| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | How to handle a translation test scam Thread poster: fifilalou
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fifilalou 
Local time: 09:25
English to Japanese
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I have recently done a test for manga and short novel translation (Japanese into English), I was given 3 different files, 1 manga and two short stories (extracts), the total word count was about 2,000. Then no news whatsoever since I submitted it a week ago (not even acknowledgment of receipt of my translation when I submitted). I'm beginning to suspect that it was a scam; I read the forum on Proz about these scams and now feel quite convinced. Does anyone have a good idea as to what I could do ... See more I have recently done a test for manga and short novel translation (Japanese into English), I was given 3 different files, 1 manga and two short stories (extracts), the total word count was about 2,000. Then no news whatsoever since I submitted it a week ago (not even acknowledgment of receipt of my translation when I submitted). I'm beginning to suspect that it was a scam; I read the forum on Proz about these scams and now feel quite convinced. Does anyone have a good idea as to what I could do about it? I'm sure they would ignore it if I made an inquiry about it., so I am more or less wondering how I could possibly make them exposed as blacklisted. Thank you.
[Edited at 2008-06-05 22:01] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Henry Hinds
United States
Local time: 10:25
English to Spanish
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In memoriam | You did a 2,000 word test? | Jun 5, 2008 |
You did a 2,000 word test? You will never do it again, that's the upside.
| | | | Vladimir Karoli
Slovakia
Local time: 18:25
Member (2007)
English to Slovak
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| Do not accept such a long test translation | Jun 5, 2008 |
Hi there fifilalou,
sorry to hear about your bad experience. I recommend you to not accept unpaid test translations exceeding approx. 300 words. It must be enough for a client to tell whether he wants to assign the translation to you. If a potential client asks for a longer test translation, demand payment and a PO.
Some clients, especially in case of big projects, require even 2,000 word test translation just to be sure they'll find the right man. However, any reputa... See more Hi there fifilalou,
sorry to hear about your bad experience. I recommend you to not accept unpaid test translations exceeding approx. 300 words. It must be enough for a client to tell whether he wants to assign the translation to you. If a potential client asks for a longer test translation, demand payment and a PO.
Some clients, especially in case of big projects, require even 2,000 word test translation just to be sure they'll find the right man. However, any reputable agency will understand a translator is not in a position to dedicate all of his day to a single unpaid test translation. If they really mean it, they will offer you payment.
Regards,
Vladimir ▲ Collapse
| | | | fifilalou
Local time: 09:25
English to Japanese
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TOPIC STARTER
Thank you, fellow translators, for your honest feedback. I guess I should take it as a precious lesson to see my naïvite and so should never make the same mistake again.
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Stephanie Sirot (X)
Canada
Local time: 09:25
English to French
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| 2 000 words, way too long | Jun 6, 2008 |
It is a very long test. I think you did the whole job for free.
Do not do tests that are over 300 words.
No translators should do unpaid tests.
Stephanie.
| | | | Allesklar
Australia
Local time: 01:55
English to German
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You could post your experience on the BlueBoard to warn other colleagues and maybe even have the agency banned from posting jobs here.
When posting on the BB you will be asked whether you have "worked" for this outsourcer, which IMO you have
Also, if it is possible to track down the end-client, you could inform them that the copyright for the translation still belongs to you, in case they want to publish it. If there is no clue in the actual text, the file properties of... See more You could post your experience on the BlueBoard to warn other colleagues and maybe even have the agency banned from posting jobs here.
When posting on the BB you will be asked whether you have "worked" for this outsourcer, which IMO you have
Also, if it is possible to track down the end-client, you could inform them that the copyright for the translation still belongs to you, in case they want to publish it. If there is no clue in the actual text, the file properties of the source might provide a hint.
[Edited at 2008-06-06 06:27] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Ralf Lemster
Germany
Local time: 18:25
English to German
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| No Blue Board entries on the basis of tests | Jun 6, 2008 |
Hi fifilalou,
On a general note, I do not consider test translations to be useful for either party, and I agree that 2k words is way too long.
However...
Then no news whatsoever since I submitted it a week ago (not even acknowledgment of receipt of my translation when I submitted). I'm beginning to suspect that it was a scam; I read the forum on Proz about these scams and now feel quite convinced.
...is the lack of feedback the only indication you have that something is not quite right? What makes you feel convinced?
If this test was originated via a job posted on ProZ.com, contact one of the Jobs moderators; we'll look into this.
As regards the Blue Board, please note the relevant site rule: a test translation is not sufficient to post an entry.
Best regards,
Ralf
| | | | Allesklar
Australia
Local time: 01:55
English to German
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| test vs. work | Jun 6, 2008 |
I disagree with Ralf in this particular case.
If an outsourcer obtains a translation by disguising it as a test and then uses it like a regular job, i.e. he passes it on to a client and charges money for it or uses it for any other purpose than assessing the translator's ability, then I think it is reasonable to argue that the translator has performed "work" for this outsourcer.
I see of course the point of preventing disgruntled translators from denouncing agencies who... See more I disagree with Ralf in this particular case.
