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Member since Dec '04

Working languages:
English (monolingual)
German to English

James Girard
English proofreader/editor

Dusseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Local time: 14:45 CET (GMT+1)

Native in: English Native in English
Willingness
to Work Again

3 Positive entries

Account type Freelancer, Identity Verified Verified member
Services Editing/proofreading, Website localization, Software localization, Project management
Expertise
Specializes in:
Photography/Imaging (& Graphic Arts)Music
Idioms / Maxims / SayingsComputers (general)
Computers: HardwareComputers: Software
Poetry & LiteratureIT (Information Technology)
HistoryGames / Video Games / Gaming / Casino

KudoZ activity Questions answered: 72, Questions asked: 0 Easy / 1 PRO, PRO-level points: 62
Glossaries JAGirardZ Glossary
Translation education BA-University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Experience Years of translation experience: 23. Registered at ProZ.com: Nov 2004. Became a member: Dec 2004.
ProZ.com Certified PRO certificate(s) N/A
Credentials N/A
Memberships N/A
Software Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Broadband Internet, Microsoft Office 2003 Professional (XP), Paint Shop X, Powerpoint
Website http://chezjag.net
CV/Resume CV available upon request
About me

I am an American who has lived in Germany since 2003. I am not a translator, but
I will make your translation completely clear and understandable to an American
English-speaking audience, regardless of any inherent technical complexity.

Reliable and timely email correspondence with my clients is mandatory.

Service:

Proofreading and editing translations to English done by native speakers of other languages.

General Service Description:

I proofread, edit , rewrite, and translate (if necessary in small places) documents that have been translated into English. I've spent over 20 years correcting text in a variety of formats, particularly for high-tech companies.

Translating from one language to another requires a very specific skill set. Proofreading and editing the resulting translation requires an entirely different skill set. The proofreader must understand the subject, and must mate the translation to the original intent of the writer in the target language (English). This is not generally a requirement of a professional translator where subjects (eg. technology or communications) are concerned. It is an absolute requirement of the proofreader, and is why proofreading of subject-specific translations is a necessary second step and must be done by someone who has, preferrably, a background in the original language, an understanding of the subject of the paper, and who is a master in the target language.

PricewaterhouseCoopers, Fujitsu-Siemens and Saperion, all in Germany, agree with this philosophy.

Rate Information:

Rates begin at €40/hr for proofreading and editing. Documents requiring further translation, a short deadline (rush), or other additional work will be charged at a higher rate which will be negotiated with the client before any work is performed. I prefer to review a document before quoting a price. The price I will quote will be an hourly rate based on the complexity of the job. If I feel that I cannot meet your deadline, regardless of the rate, I will not take the job.

All work is done in the strictest of confidentiality. I encourage companies to use non-disclosure agreements.

CV and references are available upon request.

Further Considerations:

I have extensive experience in American English as applied to business, particularly in the high-tech sector. I have proofread and edited hundreds of end-user manuals, technical documents and PhD theses as well as white papers, spec sheets, etc. I am equally comfortable communicating ideas with engineers and end-users.

I also encourage college students to use my service to proof cover letters and resumes which they have translated into English for grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and the myriad of other usual problems related to the translation of their native language into English.

I accept payment by PayPal or direct bank transfer, and expect payment within 30 days of billing. Clients are billed upon satisfactory receipt of their documents.

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: 74
PRO-level pts: 62


Top languages (PRO)
English41
German to English17
French to English4
Top general fields (PRO)
Tech/Engineering20
Other14
Art/Literary9
Bus/Financial7
Marketing4
Pts in 2 more flds >
Top specific fields (PRO)
Mechanics / Mech Engineering12
Poetry & Literature8
Medical (general)4
Energy / Power Generation4
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings4
International Org/Dev/Coop4
Finance (general)4
Pts in 7 more flds >

See all points earned >
Keywords: technology, communications, computer, translation, proofreading, hi-tech, travel, editing, english, german, music, history, art



Profile last updated
Sep 11, 2008