Poll: Do you ask a colleague to review your translation before submitting it to the client? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you ask a colleague to review your translation before submitting it to the client?".
This poll was originally submitted by btoteva. View the poll results »
| | | | | Colleagues????? | Nov 17, 2012 |
You lot are my only colleagues!!
| | | | Diana Coada (X) 
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:55
Portuguese to English
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| You mean for free? | Nov 17, 2012 |
I don't understand this question.
If my quote included proofreading, then I pay a proofreader to review my translation.
| | | | | No, but . . . | Nov 17, 2012 |
when I worked in a large translation service, we all reviewed one another's work. All jobs had to have two pairs of eyes on them. It was good training, and I miss it, but it's simply not feasible in a freelance situation.
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All my work is proofread by another freelance translator (the only exceptions being very short texts = less than one page). I have an arrangement with an ex-colleague where we provide each other with mutual assistance and cooperation. Some work (medicine) is first revised by an expert (medical doctor) and then proofread.
[Edited at 2012-11-17 12:05 GMT]
[Edited at 2012-11-17 12:53 GMT]
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 05:55
Spanish to English
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Not on every translation - when I'm confident that my own translation/revision etc is OK, I don't bother.
However, I do have a few colleagues (in addition to my mother, although I haven't sent her anything for ages) who I sometimes ask for feedback on certain documents, and we either have a reciprocal "do me a favour" agreement whereby I do the same for them, or I may pay them in money or kind. I think it's often important to have a fresh pair of eyes to look at your work, because... See more Not on every translation - when I'm confident that my own translation/revision etc is OK, I don't bother.
However, I do have a few colleagues (in addition to my mother, although I haven't sent her anything for ages) who I sometimes ask for feedback on certain documents, and we either have a reciprocal "do me a favour" agreement whereby I do the same for them, or I may pay them in money or kind. I think it's often important to have a fresh pair of eyes to look at your work, because nobody is perfect 100% of the time and there is usually room for improvement, or even simply variation from the mundane or overly repetitive. For example, the other day I sent a 5K text on education to a friend and she sent it back with some useful suggestions within 30 minutes (which reminds me, I'd better pay her soon ...).
Also, I'm from the UK but I think I am usually able to turn out a text in US English that will pass muster over the pond, but I always ask a native US English speaker to check that there are no glaring UK-isms in it just in case. I also occasionally have to translate into Spanish (anathema, I know) but again I have colleagues who take over to add the finishing touches. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Agree with Diana | Nov 17, 2012 |
Diana Coada wrote:
If my quote included proofreading, then I pay a proofreader to review my translation.
This.
| | | | Kitty Brussaard
Netherlands
Local time: 05:55
Member (2009)
English to Dutch
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Diana Coada wrote:
I don't understand this question.
If my quote included proofreading, then I pay a proofreader to review my translation.
It all depends on whether the client is an agency or an end client. Agencies usually use their own (internal or external) proofreaders for QA purposes. In the case of end clients, my quote always includes revision by a second linguist, unless the client has expressly indicated otherwise.
[Bijgewerkt op 2012-11-17 14:17 GMT]
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Diana Coada (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:55
Portuguese to English
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| It doesn't matter who the client is | Nov 17, 2012 |
Kitty Brussaard wrote: Diana Coada wrote:
I don't understand this question.
If my quote included proofreading, then I pay a proofreader to review my translation. It all depends on whether the client is an agency or an end client. Agencies usually use their own (internal or external) proofreaders for QA purposes. In the case of end clients, my quote always includes revision by a second linguist, unless the client has expressly indicated otherwise. [Bijgewerkt op 2012-11-17 14:17 GMT]
My point was that ''asking a colleague'' is very different from ''paying a proofreader''.
| | | | Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 23:55
Spanish to English
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| Agree with Muriel | Nov 17, 2012 |
Not feasible in a freelance situation. And, I would add, not necessary or expected (at least not typically) for the freelancer assigned a project to assume the burden of having a second person look at the work.
In other words, agencies that most of us work with know that what they are paying for is a translation and proofing by the same person. If they want anything beyond that, then they have to arrange for it themselves.
Given that this seems to be the way things gen... See more Not feasible in a freelance situation. And, I would add, not necessary or expected (at least not typically) for the freelancer assigned a project to assume the burden of having a second person look at the work.
In other words, agencies that most of us work with know that what they are paying for is a translation and proofing by the same person. If they want anything beyond that, then they have to arrange for it themselves.
Given that this seems to be the way things generally work for most freelancers, I'm surprised that such a high percentage of people responded with anything other than an unqualified "no."
[For the sake of thoroughness, I would add that, in those rare cases where I work for an end client, I will take extra time to proof, and also advise the client to carefully review the translation, in order to detect and eliminate any possible mistakes.] ▲ Collapse
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No, but it would be a good idea. Not sure how practical it would be though, given the pressing nature of most deadlines and the fact that any potential proofreader would presumably have his or her own deadlines to meet. Freelancers can only provide this service if they work in a team, or if they happen to be friends with a part-time/retired/unemployed translator who can give them a hand. Since I do not have access to such help, my clients have to trust me alone.
| | | | | That is my golden rule for quality assurance | Nov 17, 2012 |
Kitty Brussaard wrote:
(...) my quote always includes revision by a second linguist, unless the client has expressly indicated otherwise.
[Bijgewerkt op 2012-11-17 14:17 GMT]
Two heads are better than one!
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| Agreed - good idea | Nov 17, 2012 |
David Hayes wrote:
No, but it would be a good idea. Not sure how practical it would be though, given the pressing nature of most deadlines and the fact that any potential proofreader would presumably have his or her own deadlines to meet. Freelancers can only provide this service if they work in a team, or if they happen to be friends with a part-time/retired/unemployed translator who can give them a hand. Since I do not have access to such help, my clients have to trust me alone.
Totally agree - it will be easier once I am part of a team, but at the moment not feasible.
| | | | | Against the NDA agreement in many cases. | Nov 17, 2012 |
I work mostly for agencies, and indeed proofread other people's work for them on occasions.
So I expect them to have my work proofread if necesary, and I know they often do. Quite apart from not paying a proofreader - which their rates do not cover - I have NDAs with many of them, which would be infringed if I passed the text or the translation on to a colleague or proofreader.
So I proofread my work carefully myself, and leave it at that.
| | | | Allison Wright (X)
Portugal
Local time: 04:55
Not normally.
I do review a fair number of other people's translations, though. These normally come from agencies.
One outsourcer who sends me translation work is also the reviewer of my work (and a translator in those language pairs). I like the relationship, but would probably find it strange were our roles to be reversed.
Big projects need a paid proofreader. On big projects even paid proofreaders do not pick up all the typos.
The small stuf... See more Not normally.
I do review a fair number of other people's translations, though. These normally come from agencies.
One outsourcer who sends me translation work is also the reviewer of my work (and a translator in those language pairs). I like the relationship, but would probably find it strange were our roles to be reversed.
Big projects need a paid proofreader. On big projects even paid proofreaders do not pick up all the typos.
The small stuff, no. If I cannot get it right on my own, what am I doing being a translator? Feedback I get would suggest that I do not need an editor for every single translation I do. This may sound arrogant, but there is such a thing as "overworking" a text. Besides, time is always of the essence. ▲ Collapse
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