If an outsourcer obtains a translation by disguising it as a test and then uses it like a regular job, i.e. he passes it on to a client and charges money for it or uses it for any other purpose than assessing the translator's ability, then I think it is reasonable to argue that the translator has performed "work" for this outsourcer.
I see of course the point of preventing disgruntled translators from denouncing agencies who found their test translations wanting, but that is a different story.
[Edited at 2008-06-06 06:37] ▲ Collapse
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Generally speaking, I agree that a test translation should be around 300 words for commercial translation through an agency, but this is a novel and manga, which is a whole different ball game, as far as I'm concerned.
Important question: was this test for a translation agency or a publishing house?
I do a lot of literary translation, and it is perfectly normal and in fact necessary for the sample translations sent to publishing houses to be longer in order for the editor to get a go... See more Generally speaking, I agree that a test translation should be around 300 words for commercial translation through an agency, but this is a novel and manga, which is a whole different ball game, as far as I'm concerned.
Important question: was this test for a translation agency or a publishing house?
I do a lot of literary translation, and it is perfectly normal and in fact necessary for the sample translations sent to publishing houses to be longer in order for the editor to get a good feel for your style. There is *no way* I would give a novel translation to someone based on a 300-word sample.
It is also quite normal for publishing houses to take some time (several weeks is not unheard of) to assess the various samples they receive before contacting the translator they wish to work with.
That said, I think confirming receipt of your sample would have been the professional thing to do, and I would definitely touch base with them again just to make sure they did in fact receive it.
I do believe there have been threads in the past on the differences in sample translation practices for commercial and literary translation. ▲ Collapse
| | | | fifilalou
Local time: 09:25
English to Japanese
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TOPIC STARTER | Thanks for your useful feedbacks | Jun 6, 2008 |
Thank you, everyone, I find some of your suggestions really useful! Particularly, I bow to French Foodie who seems to bring the whole matter more in a right perspective. Though the test was given by an agency, not a publisher, besides they said (before the test) there was someone assigned to score the submitted test(s) so it's not like they had to send the them back to the Japanese client (a manga publisher) for reviewing. After all, I think the primary factor that has made me suspicious is ... See more Thank you, everyone, I find some of your suggestions really useful! Particularly, I bow to French Foodie who seems to bring the whole matter more in a right perspective. Though the test was given by an agency, not a publisher, besides they said (before the test) there was someone assigned to score the submitted test(s) so it's not like they had to send the them back to the Japanese client (a manga publisher) for reviewing. After all, I think the primary factor that has made me suspicious is the fact that they didn't even respond a word when I submitted the test, while there had been email exchanges during the week I was working on it, making it seem as if they vanished the moment they received what they wanted. And I admit that it was also unprofessional on my part not to try to confirm their receipt in the first place, which I definitely should have done. So that's what I will do now- see if they will even respond to that... And thanks to your tips I know now what I will do in case it turns out to be indeed a scam. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | confirming receipt | Jun 6, 2008 |
fifilalou wrote:
And I admit that it was also unprofessional on my part not to try to confirm their receipt in the first place, which I definitely should have done. So that's what I will do now- see if they will even respond to that...
Hi again Fifilalou,
Thanks for pointing out that this is an agency and not a publishing house - puts a bit of a different slant on it.
When I said confirming receipt would have been the professional thing to do, I was not referring to you, but the agency of course. Sorry if that wasn't made clear.
However, I really do think that you need to get in touch with them and confirm whether or not they received it (strange things can happen with email at the most inopportune times! Perhaps they did not receive it and are wondering what the heck is wrong with that translator!!).
Once you hear back from them (1 no we did not receive it, please send again, 2 yes we did receive it thank you it is now going through the scoring process, 3 no response), then you can decide on your course of action.
Sometime a quick telephone call to confirm receipt can save a lot of time and stress.
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| Were you going to be appointed for life? | Jun 8, 2008 |
Otherwise I don't see why 2.000 words. As an example, the tests for ATA certification have some 300 words each...
| | | | | Translators' "urban myth" | Jun 8, 2008 |
Tom in London wrote:
If my suspicions are correct, this agency was probably able to get most or all the translation done for free by emailing separate parts of it to individual translators.
Has anyone else come across this ?
This seems to be a scenario that is often mentioned, because the theoretical possibility undoubtedly exists, and yet, AFAIK, no-one has ever actually seen it done with their own eyes. That does not mean it doesn't happen, but might indicate that the practice isn't exactly rife.
Wiser heads than me have pointed out on this very website that the administrative and linguistic skills needed to create a semi-decent translation out of such a patchwork are indeed considerable, so much so that it could actually be counter-productive.
There again, of course, I guess the key term there is "semi-decent".
If you just concatenated all the tests together and shoved it along to the end customer, I guess the effort is minimal.
| | | | fifilalou
Local time: 09:25
English to Japanese
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TOPIC STARTER | Abuse of quality | Jun 8, 2008 |
Right...I have no idea how much or little time and effort they would put in making adjustment to make the whole file presentable before they actually deliver it to the end customer, but no matter how cheap they charge them, they will still make profit since they did not pay at all to their vendors (translators)! Low quality, low cost (to the end customer), some people go for it!
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