garage, they bank on the sincerity of their commitment and the friendship they enjoy with their clients.
But time is short for all of them and the question of accessing orders remains, watching them out of the corner of its eye. Sometimes it disappears momentarily, when your name is inscribed at the top of the site board, but it reappears very quickly, slipped into a brown envelope that says "having studied your application, we regret that we are unable to take your candidacy further". We therefore have to learn to live with this question and steer our firm through the highs and lows it creates. But we must also know how to render thanks - for despite the physical and nervous drain from constantly having to defend our status, it also knows how to drive us into deciding what sort of architects we wish to become.
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More Less | | Years of translation experience: 20. Registered at ProZ.com: Feb 2003. Became a member: Dec 2006. | French to English (Chartered Institute of Linguists, verified)
| | CIOL | | Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, SDL TRADOS, SDLX | | CV available upon request | | SueE endorses ProZ.com's Professional Guidelines (v1.0). | | About me Agriculture, Commodities, Engineering (Marine, Civil, Mechanical), Nuclear Energy, Environmental Issues, Renewable Energies, Legal, Automotive, IGO and NGO affairs
Freelance translator since 2000, now based in Ireland (work undertaken for several clients, particularly in the field of nuclear energy and the environment).
Spent six years with International Cocoa Organization (UN regulatory body for cocoa), latterly as Languages/Conference Officer. Responsible for translations, editing, reviewing translations by freelance translators.
Previously some fifteen years spent as technical translator combined with administrative duties in companies in both France and UK, particularly in marine engineering (technical specifications, calls for tender, etc.). | This user has earned KudoZ points by helping other translators with PRO-level terms. Click point total(s) to see term translations provided.
Total pts earned: 117
PRO-level pts: 109
| | Language (PRO) | | French to English | 109 | | Top general fields (PRO) | | Tech/Engineering | 81 | | Other | 16 | | Science | 8 | | Social Sciences | 4 | | Top specific fields (PRO) | | Construction / Civil Engineering | 31 | | Mechanics / Mech Engineering | 24 | | Agriculture | 20 | | Energy / Power Generation | 8 | | Engineering (general) | 8 | | Nuclear Eng/Sci | 6 | | Environment & Ecology | 4 | | Pts in 2 more flds > |
See all points earned > |
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Keywords: nuclear, engineering, environment, agriculture
Profile last updated
Aug 1, 2012 |
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